Board of Supervisors — 2019-08-27

Thank you. you Good morning everybody, I'd like to welcome you to this August 27th meeting of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. Madam Clerk can I get a roll call please?

Mr. Hart? Here. Ms. Hartman? Here. Mr. Adam? Here Mr. Williams? Here Mr. Lavenino?

I am here. If you could all

So moved. Seconded.

Moved and seconded, all those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Passes unanimously. I believe we have some announcements today. Madam Clerk

Yes, Chair Lavinino and members of the board. I just have a quick announcement this morning we posted an addendum amending administrative item number 23. This is from Public Works Board of Directors Flood Control and Water Conservation District. It is to consider recommendations regarding financial performance security for the Partnership for Resilient Communities Debris Nets project in the first district and recommended action C was amended to add additional language and that is available online as well as in the back of the room.

And we have announcement also this morning for some translators that are going to help us with a few of our items this morning.

Good morning, my name is Carla Martins and I'm with my colleague at Refugio. We are here on behalf of Just Communities with the Language Justice Network and we are providing simultaneous interpretation from English to Spanish. All right, thank you for being here. That takes us to our administrative items or resolutions. Can I get a motion to approve items A1 and A2 please?

Moved and seconded. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Great, let's read A1 into the record.

Chair Lavinino, members of the board. Administrative item number one is sponsored by Supervisor Hartman. It is to adopt a resolution of accommodation honoring Army Paratrooper Bindo Stassi Grasso as the Santa Barbara County Veteran of the Month. And if I can have our World War II Army Paratrooper Staff Sergeant Bindo Stassi Grasso to the podium please. And anyone you would like to join you.

And I'll go ahead and read the resolution. Whereas Santa Barbara County is home to more than 22,000 veterans and whereas those who have given the ultimate service to this nation by serving in its armed forces are deserving of recognition and gratitude by all Americans. And whereas the third district has the honor of recognizing Staff Sergeant Bindo Stassi Grosso of Guadalupe for his courageous service to our nation during World War II.

And whereas on the night of June 5th, 1944 Staff Sergeant Grasso parachuted into France landing in Nazi-occupied enemy territory in the early morning hours of D-Day with a mission to establish radio beacons and to liberate the town of Saint-Mère-Église. And whereas in addition to surviving D-Day Staff Sergeant Grasso was stationed in Bastogne Belgium in December 1944 and participated in the Battle of the Bulge which was the largest and deadliest battle of World War II And whereas Staff Sergeant Grasso earned an Army Achievement Medal for his service, as well as the Good Conduct Medal and World War II and European War Victory Medals. And whereas after completing his service, Staff Sergeant Grasso moved to Santa Maria, California to raise his family with his wife.

His family includes two daughters, one son, 11 grandchildren. 26 great-grandchildren and eight great, great grandchildren so far. And whereas more than half a century ago Staff Sergeant Grasso started a highly successful concrete business in Santa Maria. Therefore let it hereby be ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors honors Staff Sergeant Bindo Stassi Grasso as the August Veteran of the Month for his service in our Armed Forces followed by his service to our community passed and adopted today.

On behalf of the Board of Supervisors and the residents of Santa Barbara County, it is my great privilege to present this certificate honoring Staff Sergeant Vendostasi Grasso. As a member of the greatest generation who fought in the most significant war in human history, in not one but two of the most consequential battles in the annals of the American military, D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge.

We just celebrated D-Day on June 6th, but when that fateful day dawned 75 years ago, Staff Sergeant Bindo Stassi Grosso, the last surviving Pathfinder had already parachuted in the dark behind enemy lines to set up barricades on the road so that the Germans could not bring in reinforcements and to light the way for the arriving planes. Against heavy odds, the D-Day invasion succeeded Just six months later, December 1944, American and British forces were converging on the Rhine River. And it seemed that the war would soon be over. But on the morning of December 16th 400,000 German soldiers and 1400 armored guards and tanks burst out of their hiding places in the Ardonne Forest catching the Americans in total surprise.

Three days later, the Germans had surrounded the 101st Airborne Division in the small Belgian town of Bastogne. Staff Sergeant Grasso was there too. No doubt he agreed with the famous response given by Brigadier General Attorney McAuliffe to the German's demand for surrender. Nuts! The Germans puzzled over the idiom but they got the message. I just watched the great Henry Fonda film depicting the Battle of the Bulge and it reminds us how dicey that battle really was, and how much longer the war would have gone on and how many more lives would have been lost if the Allies had not prevailed.

