[00:00:02]
IT IS SIX O'CLOCK AND I'M CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER.[NOISE] MADAM CLERK WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA IS ABSENT.
IF YOU ARE ABLE PLEASE JOIN US FOR A FLAG SALUTE BY STANDING.
>> PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR AN INVOCATION.
IS THERE SOMEONE HERE THAT CAN GIVE AN INVOCATION? THE ABSENCE OF THAT LIST IS OBSERVED.
[5) PRESENTATIONS:]
ON TO ITEM 5 ON THE AGENDA AS PRESENTATIONS AND WE HAVE THREE, AND WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS I'D LIKE TO LEAVE THE THREE OF THEM, AND THEN I'LL COME DOWN AND WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE TOGETHER.I THINK THAT WILL WORK BETTER BECAUSE THIS IS ALL WE HAVE TO DO WITH THE SAME PROJECT.
I SUPPOSE BEFORE I DO THIS RECOGNITION, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.
BACK IN JUNE, I HAD A CONSTITUENT OF MINE CALLED ME ASKING, THAT THE SIDEWALK BE FIXED.
WHAT SHE TOLD ME IS THAT THE SIDEWALK WAS IN DISREPAIR AND IT WAS A DANGER TO HER, HER MOTHER, AND HER DAD.
SHE INSISTED THAT THE CITY SHOULD FIX IT.
IN REALITY, THE CITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR OF THE SIDEWALK AND SO I DID NOT WANT TO TELL HER NO, YOU'RE WRONG, BUT I DID TELL HER WELL, LET ME LOOK INTO IT AND I WILL GET BACK TO YOU.
AS I INVESTIGATED WHAT THE CITY COULD DO, IT TURNS OUT OF COURSE THAT THE CITY CANNOT FIX THE SIDEWALK WITHOUT INCURRING IN THE GIFTING OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
I TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE INCLUDING SCOTT, MANUEL CARDO, AND OTHERS, AND THERE WAS A WAY IN WHICH THIS COULD BE DONE.
THIS WAS TO FIND COLLABORATORS THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO WORK IN THE REPAIR OF THIS SIDEWALK AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS OF THE HOME.
I CONTACTED [INAUDIBLE], WHO IS HERE PRESENT AND YOU'LL MEET HIM IN JUST A MOMENT, AND I ASKED HIM HOW WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO HELP REPAIR THE SIDEWALK FOR A FAMILY THAT IS UNABLE TO FIX IT THEMSELVES AND HE SAID," ABSOLUTELY, I WILL DO THAT FREE OF CHARGE." THEN I CONTACTED WHITE CAP AND I ASKED WHITE CAP, WOULD THEY BE INTERESTED IN HELPING US ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, BY GIVING US A DISCOUNT ON THE MATERIALS.
THEY SAID," ABSOLUTELY, WE WANT TO BE PART OF IT." THEY OFFERED NEARLY A 50 PERCENT DISCOUNT ON THE MATERIALS, AND SO I SAID WONDERFUL.
NOW, THE ONLY COMPONENT THAT WAS MISSING WAS THE MONEY.
I NEEDED TO GO [LAUGHTER] FIND SOMEBODY TO FUND IT.
I APPROACH THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS GRAND KNIGHT'S INVOLVEMENT AND HE SAID," ABSOLUTELY, I WILL DO THAT." WITH ALL OF THESE COLLABORATORS, WE WERE ABLE TO FIX THIS FAMILY SIDEWALK AND PREVENT THEM FROM SUFFERING ANY INJURY, BECAUSE THE INDIVIDUAL HAD CALLED ME, APART OF THEM APPEARS ON THIS PICTURE THAT YOU JUST SAW, HAS A GREAT DEAL OF DIFFICULTY WALKING.
I BELIEVE WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD SUFFERED FROM CEREBRAL PALSY, AND SO SHE HAS DIFFICULTY WALKING, HER MOTHER HAS DIFFICULTY WALKING AND HER DAD IS ON AN [INAUDIBLE] AS YOU CAN SEE AS WELL.
WE WERE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR THEM AND FOR THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO COLLABORATE TO GET THIS DONE.
[00:05:04]
I WILL NOW READ IT.>> NO ASKING ME, IF I CAN HEAR BECAUSE I CAN'T HEAR, PLEASE.
