Ready?

Good morning, everyone.

We will now call to order the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors meeting for Tuesday, August 19th.

Uh, will the Chair please call the role and establish quorum?

Good morning, Supervisors Kennedy here.

Desmond.

Hume here.

Vice Chair Rodriguez.

Here.

And for the record, Chair Cerna is absent, and we do have a quorum.

Okay, will the clerk please read the cable statement?

This meeting of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors is live and recorded with closed captioning.

It is cable cast on Metro Cable Channel 14, the local government affairs channel on the Comcast and Direct TV Uverse Cable Systems.

It is also live streamed at Metro14Live.gov.

Today's meeting will be repeated Friday, August 22nd at 6 o'clock PM on Channel 14 and viewed at YouTube.com/slash Metro Cable 14.

The Board of Supervisors fosters public engagement during the meeting and encourages encourages public participation, civility, and the use of courteous language.

The board does not condone the use of profanity, vulgar language, gestures, or other inappropriate behavior, including personal attacks or threats directed towards any meeting participant.

Seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

Each speaker will be given two minutes to make a public comment and are limited to making one comment per agenda off agenda item.

Please be mindful of the public comment procedures to avoid being interrupted while making your comment.

Comments made by the public during the Board of Supervisors meetings may include information that could be inaccurate or misleading, particularly concerning topics related to public health, voter registrations, and elections.

The County of Sacramento does not endorse or validate the accuracy of public statements made during these public forums.

The recordings are shared to provide transparency and access to the proceedings of the public meetings.

To make a comment in person, please fill out a speaker request form and hand it to clerk staff.

The chairperson will open public comments for each agenda off agenda item and direct the clerk to call the name of each speaker.

When the clerk calls your name, please come to the podium and make your comment.

If a speaker is unavailable to make a comment prior to the closing of public comments, the speaker waves the request to speak, and the clerk will file the speaker request form in the record.

The clerk will manage the timer and allow each speaker two minutes to make a comment.

Off agenda public comments will take place for a maximum of 30 minutes.

The remainder of the agenda comments will take place at the conclusion of the time matters in the afternoon.

You may send written comments by email to board clerk at SAC County.gov.

Your comment will be routed to the board and filed in the record.

If you need an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act or from medical or other reasons, please see clerk staff for assistance or contact the clerk's office at 916-874-5451 or by email at boardclerk at Sat County.gov.

Thank you in advance for your courtesy and understanding of the meeting procedure.

Thank you.

Let us stand for the pledge of allegiance.

Are there any announcements?

No.

I do not have any announcements.

All right.

Will the clerk please call the first item?

First item on the agenda this morning is public comments relating to matters not on the posted agenda.

We do have one member of the public, Charles Stone.

Good morning, Charles.

Good morning.

Good morning.

My name is Charles Stone.

I'm from Citrus Heights, California.

I'm the commander for Post 637 of the American Legion.

Every year the American Legion helps out veterans in our community.

And ever since 2016, former Supervisor Sue Frost started the battle of bands and barbecue in order to raise funds in our city.

If you don't know, the we had a lot of uh military places around here that have closed up, and since that time we have a lot of veterans.

Um helped start this, and we have uh our veteran service officer who's helped 26 vets in the last year.

This year, our battle of the bands, we're gonna do the battle of the bands to honor the 761 Californians, at least 25 in your guys' district, that have died as part of the global war on terror.

The banner behind me is got all the names of the 761.

And we're to ultimately want to take this and have an actual memorial, very similar to the Vietnam War Memorial to honor those who have died within our community.

The battle of the bands this year is September 13th at Rush Park.

All of you guys should have a copy of it.

Um and the purpose for us to be here is first to let people know, especially if you have family members or co-workers who ever served in the military.

This is a way for them to be able to say many of their friends who some of them may be on there.

Um is also the ability to help other veterans who need help.

And this last year we've helped 26 of those simply helping out fill out forms all the way to help them to get the services so they don't commit suicide.

And the guy to my right has been helping out with that as our veteran service officer.

Um if you don't have any questions, that's it.

Pretty simple.

Thank you, Charles.

Looking forward to supporting your event, and we always remember those 761 fallen men and women.

And thank you for supporting us this year.

Yeah, thank you.

All right.

The clerk please call the next item.

So, madam chair, we will go forward with our consent calendar this morning.

We um our presentation items are time, so if it pleases the board this morning, we'll consider our consent matters item six through 43.

We do have public comment for item number 14.

And so, item number 14 to read into the record is to approve the new three-year labor agreements for the office and technical unit, the welfare non-supervisory unit represented by United Public Employees, and authorize an increase of the Tariq Health Savings Plan contribution for law enforcement management unit.

So the first speaker for the item is Sarah Singleton.

Good morning, Sarah.

Good morning.

Um, my name's Sarah Singleton.

I'm a social worker in emergency response, and I'm the vice chair of the O8 Governing Board.

On June 18th, the county sent an email to the 008 bargaining unit that a last best and final offer with a proposal to give all social workers a 5% pay raise in exchange for eliminating the CPS retention differential went out.

This was not a proposal that was ever brought to the negotiations table, and it was an underhanded and manipulative tactic.

Most of those who do not work at CPS are unaware of the demands of the job, and those that do know gave us that five percent by choice.

I've stood here and described the challenges and trauma involved in doing this job, and I believe that you understood and empathized with me.

Um, to recap, some of our workers have been assaulted.

Um, a colleague had a finger severed at the welcome home.

Another colleague had a gun put to her head, and they pulled the trigger while she was trying to remove a child from a home.

We work with law enforcement over criminal abuse cases, sex trafficking, and child trafficking.

And child pornography, pardon me.

Um, I visited a home that only a few weeks later would be involved with a double murder committed by the youth I was there to see.

These are only some of the many reasons there's a retention problem at CPS.

So shame on you, Shelley Boston, Shelby Boston.

Prior to our one-day strike, you said CPS social workers were essential and filed an injunction to prevent us from striking.

Yet you have decided to remove the differential for these essential workers.

Shame on you, county executive, for directing labor relations and your negotiators to drive a wedge between coworkers and showing such disrespect for the people who protect communities, the community's children.

And shame on you, Board of Supervisors.

My CPS colleagues, the social workers, family service workers, and child development specialists are all dumbfounded and heartbroken that you have chosen to ignore that CPS jobs are more difficult than other programs, and for deciding that staff retention in CPS is no longer important.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Ted Samira.

Good morning, supervisors.

Um, Supervisor Cerner, who is not here.

Ted Smarra, executive director for United Public Employees, uh, representing the 008 Walford Supervisor Bargain Unit and the Office Technical.

In front of you today is our deal.

A deal that we're not all happy with.

A deal we feel that was kind of forced upon us.

Some of you, I've met with you individually.

Well, all of you actually, and we've talked about those working conditions, the working conditions that social workers have to endure.

The working conditions that are um pisses have to endure in the department human assistance and our clerical folks.

And you all seem to be concerned.

You know, when we talked about the walkments, and I can say more for that because I know it's on the agenda.

You know, the department at the time, under Miss Caesar said there was nothing that could be done.

Now all of a sudden there is, in regards to restraining and protecting or protectance for staff.

We always and it just I guess it doesn't surprise me because I'm becoming immune to it, that you hear one thing, but when you hear from the workers, it's a totally different 360 comment or discussion.

We need to improve the working conditions yesterday.

You need to direct staff to work with uh the REOs because we're hearing it from our members firsthand about how terrible the working conditions are.

Just because we got a deal in front of us today doesn't mean it's all gravy.

Doesn't mean we're happy.

Work still needs to be done.

We want you to keep your end of the deal.

We got health care.

We should be meeting about that yesterday to try to work out and curbing the cost.

You guys came in strict work policy board from us with an understanding that we were going to do something about that, and now it's going to a meeting for where you guys can just kick it to the side.

And that was the only venue in which work is going to work with management on their caseload on their workload, and this was all at the hands of your county execs.

This was the year of the takeaways we've seen with the county.

For whatever reasons, you have it in for workers.

Do something about it.

Let's fix it.

Because next time it's not going to be so sweet.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

That concludes public comment for consent.

Okay.

Will the clerk please um call the next item?

We need to take a vote for consent.

And if the board needs to pull anything, I'll move to approve the consent calendar.

Okay, will the clerk please call the roll?

We'll go ahead and take a voice vote on that.

We'll take a voice voice.

So, Supervisor Kennedy.

Right.

Supervisor Desmond.

Supervisor Rodriguez.

Aye.

Supervisor Hume.

Aye.

And that passes unanimously with those members present.

All right.

Will the clerk please call the next item?

Next item is item number 55.

We'll do our boards and commissions, nominations and appointments.

Um, the board will continue to September 9th, uh, Carmichael Community Planning Advisory Council, Cordova Community Planning Advisory Council, Disability Advisory Commission, Vineyard Area Community Planning Advisory Council.

We'll also continue to September the 23rd, the Adult and Aging Commission, In-Home Supportive Services Advisory Committee, Maternal Child and Adolescent Health Advisory Board, Nathomas Community Planning Advisory Committee, Sacramento County Treasury Oversight Committee, continuing to October 7th, 2025, County Service Area Number 4B Slew House Wilton Cassumnus, County Service Area Number 4C Delta Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Committee, North Highlands Community Planning Advisory Council, Public Financing Authority of the County of Sacramento, Metro Air Park Enhanced, Infrastructure Financing District, and the Veterans Advisory Commission.

That leads us to today's items.

We're looking for nominations for the Antelope Community Planning Advisory Council.

Supervisor Rodriguez has two district four nominations.

Please nominate Latoya Jenkins, and then continue the rest until September 9th.

Thank you.

For the Assessment Appeals Board.

Uh Chief recommends appointing Lawrence Myers to the assessment appeals board and waiving the process and then continue the remainder to September 23rd.

Sex second.

So that passes unanimously with those members present.

The Developmental Disabilities Planning and Advisory Council.

Chiefs recommend nominating Baby and Coronado to the development disabilities planning and advisory council and continue the remainder to September 23rd.

The Lock Management Corporation Association.

Chiefs recommend nominating Joseph Prosa to the Lock Management Corporation, aka Association, and waiving the process.

That item passes unanimously with those members present.

For the Orangeville Community Planning Advisory Council, Supervisor Rodriguez, there's four district four nominations.

Please continue to September 9th.

Thank you.

For the public health advisory board, there are two community member seats.

Please, uh Chiefs recommend nominating Halia Chorno Chornodub to the Public Health Advisory Board and continue the remainder to September 23rd.

Thank you.

For the Rio Linda Elverta Community Planning Advisory Council, Supervisor Rodriguez, there's one district four nomination.

Please nominate Cindy Meadows.

Thank you.

For the Sacramento County Behavioral Health Commission.

For District 1, I have District 1 continuing to September 9th.

And for District 2, Supervisor Kennedy, there's uh four seats.

Please uh nominate Michael Gyant for consumer seat, Cassidy Page for public interest seat, Corinne Sacco for a public interest seat, and Patricia Wentzel for a family member seat.

Thank you.

Supervisor Desmond for District 3.

Please nominate Melinda Avey as a consumer, Judith Mummant as a family member, and Margot Porambeski Poremsky as public interest member and continue the remainder to September 9th.

Thank you.

And Supervisor Rodriguez for District 4.

Please nominate Jennifer Churchill to the fill the consumer seat and nominate Bradley Luth to fill the family seat and continue the remainder until September 9th.

And Supervisor Hume for District 5.

Oh, with your notes.

So my notes have you nominating Laura Assay Bemis as a consumer and Teresa Riviera as a family member and continuing the remaining till September 9th.

Sounds good.

And I do just want to say for the record for districts two and three, there are no more remaining seats.

There's only four seats for those, so no continuing remaining.

Next we have the Sacramento County Behavioral Health Youth Advisory Board.

Supervisor Desmond, you have one seat for District 3.

Please continue to September 9th.

And Supervisor Rodriguez for District 4.

Please continue to September 9th.

And Supervisor Hume for District 5.

Again, without my notes.

Thank you.

And the Sacramento County Youth Commission for District 1.

I have continuing to September the 23rd.

Supervisor Kennedy for District 2.

Nominate Dylan Yang.

Okay.

And would you like to continue the remaining?

Please continue the remainder.

Okay, to September 9th.

Does that sound good for you?

Yes.

Thank you, sir.

And for District 3, Supervisor Desmond.

Please reappoint Diana House.

Thank you.

And for District 5, Supervisor Hume, I have you continuing to October 7th.

Thank you.

For the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Commission for District 5 nomination, my notes have continuing to September the 9th.

For the Sheriff Community Review Commission for a District 5 nomination continuing to September the 9th.

For the Southeast Area Community Planning Advisory Council, there are seven seats.

And I my notes show uh reappointing incumbent Tyson Martella and also nominating Nicholas Steps and continuing the remaining till October 7th.

And for the Sunrise Recreation and Park District, there is one District 4 nomination, Supervisor Rodriguez.

Please appoint Milton Buddy Wasler.

Thank you.

And lastly, the Sylvan Cemetery District, one district four nomination.

Please appoint Katherine Mahaney.

Supervisor Hume, you make this job look very easy.

So that concludes all of our boards and commission's announcements.

Our next timed item is not until Madam Chair.

I'm sorry, on this on this on the um appointments.

You made the I just want to go back to the behavioral help board.

You said we're not continuing, I'm not continuing any additional seats.

I thought we each had four seats.

You know what?

One of the names was so long it went on two lines and it looked like my apologies.

So let the record reflect that you will be continuing the remaining to September the 9th.

And our next timed item chair is not until 10 o'clock.

It would be appropriate at this time to take a recess.

That sounds good.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Okay, I'd like to call back to order this meeting of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors for Tuesday, August 19th, uh 2025.

Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll and re-establish a quorum?

Good morning again, Supervisors Kennedy.

Eric Desmond, Rodriguez.

Chair Cerna.

Here.

And for the record, Supervisor Hume is absent, and we do have a quorum with those members.

All right, very good.

Before we get to some house cleaning here to uh figure out uh agenda management, uh I just want to say it's it's terrific to uh see young people in our chambers.

So I apologize for being uh absent for the first uh about a half hour of the meeting.

But uh on that subject, I was uh happy to participate in a ribbon cutting at the Sacramento Children's Museum for the new Otter the Potter uh Otter the Potter the Otter, Potter the Potter the Otter exhibit.

Uh and so uh these kids look a little maybe too old for that exhibit, but uh I just take the opportunity that uh I have here to um say that uh I was there in my capacity as the first five chair, but we had former uh Ranch Cordova City Councilmember Donald Terry there, who is the uh board chair of the Sacramento Children's Museum, and it's a terrific new exhibit that I believe is gonna be in place for about six months uh for some of the younger uh kids in our um county and in our communities.

So I would encourage you to take advantage of uh the new exhibit.

Um it really focuses on health and uh getting off your tablets and uh and getting active and eating healthy food uh foods and fruits and vegetables and uh so again uh thanks to first five and everyone at the museum for including me this morning in that uh ribbon cutting.

So, with that, madam clerk.

Uh do you want to explain how we might want to shift things around to best manage uh our time and the public's time today?

Good morning, chair.

So this morning we'll start with item number 44, because it is time for 10 o'clock, and then we will go back to our presentations, which are time for 1015 this morning.

So if Metro could bring up the presentation for item number 44 while I'll read that into the record.

Great item number 44 is to receive and file the fiscal year 2024-25, quarter four Sacramento welcome home presentation report and approve the SWH policies emergency intervention plan for the Sacramento Welcome Homes, and the unauthorized absence intervention plan for children at the Sacramento welcome homes.

You are serving this morning as the welcome home board of directors for this item.

Very good, morning.

Good morning, Chair Cerna, members of the board.

Shelby Boston, your director of child and family and adult services.

I am here this morning to share with you quarter four of the welcome home uh director, board of directors report.

First, I want to start off by just again thanking the board for your ongoing support of the welcome homes and uh the department and to uh share my appreciation to the CBOs, the community-based organizations that we work with on a daily basis.

And I would be remiss to not thank our staff who do an exceptional job day in and day out serving this population.

All right, so we have a brief agenda this morning.

We're going to go over the mandated and required data points, the operating budget and fiscal statement, our staff training and safety, as mentioned, you have two policies that will be going over for your review and approval, quarterly data, and placement capacity expansion information.

Of note, back in May, this board may recall receiving an alert that one of our CBOs had decided to shut their doors.

And with that, that kind of hijacked our plan to downsize to one welcome home.

So now we continue with two county operated welcome homes.

And with that closure of Progress Ranch, that decreased two of the homes that they had been operating.

With that, though, we saw a little bit of silver lining, and we were able to relocate one of the county operated homes to a better home facility into Supervisor Rodriguez's district, which increased our capacity from four beds in that previous home to now six beds.

This slide demonstrates the overall budget for fiscal year 24-25.

And you draw your attention down to the bottom of this slide, shows the total budget for last fiscal year was 12.7 million.

You'll see all the way to the right that we did realize some savings that was due in part to downsizing from three welcome homes down to two during the fiscal year.

And as usual, you'll see the highest expense line item here is related to personnel costs.

Next, moving into staff training and safety.

In quarter four, we did continue on the good progress of training staff in specific programs such as therapeutic crisis intervention, which helps our staff to understand interventions that help to decrease escalated behaviors, teaching them techniques to better serve the highly acute children that are served in our welcome homes.

In addition, they received training in prudent parent and search activation training.

They provided a review of engagement social worker standards.

This is one of the policies that you'll be considering for approval today, as well as a review of unauthorized absence policy and illicit drug training.

Discipline training, makeup of the TCI trainings, policy reviews, and refresher on prudent parent search activation and refresher of unauthorized absence policy.

Those will all be occurring in this upcoming quarter.

As I shared, you had two policies to review and approve today, and those were the emergency intervention plan for the welcome homes and unauthorized absence intervention plan.

The unauthorized absence intervention plan goes into detail of how to try and prevent unauthorized absences from the youth in the welcome homes, as well as what staff are required to do when an unauthorized absence occurs and what to do once that youth returns to the facility.

Demonstrates the five policies and procedures that staff are diligently working on.

As you know, it does take time from the beginning of writing our policy through the meet and confer process, which we're required to do with the various labor unions, does take time.

So you'll see here that we are expecting at our next quarterly review in November, there will be five policies for your review and approval.

Moving into the demographic data, you'll see here that between April 1st and June 30th, there were 101 unduplicated youth that were served in the county welcome homes.

In comparison to quarter three, where we served 57 unduplicated youth.

39% of the youth served were male, 59% female.

56% of youth at the welcome homes were of color.

And in comparison to quarter three, we served 72%.

And 14 of the 101 youth served did have informal interactions with probation department.

The average age of the youth served in this quarter was just shy of 13 years of age.

And the average daily census was 11 youth in our Sacramento County homes, and the average length of stay was six days.

Drawing your attention to the blue bar on this discharge data slide, it does show the comparison for the entire year.

There were 133 discharge that were, some of which were duplicated.

101 discharges were to another placement, either to another TSCF, to a parent or relative to a foster family agency placement and STRTP.

Three youth were taken to the youth detention facility, and one was hospitalized.

The remainder of those discharges were due to unauthorized absences.

Now moving into quarter four incident report data.

This slide shows that quarter four the number of incidents that we are required to report to community care licensing with the state of California.

And you'll see here that there were a total of 362 incidents.

Now something to note here is that sometimes you will have multiple incidents that are related to one child or one incident.

So they may have they had an unauthorized absence, but then they returned with contraband.

So that's two incidents that are documented in one incident report.

So it does tend to elevate the number of incidents.

Of the 280 of those incidents that we reported to the state, the 280 were unauthorized absences.

When you look at the report out on the graph, it's almost, well, it has always been unauthorized absences and then law enforcement because we are required whenever there is an unauthorized absence to report that to law enforcement as well.

Moving into placement capacity expansion progress, again, just incredibly proud of the work that is done here as this board knows I arrived in January and coming into Sacramento.

I was incredibly impressed with the work that is being done here in Sacramento to build a capacity here to meet the needs of our most highly acute youth.

We are head and shoulders above other jurisdictions in this work and are fortunate to have CBOs who come alongside of us to do this very difficult work.

So the long-term plan was to really enhance these different types of licensed facilities in our jurisdiction.

These include the emergency enhanced intensive services foster care or EEISFC, it's quite a mouthful.

Those homes are where youth can be placed for up to 60 days.

Then next is our EIS EISFC homes where children and youth can be placed from 9 to 12 months.

We have, of course, our contracted welcome homes in addition to the two county-run welcome homes, and then contracted short-term residential therapeutic programs or STRTPs.

Before I move into this slide, I wanted to share with you that a couple of data points that I find of really positive interest.

We have had a tremendous focus on kin care and getting more children and youth placed with relatives, and staff have been incredibly successful in increasing that 14% over the last year, January of 24 to January of 25.

It's a lot of work to do the searches and find the appropriate placements, but staff are doing a tremendous job there.

And in addition to that, we have seen the number of children and youth in foster care decrease over the last year, the same time span, January of twenty-four to twenty-five, saw a 26% decrease in the number of children placed in foster care here in Sacramento County.

So we, as I shared, we have a plan for how do we expand and have more resources in our county to serve those highly acute youth.

And you'll see here in our current active capacity, when you look at our home-based placements, we currently have 17 beds available.

Our goal is to get to 32.

And then for our contracted welcome homes, we have currently 12 beds as of June 30th, and with a goal of 21.

And then of note our county welcome homes, as of June 30th, we were at 10, we're now at 12.

But you'll see to the right, our total capacity goal is to get to zero of county-run homes.

And then we want to increase our STRTP placement beds up to 16.

We really feel that with that total capacity of 75 beds for these more highly acute needs that we will be able to better serve the youth here in Sacramento County.

That is the end and concludes my presentation.

If you have any questions.

You're welcome.

Okay, seeing none for those members of the public who see us multitasking up here on occasion.

Uh we are listening intently.

Uh just realized that our staff give us very, very detailed briefings, and so that we see these presentations long before the public does, and so we have an opportunity to ask staff uh a lot of questions, and uh I just don't want to leave folks feeling like uh we're not interested, we're very interested.

So with that, um madam clerk, do we have any members of the public sign up to speak on this matter?

We do not, Chair.

Okay, very good.

Uh, this is a receiving file.

That is correct, okay.

Uh, Vice Chair Rodriguez.

It's it's a receiving file, but there's also adopt a resolution.

If the two policies need to be approved, okay.

Then in that case, I'll go ahead and move the uh recommended action for approval.

Oh, do we have we don't have any public comment or we do?

We do not have public comment.

Okay, well, I think Mr.

Sumiro just popped into chambers and I think he wants to address.

My staff is telling me they're signing up right now.

Okay, this is the reason why we need to have speakers sign up in advance, so we don't have to.

I believe it's Ted Samira.

Okay, all right.

Uh thank you, Shelby.

Uh, we'll hear from Mr.

Sumira.

Uh we do have a motion and a second on the floor.

Yeah, I apologize.

I thought this was gonna be later in the agenda.

Your agenda's kind of all over the map here.

Ted Samara, uh, executive directly united public employees.

Uh, we represent the staff in the walkman homes.

Um, and so uh it's uh first of all, I want to applaud we've come leaps and bounds from four or five years ago when these folks were over at OB3 or at the wet center to where we're at here today, and they placed a lot of that burden on on your hands here.

Um, to make it right for these children, you know, and as I've come in front of you before in years past, um I'm not here, it's these children are in an awful situation that they didn't ask to be born into and placed into.

Um, however, and looking at this, and I know I've been talking with my staff, we've met and conferred over TCI, et cetera.

Is that it's just it's a liability in waiting.

Um, is the real resources that you need to provide for the walking home is to get them out of these homes and put them in and a place in which you can have all the services there for these children, including the safety component of having law enforcement or security present with a magnetometer.

You know, you start putting hands on to protect yourselves, and we've been asking for this is some protections for the social workers, but now if they're gonna start if having that threat and they're able to put hands on, you gotta remember some of these children coming through these houses are gang affiliated.

Some of these girls are going into these houses to or even young boys going in there to try to recruit for their pimps that are waiting outside.

It's it's you have to resource into a a facility that will have these resources to protect our members.

Plain and simple.

I've been hearing for years we're gonna get out of the Walkman home business.

I've heard it from the last administration.

Here we are still in the walkman home business.

I don't see in the near future you're getting out of it anytime soon.

So why not start investing now into a facility?

So that will provide the resources these children need as well as the protection for our members.

That's how we start improving working conditions.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I have not received word that there's additional public comment.

All right, very good.

Uh thank you again.

Um Ms.

Boston for the presentation uh in the briefings.

We have a motion and second on the floor.

Please vote.

And the item does pass unanimously with those members present.

Okay, very good.

Thank you.

Next time, please.

Next item this morning, we are going to go back on our agenda to item number two.

I have a schedule for 10 15.

It's the presentation of resolution recognizing Karen Parker upon the occasion of her retirement from Sacramento County.

Wow, we we have a lot of uh retirement acknowledgments here, but uh rarely do we just have a spontaneous applause like that.

How great?

Yeah.

Good morning, Chair Cerna and the board.

Melissa Lloyd, deputy director of CPS.

Come on over.

And um, this is really just a wonderful bittersweet time for us, Karen Parker, division manager with CPS.

Um, we are here to present the resolution to Karen on behalf of Sacramento County.

I do want to say just a couple of words.

Um, for those of you who may who may not be completely familiar with all of the amazing work that Karen has done over the years, um, we're honoring Karen for her career that honestly has shaped this county's child welfare system.

Karen started in Sacramento County in 1989.

Um I know as of late, we have um adopted the the pride values, but I will tell you that Karen has exemplified every single pride value since the beginning of her career in Sacramento.

Um she has had a deep commitment to children, youth, and families.

When she started her journey as a social worker, she was a bachelor's level social worker, and she moved through up to the point it was one of the happiest days of my career when I was able to offer her a job as a division manager over our emergency response operations.

Um has been a tireless advocate for frontline staff, and she actually served for over a decade on the UPE board.

