[5) Review and discuss the General Fund financial condition at the mid-point of the fiscal year and year-end projections for revenues, expenditure, and fund balance. (Perez- Hernandez)]

REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE GENERAL FUND FINANCIAL CONDITION AT THE MIDPOINT OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND YEAR AND PROJECTIONS FOR REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND FUND BALANCES, MR. PEREZ HERNANDEZ.

>> WE GOT BOTH USING AN ATTACK LIST TOGETHER [OVERLAPPING].

>> MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE THIS TOPIC A LITTLE BIT, WE'RE AT THAT POINT OF THE MIDDLE YEAR OF OUR FISCAL YEAR, AND SO MIDYEAR BUDGET PROCESS IS INTENDED TO REVIEW THE CURRENT STATUS OF OUR FINANCIAL POSITION, AS WELL AS OUR EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AND SERVICES WE PROVIDE.

THIS FISCAL YEAR CERTAINLY HAS BEEN VERY DIFFERENT, UNLIKE SOME IN THE PAST, DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC AND THE ASSOCIATED, BOTH THE IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM AS WELL AS, THAT'S JUST OUR OPERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

ANOTHER KEY DRIVER TO OUR MID-YEAR BUDGET THAT WE CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE IS THE IMPACT OF THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT AS IT HAS BOTH ON OUR PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS, BUT ALSO SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE CONDITION AND THE OUTCOME OF THE FORMER LAW SCHOOL FIRM WITH THE HOUSING COMPLEX THAT WE CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE AND TRY TO FIND

[00:05:03]

A SOLUTION FROM THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY AND THE STATE.

I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. PEREZ HERNANDEZ.

HE AND MR. BILL STAEDTLER, WHO'S A FINANCIAL CONSULTANT, WHO'S ASSISTING US IN PROVIDING PROJECT OVERSIGHT.

AWESOME KEY COMPLEX PROJECTS THAT OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON, SO ISRAEL WILL TAKE IT OVER FROM HERE.

>> THANK YOU, DANIEL. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS [INAUDIBLE] THE FOLLOWING PRESENTATION WILL BE BROKEN INTO TWO PARTS, THE FIRST PART WILL CONSIST OF THE GENERAL FUND CONDITION THAT WILL BE PRESENTED BY MR. BILL STAEDTLER.

I WILL BE FOCUSING ON THE SECOND PART OF THE PRESENTATION, WHICH WILL FOCUS ON THE PROPOSED MID-YEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS.

I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO MR. STAEDTLER.

MR. STAEDTLER YOU ARE ON MUTE.

>> OKAY.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

>> YES.

>> OKAY. GREAT. I'M SO RARELY QUIET, SO THIS IS AN UNUSUAL EXPERIMENT FOR ME [LAUGHTER].

COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR, I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE THIS EVENING, AND AS ISRAEL THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, I'M A FINANCIAL CONSULTANT ASSISTING THE CITY IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS, AND ONE OF THEM IS WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS [NOISE] ACTUALLY I WILL SPEND 30 SECONDS INTRODUCING MYSELF TO YOU.

I WAS A FINANCE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR AND FAMILIES WHO JUST SPOKE FOR 22 YEARS.

I WAS THE FINANCE OFFICER IN SIMI VALLEY FOR 10 YEARS BEFORE THAT, WHEN I RETIRED, ABOUT 11 YEARS AGO NOW, I HAD 37 YEARS IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

IF YOU'RE THINKING I MUST HAVE BEEN 12 WHEN I STARTED OUT, THAT'S VERY GRACIOUS OF YOU, BUT THEN IN THE LAST TEN YEARS, I LIKE TO THINK OF THE THIRD ACT OF MY CAREER, WHICH IS DOING CONSULTING, DOING TRAINING, AND DOING WRITING AND THE THIRD ACT THAT PRETTY MUCH BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.

SINCE I RETIRED, I'VE DONE OVER 60 CONSULTING PROJECTS, A LOT OF THEM DEALING WITH FINANCIAL FORECASTING, FINANCIAL PLANNING, AND BUDGETING.

AGAIN UP A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY BACKGROUND AND I'M DELIGHTED TO BE WORKING WITH THE CITY OF WASCO.

DANIEL, IF YOU WOULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

JUST A REAL HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE GENERAL FUND.

ON ONE HAND, ON A POSITIVE NOTE, WHILE STILL DOWN IN MANY CASES FROM YOUR PRE COVID LEVEL, WHEN WE LOOK AT 2000,1819, WHICH WAS A LOT NON COVID AFFECTED FISCAL YEAR.

YOUR REVENUES ARE DOWN IN SOME KEY CASES FROM THERE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY'RE DOING BETTER THAN YOU'VE BUDGETED.

WHILE THEY'RE DOWN, THEY'RE NOT DOWN AS FAR AS YOU INITIALLY THOUGHT THEY MAY BE.

THAT'S A POSITIVE NOTE ON THE REVENUE SIDE, YOU'RE GOING TO END THE YEAR BETTER THAN YOUR INITIAL BUDGET PROJECTED.

ON THE HAND THERE'S ONE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DOWNSIDE.

DANIEL, WILL YOU CLICK ON THE SLIDES AGAIN.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT OFFSET THIS IMPROVEMENT AND THEY'RE BOTH RELATED TO THE LABOR HOUSING COMPLEX DEMOLITION SITE CLEAN-UP PROJECT.

NEXT SLIDE, DANIEL. ON THE COST SIDE, THOUGH THAT INCREASE FROM AN INITIAL ESTIMATE OF ABOUT 5.1 MILLION TO 9.3 MILLION.

THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS FOR THIS, BUT THE PRIMARY ONE IS THE ADDITIONAL COST THROUGH DEALING WITH THESE TAX REIMBURSEMENT.

ON THE REVENUE SIDE, THE INITIAL ESTIMATE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A WASH.

HE THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE 5.1 MILLION IN CASH, BUT YOU WOULD RECEIVE $5.1 MILLION IN MITIGATION REVENUES FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA BECAUSE THIS IS RELATED TO THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT.

UNFORTUNATELY RECENTLY RECEIVED A NOTE FROM THE STATE THAT IT DOESN'T PLAN TO FUND ANY OF THESE COST.

WHETHER IT'S THE INITIAL 5.1 MILLION THAT'S GOING ON OR THE CURRENT $9.3 MILLION ESTIMATE.

BUT THEY'RE INDICATING THEY DON'T PLAN ON FUNDING EITHER OF THOSE.

ON THE OTHER, OF COURSE, THE CITY STRONGLY BELIEVES THAT THE STATE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MITIGATION.

[00:10:03]

YOU HAVE VIGOROUS LEGISLATIVE AND LEGAL EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO GET THE STATE TO CHANGE ITS OPINION OR AT LEAST BY FEED RAIL PROBES.

BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THE STATE IS RESPONSIBLE, OUR MAJOR BUDGET UPDATE ASSUMES ON THE REVENUE SIDE THAT YOU WOULDN'T GET FULLY REIMBURSED.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THAT'S FAR FROM A SURE THING WHETHER YOU'LL BE PARTIALLY REIMBURSED, OR REIMBURSED AT ALL.

WE NEED TO DO EFFECTIVELY PRUDENT THEM AND THAT IS TO RECOGNIZE IT COULD HAPPEN AND TO RESPOND TO THAT.

THE WAY THE MIDYEAR BUDGET REVIEW RESPOND TO THAT IS WE RECOMMEND SETTING ASIDE THAT $9.3 MILLION AND WE ASSIGN FUND BALANCE AS A CONTINGENCY FOR THOSE.

THE IMPACT AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR IS THAT THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IN TOTAL WOULD BE 1.98 MILLION, AND A PORTION OF THAT IS YOUR MEASURE ACTUAL REVENUES.

COMPARED WITH YOUR TARGET, YOUR POLICY GOAL OF 30 PERCENT OF OPERATING EXPENDITURES IN FUND BALANCE.

THAT MEANS AFTER THE ASSIGNMENT, YOU'LL ONLY HAVE ABOUT 18 PERCENT, AND THAT NUMBER BECOMES EVEN LOWER IF YOU SEGREGATE OUT THAT PORTION THAT'S RELATED TO YOUR MEASURE ACTUAL REVENUES.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. HERE'S THE ROAD AHEAD, WHICH I THINK IS WHERE WE WANT TO BE FOCUSED BECAUSE THE REVIEW MIRROR IS HELPFUL AND KNOW WHERE YOU'VE BEEN, BUT WE WANT TO BE FOCUSED ON THE ROAD AHEAD.

IN THE VERY SHORT TERM, THE GENERAL FUND IN SATISFACTORY PHYSICAL CONDITION, IT ISN'T AS GOOD AS WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE OR HOPED IT WOULD BE BECAUSE OF THAT $9.3 MILLION CONTINGENCY.

BUT IN THE SHORT-TERM THAT LEAD TO C PLUS.

BUT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES AHEAD FACING THE CITY.

OF COURSE, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IS THAT POSSIBLE STATE TAKEAWAY OF 9.3 MILLION.

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BE UNDER COST PRESSURE DUE TO UNFUNDED PENSION AND RETIREE HEALTH OBLIGATIONS.

BECAUSE OF THOSE SAME PRESSURES, ESPECIALLY PENSION OBLIGATION, I THINK WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE SOME INCREASE IS COMING IN FROM KERN COUNTY FOR YOUR PUBLIC FAITH [INAUDIBLE] THAT ARE HIGHER THAN IN THE PAST IN ORDER FOR THEM TO TAKE CARE OF AND FUND THEIR PENSION CHALLENGES AS WELL.

CLICK ON THE NEXT BULLET, PLEASE.

WE'LL HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF WHAT THOSE CHALLENGES LOOK LIKE BY THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR AND FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AHEAD WHEN WE PREPARE AND PRESENT THE COUNCIL WITH THE FIVE-YEAR GENERAL FUND FORECAST, AND THAT'S CURRENTLY PLANNED FOR COUNTS REVIEW LATER IN APRIL.

I THINK HERE WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE FIRST RULE OF HOLES, AND THAT IS IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A HOLE, AND WE MIGHT BE, STOP DIGGING.

WE WANT TO KEEP FISCAL PRUDENCE BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THOSE LONGER-TERM IMPLICATIONS ARE.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS GLIMPSE AND IT JUST TELL US WHAT WE THINK THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR IS LIKELY TO BE.

WE'LL TAKE A LONGER-TERM LOOK AT WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE LATER IN APRIL. NEXT SLIDE.

IN BREAKING THIS DOWN AND GOING TO ORGANIZE THE REST OF THIS PRESENTATION INTO WHAT'S REVENUES LOOKING LIKE, WHAT ARE EXPENDITURES LOOKING LIKE, AND THEN WHAT ARE THE CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE IN GENERAL, IF UNBALANCED BECAUSE OF THAT.

ON A POSITIVE NOTE, YOUR TOP TWO REVENUES, PROPERTY TAX RELATED IN SALES TAX REVENUE, THEY'RE GOING TO DO BETTER THAN THE BUDGET ESTIMATED.

THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO DO BETTER THAN YOU JUST BACK AT 2018/ 2019, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO DO BETTER THAN THE BUDGET.

WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE CURRENT BUDGET, PROPERTY TAXES, YOUR GENERAL ONE PERCENT LEVY, AND THEN THE PORTION YOU'VE GOT AS PART OF VLF FLOP WITH THE VLF REVENUE VEHICLE IN MOVIE THAT YOU USE TO RECEIVE FROM THE STATE AS SUBVENTION BASED ON POPULATION THAT GOT SHIFTED TO BEING A PART OF THE PROPERTY TAX LAW.

IN SHORT, MOST OF THESE REVENUE SOURCES ARE REALLY DEPENDENT UPON HOW THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA CHOOSES TO ALLOCATE THEM COMBINED WITH YOUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.

DANIEL, WE NEED TO STAY ON THE REVENUE SLIDE.

THESE, I'M ESTIMATING WILL BE SOMETHING LIKE YOUR 2019/20 REVENUES.

NOW IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF GROWTH THERE.

BUT THERE WILL BETTER THAN YOU INITIALLY ESTIMATED.

THE RATIONALE FOR THIS IS QUITE FRANKLY PROPERTY TAX REVENUE AS OPPOSED TO SALES TAX, FOR EXAMPLE, OR GOG.

IT'S NOT THAT RESPOND TO ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS

[00:15:02]

AND CERTAINLY NOT LIKE COVID-19, THERE'S NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT NECESSARILY ADVERSELY AFFECTED PROPERTY TAX VALUE.

IN FACT, YOU MAY VERY WELL CONTINGENCY PROPERTY VALUE RISE EVEN WITH COVID-19 AND CERTAINLY THE STATEWIDE TRENDS.

IN SHORT, PROPERTY TAX RELATED REVENUES ARE GOING TO BE BETTER.

FAILED TAX REVENUES ARE GOING TO BE BETTER AS WELL.

THEY STILL WON'T BE ABOVE 2018/19 LEVEL.

BUT BASED ON PROJECTIONS BY YOUR SALES TAX ADVISOR, [INAUDIBLE] AND LLAMAS HDL, THIS IS THEIR ESTIMATE FOR WHAT THEY THINK SALES TAX REVENUES WILL DO BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

SHOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT THIS SUMMARY SHOWS YOUR TOP 10 REVENUES.

WHEN WE EXCLUDE THESE GRANT REVENUES, THIS IS 99 PERCENT OF YOUR REVENUE, SO WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD HANDLE ON THE TOP 10.

WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD HANDLE ON YOUR OVERALL REVENUE SITUATION.

FRANCHISE TAXES AND FEES, JUST A SLIGHT INCREASE THERE FROM THE BUDGET ESTIMATES AND BASICALLY 350,000 REVISED ESTIMATES.

THAT'S RIGHT ON TARGET WITH WHAT YOU WOULD RECEIVE LAST FISCAL YEAR.

NOT EXPECTING ANY DROP IN THAT REVENUE, BUT NOT EXPECTING ANY CONTRACTIONS AS WELL.

ON THE BAD NEWS SIDE, OF COURSE, THAT YOUR TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX REVENUES, THESE WERE ALMOST 200,000 IN YOUR BASE YEAR 2018/19, PROJECTED THOUGH TO BE 188,000 THIS YEAR IN THE INITIAL BUDGET.

BUT JUST BASED ON YEAR TODAY TREND, THIS IS GOING TO COME IN AT ABOUT 75,000 FOR THE YEAR.

THIS IS GOING TO BE 113,000 LESS THAN YOUR BUDGET ESTIMATE.

THE SAME IS TRUE FOR BUSINESS LICENSE, TAX REVENUES PROJECTED TO BE 130,000, PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH PAST YEAR TRENDS.

BUT REALLY BASED ON YEAR TO DATE COLLECTIONS AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO EXPECT BASED ON PAST TRENDS, THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE ALMOST HALF THAT AMOUNT BY YEAR END, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE OFF BY 55,000.

ON A POSITIVE NOTE, YOUR DEVELOPMENT REVIEW FEES LIKE PLANNING FEES, ENGINEERING, BOTH ARE GOING TO BE ABOVE YOUR REVENUE ESTIMATES.

THERE'S ONE KEY DRIVER FOR THAT.

YOU'VE ALREADY RECEIVED 427,000 YEAR TO DATE IN THESE REVENUES, SO JUST DOING MODE IS TRENDING FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

PROBABLY END ABOUT 250,000 DUE WITH YEAR.

YOU HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT ONETIME DEVELOPMENT OR REVIEW SEASON THERE.

DON'T THINK THIS WILL BE REPEATED AT THIS LEVEL IN THE FUTURE, BUT FOR FISCAL YEAR THEY SHOULD BE OUT BY ABOUT 250,000.

THE NET REVENUE SOURCES, THEY GOING TO BE AT THIS POINT BASED ON THE BEST INFORMATION WE HAVE HERE TODAY, SHOULD BE RIGHT ON TARGET WITH THE ESTIMATES.

THE NEXT BIG CHANGE, OF COURSE, IS GRANT REVENUES.

THIS IS ASSUMING THAT THAT FULL INCREASING COSTS FOR THE LABOR HAS BEEN CAM DEMOLITION WILL BE OFFSET BY ABOUT 4.2 MILLION IN AUTHENTIC REVENUE.

IT ALSO REFLECTS POSITIVE NEWS YOU RECEIVED RECENTLY, YOU'LL BE GETTING 356,000 IN COVID MITIGATION REVENUES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY COST.

THAT 4.5 MILLION REPRESENTS THOSE TWO THINGS; OFFSETTING COST FOR THE LABOR HOUSING COMPLEX DEMO AND THAT NEW 356,000 IN COVID RELEASE.

OVERALL PRETTY POSITIVE ON THE REVENUE SLIDE.

NEXT SLIDE, DANIEL.

EXPENDITURES ARE PRETTY MUCH ON TRACK.

IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR CURRENT BUDGET, THAT'S ONLY OFFSET BY A PROPOSED 215,400 IN BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS.

AT THIS POINT, THAT'S REALLY A PLACE HOLDER.

YOU'LL BE DISCUSSING THOSE, AT THIS POINT WE'RE NOT.

BUT THE PLATE FOLDER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE INCLUDED THAT.

THEN OF COURSE, CAPITAL OUTLAY COSTS ARE GOING TO BE HIRED BY AROUND 4.1/4.2 MILLION BECAUSE OF THAT HIGHER COST FOR THE LABOR HOUSING COMPLEX DEMO AND SITE CLEAN UP.

THEN ON THE OTHER HAND, WHAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING IN EXPENDITURE SAVINGS, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE OFFSETTING SAVINGS LARGELY DRIVEN BY VACANCY, AND THEY'RE GOING TO PULL THE OFFSET THAT 215,400.

THAT'S ACTUALLY A NAP IN THIS DOCUMENT, BUT THAT'S THE FACTORS ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.

WHAT DID THAT MEAN FOR WHERE YOU'RE ENDING FUND BALANCE POSITION IS GOING TO BE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

[NOISE] WOW. THAT'S AN INTERESTING TRANSITION.

IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE REVISED REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES AND OTHER SOURCES AND USES THAT JUST TIES DIRECTLY TO THEIR PRIOR TWO SIDES.

YOU'RE ACTUALLY, ALTHOUGH YOU'RE STILL LIKELY TO DRY DOWN ON YOUR RESERVES, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS IT'S GOING TO BE

[00:20:03]

IN A LESSER AMOUNT THAN YOU ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED.

YOU ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED DRAWING DOWN ALMOST FOUR MILLION IN RESERVES.

BASED ON THE REVISION IT'S GOING TO BE 2.2 MILLION IN DRY DOWN SO WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE DRY DOWN ON YOUR RESERVE COMPARED WITH THE BUDGET, THAT'S ACTUALLY 1.8 MILLION.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE NOT DRAWING DOWN RESERVES YOU ARE, BUT IT'S NOT AS DEEP IF IT'S NOT AS MUCH AS YOU INITIALLY ANTICIPATED.

SO IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE BEGINNING FUND BALANCE ABOUT 13.5 MILLION, THEN THAT MEANS IN TOTAL MIGHT END THE YEAR WITH ABOUT 11.2 MILLION.

BUT WE NEED TO SET A SIDE THAT 9.3 MILLION SO THAT MEANS INCLUDING YOUR MEASURE X BALANCE THAT YOU SHOULD END THE YEAR AROUND 1.9 MILLION.

LET'S PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE AGAIN, THAT'S 18 PERCENT OF YOUR OPERATING EXPENDITURES COMPARED WITH YOUR TARGET OF 30 PERCENT.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY BAD TO BE DRAWING DOWN ON YOUR RESERVE YOU HAVE THEM FOR A REASON WHEN IT'S A RAINY DAY.

RIGHT NOW WITH COVID-19, IT'S A PRETTY STORMY DAY SO IT'S NOT TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE TO BE DRAWING DOWN ON YOUR RESERVE.

BUT LET'S RECOGNIZE YOU'RE NOT IN A STRONG PHYSICAL SHAPE AS YOU WERE EVEN A YEAR AGO BECAUSE OF COVID-19 AND BECAUSE OF IT'S IMPACT.

IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS IF IN FACT WE DO HAVE TO DRAW DOWN ON THAT.