>> NO. MY HEARING HAS A PROBLEM.
>> SO DON'T ASK YOU IF YOU CAN HEAR?
>> YEAH. I STILL HERE, AND THE HEADPHONES HELP.
>> HAVE HEADPHONES OVER THERE?
>> WE WILL NEVER ASK YOU IF YOU CAN.
I'M VERY, VERY THANKFUL THAT ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS DECIDED TO WORK WITH US IN PRIVATE BUSINESS AS WELL TO GET THIS DONE.
[INAUDIBLE] WAS ALSO VERY HELPFUL IN PUTTING TOGETHER A DOCUMENT THAT WOULD INDEMNIFY ANY COLLABORATORS FROM ANY LIABILITY.
THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT WORKED ON THIS.
CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION, THE CITY WASCO PROUDLY PRESENTS A CERTIFICATE TO ST. JOHN'S KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, A RECOGNITION FOR FUNDING THE SIDEWALK REPAIRS FOR A RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 2217 3RD STREET WASCO OF CALIFORNIA.
THEIR EFFORTS ACHIEVED STABILITY FOR A PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
HONOR ON SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2021, YOURS TRULY, ELECTED REYNA MAYOR.
THE SECOND ONE. THIS IS A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION.
THE CITY OF WASCO PROUDLY PRESENTS A CERTIFICATE TO LUCKY VIOLA IN RECOGNITION FOR DEVOTING HIS TIME AND EFFORTS TO THE SIDEWALK REPAIRS FOR A RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 2217 3RD STREET WASCO, CALIFORNIA, MISTER VIOLA SHOWS A SIMPLIFIED ACT OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, OF HELPING OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
HONOR, ON SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2021, YOURS TRULY, ELECTORATE REYNA MAYOR.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, CERTIFICATE RECOGNITION OF THE CITY WASCO PROUDLY PRESENTS A CERTIFICATE TO WHITE CAP IN RECOGNITION FOR THE REDUCED COSTS OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS WHITE CAP MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE SIDEWALK, AND REPAIRS FOR A LOCAL RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 2217 3RD STREET WASCO CALIFORNIA TO IMPROVING THE WASCO COMMUNITY ON SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2021, YOURS TRULY, REYNA MAYOR.
NOW, IF EVERYBODY WOULD COME FORTH, I HAVE THE CERTIFICATES.
I KNOW THAT THERE IS NO ONE HERE FROM WHITE CAP, I WILL DELIVER THAT TO THEM, BUT I WILL COME DOWN HERE AND I HAVE THE CERTIFICATE FOR YOU.
THEN I ALSO HAVE A KEY TO THE CITY.
[INAUDIBLE] DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU? [NOISE] THAT MEANS ONCE YOU'VE DONE THIS WAY IN THE PAST FEW DAYS OR A FEW LESS OF A REASON.
[00:10:45]
[BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE]>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND NOT EVERYTHING CAN OR SHOULD BE DONE BY THE GOVERNMENT.
A LOT OF THINGS NEED TO BE DONE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND IT'S PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT HELPED TO MAKE WASCO THE CITY THAT IT IS. THANK YOU.
>> CAN'T SAY ANY BETTER MYSELF.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[6) PUBLIC COMMENTS:]
ITEM NUMBER 6, PUBLIC COMMENTS.THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS RESERVED FOR PERSONS DESIRING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, INCLUDING THE COUNCIL ACTING IS THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY ON ANY MATTER NOT ON THIS AGENDA AND OVER WHICH THE COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY HAD JURISDICTION.
SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES.
A MAXIMUM OF 30 MINUTES WILL BE ALLOWED FOR ANY LAW SUBJECT.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE MAKING YOUR PRESENTATION.
OUR REQUIREMENT, THE BROWN ACT DOES NOT ALLOW ACTION OR DISCUSSION OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA, SUBJECT TO NARROW EXCEPTIONS.
THIS WILL LIMIT A COUNCIL MEMBERS RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS AND REQUEST MADE DURING THIS COMMENT PERIOD.
ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I'M SHARON CHART, AND I JUST WANTED TO LET THE COUNCIL NOW THAT WE HAVE A GROUP THAT IS WORKING TO PUT TOGETHER A WASCO ROSE PARADE AND FESTIVAL ON OCTOBER 9TH.
WE'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH A LOT OF WHAT'S FEASIBLE, WHAT CAN HAPPEN.
BUT A GROUP OF US GOT TOGETHER AND SAID THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT TO NOT LET IT HAPPEN THIS YEAR.
FANTASTIC COLLABORATION WITH EVERYONE'S SAYING I CAN DO THIS, I CAN DO THAT.
SOME OF YOU RECALL WE DID THAT A YEAR AGO TO MAKE FIREWORKS HAPPEN.
LICENSES, PERMITS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN DROPPED OFF TO THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, AND RECREATION AND PARKS.
WE KNOW IT'S A SHORT TIME WINDOW, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN WITH THE THEME OF GOOD VIBES.
WE JUST APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE, BUT WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD TO MAKE IT HAPPEN IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS.
>> THANK YOU SHARON. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS?
>> I THINK THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU GUYS FOR STEPPING UP AND TRYING TO PUT THAT TOGETHER.
IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO MISS OUT ON A ROSE FESTIVAL THIS YEAR.
>> OUTSTANDING. I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE GROUP TEXTS AND YOU GUYS ARE REALLY WORKING HARD OBVIOUSLY.
I'M VERY HAPPY THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING THIS.
I JUST FINISHED TALKING ABOUT COLLABORATION AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES THINGS HAPPEN IN THIS TOWN. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
NOW I KNOW WHY YOU TEXTED ME ABOUT WHEN THE ST. JOHN'S FESTIVAL IS GOING TO BE.
[LAUGHTER] YOU NEVER SAID ANYTHING, YOU JUST ASKED A QUESTION AND I ANSWERED IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY E-MAIL COMMENTS?
>> NO E-MAIL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE DON'T HAVE ANY SUCCESSOR AGENCY BUSINESS, WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE, THE AUTHORITY BUSINESS.
NONE. WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER 9 ON THE AGENDA.
[9) CONSENT CALENDAR:]
THE CONSENT CALENDAR.THE CONSENT CALENDAR CONSISTS OF ITEMS THAT IN STAFF'S OPINION OF ROUTINE AND NONCONTROVERSIAL, 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 TO 9P.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE MEMBERS IF THEY HAVE ANY CONFLICT OF INTERESTS ON ANY PARTICULAR ITEM ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? MAYOR PRO TEM?
[00:15:02]
>> I MAY HAVE A CONFLICT ON ITEM D. I HAVE A REAL ESTATE COMPANY THAT IS INVOLVED IN RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE SALES, SO I MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE FINANCIAL INTERESTS IN THE FUTURE.
I DON'T HAVE ONE NOW, SO I DON'T KNOW.
D THE RESOLUTION FOR ACCEPTING PHASE 1 OF TRACK 7373.
>> LIKE WE HAD LAST MEETING, THIS ITEM WILL BE PULLED FROM CONSENT SO YOU'RE OFF THE HOOK.
>> ARE WE PUTTING ITEM THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> ITEM D WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM CONSENT.
THERE WAS AN ERROR ON ONE OF THE MAPS.
>> EVEN THE MAP THAT WAS REPLACED.
IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXPEDITE PROCESSING, JUST A COUPLE OF STEPS WERE SKIPPED THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY WOULD TAKE.
IT'LL COME BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING.
>> ALL RIGHT. THAT'S OUT OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
MR. CORTEZ YOU WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THIS ONE. MR. MARTINEZ?
>> I HAVE NO CONFLICTS, MR. MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE A PARTICULAR ITEM, PLEASE STATE YOUR FULL NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE MAKING YOUR COMMENT.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR? I SEE NONE.
IS THERE A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE AN ITEM? COULD I ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL?
>> ALL RIGHT. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL?
>> MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM PALLARES, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR WITH SEPARATE CONSIDERATIONS ON ITEM 9D BEING TABLED TO THE NEXT MEETING.
MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ITEM 10.
