Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors 05/30/2023

– Good early morning. I'' d like to call to get the May 30th, 2023 Board of Supervisors budget plan hearings for State budget plan hearings. If we could start with a roll call, please? -. Manager Koenig. – Here. – Cummings? – Below. – Hernandez? – Below. – McPherson? – Here. – As well as Friend? – Below. Um, we'' ll just start in fact with a Promise of Loyalty, if we could. I pledge loyalty to the flag of the USA of America and also to the republic for which it stands, one country under God, indivisible, with liberty as well as justice for all.Good early morning,

Mr. Palacios, exist any kind of modifications to today'' s agenda?- We have no improvements to the program. – Thanks. Greetings, Mr. Pimentel. We'' re gon na begin today with the budget plan supervisor'' s introduction. If we can start with you. Thank you. – Thank you, Chair Friend as well as Board of Supervisors. I'' m your County Spending plan Supervisor, Marcus Pimentel and I'' m pleased to provide to you, uh, welcome you to our second-day budget plan hearings for the 2023-24 recommended budget plan. Today'' s hearings, we ' ll continue our hearings that began on April 27th, or excuse me, May 9th, uh, complying with the release of our budget on April 27th. Over these following couple of days, divisions will prov- be supplying you discussions and also you will certainly obtain reviews on the content agenda and also divisions in its entirety, by myself today and also tomorrow early morning. We ask that we hold concerns for my presentation till the end as well as divisions will additionally have opportunities for you to present questions at the end of their presentations. Members of the public will certainly have a chance to provide input into the board of products during public remark, following the approval schedule products and after each division'' s presentation.The proposed budget and departmental basic records currently include the supplementary budget, which shows changes considering that the publication of the suggested spending plan, the unified cost schedule updates, and also suggested proceeding contracts listing. Much of this web content is likewise offered on our award-winning internet site on the spending plan website in our document library. As a suggestion, consisted of within our prize-winning spending plan, our sections on the CAOs budget plan message outlook, our financial overview and also monetary budgetary expectations, information about area solutions, exactly how tax obligation bucks are alloted across the county, market info, our 23-25 recommended operational plan, as well as certainly, information to be incorporated within our spending plan and also within the board records included today and also tomorrow'' s hearings. [Thuds] [Time out'] Today ' s hearings will certainly focus on the general federal government departments that are included in your authorization schedule, wellness and human solution divisions, as well as end with the very first fifty percent for our public safety and security and justice departments. These hearings will certainly proceed until tomorrow, May 31st, in conclusion the general public safety justice departments and also talk about the land usage in social work departments with capital tasks. The hearings will certainly then proceed to conclude on June 13th, 2023, with the last-day records as well as concluding actions. These following six slides are basically associate-, repeats from our May 9th discussion with mild updates so I'' ll move through them promptly. It is important to remind our board as well as our area that we are a-a-a region that is methodically underfunded and challenged by that underfunding standing. We are an one-of-a-kind area throughout the state of The golden state. We offer a better percent of our pop-, population than the majority of areas, and also we received much less funding than most of our peers as well as, and areas across the state. We have, such as many counties that we'' re, uh def-, postponed capital expense for our aging facilities and aging facilities.We ' ve supplied

several updates. We are still struggling with the cost of disaster action and recovery of those insurance claims, now dating three years from the COVID, and also the CZU fires of 2020, as well as the brand-new 2023 ' s twin calamity of tornado occasions that we ' ve needed to react to. We'' re struggling but moving in the direction of fulfilling spaces in our behavior health and wellness investments as well as looking outward, we have challenges with financing public safety and security emergency situation communications enhancements that will certainly improve our whole area systems. Included within our 1.1 billion budget is an equilibrium of $738 million basic fund, with 67 million still impressive from our COVID as well as CZU fire claims and over 300 million in non-funded resources investments.Our brand-new projection version

that we restore this loss, this past fall, jobs smaller but extra reliable shortages in out-years between 8 and also 10 million, and also we ' ve both shown illustrations in these slides, what it would take to bring our books approximately 15%. The reason that we'' re targeting a 15% get is, at our 10%reserve level, we are limited from spending and investing in our communities, particularly in the places of medical care financial investments. Much of our existing gets are, are … include health and wellness care financing, that, uh, to satisfy our 10% we need to hold those gets and not allocate those towards tasks or broadening solutions. When we back out those health-funded books, our reserves dropped to 4% or regarding 1.3 … 1.8 payroll cycles. As a truly vital pointer our … Within our general fund, this budget recommends to money 223.4 countless our discretionary general fund income. This profits is based upon 210 million in qualified revenue being available in.

That develops a delta of just under 13 million bucks that we'' re predicting to resolve through budgetary financial savings, and some intended administrative administration throughout the year. We'' re overprescribing our general fund divisions, and also these financial investments of 223 million includes considerable investments to preserve as well as sustain our workforce, well over 12 million dollars coming into this year. [Pause] The recommended rises in the whole budget countywide, all funds consists of 36.45 positions, or just over 1%, and also overall expenses boost of 38.6 million or 3.6%. This is an austere spending plan, and also we'' ve worked and also took care of with all of our departments that'' ve done an amazing task in, in keeping our, our budget balanced and solvent as we search in the out-years. This chart stands for the rises in our significant categories, recommending to add 14.7 settings in our Health as well as Human Being Providers, 6 settings in Public Safety and security and also Justice, 11.8 placements in land usage and also community growth, and also 4 positions throughout basic government.Those information will

be reviewed in Department Budget Hearings and I ' ll cover them a bit in a couple of minutes. As just a recap, our, we'' re coming close to completion of our budget cycle that stat-, started November. We get on May 30th, so we'' re on the second day of budget plan hearings. Tomorrow will certainly be day 3 as well as we'' ll end our budget hearings on June 13th where the board will certainly do something about it to approve the 23-24 budget. [Pause] Including our permission program items are all the basic fund government- general government, excuse me, general governmental departments, uh, I'' ll supply just a short wrap-up. There are even more information in the schedule package and the specific board records by each department.Within this classification of our basic government, there ' s a 123.9 million in expenses recommended, of that 78 -78.7 million is our other funds. When we back that up, our general fund portion of this category is just 45.2 million. The largest departments and also solution groups are Worker Risk Administration, Details Services, and General Services. [Time out] Within these divisions, they all … some of them count on basic fund payments to balance their procedures. A number of these departments are not revenue-generating so they depe -, they depend upon subsidies.County Admin Workplace as well as Personnel as well as Danger Monitoring, and also County Staff Political Elections are a few of the bigger departments with financing requires to maintain their equilibriums entire. [Pause] Throughout these divisions, there are extremely few increases. Personnel Risk Management are more concerning reserving readily available fund balances and other funds for claim reserves. Those are not necessarily expenditures. Support those up, there ' re really modest boosts across the whole basic government department. 2 positions for Area Council, one setting for the Assessor-Recorder, as well as one position in Information Provider. Again, these are explained in detail in the specific division spending plan reports in the permission schedule items. One more area on consent is our area funding. This is the section that consists of the allocate our basic fund debt service, our general fund contingency at 1%of our basic fund costs, and also our basic county revenue.The proposed budget -strategies to encumber 41.5 million in expenditures, 20 million mainly in region financing for financial obligation service, and also 20.6 million in our funding tasks. Resources jobs will be gone over in even more information tomorrow at the end of tomorrow ' s hearings. Within these sections, there are no placements in these departments however the delta and the changes for every of these areas are expenditures generally area earnings. They have actually some expenses connected to some transfers out. Uh, there-, they dropped 2.5 million. Financial obligation solution rose 1.6 million largely connected to the south county government service center. Contingencies are down and also capital projects have increased, and also again, those will be discussed carefully tomorrow and they ' re consisted of in the bo -, in the board packets. Health as well as Human Being Solutions, the 2 most significant departments in our county, will-will certainly supply thorough discussions when I ' m done. That will certainly be covered by the Wellness Services Agency and the Person Solutions Division, and also on permission are our various other departments Youngster Assistance Providers as well as core investments.These funds completes 45-, 451.5 million in expenditures for the entire county, county-wide, of that-the mass of that is general fund, 447.2 million with a small quantity, about 10%, 4.3 million, and also other funds for our

ecological health, uh, funds. You can see the Human and also Health and wellness Solution divisions are several of our largest divisions as well as several of our largest company in our community. Wellness and also Human Services relies upon general fund contributions, [Faint] of 23.1 million for human solutions, 14.8 for wellness services, and the core financial investments is totally moneyed by our General Fund contributions, 4.9 million.The modifications in these divisions are mainly credited to the 9.7 placements in health services and also 5 placements being added to human solutions. Both these divisions, as you ' ll hear following my discussion, count on a great deal of federal and also state financing

. So, they ' ll have swings in profits and also expenditures that are suits. They ' ll receive a give which ' ll be funded by expenses. So, the boosts in costs are offset by boosts in income. Our Public Safety And Security as well as Justice Departments, the 3 that we ' ll present today, Office of Healing, Reaction, Resilience, our Public Defender Workplace as well as Probation Division as well as then tomorrow, these hearings will proceed with the Area Attorney, Public Administrator, and the Sheriff-Coroner, and also tomorrow ' s approval program item will certainly include the general public Security Departments. All at once, they account to 200 million bucks. The biggest departments are Sheriff-Coroner, Probation and also Area lawyer, as well as Public Protector, as well as of them, regarding 16.8 million are other funds, largely area fire with some financing for Constable- Constable Special, Special District funds.In total amount, there ' s 183 million in basic fund financing within these departments suggested in the budget plan. They depend on a total amount of 114 million. About half of their expenditures are covered by the basic fund. The biggest, uh, support mosting likely to the Sheriff-Coroner at 66.1 numerous general fund earnings mosting likely to sustain the Sheriff-Coroner ' s, uh, division, 16 million for the public protector, 17 million for the district lawyer, and also 9.5 million mosting likely to support the public probation. [Pause] The changes in these divisions are mainly with the Sheriff-Coroner', 5 million dollars connected as you ' ll listen to in their presentations tomorrow, mandated expense boosts to provide, uh, raised health and wellness care as well as psychological health and wellness solutions to our, uh, detainees in our constable detention. As additionally in our -replicated in the probation division, their costs have actually risen for health care as well as psychological health and wellness expenses. The positions are modest throughout all these departments with three being contributed to the Sheriff-Coroner, 2 with the Public Defender, and one for the District Attorney. That ends my review. It -it -I wan na hand the flooring off to the divisions who will certainly be coming in behind me as well as offering a whole lot more details to their operations but I ' m available for questions now before we go right into consent.- Are there inquiries from any of my colleagues up below?-Thanks for the presentation. If you can go back to the previous slide, I wonder. I ' m simply interested ' reason I know there ' s been a variety of slides that appeared. We have the orange bars as well as the blue bars alongside each various other. I ' m just wondering what the relationship is between those.-The orange bars are position rises, and for the divisions, the blue bars represent their expense boost. In this situation ', the Area Lawyer is adding one position. Their prices have actually increased 700, about 710,000 dollars over, uh. -'Great. Thank you. -Yep. Thank you for the question. – Manager McPherson.-Yeah. I just wanted to make some basic remarks and thank you for, uh, all the coun-region personnel for presenting and creating this budget it.I believe you ' ve had … It permits more public gain access to than I can bear in mind in my 10 years right here as an area supervisor, and when I look at the budget as an entire, department by department, what I see is a thoughtful calculated strategy, [clicks tongue] That addresses exactly how our county is going to operate in this next fiscal year, uh,'and also exactly how our economic climate is located, uh, with the bigger national and also statewide image. Um, I ' m thankful we ' ve been mindful in our budgeting procedure and also approach in partnering with their workforce. I can ' t claim sufficient about them, our staff members, while ensuring our county remains in good monetary health. As our operation strategy shows, we have actually done a lot of limited resources, as well as, uh, thanks to the ded-dedication of all the workers and also county government, it ' s been-these last few years, it ' s been, has been impressive, what they have actually done, gone above and beyond, as well as I ' m delighted this spending plan permits us to satisfy our responsibilities when it concerns negotiating settlement with our employees.That is truly excellent in preserving our gets, which you said we just can ' t. That ' s a target constantly. Hey, they ' re there, allow ' s spend them. No, uh, we need to do it carefully, as well as I thank you for your explanation on that, and it appears more hard than ever before to remain affordable in our employment as well as retention efforts under the scenarios we have with our housing scarcity as well as'similar housing prices that we have below in Santa Cruz'Region, the'transportation requires. The truth that other territories in our region use greater, umm, salaries, thanks to obtaining a higher sha -share of the neighborhood tax base, and also as you specified, we ' re, we ' re in a position that we can ' t get out of, uh, not because-well, we simply can ' t make that move to get even more real estate tax earnings, for example and so forth.But while we add-work to resolve these areas, , I-one factor I can not mention enough is that we need to see better repayment from the state and also federal government. Um, with COVID as well as the CZU fires', as well as the climatic reser- river occasions that we ' ve had this previous pair of years, it ' s just over