Heroism is when ordinary men and women answer the call to perform extraordinary feats. We are here today to honor and thank you, Staff Sergeant Grasso for your extraordinary and heroic service for our country. And Police Chief Cash from Guadalupe is here to honor their favorite son and say a few words. And then we'll hear from his granddaughter, Stacey Moody herself, a veteran of Band of Brothers Combat veteran of the Desert Storm War.

This is such a unique honor. You read or you heard all the accolades of this wonderful man, he's extremely humble doesn't want to be here and we'll talk about this later and his troop here knows that the same thing the thing that makes it really neat for us in Guadalupe everyone else has to read history books watch a movie or think about things we have the living hero we have the living history that's in our community And this is the pride of Guadalupe right here.

So thank you very much from the city of Guadalupe. We appreciate how you have honored one of our greatest citizens and you talk about that the greatest generation, well we have a lot of great generations here today and we got some more coming on but with Bindo he is our leader, he's our heart and he is a soul of Guadeloupe and we're so proud of him. Thank you so much

I actually am honored to have my cousin Laura here as well and a couple of our family was able to come. We're very proud of my grandfather, he's the reason why many of us have joined the military including myself I was supposed to be a paratrooper like him, but they wouldn't let us girls go airborne at that time. So I had to give up that dream, but I wanted to share a story with all of you.

When Grandpa returned from the war his commander sent him home on leave and told him he had enough points to get out of the service, but they needed his paperwork, his discharge paperwork and they were waiting for it. So he was gone, came back a couple months later. They told him we still don't have it go back home come back again so he did this like what three or four times and finally they said you know what Bendo just go home will send you your discharge papers in 2011 I finally researched, and he finally in 2012 received his discharge papers. He never got them. Yeah so he was hoping he would get his back paycheck. I don't think they're going to give it up to him but in a whole it was a fun story and he truly never did receive discharge papers So he was hoping for some rank and extra money, but I don't think they're going to give it up.

But we're very proud of my grandfather. He turned 96 on the 23rd, so we're really excited about it that he's has this huge family and Has inspired not only our family but many, many people in Guadalupe community and Santa Maria community. And I thank everybody for this honor. It's wonderful for us as his family and we appreciate it. Thank you very much.

And I'd like to invite my fellow board members down to take a picture.

And would the Guadalupe contingent like to come up and be in the picture? Come on, we're surrounding you.

And with that, I'd like to invite everyone to stand and sing Happy Birthday.

Ready? Begin! Happy birthday to you,

happy birthday to you Happy birthday Staff Sergeant Rosso,

happy birthday to you.

Come on Papa I'll take you back to your chair.

Oh we want to hear, so you want to say yeah? No, okay.

Yeah.

Thank you again. Thank you. All right, Supervisor Hartman kicked it up a notch way to go. Let's see, so District 4 is on the clock. You're next. I think, does it go one two three four five? Yeah, something like that. So we're in there somewhere. All right, we'll figure it out. Yeah, you need somebody from the Revolutionary War or something. Literally. Okay, all right. Well, we're going to A2.

Chair Lavinino, members of the board. Administrative item number two is sponsored by Supervisor Lavinino. It is to adopt a resolution honoring the Santa Barbara County EMS system participants for the American Heart Association 2019 Mission Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Award. And if I can have members receiving today's resolution to the podium, Nicholas Clay, Kevin Taylor, Greg Fish, Eric Nickel, Jeannie Simon, Dave Shearman, Gerald Kuras, Michael Farmer and Fernando Garcia.

And I'll go ahead and read the resolution. Whereas, the Santa Barbara County Emergency Medical Services Agency and System is being recognized by the American Heart Association including American Medical Response, Carpinteria Summerland Fire Protection District, Guadalupe Fire Department, Lompoc Fire Department, Montecito Fire Protection District, Santa Barbara City Fire Department, Santa Barbara County Fire Department and Santa Maria City Fire Department. This achievement is accomplished through the commitment of these agencies and the STEMI receiving centers Marion Regional Medical Center in Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. And whereas the American Heart Association works to reduce heart disease and stroke over 250,000 people annually experience a STEMI, the deadliest type of heart attack caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart That requires prompt restoration of blood flow.

