[1) CALL TO ORDER:]
[00:00:03]
WE WILL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.BEFORE WE DID THE PLEDGE, THEY WILL DO A ROLL CALL. MADAM CLERK?
>> THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK, CAN I GET A PEN, PLEASE? [NOISE] VERY WELL, AND IF YOU'RE ABLE TO PLEASE STAND FOR A FLAG SALUTE THIS EVENING [NOISE].
SALUTE, PLEDGE IF YOU CAN REMAIN STANDING FOR AN INVOCATION, WE'D APPRECIATE IT.
IS THERE SOMEONE HERE THIS EVENING WHO CAN PROVIDE AN INVOCATION FOR US? IF NOT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HONOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE. PLEASE, THANK YOU.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US HERE TODAY, CREATOR.
WE ASK THAT YOU LEND YOUR SPIRIT UPON THIS MEETING, THAT YOU BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US, THAT YOU HELP US TO REMAIN FOCUSED, HELP US TO REMAIN AT TASK, [NOISE] AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFTS OF SERVING OUR COMMUNITY, AND AGAIN, FOR EVERYONE HERE IN ATTENDANCE.
PLEASE, BLESS ALL OF US, BLESS THE CITY OF WASCO, BLESS OUR HONORABLE MAYOR. AMEN.
>> THANK YOU. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
[5) PRESENTATIONS:]
THIS EVENING WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF CALRECYCLE.MICHELLE CEVALLOS WILL BE PRESENTING THIS EVENING. MADAM CLERK?
>> I CAN HEAR YOU NOW. ARE WE READY?
>> GREAT. LET ME MAKE THE SCREEN A LITTLE SMALLER.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING CALRECYCLE TO PRESENT ON SENATE BILL 1383.
AS YOU ALREADY SAID, MY NAME IS MICHELLE CEVALLOS.
I'M A LOCAL ASSISTANCE AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT LIAISONS, AND ON THE CALL WAS WITH ME, JOE RASMUSSEN, HE'S MY MANAGER.
I'M NOT SURE IF HE'S STILL ON, BUT HE IS ALSO AVAILABLE ESSENTIALLY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THIS PRESENTATION IS A VERY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH 1383.
VERY BRIEFLY, AS YOU CAN SEE, 1383 IS A LAW THAT ESTABLISHES RATE REDUCTION TARGETS FROM METHANE EMISSION.
IT'S PART OF THE CALIFORNIA'S EFFORT TO REDUCE EMISSION OF SHORT-LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANTS IN ORDER TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
SB 1383 [NOISE] REQUIRES ALL GENERATORS OF ORGANIC WASTE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ORGANIC WASTE DISPOSED IN LANDFILLS.
IN THIS CASE, ORGANIC WASTE IS DEFINED BROADLY IN THE REG.
IT COULD INCLUDE FOOD WASTE, PAPER, CARDBOARD, GREEN WASTE, WOOD, BIOSOLIDS, DIGESTATE, AND MORE.
WHY IS 1383 IMPORTANT? IS THIS TWO? THAT SHOULD BE SLIDE 3.
WHY IS 1383 IMPORTANT AND HOW DOES IT IMPACT THE CITY OF WASCO? FIRST, ORGANIC WASTE PRODUCES METHANE EMISSION, WHICH CAN IMPACT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF RESIDENTS.
SECOND, EDIBLE FOOD IS CURRENTLY BEING DISPOSED OFF IN LANDFILL, SO SB 1383 SETS A GOAL TO RECOVER 20 PERCENT OF EDIBLE FOOD FROM THE LANDFILL AND RECOVERY IT FOR THOSE WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE.
MANY FAMILIES WERE AFFECTED DUE TO COVID-19, DUE TO JOB LOSS AND BUSINESS CLOSING.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, RECOVERING EDIBLE FOOD IS VERY CRITICAL.
THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE NUMBER 2, SO THAT'S OKAY.
WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT METHANE GAS, SO YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT ONE. HERE YOU GO.
SB 1383 REGULATIONS TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1ST, 2022.
THIS SETS STATEWIDE TARGET THAT REQUIRE CALIFORNIA TO REDUCE ORGANIC WASTE DISPOSAL BY 75 PERCENT AND INCREASE EDIBLE FOOD RECOVERY BY 20 PERCENT BY 2025.
YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
[00:05:05]
THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS IF WE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT SB 1383, WHICH INCLUDE PROVIDING MILLIONS OF JOBS AND MEALS TO CALIFORNIANS WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, WHICH INCLUDE IMPROVED AIR QUALITY.NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS SLIDE IS A LITTLE BUSY.
IT GIVES AN OVERVIEW OF THE SB 1383 KEY IMPLEMENTATION DATES, BUT I REALLY JUST WANT TO FOCUS ON JANUARY 1ST, 2022, WHICH IS THE RED BOX IN THE MIDDLE AND ALSO JANUARY FIRST 2024, AND HOW THESE DAYS WILL IMPACT THE CITY OF WASCO.
JANUARY 1ST, THIS IS A DATE AGAIN, THAT THE REGULATION TAKES EFFECT.
THE CITY WILL NEED TO ENSURE THAT PROGRAMS ARE IN PLACE, MEANING THAT ALL RESIDENTS IN COMMERCIAL ENTITIES ARE PROVIDED WITH CONTAINERS TO CAPTURE ORGANICS IN ADDITION TO THE TRADITIONAL RECYCLING AND TRASH.
THE CITY WILL ALSO HAVE TO HAVE AN ENFORCEABLE ORDINANCE OR MECHANISM IN PLACE BY JANUARY 1ST, 2022.
LASTLY, CALRECYCLE CAN BEGIN ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS ON JURISDICTION AND UNDER ENTITIES.
MOVING TO JANUARY 1ST,2024, THIS DATE IS IN THE REGULATION WHERE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SUCH AS THE CITY, CAN TAKE ENFORCEMENT ACTION ON GENERATORS THAT ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.
GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THIS SLIDE IS AGAIN, A GOOD OVERVIEW OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE REG.
FORTUNATELY, I'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND DISCUSSING WHAT IS IN THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SB 1383.
AS MENTIONED IN THE LAST SLIDE, JURISDICTIONS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ORGANIC WASTE COLLECTION SERVICES TO ALL RESIDENTS.
THIS IS NOT JUST THE ABILITY TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE SERVICE, BUT THIS IS AUTOMATICALLY PROVIDING THE SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESSES.
THE REGULATION ALSO SPECIFY STANDARDIZED COLORED CONTAINERS, BUT THAT PART OF THE REGULATION IS NOT IN EFFECT UNTIL 2036.
THAT MEANS WHATEVER COLORED CONTAINERS ARE OUT THERE, THE STANDARD FOR LANDFILL WOULD BE GRAY OR BLACK, STANDARD RECYCLING IS BLUE, AND THEN ORGANICS WOULD BE GREEN.
IF THOSE CONTAINERS ARE NOT ALREADY OUT THERE OR IF THEIR CONTAINERS ARE OUT THERE, HOWEVER, OVER THE NEXT 7-10 YEARS, IF THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED, THEN THOSE COLORS WOULD BE REQUIRED.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE'S GREEN ONES OUT THERE THAT ARE USED FOR LANDFILL, AS LONG AS THEY'RE STILL IN GOOD WORKING ORDER, THEY CAN BE UTILIZED.
BUT WHEN THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED, THEN THEY WILL FOLLOW THAT STANDARDIZED COLOR.
ALSO WITH THE NEW CONTAINERS, WOULD REQUIRE LABELING.
THAT LABELING IS TO ENSURE THAT CUSTOMERS KNOW WHAT IS ALLOWED IN THE CONTAINER AND WHAT IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE CONTAINER.
THEN STARTING FEBRUARY 1ST OF 2022, JURISDICTIONS MUST CONDUCT ANNUAL EDUCATION OUTREACH AND THAT'S TO ALL THE GENERATORS, AND THAT IS INCLUDING INFORMATION REGARDING PROGRAMS FOR DONATING FOOD.
THE CITY MUST ALSO PLAN FOR ADEQUATE CAPACITY PLANNING FOR ORGANIC WASTE, BUT THE COUNTY IS LEADING THIS EFFORT.
CHRISTINE WILLIAMSON WITH THE COUNTY, IS THE ONE SPEAK TO TO SEE WHERE THEY'RE AT.
THEN THE CITY WOULD ALSO SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE FOR ORGANIC WASTE AND WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE.
WE CAN GO INTO THAT IN MORE DETAIL LATER.
I DID GIVE A TALK ABOUT THAT IN MARCH, ABOUT CAPACITY PLANNING.
THE CITY WILL ALSO HAVE TO PROCURE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF RECOVERED ORGANIC WASTE PRODUCTS.
THAT COULD BE COMPOST, RENEWABLE GAS, OR ELECTRICITY FOR BIOMASS CONVERSION.
THIS IS ALREADY WHAT THE CITY IS NEEDING, NOT NECESSARILY ANYTHING NEW THAT THE CITY DOESN'T USE.
THEN OF COURSE, THERE'S REQUIREMENTS TO PURCHASE RECYCLE CONTENT PAPER AND PAPER PRODUCTS, THAT'S IF THE PRICE AND PERFORMANCE IS COMPARABLE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, SB 1383 EXTENDS BEYOND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING OPERATIONS, AND STAFF.
THIS SLIDE DEMONSTRATES THAT EVERY DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE AFFECTED AND HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY, AND NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW SB 1383 IMPACTS THEIR WORK.
JURISDICTION SHOULD BE THINKING AND PLANNING FOR THE STAFFING THEY MIGHT NEED, WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES THE DEPARTMENTS MIGHT HAVE, AND WHETHER THE TASKS OR DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS WILL GET TO SOME STAFF OR WHETHER THEY'LL BE CONTRACTED OUT, SUCH AS IN A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.
THE CITY WILL ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING EDIBLE FOOD RECOVERY PROGRAMS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
[00:10:04]
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF PROVIDING EDUCATION OUTREACH, ASSESSING CAPACITY AS DISCUSSED ALREADY FOR EDIBLE FOOD RECOVERY, CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS OF TIER 1 COMMERCIAL EDIBLE FOOD GENERATORS.THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TIER 1 AND A TIER 2 GENERATOR.
TIER 1 STARTS JANUARY 1ST, 2022, BY JANUARY 1ST, 2024, THAT WOULD BE WHEN INSPECTIONS FOR TIER 2 COMMERCIAL EDIBLE FOOD GENERATORS WILL NEED TO TAKE EFFECT.
ALSO IN 2024, JURISDICTION MUST TAKE ENFORCEMENT ACTION IF EDIBLE FOOD GENERATORS ARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE.
IN KERN COUNTY, THERE ALREADY IS AN EDIBLE FOOD RECOVERY ORGANIZATION THAT IS OVERSEEN BY THE COUNTY, IT'S CALLED [INAUDIBLE] AND IF YOU ALSO ARE ABLE TO SEE ON, I THINK IT'S 211KERNCOUNTY.ORG.
THERE ARE AGENCIES OR GROUPS IN THE AREA ALREADY THAT DO ACCEPT FOOD RECOVERY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AFTER DISCUSSING ALL OF THIS, WHAT IS WASCO REQUIRED TO DO? THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO HAVE AN ENFORCEABLE MECHANISM OR ORGANS IN PLACE.
THE CITY ALREADY HAS AN ORDINANCE.
THAT ORDINANCE IS THE CELEBRATION ORDINANCE THAT COVERS AD 384 OR 341 AND 1826.
BETWEEN JANUARY 22ND AND DECEMBER 2023, THE CITY NEEDS TO IDENTIFY BUSINESSES IN VIOLATION OF THE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND PROVIDE EDUCATION MATERIALS TO THOSE GENERATORS.
BEGINNING JANUARY 2024, THE CITY MUST TAKE PROGRESSIVE ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST ORGANIC WASTE GENERATORS NON-COMPLIANT.
