April 4, 2023 — Madera County Board of Supervisors
Documented by Josef Sibala
Here’s what you need to know
- During its April 4 meeting, the Madera County Board of Supervisors approved the interim cash flow loan of $6 million from the High-Speed Rail settlement. The loan is interim until Measure T funds are available to complete the Road 200 Bridge Project at the end of June 2023.
- Public Information Officer Javier Caltenco announced that the US Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans to small businesses engaged in agriculture and nonprofit organizations. The deadline to apply is Oct. 16, 2023.
- The board approved letters opposing AB 650 and AB 985, which add six appointees to the San Joaquin Valley United Air Pollution Control District Board and install stringent emissions controls, respectively.
- The board proclaimed April 2023 as Alcohol Awareness Month to promote awareness of alcohol dependence and educate community members on the positive results of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment programs.
Follow-up questions
- How will the Economic Injury Disaster Loans assist county residents?
- Will AB 650 and AB 985 become state laws?
- How will the county address cannabis use among youths?
The Scene
According to its website, the Madera County Board of Supervisors is the legislative and executive governing body of the Madera County government. Each of the five supervisorial districts of the county elects one supervisor.
Within limits prescribed by state law, the board enacts ordinances and rules, determines county policy, supervises the activities of county departments, adopts an annual budget, and fixes salaries.
The board meets regularly on the first three Tuesdays of each month and occasionally on Mondays in the board chambers of the County Government Center in Madera. On Tuesday, April 4, the meeting was held at 9 a.m.
Madera County Board of Supervisors members present:
- Chairman David Rogers (District 2)
- Chairman Pro Tem Robert Poythress (District 3)
- Jordan Wamhoff (District 1)
- Leticia Gonzalez (District 4)
- Robert Macaulay (District 5)
Others Present:
- Chief Clerk Karen Scrivner
- County Counsel Regina Garza
- County Administrative Officer Jay Varney
- Public Health Director Sara Bosse
- Public Health Officer Simon Paul
- Jared Carter from the Public Works Department
- Deputy Public Works Director Andrea Saldate
- Roman Noriega from Human Resources
- Chief Probation Officer Chris Childers
- Public Information Officer from the U.S. Small Business Administration: Office of Disaster Recovery Resilience Javier Caltenco
- Debbie Bray from the Madera Chamber of Commerce
- Ingris Mortis and Matilda Torres from the Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Youth Coalition
- Assessor Brett Frazier
Discussions/Actions
The board (5-0) approved letters opposing AB 650 and AB 985, which adds six appointees to the San Joaquin Valley United Air Pollution Control District Board and installs stringent emissions control.
The letter expressed opposition to Sacramento’s control over a local entity.
AB 985 imposes various limitations on emissions of air contaminants to control air pollution from vehicular and nonvehicular sources.
The San Joaquin Valley United Air Pollution Control District said AB 985 is “restrictive.”.
Public Health Director Sara Bosse announced that the Chowchilla’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) site relocated to the Department of Social Services.
The phone number and hours of operation will be the same. The Public Health Department has updated the WIC website and notified current participants. The new site is a 5-minute walk from the old location.
Bosse stressed the department’s good partnership with First Five. The relocation is due to the convenience of IT co-locating in the same county department location.
Public Information Officer from the U.S. Small Business Administration: Office of Disaster Recovery Resilience Javier Caltenco stated that the state has requested disaster assistance from the federal government.
The U.S. Small Business Administration offers low-interest federal disaster loans to small businesses engaged in agriculture, small agricultural cooperatives, and most nonprofit organizations.
The Economic Injury Disaster Loan is a working capital loan. Businesses that suffer economically and have problems paying rent, utilities, or any ordinary expense can apply for the loan. The limit for the loan is $2 million.
The interest rate for businesses is 3%, and for nonprofit organizations, it’s 2.37%.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $76 million for California for disasters between Dec. 27 and Jan. 31.
Applicants can go to disaster loan outreach centers, where SBA representatives will facilitate their application. They can also call 800-659-2955 or search the SBA website for the application. The deadline to apply is Oct. 16, 2023
Debbie Bray from the Madera Chamber of Commerce invited the supervisors and the public to attend the Madera Prayer Breakfast on May 4 at 6:50 a.m. at the Madera Fairgrounds Hatfield Hall.