the top. Uh, we struck one time, two times, 3 times, which stated, I wish to claim thank you to our own state and also federal agents that we have. John Laird, State Legislator John Laird as well as Robert Rivas, that is going to come to be audio speaker next month of the setting up , and also uh, and after that an issue who is currently not our congresswoman.She was attracted out of our county in the brand-new reapportionment however Jimmy Panetta has been here for, uh, often and they get it. They know what we are encountering uh, and also have had the -the toughness to draw the Head of state of the USA here to see what, what difficulties we encounter in Santa Cruz Area. So, I ' m really pleased with their efforts yet, uh, we

need to, uh, flip the button somewhere, uh, in FEMA particularly, to get the uh, well, it ' s possibly close complete to around 100 million dollars now.-We ' re going to be north of … yeah, north of 100 million with 50 to 70 million from this year alone -Okay. So and also the last three years, as I said, have actually been actually tough as well as what has actually'been, uh, the majority of, uh, discouraging is that uh, a few of the things we intend to do and also especially in my area, where it'has entirely septic storage tanks, uh, that ' s supervised and controlled a lot by the state, and also just how promptly we can, we can actually react to that.Fire accessibility is the 2nd point. The fire departments of the CAL FIRE as well as just how. what is required since wasn ' t required in the past, and also need to be part of the rebuilding procedure, , and after that the geological requirements that we have right here and some of the limitations we have, specifically in my 5th area. I ' m not attempting to make reasons, this is simply the reality. We would all like to relocate quicker than we have however, uh, we do have to deal with state and also federal policies to reconstruct this area, from those 3 disasters'that I ' ve pointed out. So I just wish to state I-I ' m really, in general, um, really pleased as well as encouraged by the actions that has been taken by our whole county workforce.They ' ve functioned over and also beyond the call of obligation, many added hrs as numerous people have actually seen. I anticipate learning through the divisions and also, to bring the suggested spending plans, uh, we have a great deal of unpredictability a-ahead of us however, I believe that the projections that you have actually made, the re-the facts that you ' ve revealed, that combination of e- uh, events, we simply need to maintain functioning on it, and also I truly intend to value,

uh, once again, the complete core of the area employees that we have as well as what they have done these last three years. It ' s actually remarkable. Thank you.- Thanks, Supervisor McPherson. Alright, we want to provide the area a possibility to, um, come speak with us on items regarding the authorization schedule today.So if there ' s any type of participant of the area that wish to resolve this on any one of the products that get on permission before the board as well as makes discuss authorization, and additionally considers it. Is there anyone in the community that would such as to resolve this to remain on the permission schedule, or if you ' re unable to stay for the routine agenda products likewise for that.Please do not hesitate to progression. [throat clearing] All right, I ' m seeing none in chambers that want to talk with us on the Permission Agenda. Is there anyone online, Madam Clerk?-I ' m not seeing any type of speakers online, Chair. -Okay. I ' ll bring it back to the board. Exist any kind of discuss the permission schedule from board participants?-Well, I ' d.- Please- It just requires to be stated

item number 15, our Area Administrative Police officer, uh, Carlos Palacios as well as his group, when again for, uh, their excellent leadership in the previous numerous years.There ' s been an incredible quantity of modifications that we ' ve had to make as well as to look onward as best we can without the financing sources that we need from the state and federal agencies that we-that I pointed out earlier. We were able to raise the compensation, uh, while likewise making investments in catastrophe response, , climate advertisement- adjustment, public health and wellness, housing the homeless, as well as various other vital locations, without the consistent and ni-active leadership of Auto -Carlos Palacios as well as his whole team, we would truly be in an extreme, uh, economic hole much extra than we have now. I believe they have a wonderful insight, and it ' s much valued by this board supervi-this manager as well as I ' m certain the entire Board of Supervisors, and likewise, the County Council under Region Council, Jason Health, uh, we ' ve had a lot of problems that we ' ve had to encounter that, uh, we couldn ' t have predicted and he ' s- he as well as his team have really reacted so, so well, for us, for, to readjust to what is reality and also what ' s different, and also uh', to-with no mistake of anybody else, , just the all-natural COVID, fires, storms, whatever, we ' ve had to make some actual adjustments therefore, I ' m really satisfied of that.Also in the authorization agenda, the General Provider Division, to hire to deal with a host of requirements throughout the countless county centers and also the car fleet that we have. The work environment has actually changed a large amount as a result of COVID, as well as, uh, your difficult job to maintain, uh, the physical rooms and also prepare for the future center'requirements is really highly valued, and afterwards on details services, number 19.

This is an additional department whose efforts have actually touched many elements of, uh, the region which we are much more reliant on than ever before, the technology that we get and also as rapidly as we can obtain it and make it as public as – as rapidly as feasible, uh, and this budget plan is an example of that itself. I think the info serve -serves the team, does this work while additionally safeguarding against the threats of our cybersecurity, and, uh, that ' s -that ' s an issue that ' s gon na be -become more pronounced as the -the months and weeks and years go by currently, uh, it appears like new points are happening, uh, that we have to stay on par with and secure our residents at the very same time.So, uh, those-those couple of on the, uh, basic services, uh, or the, uh, the approval schedule, I should state. I just intend to point out what a fantastic task that they have done, uh, with these last'3 years. Thanks.- Thanks. All right, we ' re gon na resume public comment. Mr. Whitman, you recognize, we did make 3 phone calls for public comments, so I ' m gon na -I am gon na resume it up for public remark and

give you an opportunity ' create it ' s important that people are listened to, but just when we make the calls, it ' d be useful if you can tip ahead.-You know, I was trying to value what you had actually established, which was to simply make discuss the authorization program products'. I had a whole lot more to state than just commenting on thing number 24, as well as number 25, which are both concerning$5.9 billion of a budget. That ' s, uh,$ 1.1 billion.Um, so, yeah, there ' s a great deal of points I would in fact like to say, yet I presume as long. I-I truly simply type of concern the authority of every one of you, males, and, uh, I guess the entire county ' s really privileged that, um, you individuals are guys due to the fact that the only thing a lot more wicked than men are women, so you men are less complicated to deal with. I will, uh, leave it at that, and but I wear ' t understand why we put on ' t have 3 minutes

to comment on the authorization agenda items, or public remarks or any kind of products that come up.

I ' m just curious ' cause I recognize there ' s been a number of slides that stood out up. As our procedure plan reveals, we have done a terrific offer of minimal sources, and also, uh, many thanks to the ded-devotion of all the employees and area government, it ' s been-these last couple of years, it ' s been, has actually been remarkable, what they have actually done, gone the additional mile, and also I ' m glad this budget enables us to meet our obligations when it comes to discussing compensation with our employees.That is really great in keeping our gets, which you stated we just can ' t. The fact that other jurisdictions in our region use greater, umm, wages, thanks to obtaining a greater sha -share of the local tax base, and as you mentioned, we ' re, we ' re in a placement that we can ' t obtain out of, uh, not because-well, we simply can ' t make that step to obtain even more building tax revenue, for circumstances and also so forth.But while we include-job to address these areas, , I-one factor I can not state adequate is that we have to see greater reimbursement from the state and federal government. I believe the details offer -serves the group, does this work while also protecting against the dangers of our cybersecurity, as well as, uh, that ' s -that ' s a problem that ' s gon na be -become extra noticable as the -the months and weeks and years go by currently, uh, it appears like new points are taking place, uh, that we have to maintain up with as well as secure our people at the same time.So, uh, those-those few on the, uh, general solutions, uh, or the, uh, the approval program, I should say. Mr. Whitman, you know, we did make three phone calls for public remarks, so I ' m gon na -I am gon na resume it up for public comment and also

offer you a chance ' cause it ' s crucial that people are heard, however just when we make the calls, it ' d be handy if you could tip ahead.What that indicates is our personnel are creating grants, they ' re, uh, taking benefit of Medi-Cal reimbursement, and as an outcome, we ' re producing much more services for our community.What this additionally informs you is that if we ' re generating much more bucks, we ' re likewise offering more solutions. Undoubtedly with, uh', fiscal sustainability, there ' s a whole lot that we ' re monitoring currently, the favorable is that we ' re taking benefit in mix of our Cal-Aim, our enhanced treatment monitoring, the Medi-Cal management tasks combined. Um, in combination with the high job rates that we have, um, and our

staff being pretty shed out, it ' s -it ' s coming to be a little hard for us.However, we ' re extremely confident because we know that this is absolutely, uh, for us, a lasting version as we relocate forward.

I ' m not really comfortable with us taking action on that.I ' d like to proceed it to have that transparent, but as you can see, like these- all these companies have absolutely nos following to exactly how much they'' re supposed to be obtaining designated, and also we know that certainly there'' s funding that ' s supposed to be recurring, going towards those companies. -What we ' re highlighting for you is truly an investment not just in, , the framework jobs that we have to guarantee that we ' re serving our community, as well as the high need of demands that we see in our neighborhood around behavior wellness, clinical treatment, as well as, public health and wellness services.So our budget plan for 23/24 mirrors, , you understand, there ' s two points going on right here for me. What that means is our staff are writing gives, they ' re, uh, taking advantage of Medi-Cal compensation, and also as an outcome, we ' re producing a lot more services for our community.What this additionally tells you is that if we ' re producing more bucks, we ' re likewise giving more services. Undoubtedly with, uh', monetary sustainability, there ' s a great deal that we ' re surveillance currently, the positive is that we ' re taking advantage in mix of our Cal-Aim, our enhanced treatment monitoring, the Medi-Cal management activities incorporated. Um, in mix with the high job prices that we have, um, and also our

staff being pretty shed out, it ' s -it ' s ending up being a little challenging for us.However, we ' re very confident due to the fact that we understand that this is certainly, uh, for us, a lasting model as we move ahead.Um, we'' ve hired 5 brand-new positions in the last, um, obtained 5 months, and that ' s actually for us, I ' ve listened to record-breaking, so we ' re attempting to relocate quickly.Um, we ' re also attempting to get much better at offering the great work that we ' re doing in Santa Cruz, , as well as highlighting the effect that we have.- ', so it ' s, uh-it ' s truly, uh, to your credit history, uh, that you ' ve been able to provide these, uh-uh, new programs that are mandated, um, this ever-changing, uh, system that we have.Uh, the range of behavior health and wellness, as well as public wellness, and Kid care, as well as specialized care taken care of by the county, uh, it ' s really kind of staggering I assume. Um, and also just how you were'able to get your arms around all of that at the same time, uh, when there ' s transforming, there ' s, uh, needs coming from the state, um, you recognize, this takes treatment -uh, takes place, uh, just as Health care changes, uh, day to day, uh, with Cal-Aim, care courts, and also other significant programs that we ' re gon na have to implement, uh, to a stronger degree, I assume in the-in the near future, as well as I ' m pleased to see a deeper financial investments in, uh, we are making through this budget as well as team safety and security as well.