THERE ARE NOTIFICATION TIMELINES AND TIME FRAMES FOR NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS, BUT THAT WE CAN GET INTO MORE, THIS IS AGAIN MORE OF A HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW.
THE CITY DOES HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DEVELOP ITS OWN ENFORCEMENT PROCESS WITHIN THOSE PARAMETERS.
THE CITY AGAIN WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN RECORDS AND KEEP INFORMATION IN AN IMPLEMENTATION RECORD AND WILL BE REQUIRED TO REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT ANNUALLY.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ENFORCEMENT, EARLY EDUCATION MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
A ROBUST EDUCATION PROGRAM OUTREACH TO COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES WILL MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF ENFORCEMENT THAT YOU WOULD NEED IN THE FUTURE.
IF THE JURISDICTION'S AUTOMATICALLY PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS, IT FURTHER MINIMIZES THE NEED FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTION. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
A FEW THINGS TO GO OVER REGARDING CALRECYCLE OVERSIGHT.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS, FEDERAL FACILITIES, PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES, THEY ARE ALL EXEMPT FROM THE LOCAL SOLID WASTE OVERSIGHT, THAT WOULDN'T BE THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY, THAT WOULD BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY, BUT THE CITY WOULD STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO THOSE ENTITIES.
MOVING ON TO CALRECYCLE JURISDICTION COMPLIANCE EVALUATION.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS INCLUDED SOME ASPECTS OF FLEXIBILITY AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE REGULATION.
IF CALRECYCLE DETERMINES JURISDICTIONS VIOLATING ONE OR MORE OF THE REQUIREMENTS, WE WILL PROVIDE COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE SUCH AS CHECKLIST MODEL TOOLS AND TRAINING, WHICH I CAN HELP YOU WITH.
CALRECYCLE MAY BEGIN PENALTY ENFORCEMENT STARTING JANUARY 1ST, 2022.
THE TIMELINES FOR THE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS ARE NOT TRIGGERED UNTIL WE ISSUE A NOTICE OF VIOLATION.
ONCE CALRECYCLE DETERMINES THAT ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS OR PENALTIES ARE NECESSARY, CALRECYCLE WILL IMPLEMENT THE PROCESS OUTLINED IN THE REGULATION, AND THE REGULATION ALSO DESCRIBES COMPLIANCE REVIEW ENFORCEMENT PROCESS THAT ALLOWS FOR EXTENDED TIMELINE FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
PENALTIES ARE IMPOSED AS THE LAST RESORT FOR ALL COMPLIANT ACTION.
AS LONG AS WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD TRYING TO BECOME INTO COMPLIANCE, THEN THAT WOULD DELAY OR WOULDN'T NEED PENALTIES AT ALL.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. LASTLY, CALRECYCLE HAS AN ABUNDANCE OF TOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED TO HELP CITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, I UNDERSTAND RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE THE CITIES ARE IN COMMUNICATIONS TO RFP FOR THEIR FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE TOOLS FOR FRANCHISE AGREEMENT THAT HAS EXAMPLE LANGUAGE.
THAT INCLUDES EDUCATION OUTREACH AND OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES THAT THE HAULER COULD DO THAT THE CITY WOULDN'T NEED TO DO.
THE CITY WOULD STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT BUT THOSE DUTIES WOULD BE ASSIGNED MORE OR LESS TO THE HAULER.
THERE'S ALSO A MODEL MANAGEMENT ORGANIC DISPOSAL ORGAN THAT'S IN PLACE AND AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AS WELL AS PROCUREMENT POLICIES,
[00:15:04]
AND EDIBLE FOOD RECOVERY AGREEMENTS.EDIBLE FOOD RECOVERY AGREEMENTS ARE FOR THE GENERATORS TO HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THE FOOD RECOVERY AGENCIES OR ORGANIZATIONS.
WE ALSO HAVE RATE STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE AND CASE STUDIES FOR OTHER CITIES AND JURISDICTIONS THAT THE CITY COULD LOOK AT, FOR EXAMPLE.
MORE TOOLS WILL BE RELEASED OVER THIS YEAR, BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR IDENTIFYING TIER 1 AND TIER 2 COMMERCIAL EDIBLE FOOD GENERATORS, WEBINARS, VIDEOS, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THIS IS ALL OF THE INFORMATION, OUR ORGANIC HOMEPAGE, ANY FORMS, AND SUCH FOR THE LISTSERV, AND THEN I HAVE PLENTY OF INFORMATION FOR THE CITY COUNCIL IF THEY NEED.
THEY CAN SEE ON THE WEB THAT I CAN PROVIDE THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, I AM OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, MICHELLE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION THIS EVENING AND THE WORK YOU PUT INTO PREPARING THAT FOR US TONIGHT.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE FOR OUR FRIEND FROM CALRECYCLE? DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FROM HERE?
>> I'LL DO MY BEST TO YELL IT OUT.
I MAY HAVE MISSED THIS, BUT DOES THIS MANDATE PROVIDE ANY KIND OF FUNDING FOR STAFF TIME AND IMPLEMENTATION FROM THE STATE?
>> WELL, THERE IS SOME GRANTS AND LOANS BUT THAT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR IMPLEMENTATION FROM THE CITY.
THAT MIGHT BE TOWARDS CONTAINERS OR OTHER THINGS.
>> OKAY, THERE'S NO FUNDING FOR STAFF TIME BASICALLY, TO MAKE SURE THIS GETS OFF THE GROUND?
>> NO. NOT THAT I KNOW OF AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION MEMBER CORTEZ.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS IMPORTANT, I HAD THE SAME CONCERN.
>> MICHELLE, THIS IS GILBERT REINA. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> THANK YOU. WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS ARE BEING DONE IN THESE REGULATIONS FOR PEOPLE THAT DO NOT PUT A LOT OF WASTE INTO THE TRASH CAN, SO TO SPEAK? THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A BIN IN THE BACK THAT THEY'RE COMPOSTING AND THEY PUT VERY LITTLE WASTE INTO THE WASTE CAN.
WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS ARE BEING DONE FOR THESE PEOPLE, IF ANY?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. THE REGULATION DOESN'T SPECIFY BACKYARD COMPOSTING.
I ACTUALLY HAVE BACKYARD COMPOSTING AS WELL.
HOWEVER, THE REGULATION DOES STATE THAT IT NEEDS TO HAVE AUTOMATIC SERVICE.
FOR THOSE THAT MAKE BACKYARD COMPOST, IT DOESN'T REALLY ADDRESS THAT.
BUT IT ALLOWS THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE THE SERVICE IF NEEDED.
>> THAT WOULD BE AT A COST, RIGHT?
>> YES, AND THAT WOULD BE AGAIN WORKED OUT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE HAULER.
[NOISE] I APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING THIS PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING AVAILABLE FOR OUR QUESTIONS, MICHELLE.
WE APPRECIATE IT. THAT WILL CONCLUDE THAT PRESENTATION AS A MATTER OF FACT. IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THAT WILL CONCLUDE THE PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> HAVE A GOOD DAY MICHELLE. THANK YOU.
>> I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
[NOISE] WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 6,
[6) PUBLIC COMMENTS:]
PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS EVENING.THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS RESERVED 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.
A MAXIMUM OF 30 MINUTES WILL BE ALLOWED FOR ANY ONE SUBJECT.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND RECORD BEFORE MAKING A PRESENTATION.
THE BROWN ACT DOES NOT ALLOW ACTION OR DISCUSSION ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA SUBJECT TO NARROW EXCEPTIONS.
THIS WILL LIMIT THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS MADE DURING THIS COMMENT PERIOD.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC AT THIS TIME ON ANY ITEMS NOT ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA? [NOISE]
[00:20:03]
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND EVERYONE PRESENT.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN BAKERSFIELD AND WENT AWAY FOR A LONG, LONG TIME AND MANY YEARS.
ANYWAY, WHEN I CAME BACK, I FELL IN LOVE WITH MY CITY OF BAKERSFIELD AND WE HELD AN AWARD BANQUET FOR OUTSTANDING CITIZENS AROUND THE COUNTY.
I GOT TO MEET A LOT OF MAYORS AND DISCOVERED HOW HARD THEY WORK AND HOW LITTLE THEY GET PAID AND HOW LITTLE THEY ARE APPRECIATED.
SO THE NEXT AWARD BANQUET WAS IN HONOR OF ALL THE MAYORS OF KERN COUNTY, WHICH SEVERAL DID COME.
LAST YEAR, BECAUSE OF COVID, WE DIDN'T HAVE A BANQUET.
BUT THIS YEAR WE'RE HAVING ONE, [NOISE] AND WE GOT TO HONOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL SHERIFFS AND PEACE OFFICERS OF KERN COUNTY.
[NOISE] CONSTITUTIONAL MEANING THOSE THAT TOOK AN OATH TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE CONSTITUTION IS OF, BY, AND FOR THE PEOPLE.
WE PAY THEM, THEY TAKE CARE OF US, OF OUR RIGHTS, OUR SOVEREIGNTY.
SO WE WANT TO HONOR THEM AND SUPPORT THEM, LET THEM KNOW THE PEOPLE ARE WITH THEM.
THEY HAVE ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS JOBS IN THE WORLD, BUT WE WANT THEM TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION, AND THEREFORE, WE WANT TO HONOR THEM AND GIVE THEM OUR SUPPORT.
MY THINKING IS I WANT TO MAKE BAKERSFIELD, I WANT TO MAKE KERN COUNTY THE BEST COUNTY IN AMERICA OR THE BEST THAT WE CAN BE AND EACH CITY WILL HELP TO MAKE KERN COUNTY THE BEST.
I'M WITH THE TRUE LOVE TRIBE, I'M THE FOUNDER, AND OUR GOAL IS TO BRING UNITY BETWEEN GOVERNMENT'S AGENCY, BETWEEN THE PEOPLE, AND BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I THINK SOMEONE FROM THIS CITY OR TWO MAY BE IN THE GROUP.
I'M GOING BY RECOMMENDATIONS SO THEY MAY OR MAY HELP OUT IN THAT AREA AND RECOMMEND AN OFFICER OR TWO.
BUT ANYWAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BANQUET AT HODEL'S IN BAKERSFIELD AND WE HOPE THAT MANY OF YOU CAN COME.
>> MR. CRAWFORD, THANK YOU FOR THAT GRACIOUS INVITATION YET AGAIN, IT'S A GOOD EVENT.
WHAT IS THE DATE ON THAT AGAIN?
>> SEPTEMBER 18TH, THAT'S A SATURDAY.
>> WE'LL BRING OUR APPETITE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> APPRECIATE IT. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS EVENING [APPLAUSE] REGARDING ANY ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA?
>> THERE IS. WE DO HAVE ONE [INAUDIBLE]
>> HI, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KAYLA CASTILLO, AND I WANTED TO COME HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE HAD AN AWFUL TRAGEDY LAST WEEK.
I KNOW EVERYBODY'S ALREADY AWARE OF IT.
WHEN IT MATTERED, THE TOWN CAME TOGETHER AND I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT AND TO REMEMBER.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO HAS REACHED OUT TO THE RAMIREZ FAMILY, WHO HAS DONATED, WHO HAS REACHED OUT TO OFFICER CAMPOS' FAMILY.
AGAIN, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WHEN IT MATTERED, WE ALL CAME TOGETHER FOR IT.
>> THANK YOU, MS. CASTILLO, ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS NOT ON THE AGENDA?
>> HELLO, MAYOR AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
A WONDERFUL DAY. IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU GUYS.
