Mar 16, 2021 City Council

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISED HAND FEATURE TO REQUEST TO SPEAK.

IF YOU'RE USING YOUR 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.

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

ONCE YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED.

AT THIS TIME.

DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS MADAM CLERK? WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME, MAYOR.

VERY WELL AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS, MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA? NO COMMENTS.

MAYOR, THANK YOU.

MEMBER MARTINEZ? NO COMMENTS.

MEMBER PALLARES? NO COMMENTS.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

PALLARES MOVED TO APPROVE.

VERY WELL, IT'S BEEN MOVED.

I'M GOING TO SECOND THAT MOTION.

MADAM CLERK, CALL A VOICE VOTE.

MAYOR GARCIA? AYE, MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA? AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ? AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? PALLARES, AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ IS ABSENT.

MOTIONED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES, SECOND BY [INAUDIBLE] TO APPROVE ITEM 10A.

MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ ABSENT.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

NO ITEMS UNDER DEFERRED BUSINESS.

MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS ITEM 12 A.

[12.a. Presentation and possible minute action on Wasco Community Taskforce (Orange Hearts Foundation & Pastor Sam Estes, City Advance Director at Communities Inc.)]

EXCUSE ME.

ITEM 12A PRESENT, EXCUSE ME, PRESENTATION AND POSSIBLE MINUTE ACTION ON WASCO COMMUNITY TASK FORCE BY ORANGE HEART FOUNDATION AND PASTOR SAM ESTES FROM CITY ADVANCE, THE DIRECTOR AT COMMUNITIES INC..

GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT AWAY.

GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY TONIGHT.

IT WAS A JOY TO BE WITH YOU, MAYOR GARCIA, AT YOUR EVENT THAT YOU HELD AT THE PARK A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

AND SO I'VE BEEN ASKED TO SHARE WITH YOU ABOUT CITY ADVANCE.

CITY ADVANCE GOES INTO CITIES ALL ACROSS AMERICA AND HELPS BRING TOGETHER THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

IT'S KNOWN AS A TASK FORCE.

A TASK FORCE HAS ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE CITY AROUND THE TABLE AT THE SAME TIME .

USUALLY IT'S BETWEEN 20 TO 60 MEMBERS OF A COMMUNITY MEET TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY.

THIS WAS ACTUALLY STARTED 12 YEARS AGO.

AND IN THE PLACE CALLED SANGER, CALIFORNIA SANGER'S A COMMUNITY OF ABOUT TWENTY SEVEN THOUSAND, IN FACT, AROUND THE SAME SIZE WITH THE SAME KIND OF, TYPE OF GROUP THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR CITY.

SO I'D LIKE TO NOW JUST SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

MS. MARTINEZ, I SHARED WITH YOU A VIDEO LINK.

[00:20:03]

AND IF WE COULD NOW PLAY THAT VIDEO, THAT WILL HELP GET US TO THE PRESENTATION.

SANGER, A SMALL COMMUNITY JUST OUTSIDE FRESNO CENTRAL VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA.

16 YEARS AGO HAD A REPUTATION FOR BEING ONE OF THE LAST PLACES IN CALIFORNIA YOU'D WANT TO LIVE.

WE LOOKED AT PAST TWO GAMES THAT WERE RIVAL IN ACROSS THE PARK.

WE LOOKED AT PASTURES THAT WERE DISCONNECTED AND WOULD WORK TOGETHER.

WE LOOKED AT A COMMUNITY, HAD A BILLBOARD THAT'S PROCLAIMED THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD STRIFE AND DIFFICULTY.

WE WERE ACTUALLY BEHIND TWO PERCENT OF SCHOOLS, DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

WE TOLD PEOPLE, HEY, WERE MOVING A SANGER, YOU KNOW, WE GOT THE WHOLE THING LIKE, REALLY? YOU GUYS ARE MOVING TO SANGER? IN 2008 DURING COMMUNITY OUTREACH WHERE FAMILIES GATHER TO ENJOY A SUMMER AFTERNOON WITH GAMES, MUSIC AND FRIENDS.

SANGER OFFICIALS [INAUDIBLE] WHEN A YOUNG MAN WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD AND KILLED.

A GROUP OF PASTORS AND LEADERS REALIZED SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE IF THERE WAS ANY HOPE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.

THEY BEGAN TO MEET WITH POLITICIANS, POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

[INAUDIBLE] ORGANIZERS AND THE SANGER COMMUNITY TASK FORCE WAS BORN.

THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT CHURCHES AND COMMUNITIES ARE SILOED.

YOU HAVE THIS GROUP DOING GOOD THINGS, THIS GROUP DOING GOOD THINGS, THIS GROUP DOING GOOD THINGS, BUT NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE OTHER PERSON IS DOING.

IN RESPONSE TO CHALLENGES THAT WOULD, I THINK, REALLY STARTLE.

ANY COMMUNITY.

GROUPS HAVE COME TOGETHER ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THEY BUILT RELATIONSHIPS AMONGST EACH OTHER AND TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IN FACT IS HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY.

HAVING A TASK FORCE, A ONE PLACE TO GO WHERE YOU CAN CONNECT, COMMUNICATE AND COLLABORATE TO MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT AND HELP MORE PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHY A TASK FORCE IS NECESSARY.

WE KNOW THAT WE CAN'T DO IT ALL ALONE AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE REALLY DO HAVE TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY AND ANY ORGANIZATION THAT'S WILLING TO WORK WITH US.

IT HAS LED TO SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN CRIME OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY AMAZING WITH ALL THE CHURCHES WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE SAME [INAUDIBLE].

[INAUDIBLE] GROUP HAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED AS A SET OF VOLUNTEERS THAT WANT TO HELP.

YOU KNOW, IT'S EVIDENT, WITH YOU KNOW, ALL THE THINGS THAT FAITH BASED [INAUDIBLE].

SO OUR FAITH BASED PARTNERSHIPS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL BECAUSE OUR FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ADOPTED SCHOOLS.

FOR US AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN A GREAT RESOURCE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS WITH OUR STUDENTS.

ELIMINATING THE BARRIERS THAT OFTEN [INAUDIBLE] FAILURE TO LEARN AND PUTTING OUR TEACHERS IN A BETTER POSITION, AND OUR SUPPORT STAFF IN A BETTER POSITION TO EDUCATE THEM.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT EXISTED UNTIL I BECAME A PART OF THE TASK FORCE.

WE'VE BECOME AWARE OF ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS AND OTHER PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.

I THINK THE COOLEST PART FOR ME IS SITTING THERE LISTENING TO SOMEBODY, HAVING ISSUES, KNOWING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM KIND OF MAKE SOMETHING GREAT, NOT JUST FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT AND YOUR DIVISION AND ORGANIZATION AND FOR YOUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.

EVEN HAD ONE TIME WHEN THIS BOY WHO HAD BEEN BULLIED CAME TO THE TASK FORCE AND SAID, I REALLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT BULLYING.

WE STOPPED THE MEETING AND LET HIM SHARE HIS STORY.

AND OUT OF THAT STORY, STAND UP AND BE HEARD AND WE STARTED.

AND WE WENT UP THERE TO TALK TO THE COMMUNITY TASK FORCE.

AND THEN THAT'S WHERE EVERYBODY[INAUDIBLE] ABOUT IT.

HAVING LIKE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, ENCOURAGED ME.

IT'S, IT FELT PRETTY GOOD.

HOPE SANGER WAS BORN FROM THIS AND SPECIFICALLY WITH ME, WHICH WAS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE HOMELESS AND THOSE OPPOSED TO HOMELESSNESS.

WE DEALT WITH ISSUES OF GANG VIOLENCE.

WE DEALT WITH THE HOMELESS.

WE DEALT WITH GRAFFITI.

WE WORKED THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT WE FOUND.

BY 2010, WE WERE ANOINTED [INAUDIBLE]THROUGH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

SO WE KNEW IN A CONCERTED EFFORT OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS.

THE REALITY IS SUPERMAN'S PROBABLY NOT COMING TO SAVE ALL OF US.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO DO THAT.

AND THE WORK THAT THE COMMUNITY TASK FORCE HERE AT SANGER HAS BEEN A REALLY WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE DOING THE HARD WORK OF COMING TOGETHER, LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER AND LEARNING ABOUT EACH OTHER AND REALLY TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO CONNECT THE DOTS.

AND SO I REALLY CELEBRATE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN A COMMUNITY LIKE SANGER.

AND LOOK AT THAT AS SOMETHING AMAZING TO SEE.

THE CITY OF SANGER AND THE CITY HAS [INAUDIBLE]THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BETTER BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY TASK FORCE.

WHICH WE EXCEL FOR [INAUDIBLE] REALLY TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT IN THE END IS DOING SO MUCH GOOD FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.

YEAH, AND IF YOU'LL PUT BACK UP THE POWERPOINT, THAT'D BE GREAT.

SO THE COMMUNITY TASK FORCE IN SANGER'S BEEN GOING FOR 12 YEARS.

[00:25:02]

WE NOW HAVE OVER FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY PEOPLE, OVER 90 AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT MEET TWICE A MONTH.

AND IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND THE NEXT ONE.

THERE YOU GO.

SO THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE GROUPS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH IT.

LIKE I SAY, THERE'S ABOUT 90 AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS.

IT'S FULLY CROSS-SECTORED.

SO YOU HAVE PUBLIC, YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ALL THE SERVICE CLUBS, ROTARY LIONS, THAT GROUP.

YOU HAVE BUSINESSES LIKE WAL-MART, BANK OF AMERICA, INITIATIVE FOODS.

YOU HAVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOU HAVE ALL THE CITY THAT'S INVOLVED WITH THE GROUP.

THE CHIEF OF POLICE, THE FIRE CHIEF, ATTEND THE MEETINGS OR THEY SEND A REPRESENTATIVE THERE.

THE SANGER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IS THERE AND THEIR CARE TEAM, NAMI, THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE, A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MENTAL ILLNESS, SANGER WOMEN'S CLUB.

ALL THE THE PUBLICATIONS LIKE SANGER HERALD AND SANGER SCENE.

SO ALL OF THEM ARE THERE.

AND IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO THESE ARE THE NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.

OF COURSE, THE BIGGEST THING IS COLLABORATION AND NETWORKING, WORKING, OF COURSE, HOPE SANGER WAS CREATED.

WE HAVE NOW BOUGHT THE HOTEL.

SO THERE'S 14 ROOMS WHERE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING IS NOW BEING DONE.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE THAT'S BEING DONE.

AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, I'LL BE GLAD TO SHARE WITH THAT SOME TIME WITH YOU.

AGAIN, PROVIDING RESOURCES.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF GROUPS THAT ARE DOING THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION, BUT THERE WERE MANY TIMES WHEN THESE GROUPS DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE OTHER GROUP WAS DOING.

THEY WERE TOTALLY SILOED.

NOW WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE MET.

AND EVERYONE KNOWS WHEN THOSE GROUPS ARE MEETING AND WHEN THEY'RE HANDING OUT FOOD BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT IT.

OUTREACH EVENTS ARE THERE.

WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT ADOPTING SCHOOLS AND WHAT THAT DID FOR THE COMMUNITY.

OF COURSE, GANG ACTIVITY, GRAFFITI.

WE NOW HAVE 40 PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF THE CERT TEAM.

AND THAT CAME OUT OF THE TASK FORCE.