Um, we'' ve hired 5 brand-new placements in the last, , got five months, and that ' s in fact for us, I ' ve heard record-breaking, so we ' re attempting to relocate quickly.Um, we ' re likewise trying to obtain much better at offering the great work that we ' re doing in Santa Cruz, , and highlighting the effect that we have. Is there ever before -I mean, what are the parameters of those gives, I suggest, could we, you understand, if we'' re not filling those positions, could we shift, I imply, raise in the wages, and then, however have much less complete placements, uh, if we ' re still not filling them, you understand, could we look at moving any of those funds to, you understand, sustain much better health results in a various means various other than a setting simply because we understand we ' re not loading it?- ', so it ' s, uh-it ' s truly, uh, to your credit history, uh, that you ' ve been able to supply these, uh-uh, brand-new programs that are mandated, um, this ever-changing, uh, system that we have.Uh, the array of behavior health and wellness, and also public health, and Kid care, as well as specialized treatment managed by the county, uh, it ' s really kind of incredible I assume. Um, as well as exactly how you were'able to get your arms around all of that at the same time, uh, when there ' s transforming, there ' s, uh, requirements coming from the state, , you recognize, this takes treatment -uh, takes location, uh, simply as Health and wellness care changes, uh, day to day, uh, with Cal-Aim, care courts, and also various other major programs that we ' re gon na have to carry out, uh, to a more powerful degree, I believe in the-in the close to future, and I ' m delighted to see a much deeper investments in, uh, we are making via this budget and also staff safety and security too. Um, so it'is concerning in terms of the services that they ' re providing, we ' re also worried with our members that work at HPHP, and just how long it ' s been taken, um, to address their concerns under working conditions.I, the, the issue, I- I can'' t think of a division or I -I-'I put on ' t see a division with even more, uh, stress on it in an in a progressing state and also federal landscape than your division with, I mean, with an entire discussion on Cal-Aim formerly, Care Court, uh, numerous number of new state mandates normally with, um, one time funding as opposed to longitudinal funding.Uh, the pressures on, on your division, and also the significance of your division, which was highlighted also a lot more so in the last couple of years can'' t be, uh, overstated, and also so I appreciate the work and I- and also I completely understand the sense, uh, within your division of staff members that- that feel ill-used, and also feel like they have uh, been through a great deal, and by the method they'' ve likewise been, in some respects, there-there hasn ' t been full assistance from the community. I believe this board values, I understand this board values your job, and also we'' ve seen it from behind the scenes, and also there are a whole lot of people that are to life in this neighborhood since of your work over the last few years that wouldn'' t -wouldn ' t be right here otherwise.So we value that. That finishes my summary, and I ' m gon na transform it over to Kimberly, who ' s gon na share some about the operational plan, as well as its nexus with just how we constructed our budget.

I, the, the issue, I- I can'' t imagine a department or I -I-'I don ' t see a division with even more, uh, stress on it in an in an evolving state as well as government landscape than your department with, I indicate, with a whole discussion on Cal-Aim formerly, Care Court, uh, many number of brand-new state mandates normally with, um, one time financing as opposed to longitudinal funding.Uh, the pressures on, on your department, and also the relevance of your department, which was highlighted also a lot more so in the last couple of years can'' t be, uh, overemphasized, as well as so I value the work and I- as well as I totally comprehend the feeling, uh, within your department of workers that- that feel ill-used, and also really feel like they have actually uh, been through a whole lot, and also by the method they'' ve likewise been, in some areas, there-there hasn ' t been complete assistance from the neighborhood. We'' re not alone as, , the supervisor knows, I- I have the benefit of chairing CSAC'' s HS board statewide, and also all 58 areas are having employment issues.It ' s extra severe on'the coastal counties since of some of the issues that were mentioned by the director in regard to housing, yet we'' re not -we ' re not alone. – I'' ll step -I ' ll relocate the Wellness Providers Firm spending plan. I'' ll -I ' ll continue. That ends my summary, and I ' m gon na transform it over to Kimberly, that ' s gon na share some regarding the operational plan, as well as its nexus with just how we built our budget.Real estate for wellness is plainly a county-wide effort that is provided in the Human being Provider Department. So we wished to offer it unique acknowledgment, specifically given the humanitarian dilemma that persists as well as some would certainly argue is worsening. 3 huge takeaways from this image. First is, it is to reveal that we have nearly a 6-time boost in the amount of cash we'' ve been able to draw from government and state sources, to support our efforts going pre-COVID to the largest graph there when you check out current . Second and a large highlight, which I'' ll share a couple of times, is that these are all one-time grants contrasted to the Person Services Department budget plan wide, which is nearly 95%predictable in stable allowances, the housing for Wellness Division is the contrary 95% single grants, which makes it really hard to carry out security internet system when you have no predictability of what'' s imminent in terms of a budget plan. And also then lastly is the color coding, simply to give you a concept of resource which I'' ll now stroll through.So this kind of

orange brownish shade is a mix of federal and also state one-time gives in the quantity of$18 million. The blue is the continued basic fund contribution, which is the only fairly steady resource of funding we have. After that I desire to raise up the environment-friendly as well as the yellow. The environment-friendly is task residence key as well as if you remember project room secret was the name of the federal and also state-funded COVID treatment to stop the spread of COVID for those that are unsheltered or needed to separate or quarantine otherwise, and afterwards the state and [inaudible] brought out task home secret to aid buy um, neighborhood inexpensive real estate such as resorts that have been made use of for COVID shielding, and we succeeded in obtaining $19 numerous house vital awards that remain in the process of being constructed. And after that the yellow is an one-time set aside from the state that specified to our regional community-based company partner real estate matters for some construction-related work with their university however it was needed to go via city government, to make sure that is mosting likely to be coming through Human Services.So those are the shade codes and I do intend to finish with highlighting over on the right under house trick. Your board has actually authorized already the application for the 3rd round of home crucial awards and if we succeed in those applications, we can have as high as 40 extra million dollars of home key grants to help construct even more budget-friendly housing in our neighborhood. Yet all of that is at a cost which is the extraordinary work that we ' re all still dealing with taking care of offered the intricacy of these funding streams, the reporting requirements and also Medical professional Ratner, the department lead and also I have actually shared that'with your board prior, but I simply wish to acknowledge what comes with this volume of new money, unprecedented volume is a quantity of job we ' re still taking care of. So, next slide. [Time out] Validating following slide.-The slides have been updated, Randy. Go in advance. -Okay, thank you. It just revealed up on my screen. Currently this is a fast summary of the opportunities and the obstacles in the real estate for wellness department. Is the real estate component. This is under ReHNA or the Regional Real Estate Needs Assessment, which is every 8 years, there ' s an opportunity for the community to come together to recognize just how to build more affordable housing for extremely low-income and also all-income strata. Next chance is, it was discussed by Trish that there ' s a solid campaigning for in our state associations and uh, Chair Close friend stated he ' s the Chair of Health as well as Person Services at the California State Association of Counties where there ' s a great deal of discussion about the need to obtain cleaner administration and also organization around handling real estate and also being homeless in neighborhood'community in between cities, areas, and also the state, as well as most especially to identify guaranteed financing'rather than living on one-time gives. Third is CalAIM. I won ' t repeat what has been mentioned earlier and we had a chance to offer a discussion with health last month, as well as lastly the supplier swimming pool, this is a thing we will be bringing to your board next month which if embraced by your board will assist us handle the volume of grants more expeditiously.And after that to the difficulties, as I stated, the one-time grant financing proceeds to be a problem that we hope in time the feds as well as state will certainly buy steady financing for local federal government to handle uh, the safeguard we run. The next is the absence of budget friendly real estate, as your board realizes, but worth duplicating, we are one of the most expensive rental market in California when you change for median earnings and also housing price to acquisition are going up. This is not only a challenge for helping those with with reduced income and unsheltered, however also workforce.Next is building expense arising, which indicates there ' s less cash readily available to construct economical real estate even when we get these gives. And after that finally, I desire to discuss the concern of calamity action, as the unsheltered crisis is expanding in communities, especially where cost of living is high, like the coast

. During disasters of which we have several, the conflation of what neighborhoods are to do to aid those that are unsheltered and also those that are displaced yet or else protected is obtaining very confusing, who funds it, that ' s accountable, and also it ' s a concern that ' s playing out statewide as well as the difficulty that we ' re bought functioning through.So, following slide. I will end the presentation with a fast recap of some of the highlights of the proposed state budget plan. The reason this is listed as suggested is the state spending plan cycle remains in January. The guv launches a budget plan mid-May, it ' s changed which just appeared a couple of weeks earlier, and after that we await the state legislature and governor to take on the spending plan by July 1st. You ' ve already read about adjustment, which declares that it ' s still expanding, yet we have much less discretion as it ' s reducing. I ' ve currently discussed the one-time funding, it does proceed, which given the cooling down economy, wish to reveal recognition for the governor and our Secretary of Health and also Human Providers for continuing that financing, but equilibrium that with the statement that we require it to be a lot more lasting than the one-time grants.Second to last item in the state budget worth highlighting is Medi-Cal, our single largest program in Human Providers. Over 90,000 Santa Cruz citizens, it was pointed out earlier that everybody who gets on Medi-Cal in The golden state did not have to go via an annual redetermination till the general public wellness emergency was lifted. This following , everybody will have to, therefore the state has moneyed us to be able to have actually raised capacity to take care of those redeterminations, and also last under Medi-Cal, we value the State of The golden state that as of this next , makes everybody who is otherwise eligible to their revenue and properties, eligible for Medi-Cal despite migration condition by closing the last accomplice of 26 to 49-year-olds. As well as this causes the last item which remains in the in-home helpful solutions program. This is a program that offers 3000 Santa Cruz Region locals that get on Medi-Cal, are regarded age blind and also disabled and also without in-home treatment would or else be put out of house and institutional care. We had actually enhanced allotments both for the predicted caseload development because of the growing maturing populace, however also due to the fact that those who are undocumented are currently eligible for Medi-Cal.