She also helped to lead major statewide reform efforts, including differential response and system improvement plans.

As a leader, Karen played a central role in launching innovative initiatives like family to family and early assignment.

And I know for those of you who may not come from the child welfare world, but these are humongous successes that she was a part of that were statewide initiatives.

Um, she helped to modernize our hiring and training process during critical times, and she championed LGBTQ plus inclusion in child welfare.

Karen founded the LGBTQ caucus, and drove meaningful change and continue has continued to do that throughout her career.

Her recent work on the comprehensive prevention plan, Karen was our lead, and I think as has been presented to this board, Sacramento County was the first to be approved for the county prevention plan, and that is due to her leadership, her hard work, as well as the as a leader, the tremendous respect she has from our staff in child welfare.

Um, I will just say that Karen's career just reflects being rooted in equity, accountability, and real impact.

And on a personal note, Karen, I just want to let you know it's been a privilege to work with you.

Your courage, your integrity shows up every single day.

And I've just been so proud to work alongside you, and you have actually taught me quite a bit.

So, on behalf of Sacramento County, I'd like to present you with this resolution, and give you a thank you.

Well, with to the board, a few minutes and some time for Karen to say a few words.

Karen, would you like the floor?

Thank you.

Um, yeah, I won't take too long, I'll be quick.

But you know, the reason I'm actually here today is because I wanted my kid to see this.

I'm ending my career, she's beginning her career, Chloe.

Give a wave.

Um, so proud of that girl.

But I I wanted her here because you know, I've been here 36 years, right?

Don't let the blunt air fool you.

Um but really I I owe a lot of thanks.

There's some people here who've given me a break.

Melinda Lake is here, Paul Lake, Melissa Lloyd.

These people gave me a chance.

I was a social worker.

I I literally just went with some friends to take a test, and boom, here I was, and it turned out to be the perfect place for me to be.

This was kind of a life's work journey.

Um I definitely kind of live to serve, and taking care of vulnerable kids has been uh my honor.

I also, you UPE.

I was a board member for like 16 years under Sandra Poole and Ted was there.

I learned so much from that experience that helped propel me to where I'm at today and hopefully also be kind of a bridge.

Um but the the final thing I want to share with you all is that these are tough jobs, and the reason I wanted my kid to see this was because when I was on call 24-7 and I got the calls, and she's like, mommy, why are you talking to law enforcement?

I had to have some tough conversations, right?

And it kind of framed her world too.

I want you all to understand that as well.

Every single person in the county, specifically now I can speak to CPS where I've been, are dedicated people, and the fact that there aren't more issues rising to the media is because of that.

Whether it's clerical all the way up to social workers, managers, everybody is so dedicated, and these are tough jobs.

So if they weren't so tough, I might have stayed a little longer.

But boy, it it 36 years is plenty, but I want you guys to know that support these people who are out there every day supporting the vulnerable families.

So thank you guys and thank everybody who's here.

I appreciated working with every single one of you, and I've learned so much from all of you, and it's things are in good hands, so I can check out.

So thank you guys.

Thank you, Karen.

Chair.

Thank you, Karen.

First of all, I didn't even recognize Paul back there.

So good to see you, Paul.

Uh we have some uh members of the board that uh wish to comment, but I'm gonna start um by saying uh thank you, especially, Karen, for the last part of uh what you said about um the media uh and the fact that it's really an unsung uh role that uh those that are engaged uh as you have been in child welfare in this county and elsewhere.

Um and unfortunately, like many of the things that uh happen in local government, uh the media tends to latch on to the negative and then forgets about kind of all the activity, effort, time, energy that goes into uh making sure uh whatever the metric might be that those numbers are as low as possible when it comes to making sure that uh we're keeping uh children and children out of harm's way.

Uh and equally important, making sure that they have uh the stability, the environment, the resources to succeed, and uh grow up, become educated, be healthy in Sacramento County, and uh absolutely agree that uh in large part uh it's due to people like Karen and the people that are applauding for her and the people that have worked with Karen in the past that are that are now retired.

Um it's really really good to see that you have your uh your child here.

Um looks like a pretty grown child from from down here.

But uh but uh that I think that really probably says the most about uh how much you are sincerely uh invested in your legacy, and it's one that uh we will never um forget, and I would encourage others that uh maybe aren't as steeped in uh county governance and um service as uh we all are here in chambers and our staff.

Uh but get to get to understand a little bit more than what you you might read online on occasion about uh the latest incident or um understand that uh if it wasn't for uh the folks again that uh Karen has been part of and led, um, we would uh be in a world of hurt.

So uh I wanna just say as one member of the board, I really really appreciate what you do, and I'm gonna miss uh your presence uh and your um your capacity to to lead that we've enjoyed here for 36 years, and it's been great.

Thank you.

Vice Chair Rodriguez.

Karen, I just want to personally thank you for 36 years of your commitment to um Sacramento County.

I you know, I I always think of individuals who do your line of work.

God has to make you extra special to be able to handle some of the things that most of us will never see or experience in our lifetimes.

And so for that, I just wanna thank you for all your hard work and I wish you the best in your retirement, and I wish your daughter the best, who will have an amazing mentor in her life in the career that she's choosing.

So thank you.

Good words, thank you.

Supervisor Desmond.

Thank you, Mr.

Sharon.

I'll just pile on thank you, Karen, as well.

I mean, you know, it occurs to me Sacramento County has really made tremendous progress in child welfare and and DCFAS in general, and certainly that is uh in large part due to leadership like yours, and and thank you, wish you all the best.

And you mentioned that this is such a tough job.

I imagine it's the toughest job in government that exists.

Um you are leaving behind a tremendous legacy.

And just a question, is your daughter already on the county team, or what's she's private?

Okay, all right, all right.

Well, maybe we can you know change that.

I wish you all the best.

Thank you.

Very good.

Thank you.

All right, uh, any public speakers?

There is none for that idea.

Okay, very good.

The next item is item number three.

It's the presentation of resolution recognizing the 2025 Odyssey of the mind finalists.

All right, and Supervisor Kennedy is making his way to the podium.

Come on, everybody.

There you go.

Welcome you guys.

The fact that you can sit through 30 minutes of a board meeting tells me that you have great tenacity and patience.

So the Odyssey of the Mind's a program that teaches students how to develop and use their natural creativity to become problem solvers.

It brings the classrooms to uh the classroom to life as students apply what they learn and combine it with their interests and passions to solve unique open-ended problems, emphasizing the avenues of teamwork, budgeting, time management, public speaking, critical thinking, engineering, and performance arts.

Today, the county of Sacramento honors Holy Spirit Parish School and Leonardo da Vinci, K-8th school, both in District 2, who both had Odyssey of the Mind finalists, Holy Spirit Parish School's fourth grade team who were first who were the first time program participants this year, won second place at the NorCal Odyssey of the Mine State Tournament on March 8th, 2025.

And Leonardo da Vinci, in my hood, it's LDV, had six teams participate with a team of five to seventh, fifth to seventh graders who also qualified for the finals.

The world finals in in Lansing, Michigan, at the World Final Finals on May 21st, the Leonardo da Vinci team and the Holy Spirit Parish School teams proudly represented Sacramento County among nearly 800 teams from across the globe.

The Holy Spirit Parish School ultimately placed 24th in their division, and LDV placed ninth.

Both extraordinary accomplishments that bring pride and recognition to their school, community, and of course our county.

So at this time I want to present this resolution and call out by name, and boy do I hope I don't leave anybody off of Althea Harry from LDV.

Natalie Althea Harry, Nora Ariano, and from Holy Spirit Paris School, Alice Bratmiller, Kennedy Bruner, great name by the way.

Rory Robinson, Nicholas Constantino, Sally Seafeld, Charlie Forsyth, and Landon Barbieri.

Thank you.

You kids have done such a wonderful job.

We're very proud to have you in our community.

You are true leaders and uh on the world stage, not just in Sacramento.

So let's give everybody, let's give them a great hand.

Who wants to come to the mic to represent each team?

Okay, here we go.

Thank you, Supervisor Kennedy and all born members for giving us for giving our Odyssey of the Mind team this honor.

We had an awesome journey to the world finals.

This is our first year competing in OM, and we learned important lessons in critical thinking and teamwork that we can use for the rest of our lives.

Thank you again for this recognition.

All right.

Uh, I would like to thank the County Board of Supervisors for this recognition.

Uh I would like to thank the parents for supporting us this whole year and driving us to regional states, following us literally everywhere.

Um I would also like to thank our coaches, Julia and Allison, for getting us through the year and helping us be better teammates and friends for the highs and the lows.

Also, a big chance thanks for believing in us enough to get us to worlds.

Thank you for your time.

All right.

With that, I think we can see why you won.

So I'd like to present these resolutions on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, Sacramento County, to, who do I present them to?

Here you go.

You got the right one?

Yes, okay.

There you go.

Uh Supervisor Kennedy, you want to invite the kids maybe in the picture.

Let's go down and get some photos.

And maybe the rest of us could join you.

I think we're all very proud of uh these young people.

Do we provide us to them so we can hand them out?

Okay.

No, we'll let the kids.

Yeah.

All right.

Okay.

Thank you for the chance.

Before we get to our next item, and as the room clears, I just uh realized I forgot to thank Vice Chair Rodriguez for uh chairing the first part of our meeting this morning.

So thank you for doing that.

So moving on to item number four.

Are you prepared, Chair?

Ready to go.

Item number four is the presentation of resolution recognizing Leroy David for winning the official FIFA World Cup 26 San Francisco Bay Area Host City Poster Contest.

Supervisor, as you make your way down, as the supervisor makes his way down, I just wanted to uh thank the board for recognizing Leroy David today for his exceptional artistic talent as he wakes his way up.

And um the pride that he brings every day to our work and our office.

Um this is especially meaningful for me, especially the uh resolution I met David about a year ago when his art was being uh presented at the Golden One Center, and um just having great conversation with him and about his while he spoke a lot about his art and the fantastic work he does, he um was really proud of his team and the team that he did had at uh DC FAS.

So, but then Leroy called me, I don't know, a couple of months ago and said, Hey, I I uh I won this thing about uh FIFA if you ever you know you've watched soccer, and I said, Oh yes, we love soccer.

So just showed his talent, and I appreciated that I shared this with the board, and the board was really impressed and and was really honored to have a county employee actually um win this award here for the San Francisco uh area, and um when I mentioned it to Supervisor Cerna, he took an exceptional interest in it and being a fellow artist and uh in a photographer world, and I know I hopefully Leroy can talk a little bit about some of his other work.

Supervisor Cerna wanted to make sure that we had took some time to um introduce him and present him with this resolution, so I appreciate it.

And I just want to say thank you to Leroy.

You know, it's incredibly proud to have uh a county employee win such a distinguished award, and your art and and your art has always been bringing about you've always said your art brings about community and brings about uh collaboration, and I appreciate all that you do for Sacramento County.

So thank you.

Yeah, thank you, Mr.

CEO, for that.

So uh colleagues and members of the public, as uh Mr.

Villanueva mentioned, uh today we are uh recognizing Leroy David for winning the official FIFA Cup.

Uh 26 San Francisco Bay Area Host City Poster Contest.

And so we don't usually read all the verbiage of the the resos, but I think there's enough interesting detail in here uh and especially for context before we actually hear from the artists that I do want to I do want to read it into the record.

So uh if you'll uh indulge me, I will do so now.

Uh whereas Sacramento County takes great pride in recognizing its outstanding employees whose achievements bring honor and distinction to our community, and whereas Leroy David, senior office assistant with public administrator, guardian conservators' office under the Department of Child Family and Adult Services, has been selected as the official FIFA World Cup 26, San Francisco Bay Area Host City Poster Artists, a prestigious designation bestowed by FIFA and the Bay Area Host Committee.

Hopefully, you're gonna tell us how widespread we can expect to see uh the art.

Whereas Mr.

David, uh Mr.

Someone put Mr.

David's artwork, uh whereas Leroy David's artwork, which prominently features the iconic Golden Gate uh and Bay Bridges amidst the fog, symbolizing connectivity, culture, and the spirit of the Bay Area, along with Levi Stadium and vibrant patterns reflecting regional diversity, who's chosen who was chosen from submissions across 16 host cities for the 2026 tournament.

And whereas Leroy David, uh a second-generation Filipino American and Bay Area native now residing in Sacramento, has exemplified dedication and creativity both in his artistic endeavors and his vital role supporting vulnerable vulnerable adults and seniors within our community, demonstrating a commitment to public service and compassion in his daily work.

And whereas throughout his tenure at Sacramento County, David LeBroyd has risen from office assistant two to senior office uh assistant, uh contributing significantly to the mission of the public, administrative guardian conservators' office with professional professionalism and dedication.

Whereas Mr.

David's achievement not only enhances the visibility of Sacramento County on a global stage, but also underscores the county's commitment to fostering creativity, community service, and excellence among its workforce.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors extends its heartfelt congratulations to LeRoy David for his outstanding achievement and contributions to our community.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Mr.

David in recognition of his remarkable artistic talent dedication to public service and positive impact on the Sacramento County community.

And I apologize for murdering some of that in terms of your name, such as life, getting uh these things printed uh correctly.

Uh but uh let me just say um and Mr.

Villanueva kind of mentioned it, um, that uh I enjoy photography and music as an outlet, and I'm a big believer that we all have our pastimes, our hobbies, our outlets.

Um, but it is what kind of keeps us uh sane and able to kind of come back and do the jobs that are expected of us, and I think the fact that you applied yourself in such a way that not only can we see the uh the talent and skills that you have as an artist, but it's gonna promote something that's on the world stage.

That's why when uh David Villanueva mentioned it to me, I was like, wow, we gotta, this is a big deal.

You know, we have to really celebrate this and acknowledge the fact that we have a homegrown um individual who has really been thoughtful about this.

And I was looking at the artwork, and you can kind of see the circuit boards, you can see the um the birds.

Um I think uh if I'm not mistaken, some of that's intended to um again represent the kind of diversity of environments that we enjoy here, not just in the Bay Area in Sacramento, but across the state of California.

Um, and of course, uh the bridges, which seem to always seem to be make them their way into the to some of the artwork as it relates to um the iconography of uh where this tournament is gonna be uh uh played.

So uh with that, I'm gonna give you the floor and again hope that you will kind of tell us a little bit more about how and where uh we'll see this artwork and uh what to expect.

So again, congratulations.

Thank you so much.

And we'll do some photos here.

I've I've done maybe over uh a dozen of media appearances, and uh I treat each one like it's my first.

Uh unfortunately, my um family couldn't make it uh school work, but I know they're watching.

Uh good morning, everyone.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Cerna, uh, to the board, uh, to David, and also Siobhan, um, who surprised me at my cubicle recently about this, uh, to Kimmy and Casey with public information, uh, DC FAS, Melissa, Shelby, Melissa, everyone, thank you so much.

Um, but to my team, uh, the public administrator, guardian conservative office, five plus years and counting for me.

Uh, to Joseph, Emily, Morris, Diana, everyone, we do tremendous work for the county.

Um, and thank you all for your support.

Uh, what's real, this started from a contest.

Um, so I gotta give a huge thanks to uh FIFA and the Bay Area Host Committee for choosing.

Yes, FIFA is um the Federation of International Football Association, and so uh for those of you that are not familiar uh with FIFA, um hopefully names like Leonardo Messi, uh Leonor Messi, uh Christian Ronaldo, uh when it comes to soccer, it's you know, the NFL.

It's the the most beautiful game in the world.

So, but in this case, we'll call it football for uh for proper purposes.

So, what's real, this all started with a contest, and uh so I thank FIFA as well as Barra Host Committee for choosing my design.

I've been doing art for 30 plus years, um, locally and beyond.

Worked with sports teams like the Giants, the Niners, the Warriors, and even our kings.

If anyone has a plug, a plug with SAC Republic, call me.

That's two blocks now.

But in all seriousness, um art is more than just a hobby, but a reflection of my passion for community.

Uh my FIFA poster is more than just two symbolic bridges, front and center.

It's about connections, um, connecting cities, cultures, people all over to celebrate the sport of football.

Uh to be recognized for this global project, uh, it's an absolute dream come true for me.

But I'm also using this moment to recognize the communities I serve, my connections, uh, whether if it's the Bay Area, Sacramento, or the Filipino American community.

Uh so I'm very blessed to be connected with all of you.

Um thank you so much for having me.

Right.

Chair.

Chair Cerna.

I did some artwork with not here in this building, but I did stuff with the city.

Gotcha.

Vice Chair?

I when you're ready, can I make some comments?

You could take a photo.

Oh, okay.

Well, Lever, I want to um say that.

Well, San Francisco's my hometown.

I've been out here about 20 years, and so when I look at uh this photo, I grew up in a family with a father who was a big uh soccer uh sports fan.

So I grew up watching all of the uh FIFA and all of the other different types of organizations that had soccer.

But you whenever I see the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge highlighting in a photo like this, it just brings back uh just memories of really truly what is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, regardless of what people say, it's still an incredibly beautiful city.

And um, so congratulations on this um incredible achievement.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And we're gonna do it now.

Just for getting that here, congratulations.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

So uh let me ask you, is this uh trademark such that we cannot post it in our lobby for people to see?

I mean, not this one, but some a little bit bigger.

I think you can post it.

Okay.

So for anyone that's interested, um, they can go to the FIFA World Cup website, they could find a host city posters available.

Okay.

There are 16 host cities posters total.

Well, I'm you'll see it as you walk out.

If you don't already know, we do have some display space here in our uh in our lobby.

So Mr.

CEO, I would like to uh I would like to direct the appropriate county personnel to see that we get a larger format of the artwork, maybe with uh description about uh about the artist and what it means, um, so that uh people that pass through can really enjoy your art.

So all right, terrific.

Thank you.

All right.

Thank you, Supervisor Cerna.

Thank you.

That's a happy story.

Okay, all right.

Uh Madam Clerk, do we have any members of the public sign up to speak on that matter?

We did not share.

All right, so on to the next item, please.

Item number five is a presentation of resolution honoring emergency medical services authority 2024 California Medical Director of the Year, Dr.

Greg Kahn, and 2024, California Administrator of the Year, David Magnino.

This item will be dropped, and so I need uh a vote from this board this morning to drop this item.

And I do believe in Supervisor Hume's absence, he'll have some comments later regarding this um this item.

So moved.

Okay, it's been moved and seconded, but uh in terms of uh what uh the district five uh supervisor has asked for, is that something I assume we can probably just uh have him say what he would like to say about dropping this during uh the end of our meeting during comments from the board?

That's correct.

Okay, very good.

All right, we have a motion and a second, please vote.

And that item does pass unanimously with those members present.

All right, very good.

Next item, please.

Item number 45 is child protective systems oversight committee's 2024 annual report.

Good morning.

Morning.

Thanks for having us.

Good to see you again.

So I'm uh Dr.

Johnston, uh Maynard Johnson, a retired pediatrician.

So I've been in Sacramento since 1978.

So and Chris, why don't you introduce yourself?

Uh good morning.

My name is Chris Orrham at the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office.

I've been with the DA's office for uh uh 28 years, and for the last uh 10 and a half of those, I've supervised the child assault unit.

I recently have uh moved up to now be uh assistant chief deputy of our Saxon Family Violence Bureau, which includes the child uh abuse unit.

Yes, so I'm the chair of the oversight uh committee, and I've been on the oversight committee since its inception almost.

Uh came to be around 1996, and I've been involved since 1997.

So, and this is uh one of my several times of being here.

Anyway, thank you.

Uh thank you for the opportunity to uh share the oversight's uh committee's work, its key findings, recommendations for the 2024 year.

We hope you will find this information helpful as you deliberate the county's policies and investments related to the safety and well-being of our children and families who are uh a collective responsibility to protect.

The last time that we were here was in June of last year.

Oh, where's do we just push the button here?

Oh, yeah.

Oh, there you go.

Thank you.

There you go, I don't know for you.

Okay.

The oversight committee originated as I mentioned earlier in 1996 from the need for child protective systems oversight stemming from uh one severe case uh that occurred in 1996.

Uh and then a committee was formed, the critical case investigation committee or the CCIC.

The final report issued by them recommended that an ongoing committee provide oversight of all child protective systems, not just the CPS or child uh protective services division as a result and by resolution the board uh supervisors established the child protective services oversight committee and place it under the umbrella of the Sacramento County Children's Coalition.

The focus of this report um covers activities from January 1st of 2024 till December 31st of 2024.

Um the committee's activities included uh assessing the progress and the overall mission and goals, analyzed findings and made recommendations based on systems, subcommittee, continued to implement electronic uh suspected child abuse report systems or eSCAR, critical incidents subcommittee, complete case reviews and analysis, and this and also the centralized placement services unit or CPSU research subcommittee.

One way we assess how well the child protective systems are working on or working is to look at data related to child welfare reports and investigation.

This table shows two data points.

First, the unduplicated number of children who are subject of at least one CPS report, whether it was open for investigation or not, and the second rate of children with allegations per 1,000 children.

The data reflects the community's understanding of how child safety, as reports are made primarily by mandated reporters, but can also come from family members, neighbors, or others, people in the community.

The decreased numbers in 2020 are likely related to COVID uh 19, the pandemic that resulted in many in-person activities being moved to virtual platforms.

Examples include schools changing from in-person to online instruction as well as medical and mental health providers using telehealth practices to see patients.

There was an upward trend in 2021 and 2022 and 2023 as children returned in-person activities and health services.

In 2024, although the overall number of Sacramento uh reports decrease, the rate of those reports continued to increase, and this is due to a corresponding decrease in the Sacramento County child population.

So when you look at those numbers, we uh are not actually making wonderfully great progress, which ties us into uh our own system here in Sacramento now that we're able to see uh through data uh through the eSCAR system how we are doing as a county.

As you recall, the Board of Supervisors um back in 2022.

We asked uh the board to uh consider um funding an ESCARS program before we were able to actually uh present it to you as a board.

We received grant funding from the Office of Emergency Services to get an e-scars program.

Um that allowed us to stop transmitting electronic scar reports or SCAR reports manually, and we began submitting them electronically.

Uh, the really great part about that system was it allowed us to now have actual data, data that we did not have previously.

Uh prior to 2022 when we'd asked for data from law enforcement or even the DA's office.

Uh, we'd literally have to go count pieces of paper uh in piles.

Can I interrupt for can you just remind us all again the the acronym the ESCARs?

Absolutely.

Yes, thank you.

Um ESCARS is an electronic suspected child abuse report.

Uh the state mandates that um anyone who uh observes child abuse make a mandated report to uh CPS law enforcement in the DA's office.

Uh those are called SCAR forms, uh suspected child abuse reporting forms.

Prior to 2022, we would receive those through paper copy, triplicate paper copies.

Uh CPS would uh take the suspected child abuse information and transmit it through inner office mail, ideally, supposed to have been by facts, but it was actually by interoffice mail to law enforcement.

Law enforcement uh specifically the DA's office as an example, would receive uh thousands of these uh in inner office envelopes and have to try to figure out how to triage them, try to figure out which ones deserve investigation, try to figure out a way to input them into a database so that we could keep track of uh which cases have been investigated and which ones have not.

The CPS Oversight Committee did a multi-year project prior to 2022 to investigate this and found out that law enforcement in Sacramento were suffering the same uh deficiencies in how we are handling those SCAR forms.

Uh, through a grant to the Office of Emergency Services, we received $600,000 uh to implement a electronic suspected child abuse reporting system.

At the time that we presented this uh to the board, um, the grant was for two hundred thousand dollars a year, and I recall uh one of the supervisors was shocked that we hadn't done something like this for $200,000 because it was fairly inexpensive for $200,000 a year to be able to capture and gather this data.

We received that grant, and Sacramento was able to implement this electronic suspected child abuse reporting system within about a year of actually getting the grant.

As a county, even though the state awarded us uh close to 600,000, we only spent about 350 or so, maybe a little bit more, because each of the agencies was frugal in what we did.

We bought an off-the-shelf product from a Sacramento-based company that had already developed the product for YOLO County and Santa Barbara County.

We were able to deploy it here in Sacramento County within that one year, which actually has beat YOLO County.

Yolo County is still trying to work on getting their product uh deployed, the same product, but we had a very good coalition working with CPS and our law enforcement partners to get that product up and running.

And now every agency, law enforcement agency receives their scars, their suspected child abuse reforms electronically.

The good news about it is we now have data that we can report to you all about how we as a county are actually doing and whether we're able to investigate cases and how we go about investigating those cases.

Prior to this, as I would uh many times talk to community members, I'd say if somebody calls in a vehicle theft uh or something stolen off their front porch, you know, we maybe understand why law enforcement doesn't have the resources to investigate that.

But when it comes to child abuse, child molestation, physical and sexual abuse.

Uh we expect that law enforcement's going to be able to investigate that.

Uh and uh anecdotally, I I knew uh as the supervisor that was not likely happening.

Uh and this system has actually now helped uh demonstrate, unfortunately, that we have a long ways to go in order to actually effectively uh investigate every case of child abuse.

As you can see, uh, just the sheriff's department alone receives 6,000 suspected child abuse forms uh a year.

Excuse me, uh Vice Chair Rodriguez.

I just have a question on the um no investigation conduct, um, the 5468 number.

So, what would fall under that category?

Yes, uh, so one of the great things about this uh system is that it's giving us the ability to see things like that number.

Um, and uh that number um can is meaning different things for different agencies.

So, one of the the goals of uh the child abuse uh CPS Oversight Committee as well as the district attorney's offices to get law enforcement agencies to give a similar definition to that.

Um the law uh relating to mandatory reporting puts the district attorney's office in charge of kind of oversight to make sure that we are uh helping law enforcement um appropriately um figure out how to investigate cases and make sure they are investigating cases.

Uh and so for instance, uh the uh sheriff's department um maybe has cleared those calls.

They they define it differently than the police department, has cleared those calls as a case that is maybe a lower level case that they do not have resources to investigate, or is something that can be handled administratively through uh CPS, or um uh the sergeant has decided they're not gonna send out uh individuals to go interview that case because CPS can handle it.