REAL QUICK, NOT TO BE UP HERE FOR LONG, AS WE'RE ENDING THE POST-PANDEMIC AND HOW IT HAS IMPACT AND AFFECTED MANY PEOPLE IN A NEGATIVE WAY, AS MANY OF YOU GUYS KNOW, WE HAD AN EVENT CALLED WASCO CARE WHERE WE TRIED TO HELP THE CITIZENS OF WASCO WITH JOBS WHERE WE INVITED 36 COMPANIES AT CORMACK PARK FOR A COLLECTIVE OF OVER 120 JOBS.
I JUST WANT TO, AGAIN, THANK THE MAYOR FOR SUPPORTING THAT EVENT BECAUSE IT WAS A HUGE EVENT, I THINK THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST EVENT THAT WE HAD OUT HERE AT WASCO.
BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE BECAUSE AS YOU GUYS KNOW, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS LIFTING THE FORBEARANCE PERTAINING TO HOMEOWNERS IN WHICH THEY WON'T HAVE ANY RESOURCES TO HELP PAY FOR THEIR HOMES OR ANYBODY WITHIN AMERICA AND IS ALSO IMPACTING WASCO AS WELL.
[00:25:01]
SO IN PREPARATIONS OF THAT, THERE WILL BE AN EVENT TO HELP THE CITIZENS IN WASCO WHEN IT COMES TO THE POWER OF CREDIT.PERTAIN TO THE POWER OF CREDIT OF HOW YOU CAN GET PUBLIC RECORDS OFF YOUR CREDIT SCORE, HOW YOU'D GIVE BANKRUPTCIES OFF YOUR CREDIT SCORE, REPOSSESSES AND EVICTIONS, FORECLOSURES AND EVEN STUDENT LOANS.
WE WANT TO PREPARE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THE CITIZENS OF WASCO WHEN IT COMES TO WHEN THESE SUPPORTING BILLS ARE LIFTED BECAUSE OF THE POST-PANDEMIC.
REGARDLESS OF THAT, AGAIN, THIS EVENT IS GOING TO BE A FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOP.
IT'S GOING TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 18TH, 06:30 PM AT THE OLDER COURTHOUSE, NOT TOO FAR, ACTUALLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM HERE.
AGAIN, THIS EVENT IS TO HELP THE CITIZENS OF WASCO WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO POST-PANDEMIC. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, GERALD. I APPRECIATE YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT AND COMMENTS THIS EVENING.
[APPLAUSE] GERALD GOODIRON IS WORKING ON A FINANCIAL WORKSHOP, TBA ON THE LOCATION.
I DID SUBMIT THAT REQUEST TO STAFF AND HAVEN'T RECEIVED CONFIRMATION YET.
BUT UNDERSTANDABLY SO, IT'S BEEN REALLY BUSY.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT OPPORTUNITY AND ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING TO OUR RESIDENTS IN THIS [OVERLAPPING] POST-PANDEMIC ERA, MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GET AHEAD.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS EVENING NOT ON THE AGENDA?
>> [FOREIGN] LUCILLA LANA, [FOREIGN] OKAY. [FOREIGN]
>> SHE'S OUT OF ORDER TOO. SHE'S OUT OF ORDER.
>> WE UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT SHE'S TELLING HER THAT SHE REQUESTED A TRANSLATOR AND DIDN'T HAVE ONE THIS EVENING.
>> [OVERLAPPING] CONVERSATION, HER COMMENT, I'M TELLING HER, IS LINED UP FOR LATER ON THIS EVENING.
>> [FOREIGN] FOR THOSE THINGS, YOU CAN'T SPEAK DURING THIS SECTION.
[FOREIGN] WE NEED SOMEONE TO TRANSLATE FOR HER OFFICIALLY. [FOREIGN]
>> [FOREIGN]. I'LL GO AHEAD AND WE'RE GOING TO SECURE A TRANSLATOR FOR HER AND WE'LL RETURN TO HER PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. WE NEED AN OFFICIAL TRANSLATOR, RIGHT?
>> WE DO NEED AN OFFICIAL INTERPRETER.
I'M NOT SURE WHO SHE SPOKE TO. [OVERLAPPING]
>> HONORABLE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE WASCO COMMUNITY FOR YOUR OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FOR DEPUTY CAMPOS AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER DEPUTIES AT THE KERN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I'M NOT GOING TO REHASH THE INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED ON JULY 25TH, EVERYBODY IS WELL AWARE OF WHAT HAPPENED.
IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE TRAGEDY FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS WELL AS MR. RAMIREZ'S FAMILY, BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO EXTEND A THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT.
WE'VE RECEIVED NUMEROUS WELL-WISHES FROM THE COMMUNITY, CARDS, PHONE CALLS, EMAILS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND IT REALLY IS A HUGE HELP FOR ALL THE DEPUTIES WHO ARE GRIEVING AS WELL AS THE CAMPOS FAMILY.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME ALSO TO MENTION THAT THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC SERVICE ON FRIDAY AT THE MECHANICS BANK ARENA IN BAKERSFIELD.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE LOCAL NEWS AGENCIES, THEY RECEIVED A PUBLIC PRESS RELEASE THAT HAS THE DATES AND TIMES AND LOCATIONS AND EVERYTHING FOR THAT.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, SERGEANT. THE CITY DOES HONOR YOUR SACRIFICE AND DEDICATION TO THE CITY.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL BE DEDICATING THIS MEETING.
WE WILL ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF DEPUTY CAMPAS THIS EVENING.
[NOISE] ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS EVENING ON ANY ITEMS OR BUSINESS NOT ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA? MADAM CLERK, NO?
[00:30:04]
[8) a. Receive and file department payment totaling $ 6,678.44]
>> VERY WELL. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BUSINESS, ITEM 8A, RECEIVING FILED DEPARTMENT PAYMENTS TOTALING $6,678.44. DIRECTOR PEREZ?
>> GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
BEFORE YOU IS A 4TH QUARTER BILL PAY FOR THE WPFA WHERE IT STIPULATES AND IT HAS ON THERE THE PAYMENTS TO NBS AS WELL AS US BANK FOR ASSESSMENT OF THE BONDS AS WELL AS THE DEBT SCHEDULES FOR THE 4TH QUARTER DURING APRIL 1ST TO JUNE 30TH.
WITH THAT, I WELCOME TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME FOR THE BILL PAY? ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA?
>> THANK YOU, SIR. MEMBER CORTEZ?
>> VERY WELL. THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS?
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED, I'LL SECOND. MADAM CLERK.
>> MEMBER MARTINEZ MOVED, SORRY, AND I SECOND IT.
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL A VOICE VOTE?
>> MOTION BY DIRECTOR MARTINEZ, SECOND BY CHAIRMAN GARCIA TO APPROVE ITEM 8A.
MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
[9) CONSENT CALENDAR:]
NINE, 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 A COUNCIL MEMBER OR A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REQUESTS REMOVAL OF A PARTICULAR ITEM.
THIS EVENING, WE HAVE ITEMS 9A THROUGH 9L.
MADAM CLERK, SHOULD I READ THESE ITEMS UP? [INAUDIBLE] ZOOM.
>> VERY WELL. I'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO APPROVE.
>> THERE IS A PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION.
>> IT'S NOT IN HERE. I APOLOGIZE. THERE IT IS.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE A PARTICULAR ITEM, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR FULL NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE MAKING YOUR COMMENT.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ANY PARTICULAR ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR THIS EVENING? SEEING NONE. IS THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR THIS EVENING? MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA?
>> I'LL HAVE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
>> I'LL SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM AND I HAVE SECONDED.
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL A VOICE VOTE, MADAM CLERK?
>> MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEMP REYNA, SECOND BY MAYOR GARCIA TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. MOVING ON TO DEFERRED BUSINESS 11A, REPORT AND DISCUSSION REGARDING ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.
>> YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, YOU MAY RECALL THAT THIS ITEM WAS SCHEDULED ON THE PREVIOUS MEETING AND THE CREW WAS OUT IRONICALLY, FIGHTING THE FIRE, WAS UNAVAILABLE.
WE WERE UNABLE TO REACH THEM FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING, SO WE WILL DEFER THIS ONCE AGAIN.
>> THAT'S UNFORTUNATE. THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT, THOUGH. MOVING ON TO ITEM 12, NEW BUSINESS.
[12) a. Review, Discussion, and Possible Action to Confirm or Remove Mayoral Appointment ]
12A, REVIEW DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO CONFIRM OR REMOVE MAYORAL APPOINTMENT.>> YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, AS YOU MAY RECALL OUR LAST MEETING, IT WAS REQUESTED THAT THIS ITEM BEING ADDED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL.
THIS ITEM, ALTHOUGH IT HAS A NUMBER OF STEPS, IS RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
THE ITEM PROVIDES FOR AN ACTION TO EITHER CONFIRM MR. GARCIA'S CONTINUATION IN HIS TERM AS MAYOR OR IN THE CONVERSE FOR MAYOR, A MOTION TO REMOVE MR. GARCIA AS MAYOR IN HIS CURRENT TERM.
BASED UPON THAT INITIAL ACTION THEN, HE ITEM WE'LL TAKE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PATHS.
IF MR. GARCIA IS CONFIRMED OR THERE IS NO ACTION TAKEN,
[00:35:02]
THEN THE REMAINDER OF THIS ITEM IS VOID.IF THERE IS SOME ACTION TAKEN, THEN WE'LL PROCEED THROUGH THE ITEMS IN THE ORDER THEY'RE PRESENTED IN YOUR AGENDA.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE ABOUT THE PROCEDURE AND THEN TURN IT BACK OVER TO MAYOR TO ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PROCEDURE OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY MANAGER THIS EVENING [INAUDIBLE]
>> YOU DO NOT. I'M SORRY, I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY YOU DO.
VERY WELL. OKAY. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS THEN.
>> THIS EVENING, FOLKS, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HANDLE IT.
SIMILARLY TO WHAT WE DID LAST TIME, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 30 MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ALWAYS A LIMIT OF TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.
YOU CAN USE ALL TWO MINUTES YOU'D LIKE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO, BUT THE TOTAL IS 30 MINUTES.
THOSE WHO SUPPORT REMOVAL AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT NOT REMOVING, CONFIRMING.
>> CONFIRMATION OF THE MAYORAL APPOINTMENT.
ARE WE READY TO BEGIN, MADAM CLERK?
>> VERY WELL. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND BEGIN THIS EVENING WITH THOSE IN FAVOR OF REMOVAL.
ANY FIRST SPEAKER THIS EVENING? AGAIN, FOLKS, I JUST WANT TO REMIND FOLKS TO BE COURTEOUS.
WE WILL HAVE QUORUM IN THIS CHAMBER.
I'M NOT AFRAID TO VACATE THE CHAMBER, IF WE NEED TO.
WE WILL HAVE QUORUM AND RESPECT. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR GARCIA AND MEMBERS OF THE WASCO CITY COUNCIL.
I WANTED TO SHARE SOME THOUGHTS OF MINE REGARDING TONIGHT'S TOPIC.
THESE ARE MY OWN THOUGHTS AND I'M ONLY REPRESENTING MYSELF AND MY WIFE, GLORIA.
I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU, MAYOR, IN YOUR VICTORY TODAY.
I DID WANT TO GIVE YOU A FEW POSSIBLE SCENARIOS FOR YOUR NEXT DUI, ARREST NUMBER 3.
[BACKGROUND] GLORIA AND I WENT TO WASCO HIGH IN THE '80S.
THE SUPERINTENDENT AT THAT TIME WAS DOUGLAS FLETCHER.
HE WAS WIDELY REGARDED AS ONE OF THE BEST, IF NOT THE BEST, SUPERINTENDENTS WE EVER HAD.
WHAT MADE HIM SUCH A POLARIZING FIGURE IS THAT HE PUT HIMSELF BACK IN THE CLASSROOM FOR ONE WEEK OF TEACHING EACH SCHOOL YEAR.
THIS GAVE HIM A FEEL ABOUT WHAT WAS CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM.
IT EARNED HIM THE RESPECT OF TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND THE COMMUNITY.
