Jul 06, 2021 City Council

[00:00:01]

WE HAVE EVERYONE GREAT.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

[1) CALL TO ORDER]

MADAM, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

MAYOR GARCIA, PRESENT.

MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA, PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES HERE, ALL MEMBERS PRESENT.

THANK YOU MADAM CLERK. IF YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE ME, PLEASE STAND FOR A FLAG SALUTE, SALUTE, PLEDGE.

AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR AN INVOCATION THIS EVENING BY PASTOR FRANK SANCHEZ FROM THE NEW GENERATION CHURCH, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL. [INVOCATION] LET'S PRAY, FATHER, WE THANK YOU LORD FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY.

[SPANISH] I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE WISDOM, UNITY TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

[SPANISH] LORD, WE PRAY THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TODAY, LORD, IT IS TO THE BETTER OF THE CITY [SPANISH] WE PRAY LORD FOR YOUR GUIDANCE, FOR YOUR WISDOM, LORD IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY [SPANISH] AMEN.

THANK YOU, PASTOR FRANK. PASTOR SANCHEZ, THANK YOU.

OK, MOVING ON TO ITEM FIVE, CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.

[5) CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

CITY MANAGER HURLBERT. YES, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THIS ITEM IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED ON AND OFF, I UNDERSTAND FOR A WHILE AND SOMETHING I'VE ENCOUNTERED IN THE PAST.

THERE WAS SOME THERE ARE SOME SITUATIONS WHERE WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON A PARTICULAR TOPIC AND WE BEGIN TO HEAR THE EXACT SAME COMMENT OVER AND OVER.

ONE OF THE STRATEGIES THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE TAKEN IS TO IMPLEMENT THE 30 MINUTE CAP WHERE WE ARE HEARING COMMENTS ON ONE PARTICULAR COMMENT AND WE'RE STARTING TO HEAR JUST A REPEAT. IT'S DESIGNED TO KEEP THE MEETING MOVED ALONG.

IT'S NOT MEANT TO PREVENT A PARTICULAR POINT OF VIEW FROM BEING HEARD.

BUT IT IS DESIGNED TO KEEP A REPETITIVE MESSAGE FROM BEING GOING ON AND ON THE COUNCIL.

WITH SUCH A PROVISION, THE COUNCIL WOULD STILL HAVE THE OPTION TO OVERRIDE THAT AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME. IN OTHER WORDS, IF THERE'S A PUBLIC COMMENT, THERE'S A HOT TOPIC AND FOLKS ARE GOING FOR A HALF HOUR AND WE'RE STILL NOT HEARING REPEAT COMMENTS.

WE'RE GETTING NEW COMMENTS, NEW IDEAS.

THE COUNCIL CAN VERY EASILY OVERRIDE THAT THIRTY MINUTE LIMIT AND CONTINUE TO HEAR A COMMENT GOING FORWARD.

SO TONIGHT, I WANTED TO INTRODUCE THE THE IDEA, IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS FOR ME, I'D HAPPILY ANSWER THOSE IF I CAN.

AND THE COUNCIL IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION NECESSARILY TO ROLL THIS POLICY OUT TONIGHT.

WE CAN BRING IT BACK FOR MORE DISCUSSION LATER.

OR IF YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, YOU CAN CERTAINLY APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED OR AS IT STANDS. IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO IMPLEMENT IT TONIGHT, WE CAN SIMPLY APPROVE THE AGENDA MINUS THE LAST SENTENCE OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT PHRASE.

SO [INAUDIBLE] ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME, THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS RESERVED FOR WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THIS PUBLIC COMMENT STILL ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM FROM THE PUBLIC. ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS? MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA. SCOTT, YOU MENTIONED THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE IMPLEMENTED THIS POLICY. WHAT DISADVANTAGE HAS OTHER CITIES FOUND IN IMPLEMENTING THIS POLICY? [INAUDIBLE] THE DISADVANTAGE THAT COMES TO MIND, ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T PERSONALLY WITNESSED IT, WOULD BE THAT SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD FEEL THAT THEY HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO VOICE THEIR POINT OF VIEW.

AND SO THERE IS A THERE CERTAINLY A PROCESS THAT I'VE WITNESSED.

[00:05:02]

NOW, IS THERE SOMEONE WITH A DIFFERENT COMMENT OR AN OPPOSING POINT OF VIEW OR SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD YET AND LIMIT IT THAT WAY.

BY THE TIME YOU RUN UP TO A HALF HOUR, YOU PROBABLY BEGINNING TO SEE SOME OF THAT.

SO THE DISADVANTAGE WOULD BE, IF YOU DID CALL IT, YOU SAID WE'RE NOT WE'RE HEARING NOTHING BUT THE SAME AND YOU GO AHEAD AND CLOSE BASED ON THIS THIRTY MINUTE LIMIT.

COULD BE SOMEBODY IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WASN'T HEARD, THAT DIDN'T STEP UP WITH A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW AND WOULD FEEL LIKE THEY WEREN'T HEARD.

BUT AS YOU ARE ANNOUNCING THAT WE'RE WILLING TO LISTEN TO A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW THEN DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW OR A DIFFERENT COMMENT TO SAY IT NOW BEFORE WE CLOSE.

AND YOU SAY WE COULD WAIVE THIS AT ANY TIME.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY MY UNDERSTANDING.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. I'VE HAD I'VE HAD TWO CITIES THAT RAN INTO THIS PROBLEM, VERY CONTROVERSIAL ITEMS, AND IT WENT ON FOR TWO HOURS.

AND MANY OF THE COMMENTS WERE REPETITIVE OR DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WERE EVEN MAKING THOSE COMMENTS.

AND SO I THINK TO HELP MOVE YOUR MEETING ALONG, NOT TO LIMIT DISCUSSION, BUT TO MAKE PEOPLE THINK ABOUT, WELL, WHAT AM I GOING TO SAY HERE? LET'S GET IT FOCUSED AND TRY TO CONVINCE THE COUNCIL WITH MY BEST ARGUMENTS.