The board (5-0) unanimously approved items A to U from the consent agenda:
A. 9389: The board entered into an agreement with Davis Guest Home in the amounts set forth under costs and compensation and should be at most $50,000 to provide a residential care facility for adults for the fiscal year 2023-2024.
B. 9391: The board approved MCC No. 12205-22 with the Department of State Hospitals (State Agreement No. 21-79011-000), amending budget detail and payment provisions to not exceed $568,000 for mental health treatment and wraparound services for fiscal years 2022-2024.
C. 9188: The board reaffirmed Resolution No. 2015-101, declaring a local emergency due to the tree mortality disaster in the county and throughout the state.
D. 9355: General Plan Update Budget Adjustments.
1. The board approved the Receipt of Unanticipated Revenues No. 22-137 for $445,000 derived from the Planning General Plan Update Fee – Fund Balance to Operation Transfers Out for the fiscal year 2022-2023.
2. The board approved the Receipt of Unanticipated Revenues No. 22-139 for $445,000 derived from CED Planning – Operations Transfer to Professional Services for the fiscal year 2022- 2023.
E. 9361: The board authorized the submittal of a regional application on behalf of the County of Madera and other participating jurisdictions within the County of Madera to the State of California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) for the Local Government Waste Tire Amnesty Grant, the fiscal year 2023-2024.
F. 9197: The board reaffirmed Resolution No. 2023-004 of the Madera County Board of Supervisors, ratifying and extending the declaration of a local emergency (closure of Madera Community Hospital).
G. 9352: The board received a monthly report of employee transactions for February 2023.
H. 9354: The board approved the Receipt of Unanticipated Revenue No. 22-134 of $15,186 derived from Library Administration – Contribution/Donation to Special Department Expense for the fiscal year 2022-2023.
I. 9367: The board approved the Receipt of Unanticipated Revenue No. 22-146 for $1,393,39 from the Juvenile Facility Grant AB 178-ST other to certain department expenses, buildings, and improvement and appropriation for contingencies for the fiscal year 2022-2023.
J. 9192: The board reaffirmed the county health officer’s declaration of a local health emergency (Fork Fire).
K. 9359: The board OK’d an amendment to MCC No. 12331-22 with the California Department of Public Health (State Agreement No. 22-10258 AO1) to increase the current $ 38,122 contract for a total of $6,999,877 in a federally funded program to provide nutrition assessment, education counseling and furnish vouchers for food commodities to pregnant woman, infants and children for federal fiscal years 2022-2025.
L. 9368: The board authorized the Madera County Public Health Department to sign and submit an application for funding with the California Department of Public Health for the Adolescent Family Life Program for fiscal years 2023-2026.
M. 9385: Management Services on the Avenue 25 Bridge Replacement Project.
1. The board approved an agreement with California Construction Management and Engineering Inc. for $860,372.71 to provide construction engineering and inspection services for the Avenue 25 Bridge Replacement project at Ash Slough for three calendar years.
2. The board authorized the road commissioner or his designee to issue notice to proceed under the contract’s provisions.
3. The board authorized the auditor-controller to issue payments for contingencies up to 10% of the contract award amount per established county policy.
4. To be within authorized contingencies, the board authorized the road commissioner or his designee to solely issue and approve contract change orders under Public Contract Code.
N. 9386: Construction Management Services on the Road 5 1/2 Bridge Replacement project.
1. The board OK’d an agreement with California Construction Management and Engineering Inc. for $323,103.50 to provide construction engineering and inspection services for the Road 5½ Bridge Replacement project at the Chowchilla River for a term of three calendar years.
2. The board authorized the road commissioner or his designee to issue notice to proceed under the contract’s provisions.
3. The board authorized the auditor-controller to issue payments for contingencies up to 10% of the contract award amount per established county policy.
4. The board authorized the road commissioner or his designee to solely issue and approve contract change orders under Public Contract Code, not to exceed authorized contingencies
O. 9378: The board approved a resolution adopting the updated Madera County Title VI Program.
P. 9193: The board reaffirmed Resolution No. 2015-087 proclaiming a local emergency created by the severe drought conditions in the county and throughout the state.
Q. 9196: The board reaffirmed Resolution No. 2022-137 of the Board of Supervisors of Madera County, ratifying and extending the declaration of a local emergency (Fork Fire).
