[00:00:03]
>> WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
[1) CALL TO ORDER]
[NOISE] MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. IF YOU ARE ABLE, PLEASE STAND [NOISE] FOR A FLAG SALUTE.
[NOISE] [BACKGROUND] SALUTE PLEDGE.
OF ALLEGIANCE] PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR AN INVOCATION THIS EVENING.
PASTOR FRANK SANCHEZ WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS EVENING.
BUT MANUEL KANTU, ARE YOU HERE THIS EVENING? A REPRESENTATIVE FROM WASCO LIFEHOUSE CHURCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
LET'S ALL BOW OUR HEADS. THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER.
WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING KNOWING THAT THERE'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE, FATHER.
WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE EACH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE STAFF WISDOM TO NAVIGATE THROUGH TODAY'S DECISIONS, FATHER, ON ALL MATTERS, FATHER.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, FATHER, AS YOU HAVE SHOWN US IN THE PAST THAT YOU ARE GOD OF SECOND CHANCES, FATHER, AND I ASK THAT YOU ALLOW US TO PUT IN PLACE EVERY ISSUE IN YOUR HANDS, FATHER, SO THAT YOU CAN CONTROL THE DESTINY OF THE CITY OF WASCO AND THE DESTINY OF THE MEMBERS ON THIS COUNCIL.
IN JESUS CHRIST I ASK THESE THINGS. AMEN.
>> THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND] THIS EVENING I'D LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS EVENING'S MEETING TO THE MEMORY OF MR. BEN MADDOCK.
[NOISE] BEN MADDOCK, WAS BORN ON JUNE 27TH OF 1934, IN TULARE COUNTY, AND PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY IN HIS HOME ON JULY 9TH, HERE IN THE CITY OF WASCO.
BEN MADDOCK IS ONE OF THE MANY HEROES AND LEADERS OF THE FARM WORKER MOVEMENT, AS WELL AS THE EDUCATION WORKERS MOVEMENT.
HE HAS MADE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITIES HERE IN WASCO, ESPECIALLY THE CITY OF WASCO.
[6) PUBLIC COMMENTS]
[NOISE] THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING FOR PERSONS DESIRING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AND INCLUDING THE COUNCIL ACTING AS THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY ON ANY MATTER NOT ON THIS AGENDA, AND OVER WHICH THE COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY HAVE JURISDICTION.SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.
A MAXIMUM OF 30 MINUTES WILL BE ALLOWED FOR ANY ONE SUBJECT.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE MAKING YOUR PRESENTATION.
DUE TO THE BROWN ACT REQUIREMENTS, WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE ACTION OR DISCUSS ANY ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA, SUBJECT TO NO EXCEPTIONS.
THIS WILL LIMIT ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS MADE DURING THE COMMENT PERIOD.
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME REGARDING BUSINESS NOT ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA?
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, EXTINGUISHED AND DISTINGUISHED OFFICIALS OF WASCO, AND THE VISITORS FROM OUT OF TOWN.
I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR NEAT 45 YEARS, THIS WONDERFUL COMMUNITY.
I'M ALSO A VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY, 82ND AIRBORNE WITH 37 JUMPS.
MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER SPENT TWO YEARS ON THE DMZ IN KOREA DODGING BULLETS AT NIGHT.
MY FATHER WAS AT PEARL WHEN THE JAPANESE BOMBED IT, 7TH DECEMBER, '41.
MOTHER WAS IN THE NAVY AT THE SAME TIME AT BAINBRIDGE ISLAND NAVAL AIR STATION.
FOR ALMOST 400 YEARS, THE BUD OF AMERICAN ALBERTSONS HAS VOLUNTEERED AND GONE TO THE FORE, AND SOME OF THEM SACRIFICED THEIR LIFE FOR THE GREATEST NATION ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH NEXT TO ISRAEL, GOD'S CHOSEN LAND.
BLOOD ON THOSE SEVEN STRIPES, THOSE RED STRIPES ON THE FLAG REPRESENT MANY GENERATIONS OF MY FAMILY THAT GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO ADDRESS AND REDRESS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, TO CHASTISE THEM WHEN THEY DON'T PERFORM AS HOPED, AND TO COMMEND THEM AND REWARD THEM WHEN THEY EXCEED OUR EXPECTATIONS.
BUT IT REPRESENTS NOT ONLY THE BLOOD OF MY FAMILY AND MY FOREFATHERS, BUT THE MILLIONS OF OTHER SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF AMERICA THAT HAVE HELPED ENSURE OUR FREEDOM, OUR LIBERTY.
THAT FLAG IS A SYMBOL OF FREEDOM.
AND JUSTICE, AND LIBERTY, AND EQUALITY, AND OPPORTUNITY UNPARALLELED, UNEQUALED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD TODAY.
IT SHOULD NOT BE DESECRATED, OR DENIGRATED OR DISGRACED BY HAVING ANY OTHER FLAG RUN UP AGAINST IT.
WHETHER IT'S THE GAY PRIDE FLAG, WHETHER IT'S THE UFW FLAG, WHETHER IT'S THE COWBOYS OF AMERICA FLAG,
[00:05:03]
IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.YOU NEED TO HONOR THAT SYMBOL OF FREEDOM AND LIBERTY, AND NOT DISGRACE IT.
FOR YOU THREE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WHO VOTED NOT TO DISHONOR IT, BUT TO HONOR AND GLORIFY, OH GLORY, I THANK YOU AND COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR PATRIOTISM.
GOD BLESS AMERICA, AND FOR GIVING US THE RIGHT IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO ADDRESS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. THANK YOU.
>> [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, MR. ALBERTSON.
[NOISE] ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING BUSINESS NOT ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING?
>> GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE DOLORES HUERTA FOUNDATION, A CO-FOUNDER OF THE UNITED FARM WORKERS, WHOSE EAGLE FLAG FLEW VERY, VERY PROUDLY IN THE STREETS OF WASCO.
>> MS. HUERTA, DID YOU WANT TO RESERVE YOUR COMMENTS FOR 12B?
>> THE DISCUSSION ON THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> IF YOU'D LIKE TO. YES, PLEASE.
>> I BELIEVE YOUR COMMENTS ARE OUT OF TIME.
>> SORRY. ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS [BACKGROUND] ON ANY BUSINESS NOT ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING? [BACKGROUND] AWESOME.
I'VE BEEN LIVING IN WASCO SINCE 1965.
I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL HERE.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON IS SPEEDING IN WASCO.
I TAKE CARE OF A ELDERLY WOMAN ON GRIFFITH AVENUE.
I'M AT THE ADDRESS ALL OF THE TIME, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
BETWEEN POSO AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, THERE'S ALWAYS SPEEDING VEHICLES.
EVEN OFF-ROAD VEHICLES SPEEDING ON THE ROADWAY AND ON THE SIDEWALK.
ALSO GASTON STREET, HERE IN WASCO AND SOUTH GATE.
I NOTICED THAT YOU HAVE A TRAFFIC CALMING STUDY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE STARTED IT, BUT IT'S COMING UP.
I WOULD LIKE FOR THOSE STREETS TO BE IN THAT STUDY.
ALSO, WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR THE HOMELESS IN WASCO? THERE ARE HOMELESS PEOPLE IN WASCO.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE COOLING CENTER HERE OR ANY NAVIGATION WHATSOEVER.
BUT MOST PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING HAS TO RECEIVE A STIMULUS CHECK.
HAS ANYONE APPROACHED HOMELESS PEOPLE TO SEE IF THEY GOT THEIRS? IF NOT, CAN YOU CONTRACT WITH AN ACCOUNTANT TO SEE IF THEY WILL APPLY FOR THEM TO GET A STIMULUS? THEY JUST NEED AN ADDRESS FOR THE STIMULUS TO COME TO.
ALSO, IF THE KMART BUILDING HAS BEEN PURCHASED, WHO BOUGHT IT AND WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE USED FOR? I LIVE NEAR THE PRUEITT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WHEN I GO HOME BETWEEN 8:00 AND 9:00 PM, THERE'S ALWAYS RACING ON MAGNOLIA AVENUE, BETWEEN 8:00 AND 9:00.
I SHOULDN'T SAY ALWAYS, BUT OFTEN.
I'M HOPING THAT THOSE THINGS CAN GET LOOKED AT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR LISTENING TO ME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MS. GOODIE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT.
[APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] MS. GOODIE, IF YOU COULD, BEFORE WE LEAVE, COULD YOU LEAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION WITH THE CLERK FOR ME? I GOT A PAD AND A PEN RIGHT HERE.
I'D LOVE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH YOU AFTER THIS EVENING'S MEETING.
THAT INVITATION GOES TO OTHERS AS WELL. RIGHT HERE, PLEASE.
GIVE HER THAT PAD RIGHT THERE AND THE PEN.
THANK YOU. JUST TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF QUICK ITEMS. THE TRAFFIC CALMING STUDY, STAFF IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT DOING A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO TRAFFIC CALMING.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO CREATE A PROGRAM FOR FOLKS TO SUBMIT REQUESTS FOR CONSIDERATION ON TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES.
THAT WILL BE COMING SOON ENOUGH, AS SOON AS WE EXPAND OUR CAPACITY AS CITY.
IN OTHER NEWS THOUGH, THE LRSP, LOCAL ROAD SAFETY PLAN, IS STILL OPEN THROUGH AUGUST.
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO REPORT THESE TYPE OF INCIDENTS, ANY CONCERNS WITH TRANSPORTATION THAT INCLUDES ROADWAYS, BIKE WAYS, AND WALKWAYS.
THERE'S THIS VERY SIMPLE MAP ONLINE,
[00:10:01]
IT'S ALSO AT THE CITY OF WASCO, WHICH FOLKS CAN USE TO REPORT WITH A PIN, EXACT LOCATIONS OF AREAS OF CONCERN.THAT ONE IS AVAILABLE WHERE THERE'S A PUBLIC SAFETY SURVEY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CURRENT COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
THAT IS ACTIVE NOW THROUGH AUGUST, FOLKS.
ALL RIGHT, FOLKS. MOVE RIGHT ALONG.
THANK YOU MA'AM. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING BUSINESS NOT ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA?
>> YES. THIS WILL BE ON THE TOPIC OF JUST THE PRIDE FLAG.
I DON'T KNOW THE COUNT OR WHICH MEMBERS VOTED FOR THE PRIDE FLAG BUT I THANK THEM BECAUSE AS THE OTHER GENTLEMAN SAID THAT ACCORDING TO HIM, HE BELIEVES THAT THE AMERICAN FLAG STANDS FOR EQUALITY.
EQUALITY HASN'T BEEN ACHIEVED FOR EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER FLAG THAT CAN STAND BY THE AMERICAN FLAG, AND THAT IS THE PRIDE FLAG.
THE PRIDE FLAG SYMBOLIZES EQUALITY FOR PEOPLE IN THE LGBT COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE FOUGHT AND DIED FOR IT.
IT REPRESENTS A GIANT COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY A COMMUNITY THAT'S UNDERREPRESENTED IN HERE IN WASCO.
I JUST, ONCE AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE MEMBERS WHO VOTED FOR THAT BECAUSE THEY GAVE A VOICE TO THE UNREPRESENTED.
ALEX WHAT'S YOUR LAST NAME? DO YOU NEED THE LAST NAME TOO OR JUST ALEX?
>> ALEX, FOR THE RECORD, WHAT'S YOUR LAST NAME? IF YOU'D LIKE? YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, YOUNG MAN.