THAT'S THE WAY TO DO IT. I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

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

TOM, THIS WOULD ALSO BE A QUESTION FOR YOU, SINCE YOU'VE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER CITY'S . IS THIRTY MINUTES THE NORM OR IS AN HOUR THE NORM? FIFTEEN IS THE NORM.

FIFTEEN IS THE NORM. WE'RE BEING VERY GENEROUS WITH THIRTY.

YEAH, I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERFERE.

THE STAFF CAME UP WITH THIRTY MINUTES.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS FAIR, FAIR ENOUGH.

MEMBER MARTINEZ, AS LONG AS THE COUNCIL HAS THE DISCRETION TO OVERRIDE THIS THEN I AGREE THAT IT'S A GOOD IDEA. VERY WELL.

MEMBER PALLARES. WELL I'D STILL LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AS FAR AS WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY, EVEN IF IT IS REPETITIVE.

GOT IT, THANK YOU, MEMBER PALLARES.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

SO MOVED, SECONDED.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

MAYOR GARCIA AYE MAYOR PRO TEMP REYNA AYE COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ AYE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AYE COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES NO MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ SECOND BY MAYOR GARCIA TO APPROVE ITEM FIVE WITH MINUTE TIME LIMITATION TO THIRTY MINUTES MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES NO.

VERY WELL THANK YOU MADAM CLERK.

MOVING ON TO ITEM SIX PRESENTATIONS WE HAVE THIS EVENING, 6 A, A PROCLAMATION FOR

[6) a. Proclamation for Homeless Awareness Month]

HOMELESS AWARENESS MONTH, JULY OF 2021.

AND THIS EVENING WE HAVE ANNA LAVEN DIRECTOR FROM BAKERSFIELD KERN, THE ACRONYM GETS ME SOMETIMES. IT'S AN EXCEPTIONALLY LONG TITLE.

BAKERSFIELD KERN RECOVERY AND HOMELESS CENTER.

NO THE BAKERSFIELD KERN REGIONAL HOMELESS COLLABORATIVE.

ALMOST GOT IT SO CLOSE AT IT.

ABSOLUTELY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION THIS EVENING BY THE CITY OF WASCO. WHEREAS THE HOMELESSNESS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS EXPERIENCED BY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, WHEREAS THE BAKERSFIELD KERN COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE 2021 POINT IN TIME COUNT IDENTIFIED TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE COUNTY OF KERN, OF WHOM FIVE HUNDRED AND SIXTY NINE HAD SHELTER, WHILE ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY ONE WERE UNSHELTERED.

SLEEPING IN PARKS, EMPTY BUILDINGS, CARS AND OTHER PLACES NOT MEANT FOR HUMAN HABITATION.

AND WHEREAS KERN COUNTY IS HOME TO HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY EVERY DAY TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

AND WHEREAS THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROCLAMATION IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE MANY REASONS PEOPLE EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS OR THE THREAT THEREOF, RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING OF WAYS THEY CAN BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS THROUGH PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT AND REFERRALS OF

[00:10:03]

NOW, THEREFORE, I.

ALEJANDRO GARCIA, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WASCO, DO RECOGNIZE THE MONTH OF JULY 2021 AS HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS MONTH AND ENCOURAGES ALL CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT THE MYRIAD OF CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS AND SUPPORT LOCAL EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THEM. THIS EVENING WE HAVE ANNA LAVEN THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION, PLEASE.

DO YOU HAVE A FEW WORDS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I AM GRATEFUL TO YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE THIS PROCLAMATION.

REALLY. I WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.

I CAME ON BOARD LAST FEBRUARY, THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE SHELTER IN ORDER TOOK EFFECT.

SO IT MADE IT A LITTLE CHALLENGING TO TRY TO MAKE MY ROUNDS TO OUR WONDERFUL RURAL COMMUNITIES. BUT REALLY, HOMELESSNESS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE.

IT REQUIRES COMPLEXITY.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW TO PROBLEM SOLVE, CERTAINLY WE KNOW THAT COVID HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT IMPLICATIONS THROUGHOUT KERN COUNTY FOR THOSE WHO ARE AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AND MAY HAVE REALLY UNFORTUNATELY FALLEN OFF THAT CLIFF AND ENTERED INTO HOMELESSNESS FOR THE FIRST TIME, AS WELL AS WANTING TO CONTINUE TO SECURE RESOURCES.

WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT AT THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE LEVEL, WE DO HAVE SOME RESOURCES COMING OUR WAY, INCLUDING OR THAT ARE ALREADY IN PROGRESS, INCLUDING EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE, SO THAT WE CAN KEEP FOLKS IN THEIR HOMES.

THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT KERN.

AND ALSO WE WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE REALLY HERCULEAN EFFORTS OF THOSE PROVIDERS WHO ARE INTERACTING WITH FOLKS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THOSE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.

THEY DO INCREDIBLE WORK.

THERE IS MUCH MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT AS A COLLABORATIVE, WE ARE LOOKING AT CONTINUING TO USE ALL RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE.

WE RECOGNIZE, OF COURSE, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT MANY OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US ARE TAXPAYER FUNDED.

WE WANT TO ASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT THOSE ARE AN INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL INVESTMENT OF THOSE TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND THAT WE ARE VERY MINDFUL OF THAT.

SO I WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF, LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE CERTAINLY AWARE OF THE CONCERNS THAT ARE POPPING UP THROUGHOUT OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES WITH REGARD TO HOMELESSNESS AND THOSE WHO ARE AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AND LET YOU KNOW THAT REALLY OUR DOOR IS OPEN.

WE WANT TO HAVE AN ONGOING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL AND WASCO.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL.

I ALSO HAD A LITTLE GIFT FOR YOU BEFORE YOU SHOW ME THAT CERTIFICATE.

I HAVE A LOVELY LITTLE GOODIE BAGS FOR EVERYONE JUST IN CASE THERE ARE BOMBS, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THEM OVER THERE.

YES, NO, NO, NOTHING LIKE THAT IN THERE.

WE HAVE SOME FACT SHEETS, MY BUSINESS CARD.

SO, AGAIN, MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN IF ANYTHING COMES UP FOR YOU.

