Board of Supervisors — 2023-09-12

Good morning, I'd like to call the

September 12th 2023 meeting of the County Board of Supervisors to order. Madam Clerk please call the roll.

Second.

All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed? Unanimous. CEO's report.

Good morning Chair Williams and board members. I have a few things to report this morning. One is some good news our county this past week received an award for alternative fuel vehicle leadership from the National Clean Cities Group. The recognition is for the county's work in reducing Our fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by adopting a zero emission vehicle policy. So that's great news and recognition to all in the county. In addition, general services fleet operations has been approved for $5,000 per electric car.

Electric vehicle rebate from Central Coast Community Energy amounting to $150,000 for 30 Nissan Leafs that were recently purchased. Additionally the California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project provided an additional $2,000 per vehicle amounting to $60,000. Total savings on the purchase of these new EV's is $210,000 which dropped the per-vehicle purchase price to $31,000 so thank you again to Central Coast Community Energy.

The Planning Department, General Services wanted to just inform the public that they facilitated the successful decommissioning of the Line 96 crude oil pipeline formerly owned by Beneco. The six inch diameter pipeline was approximately nine miles in length and extended from Elwood near the Bacara Hotel to a tie-in Point at the Plains All-American Pipeline near Los Flores Canyon. The decommissioning was overseen by the county and funded by a $550,000 grant from the California Department of Toxic Substances. And it was officially completed in July with no incidents.

And lastly, the Ag Commissioner would like to let the public know that the California Department of Food and Agriculture is warning of a recent uptick in statewide findings of several varieties of exotic fruit flies If left alone, any of these fruit flies have the potential to cause billions in economic damage to California's food supply. The California Department of Food and Ag is working closely to combat the incoming fruit flies with parcel inspections using specially trained detector dogs and border inspections. Santa Barbara County is glad to report that no findings of these exotic fruit flies have been detected although the county continues to be vigilant.

And that concludes my report.

Thank you. Go

with the clerk announcements and then I have an announcement from Supervisor Katz.

Chair Williams and members of the board, I have a number of announcements and changes this morning. First we posted an addendum to today's agenda on Friday September 8th amending the closed session agenda and adding departmental item number seven. The closed session agenda was amended to add an additional agenda item under public employee appointment reappointment for the Community Services Department. Additionally, departmental item number seven was added to the agenda and is from the Public Works Department and the Board of Directors Flood Control and Water Conservation District. It is to consider recommendations regarding the Santa Maria River channel realignment. I'd also like to note for all those participating in today's meeting, that departmental item number seven will be heard immediately following departmental item number one with an estimated start time of 10 a.m..

This addendum was posted online and made available to the board and the public. Additionally, we received a memo on administrative item number 21 Administrative item number 21 is from the General Services Department. It is to consider recommendations regarding the ratification and approval of emergency contracts in response to arson and water damage to the Santa Maria Courts Department 8, County Project Number 22042. And this should be reflected as in the 5th District and not the 3rd District. And there is a forfeits vote required on this item.

Additionally on administrative item number 15, I have a quick announcement on that item. Administrative item number 15 is from the County Executive Office. It is to consider recommendations regarding the appointment of the Human Resources Director and prior to the board acting on administrative item number 15 in accordance with government code section 54953 subdivision C3, the human resources director salary information shall be summarized verbally Effective January 2nd, 2024, Christine Schmidt's annual salary will be approximately $225,000.

Lastly for the Board of Supervisors methods of public participation and to provide public comment on general public comment or an item on the board's agenda please see page two of the agenda. Individuals that would like to provide verbal public comment may do so via Zoom by registering in advance via the link available on page two. If you have any questions, please contact the clerk of the board's office at area code 805-568-2240. Again that's 805-568-2240 and that concludes my announcements.

