Documented by Rachel Youdelman
Summary: What You Need to Know
- In the annual rotation of board officers, Quintero appointed Magsig chairman and Mendes vice-chair for 2024.
- The board received a report from County Clerk/Registrar of Voters James Kus, regarding the special congressional District 20 vacancy election caused by Kevin McCarthy’s recent resignation, as well as the upcoming presidential primary election. Both elections will be scheduled very close together.
- Eleven In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers, members of the local SEIU2015 union, spoke during the public comment period and asked the board for higher salaries, as they have repeatedly done over many months.
Board
Brian Pacheco, 1st District
Steve Brandau, 2nd District
Sal Quintero, 3rd District
Buddy Mendes, 4th District, vice-chair
Nathan Magsig, 5th District, chairman
Staff
Daniel Cederborg, County Counsel
Bernice Seidel, clerk of the Board of Supervisors
Paul Nerland, County Administrative Officer (CAO)
The Scene
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors held its first meeting of the new year at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 9. Quintero opened the meeting in his last moments as 2023 chairman and asked Seidel to call the roll. All were present. Before the rotation of board officers, Magsig introduced the person giving the invocation, Jeremy Vaccaro of the First Presbyterian Church of Fresno. All attendees stood and bowed their heads. Vaccaro addressed “Our Father,” and asked for “mercy for the ways that we have not honored you,” adding, “thank you for the supervisors.” After the prayer, without missing a beat, Vaccaro led the flag salute.
At first annual meetings, board officers rotate. Quintero appointed Magsig as 2024 chairman and Mendes as vice-chair. Magsig presented Quintero with a plaque and a gavel. Everyone moved seats to the right, and clerk Seidel adjusted nameplates.
The public portion of the meeting was 1.5 hours long. There was a closed session of about two hours, after which the board reconvened for a few minutes. As usual, Brandau and Magsig spoke most often throughout the meeting. The room was full of attendees, most of whom were members of the local In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) union, all in purple SEIU2015 T-shirts. They regularly appear to request a salary increase and labor negotiations are ongoing.
Meetings are open to the public and are held at the Fresno County Hall of Records, 2281 Tulare St., Room 301. Public comments on matters on or off the agenda are welcomed. If you plan to make a comment in person on an item not on the agenda, note that this portion of the meeting is always last on the agenda. Each agenda item is otherwise accorded time for live public comment as they are introduced. Meetings are livestreamed; agendas, livestream and meeting video may be accessed here. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Jan. 23, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.
Each supervisor represents one of five districts. Who is your county supervisor? Find out here.
To contact your supervisor about any issues or agenda items for a particular meeting, call or email with your opinion or question:
Pacheco District 1 District1@fresnocountyca.gov (559) 600-1000
Brandau District 2 District2@fresnocountyca.gov (559) 600-2000
Quintero District 3 District3@fresnocountyca.gov (559) 600-3000
Mendes District 4 District4@fresnocountyca.gov (559) 600-4000
Magsig District 5 District5@fresnocountyca.gov, (559) 600-5000
Agenda item 1 The board designated their officers for 2024. Quintero named Magsig as chair and Mendes as vice-chair. No vote was required. Magsig thanked “Sal” (Quintero) and presented him with a plaque, a gavel and a framed historical photo of the Kearney Mansion. Pacheco thanked Quintero for his service and his “brief comments.” Regarding Quintero’s brevity, he pointedly said that “less is more,” looking at Magsig and Brandau, who regularly speak at length. Brandau said that Quintero handled the job of chairman with “grace.” Mendes said that Quintero had done a “spectacular job” and that he was “way nicer” than he. “I learned from you,” said Quintero, perhaps ironically.
Mendes then said that he “never coveted” his current job as supervisor, which he has held for 10 years. Despite never wanting to do the job, he said, the county was now a “hell of a better place” since he’s been a part of it.
Magsig, eight years on the job, remarked that the board members were “not disagreeable” even though they “don’t always agree.” They don’t fight amongst themselves, he boasted. He was mindful, he said, of state- and federal-level “divisiveness” and mentioned that the day’s agenda included an item about “election challenges.” Magsig said that he had the “utmost confidence” in the county clerk and registrar of voters, James Kus.
Agenda item 2 The board unanimously approved the day’s agenda.
Agenda item 3 The consent agenda, items 17-47 included items considered routine or administrative, grouped together and decided with a single vote; however, supervisors or members of the public may pull an item for discussion. Seidel mentioned a correction in item 32. Quintero pulled items 18 and 36 for further discussion.
Agenda item 18 This item recognized the death of local businesswoman and volunteer for several local charities, Sally Caglia. Caglia’s nephew and niece were present to speak briefly about their late aunt. Pacheco, Quintero and Magsig each spoke about her, praising her philanthropy and devotion to Fresno.
Agenda item 36 The board approved 4-1 (Quintero was the “no” vote) to spend $2 million for repairs to the Fresno County University Medical Center (UMC) Campus caused by “a flooding incident” and to supply 24-hour security, seven days a week, “to prevent future trespassing issues.” The flooding, which happened on Dec. 13, was the result of vandalism.