[APPLAUSE] THE PUBLIC COMMENTS' NOT ON THIS EVENING'S AGENDA'S BUSINESS.
>> [NOISE] HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ERIC MUNOZ I AM A PROUD RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF WASCO.
WELL, I'VE BEEN NOTICING, SINCE I GOT MY DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT WHEN I WOULD COME UP TO AN INTERSECTION, THERE WOULD BE CARS PARKED REALLY ON THE CORNER AND SO I WOULD HAVE TO PEEK OUT MORE INTO THE ROAD.
THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES WHERE I'VE HAD TO BACK UP BECAUSE OF AN ONCOMING CAR COMING TOWARDS ME.
SOME EXAMPLES COULD BE 10TH STREET AND D-STREET JUST DOWN THE ROAD, WHERE I HAD TO PEEK A LITTLE BIT MORE FORWARD BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH ROOM THAT THE SIDEWALK CAN PROVIDE, BUT SOMETIMES THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM THERE YOU SO YOU GOT TO PEEK OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THIS SIDE AND THAT SIDE.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE NORTHERN CORNERS OF OUR COMIC PARK THERE'S NO STOP SIGNS THERE AND THERE'S CARS PARKED IN THOSE CORNERS AND YOU'RE TRYING TO LOOK THROUGH A CAR COULD JUST [NOISE] HIT YOU RIGHT THERE.
I DO HAVE A SOLUTION TO THIS IF YOU GUYS ARE WILLING TO HEAR IT. I WOULD LIKE TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> FOLKS DON'T USUALLY COME WITH SOLUTIONS SIR, JUST COMPLAINTS. [LAUGHTER]
>> TALKING ABOUT UNPRECEDENTED GROUND HERE TONIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT. I WOULD SUGGEST A 15, 20-FOOT NO PARKING ZONE ON BUSY INTERSECTIONS TO GIVE THE DRIVER LITTLE BIT MORE ROOM TO LOOK.
BECAUSE I THINK THE MORE ROOM YOU HAVE, THE MORE SAFER YOU'LL BE ON THESE ROADS.
BECAUSE CURRENTLY, SOMETIMES I JUST TAKE A CHANCE GOING TO THE ROAD BECAUSE I CAN'T PEEK OUT TOO MUCH TO WHERE MY CAR IS IN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR LISTENING TO ME AND I HOPE YOU TAKE THIS INTO SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU, YOUNG MAN. [APPLAUSE] ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT ON THIS EVENING'S AGENDA? VERY WELL. PLEASE GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD.
IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS THAT ARE REGARDING ANY BUSINESS NOT ON THIS EVENING'S AGENDA.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEN, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.
THIS IS MY SECOND TIME ADDRESSING THE MEMBERS HERE.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I ADDRESSED THE MAYOR WHO HAD POSTED ON HIS FACEBOOK THAT SPEAKING OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, THAT WE NEED TO IMPEACH THE MF.
LET'S TALK ABOUT CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE MAYOR HAS TWO DRUNK DRIVING.
SHOULD THAT MEAN SOMETHING TO THIS COUNCIL? WHAT I SEE MR. MAYOR IS YOU HAVE YOUR OWN AGENDA,
[00:15:05]
AND YOU'RE USING IT BEING A MAYOR AND A COUNCILMAN TO PROMOTE YOUR AGENDA.>> MR. MAYOR, HE NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL NOT YOU DIRECTLY.
>> OKAY. THE COUNCILMEN, IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THE MAYOR HAS HIS OWN AGENDA.
NOW, MR. MARTINEZ, I SALUTE YOU FOR STANDING UP AS A NEW MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL.
I THINK I'VE ADDRESSED MR. TILO, MR. REYNA, AND PALLARES.
THAT WHY DIDN'T THEY DO SOMETHING BACK TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THE MAYOR HAD MENTIONED IMPEACHING THE MF. NOTHING WAS DONE.
[NOISE] YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY, NOT YOUR OWN AGENDA.
[NOISE] WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN MOVING FORWARD? WE'RE GOING TO SWEEP ALL THIS UNDER THE RUG AND JUST LET IT GO? [NOISE] I KNOW A COUPLE OF YOU ASKED FOR THE MAYOR TO STEP DOWN. HE'S STILL HERE.
>> THIS IS A MATTER THAT IS ON THE AGENDA, MR. MAYOR, SO I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU MIGHT COME BACK WHEN THE ITEM COMES UP FOR DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU, ATTORNEY. I APPRECIATE THAT TIME.
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A GRAY AREA ON THAT DISCUSSION ITEM.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ANY BUSINESS NOT ON THIS EVENING'S AGENDA? VERY WELL.
EXCELLENT. MOVING ON TO THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS CONSENT CALENDAR, ITEM 9.
[9) CONSENT CALENDAR]
THE CONSENT CALENDAR CONSISTS OF ITEMS THAT IN STAFF'S OPINION, ARE ROUTINE AND NON-CONTROVERSIAL.THESE ITEMS ARE APPROVED IN ONE MOTION UNLESS THE COUNCIL MEMBER OR MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REQUESTS A PARTICULAR ITEM BE REMOVED.
THIS EVENING WE HAVE ITEMS 9A THROUGH 9D.
>> ALL RIGHT. I'LL GO AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I APOLOGIZE. YES. I MISSED MY DISCLAIMER DOWN HERE.
THIS EVENING, WE HAVE ITEMS 9A THROUGH 9B.
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 A PARTICULAR ITEM FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR? YOU'LL HAVE TO EXCUSE ME, I'M GETTING USED TO THE TRANSITION BACK FROM ZOOM FOLKS, [LAUGHTER] SO THERE'S THAT DISCLAIMER.
SEEING NONE. IS THERE ANY MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ANY ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR?
>> I JUST HAVE A CLEAN-UP ITEM IN THE FILE DEPARTMENTS TOTALING 1,249,732.
I'M JUST REQUESTING THAT WHEN IT'S INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA, THAT IT BE INCLUDED IN [NOISE] THE FORMAT THAT CAN BE READ EASILY.
ALL OF THEM WERE PRESENTED ON A FORMAT THAT I COULDN'T READ IT.
IT WAS UP INSTEAD OF SIDEWAYS.
IF YOU COULD JUST MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST HAPPENED ON MY END.
>> THAT WAS A ONE-TIME ERROR, MEMBER.
>> PART OF IT ALSO, MEMBERS, IS A BALANCE BETWEEN THE SIZE.
IF IT'S TURNED SIDEWAYS ON MACHINE, EVERYTHING SHRINKS DOWN AND IT'S EVEN SMALLER THAN WHAT YOU RECEIVE.
>> STAFF CAN MAYBE HELP YOU WITH MAKING SURE YOU HAVE A READER THAT'S CAPABLE OF TURNING THE PAGE WHILE YOU ARE READING IT.
I GO THROUGH IT ALL AND IT MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT AND MORE TIME-CONSUMING TO GO THROUGH IT BECAUSE I LINE UP EVERYTHING.
>> [NOISE] I THINK WE CAN HELP YOU ADDRESS.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S MY ONLY REQUEST.
>> YEAH, THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE AGENDA PACKET FOR THE MEMBERS THIS WEEK AND STAFF DIDN'T MAKE US AWARE OF THAT.
BUT IT IS PRESENTED TO YOU PROPERLY ON THE SCREENS THIS EVENING.
[NOISE] ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE REMOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS THIS EVENING? ALL RIGHT. I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
>> SECOND. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CORTES, SECOND BY MAYOR GARCIA TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. MOVING ON TO NEW BUSINESS ITEM 12A
[12) a. Report and Discussion regarding illegal fireworks.]
REPORT AND DISCUSSION REGARDING ILLEGAL FIREWORKS. CITY MANAGER, HURLBERT.>> YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, UNFORTUNATELY, THE KERN COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS GOING
[00:20:01]
TO BE PRESENTING TONIGHT WAS CALLED AWAY TO A FIRE, APPROPRIATELY ENOUGH.HE WILL NEED TO BRING HIS PRESENTATION BACK AT A FUTURE MEETING.
[12) b. Discussion and direction to staff regarding Mayoral appointment]
DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION TO STAFF REGARDING MAYORAL APPOINTMENT. CITY MANAGER, HURLBERT.>> YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, MARTINEZ AND CORTES THIS ITEM PROVIDES TIME FOR DISCUSSION AMONGST THE COUNCIL REGARDING THE CURRENT APPOINTMENT OF MAYOR.
THE COUNCIL MAY PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND WE'RE REQUESTING PROVIDE GUIDANCE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER TO STAFF IF A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM IS NEEDED FOR REVISITING THAT APPOINTMENT.
EITHER TO VOTE FOR CONFIRMATION OF A CONTINUATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR TO SELECT A DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE APPOINTMENT.
BUT AGAIN, A REMINDER FOR TONIGHT, TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS FOR DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION TO STAFF, NOT FOR A VOTE ON THAT MATTER.
>> THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER HURLBERT, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC THIS EVENING? I CAN IMAGINE WE HAVE MANY.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS EVENING, WE HAVE A 30-MINUTE ALLOTMENT, TWO MINUTES EACH.
WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND FORTH.
SUPPORT, OPPOSE, SUPPORT, OPPOSE.
AS I CALL THEM, WE'LL ASK YOU TO APPROACH THE PODIUM.
THIS EVENING WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE SUPPORT COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC.
>> THANK YOU MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE DOLORE HUERTA FOUNDATION.
WE WORK IN CURRENT [INAUDIBLE] COUNTIES, WE'RE A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.
I ALSO WAS A CO-FOUNDER UNITED FARM WORKERS.
SOMEBODY MENTIONED ABOUT THE MAYOR'S AGENDA.
WHEN I SEE THAT ROSE HERE REPRESENTING THE CITY OF WASCO, IT REMINDS ME THAT THERE WERE MANY FARM WORKERS THAT FOUGHT FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF FARM WORKERS HERE IN WASCO, THEY WERE IN STRIKES, WENT TO THE BIG CITIES ON BOYCOTTS SO THAT FARM WORKERS COULD GET THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS OF BATHROOMS, DRINKING WATER, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE.
THAT WAS HERE IN THE CITY OF WASCO.
THE CITY OF WASCO, AND REPRESENTED BY THAT ROSE THERE IS A CITY THAT STANDS FOR JUSTICE.
IT FOUGHT FOR JUSTICE FOR FARM WORKERS.
IT IS NOW FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE FOR OUR LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
THE FACT THAT THERE'S SOME ISSUE WITH THAT, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS SHOULD BE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY HERE IN WASCO THAT ARE MEMBERS OF OUR LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
WHEN THE REQUEST WAS MADE TO FLY THE FLAG, THE PRIDE FLAG, THIS IS REALLY A SYMBOL OF HUMAN RIGHTS, AND A SYMBOL OF JUSTICE.
JUST THE WAY THAT FARM WORKERS HERE FOUGHT FOR THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS, THEN I WOULD HOPE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF WASCO WOULD ALSO THINK THAT WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE OUR LGBTQ FAMILY BECAUSE THEY ARE MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY.
I AM ALSO ON THE BOARD OF EQUALITY CALIFORNIA AND HAVE BEEN ON THAT BOARD FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.
WE FIGHT IN SACRAMENTO AND IN WASHINGTON FOR LGBTQ RIGHTS, JUST THE WAY THAT WE DID WITH THE FARM WORKER RIGHTS.
IT'S CALLED JUSTICE, FIGHTING FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE CITY OF WASCO.
YOU SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF MAYOR GARCIA BECAUSE HE HAS PUT WASCO ON THE MAP WAY BEFORE THE ISSUE OF THE FLAG [APPLAUSE].