This directly links to why we have in front of you added budget plans to add some staffing in the in-home helpful services program due to this enhanced revenue. And afterwards ultimately, I intend to identify the state and the feds adopted in COVID a wage supplement for at home treatment suppliers as a result of the number of carriers who are getting COVID and couldn ' t offer in-home treatment. The state has determined to make this wage supplement system, uh, irreversible as well as has actually given us an enhanced appropriation to handle uh, the application of that service provider backup system which after that leads to the last slide.Which is to just merely request your board to approve our proposed 2023-24 spending plan. Consisting of the 7 new settings, the 5 that were noted, and the 2 in the supplemental, and also to finish, simply a thank you and gratitude for the possibility for us to offer Santa Cruz Region community. Thank you.-Thank you, Supervisor Morris. Uh, exist any inquiries or comments from board participants? Uh, Manager McPherson?- Yeah. I wish to say thanks to Supervisor Morris and also the entire, uh, group of-of Person Solutions for their technology and also flexibility under the

scenarios that we have, as well as similarly your partners with uh, the Health and wellness Providers Firm, uhm, you ' re constantly managing an ever-changing landscape from what the federal and state federal governments are requiring people or giving us. Uhm, as well as you-you do offer a remarkable quantity of solutions to our senior citizens and our households with children, folks with specials needs and those experiencing homelessness. So um, it ' s truly the target area of what we need to do uh, to serve our people of Santa Cruz Region. Uhm, and you were in the center of the COVID reaction as well as the CZU fires, uh, when it came to sheltering the a lot of vulnerable.I can ' t thank you enough of what you provided for that, which stated, , we won ' t have the ability to give it seems the same degree of service as we are currently during future catastrophes without, uh, higher sustained support as was discussed by Supervisor Morris. Uh, however um, all this it comes as the eligibility growth of Medi-Cal takes area, and also I have a question like it did for the health and wellness solutions, would certainly you define a little more regarding the regional effect of boosted Medi-Cal, uh, qualification beginning next year? Do you, do you have a-a -a general thought of what you ' re

going'to have, what we ' re going to have to do to fulfill that? [Time out]-I was …-Kimberly. Why put on ' t you proceed, Kimberly, as well as clarify Supervisor McPhersons concern. There ' s a couple different angles on that particular. -Budgetarily or program-wise for influence on the neighborhood?-Well, budgetarily, at this moment, yeah.-And afterwards I ' ll … [Time out] – , as Randy pointed out, we did get enhanced appropriations to help with those Medi-Cal redeterminations. Um, due to our high job rates, we are badly challenged in the employment and Benefit Services Department. Presently, there is a shortage of benefit agents that are able to process'those redeterminations. So we have, um, arranged the added allowance to be spent via overtime for our present personnel. – Okay. And in the program wise, um, I think that would certainly be for you Kimberly, I don ' t understand. Yeah.-Sure. , program wise that indicates that , rather a lot anybody in the community who, , that is lower earnings as well as can apply for Medi-Cal and be eligible for full-scope. What we call full range Medi-Cal, sorry for the language. Essentially um, in the past, someone who was undocumented, but and that got approved for Medi-Cal would just be eligible for, um, emergency situation services. Meaning if somebody was expecting, , they could take advantage of Medi-Cal solutions, or if it was actually, really like a life or fatality, loss of arm or leg scenario, would certainly they be covered for'Medi-Cal. To make sure that will transform and also they will certainly be able um, eligible for Medi-Cal as a typical wellness care insurance coverage.- Okay. Thank you.- Supervisor McPherson, I intend to likewise piggyback on Kimberly declarations to identify some crucial work in partnership with our neighborhood partners.One of the primary factors people drop off of Medi-Cal during yearly revival is because we do not have their correct address. The factor we wear ' t have their correct address is people frequently relocate. They could be unsheltered, etcetera as well as particularly when no one needed to do a renewal for nearly 3 years. I intend to identify the partnership we have with numerous community-based companies, especially the Wellness Improvement Collaboration that has been functioning closely with us to get to out to everybody in the health safeguard, anytime someone comes in to obtain treatment in the health safety and security net, to help encourage them, give us with upgraded address information. In the year in advance, we will certainly find out if exactly how successful that is. Yet as a result of that partnership, I assume fewer individuals are going to lose their Medi-Cal since we have actually been able to connect our systems as well as reach out to them um, as well as obtain the information to them so they can renew. [Time out] -Manager Koenig? -Thank you, Chair. Thank you, HSD team. Uhm, my concern has to do with the mass treatment as well as shelter. Exactly how much did we end up costs in 2022-23 on mass treatment and also shelter? I didn ' t see like the thing shown in the budget plan and after that does that simply obtain piled on our FEMA cases? [Pause] -I ' ll -I ' ll start and afterwards I may rely on, , Trish for assistance.Uhm, in regards to-in regards to just how much we spend, I recognize that if it, um, if what we spent is eligible for FEMA, it obtains stacked on. Uhm, commonly though in the middle of the emergency situation, we really bill it to the emergency operations, um, versus within our HSD budget plan. Does that help address the question? -I don ' t have the budget plan numbers before me currently, yet I ' m-I ' m going to think that it ' s somewhere in the area of , $7 million to$ 10 million is my guess. I ' m looking to Marcus to assist validate that for me, yet um, that, that ' s kind of what my assumption is between staffing time and afterwards the expense of really running the sanctuaries, particularly with our partnership with Monterey Region, sheltering the locals from the Pajaro flooding.

-Okay. Thanks that approximation is valuable. Any suggestion of what portion of that is FEMA eligible? [Time out] Uhm, normally, with FEMA repayment, , they do attempt to do qualified prices just, as well as when they identify which costs are really eligible, FEMA will cover 75% of those'qualified expenses, and also Cal-OES will usually choose up, um, 75%of the staying 25%that ' s eligible.So it ' s, it … [removes throat] … winds up being a really little area match eventually. But as Marcus talked with earlier, we are still taking care of outstanding FEMA funds from 3 years back, therefore, it ' s, it ' s- it can be a little bit of an obstacle. -As well as, as well as I can simply clarify, Marcus Pimentel, Region Spending Plan Manager, that although the storms happened in, in January, uh, the majority of, a lot of the month of January, , those cases have simply been now compiled as well as are being sent to FEMA.So we can supply the board with an upgrade, uh, at one of the coming meetings on the forecasts for those first tornado expenses. We ' re still assembling all the costs for the second occasion. I believe, uh, Trish ' s price quote is possibly right. Um, we ' re probably in the seven to$10 million response range, uh,

in between both occasions and also considering 60-ish million in funding and also other, uh, healing costs and problems.- Yeah, I suggest, it appears like also, generally where the capital price reimbursement structure is a little bit extra strong'. It, it appears like, as for giving mass care as well as sanctuary. Uh, I mean, as, as for I understand, we ' re still, uh, you recognize, bargaining, discussing with, with FEMA what percent of that is qualified in terms of, uh, several of the COVID sanctuary we offered. Uh, you recognize, nowhere

near is, is specific that we would certainly obtain the compensation for this, you know, 75 %of the 7 to 10 million here.-Oh, I assume that ' s extremely astute.Uh, previous [Inaudible] Koenig, what we ' ve found with FEMA in relation to COVID is they ' re experiencing their-the third revision of treatment safeguarding as well as EOC feedback and also modifying plans. They ' re doing that energetic now, at a retroactive to 2022 or 2020, excuse me. So we ' ll discover, we anticipate to locate that even more of our claims that we sent per the assistance in 2020 and also 2021 are currently gon na be disqualified, and also that ' s an aggravating initiative we ' re functioning with. Um, so'I, I would certainly expect the 2023 storms when it ' s 2026, and also we ' re starting to obtain into those information of reactions back from FEMA.We ' re gon na have some comparable struggles. -Right. I imply, eventually, we ' re gon na need to budget plan for mass treatment and also sanctuary, whether it ' s, you understand, recognizing that we ' re gon na get a certain quantity from the state or that it ' s gon na have to appear of'neighborhood income. Um, it appears like it ' s still rather up in the air, however, in terms of recognizing what are, you know, what, what will be covered, and also, and also', and as they pointed out, this specific occasion is, uh, the January event was in, and the February as well as March occasions compiled together are certain challenging and also that we had multi-county feedbacks combined in one initiative. Some of it may be upkeep of initiative', payments we received from Monterey Area, and others may be claims we send to FEMA in, in lieu of Monterey Area. We, we ' ve got a lot of job to do and we value that collaboration with Monterey Region. -Okay, thanks. – Supervisor Cummings.-Thanks, Chair, as well as thanks for the discussion. Um, [. coughs] I had a couple concerns. One, um, the initial was, I know you discussed the difficulties with openings prices, which we ' re seeing throughout the whole region. I ' m just wondering what those numbers are specifically or if there ' s a ballpark. [clears throat] -Uh, for ' 21, ' 22, we had an 11.3% vacancy rate, yet up until now this year, , midway through ' 22, ' 23 are nearly through. We are averaging around a 9% job rate. We ' re making some development. Um, it, it has actually ranged anywhere from 6.84 %and also 18, 19 up to the, , existing price that we have today.-Great. Many thanks. As well as I just wan na, , share my appreciation, ', for the work that our County Administrative Officer, Carlos Palacios, which – the activity of this board has actually taken on, um, truly attempting to, you understand, fund as well as assistance homeless services in the county.Um, frequently, we ' ll hear people saying that the region is refraining from doing anything, the county ' s not doing anything, however the fact is that the county ' s functioning actually tough to attempt to, you know, obtain funding and also supply solutions that are helping to support individuals experiencing being homeless, and so, I just wanted to, uh, 'express my appreciation of all the work that ' s been going, that ' s been occurring with the development of the real estate for health and also for the funding that everyone ' s functioning truly difficult to, , to bring right into the area to attend to those needs.Um, I ' m asking yourself, , if there ' s an opportunity to see just how those funds are, are being utilized in terms of variety of individuals that are being offered and also what kinds of services are being given. Um, that ' s, that ' s sort of a comment, however it ' s a, a little of an inquiry too.

-I, I, I can really share that, Supervisor Cummings, at the six-month record, as well as Dr. Rattner as well as I gave, you in fact had released added direction for us to return at our next six-month report to address that really question. Um, and so that is something we are intending to bring in a bit a lot more information in our materials and also in our discussion regarding result specificity, concerning all those different gives. I know the moment we remained in front of you last, we revealed that labyrinth just to highlight where those 40-plus funding streams go, however you had actually requested more information, which is in line for the following presentation in August.-It ' s truly, um, important that we ' re commemorating the accomplishments that we ' re making with these funds as well as, as well as the, the job that the county ' s doing.So thanks quite.- Supervisor Hernandez.-I likewise desire to thanks men on your presentation. Um, you understand, there seems to be a reoccuring style with recruitment, uh, with human solutions as, in addition to the previous one with wellness solutions, and also, and I visualize, well, I understand that for certain with public safety and security also. Um, exists a manner in which we can, , I, I presume this is a lot more a remark to, uh, our, our chief executive officer ' s office, if we can collaborate with employees or the CEO ' s office to, uh, make sure that we create a plan, recruitment strategy for these important placements, um, a minimum of for the essential settings that will certainly guarantee that we do not let individuals drop through the splits as well as keep individuals above the safeguard as well as positions that, that are not funded, but, you understand, uh, self-funded that, you know,'that can obtain compensations from, from the position or that conserve us money in regards to, um, much less overtime.So, thank you. -I can likewise make a remark regarding some of the off -efforts that we ' re making within HSD. Um, we really are collaborating with workers, um, on a, a pair various, uh, recruitment and also retention initiatives, and afterwards, , in collaboration with the California Court, um, CWTA that was mentioned previously, there ' s actually, , a recruitment work group, um, on which we have a number of our departments stood for, um, where they ' re placing, , sharing, , ideal practices on, , just how to, uh, hire and preserve employees, , and afterwards just an example of, um, a few of what we ' re doing, we ' ve been a whole lot a lot more energetic at task fairs, neighborhood job fairs, and developing teaching fellowship opportunities, um, paid teaching fellowship possibilities within our department whenever feasible.

As well as after that, , finally, on a couple of the job classifications, specifically, the benefit representative work classification, I simply wan na talk to that, um, considering that it ' s show up a pair times. Um, there are presently 32 jobs because, um, task class. Um, nevertheless, um, we ' re actively, , hiring a 29, um, people that will, um, start in August.Um, so that will certainly make a big damage because, , team ' s job. Thanks.-Thank you. Uh, I ' m additionally still getting messages that the audio is off for the Zoom visitors.-Turning it on for Zoom right currently. -Okay. We ' ll open it up for the area'. Is there any kind of participant of the area that such as to address on some of the Human being Provider Department budget plan. [Time out] -Thank you. Becky Stein Bruner. Um, I wan na thanks for the discussions. I have fantastic regard for, for Director Morris.