IN WHICH CASE, YOUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IF WE SET A SIDE THE MEASURE X REVENUES.

WHERE WE THINK THE NET BALANCE OF MEASURE X REVENUES IS GOING TO BE AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THEN IT'S ACTUALLY A NEGATIVE FUND BALANCE.

NOW, MEASURE X REVENUE ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE TARGETED USERS FOR THOSE ARE GENERAL PURPOSE REVENUE.

THEY COULD BE USED TO HELP MITIGATE THIS BUT THE PURPOSE OF THIS SLIDE IS TO SHOW YOU JUST HOW DEEP IN THE HOLE YOU MAY BE.

IF WE SET ASIDE MEASURE X REVENUES AND IF YOU DON'T GET FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THOSE LABOR COMPLEX CLASS, THEN YOU WILL BE IN VERY ADVERSE FISCAL SHAPE.

LAST SLIDE, I THINK [NOISE] AND SO AT THIS POINT I JUST WANT TO ASK IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR FISCAL SHAPE AS WE FEARED AT THE MIDPOINT OF THE YEAR, PROJECTING TOWARDS THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFIC BUDGET ADJUSTMENT.

>> NO GO AHEAD, PLEASE PROCEED.

>> I'M SORRY MR. MAYOR, DO WE OPEN THIS PUBLIC COMMENTS? BUT I DO HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING PRESENTATION.

>> OKAY, WELL THEN WE'LL JUST DO IT ALTOGETHER AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMIT TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMPLIMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE ON YOUR APPLICATION.

IF YOU ARE USING THE TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD.

YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON BY THE NUMBER YOU ARE CALLING FROM WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.

YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENTS AND ONCE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, YOU ARE MUTED.

AT THIS TIME DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS NUMBER?

>> MAYOR GARCIA, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT FROM GERALD GRIDIRON.

>> GERALD, ARE YOU WITH US?

>> YES. HI, JUST A QUICK QUESTION PERTAINS TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

IS THERE A LINE ITEM OF LISTS WHERE SOMEBODY'S ITEMS ARE BEING BUDGETED TOWARDS ARE BEING ALLOCATED? IS THERE A LIST OF LINE ITEMS WHERE SOME OF THIS BUDGET IS BEING ALLOCATED TOWARDS BY SOMEONE ACCESSIBLE TOWARD THE PUBLIC OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE?

>> CITY MANAGER, DO I RESPOND TO MR. GERALD?

>> YEAH, GO AHEAD I WAS CHECKING TO SEE IF IT WAS IN THE AGENDA PACKET.

>> YES, IT IS.

IT'S IN THE AGENDA PACKET TOWARDS THE END OF THE AGENDA PACKET THAT INFORMATION IS THERE IN THE ATTACHMENT.

>> THANK YOU AND WHERE CAN AGENDA PACKET BE ACCESSIBLE FROM?

>> IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> GERALD, ALL OUR MEETING AGENDAS IN THE PACKET HE'S REFERRING TO ARE IN THE CITY WEBSITE UNDER CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND AGENDAS.

ALL THAT INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AHEAD OF THE MEETING.

THANK YOU.

[00:25:01]

>> THANK YOU MR. GERALD MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE ON INTO MEMBER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?

>> MAYOR GARCIA, THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS.

>> THANK YOU, LET'S GO THROUGH THE MEMBERS ANY COMMENT FROM MAYOR PRO TEM? EXCUSE ME, MEMBER CORTEZ YOU HAD A COMMENT SPECIFICALLY GO AHEAD FIRST.

>> OKAY, NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR CAN YOU GO BACK A COUPLE SLIDES WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THE REVENUE OF DEVELOPMENT FEES AND SUCH.

>> WAIT ONE MORE THERE WE GO.

>> THE QUESTION RIGHT HERE, I SEE THE REVENUES SO LIKE THE PERMITS, A SERVICE CHARGES, DEVELOPMENT REVIEWS.

WE HAVE CURRENT BUDGET 276 REVISED BY 27 FOR AN ADDITIONAL REVENUE 250.

THOSE ARE ACTUAL COST RECOVERY REVENUE NOT ACTUALLY JUST GROSS INCOME FOR THE CITY, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT, THOSE WILL BE COST RECOVERY REVENUES.

A LARGE PART OF THAT IS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT AND THE PERMITTING PROCESS AND PLAN REVIEWS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT PROJECT.

>> GOT YOU, SO EVEN THOUGH IT'S ADDITIONAL REVENUE, IT'S JUST COST RECOVERY THERE IS NO NET GAIN TO THE CITY OF WASCO.

I WOULD ARGUE THAT ACTUALLY WE'RE NOT AT FULL COST RECOVERY YET BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE WE'VE HAD WITH HIGH SPEED RAIL AND REIMBURSEMENT PROCESSES.

>> THERE WOULD BE SOME NET NEW REVENUES TO THE CITY, YOU ARE RIGHT.

SOME OF THIS STUFF HAS A COST INCREASE AND THIS RAIL IS GOING TO COVER THAT IN THE NEXT PORTION OF THIS PRESENTATION.

THERE IS REQUESTED, I BELIEVE ABOUT 39,000 IN ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING COSTS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE HERE.

BUT IN THIS CASE, I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT, THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES ARE SEPARATE.

THEY'RE SOME OFFSETTING COST OF THIS BUT I THINK YOU WILL BE, BY THE END OF THIS YEAR NET POSITIVE ON NOTE.

BUT THIS IS NOT, I THINK AN IMPORTANT CAVEAT THIS NOT LIKELY TO BE A CONTINUING INCREASE IN REVENUE.

I THINK THIS REALLY REPRESENT SOME ONE TIME DEVELOPMENT REVIEW YOU HAVE IN THIS PARTICULAR FISCAL YEAR.

BUT YOU'RE CORRECT, THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME OFF SETTING CLASS INCREASES THIS YEAR.

BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THIS SHOULD STILL BE A NET POSITIVE FOR YOU.

>> THANK YOU, AND THEN THE GRANT SECTION REVENUES, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT A GRANT FROM HIGH SPEED RAIL OR SOMETHING.

DID I MISS SOMETHING THERE I MIGHT HAVE MISHEARD?

>> WE HAD ORIGINALLY BUDGETED THE FISCAL YEAR, THE POTENTIAL TO RECEIVE FUNDING FROM HIGH-SPEED RAIL OR THE STATE TO MITIGATE THE DEMOLITION AND CLEANUP OF LABOR CAMP.

WE ORIGINALLY BUDGETED BASED OFF THE ESTIMATE THAT WAS GENERATED OF 5.3 MILLION AND SO THAT ESTIMATE HAS SINCE INCREASED.

SO WE BUDGETED OR ACCOUNTING SOMEWHAT HOPEFULLY, THAT INCREASE WOULD ALSO TRANSLATE IN THAT LARGER INCREASE FROM THE GRANT MATTER.

>> I THINK MY FINAL QUESTION WOULD BE, I THINK THE THIRD SLIDE GO TO THE NEXT ONE [OVERLAPPING] WOULD BE THERE.

THE UNASSIGNED 1.983 MILLION, THAT WOULD BE IF WE SET ASIDE THE 9.3 ESTIMATED COST TO DEMOLISH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY COMPLEX.

THAT'S BASICALLY THE NET AMOUNT IN OUR MEASURE X FUND MORE OR LESS.

WE'RE BASICALLY BE SPENDING ALL OF OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES AT THIS POINT.

WOULD THAT BE A CORRECT ASSESSMENT?

>> I THINK WE'D HAVE TO DELVE DEEPER INTO THAT BUT WE WANTED TO PER SHOW WORST CASE SCENARIO.

IF THE CITY HAS TO DEMO THE LABOR CAMP AND SET ASIDE OUR RESERVES, WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE.

SO THAT ASSUMES THAT YOU ARE INCLUDING MEASURE X INTO THAT CONSIDERATION AND SPENDING DOWN MEASURE X.

OTHERWISE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT COLUMN, THE COUNCIL DECIDES SHOULD YOU DECIDE NOT TO USE MEASURE X.

THEN YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR A DEFICIT.

>> GOT YOU, YOU ANSWER MY QUESTION THANK YOU THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

>> THANK YOU MEMBER CORTEZ, COMMENTS FROM OTHER MEMBERS WE HAVE MEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR THIS PORTION?

>> THE QUESTION THAT I HAD HAS BEEN ANSWERED AND THAT WAS UNASSIGNED MEASURE X MONEY.

[00:30:04]

SO BECAUSE THAT'S VERY WORRISOME TO ME THAT WE ARE ACCOUNTING ON ALL OF THIS MONEY TO BE ABLE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET.

OTHERWISE, WE HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM OF OVER EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS AND SO IT HAS BEEN ANSWERED I DON'T NEED TO LOOK FURTHER ON THAT AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU.

>> MR. PEREZ WILL PROBABLY GO INTO LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON TO SOME MORE SPECIFIC.

HE MAY ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS OF THE COUNCILMEN BEHALF IN ADVANCE.

>> VERY WELL, ANYMORE QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESENTER OR COMMENTS? MEMBER MARTINEZ?

>> DID NOT AT THIS TIME, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, ABOUT MEMBER PALLARES?

>> NO COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, YOU MAY RESUME.

>> THANK YOU MR. STAEDTLER, FOR THAT DETAILED PRESENTATION.

WE WILL NOW GO OVER THE MID YEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS.

THIS SLIDE IS A SUMMARY OF THE TOTAL PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET ADJUSTMENT BY DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS THE TOTAL BY DEPARTMENT, OR GENERAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS, FACILITY MAINTENANCE, TRAFFIC SAFETY, WASTEWATER, WATER, SANITATION AND TRANSPORTATION, AND THE TOTAL OF THE PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS, IT'S $647,540.

NEXT SLIDE. FOR THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK, STAFF IS REQUESTING $25,200 TO FUND AN ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT THAT WILL BE ASSISTING WITH THE RECORDS RETENTION, AS WELL AS A DISPATCHING CALLS FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT.

STAFF IS ALSO REQUESTING $43,000 TO CORRECT UNBUDGETED STAFFING COSTS.

LASTLY, FOR THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK, STAFF IS REQUESTING $3,700 TO CORRECT UNBUDGETED OFFICE MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES.

FOR ENGINEERING, STAFF IS REQUESTING A TOTAL OF $70,000 TO PURCHASE A PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND TO PERFORM A FACILITY ASSESSMENT.

ALSO STAFF IS REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL $39,000 DOLLARS TO MEET THE INCREASED DEMAND IN ENGINEERING SERVICES, WHICH IS LARGELY OFFSET BY THE INCREASED SERVICE, WHICH IS WHAT MR. STAEDTLER ANSWERED ON THE REVENUE SIDE, THROUGH THE COST RECOVERY.

FOR THE STREETS DEPARTMENT, STAFF IS REQUESTING $31,000 TO FUND THE ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL CONDUIT FOR THE BIRCH AVENUE AND THE STREET REHAB.

ALSO, STAFF IS REQUESTING $3000 TO REPLACE BARRICADES THAT NO LONGER MEET REFLECTIVITY STANDARDS.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. FOR FACILITIES AND TRAFFIC SAFETY, THESE WERE BOTH PUT TOGETHER SINCE THERE ARE ONLY ONE LINE ITEM.

STAFF IS REQUESTING $9,040 FOR JANITORIAL DISINFECTING SURFACES, AS WELL AS FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY.

STAFF IS REQUESTING A COMBINED $11,000 TO CORRECT UNDER BUDGETED MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES FOR PAINT STRIPING, AND REPLACING SIGNS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THANK YOU.

FOR THE WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT, THE WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT IS REQUESTING $15,000 TO CORRECT UNDER BUDGETED COST AND DO TO THE ANTICIPATED NEW FEES FROM THE STATE WATER RESOURCES BOARD.

THE WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT ARE ALSO REQUESTING $10,000 TO CORRECT UNDER BUDGETED COSTS AND DUE TO AN ANTICIPATED STATE WATER ORDER THAT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL SAMPLING AND REPORTING FOR THE FLUORIDE [INAUDIBLE] ACID, IT'S AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANT.

ALSO, STAFF IS REQUESTING $10,000 TO COVER THE UNDER BUDGETED IN ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FOR THE NEW GROUND MONITORING WELL PROJECT.

LASTLY, STAFF IS REQUESTING $25,000 TO COVER THE COST THE CITY ABSORBS WHEN CUSTOMERS PAY THEIR UTILITY BILLS ONLINE.

PRE- COVID. THE CITY WAS COLLECTING $50,000 PER MONTH, AND CURRENTLY ON AVERAGE, THE CITY IS COLLECTING $250,000 PER MONTH, WHICH IS AN INCREASE IN TRANSACTIONS, WHICH WE'LL ALSO SEE IN THE WATER FUND AS WELL AS THE SANITATION FUND.

[00:35:02]

WATER DEPARTMENT, STAFF IS REQUESTING A $145,000 TO CORRECT THE UNDER BUDGETED UTILITIES EXPENSE, THIS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO AN INCREASE IN CONSUMPTION AND DUE TO THE STAY AT HOME ORDER MANDATES.

STAFF IS ALSO REQUESTING $50,000 TO UPDATE THE URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN AND PERFORM A PUMP CAPACITY TESTS.

FOR THE WATER DEPARTMENT, IT'S REQUESTING $10,000 TO COVER THE COST TO MAINTAIN A PSI TRANSMITTER AT THE SENIOR HOUSING, AS WELL AS PURCHASING A SCADA COMPUTER.

STAFF IS ALSO REQUESTING $35,000 TO CORRECT UNDER BUDGETED LIABILITY COSTS.

STAFF IS ALSO REQUESTING $25,000 TO CORRECT THE UNDER BUDGETED WEB PAYMENT FEES AS MENTIONED ON THE WASTEWATER DEPARTMENTS SLIDE.

THIS COSTS ARE DERIVED FROM A CONVENIENCE FEE THAT THE CITY HAS NOT PASSED ON TO THEIR CUSTOMERS AND IS CURRENTLY ABSORBING, SO THE CITY IS PAYING FOR.

LASTLY IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT, STAFF IS REQUESTING A COMBINED $4,500 TO CORRECT UNDER BUDGETED METER READING AND SMALL TOOLS COSTS.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT.

THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT IS REQUESTING $5,000 TO COVER UNDER BUDGETED CURRENT COUNTING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEE INCREASES.

ALSO FOR THE SANITATION FUND, STAFF IS REQUESTING $27,500 TO COVER THE UNDER BUDGETED LIABILITY COSTS.

THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT IS ALSO REQUESTING 25,000 TO CORRECT THE UNDER BUDGET WEB PAYMENTS AS MENTIONED IN THE WASTEWATER AND WATER, SINCE THIS IS AN ENTERPRISE COST THAT IS SHARED AMONGST ALL THREE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, FOR THE WEB PAYMENT CONVENIENCE FEE THAT THE CITY'S CURRENTLY ABSORBING.

LASTLY, STUFF IS REQUESTING FOR LINE ITEMS TOTALING $2500.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, STAFF IS REQUESTING $12,600 TO COVER THE STAFFING COST OF A SHARED ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, WHICH WILL BE FOCUSING ON RECORDS RETENTION, AS WELL AS DISPATCHING RECALLS TO THE PUBLIC TRANSIT DRIVERS.

LASTLY, FOR THE PUBLIC TRANSIT IS REQUESTING $10,000 TO COVER THE UNBUDGETED LIABILITY COSTS.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. COVERING THE CIP PROJECTS, AS MR. STAEDTLER ALLUDED TO.

IT IS BASICALLY PRUDENT FOR US TO SET ASIDE THE $9.3 MILLION FOR THE LABOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, IN THE EVENT THAT THE CITY DOES NOT RECEIVE A GRANT TO OFFSET THE EXPENDITURES TO DEMOLISH AND THE CYCLING OF THE LABOR HOUSING.

THIS WOULD INCREASE THE DEMOLITION OF THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FROM $5.1 MILLION TO $9.3 MILLION, SO THAT'S AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $4.2 MILLION THAT WE WILL BE ADDING ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT SIDE.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

THIS CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION ON THE GENERAL FUND CONDITION AND VERBOSE MEDIA BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2021.

MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'LL BE ANSWERING QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ISRAEL, AND FOR THE SAKE OF [INAUDIBLE] WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS AGAIN, THIS ITEM AFTER MEMBER COMMENTS.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS [INAUDIBLE] I WANT TO ASK IF I COULD REVIEW THE FIRST THREE SLIDES, I BELIEVE I WAS MAKING NOTES, BUT THEY'RE GOING TOO FAST FOR ME , SO I STARTED TO TAKE PICTURES OF THEM.

THESE ARE THE PROPOSAL ADJUSTMENTS.

COULD YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE?

>> YOU WANT THE PROPOSAL ADJUSTMENTS?

>> RIGHT.

>> OKAY. [NOISE]

>> GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT ONE, [BACKGROUND] AND THE NEXT ONE.

[00:40:06]

[NOISE] I BELIEVE I HAVE THE OTHERS.

WHAT IS THE NEXT ONE? YEAH, I DO.

I'LL JUST TAKE A PICTURE OF THAT [NOISE] AGAIN.

THANK YOU. [NOISE]

>> MEMBER CORTEZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS MOTION OF THE PRESENTATION?

>> I DO. THERE IS A RECURRING THEME HERE AND SOME OF THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS, INCREASED LIABILITY COSTS.

WHAT IS THAT STEMMING FROM? I GUESS, I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS THAT, IS THAT THE RMA THAT HAS INCREASED THE COST?

>> I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S AS MUCH AS THE COST OF INCREASE AS BOTH AS A COMBINATION FACTOR OF WHATEVER COSTS HAVE INCREASED, BUT ALSO HOW THEY'VE BEEN ALLOCATED TO THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE PAST.

WE'VE GONE THROUGH AND TRIED TO BETTER ALLOCATE THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE DIVISIONS AND SERVICES.

>> BUT ONCE YOU HAVE SOME COST SAVINGS IN OTHERS, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO REALLOCATE ACCORDINGLY.

[NOISE] WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT IF YOU'RE ALLOCATING TOO MUCH ON ONE DEPARTMENT YOU SHOULD HAVE A COST SAVINGS IN ONE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT'S NOT GOING TO ABSORB ALL OF THE INCREASED COSTS BUT IT SHOULD HAVE A SAVINGS IN ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.

>> VOCALLY, IT WOULD JUST BE INCREASES.

>> SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING, IS THE NET INCREASE IS NOT THE SAVINGS IN THE OTHER DEPARTMENT. THAT'S NOT FUN.

[BACKGROUND] I SAW $25,000 IN ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER FEES FOR THE ONLINE PAYMENTS, THAT SEEMS ALSO TO BE A RECURRING THEME.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO [NOISE] START THE CONVENIENCE FEE SO THAT WE'RE NOT ABSORBING THESE FEES BECAUSE THAT'S COMING STRAIGHT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND AT THIS POINT

>> MR. PRESIDENT, I'VE TALKED ABOUT UPDATING SOME OF OUR MUNICIPAL CODE AND PROPOSING ADDITIONAL POLICIES, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE IS, ESTABLISHING A CONVENIENCE FEE FOR ACCEPTING AND PROCESSING CREDIT CARD CHARGES.

>> IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE UNILATERALLY.

IT'S GOT TO COME THROUGH TO THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL?

>> CORRECT.

>> ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GET ON THAT.

SO WATER 145,000 IN PUMPING, EXCESS PUMPING FEES BECAUSE WE'RE PUMPING MORE WATER BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE ARE AT HOME.

IS THAT THE ASSESSMENT WE HAVE?

>> CORRECT.

>> CAN THAT BE OFFSET BY SOME OF THE CARES ACT FUNDING? THERE'S UNBUDGETED AND ANTICIPATED RESULTS OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> THE DIFFICULT PART WITH THE CARES ACT FUNDING IS THE JUSTIFICATION, SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO [NOISE] SEPARATE THE EQUANTIFY THAT'S SPECIFICALLY ENOUGH TO SATISFY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT.