WE SHOULD NOT ALWAYS THINK OF KERN COUNTY AS BEING A BACKWARD AREA.
KERN COUNTY, WE NEED TO BE PROGRESSIVE.
WE ARE KNOWN FOR SPORTS, WE HAVE TO BE KNOWN ALSO FOR EDUCATION AND ERASE THE IGNORANCE THAT EXISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AGAINST PEOPLE THAT ARE DIFFERENT, PEOPLE OF COLOR, PEOPLE WHO ARE LGBT, GAY, LESBIAN, TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY.
STAND UP FOR JUSTICE, STAND UP FOR YOUR MAYOR.
WE USED TO WAVE THE FARM WORKER FLAG, TODAY, I'M WAVING THE FIGHT FLAG [APPLAUSE] OKAY.
>> ANY COMMENTS AND THE OPPOSITION, PLEASE.
>> MR. MAYOR I HAVE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION MAYBE FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
[00:25:02]
IS THAT DISCUSSION WITHIN THE REALM OF THIS ITEM, AGENDA TONIGHT?>> THE PRESENTATION THAT WE JUST HEARD.
IT'S ABOUT SUPPORT FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY.
WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS TO BE IS, REGARDING OUR MAYOR'S [OVERLAPPING] AGENDA AND SO FORTH.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T GET OFF TOPIC HERE AND CREATE A BROWN EGG VIOLATION BY TALKING ABOUT OTHER FACTORS OUTSIDE OF THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT.
>> WELL, THE PRESENTATION YOU JUST HEARD IS WELL WITHIN THE LEVEL OF THE AGENDA.
>> YOU ALL HEARD MEMBER CORTES'S COMMENTS.
PLEASE KEEP THEM TO THE AGENDA ITEM AND I WILL REMIND YOU WHAT THAT IS.
ITEM 12 B, DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION TO STAFF REGARDING THE MAYORAL APPOINTMENT.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE DO ME A FAVOR AND WHISPER UP WHEN THERE'S 30 SECONDS LEFT IN THE TIME FOR ALL SPEAKERS TOO.
THANK YOU. MR. STEWART, PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> I'LL BE WITHIN TWO MINUTES. DON'T DON'T WORRY.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR GARCIA, MEMBERS OF THE WASCO CITY COUNCIL A FEW OF YOU KNOW ME AND A COUPLE OF YOU DO NOT.
I WANT TO START BY STATING THAT THESE ARE MY THOUGHTS AND I WILL BE REPRESENTING MYSELF AND MY WIFE GLORIA.
I CAME FROM A FAMILY THAT HAS HAD SIX GENERATIONS PROUDLY LIVE IN WASCO.
FOUR OF THESE GENERATIONS HAVE BEEN OR ARE CURRENTLY LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS.
I SAY THIS TO YOU THIS EVENING AS I BELIEVE IT GIVES CREDIBILITY TO MY THOUGHTS.
THERE HAVE BEEN AND THERE WILL BE FOLKS SPEAKING ON THIS TOPIC THAT ARE NOT FROM HERE.
I JUST WANT THAT TO BE THOUGHT ABOUT WHY ARE THEY SPEAKING, OR WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO THEM.
ALEX, I LOVE YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU'RE WELL SPOKEN BOTH ON AND OFF CAMERA.
EVEN WHEN YOU'RE MISQUOTING ME, YOU DO A GREAT JOB.
YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS AT YOUR AGE ARE IMPRESSIVE, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR LEGACY.
YEARS AGO, LIKE YOU, I WAS AN UP-AND-COMING CITY OF WASCO EMPLOYEE.
BEFORE I WAS 30 YEARS OLD, I WAS GIVEN A TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT AS A CONSTRUCTION SUPERINTENDENT FOR THIS TOWN.
THE BUILDING THAT WE ARE CONGREGATING IN TONIGHT IS ONE OF MY PROJECTS.
I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE A HUMBLE MAN BUT YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS.
LIKE YOU, I PUT THE CITY OF WASCO IN OUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER AND ALSO IN THE BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA, USING AN INMATE LABOR FROM THE SHAFT OR RETURNED TO CUSTODY THIS BUILDING AND SEVERAL OTHERS WERE BUILT, SAVING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
THAT'S WHAT MADE THE NEWSPAPER REGARDING ME.
YOU ON THE OTHER HAND, HAVE MADE WASCO LOOK LIKE A CIRCUS IN THE NEWSPAPER.
I'M NOT HERE TO PASS JUDGMENT ON DRINKING.
IF YOU KNOW ME, YOU KNOW THAT I LIKE TO HAVE A FEW BEERS AFTER WORK.
AGAIN, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR LEGACY.
MAYOR GARCIA. WHAT ARE YOU SAYING TO US ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY? WHAT MESSAGE IS BEING SENT? COUNCIL MEMBERS, CORTES AND MARTINEZ ARE NOT ASKING YOU TO RESIGN FROM THE COUNCIL, THEY ARE SIMPLY ASKING YOU TO TEMPORARILY REMOVE YOURSELF AS THE FACE OF THE COMMUNITY WHILE YOU SORT THIS OUT.
PLEASE DON'T MAKE YOUR COLLEAGUES DO YOUR DIRTY WORK.
BE A LEADER OWN YOUR MISTAKES AND STEP DOWN.
WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR STEWART. [APPLAUSE] MOVING RIGHT ALONG. MRS. HARRISON.
>> TO MAYOR GARCIA AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS OF WASCO, I AM A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF WASCO, CALIFORNIA.
I'M YOLANDA HARRISON, AND I SENT THIS LETTER TO THE COUNCIL AND I JUST WANT TO READ IT TO OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL. GOOD EVENING.
I WAS APPALLED AT THE COMMENT MADE BY THE CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES AT LAST NIGHT'S, WELL, THIS IS WHEN I SENT, LAST NIGHT'S MEETING.
WHILE I DON'T CONDONE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, I DO BELIEVE IN GOD'S WORD, ROMANS 3:23, "FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD." JOHN 8:17, "YOU WHO IS WITHOUT SIN, CAST THE FIRST STONE." WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU VINCENT, AND I DID SAY VINCENT AND TILO BECAUSE THEY WERE THE TWO THAT SPOKE, AND THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THE CITIZENS OF WASCO, NEED TO TAKE A HARD LOOK IN THE MIRROR.
MANY OF US HAVE DRIVEN WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND SOME DONE EVEN WORSE, BUT DIDN'T PERHAPS GET CAUGHT.
I THINK THIS HAS MORE TO DO WITH MAYOR ALEX RECENT COMING OUT.
THAT TOO I DON'T CONDONE BECAUSE IT IS AGAINST GOD'S CREATION.
GENESIS 2 AND 8, THE LORD GOD SAID, "IT IS NOT GOOD FOR MAN TO BE ALONE.
I WILL MAKE HIM A HELP ME." GENESIS 2: 22,
[00:30:01]
"THEN THE LORD GOD MADE A WOMAN FROM THE RIB AND HAD TAKEN OUT OF THE MAN AND HE BROUGHT HER TO THE MAN." HOWEVER, GOD IS THE JUDGE AND JURY AS TO MAYOR ALEX LIFE AS WELL AS OURS.JOHN 3:16 AND 17, "FOR GOD SO LOVE THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE US ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE." GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD, BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED.
MAYOR, I SAW UNTIL HE HAS BEEN GIVEN A SIN, HE SHOULD REMAIN MAYOR, AS WHEN HIS TERM IS UP EVERYONE HAS A VOICE AND A CHANCE TO RE-ELECT OR ELECT HIM.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, YOLANDA HARRISON.
>> NEXT, PLEASE. NEXT SPEAKER FROM THE OPPOSITION.
I WILL REMIND ALL SPEAKERS TO DIRECT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE COUNCIL.
NEXT SPEAKER FROM THE OPPOSITION.
>> MY NAME IS STEPHANIE CHAVES.
ON AVERAGE, OUR COMMUNITY SEES AT LEAST 4,000 DUI ARREST MADE EACH YEAR.
ACCORDING TO THE KERN COUNTY DA'S OFFICE, THAT IS MORE THAN 11 DUI ARRESTS PER DAY.
FOR THE RATE OF DUI RELATED FATAL COLLISIONS PER 100,000 PEOPLE, KERN COUNTY RANKS HIGHEST IN THE STATE AND SECOND HIGHEST IN THE NATION.
I AM THANKFUL TO GOD THAT MAYOR GARCIA WAS NOT INJURED OR KILLED ON MAY 22ND OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER.
UNFORTUNATELY, DESPITE OUR COUNTY'S LABORIOUS AND HONORABLE EFFORTS TO PREVENT AND LOWER DUI RATES, THE MAYOR CHOSE TO DRIVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE ADDING TO OUR COMMUNITY'S RISING STATISTICS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES IN LIFE, BUT DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE IS NOT JUST A MISTAKE, IT IS A CONSCIOUS DECISION MADE THE MOMENT YOU FIND YOURSELF LEAVING YOUR HOUSE SOBER, GET INTO YOUR VEHICLE FULLY AWARE THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE A DESIGNATED DRIVER OR WILL BE USING A RIDESHARE SERVICE.
MAYOR GARCIA'S POLITICAL CAREER PROVES THAT HE WAS AN INTELLECTUAL INDIVIDUAL, EVEN SO HE WILLFULLY CHOSE TO TAKE THE RISK OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, PUTTING HIS LIFE AND OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AT RISK.
WASCO'S YOUTH LOOK UP TO THE MAYOR FOR LEADERSHIP AS HE HAS BEEN A MAYOR TO BE THE FIRST IN MANY THINGS.
HOWEVER, HIS DECISION ON MAY 22ND GIVES OFF A STRONGLY NEGATIVE AND CONFUSING EXAMPLE FOR WASCO'S YOUTH.
MAYOR GARCIA TOLD KGET THAT HE EXPECTS TO BE EXONERATED AT HIS NEXT HEARING.
THIS GIVES OFF A MESSAGE TO OUR YOUTH THAT YOU CAN BREAK THE LAW WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE.
WITH WASCO'S CRIME RATE ALREADY HIGH, I SEE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THAT STANCE.
I AM IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER SUGGESTION FOR THE MAYOR TO RESIGN, TO GIVE HIMSELF TIME TO MATURE.
PERSONALLY, I DO NOT THINK IT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF WASCO'S RESIDENTS AT THIS TIME SHOULD HE CHOOSE TO REMAIN MAYOR.
THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
>> IN SUPPORT, THAT'S CORRECT.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JESSICA MAHONEY.
I'M PROBABLY ONE OF VERY FEW THAT ARE NOT FROM THIS TOWN.
HOW YOU CAN DECIDE, I NOW WEAR MY PINK TRIANGLE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE FROM WASCO TONIGHT THAT ARE GOING TO BE SPEAKING, THEY HAVE A LITTLE STICKER RIGHT HERE.
BUT YES, I'M CONSIDERED AN OUTSIDER TO THE BACKWARDS FOLKS.
THEY HAD THE SAME ISSUE IN 2008, 2013.
YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED? THEY LOST CITY CONTRACTS, NO ONE WANTED TO DO BUSINESS THERE.
BY YOU BEING DECISIVE AND MAKING A ISSUE, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE ECONOMIC REVENUE FOR THE CITY OF WASCO.
PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BRING THEIR CONTRACTS HERE.
I KNOW BY HEARING SOME PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS AND THEIR BACKGROUND, AND THEY'VE BEEN IN THIS CITY FOREVER AND EVER, I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT ME AS A PERSON.