During catastrophes of which we have numerous, the conflation of what communities are to do to assist those who are unsheltered and those who are displaced but otherwise sheltered is obtaining very complicated, who funds it, who ' s responsible, and it ' s an issue that ' s playing out statewide as well as the obstacle that we ' re spent in working through.So, next slide. -I put on ' t have the budget numbers in front of me currently, but I ' m-I ' m going to think that it ' s somewhere in the area of , $7 million to$ 10 million is my hunch. -Uh, for ' 21, ' 22, we had an 11.3% vacancy rate, yet so far this year, um, halfway via ' 22, ' 23 are virtually through. And also I just wan na, , express my admiration, um', for the job that our Region Administrative Policeman, Carlos Palacios, and that – the action of this board has actually taken on, um, truly trying to, you understand, fund as well as assistance homeless solutions in the county.Um, oftentimes, we ' ll hear individuals saying that the region is not doing anything, the county ' s not doing anything, yet the truth is that the area ' s working really tough to try to, you recognize, get financing and also give services that are assisting to sustain people experiencing being homeless, as well as so, I just wanted to, uh, 'share my admiration of all the work that ' s been going, that ' s been occurring with the development of the housing for health and wellness as well as for the funding that everybody ' s working truly hard to, , to bring right into the area to resolve those needs.Um, I ' m questioning, , if there ' s a possibility to see how those funds are, are being utilized in terms of number of individuals that are being offered as well as what kinds of services are being offered.-It ' s truly, um, vital that we ' re celebrating the accomplishments that we ' re making with these funds as well as, and also the, the work that the area ' s doing.So thank you very much.I'' ve, I ' ve enjoyed his job, as well as I really wan na thank him for his great, um, regarding the, the obstacle for mass sanctuary, among those obstacles is the recent problems at the 14th DAA Santa Cruz Region fairgrounds with a substitute as well as a substitute, once more, of the, uh, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, but I want to prompt, um, your management in your department to speak to, um, CDFA, Replacement Flores, Michael Flores.He has actually been

attending those, uh, fair board conferences face to face as well as has, uh, assured financing for various tasks there. I am aware that the MOU in between the region and also the 14th DAA is old and truly does require to be upgraded, and also I hope that the county staff will do that. Um, there is a great deal of disorder at the 14th DAA. I'' m certain you ' ve reviewed it. Manager Hernandez, you know all about'what I ' m discussing, yet I'' m certain that, um, a new chief executive officer will certainly be quickly, uh, picked and also will certainly move on. The county does need to hammer out some points. Um, one thing I saw at the CZU fire that I truly examined was that the kitchens, the mass-feeding kitchens, were not made use of in any way. Uh, compartmentalized packaged meals were brought in, which doesn'' t requirement to happen. Um, real estate for Wellness Issues, I really still question why the 12 brand name brand-new trailers that the county gotten from the state for COVID seclusion were not utilized for housing after the COVID emergency situation was over.They were offered

to the parks division for potential workplaces. Um … Say thanks to- … I think that [Microphone is turned off] home be h- [Microphone is switched off] – Thank you, Ms. Stein Bruner. Exist any other members of the public that want to speak with this product that'' s on our agenda today? In public or online? – We have no audio speakers online. All right. I guess we'' ll bring ' em back to the board for, uh, activity deliberation. – My mic is not working to make sure that will certainly do. – Is the board member- – I relocate approval of the Human being Provider Department. – Second. – It'' s an activity by Manager Koenig, and also 2nd by, um, Manager Hernandez.I would certainly, , maybe as a, as a consideration or friendly modification, , one of the points that, , was brought up was just, you understand, the, the influences that we'' re having as it associates with homelessness on our neighborhood, as well as, um, there'' s a whole lot that we ' re doing around obtaining people, , off the road, however I, I, I, I think that area where we might make use of some more assistance is in the direction of 10- lessee help, earlier this year, as an example, um, there was a participant of the area that reached out that had actually obtained 180% rent boost, where her rental fee went from $1,000 per month to $2,800 a month, and also often, when lessees remain in those situations, they'' re -the burdens on them to go locate a lawyer. Therefore, having even more legal aid, I think, is something that, , would really benefit a great deal of individuals that are renting in our area. So, , as a, an amendment or what possibly can come back, , during the, the final spending plan determinations, whether we might allot 90,000 towards, , occupant refuge for renter legal assistance.Um, I recognize that lessee haven, I ' ve touched with them, and also they ' ve found an attorney who ' s willing to operate at a', a lower price than many, uh, to assist offer this. But in the long-term, I assume that it ' ll benefit the region to think about, uh, occupant legal support, , considered that, , we ' re, as was pointed out earlier, the second most pricey region in the nation, actually, in terms of leasing- our rental housing market, and also this kind of aid would go a lengthy means to assist maintain individuals housed within our community. – Uh, simply a question. Exists any kind of proposal on where the cash would originate from especially that would be cut? – Uh, HSD if they could work with searching for that, and also I, I recognize that, you understand, all of us get allotments and also I'' m recommending to designate 50,000 of my budget in the direction of that, , to aid cover those prices as well.

– Okay. Thanks for the clarification. – All right. So we do have an activity as well as a 2nd, and, um, functioning microphone with an additional, uh, direction if we might have a roll phone call, please. – Yes. And thanks for your patience throughout the technological troubles. Manager Koenig. I. – Cummings. I. Hernandez. – I. McPherson. – I. And Good friend. I. Which passes unanimously. Uh, what'' s the will of the board? Would you like a 10-minute break, or would you like to continue going onward? Continue? Okay.All right

. We'' ll action on to item 7, which is, uh, the first item in the general public safety and security and justice group, which is to take into consideration authorization of the 2023-24 suggested spending plan for the Workplace of Recovery, action and also resilience, including any supplementary materials, intake relevant actions laid out in the budget documents and also recommended by the CAO. We have the spending plan hearings, item board memorandum, the recommended budget plan carefully, the additional budget plan continuing contracts listing, as well as we have Mr. Reed and also Ms. Sereno for the discussion of- Mr- Supervisor Reed, welcome. – Thank you, board. Um, excellent early morning. I want to simply start by identifying that I'' m below standing for, , our magnificent however little workplace. Um, so functioning in OR3, , as you all recognize, is Tatiana Brennan, Annie Puckett, Patty Ciesla, um, and also without their difficult work, , much of what we are trying to complete, uh, daily would not get done.So I want

to just value their work as well as also the job of Replacement CAO, Melody Sereno, next to me below, um, in sustaining, uh, the budget preparations throughout 2 calamities. [clicks tongue] So the major, , framework of our OR3 services is shifting this year. Um, so I wished to highlight that we'' re adding, as well as I know that there'' s been some discussion with the tr -prior 2 budgets. We'' re including the catastrophe response and also healing aspect to our budget plan. So there are basically three divisions, or three services, within our OR3 allocate your factor to consider today. Um, that standard OR3 administration, which covers our strength components, um, give management and kind of post-disaster lasting recuperation assimilation with our community partners and our preparation department. Obviously, our EOC management, so that'' s during calamity as well as readiness as well as trainings, and also functioning with our, our jurisdictional partners, as well as then the third as well as new service location, um, is actually to attend to some of the remarks that were made currently around exactly how do we prepare for, , future calamities, exactly how do we budget? And also so, with the assistance of, , our budget plan manager, um, Marcus Pimentel and, and Melody, we'' ve, we ' ve created this third division to make sure that we'' re much better located and also ready to attend to the immediate prices of feedback, , in, in disaster.Next slide.