EMS is often the first medical contact and has the ability to save precious minutes by quick recognition and activation of the emergency response system. The chance of survival from a sudden cardiac arrest in Santa Barbara County is one of the best in the country, at 41% exceeds the national average due to the EMS systems ability to provide high quality clinical care. And whereas the American Heart Association has developed the Mission Lifeline program to encourage collaboration between pre-hospital and hospital medical providers to ensure patients experiencing cardiac events receive the recommended care within ideal time frames. And whereas Santa Barbara County is receiving the Gold Plus Level Recognition Award, Lifeline EMS Award, currently offered by the American Heart Association.

Now therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors of Santa Barbara County does hereby congratulate the EMS agency and EMS system on receiving the 2019 Mission Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Level Recognition Award passed and adopted today.

Good morning, Chair Labognino and members of the board. Thank you for this opportunity to pause and allow us to celebrate the incredible achievements by our EMS system in saving lives during the most serious heart attacks. With me today is Nick Clay who will share a little bit about the STEMI program and to also hand out individual awards to our partners. Thank you.

Chair Lavagnino, members of the board, good morning. I am joined today as you can see by the EMS agency and our colleagues in the EMS system. Unfortunately Dr. Savucci is unable to join us today but sends his sincere appreciation for today's recognition. The EMS agency is responsible for design, implementation and evaluation of the entire EMS system ranging from policies and procedures to hospital designations.

The administration and oversight of the specialty care systems but it's the work of the people behind me today are providers who make successes like today possible. And we're here to recognize that commitment A little less than a decade ago, the EMS agency along with our pre-hospital and hospital partners embarked on a journey to enhance the care we provide for our heart attack victims and increase their survivability.

Success required an integrated approach to EMS across all spectrums of the system. It required the EMS agency to work closely with our hospitals, emergency departments, cardiac surgery teams, cardiologists, specialized folks in the hospitals and hospital administrators to reenvision the work inside of the hospital. It required technology investments by our field providers, enabling them to rapidly identify these special types of heart attacks called ST-elevation MI infarctions or more easily said STEMIs and then rapidly transmit that information to our hospitals.

And over the past decade through tireless commitment to excellence in quality improvement this STEMI system here in this county has excelled. In 2014 the American Heart Association or the AHA began to recognize prehospital agencies for their success in the STEMI program. With the Mission Lifeline Awards. Since the inception of the award, Santa Barbara County EMS Agency and system providers have received the highest of marks.

This year is no exception as we are receiving the Gold Plus Award. Out of the 21 systems in this state receiving this award only ten have received the Gold Plus Award one being Santa Barbara County. So if I can bring up Ian McClellan from the American Heart Association to help me hand out these awards, if you don't mind. We have our providers up here first representing the EMS agency. I'd like to introduce Michelle Combs, our specialty care coordinator who's really the brains and the bulk behind this work so thank you very much. Next is American Medical Response Regional Director Dave Shireman.

Next, with the Santa Maria Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Farmer. Next with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department both Fire Chief Hartwick and EMS Administrator Jenny Simon. With the Lompoc Fire Department, Chief Gerald Kuras. And with Guadalupe Fire Department, Director of Public Safety Chief Michael Cash. And representing the Santa Barbara City Fire Department Division Chief Lee Waldron.

Not here today but receiving awards is Montecito Fire Department and Carpinteria-San Marlon Fire Department as well. And on behalf of the EMS agency staff, Dr. Salvucci, the folks you have behind you thank you very much again for today's recognition.

All right, this is probably the safest place to be right now in the whole county. Thanks for being here today. All right that takes us to the balance of our administrative agenda. Are there any items that the public would like to pull?

Chair Lavinino, members of the board. I have no request to speak on the administrative agenda from the

public. Okay so from my board I have A10 from Supervisor Adam, 16 and 21 from Supervisor Hartman. Let's go to A10.

Chair Lavenino, members of the board. Administrative item number ten is from the county executive office. It is to consider recommendations regarding chapter 50 licensing of commercial cannabis operations, ordinance amendments and cannabis business licensing fee ordinance amendments. And this is the second reading.

Okay and I think that's just for a roll call vote? Yeah that's right, just roll call. Roll call please. We need a motion to approve it, that would help.