AND I'M SURE THAT IF THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN OUR IN KERN AS WELL AS IN THE STATE AND LIKELY IN THE COUNTRY, THAT YOU MAY HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM SOME CONSTITUENTS WITH REGARD TO HOMELESSNESS.

SO MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN.

I CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A REALLY POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH EVERY ONE OF YOU TO TALK THROUGH YOUR THE CHALLENGES UNIQUE TO WASCO.

SO THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] AND JUST A FEW COMMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF WASCO AND AS A RESIDENT, I THINK THE WORK THAT BKRHC DOES, AS WELL AS FLOOD MINISTRIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF WASCO, I, TOO, HAVE FAMILY IN THE THROES OF HOMELESSNESS AND OTHERS AND OTHER ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY TO THIS DAY RIGHT NOW IN EAST BAKERSFIELD PROBABLY.

I LOST ONE OF MY UNCLES TO THIS SCOURGE.

AND SO FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

AND WE AND THE CITY OF WASCO, APPRECIATE THE NEW LENS YOU'VE PUT ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL AS

[00:15:02]

[APPLAUSE] MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, 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 THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY ON ANY MATTER, NOT ON THIS AGENDA AND OVER WHICH THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY HAS JURISDICTION.

SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

A MAXIMUM OF THIRTY MINUTES WILL BE ALLOWED FOR ANY SUBJECT, ANY ONE SUBJECT.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE MAKING YOUR PRESENTATION.

BROWN ACT REQUIREMENTS DO NOT ALLOW ACTION OR DISCUSSION ON ANY ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING. THIS WILL BE SUBJECT TO NARROW EXCEPTIONS.

THIS WILL LIMIT A COUNCIL MEMBERS RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS MADE DURING THIS COMMENT PERIOD. WE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN YOUR COMMENTS.

AS I SAID, HOWEVER, DUE TO THE BROWN ACT REQUIREMENTS, NO ACTION MAY BE TAKEN AT THIS AT THIS TIME SHOULD YOUR COMMENTS REQUIRE FURTHER CONSIDERATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OR ITS SUCCESSOR AGENCY THE ITEM WILL BE AGENDA FOR FUTURE REPORT AND DISCUSSED AT A COUNCIL MEETING IN THE FUTURE.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS MADAM CLERK.

NO EMAIL WE HAVE NO SUCCESSOR AGENCY BUSINESS.

MOVING ON TO ITEM 10 CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS.

[10) CONSENT CALENDAR]

THIS EVENING WE HAVE ITEMS 9 A THROUGH 9 Q IF YOU'D LIKE TO REMOVE A PARTICULAR ITEM, PLEASE STATE YOUR FULL NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE MAKING YOUR COMMENT.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE AN ITEM AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE IS THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ANY ITEMS AT THIS TIME? I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM 10 Q.

VERY WELL. PALLARES IS PULLING ITEM 10 Q FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.

ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR EXCUSE ME, FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION? I'D LIKE TO REMOVE ITEM E PLEASE.

[INAUDIBLE] SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ON ITEM 10 E FOR MEMBER CORTEZ ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR THIS EVENING? SEEING NONE, I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL ON THE ITEMS NOT SEPARATELY CONSIDERED THIS EVENING.

MOVE TO APPROVE ITS SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED BY MEMBER REYNA AND MYSELF.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

MAYOR GARCIA AYE MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA AYE COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ AYE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AYE COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES AYE MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA.

SORRY MAYOR GARCIA TO APPROVE THE CONSENT COUNTER WITH SEPARATE CONSIDERATION ON ITEM 10 Q AND 10 E MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

VERY WELL. WE'LL TAKE THOSE ITEMS IN ORDER.

ITEM 10 E MEMBER CORTEZ.

[10) e. Authorize the City Manager to Sign the Engagement Letters of Badawi & Associates for Audit and Accounting Services for the Fiscal Year 2020-21 for an Estimated Cost of $39,900.]

AND ONE OF THE LAST MEETINGS THAT I DID NOT ATTEND, WE USUALLY HAD A LOCAL COMPANY WHO WOULD DO THE AUDITS IS DID WE GO FOR AN RFQ RFP ON THIS FOR THE AUDITS? SHOULD HAVE ASKED US BEFORE OUR MEETING CURRENT AUDITOR, DUE TO THE SIZE AND THE COMPLEXITY OF OUR SINGLE AUDIT, THEY'RE UNABLE TO PERFORM OUR AUDIT.

AND THIS YEAR, SINCE WE RECEIVED CARES FUNDING AND IT'S OVER THE FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR THRESHOLD, ALBERT AND ASSOCIATES IS UNABLE TO FULFILL THAT PORTION.

THEREFORE, WE HAD TO GO OUT AND HAVE AN RFP FOR NEW CONSULTING SERVICES.

SO, YES, THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT. I MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM E SECOND.

[00:20:01]

MADAM CLERK PLEASE CALL THE BOARDS ROLL.

MAYOR GARCIA, AYE MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA AYE COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ AYE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ AYE COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES AYE MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ SECOND BY MAYOR GARCIA TO APPROVE ITEM 10 E.

MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

THANK YOU MADAM CLERK SEPARATE CONSIDERATION BY MEMBER PALLARES ITEM 10 Q.

[10) q. Adopt a Resolution Approving the Amended Salary Schedule for the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 in Compliance with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Requirement for Publicly Available Pay Schedules]

MY QUESTION IS, ARE WE DOING AWAY WITH THE AUTOCAD PROGRAM AND JUST GOING STRICTLY TO ARCVIEW TYPE GIS PROGRAM? I'LL LET OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR COMMENT ON THAT AND I MAY HAVE A FOLLOW UP.

SO WE WILL NOT BE DOING AWAY WITH THE AUTOCAD PROGRAM ENTIRELY.

HE STILL HAS THAT SKILL SET AND HE UTILIZES IT TO DO INTERNAL SIMPLE PLANS FOR ANY RFPS THAT WE HAVE. HOWEVER, THE BULK OF HIS WORK HAS MOVED INTO THE ARC GIS SYSTEM, AND THAT IS A MORE ROBUST SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS US TO MAP OUT ALL OF OUR ASSETS AND KEEP TRACK OF EVERYTHING. SO. AND HE'S ALSO ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH OTHER STAFF MEMBERS.