Thank you, Chair Williams. I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the deep sadness and the lives that have been shattered in many parts of our county as well as Ojai over the untimely death and passing of Benny Shermer who passed away in Isla Vista over Labor Day on the bluffs there accidentally. Benny was a returning student at Santa Barbara City College, theater arts major about to star in a play And his life was cut short. I know all of us feel tremendously here in the county that our number one job is to keep people safe. Many people have been working on bluff safety. I'm committed to doing everything we can to prevent this kind of accident from happening going forward, working especially with the Isla Vista Community Service District and I just wanted to acknowledge the life of Benny Shermer.

Thank you. Can I

get a, so I have several items pulled A6-14-16 and A28 by the public. Can I get a motion on any other, the balance of the consent agenda and the addendum?

Okay. Chair Williams and members of the board, I have additionally from the public administrative item number 2425 28 was previously mentioned, 29 and 30.

Well not that we have much left in the balance of the consent agenda but maybe we could get a motion on that.

Excuse me and additionally one and 18 added to that list.

Okay I think I wrote that down So I'll make a motion for the approval of the balance of agenda with the exception of item 16, 1416. 1824-2528 29 and 30 bingo. Second

All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed? And that includes adoption of the addendum, right? That was part of the motion. Great.

Okay. Then A1.

Chair Williams and members of the board We will begin with administrative item. Number one, this is from the agricultural commissioner and weights and measures department is to consider recommendations regarding the 2023 noxious weed grant program agreement number 23 309 S a with the California department of food and agriculture CDFA. And we have one request to speak from the public on this item. And that is Mark Shatillo

mark.

Mark, we just heard you briefly. If you can please unmute yourself to provide your comments. And Mark Shatillo, we are on administrative item number one. Great.

Mr. Chair members of the board, Mark Shatillo Because of the importance of the noxious weed eradication program and wanted to request direction from the agricultural, from the board to the Agricultural Commissioner to expand this program. To go beyond to address a larger area and, uh, a bigger suite of, uh, of weeds. This is a $6,000 grant from the state. Uh, there are considerable funds and the noxious weeds are, um, a problem throughout the County and contribute significantly to our fire issues. So that's all I had on, on number one. Uh Madam Clerk should I continue? I also wanted to speak briefly on 18 and 24. Uh

Mark hold on one moment and we'll read that into the record.

Thank you.

Okay, can I get a motion or comment on item

one?

Chair Williams, I don't think $6000 is a lot to expand the numbers of you know that the scope geographically and also in terms of the noxious weeds. But I would like to look into what more the Ag Commissioner and his office could do about noxious weeds. I think Mr. Shitola raises a really important point about them we saw In Maui, what happened that was the noxious native unnative grasses that caused the fires. I think that's one thing and it's just also a real threat to natural habitat so it would be interesting to get a report back what more we could do.

We couldn't make that request because that is definitely a problem in Mission Canyon and elsewhere in many of our districts. Can I get a motion on A1?

Make

a

motion to approve item A1. Second.

All those in favor, please say aye. Aye.

Opposed?

Unanimous. I've got A14 first. Six.

Chair Williams and members of the board, administrative item number six is from the Behavioral Wellness Department. It is to consider recommendations regarding Dignity Health BBA Marion Regional Medical Center fiscal years 2021 through 2024 second amendment to the services agreement for Crisis Stabilization Unit Services.

Mr. Nelson?

Yes, thank you, Chair Williams. I pulled this item just to highlight it. It's a unique partnership between the county and Marion Hospital. This crisis stabilization unit we're actually renewing that contract so I actually asked today Ms. Anderson and Dr. Kettlar from Marion Hospital to come up and maybe highlight the program that we have here between the county In Marion Hospital and what we're doing on this side of mental health, as well as some of the ongoing partnerships that we're having now. As you guys are all seeing a construction outside on Hope Village. A big part of that project is a partnership with Marion Hospital and some respite beds there as well. So I just thought this would be great opportunity to highlight for the public.