So moved.

Moved and seconded, thank you Jacqueline. Roll call?

Mr Hart? Aye. Ms Hartman? Aye Mr Adam?

No.

Mr Williams?

Aye.

Chair Lavenino?

Aye

Motion passes 4-1. Okay

let's go to item 16.

Chair Lavenino members of the board administrative item number 16 is from public health it is to consider recommendations regarding a tobacco control program local lead agency allocation agreement.

Supervisor Hartman

Hello, Dr. Doronoso would you come up and just I've been reading a lot about e-cigarettes and even a cluster of lung disease so I wonder if you could talk about this grant particularly in relationship to e-cigarettes?

So this is our standard grant that allows us to work with our local jurisdictions and our community in raising awareness about tobacco products including e-Cigarettes

And will we, I mean I think these are tobacco use has been going down and now we've got these e-cigarettes and suddenly we've got young people really reaching out markets specifically designing products for them even though it's unlawful to sell. Do we have anything coming up in the future in the county to address this?

Yes, so we have been working again with the cities and we are hoping to come back in the near future. We're looking at next spring with a coordinated effort across all jurisdictions with very similar ordinances that will allow us to be on the same page in terms of messaging as well as enforcement.

Very good. Do we need a separate vote on that at all or just highlight it? Okay, very good. All right, let's go to A21 please.

Chair Lavenino and members of the board. Administrative item number 21 is from Public Works Board of Directors Flood Control and Water Conservation District. It is to consider recommendations regarding Cold Springs, San Ysidro, and Romero Creek Debris Basin Improvement Projects design agreements. And this is in the first district.

Supervisor Hartman?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Fairam, I'm very interested in the design and how these renovated debris systems will operate. Could you explain that for us?

Yes, Mr. Chair, Supervisor Hartman the item before you is for modification of three debris basins in Montecito which are also in the hopper right now to receive a grant from FEMA for a modification I want to pull up a picture of the Gubanador Debris Basin which was done several years ago to show how it performed in the debris flow of one nine And what this debris basin has done in the past is captured mostly fine-grained sediment that then costs an enormous amount of money to haul off and find a place to put, as we've struggled with over the last couple years. However by notching the dam, as you see in the lower left, and providing a free outflow for the sediment, what we end up doing is trapping the rock which is what we really want to trap, and overall it increases the operational effective of the debris basins.

Having this pilot, well it was really a pilot project in Gubanador Canyon performed so magnificently we want to go ahead and start to implement that on our other debris basins. It allows the finds to continue on through the sands and the silts to continue onto the ocean where they need to go And then allows us to focus on what the real hazard is, which are those rocks. And this basin just performed tremendously. You can see the fencing is all... This dam was overtopped in the debris flow like all of them were. The fencing was obviously just torn over but we stopped the rock in the debris basin and it worked exactly like we wanted it to so we want to take that and move that onto other basins in the South Coast.

Very good, thank you for that Mr. Barron. All right, let's move on to A23.

Chair Lavinino and members of the board, administrative item number 23 is from Public Works Board of Directors, Flood Control and Water Conservation District. It is to consider recommendations regarding financial performance security for the partnership for resilient communities debris nets project. And this is in the first district. And there is a fourthest vote on this issue.

Supervisor Williams?

Well, I just wanted to thank Public Works and County Council for working on this. And thank the Partnership for Resilient Communities for their work in improving safety in the areas hardest hit by the flood, the debris flow. And to summarize, A very modest and containable amount of risk on the county's part. We will be able to free up half a million dollars of the partnerships resources so that they could put up two additional debris nets, and do so before the rainy season this year which is a great compliment number one.

We'll improve safety for Montecito, but number two because of the work that we've been doing to try to do longer term work on the existing debris basins and on building a new debris basin. It complements it. The safety of the nets are provided for the next few years, and the safety provided by alterations we could do to the debris basin system could increase safety from then on out. So I find their effort really complimentary.

I think it's really needed to improve the safety of the areas hardest hit by the debris flow.

Supervisor Hartman?

I just had a question about these. Have these been used elsewhere in the U.S., or is this the best technology derived from elsewhere in the world?

I think we have two folks more qualified than myself to answer that.

