Recording in progress.

Good morning, everyone.

I'd like to call to order the meeting of Tuesday, November 18th.

We'll do so by asking the clerk to please call the role to establish our quorum.

Supervisor Marquez, excused.

Supervisor Tan.

Present.

Supervisor Miley, excused.

Supervisor Fortnite.

President Halbert.

Present.

We have a quorum.

Thank you very much.

Would you all please rise and join me if you can to say the Pledge of Allegiance?

Our board recognizes and appreciates members of the public who wish to participate in today's meeting.

You can do so either in person.

We ask that you fill out a speaker slip or online.

The clerk will now provide brief instructions on how to participate online.

Detailed instructions are provided in the teleconferencing guidelines.

The link to the document is included in today's agenda.

If you are joining the meeting using a computer, use the button at the bottom of your screen to raise your hand to request to speak.

When called to speak, please unmute your microphone and state your name.

If you're calling in Dow Star 9 to raise your hand to speak, when you are called to speak, the host will enable you to speak.

If you decide not to speak, notify the clerk.

When your call is notify the clerk when your call is unmuted, or you may simply hang up and dial back into the meeting.

As a reminder, you may always just observe the meeting without participating by clicking on the view now link on the county's web page at ACGov.org.

When called, you will have two minutes to speak.

Please limit your remarks to the time allocated.

Public comment will generally alternate between in-person and online speakers as determined by the president of the board and subject to overall time limits.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

We will now move to board of supervisors' remarks.

I recognize Supervisor Tam.

Thank you, President Halbert, and good morning, everyone.

Wanted to extend our congratulations to the California Blue Ribbon Schools in Alameda County.

School.

And I would also like to adjourn our meeting today in memory of Coach John Bean.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, President Halbert.

I too would like to adjourn in the memory of Coach John Beam and extend my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones after his tragic passing.

I know his loss is deeply felt by the Laney Skyline, Oakland and Sports Communities.

And perhaps we can all share some more extended comments once Supervisor Miley is here because I know he wishes to join that adjournment.

It's good that we have that certainty of the government opening.

And we all know that while the government was closed, there was a lot that was happening in terms of food security.

So I do want to thank my colleagues on the board for allocating 16.5 million for food security.

This is definitely going to help address the increased need for food, mitigate the loss of federal ARPA funds as well as federal funds due to HR1.

And of course, when the government was shut down and the SNAP payments, CalFresh payments were delayed in November, our food bank really stepped up with its partners, literally 370 partners across the uh across the county.

And I did want to share that my office was really proud to help create the Alameda County Rapid Response Food Resilience Fund, which is providing one-time rapid response grants to the community partners in the county that are helping with food distribution as well as delivery, recovery, and other important work that helps to uh complement the work of the food bank.

We had announced we initially raised a half million dollars, including some funds from my office, and we are still fundraising, and we will shortly be announcing some additional funds that we were able to raise.

So just want to note that even though the government is uh opening again, food is still an ongoing crisis that we need to meet.

Thank you.

Thank you, Supervisor Marquez.

Thank you, President Howard.

Um I will also make some remarks at the end when we adjourn this meeting in memory of Coach Beam.

Um, I did want to respectfully ask, I know County Administrator isn't here just yet, but I wanted to ask her as well as our board president if we could please have a status update announced out next week with regard to the EIP.

We are getting inundated with emails again and just want to give public an update.

I know that process was going to take some time to come back, but if we could just give the public an update on the anticipated timeline, I'd appreciate it.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much.

I would like to echo comments.

I think we're all still in shock at the murder of Coach Beam.

Uh served with me on the JPA for the Coliseum.

We'll adjourn in his honor at the end of our meeting and we'll have comments, I think, at that time shared by Supervisor Miley.

I would also like to say that I was very honored and pleased to attend in support of the Bay Area Council and the court of Oakland, the annual Shanghai Expo, the largest import export expo in the world.

The court of Oakland stood out very high regard by everyone that we met with.

The California Pavilion stood up by the Bay Area Council was a hit, and it was a very prideful moment for Alameda County and for the City of Oakland, the Board of Oakland, and indeed the entire Bay Area Council and State of California.

So with that said, we've concluded board member remarks.

We'll go to public comment on all items on the agenda, except for those listed as set matters.

The one o'clock set matters, the commendations and recommendations, recommendations and proclamations we have will be heard at that time.

But any other item on today's agenda, now would be the time to make public comment.

We'll take inline speakers first, followed by online speakers, three at a time.

In person, I'm sorry, in person first, then online.

The clerk could call the speakers.

The first three speakers are Carol Mayhar, Laura Calvert, Calvert, and Ruth Laurie Weinstock.

Morning, supervisors.

My name is Carol Mahar, and I'm speaking today on behalf of Spectrum Community Services, Alameda County's sole lie heat provider.

Thank you for placing this item on today's agenda and for recognizing that energy assistance is about housing stability, health, and dignity.

On the front line, we hear it every day.

A grandmother in San Leandro keeping medication refrigerated, a family in Oakland avoiding a shutoff that could have triggered eviction.

These are real stakes for our clients.

Your willingness to consider this agreement shows a clear understanding about families, seniors, and people's people with disabilities are facing right now.

When families fall behind on their utility bills, the consequences go far beyond losing power or heat.

Utility shutoffs affect people's ability to stay housed, lead to unsafe living conditions, or force households to move in with others, placing them at even greater risk of homelessness.

LIHEAP is one of the county's most effective homelessness prevention tools, and the need for it far exceeds the resources available.

The three million Measure W agreement before you today is essential to preventing a service cliff on January 1st.

It will keep spectrum doors open, protect 25 local jobs, sustain five small business contracts, and most importantly, ensure that households of Alameda County residents can avoid shutoff notices, displacement, and eviction.

Your support of item 16 will allow us to continue stabilizing more than 6,000 residents each year while we wait for federal funding to catch up and while the state's formula continues to shift resources away from Alameda County.

On behalf of Spectrum Community Services, thank you for your leadership and your commitment to protecting our community's most vulnerable households.

We respectfully urge you to approve item 16.

Thank you.

Good morning, I'm Laura Calvert, Executive Director at Spectrum Community Services.

And following up with what Ms.

Mahar just said, we are here in support of item 16 on your agenda today.

I really want to thank you guys for leading the way in providing some local funding for LIHEAP where the federal government falls quite short.

We appreciate your leadership and understanding about how vital LIHEAP is for our neighbors.

While we have been able to help over 6,000 residents in 2025 with LIHEAP, we continue to be turning away 70% of applicants because the federal funding does not come anywhere near what the need is here in Alameda County.

PG<unk>E rates since 2020 have gone up 70%.

And we see that on the number of applicants that we get and the size of the bills and how far behind people are on their bills.

So we respectfully ask you to approve item 16 and direct staff to expedite the contracting with advanced payments before December 31st.

Our annual contract with the California Department of Community Services and Development, which normally starts on November 1st has already been delayed.

While we are very, very grateful that the federal government has reopened, we do empathize with the federal workers who are coming back to work to desks that they have been away from for some of them months and trying to catch up and get all of the contracting and funding to the state before then the state can contract with us.

And we are concerned about not knowing what that timing is going to be and having that gap.

Meanwhile, federal funding remains flat, and we need your support to continue making sure people are housed and they keep their lights on.

Thank you.

Hello.

Democratic Socialists of America and Jewish Voice for Peace.

I am here to support items 106 and 107, and in line with this to support Treasurer Levy's EIP ethical investment policy, as Supervisor Marquez has stated earlier, which we are still waiting to see implemented.

Treasurer Levy conducted a thorough and a collaborative process to develop the policy, and the Treasury Oversight Committee, who are officially charged with the fiscal responsibilities to approve it, did so with a broad majority.

The board is stalling on implementation of this popular, ethical and economically sound policy.

Our tax dollars can still be invested in companies like Lockheed Martin that fuel genocides in both Palestine and the Sudan and the Palantir Technologies Company, which is an ongoing strategic partner to ICE, threatening our local communities, immigrant communities, our friends, and our families.

And we do not want to see our tax dollars invested in this way.

And we certainly hope that you do not.

So please do not stall on implementing the EIP, the ethical investment policy, and please let the residents of Alameda County know how and when you will be doing this.

Thank you so much for your time.

Fish, you have two minutes.

Go ahead, please.

Hi, thank you.

My name is Visharusion.

I'm a district five resident.

I am a member of UAW Local 2320 and the East Bay Democratic Socialists of America, and I speak on behalf of both organizations.

I also speak in support of items 106, 107.

I want to acknowledge the great work that Treasurer Levy has been doing in managing the county's investment pool.

And I want to acknowledge Supervisors Fortunates and Marquez.

Thank you both for being the moral backbone of this board.

And I would like to reiterate Supervisor Marquez's uh request for an update on the status of the ethical investment policy.

Um I'm gonna just ask uh straight up right now.

What is the status of the ethical investment policy?

Um, when is it going to be implemented if it must go through another redundant um round of reviews by uh um committee that hasn't met in over two years?

Um, and it must be up for scrutiny by another consultant at the expense of at least 100,000 to the taxpayer.

Um, when is that going to take place?

Um, and just to piggyback off of what Lori previous to me said, um, where's that there there are mass atrocities going on around the globe?

There are genocides going on in Israel or in Palestine, in the Sudan, and in the Congo, um, and beyond that.

And we continue to be able to invest in companies that fuel those genocides and profit off of them, such as Lockheed Martin, weapons manufacturers.

Lockheed Martin is a company that profited off of millions of people being killed during the invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, and it's actually absolute betrayal of um uh public trust to be able to invest in these companies.

So uh we need to we need we need an answer.

We need to know when we're gonna um get implementation of the ethical investment policy.

Thank you.

Caller, you have two minutes.

Go ahead, please.

Uh good morning.

My name is Ranjit Tate.

Um, I'm a resident of District 4.

I'm also a member of JVP Bay Area, um, an anti-Zionist by Jock SM network and of the Alliance of South Asians taking action.

Um, I'm speaking in support of items 106 and 107, the Treasurer's investment reports, as a display of confidence in the treasurer's work on the ethical investment policy, which had already covered all the specious arguments raised by the group that seemingly wants the continue the county to continue to invest in crimes against humanity around the world.

Um again, I'd like to ask uh, you know, what plan of action has been laid out for implementing the EIP in the six weeks since it was discussed.

Um counter to the bias selection of speakers at that meeting, the vast majority of county residents support an EIP.

Those opposed to the EIP, those in favor of continuing the county's support of crimes against humanity, they will ask uh, you know, why the urgency one urgency is that Israel continues to slaughter Palestinians and hide their own misdeeds.

Um the second urgency is that we do not know when the next Sudan, Congo, or East Turkmenistan will happen, and we need something in place anticipatorily.

Uh, nor do we know who will be the perpetrators, not the complicit companies.

So I urge you to send the message now that our financial investments will not come at the expense of the killing of other human beings.

Um, thank you, and I would like that update.

Then you can.

Caller, you have two minutes.

Go ahead, please.

Hi, my name is Jake Peterson.

I'm a resident of District 5 as well as a member of Jewish Voice for Peace.

I'm commenting to support items 106 and 107 and the ethical investment criteria that has been authored by the Treasurer and put through the Treasury Oversight Committee's approval back in May of this year.

I'd like to request the board provide transparent recurring updates on the formation of this ad hoc committee, as well as the review process carried out by the committee.

I'd also like to request that these things be carried out expediently.

I speak for many members of the community when I say that we will not stand for this committee to be used as an indefinite delay tactic.

The EIP has already gone through many months of review and should be implemented as soon as possible.

Finally, I'd like to request that the human rights screening language in the EIP remain unmodified and undiluted.