WHY WOULD I WANT TO STOP IN WASCO? YOU'RE JUST ANOTHER. I CAN GET GAS UP THE STREET, UP THE HIGHWAYS.
HOW DO YOU KNOW I'M NOT SPENDING MY MONEY IN A RESTAURANT TONIGHT OR A HOTEL? THIS ISSUE, THE AGENDA IS VERY VAGUE.
IT SAYS DISCUSS AND IT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT DUI, IT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT PRIDE.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A HANDBOOK TO DISCUSS HOW YOU DO A REORGANIZATION MEETING.
YOU'RE JUST DOING THIS OUT OF SPITE.
YOU'RE GETTING AWAY FROM THE CITY BUSINESS.
NOW, I CAN UNDERSTAND IF HE WAS ON CITY TIME.
[00:35:01]
DO WE ASK WHAT YOU GUYS DO OFF THE CLOCK? SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW BEFORE.ARE WE RUBBING THAT IN YOUR FACES? NO. WE KNOW WHAT YOUR HIDDEN AGENDA IS, IT'S NOT HIDDEN ANYMORE.
HE'S A TWO-TIME MAYOR, HE'S BEEN VOTED TWICE.
IS HE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB? MOST OTHER CITIES HAVE WHERE THEY DO REPORTS ON EACH OTHER.
LIKE THEY DO, I CAN'T THINK OF THE WORD RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I'M FIRED UP.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TOWNS I'VE BEEN TO? FRESNO, KINGSBURG, PORTERVILLE.
OVER AND OVER, WE HAVE THESE ISSUES.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS TO HAVE THIS TALK BECAUSE SOMEBODY DON'T LIKE SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY DON'T LIKE THEIR POLITICS, SOMEBODY DON'T LIKE THE RELIGION.
WE LIVE IN A SECULAR NATION WHEN IT COMES TO GOVERNMENT.
YOU CAN HAVE YOUR BELIEFS AND WHAT YOU BELIEVE AND WHAT YOU THINK A BOOK SAYS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO GOVERNMENT, YOU HAVE TO REPRESENT EVERYBODY, NON-RESIDENTS, RESIDENTS, PEOPLE THAT PASS THROUGH YOUR TOWN TO DO BUSINESS.
IF THEY FIND OUT THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE SOME PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN, WHY WOULD I WANT TO BRING MY BUSINESS HERE? YOU HAVE TO REALLY THINK OF THE ECONOMICAL IMPACT THAT YOU'RE DOING TO THE CITY. HAVE A PLAN.
YOU CAN HAVE DISCUSSIONS, THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRACY IS, BUT DON'T HAVE HIDDEN AGENDAS.
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TO A CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE BEFORE? IS THIS THE MOST YOU EVER HAD IN THIS TOWN? [BACKGROUND] IT'S EMBARRASSING, REALLY.
HOW MANY PEOPLE COME TO A CITY COUNCIL MEETING IN WASCO AND ENGAGE IN THE CITY BUSINESS? HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU GAUGED IN THE YOUTH AND BROUGHT THEM DOWN HERE ON CITY COUNCIL? AM I DONE? OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> I WANT TO REMIND MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE HAVE A TIMER AND IT'S BEING WATCHED BY THE CLERK. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR, I DO WANT YOU TO BE AWARE THAT SPEAKERS IN FAVOR HAVE TO USE ONE, TWO MINUTES 45 SECONDS AND ANOTHER ONE, THE LADY THAT JUST SPOKE, THREE MINUTES AND 35 SECONDS.
[NOISE] SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME.
>> DID YOU GO OVER THE TIME? DID YOU GO OVER THE TIME, MADAM?
>> IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA, MR. MAYOR WHEN THEY HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT, SOMEBODY TELLS THEM THAT THEY HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.
>> I DID EXPECT THE CLERK TO WARN THEM AT THE 30-SECOND MARK.
>> SO WE'RE DOING TWO MINUTES, NOT A TOTAL OF 30 MINUTES. THAT'S CORRECT?
>> WE HAVE 15 MINUTES IN TOTAL.
>> FIFTEEN MINUTES AND FIVE SECONDS.
COMMENTS FROM THE OPPOSITION NOW.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS, MR. GARCIA.
I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 68 YEARS ALL MY LIFE AND THAT ONE LADY THAT SPOKE, SHE'S RIGHT THAT YOU DID PUT US ON A MAP, BUT IT WON'T BE A VERY GOOD REASON BEING ON THE MAP.
A DUI IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.
I WASN'T AWARE THAT THIS IS YOUR SECOND ONE.
I BELIEVE IF YOU'RE A CITY EMPLOYEE, WHICH I THINK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE, YOU WOULD'VE BEEN TERMINATED RIGHT ON THE SPOT.
SO MY FEELINGS ON THAT IS I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU RESIGN FROM THE CITY COUNCIL AND I THOUGHT YOU WERE ALREADY STEPPING DOWN AS MAYOR.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPENING TOO.
IN THAT PART ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL PREFERENCES, I WANTED TO HANG THEM ON THE FLAGPOLE.
THAT'S HORRIBLE. THAT'S TERRIBLE AND I WANT TO APPLAUD THE THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT DO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I SPENT SIX YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY UPHOLDING AND SUPPORTING THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND ALL THE LAWS AND CODES WITHIN IT.
ONE OF THOSE IS DUE PROCESS AND OBVIOUSLY WHAT YOU FOUR WANT TO DO IS CIRCUMVENT DUE PROCESS.
THE MAYOR IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
[00:40:08]
>> LET'S GET THROUGH THESE COMMENTS, FOLKS.
>> I HAPPENED TO BE GAY, ALSO, I HAD A GAY UNCLE BUT DIED AT KRAKADAUW DURING WORLD WAR II, HE'S BURIED IN KRAKADAUW.
I HAVE ANOTHER UNCLE THAT WAS BURIED IN JAPAN, THAT DIED IN THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN.
I COME FROM A LONG LINE OF VETERANS ALSO.
THERE ARE A LOT OF GAY VETERANS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GAY IN A SERVING TODAY.
SOME OF YOUR FINEST MILITARY PEOPLE.
MOSTLY YOUR TRANSLATORS AND YOUR INTELLIGENCE INTERPRETERS ARE GAY.
BECAUSE OF THE INTELLECT OF A GAY COMMUNITY.
THEY STRIVE TO BE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN.
WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS DISCOURAGING YOUR GAY YOUTH FROM EVEN GOING TO COLLEGE AND COMING BACK.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS EVA.
I JUST WANT TO READ SOMETHING THAT HAS RESONATED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC AND THROUGHOUT THIS SITUATION.
SAYS IF MY PEOPLE, WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES, AND PRAY, AND SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND WILL HEAL THEIR LAND.
THE CITY OF WASCO, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL LIFE, MAYOR.
I HAVE NIECES AND NEPHEWS THAT STILL LIVE HERE.
WASCO HAS BEEN ON THE NEWS FOR MANY REASONS, VIOLENCE, DRUGS DEATHS, AND NOW THIS SITUATION, I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A HEALING THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE HERE.
HEALING. GOD APPOINTED YOU TO THIS POSITION.
IT WASN'T YOU AND YOUR EFFORTS, HE WAS GOD APPOINTED.
YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED AND I PRAYED TO GOD THAT YOU TURN YOUR WAYS TO HIS.
I PRAY TO GOD THAT YOUR HEART IS HUMBLED AND YOU KNOW THE LOVE OF JESUS FOR YOU.
YES. THAT'S A GIVEN, WE'RE HUMANS. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THEM.
>> BUT WE HAVE A FATHER WHO FORGIVES AND I'M NOT SPEAKING HERE WHETHER YOU STEP UP OR DOWN, I PRAY THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD JUST SPEAKS TO YOUR HEART AND TELLS YOU WHAT TO DO AND THAT YOU FEEL HIS PRESENCE IN YOUR HEART.
WHAT I'M SAYING THOUGH IS THAT THIS CITY NEEDS HEALING.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT WHEN WE SUBMIT TO GOD, LIKE, UNLIKE IT WAS SAID EARLIER ABOUT NOBODY WILL COME, THAT'S NOT TRUE.
WHEN WE SUBMIT TO GOD, THERE WILL BE HEALING.
WHEN WE SUBMIT TO GOD THERE IS HOPE.
WHEN WE SUBMIT TO GOD, IT'S A CITY IN THE HILL.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM. NEXT SPEAKER IN SUPPORT.
DID YOU GET HER NAME? I'M SORRY.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS JUAN LOPEZ, FOR THE RECORD.
I JUST WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING TO EVERYBODY THAT YES, A DUI IS A BIG IMPACT ON ONE'S REPUTATION, BUT IT DOES NOT DEFINE WHO THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY AT ALL.
WE'VE HAD TO TOUCH ON THE SUBJECT THAT MAYOR ALEX HAS PUT WASCO ON THE NEWS FOR BAD REASONS.
BAD REASONS ONLY PERTAINING TO BAKERSFIELD, THE BAKERS, OR CALIFORNIA ABC IN BAKERSFIELD, WHICH IS PRIMARILY, I DON'T WANT TO SAY BUT PRIMARILY REPUBLICAN AND PRIMARILY WHITE AND PRIMARILY ANTI-GAY AND PRIMARILY ANTI-BLACK AND PRIMARILY ANTI, ANYTHING ELSE THAT ISN'T, IT DOES NOT STAND FOR EQUALITY.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE LA TIMES ACTUALLY INCLUDED MAYOR ALEX AND THE CITY OF WASCO FOR GOOD REASON.
FOR THE GOOD REASON OF WANTING TO BE A LITTLE MORE INCLUSIVE IN OUR CITY BY RAISING THE PRIDE FLAG.
ACTUALLY, THE BAD COMMENT THAT WAS ACTUALLY SAID COMES FROM OUR OWN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER VINCENT MARTINEZ WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO SPOKE, AND I QUOTE, "HAS BROUGHT UNWANTED ATTENTION TO OUR CITY OVER SOMETHING THAT IS SYMBOLIC OF FLAG, THAT IS SYMBOLIC OF EQUALITY." A FLAG THAT IS SYMBOLIC TO BRING YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE ME AND OUR OTHER ALEX HERE TO COME AND SPEAK UP FORTH OUR OWN MAYOR WHO IS ONE OF OURS, ONE OF OUR LOVELY COMMUNITY OF LGBT.
[00:45:02]
ALEX HAS DONE NOTHING BUT GREAT THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF THAT SHOULD GO UNSEEN WE'RE SEEING FOUR.YEAH, HE GIVES PEOPLE A VOICE.
UNLIKE SOME OF OUR MEMBERS SEEM LIKE THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE PEOPLE OF WASCO A VOICE, OR EVEN THE YOUNG PEOPLE A VOICE, AND ALEX IS NOTHING BUT THAT AND I THINK THAT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN BOTH SIDES. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IN OPPOSITION. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD EVENING, CITY LEADERS.
MY NAME IS SHARON NICOLE, AND JUST LIKE ALL OF YOU, I AM AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
I'M IN MY FIFTH YEAR OF SERVICES AS TOURIST DEAN ON THE WASCO HIGH SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
IT IS MY BELIEF AND ALSO THE EXPECTATION OF MANY VOTES THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO BE ABOVE REPROACH, AND AVOID EVEN THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY.
IT IS NOT MY JOB TO JUDGE WHETHER OUR MAYOR IS GUILTY, BUT THE FACT IS THERE ARE CHARGES AGAINST HIM.