So if Ms. Anderson and Dr. Ketlar could come up and make a few comments about the program and the ongoing partnership that the county has between Dignity Health Thank you citizens.

Yeah, thank you for asking us to talk about it. We're excited to do so and just have a few comments to tell you how how the unit has done since it opened on September 7th. Doctor Kettle are who is one of our emergency room physicians and his passion for behavioral health in those worked with this project from the beginning is going to tell you some of the specifics as far as the number of patients we've seen I just want to thank the County Board of Supervisors for your support of this. This unit, which opened on September 7th and has taken care of hundreds of our community members and all has had great success number one but it just the realities of it. It costs us about four and a half million a year to take care of this unit. There isn't a lot of reimbursement or funding on this unit.

The only way we can make this happen Is through the county support and also through grants and then donations from people in our community. Additionally, just last month the County of San Luis Obispo agreed to let their patients from some of their emergency rooms come to our unit and they're going to fund that So that's gonna be a help too. So with that, I'll turn it over to Dr. Ketelar to say a few comments and then I'll pipe in.

Yeah, and I just wanna personally thank the board and the county for this partnership because as an emergency medicine physician, I've seen the huge positive impact. And as Sue mentioned, September 7th opening, that was of 2022 we have treated Almost 600 patients during that time period there. We still have capacity to treat more, but what this unit is doing is persons who are in a significant mental health crisis in our community if they're in the hospital emergency department In the past, they've had to wait sometimes hours, days and we know long periods of time to get needed inpatient care elsewhere. This is an in-between that can provide very acute care. We're getting them in front of a board certified psychiatrist and specially trained staff in a separate unit that has a very therapeutic healing environment within very short periods of time during their crisis.

They're seeing the psychiatrist less than an hour after their arrival to the unit many times immediately. And they're getting a treatment plan going Over these, out of these 600 patients approximately 7 out of 10 70% have been able to be transitioned back into the community instead of having to go hundreds of miles away for inpatient care. And so this unit has specially trained staff and from the ER side it's been dramatic not having persons on holds for long periods of time in the ER we still have persons on holds in the ER not as long and not as many and so we're making progress we still Have capacity and this addendum to the contract is going to allow us. To more efficiently use this unit for more persons in crisis in our community, and I think you know this will be a wonderful regional center for this and part of the continuum.

So thank you very much for this contract in this help.

You know the other thing too is we've gotten such heartwarming letters from some of the patients that have been held there To be able to go into this unit in crisis, you know just to describe it if you're in an emergency room and you're there sometimes for days. You're in a room by yourself in a lot of cases with You know, in some cases we have a guard watching you so that you don't harm yourself. There's no restroom in that room and you're in crisis. You're in mental health crisis and by opening this unit, we've been able to move them to like you said, a therapeutic environment We have 24-7 staff there, we have 24-7 psychiatrists who can help them immediately get out of crisis. Get medications or whatever's needed to get them out of this crisis and that's why 70% of them can stay then and go to outpatient services within the county or anything else.

Anyway it's been a great asset to our community as is Hope Village same thing. We have patients that Are not able, you know that are homeless that are not in a state. They aren't in acute need for a hospitalization anymore but they need a roof over their head to fully recover and this is going to give us the opportunity with the partnership with the county to be able to give people that opportunity to heal fully and get them You know in a good place and get them get him to housing and all Really, hopefully get people off the streets in our community. So with that thank you very much for your support we really appreciate it.

We really do appreciate your partnership on how we can better serve our constituents together. Yeah

thanks if I could just you know it's a great model of a public-private partnership not only Behavioral Wellness and Dr. Navarro's team. The Marion Hospital Foundation I'm of emergency care in the Santa Maria Valley. And I think it's also a challenge to some of the other hospitals in the region, to look at this model as something that they may want to replicate. So again thank you all and I'd like to make the motion to approve item A6.

Is there a second? Second. All those in favor please say aye. Aye. Opposed? Thank you.