Um a lot of those things are based upon resource, and there's some contrast between what the sheriff's department does and what the police department does.

So the police department um when they received this program, uh, was the uh most enthusiastic about uh realizing they have a mandate under the law to investigate child abuse.

Uh and they used probably the bulk of the grant funding by training uh with state funds, uh, the majority of their force uh so that they made every suspected child abuse report form a call for service.

And so rather than the forms going to a sergeant in the child abuse unit, uh they go to their communications um division, where uh within short period of time the police department is sending out um a patrol officer uh to go out and make contact with um the family or the individual where there's suspected child abuse.

Uh that did add a uh labor onto the police department, but it added about 10 to 15 cases per day, and when you spread that out amongst the entire police force, that's not so horrible.

Um so the police department, um, in their uh scenario of 1500, there was contact made, uh, but uh a decision was made that this does not warrant a criminal investigation.

Um those numbers that 42 percent um of the the cases uh no investigation was conducted should seem daunting to uh uh you all, um, they seem daunting to me, but even if we account for now, we have a system that looks at and and someone has made eyes on determination, these should not be investigated.

Uh there's a huge amount of cases uh that still go uh investigated, but uh we don't have the full resources to do a thorough investigation or we suspect a crime, but investigation is not thoroughly done.

Uh if you see the sheriff's department, they have 1,200 cases.

1,200 cases, yet the uh detectives uh in the child abuse unit only investigated 240 of those last year.

Um each detective has between 10 to 15 cases, and they can only investigate so many cases at a time.

Uh the sergeant has to make a triage decision and has a queue of cases.

He could sign all those cases out, but if he signs them all out, they're just sitting in individual detectives' cues.

So he has to make a decision about can this case be successfully investigated.

Uh and I'm gonna keep it in my queue until I have a detective that's able to investigate it.

Supervisor Desmond.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Yeah, I want to ask a couple questions about this chart as well, because that disparity is pretty remarkable to me.

How it's you know, no investigations conducted 50% of the time in the unincorporated county areas, um, 60% of time in citrus heights and and fulsome and um 10 percent, only 10 percent of the time in Elk Grove.

I mean, it's all over the map.

I guess I'll look at our our deputy county exec, Eric Jones.

Do you do we have a sense or maybe you have a sense of how many of these departments have dedicated child abuse investigators?

I do have a sense of that.

Uh the Sacramento Police Department does, Sacramento Sheriff's Department does.

Um Citrus Heights has a detective primarily assigned, but they're basically generalists.

Elk Grove is uh got two detectives generally assigned, but they're also generalist communities, so they uh some of those detectives will also be working on other uh types of cases.

Um then uh Folsom and uh Galt uh are generalists, so they basically have and it's just I mean there obviously there's gonna be a little bit of inconsistency between jurisdictions based on priorities and resources, but it seems like it shouldn't be this inconsistent.

So I'd like to follow up with you, Mr.

Jones, on this issue.

And I don't know if you know, we don't need to do that today, but maybe help me understand why this disparity exists and if there are discussions with those law enforcement agencies.

Maybe they I don't know if they've had this discussion at their annual chiefs meetings that they do in Sacramento County, but maybe that's a forum to have the discussion.

Do you know if the so while the no investigation conducted is the looks like a concerning number, and I do agree it's concerning, I think that uh may have a lot to do with semantics of what they're they're deciding.

Uh that number concerns me.

Uh before we had ESCARs, uh that number was probably three to four times what we see here because uh before ESCARs uh they were just investigating police reports, not really having as much time to investigate SCAR reports, and this has put some pressure on law enforcement.

There's accountability.

If you have a chart that shows uh whether there's investigation conducted, they uh absolutely need to be able to show what they're doing.

Um, so while no investigation conducted is concerning, even when there's a crime suspected, we don't have the resources to investigate those.

So um with the eight detectives in child abuse for the sheriff specifically, uh, they do not investigate all 1,200 of where they actually believe there is a crime.

Uh so well, eventually I want to get to the no investigation conducted number uh as a county.

Um I think our even more important concern is we have cases where we think there actually is a crime uh but we don't have the resources to investigate it.

Um and the sheriffs is a great example.

Uh, how is it that eight detectives are supposed to do that investigation?

Prior to 2009, there were 12 detectives in that unit.

Uh so four additional detectives were dedicated to child abuse uh prior to 2000 uh and nine.

Okay.

Uh Vice Chair Rodriguez is in the queue, but I just want to before I forget the last point you just made.

When we go through our budgeting exercise in June and September, okay, and we basically are reminded every year we give uh kind of a lump sum amount uh in our general fund considerations for the Sacramento Sheriff's Department.

I want to make sure I understand.

So how personnel uh resources are allocated is not a decision by this board.

It's a decision by a separate elected official called the sheriff, right?

So, what can you expand upon and based on that last statement about the number of investigators, if that's the right term, um uh have been uh you know um added or subtracted over the years uh because I want to I just feel like it's a point of clarity that's really important for the public to understand about um who's making which decisions about the application of resources because we only we only have that decision basically once uh in the year, and uh I'm hopeful you can maybe say just a few more words about that, then we'll get to Vice Chair Rodriguez's question here.

Absolutely.

Um I I think what we're seeing with those numbers is not inconsistent with uh with what uh Mr.

DA Tin Ho has told you about the district attorney's office.

Uh the district attorney's office also needs more child uh abuse prosecutors.

Uh but he described to you that we are doing more with less.

Uh the cases keep coming in, uh, but we do not we have an added personnel as a whole, as an office, to uh adjust for and fill that need.

Uh I think each agency, whether it's the sheriff's department, the police department, the DA's office, uh, is uh in a quandary uh constantly of what cases do we not investigate?

Do we not investigate um the financial elder abuse?

Do we not investigate uh the or prosecute the um, you know, specifically financial elder abuse or elder abuse or domestic violence.

Uh and as a DA's office, I know that our office is if it's a provable case, we're gonna file it.

Um whether at some point we're gonna have to make a decision about what we do about that, but um, if a provable case comes in involving child abuse, child sexual assault, our office files it.

That has resulted in our office having double the caseloads of what we historically have with the same amount of prosecutors.

Uh I suspect, I can't speak for the sheriff that they're in the same situation.

They have limited resources, they have to decide which detectives are gonna allocate to all the different types of crimes-murder, uh, gangs, uh, drugs, child abuse, each of those.

Uh and um unfortunately, I think specifically as a rates which I can really speak to about child abuse, is that this tool, eSCARS, is a blessing and a curse.

It's a blessing because it tells us the data, but it's a curse because the data is hard to swallow, which is that we as a community have to dedicate more resources to something, and we don't have a lot of more resources, but we have to dedicate or make a decision that we're gonna say that we can't dedicate it.

Supervisor Regis.

Supervisor Desmond, were you done with your comments?

Okay, um, you're right.

I think ESCARs will allow us to be able to track some of the data, especially if there's um a case that went into no crime suspected, and then there are subsequent calls.

You can now identify that there have been several calls made to whether it's an address or an individual, and so then hopefully those will escalate.

Um then the other one is what kind of training do our sheriff's department get that allows them to identify when there's potential um sexual abuse to children or um physical abuse.

So uh the line level, all the sheriffs' uh detectives have to go through a cataby, and then uh as they progress up, they'll go through um specialized courses that post uh police officers' uh standard trainings offers as it relates to child abuse, each of the detectives in the child abuse unit has uh extensive experience in that um area.

Um so they're all generally trained about child abuse.

Uh and then uh our sergeant uh has done uh individual trainings even at uh briefings about child abuse.

Uh and each of the agencies pretty much has done a uh a version of that for each of their uh line level uh individuals.

So they're all mandatory reporters though, right?

They are all mandatory reporters.

These this data is uh in addition to police reports.

So um I think there may be some that are police reports, but uh I remember one time talking to a uh principal actually at Leonardo da Vinci one time, and uh the principal uh told me, you know, I don't understand why law enforcement didn't do anything.

I made X amount of mandated reports, uh and I said, Well, did you call law enforcement?

And it's like no, because I thought if I call CPS that they're gonna refer to law enforcement.

And that is true, they do, but prior to e-scars, that may have not gotten investigated.

Uh and this now does put some um tracking so that when um a citizen or a mandated reporter makes a report, we know that law enforcement received it, and uh there's a little bit of pressure for law enforcement to figure out how to prioritize it.

But the data shows uh our office only received about 450 cases for prosecution as it relates to child abuse.

Uh, you can see that throughout our county there are 2,320 cases where child abuse was suspected.

There's just an inability for law enforcement to go out and make contact and investigate every single case.

The police department's making the really good effort.

They're making contact now with every single case.

Uh they've modified it a little bit now.

There are some that can be administratively cleared at uh the dispatch, but they're making contact in about 90% of the cases.

The sheriff's department, uh, was a question that came up last year.

Is the sheriff's department doing that?

Is this a good idea or not a good idea?

Those are questions you all asked.

Uh, and the sheriff's department is uh leaning to go that direction too.

They need to get training in their comm center so their comm center individuals can make a determination of whether uh a deputy should go out or not on that case.

But uh this model of every scar being a call for service is something that Los Angeles County does.

Uh the law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles County send out law enforcement to make contact with um uh individual who reports child abuse.

Uh and so we actually have eyes on to find out what's going on with that family, uh, as I think the legislature and the community would expect.

There are some um complications to that.

Uh, we're working with uh Melissa and CPS because sometimes the police department's actually making out before CPS does, because for CPS it might be a 10-day um call out versus law enforcement's trying to do it in real time.

Uh and so there's some growing pains that we as a county are having with that, trying to make sure we're not stepping on CPS's toes.

Um, but uh the results.

I just have one more question too before you move on.

Um so for for those where child abuse crime is suspected, and we identified that there is child abuse, whether sexual or physical, the child is always pulled from the from its home.

Whether the child's pulled from the home will be primarily up to CPS, law enforcement works with CPS to assure that.

If law enforcement themselves believes the child is in danger, they have the ability to uh do a protective removal uh and work with CPS.

Um the majority of those cases, though, that you see here, because law enforcement probably is not doing just because a crime suspected doesn't mean that crime's being investigated.

Many of those cases are going to be handled by CPS without law enforcement involvement, and they make make a decision.

Whether the child's pulled from the home for CPS purposes typically has to do whether the child is uh safe.

So the child may be molested by somebody who's not in the home, the child's probably staying in the home.

If the child's muscle by somebody in the home, uh CPS would make an evaluation of the safe safety of that child and probably remove that child.

Thank you.

Um, one of the uh unexpected uh benefits that the police department has highlighted for us about um uh e-scars is that um it has helped us actually determine not only child abuse but uh other crimes.

Uh so the police department's given a great example.

When they go out on every call, uh many times they're finding things like domestic violence.

Uh the sergeant gave me an example recently where um a child had said at school um daddy's always hurting mommy.

Uh and that call in the past probably would not result necessarily uh in law enforcement going out.

But under the police department's uh plan of every call, every scar is a call for service, they went out there.

Uh and they made contact with a woman who had been um a victim of domestic violence, basically imprisoned in her own home for a long period of time, um, and uh were able to develop a domestic violence case out of it.

The case came in as a scar for emotional abuse for a child observing domestic violence, uh which is something typically would not be prosecuted, but the results ended up being in law enforcement uh rescuing a woman who had been imprisoned in her own home as a domestic violence victim.

The eSCARS program also highlights um as um Supervisor Rodriguez uh indicated that sometimes we can start to see patterns.

Uh so there was a case where uh in Sacramento there have been repeated patterns about what seem like mild to maybe low-level abuse uh but involved a teacher.

Uh and when uh the law enforcement began to look at it, they single case probably would not necessarily have drawn a law enforcement investigation, something maybe the school could probably have handled.

But then when the law enforcement realized, looking in e-scars, that we have nine other complaints involving this teacher, um, they said this is something we definitely need to investigate.

One of the hard things about law enforcement is prioritizing where do we spend those resources.

Of the 1200 cases, which one do I assign a detective to, knowing that the Sheriff's Department only sends out or investigates or assigns detectives on 240 of them?

That's just what their resources limit them to.

So uh the EastCar system has increased the ability of law enforcement to determine the cases they need to investigate.

Um it illustrates that child abuse is prevalent here in Sacramento.

Um, and that uh these past reports that were once unprovable when a mass together can actually result in us being able to have uh successful prosecutions.

Uh the dark side of this, the backside of this is we just uh even if it gets investigated, it's now going to um units that are severely impacted of the DA's office where we have twice the number of cases uh and DAs um being faced with um kind of the insurmountable uh caseloads that are just hard to get through when you have so much.

And these cases uh emotionally are much different than other cases prosecutors prosecute.

It takes a large toll uh on a prosecutor to take a child through trial, uh describe sexual abuse, um, get them through that process.

Uh it has all the aspects of DV in the sense that many times there's pressure on the child or it can't from family members.

Uh and so these are complicated cases that take seasoned and experienced DAs and DAs that are able to stay in that position for a long time, ideally.

Uh, but burnout rates increase when you have caseloads that are um a lot higher.

And I just have a quick comment.

And I on the back end, I think, you know, had putting more emphasis on the front end on the back end, it'll impact the foster care system and family homes, which if I understand correctly are also impacted.

Which is very sad.

Yeah.

It's it's something uh that we need to address, and I will say that uh we should be proud of Sacramento that we're ahead of this.

Uh when I teach around the state and communicate with other DAs around the state, YOLO County's trying to get the system.

Santa Barbara has a system, Fresno has a system, Napa and Alameda are trying to get a system, uh, and LA has a system.

So we are on the forefront.

And when I talk to DAs and law enforcement around the state, I say, you have a problem, you just don't know about it.

You don't have the data to support that you have a problem.

But if you go look at your scars, you will see that there's a number of cases are just not being investigated.

Uh, and that shows that there's a problem.

It's so we're on the cutting edge of a problem that other people have.

Other counties and jurisdictions have it, and um just haven't faced up to seeing it.

And so we should be proud that we have the system, that we're able to implement it quickly and get the data.

And it's part of the CPS Oversight Committee's role now uh of uh providing data to you about protective systems, this will become a continuing part of us being able to actually provide you real data so you can make informed decisions.

Uh ESCAR's findings, um, uh each of the agencies in Sacramento.

Pardon me, go back one.

Um the EastCar system continues to uh show that we have this increase of need uh in investigation in the implementation of ESCARS uh shows that's a it's prevalent here in Sacramento.

Um we have the case examples that I've described to you.

Um we made recommendations to uh the board uh that each of the agencies here in Sacramento should strive to ensure that all children who describe being seriously physically or sexually assaulted are actually interviewed and investigations are done to determine if a case can be proven.

We also recommend that local Sacramento County cities and the county should allocate more detectives for investigation of child abuse related crimes to ensure thorough investigations of all acts of child abuse and that caseloads not exceed 12 to 14 uh per investigating officer and a similar amount as it relates to uh deputy DAs.

The grant for ESCARS uh ended on March 30th of 2025.

Um we were able to uh get it deployed.

Uh the grant from the Office of Emergency Services allotted us money to obtain a system to train our um partners uh and the DA's office and CPS on that system uh and to implement it.

Uh we um are making a recommendation that the county continue to uh provide and pay for that system.

I know that uh that was part of the district attorney's budget, uh speaking now as a member of the CPS Oversight Committee.

I know that it was a recommendation of um Mr.

Hose that uh the county continue to pay for E-Scars.

That was not allotted in uh the budget to uh Sacramento DA's office.

Uh Sacramento DA's office has made the decision that uh this is something we cannot sacrifice.

Uh to say that we're now going to go back to paper scar forms and try to uh not provide our partners with this uh would be um uh impossible to do and not appropriate to do.

Um there are costs associated with it.

Our office has absorbed them as part of our budget.

Uh this year, the cost is approximately 100,000, and that's a generous 100,000.

I think uh the way the contract was written with our CyTech partner, uh, was that there'd be a baseline to keep the system and lights on uh and working uh with additional uh funds for allocation for improvements or issues that come up and training that comes up as needed.

Uh so the 100,000 was generous.

Um, and uh when I spoke to your chiefs of staff, they said, you know, is that, you know, we didn't pay for that, we didn't allocate that additional funds.

Um, but your office is absorbed that.

Uh really, though, the bigger cost is not the hundred thousand.

Uh it's the fact that people like the sheriff's department are down four detectives in order to do a valid investigation.

That the DA's office uh is consistently coming back asking every year for just one prosecutor when probably to get caseloads to what they need to be, it probably needs to be two or three prosecutors to uh successfully be able to do to investigate and prosecute those cases.

Uh caseloads uh as we continue to allocate detectives to the crime suspected, caseloads will increase.

If we get to the other category of uh no investigation conducted, and we find out there's cases in there that should have been conducted, uh, the caseloads are going to increase.

So the hundred thousand dollars uh is really the smallest part of the financial resource commitment that the county has to assess, and each individual law enforcement agency has to assess in making a determination about how to go forward.

Um the data is compelling that we have a lot more to do.

Um, and when we have individuals that uh have been um victims of crime, uh we know that uh that cycle can continue on.

And as Dr.

Johnson in a moment speaks to you about the critical incident subcommittee uh report, uh the one statistic I hope you keep in mind is that 100% of the children that uh were of the result of a critical incident had a caregiver or parent who had had a CPS history as a minor.

So eSCARS is kind of related also to the critical incidents and the critical incident subcommittee.

Before I hand it back over to Dr.

Johnson, there are questions about uh ESCARS itself.

Yeah, all right, thank you all.

So, uh as uh Chris said, uh, the big point is that a child that's being abused is likely to become an abuser when they become older.

So the idea is to nip it in the bud early so that they don't then become an abuser themselves.

And that's why it's so important to get them identified, treated, proper services provided, et cetera.

Anyway, the critical incidence subcommittee made up of is made up of community members with personnel and uh professional experience and child services and protection.

They met we met regularly last year.

The subcommittee partners with CPS by participating at uh quality improvement committees, uh or the QIC or QIC to review critical incidents of CPS involved children.

The only cases reviewed are cases of critical incidences, which included deaths and near deaths, not general case review.

The goal of these reviews is to determine current systemic issues and CPS result in work that is not thoughtful and thorough.

This year's report summarizes nine full case reviews.

Two were for t uh were for uh fatalities and seven were near fatalities.

Case reviews found that every case had uh one or more parents or caregivers that uh with a CPS history as a minor.

Additionally, substance use, domestic violence, and a history of mental health challenges continue to be present in families that are involved in these critical incidences.

The risk factors play a part in accidental and negative outcomes for children in our community.

For this reason, the CPA, the QI subcommittee encourages the board of Supervisors to pay continued attention to ensuring that resources are available to families in our community for domestic violence, mental health, and substance use disorders, in order to break uh generational cycles of child abuse and neglect.

Next the CI subcommittee identified social worker and supervisor critical thinking errors, which resulted in misopportunities.

Examples of these errors included failing to make safety plan actions clear to extended family and friends who agreed to act in the support of the family.

Not providing substance use disorder education or support to a parent considered to be a non-offending individual.

That is not the parent with an identified substance use disorder, not removing a child either by voluntary placement or court intervention despite the child having injuries suspicious of for abuse.

Investigations aren't always thorough and do not always comply with agency standards.

Concerns noted were incorrectly completed structural decision making or SDM assessment tools.

The Oversight Committee recognizes that human critical thinking error is always a possibility.

However, these errors were not corrected by safeguards existing in the agency, such as a supervisor review and case staffing.

Our recommendations are that CPS should continue to develop and implement strategies to strengthen the supervision process and continue addressing critical thinking errors across the agencies.

Strategies should include, but not be limited to developing a monitoring mentoring process for supervisors to implement or supplement the existing supervisor academy, develop coaching process for program managers to learn from experienced peers to develop clear and consistent guidelines and provide training to direct social workers' assessments of marijuana use in the family home and include specific topics to be covered.

Continuing, CPS should strengthen all protocols and their implementation that require relevant case collaterals that they require them to be consulted with, and that all information related to child family and environment are gathered and considered before the cases are closed.

The protocol should include details about the collaterals to be considered relevant based on common circumstances or the appropriate age group.

CPS should strengthen implementation of consulting with children's medical and mental health providers as part of their investigation and safety planning.

CPS and community-based organizations should work together to develop a feedback loop to ensure that CPS is notified when parents decline services following investigation or case closure.

Strategies should include but not be limited to developing a plan to address improvement of communication between CPS and the local methadone clinics.

Sacramento County continuing, Sacramento County should develop uh messaging campaigns about uh car seat usage, poison control, substance use, gun safety, and their impact on children's safety.

Strategy to include but not be limited to local hospital systems should require that parents of the newborns be provided with information about car seats, uh usage, poison uh control issues, uh, and gun safety at the time of discharge, and also the child protective services essentially do the same thing when they're investigating a case.

CPS should ensure linkage with the appropriate.

Sorry, Supervisor Rodriguez.

Sorry.

I I have a question, and I'm sorry, I'm gonna have you go back one page.

Um can I just um make sure that if a parent is charged with child abuse, they do not qualify for mental health diversion.

Is that a fair statement?

Okay, it's gonna come over to my direction.

Uh so when Dr.

Johnson is talking here, he's really talking about CPS involvement.

So uh if a parent is charged with uh criminally with child abuse, um they are eligible for mental health diversion uh in the state of California, um, and there is really no exception for that.

There uh there's a case in Sacramento that I can think of where uh a parent absolutely tortured a child too near death, but because the child did not die, uh that parent is eligible for mental health diversion.

Uh we had a case where uh an individual uh gave a child um a pill that they believed was uh per cassette, but they had bought it off the street, that child died.

Uh our office felt that it was not chargeable as a murder, because we had to prove intent to kill and certain elements that cannot be proven, but we charged it as child endangerment um causing death, which is uh still a substantial um crime.

Uh in the state of California, that person is eligible and actually did receive mental health diversion.

Uh we had a case where an individual um again uh was so drunk that they beat a child uh or the child received uh abusive head trauma, and we couldn't actually say how the trauma occurred, but he was the sole person alone with that child when um the mother came back and the child was dead, uh the case began an investigation.

But because we couldn't determine exactly what happened other than he was so drunk that something happened while on his watch, that would normally be a child endangerment case.

Uh if the child dies, uh it could potentially be a murder case, but in this case we didn't charge as murder, we charge as child endangerment where the child died.

Uh that person uh in Sacramento County uh got and received uh over our objection mental health diversion.

Uh if that man that was so drunk taking care of his child had been driving in a car and just had misdemeanor DUI as the extra charge, he would not be eligible for mental health diversion and would probably be going to prison.

But because uh he was drunk at home taking care of his child, and his child died, uh he was eligible for and did receive mental health diversion, and at the end of his mental health diversion, there'll be nothing on his record to ever indicate that a child ever died in his care.

You know, that is very disturbing.

I appreciate the question because I don't think a lot of people are.

It's very disturbing, and it's and you know, what what when we look at populations, you know, let's just even talk about the homeless population, a very large majority attribute to childhood traumas, and so what, like the there are so many consequences to not addressing these issues.

Is that a state law or is that it's a state law that uh was enacted a couple of years ago uh that said that every crime in general other than murder, DUI, misdemeanor DUI, uh, and sexual assault crimes are eligible for mental health diversion.

The legislature uh also amended the law a couple of years ago that basically said um that they are presumed, uh if they have some sort of mental health condition, which a lot of people have, probably the majority, um, if they have some sort of mental health condition, it's presumed to have been the reason why they did their crime, and the way that our office can defeat or the the prosecution can defeat mental health diversion is we have to overcome a presumption, uh, but they're presumed that their crime is related to their mental health condition, and the only way to get them disqualified from mental health diversion would be to uh overcome a presumption, uh, that uh some other crime was not related to uh their mental health issue.

So because it's off their record, if they recommit, there's no way to tell who is get who is committing such a crime, getting diversion and then recommitting.

So we'll have the police reports, but it will not count as a conviction.

Uh there'll be uh no penal consequence.

Um another interesting part about the law is that if they go off to mental health diversion, they're have two years to complete that mental health diversion.

Uh the law was enacted in a way that is uh pre-plea, so they don't have to accept responsibility.

I did this and send me off to diversion and then clean my record if I succeed in diversion.

Um the legislature could have done that, but the way the legislature wrote the law was it's pre-plea.

So if they want mental health diversion, they qualify and they receive mental health diversion, they get it for two years.

If at the end of the two years they fail, the case comes back, and we have to go find the witnesses and prove the case.

Uh, and in child abuse cases, that is much more complicated because uh the child ages, uh, the evidence ages.

Uh it's complicated in all cases, but it but the idea of a pre-plea diversion definitely complicates it because the case is never really final.

Uh for us to move a case on if they get diversion and it's pre- and it's post-plea, then that case is done.

They either succeed and they don't have it on their record or they fail and they get the punishment that we all agreed upon.

Pre-plea says go off to diversion, but we're probably gonna have to pull that case back off the shelf, which is also part of the reasons why uh our child abuse unit and a large swath of our office is um dealing with a lot of mental health diversion oppositions that's one of the major things that our office is finding ourselves doing a lot of writing on.

Thank you, thank you.

Supervisor Hume.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, I don't want to belabor this issue too much because so much of it is legislative and beyond our control.

Um, but as was brought up relative to this heinous uh incidences, um what is the threshold for determining someone's capability in order to qualify for mental health diversion, and then what is the uh, you know, checkbox to say that they've successfully completed it or failed it.

So the threshold is they need to have a mental health evaluation.

The law is not especially clear whether it has to be a psychologist, psychiatrist, uh social worker.

Um I know that we are sometimes challenging uh the individuals that are doing some of the evaluations.

Um they usually will write a sub a report indicating this person has depressive disorder, they have substance abuse disorder, they have um whatever disorder they might have.

That goes to the court, and the court will evaluate that report.

Uh the report um is a presumption that uh the person's mental health disorder is now related to the crime, uh and the court then has to make an evaluation about whether we can somehow decouple that, uh, show that it's not related to the crime.