SO WE ALL HAVE ACCESS TO VIEWING WHERE ALL OF OUR ASSETS ARE.

OK, THANK YOU. YES, THE GIS PROGRAMS, VERY POWERFUL, GIVES YOU A LOT OF INFORMATION, YOU CAN EXTRACT DATA RAPIDLY UP, HOWEVER, ON THE PAGE.

ONE HUNDRED FIFTY NINE AND A HUNDRED FIFTY THREE ARE EXAMPLES OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DRAWINGS THAT WE DO.

AND SO. ONE FIFTY NINE, THIS IS WHAT I VIEW AS A TYPICAL AUTOCAD DRAWING, AND IF YOU REMEMBER ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WE HAD SOME DETAILS THAT WE APPROVED FROM THE UNIFORM BUILDING CODES OR SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT.

SO I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT NOT DOING AWAY WITH AUTOCAD BECAUSE THAT ALSO HAS A GIS FUNCTION AS WELL.

SO. SO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS I MOVE TO APPROVE.

SECOND.

AYE COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ, AYE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, AYE COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES AYE MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES SECOND BY MAYOR GARCIA TO APPROVE ITEM 10 Q MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

[11) a. Adopt a Resolution Confirming the Diagram and Assessment for the Levy and Collection of Assessments within Maintenance District No. 1, Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District No. 01-01, Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District No. 01-02, Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District No. 06-1, and Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District 2017-1 for Fiscal Year 2021-22.]

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021-22.

DIRECTOR BISHOP. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS A ROUTINE PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE HAVE EACH YEAR, IT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE THE LEVY ON SOME OF THESE ASSESSMENT DISTRICTS.

SO THIS YEAR WE WILL SEE A TWO POINT TWO PERCENT INCREASE ON ALL OF THE LLMDS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LLMD NUMBER ONE, THIS IS THE LLMD THAT DID NOT HAVE THE OPTION FOR THE CPI INCREASE WHEN IT WAS CREATED.

THANKS BISHOP, AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA NO COMMENTS THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ, NO COMMENT, MEMBER MARTINEZ, NO COMMENTS, MEMBER PALLARES, NO COMMENTS.

THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

SO MOVED SECOND.

MADAM CLERK IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECOND PLEASE CALL THE BOARDS ROLL. MAYOR GARCIA AYE MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA, AYE COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ, AYE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, AYE COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES AYE MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA SECOND BY MAYOR GARCIA TO APPROVE ITEM 11 A MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

OK MOVING ON TO ITEM 14 REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES, 14 A KERN ECONOMIC

[14) REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND COMMITTEES]

[00:25:03]

YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW [INAUDIBLE] HAD SUCCEEDED OR ACTUALLY COMPLETED SECTION FOUR OF THE EXPANDING OF HIGHWAY 46.

THEY WERE OVER THEIR BUDGET.

AND THERE IS A CONCERN THAT THEY MAY ASK CURRENT [INAUDIBLE] TO PAY MORE MONEY THAN IT WAS AGREED TO. SO, DIRECTOR.

[INADUIBLE] YES, THANK YOU HAS SENT A LETTER ASKING [INAUDIBLE] TO CONFIRM THAT [INAUDIBLE] WILL ONLY BE LIABLE FOR THE PART THAT HAS ALREADY AGREED TO PAY, BECAUSE IF A [INAUDIBLE] IS ASKED TO PAY ADDITIONAL MONEY, IT WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE BUDGET AND WILL HAVE TO CONSEQUENCES AS TO WHAT PROJECTS CAN BE FUNDED.

SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR POINTS THAT CAME.

THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE THANK YOU.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. HOW ABOUT THE WASCO TASK FORCE MEMBER MARTINEZ MAYOR REYNA? WE HAVE NOT HAD A MEETING.

WE'LL HAVE ONE NEXT WEEK. REPORTS FROM KERN COUNTY FIRE.

[15) REPORTS FROM KC FIRE AND SHERIFF]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAYOR GARCIA COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.

THIS IS SOMETHING NEW. I'M GLAD TO BE HERE IN THE NEW FACILITY.

UM, IT'S NICE.

SO WITH OUR FIRST ONE.

SO ON JUNE 24TH, 2021 AT 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, FOUR OF YOUR WASCO DEPUTIES WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR EFFORTS REGARDING DUI INVESTIGATIONS AND ARRESTS DURING A VIRTUAL CEREMONY. MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVERS MADD RECOGNIZED NOT ONLY THE DEPUTIES FROM WASCO SUBSTATION, BUT ALSO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AROUND KERN COUNTY.

THERE WERE OVER 1100 DUI ARRESTS MADE IN KERN COUNTY LAST YEAR.

THESE AGENCIES INCLUDED OFFICERS FROM THE BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL, BAKERSFIELD AREA, THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL [INAUDIBLE] AREA, THE DEPARTMENT OF AIR FORCE SECURITY FORCES, KERN COUNTY PROBATION OFFICE, KERN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN WASCO, MCFARLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT, RIDGECREST POLICE DEPARTMENT, SHAFTER POLICE DEPARTMENT AND STALLION SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE FOUR DEPUTIES THAT WERE RECOGNIZED IN THIS CEREMONY WERE DEPUTY JAMES JACKSON, SENIOR DEPUTY STEVE VASQUEZ, DEPUTY RENEE [INAUDIBLE] AND DEPUTY RYAN [INAUDIBLE] THAT THESE FOUR DEPUTIES HAD A TOTAL OF 11 DUIS OUT OF THE 14 MADE IN THE COMMUNITY OF WASCO IN 2020 ALREADY IN THE YEAR 2021 YOUR WASCO DEPUTIES HAVE ARRESTED 12 DUIS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S JUST A REMINDER, AND I'M GOING TO REMIND PEOPLE, IF YOU SEE OR SUSPECT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE TO BE INTOXICATED, TO CALL 911, TO PROVIDE THE LOCATION WHERE THE DRIVER IS, TO PROVIDE A VEHICLE DESCRIPTION AND ANY OTHER KEY INFORMATION THAT MAY HELP IN LOCATING THIS VEHICLE TOGETHER.