R. 9401: The board reaffirmed Resolution No. 2023-034, ratifying the declaration of a local emergency (February/March 2023 Winter Storms).
S. 9396: The board entered into a no-cost agreement with California State University Sacramento for students to acquire field education experience with a term ending April 4, 2028.
T. 9397: The board entered into a no-cost agreement with the State Center Community College District for students to acquire field education experience with a term ending April 4, 2028.
U. 9402: Workforce Local and Regional Plans Biennial Modification.
1. The board approved the Madera County Workforce Development Board 2023 biennial modification to the 2021-2024 Local Plan.
2. The board approved the San Joaquin Valley and Associated County (SJVAC) Regional Planning Unit (RPU) 2023 Biennial Modification to the 2021-2024 Regional Plan.
3. The board authorized the chairperson to sign the Local Plan on behalf of Madera County.
Discussion items consisted of the following:
6.a. 9388: The board (5-0) proclaimed April 2023 Alcohol Awareness Month
The proclamation committed Madera County to promote awareness of alcohol dependence and to educate community members on the positive results of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment programs.
Madera County Department of Behavioral Health Services (MCDBHS) is organizing the local effort toward the objectives of Alcohol Awareness Month, including:
- April 1: Take Down Tobacco Youth Summit
- April 3: Alcohol Awareness Month newsletter
- April 7: Alcohol Screening Day – at all BHS sites
- April 8: Social Media Blast – Alcohol Awareness
- April 11: Chowchilla’s First Five presentations
- April 13: Millview Elementary Health Fair
- April 14: Madera’s First Five presentations
- April 19- Social Media Blast: Alcohol Awareness
6. c. 9406: The board received a presentation of Madera County Department of Public Health’s mobile health units (Public Health Officer Simon Paul)
On Sept. 7, 2021, the board approved an agreement with Performance Trailer, Inc. to purchase two mobile health units.
After the final specifications were made, the mobile health units were completed and ready for use. The units will allow mobile health staff and partners to serve the homeless and other hard-to-reach populations.
The vans have been customized for direct patient care services, including various health screenings, testing, vaccinations, COVID-19, and mobile flu clinics. They are also designed for and equipped with the ability to provide effective outreach and education.
They will support homeless outreach and special events, such as community health fairs throughout the county.
6.d. 9379: The board (5-0) introduced an ordinance amending Chapter 9.11 of Title 9 of the Madera County Code regarding smoking, waived the first reading, and set the second reading for April 18, 2023.
Madera County Code Section 9.11 refers to the Smoking Pollution Control Ordinance.
The amendment will include updated terms in the following sections: definitions, the language of where smoking is prohibited in public places, exceptions to the prohibited public places, signage, tobacco waste, enforcement, violations and penalties, nonretaliation, and governmental agency cooperation.
Section 9.11.130 has been added to include language that refers to other applicable laws.
Ingris Mortis and Matilda Torres from the Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Youth Coalition said that vape, cannabis, and e-cigarette use is rising among young people.
In the state Legislature, SWAT advocated smoke-free multi-house units and against smoke shops near schools.
6.e. 9319: The board (5-0) approved an agreement with Pro-West & Associates to assist the Assessor’s Office in maintaining the parcel fabric while hiring and training a new mapping technician by the Assessor’s Office, an amount not to exceed $100,000. (reported by Frazier)
In October 2020, Madera County entered into a contract with Pro-West & Associates to remap the assessor’s parcels and develop an ESRI Parcel fabric with the information.
Due to the retirement of the current senior cadastral drafting technician and the changes in the job requirements to maintain the assessor’s maps in the new format, the Assessor’s Office has yet to be able to hire a suitable replacement.
By entering into this agreement with Pro-West and Associates, the Assessor’s Office will be able to maintain the assessor’s maps and keep the GIS parcel layer up to date during the hiring and training a new mapping technician.
6. f. 9380: The board (5-0) approved the Receipt of Unanticipated Revenue No. 22-148 in the amount of $371,288.00 from General Fund – Fund Balance to Human Resources – Professional and Specialized Services for the fiscal year 2022-2023.
On April 5, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved Koff & Associates (“K&A”) to conduct a classification and compensation study of county positions, including management, confidential and exempt positions.