Chair Williams and members of the board. Administrative item number 14 is from the County Executive Office. It is to consider recommendations regarding a compliance and accountability report for the period of July 1st, 2021 to June 30th, 2023. Supervisor Hart.

Yes, I just wanted to call this out. I think this is the first time I've seen this on our A agenda and it's a new function that we have in our CEO's office to ensure that we actually follow up on the audit and track it in a more systematic way so I think that kind of accountability is really terrific and part of the Renew 2020 initiative and just wanted to congratulate our CEO on that.

Any other comment, Supervisor Caps? No. Can I get a motion? Motion to approve item A14.

Second. All those in favor please say aye. Aye. Opposed?

A16.

Chair Williams and members of the Board, Administrative Item Number 16 is from the County Executive Office and the Public Works Department. It is to consider recommendations regarding the countywide community workforce agreement implementation.

Supervisor Hartman?

I just wanted to call this out. This has been a long time in the works and for projects 10 million and over, this provides a lot of security and will help ensure that we have local workforce hired and Supervisor Williams and I worked very hard to get it to this point and especially Director McAlpin really appreciate the hard work it was. It was hard, hard work long and he an extremely effective negotiator and Josh Medrano as well.

Supervisor Nielsen? Yes, thank you Chair Williams. I acknowledge the hard work that was put on by Chair Williams and Supervisor Hartman as well as everybody else involved in the negotiations of the Community Workforce Agreement. There was a version of this that I think I could have supported. I know there's a lot of back-and-forth that happened at this board And I wasn't involved in the further negotiations. I'm a big supporter of our labor, and especially our local labor.

I am concerned about potential increased costs. I understand we have the $10 million threshold which should help on many of our projects. And I acknowledge that and appreciate that but at this point, I'm not gonna be able to vote to approve this so I was hoping they would have a roll call vote.

Then can I get a motion?

Moves staff recommendation.

And a second?

I can second.

Roll call vote.

Motion passes 3-2 A18 Chair Williams and members of the board, administrative item number 18 is from the fire department. It is to consider recommendations regarding an agreement with DUDEC to develop a community wildfire protection plan CWPP and transportation study for the Santa Barbara foothill communities. And we have one request to speak from the public, and we are going to Zoom with Mark Shedillo. Mark?

Good morning again, members of the board. Mark Shatillo on behalf of Friends of Mission Canyon and wanted to take the opportunity to endorse this project and appreciate the foresight and effort that has gone into getting it here and to move forward. As you know, the South Coast has a number of individual community wildfire protection plans However, having a unified plan will help coordinate in particular the evacuation issues which are so important as you saw in the safety element dealing with areas and communities that have limited access in emergency circumstances.

So kudos to the county and to the department for making this move forward. One of the critical pieces is public engagement, and I see that that is part of the plan as it was proposed. And I just wanted to underscore that and offer to the project implementing staff to reach out aggressively and engage the community throughout this process. Because this only works when the community embraces the principles in Community Wildfire Protection, and we all are pulling on the spores at the same time in order to make it work.

Mission Canyon adopted the very first County Community Wildfire Protection Plan through a community effort led by the Mission Canyon Association And I think that demonstrates how much the community needs to play a role in these plans. So appreciate the effort and look forward to a very productive process at improving safety throughout the South Coast Foothills communities.

Any further public comment?

That was our only request to speak on administrative item 18.

Supervisor Nielsen.

Make a motion to approve item A18. Is there a second? I'll second.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye. Opposed?

It's unanimous. A24

Chair Williams and members of the board, administrative item number 24 is from the Planning and Development Department. It is to consider recommendations regarding a report on emergency permit case number 23 EMP7 for the SoCal Edison transmission right-of-way storm recovery at the end of Tunnel Road. And this is in the Mission Canyon area 1st district. And we have four requests to speak from the public on this item. We're gonna begin on Zoom with Natalie Yanez to be followed by Ray Cox.

