Kern County Board of Supervisors Recap for March 1, 2022

By Press release submission

Mar 10, 2022

Kern County issued the following announcement on Mar. 1.

The Kern County Board of Supervisors met as scheduled for Tuesday’s March 1, 2022, Board Meeting. Supervisor Phillip Peters (District 1), Chairman Zack Scrivner (District 2), Supervisor Mike Maggard (District 3), Supervisor David Couch (District 4), and Supervisor Leticia Perez (District 5) were in attendance. For information on how to address the Board on a specific agenda item or provide general public comment, please click here.

Meeting Highlights:

Item No. 1 AM session:
The Board honored Dena Murphy, Director of the Kern County Department of Human Services, with a resolution upon her retirement with 28 years of dedicated service to the County of Kern.
Item No. 2 AM session:
The Board proclaimed March 2022 as Social Work Appreciation Month in Kern County.
Item No. 3 AM session:
The Board proclaimed March 2022 as National Nutrition Month in Kern County.
Item No. 7 AM session:
Kern County Public Health Director Brynn Carrigan updated the Board on Kern County’s current standing regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, local case rates, and COVID-19 vaccination distribution among residents.
Ms. Carrigan also updated the Board on the State of California’s newest guidelines regarding masking among residents. For more information, please visit: www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx
Eligible residents who want to get vaccinated against COVID-19 can make an appointment at www.MyTurn.ca.gov.
Watch Ms. Carrigan’s entire presentation here: https://youtu.be/JguunkiKeeY
Item No. 8 AM session:
The Board adopted to oppose AB 1993 (Wicks et al.), which if passed, would “require each person who is an employee or independent contractor, and who is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, to show proof to the employer … that the person has been vaccinated against COVID-19.”
Item No. 15 AM session:
The Board approved an agreement with Bakersfield City School District for Behavioral Health and Recovery Services to provide mental health services for school-age children through June of 2025.
Item No. 17 AM session:
The Board approved Kern County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services utilizing more than $8.7 million in Mental Health Services Act Innovation Component funds for five fiscal years for the Mobile Clinic with Street Psychiatry Innovation Plan Program.
This program helps treat individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges by assisting in reaching those that are experiencing homelessness and providing them with direct mental health and medical care.
Additionally, outreach and education efforts will increase access and awareness to unserved and underserved groups in the general public, increase the quality of services rendered, and promote interagency and community collaboration related to Mental Health and Substance Use Services.
Item No. 23 AM session:
The Board approved a Master Worksite Agreement with CityServe Network for placement of participants in transitional jobs through March of 2023.
Item No. 28 AM session:
The Board approved the purchase of radios for multiple law enforcement departments within the Kern Operational Area and authorized the transfer of equipment to other agencies by utilizing a portion of unanticipated revenue from Fiscal Year 2019.
Item No. 32 AM session:
The Board approved the Kern County Library accepting a $51,000 donation from the Kern County Library Foundation.
Item No. 33 AM session:
The Board approved the Kern County Library accepting a donation of 26 Chromebooks and 164 accessory kits for Chromebooks from Southern California Library Cooperative.
Item No. 38 AM session:
The Board extended an agreement with Kern County Hospital Authority for the provision of COVID-19 testing services through September of 2022.
Item No. 39 AM session:
The Board extended an agreement with Kern County Hospital Authority for the provision of COVID-19 mobile vaccination services through September of 2022.
Item No. 16 PM session:
The Board approved an agreement with Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) to operate a safe camping and parking program at the M Street Navigation Center.
This addition to M Street’s services will provide an alternative location for people experiencing homelessness to live as opposed to dwelling in public spaces.
The safe camping and parking program is part of Kern County’s Strategic Mitigation Plan to reduce homelessness in our community by providing a gateway for people experiencing homelessness to enter the M Street Navigation Center through engaging them in a variety of services from local providers.
This program will be funded by the County’s share of the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF) provide by the American Rescue Plan Act.
For more information, you can watch Chief Operations Officer Jim Zervis’ presentation to the Board here: https://youtu.be/safdkGf42tY