IN 1987, AS HE WAS GOING HOME FROM WORK, HE WAS KILLED BY A DRUNK DRIVER THAT HAD MULTIPLE DUIS.
IT'S THE LARGEST FUNERAL THAT I'VE EVER BEEN TO.
IN APRIL 1992, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A HOUSE THAT I WAS BUILDING IN DELANO.
AS I WAS COMING UP TO THE INTERSECTION OF GARCIA'S HIGHWAY AND MULCHER, I SAW A CAR SLOWING FOR THE STOP SIGN.
I SAW HIM, HE SAW ME, AND HE STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN.
HE THEN PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I BROADSIDED HIM GOING 50 MILES AN HOUR.
THE IMPACT OF MY TRUCK AND TRAILER MADE A V OUT OF HIS MID-70S PLYMOUTH POLARA.
THE DRIVER DIED INSTANTLY WITH A BUDWEISER CAN SMASHED BETWEEN HIS LEGS, AND HIS PASSENGER SUFFERED A BROKEN NECK BUT SURVIVED.
THE DRIVER HAD A 0.26 BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL.
>> IT WAS 7:00 IN THE MORNING. CURRENTLY, MY BEST STUDENT IS SINA CANCONIAN.
HE IS FROM IRAN. HE'S WORKING INTO THE [INAUDIBLE] CURRICULUM WITH EASE.
HIS SCORES ABOVE 90 PERCENT ON EVERY TEST, OFTEN GETTING A PERFECT SCORE.
I'M A TEACHER FOR THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
CANCONIAN, CDC NUMBER ALA 228 IS SERVING A 16 YEARS LIFE TERM-
>> MR. STEWART, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS THIS EVENING.
>> -FOR A DUI THAT TOOK THE LIFE OF A 13 YEAR-OLD GIRL THAT WAS WALKING ALONG [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> MR. STEWART, THANK YOU. PLEASE CONCLUDE YOUR COMMENTS.
>> YOU MEN HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT AND EASY DECISION TO MAKE TONIGHT.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE THAT RIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. STEWART. [APPLAUSE] LET'S BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYBODY'S TIME THIS EVENING, FOLKS, PLEASE.
>> HI, MY NAME IS AUDREY CHAVEZ.
MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HER AND [INAUDIBLE] I'D LIKE TO REQUEST MY FIRST 10 SECONDS TO BE IN HONOR OF MY FORMER CATECHISM STUDENT, PHILIP CAMPAS, ALSO UNITED STATES MARINE.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE MENTION TONIGHT THAT I'M HERE IN SUPPORT CONFIRMATION OF HONORABLE MAYOR ALEX GARCIA.
I AM THANKFUL FOR THE OUTCOME AND I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THE FACTS WOULD SHOW.
I WAS SURPRISED BY THE ACTIVITY THAT HAPPENED HERE LAST MONTH,
[00:40:02]
HAVING ATTENDED ONE OF MY FIRST MEETINGS HERE FOR THE CITY OF WASCO.I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP FOR WELL OVER 30 YEARS.
EVEN IN HIGH SCHOOL, I THINK THERE ARE FFA PROGRAMS WHO HAVE BETTER SKILLS AT BEING POLITE AND RUNNING MEETINGS BETTER.
I WANTED TO SHARE THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING SUPPORTIVE.
I WANTED TO SHARE THAT I STOOD UP AND ASKED OUR CITY MANAGER TO WHISPER TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO PLEASE DIRECT THE CONVERSATION TO WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT OTHER ATTORNEYS WOULD DO THE SAME TO KEEP THINGS FROM BEING PERSONAL, SLANDEROUS, ATTACKING, AND JUMPING THE GUN.
FINDING THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SHOWN TODAY BY ATTORNEY [INAUDIBLE], I FEEL VERY GOOD, AND I ASK THAT THOSE WATCHING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, LOOK AND SEE WHAT LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT, THAT WE ARE NOT PERFECT PEOPLE, BUT WE ARE PEOPLE WORKING WITHIN OUR EXPERIENCES.
MAYOR ALEX HAS WORKED HARD AND HAS [OVERLAPPING] A BEAUTIFUL TRACK RECORD.
>> THANK YOU. PLEASE CONCLUDE YOUR REPORT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL A 30-SECOND WARNING FOR EVERYBODY WHO WILL BE SPEAKING.
>> JUST REMINDER FOLKS, THAT THE CLOCK IS AVAILABLE FOR US ON THE SCREEN.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS [INAUDIBLE].
>> GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS? THE TITLE OF MAYOR IS A TITLE OF HONOR THAT IS MEANT TO BE CARRIED OUT WITH DIGNITY, GRACE, AND HUMILITY.
IT IS A TITLE THAT CITIZENS BESTOW UPON AN INDIVIDUAL TO REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS AND THEIR PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MAYOR WILL PLACE THE NEEDS AND DESIRES OF THE PUBLIC WITH A HEALTHY RESPECT FOR THE PROCEDURES AND ORDER OF GOVERNMENT.
AT PRESENT, MR. ALEX GARCIA HAS FAILED TO REPRESENT OUR INTERESTS AS A CITY.
HIS MEDIA ATTENTION ONLY TALKED BY HIS UNKIND NAME MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE DEATH OF A DEPUTY BEFORE PROPER NOTIFICATIONS WERE MADE TO THE DEPUTY'S FAMILY.
THIS SELF-SERVING BEHAVIOR HAS OVERSTEPPED HIS POLITICAL BALANCE.
HE CIRCUMVENTED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT NOTIFICATION PROCESS OF THE FAMILY WITH PEER SUPPORT AVAILABILITY.
MR. GARCIA HAS SHOWN BY HIS ACTIONS THAT HE DOES NOT SERVE THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY.
HE HAS PLACED HIS OWN SELFISH INTERESTS ABOVE THAT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE NOT A CITY THAT WILL ACCEPT BAD BEHAVIOR BY OUR MAYOR.
WE ARE NOT A CITY THAT WILL ACCEPT OUR MAYOR'S DISRESPECT DISPLAYED TO THE FAMILY OF A FALLEN DEPUTY.
WE ARE A TOWN THAT RESPECTS LAW AND ORDER.
WE ARE A TOWN THAT EXPECTS THE BEST FROM OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
WE EXPECT BETTER THAN WHAT MR. GARCIA HAS GIVEN US.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM, AGAIN, MRS. [INAUDIBLE].
THE NEXT SPEAKER IN SUPPORT OF [OVERLAPPING].
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WAS HERE AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING IN WASCO, WHERE SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SUGGESTED THAT ALEX SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AS MAYOR.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE GUI CHARGE A LOT, ABOUT IT BEING A DISTRACTION, AND THAT HE SHOULD DEVOTE HIS TIME TO SETTLING HIS PERSONAL MATTERS.
THOSE PERSONAL MATTERS WERE SETTLED TODAY.
HE DOES NOT HAVE A DUI CHARGE.
[APPLAUSE] THE MATTER WAS SETTLED.
HE RETAINS HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE. IT'S SETTLED.
THE FACT THAT WE ARE HAVING THE DISCUSSION TODAY TO CONTINUE THE EFFORT TO REMOVE HIM, IS TROUBLING.
YOU SAID IT WAS NOT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED, THIS SHOWS THAT IT IS.
[APPLAUSE] THERE IS NO LONGER A DUI CHARGE AGAINST HIM, AND IT WAS ALL OVER THE NEWS TODAY IF YOU FAILED TO PAY ATTENTION.
I STAND HERE IN SUPPORT OF ALEX.
HE'S A GOOD MAN, HE'S A FRIEND, AND HE IS A GREAT CIVIC LEADER, AND I THINK YOU'RE MAKING A HORRIBLE MISTAKE,
[00:45:01]
AND YOU'RE SHOWING THAT THIS IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED IF YOU CHOOSE TO REMOVE HIM.THE NEXT SPEAKER IS PART OF REMOVAL.
>> HI. MY NAME IS EDDIE SOBLANYA.
I'VE LIVED HERE FOR THE PAST 27 YEARS.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND TO THE POINT THAT THIS HAS BECOME, AND WHAT I'VE SEEN IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT EVEN FROM WASCO, ARE VOICING OUT AND GIVING THEIR OPINIONS.
I TOTALLY BELIEVE THIS IS SOMETHING PERSONAL FOR WASCO ONLY, AND BECAUSE BEING HERE FOR SO MANY YEARS, WE ALL KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT GROUP WE BELONG TO OR NOTHING.
IT TOTALLY MATTERS THAT WHEN A PERSON TAKES, ESPECIALLY IN CITY COUNCIL, THEY HAVE TO BE AT THEIR BEST, THEY HAVE TO BE ON AN A-GAME, THEY HAVE TO BE LITERALLY REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY, AND THE CONSTITUENTS OF WASCO.
I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT IF THIS CAN'T BE SOLVED WITHIN ANYTHING, I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE AN ELECTION TO LET THE PEOPLE OF WASCO TO SEE WHAT THEY DECIDE.
I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT, AND WHATEVER ELSE, HONESTLY, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE STORY, THERE'S GOING TO BE TOO MANY OPINIONS, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S ABOUT WASCO.
I JUST SUGGEST THAT, WHATEVER IS BEST, WHAT THE COUNCIL DECIDES IS WHAT'S BEST BECAUSE THEY WERE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF WASCO.
>> PROGRAMMER. THANK YOU, MR. SOBLANYA.
WE APPRECIATE IT, YOUR COMMENTS THIS EVENING.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IN SUPPORT OF CONFIRMATION.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR GARCIA AND TO THE COUNCIL.
I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF WASCO, CALIFORNIA.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF MAYOR GARCIA KEEPING HIS PLACE IN OFFICE.
AS I STATED, NONE OF US ARE PERFECT, WE'VE ALL MADE MISTAKES.
I THINK THE MAYOR HAS BEEN EXONERATED FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE, AND I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO MORE DISCUSSION.
YES, HE WAS VOTED BY THE PEOPLE OF WASCO, AND HE SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT BY THE PEOPLE OF WASCO.
PROBLEM BEING IS THAT HIS TIME OF SERVICE IS NOT UP YET.
WHEN HIS TIME OF SERVICE IS UP, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ANOTHER VOTE.
DO NOT WASTE OUR TAXPAYER MONEY INTO HAVING ANOTHER VOTE BEFORE TIME.
THAT'S A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY.
MAYOR GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AS WELL.
>> LET'S GET THROUGH THIS EVENING, FOLKS.
WE HAVE THE NEXT SPEAKER IN FAVOR OR SUPPORT OF REMOVAL.
HUMILITY IS THE ABSENCE OF PRIDE AND ARROGANCE.
A HUMBLE HEART WILL ADMIT ERRORS, MISTAKES, OMISSIONS, LIES, AND FAULTS.
A HUMBLE MAN WILL APOLOGIZE AND LOOK AT THEIR HEART TO EXAMINE IT'S CONDITION, AND WILL ALLOW THEIR HEART TO BE TRANSFORMED AND RENEWED.
YOU ARE BELIEVING A FALSE NARRATIVE CREATED BY YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO DECEIVE AND ENTANGLE YOU.
I PRAY YOU HUMBLE YOURSELF BEFORE THE LORD TO FREE YOUR HEART AND YOUR MIND, BEFORE THE LORD.
I PRAY THAT YOU HEED TO CORRECTION AND INSTRUCTIONS SO THAT YOU'LL BE MADE NEW AND CONCEIVE FRESH NEW FRUIT.
I PRAY YOU RENOUNCE TO ALL THINGS IN TANGLE YOU, FOR THOSE WHO EXALT THEMSELVES WILL BE HUMBLED, AND THOSE WHO HUMBLED THEMSELVES WILL BE EXALTED.
WHAT IS IT TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE YOUR SOUL.
I PRAY YOU SEEK TRUTH FOR THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE, THEN YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUE MEANING OF FREEDOM.
