The Calaveras Board of Supervisors meetings are much more important than you may realize.  One of our members, Janet, has generously been taking detailed notes which gives you a chance to follow along.

This link is from the 2/23/21 meeting.  If you’d like to see the actual meeting, a video is available through the County’s website.  If you’d like to download Janet’s notes, they can be found here: 20210223-Calaveras BOS Meeting.

We’ve mainly included the detailed notes here from the Public Health Updates.  We’ve mentioned other items but refer you to Janet’s notes and the video for additional information.  Watching the whole video will give you complete information and an appreciation for Janet’s willingness to take these notes.

Pubic meeting called to order at 9:20 a.m.

Staff Announcements

• Sheriff Rick DiBasilio – Michael DeMasters – Fish & Wildlife – died in a local car accident; very well-liked and a very sad loss.
• Lisa Medina – animal clinics scheduled for rabies; April 3, May 1, June 5, September 4, October 2, and December 4, 2021 – will post on the website.

Public Health Updates

#6. Receive an update presentation from staff on COVID-19

• Sam Leach, Acting Director of Public Health
• As of today, completed 22,959 tests; 1,901 positive tests; 37 active cases; 1,839 recovered; 2 active hospitalizations; 25 fatalities. Administered 9,215 doses to Calaveras residents. Last week didn’t receive any vaccines at public health partially due to bad weather. Do anticipate getting a flood of vaccines coming in soon.
• Still doing Phase 1A and 1B, still in the purple tier. Numbers are trending in to the correct direction and close to getting out of the purple tier. Case numbers still need to come down a bit before we can get into a lower tier. Feels like next week we can get out of the purple tier, the trend is good.
• Free testing at Ironstone and tomorrow at Armory in Copper from 9 a.m. to noon.
• Have two smaller travel clinics for folks over 75 years. Designed to test/pilot registration software and to reach difficult populations but vaccines were limited in these areas. Will continue to do travel clinics as supply allows. All slots are currently full because we only have so many supplies.
• Heard complaints wondering if Calaveras is getting their fair share. Supply is limited everywhere. We are ranked 44 in 58 counties so we are actually getting a fair supply. The problem is how the vaccines are getting here. It is a fluid operation and the State and Feds are changing rules constantly so it is always changing. A lot of confusion and frustration regarding third-party administrators with Blue Shield. Frustrating from a communication standpoint because he wants to provide clarity but it is difficult when information is constantly changing. 2,300 doses were put into the arms of residents last week. Partially, because of the help of pharmacies. Walmart and Safeway to come on board soon.
• Meeting with the third-party administrator this week and hope to seek additional clarity.
• Over 2,000 doses per week going into arms; could be from Mark Twain, pharmacies, local physicians. Feels we can get all residents who want the vaccine, vaccinated by late summer. Hope it will be sooner but trying to be realistic.
• Blue Shield is taking over as a third-party administrator and in control of our allocation. Not sure when the switch over date will occur. Dignity will get allocation through Blue Shield as well if they get it from them at all. Should have more clarity from the meeting later this week.
• Mark Twain has been a great partner and will continue to help. Will work together with providing doses to the public.
• Expect shipment this week.
• The current positivity rate will be released later today. Two metrics – one is testing positivity rate and have come under 8% rate; another metric – we are not under 7 cases per 100 population per day. This is what is takes to get into the next tier. These statistics are one week in arrears. Both metrics have to be under to go to the next tier.
• The state’s tier system has two measures and we have to meet the tier in both measures to be reduced a tier. Currently in tier 1 purple. Case rate – the rate of positive Covid cases – 3 to 4 positive cases per day per our population of 45,000. Need to be under 7 cases per 100,000. We are over 7 cases per 100,000 for us it would be 4 cases. Another tier – is the percentage of people who test positive. We are doing better in this tier. Need to keep getting tested. This number needs to be below 8%. On the blueprint for a safer economy page listed above and the California website. There is a link on Calaveras’ website to the California website.
• Continue to do what we are doing because we are trending in the right direction.
• Can find information on the blueprint for a safer economy page on covid19.ca.gov/safereconomy/.
  Can look at the Calaveras County website as well for information.
• Have been meeting weekly with OES and speaking daily with OES and public health. Doing a lot of planning and logistical support for small, medium, and large clinics. Also, working with call centers to make sure communication is accurate and communicated through all mediums.
• Try to make incremental improvements daily.
• Doses are going into arms. All doses received have been given to residents.
• Per concerns from BoS, will add info being posted on Facebook to the website as well. The County dashboard is to reflect information that is posted on Facebook that many elder citizens are not on. Dashboards provide the data on a daily basis excluding holidays and weekends. Can make changes and adjust after he talks to Supervisor Tofanelli offline.
• Will communicate concern about no testing or clinics in Valley Springs where approximately 70% of positivity rate has occurred and it is the hotbed of where Covid has occurred in our County. Valley Springs and the surrounding area have about 17,000 people and the majority of residents.
• Chair Stopper wants to discuss changes with Sam Leach and Supervisor Tofanelli to make sure information is disseminated clearly and all residents can get the message.
• Sam Leach will schedule a meeting and get feedback so we can improve the information the community receives to work toward making it clear and concise
• Colleen Rodriquez – Deputy Director of Public Health
• Regarding adjudication process – no longer allowed by State.
• Guidance for school team sports is changing. Teams can play if they are playing a county next to them.  Amador, Calaveras, and Tuolumne – submitted to the State to ask to play together. Letter is written to State regarding sports. Believes it was accepted by the State but hasn’t received written confirmation yet.
• Marcos Munoz – Health and Human Services
• Received $1.7 million last fall; the majority of the budget allocated to salary and benefits. Added three limited-term positions; recruited and hired one of three positions. Hoping to have two others hired soon.Includes 12 extra hires too. Continue to recruit.
• Will provided BoS with detailed information about above funding and spending and how it is being used. BoS wants clarity.
• Doug Archer – Mark Twain Hospital
• One covid patient in ICU on a ventilator, administered yesterday. Have 50% capacity at ICU.
• Mark Twain program – same issues regarding the storm and slow down. Didn’t receive any last week or this week. Had to postpone about 120 appointments. This is a statewide issue.
• Grateful for the partnership we have with public health. Should be able to keep on pace and remains optimistic.
• Hope numbers will continue to trend down.
• Saw 33 patients yesterday and four came in for a Covid test or symptoms and only one positive in the hospital now.
• Should get more information tomorrow from Dignity Health regarding the allocation of doses. Agrees vaccines will come from other sources too; e.g. pharmacies, Safeway, etc.
• Dignity’s allocations are being given to others, assuming they are going to pharmacies or public health. This is the same situation for all health in CA.
• Not scheduling any first dose appointments now but will be able to partner with County when the doses come.
• Public Comments

