Board approves consent items, budget moves and ordinance changes; summary of votes

San Joaquin County's Board of Supervisors moved through a long agenda on June 3, 2025, approving a package of consent items and several formal actions. The board accepted the proposed FY 2025'26 budget for the required budget hearings, adopted or advanced several ordinances and agreements, and approved the county's housing and community development action plan for submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The board also announced a closed-session settlement decision in Olas v. County of San Joaquin.

Why this matters: the votes set the county's fiscal and regulatory direction for the coming year, including the public-authority budget for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), a multi-year increase to the AB 939 compliance fee that funds recycling and hazardous-waste programs, and final steps to recognize new fire-hazard severity zones that affect permitting and building requirements in parts of the county.

Most significant actions taken

- Acceptance of proposed FY 2025'26 budget for public hearing: The board accepted a $3.0 billion proposed county budget that staff said is structurally balanced and will be reviewed during final budget hearings beginning June 17, 2025. The vote to accept the proposed budget carried 5'0'00.

- IHSS Public Authority budget and interagency agreement: The board opened and closed the public hearing for the IHSS Public Authority budget and approved the public-authority budget and the interagency agreement. The board later adopted the memorandum of understanding between the IHSS Public Authority and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2015; actions recorded in the meeting passed 5'0'00.

- AB 939 compliance-fee amendment (solid-waste funding): Following a public hearing, the board adopted an ordinance to raise the AB 939 compliance fee (the fee that funds county-required waste-diversion and hazardous-waste programs) from $2 per ton to $5 per ton phased over three years, with future annual CPI adjustments. Staff told the board the increase was needed to close an estimated $4.4 million shortfall in program funding; the motion passed 5'0'00.

- Fire-hazard severity zones ordinance: The board adopted an ordinance adding Chapter 7 to Division 1 of Title 4 to designate local fire-hazard severity zones consistent with recommendations from the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The designation applies wildland-urban-interface building requirements in those zones (Mountain House, Tracy, parts of Linden/Peters/ Farmington, Clements areas were among locations noted). The motion passed 5'0'00.

- Development code text amendment: The board approved a planning commission recommendation to remove the county's abandoned-vehicle language from Title 9 (development title) and transfer enforcement responsibility to the Sheriff (Title 6). The board voted 5'0'00 to adopt the change.

- Flood Control / Construction awards (consent): The board approved consent items for the San Joaquin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, including a consulting services agreement and an award of contract for construction work shown on the agenda; the consent passed 5'0'00.

- HUD consolidated plan and 2025'26 annual action plan (CDBG/HOME/ESG): Staff presented the county's five-year consolidated plan and the 2025'26 annual action plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds, including staff'recommended allocations. The board approved forwarding the consolidated plan and annual action plan to HUD for the June 15, 2025 submission deadline; the motion passed 5'0'00.

- Closed-session reportable action: The board reported a settlement motion in Olas v. County of San Joaquin was approved in closed session by a 4'''1 vote (motion by Supervisor Rickman; second by Supervisor Guardia; Supervisor Ding voted no). Meeting remarks stated that settlement terms will be released once all parties have signed.

What the votes do not say: The board's record at the meeting contains limited detail on contract dollar amounts read into the record for some consent awards and on the specific terms of the closed-session settlement; staff indicated those details will be available through the usual contract and settlement records once finalized.

What happens next: the accepted proposed budget moves to final budget hearings starting June 17, staff will file the HUD consolidated plan by the June 15 deadline, and departments will implement the adopted ordinance changes and fee adjustments according to the timelines set in the newly adopted ordinances and contracts. The IHSS Public Authority and the county will proceed under the adopted interagency agreement and the MOU with SEIU Local 2015.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting): - Acceptance of proposed FY 2025'26 county budget for final hearings: approved 5'''0. - IHSS Public Authority budget and interagency agreement: approved 5'''0. - Adoption of MOU between IHSS Public Authority and SEIU Local 2015: adopted 5'''0. - AB 939 compliance-fee ordinance amendment (increase to $5/ton phased): adopted 5'''0. - Ordinance adopting 2025 San Joaquin County fire-hazard severity zone map: adopted 5'''0. - Development title text amendment (remove abandoned-vehicle provision): adopted 5'''0. - Flood Control consent contract awards and consulting agreements: approved 5'''0 (consent). - HUD Consolidated Plan / 2025'26 annual action plan (CDBG/HOME/ESG) forwarded to HUD: approved 5'''0. - Closed-session reportable settlement (Olas v. County of San Joaquin): approved 4'''''''1 (Supervisor Ding opposed).

Ending: The votes taken at the June 3 meeting set multi-year financial commitments (fee increases, IHSS benefits and wages, budget directions) and cleared several ordinance and code updates for implementation. Staff follow-up items include final contract documents, HUD-plan submission paperwork and administrative steps to implement fee increases and building-permitting changes in newly designated fire-hazard areas.