THOSE CHARGES GIVE THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY.
THE REASON I AM A BOARD MEMBER IS BECAUSE I SINCERELY CARE AND HAVE COMPASSION FOR THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY.
MY DESIRES THAT THEY WOULD HAVE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR THEIR CITY LEADERS.
THE ULTIMATE CITY LEADER BEING OUR MAYOR.
OUR MAYOR MUST BE ABOVE REPROACH, OR HE IS DOING A DISSERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY, AND SPECIFICALLY TO THE CHILDREN WHO LOOK UP TO HIM. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MS. NICOLE, ANY COMMENTS IN SUPPORT? [NOISE]
>> I'M HERE AS A MEMBER OF THE YOUTH WHO IS UNDER AGE.
I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TALKING ABOUT HOW MAYOR GARCIA IS NOT A GOOD ROLE MODEL FOR YOUTH.
BUT I'M HERE AS A YOUTH TO SAY THAT HE IS A GOOD ROLE MODEL FOR ME, ESPECIALLY.
I THINK A WEEK AGO I SAW MAYOR GARCIA IS THE YOUNGEST MAYOR.
I WANT TO BECOME THE YOUNGEST MAYOR.
I WANT TO TRY TO BEAT THAT ROLE.
[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] HE'S PUSHING ME TO ENTER PUBLIC SERVICE.
[NOISE] BUT ALSO I WANT TO SAY THAT RECENTLY, THIS PAST YEAR, I HAVE FELT WELCOME AND ACCEPTED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I FEEL LIKE THERE WAS A SAFE SPACE CREATED FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME AND THAT'S ALL THANKS TO MAYOR GARCIA.
HE EMBODIES EQUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE THAT THERE'S BEEN A LACK OF IN WASCO AND JUST ENROLL KERN COUNTY.
I DO NOT CONDONE WHAT MR. MAYOR GARCIA DID, BUT THAT HASN'T AFFECTED HIS ROLE AS MAYOR.
IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT MUCH OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE ARE FOCUSING ON THIS, INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON IMPORTANT ISSUES SUCH AS THE HOMELESS CRISIS OR THE LABOR CAMP, WHICH IS MAKING THE CRIME RATES RISE.
I STRONGLY URGE THAT THIS COUNCIL DROP THIS ISSUE AND FOCUS ON MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES.
I APPLAUD MAYOR GARCIA FOR FIGHTING FOR EVERYONE IN THIS CITY, FIGHTING FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR LIKE ME
>> FIGHTING FOR LGBTQ MEMBERS LIKE ME.
THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU, ALEX. [APPLAUSE] COMMENTS IN THE OPPOSITION.
>> MY NAME IS DARREN [INAUDIBLE] LONGTIME MEMBER OF WASCO, LONG TIME, 20 YEARS AS A CITY COUNCIL.
WE'RE MISSING THE BIG ISSUE HERE.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT LGBTQ ISSUE, THIS IS A MORAL AND ETHIC ISSUE WE'RE DEALING WITH ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPONSIBILITY.
THAT'S THE ISSUE WE'RE DEALING WITH.
AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, LOOK AT THE BACK OF YOUR SHIRT.
YOU HAVE A BIG TARGET LIKE THIS.
WHEN I WAS THE COUNCIL MEMBER, WE ARE HELD TO A BIGGER AND HIGHER STANDARD, RESPONSIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY.
EVERYBODY HAS THEIR EYES ON EVERY FIVE OF YOU, INCLUDING THE CITY MANAGER.
DECISIONS YOU HAVE TO MAKE ARE HARD.
A FRIEND OF MINE TOLD ME WHEN I COME INTO THOSE DOORS, FRIENDSHIP ENDS.
IT'S ALL ABOUT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY.
NOT BEST FOR MY LIFESTYLE, NOT BEST FOR WHAT I DO AFTER WORK, DURING WORK OR WHATEVER.
ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPONSIBILITY, TOUGH DECISIONS, YOU HAVE TO MAKE.
THE GRAY HAIRS I HAD HERE, WORKING HERE 'TIL ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
[00:50:01]
GETTING US OUT OF A GOLF COURSE, THE BAKERY.THOSE ARE THE HARD ISSUES WE HAD TO DEAL WITH BACK THEN. THIS IS NOTHING.
DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE COMMUNITY, NOT FOR YOURSELVES.
YOU'RE MISSING THE PICTURE. EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE.
IT'S NOT A GAY ISSUE. IT'S NOT.
>> [APPLAUSE] I WANT TO SAY THAT THE GAY ISSUE IS NOT IN MY OPINION.
I'M A RETIRED CITY COUNCIL BY WORKING FOR WHAT'S' BEST INTERESTS [OVERLAPPING] [NOISE]
>> I GOT 19 SECONDS, I GOT YOU.
>> ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL, TO BE RESPECTFUL.
>> I RESPECT ALEX TREMENDOUSLY, WERE RELATED, AND I RESPECT HIM A LOT.
BUT DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY.
ASKING EVERYONE TO BE RESPECTFUL OF ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS THIS EVENING, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ORTENCIA CABRAL, AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF ALEX GARCIA.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT HE HAS DONE IN THE COVID EFFORTS LAST YEAR.
I THINK HE'S AN OUTSTANDING HUMAN BEING. IS HE PERFECT? NO, NONE OF US ARE.
I THINK IF SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE CAN OVERLOOK THE LAST FOUR YEARS THAT WE EXPERIENCE UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND THEY GAVE HIM CHANCES OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHERE HE JAILED CHILDREN AT THE BORDERS, WHERE HE'S TALKING ABOUT CAT GRABBING AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT AND MAKE IT OKAY, I THINK ALEX GARCIA DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE.
>> TWO MINUTES AND 39 SECONDS FOR THE TOTAL 30 MINUTE.
>> THAT'S YOUR LAST SPEAKER. OPPOSITION?
>> IF NONE WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE SUPPORTER.
>> HI, MY NAME IS MICHELLE HERNANDEZ AND I'VE LIVED HERE PRETTY MUCH 90 PERCENT OF MY LIFE.
THE SITUATION ISN'T GAY OR ANYTHING.
I HAVE 32 YEARS OF FEDERAL SERVICE, AND I TOOK MY OATH OF OFFICE IN 1990.
THEN THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT. IT'S ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.
I'VE WORKED FOR THE IRS, THEY GIVE US A LIST OF WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE CAN'T DO.
IF I CHOOSE TO MAKE THE WRONG DECISION THEN GUESS WHAT, THEY'RE GOING TO WALK ME RIGHT OUT THE DOOR.
THE MAYOR, ALL THE WAY DOWN, ALL THE COUNCIL MEN, JUST [INAUDIBLE] SAID, YOU GUYS ARE WEARING THE TARGET.
WE ALL ARE WEARING THE TARGETS WHEN WE ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS.
BUT WE HAVE TO STAND UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
SAME THING WITH ME. IF I GOT A DUI, I COULD LOSE MY JOB TOO.
BUT I'VE ALSO COME FROM THE OTHER SIDE WHERE I HAD A FAMILY MEMBER THAT LOST THEIR FATHER BECAUSE OF A DRUNK DRIVER, AND THAT GIRL'S LIFE, SHE'S ABOUT 45 AND HER LIFE IS OUT OF CONTROL NOW.
SHE ONLY ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE WHEN SHE LOST HER FATHER AND THAT'S WHAT WE GOT TO SEE AS THE WHOLE THING.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ENJOYING A BEER AND GETTING IN A CAR.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO IMPACT.
JUST THINK ABOUT CITY OF WASCO.
HOW MANY KIDS ARE WALKING ACROSS THE STREET.
I HAVE LOT OF NIECES AND NEPHEWS HERE, AND I WOULDN'T EVER WANT THEM TO GET HIT BY A DRUNK DRIVER.
SO WE ALL HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE, NOT JUST THE MAYOR, ANY OF US DO.
IT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. [APPLAUSE]
>> FIFTY TWO SECONDS FOR THE 30 MINUTES TO BE UP SO THAT AT THIS TIME, I WOULD SAY.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LAURIE PESANTE.
I SEE THAT WHEN I PASS THROUGH THE DOORS, IT SAID CITY OF WASCO.
IT DIDN'T SAY JURY DELIBERATION.
IT DIDN'T SAY SUPERIOR COURT, KERN COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT.
I FIND IT DEEPLY IRONIC TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN DEEPLY IGNORANT CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN HAD HERE, TONIGHT AND THEY HAVE GONE UNANSWERED.
APPROXIMATELY CONSERVATIVELY SPEAKING, 10 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IS LGBTQ.
STUDIES ARE SHOWING THAT GEN X LATINO KIDS, 22 PERCENT IDENTIFY.
HOW MANY OF THOSE KIDS, GIVEN THE DEARTH OF HOMOPHOBIC AND IGNORANT COMMENTS WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT.
>> MA'AM MINUTES ARE [INAUDIBLE].
>> MS. PESANTE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
[00:55:12]
>> MADAM CLERK, YOU CAN NOW READ OUT THE COMMENTS, RIGHT? YEAH. 30 MINUTES ARE UP OF COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM.
WE DID HAVE A TOTAL OF 20 EMAILS IN SUPPORT OF ALEX GARCIA.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK [APPLAUSE] [NOISE].
MADAM CLERK, OUR FOLKS, I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THIS DISCUSSION IS STILL ACCEPTING FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS UNTIL THE MOMENT THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED THIS EVENING.
OH NO, I'M SORRY, I APOLOGIZE FOR GETTING TOO EXCITED THERE.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR'S, SORRY FROM THE MEMBER'S MAYOR PRO TEM MARINA.
I WOULD REFER TO GIVE THEIR MEMBERS BEFORE I SPEAK.
YES I DO. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
I HAVE A WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT WAY I DON'T GET OFF-TOPIC.
I LIKE THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CAN NOW REMOVE MAYOR GARCIA FROM HIS ELECTED SEAT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
THAT CAN ONLY BE CHANGED BY THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
BUT THE MAYOR SERVES AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL AND BY DEFAULT, IT IS WITHIN OUR PURVIEW AS YOUR ELECTED COUNCIL TO RELIEVE HIM FROM HIS ROLE AS MAYOR IF IT SEES FIT.
MAYOR GARCIA CAN CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND CONTINUE HIS WORK ON THE CAUSES THAT HE HAS BEEN WORKING ON AS MAYOR.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, MOST OF OUR WORK IS DONE WHEN WE ARE NOT THE MAYOR.
WE WON'T BE TAKING A VOTE TONIGHT ON THIS ISSUE RATHER, THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION IS TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A CONSENSUS AMONGST THE COUNCIL TO AGENDA IS AN ACTION ITEM AT OUR NEXT MEETING IN ORDER TO COMPLY THE BROWN ACT REQUIREMENTS.
I WILL BE THE FIRST TO SAY, WE ARE ALL FALLIBLE AND IN NO WAY AM I SAYING THAT I HAVEN'T MADE MY SHARE OF MISTAKES.
BUT WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE OF THIS MAGNITUDE, WHILE HOLDING THE HIGHEST HONORARY POSITION IN OUR CITY, YOU ARE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD.
[NOISE] MAYOR GARCIA HAS DONE SOME AMAZING THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
HIS ENERGY AND HIS PASSION TO IMPROVE OUR CITY RIVALS MY OWN.
BUT THAT DOES NOT ABSOLVE HIM FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS ACTIONS.
I DO NOT TAKE PLEASURE FROM HAVING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
I CONSIDER MYSELF A FRIEND AND BIG SUPPORTER OF MAYOR GARCIA.