CERT, OF COURSE, IS COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM, AND THAT WORKS THROUGH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

BUSINESSES, THE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION IS BEING REVITALIZED AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS SEEING JUST SOME WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPEN.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO CITY TRANSFORMATION IS WHEN THERE IS A CATALYTIC MOVEMENT THAT MOTIVATES DIVERSE LEADERS TO COOPERATE AROUND COMMONLY HELD OBJECTIVES, THAT TRANSFORMS LIVES AND COMMUNITIES.

NEXT.

SO THAT THE KEY, THE SPECIAL SAUCE IS THE NEUTRAL CONVENER AND THAT NEUTRAL CONVENER IS LIFTED UP OUT OF THE GROUP.

MARCUS WAS GOING TO BE THE ONE TO DO IT, BUT BECAUSE OF HIS SCHEDULE, HE WASN'T ABLE TO.

SO WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR THAT PERSON WHO'S GOING TO COME OUT OF YOUR COMMUNITY.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT A TYPICAL TASK FORCE LOOKS LIKE.

ALL THESE PEOPLE COME TO THE MEETING AND THEN THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO GIVE WHAT WE CALL THEIR 90 SECOND ELEVATOR SPEECH.

AND SO A NORMAL MEETING WILL LAST BETWEEN AN HOUR TO TWO HOURS, DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS THAT ARE ARE MET.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO A SAMPLE TASK FORCE MEETING, EVERYBODY HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE, YOU FIND OUT WHO'S THERE AT THE TABLE.

WE LEAVE OUR AGENDA AT THE DOOR AND BRING OUR RESOURCES TO HELP MEET THE NEEDS.

I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THREE HUNDRED LEADERSHIP LESSONS.

ITS VALUE ADDED.

ANY GROUP CAN USE A LEADERSHIP LESSON.

COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ HAS BEEN A PART OF TWO TASK FORCE MEETINGS THAT WE'VE DONE.

HE'S SEEN HOW THIS WORKS AND I'LL LET HIM SHARE ABOUT THAT.

WE ALWAYS DO A PRAYER.

WHEN WE MEET IN PERSON, WE MEET AT A DIFFERENT PLACE EVERY TIME.

SO WE COULD BE LIKE IN THE BRIEFING ROOM OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER, IN A FELLOWSHIP HALL OF A CHURCH, IN THE BOARDROOM, AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE MEET AT DIFFERENT PLACES.

AND THEN THAT PERSON HOSTS THE MEETING.

EVERYONE GETS TO SHARE.

AND WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS AND OUTCOMES.

THEN WE TALK ABOUT THE NEXT MEETING AND OF COURSE, THEN COLLABORATION TAKES PLACE NEXT.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANSWERS OR QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK.

GO.

THANK YOU, PASTOR ESTES.

WE APPRECIATE THAT PRESENTATION AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT UP FOR FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE FOR QUESTIONS.

AND WE DO NORMALLY HAVE TO DO THIS DISCLAIMER.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

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

[00:30:02]

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

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

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

ONCE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED.

AT THIS TIME, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC AT THIS TIME? I MEAN, EXCUSE ME, MADAM CLERK.

THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENTS, MAYOR.

COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS.

MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD SUCH A TASK FORCE HERE IN WASCO.

I THINK IT'S SORELY NEEDED.

WE ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE ISSUES SUCH AS THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED.

AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED ALREADY IN IT.

I PERSONALLY HAVEN'T.

BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT TIME AND OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN IT AS WELL WITH EVERYONE ELSE.

I THINK SOLUTIONS COME FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THIS ALLOWS THOSE SOLUTIONS TO, EXCUSE ME, TO THOSE THAT ARE STAKEHOLDERS TO BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

SO I THANK YOU, SIR, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I THINK IT'S GREAT.

I THINK THAT YOU COMING TO SHARE WITH US.

IT'S A WONDERFUL THING.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MY PRIVILEGE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA.

MEMBER MARTINEZ? FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO APPLAUD PASTOR ESTES.

YOU GUYS HAVE ONLY GOTTEN A COUPLE OF MINUTES OF HIM, BUT HE'S A WONDERFUL MAN WHO'S A VERY GOOD LEADER.

I'M TAKING A LOT OF A LOT OF NOTES FROM HIM ON ON HOW TO RUN MEETINGS AND THINGS.

HE DOES AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

THIS TASK FORCE IS A GREAT THING.

I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT ABOUT 70 PEOPLE ON OUR E-MAIL LIST FOR EACH OF OUR MEETINGS WHICH OCCUR EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY.

WE'RE GETTING ABOUT TWO TO THREE DOZEN PEOPLE PARTICIPATING.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS IS IT'S A VERY GOOD CROSS-SECTION OF PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN IT.

OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR CHURCH GROUPS, WE TEND TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY LIKE MINDED, YOU KNOW, SAME SOCIO ECONOMIC, RELIGIOUS TYPE OF BACKGROUND.

AND WITH THIS, WE'VE GOT A FEW DIFFERENT CHURCHES.

WE'RE HOPING TO EXPAND THAT.

WE'RE INVITING MORE PASTORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN EVERY WEEK.

AND FOR ME, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, IT'S BEEN GREAT BECAUSE I'M GETTING A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE IN A POSITIVE MANNER THAT OTHERWISE I WOULDN'T HAVE HEARD.

AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIG PROJECTS THAT WE'RE TAKING ON RIGHT NOW IS TRYING OR THE TASK FORCES THROUGH ARCADIA AND TRACY KIND OF LEADING THE WAY, IS GETTING INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE HIGH SPEED RAIL SITUATION AND MAKING THE PUBLIC MORE INFORMED.

THIS IS JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN JUST CONTINUE TO GROW IT AND MOVE IT FORWARD.

THANK YOU, MEMBER MARTINEZ.

MEMBER PALLARES? NO, NO COMMENTS OTHER THAN THANK YOU, PASTOR, FOR COMING TONIGHT AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET IN PERSON.

SO WHEN PEOPLE OF FAITH WORK WITH PEOPLE OF GOODWILL, YOU'RE REALLY ABLE TO SEE A CHANGE IN YOUR CITY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

AND THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA, IS BRINGING EVERYONE TOGETHER SO THAT YOU CAN ALLOW THINGS TO HAPPEN.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE SILOED AND YOU THINK YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO'S CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, THAT'S WHERE PROBLEMS CONTINUE TO EXIST.

SO TO BREAK DOWN THOSE BARRIERS, TO BREAK DOWN THOSE SILOS AND PUT EVERYBODY AROUND AT THE SAME TABLE AND BUILD A CULTURE OF HONOR.

AND THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ STATED IT.

WE ARE THERE TO LOOK AT THE POSITIVE.

YOU HAVE WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN YOUR CITY.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT LOVE YOUR CITY AND CARE FOR YOUR CITY WHO GRADUATED FROM THE SAME HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THEY JUST NEED A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO DO THE GOOD THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE IN YOUR CITY.

SO A TASK FORCE ALLOWS THAT TO HAPPEN.

IT'S NOT A PROGRAM.

WE'RE NOT BRINGING A CURE ALL.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS OPENING UP A CONVERSATION SO THAT YOU CAN REALLY SEE WHAT THE NEEDS ARE AND THEN BE SOLUTION BASED SO YOU CAN SEE OUTCOMES FOR YOUR CITY.

SO THANKS AGAIN FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF SHARING.

I AM ALWAYS OPEN TO ANY OF YOU.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, GIVE ME A CALL.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY WAY I CAN.

THANK YOU AGAIN, PASTOR ESTES, WE APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE AND OF COURSE, YOUR GRACE AND FOR HELPING FACILITATE EVERYTHING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS I'VE LONG

[00:35:02]

HELD.

WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE.

AND SO I CERTAINLY CAN'T.

SO WE APPRECIATE YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR HELPING US AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS REALLY BRING THIS TOGETHER.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS.

WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, SLOWLY BUT SURELY.

IT'S AN EVER EVOLVING CONVERSATION.

AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE INVITE EVERYONE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO BE A PART OF IT, TO JOIN IN.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY TWO FORUMS FOR FOLKS TO BE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, AT THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS OR THROUGH ZOOM, WHICH IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO MEET ONLINE AND BE ENGAGED IN THE CONVERSATION NONETHELESS.

SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU PASTOR ESTES, FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING AND BRINGING THIS PRESENTATION TONIGHT.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, AS A CITY COUNCIL, YOU'RE REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE THERE.

SO I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO DIALOG ABOUT HOW THE CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE BROWN ACT AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO, AGAIN, CONTINUING WORK WITH YOU GUYS.

WE DO HAVE COMMENTS FROM MISS CAMPO AND MS. CLENDINNEN.

FIRST OF ALL, MY NAME IS ARCADIA CAMPO, A RESIDENT OF WASCO.

I WANT TO THANK PASTOR SAM FOR COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND LEADING YOU KNOW WHAT WE ARE NOW CREATING IS THE WASCO COMMUNITY TASK FORCE.

HE IS CURRENTLY OUR NEUTRAL CONVENER AND GREAT LEADERSHIP SKILLS.

WE ARE LEARNING SO MUCH FROM HIM, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EMPHASIZE THAT THE WASCO COMMUNITY TASK FORCE, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE JUST COME IN AND COMPLAIN.

WE WANT TO UTILIZE A PLATFORM AS A PLACE WHERE WE WORK.

WE WORK ON RESOLUTIONS AND SOLUTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

IT IS ALSO A PLATFORM FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO BECOME INVOLVED AND MAY NEED SOME GUIDANCE OR MAYBE A LITTLE SUPPORT.

FOR RESIDENTS, WE JUST WANT TO LISTEN IN OR JOIN AN INITIATIVE AND EVEN TAKE ACTION IN OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE A CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS IS A PLATFORM FOR ALL THE COMMUNITY, ALL THE RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF WASCO.

SO WE WELCOME EVERYONE TO JOIN.

THANK YOU, ARCADIA.

DO YOU HAVE TRACY WITH US? YES, THANK YOU AND REALLY, PASTOR SAM IS BY FAR A BLESSING TO ALL OF US.

HE'S SO KIND.

AND HE ENGAGES WITH EVERY NICHE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

HE JUST HAS THIS WAY ABOUT HIM THAT COMFORTS YOU.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND THE INVITATION TO HAVE ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS BECOME A LIAISON.

ATTEND OUR MEETINGS AND LISTEN TO WHAT THE RESIDENTS AND THE RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS BRING UP AS RESOLUTIONS OR AS INITIATIVES SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON .

JUST LIKE A SNEAK PEEK INTO WHAT THE RESIDENTS CONCERNS ARE, AND THEN GO BACK AND LET THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW KIND OF WHAT THE.

WHAT THE RESIDENTS CONCERNS ARE TO.

I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE INFLUENCE SOME OF YOUR DECISIONS, BUT THAT'S MISSING HERE.

THERE'S THERE'S A LINK BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND COUNCIL THAT'S MISSING AND WE HOPE THAT WE CAN BRIDGE THAT GAP WITH THE TASK FORCE.

I AM PROUD THAT THE TASK FORCE GIVES RESIDENTS KIND OF A.

A NON INTIMIDATING PLATFORM TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND THINGS THAT YOU DON'T BRING UP AT COUNCIL MEETINGS.

WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE THIS IS SUCH A GOVERNMENT BUSINESS, IT'S A MUCH MORE LAX, WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT, THE TASK FORCES.