FREEDOM IN YOUR HEART, FREEDOM IN YOUR MIND, FREEDOM IN YOUR SOUL.
I PRAY YOU SEEK THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND NEVER BE LED ASTRAY.
I PRAY YOU LET HUMILITY REIGN IN YOUR HEART FOR A MAN'S PRIDE WILL BRING HIM LOW, BUT A HUMBLE SPIRIT WILL OBTAIN HONOR.
I PRAY THIS IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
>> AMEN MS. SALINAS. [APPLAUSE] NEXT SPEAKER IN SUPPORT OF CONFIRMATION, PLEASE.
>> WE NEED A CERTIFIED TRANSLATOR FOR THIS.
>> WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? LET HER SPEAK?
>> WE CANNOT LET HER SPEAK IF WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS,
[00:50:01]
THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND SPANISH.I APOLOGIZE. I NEVER RECEIVED THE REQUEST.
WE DO HAVE A NOTIFICATION ON THE AGENDA THAT SAYS THAT IF YOU NEED ANY SPECIAL ASSISTANT, TO CONTACT THE CITY CLERK.
>> [SPANISH] THERE IS SOMETHING WE BROUGHT UP TO STAFF BEFORE THIS SESSION.
LET'S HAVE ORDER, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
>> WHAT SHE'S SAYING IS SHE SAYING WE SHOULD HAVE AND WE OUGHT TO HAVE A TRANSLATOR.
UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE WHO CAN OFFICIALLY TRANSLATE, HER COMMENTS AREN'T ALLOWED TO BE SUBMITTED THIS EVENING.
UNFORTUNATELY, AS IT IS STATED ON THE AGENDA AND THE POLICY HAS ALWAYS BEEN LONGSTANDING, ANY SPECIAL REQUESTS DO NEED TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE CLERK AHEAD OF TIME SO THAT ACCOMMODATIONS CAN AND SHOULD BE MADE.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, WE'VE ALWAYS DONE.
SHE SAYS THAT SHE HAS SUBMITTED A REQUEST, UNFORTUNATELY STAFF DID NOT RECEIVE THAT.
>> I HEARD YOU SAID THOSE REQUESTS WERE NOT RECEIVED, RIGHT?
>> [NOISE] CAN I HAVE THE NEXT SPEAKER IN FAVOR OF CONFIRMATION?
I'M A TEACHER, BEEN DOING IT FOR ABOUT 21 YEARS.
I THINK I'M A PRETTY DECENT JUDGE OF CHARACTER, SINCE I'VE HAD MANY STUDENTS, EITHER CONTINUATION SCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL, TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, TO ELEMENTARY.
YOU GUYS MAKE IT SEEM LIKE HE'S DOING A BAD JOB. HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB.
I COMPARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT MAYORS WE'VE HAD IN DIFFERENT CITIES AROUND THE COUNTY, AND I SEE HIM MORE OFTEN THAN I SEE ANY OTHER MAYOR.
I SEE HIM A LOT MORE OUT THERE SUPPORTING THIS COMMUNITY.
I RESPECT THAT BECAUSE NOT ONLY THAT, HE'S BRINGING A LOT OF POSITIVITY.
YES, I KNOW MISTAKES HAD TO HAPPEN, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I HEARD SOMEBODY SPEAKING ABOUT OUT OF THE BIBLE, WHO WERE CHRISTIANS, WE CANNOT BE THROWING STONES AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND NOT FORGIVE SOMEBODY.
[APPLAUSE] WE HAVE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO FORGIVE SOMEBODY, BECAUSE WE'RE THROWING STONES AT SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T DESERVE IT.
HE DIDN'T DO SOMETHING THAT BAD.
YES, IT'S A MISTAKE, [NOISE] BUT WE LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES.
I HAVE, EVERYBODY HAS, WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES. WE LEARN FROM THEM.
HE'LL PROVE TO YOU THAT HE DESERVES THAT CHANCE.
YOU KNOW WHAT, HE IS A GOOD GUY.
YOU GUYS KNOW IT BECAUSE SOME OF YOU GUYS SAID YOU VOTED FOR HIM LAST TIME.
[OVERLAPPING] HE'S STILL THAT SAME PERSON, HE HASN'T CHANGED.
LET HIM PROVE TO YOU THAT HE DESERVE THAT JOB.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IN SUPPORT OF REMOVAL, PLEASE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IN SUPPORT OF REMOVAL OF THE MAYOR.
NEXT SPEAKER IN SUPPORTIVE CONFIRMATION.
>> I'M [INAUDIBLE] CITY OF WASCO.
I WAS TOLD A STORY ABOUT A HIGH SCHOOL KID WHO'S AN FFA LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WHO WAS BUSTED TAGGING A BUILDING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
MS. [INAUDIBLE] CALLED UP THE TEACHER WHO WORKED FOR THE TEACHER. [OVERLAPPING]
[00:55:04]
>> TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONES FOLKS, COME ON.
>> TOLD HIM, HEY, WHY DID YOU TAG THE BUILDING? THE WHOLE TIME, THE WHOLE PERIOD THAT HE WAS BEING REPRIMANDED AND DISCIPLINED, THE KID SAID, IT CAN BE FIXED.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.
AGAIN, BUT DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU DID? IT COULD BE FIXED.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.
FOUR TIMES, FIVE TIMES MOVING ON AND ON, THE LITTLE KID TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS ACTIONS, NEVER APOLOGIZED FOR HIS ACTIONS.
IT'S CALLED RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
THAT LITTLE KID WAS YOU ALEX IN HIGH SCHOOL.
IT'S ALL ABOUT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAYING, "I'M SORRY, I MESSED UP." I'VE NEVER HEARD I'M SORRY FROM YOU.
I BET YOU, MS. [INAUDIBLE] AND THE TEACHER HAS NEVER HEARD, I'M SORRY.
I'M SURE THAT'S ALL WE'RE WILLING TO HEAR AND WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
I'M SORRY, I MESSED UP. I SCREWED UP.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT SPEAKER IN SUPPORTIVE CONFIRMATION, PLEASE.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS GABRIELA CASTRO, AND I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO SEE ALEX FINISH HIS TERM.
I ACTUALLY GREW UP HERE IN WASCO IN THE HEART OF WASCO.
I CAN ACTUALLY SAY THAT IN THE YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED HERE AND GREW UP HERE, ALEX HAS ACTUALLY HAS DONE A LOT MORE THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE SITTING [APPLAUSE] [NOISE] HERE HAS DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY FROM WHAT I CAN REMEMBER SINCE GROWING UP.
ALEX HAS BEEN TRYING TO MAKE A CHANGE FROM THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, NONE OF YOU HAVE BEEN DOING ANYTHING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
NONE OF YOU HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BRING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
[APPLAUSE] [INAUDIBLE] WHERE ARE OUR ROSES? WE'RE NOT THE ROSE CAPITAL ANYMORE.
WE'RE NOT. WHERE IS OUR COMMUNITY? ALEX HAS BEEN TRYING TO BRING THAT BACK.
I GREW UP IN THE HEART OF WASCO AND ALEX HAS BEEN TRYING TO BRING THAT BACK.
YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO TAKE THAT AWAY.
I'M THE NEW ONE WHO'S TRYING TO HOPEFULLY HAVE A FAMILY HERE AND YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO TAKE THAT AWAY.
HE DOES ONE MISTAKE AND HE'S TRYING TO FIX THAT.
IF YOU GUYS DO ONE MISTAKE, WE MIGHT DO THAT TOO.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IN FAVOR OF REMOVAL.
>> MY NAME IS BRIANA RODRIGUEZ, AND I'VE LIVED HERE FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS PLUS.
I'M HERE TO BRING UP SOME NUMBERS.
I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH AND ABOUT 85 PERCENT OF FATALITIES HAVE BEEN DUE TO DUIS AND THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD BIG NUMBER FOR ME.
I'M HERE TO ACTUALLY POINT OUT.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ACTUALLY DISAPPOINTED IN MY MAYOR, OR IF I'M ACTUALLY DISAPPOINTED IN MY COMMUNITY THAT IS CONDONING THESE TYPE OF ACTIONS TODAY.
I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED [APPLAUSE].
WHEN HAD WE CONDEMNED DRUNK DRIVING, I DON'T KNOW.
IF THEY'RE GOING TO START TODAY.
WHO ELSE WANTS IT TO START? WHO ELSE WANTS TO PUT THEIR LIVES AT RISK AT TWO IN THE MORNING WHEN A DRUNK DRIVER DECIDES TO DRIVE 80 MILES PER HOUR ON A 65-MILE PER HOUR LANE.
I DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF FROM THESE PEOPLE THAT DECIDE TO DRINK AND DRIVE AT MIDNIGHT AND PUT THEIR LIVES AT RISK AND PUT OTHER INNOCENT LIVES AT RISK.
I DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO LIVE THAT LIFE, AND I DON'T WANT MY COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE TO CONDEMN THOSE ACTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES ME TO BE MADE, AND THEY NEED TO BE MADE NOW.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT SEXUALITY, THIS IS NOT PERSONNEL.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT RACE, THIS IS ABOUT ACTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES, AND THEY NEED TO BE TAKEN.
[APPLAUSE] THIS ISN'T ABOUT BEING A GOOD GUY, WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
>> THIS ABOUT WHAT YOU DECIDED TO DO ONE DAY AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING, YOUR MISTAKE, YOU NEED TO OWN UP TO IT AND CONSEQUENCES NEED TO BE MADE. THANK YOU.
[01:00:07]
>> THANK YOU, MR. RODRIGUEZ, THE NEXT SPEAKER AND SUPPORT OF CONFIRMATION.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS RUDGE RAMOS AND WITH WHAT I DO, I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH UIS AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE IT AND I KNOW MANY TIMES IS SOMETHING THAT IT'S SOME MISTAKE.
SOMETIMES YOU CAN REPAIR IT, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T.
SOMETIMES IT'S A FATALITY AND I KNOW IT'S WRONG.
I KNOW THAT ALEX IS TO HONESTLY A GREAT LEADER.
THE WAY HE IS, HE'S SHOWING TO PEOPLE THAT YES, HE MADE A MISTAKE.
HE'S NOT GOING TO DO IT AGAIN.
HERE'S WHEN I SET AN EXAMPLE TO PEOPLE, DON'T DO IT.
I'M PUTTING MY FACE, HE'S NOT HIDING.
HE'S NOT STEPPING DOWN LIKE I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT ME.
HE'S FACING IT AND HE'S FIXING IT.
HE'S SHOWING PEOPLE THAT THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY, AND HE'S WHEN APPROVE IT, YOU GUYS LET HIM CONTINUE IN HIS POSITION.
HE'S ALREADY A VERY GOOD PERSON, BUT HE CAN DO SO MUCH FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
I HAVE NEVER HONESTLY, I WORK LONG HOURS, WHOEVER KNOWS ME AND PASS BY MY OFFICE.
THEY SEE ME SOMETIMES, SAY 39 P.M I'M STILL WORKING.
I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR OTHER THINGS, BUT I AM GLAD THAT ALEX IS SO ACTIVE IN [OVERLAPPING].
>> GOOD. THAT'S THE WAY I AM INFORMED OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN MOSCOW.
I SUPPORT HIM, AND I DO WANT HIM TO STAY.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE A GOOD PERSON. IT IS A GOOD PERSON.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, HE IS A GREAT LEADER.
HE IS TEACHING PEOPLE THAT THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT THING.
I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT AGAIN. DON'T DO IT.
DON'T FAIL IT. I'M RIGHT HERE TO SUPPORT HIM IN ANYTHING HE NEEDS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IN FAVOR OF REMOVAL.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS KARLA TIMAYO. RELATIVELY YOUNG.
I WOULD LITERALLY PLAN TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
I JUST LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE OF THEM BEING, I LIVED MY LIFE VERY SIMPLE WAY.