WE HAVE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM 11, DEFERRED BUSINESS,
[11) a. Kern County Fire Department Report and Discussion regarding illegal fireworks. (Hurlbert)]
KERN COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE LEGAL FIREWORKS. MR. HILBERT?>> WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN UPDATED REPORT IN THAT REGARD SO WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING SOMETHING SOON.
MY MEETING WITH THE NEW CHIEF OF THE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS DEFERRED, AS I INDICATED LAST MEETING BECAUSE OF THE FIRES, BECAUSE ATTENTION AWAY FROM THAT.
BUT I DO EXPECT THAT MEETING TO OCCUR SOMETIME SOON.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET SOME BETTER REPORTING ACTION.
I DO REMEMBER YOUR EXACT WORDS, I BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT IT WAS THAN POSTPONED BECAUSE OF VALID REASONS.
>> [INAUDIBLE], WHICH CAUGHT MY ATTENTION.
THAT WAS ITEM A, WE'RE MOVING NOW TO ITEM B,
[11) b. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to sign and enter into an Agreement with the County of Kern to obtain Community Development Block Grant funding for the 16th Street Rehabilitation Project. (Villa)]
ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING IN THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN AND ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF KERN TO OBTAIN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING FOR THE 16TH STREET REHABILITATION PROJECT. MR. VELA?>> GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THIS ITEM WAS ACTUALLY REMOVED BY THE CITY MANAGER LAST COUNCIL MEETING.
IT WAS DUE TO THE FISCAL IMPACT TO THE CITY NOT BEING CLEAR ON THE AGENDA.
ON A STAFF REPORTS TO SAY THE STAFF REPORT HAS BEEN REVISED AND IT REFLECTS THE CORRECT FISCAL IMPACT TO THE CITY IN AMOUNT OF 6,500.
THAT SHOULD BE PAID BY MEASURE EXPENSE.
WITH THAT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MAY HAVE.
>> WOULD YOU GO TO THE TOP OF THIS CHART THAT IS ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW?
>> I HAD DISCUSSED THIS PREVIOUSLY WITH YOU SCOTT AND YOU POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THIS IS IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS AND MEASURE X FUNDS.
JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING OF THIS, WHAT PORTION OF THIS IS MEASURE X FUNDS, AND FOR MY OWN UNDERSTANDING BY THE WAY, AND WHAT PORTION IS IN-KIND? [OVERLAPPING] MR. [INAUDIBLE]
>> I CAN DO THAT OR I CAN LEAVE IT TO MR. [INAUDIBLE]
[00:20:01]
>> I'M SORRY, MR. [INAUDIBLE] PLEASE SAY SOMETHING.
>> NO WORRIES, SO THE TOTAL AMOUNT AT THE BOTTOM IS 119,660.
THE CITY ANTICIPATES ABOUT 85,470 THAT BEING TAKEN CARE OF IN HOUSE.
THE ACTUAL IMPACT WHEN WE DEDUCT ALL THAT IS ONLY 6,500 THAT WOULD BE PAID OUT OF MEASURE X FUNDS.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE $20,206 BUDGETED FOR THIS PROJECT.
>> THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS.
I WANTED TO ADD CLARITY TO IT BECAUSE WHEN YOU SEE A 119,660 COST TO THE CITY, ANYONE MIGHT THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE IN THAT AND THEN ARE PAYING, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE WILL BE PAID IN-KIND AND THE ONLY EXPENDITURE REAL CASH SPEND SHALL BE 6,500. IS THAT CORRECT MR. [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD AT THIS TIME?
>> THANK YOU. LET ME MOVE ON HERE.
ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS?
>> NO EMAIL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MAYOR [INAUDIBLE]
>> NO COMMENTS ON ON THIS PER SE.
I THOUGHT I HAD A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS,16TH STREET BECAUSE MY MOTHER LIVED THERE, BUT I CHECKED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND HE SAID THAT I DO NOT HAVE A CONFLICT.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. I RECEIVED THAT CLARIFICATION MYSELF, SO YOU'RE OKAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THAT.
>> I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT I GET ASKED THE QUESTION QUITE OFTEN FROM THE COMMUNITY.
IF WE HAVE FUNDS SITTING MEASURE X FUNDS, WHY DON'T WE JUST GO AND START FIXING ROADS RIGHT OFF THE BAT, JUST USE THE MONEY FIXED ROADS TO GET IT DONE.