WE AS A TEAM CAN STOP THE IMPAIRED DRIVERS AND POSSIBLY PREVENT THE UNNECESSARY LOSS OF INNOCENT LIVES IN WASCO AND IN KERN COUNTY.

ON FRIDAY, JUNE 25TH, AT ABOUT 1 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, DEPUTIES FROM THE WASCO SUBSTATION CONDUCTED A TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT STOP IN THE FIVE HUNDRED BLOCK OF D STREET IN WASCO DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

DEPUTIES DETAINED THE DRIVER, WILLIAM SANCHEZ, 29 YEAR OLD MALE FROM WASCO AFTER HE FLED THE VEHICLE INTO A NEARBY RESIDENCE.

THEY ALSO DETAINED HIS PASSENGER, LOUIS SANCHEZ.

26 YEAR OLD MALE FROM WASCO.

DURING THE INVESTIGATION, DEPUTIES LOCATED OR HAD LEARNED A FIREARM HAD BEEN DISCARDED FROM THE VEHICLE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE, YOU'LL SEE AN IMAGE OF THE FIREARM AND SOME OF THE EVIDENCE THAT WAS LOCATED DURING THIS INVESTIGATION.

DEPUTIES ALSO DETAINED MARGARITA SANCHEZ.

51 YEAR OLD FEMALE FROM WASCO FOR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS INVESTIGATION.

THE ARRESTS, WILLIAM SANCHEZ WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO THE KERN COUNTY JAIL FOR SEVERAL FELONY FIREARM OFFENSES, PARTICIPATION IN A CRIMINAL STREET GANG, POSSESSION OF

[00:30:04]

LOUIS SANCHEZ WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO THE KERN COUNTY JAIL FOR SEVERAL FELONY FIREARM OFFENSES, PARTICIPATION IN A STREET GANG, POSSESSION OF AMMUNITION BY A PROHIBITED PERSON, CONSPIRACY, POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE AND RESISTING ARREST.

MARGARITA SANCHEZ WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO THE KERN COUNTY JAIL FOR PARTICIPATION IN A CRIMINAL STREET GANG CONSPIRACY, CHILD CRUELTY AND CONCEALMENT OF EVIDENCE.

ANYONE WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT 861- 3110 OR THE KERN COUNTY SECRET WITNESS AT AREA CODE 661-322-4040 THAT'S A GOOD LOOKING DEPUTY RIGHT THERE ON THE SCREEN.

FOLKS ON SATURDAY, THE 26TH AT 4 P.M..

I, YOUR SERGEANT HERE IN WASCO WAS WORKING AN OVERTIME SHIFT, WORKING IN THE WEST AREA OF KERN COUNTY. I WAS JUST SOUTH OF WASCO.

I STOPPED TO HELP A MOTORIST IN A RURAL AREA.

AND DURING THIS INTERACTION, I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH TWO FEMALE JUVENILES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE, VERY CUTE LITTLE GIRLS WITH THE FAMILY WAS ADDRESSING THE VEHICLE REPAIRS. SO THEY HAD A VEHICLE FLAT AND THAT LADY'S FATHER WAS ON HIS WAY, WAS ACTUALLY THERE CHANGING A FLAT TIRE.

SO I ENTERTAINED THESE THESE TWO CHILDREN OPENED UP THE CAR, TURNED ON THE LIGHTS AND LET THEM ACTIVATE THE LIGHTS AND SIRENS, GAVE THEM SOME COP STICKERS.

IT'S A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE AND I'M SURE THESE GIRLS GOT TO EXPERIENCE.

SO WE DON'T ALWAYS GET TO DO THAT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

BUT I WAS HONORED THAT THIS PERSON HAD REACHED OUT TO ONE OF OUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS AND I WASN'T DOING IT TO BE FAMOUS.

WE DON'T DO THIS JOB IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE RECOGNIZED.

BUT IT IS NICE WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS.

AND I APPRECIATE IT. THE DEPUTIES, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN CALIFORNIA, APPRECIATES IT.

ON SATURDAY, 26TH.

WELL, LET'S SEE.

NO, NO, SORRY. ON SATURDAY, THE 3RD JUST THIS LAST SATURDAY, DEPUTIES MYSELF, THERE WAS FIVE OF US PATROLLED THE AREA AND ACTED AS SECURITY FOR THE 2021 WASCO FIREWORKS CELEBRATION AT BARKER PARK.

I DON'T RECALL SEEING ANY OF YOU THERE.

AND IT WAS QUITE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

IT WAS A GREAT SHOW, PROBABLY ONE OF THE BETTER ONES, ESPECIALLY THE FINALE.

EVERYBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT THE FINALE AT THE END.

THEY SAID THAT'S THE BEST ONE.

SO WHILE WE WERE THERE WE ARE INTERACTED WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, YOUNG AND OLD, WHEN THE EVENT CONCLUDED. WE OFFERED AFTER THE GRAND FINALE WAS DONE, WE ACTED AS TRAFFIC CONTROL OFFICERS IN THE AREA TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GOT HOME SAFE.

THERE WAS A LOT, AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, POSO VERY, VERY BUSY INTERSECTION. WE ACTUALLY HAD THREE DEPUTIES ASSIGNED TO JUST POSO AND POPLAR WORKING AS TRAFFIC CONTROL STOPPED ALL THE TRAFFIC, MADE SURE EVERYBODY MADE IT HOME SAFE.

SO A COUPLE OF PICTURES FROM THE FIREWORKS SHOW FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T GET TO MAKE IT.

THIS WAS DURING THE FINALE.

I ACTUALLY VIDEOTAPED IT.

SO AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER BY ANY MEANS.

SO STATS ALWAYS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH, WE PRODUCE THE STATS, WE MOUNT THEM, WE PUT THEM ON THE WEBSITE, WE HAVE A WEB ON THE WASCO CITY WEBSITE.