THAT IS WHY THIS TERRORS MY HEART, BUT MY FEALTY MUST REMAIN STEADFAST IN LOOKING TO THE FUTURE OF OUR WONDERFUL CITY.
I MUST PUT MY FRIENDSHIPS AND PERSONAL FEELINGS ASIDE WHEN I SIT ON THIS CHAIR, EXCUSE ME. LIKE MANY GOOD MEN, WE HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION TO WHICH BRINGS US TO THE DISCUSSION TODAY.
I BELIEVE THAT A SELFLESS ACT OF HUMILITY AND CONTRITION COULD HAVE SAVED THIS COMMUNITY FROM UNNECESSARY ANCHOR A SPEAKING UP AGAINST THEIR MAYOR.
I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT AFTER HEARING SOME OF THE RESIDENTS SPEAK TONIGHT, YOU WOULD RECONSIDER AND VOLUNTARILY STEPPED DOWN AS MAYOR.
MAYOR GARCIA, IT MAY NOT FEEL IT RIGHT NOW BUT I'M HERE FOR YOU AS A FRIEND [BACKGROUND] AS I HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST, WILL CONTINUE TO BE INTO THE FUTURE.
[01:00:03]
REGARDLESS OF THE OUT COME OF THESE DISCUSSIONS, I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS FOR A GREAT CITY. THANK YOU.THERE'S TWO SEPARATE BUT I THINK EQUALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES TO DISCUSS HERE TONIGHT.
ONE IS YOUR DUI ARREST, AND ONE IS THE RESPONSE THAT YOU'VE GIVEN SINCE YOUR DUI ARREST, YOUR CONDUCT SINCE THEN.
I THINK IT'S NAIVE TO SAY THAT THIS ISN'T A DISTRACTION FOR OUR COMMUNITY, LOOK AT THIS ROOM THAT'S FULL.
I CAN'T WALK INTO LOCAL WALMART WITHOUT HAVING SOMEBODY APPROACH ME TO ASK ME WHY YOU HAVEN'T RESIGNED YET.
MY KIDS HAVE BEEN ASKED ABOUT IT BY THEIR COWORKERS, THEIR COACHES, THEIR TEACHERS, THEIR FRIENDS.
I GOT A PIZZA DELIVERED THE OTHER DAY AND THE DELIVERY DRIVER WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT.
THIS IS CONSUMED THIS COMMUNITY, I SENT OUT AN EMAIL LAST WEEK TO OUR COMMUNITY TASK FORCE ABOUT THE LOCAL ROAD SAFETY MEETING AND THE FIRST RESPONSE I GOT BACK WAS HERE'S A ROAD SAFETY TIP, KEEP THE MIRROR OFF THE ROAD.
THOSE ARE THE RESPONSES WE'RE GETTING FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS MAY NOT BE UNCOMFORTABLE FOR YOU, BUT THIS HAS BEEN UNCOMFORTABLE FOR OUR CITY STAFF, FOR THIS COUNCIL, AND FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
I HAD A STAFF MEMBER APPROACH ME BEFORE OUR LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND ASK IF I FELT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SHOULD REMOVE THE PORTION ABOUT THE DUI AWARDS THAT WERE AWARDED TO OUR LOCAL DEPUTIES BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE UNCOMFORTABLE FOR YOU.
THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING OUR CITY AND OUR EMPLOYEES.
OUR CITY HAS A ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR US REGARDING DRUNK DRIVING.
YOU RECENTLY MADE THE COMMENT THAT YOU WERE NOT ON CITY TIME WHEN YOU WERE ARRESTED, THAT'S SOMEHOW EXCUSES THE BEHAVIOR.
WHEN YOU ARE THE FACE OF A COMMUNITY YOU ARE ALWAYS ON THE CITY'S TIME.
THERE'S NEVER A TIME WHEN YOU'RE NOT REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITY, GOOD OR BAD.
BUT OUR EMPLOYEE POLICY WOULD STATE THAT DEPENDING ON YOUR JOB CLASSIFICATION IF YOU'RE ARRESTED FOR A DUI EVEN OFF DUTY, YOU COULD BE PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE OR ADMINISTRATIVELY REASSIGNED PENDING THE OUTCOME OF YOUR CRIMINAL COURT CASE.
WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF PLACING YOU ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE OR ADMINISTRATIVELY RE-ASSIGN YOU FROM THE POSITION OF MAYOR PENDING YOUR COURT CASE, AND FOR SOME CITY EMPLOYEES IF THEY ARE CONVICTED THEY WOULD BE TERMINATED.
SO HOW DO WE HAVE ONE STANDARD OF CONDUCT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES BUT THE MAYORS EXEMPT FROM WHAT WE EXPECT OF OUR CITY STAFF.
[INAUDIBLE] FOR FIRST THE COMMENTS.
MADAM CLERK [NOISE]. [INAUDIBLE]
>> UNFORTUNATELY, AS ELECTED LEADERS, AS BUSINESS OWNERS, AS CITY OFFICIALS, WE HAVE TO JUDGE AND EVALUATE EMPLOYEES ON A DAILY BASIS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE NEVER BE ABLE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS OR TERMINATE EMPLOYEES OR PROMOTE EMPLOYEES IF WE WEREN'T CONDUCTING EVALUATIONS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THE CONCEPT OF INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AS A CRIMINAL COURT CONSTRUCT.
IT APPLIES WHEN SOMEBODY'S LIBERTY IS AT STAKE AS IT SHOULD WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT [LAUGHTER] THE TERM INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY APPEARS NOWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
THERE IS. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] LOOK IT UP, GOOGLE IT [LAUGHTER].
>> [NOISE] LET'S BE RESPECTFUL.
[NOISE] THAT IS MY LAST WARNING.
I WILL HAVE ORDER IN MY CHAMBER.
>> THANK YOU, MS. MAYOR. WHEN IT COMES TO AN ALLEGATION, I THINK WE COULD ALL AGREE THAT THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE A MERE ALLEGATION WITHOUT A CONVICTION WOULD WARRANT REMOVAL OF THE MAYOR.
THE QUESTION IS, WHERE'S THAT LINE IN THIS END AND ALLEGATION OF A SERIOUS SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HOMICIDE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
CLEARLY, WE WOULD ALL AGREE THAT WITHOUT A CONVICTION THAT WE WOULD IMMEDIATELY DEMAND FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE MAYOR.
THE QUESTION IS, WHERE DO WE DRAW THE LINE IN THIS END? DO WE DRAW IT AT A DUI? HOW ABOUT IF IT'S YOUR SECOND DUI ARREST? BECAUSE THE MAYOR HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY ARRESTED FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND IT WAS PLEA BARGAIN DOWN TO A RECKLESS DRIVING AND HAD TO SUBMIT TO A WET AND RECKLESS COUNSELING PROGRAM, I BELIEVE IT WAS.
I BELIEVE THAT THAT DOES WARRANT THE REMOVAL OF THE MAYOR.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE MAYOR'S CONDUCT SINCE HIS ARREST.
THE CHAPTER PRESS BROKE THIS STORY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE STORY WAS POSTED ON THEIR WEBSITE, THEY RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE OFFICE OF ALEX GARCIA.
[01:05:01]
NOW, WHAT THE OFFICE OF ALEX GARCIA IS? I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A CITY OFFICE OF ALEX GARCIA.BUT THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR MAYOR GARCIA PARADED THE REPORTER WHO BROKE THIS STORY AND TRIED TO INTIMIDATE HIM INTO CHANGING THE WAY THAT THE STORY WAS WRITTEN.
I BELIEVE THAT'S HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE.
I BELIEVE THAT'S AN IMPROPER USE OF YOUR AUTHORITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY TO DIRECT PEOPLE UNDER YOU [BACKGROUND] [NOISE] TO ATTEMPT TO CHANGE HOW THE MEDIA REPORTS A STORY.
NOW, AM I UPSET TONIGHT? I AM, AND I HAVE A VERY VALID REASON FOR BEING UPSET.
THE MAYOR'S MADE MULTIPLE FALSE AND MISLEADING CLAIMS ABOUT THIS COUNCIL, ABOUT THIS CITY AND A SPECIFICALLY ABOUT ME, AND I DID TAKE IT PERSONAL.
BECAUSE FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS, CONTRARY TO POPULAR OPINION, I HAVE DEFENDED THE MAYOR'S CHARACTER EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT AGREE WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE HAD DONE.
BUT I CAN'T DEFEND YOUR CHARACTER ANYMORE MR. MAYOR, WHEN YOU'RE MAKING STATEMENTS THAT YOU KNOW ARE FALSE.
YOU WENT ON A PODCAST LAST WEEK AND SAID THAT THIS IS A POLITICAL HIT JOB BY THE MACHINE IN KERN COUNTY TRYING TO SILENCE YOU, BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T SUPPORT YOUR POLITICS.
ALTHOUGH YOU DIDN'T SAY MY NAME, EVERYBODY WHO LISTENED TO THAT PODCAST KNEW YOU WERE REFERENCING ME AND YOU SAID I'M DOING IT BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
MR. MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW WHAT POINT I BECAME HOMOPHOBIC BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW I THOUGHT.
I'VE SUPPORTED YOU, I'VE ATTENDED YOUR EVENTS, I'VE DONE INTERVIEWS WITH YOU, I'VE SHARED YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.
WE'VE HAD A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP, I THOUGHT.
BUT SUDDENLY WHEN YOU GOT ARRESTED AND I WANTED YOU TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ALLEGATIONS THAT I WAS HOMOPHOBIC SURFACE.
YOU PAINTED THIS NARRATIVE I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN BY THE POLITICAL MACHINE IN KERN COUNTY BUT I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THERE HAS BEEN NO CONSPIRACY BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
I HAVEN'T HAD ANY CONTACT WITH ANY REPUBLICAN PARTY LEADERSHIP, HAD CONTACT WITH SOME OF THESE PEOPLE SITTING OUT HERE TONIGHT.
BUT YOU ALSO CONVENIENTLY FAIL TO MENTION THAT MEMBER CORTES IS A REGISTERED DEMOCRAT AND HAS BEEN A VOCAL AND SUPPORTIVE MEMBER OR MEMBER OF, BUT HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY FOR YEARS IN OUR CITY.
BUT THAT DOESN'T FIT THE NARRATIVE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PAY, THAT YOU'RE BEING PERSECUTED, AND I FIND THAT DISGUSTING.
I FIND IT OFFENSIVE BECAUSE YOU KNOW MY POLITICS, YOU KNOW I'M A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN, BUT I'M ALSO A REPUBLICAN WHO IS VERY LIBERAL ON SOCIAL ISSUES.
WE'VE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
YOU KNOW THAT YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
I WAS HURT THAT YOU MADE THOSE ALLEGATIONS.
I WAS OFFENDED THAT YOU MADE THOSE ALLEGATIONS.
I DIDN'T JUST LEARN OF YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS, I'VE KNOWN THAT FOR YEARS.
I WANT TO KNOW AT WHAT POINT I BECAME HOMOPHOBIC AND WAS I HOMOPHOBIC WHENEVER I VOTED FOR YOU FOR MAYOR? LAST SUMMER THERE WAS A MOVEMENT IN MOSCOW CALLED REFORM MOSCOW, OHIO.
THAT MOVEMENT STARTED AS AN LGBTQ PLUS ISSUE WITHIN THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT GREW INTO MORE THAN JUST THAT, BUT IT WAS A VERY DIVISIVE ISSUE.