I LIKE TO THINK IF YOU CANNOT TELL THE CHILD WHAT YOU'VE DONE, MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT.
THE CHILDREN HAVE SUCH AN INNOCENT WAY ABOUT THEM.
WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH IS VERY SHAMEFUL AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S EMBARRASSING TO SAY, "GO INTO ANYWHERE AND SAY, OH, I'M FROM MOSCOW," AND THEY SAY, "HEY, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON," AND IT'S EMBARRASSING AND SHAMEFUL.
I THINK OF ANYTHING THAT HAS TO BE DONE THAT WAY PROBABLY IS NOT FOR THE BEST AND FOR THE GOOD.
I THINK EVERYONE ELSE IS ALREADY TALKED ABOUT OTHER THINGS.
>> SPEAKER IN SUPPORTIVE CONFIRMATION.
>> HONORABLE MAYOR ALEX GARCIA AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
TO THE GENTLEMAN THAT SPOKE ABOUT THE AUDIENCE THAT'S HERE, THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH.
THE FACE OF THAT I SEE HERE TODAY, ARE FACES THAT I SEE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.
I KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE HAVE LIVED IN MOSCOW ALL THEIR LIFE.
BUT ANOTHER THING I WANT TO SAY WHEN SOMEBODY SAID SOMETHING ABOUT HONOR, THAT A MAYOR NEEDS TO HONOR.
WELL, YOU SEE IT, OR YOU DON'T SAY IT.
YOU DON'T YOU DON'T TELL THE PUBLIC WHAT'S GOING ON WITH PAST MAYORS.
THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT, THAT, SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SAID.
I RESPECT HIM. HE MADE A MISTAKE.
BUT ANOTHER THING, YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT DUIS, ABOUT PEOPLE DRIVING WHILE DRUNK.
PAST MAYOR AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THIS.
I'M NOT GOING TO MENTION HIS NAME, BUT I HAVE PUT ON FACEBOOK WHEN THERE ARE CHECKPOINTS, "OH, BE CAREFUL, THERE'S A CHECKPOINT OVER HERE." WHY WOULD YOU NEED TO POST THAT? TO NOTIFY ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE DRINKING AND DRIVING TO LET THEM KNOW,
[01:05:01]
DO NOT GO DOWN [INAUDIBLE] OR DON'T GO DOWN HIGHWAY 46 BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY HAVE THE CHECKPOINTS.THAT'S PROBABLY WHY THEY TOOK AWAY THE CHECKPOINT.
BECAUSE CERTAIN PEOPLE POST IT TO THE COMMUNITY, DON'T GO THAT WAY OR THIS WAY.
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE DON'T GET CAUGHT.
BUT BECAUSE THE CHECKPOINT WASN'T, WHAT DO WE CALL IT, PUT OUT THERE.
>> BUT THAT'S WHAT I SAY, AND YOU TALK ABOUT HONOR, PAST MAYORS.
YOU GUYS ALL KNOW WHAT THESE PAST MAYORS HAVE DONE, AND YOU NEED THEM OUT.
COME TALK TO ME BECAUSE I CAN'T LIVE THE WORST OF MY LIFE, 60 YEARS.
I CAN TELL YOU GUYS WANT TO HAVE COFFEE TOGETHER.
LET'S GO, AND I CAN TELL YOU EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY HAS DONE.
JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW THAT HE NEEDS TO STAY WHERE HE BELONGS AS A MAYOR.
NEXT SPEAKER IN FAVOR OF REMOVAL.
WE HAVE AN E-MAIL COMMENT IN FAVOR OF REMOVAL.
GOOD EVENING. I RECENTLY MOVED INTO THE CITY OF MOSCOW.
I ACTUALLY MOVED INTO MOSCOW BECAUSE I WANTED TO FIND A SMALL TOWN THAT I COULD RETIRE TOO.
I WAS TAKEN ABACK WHEN I READ ABOUT OUR CURRENT MAYOR'S DUI INCIDENT.
I WAS MOST CONCERNED WITH THE FACT THAT YOU NEVER EVEN HAVE APOLOGIZED FOR YOUR ACTIONS.
AT THE VERY LEAST, I'LL OWN YOUR ERROR.
GREAT LEADERS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD, IN YOUR CASE, LEAD THE CITY.
YOUR PRIME JOB IS TO MAKE MOSCOW A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE TOMORROW, NOT JUST TODAY.
HOW DO YOU DO THIS WHEN YOU ARE THE ISSUE AT HAND? ONE OF THE MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES OF A LEADER IS TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
WHAT MESSAGE ARE YOU SENDING OUR COMMUNITY, OUR YOUTH? IT'S OKAY TO JUST CAN DRIVE.
I'M DISAPPOINTED AND CONCERN THAT I MADE A MISTAKE AND MOVING TO LAW SCHOOL, YOU SHOULD STEP DOWN AS MAYOR AND ALLOW SOMEONE ELSE TO LEAD OUR COMMUNITY.
IF YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR DRINKING PROBLEMS, SEEK IT OUT.
SHOW OUR COMMUNITY THAT YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT.
STOP IGNORING THE COMMUNITY, STOP MAKING IT LOOK LIKE IT'S OKAY.
STOP PLAYING THE PREFERENCE CARD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ROSA R.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT SPEAKER IN SUPPORTIVE CONFIRMATION.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DIANA FERNANDEZ, MY AGE'S 59 YEARS OLD.
HE'S MY NEPHEW, AND NOW I'M NOT TELLING YOU THIS BECAUSE HE'S MY NEPHEW.
WHAT WE SHOULD ALL BE THINKING ABOUT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO, IF YOU'RE GUILTY? HOW CAN YOU GUILTY SOMEBODY BEFORE A PROVEN GUILTY? IF THEY'RE, EVERYBODY IS INSTEAD, THEY TELL YOU AT THE COURT, YOU CANNOT TELL SOMEBODY THAT THEY'RE GUILTY IF WE DON'T HAVE PROOF FOR YOU WEREN'T THERE.
PLEASE, I ASK YOU, LOOK IN YOUR HEART AND IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING IN BACK OF YOU, WHEREVER YOU ARE DONE, YOU HAVE YOUR CHILDREN THAT ARE COMING.
I LIVED HERE 59 YEARS, AND HE IS THE FIRST ONE THAT HELPED TO PUT LOW-INCOME HOUSES IN THIS AREA.
HAS HELPED FOUR PEOPLE IN THIS AREA.
MY HUSBAND JUST TOOK OFF ON ME, LEFT ME WITH TWO KIDS.
I HAD TO WORK TO SUPPORT MY KIDS.
HE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS STOOD UP FOR POOR PEOPLE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT SOME COUSIN OF MINE THAT CAME HERE AND TALK.
HE SHOULD RECOGNIZE WHOSE FAMILY IS FIRST.
BEFORE TALKING THE SAME, HE WAS GIVEN EVERYTHING, AND HE KNOWS WHO HE IS.
I DON'T HAVE TO MENTION HIS ME, AND I DON'T WANT TO.
HE WOULD BE SORRY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
[APPLAUSE] WE SHOULD ALL LOOK INTO SOMETHING BECAUSE MY HUSBAND WAS BORN 32 YEARS, A DRUNK, AND HE NEVER HAD THE SUPPORT OF ANYBODY TO SAY, I WILL HELP THAT PERSON.
WE ARE THINKING ABOUT PUTTING FOR THEM TO HELP PEOPLE LIKE ME AND HAVE THAT WHATEVER IT'S CALL, I'M SO NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.
BUT HAVE SOME OF HOW FOR SOME PEOPLE, THAT THEY NEED HELP.
>> THANK YOU, MS. FERNANDEZ. [APPLAUSE] FOUR MINUTES.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IN SUPPORTIVE REMOVAL.
[BACKGROUND] IF YOU CAN, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM PLEASE.
[01:10:11]
>> WE'VE ALL HEARD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HOW HE'S A GOOD GUY.
YOU PROBABLY ARE. I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I WONDER THE PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN AFFECTED BY DRUNK DRIVERS, THAT'S FAMILIES HAVE BEEN KILLED BY DRUNK DRIVERS.
THEY DON'T CARE HOW GOOD OF A GUY SOMEBODY IS.
I GREW UP WITH A GRANDMOTHER WITH MENTAL ILLNESS MY WHOLE LIFE, BECAUSE MY UNCLE WHO HAD JUST GOTTEN HOME FROM KOREA, WAS KILLED ON [INAUDIBLE] WITH HIS WIFE AND HIS SIX MONTH OLD SON BY A DRUNK DRIVER.
I DON'T CARE HOW GOOD YOU ARE.
YOU MAKE ONE MISTAKE, YOU MAKE TWO MISTAKES, YOU MAKE THREE MISTAKES, YOU GET A GOOD ATTORNEY, YOU GET IT WIPED OUT, THAT DOESN'T BRING PEOPLE'S FAMILIES BACK THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS.
IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT KIND OF PERSON YOU ARE.
IT HAS TO DO WITH ACCOUNTABILITY OF WHAT YOU CHOSE TO DO, OR ANY DRUNK DRIVER CHOOSES DO WHEN THEY'VE BEEN DRINKING AND THEY GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR.
>> THANK YOU. MISS. [INAUDIBLE]. [APPLAUSE]. MAY I HAVE THE NEXT SPEAKER IN SUPPORTIVE CONFIRMATION, PLEASE.
>> MY NAME IS MARTIN CHAVEZ AND I'LL HAVE MY WIFE SPEAK FOR ME, PLEASE.
>> MARTIN, ASKED ME TO WRITE A FEW THINGS BECAUSE HE HAS A HARD TIME SPEAKING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE, BUT HE IS A WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL.
HE IS HERE IN SUPPORT OF CONFIRMATION OF HONORABLE MAYOR ALEX GARCIA.
I'D LIKE TO BRING PEOPLE BACK, THE FOCUS BACK TO THE TO THE ISSUE AT HAND.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ECHO ATTORNEY [INAUDIBLE] WORDS AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, THE PUBLIC PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE PEOPLE WERE AT.
MAYOR ALEX GARCIA DID NOT TRY TO HIDE THIS.
IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A VERY PUBLIC SITUATION, AND HE SPOKE TO IT, AND HE HELD HIMSELF WELL, AND HE WAITED FOR THE COURT SYSTEM TO GO THROUGH THE PROPER POLICIES, PROCEDURES AS NEEDED.
THERE WAS WET AND RECKLESS CHARGES THAT WERE DONE.
THEN, I WANT TO ECHO THE WORDS THAT ATTORNEY [INAUDIBLE] SAID.
HE SAID THIS IS THE ATTITUDE, THE SENTIMENT AMONG COUNCIL PEOPLE WITH A PRETEXT FOR POLITICAL REASONS. [OVERLAPPING]
I DON'T KNOW OF ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN CHOMPING AT THE BIT MORE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS ON THEIR SAME TEAM, TO NOT EVEN WAIT FOR THE LEGAL PROCESS TO GO THROUGH, FOR THE FINDINGS [APPLAUSE] TO COME ABOUT BEFORE THEY COME TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
WE SUPPORT YOU MAYOR ALEX GARCIA. THE CITY SUPPORT'S YOU.
[APPLAUSE] [NOISE] FORWARD. AGAIN, AND THANK YOU MARTIN FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS [NOISE], MR. [INAUDIBLE].
THE NEXT SPEAKER IN SUPPORT OF REMOVAL.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT. OH, MY GOD.
>> I'M SORRY MA'AM, WHAT WAS YOUR NAME?
ALL I WANTED TO SAY IS I THOUGHT I HEARD HER SAY THERE WAS AN ACQUITTAL, AND I DIDN'T HEAR THAT THERE WAS AN ACQUITTAL.
I HEARD THAT IT WAS REDUCED, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT AN ACQUITTAL.