The Department of Human Resources requests a Receipt of Unanticipated Revenue (RUR) for $371,288 to be transferred from the county general fund to 2022/2023 Department of Human Resources Professional and Specialized Services.
The recommended action will appropriate funds to pay the vendor.
6.g. 9393: Payroll Schedule Adjustment Sideletters – Various Bargaining Units.
1. The board (5-0) adopted the side letters of agreement with the clerical, communications dispatcher, correctional officer, deputy probation officer, mid-management, postgraduate licensed professional, peace officer, peace officer management, probation administrators, probation management, professional, service, and technical bargaining units regarding a new pay period, effective April 1, 2023.
2. The board (5-0) extended the terms of the side letters of agreement in Recommended Action No. 1 above to current, eligible unrepresented employees, including department heads, effective April 1, 2023.
Human Resources Director Roman Noriega said that the change in payroll schedule would eliminate payroll inconsistencies.
6.h. 9387: Measure T Road 200 Bridge Project Cash Flow.
1. The board approved the Receipt of Unanticipated Revenue No. 22-140 of $6 million from HSR Amendment 2 – Fund balance to Operations Transfer Out-ACO Fund for the fiscal year 2022-2023.
2. The board approved the Receipt of Unanticipated Revenue No. 22-143 of $6 million derived from Measure T RMA Roads – Operating Transfer Into Intrafund Transfer for the fiscal year 2022-2023.
Madera County’s Measure T Commute Corridors/Farm to Market (Regional) Fund needs cash and a budget to finish the Road 200 Bridge Project. The estimated total cost of the project is roughly $12 million.
The Board of Supervisors’ adoption of the fiscal year 22/23 Measure T Annual Expenditure Plan (AEP) on Oct. 4, 2022, committed approximately $6 million of available funds within the County’s Measure T Commute Corridors/Farm to Market (Regional) fund program (7978) toward the completion of the Road 200 Bridge project.
Madera County Transportation Commission (MCTC) has also programmed approximately $6 million in Measure T Regional funds (separate from those allocated to Public Works) to fund the Road 200 Bridge project.
However, this funding will be realized and available after this fiscal year (late June 2023).
Construction of the project is underway and is anticipated to be completed by early summer 2023 before MCTC has the full amount of money available from their Regional Measure T funding.
To continue making progress payments to all contractors working on the project, Public Works needs to temporarily close the $6 million gap with another source of funds.
The county received roughly $6.25 million from the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHRSA) as a settlement for impacts to county roads damaged.
Because of the lengthy nature of HSR’s work, hauling, and detour routes are still in place, and roads are negatively affected due to continued construction.
The funds designated for this repair work have been put into a separate fund.
On Feb. 1, 2022, the board approved using the CHSRA settlement funds for cash flow capital projects until the road repairs needed due to HSR work can be completed.
Consistent with this approval, the department recommends using $6 million of the CHSRA settlement funds to temporarily fund the gap to complete the Road 200 Bridge project.
MCTC will reimburse the CHRSA funds from their Measure T Regional funds once they have received the full $6 million.
When complete, the Road 200 Bridge project will be fully funded by Measure T using County Commute Corridors/Farm to Market (regional) funds and MCTC regional funds.
Deputy Public Works Director Andrea Saldate announced an interim cash flow loan from the High-Speed Rail settlement.
The loan is interim until MCTC/ Measure T funds are available to complete the Road 200 Bridge Project at the end of June 2023.
Closed sessions are as follows:
2.a. 9400: Request for closed session:
Government Code Section 54957.6
Conference with labor negotiators
Agency designated representatives: Roman Noriega, human resources director; Joel Bugay, deputy county administrative officer-finance; and Susan Carter, human resources manager-employee organization: all units
Unrepresented Employees: All Classifications (excluding elected officials)
2.b. 9405: Request for closed session:
Government Code Section 54956.8
Conference with real property negotiators
Property: Assessor’s Parcel Number 010-092-001: 209 W. Yosemite, Madera, CA 93637
Agency negotiator: Jay Varney, County Administrative Officer
Under negotiation: Price, terms, and conditions of sale
The meeting lasted until 2 p.m. The next board meeting will be on Tuesday, April. 11, at 9 a.m.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at Fresnodocs@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.