Uh, right here. There we go. Sorry. Um, so I intended to simply take a moment and emphasize, , you know, the disasters that we'' ve experienced. Um, this is a display grab of a, of a brand-new online web application, are telling the tale of those 2 disasters, um, in the context of the extreme weather condition, and afterwards just how does our region and also our area respond, recover, and also construct resilience to these calamities to attempt and also, once again, express kind of how we revealed up as an area, as a Region, as OR3.So this will be survive our website. I'' ll share it with your workplaces in the community through our basic media networks, however it'' s, uh an incredible product that our ISD-GIS team assembled to truly inform the tale generally regarding the two calamities, and so, even more particularly, I know that we'' ve had some discussion, [clicks tongue] um, this morning currently concerning the expenses and calamities associated with them. So at a high level, I wished to provide a- the most current update, as well as several of these numbers actually are obsoleted, , therefore I wished to highlight that. Um, we have more than 4,300 of our region locals who have actually enrolled in FEMA individual support between the 2 catastrophes. The initial disaster, over 3,100 and over 10 million dollars in FEMA specific home, , assistance has been authorized. That'' s the highest possible number in the state. Over 2.2 million bucks as well as over 1200 locals have actually registered for FEMA aid in the 2nd disaster, , too. So significant, um, need by our area in the after-effects of the catastrophe for financial backing and recuperation. As, um, Mr. Pimentel articulated that public infrastructure damages are significant, our farming problems have actually been significant, , yet actually, what I wan na highlight is that in these two disasters, recovery journeys are unique, , as well as each influenced resident has a constellation of factors that influence their recuperation journey.And so, for numerous people, this damage is various than our CZU when folks lost their entire home, yet, um, no less impactful to their everyday lives. Um, therefore we will see a various scale as well as, as well as timeline of healing in the disaster. Um, but what we also see is that individuals are methodically underinsured, that they have insurance policy instability. So they'' re scared of authorizing up for FEMA support since they'' re fretted that their insurance policy will certainly obtain dropped. Um, the FEMA support available is not sufficient. Um, and so equity in feedback as well as recuperation is a vital component that we want to track as well as support our area as they encounter recuperation from these most recent two calamities. The various other thing that showed up in previous discussions that I simply desire to highlight is that the- regards to sort of instant costs. Um, Supervisor Koenig, in the prior conversation, in the previous me- uh, presentation, , we are working carefully with Cal-OES in cooperation with CDI, the chief executive officer'' s workplace, and our auditor-controller personnel to safeguard CDAA, California Disaster Support Act, progressed financing to sustain our classification An and also group B expenditures from these disasters.We hope to come back to your board in June with even more details yet in, but, yet what I wan na emphasize is that instead of needing to wait on this standard FEMA reimbursement procedure, we ' re attempting to obtain a bear down some of those eligible expenses so that, that helps our type of cash money circulation and also, as well as lower line, and also we ' re not in this situation as what was verbalized prior to where we ' re resting with, uh, tens or near to a hundred million in FEMA insurance claim expenses exceptional. To make sure that ' s a huge, um, big improvement with any luck to obtain that advancement progressing quickly. So just'to highlight some of our operational location, , and functional plan highlights, , you recognize, we ' ve been functioning, the last 2 things on right here have actually been completed. Um, we ' re functioning on the first item there. We have an RFP out, um, as well as we ' ve obtained actions to update our emergency situation procedures intend, which will be educated by our after-action, , analysis from these two catastrophes, and we ' re continuing to deal with unsafe fuel reduction efforts.We ' ve sent over 30 million dollars in gives to the federal government as well as are wishing to obtain, um, word on those quickly to proceed to resolve our most pressing environment dilemma, which is wildfire. Um, during a prior discussion, I understand Supervisor Cummings asked that spending plans to get a record back update on the evacuation give, , so just to highlight, um, as I claimed, we ' re using some of that evacuation give funding to money our upgrade to our emergency operations prepare. The Area Chipper, which became part of that give, has been bought, um, however we ' re waiting on autumn distribution. We ' re still working, um, as well as broadening and, uh, our service the Lompico evacuation route, and after that our GIS group has been doing some truly innovative GIS evaluation on discharge works. [tongue clicks] So at a high degree, , from a financial goal point ofview, I simply wished to highlight, you know, there are 3 Rs in our name yet there ' s a lot of work that we wan na do.Um, and also so, truly, we ' re -we ' re considering preparedness, reaction, equity, functional excell-excellence in training and exercise in our budget plan goals, um, this year as well as -and right into the future, and, actually, our near-term campaigns, um, the top three in strong are attracted directly out of our January storm after-action report. We had a consultant that spoke to most of you as well as [breathes in] most of our county team and also jurisdictional companions, and also what we listened to clearly, um, from our c-from our region staff and also-and also others is that we need to elevate, um, the job of our training and workouts to-to far better prepare folks.We had a wonderful roster built. You understand, among the discoverings from CZU is we constructed a lineup of who ' s gon na show up as well as when as well as when what ' s [inaudible] in the emergency operation center, and also just how are we gon na offer neighborhood and also treatment as well as sanctuary with our DSW3 staff. Yet with turn over as well as modifications, training is a k-vital part to that, so we need'to boost our training and exercise work, um, at the instructions of Supervisor Close friend or implementing the teams where, um, sharp morning platform. Um, that information will be heading out this week to area. Um, and also we ' ll start initial outreach and also testing of that system with area next week. Um, and afterwards truly, what we saw, um, in these calamities was an impressive rise of our area partners, um, and also the administrative connections we-we remain to foster and expand with the city of Watsonville and also the area of Monterey, as well as we do require to function on-on ordering or- or-or developing more formal partnerships with-with all of those companions, um, so they were better placed in disaster.And after that, there ' s some give possibilities and, certainly, the large one [inhales], as well as we ' ll be returning in June as disc- to discuss the application of our environment activity and adjustment plan. So the major modifications and also asked for adjustments in this spending plan are really around including that 3rd service area, um, to make sure that-that ' s a substantial adjustment, and after that, we are converting the wildfire and threat strength expert setting, which was grant-funded to an irreversible setting. Um, and also the budget does reflect, um, a-a decrease based upon the net area expense base and allow. Um, I simply intended to show this slide because, um, it in fact represents the 3 years, right? This -this office has actually only existed for three full-budget cycles, so this is the 3rd. So this plot in fact mirrors every budget plan, , that has been [ coughing] developed for this office, and starting with -with Trish Daniel ' s, , and also Ryan Frederick, and also Melody, we ' ve tried to improve and boost this budget as we ' ve, um, discovered just how this office will exist in area and region. Um, therefore this next model, um, is I -I feel like a renovation over those 2 others as we ' ve discovered and expanded as a– as a– as'a little office in the CAO. [Door slams] -to those'-those high-level adjustments, I simply desired to highlight that we have actually placed into the budget plan, , some innovation funding to enhance our emergency situation operation facility functionality, um, our sanctuary and also disaster recovery facility functionality with innovation, as well as the brand-new alert and alerting platform. [tongue clicks] And we ' ve a-included, , as well as we have financing in there to supplement our team strategically on professional assistance, whether that be for give writing or various other-other needs that we have. So, truly, , in regards to the long-term difficulties and also opportunities, I wan na highlight, , certainly that we remain to check out means to update our emergency situation procedure systems to better supply recovery, um, and reaction services to the community, , with our staff countywide, um, as you spoke with the wellness as well as human solutions side, the current shelter is a big component of that. Um, we require to remain to outreach as well as inform our neighborhood in preparedness as well as resilience, and also we need to develop our disaster solution employee bench beyond, um, our DSW team that we have currently, to possibly added staff, that live outside the region work family yet are perhaps readily available throughout disaster to serve.Um, some of the difficulties, obviously, is training, um, and also obtaining individuals trained and also-as well as prepared to respond. And then we ' re obviously working with some major resiliency initiatives, not just the application of the cap [inhales] yet likewise, um, the Bolder Creek water top quality as well as healing job, um, which is-has some first financing that hopefully will come in this coming fiscal year from [ coughs] the federal government in a give. And afterwards obviously, as we ' ve all experienced, the rise in regularity of calamities. [tongue clicks] [coughing] Before I complete, uh, as well as -as well as take questions, [coughing] I simply wanted to highlight, um, that OR3 stands for a much broader team, um, an incorporated, uh, team, so I just wan na highlight just how this team, this region family we used together the service we'provide during and also after a disaster.And so, our health as well as human services as well as our housing for wellness companions, as you know, um, stand our treatment as well as sanctuary, mass treatment and shelter, as what ' s reviewed formerly. Our General Provider Department is the backbone of our logistics section in the emergency procedure facility, getting sand, sandbags, obtaining sources from the state or federal government as we need. Um, our CDI group, , as well as community, as you recognize, was out there for ti-vigorous hours, um, maintaining roadways open, opening roads in 24-hour where roads were washed out. Our sheriff and fire, um, are'really handling the discharge, , during catastrophe [getting rid of throat] as well as after that our area parks as well as pet services, support shelter and also, , animal solution evacuations throughout. The EOC, while handled under OR3, is truly a blending and a weaving of as well lots of staff to call independently, however I desired to at the very least offer you all a feeling of exactly how they all weave with each other to provide solutions to our region and our neighborhood. Without the assistance of all these departments and workplaces and also individual staff, , we wouldn ' t have the ability to offer the neighborhood as properly as we have in these very first two catastrophes, and there ' s constantly, constantly space for renovation, for sure.So I ' ll end the presentation with our -our demand, , to approve the OR3 spending plan, and also I ' m offered for concerns.-Thanks, Supervisor Reid. Are there concerns from board members? Uh, Supervisor Cummings. [Tongue clicks]-I don ' t have any inquiries'. I just have a remark. I just wanted to express appreciation for, um, this workplace being established within the region and also [clears throat]

all the amazing work that y ' all been correcting the past few years of, uh-as we ' ve been managing the fires and also recovering from that, and afterwards the succeeding, , tornados, which I wear ' t think any of us pr-assumed that we ' d be'prepared to take on three months well worth of tornados this year.And it was simply, um, really wonderful to see how many people stood up and also -as well as had the ability to be offered and also react to this catastrophe. And also we understand that we might experience these -these more in the future, and so, my hope is that we can continue in time increasing the division, knowing that- how vital it ' s gon na be [inhales], , particularly due to the fact that, you know, that ' s one thing to respond, you understand, as-as we are seeing.You recognize,

recuperating from these tornados can-as well as from these catastrophes can take a lot longer than anticipated, therefore, having the ability to provide you all with the support you require, to be effective, is something I believe that we should be purchasing. Therefore, I just wanted to, um, reveal my appreciation for all your work.- Thanks.-Manager McPherson. [tongue clicks]-Yeah. I, also,'wish to thank you, uh, Director Reid, as well as,

uh, their entire small but mighty staff, as you call them. Uh, you ' ve, uh, actually come [breathes in] come upfront to, uh, readdress some the, uh, uh, the disaster responses, the numerous ones that we ' ve had, and after that supervising our environment adjustment preparation as well Um, it ' s all gon na be continuing and also, uh, it ' s-it ' s affordable to state that you require- [inhales] you ' re gon na need extra in the future.Uh, and it ' s been a continuous praise, as we understand, for 2, uh-against the clock to assist our area rebound from the fire and the storms that we ' ve had. Um, and also I appreciate the-the modest investment that we ' ve made in this budget. Uh, as well as it makes the setting the size-specific catastrophe reaction budget [inhales] however, , I-I anticipate -suspect the board is going'to require a whole lot more than what you ' re requesting for today in the close to future, , to make a much larger cross-departmental investment in, uh, [ breathes in] the seria-for the– in the future reas– uh, in the future years, given the current storm events that we ' ve had, so I do value [inhales] the- the mul-multi-faceted reaction that you have actually had in numerous areas and to all the divisions that have coordinated their efforts.Uh, it ' s been really, uh, an excellent means we ' ve responded. I know that individuals [inhales] -I listen to constantly, Why don ' t you obtain things done faster so we can do it?” We have to work with numerous different avenues and also systems that are, uh, related to state, you know, ase-aseptic demands that we have, which ' s-that ' s all there is up in the San Lorenzo Valley in my district as well as the fire ac-access, which depends on the CAL-fire and also their neighborhood fire departments. [inhales] Uh, they manage those as well as remake needs for those, and, um, it just, um -it ' s annoying that we can ' t do everything immediately. However, uh, we have to depend on, uh, others to assist us reach where we wan na be as well as to respond to those people that desire to restore s- uh, uh, faster, and, uh, we have unique conditions here as well as we ' re depending on a great deal of other agencies to make that happen as quickly as feasible, however thanks for existing. I don ' t understand what we-we would do if we wouldn ' t have developed this workplace, uh, in 2020. Uh, so'thanks for whatever. -Thank you. I think the board would be interested in seeing the after-action that was done, uh, as we ' d all took part, and also I valued the chance to do so. Um, I-will certainly -I do value, for just how tiny your group is as well as to'Manager Cummings ' point, it was simply lately, uh, created.

As, , Mr. Pimentel verbalized that public framework problems are significant, our farming problems have actually been substantial, um, yet truly, what I wan na emphasize is that in these 2 disasters, healing journeys are special, , and also each influenced citizen has a constellation of aspects that influence their recovery journey.And so, for many folks, this damages is various than our CZU when people shed their entire house, yet, , no less impactful to their daily lives. We have an RFP out, um, as well as we ' ve received reactions to upgrade our emergency situation procedures prepare, which will be educated by our after-action, , analysis from these 2 disasters, and also we ' re continuing to work on unsafe gas decrease efforts.We ' ve submitted over 30 million dollars in grants to the federal government and are wishing to get, um, word on those soon to proceed to resolve our most pressing climate situation, which is wildfire. At a high level, um, from a budgetary goal point ofview, I just wanted to highlight, you know, there are 3 Rs in our name however there ' s a lot of job that we wan na do.Um, and so, really, we ' re -we ' re assuming concerning preparedness, response, equity, operational excell-quality in training as well as workout in our budget goals, um, this year and also -and also into the future, and, really, our near-term campaigns, um, the leading 3 in vibrant are attracted straight out of our January storm after-action record. Actually, um, in terms of the long-lasting obstacles as well as opportunities, I wan na emphasize, um, obviously that we proceed to look at methods to update our emergency situation operation systems to better provide action, recuperation, as well as services to the area, , with our staff countywide, , as you listened to from the health and wellness and also human solutions side, the current shelter is a large part of that. Um, our CDI um, community, as well as group, as you know, was out there for ti-tireless hrs, , keeping roadways open, opening roadways in 24 hours where roadways were cleaned out.It has, uh, quite a huge lift, and also, , I recognize you were functioning, uh, an unmatched number of hrs during, not just CZU but also then, during the- the storms.I intend to value you and also your team for the amount of time that you ' ve put in to react, uh', to all of our constituents. You ' ve generally been entrusted with, uh, dealing with, protecting against, and mitigating all climate change-related disasters in our neighborhood, which is currently a disaster-prone area by topography [breathes in], uh, and also place, and also so that'' s -that ' s not a little concern when we-I just want you to recognize that the board identifies that, Mr. Reid, um, you- you'' re doing a lot of work', and also what I ' ve appreciated about your technique is your willingness to, as soon as we'' re out of the warm of the minute, to be able to, uh, enable an analysis of things that went well and things that didn'' t go well, to make sure that we might be more ready for the next one, and also I feel that- that we'' re carrying on a training course of exactly that with some of our interactions outreach changes as well as some of the other job that we'' re doing, however, um, I understand that we can maintain getting better.Uh, people are

depending on us to be- to- to obtain this right the initial time, not simply in an after-action, so anything that we can do to be encouraging of that, I appreciate. Um, we'' ll open it up for the neighborhoods as well as after for the participants of the community to address us on the OR3 budget, if there'' s any participant in chamber. Welcome back. -Thank you. Thanks. Becky Stein Burner. I do not intend to defame OR3. I remember in 2020 when, as a spending plan cut, the CAO did reduce the Workplace of Emergency Situation Response. Rosemary Anderson was doing a remarkable task with a very small team, with a much smaller budget, as well as it was cut as a fund re- as cost-saving action. I believe it'' s important to look at that as well as look at what we have currently that is much bigger, a lot more complicated. Um, [inhales] yet doing a rather good task, give thanks to you.I just intend to recognize Rosemary Anderson for her- her terrific job. She did a lot of good. So, uh, right here we are. State Ranch Insurance is no more riding new plans in our area, in our state, as well as, um, that'' s of issue to several. I- I would love to see, um, roadside mowing throughout the area for- for fire protection, particularly our discharge corridors. I wish to see our discharge corridors led. Eureka Canyon Roadway, San Andreas Road, remain in truly bad form and, um, it'' s -uh, we require to be installing turnouts, which is part of the brand-new, uh, state fire code anyway, to make sure that when emptyings do occur, there'' s a place where, uh, the engines can survive and are not interfered with by outbound citizens.

