Documented by Josef Sibala
Here’s what you need to know:
- The Kings County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution approving the financing and the issuance of up to $1 billion in qualified 501(c)(3) bonds for healthcare facilities by the California Public Finance Authority for Sharp HealthCare. The financing will include up to $400 million for new money projects and up to $600 million to refinance prior projects.
- The board approved the purchase and sale agreement with the State of California for real property at 501 East King Street in Avenal, California. The county has negotiated a purchase price of $212,865 with the State for the State’s share of the Avenal Courthouse.
- The board accepted the Narcan (Naloxone) donation from the Tachi Palace Casino Resort. The proposed donated treatment is in the nasal spray form, which can be used for Emergency Medical Technician protocols. At about $23 per dose, the donation is valued at approximately $2,200.
Follow-up questions:
- What projects will 501(c)(3) bonds finance?
- How will the county benefit from purchasing the State’s share of the Avenal Courthouse?
The Scene
According to its website, Kings County is a “general law” county, meaning the state constitution and general law determine the county’s governmental structure.
The Board of Supervisors is the governing body for Kings County and many county special districts. Each of the board’s five members is elected in a nonpartisan manner to a four-year term. The board sets policies and depends on the county administrator, county officials, and department heads to fulfill its wishes.
The Board of Supervisors has administrative, legislative, and quasi-judicial duties and responsibilities prescribed by the state constitution and statutes.
The meeting was held at 9 a.m. in the board chambers at 1400 West Lacey Blvd. in Administration Building No. 1 in Hanford.
Kings County County Board of Supervisors members present:
- Joe Neves, District 1 (Lemoore and Stratford)
- Richard Valle, District 2 (Avenal, Corcoran, Home Garden, and Kettleman City)
- Rusty Robinson, District 4 (Armona and Hanford)
- Richard Fagundes, District 5 (Hanford and Burris Park)
- Doug Verboon, District 3 (North Hanford, Island District, and North Lemoore)
Others Present:
- Chief Information Officer John Devlin
- Office Systems Analyst Chris Verhaege
- Public Works Director Dominic Tyburski
- Chief Engineer Mitchel Cabrera
- Administrative Officer Kyria Martinez
- Administrative Analyst Matthew Boyett
- Human Services Director Carolyn Leist
Discussions/Actions
The board (5-0) approved the November 28, 2023 meeting minutes.
The board (5-0) approved the consent agenda:
A. County Counsel:
1. The board appointed Laura Brown to the Tulare Lake Resource Conservation District Board to fill the seat currently held by Dennis Tristao for the remainder of his term of office, which will end at noon on Friday, November 29, 2024.
B. Department of Finance:
1. The board adopted a resolution delegating investment authority to the Kings County Director of Finance.
According to the agenda packet, under Section 53607 of the California Government Code, the Board has annually delegated certain investment authority to the County’s Director of Finance for one year. Kings County Ordinance No. 557, adopted January 14, 1997, allows the annual delegation to be achieved through a Board resolution.
Board Resolution 22-078 delegated investment authority for the 2023 calendar year, which expires December 31, 2023.
Staff requests the Board consider adopting a new resolution delegating investment authority to the Kings County Director of Finance for Calendar Year 2024.
2. The board (5-0) approved the 2024 Director of Finance’s Statement of Investment Policy.
According to the agenda packet, The County Treasury Oversight Committee reviewed and approved the 2024 Director of Finance’s Statement of Investment Policy on November 6, 2023.
Under Government Code section 27132, the Committee members are Kyria Martinez, Board appointed member; Erik Ureña, Director of Finance; Jamie Dial, the representative for the Kings County Superintendent of Schools; Julie Fagundes, the representative for the school districts; Heather Corder, the representative for the special districts, vacant, representative for the public, and Tammy Phelps, Assistant Director of Finance – Treasury.