>> CAN I JUST ADD THAT WE ALSO ADJUSTED THE PRESSURE SET POINTS, SO NOW OUR SYSTEM IS SET TO [NOISE] PUMP WATER TO MAINTAIN A HIGHER PRESSURE THAN IT WAS IN THE PAST.

>> SO WOULD THIS BE A FACTOR IN RATES STUDY THAT WE WOULD BE DOING IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> OKAY. THEN THERE WAS A MENTION OF A BUDGE IN 3RD STREET, WE HAVE ADDITIONAL COSTS, I DIDN'T CATCH THE AMOUNT.

>> IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST SLIDES I THINK.

>> THIRTY-ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

THAT'S ON THE STREETS.

[NOISE] ONE SLIDE, DANIEL, THERE YOU GO.

ONE MORE. THERE YOU GO.

[BACKGROUND] THE ELECTRICAL CONDUIT DESIGN?

>> YES, AND WHAT WAS THAT FOR AGAIN?

>> THAT'S FOR THE SP1 PROJECT, OF THE BUDGE FOR SECOND AND THIRD.

WE ARE GOING TO BE ADDING THE ELECTRICAL POOL BOXES IN THE CONDUIT FOR FUTURE STREET LIGHTING.

>> OH, I SEE. THIS IS PART OF ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE HAD ON IT ON THE TABLE ALREADY.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THAT'S THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MEMBER CORTEZ.

MEMBER MARTINEZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> YES. DANIEL, REAL BRIEFLY CAN YOU REFRESH MY MEMORY ON HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE $4 MILLION INCREASE IN THE DEMO OF THE LABOR CAMP?

>> SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN GREATER DETAIL IN THE REGULAR MEETING,

[00:45:03]

BUT THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS DEVELOPED ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO, AND THAT WAS BEFORE THE COMPLEX WAS COMPLETELY VACANT.

SO IF YOU RECALL, THERE WERE STILL SOME TENANTS THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO BE WE LOCATED TO ROSETTA VILLAGE.

SO WHEN STAFF WAS TRYING TO PREPARE THE THE ESTIMATES, WE HAD VERY RAW DATA TO BE ABLE TO GO OFF OF, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, AS A [NOISE] SIGN OF GOOD FAITH EFFORT, THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY, BASICALLY ASKED, "HEY, CAN WE SEE YOUR ESTIMATES AND REVIEW." BY THAT TIME, THIS WAS IN DECEMBER OF THIS PAST YEAR AND SO THE CONDITION OF THE COMPLEX HAD DETERIORATED.

WE WERE STARTING TO GET BETTER ASSESSMENTS OF THE POTENTIAL AMOUNTS OF ASBESTOS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE ABATED.

WE ALSO ANOTHER DRIVER IS JUST A GENERAL CLEANUP COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE CAMP ITSELF AS THE CONDITION IN SOME OF THE UNITS HAS DETERIORATED, AND WE'VE HAD TRANSIENTS AND OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITY GOING ON THAT MAY REQUIRE SOME COSTLY PRE-DEMOLITION CLEAN UP, SOME OF IT MAY REQUIRE TYVEK SUITS, HAZMAT-TYPE SCENARIO JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE CONDITIONS OF SOME OF THOSE UNITS.

>> I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, SO ONCE WE PUT THIS OUT TO BID, THAT COULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE COSTLY THAN WHAT WE'RE EVEN ESTIMATING, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT. [NOISE] WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE WAITING FOR THE RESULTS BACK OF THE ASBESTOS TESTING WE HAD ORDERED, AND SO THAT'LL GIVE US A BETTER DETAILED IDEA OF JUST THE VOLUME [NOISE] AND THE QUANTITY OF MATERIALS THAT ARE ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIAL.

>> I GUESS MY QUESTION, BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T ACTUALLY START THE DEMO TILL WE WERE RESOLVED OUR LITIGATION AND EXHAUSTED OUR LEGISLATIVE OPTIONS, RIGHT?

>> THAT WOULD BE UP TO YOU FIVE TO DECIDE.

>> BECAUSE I GUESS MY CONCERN IS EVEN IF WE BUDGET THE 9.2 MILLION, BY THE TIME WE ACTUALLY STARTED THE DEMO, IT MIGHT BE SO MUCH MORE COSTLY EVEN IF WE DRAIN THE MEASURE X-FUND COMPLETELY, WE STILL WOULDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.

>> CORRECT.

>> I GUESS THOSE WERE MY QUESTIONS.

SO THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND]

>> OH, THANK YOU. I WAS ON MUTE, MEMBER PALLARES DO YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

>> I DON'T. NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.

[NOISE] [INAUDIBLE] DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC AT THIS TIME?

>> [NOISE] I SEE THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

>> THANK YOU, FOLKS. VERY WELL.

MEMBER. I MEAN, DANIEL, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS ITEM?

>> [OVERLAPPING] NOT FOR THIS SESSION NOW.

>> THANK YOU. VERY GOOD STUDY SESSION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR GUEST PRESENTERS THIS EVENING AND OF COURSE, TO OUR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE EZRA, FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND EVERYONE AND STAFF WHO PUT THIS TOGETHER.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO ADJOURN AND SEE EVERYONE FOR THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AT 6:00 P.M. [NOISE]

>> HEY MARIA, IS THIS THE SAME LINK FOR THE REGULAR [OVERLAPPING]

>> WE HAVE ALL MEMBERS ON BOARD? [NOISE]

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>> YOU READY?

>> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT. FOLKS, WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS, COUNCIL'S MEETING TO ORDER.

[1) CALL TO ORDER]

GOOD EVENING, THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD PURSUANT TO SECTION 3, EXCUSE MY DOG, OF EXECUTIVE ORDER N29 OF 20 ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT [INAUDIBLE] ON MARCH 17TH, 2020.

ALL MEMBERS ARE JOINING THIS MEETING REMOTELY VIA ZOOM WEBINAR.

WE WILL NOW CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

PLEASE STAND FOR THE FLAG SALUTE IF YOU'RE ABLE.

[NOISE] WELL, WE'RE GOING TO FIND ITEM THREE FOR AN INVOCATION.

I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE MR. PAUL HERNANDEZ FROM FREE RURAL BAPTIST CHURCH THIS EVENING. MADAM CLERK? MR. HERNANDEZ IS GOING TO MAKE YOURSELVES,

[00:50:01]

USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE OR STAR NINE IF YOU ARE WITH US, MR. PAUL HERNANDEZ.

>> MAYOR, I DON'T SEE HIM ON THE LINE

>> VERY WELL. IS THERE ANYONE ON THE LINE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE AN INVOCATION FOR US THIS EVENING? IF SO, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

[NOISE] ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN LIEU OF AN INVOCATION.

THANK YOU.

[BACKGROUND] THANK YOU.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> MAYOR GARCIA?

>> PRESENT.

>> MAYOR PUERTA MARINA?

>> ALL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.

>> THANK YOU MADAM CLERK.

THEY ARE WITH ME AS I PULL OUT THE NEXT ITEM.

[NOISE] ALL READY. THIS EVENING WE HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION ON A 5A,

[5.a. Proclamation for Women’s History Month presented to the Wasco Woman’s Club. ]

A PROCLAMATION FOR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH PRESENTED TO THE WASCO WOMAN'S CLUB.

THIS EVENING I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE, SHARE WHAT YOU DO WITH US, IF NOT I WILL ALSO BE PICKING THIS PRESENTATION AT THEIR NEXT MEMBERSHIP MEETING.

WE HAVE PROCLAIMED, [NOISE] WHEREAS MARCH IS CELEBRATED AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

[NOISE] MONTH OF MARCH, WE ACKNOWLEDGE, HONOR, AND RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS [NOISE].

WHEREAS GENERATIONS OF WOMEN ARE UP TO SHAPE OUR CULTURE, OUR TRADITIONS, OUR ECONOMY AND OUR HISTORY.

WHERE AT A LOT OF WOMEN HAVE PLAYED A UNIQUE ROLE IN THE NATION'S WORKFORCE AND ARE CONSTANTLY STRIVING TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES, THEIR STATES, THEIR NATION, EVEN HERE LOCALLY IN CIVIC EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS. WHEREAS THE WOMEN OF TODAY ARE CREATING NEW MODELS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF WOMEN CAN BENEFIT FROM GREATER OPPORTUNITIES.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ALEJANDRO GARCIA, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WASCO, ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF WASCO, DO PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MARCH 2021 AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, PRESENTED ON THE 2ND DAY OF MARCH, 2021 TO THE WASCO WOMEN'S CLUB, FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK IN RECOGNITION OF THE GOOD DEEDS AND PROGRAMS IN THE CITY OF WASCO.

THANK YOU, AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL [INAUDIBLE] AT THIS TIME I WILL TURN OFF MY MIC FOR COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE ON.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE MEMBER MARTINEZ WHO WANT TO SPEAK WITH US IN THIS MEETING, MEMBER MARTINEZ?

>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

OBVIOUSLY, I'M NOT A WOMAN, SO I CANNOT JOIN THE WOMAN'S CLUB BUT I WOULD GLADLY JOIN IF I DID.

[NOISE] BUT I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH WOMEN'S CLUBS ON A VARIETY OF PROJECTS, EVERYTHING FROM THEIR PHOTOGRAPHY, COMPETITIONS [NOISE].

ONE OF MY FAVORITE [INAUDIBLE] LAST YEAR [NOISE] FOR THE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN, THEY HOST FORUMS FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD.

THESE WOMEN ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE CITY OF WASCO AND THEY WORK VERY HARD.

I WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU GUYS.

YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING IN SO MANY WAYS.

>> I AGREE. THANK YOU. JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER, HOUSE KEEPING ITEM TO ASK ALL FOLKS TO PLEASE KEEP THEIR MICS ON MUTE WHENEVER I'M SPEAKING.

IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL?

>> MR. MAYOR, IF I CAN THIS IS TILO?

>> PLEASE.

>> OH THANK YOU. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL THE WOMEN'S CLUB AND I WANT TO LOOK AT THAT ROOM THERE AND LOOK AT ALL THE DEDICATION THAT THESE LADIES HAVE PROVIDED TO THE CITY OF WASCO IN SO MANY CAPACITIES, NOT JUST WOMEN'S CLUB BUT ON THEIR OWN.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS TRULY MAKE AN IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY, AND I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR IS TO MAKE SOME POSITIVE IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU GUYS, BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THIS FOR GENERATIONS OVER FOR YEARS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[00:55:01]

>> YES. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS, BEFORE WE ALLOW SOME TO SPEAK FROM THE WOMEN'S CLUB?

>> MR. MAYOR, THIS IS GILBERT RANA.

I TOO WANT TO. [OVERLAPPING]

>> PLEASE.

>> THANK THE WOMEN OF WASCO WOMEN SOCIETY.

I THINK THEY DO A WONDERFUL JOB, THEY'RE TIRELESS WORKING FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

IT SHOWS ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY SHOWS.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THEM.

I THINK THEY'RE WONDERFUL.

MEMBER MARTINEZ LISTED A LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY DO BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN THE POLITICS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND PUTTING A FORUM FOR CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE TO GO AND SPEAK BEFORE THE COMMUNITY, SO THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHO THEY SHOULD VOTE FOR.

I THINK THAT'S GREAT THAT THEY DO THAT, THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR MANY YEARS.

THAT'S IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT THEY DO THAT HAD BEEN MENTIONED, SO THANK YOU LADIES, FOR ALL YOU DO.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> WE TRULY DO. ANY OTHER MEMBERS? THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE, ALL YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK AND OF COURSE, DO WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE WOMEN'S CLUB WHO WOULD MAYBE SAY TAKE A FEW WORDS AT THIS MOMENT? MADAM CLERK, ARE THEY CONNECTED?

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>> [INAUDIBLE] I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO INVITE YOUR [INAUDIBLE] AND YOUR SISTERS.

THE [INAUDIBLE] VERY PROUD OF THEM.

THE [INAUDIBLE] STATISTICS AS WE DID ONLINE AND I HAVEN'T CHECKED FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS NOW, BUT THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, IT HAD BEEN VIEWED 447 TIMES AND THAT WAS [INAUDIBLE] MORE PEOPLE.

[INAUDIBLE] TO THE CLASS OR SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO WHEN WE CAN DO TOGETHER IN PERSON.

WE STILL HAVE OUR CANDIDATES FOR AN IN-PERSON, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE DOING ONLINE [INAUDIBLE] THAT WAS REALLY PROUD OF.

WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR SECONDARY PROJECTS WHICH WE DO BECAUSE OF COVID AND HIGH SCHOOL NOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

VINCENT, WE DID HAVE A PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST THIS YEAR.

IT'S JUST THAT NONE OF THEM WENT ON TO THE DISTRICT OR THE STATE LEVEL BECAUSE OF ALL THE NON-MEETINGS THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE ARE VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH VETERANS TOO.

WE HAVE A STAR, REMEMBER THIS PROGRAM, THE VA DONATED 20 FLAGS, AND WE CUT THE STARS OUT OF THE BLUE FIELD AND PUT THEM IN A CELLOPHANE BAG WITH A LITTLE POEM SAYING HOW THE STAR WAS SAVED FROM BEING RETIRED.

WE'RE GOING TO PALM THOSE OUT AT THE MEMORIAL PROGRAM AT THE CEMETERY IF THAT HAPPENS, WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT HAPPENS.

THE VETERANS ARE ANOTHER ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THIS YEAR AND WE WERE INVOLVED WITH HAVING OUR CHRISTMAS BAGS FOR LOCAL SENIORS.

WE WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO REACH MORE.

I CAN'T SAY SHUT-IN SENIORS BECAUSE WE'RE ALL SENIORS AND WE'RE ALL [INAUDIBLE]

>> [LAUGHTER].

>> BUT PEOPLE THAT ARE LESS FORTUNATE SENIORS, I GUESS, IS WHO WE'RE TRYING TO REACH.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK WE DO AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VERY MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING US.

>> [APPLAUSE].

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.

WHEREAS WOMEN PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE TO EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON.

I ALWAYS SAY IF YOU NEED TO GET SOMETHING DONE, GET A WOMAN TO DO IT.

[LAUGHTER].

THEY WILL ALWAYS GET THINGS DONE.

MOVING ON TO ITEM 6, PUBLIC COMMENTS.

[6) PUBLIC COMMENTS]

THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS RESERVED FOR PERSONS DESIRING TO ADDRESS THIS COUNCIL, INCLUDING THE COUNCIL ACTING AS THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR ITS SUCCESSOR AGENCY ON ANY MATTER NOT ON THIS AGENDA, AND OVER WHICH THE COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY HAVE JURISDICTION.

[01:00:02]

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND BUTTON TO REQUEST TO SPEAK.

IF YOU ARE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR 9 ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD.

YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON BY THE NUMBER YOU'RE CALLING FROM WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENTS.

ONCE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED.

ANYONE WHO HAS NOT PROVIDED THEIR COMMENTS BY THE CLOSER THE PUBLIC'S COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING CAN EMAIL COMMENTS TO THE CLERK AT CITYCLERK@CITYOFGLASGOW DOT ORG AND THE COMMENTS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL RECORD.

>> MAYOR GARCIA, YOU'RE MUTED.

>> YES, I THINK I MIGHT HAVE TAPPED THAT BY ACCIDENT.

RESTARTING THAT PARAGRAPH FROM THE DISCLOSURE THE CITY COUNCIL IS VERY INTERESTED IN YOUR COMMENTS.

HOWEVER, DUE TO THE BROWN ACT REQUIREMENTS, NO ACTION MAY BE TAKEN AT THIS MEETING.

SHOULD YOUR COMMENTS REQUIRE FURTHER CONSIDERATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OR ITS SUCCESSOR AGENCY THE ITEM WILL BE AGENDA IS FOR A REPORT AND DISCUSSION AT A FUTURE COUNCIL MEETING.

AT THIS TIME, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS, MADAM CLERK?

>> MAYOR GARCIA, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT FROM YOLANDA HARRISON.

>> MRS. HARRISON, ARE YOU WITH US? [NOISE] YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE UNMUTED IF YOU ARE ON ZOOM.

>> YES, MR. CARLOS, ACTUALLY, MAYOR ALEX, HOW YOU DOING THIS EVENING?

>> VERY WELL, THANK YOU. GO AHEAD AND DO THE COMMENTS.

>> WHAT I'D LIKE TO ASK IS COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME, AND I GUESS THOSE OTHERS THAT ARE ON HERE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO AN [INAUDIBLE].

>> VERY WELL, YOU'RE IN LUCK, MR. HARRISON, THIS ITEM IS ACTUALLY ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING.

WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THAT THIS EVENING.

YOU WANT TO STAY UNTIL THEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MADAM CLERK?

>> YES. WE HAVE AN E-MAIL COMMENT.

MAYOR GARCIA, I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THAT.

IT STATES, "THIS IS SHARON NICOL, AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE LAW SCHOOL COMMUNITY TASK FORCE.

AT LAST WEEK'S ROUND TABLE MEETING, A BEAUTIFICATION INITIATIVE WAS FORMED.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS INITIATIVE IS TO ASSIST THE CITY IN CLEANING UP AND ADDING BEAUTY TO OUR CITY, SPECIFICALLY THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

I WILL CONTACT [INAUDIBLE] FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE CITY ALREADY HAS IN THE WORKS.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE GLASGOW A NICE PLACE TO LIVE, SHARON NICOL."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT COMMENT.

I WILL TRY TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE AND NOT ADDRESS THAT COMMENT, AND I WILL GO AHEAD AND BE DISCUSSING THAT AN ITEM AT A TIME, SO MADAM CLERK, ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS?

>> YES. WE HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT FROM SHARON SHARP.

>> SHARON, ARE YOU WITH US? GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE IF YOU'RE WITH US ON ZOOM.

>> GOOD EVENING, MR. CLERK. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE AND JUST THANK EVERYONE WITH THE CITY AND WE HAVE CITY COUNCIL ASSISTANTS AND THE RECREATION PARKS DISTRICT WITH BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE COVID VACCINATION AND TEST CLINIC AT MOSCOW RECREATION AND PARKS DISTRICT HALL LAST WEEK.

A LOT HAD TO HAPPEN IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

FROM THE TIME IT WAS BROUGHT TO US.

I THOUGHT IF IT WAS FEASIBLE, IT ALL HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY.

WE FOUND BERNAL AND CHRISTINA WHO WORKED WITH IRAQ HAD TO DROP EVERYTHING AND PUT ALL THEIR EFFORTS INTO MEETINGS AND PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER AND MAKING SURE IT WAS FEASIBLE AND SAFE FOR THE STAFF.

ALSO, LOOK AT ALL THE RAMIFICATIONS OF AS WE MOVE TO US, CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE UTILIZING OUR COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO THE BEST AND GETTING KIDS BACK IN THE PARK, JUST EVERYTHING.

IT WAS JUST A GROUP EFFORT.

REMEMBER, CORTES WAS QUITE A FEW OF THE CALLS AS WELL AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR

[01:05:03]

THE PARTNERSHIP AND FOR BEING ABLE TO PUT THIS TOGETHER FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SHARON.

I WILL SAY YES, THANK YOU TO OTHER STAFF FOR THEIR QUICK WORK.

AS ALWAYS, PUTTING EVERYTHING ASIDE TO TACKLE AN URGENT NEED IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SO WE APPRECIATE THEM SCRAMBLING AND TO MAKE THIS IMPOSSIBILITIES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS, MADAM CLERK?

>> MAYOR GARCIA, THERE ARE NO OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

>> WELL. MOVING ON DOWN THROUGH: NO SUCCESSFUL AGENCY BUSINESS ON ITEM 7, ITEM 8, NO WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BUSINESS.

MOVING ON TO CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS ITEM 9 THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

[9) CONSENT CALENDAR]

THE CONSENT CALENDAR CONSISTS OF ITEMS IN STAFF'S OPINION, THAT IN STAFF'S OPINION, ARE ROUTINE AND NON-CONTROVERSIAL.

THESE ITEMS ARE APPROVED IN ONE MOTION UNLESS A COUNCIL MEMBER OR MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REQUESTS REMOVAL OF A PARTICULAR ITEM.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE A PARTICULAR ITEM USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND BUTTON; IF YOU ARE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR 9 ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD AND YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON BY THE NUMBER YOU'RE CALLING FROM WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.