Good morning, Chair Lavagnino and Supervisor Hartman. My name's Pat McElroy with the Executive Director of Partnership for Resilient Communities and this is Joe Cole also with the partnership. These are used where technology was developed in Switzerland by a company called Geobrug. They are installed all through the Western United States. Our contractor is currently in Hawaii now installing them On the North Shore of Kauai. We also installed locally in Camarillo Springs after the Springs Fire, where they had a debris flow into a neighborhood right alongside the golf course as you head up the grade into Newberry Park, Catalina Island.

They're being installed right now around Redding as a result of the fires up there and so that they've become part The standard Caltrans post fire infrastructure protection system. This is the first time they've been installed in Santa Barbara County in this type of setting, but there's rockfall nets in Gaviota and a number of other places. This technology, we've also shared up in Sacramento with the research we've done and also they're currently being installed in Topanga Canyon as a result of the Woolsey fire. So there's a number of installations throughout the western United States.

Very good. Thank you very much. Thanks for being here this morning Okay, I don't believe we have any other items on the administrative agenda. So can I get a motion to accept the balance of the administrative agenda?

Move

the consent agenda. Moved and seconded all those in favor. Aye. Any opposed they pass unanimously. All right that takes us to our public comment period how many speakers do we have this morning?

Chair Lavinino members of the board we have six requests to speak.

Each one will have three minutes to address the board

Chair Lavinino, members of the board. Our first request to speak we are going to Santa Barbara with Ed Kalaski and then return to Louisiana for LaWanda Lyons-Pruitt. Ed?

Thank you. Would you put the drawing up? I'm sorry, I didn't get the switch in schedule here. I thought you were meeting in Santa Barbara today. First of all, I call my speech, Will Corruption Rule Here In Santa Barbara? Or will Alex Peugeot Go? He's the chairman of the Board of Architectural Review. This first drawing shows that the second story is not located solely over the garage as contended by the board of architectural review.

This time we had an amazing statement. John, one of the members blurted out that this is all a lie. Apparently Alex told him that he did not switch drawings. We never got to show our drawing at the June 2014 meeting. Instead Alex showed our old drawing. Apparently John Verdiac believes Alex Peugeot is correct. All I have to do is produce the drawings with the correct dates on them, and he could see that Alex has been lying to him as other members have followed Alex's role.

So I hope to do that. I left off last time in the second drawing we're talking about my friend Joanne who in 2015 elected to go to Las Vegas instead of coming out to visit me in California. Unfortunately, she caught a brain disease and died within a month. And was buried. Another person, the third drawing, this is Patrick or Pat we used to call him. He used to meet at the coffee shop. He drew quite an attention of group, I'm sorry, he grew A bunch of people used to come and listen to him talk. He was quite an individual.

He had talked to me several times about trying to get a place to stay. I was always busy with writing speeches for the Board of Architectural Review. I can remember one time where I just said, I gotta get home, I gotta get it written before presenting it. He shot himself. He was left-handed. He didn't know that when you're left-handed, you've got to allow a little more room for the gun to get to your heart.

He shot himself, missed his heart and crawled along the floor and eventually died. You know, you think that just by kicking us out of a meeting in 2014 there are no cause and effects? That we have a corrupt government down there and nobody can do anything about it? Hopefully John will realize, and probably Lori, that they never saw our drawing we wanted to present back in 2014.

That Alex kicked us out of the meeting in 15 seconds. They had Dylan jump up and scream at us so we couldn't ask any questions. This is a democracy? What a mockery of justice! And he's still down there! Thank you.

Chair Lavinino, members of the board we're going to return to Santa Maria for LaWanda Lyons-Pruitt to be followed by Sarah Listine.

Good morning Chairman Lavinino and members of the board. You know who I am. You were my bosses once but happily retired three years ago, three and a half years ago actually and have devoted myself to doing full-time volunteer work in the community. I represent the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People For 110 years, our mission has been to ensure the social, political, educational and economic equality of all people by advocating for and removing barriers such as racial hatred and discriminations of all kind.

I stand here today to support in-home health care workers And to strongly urge you to support a wage increase and dental and vision benefits above the $12.10 wage that they're currently receiving, which is 10 cents above minimum wage and what employees at Walmart and fast food chains receive. I don't have to remind you that Santa Barbara County has a very high cost of living And that minimum wage is difficult at best and probably impossible without other forms of assistance, including multiple roommates and housemates which many frown on.