Uh the fact that you're depressed uh and you stole from target uh that's presumed to have been related to the crime, but we can uh if we can find evidence to overcome that presumption, potentially break that coupling.

There's also some other avenues where we can um get somebody uh show that somebody should not qualify for mental health diversion, which is that that um if they uh are likely to commit a super strike, which is something like murder or kidnap or child assault.

We have to prove that somebody in the future is likely to do something really bad.

And that would be another avenue that a court could say we're going to uh not allow you to get mental health diversion, or if we can show they have a pattern in past that they're unreceptive to uh care, that they've been in types of programs like this and they didn't show up, they didn't do what they're supposed to do.

Uh, those things might allow us to get them out of mental health diversion.

Well, I mean, I, you know, I'm not a mental health expert, but I would say getting blackout drunk that results in the death of your child uh would probably qualify for that last point that you just made.

Uh unfortunately, substance abuse disorder and uh a uh was the the qualification that made them uh qualify for mental health diversion uh to overcome a presumption that or to to prove to a court that someone in the future is now going to kill again, uh it it feels like it should be easier than it is, but we have not had as much success as I'd like us to have.

Understood, and and just you know, for the record, if if you will, uh I do support generally some sort of diversion program care court Laura's law, uh, this mental health diversion.

Wish we could intervene before it costs uh a poor child their life, uh obviously.

Um but uh, you know, to hear these cases where it's uh I think being subverted in the name of justice.

Um that's not actually what I wanted to chime in about, though.

I wanted to go back to the slide that we were on, uh talking about the uh subcommittee recommendations specifically around car seats, gun safety, um poison control and substance, et cetera.

Uh don't we already have those types of education campaigns in Sacramento County?

To some extent, yes.

But these the reason these are brought up here is that our critical incidences had issues that led to had car seat issues that led to harm to a child that had gun issues, led harm to a child that had uh poison control type issues that led harm to a child.

So we w and then CPS is not uh I can the hospitals in general, and I can't speak for them because uh, and they vary uh from year to year as to what they're doing with their babies and mothers that go home.

So there's no rule or law that says you have to do this or that, uh, and so some hospitals uh like the uh sleeping on the on your back back to sleep.

Sure.

So that was in existence when it was realized that kids that slept on their bellies or whatever had a higher incidence of SIDs.

So they put this program in the place back to sleep, but then the county ran out of money to to continue that program, and so that program went away, and then the CIDS deaths went up.

Hospitals, some of the hospitals on their own put the programs in the place then.

And uh, but I don't know the I can't speak for what the hospitals do, but we think that they should be involved with these things if they're not.

Well, I I think that there's a certain amount of onus that the government or the county health department could assume, but there is no regulation or qualification for parenting other than being of reproductive age.

Uh and would it be safe to say when you have a uh critical incidents uh those are those nine cases that resulted in in the the worst outcomes?

I would presume there could be a correlation that those are just bad situations with bad individuals who probably aren't leaning into learning more about how to be a good human and a good parent and provide the safest environment.

Is that a correct assumption?

Well, it's partially correct, but we at least want to make an attempt to educate parents on what they should be doing.

Uh because a lot of them don't know, to be honest, because there's no test you take, as you said, to become a parent.

So when the CPS or when the hospital has contacts with these families, at least they give them the information.

And it's gonna help a lot of families, but some it won't make any difference.

We don't know which ones will be which.

So we but anyway, we feel that the hospitals and the CPS should, and if the CPS is involved in a case, they need to give this information out.

Very good.

Thank you, Chair.

I just want to point out, and I see that uh deputy executive um is uh ready to maybe chime in here, that we we uh the county uh working with first five still do uh deploy a safe sleep baby um campaign program where in fact uh if it's determined that there's no um safe uh or reasonable environment for some households to sleep their baby, they're they're going home with a crib.

So I I just don't want to leave the comment out there that the county ran out of money, SIDs went up.

Uh well, that would leave the public with uh some uh incorrect assumptions about what the county uh has done and is currently doing along with uh the work that is being done in conjunction with uh first five black child legacy campaign uh there's a lot of infrastructure focus attention um many of these issues uh through those programs I just mentioned, even uh uh trying to reduce child abuse neglect homicide, especially in the African American childhood population.

So I don't know, Ms.

Katar, if you wanted to share more about that.

Supervisor Cerna, you said exactly what I was gonna say is just all the resources and our CBOs through our family resource centers and our uh community incubator leads as well as public health have been doing a lot in this space.

So I wanted to just look that up.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you for saying that.

I just what I was saying was that we had a program, then it went away, and then the deaths went up, and then we put the program back into place.

So it just show how important some of these programs are.

Um the last bullet there is that uh we want to ensure that there's the CPS to ensure that there's a linkage with the appropriate community-based agencies that this occurs prior to closing an investigation where concerns remain uh at the time of closure.

So, if we're gonna refer a patient to birth and beyond, we wanna make sure that the birth and beyond actually has contact with the family, and there's a warm handoff between CPS and that agency, as opposed to just giving a slip of paper and saying call them, they'll be there.

That hasn't worked out too well in the past.

Um, shift to the welcome homes, which you've heard a bit about already.

Um the oversight committee is charged with the community oversight of our uh county's child protective systems, and the oversight committee also takes on the special research projects to identify systemic gaps and facilitates uh discussions among stakeholders, uh, with the goal of improving their processes that impact child safety.

This slide showed the timeline timeline of pivotal moments leading up to the oversight committee's work in uh 2024 to provide insight and recommendations to improve the temporary shelter of children and youth in protective custody.

Uh in December 2023, the county embarked on efforts to obtain uh state licensure, and the oversight committee officially formed a subcommittee called the centralized placement services uh unit or CPSU uh research subcommittee with the purpose of learning more about the county run uh welcome homes uh community care licensing, the safety of youth and protective uh custody, and uh who were placed there through throughout 2024, the oversight committee uh committee maintained ongoing communications with CPS while exploring opportunities to learn more about the welcome centers from different community perspectives in August of last year, the uh child uh the uh Sacramento County Children's Coalition.

It's a super uh you guys formed this body several years ago, and it was appointed to serve as the community advisory board of the CAB, the CAB.

The oversight committee continued to provide support and guidance to the CAB, including participation in two scheduled welcome home tours that took place in September of last year, and providing their analysis of data and information received and give that to the CAB.

Uh committee's findings along this line included concerns for Sacramento County's children and youth in protective custody who were placed in the wet center.

That included physical health, mental health, safety from retraumatization and exposure to vulnerability to the commercial sexual exploitation of children or CSAC.

There appears to be some conflict between the foster youth bill of rights, the welfare and institution code 16001-9, and maintaining a safe and secure environment for children, youth, and care and the staff that care for them, safety uh concerns include trauma, exposure and uh vulnerability of CSAC, laws that prevent staff from keeping teenagers from taking unauthorized absences and controlling potentially dangerous use of cell phones.

More in-depth and consistent data is needed to provide a better picture of children and youth that are housed there and the staff that are charged with their care.

Um so uh recommendations.

You can see up there the oversight committee should uh report regularly to the cab to provide uh updates on anything that they learn that intersects with the health and safety of children youth to or in the protective custody and living at the welcome homes.

The CPS should provide uh requested data regarding uh children youth and foster care and data pertaining to the welcome homes to the CAB, including those items identified and originally requested by the oversight committee.

The child uh Sacramento County CPS should review the implementation of the foster care bill of rights to ensure that the health and safety of both staff and children youth are at the forefront of its applications and implement changes to policies and practices uh when necessary.

The CAB should meet more frequently than once annually to uh and we do successfully review and the quarry reports provided to the board of uh directors, which are you uh by CPS and should assemble their own detailed report, including findings and recommendations based on community stuff.

So, Chris will talk about our work plan for that miss one.

Oh, since the creation of these recommendations, some of them have been fully or partially implemented.

Members of the oversight committee are members of the CAB and regularly provide updates.

CPS does provide data to the CAB, and the CAB has established regular meetings occurring for one hour every other month.

So, Chris, we'll talk about it.

I'm gonna interrupt here.

Thank you.

Um, and please do not take what I'm about to say as uh any uh insult here.

We have a really full agenda today, so I'm gonna ask respectfully of everyone, including our own staff.

Let's all grab another gear and uh and try and uh do what we can to review.

I know we're part of the problem because we keep on asking questions and interrupting, but and this is definitely uh one of the most important subjects uh that we want to pay very close attention to.

But uh I I just want to be cognizant of trying to manage our time and should just show that.

I think I can shorten a little bit if you uh look at our work plan.

Uh we've laid it out here.

It's also laid out in our actual um CPS report that we've given you.

Uh probably the most exciting thing I think for us is that uh ongoing discussions with the hospitals.

We've had every one of the hospitals come speak to us, and we're gonna provide um almost all the hospitals come speak to us, and we're gonna provide to you hopefully in our next report uh details about what our hospitals are doing good, uh, in the areas of child protective services and uh protection, as well as uh things that are worthy of improvement.

Um the other items listed both on this slide and the next slide, um, are really just our our ongoing plans of what we're intending to do.

Um the group has become much more active in in doing investigative type work, which I think is beneficial to uh getting change, so the acknowledgments you can just take a look up there, and I won't go over them.

Uh so you can take a quick look at that.

That's in our report as well, and then uh in closing, we want to thank you all for inviting us to be here and for listening to us.

We really appreciate the time and your uh questions and comments and concerns.

Uh it's it's really good to have an engagement like this.

So we want to thank you all.

Very good.

Thank you.

Uh Vice Chair Rodriguez.

Uh I'll just keep my comments short.

I I really want to thank you for the presentation.

You know, you know, we get elected to these roles and we oftentimes don't have all the information, but like right now I'm angry, I'm angry at some of the legislation that that that allows people to injure and hurt young children.

And you know, it it it's a good way, it's a good kind of anger.

I call it a righteous anger, but it it it definitely um opens my eyes to the issues and the impact that we have with the children and crimes against children, and so hopefully that will drive me to push for positive changes um at the state level.

But anyways, thank you for your information.

It's it was very good.

Thank you.

Uh, any other members of the board have questions or comments?

Okay, seeing none.

Um, so we're getting a response next, correct?

So I'm gonna ask um Madam Clerk, do we have members of the public sign up to speak on this matter?

We do have one member of the public signed up for item 45.

Okay, I'm just wondering if that that member of the public that is signed up for this item would want to hold their comments until they hear a response.

That we kind of get uh the the package um deal here.

Mr.

Baker, okay, very good.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, next item.

So item number 46 is a response to the Child Protective Systems Oversight Committees 2024 annual report.

Very good, thank you.

You're back.

Good afternoon again, Chair Cerna, members of the board, Shelby Boston, director of child family and adult services.

Uh we have filed our response, and out of um respect for time and trying to get you back on agenda.

I am happy to just um file that presentation.

We really tried diligently to stay within the scope of CPS in our response and noted where there were recommendations that we believed were out of our scope.

Is there a way so we you can you can get through your slide deck like faster than you ever have?

Well, Melissa's gonna do the presentation, okay.

Um it is about eight slides.

Okay.

Well, I wasn't sure if you were telling us that you're gonna forego a slide presentation.

I didn't want to leave the public thinking that we're gonna do that necessarily.

So it sounds like we are gonna get the present full full presentation.

We wanted to give the board the option since we've submitted everything, everything you'll be hearing about is in the board letter or in the presentation.

We wanted to give the board the option.

If you want to forego that and just ask your questions, that would be fine.

I want the hybrid, I'd like to see um the presentation, but kind of faster than normal.

Sounds great.

Um because I think the public deserves it.

Uh, okay.

Melissa will come up and give that very quick eight slides.

No pressure presentation.

It's going to make my staff very happy because I'm a talker, but I will do I will do well.

Okay.

So good afternoon again uh to the board.

Um so I am here to present the response, and I will be highlighting to the oversight committee's report 2024, and I'll be highlighting how we're implementing those recommendations.

Specifically for the um, I do want to just do a very quick acknowledgement because it is important to our staff, to the oversight committee.

I think the collective work of county staff and the oversight committee really does move to ensuring that we are adhering to child safety first and foremost in our community.

For the excuse me, the recommendations around strengthening supervision and critical thinking.

We do recognize this is foundational to every child safety decision.

We have, and it was mentioned in the oversight report.

We do have a variety of practices within CPS to track compliance, to review high risk cases, we do the QA reviews, we have a continuation of QA reviews, and as has been mentioned in previous presentations, we take the information from the critical incidents and we go out into program and provide that information by doing case discussions with our staff directly so that they understand where the concerns came up around practice.

We get their voice into what they feel may help with continued training and enhanced training for them.

We continue to work very diligently on our policies, and we're routinely updating policies as different mandates come down, as well as when we have the opportunity opportunity to again do practice enhancements.

We continue to do implicit bias training over since the beginning of implicit bias training.

We have trained over 5,000 people in the community.

That includes all of our DCFAS staff, not just in Child Protective Services, but we have offered that training to a variety of our partners as well.

One of the most notable actions that we took was to create the case consultation unit, and this was specifically came out of a CQI lens on our work around closing cases in emergency response.

So we have a dedicated team of supervisors that help support the unit supervisors with closure of those investigations.

This is increased the attention to detail with collateral contacts, which has been a concern of the oversight committee, and is essentially another pair of eyes on the work done.

Our overall team in emergency response has very much appreciated this.

We're still working out a few kinks, but it does allow for extra eyes on a circumstance that has been investigated.

Medical and mental health integration is something that has been noted throughout the work of the Oversight Committee, and I am happy to share that this is something we have continued to apply focus on.

We continue.

Oversight committee that we have teamed with behavioral health services in the Department of Health Services to have a specific CPS mental health liaison.

That position has tremendously helped across the division of CPS.

We team daily with our partners at Behavioral Health to work together for mental health supports for both kids and families, and a lot of the expansion of services that behavioral health services has applied over the last year has absolutely benefited those families that we are serving in CPS.

We continue to collaborate with the Bear Clinic, the public health nurses that are on staff with CPS, as well as UC Davis, and many other agencies.

Improving feedback loops and service linkages, this is a continued focus area.

To help with the understanding around when there is not a substantiation of abuse or neglect, we do not just say goodbye to a family, we do link them to community services.

That can look different for each family based on their needs.

For some families, we directly sometimes are taking them or meeting them at a family resource center or a community incubator lead or some other resource in their community within the Sacramento community.

For others, we may just be sharing some information with them so that they know about resources.

As has been shared, we team very closely with all of our community-based organizations, and all of them do give information out regarding uh safety in the home, sleeping your baby safely, whether or not the family is specifically formally working with the Safe Sleep Baby program, gun safety, car seats, all of that.

Public health does a lot of that work as has been mentioned, first five as well.

And then we um the welcome home information, you did get a presentation earlier today.

Oversight committee did um share some information around the welcome homes.

Um we routinely share updates with the Oversight Committee specifically, and um listen and provide information to some of their concerns that that may come up, and we're transparent with our data and our practices and the supports and services as well.

As far as we support the continued uh investment in eSCARS, uh collaboration with law enforcement is critical for pursuing child abuse cases and supporting shared responsibility for safety.

So, in a nutshell, that is my presentation.

Um, thank you for your time and attention and happy to answer any questions.

Great.

Thank you, Melissa.

Appreciate that.

Um, I just have one overarching general question.

The first very first chart that we saw, the table showed the numbers for California and the numbers for Sacramento County going in opposite directions over time.

So, I mean, overall, what you know, we heard a little bit um about some of the the resource allocation um challenges in at both the DA's office, sheriff's office, um, but what what can you tell me about what would be if you had if you were, you know, umpress of uh child welfare and you you wanted in Sacramento County and you wanted to change those numbers around, knowing what we've heard from uh that side of the house that is the that is law enforcement, but if in your side of the house, child welfare, um, what would you do if you had kind of unlimited resources to make the dent that we all want to see made as soon as possible?

Well, I think one thing to point out about that initial chart that was provided, um, Chris Orr did share that those numbers reflected calls to the hotline where some of them did not rise to the level of an investigation.

So when we look at our hotline data, still the highest number, the result of calls, the highest number is what is uh defined as evaluated out.

That means that the information that comes to the hotline did not meet the threshold to open an investigation, and so when we look at that data, what that does is that's actually um positive data, and I will explain why we may have an uptick in Sacramento County when we see an uptick of calls to the hotline.

What we are also it's hard, it's subjective, but what you can also think of is we have people calling in because they have a concern, and what we do with those calls where we do not open an investigation.

And not every family is going to engage in a conversation.

But what we do is we look at where are we getting calls from and what do those look like in terms of something that we may be able to help support in the community?

So an example of that, teachers are a one of the their mandated reporters, and um they're one of our highest reporting parties, of course.

One of the things that we just teamed with Sacramento County Office of Education on was my team went out and did a presentation to SCOE early educators.

They had a lot of questions about how can we help a family before it gets to a point where we are concerned and making a call to the hotline, and that was such a positive presentation because if you think about the shift over time in our county, we are now having educators asking how do we help before it gets to a certain point where historically we would see calls from educators coming in when it has been two months where they're feeling like the child is not getting fed or coming to school disheveled.

And so we look at that data about where the calls are coming into and we determine how do we then address um things that aren't rising to the level of investigation, what might be needed, because we can break down that information also by zip code, and that is what has really helped us in the more recent prevention efforts that we've put forward is really looking at where what area of Sacramento are these calls coming from in totality, and what can we then do proactively out in those communities?

Engaging with community providers, and that can be grassroots providers.

We've done a lot more engagement with them to say and share data from our hotline.

Additionally, um, I think we're kind of still, it's 2025.

We're still kind of seeing like how settled are we getting from COVID time to pre-COVID time, and really looking at those those numbers.

Our hotline response times, the other thing is, and I think this was back in um, and I don't want to be remiss because I don't remember everyone who was on the board at this time, but I do believe Supervisor Cerna, you remember this time around 2015-16, we were having tremendous challenges with our hotline wait times, and we have enhanced those services tremendously.

So the worry then when just like anyone, if you're waiting on hold, you get calls dropped, you get people who may not want to report.

I know I know Supervisor Kennedy uh was here and remembers that.

And also, and also the person over your right shoulder in the cheap seats.

Okay, yeah, yeah.

You might want to look back there.

Okay.

Oh, supervisor now.

Oh, yes, so there is historical uh there is uh I would say institutional memory here, but I I the reason I bring that up is because with those numbers at the hotline, if we are answering the calls, there is no weight, there is a very little weight at our hotline, if any, and that means that we're answering calls that maybe in the past weren't getting called.

Even if there's a concern and it doesn't rise to the level, calls are getting answered.

Very good, thank you.

You're welcome.

Any questions for Melissa?

Cena.

Thank you very much.

Yes, thank you.

Yep.

Madam Clerk, shall we take our one public speaker now?

Our one public speaker, Mr.

Baker.

Thank you.

Uh Dr.

David Baker, Sacramento Children's Home.

Uh, thanks for having me.

Uh, you know, I I put my slip in uh while the presentation was going on, and and I was so it felt so good to uh during the presentation uh you jumped right in and talked about the work that's actually being done at the at the family resource centers and at birth and beyond and and the work that's being done uh with home visitation and what an effect that can have on reducing child abuse altogether.

I mean, I think really we all know the solution, and it was so great to hear you Phil jump in about the work that we're already doing uh on prevention and early intervention, and really just reducing those numbers.

I I support uh having enough investigators to investigate things that get to that level, but if we could get that number down, uh you wouldn't need as many of those folks.

But um, but we know that those prevention dollars have continued to reduce.

You guys are all aware of that.

And um, and I think when it comes time, and you mentioned then earlier, uh Supervisor Cerna about when we look at the budget and we come around to budget time that it's easy to cut prevention and early revenge because it doesn't seem as urgent, but ultimately it's cheaper, it's more effective, and it keeps families together.

The work that's being done, we take referrals from CPS in our programs with birth and beyond.

We we get referrals to the nursery.

Those those families stay together and we prevent child abuse.

I don't I'm not gonna spend a lot of time giving you all the numbers on that.

You've already seen them when many of you are involved uh deeply with uh with first five and the commission there, and I think the more we can invest in those um prevention and early intervention, and as as dollars move out of that area for kids due to Prop One, we really need to make sure that those dollars come back in another direction.

And uh, so thank you.

And uh I think there's a lot we can do to get to a better number on the welcome home around STRTPs, and Melissa and I have talked about how we can get that number up closer to 16.

I hope we can keep having those discussions, but we really need to try to serve those kids in a different setting rather than those settings, says it's just not gonna work that way.

So thank you so much for all the work that you guys do.

Thank you, David, for for being here and being patient and sharing um your words uh and your partnership is very much appreciated here in Sacramento County.

All right, thank you.

Uh Madam Clerk.

Um, this is uh just a receive and file as well, right?

That's correct.

Okay, very good.

Then we will move on to our next item.

Item number seven forty-seven is PLMP 2025-00070, McDonald Ranch Williamsum Act Amendment.

VRB, a board review for a property located at 9011 New Hope Road on the northwestern corner of the intersection of Ore Road and Newhook Road in the Southeast Community.

The applicant is Westerfield Ecological Services, and the environmental document is exempt.

Good afternoon, Kimber.

Good afternoon.

Chair Cerna and members of the board, Kimber Gutierrez, principal planner with planning and environmental review.

I'll be presenting this project on behalf of Christian Balthazar, who is the associate planner assigned to the project.

Starting with the location and setting, the site is located at 9011 New Hope Road and is currently developed with an existing single family home, which was constructed in 1952.

Additionally, there are agricultural accessory structures also present on the site.

Surrounding uses include agricultural lands to the northeast and south, and um a nature preserve to the west, all of which are zoned AG 80 with the flood combining zone.

The project site has had three previously approved use permits, which previously allowed for drilling uh for gas and oil on site.

Um, additionally, a parcel map was approved in 1983 to subdivide the 435 acre parcel into three lots, which is the current um lot layout existing today.

And then on February 11th of 1974, an ag preserve resolution and Williamson Act contract was recorded for the site.

The aerial imagery to the right is from the 1980s, and highlights in red all of the land encompassed in the Williamson Act contract area, and then the project site is shown in green.

We also reviewed recent code violations and have determined that there are no active cases for the site.

The entitlement being requested is a board review for a Williamson Act contract amendment to allow open space as a compatible use.

The applicant is proposing an approximately 170 acre restoration project within the 179 acre McDonald Ranch site.

The project site will become a preserve with a recorded conservation easement designed to protect and preserve the covered habitat and species while also continuing cattle grazing.

So continuing that ag use.

On screen now is the conceptual restoration design exhibit provided by the applicant.

The project site currently contains approximately 11 acres of wetland habitat.

And the applicant proposes to construct approximately 50 acres of seasonal wetlands and swales.

So that's the area shown in the blue cross hatching, the blue line work.

And 20 to 30 acres of riparian and freshwater marsh are those areas shown in green.

And then five to ten acres of oak or elderberry woodland, which is shown in the brown.

And a more robust project exhibit is included in your packet.

The agricultural advisory committee met on June 11th to review and consider this item.

There were no public comments, and the committee members took no exceptions to the request.

So the Ag Advisory Committee does recommend the board of supervisors approve the project.

And then following staff's review, it was determined that the proposed project is consistent with the general plan, community plan, and the zoning code.

The project was eligible for a notice of exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act, so therefore it can be concluded that there are no significant environmental concerns.

Environmental review staff does recommend the Board of Supervisors take the following actions.

Recognize that the project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA guidelines section 15304 and 15317, as well as public resources code section two one zero eight four, and then adopt an amendment to the agricultural preserve resolution 74 AP 009 to allow open space as a compatible use.

And that will conclude my presentation.

So did have to leave a little bit earlier.

So I'll do my best to answer the questions.

I get my mic on.

There we go.

Um okay.

Uh any questions for Kimber.

Okay.

Uh Madam Clerk, do we have anyone sign up to this matter?

Okay.

Then I would look to Chair.

I would uh happily uh move staff recommendation to approve.

Okay.

We have a happy first and uh happy second, please vote.

And that item does pass unanimously.

All right, very good, thank you.

Item number 48 is PLMP 2024-00116, the Spindrift General Store.

It is a PCN type 21 request for the sale of alcohol with the type 21 ABC license at an existing general store located at 841 West Brennan Island Road in the Delta community.

The applicant is Mark Edwards, APN 1560120-032.

Thank you, Leanne Mueller with planning and environmental review.

And before I start my presentation, I would also like to let you know that the applicant is here.

Should you have any questions for them?

So the item before the board is a public convenience and necessity for a type 21 off-sale license for the Spindruft General Store.

So this is located at 841 West Brennan Island Road in the Delta community.

It is an existing building at the Spindrift Marina and the surrounding area is the marina and recreational uses.

This is in the Lower Andrus Island SPA, and generally the intent of that SPA is to allow water-oriented commercial and recreation uses and alcohol sales are permitted within that SPA.

So the applicant is applying for the PCN for the type 21, which is beer wine and spirits, to allow that to be sold at the general store portion of this building, which is the second floor.

Again, showing the floor plan of the building.

So this is the one mile radius map, and we would know that in that one mile radius there aren't any sensitive uses, and there is only one other business that is selling alcohol, and that's a type 20.

This census tract, census track 98, is approximately 50 square miles, so it is very large, and because it is so large with a relatively low population.

So it is over concentrated, it is not in a high crime area.

So it went to the DMAC, and the DMAC did um recommend approval of this to the board, and there were a couple people in attendance, and they were also in favor of this project.

So we would note that this is over concentrated, but it's not high crime.

One of the things to note is that in order to re-establish that use, which was the general store and the bar and restaurant, they did um apply to planning for a minor use permit, and on that minor use permit, we did put conditions of approval.

There were 12 of them, and nine of them did relate to provisions on the sale of alcohol, which would regulate it, which essentially are the sheriff's conditions that they requested be put on this PCN.

So that minor use permit, which was already approved by staff, does have conditions related to the sale of alcohol.

And with that, staff is recommending approval of this PCN because we do think that given the nature of the Andres Island SPA and with um the conditions that are placed on the minor use permit, the board can find this as a public convenience and necessity.