TONIGHT, WE HAVE ITEMS 9A THROUGH 9E.

NINEA: RECEIVE AND FILE INVESTMENT REPORT TOTALING $357,778.12.

ITEM NINE B, APPROVAL OF THE ACCEPTANCE OF OFF-SITE IMPROVEMENTS CONSTRUCTED FOR SUBDIVISION TRACKS SEVEN THREE ONE ONE PHASE SIX, AND PHASE EIGHT, AND AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CITY CLERK TO FILE THE NOTICE OF COMPLETION.

ITEM NINE C, APPROVAL OF THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE BIRCH AVENUE DRAINAGE PROJECT AND AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CITY CLERK TO FILE THE NOTICE OF COMPLETION.

ITEM NINE D, APPROVAL OF THE FINAL CHANGE ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $444,365.36 FOR THE SEVENTH STREET REHABILITATION PROJECT AND NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE AND TO FILE A NOTICE OF COMPLETION.

FINALLY, ITEM NINE E, ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A BUYERS REPRESENTATION AGREEMENT WITH CENTRAL VALLEY COMMERCIAL BROKERS, BROKER HENRY MENDEZ, TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY NECESSARY TO DEVELOP THE NEW WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE MEMBERS IF THEY HAVE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS ON ANY PARTICULAR ITEM ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? MAYOR PRO- TEM REYNA.

>> NO CONFLICT MAYOR. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. MEMBER CORTEZ?

>> YES, MR MAYOR, I HAVE A LONG LIST OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS, SO ITEM NINE B, I AM A REAL ESTATE BROKER IN THE COMMUNITY AND MAY HAVE A TRANSACTION IN THE IMMEDIATE TRACK, SO I WILL BE ABSTAINING FROM THIS ITEM.

ITEM NINE C IS WITHIN 500 FEET OF MY PARENT'S HOME, SO I WILL BE ABSTAINING FROM THAT PROPERTY.

ITEM NINE E, SOME OF THE PROPOSED PROJECTS THAT MR MENDEZ'S COMPANY MAY BE LOOKING INTO, I MAY HAVE INDIRECT OR A CONFLICT ON THAT PROPERTY, SO I WILL BE ABSTAINING FROM THE APPROVAL OF THAT CONTRACT AS WELL.

>> VERY WELL MEMBER CORTEZ. MEMBER MARTINEZ.

>> NO CONFLICTS, SIR.

>> THANK YOU. MEMBER PALLARES.

>> NO CONFLICT. THANK YOU.

>> FOR THE RECORD, LET ME STATE THAT I HAVE NO CONFLICTS AS WELL.

ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT OR REMOVE A PARTICULAR ITEM FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR? MADAM CLERK.

>> MAYOR GARCIA, AT THIS TIME, I DON'T SEE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS.

>> ANY MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE A PARTICULAR ITEM FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR, MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA.

>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE BILL PAY ITEM A, SO I LIKE TO PULL THAT OUT.

>> VERY WELL. MEMBER CORTEZ.

>> NO, MR MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU, MEMBER CORTEZ. MEMBER MARTINEZ.

>> NO, MR MAYOR.

>> MEMBER PALLARES.

>> NONE FOR ME. THANK YOU.

>> VERY WELL. I TOO HAVE NO SEPARATE CONSIDERATIONS ON ANY OF THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

>> MR. MAYOR?

>> YES, MR.

>> WHEN YOU VOTE ON THIS, THE MINUTES SHOULD REFLECT

[01:10:03]

THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ RECUSED HIMSELF ON THE THREE ITEMS THAT HE DESIGNATED AND DID NOT VOTE ON THOSE ITEMS.

>> VERY WELL. MADAM CLERK.

[INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ALL ITEMS ON CONSENT.

>> MR MAYOR, THIS IS MEMBER MARTINEZ I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION SIR.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MAYOR, I'M SORRY. THERE'S A QUESTION OF ITEM A THAT'S BEING PULLED.

>> YES, I DO APOLOGIZE.

MEMBER [INAUDIBLE] HAS SEPARATE CONSIDERING ON ITEM NINE A.

I WILL SEEK A MOTION ON THE APPROVAL OF ALL OTHER ITEMS BUT EXCEPTION OF NINE A.

>> MR MAYOR THIS IS MEMBER MARTINEZ. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION SIR.

>> THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT MOTION AGAIN MEMBER MARTINEZ, I'LL MAKE IT SECOND.

ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR.

MADAM CLERK GO AHEAD AND CALL A VOICE VOTE.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU CALL A VOICE VOTE?

>> APOLOGIZE FOR THAT MAYOR. MAYOR GARCIA.

>> AYE.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA.

>> AYE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ.

>> I WILL BE VOTING ON ITEM NINE D AND RECUSING MYSELF FROM ITEMS NINE B, NINE C, AND NINE E.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ.

>> AYE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES.

>> PALLARES, AYE.

>> MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA TO APPROVE ITEMS NINE B, NINE C, NINE E, MOTION IS APPROVED BY FOUR AYES WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ ABSTAINING ON ITEMS NINE B, NINE C, AND NINE E.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. MEMBER REYNA CONSIDERS FOR NINE A.

[9.a. Receive and File Investment Report totaling $ 357,778.12]

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. ON PAGE 15 OF THE AGENDA, LET ME SAY THAT A PAYMENT WAS MADE FOR $25,056 TO INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING SYSTEMS INCORPORATED.

IT SAYS PAYMENT ONE AND TWO FOR COMPLETION, BUT IT DOES NOT STATE WHAT ITEM IS BEING PAID.

I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WE PAID.

>> WHICH LINE WAS THAT, MR REYNA?

>> I THINK IT IS SECOND FROM THE TOP OR THIRD FROM THE TOP ON PAGE 15 OF THE AGENDA.

IN FACT, THERE ARE TWO PAYMENTS BUT ONE OF THEM DOES NOT STATE WHAT IT IS FOR.

>> INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING SYSTEMS IS THE VENDOR FOR OUR CURRENT DATA SYSTEM SO THE FIRST PAYMENT WAS FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRESSURE MONITORING STATION THAT WE WANT TO ESTABLISH ON THE SOUTH END OF THE CITY BY THE THREE-STORY APARTMENT COMPLEX, A SENIOR LIVING COMPLEX THERE.

THE OTHER ONE WAS COMPLETION ASSOCIATED, I BELIEVE IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN TO THE WATER WELL CONSTRUCTION FOR WELL 14 ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT FOR THE SKATER MONITORING SYSTEM THERE.

>> IF WE COULD JUST STATE THAT ON THE BILL PAY SO THAT IN CASE OTHERS HAVE QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE RECORDED AS SUCH.

MAYOR, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ITEM A.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA.

IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT MOTION?

>> THIS IS MEMBER MARTINEZ.

I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.

>> THANK YOU. BECAUSE THE MOTION IS SECONDED, PLEASE CALL A VOICE VOTE.

>> MAYOR GARCIA.

>> AYE.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA.

>> AYE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ.

>> AYE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ.

>> AYE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES.

>> PALLARES, AYE.

>> MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ TO APPROVE ITEM NINE A.

MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. SEEING NO BUSINESS UNDER ITEM 10 FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS NOR FOR ITEM 11, DIFFERENT BUSINESS, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 12, NEW BUSINESS.

[12.a. Discussion and overview of the Farm Labor Housing and High-Speed Rail. ( Ortiz Hernandez)]

12A, DISCUSSION AND OVERVIEW OF THE FARM LABOR,

[01:15:04]

HOUSING, AND HIGH-SPEED RAIL. MR. CORTEZ.

MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, NOW, WE'VE DISCUSSED AT VARIOUS POINTS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL TWO YEARS REGARDING THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT AND ITS IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.

AS A RECENTLY IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, WE'VE REALLY SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED THE ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FORMER WAR SCHOOL FAMILY.

WE'RE HOUSING COMPLEX ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE TRACKS.

WELL I'LL PROVIDES JUST AN UPDATE IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE AT WITH THE STATUS OF THAT COMPLEX AND ITS IMPACT ASSOCIATED TO THE COMMUNITY ITSELF.

IF YOU RECALL, LAST FALL, THE CITY MOVED FORWARD WITH INITIATING A TITLE SIX COMPLAINTS.

THAT'S A FORMAL ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT PROCESS ASSOCIATED WITH PROJECTS THAT HAVE FEDERAL FUNDS ATTACHED TO THEM.

TITLE 6 IS PART OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, IN ESSENCE, IT REQUIRES THAT FAIRLY FUNDED PROJECTS MUST DO ALL POSSIBLE AND MITIGATES ANY NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE ATTRIBUTED TO SOCIOECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS.

AS PART OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT THAT THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY HAD TO CONDUCT BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT AND ESTABLISHING THE ALIGNMENTS.

THEY HAD TO CONSIDER A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT FACTORS RELATED ALONG THOSE CRITERIA.

SINCE THEN THE CITY MOVE FORWARD WITH INITIATING A SET OF COMPLAINT IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION OF THE LABOR CAMP AND DESPITE REPEATED REQUESTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL TO THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY TO ADDRESS THE LABOR CAMP BY DEMOLISHING AND CLEARING THE SITE, WE HAD HAD VARIOUS MEETINGS AND HAD HAD VERBAL ASSURANCES FROM INDIVIDUALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY IN THE PAST, THAT'S ANY ADVERSE IMPACT THAT THE PROJECT HAS ON THE COMMUNITY, THE AUTHORITIES RESPONSIBLE FOR MITIGATING AFTER MANY MONTHS OF THESE VERBAL ASSURANCES AND WITH NO ACTION BEING SEEN ON THEIR PART, THE COUNCIL, BACK IN MAY OF LAST YEAR APPROVED A LETTER TO THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY, FORMERLY REQUESTING THAT THEY MITIGATE THAT ISSUE.

WE SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER IN RESPONSE TO OUR REQUEST IN JULY AND THE AUTHORITY ESSENTIALLY SAID THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED THE CITY $10 MILLION THAT FACILITATED THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROSALINE VILLAGE, AND RELOCATED THE RESIDENTS FROM THE MOSCOW FARM LABOR COMPLEX TO THE NEW ROSALINE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS NORTH OF HAWAII 46, OFF OF POPLAR AND.

I'M GOING TO GET INTO LITTLE MORE DETAILS AND TRY TO ANSWER AS MUCH QUESTIONS.

I THINK WE MAY ANTICIPATE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW IN TERMS OF JUST WHAT WE'RE SEEING, AND SO EARLIER IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, I HAD ASKED KERN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IF THEY CAN PROVIDE ME AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH ON A DAILY BASIS AND THEN MEMORIALIZED THAT IN THE LETTER.

THIS WAS PART OF OUR OUR TITLE IX PROCESS TO IDENTIFY WHAT THAT IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY WAS.

PART OF THAT LETTER THAT WAS PREPARED IN LARGE PART BY ONE OF THE DEPUTIES AT THE TIME AT THE LAW SCHOOL SUBSTATION, WHO HAD AN EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH THE GANG UNIT IN THE PAST AND WAS AN EXPERT WITNESS IN MANY OF COURT CASES INVOLVING GANGS AND BOTH IN THE WAR SQUARE AREA AND IN KERN COUNTY IN GENERAL.

PART OF THAT LETTER AND QUOTED IN FRONT OF YOU IS THAT THE LABOR CAMP ESSENTIALLY SEEN AS A PLACE WHERE SEVERAL GANG MEMBERS AND CRIMINALS BREAK IN TO HIDE OUT AND CONDUCT ILLEGAL ACTIVITY.

AS MUCH DIRECTIVE PATROL THAT HAS BEEN CONDUCTED AT THIS LOCATION, IT HAS NOT DETERRED THE ONGOING ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.

FURTHERMORE GOES ON TO SAY, EVEN THOUGH THE LABOR CAMP IS VACATED, THERE ARE FREQUENT CALLS FOR SERVICE GENERATED AT THIS LOCATION.

SEVERAL OF THESE CALLS ARE RELATED TO TRESPASSING.

MOREOVER, ONE STEP IS ARRIVED, THE CALLS ARE ELEVATED TO A MUCH MORE SEVERE CRIME.

SEVERAL DEPUTIES AND I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH WANTED SUBJECTS THAT HAD BEEN SUBSEQUENTLY ARRESTED AND OFTENTIMES LOCATED WITH WEAPONS, ILLEGAL DRUGS, AND STOLEN PROPERTY.

I CAN ATTEST SEVERAL SUBJECTS LOCATED IN AND ARRESTED AT THE LABOR CAMP ARE DOCUMENTED GANG MEMBERS WHO ARE OFTEN UPSTANDING FROM THERE WARRANTS.

WANT TO SHOW YOU JUST SOME UPDATED PICTURES OF THE CONDITION OF A LABOR CAMP AND WHAT HAS TO SECURE READ.

MANY OF THESE IMAGES THAT VALIDATES AND WE'RE

[01:20:01]

SEEING THE DEPUTIES ARE FREQUENTLY SEEN OUT THERE.

THIS IS THE FORMER ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING NOW AT THE LABOR CAMP.

YOU CAN SEE JUST A GRAFFITI THAT HAS GONE OUT THERE.

THIS WAS TAKEN BEFORE WE PUT UP THE FENCE AND LAST FALL, THE COUNCIL APPROVED UTILIZING MEASUREMENTS TO FENCE THE PROPERTY AT AN EFFORT TO PREVENT OR LIMIT INDIVIDUALS FROM ENTERING THE COMPLEX, AS WELL AS TO BE A PHYSICAL BARRIER THAT WILL HAVE NO TRESPASSING SIGNS PLACED ON THEM SO THAT DEPUTIES HAVE A MUCH STRONGER CASE WHEN PROSECUTING AND ARRESTING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TRESPASSING AND ARE COMMITTING SOME OF THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITY OUT THERE AT THE COMPLEX.

IT'S ALSO WAS A MEASURE AS PART OF OUR RISK MANAGEMENT TO PREVENT AND TO LIMIT THE OPENNESS AND THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IT'S AN INVITING AREA TO ENTER INTO.

BECAUSE AT THE TIME, THE CITY DID NOT OWN THE PROPERTY YET, PART OF THE RELOCATION OF THE FORMER RESIDENTS AND THE AGREEMENTS WITH RELOCATING THE RESIDENTS WAS THAT THE PROPERTY AT THE TIME WAS OWNED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

AFTER THE LAST TENANTS WERE RELOCATED, THE PROPERTY WAS GOING TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY OF WAR SQUARE WITHIN 30 DAYS.

WE HAVE CLOSED ESCROW ON THAT PROPERTY.

WE CLOSE ESCROW LAST WEEK, AND SO THE FENCE WAS A PROACTIVE MEASURE TO TRY TO SECURE IT AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE ISSUES.

JUST AS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE I'VE ALLUDED TO, IT'S AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH BOTH GANGS, STOLEN ITEMS THAT ARE RECOVERED OUT THERE, AND WE'LL SHOW MORE DETAIL AND BACK.

HERE'S THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT BUILDING, YOU JUST SEEMED MORE GANG GRAFFITI THAT HAS GONE UP IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, IF NOT LONGER THAN THAT.

THIS IS THE INTERIOR.

AT TIMES YOU'LL SEE GRAFFITI THAT HAS BEEN CROSSED OUT AND GRAFFITIED OVER IT.

THAT'S A SIGN OF JUST SOME OF THE COMPETING GANGS AND FACTIONS THAT ARE COMING AND ILLEGALLY TRESPASSING AND COMMITTING OTHER ACTIVITIES ON THE COMPLEX.

HERE YOU SEE SOME OF THAT GRAFFITI THAT'S BEEN CROSSED OUT, THE X4 AND SOME OF THE OTHERS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

SERGEANT MARTINEZ AND HIS DEPUTIES ARE FREQUENTLY OUT THERE, CALLS FOR SERVICE, WHETHER THAT'S TO INVESTIGATE POTENTIAL STOLEN ITEMS THAT THEY'RE SEEKING TO TRY TO RECOVER.

THAT'S USUALLY A FIRST LOCATION THEY START TRYING TO FIND.

I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA CODES, BUT WITH MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE GANGS FROM OUTSIDE OF LAW SCHOOL COMING IN.

PART OF THE GRAFFITI IS IS ESSENTIALLY MARKING THE TERRITORY IF YOU WILL. HERE'S SOME MORE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE UNITS THAT WE FREQUENTLY HAVE SEEN PEOPLE IN AND OUT OF.

IT'S ONE OF THE UNITS THAT BACK ON MEMORIAL DAY, THERE WAS A SUSPECT WHO WAS ARRESTED.

PART OF IN THAT UNIT, THE DEPUTIES RECOVERED SOME STOLEN ITEMS FROM ONE OF THE UNITS THAT WAS STILL HAD A FAMILY LIVING IN.

PART OF THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE RECOVERED A TIME WERE A LAPTOP THAT WAS ISSUED TO STUDENTS WITH THE LAW SCHOOL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SOME OTHER PERSONAL EFFECTS AND ITEMS FROM THAT FAMILY.

SOME OF IT WAS ABLE TO BE RETURNED TO THE FAMILY, BUT THEY WERE NONETHELESS ITEMS THAT WERE STOLEN AND RECOVERY AT THAT LOCATION.

THE SUSPECT WAS ARRESTED BUT UNFORTUNATELY AT THE TIME AND ALSO JUST WHERE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS HEADED IN CALIFORNIA, HE WAS BAILED, OR RELEASED OFF SUBSEQUENT DAY.

THIS WAS A MACHETE WEAPON, KNIFE TAPED ONTO A LONGER HANDLE THAT WE'VE RECOVERED JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.

HERE'S SOME OF THE DAMAGE THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE WITHIN THE FIRST TWO, THREE WEEKS OF HAVING DEFENSE ERECTED.

OUR FACILITY MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN HAD BEEN OUT THERE COUNTLESS HOURS REPAIRING AND ADDRESSING CUTS IN THE FENCE LINE AND REPAIRING MANY ANY OF THOSE ISSUES.

WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING AND LIKELY COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL WITH AN AGREEMENT WITH A FENCE CONTRACTOR THAT CAN BE ON-CALL AND BE ABLE TO REPAIR THIS JUST BECAUSE IT'S TIME, IT'S TAKING AWAY FROM OUR STAFF.

IT'S TIME IT'S BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM OTHER PROJECTS AND OTHER ITEMS THAT OUR STAFF CAN GET TO.

JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO DURING ONE OF THE WALK-THROUGHS,

[01:25:03]

WE FOUND THIS ATV OUT THERE.

THIS IS SOME OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE INTERIOR OF THESE UNITS AND PART OF WHAT HAS DRIVEN THE COST.

FROM THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE THAT I TALKED ABOUT IN THE STUDY SESSION, WE ORIGINALLY JUST A ROUGH ESTIMATE THE STAFF PUT TOGETHER TO START WRAPPING OUR MINDS AS TO WHAT THE COST IS GOING TO BE.

THAT INITIAL COST SYSTEM WAS ABOUT $5.3 MILLION FOR DEMOLITION AND CLEARING OF THE SITE BASED ON BOTH COMBINATION OF WHAT THE COST FOR ASBESTOS ABATEMENT, THE AMOUNTS OF THE ASBESTOS OF CONTAINING MATERIALS THAT WE MAY FIND AS LOW AS JUST A CONDITION OF SOME OF THESE UNITS.

THIS CONDITION OF THIS UNIT IS GOING TO DRIVE ADDITIONAL CLEANUP COSTS THAT WILL BE REQUIRED BEFORE YOU CAN EVEN GET CONTRACTORS IN THERE TO ABATE THE ASBESTOS TO DO SOME OF THE DEMOLITION WORK.

HERE'S A PICTURE OF ONE OF THE UNITS THAT THE SHERIFF STEFFIS AND SERGEANT MARTINEZ CLEARED JUST THE OTHER DAY, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

JUST THE OTHER WEEK, THE ONE OF THE CITY'S MESSAGE BOARDS WERE VANDALIZED AND THE BATTERIES TAKEN FROM THEM.