THERE'S A POLICE SERVICES WHERE UP TO DATE STATS FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE WILL, IF NOT ALREADY LOCATED, THEY WILL BE YOUR GENTLEMEN WILL BE RECEIVING THOSE SHORTLY IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY RECEIVED SO.

SO SOME OF THE KEY THINGS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, IT'S NOT JUST A MONTH.

I WANT TO LOOK AT THIS TIME FRAME YEAR TO DATE.

SO IN 2020 THERE WERE FIVE HUNDRED OR I'M SORRY, FIVE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX CALLS FOR SERVICE AND THERE ALREADY ARE FIVE THOUSAND NINETY EIGHT.

SO WE WENT DOWN. HOWEVER, THAT BEING SAID, IN THE YEAR 2020 THERE WERE THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIVE ARRESTS YEAR TO DATE.

THAT'S JANUARY TO THE END OF JUNE.

ALREADY THIS YEAR WE HAVE FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY ONE.

SO WE'RE AHEAD OF THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

SO YOUR DEPUTIES ARE WORKING HARD IN THE COMMUNITY OF WASCO LOOK AT THE CITATIONS, TRAFFIC AND PARKING CITATIONS.

WE WROTE THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE IN 2020 ALREADY THIS YEAR THERE'S FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX. SO WE'VE INCREASED OUR AMOUNT OF PATROL CHECKS ARE ACTUALLY DROPPED FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY ONE AND LAST YEAR, BUT THEY ARE AT FOUR HUNDRED AND NINETY THIS YEAR AND I'M GOING TO MOTIVATE MY DEPUTIES, TRY TO GET OUT THERE A LITTLE BIT MORE, DO SOME PATROL CHECKS. THAT'S PARTIALLY BECAUSE WE'RE NOT HAVING TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME AT THE [INAUDIBLE]. WE STILL PATROL THAT AND MY DEPUTIES ARE STILL MAKING ARREST.

IF YOU GUYS READ THE ARREST REPORT THAT COMES OUT IN THE PAPER ON MONDAY, YOU'LL SEE THAT. AND THEN ALWAYS IN THE MEETINGS, I TALK ABOUT THE CAMERA REGISTRY.

I TRY TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY WASCO WE'RE STUCK ON THAT.

THIRTY FIVE HAVE NOT INCREASED.

THERE'S STILL THIRTY FIVE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS IN WASCO THAT HAVE THEIR CAMERAS

[00:35:04]

ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO REACH OUT TO ME, ONE OF MY DEPUTIES OR I'M ALL DONE WITH IT.

DEPUTIES. AND WE'LL GET YOU GUYS REGISTERED.

WE'LL GET THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY REGISTERED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR CAMERAS.

THEY'RE A KEY, KEY COMPONENT FOR BRINGING BAD GUYS TO JAIL, FOR IDENTIFYING THESE PERPETRATORS. AND THAT BEING SAID, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, SERGEANT. PLEASE DON'T WE NORMALLY CLAP, BUT IT'S FIRST TIME BACK.

WHY NOT? WE APPRECIATE THE STATS AND THE UPDATE.

AND I APPRECIATE THE RESIDENTS WHO CAUGHT YOU BEING GOOD BECAUSE TOO OFTEN OUR GOOD WORK GOES UNNOTICED AND IT'S THE NEGATIVE STORIES THAT END UP OUT THERE ONLY.

SO WE APPRECIATE ALSO THE SERVICE THAT THE AGENCY PROVIDED TO THE FIRE SHOW AND TO THE COMMUNITY. WE KNOW THAT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND OUR CONTRACT AND IT ALWAYS IS APPRECIATED AND WORK ON THAT SURVEILLANCE REGISTRATION NUMBER.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO RETOOL THAT BUDGET.

I THINK SO. WE CAN GET SOME SOME OTHERS REGISTERED AS WELL WHO ALREADY HAVE CAMERAS.

SO WE'LL LOOK AT THAT SOON.

ANYHOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REPORT.

MOVING ON TO REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER MR.

[16) REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER]

ONE, I WANTED TO THANK THE STAFF HERE AND THE COUNCIL FOR THE VERY SMOOTH TRANSITION.

I THINK IT'S GONE VERY WELL.

ESPECIALLY WANTED TO RECOGNIZE OUR CLERK AND THE REST OF THE STAFF HERE AT CITY HALL FOR PUTTING ON THE OATH OF OFFICE EVENT LAST THURSDAY.

IT WAS IT WAS REALLY, REALLY NICE.

AND SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT.

ALSO OFF TOPIC, WE'RE DOING SOME WORK CONTINUING ON LOCATING WELL SITES AND THAT'S A HIGH PRIORITY FOR STAFF.

AND I'M LED TO UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A COMMITTEE SET FROM THE COUNCIL THAT WORKS WITH STAFF ON PROPERTY ACQUISITION.

THAT'S RIGHT. SO THIS EVENING OR THIS COMING WEEK, WE'D LIKE TO GET THAT COMMITTEE ACTIVATED, PICK A TIME, [INAUDIBLE] MEET WITH STAFF AND AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THAT AREA AND GET SOME AUTHORIZATION TO CONTINUE FORWARD.

I'LL SEND THE EMAIL OUT.

MARK COULD YOU REMIND US WHO THAT WAS AGAIN.

[LAUGHTER] I THINK THAT WAS THE CHALLENGE I WAS COMING UP WITH BECAUSE I HAD EVER EXCELLENT. EXCELLENT.

THAT IS A PRIORITY AND SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS A LITTLE BIT, JUST LIKE OUR SIDEWALK REHABILITATION PROGRAM, JUST LIKE OUR LIGHTING PROGRAM.

BUT I'M EXCITED THAT YOU'RE ON BOARD AND WE'RE GOING TO RE PRIORITIZE A LOT OF THESE THINGS. NONE OF THOSE ARE FORGOTTEN.

NEVER, NEVER HAVE I NEVER MEANT TO ALLUDE TO THAT.

SO REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL.

[17) REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL]

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO WELCOME, SCOTT.