That concludes my presentation.

I can answer any questions you may have.

And again, the applicant is here.

Great.

Thank you, Leanne.

Appreciate that.

Any questions for staff?

No?

Okay.

Does the applicant wish to comment?

Hello.

Hi.

My name's Mark Edwards.

And the Spindrift General Store was established in the 60s and has been a spot for locals and boaters ever since.

COVID shut down this store, and um caused neighbors and voters to really feel the loss.

We reached out to Pat Hume's office, who was able to navigate a shorter and more streamlined process, which was greatly appreciated.

And it has uh been a process, but we are finally uh you know at a point to where we're here trying to get over this last hump.

Um in 2006, the store was uh remodeled uh with new walk-ins and new ice makers, uh, and it was all done with permits and finaled by the building department.

Um we want to offer uh the community uh essential necessities, food, alcohol, and a small little antique section.

Um I've owned and operated many businesses, um, and I'm the founder of a product called the Sun Tunnel, which kind of revolutionized uh skylights, so um uh I've been on the cover of Wall Street Journal for daylighting uh Plantronics and uh which was an old GE factory with no windows and fully illuminated it, which was uh very fun and educational.

So I just asked uh that we are please allow us to reestablish this iconic general store.

And uh, this would be my third ABC license, and I have not even had one complaint on the prior two.

Thank you.

Great.

Thank you very much.

Sure.

Supervisor Hume.

Thank you, Chair.

First of all, I'd like to suggest, Mark, if you have any spare time, there's a building a couple blocks away that could use some daylighting.

So if we can figure that one out, that'd be much appreciated.

Well done, sir.

Yeah, thank you.

Tied that one in there a little.

But no, I just want to thank you for reinvesting in the loop and reinvesting in the Delta.

And I think uh if you ask your customers, they would probably say there's an under concentration of uh licenses down there.

Uh but be that as it may, thank you for for what you're doing and was happy to get you up and running, and uh would absolutely support this item and move staff's recommendation.

Chair will second.

Vice Chair Rodriguez.

Mark, I just want to um say congratulations and thank you for doing business in um Sacramento County.

I always enjoy seeing buildings that need um retrofit or attention or love, and somebody comes and makes an investment and then beautifies the area and brings in economic development.

So I just want I'll be supporting this item as well, but I just want to thank you for the business that you do.

That's it.

Thank you.

All right, please vote.

That item does pass unanimously.

All right, very good.

Uh for the next two items, madam clerk.

I believe we're gonna uh take those uh jointly.

That is correct.

I'll read both in the record, but we will need two votes.

So items number 49 and 50.

PLMP 2024-00139, the well PCN.

It's a letter of um for the sell of alcohol with a type 20 ABC license at a convenience store in site spaces B 27 V07 and V08 of Terminal A of the Sacramento International Airport, post security in the Natomas and the Natomas community, and uh item number fifty fifty PLMP 2024-00119, DOCO market.

It is also a PCN for the sale of alcohol with a type 20 ABC license at a convenience store in Terminal B of Sacramento International Airport, post security in the Natomas community.

Very good, thank you.

Hi, Leanne Mueller with planning and environmental review again.

Um so I would like to note that the applicants for both DOCO and the well are here, and then we also have staff from county airport, should you have any questions of them.

So these um both PCNs are gonna be located uh inside the Sacramento International Airport.

Um one will be in Terminal A and one will be in Terminal B.

So um the well is gonna be in Terminal A and DOCO market would be in terminal B.

I think the important thing to note is that they are both requesting the type 20, which is beer and wine off-sale licenses.

And um this is, let's see, this is a one mile radius map.

So you can actually see that we have both of those entitlements up there, and then there are two other establishments that have off sale in a one mile radius.

One is actually in the airport, it ha it's vino volo, it has off sale of wine, and then there is an RCO AMPM which has off sale of beer and wine also within the airport.

There aren't any uses that we would consider sensitive uses in that one mile radius.

So the reason this is before you is because the census track that it is in currently allows zero um sales of alcohol.

So um given that they already have two, it does need that PC and because it's over concentrated.

We would also note that given the sheriff subdistrict it is in, it is also has higher crime, so it is also a high crime area.

So the reason these are before you is because they are over concentrated and in high crime areas.

When you say high crime, like I mean, give me an example.

So they basically exceed the average for the district, um, generally by like a uh it would be like a hundred and twenty percent.

So they're over.

So if that makes sense.

In other words, it's all relative.

Because I I mean I know the area well.

First of all, if you go back.

Right.

One of the highlights of the slide is the amount of uh um the like the vacancy of the area.

Correct.

Um and then, of course, uh, you know, uh other uh nearby uses include a golf course and you know, fallow uh aglands, um, so they're not attracting birds, and it's safe for airport operations.

So I will I will also editorialize too that it's very encouraging to see uh so little vacant land in Metro Air Park.

That's kind of nice touch there.

Yeah, and you would note the S Metro Air Park is to the east there.

Um so yeah, and to your point, it is based on the average for that area.

Um so it did go to Natoma CPAC, they didn't have a quorum, but they were generally in support of the concept.

So basically, what's going to happen is this is going to be off sale of alcohol, so beer and wine basically to go from um stores within the airport.

So the idea behind this is you're not going to be able to take it out into the common airport areas of the airport and drink it, nor are you gonna be able to um drink it on a flight.

So basically, you would take it with you, take it to your destination, and then consume the alcohol.

So that's the general concept behind it.

And staff does recommend approval of these requests for PC and to the board of supervisors.

And as I said, the applicants are here, and airport staff is here to answer any questions as well.

Right, very good.

Thank you, Leanne.

Any questions for staff?

All right, seeing none.

Um, do you any of the applicants that are here, the representatives wish to address the board?

Thank you.

At all the nervousness, I figured I might as well get up here and use my moment to talk about a few points.

Um my name's Kim.

I'm here and representing with the Well, and I just wanted to really talk about some of the things as to why our company um is looking for this approval.

The Well at Sacramento International Airport serves thousands of daily travelers at Sacramento at the airport.

It's where convenience and efficiency are critical.

Offering beer and wine allows us to meet the expectations of travelers who often seek these products for relaxation and for gifting.

Our passenger experience and help in the local economy.

Airports are often a traveler's first and last impression of a city.

By responsibly selling alcohol, we align with traveler expectations found in other airports nationwide.

We support Sacramento's tourism economy, and we create create additional revenue stream that directly benefits the county through rent, sales tax, and jobs.

Unlike traditional retail airport concessions operate in a highly regulated secure environment.

Sales are made only to ticketed passengers who have already passed TSA screening.

Staff are trained in ID verification and responsible alcohol to minimize the risk to the community.

Sales are restricted to travelers within the airport, not the general public.

This significantly reduces the risk of public nuisance, loitering, or negative neighborhood impact that might be associated with off-airport liquor stores.

We've demonstrated a demand.

Passenger surveys and purchasing patterns show strong demand for packaged alcohol options.

Meeting this demand through a controlled professional operation like the well ensures that sales happen in a safe, regulated setting rather than pushing passengers to less controlled environments outside of the airport.

And I just want to thank you for your time.

Thank you, and thank you for your patience.

Supervisor Rodriguez.

Um I support the item, but I I'm I'm curious what do we do to educate people that you could purchase alcohol, but you cannot consume it either at the airport or on the plane.

Chris Wimps had Assistant Director of Airports.

Thank you for the question, uh Supervisor Rodriguez.

Um we do have signs up at the airport instructing uh people that there are no open containers allowed in the public spaces, particularly those that are perk that would be purchased under these licenses.

Um and as you know, when you um get on an when you get on a flight, one of the first things that the flight attendants tell you is that it's a federal offense to consume any alcohol uh purchased elsewhere, uh anywhere other than on the flight, um what why while you're while you're flying on a on a flight.

So um, in addition to that, as a as a part of this effort to get these licenses, we've uh committed to providing training both for the staff and for and to uh create additional visibility and and signs for the folks that are purchasing the alcohol.

Thank you.

Sure.

Great.

Thank you.

Uh if there are no other public speakers, I will um then move both items.

Well, we need a separate vote for each item.

So we'll start with item number 49.

Okay.

And then I'll be second by Supervisor Desmond.

Correct.

So please vote.

Thank you.

Okay.

And that item does pass unanimously.

Would you also like to move the second?

I would like to move uh item my recommendation under item uh 50.

Sorry.

It's been moved to second.

Please vote.

And that's item does also pass unanimously.

All right, very good.

That concludes our morning agenda.

Uh we do have closed session.

Uh we will recess until two o'clock.

Okay, I'd like to call back to order this meeting of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors for Tuesday, August 19th, uh 2025.

Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll and reestablish a quorum?

Good morning again.

Supervisors Kennedy here.

Desmond.

Here.

Rodriguez.

Here.

Chair Cerna.

Here.

And for the record, Supervisor Hume is absent, and we do have a quorum with those members.

All right, very good.

Before we get to some house cleaning here to uh figure out uh agenda management, uh I just want to say it's it's terrific to uh see young people in our chambers.

So I apologize for being uh absent for the first uh about a half hour of the meeting, but uh on that subject, I was uh happy to participate in a ribbon cutting at the Sacramento Children's Museum for the new Otter the Potter, uh Otter the Potter Potter the Otter, Potter the Potter the Otter exhibit.

Uh and so uh these kids look a little maybe too old for that exhibit, but uh I just take the opportunity that uh I have here to um say that uh I was there in my capacity as the first five chair uh but we had former uh ranch Cordova City Councilmember Donald Terry there, who is the uh board chair of the Sacramento Children's Museum, and it's a terrific new exhibit that I believe is gonna be in place for about six months uh for some of the younger uh kids in our um county and in our communities.

So I would encourage you to take advantage of uh the new exhibit.

Um, it really focuses on um health and uh getting off your tablets and uh and getting active and eating healthy food uh foods and fruits and vegetables, and uh so again uh thanks to first five and everyone at the museum for including me this morning in that uh ribbon cutting.

So with that, madam clerk, uh do you want to explain how we might want to shift things around to best manage uh our time and the public's time today?

Good morning, Chair.

So this morning we'll start with item number 44, because it is time for 10 o'clock, and then we will go back to our presentations, which are time for 10 15 this morning.

So if Metro could bring up the presentation for item number 44, we'll read that into the record.

Item number 44 is to receive and file the fiscal year 2024-25, quarter for Sacramento welcome home presentation report and approve the SWH policies emergency intervention plan for the Sacramento Welcome Homes and the Unauthorized Absence Intervention Plan for Children at the Sacramento Welcome Homes.

You are serving this morning as the welcome home board of directors for this item.

Very good.

Morning, good morning, Chair Cerna, members of the board Shelby Boston, your director of child and family and adult services.

I am here this morning to share with you quarter four of the welcome home.

Uh director, board of directors report.

First, I want to start off by just again thanking the board for your ongoing support of the welcome homes and uh the department, and to uh share my appreciation to the CBOs, the community-based organizations that we work with on a daily basis.

And I would be remiss to not thank our staff who do an exceptional job day in and day out serving this population.

All right.

So we have a brief agenda this morning.

We're going to go over the mandated and required data points, the operating budget and fiscal statement, our staff training and safety.

As mentioned, you have two policies that will be going over for your review and approval, quarterly data and placement capacity expansion information.

Of note, back in May, this board may recall receiving an alert that one of our CBOs had decided to shut their doors, and with that, that kind of hijacked our plan to downsize to one welcome home.

So now we continue with two county operated welcome homes.

And with that closure of Progress Ranch, that decreased two of the homes that they had been operating.

With that, though, we saw a little bit of silver lining, and we were able to relocate one of the county operated homes to a better home facility into Supervisor Rodriguez's district, which increased our capacity from four beds in that previous home to now six beds.

This slide demonstrates the overall budget for fiscal year 24-25, and draw your attention down to the bottom of this slide, shows the total budget for last fiscal year was 12.7 million.

You'll see all the way to the right that we did realize some savings that was due in part to downsizing from three welcome homes down to two during the fiscal year.

And as usual, you'll see the highest expense line item here is related to personnel costs.

Next, moving into staff training and safety, in quarter four, we did continue on the good progress of training staff in specific programs such as therapeutic crisis intervention, which helps our staff to understand interventions that help to decrease escalated behaviors, teaching them techniques to better serve the highly acute children that are served in our welcome homes.

In addition, they received training in prudent parent and search activation training.

They provided a review of engagement social worker standards.

This is one of the policies that you'll be considering for approval today, as well as a review of unauthorized absence policy and illicit drug training.

We have an abundance of future trainings in the works in this next quarter, discipline training, makeup of the TCI trainings, policy reviews, and refresher on prudent parent search activation and refresher of unauthorized absence policy.

Those will all be occurring in this upcoming quarter.

As I shared, you had two policies to review and approve today, and those were the emergency intervention plan for the welcome homes and unauthorized absence intervention plan.

The unauthorized absence intervention plan goes into detail of how to try and prevent unauthorized absences from the youth in the welcome homes, as well as what staff are required to do when an unauthorized absence occurs and what to do once that youth returns to the facility.

This next slide demonstrates the five policies and procedures that staff are diligently working on.

As you know, it does take time from the beginning of writing your policy through the meet and confer process, which we're required to do with the various labor unions.

Does take time.

So you'll see here that we are expecting at our next quarterly review in November, there will be five policies for your review and approval.

Moving into the demographic data, you'll see here that between April 1st and June 30th, there were 101 unduplicated youth that were served in the county welcome homes.

In comparison to quarter three, where we served 57 unduplicated youth.

39% of the youth served were male, 59% female, 56% of youth at the welcome homes were of color.

And in comparison to quarter three, we served 72%.

And 14 of the 101 youth served did have informal interactions with probation department.

The average age of the youth served in this quarter was just shy of 13 years of age.

And the average daily census was 11 youth in our Sacramento County homes, and the average length of stay was six days.

Drawing your attention to the blue bar on this discharge data slide, it does show the comparison for the entire year.

This is where children and youth discharged to upon leaving the welcome homes.

There were 133 discharge, some of which were duplicated.

101 discharges were to another placement, either to another TSCF, to a parent, a relative to a foster family agency placement, and STRTP.

Three youth were taken to the youth detention facility, and one was hospitalized.

The remainder of those discharges were due to unauthorized absences.

Now moving into quarter four incident report data.

This slide shows that quarter four, the number of incidents that we are required to report to community care licensing with the state of California.

And you'll see here that there were a total of 362 incidents.

Now, something to note here is that sometimes you will have multiple incidents that are related to one child or one incident.

So they may have they had an unauthorized absence, but then they returned with contraband.

So that's two incidents that are documented in one incident report.

So it does tend to elevate the number of incidents.

Of the 280 of those incidents that we reported to the state, the 280 were unauthorized absences.

When you look at the report out on the graph, it's almost, well, it has always been unauthorized absences and then law enforcement because we are required whenever there is an unauthorized absence to report that to law enforcement as well.

Moving into placement capacity expansion progress, again, just incredibly proud of the work that is done here as this board knows I arrived in January, and coming into Sacramento, I was incredibly impressed with the work that is being done here in Sacramento to build a capacity here to meet the needs of our most highly acute youth.

We are head and shoulders above other jurisdictions in this work and are fortunate to have CBOs who come alongside of us to do this very difficult work.

So the long-term plan was to really enhance these different types of licensed facilities in our jurisdiction.

These include the emergency enhanced intensive services foster care or EEISFC, it's quite a mouthful.

Those homes are where youth can be placed for up to 60 days.

Then next is our EIS EISFC homes where children and youth can be placed from 9 to 12 months.

We have, of course, our contracted welcome homes in addition to the two county-run welcome homes, and then contracted short-term residential therapeutic programs or STRTPs.

We have had a tremendous focus on kin care and getting more children and youth placed with relatives.

And staff have been incredibly successful in increasing that 14% over the last year, January of 24 to January of 25.

It's a lot of work to do the searches and find the appropriate placements, but staff are doing a tremendous job there.

And in addition to that, we have seen the number of children and youth in foster care decrease over the last year, the same time span, January of 24 to 25.

So a 26% decrease in the number of children placed in foster care here in Sacramento County.

So we, as I shared, we have a plan for how do we expand and have more resources in our county to serve those highly acute youth.

And you'll see here in our current active capacity, when you look at our home base placements, we currently have 17 beds available.

Our goal is to get to 32.

And then for our contracted welcome homes, we have currently 12 beds as of June 30th, and with a goal of 21.

And then of note our county welcome homes, as of June 30th, we were at 10, we're now at 12.

But you'll see to the right, our total capacity goal is to get to zero of county-run homes.

And then we want to increase our STRTP placement beds up to 16.

We really feel that with that total capacity of 75 beds for these more highly acute needs, that we will be able to better serve the youth here in Sacramento County.

That is the end and concludes my presentation.

If you have any questions.

For those members of the public who see us multitasking up here on occasion, uh we are listening intently.

Uh just realized that our staff give us very, very detailed briefings.

And so we see these these presentations uh long before the public does, and so we have an opportunity to ask staff uh a lot of questions, and uh I just don't want to leave folks feeling like uh we're not interested, we're very interested.

So with that, um madam clerk, do we have any members of the public sign up to speak on this matter?

We do not share.

Okay, very good.

Uh this is a receive and file.

That is correct, okay.

Uh, Vice Chair Rodriguez.

It's it's a receive and file, but there's also adopted resolution.

If the two policies that need to be approved, okay.

Then in that case, I'll go ahead and move the uh recommended action for approval.

Oh, do we have we don't have any public comment or do we do?

We do not have public comment.

Okay, well, I think Mr.

Sumero just popped into chambers and I think he wants to.

It looks like they're signing.

My staff is telling me they're signing up right now.

Okay, this is the reason why we need to have speakers sign up in advance so we don't get all over.

I believe it's Ted Samara.

Okay.

All right.

Uh thank you, Shelby.

Uh, we'll hear from Mr.

Sumir.

Um, we do have a motion and a second on uh floor.

Yeah, I apologize.

I thought this was gonna be later in the agenda.

Your agenda's kind of all over the map here.

Ted Smarrow, uh executive of United Public Employees.

Uh, we represent the staff in the walking homes.

Um, and so uh it's uh first of all, I want to applaud we've come leaps and bounds from four or five years ago when these folks were over at OB3 or at the wet center to where we're at here today, and they placed a lot of that burden on on your hands here to make it right for these children.

You know, and as I've come in front of you before in years past, um, here it's these children are in an awful situation that they didn't ask to be born into and placed into.

Um, however, and looking at this, and I know I mean talk with my staff, we've met and conferred over TCI, et cetera.

Is that it's just it's a liability in waiting um is the real resources that you need to provide for the walking homes is to get them out of these homes and put them in and a place in which you can have all the services there for these children, including the safety component of having law enforcement or security present with a magnetometer.

You know, you start putting hands on to protect yourselves, and we've been asking for this is some protections for the social workers, but now if they're gonna start if having that threat and they're able to put hands on, you gotta remember some of these children coming through these houses are gang affiliated.

Some of these girls are going into these houses to or even young boys going in there to try to recruit for their pimps that are waiting outside.

It's it's you have to resource into a a facility that will have these resources to protect our members.

Plain and simple.

I've been hearing for years we're gonna get out of the walking home business.

I've heard it from the last administration.

Here we are still in the walking home business.

I don't see in the near future you're getting out of it anytime soon.

So why not start investing now into a facility?

So that will provide the resources these children need as well as the protection for our members.

That's how we start improving working conditions.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I have not received word that there's additional public comment.

All right, very good.

Uh thank you again.

Um, Ms.

Boston for the presentation.

Uh in the briefings, we have a motion and second floor.

Please vote.

And the item does pass unanimously with those members present.

Okay, very good.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next item this morning, we are going to go back on our agenda to item number two.

I have a schedule for 1015.

It's the presentation of resolution recognizing Karen Parker upon the occasion of her retirement from Sacramento County.

Wow, we have a lot of uh retirement acknowledgments here, but uh rarely do we just have a spontaneous applause like that.

So great.

Yeah.

Good morning, Chair Cerna and the board.

Melissa Lloyd, deputy director of CPS.

Come on over.

And um, this is really just a wonderful bittersweet time for us.

Karen Parker, division manager with CPS.

Um, we are here to present the resolution to Karen on behalf of Sacramento County.

I do want to say just a couple of words.

Um, for those of you who may who may not be completely familiar with all of the amazing work that Karen has done over the years, um, we're honoring Karen for her career that honestly has shaped this county's child welfare system.

Karen started in Sacramento County in 1989.

Um, I know as of late, we have um adopted the the pride values, but I will tell you that Karen has exemplified every single pride value since the beginning of her career in Sacramento.

Um she has had a deep commitment to children, youth, and families.

When she started her journey as a social worker, she was a bachelor's level social worker, and she moved through up to the point, it was one of the happiest days of my career when I was able to offer her a job as a division manager over our emergency response operations.

Um has been a tireless advocate for frontline staff, and she actually served for over a decade on the UPE board.

She also helped to lead major statewide reform efforts, including differential response and system improvement plans.

As a leader, Karen played a central role in launching innovative initiatives like family-to-family and early assignment.

And I know for those of you who may not come from the child welfare world, but these are humongous successes that she was a part of that were statewide initiatives.

She helped to modernize our hiring and training process during critical times, and she championed LGBTQ plus inclusion in child welfare.

Karen founded the LGBTQ caucus and drove meaningful change and continue, has continued to do that throughout her career.

Her recent work on the comprehensive prevention plan, Karen was our lead, and I think as has been presented to this board, Sacramento County was the first to be approved for the county prevention plan, and that is due to her leadership, her hard work, as well as the as a leader, the tremendous respect she has from our staff in child welfare.

Um I will just say that Karen's career just reflects being rooted in equity, accountability, and real impact.

And on a personal note, Karen, I just want to let you know it's been a privilege to work with you.

Your courage, your integrity shows up every single day.

And I've just been so proud to work alongside you, and you have actually taught me quite a bit.

So on behalf of Sacramento County, I'd like to present you with this resolution.

Thank you.

A few minutes and some time for Karen to say a few words.

Karen, would you like the floor?

Thank you.

Um, yeah, I won't take too long, I'll be quick.

But you know, the reason I'm actually here today is because I wanted my kid to see this.

I'm ending my career, she's beginning her career.

Chloe, give a wave.

Um, so proud of that girl.

But I I wanted her here because, you know, I've been here 36 years, right?

Don't let the blunt hair fool you.

Um, but really, I owe a lot of thanks.

There's some people here who've given me a break.

Melinda Lake is here, Paul Lake, Melissa Lloyd.

These people gave me a chance.

I was a social worker.

I literally just went with some friends to take a test, and boom, here I was, and it turned out to be the perfect place for me to be.

This was kind of a life's work journey.

Um, I definitely kind of live to serve, and taking care of vulnerable kids has been uh my honor.

I also UPE, I was a board member for like 16 years under Sandra Poole and Ted was there.

I learned so much from that experience that helped propel me to where I'm at today, and hopefully also be kind of a bridge.

Um, but the the final thing I want to share with you all is that these are tough jobs, and the reason I wanted my kid to see this was because when I was on call 24-7 and I got the calls, and she's like, mommy, why are you talking to law enforcement?

I had to have some tough conversations, right?

And it kind of framed her world too.

I want you all to understand that as well.

Every single person in the county, specifically now I can speak to CPS where I've been, are dedicated people, and the fact that there aren't more issues rising to the media is because of that.

Whether it's clerical, all the way up to social workers, managers, everybody is so dedicated, and these are tough jobs.

So if they weren't so tough, I might have stayed a little longer.

But boy, it 36 years is plenty, but I want you guys to know that support these people who are out there every day supporting the vulnerable families.

So thank you guys and thank everybody who's here.

I appreciated working with every single one of you.

And I've learned so much from all of you, and it's things are in good hands, so I can check out.

So thank you guys.

Thank you, Karen.

Chair.

Thank you, Karen.

First of all, I didn't even recognize Paul back there.

So good to see you, Paul.

Uh we have some uh members of the board that uh wish to comment, but I'm gonna start um by saying uh thank you, especially, Karen, for the last part of uh what you said about um the media, uh, and the the fact that it's really an unsung uh role that uh those that are engaged uh as you have been in child welfare in this county and elsewhere.

Um and unfortunately, like many of the things that uh happen in local government, uh the media tends to latch on to the negative and then forgets about kind of all the activity, effort, time, energy that goes into uh making sure uh whatever the metric might be that those numbers are as low as possible when it comes to making sure that uh we're keeping uh children and children out of harm's way, uh, and equally important, making sure that they have uh the stability, the environment, the resources to succeed, and uh grow up, become educated, be healthy in Sacramento County, and uh absolutely agree that uh in large part uh it's due to people like Karen and the people that are applauding for her and the people that have worked with Karen in the past that are that are now retired.

Um, it's really really good to see that you have your uh your child here.

Um, looks like a pretty grown child from from down here.

But uh, but uh that I think that really probably says the most about uh how much you are sincerely uh invested in your legacy, and it's one that uh we will never um forget, and I would encourage others that uh maybe aren't as steeped in uh county governance and um service as uh we all are here in chambers and our staff.

Uh but get to get to understand a little bit more than what you you might read online on occasion about uh the latest incident, or um understand that if it wasn't for uh the folks again that uh Karen has been part of and led, um we would uh be in a world of hurt.

So uh I wanna just say as one member of the board, I really really appreciate what you do, and I'm gonna miss uh your presence uh and your um your capacity to lead that we've enjoyed here for 36 years.

It's been great, thank you.

Vice Chair Rodriguez.

Karen, I just want to personally thank you for 36 years of your commitment to um Sacramento County.

I you know, I I always think of individuals who do your line of work.

God has to make you extra special to be able to handle some of the things that most of us will never see or experience in our lifetimes.

And so for that, I just want to thank you for all your hard work and I wish you the best in your retirement, and I wish your daughter the best, who will have an amazing mentor in her life in the career that she's choosing.

So thank you.

Good words, thank you.

Supervisor Desmond.

Thank you, Mr.

Sharon.

I'll just pile on thank you, Karen as well.