YOU SEE TOWARDS THE BACK, YOU SEE TWO OF THE BATTERY, SEE THE ONE-REP BY THE DOORS AND OTHER ONE AROUND THE DOORWAY.

WE RECOVER TWO OF THE BATTERIES FROM OUR MESSAGING BOARD AT THAT LOCATION AS WELL AS A COUPLE OTHER ITEMS. HERE'S ONE OF THE UNITS THAT WE'RE STARTING TO FIND THAT THEY'RE ACCESSING AND TRYING TO CLIMB UP INTO THE ATTIC STEALING COPPER LINES, TAKING ELECTRICAL LINES, OBVIOUSLY FOR SCRAP METAL.

HERE'S ANOTHER UNIT THAT'S HAS BEEN USED FREQUENTLY.

YOU SEE THE GRAFFITI, THERE'S OTHER SIGNS OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY WITHIN THE UNITS.

THIS SOME MORE OF THE GRAFFITI THAT WE'RE SEEING OUT THERE AND MIND YOU, THIS IS GRAFFITI BACK IN JANUARY OF 2020, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

I REMEMBER MR. RENA, AS WELL AS SENIOR DEPUTY BASKETS AND DEPUTY MALDONADO AND THE SHERIFF'S ACTIVITY LEAK AND THE KIDS PART OF THE CELL PROGRAM HERE.

THEY WENT OUT THERE WITH PAINT THEY HAD OBTAINED FROM KERN COUNTY AND HAD PAINTED OVER A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF GRAFFITI ALREADY THAT WAS THERE, AND SINCE THEN, THIS IS JUST WHAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE OF.

ONE OF THE UNITS WE'RE STARTING TO SEE, THEY'RE MOVING IN OR GOING IN AND IMPLEMENTING ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, BUT THEY'RE ALSO SPRAY PAINTING OR COVERING UP THE WINDOWS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE TO HIGH DIRECTIVITY AS DEPUTIES ARE OUT THERE DOING VEHICLE OR PATROLS OR FOOT PATROLS.

[NOISE] THIS IS SOME OF THE MISCELLANEOUS ILLEGAL CONTRABAND WE WERE SEEING OUT THERE OBVIOUSLY, THAT CAN ASSUME THAT'S TIED TO DRUG ACTIVITY IN THERE.

THEY'RE CONVERTING SOME OF THESE MATERIALS INTO PARAPHERNALIA THEY USE IN THEIR DRUG USAGE.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE AND MORE, I DON'T KNOW SERGEANT MARTINEZ HAD ASKED IF THE CITY WAS PULLING OUT THESE STOVES AND LINING THEM UP AND I TOLD HIM NO.

WE'RE SEEING THAT THEY ARE REMOVING ITEMS AND APPLIANCES AND THEY'RE ACCESSING CERTAIN PARTS OF THE UNITS FOR SOME OTHER ACTIVITY.

I DON'T THINK I SHOWED A PICTURE THAT JUST APPEARED TO BE A BONG OR SOME DRUG PARAPHERNALIA THAT THEY USE BUT THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY JUST PULLING THAT OUT.

HOW DID WE GET HERE? HOW DID WE GET TO THE CONDITION THAT IT'S IN? AS I MENTIONED, PART OF IT WAS THE FACT THAT THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROVIDED SEED MONEY ESSENTIALLY TO DEVELOPING NEW HOUSING COMPLEX AND DOES RELOCATE THE RESIDENTS FROM THE PHONOLOGICAL LABOR CAMP TO ROSALEDA VILLAGE.

BUT EVEN BEFORE THAT AGREEMENTS AND BEFORE THAT PROCESS STARTED, THE REALITY WAS THAT WASCO KNEW THAT THE PASSAGE IN 2008, WHEN THE VOTERS IN CALIFORNIA VOTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DEVELOPING A HIGH-SPEED RAIL SYSTEM AND SUBSEQUENT PLANS RIGHT AFTER THAT, WE KNEW THAT WASCO WAS GOING TO BE WITHIN THAT ALIGNMENTS.

WHILE WE DIDN'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS THAT WILL STILL BE WORKED OUT BY THE AUTHORITY, AS PLANS EVOLVED, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THERE WERE TWO OPTIONS THAT THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY WAS GOING TO BE FACED WITH.

ONE WAS GOING TO TAKE THE ALIGNMENT STRAIGHT THROUGH WASCO, GO TO THE PATH THAT WE'RE SEEING NOW.

THE OTHER ONE WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE ALIGNMENT JUST TO THE EAST OF THE CITY AND AVOIDED ALL OF THIS MESS.

YOU SEE THIS IS FROM THE HIGH-SPEED RAILS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT.

[01:30:01]

THIS IS THE SOCIOECONOMIC COMMUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

THIS IS A HEAT MAP THAT OUTLINES WHAT AREAS WITHIN THE PROPOSAL ALIGNMENTS HAVE A HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW INCOME, AND MINORITY POPULATION.

IT SAYS ZERO WHEN YOU SEE THE TWO PURPLE OUTLINES, AND THOSE WERE THE PROPOSED ALTERNATIVES THAT THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY WE'RE CONSIDERING.

AS I MENTIONED, YOU SEE THE ONE ON YOUR RIGHT, THAT'S THE ALIGNMENTS TO THE EAST THAT WOULD HAVE AVOIDED AND BYPASS WASCO, AND YOU SEE THE ALIGNMENT THAT GOES DOWN TO THE BNSF RAILROAD CORRIDOR, AND THEY KNEW FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THAT WASCO WAS A COMMUNITY WITH A SIGNIFICANT LOW INCOME AND HIGH MINORITY POPULATION.

THEY KNEW THAT A LARGE PORTION OF THAT DENSITY WAS ALONG THE BNSF QUARTER, AND THEY CHOSE TO STILL COME THROUGH OVER THE OBJECTIONS OF THE CITY COUNCIL THROUGH VARIOUS RESOLUTIONS, VARIOUS TESTIMONY, AND COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE, AS WELL AS OTHER COMMENTS AND REQUESTS THAT WERE MADE FROM THE CITY AT THE TIME.

THIS WAS THE PRESS LIST THAT HIGH-SPEED RAIL RELEASED WHEN THE RIBBON-CUTTING OCCURRED FOR ROSALEDA VILLAGE.

HE SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED THE FACT THAT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO BUILDING THE SOUND BARRIER WALL TO MITIGATE THE NOISE IMPACTS THE AUTHORITY INSTEAD ALLOCATED $10 MILLION TO THE LAW SCHOOL FARM WORKERS HOUSING RELOCATION PROJECT.

NOW THE AUTHORITY HAS REPEATEDLY SAID THAT THEY PROVIDED $10 MILLION DOLLARS TO RELOCATE THE RESIDENTS AND DEVELOPED A NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

WHAT THEY'RE NOT SHOWING IS THAT THAT $10 MILLION, DID NOT COVER THE FULL COST OF THAT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

ROSALEDA VILLAGE ESTIMATED BUDGET WAS OVER $50 MILLION.

ACTUAL COST CAME INTO OVER 52 MILLION.

HIGH-SPEED RAIL WAS ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF THAT, $10 MILLION.

THE OTHER PARTS WE'RE FINANCING MECHANISMS THAT WERE USED SUCH AS LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS EQUITY, STATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES LOANS.

THE CITY PROVIDED THE LAND THAT'S PART OF WHAT DONATION AND THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF $758,000 AND VARIOUS OTHER LOANS AND FINANCING MECHANISMS THAT HELP PACKAGE THIS FINANCING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROJECT.

SHOULD NOTE THAT THIS DIDN'T INCLUDE ROUGHLY, I BELIEVE, 200,000 IF NOT 300,000 AND RELOCATION COST OF RELOCATING TO RESIDENTS FROM THE FORMER LAW SCHOOL LABOR HOUSING COMPLEX TO ROSALEDA VILLAGE.

I MENTIONED ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO WHEN WE REALIZED THE FULL MAGNITUDE OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FACING ONCE THE VACANT LABOR COMPLEX WAS LEFT TO US.

WE PUT TOGETHER AN ESTIMATE AND THAT WAS VERY ROUGH NUMBERS BASED ON WHAT WE WERE SEEING AND LABOR TRADES FOR DEMOLITION, BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT AT TIMES TO GET AN EXACT NUMBER.

WE'VE USED THAT NUMBER WHERE ORIGINALLY WAS 5.3 AND WE USE IT FOR THE LAST 12 AND 18 MONTHS AS JUST SAYING AN ESTIMATE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PIGEONHOLE THE INTENTION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WAS AND HAD BEEN TO REQUEST HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

BUT WE PUT TOGETHER THE ESTIMATES IN THE EVENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE FACED WITH THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN NOW, THAT THE AUTHORITY WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND THEIR DECISIONS IN THE PAST, AND THEN THE CITY MAY BE FACED WITH DEMOLISHING OUR OWN LABOR CAMP ONCE HE CAME INTO OUR POSSESSION.

THE LAST THREE MONTHS AND THE LARGE PART BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE COMMENTS.

THE MAYOR'S BOTH PREVIOUS MAYOR CORTES AND NOW MAYOR GARCIA, THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THEY HAVE MADE TO THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY BOARD, THE TITLE SIX COMPLAINT THAT HAS BEEN FILED.

THERE'S BEEN A BIT OF I GUESS, A SHOW OF EFFORT FROM THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY TO HELP US AS BEST AS POSSIBLE TO FIND THE FUNDS OR REQUEST THE FUNDS OF THE STATE AND THE STATE LEGISLATORS, TO DEMOLISH THE LABOR CAMP.

SADDER MELISSA OF TITLES OFFICE HAS BEEN GREAT AND REALLY HELPING TO FIND WAYS AND IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE FUNDING FOR DEMOLISHING A LABOR CAMP.

THAT'S STILL WORK IN PROGRESS.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH HER OFFICE FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS WITH NO RESOLUTIONS TO BE FOUND AS OF YET, WE'VE ENGAGED AND HAD OBTAINED LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM BOTH CENTER AND TITLES OFFICE AS WELL AS SOLACE'S OFFICE AT THE TIME, TJ CORCTES'S OFFICE AND SUPPORT OF OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE THE FUNDS AND FIND A WAY TO MITIGATE THE ISSUES WE WERE HAVING, IN LARGE PART BECAUSE WE PROVIDED THE EXAMPLES OF THE PICTURES AND OTHERS THAT WE'VE SHOWN OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF JUST THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAVING.

THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAVING ON THE COMMUNITY, BOTH IN TERMS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT,

[01:35:01]

NOT JUST A CALL FOR SERVICE TO GO OUT THERE, BUT THE CRIME WE'RE SEEING IN THE COMMUNITY ADJACENT TO THE LABOR CAMP, THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE NO BORDERS.

THEY'RE NOT BOUND BY THE RAILROAD TRACKS THERE.

WE'RE SEEING THEM AND WE'RE SEEING UPTICKS IN CRIME THAT'S OCCURRING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

WE'RE FINDING ITEMS THAT WERE PART OF CRIMES THAT OCCURRED BOTH WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS AND ALSO OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.

WE KNEW THAT THE IMPACT OF THIS WAS NOT GOING TO BE ISOLATED, BUT IT WAS ALSO GOING TO BE COMPLEX TO TRY TO WRAP OUR MINDS AROUND BECAUSE OF THE SHEER SIZE OF THE COMPLEX, WE ARE TALKING OVER 20 ACRES, OVER 100 STRUCTURES THAT WERE BUILT OVER VARIOUS PHASES.

CINDER BLOCK CONSTRUCTION, THAT IS GOING TO BE COSTLY TO DEMO AND HAUL OFF, AS WELL AS JUST THE NUMBER OF THE DESIGNS OF HOW THEY'RE SITUATED, AND JUST THE OVERALL COMPLEXITY OF MANAGING THAT.

LAST MONTH, AFTER SOME DISCUSSIONS FROM CENTER OR TITLES OFFICE AND OTHERS, HIGH-SPEED RAIL APPROACHED US AND HELPING US TO REVIEW OUR ESTIMATES TO MAKE SURE IT WAS ACCURATELY REFLECTING WHAT THE POTENTIAL COSTS WOULD BE BASED ON THE INPUT WE RECEIVED, WHAT WE SHOWED THEM, THE PICTURES.

WE EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT OUR NUMBER WAS VERY ROUGH.

THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT OF DETAILS THAT WE COULD GO OFF AT THE TIME AND WE HAD TO REVISIT IT ONLY BECAUSE THE CITY DID NOT HAVE POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY.

THERE WERE STILL TENANTS LIVING OUT THE LABOR CAMP AT THE TIME, SO WE COULDN'T GO IN THERE AND DO THE FULL-BLOWN ASSESSMENTS THAT WE NEEDED TO DO THE ASSESSMENT AND ABATEMENT TESTING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

BUT THE NUMBER WAS JUST A WAY TO PIN THAT AND GIVE US A STARTING POINT.

AFTER MEETING THEN THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL INTERIM CENTRAL ORIGINAL DIRECTOR, THEY PROVIDED SOME FEEDBACK BACK TO US AND EXPLAINING BASED ON DAVE ODYSSEY HAD BEEN DEALING WITH DEMOLISHING STRUCTURES IN BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE ALIGNMENTS.

THEY HAD UP-TO-DATE REAL FIGURES OF WHAT WE POTENTIALLY COULDN'T BE LOOKING AT.

BASED ON SOME OF THAT, IT CHANGED THE PRICE OF WHAT IS THE ESTIMATE FOR PAYMENT OF FLOOR TILES, AND SO THEY WERE SEEING A SIX DOLLAR PER SQUARE FOOT RANGE, SO WE UPDATED OUR FINGERS.

DUE TO A LARGE VARIABILITY AND ABATEMENT COSTS, WE KNEW THAT WAS ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN MAKING, BUT IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE MATERIALS BE TESTED IN THE UPCOMING SURVEY.

THINGS SUCH AS THERMAL INSULATION, ROOFING MATERIALS, WINDOW COCKING, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR FRIABLE FINISHES SUCH AS POPCORN CEILING, AND STUCCO.

THEY ALSO DISCUSS ADDING A LINE ITEM FOR DEBRIS REMOVAL FOR DEMOLITION SUCH AS TRASH, POTENTIAL RODENTS, NEEDLES, ETC.

THIS IS WHERE THAT HAS MATTE CLEANUP THAT WE ORIGINALLY WEREN'T FORECASTING IN OUR INITIAL ESTIMATES, BUT NOW BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION AND WHAT HAS GONE ON THERE, THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITY WE'RE SEEING.

NOW WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT AND IT'S DRIVING UP THE COST.

LASTLY, JUST THE OVERALL PROJECT MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT, WE INCREASE THAT.

THIS OBVIOUSLY DROVE THE COST FROM 5.3 MILLION TO 9.1 MILLION.

BEFORE I GET INTO QUESTIONS AND I WANT TO BRING UP WORSE LIGHTS KIND OF ADDRESS QUESTION I WAS PREVIOUSLY ASKED ON JUST SOME OF THE POSSO AND G STREET UNDERPASS.

LET ME GET GOOGLE EARTH UP. IN GENERAL, AND I'LL TRY AND FIND THE BETTER LAYER.

BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL LIMING IS GOING TO COME RIGHT DOWN THE EXISTING BNSF RAIL-ROAD ALIGNMENT.

THERE'S GOING TO BE JUST ON THE WEST SIDE.

SOME OF THE OTHER IMPACTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEN AS A FACT THAT, ONCE THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL IS OPERATIONAL, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE AMTRAK SERVICE IS GOING TO GO AWAY.

THEY'RE GOING TO DEMOLISH THE AMTRAK STATION.

THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP THE PLATFORM FOR THE TIME BEING, BUT THEY'RE INTENDED TO DO AWAY WITH THE AMTRAK SERVICE ENTIRELY ESSENTIALLY THE STATE IS FACING THE ISSUE, THEY HAVE A BRIGHT SHINY NEW TRAIN SYSTEM AND THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT AND THEY ALSO HAVE THE EXISTING OLDER AMTRAK SERVICE.

THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS TO FUND BOTH SYSTEMS. THEY'RE GOING TO STOP THE AMTRAK SERVICE IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

[01:40:02]

WASCO IS GOING TO LOSE IT'S AMTRAK STATION, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET A HIGH-SPEED RAIL STOP IN WASCO.

INSTEAD WHAT THE PROPOSED PLANS AND STUDIES THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS TO DO A BUS SERVICE TO BUS RESIDENTS AND OTHER PASSENGERS THAT CURRENTLY USE THE AMTRAK SERVICE, BUS THEM TO BAKERSFIELD OR TO OTHER COMMUNITIES TO THE NORTH THAT HAVE A HIGH-SPEED RAIL STATION SO THAT THEY CAN ACCESS THE SYSTEM.

SOME OTHER ISSUES WHICH WE DISCUSSED LAST YEAR ABOUT THE SIXTH STREET CROSSING.

INITIALLY, THE COUNCIL HAD CONSIDERED CLOSING, BUT THEN THERE WASN'T A SUBSEQUENT AGREEMENT THAT WAS SOLIDIFIED THE ACTUAL CLOSURE.

IN LIGHT OF ALL THE OTHER ISSUES, WE'RE GOING THROUGH IN A LOT OF NUANCES AND JUST THE CONFUSION AND THE PROJECT.

THE COUNCIL LAST YEAR DECIDED TO REVERSE HER DECISION TO CLOSE THE CROSSING BEING THAT THERE WASN'T A FORMAL AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING THAT AS REQUIRED BY THE MASTER AGREEMENT THAT WAS IN PLACE BETWEEN HIGH-SPEED RAIL AND THE CITY OF WASCO THAT GUIDED HOW THE PROJECT WAS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED AND THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS THAT NEEDED TO BE WORKED OUT.

THAT'S STILL QUESTION IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW.

PUZZLE AVENUES AND LAST FEBRUARY, A YEAR AGO, THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL CAME TO THE SITTING WAS PUSHING US AND REQUESTED THAT THE CITY APPROVED CLOSING THAT CROSSING.

WE INITIALLY OPPOSED THAT CROSSING BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT HIGH-SPEED RAIL DID NOT HAVE ALL THEIR PLANS IN PLACE YET.

BUT AT THE TIME, WE WERE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS, AND WE REALLY WERE PUT IN A POSITION WHERE HIGH-SPEED RAIL HAD A WINDOW WITH BNSF TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE THAT CROSSING AND REMOVE THE ARMS AND SHUT IT OFF.

WE HAD OBTAINED SOME ASSURANCES IN WRITING THAT THE PROJECT WOULD MOVE FORWARD AND WOULD COMMENCE WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME, AND THAT THE UNDERPASS WOULD BE RE-OPENED BY SEPTEMBER IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN OF THIS YEAR, SIX MONTHS CAME AND WENT.

I THINK IT WAS ACTUALLY THREE MONTHS INITIALLY TO GET ALL OF THE PLANS FOR US TO REVIEW.

SIX MONTHS CAME AND WENT, CONSTRUCTION HASN'T STARTED.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE UNDERPASS STILL HASN'T STARTED.

WE HAVE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT SINCE THAT TIME, HIGH-SPEED RAIL NEVER HAD THE RIDER WE ACQUIRED NECESSARY TO BUILD THE UNDERPASS.

BUT PART OF THAT UNDERPASS IS GOING TO AFFECT BUSINESSES AND THAT'S ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES WE'VE DEALT WITH, HIGH-SPEED RAILWAYS, THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION OR MISCOMMUNICATION THAT THEY'VE BEEN HAVING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS, ONE WE HAVE BROUGHT UP AND WE'VE MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO APPROVE ANY PERMITS FOR THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN UNLESS THEY CAN PROVIDE AND JUSTIFY THAT THEY HAVE A WIRED ALL THE RIGHT OF WAY BECAUSE WE WANTED TO AVOID GIVING THEM APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD, ONLY TO FIND OUT LATER ON THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE RIGHT OF WAY AND THAT'S GOING TO ADD ADDITIONAL TIME BECAUSE IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS, IF NOT LONGER, TO ACQUIRE THE RIGHT OF WAY ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

WE KNOW THAT PART OF THAT RIGHT AWAY IS THEY'RE GOING TO NEED A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FEET ALONG HOMES ALONG PUZZLE AVENUE, SO ALL OF THESE FOUR HOMES, FIVE HOMES HERE, MY MATH IS WRONG, SIX HOMES, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO ACQUIRE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF ACREAGE, OR SPACE BETWEEN THE CURB AND PEOPLE'S HOMES.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR DRIVEWAY APPROACHES, THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE THEIR PARKING ON PUZZLE BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO WIDEN AND CONSTRUCT THAT UNDERPASS.