I DIDN'T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THOSE KIDS SAID, AND I DIDN'T AGREE WITH THE WAY THAT THEY HANDLED SOME THINGS.
BUT SOME OF THEIR ALLEGATIONS WERE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND I FELT THERE WAS A CONVERSATION THAT NEEDED TO BE HAD.
I' M THE ONLY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO SAT DOWN WITH THOSE KIDS AND DID AN INTERVIEW.
I HAVE THE LARGEST SOCIAL MEDIA REACH OF ANYBODY UP HERE.
I SHARED THAT VIDEO AND I GOT THOUSANDS OF VIEWS AND I HAD THE DISCUSSION.
WHERE WERE YOU AT, MR. MAYOR YOU ARE ODDLY QUIET.
WHAT IS IT THAT YOU SAID? WHY YOU COULDN'T BE ASSOCIATED WITH THEM? BECAUSE IT WAS A TOUCHY SUBJECT, IT WAS CONTROVERSIAL.
WHAT YOU MEANT WAS YOU HAD A RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN TO RUN LAST SUMMER AND YOU DON'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN IT.
YOU ARE CONTENT TO SIT ON THE SIDELINES AND LET ME TAKE THE HEAT FOR IT, WHICH I DID.
YOU WEREN'T CALLING ME HOMOPHOBIC THEN YOU WERE SUPPORTIVE OF ME THEN.
YOU'VE ALSO MADE THINGS ABOUT RACE.
YOU'VE MADE COMMENTS LIKE, YOU DIDN'T THINK YOU COULD BE ELECTED IN THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE YOU'RE BROWN.
HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE REST OF THIS COUNCIL? [LAUGHTER] I'M THE CLOSEST THING TO BE IN WHITE UP HERE AND MY LAST NAME IS MARTINEZ.
COUNCIL MEMBER CORTES HAS BEEN ON THIS COUNCIL SINCE YOU ARE A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL.
[INAUDIBLE] HAS SERVED DISTINGUISHLY ON THIS COUNCIL FOR TWO DECADES,
[01:10:01]
WENT ALL THE WAY BACK TO WHEN YOU WERE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.YOU'RE SO QUICK TO LABEL PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY AS BEING RACIST AND HOMOPHOBIC THAT YOU'VE CREATED DIVISION.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT RACE, THIS ISN'T ABOUT GAY PRIDE.
YES, WE DISAGREED ON AN ISSUE THAT WAS IT.
MR. MAYOR, THIS IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT THIS HAS COME TO THIS.
I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE YOU HAVE FRAMED THIS AND INFLAMED PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IT'S NOT, AND YOU BECOME VERY DIVISIVE.
I'VE HAD COUNTLESS CONSTITUENTS REACH OUT TO ME NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE GAY, BUT BECAUSE OF YOUR RECENT COMMENTS IN YOUR RECENT ARREST AND TELL ME THEY DON'T WANT YOU AT THEIR COMMUNITY EVENTS.
THEY FEEL THAT YOU BECOME SO DIVISIVE THAT THEY DON'T WANT YOU ASSOCIATED WITH THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING.
THAT'S SAD BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF GOOD FOR THIS COMMUNITY, AND I HAVE STOOD UP FOR YOU.
MANY TIMES MY QUOTE TO THE MOSCOW TRIBUNE, WHENEVER I VOTED FOR YOU FROM MAYOR AND THEY ASKED ME WHY.
I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, ALEX AND I DON'T AGREE ON A LOT OF THINGS.
BUT I'VE ALWAYS FOUND HIM TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND WILLING TO LISTEN EVEN IF PEOPLE HE DOESN'T AGREE WITH HIM.
I TOOK SOME CRITICISM FOR VOTING FOR YOU FOR MAYOR AND THE CRITICISM THAT I GOT WAS HOW COULD I VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT FOR MAYOR? I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE THE SAME THING.
IT WAS A CONVERSATION YOU AND I HAD A FEW YEARS AGO WE WERE AT AN EVENT AND SOMEBODY SAID SOMETHING ABOUT A REPUBLICAN DEMOCRAT ISSUE.
>> LET'S KEEP IT DOWN IN THE AUDIENCE VOTES.
>> YOU TURNED AROUND AND YOU LOOKED AT ME AND YOU SAID VINCE "YOU'RE A CONSERVATIVE I'M NEVER GOING TO CONVINCE YOU YOU'RE WRONG.
I'M A LIBERAL, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO CONVINCE ME I'M WRONG." YOU SAID TO ME "INSTEAD OF ARGUING ABOUT IT AND PUTTING A STRAIN ON OUR FRIENDSHIP, LET'S AGREE NOT TO TALK ABOUT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT CITY POLITICS, CITY POLITICS ARE ABOUT WATER, ROADS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
THAT IS NOT A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT ISSUE, THAT AS A PEOPLE ISSUE." I RESPECTED YOU SO MUCH FOR SAYING THAT.
I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT VERY HIGHLY OF YOU BECAUSE OF THAT MATURITY IN THAT DISCUSSION.
BUT NOW BECAUSE WE'VE DISAGREED SOMEHOW, I'M THIS EVIL PERSON WHO'S OUT TO RUIN YOUR POLITICAL CAREER.
LIKE I SAID I COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE CASE.
I'M DISAPPOINTED IN YOUR BEHAVIOR.
I DO THINK THAT YOU NEED TO STEP DOWN SO THAT THIS COUNCIL ISN'T FORCED TO VOTE ON REMOVING YOU FROM YOUR MAYOR POSITION.
RESOLVE YOUR ISSUES, APOLOGIZE TO THIS COMMUNITY AND APOLOGIZE TO THE PEOPLE YOU'VE OFFENDED BY CALLING THEM HOMOPHOBIC AND RACIST.
PEOPLE WILL FORGIVE YOU, AND YOU CAN BE RIGHT BACK HERE IN NO TIME AT ALL AS MAYOR. THANK YOU.
>> WELL, HOW DO I FOLLOW THAT?
>> I'M GOING TO KEEP MY COMMENTS SHORT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I DON'T HAVE THE PANACHE OR THE WAY TO EXPRESS MYSELF CLEARLY.
DUI IS ONE OF THE MOST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL IT, TART STABBING ISSUES THAT I HAVE.
IT'S NOT A THING I CAN TALK ABOUT EASILY.
IF YOU EVER HAD A FAMILY MEMBER THAT GOES THROUGH THAT, YOU KNOW THE HURT THAT HAPPENS TO THE WHOLE FAMILY.
I JUST WANT TO FOCUS, SO TONIGHT WE NEED A CONSENSUS OF WHAT MR. CITY MANAGER, WHAT DO WE NEED TO FOCUS ON FOR TONIGHT?
>> WE REQUEST TONIGHT COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR DIRECTION TO STAFF ON WHETHER OR NOT TO AGENDIZE AN ITEM AT THE NEXT MEETING OR A FOLLOWING MEETING TO HOLD A VOTE TO EITHER CONFIRM MR. GARCIA AS THE MAYOR GOING FORWARD OR TO NAME A NEW MAYOR GOING FORWARD?
>> THANK YOU MAYOR. OF ALL OF US HERE AT THE TIES, I'M PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED A COALITION BROUGHT ABOUT BY A DRUNK DRIVER.
[NOISE] THIS HAPPENED MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.
WE WERE ON OUR WAY FROM WASCO TO BAKERS SALE AND AROUND CALIFORNIA AVENUE [NOISE] THERE HAD BEEN A LIGHT RAIN.
[01:15:02]
MY WIFE AND I WERE SIDE-BY-SIDE IN THE FRONT SEATS, MY CHILDREN IN THE BACKSEAT, SMALL CAR.WE CAME TO THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT, AS YOU KNOW WHEN IT FIRST RAINS THE ROADS ARE SLICK.
I WAS ON THE SECOND TO THE FIRST LANE AND THAT'S WHERE THE ACCIDENT WAS.
THE LANE WAS BLOCKED UP AHEAD IN ORDER NOT TO HIT BECAUSE IT JUST HAD HAPPENED, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE.
I MOVED QUICKLY TO THE FIRST LANE WHICH WAS BLOCKED ALSO BY A VEHICLE THAT WAS WITH THIS WHEELS UP.
MY WIFE INSTINCTIVELY LOOKED BACK AND SHE SAID, "THAT TRUCK COMING FAST IS NOT GOING TO STOP." I TRIED TO MOVE MY CAR TO THE RIGHT TO THE SECOND TO THE FIRST LANE WHERE I WAS BEFORE BUT SOMEBODY BLOCKED ME FROM ENTERING THE LANE.
I HAD MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND SUDDENLY THIS 1970S TRACK HIT US AROUND 70 MILES AN HOUR.
NOW, THAT WAS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF US.
WITNESSES SAID THAT MY CAR BECAME AIRBORNE BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT AND THE ONLY REASON WHY WE SURVIVED IS BECAUSE MY FOOT WAS ALREADY ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THAT IT MANAGED SOME OF THE IMPACT THAT 70 MILES HAD.
WE HIT ALL THE CARS, AMBULANCE CAME, WE ALL WENT TO THE HOSPITAL.
MY YOUNGEST SON HAD THREE NON-DISPLACED CALLED FRACTURES.
MY OLDER SON HAD AN IMPACTED TOOTH AND MANY BUMPS AND BRUISES.
MY WIFE HAD MANY BUMPS AND BRUISES.
THE ONLY ONE THAT ALMOST CAME OUT ON SKATE OUT OF THIS WAS ME BECAUSE I HAD THE WHOLE OF THE STEERING WHEEL.
BUT THE IMPACT WAS SO STRONG THAT AN IMPACT, AS YOU KNOW I WENT FORWARD AND THEN BACKWARDS, MY SEAT BACK LENDED ON MY SON WHO WAS SITTING BEHIND ME.
THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND THIS IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MAYOR BEING A MEMBER OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY, IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT.
IT'S ABOUT THE MAYOR MAKING A DECISION THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS, JUST LIKE IT WAS FOR US WHEN THIS IDIOT BACK THEN DECIDED TO GET ON A TRUCK AND DRIVE WHILE BEING DRUNK.
HE HAD A GIRLFRIEND WITH HIM, NOTHING HAPPENED TO THEM.
WHEN IT WAS TIME TO MAKE A PLEA, HE WANTED TO GO OUT WITHOUT ANY GAO AND SO I BROUGHT PICTURES AND I SAID, "JUDGE, I WANT TO SHOW YOU THIS.
I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THESE PICTURES OF OUR VEHICLE, OF MY FAMILY, MYSELF, ALL THE BRUISES, ALL THE BUMPS THAT WE HAD BECAUSE THIS INDIVIDUAL DECIDED THAT HE WAS GOING TO DRIVE DRUNK." THAT'S WHAT IT IS ABOUT, ABOUT NOTHING ELSE.
IT'S ABOUT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY ABOUT THE ACTIONS THAT YOU TAKE.
DON'T BE FOOLED BY ALL THIS TALK ABOUT GAY AND ABOUT PRIDE, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
MAYOR GARCIA, I'VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED YOU.
YOU KNOW THAT. IT HURTS ME TO HEAR YOU MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY BEING HOMOPHOBIC AND OTHERWISE BEING NEGATIVE ABOUT YOU.
I VOTED FOR YOU TO BE MAYOR TWICE.
THAT'S RECOGNIZING TALENT WHERE TALENT EXISTS.
BUT I'M TELLING YOU, THIS TALK ABOUT GAYNESS AND ABOUT PRIDE AND ALL THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUE AT HAND.