I mean, you know, it occurs to me Sacramento County has really made tremendous progress in child welfare and and DCFAS in general, and certainly that is uh in large part due to leadership like yours.

And and thank you, wish you all the best.

And you mentioned that this is such a tough job.

I imagine it's the toughest job in government that exists.

Um, you are leaving behind a tremendous legacy.

And just a question is your daughter already on the county team, or what's in private.

Okay, all right, all right.

Well, maybe we can you know change that.

I wish you all the best.

Thank you.

Very good.

Thank you.

All right.

Uh any public speakers.

There is none for that item.

Okay, very good.

Next up.

The next item is item number three.

It's the presentation of resolution recognizing the 2025 Odyssey of the mine finalists.

All right, and Supervisor Kennedy is making his way to the podium.

Come on, everybody.

There you go.

Welcome you guys.

The fact that you can sit through 30 minutes of a board meeting tells me that you have great tenacity and patience.

So the Odyssey the Mind's a program that teaches students how to develop and use their natural creativity to become problem solvers.

It brings the classrooms to uh the classroom to life as students apply what they learn and combine it with their interests and passions to solve unique open-ended problems, emphasizing the avenues of teamwork, budgeting, time management, public speaking, critical thinking, engineering, and performance arts.

Today the county of Sacramento honors Holy Spirit Parish School and Leonardo da Vinci, K-8th school, both in District 2, who both had Odyssey of the Mine finalists.

Holy Spirit Parish School's fourth grade team who were first who were the first time program participants this year, won second place at the NorCal Odyssey of the Mine State Tournament on March 8th, 2025.

And Leonardo da Vinci, in my hood, it's LDV, had six teams participate with a team of five to seventh, fifth to seventh graders who also qualified for the finals.

The World finals in Lansing, Michigan, at the World Final Finals on May 21st, the Leonardo da Vinci team and the Holy Spirit Parish School teams proudly represented Sacramento County among nearly 800 teams from across the globe.

The Holy Spirit Parish School ultimately placed 24th in their division, and LDV placed ninth.

Both extraordinary accomplishments that bring pride and recognition to their school, community, and of course our county.

So at this time I want to present this resolution and call out by name, and boy do I hope I don't leave anybody off Althea Harry from LDV, Althea Harry, Benjamin Wunch, Jacob Wilsie, Virginia Ruger, Quinn Holbear.

Sorry.

Natalie Altair, Nora Ariano, and from Holy Spirit Paris School, Alice Bratmiller, Kennedy Bruner, great name, by the way.

Rory Robinson, Nicholas Constantino, Sally Seafeld, Charlie Forsyth, and Landon Barbieri.

Thank you.

You kids have done such a wonderful job.

We're very proud to have you in our community.

And uh on the world stage, not just in Sacramento.

So let's give everybody, let's give them a great hand.

Who wants to come to the mic to represent each team?

Okay, here we go.

Thank you, Supervisor Kennedy and all born members for giving us for giving our Odyssey of the mind team this honor.

We had an awesome journey to the world finals.

This is our first year competing in OM, and we learned important lessons in critical thinking and teamwork that we can use for the rest of our lives.

Thank you again for this recognition.

All right.

Uh I would like to thank the County Board of Supervisors for this recognition.

Uh I would like to thank the parents for supporting us this whole year and driving us to regional states, following us literally everywhere.

Um I would also like to thank our coaches, Julia and Allison for getting us through the year and helping us be better, teammates and friends for the highs and lows.

Also, a big thanks for believing in us enough to get us to worlds.

Thank you for your time.

All right.

With that, I think we can see why you won.

So I'd like to present these resolutions on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, Sacramento County, to who do I present them to?

Here you go.

Uh Supervisor Kennedy, you want to invite the kids maybe in the picture.

Let's go down and get some photos.

And maybe the rest of us could join you.

I think we're all very proud of uh these young people.

No, we'll let the kids, yeah.

All right, all right.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Before we get to our next item, and as the room clears, I just uh realized I forgot to thank Vice Chair Rodriguez for uh chairing the first part of our meeting this morning.

So thank you for doing that.

So moving on to item number four.

You prepared, Chair.

Item number four is the presentation of resolution recognizing Leroy David for winning the official FIFA World Cup 26 San Francisco Bay Area Host City Poster Contest.

Supervisor, as you make your way down.

As the supervisor makes his way down, I just wanted to uh thank the board for recognizing Leroy David today for his exceptional artistic talent as he makes his way up and um the pride that he brings every day to our work and our office.

Um, this is especially meaningful for me, especially the uh resolution I met David about a year ago when his art was being uh presented at the Golden One Center, and um just having great conversation with him and about his while he spoke a lot about his art and the fantastic work he does, he um was really proud of his team and the team that he had at uh DC FAS.

So, but then Leroy called me, I don't know, a couple of months ago and said, Hey, I I uh I won this thing about uh FIFA.

Have you ever, you know, you've watched soccer, and I said, Oh yes, love soccer.

So just showed his talent, and I appreciated I shared this with the board, and the board was really impressed and and was really honored to have a county employee actually um win this award here for the San Francisco uh area.

And um when I mentioned it to Supervisor Cerna, he took an exceptional interest in it and being a fellow artist and uh in a photographer world, and I know I hopefully LeRoy can talk a little bit about some of his other work.

Supervisor Cerner wanted to make sure that we had took some time to um introduce him and present him with this resolution, so I appreciate it.

And I just want to say thank you to Leroy.

You know, it's incredibly proud to have uh a county employee win such a distinguished award, and your art and and your art has always been bringing about you've always said your art brings about community and brings about uh collaboration, and I appreciate all that you do for Sacramento County.

So thank you.

Yeah, thank you, Mr.

CEO, for that.

So uh colleagues and members of the public, as uh Mr.

Villanueva mentioned uh today we are uh recognizing Leroy David for winning the official FIFA Cup.

Uh 26 San Francisco Bay Area Host City Poster Contest.

And so we don't usually read all the verbiage of the the resos, but I think there's enough interesting detail in here, uh and especially for context before we actually hear from the artists that I do want to I do want to read it into the record.

So uh if you'll uh indulge me, I will do so now.

Uh whereas Sacramento County takes great pride in recognizing its outstanding employees whose achievements bring honor and distinction to our community.

And whereas Leroy David, senior office assistant with public administrator guardian conservators' office under the Department of Child Family and Adult Services, has been selected as the official FIFA World Cup 26, San Francisco Bay Area Host City Poster Artists, a prestigious designation bestowed by FIFA and the Bay Area Host Committee.

Hopefully you're gonna tell us how widespread we can expect to see uh the art.

Whereas Mr.

David, uh Mr.

Someone put Mr.

David's artwork.

Uh uh whereas Leroy David's artwork, which prominently features the iconic Golden Gate uh and Bay Bridges amidst the fog, symbolizing connectivity, culture, and the spirit of the Bay Area, along with Levi Stadium and Vibrant Patterns reflecting regional diversity, who's chosen who was chosen from submissions across 16 host cities for the 2026 tournament.

And whereas Leroy David, uh a second-generation Filipino American and Bay Area native now residing in Sacramento, has exemplified dedication and creativity both in his artistic endeavors and his vital role supporting vulnerable vulnerable adults and seniors within our community, demonstrating a commitment to public service and compassion in his daily work.

And whereas throughout his tenure at Sacramento County, David LeBroyd has risen from office assistant two to senior office uh assistant uh contributing significantly to the mission of the public administrative guardian conservators' office with professional professionalism and dedication.

Whereas Mr.

David's achievement not only enhances the visibility of Sacramento County on a global stage, but also underscores the county's commitment to fostering creativity, community service, and excellence among its workforce.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors extends its heartfelt congratulations to LaRoy David for his outstanding achievement and contributions to our community.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Mr.

David in recognition of his remarkable artistic talent dedication to public service and positive impact on the Sacramento County community.

And I apologize for murdering some of that in terms of your name, such as life, getting uh these things printed uh correctly.

Uh but uh let me just say and Mr.

Villanueva kind of mentioned it, um, that uh I enjoy photography and music as an outlet, and I'm a big believer that we all have our pastimes, our hobbies, our outlets.

Um, but it is what kind of keeps us uh sane and able to kind of come back and do the jobs that are expected of us, and I think the fact that you applied yourself in such a way that not only can we see the uh the talent and skills that you have as an artist, but it's gonna promote something that's on the world stage.

That's why when uh David Villanueva mentioned it to me, I was like, wow, we gotta this is a big deal.

You know, we have to really celebrate this and acknowledge the fact that we have a homegrown um individual who has really been thoughtful about this, and I was looking at the artwork, and you can kind of see the circuit boards, you can see the um the birds.

Um I think uh if I'm not mistaken, some of that's intended to um again represent the kind of diversity of environments that we enjoy here, not just in the Bay Area in Sacramento, but across the state of California.

Um, and of course, uh the bridges, which seem to always seem to be make them their way into the to some of the artwork as it relates to um the iconography of uh where this tournament is gonna be uh played.

So uh with that, I'm gonna give you the floor and again hope that you will kind of tell us a little bit more about how and where uh we'll see this artwork and uh what to expect.

So again, congratulations.

Thank you so much.

And we'll do some photos here.

I've I've done maybe over uh a dozen of media appearances, and uh I treat each one like it's my first.

Uh unfortunately, my uh family couldn't make it uh of school work, but I know they're watching.

Uh good morning, everyone.

Uh, thank you, Mr.

Cerna, to the board, uh to David and also Siobhan, um, who surprised me at my cubicle recently um about this uh to Kim and Casey with public information, uh DC FAS, Melissa, Shelby, Melissa, everyone, thank you so much.

Um, but to my team, uh the public administrator, guardian, conservative office, five plus years in counting for me, uh, to Joseph, Emily, Morris, Diana, everyone, we do tremendous work for the county.

Um, and thank you all for your support.

Uh, what's real, this started from a contest.

Um, so I gotta give a huge thanks to uh FIFA and the Bay Area host committee for choosing this.

Yes, FIFA is um the Federation of International Football Association, and so uh for those of you that are not familiar uh with FIFA, um, hopefully names like Leonardo Messi, uh Leonor Messi, uh Christian Ronaldo, uh, when it comes to soccer, it's you know, the NFL.

It's the most beautiful game in the world.

So, but in this case, we'll call it football for uh for proper purposes.

So um, what's real, this all started with a contest, and uh so I thank FIFA as well as Beira Host Committee for choosing my design.

I've been doing art for 30 plus years, locally and beyond.

Worked with sports teams like the Giants, the Niners, the Warriors, and even our kings.

If anyone has a plug, a plug with SAC Republic, call me.

That's two blocks now.

But in all seriousness, um art is more than just a hobby, but a reflection of my passion for community.

Uh my FIFA poster is more than just two symbolic bridges front and center.

It's about connections, um, connecting cities, cultures, people over to celebrate the sport of football.

Uh to be recognized for this global project, uh, it's an absolute dream come true for me.

But I'm also using this moment to recognize the communities I serve, my connections, uh, whether if it's the Bay Area, Sacramento, or the Filipino American community.

Uh so I'm very blessed to be connected with all of you.

Um thank you so much for having me.

Right.

Chair.

Chair Cerna.

Some artwork here.

I did some artwork with, not here in this building, but I did stuff with the city.

Gotcha.

Vice Chair.

When you're ready, can I make some comments?

You could take a photo.

Oh, okay.

Well, Lever, I want to um say that.

Well, San Francisco's my hometown.

I've been out here about 20 years, and so when I look at uh this photo, I grew up in a family with a father who was a big uh soccer uh sports fan.

So I grew up watching all of the uh FIFA and all of the other different types of organizations that had soccer.

But you whenever I see the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge highlightings in a photo like this, it just brings back uh just memories of really truly what is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, regardless of what people say, it's still an incredibly beautiful city.

And um, so congratulations on this um incredible achievement.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Just for getting that here, thank you so much.

Thank you.

So uh let me ask you, is this uh trademark such that we cannot post it in our lobby for people to see?

I mean, not this one, but some a little bit bigger.

I think you can post it.

Okay, so for anyone that's interested, um, they can go to the FIFA World Cup website and they could find a host city posters available.

Okay.

There are 16 host cities posters total.

Well, I'm you'll see it as you walk out if you don't already know.

We do have some display space here in our uh in our lobby.

So Mr.

CEO, I would like to uh I would like to direct the appropriate county personnel to see that we get a larger format of the artwork, maybe with uh description about uh about the artist and what it means, um, so that uh people that pass through really enjoy your art.

So all right, terrific.

Thank you.

All right, very call.

Thank you, Supervisor Cerna.

Thank you.

That's a happy story.

Okay, all right.

Uh Madam Clerk, do we have any members of the public sign up to speak on that matter?

We did not share.

All right.

So on to the next item, please.

Item number five is a presentation of resolution honoring emergency medical services authority 2024, California Medical Director of the Year, Dr.

Greg Kahn, and 2024 California Administrator of the Year, David Magnino.

So moved.

Okay, it's been moved and seconded, and so I need uh a vote from the sport this morning to drop this item, and I do believe in terms of uh what uh the district five uh supervisor Hume's absence, he'll have some comments later regarding this on this item.

So moved.

Is that something I assume we can probably just uh have him say what he would like to say about dropping this during uh the end of our meeting during comments from the board?

That's correct.

Okay, very good.

All right, we have a motion and second, please vote.

And that item does pass unanimously with those members present.

All right, very good.

Next item, please.

Item number 45 is Child Protective Systems Oversight Committee's 2024 annual report.

Good morning.

Morning.

Thanks for having us.

Good to see you again.

So I'm uh Dr.

Johnston, uh Maynard Johnson, a retired pediatrician.

So I've been in Sacramento since 1978.

So uh and Chris, why don't you introduce yourself?

Uh good morning, my name is our Chris.

Or I'm at the uh Sacramento County District Attorney's Office.

I've been with the DA's office for uh uh 28 years, and for the last uh 10 and a half of those, I've supervised the child assault unit.

I recently have uh moved up to now be uh assistant chief deputy of our Saxon Family Violence Bureau, which includes the child uh abuse unit.

Yes, so I'm the chair of the oversight uh committee, and I've been on the oversight committee since its inception almost uh came to be around 1996, and I've been involved since 1997, so uh and this is uh one of my several times of being here.

Anyway, thank you.

Uh thank you for the opportunity to uh share the oversight's uh committee's work, it's key findings, recommendations for the 2024 year.

We hope you will find this information helpful as you deliberate the county's policies and investments related to the safety and well-being of our children and families who are uh a collective responsibility to protect.

The last time that we were here was in June of last year.

Oh, where's do we just push the button here?

Oh, there you go.

Thank you.

There you go.

Okay.

The oversight committee originated as I mentioned earlier in 1996 from the need for child protective systems oversight stemming from uh one severe case uh that occurred in 1996.

Uh and then a committee was formed, the critical case investigation committee or the CCIC.

The final report issued by them recommended that an ongoing committee provide oversight of all child protective systems, not just the CPS or child uh protective services division as a result and by resolution the board uh of supervisors establish the child protective services oversight committee and place it under the umbrella of the Sacramento County Children's Coalition.

The focus of this report um covers activities from January 1st of 2024 till December 31st of 2024.

Um the committee's activities included uh assessing the progress and the overall mission and goals, analyzed findings and made recommendations based on systems, subcommittee, continued to implement electronic uh suspected child abuse report systems or e-scar, critical incident subcommittee, complete case reviews and analysis, and also the centralized placement services unit or CPSU research subcommittee.

One way we assess how well the child protective systems are working on or working is to look at data related to child welfare reports and investigation.

This table shows two data points.

First, the unduplicated number of children who are subject of at least one CPS report, whether it was open for investigation or not, and the second rate of children with allegations per 1,000 children.

The data reflects the community's understanding of how child safety as reports are made primarily by mandated reporters, but can also come from family members, neighbors, or others, people in the community.

The decreased numbers in 2020 are likely related to COVID uh 19, the pandemic that resulted in many in-person activities being moved to virtual platforms.

Examples include schools changing from in-person to online instruction as well as medical and mental health providers using telehealth practices to see patients.

There was an upward trend in 2021 and 2022 and 2023 as children returned in-person activities and health services.

In 2024, although the overall number of Sacramento uh reports decrease, the rate of those reports continued to increase, and this is due to a corresponding decrease in the Sacramento County child population.

So when you look at those numbers, we uh are not actually making wonderfully great progress, which ties us into our own system here in Sacramento now that we're able to see uh through data uh through the e-scar system how we are doing as a county.

As you recall, the Board of Supervisors um back in 2022, we asked uh the board to uh consider um funding an e-scars program before we were able to actually uh present it to you as a board.

We received grant funding from the Office of Emergency Services to get an e-SCARS program.

Um that allowed us to stop transmitting electronic SCAR reports or SCAR reports manually, and we began submitting them electronically.

Uh, the really great part about that system was it allowed us to now have actual data, data that we did not have previously.

Uh, prior to 2022 when we'd asked for data from law enforcement or even the DA's office.

Uh, we'd literally have to go count pieces of paper uh in piles.

Can I interrupt for?

Can you just remind us all again the the acronym the ESCARS?

Absolutely, yes, thank you.

Um ESCARS is an electronic suspected child abuse report.

Uh the state mandates that anyone who uh observes child abuse make a mandated report to uh CPS law enforcement and the DA's office.

Uh those are called SCAR forms, uh suspected child abuse reporting forms.

Prior to 2022, um, we would receive those through paper copy, triplicate paper copies.

Uh, CPS would uh take the suspected child abuse information and transmit it through inner office mail, ideally, supposed to have been by fax, but it was actually by interoffice mail, uh, to law enforcement.

Law enforcement uh specifically the DA's office, an example, would receive uh thousands of these uh in interoffice envelopes and have to try to figure out how to triage them, try to figure out which ones deserve investigation, try to figure out a way to input them into a database so that we could keep track of uh which cases have been investigated and which ones have not.

The CPS Oversight Committee did a multi-year project prior to 2022 to investigate this and found out that law enforcement in Sacramento were suffering the same uh deficiencies in how we are handling those SCAR forms.

Uh through a grant to the Office of Emergency Services, we received $600,000 uh to implement an electronic suspected child abuse reporting system.

At the time that we presented this uh to the board, the grant was for $200,000 a year.

And I recall one of the supervisors was shocked that we hadn't done something like this for $200,000 because it was fairly inexpensive for $200,000 a year to be able to capture and gather this data.

We received that grant, and Sacramento was able to implement this electronic suspected child abuse reporting system within about a year of actually getting the grant.

And we did it very uh frugally.

As a county, even though the state awarded us uh close to 600,000, we only spent about 350 or so, maybe a little bit more, uh, because each of the agencies was frugal in what we did.

We bought an off-the-shelf product from a Sacramento-based company uh that had already developed the product for YOLO County and Santa Barbara County.

Uh we were able to deploy it here in Sacramento County uh within that one year, which actually uh has beat YOLO County.

YOLO County is still trying to work on getting their product uh deployed, the same product, but we had a very good coalition working with CPS and our law enforcement partners to get that product up and running, and now every agency, law enforcement agency receives their scars, their suspected child abuse reforms uh electronically.

The good news about it is we now have data that we can report to you all about how we as a county are actually doing and um whether we're able to investigate cases and how we go about investigating those cases.

Prior to this, as I would uh many times talk to community members, I'd say if if somebody calls in a vehicle theft uh or something stolen off their front porch, you know, we maybe understand why law enforcement doesn't have the resources to investigate that.

But when it comes to child abuse, child molestation, physical and sexual abuse, uh we expect that law enforcement's going to be able to investigate that.

Uh and uh anecdotally, I knew uh as the supervisor that was not likely happening, uh, and this system has actually now helped uh demonstrate, unfortunately, that we have a long ways to go in order to actually effectively uh investigate every case of child abuse.

As you can see, uh, just the sheriff's department alone receives 6,000 suspected child abuse forms uh a year.

Um excuse me.

Uh Vice Chair Rodriguez.

I just have a question on the no investigation conduct.

Um, the 5468 number.

So, what would fall under that category?

Yes, uh, so one of the great things about this uh system is that it's giving us the ability to see things like that number.

Um, and uh that number um can is meaning different things for different agencies.

So, one of the the goals of uh the child abuse uh CPS oversight committee as well as the district attorney's offices to get law enforcement agencies to give a similar definition to that.

Um the law uh relating to mandatory reporting puts the district attorney's office in charge of kind of oversight to make sure that we are uh helping law enforcement um appropriately um figure out how to investigate cases and make sure they are investigating cases.

Uh and so for instance, uh the uh sheriff's department um maybe has cleared those calls.

They they define it differently than the police department, has cleared those calls as a case that is maybe a lower level case that they do not have resources to investigate, uh, or is something that can be handled administratively through uh CPS, um, or um uh the sergeant has decided that they're not gonna send out uh individuals to go interview that case because CPS can handle it.

Um a lot of those things are based upon resource, and there's some contrast between what the sheriff's department does and what the police department does.

So the police department um when they received this program uh was the uh most enthusiastic about uh realizing they have a mandate under the law to investigate child abuse.

Uh and they used probably the bulk of the grant funding by training uh with state funds, the majority of their force, uh, so that they made every suspected child abuse report form a call for service.

And so rather than the forms going to a sergeant in the child abuse unit, uh they go to their communications um division where uh within short period of time the police department is sending out a patrol officer uh to go out and make contact with um the family or the individual where there's suspected child abuse.

Uh that did add a uh labor onto the police department, but it added about 10 to 15 cases per day, and when you spread that out amongst the entire police force, that's not so horrible.

Um the police department um in their uh scenario of 1500, there was contact made, uh, but uh a decision was made that this does not warrant a criminal investigation.

Um those numbers that forty-two percent um of the the cases uh no investigation was conducted, should seem daunting to uh uh you all.

Um, they seem daunting to me, but even if we account for now we have a system that looks at and and someone has made eyes on determination, these should not be investigated.

Uh there's a huge amount of cases uh that still go uh investigated, but uh we don't have the full resources to do a thorough investigation, or we suspect a crime, but investigation is not thoroughly done.

Uh if you see the sheriff's department, they have 1,200 cases.

1,200 cases, yet the uh detectives uh in the child abuse unit only investigated 240 of those last year.

Um each detective has between 10 to 15 cases, and they can only investigate so many cases at a time.

Uh the sergeant has to make a triage decision and has a queue of cases.

He could sign all those cases out, but if he signs them all out, they're just sitting in individual detectives' cues.

So he has to make a decision about can this case be successfully investigated, uh, and I'm gonna keep it in my queue until I have a detective that's able to investigate it.

Supervisor Desmond.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Yeah, I want to ask a couple questions about this chart as well, because that disparity is pretty remarkable to me.

How it's you know, no investigations conducted 50% of the time in the unincorporated county areas, um, 60% of time in citrus sites and and fulsome and um 10% only 10 percent of time in Elk Grove.

I mean, it's all over the map.

I guess I look at our our deputy county exec, Eric Jones.

Do you do we have a sense or maybe you have a sense of how many of these departments have dedicated child abuse investigators?

I do have a sense of that.

Uh the Sacramento Police Department does, Sacramento Sheriff's Department does.

Um Citrus Heights has a a detective primarily assigned, but they're basically generalists.

Elk Grove is uh got two detectives generally assigned, but they're also generalist communities, so they uh some of those detectors will also be working on other uh types of cases and then uh Folsom and uh Galt uh are generalists, so they basically have it just I mean there obviously there's gonna be a little bit of an inconsistency between jurisdictions based on priorities and resources, but it seems like it shouldn't be this inconsistent.

So I'd like to follow up with you, Mr.

Jones, on this issue.

And I don't know if you know, we don't need to do that today, but maybe help me understand why this disparity exists and if there are discussions with those law enforcement agencies.

Maybe they I don't know if they've had this discussion at their annual chiefs meetings that they do in Sacramento County, but maybe that's a forum to have the discussion.

Do you know if it's so while the no investigation conducted is the looks like a concerning number, and I do agree it's concerning, I think that uh may have a lot to do with semantics of what they're deciding.

Uh that number concerns me.

Uh before we had ESCARs, uh that number was probably three to four times what we see here because uh before EastCARS uh they were just investigating police reports, not really having as much time to investigate SCAR reports, and this has put some pressure on law enforcement.

There's accountability.

If you have a chart that shows uh whether there's investigation conducted, they uh absolutely need to be able to show what they're doing.

Um so while no investigation conducted is concerning, even when there's a crime suspected, we don't have the resources to investigate those.

So with the eight detectives in child abuse for the sheriff specifically, uh they do not investigate all 1200 of where they actually believe there is a crime.

Uh so well, eventually I want to get to the no investigation conducted number uh as a county.

Um I think our even more important concern is we have cases where we think there actually is a crime, uh, but we don't have the resources to investigate it.

Um and the sheriffs is a great example.

Uh how is it that eight detectives are supposed to do that investigation?

Prior to 2009, there were 12 detectives in that unit.

Uh so four additional detectives were dedicated to child abuse uh prior to 2000 uh and nine.

Uh, and so we've gone down while the numbers have gone down.

Uh Vice Chair Rodriguez is in the queue, but uh I just want to before I forget.

The last point you just made.

When we go through our budgeting exercise in June and September, okay.

And we basically are reminded every year we give uh kind of a lump sum amount uh in our general fund considerations for the Sacramento Sheriff's Department.

I want to make sure I understand.

So how personnel uh resources are allocated is not a decision by this board.

It's a decision by a separate elected official called the sheriff, right?

So what can you expand upon and based on that last statement about the number of investigators, if that's the right term, um uh have been uh uh you know um added or subtracted over the years uh because I want to I just feel like it's a point of clarity that's really important for the public to understand about um who's making which decisions about the application of resources because we only we only have that decision basically once uh in the year.

And uh, hopefully you can maybe say just a few more words about that.

Then we'll get to Vice Chair Rodriguez's question here.

Absolutely.

Um I I think what we're seeing with those numbers is not inconsistent with uh with what uh Mr.

DA Tin Ho has told you about the district attorney's office.