I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET A LOT OF ACTION OUT OF THE TASK FORCE.

THERE'S I MEAN, I READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON FACEBOOK.

I HOPE THAT SOME OF THOSE RESIDENTS WILL SHOW UP AND START THEIR OWN INITIATIVE AND THEN THEY CAN REPORT THEIR PROGRESS BACK TO THE TASK FORCE EACH MONTH.

AND THAT LIAISON WITH THE COUNCIL CAN SEE, HEY, THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING.

I'M ONE MYSELF.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE THE ONE TO SEE WHAT ALL OF OUR CONCERNS ARE AND TAKE INITIATIVE ON ALL OF THOSE.

NO, WE'RE RESIDENTS AND WE HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THINGS OURSELVES.

AND I'M GLAD THAT NOW PASTOR SAM IS HELPING US REALIZE THAT THAT IS OUR PLATFORM.

OUR MEETINGS ARE RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE BIWEEKLY.

[00:40:01]

AND OUR NEXT MEETING IS MARCH 24TH AT 4:30 AND IT'S STILL VIA ZOOM.

BUT WE HOPE TO HAVE ONE IN PERSON SOON AND WE CAN SEND THE LINK TO MS. MARTINEZ AND SHE CAN HAVE THAT.

OR YOU CAN CONTACT ME OR [INAUDIBLE] AT THE ORANGEHEARTFDN@GMAIL.COM FOR ANYBODY TO ATTEND.

OR CONTACT US VIA PHONE AT 717- 5783 OR 742-6900.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU, TRACY.

YOU GUYS ALL LIKE, YOU MUST HAVE PLANNED OUT REALLY WELL, BECAUSE YOU GUYS EACH TOUCHED ON ALL THE IMPORTANT FACTORS.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO REALLY LEAN IN.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS PUT UP THE LINK FOR FOLKS, FOR THEM TO BE INVOLVED AND GET INVOLVED.

IF THEY WOULD LIKE THEY COULD JUST REACH OUT TO CITY HALL AND WE CAN PUT YOU ON A LIST OR GET THAT EMAIL OVER TO THE COMMUNITY LEADERS ORGANIZING THIS EFFORT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL GETTING EVERYONE AT THE TABLE.

I AGREE.

WE DO NEED TO HAVE A FORMAL LIAISON FROM THE COUNCIL AVAILABLE AND PRESENT AND IN ALL THE DISCUSSIONS.

AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE CAUTIOUS WITH AND CONSIDERATE OF THE BROWN ACT, BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO GET THAT LINED UP.

IS THAT WHAT WE WANT TO DO TODAY, MADAM CLERK? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO OR? AH, DANIEL, ARE WE, CAN WE GET THAT DONE? YEAH, THE AGENDA ITEM WAS LISTED AS A POSSIBLE MINUTE ACTION IF YOU WISH TO REFLECT [INAUDIBLE] ACTION, YOU KNOW, KIND OF REFERRING TO THE BROWN ACT.

AND JUST SO THE COUNCIL IS AWARE, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC AND THERE'S BEEN SOME RECENT CHANGES WITH THE PASSAGE OF AB 992 LEGISLATIVE BILL THAT WAS ADOPTED LAST SUMMER OR LAST FALL.

AND THAT REALLY APPLIES TOWARDS COMMUNICATION VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND SO BASICALLY AND I'M READING OFF OF ONE OF THE SUMMARIES IS THAT, YOU KNOW, NOTHING PROHIBITS THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FROM ENGAGING IN CONVERSATIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM THAT IS OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC IF THE PURPOSE OF THOSE COMMUNICATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS.

ONE, TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC OR SOLICIT INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC.

AND AS LONG AS THE MAJORITY OF MEMBERS OF THAT LEGISLATIVE BODY DO NOT DISCUSS AGENCY BUSINESS OF A SPECIFIC NATURE AMONG THEMSELVES.

THE BILL SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITS A MEMBER OF A LEGISLATIVE BODY FROM RESPONDING DIRECTLY TO ANY COMMUNICATION MADE, POSTED OR SHARED BY ANY MEMBER OF THAT BODY REGARDING ANY MATTER WITHIN THE AGENCY'S JURISDICTION.

NOW I GET THAT'S VERY BROAD AND LEGALIZE, I WOULD SAY.

AND SO IN ESSENCE, THAT MEANS WITH REGARD TO SOCIAL MEDIA, IT'S ENCOURAGED THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS REALLY TRY TO REFRAIN FROM ONE SHARING EACH OTHER'S POSTS, SHARING COMMENTS, ENGAGING IN COMMENTS THAT ARE MATTERS THAT ARE GOING TO PERHAPS COME BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT SOME POINT FOR A DECISION.

THIS IS A FAIRLY NEW LAW.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF NUANCES ASSOCIATED WITH IT THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AND SORT OUT.

WHAT ARE ITS LIMITATIONS AND WHAT IS THE BROAD SCOPE OF WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE CITY ATTORNEY AND I KIND OF JUST, YOU KNOW, RECOMMEND EXERCISING CAUTION.

AND IF YOU ARE INVOLVED WITH THIS GROUP AND IN OTHERS THAT YOU PERHAPS, YOU BE MINDFUL OF YOUR PRESENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS THE GROUP INTERACTS AND SHARES INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S GOING TO BE MATTERS THAT COME BACK TO THE CITY.

AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK THE CITY IS REALLY UNIQUE BECAUSE WE TOUCH EVERY FACET OF THE COMMUNITY.

RIGHT? AND SO YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO BE DOWN THAT SLIPPERY SLOPE AS THINGS GET BROUGHT UP, JUST WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND HOW YOU SHARE IT.

SO BE VERY MINDFUL AND CAREFUL OF THAT.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE LIAISON, THE SAME RULE APPLIES OF UP TO TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN BE INVOLVED IN THE GROUP.

THIS SOMEWHAT MIRRORS WHAT OTHER CITIES DO WITH REGARDS TO OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS OR EVEN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, FOR A GOOD EXAMPLE, WHERE YOU CAN HAVE TWO OFFICIAL MEMBERS SERVE IN A LIAISON CAPACITY, BE INVOLVED WITH THAT GROUP AND BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK.

WE WILL PROBABLY AGENDIZE IT LIKE WE DO THE CURRENT COG MEETING AND THE SO THEY THINK BE OFFICIAL REPORT BACK TO THE COUNCIL ON WHAT ARE THE DISCUSSIONS HAD AT THE COUNCIL MEETING.

AND IF THERE'S ANY SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT YOU WISH TO BE BROUGHT UP IN THE COUNCIL MEETING, YOU CAN CERTAINLY LET ME OR MS. MARTINEZ KNOW AND WE CAN SPECIFICALLY AGENDIZE AND SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT IN GREATER DETAIL AND HAVE THAT BACK AND FORTH DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS FROM WITHIN THE CITY COUNCIL

[00:45:04]

BODY AS WELL WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

OK, VERY WELL, I APPRECIATE THE DISCLOSURE.

AS BROWN ACT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE NOW, AT LEAST THE ORIGINAL VERSIONS OF IT AND IT IS DEVELOPING.

SO IT'S BEEN A GRAY AREA THAT WE'VE EXISTED, AND AT LEAST I HAVE BEEN IN THE WHILE, FOR A WHILE.

BUT FOR THIS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT.

AND WITH THAT, I GUESS I WOULD KIND OF I WOULDN'T REALLY DEFER TO MEMBER MARTINEZ AND MAYBE ANY COMMENTS YOU MIGHT HAVE ON THE DIRECTION WE HAVE ON APPOINTING THOSE TWO LIAISONS AS HE'S BEEN PART OF THOSE IN THE INCEPTION.

SO, MEMBER MARTINEZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR MAYBE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW WE SHOULD APPROACH THAT? YEAH, I THINK DOING AN AD HOC COMMITTEE, THE WAY THAT DANIEL SUGGESTED IS PROBABLY THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS NEW LAW IS A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING.

I THINK IT HAS ALL OF US A LITTLE CONFUSED AS TO WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

EXCUSE ME, BUT I DO THINK THAT THAT IS PROBABLY THE BEST APPROACH.

I REALLY DO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE AT THESE MEETINGS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD INPUT THAT COMES BACK FROM THE COMMUNITY.

AND IT'S ALSO A GOOD PLATFORM FOR US JUST TO DISSEMINATE SOME INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE COUNCIL IS DOING.

SO, YEAH, I AGREE WITH DANIEL.

OK.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'D BE WILLING TO AND LIKE TO CONTINUE SERVING ON IT IN YOUR CURRENT CAPACITY? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

DANIEL AND I DID TALK ABOUT IT.

I THINK THE SUGGESTION THAT WE KIND OF DISCUSSED WAS DOING IT AS A ONE YEAR APPOINTMENT JUST BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF TOPICS THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED AND ONGOING, RATHER THAN DOING IT QUARTERLY, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SERVE IN WHATEVER CAPACITY, WHETHER IT'S A YEAR OR QUARTERLY.

BUT I THINK AN ANNUAL THING IS PROBABLY THE BEST.

WELL, THEN, WHAT ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS FROM THE OTHER MEMBERS? AND JUST A REMINDER, YOU COULD HAVE TWO IF YOU SO WISH, HAVE TWO MEMBERS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THAT GROUP IF YOU WANTED TO.

ALL RIGHT.

AND THAT'S WHAT I THAT'S WHAT I'M IMAGINING.

I'M JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.

I ALREADY DID THAT PART? YES.

HOW ABOUT MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA? ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? WELL, I'LL MAKE A COMMENT.

I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL THAT WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AS MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL AND THIS TASK FORCE.

I AM HAPPY THAT MR. MARTINEZ IS GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING.

HE HAS BEEN FROM THE BEGINNING, AS I UNDERSTAND IT.

AND SO HIS CONTINUED PARTICIPATION FOR THE PERIOD OF A YEAR OR QUARTERLY SEEMS TO ME THAT A YEAR WOULD BE BETTER THAN A QUARTERLY APPOINTMENT.

I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL.

HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN SERVING IN THIS CAPACITY, THIS AD HOC COMMITTEE? AD HOC COMMITTEE? RIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT, ESPECIALLY SINCE TILO HAS ALSO BEEN INVOLVED.

MAYOR MARTINEZ IS, I MEAN, ARE YOU ABLE TO SPEAK ON THAT AT ALL? YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T SPECIFICALLY SPOKE TO HIM ABOUT THIS TOPIC, BUT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS HE WAS INVOLVED AND HE STEPPED ASIDE BECAUSE OF THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BROWN ACT.

YOU KNOW, HIS WORK SCHEDULE HAS BEEN VERY BUSY LATELY.

SO I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR HIM.

BUT I DON'T THINK HE WOULD OBJECT TO ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER BEING INVOLVED IN THIS, BECAUSE WE DID HAVE PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IDEALLY I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE NICE IF WE COULD ALL PARTICIPATE IN THIS.

SO I DON'T THINK HE WOULD OBJECT TO ANOTHER MEMBER BEING BEING PUT ON THE COMMITTEE.

YEAH, [INAUDIBLE] TO HEAR.

OK, MAYOR, IF I MAY INTERJECT HERE, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

I WOULD BE WILLING TO SERVE IF, YOU KNOW, OTHER MEMBERS ARE UNABLE.

AS YOU KNOW, I HAD BEEN FOR ALMOST A YEAR.