I THINK THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE LEVERAGE MEASURE X FUNDS SO THAT WE GET CDBG FUNDS LEVERAGE WITH MEASURE X FUNDS LEVERAGE WITH OUR STAFF EXPERTISE TO BE ABLE TO DO BASICALLY $0.5 MILLION PROJECT FOR ABOUT MAYBE 20,000 OUT OF POCKET.
THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT.
THAT'S THE BEST USE OF TAXPAYER'S MONEY, THAT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CORTEZ. THAT'S A GREAT NOTE.
I THINK THAT THE PUBLIC LEARNS THAT WE ARE BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE CITIZENS MONEY BY DOING THIS THINGS. MR. MARTINEZ.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL AT THIS TIME.
>> OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND.
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL A ROLL CALL VOTE?
>> A CLARIFICATION, MR. [INAUDIBLE] SECONDED.
>> OKAY. [INAUDIBLE] MR. CORTEZ JUST BY A LITTLE BIT.
>> MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, SECONDED BY MAYOR [INAUDIBLE] TO APPROVE ITEM 11, MOTION AS A PROOF [INAUDIBLE] COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA ABSENT.
[12) a. Adopt a Resolution approving an Employment Agreement with Maria Lara as Assistant City Manager in the amount of $108,680.00 annually and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement. (Hurlbert)]
WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 12.NEW BUSINESS ITEM A, ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH MARIA LADA AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER IN THE AMOUNT OF 108,680 ANNUALLY AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT, MR. ROBERT?
>> YES, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, BEFORE YOU HAVE AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
WE'VE BEEN ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NOT ONLY TO HANDLE SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT SPAN BETWEEN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, BUT ALSO SOMEONE WITH EXPERTISE IN GRANT WRITING AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, OR AS IMPORTANTLY, GRANT ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT ONCE THOSE FUNDS ARE SECURE.
IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT MS. LAURA WAS AVAILABLE.
SHE'S SERVED IN A VARIETY OF MUNICIPAL POSITIONS AND HAS A PRETTY IMPRESSIVE RESUME AS WELL WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE AND EDUCATION RATHER THAN POLICE SCIENCES AND A GOOD BACKGROUND THERE.
SHE'S MOST RECENTLY SERVED AS THE OUTGOING CITY MANAGER IN THE CITY MCFARLAND,
[00:25:02]
AND AN INDIVIDUAL THAT I'VE KNOWN AND WORKED WITH FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IN THAT CONTEXT AND WITH HER WORK WITH MCFARLAND IN REGIONAL TYPES OF ACTIVITIES.WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE POSITION AND THE ENVISION DUTIES AND NEGOTIATED THIS CONTRACT AND WHICH SHE HAS APPROVED AND IS READY TO START UPON YOUR APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT.
HAVE ENVISIONED START DATE SOON AS OCTOBER 1ST.
>> THANK YOU. MR. ROBERT, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS REGARDING THIS ITEM?
>> NO, EMAIL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS, MAYOR [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I WILL MOVE THE MOTION FORWARD, I'M MAKING A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> MADAM CLERK, THERE'S BEEN FIRST AND SECOND.
WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL?
>> I' SORRY, MEMBER MARTINEZ? [LAUGHTER]
>> HE ANSWERS TO ANYTHING? [LAUGHTER]
>> THIS IS HIS LAST NAME OR NOT? [LAUGHTER]
>> MOTION BY MAYOR BRIANNA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CORTES TO APPROVE ITEM 12B, MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA ABSENT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ITEM B, 12B.
[12) b. Report and Adopt a Resolution Approving an Agreement by and between the City of Wasco and the County of Kern to Provide Fire Protection Services within the City of Wasco. (Hurlbert)]
REPORT AND ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT BY IN-BETWEEN THE CITY OF WASCO AND THE COUNTY OF CAN TO PROVIDE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES WITHIN THE CITY OF WASCO, MR. HERBERT?>> YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE CONTRACT ITSELF AND SOME OF THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS THAT GO ALONG WITH THIS CONTRACT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WITH THIS CONTRACT VERSUS THE ONE THAT WE ARE IN THE FINAL YEAR OF CURRENTLY.