Standing up for human rights should not be a difficult moral position for you to arrive at.

Many people are paying close attention to which view is capable of making your way there.

Thank you.

Samuel Raimi for items 15, 25, and 31.

Good morning, Alan County.

This is a sad world.

When you have senior citizen home and is dying in the street all over his country, it's getting worse and worse every day.

Right now, probably tricky.

I'm talking to the American people, the American government is no affordable housing.

It's low income housing.

That's the constitution.

Not forward.

Donald Trump said he's not gonna find portable housing.

Now, for the housing, they can go up on the ring when they get ready.

Now you can price these seniors in industry.

The same.

How do you put up double minute?

We'd go forward with low income housing.

You don't go like this.

You're permanent.

You can fund it, you're taking care of.

Oh, you took care of us, all the things we live in.

People did it is dead.

No, people did this.

And we need to benefit appreciate them.

This is wrong, man.

This is sad.

Lady of Florida, she's 96 years old, she's sleeping in her car.

You don't have to eat McDonald's every day.

Sad.

It's bad, y'all.

Should I walk the streets?

I see.

I've been all kinds of I see.

Sad.

I'm asking, I'm kind of let me view a senior citizen.

And I'm gonna help you say, I can do that.

I just need somebody to give me a little name this man.

I can get busy.

I don't need no money.

Support to get these old folks off the street.

I'm serious.

This is bad.

Don't make sense.

Oh, families, man.

The housing cry.

It's bad.

A billion fear of the building filled down in New York.

Why?

That's all these buildings are 150 years old.

Everyone didn't come back 30 years ago.

So we stuck with this problem.

And so we gotta pay for this, yo.

Oh yeah, there's no pay.

We gotta pay for this.

And the food too.

Can you give me a disability people?

You need kittens along.

Don't kill them off.

They also bear parking blood for us.

We got two short bliss.

I got people short.

Sad man.

Caller, you have two minutes.

Go ahead, please.

Hello, this is Chris Moore.

Um, I uh let's see.

I had a item on uh the measure W and also on the EIP.

First on the EIP.

Before we can move forward with that, uh I think everybody there saw my analysis and the analysis the community did, and there's in fact, there's even in the current report, the benchmark is still missing.

Frank Levy admitted that he is performing under his previous benchmark, and we need to have a study done of what's going on over there before we can implement a policy that will absolutely decrease the funds that are provided to this community.

And you know, it's kind of interesting.

This last week, I met with 15 black church leaders in East Oakland, and you know what they do, they provide housing to the formerly incarcerated, and they can't get funds to continue to do that.

And here we are with the EIP trying to implement something at the Treasury that will reduce funds that would go to these same people to help the those most in need.

So I think before we do anything with this uh EIP program, we need to have a review of Hank Levy and his department and what really went on.

Why did he remove the benchmark?

Why did he change how he calculates return?

Until that's done, you can't implement a new policy that's going to do have the same negative impact.

Um, I'll also touch on ERAP with Measure W.

Those funds are needed.

It's an important program to help people stay.

In fact, it's one of the most important programs to help people stay in uh their homes and their rental homes when they have an automobile uh problem when they got to do a fix or a health issue or something like that.

So uh thanks for your time and uh have a good afternoon.

Caller, you have two minutes.

Go ahead, please.

Hello, this is Caitlin Chan.

I am the legal uh executive director at legal assistance for seniors.

Um I'm calling about item number five.

Thank you for putting this item on the agenda for today.

Um, this is regarding the first amendment to our legal services contract under Title 3B of the Older Americans Act.

I would just bring to your attention that this is for services already delivered to Alameda County seniors for a set of services that ended on September 30th, 2024.

So if this could be approved today and settled, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

President Howard, there are no more speakers.

Very good.

I note that um we have consolidated the items listed on the agenda, public comment items on the agenda, except items listed as set matters.

It does appear twice on our agenda, uh, once uh right now before the approval of minutes and once um before the um consent calendar is approved, but we've just consolidated them all public comment on items on today's agenda, with the exception of set matters have been heard.

With that, um, I will move to the next item, which is approval of minutes.

There are motion to approve.

Mr.

President, I will move approval with the minutes.

Did you need me to list all the time?

I think it's there a second.

I'll second.

A motion's been made to approve the minutes of the meetings listed on today's agenda by Supervisor Tam, seconded by Supervisor Fortunatter Bass.

May I please have a roll call vote?

Supervisor Marquis.

Aye.

Supervisor Tan, aye.

Supervisor Miley, excused Supervisor Ford Not Abbas, aye.

President Halbert.

That item passes.

With that, we uh will now adjourn into closed session.

Thank you all.

Recording stopped recording in progress.

Good afternoon, everyone.

I'd like to call the uh board of supervisors meeting back to order.

We'll start with the clerk calling role to establish our quorum.

Supervisor Marquis.

Present.

Supervisor Tim, present.

Supervisor Miley.

Supervisor Fournette Obass.

Present.

President Halbert.

Present.

We have a quorum.

Thank you.

Would the county council have anything to report out from close session?

Thank you.

In closed session session, I would like to confirm that in the matter of RT versus County of Alameda et al, Superior Court of California, County of Alameda case number 22 CV 023942 at a closed session on May 17th, 2025.

The board authorized settlement of that case.

And this reports that the case is now settled in the amount of $750,000 dollars, and that the vote was unanimous.

Supervisors Miley, Halbert, Tam, Mark Kiss, and Fortunato Bass voting yes.

Additionally, in the matter of IH versus County of Alameda et al.

Superior Court of California County of Alameda case number 22 CV010280 at a closed session on July 8th, 2025.

The board authorized settlement in that case, and that case is now settled in the amount of 750,000 dollars.

The vote was unanimous with supervisors Miley Halbert Tam Marquez and Fortunato Bass voting yes.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

We'll move on with the set matters before us.

The first one is item number 95.

I'm very proud and honored to recognize All California Day, something that I ask my colleagues to also support, where my staff was able to work with the California State Assembly to recognize at the state of California level, and we will recognize today at our level, a symbolic but a powerful message that connects California's history with the state of Baja California and Baja California Sur.

So I um will start by saying that I want to also thank Assemblymember Vila Farias, whose staff Lupe Leon and Sean Wilson are in the audience today.

Something that can hang on the wall resolution.

Because I think it's important to send the message, not only because of what's happening today, but just something I think we just should be doing anyway, and that's recognizing our shared culture and heritage.

But it means even more today that uh the people of Baja Baja California, Baja Sur, California, and the people of Mexico know that we care.

Whereas California, Baja California, and Baja Sur, California were once part of the same region with Alta, California, beginning in 1769.

California, Baja California, and Baja Sur share a deep historical and cultural connection with enduring ties through trade, migration, and shared environmental and economic interests, and whereas the interconnected history of California, Baja California, and Baja Sur California reflects a shared heritage that continues to influence bilateral initiatives in various areas such as education, arts, and community development, thus strengthening the bonds between our peoples.

And whereas California joined the United States in 1850 as the 31st state, becoming a symbol of opportunity, innovation, and cultural exchange due to its position at the crossroads of American, Mexican, and Indigenous traditions.

And whereas the relationship between California and Mexico continues to be significant with shared history and culture and economic ties contributing to our state's identity as one of the most diverse regions in the world, and with over 30% of California's population being of Mexican descent.

Let me repeat 30% of California's population being of Mexican descent.

Whereas an annual All California Day would provide an opportunity for residents of the state to honor its multifaceted history, acknowledge the contributions of indigenous peoples and Mexican heritage and promote unity among its diverse communities.

Now, therefore, be it resolved, proclaimed by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors that the board designates November 9th as All California Day, a day dedicated to sharing California's shared history, celebrating California shared history with Baja California and Baja Sur, California.

And be it further proclaimed that all California Day will encourage cultural celebrations and community events across the state to foster a greater appreciation of California's unique and interconnected history.

This signed by all of us thank you my colleagues for doing this.

I want to say that um one thing I didn't already know that the states of Baja and Bajasur already celebrate their shared history of being one California at one point now they're two um they they celebrate the by state uh interconnectedness that they share within the country of Mexico this is the first time ever that the state of California in the United States has recognized that.

While they have those hermanos we have now trace hermanos California entering the scene um I hope that this would become an annual tradition and I can tell you that it just so happened to coincide with my trip um to Mexico everyone was very appreciative, excited and um was well received.

So with that uh said we have in Spanish and in English all California day de Alta California I'd like to thank my staff Edith stand up Edith give her a round of applause everyone she single handedly got this done and migrating navigating the obstacle course of the California State Assembly is a marathon event.

If you could come to the podium let me give you these proclamations well actually first if you want to make a few comments I see you have a gift for us thank you.

And then we'll come down and take a photo with you.

So I'm here on behalf of Assemblemas and I would like to thank uh Supervisor David Hubbard in the board of supervisors as well as Edith for working very closely with the office and making sure that we uh communicate the importance of uh those uh cultural ties between Mexico and uh Baja California Baja California Sur and California and uh all those contributions that people from uh our community have like uh contributed to the state of California and how that's benefited so many people so um all that to say is uh thank you so much for the opportunity it's been a pleasure to work with you all and uh we have a frame resolution that we want to uh give to the Swiftweiser and uh the board uh so with all that uh let me just go ahead and present you a little bit Madam Clerks, we have any public comment on this item.

We have one online comment.

Okay, let's have it.

Tim D.

Go ahead.

Tim D, you have two minutes.

Go ahead, please.

Sorry, I meant to raise my hand for your uh items not on the agenda.

I lowered it, sorry.

Okay, thank you, Tim.

We'll move then to the next item, which is item 96, the proclamation of November 17th through the 21st as the California Clerk of the Board of Supervisors week.

And so I have also a proclamation here, which we will give to our clerk, and to say today we are proud to recognize the dedicated professionals who ensure that county government operate openly, lawfully, and transparently.

These are our clerks of the board.

Clerks support nearly every aspect of county operations by managing public meetings, maintaining vital records, and protecting the public's right to access government.

Their role is one of the oldest in government, and for generations they have upheld the principles of neutrality, accuracy, and fairness.

Across all 58 counties, clerks ensure that the actions of elected bodies are properly documented, accessible, and preserved, forming the backbone of government transparency and public trust.

Through the California Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Association, they continue to strengthen professionalism and promote good governance statewide.

In recognition of their dedication and the vital services they provide to Alameda County and to all Californians, we are pleased to proclaim November 17 through 21, 2025.

As California Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Week, we offer our sincere appreciation to our clerk of the board team and to clerks throughout California for their commitment to exceptional public service.

This proclamation goes to Cheryl Perkins, of course, our clerk of the board.

Cheryl, we'll we'll um embarrass you with a few comments that you can make, and then we'll further embarrass you by comments that we'll make about you.

But we'll start with Supervisor Miley.

Let us talk about you first and then you can talk.

Is that okay?

Go ahead, Nate.

Yeah, well, yeah, I just want to acknowledge uh the clerk and the staff in the clerk's office.

Um, you know, um Cheryl's here, but Anika, you know, is kind of um, you know, the leader of that office for many many years.

And I know, you know, the clerk's office, you're kind of like the unsung heroes, because you know, we have late meetings, we have meetings that um are in the evening, and we have long meetings, and we have meetings in the corporate services committee out in the community, and you're always there, and I know, you know, some preparing these packets.

Sometimes you're up to the morning hours preparing the packets.

You've got to get everything out timely and posted and this, that, and the other, and if things don't happen, um, you know, we take for granted that things are going to happen, but you know, you all of you, a number of you are in the audience.