IT'S BEEN A YEAR NOW, PRETTY MUCH AT HOME.

BUT FORTUNATELY FOR ME, I'VE ALREADY RECEIVED MY VACCINE.

AND I KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY SOMETHING YOU WANT TO HEAR, BUT I FEEL MORE CONFIDENT OF BEING OUT THERE WITHOUT THE RISK OF GETTING AN INFECTION.

SO I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SERVE.

AND I KNOW THAT AT THIS TIME THE TASK FORCE IS MEETING THROUGH ZOOMS. THERE'S STILL A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME BEFORE THEY MEET ON A PERSONAL BASIS, I IMAGINE.

SO I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SERVE IN THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.

MEMBER PALLARES? ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS FOR THE NOMINATIONS? NO, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA FOR REPRESENTATION AS FAR AS MYSELF, 4:30 P.

M, YOU KNOW I HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME BECAUSE OF WORK.

SO ANYTHING PRIOR TO 5:15 P.M.

IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TO ATTEND THESE MEETINGS.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU OR OTHER MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IF THEY CAN.

[00:50:03]

SO THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL FOR ME.

I GOT IT.

IT'S CERTAINLY UNDERSTOOD.

I JUST ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY SO I PUT THAT UP TO YOU.

WELL, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK WE HAVE A CONSENSUS.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND APPOINT AS LIAISON FOR THIS EFFORT.

MEMBER MARTINEZ.

AND MEMBER REYNA.

THEY HAVE MET.

THESE MEMBERS WILL REPORT BACK AND BRING INPUT TO THE COUNCIL AT LARGE ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THEM NOT ONLY REPRESENTING COUNCIL, BUT BRINGING BACK ANY FURTHER REPORTS ON THE DISCUSSIONS.

SO THANK YOU.

DANIEL, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED? YES, SIR.

YES.

THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU AGAIN, PASTOR ESTES AND EVERYONE ELSE FOR JOINING AND YOUR INPUT.

LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU, SIR.

YOU TOO.

APPARENTLY, THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM 12B, THE APPOINTMENT OF CITY

[12.b. Appointment of City Council Representative to Attend the Local Road Safety Plan Stakeholder Meetings. (Bishop)]

COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE TO ATTEND THE LOCAL ROAD SAFETY PLAN, STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS.

WE HAVE DIRECTOR BISHOP.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES.

OK, AND SO CURRENT COG THROUGH THE TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, ALSO KNOWN AS TTAC, RECENTLY HIRED A CONSULTANT, TJKM, THAT IS GOING TO ASSIST THE CITY WITH DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOCAL ROAD SAFETY PLAN.

AND THE LOCAL ROAD SAFETY PLAN PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR IDENTIFYING, ANALYZING AND PRIORITIZING ROADWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ON OUR LOCAL ROADS.

AND IT IS TAILORED TO OUR LOCAL ISSUES AND NEEDS.

PART OF DEVELOPING THE LRSP REQUIRES THAT WE HOLD STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS.

SO I DID PUT A GROUP TOGETHER OF STAKEHOLDERS.

IT CONSISTS OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT'S EMERGENCY SERVICES, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DISTRICT AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE RECENTLY CREATED LOCAL TASK FORCE AND CITY STAFF.

SO MYSELF AND POTENTIALLY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THESE MEETINGS.

BUT I WANTED TO EXTEND THE OFFER TO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER PARTICIPATE AS WELL.

AT THIS TIME, I DON'T HAVE DATES AND TIMES ON WHEN THOSE MEETINGS WILL BE, BUT THE FIRST ONE IS ANTICIPATED IN APRIL AND THEN THE NEXT ONE IS ANTICIPATED WITHIN FOUR TO EIGHT WEEKS OF THAT.

SO I WANTED TO EXTEND THAT OFFER TO YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR BISHOP, I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE TO RAISED HAND FEATURE TO REQUEST TO SPEAK.

IF YOU ARE ON YOUR TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR 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 IS EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED AT THIS TIME.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, MADAM CLERK? AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS, MAYOR.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE FROM THE MEMBERS? MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA? YOU'RE MUTED, MR. REYNA.

I APOLOGIZE, I DID THAT BECAUSE MY DOGS WERE BARKING.

I WAS JUST SAYING THAT I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT WE NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE WHENEVER ANY IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR CITY ARE BEING DISCUSSED.

SO THIS IS GREAT.

THE INVITATION IS GREAT.

SO I DO THINK WE NEED TO BE THERE.

AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TIME THIS MEETINGS WILL BE.

MRS. BISHOP, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT TIME THIS MEETING, AT WHAT TIME THESE MEETINGS WILL BE HELD? I DO NOT AT THIS TIME.

AGAIN, I'LL BE WILLING TO SERVE ON IT IF ANOTHER MEMBER IS INTERESTED IN DOING IT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO SERVE THIS ONE.

I DO WANT TO MAKE THE DISCLAIMER THAT THEY WILL BE REACHING OUT TO THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO IDENTIFY THE BEST TIME AND DATES FOR THE MEETINGS FOR EVERYBODY, SO THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO WORK WITH EVERYONE.

OK, MY QUESTION, DIRECTOR BISHOP, WOULD BE, IS THIS GOING TO BE A SERIES OF MEETINGS? IS GOING TO BE ONE MEETING? HOW LONG DO YOU ANTICIPATE IT TO BE? THIS WILL BE TWO MEETINGS.

I DON'T ANTICIPATE IT BEING LONGER THAN ONE HOUR BECAUSE THE CONSULTANT WILL HAVE A FRAMEWORK OF QUESTIONS THAT THEY'LL BE ASKING US.

VERY WELL, PERFECT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM MEMBER MARTINEZ?

[00:55:01]

I THINK GILBERT WOULD DO A GREAT JOB ON THERE.

OTHER THAN THAT, NO COMMENT, SIR.

HOW ABOUT MEMBER PALLARES? WELL, THAT'LL BE A GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND REINFORCEMENT AND WORKING WITH OTHER AGENCIES, I WOULD SAY I'M INTERESTED IN IT.

THERE'S ONLY TWO MEETINGS THAT I COULD USE SOME VACATION.

SO A BREAK FROM MY WORK TO TACKLE THIS.

BUT THE TIME IS ALWAYS MY CONCERN.

SO.

WE ONLY NEED ONE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THIS, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT, UNLESS, DANIEL, YOU SEE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR TWO PARTICIPATE.

ONLY THE SAME RULES WOULD APPLY AS WE DID WITH THE TASK FORCE SO THERE WOULDN'T BE A BROWN ACT VIOLATION IF IT'S JUST TWO OF THEM.

RIGHT.

WELL, DO THIS, WE'LL GO AHEAD, BUT PUT FORWARD A NOMINATION OF REMEMBER, PALLARES AND MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA FOR CONSIDERATION FOR DIRECTOR BISHOP.

OF COURSE, CONTINGENT ON THE AVAILABILITY FOR MEMBER PALLARES.

[INAUDIBLE].

AND I APPRECIATE I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR TAKING ON THESE ROLES AND REALLY KIND OF LEANING IN ON THESE REPRESENTATIVE POSITIONS AND COMMITTEES.

AS MUCH AS I'D LOVE TO BE A PART OF EVERY CONVERSATION I REALLY NEED AND DELEGATE LEAN INTO MY COLLEAGUES WHEN IT COMES TO PARTICIPATING IN ALL OF THESE DISCUSSIONS AND MEETINGS.

SO I APPRECIATE EVERYONE.

AND OF COURSE, I WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO GET SOME EXPERIENCE.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT'S GOING TO MOVE IT, MOVE ON.

YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED, RIGHT, DIRECTOR BISHOP? THAT IS CORRECT.

OK, IT WAS.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM 12.

[12.c. Discussion and Information on the Central Valley Salts Control Program and Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) (Bishop)]

THE DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION ON THE CENTRAL VALLEY SALTS CONTROL PROGRAM AND PER-AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS).

DIRECTOR BISHOP? GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THIS IS AN INFORMATION ITEM ONLY AND IT'S BEING BROUGHT TO YOU SO THAT YOU ARE INFORMED OF THE NEW REGULATIONS AND THE NEW CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE UP FOR EVALUATION.

AND WE DID RECEIVE A NOTICE TO COMPLY FROM CENTRAL VALLEY SALTS.

AND WE ALSO RECEIVED AN ORDER FROM THE WATER BOARD REGARDING PFAS.

SO I'M GOING TO START OFF BY TALKING ABOUT PFAS WHICH IS PER-AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES.

SO I'LL JUST REFER TO THEM AS PFAS MOVING FORWARD.

THEY ARE A GROUP OF MANMADE CHEMICALS THAT INCLUDE A VARIETY OF THESE CHEMICALS AND THEY'VE BEEN MANUFACTURED AND USED IN A VARIETY OF INDUSTRIES AROUND THE GLOBE, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, SINCE ABOUT 1940.

THEY'VE BEEN THE MOST EXTENSIVELY PRODUCED AND STUDIED OF THESE CHEMICALS IS THE TWO VARIETIES OF PFOA, AND PFOS, BOTH CHEMICALS ARE VERY PERSISTENT IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND IN THE HUMAN BODY, MEANING THAT THEY DON'T BREAK DOWN AND THEY CAN ACCUMULATE OVER TIME.

AND THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT THE EXPOSURE TO PFAS CAN LEAD TO ADVERSE HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS.

LOOKS LIKE.

AND SO PFAS CAN BE INTRODUCED INTO THE BODIES THROUGH VARIOUS SOURCES AND SOME OF THAT CAN BE EATING OR DRINKING CONTAMINATED FOOD OR LIQUID, INCLUDING WATER, BREATHING IN, OR TOUCHING PRODUCTS TREATED WITH PFAS SUCH AS CARPETS OR CLOTHING.

FOOD CAN BE CONTAMINATED BY THE MIGRATION OF THE PFAS FROM PACKAGING.

SOME FOODS LIKE FISH, MEAT, EGGS, LEAFY VEGETABLES CAN CONTAIN PFAS DUE TO BIOACCUMULATION AND CROP UPTAKE.

AND THE CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATER HAS LED TO HIGH LEVELS OF EXPOSURE TO PFAS FOR SOME POPULATIONS.

AND IT HAS ALSO BEEN DETECTED IN AIR, WATER AND SOIL IN AND AROUND MANUFACTURING FACILITIES.

HOWEVER, THESE RELEASES HAVE BEEN DECLINING SINCE COMPANIES BEGAN PHASING OUT THE PRODUCTION AND USE OF SEVERAL PFAS IN THE EARLY 2000S.

HOWEVER, DUE TO THEIR CHEMICAL STRUCTURE, PFAS ARE STILL VERY STABLE IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND ARE RESISTANT TO BREAKING DOWN.

SOME OF THE BIGGEST PFAS CONTRIBUTORS ARE FIRE TRAINING AND FIRE RESPONSE SITES, INDUSTRIAL SITES, LANDFILLS AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND BIOSOLIDS.

SO PFAS CAN GET INTO DRINKING WATER WHEN PRODUCTS CONTAINING THEM ARE USED OR SPILLED ONTO THE GROUND OR INTO LAKES AND RIVERS, AND ONCE THEY'RE IN THE GROUND WATER, PFAS ARE EASILY TRANSPORTED VERY LARGE DISTANCES AND THEY CAN CONTAMINATE DRINKING WELLS .

[01:00:02]

PFAS IS IN THE AIR.