The 2024 Director of Finance’s Statement of Investment Policy has strikethroughs for omissions and bold for additions. The changes are as follows:
1. Section VII, B. Restrictions on Authorized Investments – add “No funds shall be invested in securities with a forward settlement date exceeding 45 days from the time of investment.” (Amendment to California Government Code 53601)
2. Section VIII, B. Maximum Maturities – change “No investment shall be made in any security… which at the time of investment settlement has a term remaining to maturity more than five years…” (Amendment to California Government Code 53601)
3. Section IX, A. Methods – change “The report will be provided within 30-45 days following the end of the quarter covered by the report…” (Amendment to California Government Code 53646(b)(1))
4. Schedule 1 – Statement of Authorized Firms, B. – delete “CalTRUST” (CalTRUST is listed under firms designated for purchasing money market mutual funds; however, CalTRUST is not a firm but a Public Agency.)
5. Schedule 2 -Investment Parameters – Corporate Notes – change “Max $15 50mm any one name” (California Government Code allows 10% of the portfolio in any one name, which would be approximately 75mm. The $15mm limit has not been updated/increased in the past nineteen years.)
6. Schedule 2 – Investment Parameters – add “California Asset Management Program – CAMP, 15% Max., Max. Transactions allowed by CAMP Administration, overnight liquidity, N/A” (A maximum percentage needs to be stated in the Policy.)
C. Fire Department:
1. The board (5-0) authorized the Fire Chief to accept the Narcan (Naloxone) donation from the Tachi Palace Casino Resort.
According to the agenda packet, accepting this donation will eliminate the need for the department to utilize current revenues for this purchase. At about $23 per dose, this donation is valued at approximately $2,200.
The Fire Department utilizes Narcan, otherwise known as Naloxone, to rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose emergency.
Naloxone is given to any person who shows signs of an opioid overdose or when an overdose is suspected.
Naloxone can be given as a nasal spray or injected into the muscle, under the skin, or directly into the veins.
The proposed donated treatment is in the nasal spray form, which can be used for Emergency Medical Technician protocols.
From 2019 to 2021, California has experienced an increase in drug overdose-related deaths of more than 121%.
As the opioid epidemic continues to rise in the United States, fire departments, police officers, emergency medical technicians, and non-emergency first responders are using Naloxone more than ever before.
The department’s current supply of Naloxone is reaching its expiration date and will need to be replaced by the end of the year.
This contribution from the Tachi Palace Casino Resort will allow for the uninterrupted emergency use of this treatment by the Kings County Fire Department and support the department’s life-saving mission.
D. Sheriff’s Office:
1. The board (5-0) approved the agreement with Pigeonly, Incorporated for inmate mail services.
According to the agenda packet, the cost is $4 per month per Average Daily Population. As of March 24, 2023, the average daily population was 454 inmates, and as a result, the Kings County Sheriff’s Office will be billed the fixed price of $21,792 per year.
The fixed price will be adjusted each year 30 days before each year’s contract expiration date. The cost for the inmate mail system will be paid from the Prison Inmate Welfare Fund.
Pigeonly, Incorporated (Inc.) is an off-site inmate mail service. Instead of delivering inmate mail to the Kings County Jail facility and distributing it to the inmate population, it would be routed to Pigeonly, Inc.
Pigeonly, Inc. then provides the Kings County Jail with copies of the mail’s contents, distributed to the inmate population (legal mail excluded).
The purpose of contracting with an off-site electronic mail provider is to reduce the amount of contraband in the facility.
Mail is one of the leading ways contraband (e.g., methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, etc.) gets into the Kings County Jail.
Mail is currently scanned by staff to include the jail’s detection canines. With the prevalence of fentanyl, the department requires two staff present at all times while scanning mail in the event staff come in contact with a dangerous substance and need immediate medical attention.
The agreement will begin December 5, 2023, and remain in effect until July 31, 2024. Upon expiration of the initial term, the agreement shall be renewed for up to four successive one-year periods if agreed upon in writing.
2. a. The board (5-0) adopted a resolution authorizing the participation in the Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways for the performance period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025;
b. The board (5-0) authorized the Sheriff to sign the application for the Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways.
According to the agenda packet, this financial aid program will reduce the impact on the fiscal year 2024-2025 general fund by $94,277.