Thank you and hello supervisors. My apologies, I did not necessarily mean to speak publicly just trying to join as an SCE representative in case there are questions so I will yield back my time thank you.

And we will now go to Ray Popp.

I echo Natalie's comments thank you

And we will now remain on Zoom with Mark Shatillo to be followed by Jason Carson.

Mark? Good morning again, members of the board. Mark Shatillo again for the Friends of Mission Canyon. This is an important item and I appreciate it being pulled off. In our view this permit represents an abuse of the emergency permit process Particularly in a situation where the applicant had a hand in creating and worsening the severity of the emergency itself.

In December of 2019, SCE destabilized the slopes above and below Tunnel Road with an unpermitted clearing project where they graded and scaled the cliffs. And those cliffs and roads at areas remain destabilized to this day. They caused prolonged closures of the tunnel trail and had significant impacts from erosion into Mission Creek, which had devastated impacts on the habitat that was impacted.

They applied for permits and on behalf of Friends of Mission Canyon and with the cooperation of the Mission Canyon Association, the community worked with SCE to try and come up with solutions that would be appropriate For the circumstances, minimizing impact. Minimizing these disruptions and closures of the trail but providing a long-term restabilized trail network and road network there.

Instead they, SCE withdrew their permit application and used the emergency permit process to accomplish most of the road Management and maintenance work that they had proposed to do under permit, but they excluded the stormwater control devices. So they've created a further destabilized situation on tunnel road. And as we go into El Nino conditions this year there is grave concerns that there will be worsened and additional emergency conditions with additional failures along Tunnel Road as well as increased amounts of erosion and impacts to Mission Creek and the receiving waters.

So we would ask that the board direct staff to continue to focus on this project, and I will say that staff has worked very hard in putting a lot of time on this project, and we appreciate the support from the First District Supervisor's Office in focusing on this issue but our work is not done There needs to be emergency preparations for wet weather conditions that we're expecting to see this year. I don't mean that emergency as in without permits, but rather to be prepared for conditions so that the impacts are minimized and the trail and roadway are stabilized into the future.

It's unfortunate that SCE has not chosen to reach out to Friends of Mission Canyon in any way through this process. And while we appreciate that they are working with the Mission Canyon Association, it's been a challenging environment and we regret that it really doesn't appear that SCE has been willing to take the steps that are necessary in order to stabilize their systems that were destabilized back in 2019- Thank

you Mark, it is your time. We will now go to our final speaker, Jason Carson. I do see he is from SCE so I am unsure. Jason did you want to provide some comments? And that concludes public comment on this item. Oh, I'm sorry. I see a hand raised Azeem, Gabe.

Yes. Can you hear me? Yes, we can.

Yes, my name is Hazem. I am the senior environmental manager for Southern California Edison and I would like to provide some comments in regard to the subject projects. Thanks. But thanks the board for for the time today. In regard to Mr. Shutello's comments, I think there is a bit of confusion in the subject project. This particular project that it's in the hearing today is in regard to the emergency condition that presented itself at the beginning of this year and that due to the atmospheric storm emergency that we have seen between the months of November to February where Santa Barbara County have Received 12 inches of rain, approximately 12 inches of rain. So this particular project which is totally separate from the 2019 incident that Mr.

Sciatello have referenced or any other projects that was in the area. This was simply to remove the debris and road ruts that the storm has caused. And that was reviewed by the county planning department and was authorized under an emergency permit. In regard to the storm and erosion controls associated with this particular project, while this particular project is exempted from the state construction stormwater general permits SCE have developed erosion and sediment control with adequate best management practices to manage any erosion during its construction and post-construction. Matter of fact, these BMPs shows effectiveness even till now after the Hillary Spome events.