Consent Agenda

Regular Agenda

30.  Approve and authorize the Board Chair to execute JBCT Agreement Number 20-79014-000.

Motion to approve – Passed – 5-0

31. Receive a Tree Mortality Program Implementation Update from TSS Consultants.

32. Adopt a Resolution to accept an award from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) for eligible costs associated with Tree Mortality tree removal through the Local Assistance for Tree Mortality (LATM) Grant.

Motion to approve – Passed – 5-0

33. 1. Receive the FY 2020-21 Mid-Year Budget; 2. Approve the Mid-Year Budget adjustments included in Attachments A and B; and 3. Approve the Mid-Year Capital Assets List included as Attachment C. Requires a 4/5th affirmative vote of the Board.

Motion to approve – Passed – 4-1 – Supervisor Garamendi dissent. Chair Stopper will bring it back next week.

Supervisor Announcements

• Supervisor Folendorf – attended the CAMRI, presentation by PGE.
• Supervisor Garamendi – met with Supervisor Callaway about animal shelter and should push that forward. Would like to bring it forward at a future meeting. Chair Stopper will put on as an agenda item. Alt – ad hoc – given updates regarding animal services. Staff perspective would be an inventory and could do that. Would be a BOS to determine policy on how they want to move forward. He can put options for consideration.
• Chair Stopper – I was not able to capture the meetings he attended due to my internet connection. Will have a special meeting next Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.

Meeting adjourned at 3:29 p.m.