I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT HIGH-SPEED RAIL IS TELLING THESE RESIDENTS? I ALSO DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE TALKING TO THE RESIDENTS.

SOME OF THEM MIGHT BE RENTERS OR IF YOU'RE TALKING SPECIFICALLY JUST THE PROPERTY OWNERS.

THE OTHER ISSUE THAT WE'RE HAVING IS THAT RESIDENTS, THEIR ACCESS POINTS WILL BE RELOCATED FROM FOR WHAT IS RIGHT NOW THE FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE TO THE REAR OF THEIR HOUSE.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE HAVE FOUND OUT AND WE MADE CLEAR THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL THEY NEED TO ADDRESS IT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S BEING SAID, IS THAT HIGH-SPEED RAIL WANTS TO ELIMINATE ON-STREET PARKING ON 13TH STREET BECAUSE IT'S FIRE ISSUE.

THAT ROAD BACK THERE IS TOO NARROW AND SO IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, A FIRE TRUCKS ARE GOING TO HAVE DIFFICULTY NAVIGATING DOWN THAT STREET IF YOU HAVE VEHICLES PARKED ON THE ROAD, SO AT SOME POINT THEY'RE GOING TO REQUEST OF THE CITY TO ELIMINATE PARKING ON THAT STREET.

WELL, WE HAVE REQUESTED AND WE'LL HOLD FIRM ON WITH REGARDS TO THAT REQUEST, AS WELL AS A COUPLE OTHERS RELATED TO THESE PROPERTY, IS MAKING SURE THAT THE CITY IS PROTECTED, THAT THOSE RESIDENTS AND THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE INFORMED AND THAT THEY'RE MADE AWARE OF WHAT ARE ALL THE IMPACTS AND IMPLICATIONS ARE GOING TO BE FACING WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT AND THE PUZZLE UNDERPASS CROSSING.

BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT HIGH-SPEED RAIL IS ACTUALLY TELLING THESE INDIVIDUALS.

THERE ARE OTHER PROPERTIES ALONG THE ALIGNMENTS.

[01:45:01]

I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICS ON WHICH ONE'S ON G STREET ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED.

I BELIEVE FOR THE MOST PART, MOST OF THE MAIN ONES ALONG THE ACTUAL CORRIDOR WHICH IS BETWEEN THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND G STREET, HAD ALREADY BEEN ACQUIRED.

THAT INCLUDES THE CITIES FORMER WELL NINE, THERE WAS A WATER WELL, WE HAD ALONG THE ALIGNMENT THAT HAD TO BE RELOCATED AND THE PART OF THE AGREEMENTS IS THAT HIGH-SPEED RAIL HAS TO CONSTRUCT A NEW WATER WELL, AND WHAT WE REFER TO AS THE BOOTH PROPERTY, WHICH IS THE OLD PIONEER BUILDING PROPERTY THAT'S ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE TRACKS.

THEY ALSO, WE'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE AT RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY NEED TO BE TALKING THROUGH SOME OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS ON G STREET AND ON THE NORTH SIDE OF COSO BECAUSE THEY INITIALLY WANTED TO BLOCK OFF THE ALLEYWAY.

BUT ONCE WE POINTED OUT THAT OUR TRUCK DRIVERS NEED TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THAT ALLEYWAY FOR AT A MINIMUM SANITATION SERVICE, LET ALONE OTHER WATER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT DOWN THAT ROAD, SO THEY NEED TO CREATE AN ACCESS POINT FOR TRUCKS TO BACK OUT.

WHEN WE INITIALLY BROUGHT THAT UP, WELL TRUCK CAN JUST BACK OUT.

HOW EASY IS IT TO DRIVE A SANITATION TRUCK IN REVERSE DOWN THE FULL LENGTH OF THE ALLEY? THAT JUST WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.

THERE ARE A LOT OF NUANCES.

IT'S AN EXTREMELY COMPLEX.

THERE ARE MANY ISSUES WE'RE TRYING TO NAVIGATE WITH THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL.

ULTIMATELY FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, THE LABOR CAMP IS A KEY ISSUE.

WE HAVE THE TITLE SIX PROCESS ONGOING.

THEY HAVE INITIALLY HAVE SETTING.

THEY HAVE REAFFIRMED THAT THE AUTHORITY DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONDITION AND ULTIMATE DISPOSITION OF THE FORMER LAW SCHOOL FARM LABOR HOUSING CAMPS, SO THAT'S AN ISSUE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO NAVIGATE.

AS WE TALKED ABOUT IN THERE IN A STUDY SESSION, THAT $9.3 MILLION FINANCIAL HITS TO THE CITY IS GOING TO BE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR FINANCES.

ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF SOME OF THE OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS AND OTHER WISHLISTS THAT WE WANT TO SEE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A QUESTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO NAVIGATE IT.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE AUTHORITY SAYS NO? WHAT HAPPENS IF THE STATE SAYS NO? WHETHER OR NOT, WE GET AN UNFAVORABLE OUTCOME WITH A TITLE IX COMPLAINT PROCESS THAT WE'VE STARTED.

BUT CERTAINLY ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'RE DEALING WITH IS THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN THE VOCAL ENTITY.

IT HAS BEEN THE ONLY ENTITY THAT HAS BEEN VERY VOCAL WITH THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY.

THERE HASN'T BEEN RESIDENT SPEAKING AT THESE BOARD MEETINGS WHEN WE'VE HAD THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, THERE HASN'T BEEN DIFFICULT QUESTIONS AT THE AUTHORITY HAS HAD TO ADDRESS AND ANSWER.

THEY'VE SUGARCOATED THE IMPACT OF THE COMMUNITY, THEY HAVEN'T FULLY ADDRESSED A NUMBER OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY AND BE DETRIMENTAL.

IN THEIR MINDS, THEY CAN VERY EASILY JUST PROBABLY DISMISS THE CITY'S EFFORT BECAUSE THERE IS NO RULE, NO NEGATIVE PR BACKLASH ON THEM.

RIGHT NOW THE AUTHORITY IS REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS, AS WELL AS AN EXTENSION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT FROM MERSEY TO BAKERSFIELD.

THE REALITY IS THEY DON'T WANT BAD PUBLICITY, WHICH IS WHY WHEN MAYOR SPOKE LAST MONTH, IT WAS COINCIDENCE THAT MAYOR GARCIA TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUES AND CHALLENGES WE'RE FACING.

AND ANOTHER MAYOR FROM ANOTHER COMMUNITY TALKS ABOUT THE POSITIVE IMPACTS THEY'VE BEEN HAVING IN WALKING INTO PROJECT.

BUT WE'RE THE ONLY CITY OR ONE OF THE ONLY CITIES THAT HAS A PROJECT COMING STRAIGHT THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND IS HAVING JUST A DRAMATIC IMPACT THAT IT'S HAVING BOTH IN OUR BASIC SERVICES AS WELL AS JUST THE IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE A LONG-TERM IF WE DON'T ADDRESS THE LABOR CAMP CONDITION.

I'LL STOP THERE AND ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL OR THE PUBLIC MAY HAVE.

>> THANK YOU DANIEL.

AS ALWAYS A VERY THOROUGH AND COMPLETE UPDATE BRIEFING ON THIS MATTER.

LET ME GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP DISCUSSION.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A VARIABLE COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND BUTTON TO REQUEST TO SPEAK.

IF YOU'RE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL *999 ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD AND YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON BY THE NUMBER YOU ARE CALLING FROM WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENTS.

ONCE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED. AT THIS TIME.

MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? [NOISE]

>> YEAH GARCIA. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.

THE FIRST ONE IS FROM COLLEAGUE YOLANDA HARRISON.

[NOISE].

>> MR. HARRISON, ARE YOU WITH US?

>> THIS IS ACTUALLY YOLANDA HARRISON.

>> HI.

>> HI MAYOR. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW, AT THIS POINT IN TIME,

[01:50:03]

YOU DO NOT KNOW WHETHER OR NOT SOUTH OF POSSO ON F AND G WILL BE AFFECTED BESIDES THE PART THAT THEY'VE ALREADY TAKEN AWAY.

>> MAYBE.

>> SO THE OTHER HOUSES ON THE WESTERN SIDE, THEY WON'T BE EFFECTIVE AT THIS TIME, CORRECT?

>> DAN, WOULD YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION?

>> YEAH. I WOULD SAY OUR UNDERSTANDING THERE RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE AFFECTED, BUT I WOULDN'T SAY FOR CERTAIN.

THE ONE THING THAT I FAILED TO MENTION WAS JUST THE IMPACT OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ITSELF, AS IT MOVES FORWARD TO THE CONSTRUCTION, THERE ARE GOING TO BE SEVERAL DETOURS POSSO AVENUE AND THAT POSSO AVENUE CROSSING IS ONE OF THEM.

WE JUST LEARNED ON FRIDAY THAT'S KIMBERLYNA IS EXPECTED OR THAT THEY ARE REQUESTING THAT KIMBERLYNA AVENUE BE CLOSED FOR A PERIOD OF TWO AND A HALF MONTHS.

UNFORTUNATELY, JUST THE WAY THIS PROJECT HAS GONE ON AND SOME OF THE DELAYS AND TIME IT TAKES TO GET CERTAIN COMPONENTS COMPLETED, WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE UP TO THEIR TWO AND A HALF MONTH PERIOD.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY JUST LEARNED ON FRIDAY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AND IT'S CONTRACTOR, CALIFORNIA RAIL BROTHERS HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT SPECIFIC PLANS AND DETOURS SINCE NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR.

SO HERE WE ARE, FIVE MONTHS AFTER THEY INITIALLY STARTED THAT AND NOT ONCE DID THEY EVER ACTUALLY BRING THAT UP TO THE CITY.

WE FOUND OUT ONLY BECAUSE THEY WERE COMMUNICATING AND HAD CONTACT THE SHAFTER-WASCO IRRIGATION DISTRICT BECAUSE THEY'RE BUILDING IN THEIR OFFICES ON THE CORNER OF KIMBERLYNA AND 43, WE'RE GOING TO BE IMPACTED AND THEY REQUIRE A TEMPORARY PARKING LOT.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT UNFORTUNATELY INFORMATION THAT WE'RE NOT BEING TOLD THE ENTIRE PICTURE OF WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE GOING TO BE AND SO UNFORTUNATELY, THEY SUBMIT A PLAN AND WE'RE SITTING HERE THAT WAS NEVER BROUGHT UP INITIALLY, SO THEN WE'RE HAVING TO REACT AND RESPOND TO THAT.

>> [OVERLAPPING] IF I CAN ADD DANIEL IN YOUR LINE JUST SO YOU KNOW.

SO INITIALLY WHEN THIS PROJECT WAS PROPOSED, THEY DID CONTACT THOSE HOMEOWNERS ON G STREET THERE AND S STREET.

YEAH AND SO FROM WHAT THE INITIAL CONTEXTS WERE, THEY'VE ALREADY ACQUIRED WHATEVER PROPERTY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ACQUIRED.

BUT OUR [INAUDIBLE] MANAGER SAID, THEY KEEP CHANGING THE GAME.

SO WE KEEP FINDING OUT NEW INFORMATION ALL THE TIME.

SO THAT'S NO GUARANTEE THAT FUTURE HOMEOWNERS WON'T BE IMPACTED IN THE FUTURE.

>> THANK YOU ANDREW CORTEZ FOR THAT ADDITION.

MADAM CLERK, YOLANDA, WAS THAT TO THE EXTEND OF YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YOU CAN RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONALS.

MADAM CLERK, ANY OTHER COMMENTS?

>> [NOISE] YES. ASK ONE?

>> YEAH, IF YOU ASK ONE.

>> OKAY. I'M SORRY. YES, I WAS JUST SAYING, SO IF YOU GUYS GET FUTURE INFORMATION ON THAT AREA, WILL YOU GUYS BE LETTING US KNOW OR?

>> YES. WE'LL DO OUR BEST EFFORTS AND TRY TO KEEP UP TO SPEED ON THAT AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

AS YOU KNOW, THAT'S PROVING TO BE DIFFICULT WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS ON THE SIDE OF THE AUTHORITY.

BUT WE WILL DO OUR BEST, OF COURSE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> DO OF COURSE INVITE YOU AND ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN US IN AND MAKE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SHARING OUR GRIEVANCES WITH THE BOARD, WHICH MEETS MONTHLY.

MADAM CLERK, ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM?

>> YES. WE HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT FROM CALLER MARCUS BALLARD.

>> MR. BALLARD, YOU'RE WITH US.

>> HI. YEAH. MY NAME IS MARCUS BALLARD, AND THANK YOU, DANIEL, FOR THAT THOROUGH PRESENTATION.

I'VE JUST SEEN SOME OF THE PICTURES, IT WAS JUST DISHEARTENING TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SO TO PIGGYBACK OFF WHAT YOU JUST SAID EARLIER, SO THE MEETINGS, I GUESS I WANT TO GET MORE INVOLVED AS FAR AS A HIGH-SPEED ROW COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

HOW DO WE DO THAT? THEN NUMBER TWO, DANIEL, YOUR REPORT THAT YOU JUST SHOWED US, IF WE DO GO TO THESE MEETINGS, I DO WANT TO GO WITH SOME INFORMATION IN HAND.

SO DANIEL, THE REPORT YOU JUST SHOWED US, DO WE HAVE ACCESS TO THAT OR COULD THERE BE ACCESS TO YOUR REPORT IN THE FUTURE? THAT WAY WE DO SHOW UP TO THESE MEETINGS, WE CAN GO INFORMED.

I DO THINK IT'S TIME FOR US AS CITIZENS TO STEP UP.

I'VE DONE A HORRIBLE JOB OF IT.

JUST SEEING SOME OF THESE PICTURES TODAY IS LIKE, MAN, WE GOT SOME WORK TO DO.

[OVERLAPPING] DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW DO WE GET ACCESS TO THESE MEETING ZOOM? I JUST WANT TO KNOW.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. DO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PAGE DEDICATED TO THIS ISSUE ON OUR CITY WEBSITE?

[01:55:01]

IT PROVIDES A BACKGROUND AND DETAILED INFORMATION, OTHER DOCUMENTS AND RESOURCES FOR OUR RESIDENTS, EXPERT OPINIONS FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO REVIEW AND POTENTIALLY USE FOR THEIR INFORMATION AND KEYS AND THEY DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH COMMENTS THAT TITLE SIX COMPLAINT OR ANYTHING OF THE NATURE.

MR. BALLARD WILL DEFINITELY INCLUDE INFORMATION ON THAT MEETING ON THAT WEBSITE HERE COMING SOON.

OF COURSE, I'LL SHARE THAT WORD OF MOUTH WITH OTHERS AS WELL AND OF COURSE, TO THE TASK FORCE.

>> MR. MAYOR, I THINK JUST TO POINT OUT.

SO UNDER OUR COMMUNITY TAB, WE DO HAVE A HIGH-SPEED RAIL IMPACT ON MOSCOW.

WE'RE GOING TO BE UPDATING THIS INFORMATION.

THIS PAGE CURRENTLY HAS SOME OF THE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION THAT WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH SEEING THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL.

YOU'LL SEE THE LETTER THAT WENT OUT FROM THE COUNCIL OR SIGNED BY THE MAYOR BACK ON MAY 5TH.

YOU'LL SEE THEIR RESPONSE.

WE HAVE SOME PICTURES IN THERE.

WE'RE WORKING RIGHT NOW ON THE PROCESS OF COMPILING OUR TITLE SIX COMPLAINTS.

WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF REQUESTS ON THAT INFORMATION AND [INAUDIBLE] TITLES OFFICE AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE OFFICES.

SO WE'LL MAKE THAT AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE AND IT'LL GIVE YOU THE SUMMARY OF WHAT OF THE ISSUES WE'RE FACING SO YOU GUYS CAN FOLLOW UP ON.

IN TERMS OF THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL MEETINGS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF COVID, IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED WITH AND BE PART OF AND WATCH THE MEETINGS BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING HELD VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM OR JUST VIRTUALLY IN THE SAME MANNER WHERE WE'RE HAVING THIS MEETING.

WHEREAS PREVIOUSLY BEFORE COVID, THE MEETINGS WERE HELD IN PERSON UP IN SACRAMENTO, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO HAVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

SO ON THE HIGH-SPEED RAILS WEBSITE, HSR.CA.GOV, WHEN YOU GO TO, I'M TRYING TO FIND THE CORRECT ONE.

[NOISE] BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THERE WAS A PAGE ON HERE.

[NOISE]

>> TO TRACK DOWN INFORMATION ON THE WEEK, THEY NORMALLY PUT IT ON THAT FRONT PAGE AS WELL AS [INAUDIBLE] AND OF COURSE THAT IF YOU LET THEM KNOW THAT AHEAD OF TIME THEN THEY'RE GOING TO PUT YOU IN THE AGENDA FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS AS WELL.

>> MR. MAYOR, THIS IS NEBERT MARTINEZ, MAY I ADDRESS THAT QUESTION REAL QUICK?

>> PLEASE.

>> MR. BALLARD THE WESCO COMMUNITY TASK FORCE WAS ACTUALLY CREATED A COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS HIGH-SPEED RAIL IS BEING COORDINATED BY ARCADIA [INAUDIBLE] AND TRACY CLINDAMIN AND THEY ARE TRYING TO COORDINATE A PUBLIC RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY.

SO IF YOU WANT TO REACH OUT TO THEM, THEY HAVE A WEALTH OF INFORMATION AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GET A COORDINATED RESPONSE FOR THIS.

[NOISE]

>> VERY EASY.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. [NOISE].

>> THANK YOU AGAIN VERY MUCH.

MADAM CLERK, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? [NOISE]

>> MAYOR GARCIA, THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS AT THIS TIME [NOISE].

>> VERY WELL. THANK YOU AGAIN MISS [INAUDIBLE] AND DANIEL OF COURSE, FOR THAT WONDERFUL REPORT AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIRELESS WORK ON THIS MATTER.

>> [OVERLAPPING] I DON'T THINK IT WAS WONDERFUL.

>> WELL, I MEAN, I KNOW THAT THE WORK YOU PUT INTO IT IS WONDERFUL THAT'S FOR SURE.

BUT I AGREE THIS IS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

I INVITE FOLKS LIKE YOU GUYS MENTIONED TO JOIN ME IN PUBLIC COMMENTS, NOT ONLY TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THEMSELVES BUT TO OUR LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES.

[NOISE] AS I MENTIONED IN SENATOR HURTADO AND SO MANY NUMBER OF SCHOLARS HAVE BOTH BEEN VERY ENGAGED WITH THE PROCESS PROVIDING LETTERS OF SUPPORT AS WELL AS OUR PREVIOUS CONGRESSMEN ON MY [INAUDIBLE] CURRENT ONE I MIGHT ADD.

ACTUALLY I HAVE INVITED ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS TO JOIN ME IN THE TOUR OF THE FACILITY WHICH WE'LL BE DOING ON THURSDAY.

[NOISE] I WANT TO SHARE FIRST HAND THIS EXPERIENCE AS WE DID WITH BRIAN KELLY, THE CEO OR THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD, THIS ISSUE, AND HOW IT'S IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY, AND HOW IT IS DENYING OUR COMMUNITY THE RIGHT TO MANIFEST OUR DESTINY WHEN IT COMES TO THE THE OTHER PRIORITIES THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS AND DUTIES THAT WE HAVE TO OUR RESIDENTS, SUCH AS PROVIDING LIGHTING, CLEAN STREETS, POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND WHAT NOT FOR MOVING FORWARD.

SO PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE JOIN ME IN THIS EFFORT TO HOLD THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY ACCOUNTABLE.