So this is separate in scope And from any other projects that was authorized before. SCE has an obligation to provide safe access to its infrastructure, which in the tunnel road and Mission Canyon, the transmission towers up on Tunnel Road. And that's why we cleaned up, we start an obligation to clean up the ruts and debris from that storm event And for the public safety as well.

Is there any questions?

Yes, I think it boils down to drainage and damage prevention since we may have a wet winter on the way. I think perhaps Mr. Chatillo's school of thought is that if we deny the permit that you will be forced to do additional drainage. I'm sure your viewpoint is that this facilitates additional drainage. What's been done and what is the quickest path to further drainage so that we avoid further damage on the road?

Correct.

Glad to answer. In 2020, Edison submitted for a grading and land use permit to repair the drains from Road Area 1 which is the entrance of of the Mission Canal Trail all the way to Road Area 5. And that includes repairs and cleanup of all the drains through its functionality. Additionally, recently this year we have installed two additional McCarthy drain at the early part of the trail to help with the hydrology and conveyance of stormwater sheet flow from the roads itself on the trail to the canyon with minimum erosion and sediment transport.

And along the years since 2020 and up till today, there is frequent inspection on the trail during and post storm events to make sure that erosion controls and sediment controls are at its minimum. The reference drainages, there was a proposed project called Goleta Santa Barbara and that's from area 10 to 16, the upper part of of the trail. that have seen a lot of erosion, a lot of erosion along the years. And this is a natural occurrence that is proven hydrologically in that area. This area specifically due to its hydrology topography received a lot of erosion that occurs naturally. However, SCE repaired those Repair those in part of it, in this particular project to make sure that there is safe access and usage of the trail. So additionally, the berms has been repaired that was and compacted to make sure as well there's no additional erosion on the road that will end up into the stream affecting their environment or public.

So drainage has been completed What are, what is SE's plans in the six through nine?

Six to nine drainage is subject to a separate project that it's under agency reviews. Currently it's called Stream Restoration Project and that is still subject to permitting and CEQA review. But there is a scope, proposed scope for SCE for the road repairs that will enhances the road functionalities and drainage.

Looks like that's all public comment. Is there any comment from the board? Questions from the board? So I'm gonna go ahead

and get started.

And I think this drainage issue is an important one. Mr. Titillo did bring some good suggestions for drainage to SCE, some of which are being incorporated into the plan and but as you heard that most of the stretches are the drainage address storm damage from this last season. And I can buy the idea that conditions changed after the storm season of this year.

I will

move item 24, second? All those in favor please say aye. Aye. Opposed? Thank you. Item 25.

Chair Williams and members of the board, administrative item number 25 is from the Public Works Department. It is to consider recommendations regarding the public works director's report on emergency response actions from impacts of flooding and storms and continuation of emergency actions And there's a fourth as vote required on this item. We have two requests to speak from the public. We are going to remain here in Santa Maria, begin with George Alvarez to be followed by Andy Gutierrez. George?

Morning Board of Supervisors. Very important subject, Guadalupe, the blood area that I was here 23 years ago addressing the issue. And unfortunately government has a tendency of not having foresight, hindsight. It costs us dearly because of lack of preparation and it's on you. Not on me or the general public because we elect officials to do the job and you failed.

23 years, I bring this up because there's no need for more failure. Your response for the well-being and safety of people. Guadalupe unfortunately for the history has been the bastard child of this county. 23 years later, I was proven right. No response in dealing with issues. I'm glad to see finally something is gonna be done to help the issue. Farmers were devastated, families were taken out. There's a lot of costs and government prevails in putting value on property versus life and human beings.

It's cheaper to buy the property out than to fix the problem. We have a problem that you have to fix now, or do I have to wait 23 years down the road for you guys to do something about it and deal with politicians that ain't worth a piece of course due because they don't do their job? The federal government slapped Guadalupe in the face because where are they? Where is our representative dealing? I went to that meeting with accounting.