AND IT CAN ALSO END UP IN RIVERS AND LAKES USED FOR DRINKING WATER IF YOUR SOURCE OF WATER AND SURFACE WATER.

ADDITIONALLY, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE FATE IN THE TRANSPORTATION OF PFAS CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON THE STATE WATER BOARD WEBSITE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WEBSITE.

THERE IS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF RESEARCH, SO I'M JUST KIND OF GIVING YOU A HIGH LEVEL OF THAT AND HOW THEY GET INTO THE DRINKING WATER.

IN JULY OF 2020, STAFF DID RECEIVE AN ORDER FROM THE STATE WATER BOARD BECAUSE THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT HERE IN WASCO WAS IDENTIFIED AS A PUBLICLY OWNED TREATMENT WORKS.

THAT IS A POTENTIAL RECEIVER OF PFAS AND IS THEREFORE A POTENTIAL DISCHARGER TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

SO BECAUSE OF THIS, THIS ORDER IS REQUIRING US TO SUBMIT TECHNICAL REPORTS AND ANALYTICAL DATA ELECTRONICALLY VIA GEO TRACKER AND GEO TRACKER IS THE DATABASE PLATFORM THAT THE STATE WATER BOARD USES FOR US TO UPLOAD OUR DATA.

AND SO WE DO HAVE TO CONDUCT SAMPLING FOR THIRTY ONE PFAS TYPES, AND WE HAD TO SUBMIT THOSE RESULTS AND WE ALSO HAD TO COMPLETE A QUESTIONNAIRE.

SO TO DATE, WE DID CONTRACT WITH WILBANKS ENVIRONMENTAL, WHICH IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT THAT CURRENTLY MONITORS OUR GROUNDWATER MONITORING WELLS, AND THEY DID ASSIST STAFF WITH DEVELOPING AND SUBMITTING A PFAS GROUNDWATER MONITORING PLAN TO THE STATE WATER BOARD FOR THEIR REVIEW AS REQUESTED PER THE ORDER.

THAT PLAN HAS SINCE BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE.

WE DID COMPLETE THE QUESTIONNAIRE AND UPLOADED THAT TO THE GEO TRACKER.

AND THEN WE DID THE INITIAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT SAMPLING OF THE INFLUENT AND THE EFFLUENT.

THE GROUNDWATER MONITORING WELLS SAMPLING.

AND WE ALSO SAMPLED BIOSOLIDS AND UPLOADED THOSE RESULTS TO THE GEO TRACKER.

SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW? WE'RE GOING TO BE MONITORING OUR INFLUENT AND EFFLUENT ON A QUARTERLY BASIS FOR THIS YEAR BASED ON THE ORDER, BUT IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS ORDER IS THE PRELIMINARY STAGE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF POTENTIAL MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVELS FOR THIS AND DIFFERENT PLANTS.

AND THERE COULD BE FUTURE ORDERS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.

DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, DIRECTOR BISHOP, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE REPORT.

WE WELL, I KNOW WE GOT TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL JUST SPEAKERS].

BEFORE THE MEMBERS WE DO HAVE TO OPEN UP TO THE PUBLIC FIRST.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

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

IF YOU ARE USING A TELEPHONE USE THE STAR NINE BUTTONS ON YOUR KEYPAD.

YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON BY YOUR NUMBER, EXCUSE ME, 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 COMMENT.

ONCE YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE NEEDED AT THIS TIME.

MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? COMMENTS? CONCERNS? AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

MAYOR.

VERY WELL, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS? MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

DIRECTOR BISHOP, IS THIS THE ITEM WHERE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO SELECT WHAT APPROACH WE'RE GOING TO TAKE, EITHER THE CONSERVATIVE OR ALTERNATE APPROACH? I READ THE REPORT.

NOT WITH PFAS.

THE PFAS WAS A DIRECT ORDER THAT INSTRUCTED US ON WHAT WE ACTUALLY NEEDED TO DO.

THAT IS PART OF THE CV-SALTS, WHICH IS PART OF MY NEXT CONVERSATION.

OK, THEN THAT ANSWERED MY QUESTION.

NO, NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

MEMBER MARTINEZ? NO QUESTIONS, SIR.

MEMBER PALLARES? NO QUESTIONS, THANK YOU.

PLEASE CONTINUE, DIRECTOR BISHOP? OK, SO THE NEXT ONE I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS CV-SALTS OR CENTRAL VALLEY SALTS.

IT IS A COALITION AND PROGRAM THAT BEGAN IN ABOUT 2016 TO DEAL WITH THE MULTI DECADE PROBLEM OF SALT ACCUMULATION IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

AND CV-SALTS ACTUALLY STANDS FOR THE CENTRAL VALLEY SALINITY ALTERNATIVES FOR

[01:05:05]

LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY.

SO BASICALLY, THERE'S A SALT PROBLEM IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

EVERY YEAR MORE THAN SEVEN MILLION TONS OF SALT ARE ADDED TO THE CENTRAL VALLEY VIA IMPORTED WATER.

THAT IMPORTED WATER IS USED BY CROPS AND THE SALT STAYS BEHIND.

AND OVER MANY DECADES, THE SALINITY ACCUMULATION IN THE GROUNDWATER AND THE SOIL CAN POISON THE GROUNDWATER AND THE SOIL AND HAVE ECONOMIC AND AGRICULTURAL IMPACTS TO THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

WITHIN THE NEXT DECADE IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT ABOUT TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND AGRICULTURAL ACRES WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF PRODUCTION.

ONE POINT FIVE MILLION ACRES ARE ALREADY IMPAIRED BY SALINITY, AND BY 2030, THE POTENTIAL DIRECT ANNUAL COST ASSOCIATED WITH SALTS IS UP TO ONE POINT FIVE BILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR TO THE CENTRAL VALLEY ECONOMY.

AND SO ALL OF THIS INFORMATION WAS PRESENTED BY THE COALITION AND I'M JUST SHARING IT DIRECTLY FROM THEIR SLIDES.

BUT THEY ALSO FORECASTED A DIRECT JOB LOSS OF ABOUT TWENTY SEVEN THOUSAND TO FIFTY THREE THOUSAND JOBS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.

SO SALINITY IS A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T FIT WITH ALL THE OTHER WATER QUALITY ISSUES BECAUSE EVERYONE WHO USES WATER ESSENTIALLY ADDS SALT TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES ARE CONNECTED AND WATER IS MOVED AND USED THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY AND SALT ACCUMULATES IN SOILS AND GROUNDWATER.

SO THIS ISN'T A PROBLEM THAT'S GOING TO BE EASILY SOLVED.

AND BECAUSE OF THIS, THE FORM OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY SALTS COALITION.

SO WHAT IS CENTRAL VALLEY SALTS.

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WAS NOT INITIATED DIRECTLY BY THE WATER BOARD, BUT WAS STARTED BY THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE BEING IMPACTED BY THE SALTS.

AND IT WAS FORMED AND FUNDED STUDIES TO IDENTIFY OPTIONS FOR SALINITY DISPOSAL, AND THEY DID GO AHEAD AND UPDATE THE BASIN PLAN AND REGULATORY PACKAGES ARE BEING DEVELOPED BY THE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS.

AND SOME SOME OF THE PLANNING GOALS FOR CV-SALTS ARE TO SUSTAIN THE VALLEY'S LIFESTYLE, SUPPORT THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH, RETAIN A WORLD CLASS ECONOMY, MAINTAIN RELIABLE HIGH QUALITY WATER SUPPLIES FOR MUNICIPAL, AG AND INDUSTRIAL USERS, AND PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE WATER QUALITY IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY, STREAMS, RIVERS AND GROUNDWATER BASINS.

SOME OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY IMPLEMENTATION GOALS ARE TO PROVIDE SAFE DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES [INAUDIBLE] STARTED THIS.

THEY ALSO NOTICED THAT WE HAVE A NITRATE PROBLEM IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

SO ANOTHER GOAL THAT THEY DEVELOPED IS TO REDUCE NITRATE AND SALT IMPACTS TO WATER SUPPLIES AND TO RESTORE THE GROUNDWATER QUALITY WHERE REASONABLE AND FEASIBLE.

SO THE LONG TERM STRATEGY THEY IDENTIFIED AND STARTED WITH IS THIS PHASE I PERMITTING APPROACH, WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE NOW.

FROM THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DEVELOP A PRIORITIZATION AND OPTIMIZATION STUDY IN THE NEXT 10 TO 15 YEARS.

ONCE THAT IS COMPLETED, THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO PHASE II AND DEVELOP PROJECTS AND DEVELOP REGULATION ASSOCIATED WITH SALT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.

AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATIONS.

SO CURRENTLY ON THE TABLE, THERE ARE TWO PATHWAYS THAT WE CAN TAKE.

WE CAN GO WITH THE ALTERNATIVE PERMITTING APPROACH, WHICH IS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FUNDING AND THE DISCUSSION OF THE PRIORITIZATION AND OPTIMIZATION STUDY.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ENGAGED IN IDENTIFYING THE PRIORITY AREAS THAT NEED TO ADDRESS THE SALTS FIRST.

AND THAT BASICALLY DOESN'T CHANGE ANY OF OUR PRACTICES.

WE CAN CONTINUE, AS WE ARE.

THE CONSERVATIVE PERMITTING APPROACH THAT DOES DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE WITH MORE STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS WITH THE SALT CONTROL PROGRAM.

BASED ON THE GUIDANCE WE'VE BEEN GETTING AND EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN HEARING AT THE DIFFERENT WEBINARS, IT IS LIKELY TO COST MORE BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO BE REQUIRED TO MEET THE THRESHOLDS THAT ARE ESTABLISHED BY THE SALT CONTROL PROGRAM.

AND IN THE ALTERNATIVE PERMITTING APPROACH, WE DON'T HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY MEET THOSE STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS, BUT WE JUST PARTICIPATE IN THE P&O STUDY.

AND THAT'S US SHOWING EFFORT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SALT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.

WE GOT THE NOTICE IN JANUARY THIS YEAR AND WE HAVE SIX MONTHS TO DECIDE AND FILE OUR NOTICE OF INTENT.

[01:10:02]

SO HERE'S A TIMELINE.

AND STAFF WILL BE PROCEEDING WITH THE ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY.

BASICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO SIGN UP AND PAY THE FEE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PRIORITIZATION AND OPTIMIZATION STUDY.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE OUR CURRENT SALT MANAGEMENT ACTIONS, WHICH CURRENTLY SALT IS ACTUALLY TESTED THROUGH ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY.

SO WE MONITOR OUR ECS AND THAT'S CURRENTLY WHAT WE DO.

AND THAT'S THE EXTENT OF ANY SALT MANAGEMENT THAT'S CURRENTLY DONE.

AND IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO AVOID THOSE CONSERVATIVE EFFLUENT ELEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ESTABLISHED FOR MORE STRINGENT SALT CONTROL.

THE FEES CURRENTLY ARE GOING TO BE $2,260 TO PARTICIPATE.

THIS IS AN ANNUAL FEE THAT WE WOULD NEED TO PAY.

AND THEN WE WOULD ALSO BE PARTICIPATING IN THE P&O STUDY MEETINGS.

SO THE TIME COMMITMENT IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN.

THEY INDICATED THEY'D BE SENDING OUT NOTIFICATIONS ON MEETINGS AFTER JULY 2021.