IN ANY CASE, THE CITY MUST MOVE FORWARD AS CUSTODIANS OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS TO ESSENTIALLY FACE THE FACT THAT WE MAY HAVE TO ABATE THIS ISSUE ON OUR OWN.

AND SO THE STAFF IN FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO GET A CLEAR PICTURE OF THAT.

WE HAVE DISCUSSED A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THAT AS WELL.

>> [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU, MAYOR. I BELIEVE WE STILL HAD ANOTHER PUBLIC COMMENT, IF HE'S STILL THERE.

>> [OVERLAPPING] FRED SANCHEZ?

[02:00:02]

>> YES. [NOISE]

>> MR. SANCHEZ, ARE YOU WITH US? [BACKGROUND]

>> [NOISE] HELLO. THERE YOU GO.

>> YEAH. THIS IS FRANK. HOW ARE YOU DOING? [OVERLAPPING].

>> WE'RE WITH NEW GENERATION CHURCH AND WE WERE WONDERING, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP OUT CLEAN THE CITY UP AS A CHURCH?

>> EASY ANSWER MR. SANCHEZ, I WOULD WANT TO DIRECT YOU TO THE [INAUDIBLE] AND NOW GET TO THAT INFORMATION.

OUR FRIENDS AT THE ROUND TABLE OF THE TASK FORCE ARE COMING TOGETHER WITH THE WONDERFUL EFFORT TO NOT ONLY ADDRESS CRIME BUT BEAUTIFICATION AND CLEANLINESS AROUND THE COMMUNITY.

THEY HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.

I'LL MAKE SURE YOU WILL GET CONNECTED AND ON THAT LISTS OF E-MAILS AND INVITED TO THAT ZOOM ROUND-TABLE AND PUBLIC MEETINGS AS WELL.

BUT I INVITE YOU AND ALL OTHER FAITH INSTITUTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY TO GET INVOLVED.

AS THE TASK FORCE IS COMING TOGETHER FOR A REALLY GOOD CAUSE.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR INTEREST AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU INCLINED.

>> WE APPRECIATE IT. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

PLEASE LET US KNOW IN WHICH WAY.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MR. MAYOR, IF I CAN ADD A FEW LAST COUPLE OF ITEMS AND ONE THING THAT I PROBABLY DIDN'T STRESS ENOUGH WAS JUST THE, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY DEALING ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT FRONTS TO TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS.

BUT THE REALITY AND AS I MENTIONED TO OUR FACILITY TECHNICIAN, THE TIME WE SEE SPENT REPAIRING THE FENCE, NOW THAT'S JUST ONE FRACTION OF JUST HOW MUCH TIME THAT THE LABOR CAMP ITSELF HAS TAKEN UP.

THAT'S TAKEN AWAY FROM OTHER PROJECTS IN THE CITY, LET ALONE JUST WHAT THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT IN GENERAL AND HAVING TO NAVIGATE THEIR REQUESTS FOR ENCROACHING PERMITS, REVIEW PLANS, ALL OF THAT NATURE.

WE'VE STARTED DOWN THE PROCESS AND WE'VE HAD TWO OR THREE STAFF PEOPLE SPEND ABOUT 20 HOURS, 23 HOURS EACH IN THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF, SPEND IT OUT AT THE LABOR CAMP, REMOVING SOME OF THE OLD POST LINE POSTS AND OTHER ITEMS IN THE BREEZE.

THAT'S THE IDEA OF TRYING TO MAKE PATHWAYS THAT VEHICLES CAN DRIVE ON AS THE DEPUTIES PATROLLING AREAS AND JUST BEING ABLE TO WALK WITHOUT THE HAZARD.

ONE OF THE ISSUE THAT WE DEAL WITH IS IN THE DAYLIGHT IT'S EASIER TO SEE AND FOR THEM TO GO IN THERE AT NIGHT TIME, IT'S EXTREMELY DARK OUT THERE.

AND SO VISIBILITY IS A PROBLEM FOR THEM TO SEE THEM AND HOW QUICKLY THEY CAN HIDE.

THE DEPUTIES DO HAVE SOME EQUIPMENT OUTFITTED UNDER VEHICLES TO BE ABLE TO BETTER SEE IN THE NIGHT TIME.

I'VE JUST PURCHASED ANOTHER PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE AS WELL.

BUT AGAIN, JUST GOES TO THE COMPLEXITY OF PATROLLING, MONITORING AND SECURING THAT AND OTHER AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT TRACKS FROM OTHER SERVICES THE COMMUNITY COULD BE SERVING.

>> MAYOR GARCIA, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> VERY WELL.

>> HI. I JUST HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL.

>> YES. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

>> MY NAME IS RAPHAEL AND I WAS JUST CONCERNED WITH THE PROBLEM THAT IT WOULD BRING TO THE CITY.

BUT MY QUESTION WAS, WHY DID THE CITY PURCHASE A PROPERTY?

>> I THINK DANIEL YOU CAN ANSWER THAT BEST.

>> INITIALLY, THE REASON WHY THE CITY ENDED UP WITH THE PROPERTY WAS BECAUSE THE CITY WAS ORIGINALLY OWNED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

AND WHEN HIGH-SPEED RAILS CAME THROUGH THE COMMUNITY, THEY WERE FACED WITH THE CHALLENGE OF EITHER SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY AND BUILDING THE SOUND WALLS AND BUILDING THE MITIGATION MEASURES TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS FROM THE IMPACT OF THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL CONSTRUCTION.

BUT WE ALSO AT THE TIME, THE COUNCIL AND THE STAFF AT THE TIME, RECOGNIZED THAT IT WAS GOING TO ISOLATE AND CUT OFF THIS RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT FROM THE REST OF THE CITY.

SO THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROPOSED TO PROVIDE IT $10 MILLION TO RELOCATE THE RESIDENTS.

NOT EXACTLY CLEAR SURE WHY OR HOW THE CITY ENDED UP, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AT THE TIME,

[02:05:04]

THIS WAS THEIR LAST PROPERTY THAT THEY MANAGED.

ONCE THEY RELOCATE THE RESIDENTS, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY DIDN'T HAVE A PROPERTY THAT WOULD BE USED FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.

SO THE PLANS ARE THAT THE CITY WASCO HOUSING AUTHORITY WOULD EVENTUALLY DISSOLVE.

THE CITY ENDED UP WITH THE PROPERTY JUST TO TRANSFER THE PROPERTY INTO AN ENTITY.

IN TERMS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS NOW SERVED BY THE COUNTY.

THE CURRENT COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT SERVES THE COMMUNITY AND VARIOUS OTHER COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

HOPEFULLY THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.

IT MAY NOT GET INTO THE DETAILS OF HOW THE CITY ENDED UP WITH JUST PART OF THE DISCUSSION THAT OCCURRED MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK LET US CHECK ON ANY OTHER COMMENTS?

>> YES. MAYOR GARCIA.

[NOISE] WE HAVE A COMMENT FROM FRANK SANCHEZ ALSO.

>> MR. SANCHEZ.

ARE YOU WITH US MR. SANCHEZ? [NOISE]

>> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD.

>> YEAH. QUESTION IS REGARDING THE FAST RULE.

IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, THE BUILDING THAT WAS BUILT FOR THE HOUSING COMMUNITY WAS 52 MILLION, SOMETHING LIKE THAT [INAUDIBLE].

THE FIRST ROUND WE PROVIDED 10 MILLION, DID ANYBODY DID NUMBERS TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH IT WAS GOING TO COST TO BUILD ON AND TO REMOVE ALL THIS PROPERTY? THERE WAS GOING TO BE BACON.

MEAN, I WOULD IMAGINE IF DAN YOU BUILD SOMETHING, YOU GOT TO PUT YOUR NUMBERS TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST, AND WHAT THE IMPACTS OF LUMPY.

IF THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD A BARRIER WALL TOWARDS THE EAST SIDE, WHAT'S GOING TO PROTECT THE SOUND BARRIER FOR THE WEST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY WITH A RAILS GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH.

THERE'S STILL PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY IT.

>> THE RESIDENTIAL SOMEONE NO LONGER IS.

DANIEL, CAN YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION?

>> WELL, I'M TRYING TO RECALL THE SPECIFIC DETAILS OF THE CONSTRUCTION, BUT AT LEAST A SOUND WALL COSTS AS IT WOULD APPLY TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE TRACKS.

THE WESTSIDE, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT STILL HAS TO BE CONSIDERED AND FACTORED INTO THEIR CONSTRUCTION PLANS, BUT I COULDN'T SAY FOR CERTAIN.

THERE WERE OTHER ADDITIONAL COST SAVINGS THAT AS PART OF THE OVERALL THAT THE AUTHORITY PURSUED, SUCH AS THE SIXTH STREET CROSSING.

BUT IN TERMS OF SPECIFICALLY WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE DISCUSSION OF THE LABOR CAMP AND DEMOLITION, HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW. THAT WAS BEFORE MY TIME.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DISCUSSIONS WERE SOME 10 YEARS AGO WHEN THIS ALL CAME INTO DEVELOPMENT.

THEY WERE AT ONE POINT THE POTENTIAL THAT'S THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY NEEDED TO DEVELOP A HEAVY MAINTENANCE FACILITY.

WASCO, UP UNTIL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WAS ONE OF THE POTENTIAL SITES THAT THEY COULD LOOK AT AND PART OF THAT INCLUDED THE LOCATION OF THE FARM LABOR HOUSING CAMPS.

I DON'T KNOW IF PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS 10 YEARS AGO WAS THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL SITE THAT WE FACTORED IN.

BUT NOW, WITH THE PROJECT WHERE IT'S AT AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAD BEEN CUT BACK, THEY'RE NOT BUILDING A HEAVY MEANS FACILITY.

BUT I COULDN'T TELL YOU FOR SURE WHY THAT WASN'T FACTORED IN.

>> OKAY. THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAVE, IF I CAN ONE MORE QUESTION, WHO WAS THE ONE THAT MADE THE DECISION TO MAKE THE TOWN INSTEAD OF TAKING IT TO THE OUTSIDE OF TOWN, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE MAKE MORE SENSE?

>> THAT WAS THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

>> OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU.

>> THANKS VERY MUCH [INAUDIBLE] FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.

>> MR MAYOR WE HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC COMMENT FROM OLIVIA OCAMPO.

>>VERY WELL, MS OCAMPO

>> HI, MY NAME IS OLIVIA OCAMPO AND I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY INTRODUCE MYSELF AND ALSO SAY THAT I'M ALSO PART OF THE WASCO TASK FORCE AND WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON GETTING TOGETHER, THAT WE'RE GETTING, TRYING TO WORK ON GETTING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

IN OUR TASKS MEETINGS, WE WILL BE ADDRESSING ON GIVING MORE INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO THE LATER YEAH.

>> VERY COOL, VERY GOOD.

GRASSROOTS [INAUDIBLE].

LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS. MAYOR PRO TEM REINA.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. A LOT HAS BEEN SAID ALREADY,

[02:10:01]

AND SO ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS THAT THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT TO CLEAN UP THE SITE.

TITLE SIX COMPLAINTS CAN BE FILED BY INDIVIDUALS.

THE RAILWAY AUTHORITIES PROBABLY NOT PAYING MUCH ATTENTION TO US BECAUSE WE ARE THE CITY AND THEY DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE STANDING.

BUT WHEN THE RESIDENTS START DOING THIS IS DEFINITELY GOING TO MAKE A BIG IMPACT ON THEM BECAUSE AS DANIEL MENTIONED BEFORE, THEY DON'T LIKE AND THEY DON'T WANT THE BAD PUBLICITY.

I THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, OR COULD I MENTIONED THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO HELP AND THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE AVENUES THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO HELP WITH, WHICH IS HELPING PEOPLE FILE TITLED SIX COMPLAINTS THAT WERE AUTHORITY WILL LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS [INAUDIBLE] IS JUST A TERRIBLE THING THAT IS HAPPENING TO THE CITY.

THEY'RE NOT LISTENING. THEY SAY THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.

BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, THEY HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, THEY JUST NOT WILLING TO HELP US.

HOPEFULLY, WE'LL FIND A SOLUTION.

BUT IS LOOKING VERY DIFFICULT, THAT WE WILL.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE NOW. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO ECHO YOUR COMMENTS AND THEY DON'T WANT BAD PRESS.

I ENJOYING YOU TO HELP MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF NOISE WITH ME OUT THERE ON THE NEWS FOLKS.

MEMBER CORTES.

>> DANIEL, THANK YOU FOR THE DETAILED REPORT.

AGAIN, THIS IS VERY USEFUL TO GET OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ADDRESSING SOME OF MR FRANK'S SENTENCES, COMMENTS, THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AND THE PROJECT ITSELF HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MITIGATE ANY ISSUES THAT THEY CREATED BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION.

WHETHER IT WAS RESOLVED, UNRESOLVED DURING THE PROCESS OF TRANSITION DISCUSSIONS A DECADE AGO AND WE ARE WHERE WE ARE, AND SO WE STILL NEED TO ADDRESS THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS AND MITIGATION ISSUES THAT THEY HAD LEFT BEHIND IN THE WAKE OF A CONSTRICTION OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL.

SO REGARDLESS, THEY'VE CREATED A PROBLEM THAT MAY HAVE BEEN UNFORESEEN AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND SO WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

>> THANK YOU, MEMBER CORTES.

MEMBER MARTINEZ, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM?

>> YES, SIR. SO I'VE BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT THE MISMANAGEMENT AND HIGH-SPEED RAIL.

IF YOU LOOK AT LIKE THE LA TIMES OR THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, THEY'VE DONE SOME REALLY WELL-WRITTEN RESEARCH ON HOW THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN MISMANAGED AND HORRIBLE BUDGET OVERRUNS.

I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE $50 BILLION OVER BUDGET ALREADY.

FROM THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATES, THEY JUST REQUESTED ANOTHER BILLION DOLLARS OF FUNDING.

WHAT THIS BOILS DOWN TO, THEY HAVE VERY POWERFUL LOBBYING GROUPS THAT ARE LOBBYING THESE LEGISLATORS TO CONTINUE TO FUND A PROJECT THAT IS GOING TO FAIL.

IT WILL FAIL EVENTUALLY.

BUT THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT KEEPS THROWING MONEY AT THIS LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW BECAUSE OF THEIR POWERFUL OBVIOUS.

IT IS INCUMBENT ON OUR COMMUNITY TO PUT PRESSURE ON THESE LEGISLATORS AND ON HIGH-SPEED RAIL TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TOLERATE THIS.

IF WE HAVE TO VOTE PEOPLE OUT OF OFFICE THAT CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

ONE OF THE FRUSTRATING THINGS IS THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF MISLEADING INFORMATION.

IF YOU READ THEIR BUSINESS REPORT, IT'S HORRIBLY MISLEADING.

THAT'S REASON WHY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TRACK PRIVATE INVESTORS FOR IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE NOTICED ON THEIR PROJECT JUST NORTH OF [INAUDIBLE] , THAT BIG OVERPASS IT'S GOING IN THEY'VE GOT A SIGN-UP THAT SAYS HOW IT'S CREATED 5,000 JOBS.

ONLY ABOUT 500 OF THOSE JOBS ARE HERE IN KERN COUNTY.

MOST OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT THEY ARE FROM SPAIN, THEY ARE CONTRACTORS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT OVERSEAS TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT.

IT'S NOT CREATING THE JOBS THAT THEY'RE SAYING IT IS, IT'S GOING TO BE A FAILED PROJECT.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO PUT PRESSURE ON THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONTROLLING THE PURSE STRINGS FOR THIS.

BUT I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION.

PROBABLY, COUNCIL MEMBER CORTES, YOU MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS, BUT WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING THE NEW LOCATION, I KNOW THAT WE DIDN'T ENTERED IN THE CONTRACT FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE OLD LABOR CAPITAL.

THEY'RE ALREADY IMPLIED PROMISES OR ANYTHING THAT YOU RECALL HIGH-SPEED RAIL MAKE IT AT THE TIME THAT THEY WOULD HELP US WITH THAT?

>> THAT'S A WHILE BACK, I HAD BEEN SCRATCHED MY HEAD EVER SINCE TO TRY TO GET AN ANSWER FOR THAT.

BUT IT WAS JUST UNDERSTOOD THAT THAT WAS PART OF THE PROCESS OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL COMING THROUGH TOWN.

THE EXACT I CAN TELL YOU, BUT THAT WAS THE INTENT OR THE UNDERSTANDING, AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.

>> THANK YOU, SIR NOTHING FURTHER MR MAYOR THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU MEMBER MARTINEZ.

TO THAT POINT, I WILL ADD, I HAVE HELD FIRM THAT I DON'T APOLOGIZE FOR PAST LEADERSHIP LIKE DANIEL,

[02:15:04]

I KNEW THAT WASN'T AROUND 10 YEARS AGO, BUT I DO INTEND TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THOSE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR.

AGAIN, MY TWO CENTS. MEMBER PALLERES.

>> YEAH, JUST THINKING BACK TO THE DAYS OF PUBLIC MEETINGS, THEIR PROMISES OF WORKING WITH THE RAIL STATION UNDER CROSSING, THEN JUST THE AESTHETICS OF THE RAIL ITSELF.

I THINK THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WAS TRY AND APPEND THEM TO PUT IN WRITING.

SO WHAT I'LL DO MYSELF IS, I'LL HELP YOU GUYS WITH SOME PHONE CALLS TO OUR LEGISLATORS.

SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MEL DALE AND THOSE GUYS.

SEE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

WE NEED MORE HELP FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT, MR MAYOR, GETTING HER TOTAL AND WORKING ON THIS.

THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

>> I PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH BECAUSE YOU REALLY NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM EFFORT TO COMMUNICATE ARGUMENTS TO OUR LEADERSHIP, ESPECIALLY THE COUNTY.

I'M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED ON WHERE OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STANDS ON THIS ISSUE AFFECTING THE SMALL, DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY IN BOTH WESTERN.

[NOISE] THAT'S ALL MEMBER COMMENTS.

WE'LL GO AHEAD [OVERLAPPING].

>> WE HAVE ANOTHER WAY OR ANOTHER PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> VERY WELL, ON THE COMMENT [INAUDIBLE].

>> WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT, PEN COLOR CODING, [NOISE].

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>> HELLO.

>> YES. GO AHEAD.

>> HEY GUYS. MY NAME IS CODY.

CONGRESSMAN DAVE VALIDATED [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY.

JUST WANT TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW IF YOU GUYS NEED ANY HELP AT ALL, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME.

I DID EMAIL THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I CAN DEFINITELY GO AHEAD AND SEND YOU GUYS ANOTHER EMAIL, THAT WAY YOU GUYS HAVE MY CONTACT INFO AND WE COULD HELP.

>> VERY WELL. THANK YOU CODY FOR REACHING OUT.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> MADAM CLERK ANY OTHER COMMENTS?

>> NO OTHER COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

>> MR. MAYOR, PLEASE SINCE WE HAVE CODY, WE GET HIM BACK ON.

I HAD QUESTION FOR HIM.

I'M CURIOUS WHERE [INAUDIBLE] STANDS ON THIS ISSUE.

HE STANDS WITH HIGH-SPEED RAIL WITH THE CITY OF WASCO.

>> MR. MOSES CAN YOU JUST INDULGE US WITH A QUESTION, IF YOU COULD.

>>YES, I CAN. CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME?

>> YES, SIR.

>> YES. SO YEAH, VALIDATE IS NOT TO STAND WITH THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AT ALL.

>> SHORT AND SWEET.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YES, YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK, ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE SIDE.

>> NO OTHER COMMENTS AT THIS TIME, MAYOR GARCIA.

>> VERY WELL, IT IS A DISCUSSION ITEM AND NOT IN NEED OF A VOTE.

[12.b. Adopt a Resolution approving the mid-year operating budget adjustments totaling $215,400 in the General Fund and $432,140 in other funds, and $4.2 million in capital improvement plan (CIP) costs labor housing complex demolition and site clean-up (increasing the total cost to $9.3 million). (Perez-Hernandez)]

WE MOVE ON TO ITEM 12 B.

ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE MIDYEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS TOTAL LINKED TO A $215,400 IN GENERAL FUND AND $432,140 IN OTHER FUNDS, AND $4.2 MILLION IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

CIP COSTS, LABOR, HOUSING COMPLEX, THE DEMOLITION AND SITE CLEANUP, INCREASED IN THE TOTAL COST $9.3 MILLION.

MR. ORTIZ.

>> MAYOR, OR THE FURTHER MR. [INAUDIBLE] , BUT WE DID HAVE SOME REVISIONS WE NEEDED TO MAKE ON THE BUDGET AND THE RESOLUTION TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS A SPECIFIC MATTER.

I'M TRYING TO SHARE MY SCREEN NOW.

>> HERE WE GO. MR. PALLARES.

>> HONORABLE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND IN ZOOM ATTENDEES.

THIS ITEM WAS DISCUSSED DURING THE STUDY SESSION THAT WE WENT OVER.

STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE MID-YEAR BUDGET, OPERATING BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS TOTALLY $215,400 IN THE GENERAL FUND, AND 432,140 ON OTHER FUNDS AND 4.2 MILLION AND A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN COST

[02:20:03]

FOR LABOR HOUSING COMPLEX DEMOLITION.

THE SITE CLEAN UP OF INCREASING THE TOTAL COST TO $9.3 MILLION TO DEMOLISH THE LABOR CAMP.

IN THE EVENT THAT THE CITY IS NOT ABLE TO ATTAIN THE GRANT FUNDING FROM THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL.

DANIEL, DO WE GO OVER WHAT WAS DISCUSSED DURING THE STUDY SESSION?

>> COUNSEL, IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS WHERE WE WANT US TO REPEAT THE INFORMATION THAT WAS GIVEN AT THE STUDY SESSION.

OTHERWISE, I'VE SHOWN THE UPDATED RESOLUTION WITH THE CORRECTION FOR THE CAPITAL BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED EARLIER AS WELL.

>> VERY WELL, THANK YOU STAFF FOR THAT UPDATE.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND BY REQUESTS TO SPEAK.

IF YOU'RE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR 9 ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD.

YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON BY THE NUMBER YOU'RE CALLING FROM WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENTS.

BUT ONCE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED.

AT THIS TIME, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS MADAM CLERK?

>> MAYOR GARCIA, AT THIS TIME, I DON'T SEE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS.

SORRY, I SEE ONE. T EMAILS.

>> TRACY, ARE YOU WITH US?

>> YES, I AM.

I JUST WANTED TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO THE NEXT WASCO TASK FORCE MEETING.

THAT WOULD BE ON MARCH 10TH AT 4:30 I BELIEVE.

ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO JOIN OUR MEETING CAN CONTACT ME OR KEEP UP THROUGH OUR FACEBOOK PAGES.

WE INVITE ANY MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO JOIN US.

WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT.

WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO DO THIS TOGETHER.

YOU CAN EMAIL US AT ORANGE HEART, FDN AT GMAIL DOT COM, AND WE CAN GET BACK TO YOU AND WE CAN SEND YOU THE LINK TO THE ZOOM MEETINGS.

>> VERY WELL. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT REMINDER, TRACY. WE APPRECIATE THAT.

THEN OF COURSE, WE INVITE EVERYONE TO CONTACT ANY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER OR ME ON ANY OF MY SOCIAL MEDIAS, TWITTER OR FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM.

WE CAN GET YOU CONNECTED TO THAT COMMUNITY EFFORT.

MADAM CLERK, ANYMORE COMMENTS?

>> THERE ARE NO OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MAYOR PRO TEM MINOR.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ON ON SOMETHING HERE AND THAT IS IF WE APPROVE THIS VISOR PROPOSAL, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO SPEND THE MONEY.

THE STAFF IS GOING TO STILL COME TO US FOR FINAL APPROVAL FOR THIS ITEM OR ARE WE IMPROVING THIS ITEMS AND WE HAVE NO FURTHER CONTROL OVER.

>> MR. RAYNER, THE MAJOR ITEMS THAT ARE PROBABLY LARGER CAPITAL ITEMS, INCLUDING THE LABOR CAMP DEMOLITION, WILL STILL COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

ANYTHING ELSE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY BUDGETED AS PART OF ROUTINE OR ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES THAT ARE BELOW THE THRESHOLD OF $10,000 EXPENSE CAN BE MOVED FORWARD BY STAFF.

THE LARGER EXPENSES, WHICH WE TYPICALLY SEE MORE ON THE CAPITAL ITEMS, HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

ANY OR ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN ACCORDANCE MUNICIPAL CODE.

>>THANK YOU, THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE. THANK YOU.

>>THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM, MEMBER CORTEZ.

>> WHERE DO I START? I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS.

I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH APPROVING THE BUDGET.

BIANCHI, I HAVEN'T BEEN THIS CONCERNED ABOUT AN ITEM IN MANY, MANY YEARS, AND MY CONCERN IS THAT WE APPROVE THIS ITEM, WE EARMARK THE 9.3 MILLION DOLLARS AND WHICH WE KNOW IT'S DISASTROUS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, BUT WE ARE ACTUALLY COMMITTING THIS MONEY.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT POTENTIAL FUTURE PROBLEMS SUCH AS POSSIBLY BONDING,

[02:25:06]

IF WE MAY NEED A BOND BECAUSE OUR REVENUES OR RESERVES ARE SO LOW.

I'M NOT THERE YET. IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APPROVING THIS NOW AND TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN HAVE SOME RESOLUTION WITH HIGH-SPEED RAIL OR THE STATE ON FUNDING THE DEMOLITION BEFORE WE EARMARKED THIS? OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, DANIEL, YOU AS A CITY MANAGER AND TELLING ME I HAVE TO EARMARK THIS MOVING FORWARD.

>> YOU CAN CERTAINLY DEFER THE AMOUNTS THAT YOU'RE MARK AMOUNT TO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND MORE LIKELY JUST BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROJECT.

EVEN IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NEXT MONTHS, NOW YOU HAVE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS, YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T EVEN START DEMOLITION OF THE PROJECT UNTIL JUNE AND YOU WOULD CARRY OVER THE DEMOLITION PROJECT INTO NEXT FISCAL YEAR IF YOU SO CHOOSE.

THE ONE THING THAT WE HAVE NOT DISCUSSED, IS THE IMPACT OF WHAT THE DEMOLITION COSTS AND DEMOLISHING A LABOR CAMP AT THAT 9.39 MILLION DOLLARS, 9.1 MILLION DOLLARS PRICE TAG, ASSUMING IT COMES IN AT THAT, WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED WHAT THAT IMPACT WOULD BE TO THE CITY.

WE'VE DISCUSSED IN PRIOR MEETINGS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY WANTED TO PURSUE ITS OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND LOOKING AT A STUDY TO LOOK AT THAT, HONESTLY, WE'RE FACED WITH THE LIABILITY AND ISSUES IN A FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THE LABOR CAMP.

I DON'T KNOW HOW REASONABLY, IT'S LOGICAL TO PURSUE LOOKING AT ESTABLISHING OUR OWN PD WHEN WE HAVE THAT LIABILITY IN THE COST.

YOU SIMPLY WE'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING MONEY ON A STUDY, AND EVEN IF YOU WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ESTABLISHING ONE OR EVEN IF YOU WANTED TO EXPAND THE EXISTING SERVICES WHERE THE KERN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO FIT AND ADDRESSING NEED IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO DO SO.

NOW OTHER PROJECTS THAT WOULD COME OUT OF MEASURE X OR OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, SUCH AS REQUESTS FROM THE WASCO PARKS AND RECREATION DISTRICT TO SUPPORT SOME OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS.

YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THOSE MOVING FORWARD, PARK IMPROVEMENTS, SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS.

WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED WHAT THE IMPACT AND MAGNITUDES TO OUR RESIDENTS AND DELAYING AND FOREGOING THOSE PROJECTS JUST ON THE MONETARY SIDE, NOT INCLUDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF BURDEN IT'S GOING TO TAKE IN MANAGING AND CONTINUING TO DEAL WITH THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY.

WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF PROJECTS THAT HAD BEEN ON THE SHELF AND WE PULL IT OFF THE SHELF AND LOOK AT IT AND THEN SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS WITH HIGH-SPEED RAIL AND THEN IT GOES BACK ON THE SHELF.

THINGS LIKE THE DOWNTOWN LANDSCAPING PROJECT, THINGS LIKE THE SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT, THE STREET LIGHTING PROJECT.

WE JUST HAVE A LIMITED STAFF RESOURCES THAT ARE SPREAD TOO THIN ACROSS THE CITY, AND WHEN WE HAVE TO DIVERT RESOURCES TO THE LABOR CAMP TO FIX FENCES, TO REMOVE CLOSED LINES, TO CLEAN UP TO, WHATEVER THE CASE WILL BE, THOSE ARE IMPACTS THAT ARE FELT BY THE COMMUNITY AND THAT QUITE FRANKLY, WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION THAT COMES UP ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, ASSOCIATES WITH THE LABOR CAMP UNDER THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND PROBABLY COUNTLESS HOURS OR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS BETWEEN STAFF TIME ANALYZING WHAT THE IMPACT OF THESE ROAD CLOSURES ON KIMBERLY ARE GOING TO BE GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL.

THOSE ARE HOURS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE SPENT WORKING ON DEVELOPING AN OUTLINE INDUSTRY LIGHT PROJECTS THAT WE NEED FOLLOWING THAT WITH PEACHY NAIL, WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO NEED MOVE FORWARD WITH IN OTHER ASPECTS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO STRESS ENOUGH THE OVERALL IMPACT FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE, BUT, OUR COMMUNITY IS HURTING.

>> THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT THE EFFECTS ARE FELT A LITTLE BIT DOWN THE WAY THEY ARE NOT IMMEDIATE EFFECTS LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S STUFF THAT'S AFFECTING THEM BUT DOWN THE ROAD A LITTLE BIT.

I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

MY BIGGEST POINT RIGHT NOW WOULD BE, CAN WE NOT EARMARK, WOULD THAT AFFECT US AS FAR AS WHAT OUR PLANNING IS OR WHAT OUR OBJECTIVE IS WITH OUR CONVERSATION WITH HIGH-SPEED RAIL AND NOT EARMARK THIS MONEY BECAUSE I DON'T PERSONALLY WANT TO EARMARK THIS MONEY.

>> I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE A COUPLE OPTIONS.

ONE WAS PART OF THE CURRENT BUDGET YEAR.

WE HAD BUDGETED THAT 5.3 MILLION DOLLARS, BUT WE ALSO BUDGETED TO REVENUE SIDE.

PART OF THE MIDYEAR BUDGET IS FACTORING BOTH, WE'VE BUDGETED THE REVENUE AND THE POTENTIAL GRANTS OR FUNDS THAT WE MAY RECEIVE FROM WHEREVER THEY COME FROM.

WE HAVE THAT BUDGETED IN THE REVENUE PIECE AND WE HAVE BUDGETED THE EXPENSE TO MATCH THAT REVENUE.

[02:30:03]

IF COUNCIL'S DIRECTION, IF YOU WANT TO MEMORIALIZE THAT AS PART OF THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEEN AMENDED AND FURTHER ADD TO THAT, IS THAT YOU WON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH DEMOLITION UNLESS YOU HAVE THE REVENUE OR THE OTHER MEASURE TO OFFSET THAT EXPENSE.

NOW IDEALLY IN A PERFECT ROLE, I'LL BE HONEST, I WOULD RATHER THE CITY NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH MANAGING THE DEMOLITION OF THAT PROJECT.

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW REALISTICALLY, THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE ANOTHER FULL-TIME PROJECT MANAGER JUST TO OVERSEE THAT PROJECT AND THAT COMPLEXITY.

THAT'S ANOTHER FACTOR IN SALARY AND STAFF TIME THAT WE DID NOT FACTOR AND MADE YOUR BUDGET.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE STAFF AVAILABLE TO DO THAT.

YOU CAN IMPOSE A RESTRICTION IF YOU WISH, OR THE ADDITION TO THE RESOLUTION BY COUNCILMAN, THAT THE CITY NOT PURSUED DEMOLISHING A LABOR CAMP UNLESS WE HAVE THE REVENUE FROM AN OUTSIDE SOURCE FROM THE STATE OR WHOMEVER WILL BE TO MATCH THAT EXPENSE.

>> I'M OKAY WITH THAT. I'M GOOD WITH THAT.

>> YEAH. I THINK IF THERE IS AN APPETITE TO DO THAT, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.

BUT I THINK THE INTENT IS TO ADD THIS ADJUSTMENT TO THE CIP OR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN ON TOP OF OTHER ADJUSTMENTS TO MEMORIALIZE OR HAVE THE REALIZATION OF WHAT THIS IMPACT IS GOING TO BE, THAT THE REALIZATION OF THE CRISIS AT HAND.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, DANIEL, IF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IF YOU WANTED TO SHOW THE FINANCIAL CRISIS OF THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO PUT ON OUR CITY AND PROBABLY OUR BUDGET?

>> THAT IS CORRECT. WE ALSO HAVE TO BE MINDFUL.

WHAT I MEAN AS AS COUNCIL EXPLORES OTHER PROJECTS AND OPTIONS THAT WE EXPLORE AS PART OF THE BOTH WITHIN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AS OTHER ITEMS THAT WE ALSO PLAN FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, YOU CAN'T JUST HIDE IT UNDER THE RUG.

WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF WHAT THAT COST BEING OUT THERE AND FACTOR THAT INTO THE SESSIONS AND THE PROJECTS, THE COUNCIL WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE MAY VERY WELL FIND OURSELVES WITH AS WE FURTHER DEVELOP THIS DOWNTOWN LANDSCAPING PROJECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO DECIDE WHETHER WE FUND OUR LAND, A DOWNSIDE LANDSCAPE PROJECT, OR WE DON'T FUND IT BECAUSE WE HAVE A 9.3 DOLLARS MILLION LIABILITY LABOR CUT.

>> THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE HERE.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN EXPRESSING IN YOUR PRESENCE FOR EVERYONE TO REALIZE IT AND INCLUDING RESONANCE AND THIS IS HAVING NOT ONLY ON OUR STAFF CAPACITY, BUT OUR PRIORITIES AS A STAFF AS ACCOUNTABLE, NOTHING IS GETTING DONE, EVERYTHING'S BEING HAMPERED BY THE DISASTER THAT'S BEING LEFT BEHIND IN THE WAKE OF THE SUPERSTRUCTURE AND THE CONSTRUCTION.

MEMBER CORTES, DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THAT?

>> NO, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT CAVEAT THERE, MR. MAYOR, MR. MANAGER, THAT IT'S ALL DEPENDENT ON BEING ABLE TO RECEIVE THE FUNDING SOURCE TO OFFSET THAT EXPENSE.

>> THANK YOU. DANIEL AND MEMBER [INAUDIBLE] IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, AND MAYBE FEELINGS ON THAT ADDED LANGUAGE TO THE RESOLUTION [NOISE].

>> SIR. AS IT CURRENTLY SITS, I AM UNCOMFORTABLE WITH IT AS WELL BECAUSE OF THE, IT'S A BALLPARK ESTIMATE AND WE MIGHT GET IN THERE AND FIND OUT THAT WE CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO DO IT EVEN IF WE DRAIN THE ENTIRE MEASURE X FUNDS.

THEN THE OTHER ISSUE WOULD BE WE WILL HAVE MANY DEVELOP THAT PROPERTY FOR YEARS.

IF WE END UP HAVING EAT THE FULL COST OF THIS DEMO, BUT WITH THE STIPULATION THAT [INAUDIBLE] IS JUST SUGGESTIVE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THIS.

>> WELL, MEMBER PALLARES.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO GET IT DONE NOW, BUT I WOULD WELCOME THE CITY MANAGER'S MODIFICATIONS TO THIS.

>> VERY WELL. MAYOR PRO TEM, DID YOU WANT TO ADD ON ANYTHING TO THAT?

>> YES, WE ARE. I AGREE WITH MEMBER CORTES AND MEMBER MARTINEZ.

I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA.

THAT'S THE BAYESIAN FOR THE QUESTION THAT I HAD, DO WE GET TO VOTE ON THIS AT A LATER DATE? BECAUSE I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT DEPLETING RESERVES AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT THE CD IN A FINANCIAL PROBLEM, WHICH IS A PROBLEM FOR US, BUT WE HAVE SOME LEEWAY TO WHETHER WE PROCEED OR NOT.

SO ADDING THIS STIPULATION, I THINK PUTS US IN A SAFER PLACE, IN MY VIEW THAT UNLESS WE GET THE MONEY, WE WILL NOT SPEND IT TO RAISE THIS PROPERTY.

[02:35:04]

OKAY. SO I AM QUITE FINE ADDING THAT AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> DANIELA. DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH DIRECTION AT THIS TIME?

>> YES.

>> VERY WELL. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH THOSE ADDITIONS.

>> SO MOVED, MR. MAYOR, BY MEMBER CORTES.

>> IT'S BEEN MOVED OUT. GO AHEAD AND SECOND THAT MOTION.

MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU CALL A VOICE SPOKE?

>> MAYOR GARCIA.

>> AYE.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM BREANNA.

>> AYE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER CORTES.

>> AYE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ.

>> AYE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER, PALLARES.

>> PALLARES. AYE.

>> MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CORTES, SECOND BY MAYOR GARCIA TO APPROVE ITEM 12 B, WITH THE MODIFICATION STATED TO THE RESOLUTION, MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. MOVING ON TO ITEM 12 C. THAT'S

[12.c. Appointment of Orquidea Ocampo to fill the unexpired term of Michael Dobbs on the Sales Tax Oversight Committee, term expiring December 31, 2021, and appointment of Florirene Olvera to fill the unexpired term of Vincent Martinez on the Sales Tax Oversight Committee, term expiring December 31, 2024. (Pallares and Martinez)]

THE APPOINTMENT OF ORQUIDEA OCAMPO TO FILL THAT UNEXPIRED TERM OF MICHAEL DOBBS ON THE SALES TAX OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, TERM EXPIRING DECEMBER 31ST, 2021, AND THE APPOINTMENT OF FLORIRENE OLVERA TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF VINCENT MARTINEZ ON THE SALES TAX OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, TERM EXPIRY DECEMBER 31, 2024, THIS EVENING, WE HAVE REPORTS FROM AD HOC COMMITTEE PALLARES AND MARTINEZ. GENTLEMEN.

>> THANK YOU. YES, WELL, FIRST QUESTION, WE DO THIS TOGETHER OR SEPARATE LIKE BEFORE.

>> THESE TWO BECAUSE YOU ARE SAME BOARD, YOU CAN DO THEM CONCURRENTLY.

>> CONCURRENTLY. OKAY. GREAT. SO WE HAD AN INTERVIEW. I FORGOT WHAT DATE.

I DON'T HAVE MY NOTES IN FRONT OF ME, AND WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS JUST AS STATED, THAT ORQUIDEA OCAMPO CAPITAL ADMITTED FOR THE MEASURE X COMMITTEE AS WELL AS FOR A VERA.

I WAS IMPRESSED OF HOW MUCH BOTH CANDIDATES WANTED TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITY RECOMMEND THAT THEY BE ACCEPTED, AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, YOU HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER YOU WANT TO ADD?

>> YES. THANK YOU, JOHN. THEY'RE BOTH GREAT CANDIDATES, VERY ARTICULATE, VERY WELL-SPOKEN, VERY INTELLIGENT YOUNG LADIES.

THEY'RE ALSO BOTH VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH I THINK IS SOMETHING GREAT TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE WILLING TO EXPLAIN TO THE COMMUNITY SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE ABOUT MEASURE X.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT THE MEASURE X FUNDS AND SO I THINK HAVING THESE TWO YOUNG LADIES ON HERE WILL HELP TO GET INFORMATION OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.

THESE ARE BOTH GREAT CANDIDATES AND HOPEFULLY, YOU GUYS AGREE AND WE CAN APPOINT THEM TO THESE POSITIONS.

>> VERY WELL, THANK YOU [INAUDIBLE] FOR THAT REPORT, AND THE WORK YOU DID ON INTERVIEWING THESE CANDIDATES.

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