We know that the state and the feds pick up the majority of the costs associated with this program. This marks the 400th year anniversary of when the first slaves were brought to America And it's not lost on me, and I don't need to remind you of the struggle that the people of African American descent ensued over 300 years. Which brings me to why I'm perplexed, why this union is struggling to get a fair contract which is $1.20 pay increase and dental and vision that in essence paid for by the 1991 Realignment Act, then AACP is asking you and your staff to look at the program And invest in this valuable program that leaves our elderly and disabled in their home.

And so that they can continue to receive the dignity and respect that they deserve. They do not have 401ks, extra money sitting around. They need dental, they need vision, they need a decent wage. They want dental. They want a decent wage. They want someone to negotiate in good faith with them. They need your support and all of our respect and thanks for doing the work that they do, thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Sarah Alestein to be followed by Susie Boxley.

Good morning board. My name is Sarah Island Stein and I've been a provider for eight years for, I've got three clients. I've got to take care of my granddaughter. She had just passed so I'm on the bargaining team, also. Let me put on these so I can see what I've read. I've had to learn how to catheterize people. I've had to learn how to take care of a colostomy bag, something a nurse would have to do.

And a lot of times I don't have the equipment, the gloves, the pads, everything that comes along with nursing. So, we're just asking for our fair share. I've taken classes with the union for CPR and I just want to thank you for give us our fair share that's all we're asking for. And thank you.

Our next speaker is Suzy Boxley to be followed by Norma Alonzo.

Good morning, members of the Board of Supervisors, union membership attendees and all others joining us here this morning. My name is Suzy Boxley and I am an in-home supportive services provider in Santa Maria and as well a member of the UDW Union. I care for my beloved mother Grace Being a caregiver can be quite difficult at times. It is demanding work, but I do love my mother and will do all that I possibly can do to assist her in terms of helping her in meeting all her needs and in her own home.

She is an elderly individual still functioning on our own. To an extent, but there is much care, personal care, intimate care that I do provide her with. That I believe no outside facility can match. There is that added extra TLC that I give to her. Of course, there are those senior care facilities that do operate impressively. These specific types of facilities may cost a minimum of nearly $4,000 per month.

This is no exaggeration. And if husband and wife find themselves residing together at one of these, let's say non-state or county aided senior residence, the cost for both of them will double. Of course that would be $8000 per month. Not many seniors have that kind of money in any case and based on my empirical knowledge there are significant number of seniors such as my mother who do prefer residing in their own home as they live out their golden years.

Caregivers do provide for seniors and individuals with disabilities. We make it possible in this county for recipients to live at home, and at a fraction of the cost of an institution. As far as seniors are concerned, California's senior population is expected to grow in the millions over the next decade. There exists serious concern here over this very realistic future outlook. We can continue to ask ourselves, who will care for our elderly senior citizens in the near future? Will there be a sufficient number of caregivers available? Perhaps we should place focus on the family member or friend. The provider who wishes to step forward one that has the undeniable love and compassion and training and support to provide the care of that beloved elderly individual in need.

We can collaboratively meet this endeavor in home supportive services. What needs to take place presently is the reasonable sought after wage increase, cost of living as high especially in California, specifically in the Santa Barbara County. We all do need to secure a livelihood while conducting at-home care services. I want to thank you for the anticipated attention on the subject matter at hand, and for the very serious consideration of securing a feasible wage increase for IHSS providers. We seek a win-win contract with you. That's the end result we're shooting for. Thank you.

Our next speaker is Norma Alonzo. Norma? To be followed by Stephanie Eppert who is our final speaker.

Good morning, my name is Norma Alonso and I take care of my daughter with special needs.

I am in this program since four years ago.

All I'm asking is that we need insurance, we need dental and vision coverage. And as providers, we need to be well as well and we are just asking for a fair increase. And we also want proper training, and it's not fair because in San Luis Obispo they are paying a fair wage. I don't know if it's because it's a different county. Because

it is the same program, and I just want something to be fair. That's all we're asking, something that is fair. Okay, that's all. Thank you very

much. And

our final speaker is Stephanie Eppert. Stephanie.