The BS&E Financial Aid Program aims to provide state financial aid to local governmental agencies whose waterways have high usage by transient boaters and an insufficient tax base to support a boating safety and enforcement program fully.
The program is intended to augment existing local resources for boating safety and enforcement activities and not fully fund BS&E programs.
Local participation in the program is entirely voluntary. Any local agency may opt not to participate in the program if they choose to spend their boat taxes on activities other than boating safety and enforcement activities.
The funds will be utilized to offset the staff costs of patrolling the Kings River. These funds will also reimburse the County for equipment purchases and repairs associated with patrolling the Kings River and its tributaries.
The new agreement is for July 1, 2024, and ends June 30, 2025.
E. Administration:
1. The board (5-0) adopted a resolution approving the financing and the issuance of up to $1 billion in qualified 501(c)(3) bonds for healthcare facilities by the California Public Finance Authority for Sharp HealthCare
According to the agenda packet, the bonds will finance and refinance the acquisition, renovation, construction, furnishing, equipping, and improvement of real property and healthcare facilities at various locations owned by the Corporation in San Diego, Chula Vista, La Mesa, and Poway, California.
The financing will include up to $400 million for new money projects and up to $600 million to refinance prior projects.
A public hearing was held for this Project on December 5, 2023. The Board has been asked to approve issuing the bonds as the host governmental unit.
The obligations would be repaid solely from amounts received under the terms and provisions of the financing agreements to be executed by the borrower.
The County would not be a party to the financing agreements. Any taxation or obligation of the County or CalPFA would not secure the obligations.
Neither would the obligations represent or constitute a general obligation of the County or CalPFA. The borrower must repay CalPFA, including the County.
All legal documents will contain clear disclaimers that the obligations are not obligations of the County or the CalPFA but are paid only from funds provided by the borrower.
Regular agenda items are as follows:
A. Information Technology Department
1. The board (5-0) approved the agreement with Palo Alto for the Cortex XDR extended detection and response antivirus solution for one year, effective upon execution by all parties.
According to the agenda packet, the fiscal impact is $104,590, included in the 2023-24 fiscal year budget.
Palo Alto’s Cortex XDR solution pulls together information from networks, endpoints, and the cloud, giving Information Technology (IT) a 360-degree view of the security landscape.
Cortex XDR’s ability to integrate with hundreds of external solutions will allow IT to eliminate more blind spots than ever before.
Chief Information Officer John Devlin said that the integration with enforcement points allows for swift action when threats are detected and enforces drive encryption on county workstations all through a single agent.
Office Systems Analyst Chris Verhaege said that County Counsel has reviewed and approved the agreement as to form. Risk Management can only endorse the insurance policy once the County has been added.
The vendor has insurance that is of adequate limits and types; however, it will only add the County once the purchase is complete.
B. Public Works Department
1. The board (5-0) approved the agreement with O’Dell Engineering, Incorporated, to prepare Plans, Specifications, and Estimate packages for County roadway improvements.
According to the agenda packet, the project is programmed through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP).
The consultant fees of $222,551 (including optional tasks) will be funded at a ratio of 90%, $200,295 Federal Funds through the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and the remaining 10%, $22,256 funded through the Road Department budget.
Three HSIP applications were prepared for submission, with one selected for funding. The first approved application requested safety roadway improvements by adding flashing beacons at the stop ahead and stop signs at the following intersections: Grangeville Avenue at 7th Avenue, Idaho Avenue at 17th Avenue, Jersey Avenue at 19th Avenue, and Jackson Avenue at 14th Avenue.
In addition, the approved application included the addition of left turn lanes at the intersection of Excelsior Avenue at 11th Avenue and Excelsior Avenue at 13 ¼ Avenue.
Preliminary recommendations from the Systemic Safety Analysis Report (SSAR) were used to select candidate projects for the HSIP Cycle 11 applications.
Public Works Director Dominic Tyburski said the systemic report considers traffic patterns, collision history, and trends in developing projects.
Chief Engineer Mitchel Cabrera said that using these recommendations for HSIP funding and other grant opportunities was the reason behind the development of this report. Work will commence immediately upon Board approval of the consultant services agreement.