AN ACQUITTAL IS WHEN YOU'RE IN A COURT ALREADY.
>> TRAFFIC COURT. YES YOU WERE IN TRAFFIC COURT.
BUT IT WAS REDUCED, IT WASN'T ACQUITTED.
IT WAS JUST REDUCED FROM DUI TO RECKLESS DRIVING.
>> THANK YOU, MRS. STEWART. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IN SUPPORTIVE CONFIRMATION.
>> [BACKGROUND] WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME ON THE [OVERLAPPING] COMMON PERSON.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WE'RE DONE WITH THAT. OKAY. WELL, THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S COMMENTS.
IT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.
[01:15:02]
SORRY.OKAY. THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DID NOT INTEND TO SPEAK AT THIS POINT BECAUSE YOU HEARD MY STORY.
MANY OF YOU WERE HERE LAST TIME.
I AM A PERSON THAT UNFORTUNATELY IS GREATLY AFFECTED BY A DRUNK DRIVER.
THAT HE DOES ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES AN HOUR AND CAUSE GREAT DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLE TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS NOT USABLE ANYMORE.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, CAUSED GREAT BODILY HARM.
I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT MY STORY BECAUSE YOU'VE HEARD IT.
I'M INCENSED BY ALL OF YOU THAT ARE SAYING THAT MAYOR GARCIA, MADE A MISTAKE.
UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO BE ON THE ROAD WITH A DRUNK DRIVER, WHICH I DON'T THINK YOU'RE WILLING TO DO THAT, TO UNDERSTAND THE DANGER THAT YOU EXPOSE YOURSELF TO.
I JUST DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
THE HIGHWAY PATROL SAYS, YOU SHOULD NOT DRIVE AFTER DRINKING.
IT SAYS BUS DRIVING IS DRUNK DRIVING.
SOMEHOW WE ARE ASKED TO BELIEVE, THAT BECAUSE THE MAYOR CHARGED WAS REDUCED BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
EVEN HIS OWN LAWYER WHEN HE WAS ASKED WELL, WHAT WAS THE LEVEL OF ALCOHOL? HE SAID HE FIRST BLEW A 0.8 THEN A 0.7.
BUT HE SAID IT WAS INCREASING.
WHEN HE WAS GIVING ANOTHER TEST, IT WAS 0.0808, IF I REMEMBER.
MANY PEOPLE HERE WANT US TO BELIEVE THAT THAT'S OKAY.
THAT, THE MAYOR WHO HAS DONE THIS ALREADY ANOTHER TIME, SHOULD BE GIVEN A SECOND, IN THIS CASE, A THIRD CHANCE.
I BELIEVE THAT THE MAYOR NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY, WHAT HE DID.
IT WOULD BE GREAT IF HE WOULD STEP DOWN, BUT I DON'T THINK HE WILL DO THAT.
HE'S GOING TO LEAVE IT UP TO HIS PEERS TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
I WANTED TO TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE OF THE STORY THAT I DIDN'T TELL YOU THE LAST TIME AND THAT IS, THE MAN THAT HIT US ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES AN HOUR, HAD BEEN CONVICTED THREE TIMES OF DRUNK DRIVING, AND HAD NEVER SPENT A DAY IN JAIL.
AFTER THE PICTURES WERE SHOWN TO HIM, HE DECIDED TO PLEAD GUILTY AND HE WAS GIVEN A YEAR IN JAIL.
IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT FOR THE MAYOR TO COME TO? TO ONE DAY, HAVE TO INJURE SOMEBODY? TO ONE DAY, HAVE TO PLEAD GUILTY AND GO TO JAIL? I DON'T THINK SO.
I THINK THAT THE MAYOR NEEDS TO OWN THIS, AND HE NEEDS TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, BUT SINCE HE WILL NOT DO WHAT IS RIGHT, THEN IT IS UP TO US TO DO IT. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> [INAUDIBLE] MAYOR. HEARING SOME OF TONIGHT'S TESTIMONY, I THINK SOME OF THE ISSUES HERE, SOME OF THE POINTS MADE TODAY ARE BLURRING THE LINES, STORIES BEING CONFLATED AS TO WHY WE'RE HERE.
SOME PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE THIS UP TO BE A WITCH-HUNT AGAINST MAYOR GARCIA AND THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY ITSELF.
DO YOU BELIEVE I AM A HOMOPHOBE? DO YOU BELIEVE THAT MY WIFE AND I [BACKGROUND].
>> LET'S BE RESPECTFUL FOLKS PLEASE.
[01:20:01]
LET THE MEMBER FINISH HIS COMMENTS.>> I ONLY ASKED THAT BECAUSE, THAT IS THE MESSAGE THAT HE'S PUTTING OUT THERE.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT I AM? [BACKGROUND]
>> LET'S BE RESPECTFUL AND LET THE MEMBER FINISHED HIS COMMENTS.
>> I BELIEVE LEADERS SHOULD LEAD AND YOUR ACTIONS HAVE SPOKEN FOR THEMSELVES. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] [NOISE] MEMBER [INAUDIBLE] ? [NOISE]
>> I'LL TAKE OFF MY MASK. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING VERY CONSTRUCTIVE TO ADD, MR. MAYOR, THINGS BEEN SAID.
I JUST WANT TO AFFIRM MY FRIENDSHIP WITH YOU AND TO ALL THE FAMILIES OUT THERE IN WASCO.
AGAIN, THIS IS A VERY HURTFUL TOPIC REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU STAND.
AGAIN, I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE FAMILY THAT SUFFERS, BUT THAT'S JUST ME.
AS FAR AS TONIGHT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR AS FAR AS MY PERSPECTIVE, I DO NOT CONDONE DRUNK DRIVING, I DO NOT CONDONE BUZZ DRIVING OR UNSAFE DRIVING. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU, MEMBER PALLARES.
>> THERE'S NO LEGAL OBLIGATION TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, WE SHOULD.
I BELIEVE THAT ELECTED OFFICIAL SHOULD BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S RARELY THE CASE IN REALITY.
THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TRUST THAT OUR COMMUNITY PLACES IN US, AND UNFORTUNATELY, AS PUBLIC OFFICIALS, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT TRUST US.
THERE'S A LOT OF ALLEGATIONS THAT WERE CORRUPT, THERE'S A LOT OF BELIEF THAT INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE CAN BREAK THE LAW AND GET AWAY WITH IT BECAUSE THEY HIRE HIGH-POWERED ATTORNEYS, THERE'S NO CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
I DON'T THINK THAT THE DISPOSITION OF THIS CRIMINAL CASE CERTAINLY HELPS WITH THAT PERCEPTION.
IN MY OPINION, THIS REMAINS A DISTRACTION BECAUSE THE PUBLIC TRUST HAS BEEN BROKEN.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE ACTUAL CRIMINAL COURT CASE BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT SAID ABOUT THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT OCCURRED EARLIER TODAY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CHARGES OF THE DISPOSITION, MAYOR GARCIA PLED NO CONTEST TO VEHICLE CODE SECTION 23103 AND THE DESCRIPTION SAYS, IN PLACE OF DUI.
SO HE PLED GUILTY TO A RECKLESS DRIVING INSTEAD OF PLEADING GUILTY TO A DUI.
IF WE LISTEN TO WHAT HIS ATTORNEY SAID, HIS ATTORNEY USED THE RISING BLOOD ALCOHOL DEFENSE IN ORDER TO GET THE CHARGE OF DRIVING WITH A BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL OF ABOVE 0.08 DISMISSED.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU CONSUMED ALCOHOL, YOU ARE DRIVING, BUT THE ALCOHOL HADN'T ACTUALLY ENTERED YOUR BLOODSTREAM WHEN YOU'RE PULLED OVER.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS MAYOR GARCIA GOT STOPPED JUST OUTSIDE OF BAKERSFIELD.
SO BY THE TIME HE HAD GOT TO WASCO, HOW INTOXICATED WOULD HE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN THEN? JUST BECAUSE ON A LEGAL TECHNICALITY, A PORTION OF THIS CHARGE WAS ACQUITTED, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE BAD JUDGMENT DIDN'T TAKE PLACE.
IN FACT, I WOULD ARGUE THAT HAVING ONE TOO MANY BEERS WITH DINNER IS NOT NEARLY AS DANGEROUS AS DRINKING A BUNCH OF ALCOHOL AND JUMPING IN YOUR CAR AND TRYING TO RUSH HOME BEFORE THE ALCOHOL KICKS IN.
I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MY CONSTITUENTS.
I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO HONOR THEIR WISHES AND THEIR DESIRES, AND I ALSO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO WHAT I THINK IS BEST FOR THE CITY OF WASCO.
BECAUSE IN MY OPINION AND IN THE OPINION OF THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF MY CONSTITUENTS THAT I'VE TALKED TO THAT THE PUBLIC TRUST HAS BEEN BROKEN, I HAVE TO TAKE ACTION.
MR. MAYOR, WE WILL UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT, BUT THAT'S THE END OF MY COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, MEMBER MARTINEZ.
[01:25:07]
>> ALEX CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THE CITY OF WASCO.
I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A WELL SPOKEN EXPERIENCED LEADER TO HELP GUIDE THE CITY THROUGH THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.
THOSE ARE NOT MY WORDS, THOSE ARE YOUR WORDS.
I WAS HAPPY TO FOCUS MY ATTENTION ON MY DISTRICT, BUT THIS CITY HONORED ME WITH THE MAYORSHIP.
THE CITY OF WASCO HONORED ME THROUGH YOUR VOTES WITH THE CONSECUTIVE TERM UNPRECEDENTEDLY AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WASCO. I WAS HONORED.
I REMAIN HONORED TO SERVE WASCO AS MAYOR FOR WHAT IS NOW NO MORE THAN A FEW MONTHS LEFT IN MY TURN.
SET DIFFERENTLY, MY TERM IS ALREADY NEARLY AT AN END.
REMOVING THE CEREMONIAL GAVEL FROM MY HAND NOW IS NOT BASED ON THE SUBSTANCE OF MY LEADERSHIP, BUT BASED ON BIGOTRY.
THIS KANGAROO COURT DIDN'T CONVENE UNTIL I MADE THE APPARENT MISTAKE OF ASKING THIS COUNCIL, THE SAME COUNCIL WHICH PRAISED MY LEADERSHIP TO OPENLY AFFIRM WASCO'S LGBT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH NOTHING MORE THAN A SMALL SYMBOL OF ACCEPTANCE, A SMALL RAINBOW FLAG.
THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO WHEN IT PERTAINS TO MY BRINGING OF THE WRONG ATTENTION TO WASCO.
I BROUGHT THE WRONG ATTENTION BY RAISING A RAINBOW FLAG OF INCLUSION AND LOVE.
I SPOKE TO THE LOS ANGELES TIMES ABOUT YOUR VOTE TO REJECT THE LGBT COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF WASCO.
THE LA TIMES CALLS YOU FOR COMMENTS AND YOU GAVE NONE.
ALL OF THIS PHONY CONCERN FOR MY NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE COMMUNITY CAME BECAUSE OF YOUR SHAME OF BEING ASKED TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF WHY YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THE LGBT COMMUNITY IN WASCO.
IF NOT FOR SHAME, THEN WHY NOT COMMENT ON WHY YOU SAID NO TO MY FAMILY AND MANY OTHERS LIKE MINE? YOU ARE RETALIATING AGAINST ME BECAUSE OF YOUR EMBARRASSMENT ON YOUR VOTES ON THE FLAG.
YOU'RE RETALIATING AGAINST ME BECAUSE I WILL NOT STOP POINTING OUT YOUR REJECTION OF MY COMMUNITY OF WHICH MY PARTNER AND I ARE MEMBERS OF.
YOU KNOW THIS. NOW, YOU SEEK TO DISHONOR ME, TO HUMILIATE ME, TO CONCEAL YOUR HOMOPHOBIC REJECTION OF THOSE IN MY COMMUNITY WHO CHOOSE TO LOVE DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU-ALL.