You're doing all the hard work that you know, but for you doing that work, we couldn't do our jobs, and um, you know, I really want to express you know my sincere appreciation for everything you do to help us do our work uh and ensure that we're doing it effectively and to the best of our ability.

Uh, because like I said, um, you're like the unsung heroes who are uh you don't have to take all the, well, I shouldn't say that.

You even have to take some flack and some grief at times, depending on who comes to the um receptionary and have to talk to you.

Uh, we don't uh necessarily have to engage in that at times, and I do know you have to deal with some of those unpleasant encounters.

So I just want, you know, want to express my sincere gratitude for everything that all of you do.

I know you're heading things up now, uh Cheryl, but um I think it's you know, the work of the clerk's office is more than just you.

It's the entire office that's there to do a lot of a lot of work uh to make us look good.

So thank you.

Thank you, Cheryl.

A few words.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, thank you, President Halbert and members of the board for this proclamation recognizing California Clerk of the Board, a supervisors week.

On behalf of a clerk of the board's office, I want to express our appreciation for this recognition.

It's an honor to serve the board and the residents of Alameda County.

Again, thank you.

The team is here and as for 2020, Madam.

There are no speakers.

The next item is uh ninety-seven, proclaiming November 2025 as Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month.

We're honored to recognize the Sikh community whose long-standing values of equity, equality, service, compassion, and justice have enriched Alameda County for more than a century.

Sikh Americans contribute greatly to our cultural, economic, educational, and civic life as business owners, educators, public servants, engineers, health professionals, community leaders, and many more.

Sikhism founded by Guru Nanak in 1469 and now uh is now the world's fifth largest religion.

Uh it emphasizes devotion to God, truthful living, and service to humanity, values that resonate deeply within our country.

Throughout California, November is recognized as Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month, offering an important opportunity for residents to learn about the Sikh faith history and contributions.

Alameda County remains committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment for all residents.

We reaffirm our dedication to combating hate, bias, and discrimination in all forms.

We also acknowledge the leadership of local Sikh organizations whose ongoing service and outreach continue to uplift our communities.

We support with support of Alameda County departments and commissions that advance inclusion and intercultural understanding.

This month provides a meaningful opportunity to celebrate Sikh heritage.

Therefore, we're proud to declare November 2025 as seek a Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month.

I don't believe anybody's here in person to receive this.

However, I will be presenting it in person to the Sikh community in my district.

While we're at it, I might as well just recognize and call out uh recently elected Union City Mayor.

I want to say a few words about Mayor Singh?

Yes, um.

Just really honored to know Mayor Gary Singh was just elected last November.

He was previously a council member and just really dedicated to the community, he is known to volunteer, local charities and food drives, and he's just been a wonderful addition to the communities who just want to uplift his work and just really proud to have him be one of our mayors in Alameda County.

Thank you for acknowledging that.

Thank you.

Any other comments?

I'll say the next item, any public comment on this item.

There are no public comments.

Our next item is uh 98, Supervisor Fortunato Bass and Supervisor Miley tag teaming and coming together to proclaim November 25 as Women's Cancer Resource Center month.

Thank you, President Halbert.

Myself and Supervisor Miley are really privileged to honor 39 years of service, advocacy, health justice, and equity by the women's cancer resource center.

And I would like to read the proclamation by way of introducing not only our colleagues on the board but also members of the public to the terrific work that the women's cancer resource center has been doing.

Whereas the women's cancer resource center was founded in 1986 by a small group of women with cancer determined to support one another and to advocate for change in the healthcare system.

And whereas what began as a single answering machine in founder Jackie Winnow's living room has grown into a community-based organization serving Alameda County residents with a staff of 14 and nearly 200 volunteers providing compassionate services to people facing cancer.

And whereas for 39 years, WCRC has advanced health equity across Alameda County by offering free culturally responsive programs that meet people where they are, including patient navigation, psychosocial support, wellness classes, transportation assistance, emergency financial aid, and trauma informed mental health care.

And whereas WCRC's work centers those most impacted by cancer, including low-income individuals, seniors, black, African American, and Latina women, and LGBTQ community members, ensuring that no one is left behind due to barriers of costs, culture, or access.

And whereas WCRC's leadership and innovative holistic care model have received national recognition with leading institutions such as UCSF, Stanford, John Muir Health, and Alameda Health System, underscoring the essential role of community-based organizations in improving cancer outcomes.

Whereas through participation and research and advocacy, including presentations at the American Society of Clinical Oncology and National Convenings, WCRC has demonstrated that psychosocial support and basic needs assistance, such as food, transportation, and housing stability are vital to reducing anxiety, depression, and recurrence while improving overall quality of life.

And whereas WCRC continues to reflect Alameda County's values of equity, resilience, and compassion by building bridges between health systems and neighborhoods and by uplifting those most affected by cancer.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the Alameda County Board of Supervisors proudly recognizes the women's cancer resource center on the occasion of its 39th anniversary, honoring decades of service, advocacy, and care for Alameda County residents.

And be it further proclaimed that Alameda County celebrates WCRC's founders, staff, volunteers, and clients, past and present, for their courage, vision, and steadfast commitment to health justice and equity for all.

And be it further proclaimed that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Alameda does hereby recognize November twenty twenty-five as Women's Cancer Resource Center Month in Alameda County and commends WCRC for its enduring impact on our community.

So congratulations and thank you so much to the leaders of WCRC.

We are deeply grateful to Supervisor Bass and Supervisor Miley and the Alameda County Board of Supervisors for this recognition.

Since opening our doors, we have supported more than thirty thousand low income women and caregivers impacted by cancer, including an estimated one thousand Alameda County residents each year.

Our mission is to help our clients access the health information, care, and support necessary to have higher quality of life throughout their cancer journey.

We provide financial assistance, patient navigation, and emotional support to communities like our sister and sister and Las Carrera support groups.

We meet clients where they are with compassion and respect, and we envision a future where all women can access equitable cancer information, care, and support.

We invite the county and its agencies to collaborate with us to ensure no woman in Alameda County faces cancer alone.

Thank you.

Let's take a photo.

Do we have any public comment on this?

Seeing none.

Thank you.

Seeing none, we'll take a photo with the recipients.

Okay, our next item is item 95, Supervisor Miley proclaiming November 2025 as National Diabetes Month.

All right, thank you.

Thank you, President Howard.

Okay, so we have a proclamation here proclaiming National Diabetes Month.

Whereas November is National Diabetes Month supported by the American Diabetes Association to raise awareness and address the growing diabetes epidemic.

Alameda County Diabetes Program of the Public Health Department, Community Health Services Division will lead a month-long campaign in November to highlight the impact of diabetes or pre-diabetes.

One in ten Americans has diabetes.

Though prevention and management are possible through health healthy choices.

An estimated one in three American adults has pre-diabetes, with most unaware due to a lack of symptoms.

Yet early detection can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.

In Alameda County, 9.2% or 146,740 of adults live with diabetes, which ranks as the sixth leading cause of death, disproportionately affecting communities with limited access to care.

A significant racial and ethnic inequities exist in diabetes mortality.

Pacific Islander residents face rates over three times higher than white residents, and deaths among African-American black Latinx and American Indian Alaska Native residents occur at younger ages and have increased in recent years.

The Alameda County Public Health Department remains committed to reducing diabetes.

Hopefully, they're here in the audience.

And if they if the president would like for them to come forward, they can come forward now, then we can go present the proclamation and get some pictures.

That would be the right time to do it.

Come on up and give a few comments, and we'll give you the proclamation.

Thank you very much.

My name is Annette Laverty.

I am Associate Director of Nutrition Services of Alameda County.

And I'm here with my colleague Janelle Commons, who's nutritionist in the diabetes program.

The Alameda County Diabetes Program has existed for 24 years and has served residents with pre-diabetes or diabetes in all county districts and in multiple languages.

It's been funded through Measure A county funds and a few grants over the years.

Our fiscal year 2025 adopted budget was approximately $500,000.

After the pandemic, the diabetes program recovered quickly, and with our budget, we've stretched the dollars and have been growing in the number of classes and presentations we provide.

Last fiscal year with 1.5 full-time equivalent diabetes educators and one part-time contracted diabetes educator.

We taught 13 series of eight classes, conducted eleven single presentations, attended many health fairs, and met with our community diabetes advisory council, comprised of 35 partner organizations.

And overall, we've served approximately 800 residents with our tiny and mighty team, and in partnership with our dedicated host sites.

Additionally, we provide a monthly newsletter that's mailed out to over 530 current and former participants, which I've brought for you today.

One of the strengths of our program is our ability to see change.

Not only do we measure change to health behaviors, but we also measure clinical indicators too, like A1C blood pressure and weight during the first and last class.

And last year, more than 90% of participants demonstrated a reduction in A1C or held it at less than seven.

78% improved their blood pressure, and 60% lost or maintained weight.

Our model includes peer educators.

And though they couldn't be here today, we want to honor Susie Hanko and Tella Williams as peer educators.

Susie and Tella share their experience of living with diabetes and support the organization of our county classes and support groups.

They add a special touch with their ears on the ground and also serve as our diabetes advisory council.

Nutrition Education is under attack, just like food security.

Nutrition Services' primary funding source for 25 plus years was the U.S.

Department of Agriculture or CalFresh Healthy Living in California, which was eliminated in the federal budget due to HR1.

We are thankful to you, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors for the stopgap measure W allocation and hope that you continue to support our evidence-based nationally recognized programs and services like the diabetes program that needs continued funding, as these prevention and intervention programs have excellent outcomes and address leading causes of death in Alameda County.

Thank you very much.

And we'd like to share some calendars with you that just came in today.

Well, let's go down and take a photo then.

We have comments from uh do we have any online speakers or any members of the public in the no public comments?

Okay.

Why don't we go down and take a photo and pick up a calendar, we have a company, all right.

Item number one hundred, Supervisor Miley and Tam commending Roots Community Health for their visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to health, equity, and outstanding service to our youth.

All right.

Thank you, President Halbert.

Yes, we have a commendation today for Roots.

Roots Young People's Wellness Center, a part of Roots Community Health.

And so all of us have signed this commendation, and it reads, whereas Roots Community Health was established in 2008 with a mission to confront the deeply rooted health inequities affecting East Oakland residents, aiming to serve the most vulnerable through community-driven model of care.

The organization initially operated as a resident-based initiative, reaching individuals experiencing severe disparities in health access, socioeconomic conditions, and overall well-being.

Roots Community Health has continued to advance its mission by championing systemic change in health care delivery, placing health equity, cultural responsive care, and whole person wellness at the center of its work to uplift those affected by poverty and structural injustice.

Roots Community Health recognizes that achieving lasting wellness in black and marginalized communities requires an intentional and comprehensive focus on the health of young people as a foundation for long-term community vitality.

Whereas research consistently shows that exposure to toxic stress and adverse childhood experience can lead to chronic illness and significantly impact long-term physical and mental health outcomes.

Whereas in response to the urgent need for early and accessible youth services, Roots Community Health launch the Dream Youth Clinic, the first in 2017 with the Dreamcatcher Youth Shelter for Adolescents, and later in 2019 at Covenant House for transitional age youth, providing critical care to unhoused youth, LGBTQ plus youth, foster youth, survivors of exploitation, and other high-risk populations.

Recognizing that many young people in East Oakland remain underserved, particularly those not connected to shelter systems.

Roots committed to expanding its reach and building a continuum of care that supports youth as they transition to adulthood.

Following the independence of the Dream Youth Clinic in July 2023, Roots responded by opening a new young people's wellness clinic in East Oakland to ensure the con the continued availability of youth-centered medical and behavioral health services.