C. Administration
1. a. The board (5-0) approved the purchase and sale agreement with the State of California for real property at 501 East King Street in Avenal, California.
b. The board (5-0) approved the grant deed with the State of California, granting the County the rights, title, and interest in real property at 501 East King Street in Avenal, California.
c. The board (5-0) approved terminating the joint occupancy agreement with the State of California for real property at 501 East King Street in Avenal, California.
According to the agenda packet, the county has negotiated a purchase price of $212,865 with the State for the State’s share of the Avenal Courthouse. The purchase will be paid out of general contingencies in the budget.
In 2008, the State took over 58.01% interest in the property during the Trial Court reorganization.
Administrative Officer Kyria Martinez said that the County has retained 41.99% interest in the property and currently operates the Avenal Branch Library from this location.
The County is looking to purchase the State of California’s share in the property. The county has previously attempted to negotiate with the state on taking ownership of the entire property.
However, change in staffing coupled with the pandemic has not allowed the completion of the sale until recently this year when the State inquired if the County was still interested in the purchase.
The Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APNs) for the property up for consideration are 040-165-007, 040-165-011, and 040-165-012.
2. The board (5-0) adopted a resolution permanently establishing a change in hours to the public for County departments to allow public contact/appointment times between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 8:00 a.m. to noon on Fridays effective December 25, 2023.
According to the agenda packet, under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) any non-exempt employee on a 9/80 work schedule must have a specifically defined 7-day work week that precludes the employee from regularly working more than 40 hours.
Hiring and retention continue to be a critical issue and focus for the County. Several neighboring counties have instituted alternate schedules to provide flexibility to employees and provide for increased work/life balance.
By making a small change to the public on Friday by closing at noon, the county can create a benefit for employees. Most departments have found that Friday afternoons are when they see fewer clients.
Administrative Analyst Matthew Boyett added that the Hours of operation for departments opting into the 9/80 schedule will be Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
The initial pilot program ran from June 26, 2023, through September 3, 2023. However, this initial pilot was extended through December 24, 2023, due to the overwhelmingly positive feedback from employees and departments.
Recent surveys have once again illustrated strong support for the permanency of this alternative work schedule option.
Study session:
A. Human Resources
1. a. The board received an overview of the VantageCare Retirement Health Savings Program.
b. The board (5-0) directed staff to return to another Study Session with information received today and any other options to consider.
Healthcare costs are on the rise and are likely to be a big, ongoing expense in retirement. Medicare only pays for part of the total costs, and Medicare does not cover most dental, hearing, vision, and long-term care expenses.
Human Services Director Carolyn Leist said that the VantageCare RHS program, if offered to County employees, would be sponsored by the County and administered by MissionSquare Retirement.
This program has tax advantages and helps employees pay for future health care costs for the employee, their spouse, and eligible dependents.
Contributions can be set for all employees or by individual bargaining units.
The contribution amounts are subject to negotiations through the meet and confer process and are determined for all individuals within a covered group; individuals cannot make deferral amount selections.
Contributions are pre-tax, and earnings build up as tax-deferred, which means that withdrawals for qualifying expenses are tax-free.
Contributions can include one or all of the following: direct employer contributions, mandatory employee compensation contributions, and mandatory employee leave contributions.
Any employee contributions must be mandatory because RHS cannot receive voluntary employee contributions.
Contributions are not eligible for withdrawal until the employee has separated from service, reached retirement age, or is disabled.
The contributions can only be used for medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums, out-of-pocket expenses, and Medicare Part B/D premiums.
Closed session includes the following:
Conference with Labor Negotiator: [Govt. Code Section 54957.6]
Negotiators: Kyria Martinez, Carolyn Leist, Che Johnson of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
General Unit – CLOCEA
Supervisor’s Unit – CLOCEA
Blue Collar – SEIU
Detention Deputy’s Association
Firefighter’s Association
Deputy Sheriff’s Association
Probation Officers Association
Prosecutor’s Association
Unrepresented Management
Personnel Matter: [Govt Code Section 54957]
Public Employee Appointment: Fire Chief
The next board meeting will be on Dec. 12 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.