ALTHOUGH WE'VE ALREADY DONE THAT OFFICIALLY.

BUT BEING THAT WE'RE LIVE NOW.

SO I'M EXCITED THAT YOU'RE HERE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON ALL OF THE THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO THE CITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR COMING.

THANK YOU. REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF FOR ALWAYS PROVIDING THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS. AND I ALWAYS SAY THAT, BUT I REALLY MEAN IT.

I REALLY DO. I READ EVERYTHING YOU WRITE AND IT REALLY ALLOWS ME TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS. I TRULY APPRECIATE IT.

SHERIFF, THANK YOU. THAT WAS VERY NICE.

I LIKE HOW DID YOU REFER TO THOSE LITTLE GIRLS THEM FEMALE JUVENILES? [LAUGHTER] THAT'S JUST SHERIFF TALK.

YEAH. LITTLE KIDS.

ANGELS.

I LIKE THAT. BETTER ANGELS.

GOOD JOB. THANK YOU.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COME AND VISIT WITH US AT OUR NEXT MEETING AND LET US KNOW.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY CITATIONS ARE ISSUED HERE IN WASCO AND WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT EFFORTS DID THEY MADE TO CURTAIL THIS COMPLETELY OUT OF HAND USE OF ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.

IT GETS WORSE AND WORSE EVERY YEAR.

WE TALK ABOUT THIS EVERY YEAR WE'RE TOLD THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET BETTER AND THAT SOMETHING IS BEING DONE.

BUT I JUST SEE IT GOING WORSE AND WORSE, SO I'D LIKE FOR THEM TO BE INVITED AND

[00:40:01]

STATS NOT ONLY IN KERN CURRENT COUNTY, BECAUSE THEY WILL BRING THOSE I [INAUDIBLE] WHAT THEY DID IN WASCO, SO.

AND I DO WANT TO HEAR IT NEXT TIME, AND I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN INVITED BEFORE, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE KIND OF AT THEIR MERCY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S ALL MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MEMBER REYNA, MEMBER CORTEZ.

THANK YOU. SO, AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS FOR COMING ON BOARD, STARTING YOUR JOB HERE.

HONEYMOON'S OVER. SO LET'S GET TO WORK AGAIN FOR EVERYBODY.

THIS IS OUR FIRST DAY BACK AFTER A 15 MONTH, 14 MONTH LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

ZOOM. AND SO SOME OF OUR HABITS ARE KIND OF CREATED TOWARD ZOOM AT THIS POINT.

SO BEAR WITH US AS WE GET THROUGH THIS [INAUDIBLE] I DON'T KNOW BUT THAT VIDEO DID GO VIRAL. IT WENT VIRAL.

THERE WAS A LOT OF VIEWS ON THAT. SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU DON'T NEED IT FOR THE FAME, THE PUBLICITY, BUT WE KNOW THE PERSON YOU ARE.

AND THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE.

AND THAT MEANS A LOT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU. THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO AGENDIZE AN ITEM HERE FOR OUR NEXT MEETING, I WOULD ASK THAT BASED ON THE CITY ATTORNEY OR CITY MANAGER OR MAYOR, HOW WE WOULD DO THAT. BUT IN LIGHT OF THE THE NEWS AFFECTING MAYOR GARCIA, I BELIEVE HE DESERVES OUR DUE PROCESS. BUT IF HE FEELS THAT POSSIBLY STEPPING ASIDE FROM HIS LEADERSHIP POSITION AS OUR APPOINTED MAYOR TO DEAL WITH HIS PERSONAL MATTERS AND AVOID UNNECESSARY DISTRACTIONS FROM IMPORTANT CITY BUSINESS, I WOULD WELCOME THAT AS A GESTURE OF GOOD FAITH. HOWEVER, AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND BEING CONTACTED BY MANY CONCERNED CITIZENS, I FEEL IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS A SENIOR MEMBER ON THIS COUNCIL TO ASK FOR THIS TOPIC TO BE AGENDIZED FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION AT OUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

THANK YOU, MEMBER CORTEZ, MEMBER MARTINEZ.

SERVING ON THESE COUNCILS IS ONE OF THE GREAT HONORS OF MY LIFE, BEING ABLE TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY THAT I WAS RAISED IN AND IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY THEY TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.

I'M VERY WELL AWARE OF THE FACT THAT AS A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL, MY WORDS AND MY ACTIONS ARE SCRUTINIZED MORE THAN THE REST OF THE PUBLIC.

I UNDERSTAND THAT I'M HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD, AS I SHOULD BE AS A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL. I'M NOT PERFECT.

I'M HUMAN. I MAKE MISTAKES.

WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES.

BUT SOMETIMES THOSE MISTAKES BECOME A DISTRACTION FROM THE MISSION AT HAND, WHICH IS SERVING THE CITY. MR. MAYOR, I DO BELIEVE AT THIS TIME, DUE TO THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST YOU, THAT YOU CANNOT EFFECTIVELY SERVE AS THE FACE OF THIS COMMUNITY, IT'S BECOME A DISTRACTION.

IT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU STEP ASIDE FROM YOUR DUTIES AS MAYOR, NOT FROM THE COUNCIL, THAT YOU REMAIN ON THE COUNCIL, BUT THAT YOU SURRENDER YOUR DUTIES AS MAYOR.

THIS WOULD NOT BE AN ADMISSION OF GUILT, NOR WOULD IT PRECLUDE YOU FROM SERVING AS THE MAYOR AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

TIME, I BELIEVE, HEALS ALL WOUNDS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU MEMBER MARTINEZ MEMBER PALLARES.? OH, IT WAS EVENTFUL MONTH LAST MONTH ATTENDED THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS, WHICH I APPRECIATED THE CHANCE TO LEARN HISTORY ONCE AND ALWAYS.

ONGOING HISTORY OF THIS GREAT NATION.

MR. PALLARES. I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU IS YOUR MIC ON.

YES. [INAUDIBLE] IN ADDITION, IN ADDITION TO THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION, I ATTENDED THE LGBTQ PLUS DEMONSTRATION AGAIN TO MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

AND I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR GIVING ME A CHANCE TO LEARN AND TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO HEAR MORE PERSPECTIVES AND THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MEMBER PALLARES.

