Gene Barrera

The Merced County Library's Strategic Plan 2021-2024 affirms the Library's vital role as a bridge to success through library services, innovative collaborations, and programming responsive to changing community needs. It focuses on four key objectives: creating welcoming and accessible library spaces, delivering programs tailored to diverse community needs, establishing the library as a visible, well-supported, and strong community partner, and ensuring a knowledgeable staff that embodies the library's mission, vision, and values. The plan aims to foster lifelong learning and empower communities by providing adapted programs and collections, enhancing community partnerships, and promoting discovery.

The meeting addressed items related to the Chowchilla Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). The primary action involved approving a proposed task order for Davids Engineering, Inc. to prepare the GSP Water Year 2025 Annual Report at a cost of $95,700. Additionally, the Merced County Chowchilla Groundwater Sustainability Agency authorized funding for its proportionate share of this annual report, which is subject to reimbursement by the Sierra Vista Mutual Water Company. Public comment periods were defined for non-agenda items, agenda items, and closed session matters.

The regular meeting commenced with presentations, including a report from the Lancers 4-H Club and an update on unpermitted food vending. The Consent Calendar items, which were all approved as recommended, covered findings of public safety emergencies requiring immediate bunk bed refurbishment at John Latorraca Correctional Center and emergency stabilization work along a creek in Los Banos. Other consent approvals included amendments to a contract for residential alcohol and drug recovery services, budget transfers based on increased revenue for the AAA Program, ratification of a Certificate of Recognition for a high school stadium opening, and reappointments to the Mosquito Abatement District Board of Trustees and the Merced County Law Library Board of Trustees. The Regular Calendar addressed the introduction of an ordinance regarding dumping and littering, a discussion regarding the California High-Speed Rail Authority Project, adoption of a resolution to establish Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder Counseling Services in county schools, contract approvals for Disaster Relief Payments Issuance, acceptance of grant funding for the California Home Visiting Program, authorization to surplus a helicopter, and acceptance of grant funds for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. Additionally, lease agreements for real property at Castle Commerce Center were approved. Lease agreements with Xing Kong Aviation Service, LLC (dba Sierra) were authorized. A retroactive Memorandum of Understanding for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act was approved. A scheduled public hearing was held to consider the annexation of AA24-007/SPR24-003 Into the Hilmar/Irwin Lighting Maintenance Zone of Benefit No. 100, which was subsequently approved by resolution.

The Board held a Closed Session to discuss existing litigation concerning Donor Network West, Inc. v. Superior Court of Merced County, et al., and a performance evaluation for the County Executive Officer. During the Regular Meeting, the Board confirmed Supervisor Daron McDaniel as the 2026 Chair and Supervisor Lloyd Pareira, Jr. as the 2026 Vice Chair. Consent Calendar items approved included budget transfers totaling $3,045,000 for the John Latorraca Correctional Center (JLCC) Expansion Project and the Admin Panic Buttons installation project, findings of public safety emergencies related to JLCC bunk bed refurbishment and emergency repair work on Los Banos Creek stabilization. The Board also approved an amendment to the Medi-Cal Capacity Grant contract termination date and ratified several Certificates of Recognition. Regular Calendar items involved approving new rate-based contracts for rehabilitative board and care services with GHC entities (Bayberry Skilled Nursing & Healthcare Center, The Bradley Gardens, and Horizon Health & Subacute Center) and authorizing acceptance of several grant allocations for Youth Set Aside, Bringing Families Home Program, and potential traffic safety funding. Additionally, a resolution was adopted affirming an Administrative Hearing Board decision regarding a Nuisance Abatement Appeal.

The Merced County Board of Supervisors held a meeting that included a closed session for real property negotiations regarding property on N. Gurr Road in Atwater and buildings at the Castle Commerce Center. The regular meeting featured presentations on an "I Voted" sticker contest and the annual crop report. The consent calendar included approvals for budget transfers, emergency actions for bunk bed refurbishment at the John Latorraca Correctional Center and creek stabilization along Los Banos Creek, amendments to contracts with Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and EDF Renewables Development, Inc., declaration of surplus property, an amendment to a Memorandum of Understanding related to Community Park 42, approval of an out-of-state travel request for the Sheriff, and ratification of a Certificate of Recognition. Regular calendar items involved a ratified Memorandum of Understanding between the County of Merced and the City of Merced for road improvements on McKee Road, a contract with California State University, Fresno Foundation for social worker training, grant agreements with the California Department of Public Health for sexually transmitted disease control and avian influenza preparedness, Memorandums of Understanding with the Cities of Gustine and Livingston for State Homeland Security Grant Programs funds, and a no-cost Memorandum of Understanding between the Superior Court of California, County of Merced, and Court Appointed Special Advocates of Merced County. Additionally, the board ratified a grant award from the California State Library for the Zip Books Project, approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Merced County Association of Governments for regional Geographic Information System data maintenance, approved bylaws changes and updates for MercedCERA, adopted a revision of the County of Merced Risk Management Policy, and appointed a member to the Santa Cruz-Monterey-Merced-San Benito-Mariposa Managed Medical Care Commission. The board also accepted and placed on file the Statement of Vote with certified election results for the Statewide Special Election.