[Inhales] [tongue clicks] Umm, I'' m happy to listen to there was an after-action evaluation for the floods. There never ever has actually been one with region fire for the CZU fire. As well as I'' ve discussed this a great deal, as well as it hasn ' t took place, we'' ve reached do that. We ' ve reached entail Region Fire Division for an after-action testimonial of the 2020 CZU fire. [gasps] I additionally, …

– Thank you, Miss Stein Heater. – Wha- [sighs] – Is there anyone else in chambers? Madam Staff, exists anybody online? – We have no audio speakers online, Chair. Okay, we'' ll close public comment, bring it back to the board for a motion. Exists a motion? [babbling] We have a motion from Manager McPherson on the advised actions, as well as the second from Manager Hernandez.

– I just intend to make a quick remark, in reaction to Miss Stein Heater'' s, , recommendations around the, , after actions for CZU fire. I just desired to say that I have remained in conversation with the area management police officer in seeing if we could, at some factor, have some kind of review due to the fact that, um, I assume from the point of view of not simply to feedback, however the recovery, that there is, um, um, real rate of interest in figuring out, you recognize, what went well, where are the areas for renovation, and also how we can do better in the future. So I just desire to allow you understand that, um, you'' ve been heard as well as- we'' re -we ' ve been having those discussions.- Thanks quite. I appreciate it. – We have a motion as well as a second. Please if we can get a roll call. – Manager Koenig? I. – Cumming? I. – Hernandez? I. – McPherson? I. – And Pal? I. Which passes with one voice. Thank you, Mr. Reid as well as Ms. Sereno for that the item. We'' ll carry on to thing 8, which is to take into consideration authorization of the 23/24 suggested spending plans for the general public protector, consisting of any type of supplemental materials, and also take relevant actions as detailed into the referral budget plan files and also advised by the CAO.Related budget plan hearings out of memo as well as the suggested budget plan [inaudible] detail, the [faint] agreements checklist and the transfer of appropriations. As well as with us today we have, uh, Ms. Rogers, our public protector, as well as Mr. Jones, the IT business systems expert. Welcome to you both. Thanks for waiting. Thank you. -Thanks so much. We ' re really happy to be here. -Press the grey switch on the base. Thanks.-Fantastic. Greetings. So, initially, I wan na introduce my administrative solutions manager, Dylan Jones, that ' s worked tirelessly on this spending plan [ inhales] along with, , customarily, the Area Administrative Office group, Specifically Assistant CAO, Nicole Cobern, and also Principal Analyst, Finn Stafford, whose support of our agency has been immeasurable and also regular. 60 years ago, an unhoused drifter called Clarence Earl Gideon was charged of swiping $55 dollars soft drink and beer from a swimming pool haul.When he asked the judge for an attorney to defend him at his court test, the court said no, so he defended himself. He examined the prosecutor'' s witnesses, he challenged the state'' s proof, and he said his virtue. And when he shed that trial as well as was punished to 5 years behind bars, he didn'' t surrender. Being in a prison cell, founded guilty of something he didn'' t do, Mr. Gideon kept battling. He grabbed a pencil and also 5 notepads. He petitioned the Supreme Court to reevaluate his instance. And also after that among the terrific social justice moments of all time, 9 justices agreed. In Gideon versus Wayne Trip, selected March 18th, 1963, the High court held the constitution requires the state to give dec– defense council for an accused individual that can'' t afford a lawyer.And with the

public defender by his side, Mr. Gideon won his test in less than a hr and was released. 6 decades later, we stand below in Mr. Gideon'' s debt. His guts, his persistence, his idea that the constitution is even more than parchment, take a breath to life into the sixth amendment. It revolutionized the criminal lawful system, and also it provided us public protectors. Mr. Gideon'' s decision to combat for right when faced with unbelievable probabilities made our system fair for everyone. In almost a year earlier, with your management, Santa Cruz County opened its very first Area Office of the Public Protector. You answered Gideon'' s ask for justice, and also you took a crucial step toward fulfilling Gideon'' s promise. Together as a community, we are battling for what is. We are demanding equivalent justice for all, and we are elevating public defense one client at once. [Time out] When we opened our doors last summertime, we understood this initial year would certainly help us clarify what we needed to supply constitutionally-effective protection for individuals of Santa Cruz County.We rolled up our

sleeves to serve an area that was reeling from COVID, woodland fires, as well as flooding, an area whose most at risk members are struggling with mental disease and substance use problems, an area facing task and also real estate and also security, economic disparity, and injury. This year has given us a better idea of what we require to do this work. Our recommended budget plan fortify our staffing to obtain us closer to meeting the nationwide work criteria for public protection, an attaining spending plan as well as staffing parity with the district attorney'' s office. Our suggested budget provides the added specialist funds that we require to promote for mental health and wellness diversion, to defend against increasingly much more innovative prosecutions, and to partner with AmeriCorps volunteers to bolster our re-entry shows and also boost our data collection.Our recommended budget offers us what we require to offer zealous community-based whole-person protection to Santa Cruz Area. The budget boosts our specialist fund as well as it offers us an internet total amount of two personnel positions by subtracting one placement as well as adding three. Our brand-new staff will include an attorney, a legal assistant, and also a discovery staff. [Pause] Reliable public defense is not optional. The constitution needs the state to fund public protection at a degree that safeguards the 5th and 6th amendment rights to do procedure of fair test and also reliable assistance of council. The public protector is constitutionally and statutorily mandated to safeguard individuals charged of criminal activities or dealing with involuntary commitment in Santa Cruz Area. This can obtain complicated due to the fact that, unlike other law office, we can ' t turn any person away.Prosecutors, consisting of the DA ' s workplace, region council,

and the city lawyer ' s, identify our workload based on exactly how several situations they prosecute and submit. We protect regarding 85 to 90 percent of all prosecutions in Santa Cruz County. In our very first year of operations, we addressed Gideon ' s call by approving representation for 100%of eligible clients that'asked for public protection. For a total of over 5,205 cases to date, including felonies, misdemeanors, adolescent issues, psychological health, and probate cases, record clearance instances, and also post-conviction alleviation issues. In addition, we took control of 3,100 instances from the personal firm that previously took care of public protection, providing constant depiction with the shift. We staffed the collaborative courts, including behavioral health, seasoned court, as well as parole reentry court. We gave post-conviction alleviation as well as response to punishing reform, vibrant offender parole advocacy, document clearance depiction, and immigration advice.We provided very early representation to over 240 clients captive, getting defenders to

clients as quickly after arrest as feasible to boost outcomes, as well as we provided holistic support to over 570 clients within matched legal and also social requirements consisting of advantages, housing and work advocacy and help getting supportive services like compound use as well as mental health and wellness therapy. We provide 24-hour emergency situation legal solution for youth apprehended for significant criminal offenses as well as for incarcerated adults requesting emergency situation help. We established an extensive new lawyer training program, we offered continuing education to all specialist personnel, as well as we brought a grant-funded 3-day Public Defender Training to Santa Cruz Region. We protected 2 additional grant-funded chances, amounting to about $700,000 to fund post-conviction relief and also pre-trial social service assistance for our clients. We ' ve taken part in extensive neighborhood outreach, developing relationships that strengthen our link to the neighborhoods we serve, and we did all this while constructing a brand-new department and also transitioning public protection from a private firm model to an area agency.These successes highlight the toughness of our group. We are devoted, we are durable and we are driven to achieve our mission. [Pause]

Our mission is to courageously safeguard the implicated, to demand equivalent justice for all, and to equip our customers with inspired campaigning for in the community and the court room. We ' re on a goal to raise public defense one client at a time. Our vision is to lead the fee in transforming public protection, to equip those we offer by recognizing their experiences, amplifying their voices, and supplying actual remedies to the origin of system participation as well as our values we show you as well as this area. We ' re client-focused, collective, bold, creative, culturally responsive, as well as thoughtful. As public servants, we concentrate on upstream interventions to stay clear of downstream effects, as well as we are dedicated to advertising Santa Cruz Area, Santa Cruz County ' s vision of creating a healthier as well as safer community that is culturally varied as well as economically inclusive. [Time out] Our dedication to variety, equity, as well as'addition works together with our objective, vision, and also worths. We represent racial equality, social adjustment, and also equivalent justice for all. Our executive team includes a supervisor of Educating Equity and Development who helps us embed equity in all that we do and we are incredibly pleased to provide services throughout this county, consisting of a robust, active, dynamic workplace in Watsonville, where we have a team of protectors there to offer our community every day.We look critically at our policies and also procedures to make sure that we are doing our component to deal with systemic injustices and also to promote DEI. [Pause] Our Community-Based Whole Individual Protection version facilities equity by recognizing and attending to the historical injustices that have brought about the mass imprisonment of people of color, people staying in poverty and individuals struggling with mental disease as well as compound utilize conditions. We made this design to satisfy the one-of-a-kind needs of Santa Cruz County. Recognizing that we can ' t prosecute our escape of homelessness, compound use and also mental health and wellness conditions, and hopelessness.Instead, we incorporate zealous campaigning for with holistic representation and also community engagement to analyze and also resolve our clients in meshed lawful as well as social demands. We'staff our courts with defense groups that consist of a client advocate, attorney, private investigator

, and also legal assistant. We represent our customers as early at the same time as feasible with pilot projects in the jail and also Watsonville that offer clients accessibility to protectors not long after apprehension. Our clients obtain vertical depiction, that indicates they have the very same protection group from their initial day in court till completion. For clients leaving custody or completing a sentence, we provide re-entry support, post-conviction alleviation, as well as document clearance advocacy. [Pause] Our operational plan purposes supply measurable equity-based objectives for us to make every effort for us protectors including more durable whole-person protection and intake procedure that permits us to properly resolve as well as fit together legal and social needs, raised early depiction, enhanced post-conviction relief advocacy, as well as community-based re-entry planning and fair employment. Our objectives are created to profit from our successes. In our juvenile system, community-based whole-person protection led to our working carefully with the youngster with an intellectual disability.Our group functioned with his family as well as educators to make sure that he was getting the solutions he needed to attend to the root triggers of his system involvement. Our social worker collaborated with the college psycho therapist and an IEP team to address the learning impairment and to help this kid discover a summer task by assisting with work applications as well as transportation to meetings. With our support, the youngster ' s

case was dismissed and also the youngster and his family members have actually restored wish for their future. In our adult system, our holistic groups function on a daily basis to identify source and supply encouraging services to address them. Numerous cases have been diverted or rejected based on these initiatives, including the case of the elderly person client with physical specials needs whose instance was dismissed after we had the ability to deal with the housing for health and wellness group to get his living scenario supported. Our functional strategy relocates us toward understanding even more of these outcomes that boost public safety and security, while lifting our clients up as well as out of the criminal lawful system. [Pause] Our budget plan shows our objectives of having caseloads that satisfy nationwide criteria. Interdisciplinary defense teams that can deal with and examine, as well as mesh legal and social needs, guidance, training and mentorship for our defenders, modern-day innovation, as well as analytics to gauge results as well as boost outcomes, early and all natural depiction and the ability to go after equity, produce strategic collaborations, and also go after grants. This slide reflects our agency ' s budget plan