Quintero first asked Cederborg if the building in question had not been sold; the reply was that the sale had not yet closed. Quintero asked Director of Internal Services Robert Bash why the sum of $2 million was needed — didn’t insurance cover it? Bash said that the money needed to be paid, then the county would apply for reimbursement. Quintero questioned the security of the building, as the vandals who caused the damage entered the building to steal copper, per Bash. Bash noted that the building was a “sieve” and that it was very difficult to keep people out. The money requested will be spent on increased security, Bash said. Quintero remarked that he had forwarded the name of someone who knew how people break into such buildings but that he never received a response — it was unclear to whom he sent the information, though he mentioned the Sheriff’s Office.
Bash said that there were “ne’er-do-wells out there” who are capable of finding multiple ways to break in.
Magsig and Brandau both expressed sympathy with Quintero’s point of view but ultimately voted in favor.
Agenda item 4 The board unanimously approved their 2024 committee assignments. For example, Magsig will serve on the Retirement Board, Mendes on the North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency, Quintero on the Economic Development Action Team (EDAT), Pacheco on the Children & Families Commission of Fresno County, Brandau on the Law Library Board of Trustees. All supervisors will serve on multiple committees.
Agenda item 5 The board received a report from County Clerk/Registrar of Voters James Kus regarding the special vacancy election in congressional District 20, as well as the upcoming presidential primary election. Both elections will be scheduled very close together.
The special election was necessitated by the resignation of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, as of Dec. 31, Kus explained. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Jan. 8 called for the special election to be held. Kus said that the special primary election will be held on March 19 (and, if needed, a special general election on May 21). Kus said ballots could not be consolidated with the March 5 presidential primary election because of the likelihood of delays in preparation.
Nomination documents for candidates for the special primary election will be available Jan. 19-25. Military and overseas ballots will be distributed by Feb. 3; vote-by-mail ballots will be distributed on Feb. 19; vote centers will be open for in-person voting on March 9, four days after the close of presidential-primary vote centers on March 5.
Kus further explained that the special primary election is scheduled to be completed and certified on March 28. One day before certifying the presidential primary election, all activities will be held for the special primary election. If a candidate receives a majority of votes during the special primary election, they will be declared the winner and will fill the vacant seat as early as the end of March. If no candidate receives a majority in the special primary, Kus and staff will then prepare for a special general election on May 21.
Kus remarked that “we are well situated to process and conduct the special vacancy elections with minimal impact to the presidential primary; we recognize that having two elections so close together will inevitably cause confusion for some voters.”
About 25% of county voters (about 125,000) will be affected by the special election to fill the congressional vacancy in district 20, said Kus, and direct mail will be sent to them early next month. He added that these ballots will be significantly different from the presidential primary ballots, at half the size and of a unique color, with special envelopes for delivery and return of the ballots.
Mendes wanted to know how much the special election would cost. Kus said about $250,000. Brandau said, “It’s gotta be tough,” regarding the work Kus was doing. “I know you’re gonna get it done,” he added. Brandau then asked about what would be done to publicize the election. The reply was public service announcements, social media and direct mail.
Pacheco pressed the case for consolidating ballots, which he said would have saved taxpayers money, and he repeated the phrase “a quarter of a million dollars” several times. Kus had already explained why consolidation was not feasible. “Irregardless [sic], you’re going to have confusion,” said Pacheco.
Mendes wondered if Newsom had called for the special election before Jan. 8 there would have been enough time to consolidate ballots. Kus again explained the complexity of the process, but Mendes seemed to want to find fault with the governor, despite McCarthy’s abrupt resignation having made the election necessary in the first place.
Magsig reiterated the need for publicizing the special election and suggested “partnering together” to “get the message out, using print media, television, radio.” He thanked Kus for bringing the matter to the board’s attention and getting it on the day’s agenda.
Agenda item 6 The board unanimously approved a licensing agreement between the Sheriff’s Office and the Sheriff’s Foundation for Public Safety, for the Sheriff’s Office use of a shooting range at 7633 North Weber Ave. in Fresno. The agreement extends the current license through Jan. 10, 2026, and total rent payments will be $305,808.
Agenda item 7 The board unanimously approved a liquor license for an applicant on South Fowler Avenue.
Agenda item 8 Supervisor reports.
Brandau had no comments.
Mendes spoke briefly but was unintelligible.
Pacheco had no remarks.
Quintero questioned funding of the YARTS program, which provides transportation to Yosemite — was funding by COG cut because of low ridership, which hasn’t recovered since the pandemic? He directed the question to Nerland, whose reply was “yes.” Quintero asked for a report.
Magsig said that he met with the Central Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and was committed to working with them.
Agenda Item 9 The board approved with a 5-0 vote several appointments of constituents to various committees.
Agenda Item 10 Public comment regarding matters not on the agenda. Eleven people, most wearing purple SEIU2015 T-shirts of the local In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) union, appeared as they have at every meeting for many months, to request a salary increase. A significant part of their hourly rate is controlled by the board, and labor negotiations have been ongoing. A few Spanish speakers were assisted by a translator. The current hourly salary for an IHSS worker is $16.60, and they are asking for $20, which as many pointed out, is the hourly salary for fast-food workers. Sonja Krantz said, “We are not making hamburgers,” adding that it was critical that they get a living wage.
Agenda Items 11-16 Closed session. One item concerned labor negotiations; the remaining 5 items concerned litigation. There were no public comments on any of these items. The board reconvened after a two-hour closed session, and Cederborg reported that regarding item 14, County of Fresno v. Faraz Gill (Fresno County Superior Court case number 21CECG02474), the board unanimously approved the order of judgment, providing for an injunction against Gill. The case involved a code enforcement matter.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at fresnodocs@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.
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