Whereas Roots Community Health is launching a comprehensive young people's wellness center on October 22nd, 2025, designed to integrate healthcare, behavioral health, leadership development, peer support, education and job training for youth ages 13 to 26, thereby further investing in the well-being and empowerment of the next generation.

Therefore, this board of this county of this state does hereby honor Roots Community Health for its visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to health equity, and outstanding service to our youth and families.

Through its innovative programs and deep rooted advocacy, Roots continues to transform lives and build a healthier, more just future for all.

We congratulate them and launch, we congratulate them on the launch of their young people's wellness center.

And I would just say, you know, Roots is housed in my district in East Oakland.

Their main office is right across from the Eastmont Town Center, where I have an office as well.

And I've known Dr.

Noha and Akeel and many of their employees for many, many years, consider um Dr.

Noha and Akeel, both friends and advisors and confidants.

And you know, there was a time too with Roots.

I think might have been cursed out at one point in this chamber by another board member for my position in defending Roots.

But you know, you've got to take those bullets when you believe in something.

That's strongness, I believe.

And Roots, you know, in East Oakland, they did deliver quality service.

I know they're a county um CBO contractor.

They do remarkable things.

And you know, Dr.

Noha's on the Alliance board.

She at one time was on the health systems board as well.

Um my staff and I, we meet with uh Dr.

Noha monthly just to kind of, you know, exchange ideas, and you know, we sometimes we agree, sometimes we don't agree, but we're always uh talking and trying to figure things out.

Um so I just really value the work of uh Roots as one of our very finest of community service uh providers uh in East Oakland in the city of Oakland and quite frankly throughout the county, and I know they provide services in Santa Clara County as well.

So I'm really pleased that um I was able to present this along with Supervisor Lena Tan today to a well-deserving organization.

Um thank you, Supervisor Miley.

Uh Supervisor Miley and I were actually at the health committee when the ribbon cutting occurred, so we presented the proclamation, but we we're gonna present it again.

Uh so we are very appreciative of the Roots uh young people's wellness center because it's been an invaluable resource for our community, providing safe, supportive, empowering space for young people to grow and thrive through its holistic approach to wellness, addressing mental health, physical health, personal development, and cultural identity.

The center helps youth build confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of belonging.

It's dedicated staff, thoughtful programming, and youth center environment truly makes the Ruth Youth Wellness Center a model of care and cornerstone for positive development throughout the county and special recognition to my colleague on the Alliance Board, Dr.

Noah, whose leadership, her vision, and her unwavering commitment have been instrumental in shaping the center's mission and impact.

So thank you for your compassion and your advocacy for young people that set the tone for an environment where every youth feels seen, supported, and empowered.

Your guidance not only elevates the quality of care offered, but also inspires the staff, the families, and the broader community to work together toward a healthier and more equitable future.

So uh Dr.

Noah Abeletta, please come up and offer us your wise wisdom.

Thank you so much.

What a huge honor, and especially all of your comments really mean so much.

Um we missed you at the groundbreaking um ceremony, but we'll hope to have all of you at the ribbon cutting when we're able to open our doors.

We'll be so excited to be able to centralize all of our services and programs for young people all under one roof in a very low barrier to access manner.

So we are really excited about that.

It will be an affirming safe space for our young people age 13 to 26, and we chose that wide age range because we know oftentimes our young people fall through the gaps at different points when they leave school, when they turn 18, when they turn 21, when they turn 24, when they fall off different benefits because of the way many of our systems and the eligibility for those systems works.

And so we felt it was important for us to create a whole continuum and including a continuum to adult care as well, as Supervisor Miley mentioned.

We have multiple sites in East Oakland that serve the whole continuum as well.

But we really felt like, and I think it's um, you know, we had a tough week last week for our young people and for our community losing um such a one-of-a-kind coach and mentor of thousands of our young people, um, and losing Coach Beam.

Um, and we've had just some troubling and challenging um situations that no young people should face at all.

And we know that many of our young people are disconnected from systems or don't trust different systems, and so we really felt like we wanted to open an extremely low barrier to access location where any of those young people can come, they can receive confidential services for medical and behavioral health care, also navigation and life coaching, as well as pipeline careers.

We want to get our young people interested in behavioral health and public health and health care so that they can come back and serve us here in Alameda County and not feel like they have to go somewhere else and have that talent leave us.

So we are inspired by our young people every day.

They have shaped everything in the planning of not only what services they want to see, but how they want the place to look and feel.

And so we're thrilled to be in partnership with them and really center them in their needs as we do this work.

So thank you so much for recognizing this.

Is much more than a building.

This is really an investment in our young people and in our future, and we're really in gratitude to all of you for your support and partnership, and looking forward to more to come.

Thank you.

Do we have any public comment?

There are no public comments.

Let's go take a photo.

Do you want to uh review your consent calendar first?

Our consent calendar is items one hundred one to one sixteen.

And I want to announce that two items have been pulled, items one oh four and one eleven have been pulled from your consent calendar.

Okay, then may I have a motion to approve the consent calendar absent item one hundred four and one eleven?

So moved.

I'll second.

Motion's been made by Supervisor Marquez and seconded by Supervisor Tam.

I may have a roll call vote, please.

Supervisor Marquis, aye.

Supervisor Tan?

Aye.

Supervisor Miley, Supervisor Ford Not the Bass.

Aye.

Okay.

That said, uh, we're ready for the mass motion.

Mr.

President, I will move items two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, jumping is seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, 20, twenty one, twenty and twenty one.

Questions on twenty one?

Comment, no comment.

Uh 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 72, 73, 75, 76, 7, 78, 79, 80, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, and jumping to 101, 100.

No, those are on your consent.

So it ends at 94.

And I also wanted to make a comment on item 71 that the recommendation is that you approve that as part of your motion, but that it be contingent upon approval by county council's office.

Which item was that?

71.

That the agreements uh are need to be approval approved by county council.

Okay.

My understanding is that my office has not looked at them in their final form.

They had some involvement along the way of the development, but they had not looked at them in final form.

Mr.

President, I need a second on my motion.

Motion's been made by and seconded county council.

Just to confirm, and does your motion include the addition that the county administrator asked for?

Yes.

Thank you for the confirmation.

Okay, a motion's been made and seconded.

First, we have uh questions and comments.

I think the first question was surprised you passed.

21.

Thank you, President Halbert.

So 21 is an EV 2036 allocation from my office to the Oakland LGBTQ community center of 100,000.

Um I just wanted to share.

I'm really excited that this is my first allocation.

Um, this organization has come before the board over the past year and has shared their important work, especially under the current federal administration, where the LGBTQ community is under attack.

So I am uh just very excited to support their work, to provide um affirming services, especially to young people, and to continue making sure that we have a healthy uh and safe community, regardless of what your background might be.

And I do invite uh my colleagues, if you don't already know the center, to get to know them.

Just this past week.

Uh they celebrated the second anniversary of the LGBTQ cultural district in Oakland, which is a welcoming space for everyone, and I hope that they will have many more successes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I believe questions from Supervisor Riley on item 28.

Yes.

And I might mention on 21, since this is a supervisor Bass's first allocation.

She knows the tradition on the board that when you make your first allocation, you also have to kind of do an allocation to each of our districts.

Okay, so can you uh Nika uh talk to us about 28 uh what this is all about and also uh how we're able to secure this without any uh financial um obligation?

Sure.

Good afternoon, Supervisor Zanika Chowder, interim director with Alameda County Health.

Um so uh item 28 on your agenda is the approval of a MOU and data use agreement between our agency and um the Better Government Lab at Georgetown University.

So uh this is a partnership that um is an academic research partnership, and so uh the Better Government Lab is interested in using the data that we have in our social health information exchange, which is a pretty um uh substantial part of our data sharing infrastructure within Alameda County Health.

Um so it gives us access to a wide variety of data on people uh in the Medicaid system.

Um we get data from various hospitals as well as our behavioral health system and um uh public health programs and the Alameda Alliance for Health.

So uh this partnership came about uh because uh Dr.

Clannen uh knew about the possibility and um essentially we are wanting to use we would be providing the data to the Better Government Lab, and they will be um providing us with uh data analysis to help us figure out how many people are expected to kind of churn through the various uh eligibility changes and things that'll come down the pike with HR1.

Um so we're interested in this from the perspective of wanting to um to figure out our planning for the health pack program because as people fall off of Medi-Cal, they may uh go on to Health Pack.

And so it's a uh it it'll be de-identified data uh using publicly available resources and the data belongs to us.

We can pull out of the agreement with a 60-day notice, and the lab is not allowed to share it with any outside entities.

It's it's just to be used for our project.

So is this unique or has the agency done this in the past?

We've done uh a couple of different things like this.

Um, so uh with the SHIE data in particular, um actually uh I just received word of a publication that's resulted with um RTI, which is a group out of North Carolina, um, where we shared with them uh data on how we were essentially they use the data in the sheet to see how we were supporting um people with homelessness during the COVID pandemic, and that's resulted in a publication.

So we do have uh um academic partnerships like we we do this before.

Uh we also have something similar that I think you approved recently or will be approving soon with Stanford, and research that we're doing with the Recipe for Health program.

And typically when we do this, so in exchange for us sharing the data, then there's no obligations.

That's very good.

Because we're we're unique in the level of data that we have available through the sheet.

Any other questions on this item?

Thank you.

Sure.

I recognize Supervisor Marquez.

Uh thank you, President.

Um Howard, and I apologize.

I do have a couple items I want to comment on, so I'll do my best to um do them sequential in order to align with my colleagues that have already called items out.

Um wanted to just flag item number 29.

This is uh $50,000 allocation from District 2 to support the Spark Point program in the city of Fremont.

Just want to highlight how critical this program is because it's going to provide tax-free preparation for low and moderate income individuals as well as financial workshops, one-time financial coaching.

And I visited this program and have seen the outcomes, not just for the city of Fremont, but their reach actually goes to the entire district.

They serve people specifically in South Hayward, Union City, Newark, and of course Fremont residents.

And I think we need to do more investments like this to have people have stronger financial literacy skills so that they don't have to be dependent on the safety net.

We need to do more of that.

So I'm just really happy to support an additional uh an investment to this program at 50,000.

Thank you.

Any other questions, comments, Supervisor Miley?

Yes, I had a comment on item 30.

So item 30, it's uh the measure C, pediatric portion of Measure C.

Well, the health committee, Supervisor Tam and I've heard this matter on two separate occasions, and I just want to kind of highlight the fact that the board, I mean, that through the health committee, we specifically um required that additional funding be allocated for violence prevention.

We were not satisfied with the initial um report that came to us on how the funds were going to be allocated.

So we didn't put more into violence prevention.

Um I think we would have probably put even more had there been a bigger pool, but because the pediatric portion is not that large, um, we can only go up to so much.

But um I just wanted to kind of highlight that target that for the board uh uh knowledge because we are very concerned about violence prevention.

In fact, uh, through the health committee, we're asking the staff to come back and give us more detailed report on um violence prevention, uh, particularly in the city of Oakland.

So that's on an upcoming agenda.

Supervisor Marques comments on item 30.

Yes, I want to thank my colleagues on the health committee for identifying this um ongoing need, and regrettably we're seeing it play out as of last week with the shooting at Skyline and then the death of Coach Beam.

So just um the more that we could do to invest in violence prevention is critical.

Also, want to flag that we're going to have a joint health and public protection committee meeting on Thursday, December 18th, I believe at 10 30.

So please be on the lookout for that agenda, and also want to flag we're gonna have a meeting this evening with Elameda Health System.

But um, for those that don't know, Lameda Health System is now Saint Rose is now an affiliate of Elameda Health System effective a year ago last November, and unfortunately they had to suspend labor and delivery.

They're going through some research and analysis.

They've hired a consultant.