with the overall public defense budget of$16,754,199, consists of 2 levels of dispute council, the conflict firm of [faint] and a conflict panel managed by County Council. Our proposed budget plan, both the overall spending plan and also our company ' s budget plan, relocates us as an area more detailed to where we desire to be to reach our objectives of providing public defense that reduces regression, reduces imprisonment, and also supplies real remedies to the source of system'participation. We ' ve requested the staff that we require to offer effective public protection while progressively pursuing conference national criteria for public protection. Presently, there are 2 main measures for analyzing public protector workloads. The ABA ' s Nationwide Work Requirement is 1 benchmark and also the various other benchmark is to work in the direction of parity with prosecution workplaces, such as the DA ' s office.Both procedures are developed to guard the 6th Amendment Warranty of efficient public defense, as well as we ' re functioning towards both actions. We ' re not there yet, but we ' re arriving. [Pause] As you consider our proposed budget plan, I wish that you ' ll remember the following: The new ABA guidelines to be released within the next few months will certainly call for lower caseloads than we'currently have. We ' re dropping behind below as well as our request will certainly help us to catch up. Rises in the prosecution spending plan have to be matched with'boosts

in public protection to remedy systemic injustices. Arising mandates to address the state ' s mental wellness imprisonment dilemma such as treatment court, calls for stabilization of our core solutions, so we ' re prepared to pivot to meet brand-new needs for public protection. Prosecutions end up being much more technological and also a lot more sophisticated annually. Evidence becomes more complicated to examine and also process, as information, innovation, sound, video clip, and also forensics come to be much more prevalent.Public defenders are progressively at the leading edge of policy concerns as well as solutions connected to psychological wellness and also compound use disorders. Buying public defense does more than placed defenders in the courts. It allows us, as a community, to confront the origin concerns that drive system participation. New mandates such as mental wellness diversion as well as treatment court call for sufficient funding for educating a professionals. The repercussions of offering inadequate public protection are costly and can cause suits, and we are positive that upstream options built through community-based whole-person defense will certainly bring about downstream cost savings as well as improved end results for this community. [Pause] Over a years after Mr.Gideon was buried in an unmarked tomb, the ACLU positioned a headstone on his relaxing place with a quote from a letter he contacted his legal representative, “I think that each age finds an improvement in legislation for the benefit of the human race.” 60 years later on, the United States is a world leader in incarceration with 2 million people behind bars. The golden state sends to prison over 850,000 people a year, even more than any various other state, and also has the second-highest pre-trial apprehension price in the country. The burden of imprisonment falls heaviest on individuals of color with black Americans jailed at nearly 5 times the price of white Americans and also Latino Americans locked up at 1.3 times that price. Over 40 %of people in prisons and prisons are identified

with psychological health problem. So on the 60th wedding anniversary of Gideon, we go to a projection, an additional minute in background when it ' s time to reassess what “is reasonable, simply, and possible to end mass incarceration, to attend to the source of system involvement, as well as to heal our communities. Our Office of the Public Defender is leading the charge to change public defense to reach better results, as well as our suggested budget plan gives us what we require to remain to lead this work.I ask you to please take the advised actions set out in the board memo, consisting of accepting our recommended spending plan. Thanks as well as I ' m offered for questions.- Thanks, Ms. Rogers. Are there any kind of inquiries from board members? Supervisor McPherson? -I intend to just state, uh, just how enormously I ' m pleased with your first year of the facility of our Public Protector Workplace, Ms. Rogers and your whole personnel. You ' re one-it ' s truly been an amazing, um, start as well as the recommended budget actually shows that, , well, a couple of changes are being made when it come to just how employees are designated. The workplace is running well. Uh, there ' s extra to be done as well as has actually been noted uh, with a, the Hu-Uh, Health And Wellness as well as Person Providers budget.

Um, resolving the state-mandated programs, particularly the care court that ' s mosting likely to strike us actually next year. Uh, we have a laborious, you have a difficult job in advance of us, and also there ' s mosting likely to be more to do than what you ' ve asked for today, which I ' m absolutely in support of.So uh, [stutters] that the Workplace of Public Defender is an important partner. In the cumulative responsibility, we need to maintain that wellness in our area and also I thank you for collaborating with-with many people and also increasing your initiatives. I understand that you have actually placed even more than 8 hours a day in this in addition to your whole team, so I thanks for doing so a lot with what you have, and we ' re mosting likely to need more in the future, I know that. I believe we all should be acknowledged that when the Care Court required pertains to Santa Cruz Area next year. Thank you once more for whatever you ' ve done. I value your service. -It ' s our satisfaction. Thank you.- Thank you.'Supervisor Koenig. -Thank you', Chair. Thanks, Public Protector Rogers as well as Mr. Jones.

Uhm, you recognize, and also I believe every person I ' ve connected keeping that has collaborated with your department has been truly satisfied with your whole-person treatment approach, uh, as well as just the degree of service that you provide all your clients and that the example that you shared of obtaining the uh, youngster, young male a work uh, and inevitably resolving his situation this way, it was, it just, demonstrates the- the sizes that you will go to help, turn people ' s lives about. Um, I understand you had a big number of instances, you claimed 3100. Uh, what is the number today? I discovered that you discussed to really obtain that down. Um, and afterwards, um, you'know, how several are you solving through you understand, whole-person care approaches versus uh, in the court rooms? – That ' s a wonderful inquiry and also one that I can respond to for you partially. I might require to follow up on some of it.So we took over 3180 active instances from the legislation firm as well as we obtained those basically overnight. On July 1st, we awakened and also took representation of those situations. We were lucky to have a whole lot of the team from the firm with us to provide regular depiction to those customers. Ever since, we have actually um, been appointed to our approved representation in regarding 5205 instances. Uh, we ' re anticipating to accept depiction in between 6000-6500 prior to'the year ' s end.Typically, the general public protector represents between 6500 as well as 10,000, depending upon the year. Uh, in COVID, our numbers went way down as well as what we see is they ' re-they ' re ramping back up as prosecutions are submitted an increasing number of. In regards to the quantity that we stand for today, , Mr. Jones is revealing me some numbers. This doesn ' t include record clearance or post-conviction, but today we have um, [

. history discussion]-Yeah, that ' s the number. That ' s cases assigned in …-Instances designated as well as open today are 6257.

I just desire to allow you recognize that, , you'' ve been heard and- we'' re -we ' ve been having those conversations. The ABA ' s National Work Standard is 1 standard and the other standard is to work towards parity with prosecution workplaces, such as the DA ' s office.Both actions are designed to safeguard the 6th Change Warranty of effective public protection, and we ' re working toward both measures. We ' re not there yet, but we ' re getting there. Uhm, you understand, as well as I think everyone I ' ve engaged with that has actually worked with your department has actually been actually satisfied with your whole-person care technique, uh, as well as just the degree of solution that you offer all your customers and that the example that you shared of obtaining the uh, kid, young male a task uh, and inevitably resolving his situation that method, it was, it simply, shows the- the sizes that you will certainly go to aid, turn people ' s lives about. Uh, in COVID, our numbers went way down as well as what we see is they ' re-they ' re ramping back up as prosecutions are filed more and more.I put on ' t have an exact number for you on that, but I ' m- I ' m pleased to look a lot more right into it as well as report back. I mean, it ' s clear, simply based on what you ' ve, um, informed us today about the number of cases that you all have, um, that there ' s a high demand for the service in our county , as well as representation is incredibly essential, um, if not essential in our criminal justice system. Uh, and also I think that what you claimed prior to as well is possibly something that we ' re going to have to prioritize and that ' s parity with the DA ' s office.

Um, in terms of what we'' re dealing with with court room lawsuits versus whole-person defense, I believe those really go hand in hand, and also so the way this normally works, unless we can get to the case before it'' s submitted, which we are doing with very early representation.But or else, the way this works is the case is filed, and after that our team wraps around the customer to make a plan, um, for helpful services and also to figure out origin causes in instances where we can identify those as well as provide services, we go to the DA ' s workplace with reduction packages as well as strategies. I wear ' t have a specific number for you on that, but I ' m- I ' m happy to look extra right into it and report back. I indicate, it ' s clear, just based on what you ' ve, , informed us today about the number of cases that you all have, um, that there ' s a high requirement for the service in our county , and also depiction is incredibly vital, , if not critical in our criminal justice system. Uh, as well as I assume that what you stated before as well is probably something that we ' re going to have to focus on as well as that ' s parity with the DA ' s workplace. I ' m gon na concentrate on how we actually work to install equity in the culture, um, procedures, as well as methods in our division, , one thing that ' s extremely essential to us and also to our county behavioral and clinical health suppliers was actually focusing on our adolescent hall medical solutions as an example.I don ' t recognize just how much they place in per year,

however it ' s a great deal, and it ' s truly helped our initiatives, and also to whoever they are, I can ' t name them all, but I desire to thank them as well. They ' re not – they ' re not taking any youth in any of the surrounding counties. I wear ' t know, to you chair or to CAO Carlos Palacios and …-Actually, since we ' re all below, why don ' t we all just come down and fulfill with Chair Alejo.

I wear ' t understand how much they place in per year,

however it ' s a lot, as well as it ' s truly aided our efforts, and also to whoever they are, I can ' t name them all, but I want to thank them as well. We most definitely rely on their support, and also why we bring in Prop 47 Grant, it ' s a great deal of job to put that give together however that brought in about $4 million to our community firms, including 3 advocates at the public defender ' s office. Great reading to possibly place you to sleep if you don ' t like numbers, but it ' s a great deal of outcomes as well as information, so I can share that.-I ' m worried to add, but I ' m going to open it up for the area due to the fact that, you know someone might jump in.No, we great? I don ' t know, to you chair or to CAO Carlos Palacios and also …-Actually, considering that we ' re all below, why put on ' t we all simply come down as well as satisfy with Chair Alejo.I'' m a member of City and they were providing some bus services for relieve individuals with their transportation needs. It'' s really an enjoyment that we can obtain together for and when the tragedy hits and also we appreciate your acknowledgment of that and also to all the area workers, thank you very a lot for what you did for Monterey Region.

– Thank you. It'' s a non-action thing. Exist any type of other comments from board participants? Manager Cummings? – Yeah. I simply wan na thank you for the recognition. I likewise just want to thank our kind CAO Carlos Palacios as well as all the team that were included with helping, with those initiatives around making certain that we were protecting our neighbors in Pajaro and in Monterey Area. And also I know Supervisor Hernandez was doing a great deal of volunteer job down there and also in Watsonville, so I just desire to likewise reveal my admiration for all the work that we had the ability to do collaboratively to assist people that were in need in our community, and also in our neighboring neighborhoods. – Thanks. Mr. Palacios? – Yeah in behalf of our employees, we would truly such as to thanks Manager Alejo and our board for your assistance and also recognition.They truly did exceed the telephone call of task and give their body and soul to this initiative, value the recognition. Thanks extremely a lot. -Thanks. It'' s not a non-action product yet would certainly any type of participant of the neighborhood that took place [inaudible] area personnel, have any type of rate of interest symphonious forward? – Okay, seeing none. Thanks, Chair Alejo. That will certainly adjourn our meeting. We will be back tomorrow for budget, our 2nd day of budget plan hearing, our third day of budget plan hearings. Thanks. – Thank you significantly. Appreciate it. [Silence] [Silence] [Silence] [END]

I simply wan na thank you for the recognition. I also simply desire to thank our kind CAO Carlos Palacios and all the staff that were included with helping, with those efforts around making sure that we were securing our neighbors in Pajaro and in Monterey County. – Yeah on behalf of our staff members, we would truly like to thank you Supervisor Alejo and our board for your support and also recognition.They truly did go past the call of duty and also give their heart as well as heart to this initiative, appreciate the acknowledgment. Thank you extremely much. – Thank you extremely a lot.

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