YES, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT THAT'S HAPPENED SINCE THE LAST MEETING ON THE 17TH, WE DID I HELPED OR JOINED SOME OF THE YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ORGANIZED A PRIDE RALLY, VISIBILITY RALLY, NOT A DEMONSTRATION ON THE 17TH.

AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED.

I WAS JUST AS SURPRISED AS MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS HOW LARGE OUR LGBT COMMUNITY AND YOUTH POPULATION IS HERE IN THE CITY OF WASCO.

THAT WAS A TRUE PLEASURE AND PRIVILEGE ON THE 19TH.

I DID ALSO JOIN OUR MEMBERS, OUR COLLEAGUES OR ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE JUNETEENTH EVENT WITH OUR THREE HISTORICALLY BLACK OWNED CHURCHES IN THE CITY OF WASCO IT WAS A

[00:45:01]

WE'VE ALSO SINCE THEN, I'VE ALSO MET WITH STRATA CREDIT UNION TO DISCUSS OPPORTUNITIES TO COME TO THE CITY OF WASCO AND THEY HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN DISCUSSING THE PROSPECT FOR THE CITY OF WASCO.

I THINK THERE'S A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO EXPAND OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR OUR RESIDENTS HERE IN THE CITY OF WASCO.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, THEY AND OTHERS JOINED US TO PROVIDE OVER 100 JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO APPLY AND REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES POST PANDEMIC COMING OUT OF THE LOCKDOWN THE 15 MONTH LOCKDOWN.

SO THAT WAS A REALLY, REALLY EXCITING EVENT AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. I WAS SO, SO ENTHUSED TO SEE A LOT OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE, THEIR RESUMES IN HAND AND EAGER AND EAGER IN THE EYES TO REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE, NOT ONLY BY OUR WOW, I MEAN, THERE WAS A NUMBER OF PEOPLE [INAUDIBLE] CENTRAL VALLEY [INAUDIBLE] SOUTH VALLEY FARMS, AS WELL AS THE WASCO STATE PRISON, MANY OF WHICH THESE EMPLOYERS I'VE MADE VISITS TO IN THE LAST MONTH.

SO I'M EXCITED TO HAVE SEEN THAT PARTNERSHIP GO DOWN.

AND FINALLY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FIREWORKS, IT'S UPSETTING THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT THIS EVENING.

THEY WE REALLY SEEK TO HAVE THEIR INPUT.

AT EVERY ONE OF THESE MEETINGS AND A MEETING AS IMPORTANT AS THIS ONE, THE VERY FIRST ONE AFTER FOURTH OF JULY, I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY COULDN'T BE HERE. THERE ARE TOOLS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AS A CITY TO COMBAT ILLEGAL FIREWORKS, SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES, MEMBER MARTINEZ, TO DISCUSS MAYBE HAVING AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL WITHIN THE CITY OF WASCO.

SO I ENCOURAGE THE STAFF TO LOOK INTO THAT AND BRING THAT UP FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE SO THAT WE, TOO, CAN FIGHT BACK ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.

AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I PREPARED A QUICK STATEMENT.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR COMMENTS THIS EVENING, AS THEY ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.

I ALSO WANT TO SHARE MY GRATITUDE TO MY COLLEAGUES, THE MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC FOR EXTENDING THEIR GRACE, PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING AS MY PERSONAL LEGAL COUNCIL SORTS THIS MATTER OUT IN THE COURT. I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING THE LESSONS OF MY EXPERIENCES WITH MY PEERS AND MY COMMUNITY UPON RESOLUTION.

UNTIL THEN, I RETAIN THE RIGHT TO A PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE ONCE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ARE BEHIND ME. I WILL ADDRESS THE SITUATION AND COMMENTS MADE THIS EVENING AS THIS IS STILL AN OPEN AND ACTIVE CASE, I AM UNABLE TO MAKE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS CURRENTLY.

FOR NOW, I LOOK FORWARD TO RESUMING THE PROGRESS AND GOOD WORK WE'VE ACHIEVED TO DATE UP TO AND INCLUDING PASSING A NEW AND TIMELY BUDGET, A NEW CONTRACT WITH THE KERN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND EVEN SECURING A NEW CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU. THAT IS ALL THIS EVENING.

WE'LL SEE YOU ALL AFTER CLOSED SESSION, WHERE WE WILL THEN ADJOURN.

MR. MAYOR CAN I CONFIRM THAT WE WILL BE AGENDIZING THE SUBJECT AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

WELL, I BELIEVE THERE'S A CONSENSUS DISCUSSION. WAS THERE A CONSENSUS ON [INAUDIBLE] IF THERE'S A PROBLEM YOU WANT TO VOTE ON IT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S OK TO BE AGENDIZED.

TYPICALLY, THE MAYOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO AGENDIZE SOMETHING.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE YES. YES, SIR.

I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO GET THAT.

OK, RIGHT. IT'S UP TO THE CITY MANAGER.

COUNCIL. I WANT TO LOOK, I WANT TO SEE WHAT'S YOUR BYLAW, WHAT'S YOUR RULES OF APPOINTING THE MAYOR ARE. YOU'RE ASKING HIM TO RESIGN, YET BOTH OF YOU ARE ASKING HIM TO RESIGN.

I JUST WANT TO SEE WHAT THE PROCESS IS.

I KNOW WE HAVE SOME STUFF IN WRITING.

WE HAVE A HANDBOOK ON COUNCIL PROCEDURES.

AT ALL. NO, NO, AS THE MAYOR.

IT'S BEEN EXPRESSED, THERE'S A CONSENSUS AND WE'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE STAFF, THANK YOU.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO CLOSED SESSION NOW.

[18) CLOSED SESSION]

YES, ALL RIGHTY, THEN.

THAT IS THE END OF CLOSED SESSION.

[00:50:01]

[19) CLOSED SESSION ACTION]

THAT'S IT VERY WELL.

THANK YOU FOR REPORTING OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO ADJOURN NOW.

IT IS 7:05.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.