Uh the district attorney's office also needs more child uh abuse prosecutors.

Uh but he described to you that we are doing more with less.

Uh the cases keep coming in, but we do not we haven't added personnel as a whole, as an office, to uh adjust for and fill that need.

Uh I think each agency, whether it's the sheriff's department, the police department, the DA's office, uh, is uh in a quandary uh constantly of what cases do we not investigate.

Do we not investigate um the financial elder abuse?

Do we not investigate uh the or prosecute the um, you know, specifically financial elder abuse or elder abuse or domestic violence.

Uh and as a DA's office, I know that our office is if it's a provable case, we're gonna file it.

Um whether at some point we're gonna have to make a decision about what we do about that, but um if a provable case comes in involving child abuse, child sexual assault, our office files it.

That has resulted in our office having double the caseloads of what we historically have with the same amount of prosecutors.

Uh I suspect, I can't speak for the sheriff that they're in the same situation.

They have limited resources, they have to decide which detectives are gonna allocate to all the different types of crimes, murder, uh, gangs, uh, drugs, child abuse, each of those.

Uh and um unfortunately, I think specifically as a rates, which I can really speak to about child abuse, is that this tool, eSCARS, is a blessing and a curse.

It's a blessing because it tells us the data, but it's a curse because the data is hard to swallow, which is that we as a community have to dedicate more resources to something, and we don't have a lot of more resources, but we have to dedicate or make a decision that we're gonna say that we can't dedicate it.

Supervisor Rodriguez.

Supervisor Desmond, were you done with your comments?

Yes, okay.

Um right, I think e-scars will allow us to be able to track some of the data, especially if there's um a case that went into no crime suspected, and then there are subsequent calls.

You can now identify that there have been several calls made to whether it's an address or an individual, and so then hopefully those will escalate.

Um, and then the other one is what kind of training do our sheriff's department get that allows them to identify when there's potential um sexual abuse to children or um physical abuse.

So uh the line level, all the sheriffs' uh detectives have to go through a cataby, um, and then uh as they progress up, they'll go through um specialized courses that post uh police officers' uh standard trainings offers as it relates to child abuse.

Each of the detectives in the child abuse unit has uh extensive experience in that um area.

Um so they're all generally trained about child abuse.

Uh and then uh our sergeant uh has done uh individual trainings, even at uh briefings about child abuse, uh and each of the agencies pretty much has done a uh a version of that for each of their uh line level uh individuals.

So they're all mandatory reporters though, right?

They are all mandatory reporters.

These data is uh in addition to police reports.

So I think there may be some that are police reports.

But uh I remember one time talking to a uh principal actually at Leonardo da Vinci one time, and uh the principal uh told me, you know, I don't understand why law enforcement didn't do anything.

I made X amount of mandated reports.

Uh and I said, Well, did you call law enforcement?

And it's like, no, because I thought if I call CPS that they're gonna refer to law enforcement, and that is true, they do, but prior to e-scars, that may have not gotten investigated.

Uh and this now does put some um tracking so that when um a citizen or mandated reporter makes a report, we know that law enforcement received it, and uh there's a little bit of pressure for law enforcement to figure out how to prioritize it.

But the data shows uh our office only received about 450 cases for prosecution as it relates to child abuse.

Uh you can see that throughout our county, there are two thousand three hundred and twenty cases where child abuse was suspected.

There's just an inability for law enforcement to go out and make contact and investigate every single case.

The police department's making the really good effort.

They're making contact now with every single case.

Uh they've modified it a little bit now.

There are some that can be administratively cleared at uh the dispatch, but they're making contact in about 90% of the cases.

The sheriff's department uh was a question that came up last year.

Is the sheriff's department doing that?

Is this a good idea or not a good idea?

Those are questions you all asked.

Uh and the sheriff's department is uh leaning to go that direction too.

They need to get training in their comm center so their comm center um individuals can make a determination of whether uh a deputy should go out or not on that case.

But uh this model of every scar being a call for service is something that Los Angeles County does.

Uh the law enforcement agencies, Los Angeles County send out law enforcement to make contact with uh individual who reports child abuse.

Uh and so we actually have eyes on to find out what's going on with that family, as I think the legislature and the community would expect.

There are some um complications to that.

Uh, we're working with uh Melissa and CPS because sometimes the police department's actually making it out before CPS does, because for CPS it might be a 10-day um call out versus law enforcement's trying to do it in real time.

Uh and so there's some growing pains that we as a county are having with that, trying to make sure we're not stepping on CPS's toes.

Um, but uh the results.

I just have one more question too before you move on.

Um, so for for those where child abuse crime is suspected, and we identified that there is child abuse, whether sexual or physical, the child is always pulled from the from its home.

Whether the child's pulled from the home will be primarily up to CPS, law enforcement works with CPS to assure that.

If law enforcement themselves believes the child is in danger, they have the ability to do a protective removal and work with CPS.

The majority of those cases though that you see here, because law enforcement probably is not doing just because a crime suspected doesn't mean that crime's being investigated.

Many of those cases are going to be handled by CPS without law enforcement involvement, and they make make a decision.

Whether the child's pulled from the home for CPS purposes typically has to do whether the child is safe.

So the child may be molested by somebody who's not in the home, the child's probably staying in the home.

If the child's musted by somebody in the home, uh CPS would make an evaluation of the safe safety of that child and probably remove that child.

Thank you.

So the police department's given a great example.

When they go out on every call, many times they're finding things like domestic violence.

The sergeant gave me an example recently where a child had said at school, daddy's always hurting mommy.

And that call in the past probably would not result necessarily in law enforcement going out.

But under the police department's uh plan of every call, every scar is a call for service, they went out there.

Uh and they made contact with a woman who had been a victim of domestic violence, basically imprisoned in her own home for a long period of time, and uh were able to develop a domestic violence case out of it.

The case came in as a scar for emotional abuse for a child observing domestic violence, which is something typically would not be prosecuted.

But the results ended up being in law enforcement uh rescuing a woman who had been imprisoned in her own home as a domestic violence victim.

The e-scars program also highlights as um Supervisor Rodriguez uh indicated that sometimes we can start to see patterns.

Uh so there was a case where uh in Sacramento there have been repeated patterns about what seem like mild to maybe low-level abuse, uh, but involved a teacher.

Uh and when uh the law enforcement began to look at it, they single case probably would not necessarily have drawn a law enforcement investigation, something maybe the school could probably have handled.

But then when the law enforcement realized, looking in E-SCARS, that we have nine other complaints involving this teacher.

Um, they said this is something we definitely need to investigate.

One of the hard things about law enforcement is prioritizing where do we spend those resources.

Of the 1200 cases, which one do I assign a detective to, knowing that the sheriff's department only sends out or investigates or assigns detectives on 240 of them?

That's just what their resources limit them to.

So uh the EastCar system has increased the ability of law enforcement to determine the cases they need to investigate.

Um it illustrates that child abuse is prevalent here in Sacramento, um, and that uh these past reports that were once unprovable when amassed together can actually result in us being able to have uh successful prosecutions.

Uh the dark side of this, the back side of this is we just uh even if it gets investigated, it's now going to um units that are severely impacted of the DA's office, where we have twice the number of cases uh and DAs um being faced with um kind of the insurmountable uh caseloads that are just hard to get through when you have so much.

And these cases uh emotionally are much different than other cases prosecutors prosecute.

It takes a large toll uh on a prosecutor to take a child through trial, uh, describe sexual abuse, um, get them through that process.

Uh, it has all the aspects of DV in the sense that many times there's pressure on the child or we can't from family members, uh, and so these are complicated cases that take seasoned and experienced DAs and DAs that are able to stay in that position for a long time, ideally.

Uh, but burnout rates increase when you have caseloads that are um a lot higher.

And I just have a quick comment.

And uh on the back end, I think, but you know, have putting more emphasis on the front end on the back end, uh it'll impact the foster care system and family homes, which if I understand correctly are also impacted, which is very sad.

Yeah, it's it's something uh that we need to address, and I will say that uh we should be proud of Sacramento that we're ahead of this.

Uh, when I teach around the state and communicate with other DAs around the state, YOLO County's trying to get the system, Santa Barbara has a system, Fresno has a system, Napa and Alameda are trying to get a system, uh, and LA has a system.

So we are on the forefront.

And when I talk to DAs and law enforcement around the state, I say you have a problem, you just don't know about it.

You don't have the data to support that you have a problem.

But if you go look at your scars, you will see that there's a number of cases that are just not being investigated, uh, and that shows that there's a problem.

It's so we're on the cutting edge of a problem that other people have.

Other counties and jurisdictions have it and um just haven't faced up to seeing it.

And so we should be proud that we have the system, that we're able to implement it quickly uh and get the data.

And it's part of the CPS Oversight Committee's role now of uh providing data to you about protective systems.

This will become a continuing part of us being able to actually provide you real data so you can make informed decisions.

Uh ESCAR's findings, um, uh each of the agencies in Sacramento, um, go back one.

Um the the ESCAR system continues to uh show that we have this increase of need uh in investigation and the implementation of ESCARs uh shows that's a it's prevalent here in Sacramento.

Um we have the case examples that I've described to you.

Um we made recommendations to uh the board uh that each of the agencies here in Sacramento should strive to ensure that all children who describe being seriously physically or sexually assaulted are actually interviewed and investigations are done to determine if a case can be proven.

Um we also recommend that local Sacramento County cities and the county should allocate more detectives for investigation of child abuse related crimes to ensure thorough investigations of all acts of child abuse and that caseloads not exceed 12 to 14 uh per investigating officer and a similar amount as it relates to uh deputy DAs.

The grant for ESCARs uh ended on March 30th of 2025.

Um we were able to uh get it deployed.

Uh the grant from the Office of Emergency Services allotted us money to obtain a system to train our um partners uh and the DA's office and CPS on that system uh and to implement it.

Uh we um are making a recommendation that the county continue to uh provide and pay for that system.

I know that uh that was part of the district attorney's budget.

Uh speaking now as a member of the CPS oversight committee.

I know that it was a recommendation of um Mr.

Hose that uh the county continue to pay for ESCARs.

That was not allotted in uh the budget to uh Sacramento DA's office.

Uh Sacramento DA's office has made the decision that uh this is something we cannot sacrifice.

Uh to say that we're now gonna go back to paper scar forms and try to uh not provide our partners with this uh would be um uh impossible to do and not appropriate to do.

Um there are costs associated with it.

Our office has absorbed them as part of our budget.

Uh this year, the cost is approximately 100,000, and that's a generous 100,000.

I think uh the way the contract was written with our CyTech partner uh was that there'd be a baseline to keep the system and lights on uh and working uh with additional uh funds for allocation for improvements or issues that come up and training that comes up as needed.

Uh so the 100,000 was generous.

Um, and uh when I spoke to your chiefs of staff, they said, you know, is that you know, we didn't pay for that, we didn't allocate that additional funds.

Um, but your office has absorbed that.

Uh really though, the bigger cost is not the hundred thousand.

Uh it's the fact that people like the sheriff's department are down four detectives in order to do a valid investigation.

That the DA's office uh is consistently coming back asking every year for just one prosecutor when probably to get caseloads to what they need to be, it probably needs to be two or three prosecutors to uh successfully be able to do to investigate and prosecute those cases.

Uh caseloads uh as we continue to allocate detectives to the crime suspected, caseloads will increase.

If we get to the other category of uh no investigation conducted, and we find out there's cases in there that should have been conducted, uh the caseloads are going to increase.

So the 100,000 dollars uh is really the smallest part of the financial resource commitment that the county has to assess, and each individual law enforcement agency has to assess in making a determination about how to go forward.

Um the data is compelling that we have a lot more to do.

Um, and when we have individuals that um have been um victims of crime, uh we know that uh that cycle can continue on.

Uh, and as Dr.

Johnson in a moment speaks to you about the the critical incident subcommittee uh report, uh the one statistic I hope you keep in mind is that 100% of the children that um uh were of the result of a critical incident had a a caregiver or parent who had had a CPS history as a minor.

So ESCARS is kind of related also to the critical incidents and the critical incident subcommittee.

Before I hand it back over to Dr.

Johnson, is there questions about uh ESCARS itself?

Yeah, all right.

Thank you all.

So uh as uh Chris said uh the big point is that uh a child that's being abused is likely to become an abuser when they become older.

So the idea is to nip it in the bud early so that they don't then become an abuser themselves, and that's why it's so important to get them identified, treated, proper services provided, etc.

Anyway, the critical incident subcommittee made up of is made up of community members with personnel uh and uh professional experience and child services and protection.

They met we met regularly last year.

The subcommittee partners with CPS by participating at uh quality improvement committees uh or the QIC or QIC to review critical incidents of CPS involved children.

The only cases reviewed are cases of critical incidences, which included deaths and near deaths, not general case review.

The goal of these reviews is to determine current systemic issues and CPS result in work that is not thoughtful and thorough.

This year's report summarizes nine full case reviews, two were for t uh were for uh fatalities and seven were near fatalities.

Case reviews found that every case had uh one or more parents or caregivers that uh with a CPS history as a minor.

Additionally, substance use, domestic violence, and a history of mental health challenges continue to be present in families that are involved in these critical incidences.

The risk factors play a part in accidental and negative outcomes for children in our community.

For this reason, the CPA uh the QI subcommittee encourages the Board of Supervisors to pay continued attention to ensuring that resources are available to families in our community for domestic violence, mental health, and substance use disorders, in order to break generational cycles of child abuse and neglect.

Next.

Examples of these errors included failing to make safety plan actions clear to extended family and friends who agreed to act in the support of the family.

Not providing substance use disorder education or support to a parent considered to be a non-offending individual.

That is not the parent with an identified substance use disorder.

Not removing a child either by voluntary placement or court intervention, despite the child having injuries suspicious of for abuse.

Investigations aren't always thorough and do not always comply with agency standards.

Concerns noted were incorrectly completed structural decision making or SDM assessment tools.

The Oversight Committee recognizes that human critical thinking error is always a possibility.

However, these errors were not corrected by safeguards existing in the agency, such as a supervisor review and case staffing.

Our recommendations are that CPS should continue to develop and implement strategies to strengthen the supervision process and continue addressing critical thinking errors across the agencies.

Strategies should include but not be limited to developing a monitoring mentoring process for supervisors to implement to supplement the existing supervisor academy.

Develop coaching process for program managers to learn from experienced peers to develop clear and consistent guidelines and provide training to direct social workers' assessments of marijuana use in the family home and include specific topics to be covered.

Continuing, CPS should strengthen all protocols in their implementation that require relevant case collaterals that they require them to be consulted with, and that all information related to child family and environment are gathered and considered before the cases are closed.

The protocol should include details about the collaterals to be considered relevant based on common circumstances or the appropriate age group.

CPS should strengthen implementation of consulting with children's medical and mental health providers as part of their investigation and safety planning.

CPS and community-based organizations should work together to develop a feedback loop to ensure that CPS is notified when parents decline services following investigation or case closure.

Strategy strategies should include but not be limited to developing a plan to address improvement of communication between CPS and the local methadone uh clinics.

Sacramento County uh continuing Sacramento County should develop uh messaging campaigns about uh car seed usage, poison control, substance use, gun safety, and their impact on children's safety strategies to include but not be limited to local hospital systems should require that parents of the newborns be provided with information about car seats, uh usage, poison uh control issues, uh, and gun safety at the time of discharge, and also the child protective services essentially do the same thing when they're investigating a case.

Excuse me.

CPS should ensure linkage with the appropriate excuse me.

Sorry, Supervisor Rodriguez.

Sorry.

I I have a question, and I'm sorry, I'm gonna have you go back one page.

Um can I just um make sure that if a parent is charged with child abuse, they do not qualify for mental health diversion.

Is that a fair statement?

I was gonna come over to my direction.

Uh so when Dr.

Johnson is talking here, he's really talking about CPS um involvement.

So uh if a parent is charged with uh criminally with child abuse, um they are eligible for mental health diversion uh in the state of California.

Um, and there is really no exception for that.

There uh there's a case in Sacramento that I can think of where uh a parent absolutely tortured a child too near death, but because the child did not die, uh that parent is eligible for mental health diversion.

Uh we had a case where uh an individual uh gave a child um a pill that they believed was uh per cassette, but they had bought it off the street, that child died.

Uh our office felt that it was not chargeable as a murder, because had to prove intent to kill and certain elements that cannot be proven, but we charged it as child endangerment causing death, which is uh still a substantial um crime.

Uh, in the state of California, that person is eligible and actually did receive mental health diversion.

Uh we had a case where an individual um again uh was so drunk that they beat a child uh or the child received uh abusive head trauma, and we couldn't actually say how the trauma occurred, but he was the sole person alone with that child.

Um the mother came back and the child was dead, uh the case began an investigation.

But because we couldn't determine exactly what happened other than he was so drunk that something happened while on his watch, that would normally be a child endangerment case.

If the child dies, uh it could potentially be a murder case, but in this case we didn't charge as murder, we charge as child endangerment where the child died.

Uh that person uh in Sacramento County uh got and received over our objection, mental health diversion.

Uh, if that man that was so drunk taking care of his child had been driving in a car and just had misdemeanor DUI as the extra charge, he would not be eligible for mental health diversion um and would probably be going to prison.

But because uh he was drunk at home, taking care of his child, and his child died, uh he was eligible for and did receive mental health diversion, and at the end of his mental health diversion, there'll be nothing on his record to ever indicate that a child ever died in his care.

You know, that is very disturbing.

I I appreciate the question because I don't think it's a good idea.

It's very disturbing, and it's and you know, what what when we look at populations, you know, let's just even talk about the homeless population.

A very large majority uh attribute to childhood traumas, and so what like the there are so many consequences to not addressing these issues.

Is that a state law or is that?

It's a state law that uh was enacted a couple of years ago uh that said that every crime in general other than murder, DUI, misdemeanor DUI, uh, and sexual assault crimes are eligible for mental health diversion.

The legislature uh also amended the law a couple of years ago that basically said um that they are presumed, uh, if they have some sort of mental health condition, which a lot of people have, probably the majority, um, if they have some sort of mental health condition, it's presumed to have been the reason why they did their crime, and the way that our office can defeat or the prosecution can defeat mental health diversion is we have to overcome a presumption, uh, but they're presumed that their crime is related to their mental health condition, and the only way to get them disqualified for mental health diversion would be to uh overcome a presumption that uh some other crime was not related to uh their mental health issue.

So because it's off their record, if they recommit, there's no way to tell who is get who is committing such a crime, getting diversion and then recommitting.

So we'll have the police reports, but it will not count as a conviction.

Uh there'll be uh no penal consequence.

Um another interesting part about the law is that if they go off to mental health diversion, they're have two years to complete that mental health diversion.

Uh the law was enacted in a way that is uh pre-plea, so they don't have to accept responsibility.

I did this and send me off to diversion and then clean my record if I succeed in diversion.

Um the legislature could have done that.

But the way the legislature wrote the law was it's pre-plea.

So if they want mental health diversion, they qualify and they receive mental health diversion, they get it for two years.

If at the end of the two years they fail, the case comes back and we have to go find the witnesses and prove the case.

Uh and in child abuse cases, that is much more complicated because uh the child ages, uh, the evidence ages.

Uh it's complicated in all cases, but it but the idea of a pre-plea diversion definitely complicates it because the case is never really final.

Uh, for us to move a case on, if they get diversion and it's pre- and it's post-plea, then that case is done.

They either succeed and they don't have it on the record or they fail and they get the punishment that we all agreed upon.

Pre-plea says go off to diversion, but we're probably gonna have to pull that case back off the shelf, which is also part of the reasons why uh our child abuse unit and a large swath of our office is um dealing with a lot of mental health diversion oppositions.

That's one of the major things that our office is finding ourselves doing a lot of writing on.

Thank you, thank you.

Supervisor Hume.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, I don't want to belabor this issue too much because so much of it is legislative and beyond our control.

Um, but as was brought up relative to these heinous um incidences, um, what is the threshold for determining someone's capability in order to qualify for mental health diversion, and then what is the um, you know, checkbox to say that they've successfully completed it or failed it.

So the threshold is they need to have a mental health evaluation.

The law is not especially clear whether it has to be a psychologist, psychiatrist, uh social worker.

Um I know that we are sometimes challenging uh the individuals that are doing some of the evaluations.

Um they usually will write a sub a report indicating this person has depressive disorder, they have um substance abuse disorder, they have um whatever disorder they might have.

That goes to the court um and the court will evaluate that report.

Uh the report um is a presumption that uh the person's mental health disorder is now related to the crime, uh, and the court then has to make an evaluation about whether we can somehow decouple that, uh, show that it's not related to the crime.

Uh the fact that you're depressed uh and you stole from target uh that's presumed to have been related to the crime, but we can uh if we can find evidence to overcome that presumption, potentially break that coupling.

There's also some other avenues where we can um get somebody uh show that somebody should not qualify for mental health diversion, which is that that if they uh are likely to commit a super strike, which is something like murder or kidnap or child assault.

We have to prove that somebody in the future is likely to do something really bad.

And that would be another avenue that a court could say we're going to uh not allow you to get mental health diversion.

Or if we can show they have a pattern in past that they're unreceptive to uh care, that they've been in types of programs like this and they didn't show up, they didn't do what they're supposed to do, uh, those things might allow us to get them out of mental health diversion.

Well, I mean, I, you know, I'm not a mental health expert, but I would say getting blackout drunk that results in the death of your child uh would probably qualify for that last point that you just made.

Uh unfortunately substance abuse disorder and uh a uh the the qualification that made them uh qualify for mental health diversion uh to overcome a presumption that or to to prove to a court that someone in the future is now going to kill again.

Uh it it feels like it should be easier than it is, but we have not had as much success as I'd like us to have.

Uh understood, and and just you know, for the record, if uh if you will, uh I do support generally some sort of diversion program care court, Laura's law, uh, this mental health diversion.

Wish we could intervene before it costs uh a poor child their life, uh obviously, um, but uh, you know, to hear these cases where it's uh I think being subverted in in the name of justice.

Um that's not actually what I wanted to chime in about, though.

I wanted to go back to the slide that we were on uh talking about the uh subcommittee recommendations specifically around car seats, gun safety, um poison control and substance, et cetera.

Uh don't we already have those types of education campaigns in Sacramento County?

To some extent, yes, but these the reason these are brought up here is that our critical incidences had issues that led to had car seat issues that led to harm to a child that had gun issues led harm to a child that had uh poison control type issues that led harm to a child.

So we and then CPS is not uh uh I can the hospitals in general, and I can't speak for them because uh and they vary uh from year to year as to what they're doing with their babies and mothers that go home.

So there's no rule or law that says you have to do this or that, uh, and so some hospitals uh like the uh sleeping on the on your back back to sleep.

Sure.

So that was in existence when it was realized that kids that slept on their bellies or whatever had a higher incidence of SIDs.

So they put this program in the place back to sleep, but then the county ran out of money to to continue that program, and so that program went away, and then the SIDS deaths went up.

Hospitals, some of the hospitals on their own put the programs in the place then, and uh, but I don't know the I can't speak for what the hospitals do, but we think that they should be involved with these things if they're not.

Well, I think that there's a certain amount of onus that the government or the county health department could assume, but there is no regulation or qualification for parenting other than being of reproductive age.

Uh and would it be safe to say when you have a uh critical incidence uh those are those nine cases that resulted in in the the worst outcomes?

I would presume there could be a correlation that those are just bad situations with bad individuals who probably aren't leaning into learning more about how to be a good human and a good parent and provide the safest environment.

Is that a correct assumption?

Well, it's partially correct, but we at least want to make an attempt to educate parents on what they should be doing, uh, because a lot of them don't know, to be honest, because there's no tests you take, as you said, to become a parent.

So when the CPS or when the hospital has contacts with these families, at least they give them the information.

And it's gonna help a lot of families, but some it won't make any difference.

We we don't know which ones will be which.

So we but anyway, we feel that the hospitals and the CPS should, and if the CPS is involved in a case, they need to give this information out.

Very good.

Thank you, Chair.

I just want to point out, and I see that uh deputy executive um Qatari's uh ready to maybe chime in here, that we we uh the county uh working with first five still do uh deploy a safe sleep baby um campaign program where in fact uh if it's determined that there's no um safe uh or reasonable environment for um some households to sleep their baby they're they're going home with a crib so um I I just don't want to leave the comment out there that the county ran out of money, SIDs went up.

Uh well that would leave the public with uh uh some uh uh incorrect assumptions about what the county uh has done and is currently doing along with uh the work that is being done in conjunction with uh first five black child legacy campaign.

Uh there's a lot of infrastructure focus attention um many of these issues uh through those programs I just mentioned, even uh uh trying to reduce child abuse neglect homicide, especially in the African American childhood population.

So I don't know uh Ms.

Katar if you wanted to share more about that.

Supervisor Cerna, you said exactly what I was gonna say is just all the resources and our CBOs through our family resource centers and our uh community incubator leads as well as public health have been doing a lot in this space.

So I wanted to just look that up.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you for saying that.

I just what I was saying was that we had a program, then it went away, and then the deaths went up, and then we put the program back in the place.

So it just show how important some of these programs are.

Uh then we we the last bullet there is that uh we want to ensure that there's the CPS to ensure that there's a linkage with the appropriate community-based agencies, that this occurs prior to closing an investigation where concerns remain uh at the time of closure.

So, if we're gonna refer a patient to birth and beyond, we want to make sure that the birth and beyond actually has contact with the family, and there's just a warm handoff between CPS and that agency, as opposed to just giving a slip of paper and saying call them, they'll be there.

That hasn't worked out too well in the past.

Uh so shift to the welcome homes, which you've heard a bit about already.

Um the oversight committee is charged with the community oversight of our uh county's child protective systems, and the oversight committee also takes on the special research projects to identify systemic gaps and facilitates uh discussions among stakeholders with the goal of improving their processes that impact child safety.

This slide shows a timeline timeline of pivotal moments leading up to the oversight committee's work in uh 2024 to provide insight and recommendations to improve the temporary shelter of children and youth uh in protective custody.