SO BETWEEN THEN AND THE END OF THE YEAR, THEY WOULD BE INFORMING US OF FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS AND THE TIME COMMITMENT THAT WOULD BE INVOLVED.

THE FEES WERE CALCULATED BASED OFF OF OUR SIZE, VOLUME AND ACREAGE.

OTHER USERS WHO ARE BEING REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THIS STUDY, OUR DAIRIES, POULTRY AND BOVINE FACILITIES, IRRIGATED LANDS, OIL AND GAS, OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND WINERIES.

THIS FEE I DID ASK IF IT WAS EXPECTED TO GO UP.

THEY INDICATED THAT IT WOULD ONLY BE GOING UP BASED ON ECONOMIES OF SCALE.

SO IT'S INFLATE, THERE'S INFLATION, IT'LL GO UP EACH YEAR.

BUT THERE IS ALSO THE POTENTIAL THAT THE FEE WOULD REDUCE IF THEY IDENTIFIED THAT THE STUDY IS NOT AS COSTLY AS THE ANTICIPATED.

CDV-SALTS COALITION GROUP DID INDICATE THEY INTEND TO SEEK FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR FINDINGS.

AND THEN SOMEBODY DID ASK, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T PARTICIPATE? SO BASICALLY, THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL.

THE REGIONAL WATER BOARD WILL ADMINISTER LATE FEES AND BACK FEES TO THOSE WHO DO NOT FILE THEIR NOTICE OF INTENT BY THE DEADLINE.

AND THEN WE WERE ALSO INFORMED THAT A NITRATE CONTROL PROGRAM WILL BE ISSUING A NOTICE TO COMPLY WITHIN THE NEXT TWO TO FOUR YEARS OF THE APPROVAL OF THE NITRATE CONTROL PROGRAM.

AND THEY ESTIMATE THAT WE'LL BE RECEIVING THAT SOMETIME BETWEEN LATE 2022 AND LATE 2024.

ANY QUESTIONS? MEMBER--MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA? YES, SO THIS IS NOT IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL, TOO, FOR US TO DECIDE WHICH OPTION WE WOULD TAKE, STAFF HAS ALREADY DECIDED TO GO WITH THE ALTERNATIVE OPTION, WHICH IS THE RIGHT OPTION, IN MY OPINION.

BECAUSE WE ARE NOT BEING RESTRICTED IN ANY WAY.

IT'S A CONSERVATIVE OPTION, IT DOES.

SO I'M FINE WITH THAT.

BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THAT DECISION.

BUT I GUESS THAT'S WHY I'M NECESSARY.

SO, IT'S FINE.

I MEAN, THEY KEEP FINDING ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE WATER.

AND, YOU KNOW, AT ONE POINT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DRINK ANYTHING BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE BAD FOR US.

IT'S APPARENT I MEAN, THEY KEEP FINDING ALL OF THESE CHEMICALS.

WHAT IS HE DOING? CLEANING AND SALTS.

AND IT'S JUST IT'S REALLY BAD FOR OUR MUNICIPALITIES BECAUSE IT ALL COSTS MONEY.

MONEY THAT COULD BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

BUT I AM FINE WITH THIS CHOOSING THE ALTERNATIVE APPROACH.

THAT'S ALL FOR ME.

MAYOR, THANK YOU.

MEMBER MARTINEZ? I CONCUR WITH EVERYTHING THAT MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA JUST SAID ABOUT ALL OF IT, I THINK STAFF MADE THE RIGHT DECISION.

THANK YOU, MEMBER PALLARES? NO COMMENTS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I APPRECIATE THE STAFF'S WORK ON THIS.

I DO REALIZE.

I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN SEE ME OR NOT, BUT I DO REALIZE IT'S A LOT OF WORK AND I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT, MAKING THAT JUST TAKING THAT DECISION OUT OF OUR HANDS.

BUT IN ANY CASE, I DO ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME.

[01:15:01]

AND IN TALKING TO OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES, OF COURSE.

EXPRESSING TO THEM HOW DIFFICULT THIS CAN BE WITHOUT DEALING WITH THESE TECHNICAL ISSUES, WITHOUT THE TECHNICAL RESOURCES.

SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOBBY THE STATE FOR RESOURCES ALONG WITH THESE REGULATIONS THAT THEY CONTINUE TO HAND DOWN ON A REGULAR BASIS IT SEEMS. SO THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE, DIRECTOR BISHOP, IS THAT ALL YOU NEED FROM US? IS JUST A REPORT, RIGHT? CORRECT.

[12.d. Approve Employment Agreement with Luis Villa as the Deputy Public Works Director in the amount of $98,756.11annually. (Ortiz Hernandez)]

VERY WELL DISCUSSION ITEM, YES.

MOVING ON THIS EVENING TO ITEMS. 12D, AND THAT IS THE APPROVAL OF AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH LUIS VIEGA AS DEPUTY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR IN THE AMOUNT OF $98,756.11 ANNUALLY.

MR. ORTIZ? .

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL PIGGYBACKING OFF JUST WHAT YOU JUST HEARD IN ALL THE UPDATES AND FURTHER THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT THAT CONTINUES TO INCREASE AND THAT WE HAVE TO NAVIGATE INTO THE FUTURE.

WE HAD DISCUSSED DURING THE GOAL SETTING SESSION BACK ON FEBRUARY 27TH IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, I HAD INFORMED THE COUNCIL OF A CONCEPT, AN IDEA I WAS MOVING FORWARD WITH, AND THAT IS TO CREATE A SECOND DEPUTY DIRECTOR POSITION WITHIN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD SPECIFICALLY OVERSEE SOME OF THESE WATER RELATED, WATER WORKS RELATED AREAS.

WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE REGULATIONS COME TO THE FOREFRONT.

WE ALSO ARE DEALING WITH JUST AN AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, AND OVERALL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT AS WE CAME TO LEARN LAST YEAR DURING THE WATER EMERGENCY, JUST NEED SOME ATTENTION AND NEED TO BE OVERSEEN.

AND A MUCH MORE REGULAR AND CONSISTENT BASIS.

WITH THE VACANCY IN THE WATER SUPERINTENDENT ROLE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO ELEVATE AND MERGE THE WASTEWATER SUPERINTENDENT, WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT SUPERINTENDENT AND THE WATER SUPERINTENDENT POSITION INTO ONE.

CONSOLIDATE THOSE FOUR MAIN AREAS OF WATER, THE WASTEWATER PLANT, THE SEWER SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THE STORM WATER SYSTEM THAT WE ARE ALSO SEEING INCREASED REGULATIONS AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME ADDITIONAL OPERATING NECESSITIES FROM THE MS4 PERMIT.

SO I'M HAPPY TO PUT FORTH AND KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN INTERNAL EMPLOYEE WHO HAS BEEN WITH US FOR MANY, MANY YEARS WHO IS CAPABLE AND READY AND WILLING TO SERVE IN MR. VIEGA IF THERE'S ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT I CAN ANSWER FOR YOU.

THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THE BREAKDOWN, BECAUSE THAT IS THE NEW DIRECTION THAT WE'RE HEADING IN AT THE AT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, REALLY DELEGATING OUT SOME OF THOSE MORE TECHNICAL ISSUES AND THAT STAFF CONTINUE TO BE BURDENED WITH WORKING THROUGH WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY DELIVERING SERVICES AT AN EFFECTIVE LEVEL THAT INCLUDES STREETS, SEWAGE, WASTE, WATER, ET CETERA, MAKING SURE THE WATER FLOWS AND YOUR TOILETS FLUSH.

SO BUT WE ARE A CITY THAT CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME.

AND THAT'S OUR EFFORT HERE TODAY.

AND I SUPPORT IT.

BEFORE WE SEE THE COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

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

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

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.

MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC AT THIS TIME? QUESTIONS? CONCERNS? WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS, MAYOR.

WELL, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST HAD A QUESTION FOR DANIEL.

DANIEL, YOU ARE COMBINING TWO POSITIONS AT THIS TIME.

YOU ARE TAKING A POSITION THAT IS VACANT AND CREATING THIS DEPUTY OF PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR POSITION, WHICH IS IN REALITY AT THIS TIME, SAVING US SOME MONEY.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT, I THINK IN THE LONG RUN, AS WE GET A BETTER HANDLE OF WHAT THESE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS ARE GOING TO REQUIRE, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE THE ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL OPERATIONAL COSTS AND, YOU KNOW, JUST OPERATIONAL CHANGES THAT HAVE TO OCCUR AND IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE TREATMENT FOR REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER AS WELL AS WASTEWATER.

I FORESEE THAT IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY GO BACK AND

[01:20:41]

REEVALUATE THE STRUCTURE AND PROBABLY AUGMENT THE SUPERVISORY ROLES UNDERNEATH THIS DEPUTY DIRECTOR ROLE SPECIFIC TO WATER, WASTEWATER AND STORM WATER.

AND SO BUT WE NEEDED TO KIND OF FILL THAT ROLE AND THEN GET A HANDLE OF WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE NAVIGATING FROM A REGULATORY PERSPECTIVE AND OPERATIONAL PERSPECTIVE TO MOVE FORWARD.

CERTAINLY, I THINK THE OTHER PART WITH THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR ROLE AND HOPING TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE ALLOWED SOME OF THE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED WITHIN THE WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS, HAVING SOMEONE IN MORE OF AN EXECUTIVE ROLE THAT CAN BE DEDICATED TO OVERSEEING THOSE WOULD HOPEFULLY ENABLE AND AVOID THE ISSUES WE'VE ENCOUNTERED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A CONTINUOUS EFFORT IN INVESTMENTS AND ATTENTION PAID IN THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENTS THAT CAN BE VERY COSTLY AS WE'VE EXPERIENCED WHEN THEY ARE NEGLECTED.

JUST REAL BRIEFLY, WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED, DANIEL TOOK ME ON A TOUR OF OUR CITY FACILITIES.

WE WENT OUT TO LOOK AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY AND LUIS IS EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE.

I MEAN, MUCH OF WHAT HE SAID WENT COMPLETELY OVER MY HEAD.

BUT HE'S VERY DEDICATED TO HIS JOB AND VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE.

AND I THINK THIS IS A GOOD POSITION TO PUT HIM IN.

MEMBER PALLARES? NO COMMENTS, THANK YOU.

AND I JUST WANT TO ADD ON HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE STAFF AND THE DIRECTOR'S EXECUTIVE TEAM FOR ELEVATING SOMEONE FROM WITHIN THE, OUR CURRENT RANKS.

I THINK THAT DOES A LOT FOR OUR WORKFORCE AND DEVELOPING CURRENT HOMEGROWN OR CURRENT HOMEGROWN TALENT HERE AT THE CITY OF WASCO.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND A TIP OF THE HAT TO OUR LEADERSHIP IN THAT DIRECTION.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL GO AHEAD AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

THIS IS REYNA, I MOVE TO APPROVE, IT'S BEEN MOVED.

IS THERE A SECOND? PALLARES SECOND.

MEMBER, EXCUSE ME, AS WE MOVE AND IT'S SECONDED, MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL [INAUDIBLE] PLEASE? MAYOR GARCIA? AYE.

MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA? AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ? AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? PALLARES, AYE.

MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES TO APPROVE ITEM 12D.

MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ ABSENT.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

MOVING ON TO ITEM 12E UPDATE AND POSSIBLE MINUTE ACTION ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT

[12.e. Update and possible minute action on Capital Improvement Project NO. 20228 -New Animal Shelter at former Wasco Farm Labor Housing complex located at 750 H STreet. (Ortiz Hernandez)]

PROJECT NUMBER 20228 NEW ANIMAL SHELTER AT FORMER WASCO LABOR HOUSING COMPLEX LOCATED AT 750 H STREET.

MR. ORTIZ? YES, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL BRING UP THE PICTURES BACK THERE, I BELIEVE I PREVIOUSLY SHARED FROM THE LABOR CAMP, BUT WE WANT TO BRING THIS ITEM BACK AS A LAST BUDGET YEAR, WE HAD STARTED LOOKING AT WHERE SOME POTENTIAL REUSES FOR THE FORMER LAW SCHOOL FINALLY WERE HOUSING COMPLEX.

WE ALSO WE WERE ALSO NAVIGATING AT THE TIME AND LOOKING AT POTENTIAL EXPANSION CAPACITY LIMITS, AS WELL AS OTHER MAINTENANCE ITEMS AND NECESSITIES AT THE CURRENT ANIMAL SHELTER.

AND AT THE TIME, WHAT WE REALLY REALIZED WAS THAT THE SHELTER NEEDED SOME ATTENTION, NEEDED SOME IMPROVEMENTS, BUT IT WAS ALSO LIMITED IN SPACE, PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF WHERE IT'S LOCATED.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SOLAR FARM OUT THERE LIMITED THE ABILITY FOR THE FOR THE ANIMAL SHELTER TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND TO THE EAST AND TO THE SOUTH BECAUSE OF THE SOLAR PANELS AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO THAT.

AND SO COUNCIL AT THE TIME HAD DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDING SPACE AND CAPACITY AND ADDRESSING THE NEEDS AND LOOKED AT THE COST, POTENTIALLY.

THE IDEA AROSE POTENTIALLY TO RELOCATE THE ANIMAL SHELTER BY REFURBISHING THE FORMER ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING AT THE LABOR CAMP.

IT IS A LARGE OFFICE WITH LARGE OFFICE BUILDING WITH SALLY PORTS AND GARAGE DOORS ON THE BACK SIDE TO ACCOMMODATE THE DOG KENNELS AND LET ME BRING UP GOOGLE EARTH.

AND I'LL SHOW YOU.

AT THE TIME, COUNCIL WAS SUPPORTIVE AND WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

BUT AS WE'VE SEEN AND AS I REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE CONDITION OF THE LABOR CAMP WITH SOME OF THE VANDALISM AND DAMAGE THAT WE'VE SEEN AND THE OTHER UNITS HAS ALSO BEEN SEEN IN THAT ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING.

AND SO IN MOVING FORWARD, THERE'S JUST THAT POTENTIAL OF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ADDITIONAL ISSUES OR CHALLENGES WE MAY FACE AND ENCOUNTER.

WE KNOW THAT THE SOME OF THE PLUMBING SYSTEMS ASSOCIATED DIRECTLY WITH THE WATER

[01:25:03]

HEATER.

WATER HEATER HAS BEEN RIPPED OUT OF THERE.

AND THERE ARE WALLS, DRY WALLS THAT HAVE BEEN DAMAGED.

WE BELIEVE THAT BASED ON JUST SOME OF THE ACCESS POINTS FOR THE THE ATTIC THAT THEY'VE BEEN UP THERE, WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE DAMAGED OR ANY OF THE PLUMBING SYSTEMS OR OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS UP THERE.

AND SO THERE'S A BIT OF AN UNKNOWN A LOT OF IT, TO BE HONEST WITH THAT.

AND THE BIGGER UNKNOWN IS JUST WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE LABOR CAMP IN ITSELF AS WE CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES POSED BY THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AND AND MITIGATION REQUIRED FOR THE OVERALL SOME POTENTIAL ISSUES, ASIDE FROM JUST THE DAMAGE TO THE LABOR CAMP.

AND THIS SPECIFIC BUILDING WOULD BE IF WE DO START MOVING FORWARD WITH REMODELING, WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF RELOCATING THE ANIMAL SHELTER OUT THERE, WOULD WE, YOU KNOW, HAVE SO MANY SECURITY ISSUES OR SAFETY ISSUES OUT THERE, GIVEN THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING SOME OF THOSE SECURITY AND SAFETY ISSUES ALREADY WITH TRANSIENTS, WITH THEFTS THAT ARE OCCURRING.

SOME OF THE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE FREQUENTLY CONTACTED AND ARRESTED BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES, ONLY TO BE BACK OUT AND MAKE THEIR WAY BACK TO THE LABOR CAMP.

AND SO WANTED TO JUST HAVE A GENERAL DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNCIL ON IF THERE IS A CONSENSUS TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY HARD ESTIMATES ON WHAT WE MAY FORESEE.

AND SO THAT'S ALSO PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

IF YOU WISH FOR US TO CONTINUE TO HOLD THIS PROJECT AND TABLE IT WITH CONSIDERATION TO CAN STILL MOVE FORWARD OR JUST TO LOOK AND GO WITH PLAN C OR D, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE IN ANOTHER DIRECTION.

THANK YOU, I WOULD ADD THE ONE THING IN THE PART OF THE REASON WHY IT'S ON THE TODAY IS ORIGINALLY WE HAD GONE OUT FOR BIDS FOR THEM TO DEMOLISH TO THE PRESCHOOL BUILDING THAT WAS NEXT DOOR TO IT, JUST TO THE SOUTH OF THE BUILDING, THE PROCESS WHERE THE GOAL WAS TO DEMO THAT AREA AND DEVELOP THAT AREA INTO THE OUTDOOR KENNELS, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER NOW FOR THAT OUTDOOR KENNEL SPACE.

AND SO DEPENDING ON WHAT THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION WOULD BE, WE WOULD EITHER MOVE FORWARD WITH REJECTING THE BIDS AND TABLING THIS PROJECT UNTIL A FUTURE DATE OR LOOKING AT AN ALTERNATIVE DIRECTION BASED ON WHAT COUNCIL'S GUIDANCE IS.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM.

THANK YOU, DANIEL.

PLEASE USE THE RAISED HAND FEATURE TO REQUEST TO SPEAK.

IF YOU'RE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE 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 COMMENT.

ONCE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED.

AT THIS TIME DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS, MADAM CLERK? AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS, MAYOR.

COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS, MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA.

? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WELL, I AM CONCERNED THAT IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS BUILDING, FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS AT THIS TIME AS TO WHAT DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED TO THAT BUILDING.

AND SECOND, THAT BUILDING WOULD BE SUBJECT TO ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THE ENTIRE CAMP IS HAVING.

AND SO I THINK IT WOULD BE PROBABLY NOT GOOD FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD AND POSSIBLY TABLE IT.

I LIKE THE SITE.

IT'S JUST THAT AT THIS TIME, WITH ALL THE ISSUES THAT ARE AROUND IT AND INCLUDING THAT SAME BUILDING, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD INVEST ANY MONEY IN IT UNTIL WE FIND A RESOLUTION TO THE WHOLE CAMP THAT WOULD BE MY APPROACH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

YES.

MEMBER MARTINEZ? I TEND TO AGREE WITH MEMBER REYNA, BUT I TEND OF HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ON IT BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US MOVE FORWARD.

SO I'M KIND OF INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY, MAYOR AND MEMBER PALLARES TO KIND OF CONVINCE ME ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

MEMBER PALLARES, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT CONTINUE OR MOVE FORWARD TO EXISTING SHELTERS IS VERY LIMITED AS IT IS.

WE NEED TO START PLANNING FOR IT.

I MEAN, THESE ANIMALS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY THEY'RE CARED FOR PROPERLY.

[01:30:02]

AND I THINK WITH THE SIDE OVER THERE BY THE FORMER LABOR CAMP WOULD GIVE US MORE SPACE, MORE MODERN BUILDING AND THE FACT THAT THERE WOULD BE A PRESENCE OF PERSONNEL THERE AND THAT WOULD HELP KEEP AN EYE ON THE AREA.

SO.

OH, WOULD IT BE PRUDENT TO TABLE IT FOR HOW LONG WOULD WE TABLE IT? SO YOU MAY HAVE A COUPLE OPTIONS.

YOU CAN STILL MOVE FORWARD.

LIKE I SAID, PART OF THE REASON WHY IT'S BEFORE YOU IS WE HAVE THE OPTION TO DEMO THE PRESCHOOL NEXT DOOR TO IT.

THIS PICTURE HERE IS OF THE BACKSIDE OF THOSE GARAGE DOORS AND SOME OF THOSE STORAGE AREAS WHERE WE HAD INITIALLY ENVISIONED DEVELOPING THE INDOOR KENNELS.

BUT YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE DAMAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

BUT GOING BACK TO YOUR QUESTION, IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL OPTIONS, WE COULD CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DEMOLITION.

THE QUOTE THAT WE WE'VE RECEIVED AND COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL TO EXECUTE THAT AGREEMENT AND PROCEED WITH THE DEMOLITION OF THAT PRESCHOOL BUILDING.

AND THEN WE CAN REVISIT FROM THERE AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY RESOLUTION OR ANY FORWARD PROGRESS WITH OUR EFFORTS WITH HIGH SPEED RAIL AND THAT PROCESS TO MITIGATE AND DEMOLISH THE LABOR CAMP IN ITSELF.

OBVIOUSLY, MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY JUST THE REMODEL PROCESS, WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH PROBABLY THE THE ASSESSMENT PORTION TO DETERMINE WHAT ALL THIS IS GOING TO BE, THE SCOPE OF THIS REMODEL AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE.

SO WE POTENTIALLY HAVE SOME TIME, BUT HOW LONG THAT WOULD BE KIND OF I WOULD ESTIMATE ANYWHERE BETWEEN THREE TO SIX MONTHS BEFORE WE PROCEED WITH ACTUALLY STARTING BREAKING GROUND AND REMODEL FOR THAT SPECIFIC BUILDING.

AND IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE, MEMBER PALLARES? YES, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.

I'LL AGAIN.

MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DEMOLITION OF THE OLD PRESCHOOL AND SEE WHAT OTHER FACTORS COME UP DOWN THE LINE.

THAT'S ALL FOR ME.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

MY CONCERN IS WHAT'S THE UNKNOWN THAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE CURRENT STATE OF THE ELECTRONICS, MAYBE EVEN THE PLANNING, THE PLUMBING AND SUCH? NOW, I HAVE NO CLUE OR ESTIMATE AS TO WHAT THAT MAY BE OR EVEN A WINDOW, BUT SHOULD WE GO IN AND START MOVING FORWARD WITH PUTTING DOLLARS INTO THIS PROJECT AND THE RELOCATION OF OUR ANIMAL SHELTER? I'M AFRAID THAT WE WOULD MIGHT DISCOVER A LEMON ON OUR HANDS.

RIGHT.

JUST BECAUSE MY CONCERN IS THE REASON WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS IDEA WAS UPDATING THE SERVICES OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER AND OUR ANIMAL DEPARTMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

BUT I WOULD BE AFRAID OF MOVING FROM ONE, YOU KNOW, ONE PIT HOLE OF THROWING MONEY AND BAND-AID APPROACHES TO ANOTHER LOCATION WHERE WE'RE DOING THE SAME.

NOW, IF YOU IF WE IF THERE'S POTENTIAL, IF IT'S PROMISING THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH DEVELOPING THIS SITE AT A MINIMAL COST.