We'll hear more information on that later today.

But really appreciate the one time four million dollars going towards the relaunch of the birthing center.

That is going to be critical.

St.

Rose is the only hospital in Hayward.

Um Kaiser left us.

I don't remember if it was in 2015 or 16, but they left us to build a new hospital in Sal Leandro, and so it's critical that we maintain the only hospital in Hayward, and um it's important that mothers have places to birth their children.

So just thank you for this investment.

Just wanted to flag that.

That's it.

Thank you.

Um, I certainly appreciate hearing that the health committee how the health committee uh deliberated on this item, and I am supportive of uh the investment in violence prevention.

Great to hear that this is coming to a joint committee.

Um, having worked on uh expanding violence prevention in Oakland.

I am really interested in hearing how we're working across the county and more of our county ecosystem to support violence prevention.

So Oakland, Hayward, perhaps there's other cities, and of course, we're part of a broader region where San Francisco and Antioch, sometimes Richmond, are also hubs.

So if there's if it's possible to share that information, whether it's today or at the joint meeting, I'd appreciate it.

Uh thank you, Supervisor.

I can share uh just at a high level.

So our office of violence prevention with the county uh sits with the public health department, um, and this was initially funded through ARPA dollars, and so we're really glad to be able to continue some of that work with this Measure C investment.

Um that office, you know, uh and Kristen Clapton, uh, who's the director of that office, is available online if you have more detailed questions.

But uh we do have a history of working closely with the Office of Violence Prevention both uh in Oakland as well as in other cities.

So in Hayward, I think the work is with the police department, so our our um team is coordinating with them.

Um there are four major areas of uh work that they look at.

So there's the uh you know gun violence, there's uh intimate partner violence and general community violence, um, and Kristen will have to help me with the fourth one.

Um, but the idea is that you know we're wanting to invest in um strategies that are evidence-based and proven, um, and really working with our um city partners in particular to be complementary to their investments.

Um, so this is where you know, working with them to figure out um what they're investing in and what they're able to do, and to see how we can be um additive to that.

Yeah, I would just if the staff person's on, maybe she could expand a little bit more on this.

Because I I did find it very fascinating when it came to the health committee.

They actually showed a breakdown of violence of the different categories and um and the HC director just kind of pointed out the top three or four um priorities for violence prevention, and what we were interested in knowing from the health committee perspective is once again where the violence is occurring.

Our suspicion is a lot of it is in Oakland, and that's where we want to return most of the dollars.

But it was very fascinating to see the various categories suicide, domestic partner, homicide, gun violence, etc.

Is she on?

I'm sorry, she was only in listen-only mode and not able to raise her hand, um, but she sent me a text to say that hate motivated violence and youth suicide prevention are the other two major components.

Um, and as the uh joint committee uh will be doing a big uh deeper dive into the data of um the breakdown by city as well as other uh demographic factors for each of those areas, and we are part of the regional uh violence prevention network as well.

Are we doing anything differently with violence prevention today than we've done with violence prevention over the years?

Um, might be a question for Supervisor Miley.

Uh we have, you know, the the county has a long history of of being invested in this space, and I think that one of the key things we're doing differently is having um this very specific public health approach to it, where it's data-driven, where we're you know, it's strategy-driven and intended to be complementary to what else is happening.

Um, so based on what the data shows us and you know what's working, um, I think that's a little bit of a more uh slightly more focused lens on how we're approaching it.

Anecdotally helping people cope with dependencies suicide and preventing that is one of them, but anecdotally, violence in the community, I don't know that we've seen the uptick in retail crime, other activities that when we say violence, are we talking about criminal activity?

Are we talking about schoolyard fights?

Are we talking about using the eye message as the kids do now?

What is exactly is it?

Um, youth basketball at night.

I thought that was a great program when they played midnight basketball.

I mean, is it things like that?

Yeah, there's a variety of interventions, right?

So things like youth job programs as well as things like um uh interventions that happen when someone shows up at a hospital because they've been the victim of gun violence, right?

So there's a whole variety, um, depending on uh like the interventions for suicide prevention might be a little different than they are for um domestic violence uh prevention.

Um so it's a little bit of a I I can pass that along to our team to uh share a little bit more about that when they do the next presentation.

I guess let's let it become something that is productive and not one of those ongoing programs that continually gets funded because we always do what we've always done, but rather something that truly makes a noticeable market difference.

Yes, let me let me just weigh in here because this is something I know a little bit about.

Uh, you know, Jack of all trades, but ACE none.

But um, and I know probation plays a role in violence prevention as well.

Um the county back in 2005 or six adopted a blueprint towards violence prevention.

Uh we had a consultant at the prevention institute that looked at all forms of violence, and uh and I think uh that blueprint is still uh part of the framework for violence prevention in the public health department, because prior to that public health uh wasn't you know as focused on violence prevention uh as they eventually became as a result of that the board adopting that blueprint uh towards a violence um uh prevention, and uh basically uh what we know is that if communities are resilient, good schools, you know, um good housing, uh places where people shop and walk and this that and the other, that all of that is wholesome and it's upstream, it prevents violence.

So we're constantly looking upstream, and I think that's what we're looking at.

Now, when jurisdictions are not putting resources into those upstream strategies, or they cut resources in upstream strategies, intervention and enforcement can't replace the prevention.

So you need all three prevention, intervention, and enforcement.

So our prevention piece is violence prevention, youth alive.

They do a great job going into you know uh the hospitals and talking to um youth and trying to prevent violence, you know, as a result of somebody being uh shot.

Um, and then you've mentioned midnight basketball and no probation still does midnight basketball.

So all that's part of that upstream effort.

And once again, the key is having resilient communities, because um, you know, when you go into communities that don't have litter and graffiti and run down vehicles and this, that, and the other, those are wholesome communities, and that's what we're striving for, resilient quality communities upstream, so we can figure out the you know, as the saying goes, um, if you see you know carcasses downstream, what happened upstream to cause that, and then trying to intervene, having jobs and things of that nature.

So all of that's part of the framework.

And then having resources now through public health, when they've created um kind of like a division within public health that manages violence prevention, is really really important.

We've come a long way, I think, over the years, but we unfortunately we still have a long way to go, and unfortunately, I don't think we'll ever um you know eliminate violence as long as we're living in the world as it is and not as the world as it should be.

And the more resources I think we can put in to um violence prevention and target those resources so that once again we can have communities that are resilient.

I think we'll see a continuing reduction in violence.

But that's the issue.

Having the resources, having them targeted, and and having them sustained.

Because when you don't sustain it, you're gonna go, you're gonna see a reversal.

Because once again, you can't reduce um crime if you're just depending on enforcement and intervention.

You need prevention as well.

So I know I got on a little soapbox here, but you know, when I was on the city council Oakland, I put together the Father's Prevention Plan in Oakland back in the 1990s and did it here as a county supervisor.

So this is something I know a little bit about.

President Helper.

Very good supervisor, thank you.

Uh, Supervisor Tam.

Um thank you.

Uh I just wanted to echo some of the uh thought process and passion that Supervisor Miley voiced uh recently.

Uh Councilmember Charlene Wang and the mayor of Oakland and our district attorney, myself, our office and uh the City of Oakland police department and their city attorney's office.

We are trying to be preemptive with uh sex trafficking and human trafficking and we're looking at uh an integrative approach in terms of prevention because there's um uh I guess a hotel that's just down the street that's been declared a public nuisance, and there's a huge cry around the community to purchase that and turn it into permanent supportive housing or respite housing, hopefully with some combination of city and community funds to to basically prevent and provide the system to support um uh the the community by um eliminating an area where we've seen high criminal activity, including uh trafficking of children and along with the smoke shops that are surrounding.

So those are some examples in which we uh we're potentially looking at uh elevating the use of these funds um to focus on violence prevention.

I fully agree, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

It just has to be the right ounce.

And our our violence prevention directors metrics would be helpful.

You want to introduce Kristen?

Yeah, Kristen's our violence prevention director and Kristen, I wonder if maybe you could speak a little bit to the evaluation component.

Hi, can you all hear me?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Okay.

Um, Kristen Clapton, violence prevention manager for the Office of Violence Prevention within public health.

Um, I would say with regards to evaluation, we are looking to um partner with a provider that can help support our evaluation efforts.

Currently, we utilize results-based accountability for our contractors and have been doing quarterly reporting with them to really understand the impact of their programs as we move into measure C.

What we will do is look um to fund community-based partners that are utilizing evidence-informed practices, and that will help us to also gather further information on the evaluation of programs and the efforts that and strategies that they incorporate.

So those are all key components of the work that we'll be doing throughout the next few years.

Um, and I'm looking forward to reporting back at the joint public health and public protection committee meeting, um, where we'll try to provide some of that information as well.

Any other questions or comments?

I think a brief one.

Um, thank you, um intern director for flagging uh police department being in communication with staff regarding um work related to um youth violence prevention.

Just want to flag for the public.

I think it's really important when we talk about um safety of everyone in our community.

I it's uh a uh it's something I'm very proud of.

The city of Hayward's police department for over 45 years has had the youth and family services bureau.

So Dr.

Emily Young has been an instrumental key person working with your office as well as probation, and I'm in full support of we need to invest the funding on the areas with the most need.

But we also need to look at who's second, third in line.

And if we look at the statistics, unfortunately, of our young people in custody, they're primarily from Oakland and Hayward.

So it's really important that we look at the data and make sure that we're investing um the funding where it needs to go.

I will also flag when I used to sit on the Hayward City Council, it was very concerning.

Every summer, we would have a spike in homicides, and they were typically related to young people.

So it's really important that we use that data to look at that the um heat map, so to speak, and do our best to prevent um violence from occurring.

So thank you.

All right, next item with questions.

I think it was 38.

I just want to state that um this uh contractors from New York.

I'm not gonna um I'm just gonna state that because it's a little bit of money.

$38,000, but you know, just wish to know when I'm watching, but it's out of out of county and out of state.

Are you asking for clarity or just making a comment?

Making a comment.

Next item.

Did you vote on your motion?

We haven't voted yet.

I guess uh there's no other question.

Is that the last if that's the last question?

You still need to take a vote on your motion, and then there's a couple of items and a few ordinances.

Welcome vote, please.

Supervisor Marquis, aye.

Supervisor Tan, aye.

Supervisor Miley.

Supervisor Fournette Bass.

Hi.

Your next item is item 16.

Uh, it's a recommendation from the social services agency related to one of the board's allocations of Measure W funding for spectrum community services for low-income home energy assistance program.

As noted in the board letter and by your board's action, uh, the allocation was contingent on the loss of federal funding to spectrum community services.

And so we wanted to provide you with a real-time update on the status of the federal funding.

Amy Schrago, who manages the legislative program, is gonna provide that that update, and then the social services agency director will also um comment on the item that's being brought forward by the agency.

Good afternoon, board.

Um, I have a brief update on the status of the lay heat program for you.

Just a little background on the program.

It is a federal program to assist low-income households with heating and cooling costs.

Um, it is more robust in areas of the northeastern part of the country and parts of the Midwest.

It's administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, and it provides one-time utility payments for emergencies, mostly disconnection prevention, as well as weatherization services.

Um the funds are appropriated by Congress and then distributed to the states in California.

These are allocated by region and distributed to local service providers.

Our provider, as you know, is Spectrum Community Services.

And uh in FY 2025, the total statewide allocation was 227.1 million dollars, and our local contract allocation was a little less than six million dollars.

Um every year the state develops a plan that they submit to the feds.

And uh this the 2026 plan is for 239.7 million dollars, but it is currently funded at the FY 2025 levels due to the continuing resolution.