I AM GRATEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY LEADERS IN WASCO AND THE REAL RESIDENTS WHO WALKED WITH ME THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
[APPLAUSE] [NOISE] THROUGH IT ALL, WASCO PROVED AGAIN THAT THOUGH WE ARE A SMALL TOWN, WE ARE A VERY BIG HEARTED COMMUNITY.
[BACKGROUND] I REACHED OUT TO THE FAITH LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND FOUND OPEN ARMS, GRACE FILLED EYES, AND ENCOURAGING WORDS IN DIALOGUES THAT I EXPECTED TO FIND NOTHING BUT CONDEMNATION FOR MY ERRORS.
INSTEAD, I FOUND LOVE, GRACE, AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
THANK YOU, WASCO RESIDENTS, IN PARTICULAR, PASTOR SANCHEZ AND YOLANDA HARRISON FOR YOUR WISDOM, GUIDANCE, AND OFFERINGS OF GRACE.
THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS THIS EVENING.
>> HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, AT THIS POINT, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THREE CHOICES, EITHER NO ACTION, A MOTION TO CONFIRM THE CONTINUED IN THE ORAL APPOINTMENT, OR A MOTION TO REMOVE THE CURRENT MAYORAL APPOINTMENT.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE MAYOR GARCIA.
>> MADAM CLERK, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS ITEM.
THIS VOTE IS UNANIMOUS. WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE VOTE?
>> MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ,
[01:30:01]
SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ TO REMOVE ALEXANDER GARCIA AS MAYOR FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TERM.MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH MAYOR GARCIA AS A NO.
>> YES. SINCE AT THIS POINT, THE ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN, THE MAYOR PRO TEM, GILBERT REYNA, WILL ACT AS MAYOR ON THE REMAINDER OF THIS AGENDA.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL ASK FOR A 15-MINUTE RECESS.
>> [NOISE] ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE. I'M CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
THANK YOU FOR REMAINING OR THE REST OF THIS COUNCIL MEETING.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN NOMINATIONS FOR THE MAYOR POSITION.
IS THERE A NOMINATION FROM OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS?
>> I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA TO THE POSITION OF MAYOR.
>> OKAY. SHOULD I ASK WHETHER THERE ARE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS OR JUST PROCEED WITH THIS ONE?
>> YOU CAN CERTAINLY ASK THAT. YES.
>> ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? OKAY. HEARING NONE, IT'S MOVED AND SECOND.
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL THE VOTE?
>> MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ, TO APPOINT COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA AS MAYOR.
>> MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPOINT A MAYOR PRO TEM.
IS THERE A NOMINATION FROM OUR MEMBERS?
>> I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE MEMBER JOHN PALLARES.
>> IS IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT?
ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR MAYOR PRO TEM? OKAY. HEARING NONE. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU TAKE A VOTE?
>> DO I ABSTAIN? [LAUGHTER] AYE.
>> MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ TO APPOINT COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES AS MAYOR PRO TEM.
MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE THIS ONE MORE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
[12) b. Appointment of Voting Delegate and Alternate for the League of California Cities Annual Conference scheduled for September 22-24, 2021, at the Sacramento Convention Center.]
APPOINTMENT OF A VOTING DELEGATE IN ALTERNATE FOR THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 22ND AND 24TH OR THROUGH THE 24TH OF THIS YEAR AT THE SACRAMENTO CONVENTION CENTER. MR. HERBERT?>> YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, IT IS A REQUIREMENT OF BEING A LEAGUE MEMBER TO NAME A VOTING DELEGATE FOR THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
ALTHOUGH THE ITEM HERE SAYS ALTERNATE, IT'S USUALLY ADVISABLE TO NOMINATE, NOT ONLY A VOTING DELEGATE, BUT ALSO TWO ALTERNATES.
IF THERE ARE CHANGES, THAT'S A WAYS OFF, IF THERE ARE CHANGES IN SCHEDULES AND AVAILABILITY, THAT WAY, WE HAVE TO AND WE DON'T HAVE TO DO SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS AT THE LEAGUE CONFERENCE ITSELF.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU ASK FOR NOMINATIONS OF A DELEGATE AND TWO ALTERNATES.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. HERBERT.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR A PRIMARY MEMBER AND TWO ALTERNATES.
>> MAY I ASK A QUESTION BEFORE THE MOTION?
>> MR. MAYOR, WHO'S ATTENDING THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES?
>> VERY GOOD QUESTION. I CAN TELL YOU, I AM NOT.
I DID NOT SIGN UP FOR IT, AND SO I THINK FALL UPON.
[01:35:01]
>> AS OF NOW, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, AND COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA ATTENDING.
>> OKAY. VERY GOOD. DO I HERE A NOMINATION?
>> I'LL MAKE A NOMINATION FOR SELF-NOMINATE.
>> OKAY. MAYOR GARCIA FOR PRIMARY.
MADAM HAS BEEN FIRST AND SECOND.
>> DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND DO FOR THE OTHER?
>> WE COULD DO THEM ALL AT ONCE?
>> OKAY. LET'S DO THEM ALL AT ONCE.
WE NEED TO CHOOSE TWO ALTERNATES, AND I THINK THAT'S PRETTY EASY, RIGHT? [LAUGHTER] WE HAVE BOTH MR. MARTINEZ AND MR. CORTEZ GOING AS WELL.
I BELIEVE THEY WILL BE OUR ALTERNATES, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. I DON'T THINK I AM.
>> THAT IS CORRECT AND THERE'S NO NEED FOR A VOTE.
THE APPOINTMENT IS JUST BY NOMINATIONS.
>> OKAY. SO NO NEED TO VOTE ON THAT? I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THE FACT THAT BEFORE THEY GO TO THE CONFERENCE, WE SHOULD DISCUSS THE TOPIC THAT THEY WILL BE VOTING ON SO THAT THE COUNCIL HAS A SAY AS TO HOW THE COUNCIL WANTS OUR DELEGATES OR DELEGATE TO VOTE.
WOULD YOU PLEASE BRING IT UP FUTURE COUNCIL MEMBER?
>> I DEFINITELY WILL. I DON'T KNOW IF THE ELECTION OR THE VOTING LIST HAS BEEN PRESENTED BY THE LEAGUE YET, BUT AS SOON AS IT IS, WE'LL DISTRIBUTE THAT AND GET THAT AS A DISCUSSION ITEM ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MOVING ON.
[13) REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND COMMITTEES:]
ITEM 13, A REPORT FROM COMMISSION AND COMMITTEES, CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. MR. CORTEZ.>> THERE'S NO MEETING, THANK YOU. WE'VE DONE THE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU. ITEM B, CURRENT COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT. MR. GARCIA.
>> NO ITEMS TO REPORT THIS MONTH.
>> THANK YOU. IN WASCO TASK FORCE.
>> WE WILL BE HOLDING OUR FIRST IN-PERSON MEETING NEXT WEDNESDAY AT THE WASCO RECREATION DISTRICT HALL FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE VETS HALL.
SORRY, I'M STILL STRUGGLING TO GET THAT NAME IN MY HEAD.
IT'LL BE NEXT WEDNESDAY AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT SOME OF OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING IS THE POSSIBLE RENAMING OF HIGHWAY 46 THROUGH WASCO IN HONOR OF DEPUTY CAMPUS.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY INPUT FOR A POSSIBLE MEMORIAL FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIFE TRAGICALLY LAST WEEK.
HOPEFULLY, IT'S GOING TO BE A TASK FORCE INITIATIVES, SO ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED.
THERE'S NO REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, YOU CAN JUST SHOW UP AND WE'D LOVE TO HAVE EVERYBODY'S INPUT ON THESE VERY IMPORTANT TOPICS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
NUMBER 14, REPORTS FROM KERN COUNTY FIRE AND SHERIFF.
WE DO NOT HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HERE TODAY.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE SEEM TO BE SAYING THAT AT EACH MEETING.
I KNOW THEY'RE BUSY, BUT WHO'S REPORTING THIS EVENING?
>> I HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT THIS EVENING.
>> WOW. WE'RE GOING TO MISS THOSE SLIDES. [LAUGHTER]
>> HE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK. [LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU. REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER. MR. HERBERT.
>> YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I DON'T HAVE ANY DETAILED REPORTS FOR TONIGHT OTHER THAN JUST WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH THIS ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU WORKING WITH MYSELF AND STAFF TO MAKE THAT WORK AS SMOOTHLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE DO HOPE TO HAVE SOME INFORMATION FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AT THE NEXT MEETING.
I APPRECIATE THE DEPUTIES BEING HERE THIS EVENING AND PROVIDING US JUST WITH THEIR PRESENCE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR REGULAR REPORTING IN A FUTURE MEETING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I SECOND THAT.
[16) REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL:]
MAYOR PRO TEM PALLARES.>> NOTHING TONIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> I DID WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, IN LIGHT OF THE TRAGEDY THIS COMMUNITY HAS INCURRED, IT HAPPENED HERE WITH THE PASSING OF OFFICER CAMPAS AND THE RAMIREZ FAMILY, THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS RESPONDED TREMENDOUSLY FOR THOSE PEOPLE.
I'VE SEEN THE KINDNESS, THE WARMTH, THE SUPPORT FIRSTHAND.
IT'S AMAZING TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
[01:40:07]
>> THANK YOU, MR. CORTEZ. MR. GARCIA.
>> JUST SENDING MY THANKS TO THE DEPARTMENT WHO'VE BEEN A WONDERFUL PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS, NOT ONLY ALL YEAR, BUT THROUGH THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME.
I APPRECIATE THAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING ON WITH THE BUSINESS OF THE PEOPLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. GARCIA. MR. MARTINEZ.
>> TO ECHO MS. CASTILLO'S COMMENTS EARLIER, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY.
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY ROUGH LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR OUR CITY OR LAST WEEK AND A HALF.
I TAKE COMFORT IN SEEING THE UNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT.
THE GREATEST STRENGTH OF THIS CITY IS ITS PEOPLE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK LIEUTENANT MORENO AND SENIOR DEPUTY MALDONADO FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I WAS THERE ON THAT DAY, AND I WATCHED OUR LOCAL PATROL DEPUTIES LITERALLY ACT AS HUMAN SHIELDS, STANDING BETWEEN THE GUNMEN AND THE RESIDENTS THEY WERE ESCORTING TO SAFETY.
I KNOW YOU GUYS DON'T GET PRAISED ENOUGH, ESPECIALLY BY THIS COUNCIL.
SOMETIMES, WE CAN BE A LITTLE CRITICAL OF THE SERVICES WE GET, BUT YOU GUYS ARE HEROES AND YOU GUYS ARE APPRECIATED IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU ALL. AT THE RISK OF SOUNDING REDUNDANT HERE, I FEEL THE SAME WAY.
AS YOU KNOW, OUR SHERIFF, THAT'S A GREAT DEAL OF WORK AT TRYING TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE IN THE EVENTS THAT'S RECENTLY HAPPENED, JUST SHOWS YOU HOW MUCH IN DANGER THEY ARE OF DOING THAT.
IT'S JUST ANYTIME THEY LEAVE HOME, THEY DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY WILL BE RETURNING.
I FEEL A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR ALL OF YOU.
YOU ARE HEROES, AS MR. MARTINEZ AND OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED.
I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAMILY THAT LOST FOUR MEMBERS.
HOPEFULLY, WE WILL NEVER SEE THAT HAPPEN IN WASCO AGAIN.
I PRAY THAT THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN IN WASCO AGAIN.
THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU PARTICIPATING.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL THING TO SEE.
IT WOULD BE GREAT IF IT HAPPENED AT EVERY MEETING BUT IT DOESN'T.
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT THIS TIME.
[NOISE] [APPLAUSE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.