Hi, sorry it's a last minute put together here. I'm Stephanie Eppert, home care provider for my daughter and many seniors and other aging disability people that I've run into. Four years ago, for four years I've been stuck in this moving ever-changing hamster wheel of life. Sorry, it works all the time. Hamster Wheel of Life, 41 funerals and three of them in my backyard. The constant delay in pay that can be 22 days plus between checks causing the bills and the rent to back up.

One loss was our landlady, neighbor and only grandmother figured that my daughter knew. Because I took care of her also my rent was 975. The new owners raised it to 1600 a month plus $50 late fee every month in the constant fear of eviction. I have been duct taping bills together so long I have no more tape while paychecks randomly come and if at all I'm penalized with added deposits of $150 for the utilities.

I only say all this to give you an idea of the building storm that has me stressed and wearing on my health. There was a time before the 7% cut when for the first time, I had eye and dental. And the doctor, an anti-doctor when my blood pressure was 172 over 99. But those years have passed and for two and half years, I have no insurance. In the middle of the dental work as you can see, in the dental work, I was turned away because of my insurance lapse I paid a fortune for these glasses a long time ago, and they're just a reminder in anger that I can't get to a doctor. And all the dollar store glasses are just making it worse. Not seen as building layers of problems with the overwhelming amount of paperwork on top of or seen right.

As God is my witness, I need you to consider the 20 cent amount that we asked for. I'm so busy taking care of my daughters, seniors and other disabilities that walk through like that. And the surgeries that are coming up that I need someone to help me and that's something that I would never ask for. But I cannot see well, and I can feel the fear of seeing through a film brings. The 10% you're offering brought me here out of desperation to ask you to go deep and to find it in your hearts to make it 20 cents as ten cents will be another window that I get to walk up to and only look through.

As you look through that other parents who are single might feel the same

way.

Supervisor, the difference between $0.20 and Your 20 cents is the difference between my scene and getting my sanity back. And a shadow quickly closing. And I become disabled in blindness. Supervisor Williams, you once blessed me with a Mother's Day gift of a copy of our story of me and my daughter that you submitted to pass the bill. And I hope we can remember it, the hardship that I still fight through and help us to get a plan that I can afford so I can see a real ophthalmologist before it's too late. And lastly, remember that all of you are sitting in a position to lay the groundwork for what everyone in this room will be going through.

And they'll be sooner than they think. So I hope that you can set a plan and see the 20 cents so that we can have affordable eye and dental insurance, thank you.

Okay, that closes out our public comment period. Thank you for being here today. We'll move right into our departmental agenda. Item one please.

Chair Lavinino and members of the board, departmental item number one is from Public Health. It is a hearing to consider recommendations regarding a waiver of retirement exclusion for Valerie Monte, occupational therapist for the Santa Barbara County Medical Therapy Program.

Good morning, the medical therapy unit provides needed physical therapy and occupational therapy services for children who have disabling conditions. And the county is required to provide services for these children who are eligible for the program or secure it through a vendor relationship. We anticipate that disruption to these critical services may have poor outcomes for the children's health. And we're very fortunate that Valerie is interested in coming back as extra help until we can secure A permanent replacement. Just for context, we also have a physical therapist position in Santa Maria in the MTU unit and we've been recruiting since January and we had two interested candidates who ultimately decided not to take the position. So Valerie's position is in Lompoc, and we anticipate even more of a challenge until we can find a permanent replacement.

So therefore I am coming before you to ask if we can bring Valerie back as extra help for the interim.

Okay, thank you very much Supervisor Adam. Can you tell me how much notice we had

that she was leaving?

She gave us notice on July 1st, that she was retiring. And so we started our recruitment process on July 23rd.

That's interesting. How long does it take to start a recruitment process?

So it takes roughly for this particular position, we had to update the job spec. And so we initiated from the department, it goes to HR to approve and we work with our recruiter to update it and then it's flown.

Well what was wrong with the job spec?

It needed to be updated.

Well, what specifically needed to be updated?

I'm not sure.

Okay,

I'm not sure but you know within context again we did a similar recruitment for our physical therapists and it's been eight months and we have not been able to fill it

well here's the problem is There's kind of a perverse incentive that everybody that gives you short notice or inadequate notice, depending upon how much notice you actually need to do a viable recruitment. Everybody gets to come back, so you get to double dip. You get your retirement and then you get to come back if we can't respond in an adequate way. And I don't know how you incentivize people to Given adequate notice and maybe that's coming up with what would be adequate notice.