The state funds are allocated across 41 service providers to cover all 58 counties, and in this 2026 plan, the state redistributed the funds throughout the state to regions with more extreme weather days.

So uh Alameda County did see a reduction in the amount of overall funds received from LIHEAP.

This is a program with historic bipartisan support.

Um, as you heard, the president did zero it out in his budget, but Congress rejected that proposal.

So the Senate's proposal is for $4.045 billion dollars, the house for $4.035 billion.

We expect the final funding will be around $4 billion, which is up from $3.6 billion last year.

Now, with the shutdown, the funds were not um delivered on time to the states.

Typically, that's the beginning of November.

Uh, we believe now they'll be delayed until December.

We got confirmation today that the LIHEAP money will be distributed by the end of this month.7 billion dollars in funds, which is the amount allowed for with the continuing resolution.

And the remainder of the funds will come later.

But as we heard this morning, the funds will be released by the end of this month to the states.

And we are monitoring HHS's distribution timeline, and our state lobbyist is monitoring when the state makes local allocations, and social services will coordinate with Spectrum, and we can continue to provide updates to your board when the state makes its final allocation.

So help clarify.

I'm seeking your board's direction.

So I'll just sort of read my statement to summarize what Amy said.

So I want to thank Laura Calvert of Spectrum Community Service for her public comments in support of item number sixteen this morning, and to Amy of the County Administrative's office for providing updated information.

As of November 14th, federal disbursements, federal disbursements to states were expected to be delayed due to the government shutdown and restart timelines.

However, as Amy stated during her presentation, the federal administration indicated they will use special authority to release $3.7 billion out of a total of $4 billion by the end of this month, November.

Your board previously approved proceeding with a measure W allocation to Spectrum Community Services contingent on reductions and federal funding.

With federal funding now stable, the scope of services supported by the additional three million dollars in measure W funding may change.

Should your board choose to proceed with a three million dollar measure W allocation, the negotiated contract outlining the scope of services and payment terms will be agendized on our future board agenda for formal approval rather than being submitted directly to the clerk of the board.

This process is consistent for measure w funded contracts.

Excuse me, which also requires each provider to submit a composite budget for review and approval.

Okay.

Thank you, President Halbert.

I appreciate uh the update.

I know that at our PAL committee personnel administration legislation committee yesterday, our federal lobbyists did report that not only is the funding stable, they're expecting an increase uh in the LIHEAP funding at the federal government level with bipartisan support.

But just um zooming in on Alameda County.

So the contract allocation was $5.975 million dollars, and I assume it went to Spectrum, and it goes from November of uh 2024 to uh next year to June of 30th, 2026, and the um uh the speakers from Spectrum said that uh the allocation to the county would likely see a decrease because of the state's 2026 plan.

Can you help me reconcile that if the funding is coming from the federal government to the state and then from the state to the county?

Um those were the comments that were made this morning.

What I'll say is that Laura says she will be available online.

I'm not sure of where she received or how she received that information about proposed reduction in funding from the state, but I think she can answer that question for you.

I can I think we can provide some we can provide some clarity on that in the state's 2026 plan, they took their overall allocation that they were expecting for FY 2026, and they changed their disbursement method to the um the service areas to uh target the funds at places that have more cold extreme cold weather in the state.

Um and so Alameda County's allotment was reduced.

Um the state is not receiving an overall reduction, but they have changed their allocation methodology for the regions throughout the state.

Do you know how much that reduction is?

I don't have the dollar amount.

We are still trying to get that.

We don't have access to that state portal.

I would rather have this information.

I know uh item 16 was not included in the mass motion, and so when we get that information, can we revisit this issue?

What's the timeliness of uh need to have I re recognize this as a six-month allocation, but are they?

The contract is being recommended the contract term that's being recommended would start January 1st of 2026.

Uh I guess we do contracts and arrears all the time.

What's the recommendation from staff?

What would you prefer us do?

Well, we're bringing it forward to you in this way because it was contingent on federal funding.

I think you've heard from our sacramental lobbyists as well as staff that there was not a decrease in federal funding.

There may be some impact with regard to the state um allocation.

So I think that's why we're bringing it forward, and it's the social services agency has more familiarity with the scope of services and whether or how additional funds would be allocated or used.

I mean, the board's intent was that it backfill federal funding and the federal funding is not being cut, yeah.

So I guess um could we provide direction that if federal funding is cut, and or if state funding is cut, federal government may give it all to the state and they may cut it, but if cuts to Alameda County occur that the delta of what was cut, it's not zeroed out, but if it's below what we had last year with the so you're suggesting that you could there's no federal funding cut, there could be a cut in terms of the state allocation.

The county could agree to backfill the state cut once we've determined if that occurs and how much it is.

Hearing that there's no federal, there may be a state, and if not, we don't need to backfill any cut.

But if there is a cut, we're ready to go.

Yeah, supervising Marquez.

And then my line.

Um, so um I've heard the um executive directors say numerous times that uh they're currently only able to serve 30% of the request, um, given that this is measure W dollars.

Um I am in support of allowing this to move forward.

I want to hear from Spectrum to see what their preference is, but my understanding to me would make sense if we could um use those money specifically for weatherization, like like a scope, something that is gonna help sustain someone in the house, which is what I would think would be like repairs to keep the home um safe to to continue to live in.

But I also don't want to make that call because I know people also suffer from not being able to or struggle with paying their utility bills.

I I don't think we should be prescriptive, but I am comfortable with allowing the money to continue to service it's it's going back to our community to our residents, and that's what we want to do with Measure W is to help keep people in their homes.

I think it still serves that purpose.

Obviously, if we get the funding from the feds and the state, there's a shift there, but I'm still inclined to support the allocation.

Um that's my preference.

Supervisor Miley.

Yes, I would uh co-sign with Supervisor Marquez said, because I think, and I and I and I want to hear from Laura too from Spectrum, but I think um she mentioned that the cost of utilities is going up.

I think there was uh maybe a waiting list as well.

Um they weren't able to offer the full range of services.

So even though there's not going to be any cuts, I do think it would be uh Supervisor Marquez pointed out if we can keep people housed by reducing uh their cost for uh energy um uh efficiencies and things of that nature, I think that's a good use of resources.

Um so I'm inclined to uh support uh the continued allocation, you know, based on um uh uh spectrum presenting uh the proposed use and need uh for the funds, and then also um similar to what um President Halber was saying, if there's any uh cuts because of or reductions because of state or federal uh policies uh that that be entertained as well.

And then if there's any delays, uh, and they need bridge funding that that be considered.

So I'm of the of the mindset to uh support the allocation if if the entire allocation isn't needed, then there's just that level of savings that and can go back into the Measure W central services spot.

Any other thoughts or questions?

I don't disagree that um uh increasing energy costs may warrant an increase from year ago.

This is a departure from what we've already agreed to, which is it would be conditional, conditioned upon a reduction, which isn't going to happen.

So if we're now making a decision to essentially uh double the funding by allocating this amount, um I mean I think we all know the amount of funds needed will never ever be fully met, there will always be need.

It's a question of where we uh at some point we drew the line at a certain amount.

I'm hearing that it only accommodated 30% of the need, so maybe that amount was wrong.

But not hearing that from maybe it was too low to begin with, but what we're saying today, right now, I think is while we were willing to preserve cuts before, conditioned on cuts happening.

Some of us are now willing to double the amount of investment.

We were gonna get cut this amount and we backfilled it.

We're not gonna get cut this amount now, and we're still gonna spend it.

But I don't understand how we have a mechanism for if there's no need.

Do we ever have a situation where there aren't people needing their energy bill paid?

I I guess I see spectrum online, and I I respect Lara, and I I'd like to hear from her.

I think she's the one online to understand this.

She originally came and said we're going to get cut, please protect us, and now we're deciding to we're all in agreement to do that, but are we needing to essentially provide the money that was meant to backfill a cut and still provide it, even though there's no cut, or provide it if there is a cut or if there's a short uh delay.

So let's promote Lara Lara or whoever it is from Spectrum.

Thank you, President Howard, and um all the supervisors for this conversation and allowing me to to do this and not with me not being in the room um still.

Um I do not know exactly when our contract will be in place, um, number one.

Um, I do know that the federal government and the state are going to try to get us our contract as soon as they can.

Um I need to say is that the amount that staff had put forward to you, just under six million dollars for an annual contract that we use over a 12-month period, is um was correct.

What is missing in that and the mistake in the initial ask um for supportive LIHEAP?

Is the amount of money that does not come through Spectrum's books?

It stays at the state level, and that is all of the direct payments to clients, PGE or Alameda municipal power bills.

We do all the processing for that and the application verifications, and then we send it to the state and say these are the clients who who need a direct payment.

Those payments then come from the state to those providers.

Um we have allocated for calendar year 2025 3.766 uh million dollars in those direct payments, and so um that that wasn't that was a mistake um that wasn't put forward uh before and it is exasperating this.

And so um I had heard from you guys that you know you guys wanted to make sure that it was just filling where we are, but we certainly know that there is a much larger need in the community, and if you are willing to provide um the allocation for us to help more households, um, we're able to do that both from the direct utility assistance um portion as well as weatherization.

I'm happy to take any other questions that you might have.

Thank you for being here.

Um can you thank you for being online?

Can you um give us a sense of if you're only able to help 30% of the uh population and meet their needs?

The remaining 70, can you give us a sense of is it split between utility bill and weatherization asks, or is there one that's um more prevalent, um it's it's really the utility assistance portion of it.

The weatherization we are at or almost at capacity, given the number of staff that we have and how many homes that we can come in and weatherize.

I could probably do a few more than what we're doing.

Um, but the the that largest gap is in the direct utility assistance and we make decisions based on priority points, so everybody's application comes in, and if they their household income qualifies and all their documentation is there, then we give them priority points based on if they have children age five or younger in the home, if they have um uh elderly in the home and depending on those age groups, they get a different number of priority points.

If they have people who are disabled in the home, then they they get more points.

Also, we're looking at those people that um have the very lowest incomes and the highest energy burdens.

So for example, if if your household has an income of a thousand dollars a month and your and your energy burden on your bill is um 200 a month, that's a very high energy burden, right?

Of 20% of your income.

So those are the people who are getting served right now, and the people who aren't getting served right now because they don't meet those priority thresholds, might be a family who's working and have teenagers in their home.

So they don't have a lot of priority points, but they still have a lot of need um as well, and and and because they're working, maybe their income is it's still within the eligibility of um 60% of the state AMI, not county AMI, state AMI.

Um, you know, so they're out there trying, but they're not being able to make ends meet.

And how frequent can they apply for this assistance?

Is it like once a year, once every two years?

What's the frequency?

Up to once a year.

Okay, so they could essentially apply apply annually.

There's no restrictions on that.

Correct.

And and I will say we've seen we've been monitoring this, we always monitor it closely, but the last two months we've seen um a drop-off in applications, and um we are guessing that it's because of the people who continue to be applying and getting denied services that they're just tired of filling out this long government form and being denied and they're frustrated.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um let's hear from the social services director first, and then I have a couple comments.

I'm sorry.

I think you should hear from the social services agency director, and then I had a couple comments to make.

Okay.

So our recommendation is that we move forward with the funding and the possible resive scope of a revised scope of work.

What I've heard supervisor Miley say is there needs to be bridge funding.

I don't know what the source of the bridge funding would be.

But we have to come back to your board.

So I'll just read the scope of services supported by the additional three million dollars in measure W funding may change.

Should your board choose to proceed with this allocation, the negotiate contract outlining the scope of services and payment terms will be agendized on a future board date.

I would just add that I think it's important since the board made this decision to allocate measure W funding to backfill federal funding.

You made it contingent on that.

There's no reduction in federal funding.