THAT IS THAT MAYOR GARCIA DECIDED TO DRIVE DRUNK, EXPOSING HIMSELF AND OTHERS LIKE MYSELF TO BE INJURED AND EVEN KILLED.
THAT'S WHAT THE ISSUE IS ABOUT.
[01:20:02]
THE STAFF NEEDS DIRECTION I SAY BRING THOSE BACK SO THAT WE CAN VOTE ON THIS ISSUE OR NOTHING ELSE.I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS ON THAT ITEM.
>> WILL THERE BE DIRECTION TO STAFF?
>> WELL, YOU HAVE THE DIRECTION, RIGHT, CITY MANAGER? YOU HEARD THE COMMENTS THIS EVENING.
I HAVE CLEAR DIRECTION FROM MAYOR PRO TEM.
IF THE OTHERS AGREE WITH THAT, AT LEAST THREE, THEN ABSOLUTELY, WE'LL BRING IT BACK.
>> I CONCUR WITH MAYOR PRO TEM AGREEMENT.
>> MADAM CLERK, YOU HAVE YOUR DIRECTION? OKAY.
>> I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM MR. PALLARES.
>> VERY WELL. MOVING ON TO ITEM 12C.
[12) c. Consideration of amending the handling of Administrative Leave for Director-Level staff employment contracts to conform with changes to employment contracts previously approved by City Council]
CONSIDERATION OF AMENDING THE HANDLING OF ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE FOR DIRECTOR LEVEL STAFF EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS TO CONFIRM WITH CHANGES TO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL. CITY MANAGER HURLBERT.>> HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THIS ITEM IS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THE PREVIOUS CORRECTION OF THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT.
IN THOSE EARLIER CONTRACTS, THE DISPOSITION OF ACCRUED VACATION WAS TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN ACCRUED ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.
IRS HAS ISSUED AND OTHER AGENCIES HAVE ISSUED DIRECTION IN THAT REGARD THAT THE TWO SHOULD BE HANDLED IDENTICALLY.
ALONG WITH CORRECTING MY CONTRACT AND THE OUTGOING CITY MANAGER, WE HAVE THE OTHER DIRECTOR LEVEL EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS THAT NEED THIS SAME CORRECTION.
IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET, YOU HAD COPIES OF THOSE CONTRACTS, YOU HAVE COPIES OF THE PROPOSED AMENDED PARAGRAPH, AND THE BACKUP FROM MY CONTRACT.
IT ONLY CHANGES THAT ASPECT OF THE CONTRACT.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE.
>> ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS, MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED, MADAM CLERK.
>> MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CORTES, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA TO APPROVE ITEM 12C.
MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
>> MOVING ON TO REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES, ITEM 13A.
CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
>> VERY WELL. 12B CURRENT COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
[13) b. Kern Council of Government]
I ATTENDED THIS PREVIOUS MEETING AND REPRESENTED THE CITY OF WASCO.WE DISCUSSED PRIMARILY, MR. HAKIMI IS LEAVING, CURRENT COG.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD WITH DISCUSSING HIS REPLACEMENT, COMING UP HERE IN A YEAR, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN TOPICS OF DISCUSSION.
REGARDING CALTRANS UPDATES ON 46 IN THE LOST HILLS AREA, AS FAR AS THE EXPANSION TO FOUR LANES WERE SHARED BY OUR CALTRANS DISTRICT DIRECTOR, OUR DISTRICT 6 REPRESENTATIVE.
[13) c. Wasco Task Force]
MARTINEZ AND REYNA?>> UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS WERE ON VACATION FOR OUR LAST MEETING SO WE ONLY HAD A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE THERE.
ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT ISSUES THAT CAME UP WAS MISS [INAUDIBLE] WAS BRINGING BACK THE WASCO ROSE SOCIETY, AND IN THE NEAR FUTURE, THEY'LL BE BRINGING BACK THE ROSE GARDEN AT BARKER PARK, CORRECT? BARKER PARK.
>> WONDERFUL. THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
REPORTS FROM, LET'S GO WITH KERN COUNTY SHERIFF.
[14) REPORTS FROM KC FIRE AND SHERIFF]
>> MAYOR GARCIA, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M SENIOR DEPUTY CHARLES SHIN.
I'LL BE FILLING IN THE ONCOMING WEEKS IN THE ABSENCE OF SERGEANT MARTINEZ WHEN HE'S IN TRAINING.
TODAY, I'LL BE PRESENTING THE REPORT TO THE BOARD AND MAYOR, AND IN THE FUTURE, I WILL ALSO BE THE POINT OF CONTACT, JUST SO YOU GUYS ARE AWARE.
TONIGHT, I'M GOING TO KEEP IT A LITTLE SHORT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S OTHER THINGS GOING ON AND THERE'S ACTUALLY LIMITED REPORTS TO BE MADE ON THIS.
FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS, WE HAVE ONE INCIDENT THAT'S [INAUDIBLE] IT WAS
[01:25:03]
ACTUALLY REGARDING A HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON JULY 11TH, APPROXIMATELY 2:30 IN THE AFTERNOON.IT'S INVOLVING A PEDESTRIAN VERSUS A VEHICLE.
WHEN THE DEPUTIES ARRIVED IN THE 700 BLOCK OF EAST STREET, THEY LOCATED THE VICTIM WHO SUFFERED MAJOR INJURIES.
THROUGH THE COOPERATION OF THE MEMBERS OF CITY OF WASCO, WE WERE POINTED THE DIRECTION THAT THE SUBJECT HAD FLED, AND WE ACTUALLY LOCATED THE INDIVIDUAL IN HIS VEHICLE IN THE 9800 BLOCK OF D STREET.
SUBSEQUENTLY ARRESTED 66 YEAR-OLD MALE RESIDENT, SAMUEL PEREZ, THE CITY OF WASCO, FOR FELONY HIT AND RUN, DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE, RESISTING ARREST, POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS, AND RECKLESS DRIVING.
THE REASON I FEEL LIKE THIS INCIDENT IS SO IMPORTANT IS IT REALLY EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CAMERA REGISTRY FOR THE CITY OF WASCO.
DURING THIS INVESTIGATION, WE ACTUALLY WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN VIDEO EVIDENCE FROM THREE SEPARATE LOCATIONS, ABLE TO TRACK AND CAPTURE THE ACTUAL INCIDENT ITSELF, THE SUBJECT AS HE FLED THE SCENE, ABOUT HALFWAY TO HIS RESIDENCE, AND THEN HIM ACTUALLY PULLING UP TO HIS RESIDENCE, THROUGH THE THREE DIFFERENT BITS OF EVIDENCE, THROUGH VIDEO SURVEILLANCE.
THAT BEING SAID, IT JUST SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COMMUNITY OF WASCO AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKING TOGETHER BECAUSE WITHOUT THE WITNESSES ON SCENE AND THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ALLOWED US TO VIEW THEIR VIDEO SURVEILLANCE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO SOLVE THIS INCIDENT AND DEFINITELY NOT AS EFFICIENTLY AS WE DID.
JUST A SIDE NOTE, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT AS WE'RE DRIVING, ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY LIMITS, TO ALWAYS USE PRECAUTIONS WHEN DRIVING AND ALSO WHEN YOU'RE CROSSING THE ROAD.
DON'T EVER ASSUME THAT A VEHICLE IS GOING TO SLOW OR STOP FOR YOU, ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO KEEP YOURSELF SAFE.
OTHER THAN THAT, I'M OPEN TO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD AND MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL?
>> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC? WE DON'T HAVE KERN COUNTY FIRE THIS EVENING, DO WE?
>> VERY DISAPPOINTING, MAYOR, THAT THEY'RE NOT HERE.
>> REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER.
[15) REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER]
>> YES, HONORABLE MAYOR. I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE IS YOU'LL BE GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE 7TH STREET REPAIR AS A RESULT OF THAT WATER LEAK A FEW WEEKS AGO IS COMPLETED TODAY.
YOU WON'T BE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT IT WAS SO HOT TODAY THAT THE PAVEMENT WON'T BE READY TO BE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL TOMORROW SOMETIME.
THERE WAS A DISCUSSION, PERHAPS, THAT I WASN'T INVOLVED IN, A REQUEST FOR A BUDGET IN BRIEF, WHICH WAS A MORE CITIZEN CONSUMABLE VERSION OF OUR BUDGET THAT HIT HIGH LEVELS.
I HAVE REPORT TODAY FROM FINANCE DIRECTOR AND COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING STAFF THAT THEY WILL HAVE SUCH A BRIEF READY FOR REVIEW AND ULTIMATELY, DISSEMINATION TO THE PUBLIC HERE SOMETIME IN AUGUST.
THIS MORNING, YOU RECEIVED A NOTICE OF AN UNFORTUNATE EVENT THAT OCCURRED HERE AT OUR BUS STOP.
AN INDIVIDUAL GOT OFF THE REGIONAL TRANSIT BUS AND COLLAPSED HERE AT THE BUS STOP AND ULTIMATELY, PASSED AWAY FROM HIS CONDITION, WHATEVER THAT WAS.
THE INCIDENT IS BEING INVESTIGATED FURTHER AND THE CORONER HAS TAKEN THAT OVER.
SO IF THERE'S AN UPDATE ON THAT, I WILL LET YOU KNOW. THAT'S IT.
>> PERFECT. THANK YOU. REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA?
[16) REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL]
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT ATTENDED TONIGHT'S MEETING.
EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS ARE WELCOME, THEY HELP US CLARIFY THINGS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I WANT TO ECHO MEMBER REYNA'S COMMENTS.
PRO OR CON, WE WELCOME INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY, CONCERNED CITIZENS ON ALL THESE ISSUES.
YOUR CONCERNS DON'T GO UNHEARD.
THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THE PROCESS.
>> AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED TONIGHT.
>> NO COMMENTS FROM ME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[01:30:03]
>> I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S COMMENTS THIS EVENING, DESPITE THEM BEING IN THE MAJORITY, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD IN THE OPPOSITION.
I APPRECIATE MOSTLY EVERYONE'S GRACE FOR UNDERSTANDING UP UNTIL TODAY.
I REPEAT FROM LAST TIME, I HAVE ADEQUATE LEGAL REPRESENTATION THAT'S TAKING CARE OF THAT FOR ME IN THE COURTS, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S UNDERSTANDING.
IT'S CLEAR, I AM IN DISAGREEMENT AND IN THE MINORITY HERE, BUT THIS IS HOWEVER, EXTRAJUDICIAL AND I FEEL LIKE IT IS ALMOST ILLEGAL.
WE HAVE NO OUTLINE, NO GUIDELINE IN OUR MANUAL FOR THIS ACTION.
TALK ABOUT UNPRECEDENTED ACTION.
WHO IS TO SAY WE CAN'T ACT AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL, THE NEXT MAYOR WHO GOES THROUGH A DIVORCE OR A BANKRUPTCY? IS THAT TOO PERSONAL? I THINK WE NEED TO PUT THIS AND CODIFY IN THE GUIDELINES BEFORE WE ACT ON IT, JUST AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL.
WE'LL LEAVE THAT FOR LEGAL TO CONSIDER AND OTHERS WHO ARE WATCHING TONIGHT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL MOVE ON TO CLOSE SESSION AND WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE.
[17) CLOSED SESSION]
>> WE'VE GONE BACK FROM CLOSED SESSION.
CITY MANAGER, WILL YOU REPORT UP?
[18) CLOSED SESSION ACTION]
>> MR. MAYOR, THERE WAS NO REPORTABLE ACTION.
>> WITH THAT BEING DONE, WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ADJOURN.
IT IS 8:11 P.M. [NOISE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.