Uh in December 2023, the county embarked on efforts to obtain uh state licensure, and the oversight committee officially formed a subcommittee called the centralized placement services unit or CPSU uh research subcommittee with the purpose of learning more about the county run uh welcome homes uh community care licensing, the safety of youth and protective uh custody, and who were placed there.

Uh through throughout 2024, the oversight committee uh committee maintained ongoing communications with CPS while exploring opportunities to learn more about the welcome centers from different community perspectives in August of last year, the uh child uh the uh Sacramento County Children's Coalition.

It's a super uh you guys formed this body several years ago, and it was appointed to serve as the community advisory board of the CAB, the CAB.

The Oversight Committee continued to provide support and guidance to the CAB, including participation in two scheduled welcome home tours that took place in September of last year and providing their analysis of data and information received and give that to the CAB.

The oversight uh committee's findings uh along this line included concerns for Sacramento County's children and youth in protective custody who were placed in the wet center that that included physical health mental health safety from retraumatization and exposure to vulnerability to the commercial sexual exploitation of uh children or CSAC.

There appears to be uh some conflict between the foster youth bill of rights the welfare and institution code 16001-9 and maintaining a safe and secure environment for children youth and care and the staff that care for them safety uh concerns include trauma exposure and uh vulnerability of CSAC laws that prevent staff from keeping teenagers from taking unauthorized absences and controlling potentially dangerous use of cell phones uh more in depth and consistent data is needed to provide a better picture of children and youth that are housed there and the staff that are charged uh with their care um so uh recommendations you can see up there the oversight committee should uh report regularly to the CAB to provide uh updates on anything that they learn that intersects with the health and safety of children youth to are in the protective custody and living at the welcome homes that CPS should provide uh requested data regarding uh children youth and foster care and data pertaining to the welcome homes to the cab including those items identified and originally requested by the oversight committee that how uh Sacramento County CPS should review the implementation of the foster care bill of rights to ensure that the health and safety of both staff and children youth are at the forefront of its applications and implement changes to policies and practices uh when necessary the CAB should meet more frequently uh than once annually to uh and we do successfully review and the CORI reports provided to the board of directors which are you uh by CPS and should assemble their own detailed report including findings and recommendations based on community stuff so Chris will talk about our work plan for did I miss one oh oh since the creation of these recommendations some of them have been fully or partially implemented members of the oversight committee are members of the CAB and regularly provide updates CPS does provide data to the CAB and the CAB has established regular meetings occurring for one hour every other month so Chris we'll talk about I'm gonna interrupt here thank you um and please do not take what I'm about to say as uh any uh insult here we have a really full agenda today so I'm gonna ask respectfully of everyone including our own staff let's all grab another gear and uh and try and uh do what we can to review I know we're part of the problem because we keep on asking questions and interrupting but and this is definitely uh one of the most important subjects uh that we want to pay very close attention to, but uh I just want to be cognizant of trying to manage our time and I should just show the I think I can shorten it a little bit if you uh look at our work plan.

Uh we've laid it out here, it's also laid out in our actual um CPS report that we've given you.

Uh probably the most exciting thing I think for us is that uh ongoing discussions with the hospitals.

We've had every one of the hospitals come speak to us, and we're gonna provide um almost all the hospitals come speak to us, and we're gonna provide to you hopefully in our next report uh details about what our hospitals are doing good uh in the areas of child protective services and uh protection as well as uh things that are worthy of improvement.

Um the other items listed both on this slide and the next slide um are really just our our ongoing plans of what we're intending to do.

Um the group has become much more active in in in doing investigative type work, which I think is beneficial to uh getting change.

So, acknowledgments, you can just take a look up there, and I won't go over them.

Uh so you can take a quick look at that, that's in our report as well.

And then in closing, we want to thank you all for inviting us to be here and for listening to us.

We really appreciate the time and your uh questions and comments and concerns.

Uh it's it's really good to have an engagement like this.

So we want to thank you all.

Very good.

Thank you.

Uh Vice Chair Rodriguez.

Uh I'll just keep my comment short.

I I really want to thank you for the presentation.

You know, we know we get elected to these roles, and we oftentimes don't have all the information, but like right now I'm angry.

I'm angry at some of the legislation that that that allows people to injure and hurt young children.

And you know, it it it's a good way, it's a good kind of anger.

I call it a righteous anger, but it it definitely um opens my eyes to the issues and the impact that we have with children and crimes against children, and so hopefully that will drive me to push for positive changes um at the state level.

But anyways, thank you for your information.

It's it was very good.

Thank you.

Uh any other members of the board have questions or comments.

Okay, seeing none.

Um, so we're getting a response next, correct?

So I'm gonna ask um Madam Clerk.

Do we have members of the public sign up to speak on this matter?

We do have one member of the public signed up for item 45.

Okay, I'm just wondering if that that member of the public that is signed up for this item would want to hold their comments until they hear a response that way kind of get uh the package um deal here.

Mr.

Baker, okay.

Very good.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, next item.

So item number 46 is a response to the Child Protective Systems Oversight Committee's 2024 annual report.

Very good.

Thank you.

You're back.

Good afternoon again, Chair Cerna, members of the board.

Shelby Boston Director of Child Family and Adult Services.

Uh we have filed our response and out of um respect for time and trying to get you back on agenda.

I am happy to just um file that presentation.

We really tried diligently to stay within the scope of CPS in our response and noted where there were recommendations that we believed were out of our scope.

Is there a way Shelby?

You can you can get through your slide deck like faster than you ever have.

Well, Melissa's gonna do the presentation.

Okay.

Um it is about eight slides.

Okay.

Well, I wasn't sure if you're telling us that you were gonna forego a slide presentation.

I didn't want to leave the public thinking that we're gonna do that necessarily.

So it sounds like we are gonna get the present full full presentation.

We wanted to give the board the option since we've submitted everything, everything you'll be hearing about is in the board letter or in the presentation.

We wanted to give the board the option.

If you want to forego that and just ask your questions, that would be fine.

I want the hybrid.

I'd like to see um the presentation, but kind of faster than normal.

Sounds great.

Um, because I think the public deserves it.

Uh, okay.

Melissa will come up and give that very quick eight slides.

No pressure.

Presentation.

It's going to make my staff very happy because I'm a talker, but I will do I will do well.

So good afternoon again uh to the board.

Um so I am here to present the response, and I will be highlighting to the Oversight Committee's report 2024, and I'll be highlighting how we're implementing those recommendations.

Specifically for the I do wanna just do a very quick acknowledgement because it is important to our staff, to the oversight committee.

I think the collective work of county staff and the oversight committee really does move to ensuring that we are adhering to child safety first and foremost in our community.

For the excuse me, the recommendations around strengthening supervision and critical thinking, we do recognize this is foundational to every child safety decision.

We have, and it was mentioned in the oversight report, we do have a variety of practices within CPS to track compliance, to review high risk cases, we do the QA reviews, we have a continuation of QA reviews, and as has been mentioned in previous presentations, we take the information from the critical incidents and we go out into program and provide that information by doing case discussions with our staff directly so that they understand where the concerns came up around practice, we get their voice into what they feel may help with continued training and enhanced training for them.

We continue to work very diligently on our policies, and we're routinely updating policies as different mandates come down, as well as when we have the opportunity opportunity to again do practice enhancements.

Over since the beginning of implicit bias training, we have trained over 5,000 people in the community.

That includes all of our DCFAS staff, not just in child protective services, but we have offered that training to a variety of our partners as well.

We have also done a lot to improve case closure practices.

In 2024, one of the most notable actions that we took was to create the case consultation unit, and this was specifically came out of a CQI lens on our work around closing cases in emergency response.

So we have a dedicated team of supervisors that help support the unit supervisors with closure of those investigations.

This is increased the attention to detail with collateral contacts, which has been a concern of the oversight committee, and is essentially another pair of eyes on the work done.

Our overall team in emergency response has very much appreciated this.

We're still working out a few kinks, but it does allow for extra eyes on a circumstance that has been investigated.

Medical and mental health integration is something that has been noted throughout uh the work of the oversight committee, and I am happy to share that this is something we have continued to apply focus on.

We continue.

I had shared it last year's Oversight Committee that we have teamed with Behavioral health Services and the Department of Health Services to have a specific CPS mental health liaison.

That position has tremendously helped across the division of CPS.

We team daily with our partners at Behavioral Health to work together for mental health supports for both kids and families, and a lot of the expansion of services that behavioral health services has applied over the last year has absolutely benefited those families that we are serving in CPS.

We continue to collaborate with the Bear Clinic, the public health nurses that are on staff with CPS, as well as UC Davis, and many other agencies.

Improving feedback loops and service linkages, this is a continued focus area.

We do not just say goodbye to a family, we do link them to community services that can look different for each family based on their needs.

For some families, we directly sometimes are taking them or meeting them at a family resource center or a community incubator lead or some other resource in their community within the Sacramento community.

For others, we may just be sharing some information with them so that they know about resources.

As has been shared, we team very closely with all of our community-based organizations, and all of them do give information out regarding uh safety in the home, sleeping your baby safely, whether or not the family is specifically formally working with the Safe Sleep Baby program, gun safety, car seats, all of that public health does a lot of that work as has been mentioned, first five as well, and then we um the welcome home information.

You did get a presentation earlier today, oversight committee did um share some information around the welcome homes.

Um we routinely share updates with the oversight committee specifically, and um listen and provide information to some of their concerns that that may come up, and we're transparent with our data and our practices and the supports and services as well.

As far as um we support the continued uh investment in eSCARS uh collaboration with law enforcement is critical for pursuing child abuse cases and supporting shared responsibility for safety.

So, in a nutshell, that is my presentation.

Um, thank you for your time and attention and happy to answer any questions.

Great, thank you, Melissa.

Appreciate that.

Um I just have one overarching general question.

The first very first chart that we saw the table showed the numbers for California and the numbers for Sacramento County going in opposite directions over time.

So, I mean, overall, what you know, we heard a little bit um about some of the the resource allocation um challenges in at both the DA's office, sheriff's office, but what what can you tell me about what would be if you had if you were, you know, um empress of uh child welfare and you you wanted in Sacramento County and you wanted to change those numbers around, knowing what we've heard from uh that side of the house that is the that is law enforcement, but if in your side of the house, child welfare, um, what would you do if you had kind of unlimited resources to to make the dent that we all want to see made as soon as possible?

Well, I think one thing to point out about that initial chart that was provided, um, Chris Orr did share that those numbers reflected calls to the hotline where um some of them did not rise to the level of an investigation.

So when we look at our hotline data, still the highest number, the result of calls, the highest number is what is uh defined as evaluated out.

That means that the information that comes to the hotline did not meet the threshold to open an investigation.

And so when we look at that data, what that does is that's actually positive data, and I will explain why.

What we are also it's hard, it's subjective, but what you can also think of is we have people calling in because they have a concern.

And what we do with those calls where we do not open an investigation, we do refer refer those calls to what is called an information and referral resource.

Um not all families will respond, and that goes through to through to CAPSE, the Child Abuse Prevention Center, where we have a person who does essentially like cold calling out to those families.

And not every family is going to engage in a conversation.

But what we do is we look at where are we getting calls from and what do those look like in terms of something that we may be able to help support in the community.

So an example of that, teachers are a one of the their mandated reporters, and they're one of our highest reporting parties, of course.

One of the things that we just teamed with Sacramento County Office of Education on was my team went out and did a presentation to SCOE early educators.

They had a lot of questions about how can we help a family before it gets to a point where we are concerned and making a call to the hotline, and that was such a positive presentation because if you think about the shift over time in our county, we are now having educators asking how do we help before it gets to a certain point where historically we would see calls from educators coming in when it has been two months where they're feeling like the child is not getting fed or coming to school disheveled, and so we look at that data about where the calls are coming into, and we determine how do we then address um things that aren't rising to the level of investigation, what might be needed because we can break down that information also by zip code, and that is what has really helped us in the more recent prevention efforts that we've put forward is really looking at where what area of Sacramento are these calls coming from in totality, and what can we then do proactively out in those communities, engaging with community providers, um and that can be grassroots providers.

We've done a lot more engagement with them to say and share data from our hotline.

Additionally, I think we're kind of still it's 2025, we're still kind of seeing like how settled are we getting from COVID time to pre-COVID time and really looking at those those numbers.

Our hotline response times.

The other thing is, and I think this was back in um, and I don't want to be remiss because I don't remember everyone who was on the board at this time, but I do believe Supervisor Cerna, you remember this time around 2015-16, we were having tremendous challenges with our hotline wait times, and we have enhanced those services tremendously.

So the worry then when just like anyone, if you're waiting on hold, you get calls dropped, you get people who may not want to report.

I know I know Supervisor Kennedy uh was here and remembers that.

And also, and also the the person over your right shoulder in the cheap seats.

Okay, yeah.

Yeah, you might want to look back there.

Okay.

Oh, supervisor.

Hello, hello, yes.

So there is historical uh there is uh I would say institutional memory here.

But I I the reason I bring that up is because with those numbers at the hotline, if we are answering the calls, there is no weight.

There is a very little weight at our hotline, if any, and that means that we're answering calls that maybe in the past weren't getting called.

Even if there's a concern and it doesn't rise to the level, calls are getting answered.

Very good.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Any questions for Melissa?

Cena, thank you very much.

Yes, thank you.

Yep.

Madam Clerk, shall we take our one public speaker now?

Our one public speaker, Mr.

Baker.

Thank you, Dr.

David Baker, Sacramento Children's Home.

Uh, thanks for having me.

Uh, you know, I I put my slip in uh while the presentation was going on, and and I was so it felt so good to uh during the presentation.

Uh you jumped right in and talked about the work that's actually being done at the at the family resource centers and at Birth and Beyond and the work that's being done with home visitation and what an effect that can have on reducing child abuse altogether.

I mean, I think really we all know the solution, and it was so great to hear you, Phil, jump in about the work that we're already doing uh on prevention and early intervention, and really just reducing those numbers.

I I support uh having enough investigators to investigate things that get to that level, but if we could get that number down, uh you wouldn't need as many of those folks.

But um, but we know that those prevention dollars have continued to reduce.

You guys are all aware of that, and um, and I think when it comes time, and you mentioned then earlier uh Supervisor Cerno about when we look at the budget and we come around to budget time that it's easy to cut prevention and early invention because it doesn't seem as urgent, but ultimately it's cheaper, it's more effective, and it keeps families together.

The work that's being done, we take referrals from CPS in our programs with birth and beyond.

We we get referrals to the nursery.

Those those families stay together and we prevent child abuse.

I don't I'm not gonna spend a lot of time giving you all the numbers on that.

You've already seen them when many of you are involved uh deeply with uh with first five and the commission there.

And I think the more we can invest in those um prevention and early intervention, and as as dollars move out of that area for kids due to Prop One, we really need to make sure that those dollars come back in another direction.

And uh so thank you.

And uh I think there's a lot we can do to get to a better number on the welcome home around STRTPs and Melissa and I have talked about how we can get that number up closer to 16.

I hope we can keep having those discussions, but we really need to try to serve those kids in a different setting rather than those settings.

It's just not gonna work that way.

So thank you so much for all the work that you guys do.

Thank you, David, for for being here and being patient um and sharing um your your words uh and your partnership is very much appreciated here in Sacramento County.

All right, thank you.

Uh Madam Clerk, um, this is uh just a receive and file as well, right?

That's correct.

Okay, very good.

Then we will move on to our next item.

Item number seven forty-seven is PLMP 2025-00070, McDonald Ranch Williamsum Act Amendment.

VRB, a board review for a property located at 9011, New Hope Road on the northwestern corner of the intersection of Ore Road and Newhook Road in the Southeast community.

The applicant is Westerfield Ecological Services, and the environmental document is exempt.

Good afternoon, Kimber.

Good afternoon.

Chair Cerna and members of the board, Kimber Gutierrez, principal planner with planning and environmental review.

I'll be presenting this project on behalf of Christian Baltazar, who is the associate planner assigned to the project.

Um starting with the location and setting, the site is located at 9011 New Hope Road and is currently developed with an existing single family home, which was constructed in 1952.

Additionally, there are agricultural accessory structures also present on the site.

Surrounding uses include agricultural lands to the northeast and south, and um a nature preserve to the west, all of which are zoned AG 80 with the flood combining zone.

The project site has had three previously approved use permits, which previously allowed for drilling uh for gas and oil on site.

Um, additionally, a parcel map was approved in 1983 to subdivide the 435-acre parcel into three lots, which is the current um lot layout existing today.

And then on February 11th of 1974, an ag preserve resolution and Williamson Act contract was recorded for this site.

The aerial imagery to the right is from the 1980s and highlights in red all of the land encompassed in the Williamson Act contract area, and then the project site is shown in green.

We also reviewed recent code violations and have determined that there are no active cases for the site.

The entitlement being requested is a board review for a Williamson Act contract amendment to allow open space as a compatible use.

The applicant is proposing an approximately 170-acre restoration project within the 179-acre McDonald ranch site.

The project site will become a preserve with a recorded conservation easement designed to protect and preserve the covered habitat and species while also continuing cattle grazing.

So continuing that ag use.

On screen now is the conceptual restoration design exhibit provided by the applicant.

The project site currently contains approximately 11 acres of wetland habitat.

And the applicant proposes to construct approximately 50 acres of seasonal wetlands and swales.

So that's the area shown in the blue cross hatching, the blue line work.

And 20 to 30 acres of riparian and freshwater marsh are those areas shown in green.

And then five to 10 acres of oak or elderberry woodland, which is shown in the brown.

And a more robust project exhibit is included in your packet.

The agricultural advisory committee met on June 11th to review and consider this item.

There were no public comments, and the committee members took no exceptions to the request.

So the Ag Advisory Committee does recommend the Board of Supervisors approve the project.

And then following staff's review, it was determined that the proposed project is consistent with the general plan, community plan, and the zoning code.

The project was eligible for a notice of exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act, so therefore it can be concluded that there are no significant environmental concerns.

Planning and environmental review staff does recommend the Board of Supervisors take the following actions.

Recognize that the project is exempt from CECOA pursuant to CEQA guidelines section 15304 and 15317, as well as public resources code section 21084, and then adopt an amendment to the agricultural preserve resolution 74 AP 009 to allow open space as a compatible use.

And that will conclude my presentation.

I'm available to answer any questions.

Okay, uh any questions for Kimber.

Okay.

Okay.

Then I would look to Chair.

I would uh happily move staff recommendation to approve.

I'll second.

We have a happy first and uh happy second, please vote.

And that item does pass unanimously, very good, thank you.

Item number 48 is PLMP 2024-00116, the Spindrift General Store.

It is a PC and type 21 request for um uh the cell of alcohol with the type 21 ABC license at an existing general store located at 841 West Brennan Island Road in the Delta community.

The applicant is Mark Edwards, APN 1560120-032.

Thank you, Leanne Mueller with planning and environmental review.

And before I start my presentation, I would also like to let you know that the applicant is here should you have any questions for them.

So the item before the board is a public convenience and necessity for a type 21 off sale license for the Spindrift General Store.

So this is located at 841 West Brennan Island Road in the Delta community.

It is an existing building at the Spin Drift Marina and the surrounding area is the marina and recreational uses.

This is in the Lower Andrus Island SPA, and generally the intent of that SPA is to allow water oriented commercial and recreation uses and alcohol sales are permitted within that SPA.

So the applicant is applying for the PCN for the type 21, which is beer wine and spirits, to allow that to be sold at the general store portion of this building, which is the second floor.

Again, showing the floor plan of the building.

So this is the one mile radius map, and we would know that in that one mile radius, there aren't any sensitive uses, and there is only one other business that is selling alcohol, and that's a type 20.

This census tract, census track 98, is approximately 50 square miles.

So it is very large, and because it is so large with a relatively low population, they basically have one allowed sale of alcohol, and they currently have 12.

So it is over concentrated, it is not in a high crime area.

So it went to the DMAC, and the DMAC did recommend approval of this to the board, and there were a couple people in attendance, and they were also in favor of this project.

So we would note that this is over concentrated, but it's not high crime.

One of the things to note is that in order to re-establish that use, which was the general store and the bar and restaurant, they did um apply to planning for a minor use permit.

And on that minor use permit, we did put conditions of approval.

There were 12 of them, and nine of them did relate to provisions on the sale of alcohol, which would regulate it, which essentially are the sheriff's conditions that they requested be put on this PCN.

So that minor use permit, which was already approved by staff, does have conditions related to the sale of alcohol.

And with that, staff is recommending approval of this PCN because we do think that given the nature of the Andrus Island SPA and with the conditions that are placed on the minor use permit, the board can find that this is a public convenience and necessity.

That concludes my presentation.

I can answer any questions you may have.

And again, the applicant is here.

Great.

Thank you, Leanne.

Appreciate that.

Any questions for staff?

No?

Okay.

Does the applicant wish to comment?

Hello.

Hi.

My name's Mark Edwards.

And the Spindrift General Store was established in the 60s and has been a spot for locals and voters ever since.

COVID shut down this store, and caused neighbors and voters to really feel the loss.

And it has uh been a process, but we are finally uh, you know, at a point to where we're here trying to get over this last hump.

Um in 2006, the store was uh remodeled uh with new walk-ins and new ice makers, uh and it was all done with permits and finaled by the building department.

Um we want to offer uh the community uh essential necessities, food, alcohol, and a small little antique section.

Um I've owned and operated many businesses, um, and I'm the founder of a product called the Sun Tunnel, which kind of revolutionized uh skylights, so um uh I've been on the cover of Wall Street Journal for daylighting uh Plantronics and uh which was an old GE factory with no windows and fully illuminated it.

Which was uh very fun and educational.

So I just asked uh that we are please allow us to reestablish this iconic general store.

And uh this would be my third ABC license, and I have not even had one complaint on the prior two.

Thank you.

Great, thank you very much.

Sure.

Supervisor Hume.

Thank you, Chair.

Uh first of all, I'd like to suggest, Mark, if you have any spare time, there's a building a couple blocks away that could use some day lighting.

Um so if we can figure that one out, that'd be much appreciated.

Well done, sir.

Yeah, thank you.

Tied that one in there a little uh uh but no, I just want to thank you for reinvesting in the loop and reinvesting in the Delta.

And I think uh if you ask your customers, they would probably say there's an under concentration of uh licenses down there.

Uh but be that as it may, thank you for for what you're doing and was happy to get you up and running and and uh would absolutely support this item and move staff's recommendation.

Chair will second, Vice Chair Rodriguez.

Mark, I just want to um say congratulations and thank you for doing business in um Sacramento County.

I always enjoy seeing buildings that need um retrofit or attention or love, and somebody comes and makes an investment and then beautifies the area and brings in economic development.

So I just want I'll be supporting this item as well, but I just want to thank you for the business that you do.

That's it.

Thank you.

All right, please vote that item does pass unanimously.

All right, very good.

Uh for the next two items, Madam Clerk.

I believe we're gonna uh take those uh jointly.

That is correct, I'll read both in the record, but we will need to vote.

So items number 49 and 50, PLMP 2024-00139, the well PCN.

It's a letter of um for the sale of alcohol with a type 20 ABC license at a convenience store in Site Spaces B, 27 V07 and V08 of Terminal A of the Sacramento International Airport, post security and the Natomas and the Nathomas Community, and uh item number 50 PLMP 2024-00119, DOCO market.

It is also a PCN for the sale of alcohol with a type 20, ABC license at a convenience store in Terminal B of Sacramento International Airport, post security and the Natomas community.

Very good, thank you.

Hi, Leanne Mueller with planning and environmental review again.

Um so I would like to note that the applicants for both DOCO and the well are here, and then we also have staff from County Airport, should you have any questions of them.

So these um both PCNs are gonna be located uh inside the Sacramento International Airport.

Um one will be in Terminal A and one will be in Terminal B.

So the well is gonna be in Terminal A and DOCO Market would be in terminal B.

I think the important thing to note is that they are both requesting the type 20, which is beer and wine off-sale licenses, and um this is let's see, this is a one-mile radius map.

So you can actually see that we have both of those entitlements up there, and then there are two other establishments that have off-sale in a one-mile radius.

One is actually in the airport, it's Vino Volo, it has off sale of wine, and then there is an ARCO AMPM, which has off sale of beer and wine also within the airport.

There aren't any uses that we would consider sensitive uses in that one-mile radius.

So the reason this is before you is because the census track that it is in currently allows zero um sales of alcohol.

So, um, given that they already have two, it does need that PC and because it's over concentrated.

We would also note that given the sheriff subdistrict it is in, it is also has higher crime, so it is also a high crime area.

So the reason these are before you is because they are over concentrated and in high crime areas.

When you say high crime, like I mean, give me an example.

So they basically exceed the average for the district, generally by like a uh be like a hundred and twenty percent.

So they're over.

So if that makes sense.

In other words, it's all relative.

Because they I mean I know the area well.

First of all, if you go back, one of the highlights of the slide is the amount of uh um, the like the vacancy of the area.

Correct.

Um and then of course, uh you know, other nearby uses include a golf course and you know, fallow uh aglands, um, so they're not attracting birds, and it's safe for airport operations.

So yeah, and I will I will also editorialize too that it's very encouraging to see uh so little vacant land in Metro Air Park.

That's kind of nice touch there.

And you would note the S Metro Air Park is to the east there.

Um so yeah, and to your point it is based on the average for that area.

Um, so it did go to Natoma CPAC, they didn't have a quorum, but they were generally in support of the concept.

So, um basically what's gonna happen is this is going to be off sale of alcohol, so beer and wine basically to go from um stores within the airport.

So the idea behind this is you're not going to be able to take it out into the common airport areas of the airport and drink it, nor are you gonna be able to um drink it on a flight.

So basically you would take it with you, take it to your destination, and then consume the alcohol.

So that's the general concept behind it.

And staff does recommend approval of these requests for PC into the board of supervisors.

And as I've said, the applicants are here, and airport staff is here to answer any questions as well.

Right, very good.

Thank you, Leanne.

Any questions for staff?

All right, seeing none.

Uh do any of the applicants that are here, the representatives wish to address the board.

Thank you.