I think you want to assure that whatever comes back in terms of a recommended scope of service is consistent with the guidelines and criteria and priorities you established for Measure W Essential Services Fund.

Since you you know had many competing um priorities.

So I think it's important that you're clear that it meets those criteria under your essential services fund allocation.

I yeah, appreciate the reminder and the clarification.

Uh clearly there were a number of agencies that were going to be threatened with federal funding cuts, especially Planned Parenthood, for example, and we we didn't uh look at specific allocations at that point, but uh I understand the need here, um, especially because we're dealing with a vulnerable population, so I'm um I'm open to supporting the staff recommendation.

If my colleagues would like to make a motion, we could move forward on item 16.

I don't know if we have consensus if I make a motion, but I guess we'll only know if I make the motion.

So I'd like to move that uh we bring the item back to our next regular board meeting, which I believe is December 9th, um, to uh provide an option for us to continue to provide support to spectrum.

Um that's my motion.

Support for the LIHEP.

Support specifically for LIHEAP, what we're discussing today.

Yes.

Thank you.

Good catch a second okay there's a second so I have a motion by Supervisor Marquez and a second by Supervisor Fortunata Bass to bring uh item 16 back to the board for consideration of the measure W allocation for LIHEAP so it would come back with the rebuy a recommended revised scope of services that's consistent with your measure W guidance for the essential services fund yes any other comments on the motion everyone clear on the motion uh may I have roll call vote please supervisor marquez aye supervisor Tim aye supervisor Miley aye supervisor Fortnite aye President Howard excused the motion carries your next regular item is item 61 I guess I pulled item 61 because I'd like for the agency directors um health care and social services to explain the need for this transportation uh contract and then the fact that there were so few bidders on it and we ended up with two one in California and the one out of Washington DC and even the one out of Washington DC the evaluation points were 273 points so I'm trying to figure out do we need this contract uh and if we do need it do we need to uh include uh a vendor that scored so low 273 and then do um we didn't have other um if I'm reading the selection criteria accurately and I'm trying to recall uh I don't think we had any other bidders on this which is seems pretty peculiar to me because it's transportation and transportation that's not something that requires a lot of skill and we've got contracts with other vendors that do transportation in the county for different agencies and departments so this is just kind of strikes me as um strange and peculiar so if you could ease my angst about all that and maybe it's just me.

So Kimberly Gasway Director of General Services Agency so let me uh clarify a couple things it's not just transportation they're also providing assisted um support during that transportation so there's professionals the contractor from uh upready the one you've called out is subcontracting 50% out 20% to a celeb partner for assistive care compliance reporting workforce development equity uh participation to Bay Area men's health and they're also contracting 30% to metropolitan shuttle a strategic partner for fleet operations and metropolitan shuttle is in San Francisco so it's not just the vehicles themselves there's also attendance who go with the people who are being transported and they have to have EMS skills uh mental health skills it's pretty significant so describe to me how this how this works so I don't you know so I'm I'm the vendor of this so um does how does the party get picked up do they contact one one of the agencies you know, offices or something.

What how does this work?

Yeah.

Maybe that might help.

Because I thought it was just transportation.

So tell describe how this works, how this will work.

Because this is, I think this is the first of its kind.

Supervisor, I've uh I've asked the team for um some specifics around this, but as Kimbrilli mentioned, you know, this would be for uh example.

In our agency, there are a number of public health programs or behavioral health programs that provide wraparound care for people.

And so you might have someone who um is being cared for in a program and say they uh need to be transported to the hospital for something.

So this would bring them there, or I could also see a space where there's a home visiting program and you go to visit the person and you find that they need to be transported.

Um so again, it's really in that kind of specialized space for older adults, people who might be experiencing uh uh acute psychosis or um, you know, maybe some other clinical emergencies, but we're happy to uh get the logistics of how they access these uh vehicles for you.

Uh yeah, because I know I told the agency director and I could that I was gonna continue it, but I was hoping they could explain it well enough by me just pulling it for uh discussion.

Um, it's a three-year contract, and I mean even for three years, it's not a lot of money over three years.

Um, it's not quite 400,000, or is that per year?

It's 378,880 dollars.

I'm assuming that's over that's for the total for three years, or is that per year?

That's the total for the contract period.

For years, okay.

So it's not a lot of money.

So can you describe if you can't describe services in more detail if it's not time-sensitive?

If you could bring this back to our next board meeting.

So we have a little bit more understanding of of this.

So we'll continue it for additional information, both in terms of the scope of services and how services are actually accessed.

Correct?

And and then the need for a contractor out of Washington, DC to do transportation, unless they're doing more than just transportation.

If they're doing clinical work, then also the need for a contractor out of Washington, DC to do clinical work.

I mean, I don't get it, but maybe you'll be able to explain it.

We'll be we'll bring more detailed information back that includes logistics and a more expanded scope of work.

Um thank you.

Uh just to follow up.

Uh I I also would like a distinction in transport services, for example, paratransit provides support for those that are handicapped and and frail.

And I think um the EMS service also assists with providing those with mental health care illness, so just kind of in your follow-up differentiate uh what we are providing specifically with these contracts that are different than other providers.

Absolutely, because I think we also mentioned there needs to be some involvement from EMS, um, and those other um the first service you mentioned, they don't think they assist with clients with dementia.

And those are some of the specialized services that'll be provided for these transportations.

Understood.

Thank you.

Uh so item 61 was not on our mass motion, so that's being continued for a for more information.

Is that our understanding?

Supervisor Marley.

How many meetings?

One or two, ninth.

Okay, it's okay.

Yes, so uh I was at the questions for item 61.

Are we at the ordinance now?

Okay, so item 61 is also continued.

Item 16 and 61 are continued, and we can go to the ordinances.

Uh, first ordinance is item 62, which is salary ordinance amendments, an ordinance providing for the compensation and designation of the number of officers, boards, commissions, assistants, deputies, clerks, attaches, and other persons employed in the offices and institutions of the county and providing rules and regulations relating there too.

Mr.

President, I will move the waive the full first reading and introduce the 2025-2026 County of Alameda salary ordinance that includes non-substantive updates, ascribed in item 62.

Is there a second?

Motion.

Motion has been made by Supervisor Tam, second by Supervisor Marquez.

Roll call vote, please.

Supervisor Marquez.

Aye.

Supervisor Tam.

Aye.

Supervisor Miley.

Supervisor Fortnite Abbas.

Aye.

President Halbert.

Aye.

Aye.

Item 74 is a second reading and adoption of an ordinance related to the fire code.

An ordinance repealing the Alameda County Fire Code, Chapter 6.04 of Title 6 of the Ordinance Code of the County of Alameda, enacting a replacement.

Alameda County Fire Code is Chapter 6.04 that adopts the 2025 California Fire Code, makes amendments there to making findings supporting the amendments and finding this ordinance to be exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Mr.

President, I will move to wait the full second reading and adopt the ordinance repealing chapter 6.04 of Title 6 of the Alameda County Ordinance Code and enacting a replacement county fire code as described under item 74.

Motion's been made and seconded.

Supervisor Marquez.

Aye.

Supervisor Tam.

Aye.

Supervisor Miley.

Aye.

Supervisor Ford Nata Bass.

Aye.

President Halbert.

Aye.

Your last ordinance is item 81, and this is with your board sitting is the board of directors of the Alameda County Fire Department.

Second reading of an ordinance repealing provisions of the fire code.

An ordinance repealing the Alameda County Fire Code, Chapter 6.04 of Title 6 of the Ordinance Code of the County of Alameda, enacting a replacement Alameda County Fire Code as Chapter 6.04 that adopts the 2025 California Fire Code and makes amendments there too, making findings supporting the amendments and finding this ordinance to be exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Mr.

President, I will move to waive the full first second reading and adopt the ordinance repealing the Alameda County Fire Code and replacing it with uh the 2025 edition as described in item 81, sitting as the board of directors of the county fire department.

Motion's been made by Supervisor Tam, seconded by Supervisor Miley.

Roll call vote, please.

Supervisor Marquez.

Aye.

Supervisor Tam.

Aye.

Supervisor Miley.

Aye.

Supervisor Ford Not Abbas.

Aye.

President Halbert.

Aye.

That concludes your regular agenda.

Are we recessing back in the closed session?

Supervisor Miley, would you like to make some comments?

Yeah, if we're going to be recessing practical session, can we have public comment on non-agendized items?

And can we also adjourn in the memory of Coach Beam?

I think we should take up comments on non-agendized items, recognize a moment of silence and comments on uh the murder of Coach Beam.

But then we'll adjourn much later after our closed session comes back.

So we'll also adjourn then, but let's get comments out of the way.

Yeah.

If that's okay, what do you think?

Yeah.

Okay.

Any comments on items not on today's agenda.

Samuel Samuel Ramy, Buffalo Sojourn, François Long.

Commenters in the room have comments.

Tim D, you have two minutes.

Go ahead, please.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Supervisors.

My name is Tim Drew, District 5 resident and member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

I would like to request a status update on the implementation of the Board of Supervisors' ethical investment criteria or EIP.

The EIP should be implemented as soon as possible because it would explicitly direct investments towards improvements for Alameda County and away from human rights abuses worldwide.

I would like to take this opportunity to read key quotes, key sections from the EIP.

The Treasurer will actively look for investment opportunities that can be tailored to have a beneficial impact on Alameda County residents.

And the Treasurer will direct investments into local financial institutions that demonstrate commitment to community economic development.

These quotes stand in clear contrast to the assertions of the one member of the public who regularly states his opposition to the EIP because it would allegedly harm the welfare of county residents.

The board should disregard this individual's assertions and begin implementation of the EIP as soon as possible.

At the October 3rd special meeting, Treasurer Levy recalled a conversation he had with this individual, stating that there were so many things he didn't understand, including not understanding the difference between return and yield and between market and book value.

The county investment portfolio earned 400 million in the year preceding the October 3rd vote, approving the EIP.

In response to President Halbert's questions during the October 3rd special meeting, Treasurer Levy assured the board that the and the public that his December 2024 divestment from caterpillar corporation bonds did no harm to the county and in fact actually made money.

Treasurer Levy further stated that he is not concerned about the university of investment opportunities available to the county should implementation of the ethical investment criteria require the exclusion of certain industries and companies, stating that corporate bonds are a small part of the portfolio and that there are plenty of other investment opportunities.

I urge you to update the public on the status of the EIP and to begin its implementation as soon as possible.

Thank you.

Caller, you have two minutes.

Go ahead, please.

Hi, my name is Lisa Jervis.

I'm an Alameda County resident and taxpayer for more than 30 years, and I'm an Oakland small business owner for about 13 years now.

Um I'm a Jewish District 5 constituent, and I and many others have consistently been before this board asking for implementation of the ethical investment policy.

I want to echo the previous commenter in being here today to follow up and ask for an update on the steps toward implementation of the policy that this board passed over a month ago.

Thank you.

Caller, you have two minutes.

Go ahead, please.

Hello, I'm a resident of Alameda County, and I just want to ask some very simple questions.

After listening to the board talk about violence and violence prevention, I want to know are there any reasons you can state that can justify investing in companies that enable violence?

Can you for any reason justify investing in companies that enable apartheid?

Can you for any reason justify investing in companies that enable genocide?

And I will answer that question.

No, you cannot justify that.

So basically, I am asking you to implement the ethical investment policy, and I would like to know when that will be put on the agenda.

It's very important.

Secondly, I would like to mention that there was a man earlier in the morning that talked about the financial situation that's stalling the ethical investment policy, and he mentions something called benchmarks.

And basically, the treasurer has benchmarks in the policy in the portfolio.