BECAUSE I DO UNDERSTAND AND WE'RE STILL WELL, WE'RE STILL SAVING A LOT FROM, YOU KNOW, AS OPPOSED TO BUILDING THE FACILITY FROM THE GROUND UP.

BUT I, TOO, WANT TO SEE WHAT MIGHT COME FROM THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] OUT THERE AND WHAT CAN BE DONE AROUND THAT AREA.

IF THEY'RE GOING TO THEY CAN POTENTIALLY TAKE CARE OF THAT AREA.

THEN THE DEMOLITION OF THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR, THAT IS.

I'M NOW MOVING ON TO THE OTHER POINT NOW WHEN WE PUT PEOPLE THERE BEFORE WE HAD FAMILIES THERE, RIGHT? WE HAD TO PUT SECURITY THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE PROTECTED.

AND THERE WAS AN EYE KEPT OUT ON THAT AREA OF TOWN.

IS THAT FURTHER INVESTMENT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO WITH OUR STAFF AND WHO ELSE WE PUT THERE? THOSE ARE QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW ABOUT.

AND IT'S HARD INAUDIBLE] I UNDERSTAND.

BUT BUT THOSE ARE FACTORS THAT COME TO MIND IMMEDIATELY.

SO A COUPLE OF THINGS TO CONSIDER IS IT WAS ONE AND OBVIOUSLY WE HAD BUDGETED EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AND COUNCIL HAD ALLOCATED USING MEASURE X TO, FOR THAT REMODEL YOU.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BUILDING THAT IS CINDER BLOCK CONSTRUCTION.

YOU CAN'T BUILD A BUILDING WITHOUT THOSE MATERIALS THAT IT'S CONSTRUCTED WITH FOR

[01:35:06]

ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT.

SO THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE THE POSITIVES IN THAT IS THE COST SAVINGS OF THAT JUST THAT MAIN BUILDING AND THAT STRUCTURE.

WE DO KNOW THAT.

AND WE HAD BUDGETED SOME MONEY IN THERE TO REPLACE THE ROOF BECAUSE WE DO KNOW WE SAW THERE WAS SOME WATER DAMAGE ISSUES IN THE GARAGE AREAS.

SO WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REDO THE ROOF.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ELECTRICAL PLUMBING WOULD BE.

BUT EVEN STILL, THE ALTERNATIVE, IF NOT GOING TO THAT SITE IS WE STILL IF YOU RECALL THE PRESENTATION LAST YEAR THAT WE PROVIDED THE COUNCIL, MR. MARTINEZ WASN'T IN THERE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SOME ISSUES.

THERE ARE SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT JUST THE THE ONGOING USE OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER.

AND WE DO HAVE A NEED TO ADDRESS THAT HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

AND SO WE'LL HAVE TO DECIDE.

HERE IS PROBABLY PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, DEPENDING WHICH WILL YOU GO TODAY? WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE FUTURE OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER SO THAT WE CAN READJUST AND BUDGET DOLLARS TOWARDS ADDRESSING THAT MATTER, WHETHER IT BE ATTEMPTING TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT ISSUES AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER, KEEPING IN MIND THAT IT IS SPACE LIMITED SO YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY.

YOU HAVE SOME DRAINAGE ISSUES, YOU HAVE SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE UPGRADED.

SO, YOU KNOW, JUST IN TERMS OF AS THE COMMUNITY GROWS, YOU'RE GOING TO BE LIMITED IN HOW YOU GROW YOUR ANIMAL SHELTER.

THERE.

LOOKING AT ANOTHER SITE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLY BUILDING A BUILDING AND FACILITIES FROM THE GROUND UP.

AND YOU'RE CERTAINLY TALKING NOT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR PRICE TAG, BUT YOU'RE CERTAINLY TALKING PROBABLY AND A COUPLE OF MILLION DOLLARS FOR SUCH A NEW FACILITY.

WE HAVEN'T REALLY DISCUSSED, YOU KNOW, GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THERE.

AND WHEN WE GAVE THE PRESENTATION LAST YEAR, EARLY LAST YEAR, AND IT MIGHT HAVE EVEN BEEN IN THE FALL OF 2019, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

BUT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE STRUGGLE WE WOULD HAVE WITH BEING ABLE TO PURSUE GRANTS AT THAT TIME BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF JUST DATA RELATED TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER OF HOW MANY DOGS AND CATS ARE ADOPTED, HOW MANY SPAY AND NEUTER CLINICS OR SPAY AND NEUTER DOGS DO WE DO.

AND SO WE HAVE DONE THINGS AND TAKEN STEPS OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS TO TRY TO ADDRESS THAT AND IMPROVE OUR COMPETITIVENESS IF WE PURSUE SOME OF THESE GRANTS.

AND THAT IS AN OPTION, BUT IT'S NO GUARANTEE.

SO THERE IS THE QUESTION OF SECURITY.

WE TRY TO ANTICIPATE AND HAD PLANNED ON INCORPORATING YOUR ALARM SYSTEM, AS WELL AS A SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM TO HELP TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT.

BUT IT'S A BIT OF AN UNKNOWN.

NO AND I GUESS CAVEAT TO THAT IS WE MAY RUN INTO THOSE PROBLEMS REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE BUILD THIS.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS WE'RE SEEING AND AT THE LABOR CAMP, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE ALSO SEEING THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO THERE'S NO GUARANTEES WITH THAT EITHER.

OK, WELL, I HEARD WHAT I NEEDED TO HEAR.

DESPITE THE POTENTIAL CLOUD, DESPITE THE CLOUD OVER OUR HEADS AS A CITY AND BEING POTENTIALLY LEFT HOLDING THE BAG OF THE COMPLEX AT LARGE AT THE OLD LABOR CAMP.

WE SET OUT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS EFFORT, NOT ONLY WITH THE ANIMAL SHELTER, BUT THE SERVICES IN GENERAL WHEN IT COMES TO SPAY AND NEUTERING AND WHAT NOT, AND IN PURSUING OTHER GRANT FUNDING FOR THOSE SERVICES.

THE COMMUNITY DID SPEAK AND SAY WE NEED WE NEED THIS.

AND IT'S WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT WE DO.

THE STAFF HAS REPORTED SO.

AND THE CONDITIONS SHOW.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I GUESS I THINK WE DO NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND REALIZING WHAT OUR PLANS ARE AND WHAT WE WANT AND JUST CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT A PART OF OUR STORY AND REQUEST AN URGENCY.

AND THE MESSAGE THAT WE'RE SENDING TO THE TO THE HIGH SPEED RAIL, THAT WE NEED THEM TO RESOLVE THIS SO WE CAN CONTINUE WITH OUR SERVICES.

AND LIKE I SAID, MANIFESTING OUR DESTINY AND GROWING OUR SERVICES, EVEN IF THAT MEANS MOVING UP TO THE OLD LABOR CAMP.

THE ADDED SECURITY MEASURES, I WILL I THINK THAT HELPS ME FEEL A LITTLE BIT BETTER AS FAR AS PROTECTING OUR STAFF AND RESIDENTS THAT VISIT THE AREA.

SO IT'S I GUESS THIS, I GUESS IT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD THEN.

BEFORE THAT, I DO THINK MAYBE OUR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC.

MADAM CLERK IS THAT WHAT YOU HAVE FOR US? THAT'S CORRECT.

MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT FROM TINA.

[01:40:01]

VERY WELL, TINA.

GOOD EVENING.

MY QUESTION IS JUST TO THROW IT OUT THERE, I'M NOT UPSET OR ANYTHING, BUT HOW FAR DOWN THE LINE WAS OUR BEAUTIFICATION? YOU KNOW, THE STUDY DONE ABOUT DOWNTOWN? HOW FAR ON THE AGENDA WAS THAT COMPARED TO THE DOG POUND? HOW DO YOU HAVE MONEY PAY FOR THAT? BUT YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR THE DOWNTOWN? JUST SAYING.

SO THESE EFFORTS ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

I DO BELIEVE WE HAD A CONTRACTOR AND THE CITY MANAGER CAN SPEAK TO IT BETTER THAN I CAN PROBABLY.

BUT WE DO HAVE A CONTRACTOR OR DESIGN.

IT'S THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, MR. MAYOR.

RIGHT, EXACTLY.

YEAH.

AND WE ARE REPRIORITIZING THAT AS THAT CONTRACTOR OR DESIGNER WAS KIND OF HAMPERED WITH THE DESIGN AND OTHER WORK OF THE PARK ON FILBURN AND CENTRAL OR EXCUSE ME, ON CENTRAL AND FILBURN AND CENTRAL, BUT WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HER MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT THAT WE HAVE SLATED AND BUDGETED FOR.

THAT'S THE DOWNTOWN PROJECT.

AND THE MANAGER SAID WE HAVE THAT DISCUSSION COMING UP NEXT.

SO.

BUT POINT WELL TAKEN.

TINA, THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS, FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS, MAYOR.

APPRECIATE IT.

WELL, ONE I GUESS ONE FINAL ROUND, MAYOR PRO TEM, WHAT IS WHAT'S YOUR APPETITE ON MOVING FORWARD? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I HAVEN'T CHANGED MY MIND AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHY.

THE LABOR CAMP IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE SHOULD NEVER DO AGAIN, AND THAT IS NOT TO HAVE A PROJECT PLAN FROM BEGINNING TO END.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW WITH THIS DOG SHELTER.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST US.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING TO FIND.

WE'RE GOING TO SPEND MONEY TO DEMOLISH THE OLD SCHOOL BEHIND IT OR TO THE SOUTH OF IT.

BUT YET WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST FROM BEGINNING TO END.

AND I SAID, WHEN WE ENCOUNTER THIS ISSUE WITH THE LABOR CAMP, THAT I MYSELF WILL NOT VOTE ON THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN PLAN FROM BEGINNING TO END.

AND HERE WE HAVE A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT PLANNING FROM BEGINNING TO END BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY UNKNOWNS.

AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THIS BIG ISSUE WITH SECURITY AND THE ENTIRE LABOR CAMP.

HAVING SECURITY FOR THAT BUILDING MAY KEEP THE PEOPLE AWAY, BUT THERE'S NO GUARANTEES.

THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS.

SO I WILL BE VOTING NO ON IT.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT AND THANK YOU.

AGAIN, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING THAT MEMBER REYNA SAID, BUT FROM LISTENING TO WHAT DANIEL SAID A FEW MINUTES AGO, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS INEVITABLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH EITHER COSTLY HODGEPODGE UPGRADING THE EXISTING SHELTER OR MOVING TO A NEW FACILITY AND DOING IT RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING.

MEMBER MARTINEZ.

I DON'T LIKE THE UNKNOWNS OF IT, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT AT SOME POINT.

SO WE MIGHT AS WELL JUST MOVE FORWARD AND GET IT DONE AT THIS POINT.

THANK YOU, MEMBER PALLARES, ANYTHING TO ADD? YOU'RE MUTED.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

I WAS JUST REVIEWING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET THAT WE HAVE, LIKE DANIEL SAID, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

AGAIN, A NEW SHELTER WITH INCREASED CAPACITY, CLIMATE CONTROL AND ADEQUATE WORKSPACE WILL BE CONSTRUCTED TO ENSURE PROPER FACILITIES FOR BOTH ANIMAL AND STAFF.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT MOVE FORWARD SLOWLY.

PRUDENTLY, YES, BUT MOVE FORWARD.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.