And we're upset even though 100 people showed up. The two representatives of community, the Mexican population was not represented. I'll be racial about it, it's a Mexican community. A hundred people showed up maybe, I was there and nothing was solved but people got aggravated. I hope you do the right thing with the responsibility you were given until then we'll see thank you

Our next speaker is Andy Gutierrez, and that's our final public comment on this item. Andy?

Good morning.

My

name is Andy Gutierrez and I'm a resident of Guadalupe I've called it my home of record since 1957. I've seen several floods through the riverbed, I stood on the bridge while it was just inches away from the bottom of the bridge. I've seen the park flooded, I've seen the church that my mother had her funeral in flooded. You guys, according to George, you guys had no supervisors. Not necessarily you but you as supervisors having the ability to help do something to stop the water from going into the park area and the residents on the lower side of Guadalupe.

And then now since this last storm, it ruined the road. I don't know if it went into the sewer plant but it got close. But the road is needing repair. Ever since they made it a beach that you can't drive on, that was a major source of income for the city of Guadalupe. You know, and that's gone. Also LAFCO is gone. That's another county but that's a different issue. But help us have the foresight see what needs to be done because leaving that side of the bridge without a levy or some type it's gonna happen again just like George said you know and now we're looking at El Nino climate change all this other stuff going on it's gonna happen again It will, thank you.

And that concludes public comment on this item.

Board comments or motion? Well I just want the public to understand that we're also hearing this specific issue in just a few minutes so if you had a comment slip in and you felt like your time just passed it didn't, this is about something else but...

I'll make a motion to approve Item A25

Second. All those in favor please say aye. Aye. Opposed? Okay, A28.

Chair Williams and members of the board administrative item number 28 is from the Sheriff Coroner's Office in the Probation Department it is to consider Recommendations regarding a fifth amendment to the agreement with California Forensic Medical Group, CFMG WellPath for the provision of medical and mental health services. And we do have two requests to speak from the public on this item.

We are going to begin with Stan Roden on Zoom to be followed by Suzanne Horn. Stan? Can

you hear me? We sure can,

Mr. Registrar. Chairman Williams and honorable members of the board. I have the distinct privilege to serve on the 2022-23 grand jury but I'm here today solely as an individual urging you not to act at this time on extending the, I'll use the term well path contract with the sheriff coroner Unless and until responses are filed to the grand jury reports, as many of you have read them. I know that you're aware that five of them involved deaths in custody. There were eight or nine referred to the grand jury but we only had time to address five addressed in four separate reports.

Replete through those reports are problems with this contract and the relationship with the Sheriff Coroner. Problems about supervision, problems about hiring, retention, training oversight and most critically in one case, the failure to have mental health services available from 11 PM to 7 AM On the mistaken belief that somehow physical problems exist 24-7 but mental health issues stop for some strange reason at 11 o'clock at night. Second of all, the Murray case just filed an additional report to the federal court showing serious delinquencies of a similar nature so The grand jury responses to our reports are due within this week for the 60 day reporter responders and 90 days, meaning the middle of October. So I'd ask that this matter be put over until after those responses can be read, reviewed, commented on and hopefully become a subject of a public hearing before the Board of Supervisors.

This matter should have been handled in February. It wasn't for whatever reason, it's dragged on from April 1st without an extension or a new contract until this day so I hardly see that another month or two of delay would make much of a difference in the equation. I'm glad to answer any questions and I thank you very very much for your time.

And we will now go to Susan Horn, who is our final speaker on this item. Yes. Hello.

My name's Susan Horn and I'm a health educator with public health now retired. And I'm also working with the criminal justice work group And I just would, I'm not going to repeat what Mr. Roden just said but I would have said that if he hadn't and asked for a delay that until in this item to renew the well path contract until after the responses from the grand jury report. And finally, I would also like to add We need to see the annual evaluations of WellPath. I understand that those reports are supposed to be annual to the Sheriff's Department, and it just makes sense that those evaluations should be seen before the contract is renewed for another year.