He may have substituted them for less accurate ones that were used in the past and now has more accurate and comprehensive benchmarks than those that were previously used.

So that is a statement on his part, you know, this person's part that was meaningless.

Thirdly, as a person who represents the faith community, because I am a volunteer with apartheid-free faith communities, I would like to speak about what was mentioned about many black pastors not being worried about not having money to spend on their communities.

From my knowledge, the vast majority of the faith community in our county heavily supports the ethical investment policy.

They have come over and over again and spoken to the board about how much they would like to see our ethical investment policy stated and acted on.

So please move forward as quickly as possible and do and um enact the ethical investment policy.

Thank you so much.

Caller, you have two minutes.

Go ahead, please.

Hi, thank you.

I'm an Alameda County resident as well.

I have the same questions.

I'd like to know when the board will be implementing the ethical investment policy.

Um, and you know, referring back to the aforementioned uh commenter from this morning, who is a Piedmont landlord.

I want to remind this board that that person is not an elected official.

Uh, they ran for supervisor of district five and were resoundedly rejected.

Therefore, their opinion, uh, their non-expert opinion should matter no more than any individual who is waiting on this issue.

And the fact is that the vast majority of the county believes the tax dollars should not be invested in destructive industries.

So uh I implore you to uh really do a little self-su uh searching and um think about what a democracy really means and adhere to the will of the majority, which uh does not believe that um our public funds should be invested in genocide, apartheid ICE, etc.

So uh please provide an update as to where we are on the ethical investment policy.

We are tired of um coming to these meetings and emailing you and calling you, and I'm sure you're tired of hearing from us.

Uh so let's do each other a favor and just uh do what the right thing is, um, which is to pass a very common sense popular policy that has been through a consultant review uh that has been vetted by the Treasury Oversight Committee.

Thank you.

President Halbert, there are no more public comments.

Thank you.

I'd like to recognize Supervisor Miley uh with some important comments.

I will start.

Okay, Supervisor Tanner.

And then Supervisor Miley and Fortunatabas, I'm sure everyone is interested.

Um this is uh obviously a sorrowful time for all of us.

So uh John or Coach Beam was a beloved Oakland football coach, mentor, and community figure.

He died on November 14th at the age of 66 after being fatally shot at Laney College.

This life reflected his passion for coaching, his commitment to youth development, and his steadfast belief in second chances.

Over more than four decades, he left a lasting legacy on countless young people across the Bay Area.

He began his career at Skyline High School in Oakland, leading the Titans to 15 league championships and remarkable 160 33 3 record.

He later joined Laney College in 2004, rising from running backs coach to offensive coordinator and ultimately to head coach in 2012, a role he's held before his retirement in 2024.

So Dr.

Holly Yoshi had asked that I um read this statement on her behalf.

So beyond the wins and the titles, Coach Beam was widely regarded as a father figure and lifeline for young people in Oakland.

So she says, like so many Oaklanders, the Department of Violence Prevention is grieving the loss of Coach Beam.

Beam was a true hometown hero, and several members of our direct practice team cite this mentorship as a strong influence in their decision to dedicate their lives to mentoring others to prevent violence.

The work of community violence intervention, it's about identifying risk and building relationships of trust with those most vulnerable to violence in order to create a space for coaching and mentoring relationships to take shape.

The shared purpose recently led Coach Beam to request a meet with me, Dr.

Yoshi, to explore opportunities to partner.

And I am left sorrowful knowing the impact we could have had working together with heavy hearts, the Department of Violence Prevention.

We'll continue on in the way we know how, with deep respect for Coach Beam's legacy.

We will root deeper into our mission of working with the individuals most at risk of engaging in gun violence, offering the support needed to change mindsets, behaviors, and circumstances, and we will reach towards our vision of a South and healthy and just Oakland.

So, in the words of Judge Coach Beam, two claps ready, ready before he starts every game.

Thank you, Supervisor Miley.

Yes, I appreciate Supervisor Tim reading that.

First of all, let me just say that, you know, any form of violence is repugnant, any form of violence, and then any death, particularly by homicide, is unacceptable.

Just want to be clear on that.

But some, you know, some um some homicides touch you more than others.

And I knew Coach Beam.

Yeah.

Um Coach would often tell me how I knocked on his door when I was campaigning initially for uh city council back in the 1990s.

Um when my staff told me that Coach Beam had been shot in the head, I mean, it was really, really hard for me to comprehend that.

I mean, I felt it was an assassination.

I mean, I really did as I told my staff, this is an assassination.

For somebody who did so much for this community, meant so much for this community, to be to be killed, it's just unimaginable, and it's shocking.

Um we worked with Coach Beam when I was on the council, City Council in Oakland.

We had a Skyline task force, and Darrell helped the staff that along with Joe Defries.

And we'd meet up at Skyline with the uh some of the parents and students in the community to resolve issues and problems, um, that were um the conflicts between the school and the community around different things like traffic, etc.

You know, at that point in time there wasn't this, you know, violence that's occurred, you know, at the Skyline in the recent years.

But our Skyline Task Force met and um good friend of mine who's was on the task force from the community, and her kids went to Skyline.

You know, Coach Beam helped one of her sons.

Uh he was on the football team, um, helped one of her sons out, and her son now is a podiatrist, you know.

Um, and I know Supervisor Bass appointed Coach Beam when she was on the city council for the joint powers authority for the Coliseum in the Arena.

So we'd always see Coach Beam at those meetings too, um, dealing with the Coliseum in the Arena.

And you know, Coach Beam, he added a lot to our conversations.

He'd ask good questions, he'd make good comments.

And you know, when Coach spoke, we you know, we listened because he had authenticity and integrity, and he was very much grounded.

And so for me, it's, you know, it's not just shocking and unimaginable.

And it doesn't just hurt, but it angers me.

It really angers me.

Um, because I believe in the Second Amendment.

You know, I don't be fuddled, you know, I don't um criticize folks for having firearms, but clearly there needs to be appropriate regulation of firearms, control of firearms, and things of that nature with the confines of uh the Second Amendment training and this and the other.

And once again, I'm not going to speak to the the the apprehension of the person who um is alleged for having uh committed this homicide.

But the point is if somebody is suffering, I mean they shouldn't have access to a firearm, clearly.

Furthermore, this indicates why having cameras is so important, because that's how they potentially uh apprehended this the suspect, this uh perpetrator of this just horrendous act.

I know the Oakland City Council this evening through the public safety committee will be looking at whether or not there should be cameras, more cameras in the city of Oakland.

I've been a long time supporter of cameras in Oakland, going back to my days on the city council, and as a resident of Oakland for 40 plus years, I support uh cameras in public places to help us deal with um uh crime and helped us to prevent crime to help us to apprehend those who uh commit these these uh crimes.

So I'm a strong proponent.

I feel safer when there's cameras, quite frankly, because if you have nothing to hide, um having cameras in public places is no big deal, no big issue.

And I've been to countries that have cameras, I've been to countries where people are armed too to protect themselves.

So to me, it's just very, very shocking.

I'm angry uh about this, and um I would I would really hope something like this never happens again, because you know, to have Coach Beam uh murdered like this is just not right, it's just not fair.

Um, but as I said, any homicide is despicable, um, but some of them touch touches harder than others, and this one really, really, really hurts.

So I'm glad we're gonna be able to journey the memory of Coach Bean.

Thank you, Supervisor Miley, Supervisor Fortinata Bass.

You're wearing a special shirt.

I am.

Um thank you to my colleagues, and thank you for taking the opportunity to remember such a great leader in our community.

Coach Beam's uh loss is just so deeply felt by the Laney community, the Skyline community, the Oakland community, the entire sports community.

And I had a chance to meet him and get to know him as I was representing uh District 2 on the Oakland City Council, and he was just an inspiration.

It was so amazing to meet young people that he mentored as well.

And after uh he helped win Laney's uh title, national title back in 2018, the very first ceremonial resolution that I brought forward as an as a new Oakland council member was to celebrate his win with the Laney Eagles.

Uh they were the number one junior college football team in California as well as the nation.

And that's um that's actually um how I got this t-shirt.

The coach gave me this t-shirt, and I distinctly remember meeting up with him and the players when they came to City Hall.

They were all pride and energy, and that room was just folded uh filled with joy when they received their accolades.

Um that was when I learned that uh his that particular championship team had a 90% graduation and transfer rate, 12 former OUSD student athletes.

Um they dealt with a lot of adversity.

They told me stories before the council meeting about the number of injuries they had, and that was also the year of campfire.

So they actually had to find a place to practice that was a smoke-free field because Laney's field being outside was full of smoke.

So they had an amazing and successful year.

Um over the years I got to uh talk with him and work with him because Roots played at Laney as the very first place that they uh played.

Um, and when the ballers formed, they were actually, first looking at Laney as their field before they were able to uh rebuild Raymondi Park.

Um and he has yeah, just had such an amazing tenure.

Everyone that I have been able to talk with who has whose life he whose life he touched just talks about how he modeled integrity, excellence, compassion, and he just positively impacted so many young people's lives here in Oakland.

So I know that this tragedy of gun violence, senseless violence, has been impacting so many people whose lives that he touched, certainly the skyline shootings as well.

And so I hope that everyone who's impacted finds the healing that they need.

I hope that we collectively as a community can tackle this crisis of gun violence.

I'm looking forward to us as a county talking more about violence prevention as one part of a comprehensive strategy to create a community that is more safe, caring, and thriving.

And I certainly hope that even though Coach John Beam will be gone, that others will carry on his legacy of mentorship.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Supervisor Marquez.

Thank you, President Halbert.

I want to extend my sincere condolences to Coach Beam's wife Cindy, his two daughters, his granddaughters, his son-in-law, and just everyone he loved.

I never had the pleasure of meeting him, but have always heard great things about him.

And when I learned of his passing, I stayed home and watched all seven episodes of Last Chance You.

And I could just say um thank you to Netflix for doing that, because now everyone can learn from this remarkable person who just truly loved the town, loved young people, and that takes a lot.

You know, he had many choices in life, but he chose to spend his time here and invest in people.

And I know obviously many of the young people he invested in were from Oakland, but he had a broader reach.

Um I know he has ties to Hayward High.

He was always at Moreau High School recruiting, so just he had this extensive reach and just um such a beautiful person to um unapologetic unapologetically love other people, and I think that's um the biggest takeaway that we can all learn from that, and um his legacy will live within everyone that he mentored, and we can all do our part to prevent this senseless violence.

So just wanted to um extend my condolences to everyone that is hurting, and just thank you, Coach Beam, for being you and for setting an example for all of us.

Thank you.

I'll echo all of the comments, each and every one of them of my colleagues.

Um, well said, I knew Coach Beam as a member of the Joint Powers Authority.

Thank you, Supervisor Fortnite Bass for appointing him.

He was an outstanding member who always came to meetings.

I don't think he missed one.

If he did, must have been a good reason.

He came prepared, he asked good questions, he pushed hard uh to get uh to the bottom of answers he needed, um, and all of the comments made today reflect uh what an outstanding individual he was.

Indeed, our condolences to his family, he will be missed.

I'd like to ask us all to engage in a moment of silence at this time.

Thank you for doing so.

Um I'll add one last uh item.

Several of my colleagues have asked if it's needed.

Uh, have services been announced because if they are not, we're open to ways to honor Coach Beam through services at the Coliseum.

Uh he may, his family may choose Laney.

They have other options, those are all private decisions for them to make, but we'll make ourselves available to them.

I'd just like to make that as a comment.

So we'll wait to hear.

Um that said, we will come back after reconvening from close session to finally adjourn this meeting.

But I think it was appropriate that we take this time now to uh honor Coach Beam.

But that said, we're going to recess the closed session.