NOT ONLY ARE THERE DIFFERENCES IN COST, BUT THERE WAS ALSO A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE MADE IN THE STRUCTURE, HOW THE COST BASIS WAS DEVELOPED BY THE COUNTY.
AS A RESULT OF A FIRE SERVICES PERFORMANCE STUDY CONDUCTED INTERNALLY AT THE COUNTY.
JUST LIKE THE CITY OF WASCO DID AT OUR LAST MEETING OR A PREVIOUS MEETING TO THAT, ADOPTED A NEW SET OF FEES AND COSTS FOR SPECIAL SERVICES.
IN THE PAST, THE COUNTY HAS OPERATED THESE FIRE CON TRACKS WITHOUT A 100 PERCENT COST RECOVERY MODEL, MEANING THAT THEY'RE LOSING MONEY FOR THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUAL CITIES.
THAT'S NOT ENTIRELY OUTSIDE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THOSE COSTS.
THOSE COSTS ARE A RESULT OF HOW THEY'VE MANAGED BY OUR SERVICES IN GENERAL.
BUT NONETHELESS, THE REST OF THE COUNTY WAS SUBSIDIZING TO SOME EXTENT THE CITY CONTRACTS.
A CORRECTION TO THAT IS BEING MADE BEGINNING WITH THIS NEW CONTRACT, WHICH IS ENVISIONED TO BE SIX YEARS LONG.
IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CONTRACT, THAT GOAL OF REACHING A 100 PERCENT COST RECOVERY IS 16.6 PERCENT AND THEN IT STEPS UP TO CLOSE THAT GAP EACH YEAR.
THIS IS PREFERABLE TO US, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T LIKE THE NUMBER THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING.
THIS IS BETTER THAN A SHOCK OF GOING TO A 100 PERCENT COST RECOVERY IN ONE STEP WHERE WE WOULD SEE CLOSE TO DOUBLING OF THE AMOUNT THAT WE ARE OUT OF POCKET FOR THESE SERVICES.
INCLUDED IN THE STAFF REPORT ARE A COUPLE OF THE NOTABLE CHANGES IN HOW THE CONTRACT PRICING WAS SET.
ACTUALLY AN ADVANTAGE FOR THE CITY OF WASCO IN THAT PROCESS.
FIRST WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOTAL COST OF SERVICES IS A DIRECT AND INDIRECT COSTS, MEANING STAFF, TIME, WAGES, VACATION, PENSION, THAT THE PHYSICAL STATION ITSELF, THE TRUCKS, THE OTHER EQUIPMENT, AS WELL AS THE DEPRECIATION OF THAT EQUIPMENT.
ALL IN COSTS ARE DEVELOPED, AND AT THAT POINT, THEN IN THE SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS, A INFLATIONARY COST FACTOR WILL BE APPLIED.
THE OLD CONTRACT THAT WAS 2.1 PERCENT IN THE CURRENT CONTRACT THAT'S 2.0 PERCENT.
[00:30:06]
THAT'S GONE DOWN SLIGHTLY, AND BASED ON SOME FORECASTS IS PROBABLY A BARGAIN COMPARED TO SOME INFLATIONARY PERIOD OF TIME WE MIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THE NEXT SIX YEARS.NEXT IS APPLIED A DISCOUNT IN OUR PARTICULAR DISCOUNT IN WASCO IS MADE OF TWO COMPONENTS.
ONE IS THE RATIO OF THE TOTAL COSTS FOR SERVICE TO THE WASCO'S STATION, HOW MANY ARE ACTUALLY RESPONDING TO ADDRESSES INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND HOW MANY ARE OCCURRING IN THE COUNTY AREA OUTSIDE OUR CITY LIMITS.
IN OUR CASE, THAT TURNS OUT TO BE ABOUT 9.4 PERCENT FOR NON CITY RESPONSES.
AN IMMEDIATE DISCOUNT TO THAT TOTAL COST IS 9.4 PERCENT REDUCTION, WHICH SEEMS ONLY FAIR.
THE SECOND, WHICH IS A LITTLE MORE ABSTRACT, IS BASED ON THE GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF WASCO AND OUR STATION HERE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE WHOLE COUNTY AND THE MUTUAL AID REQUIREMENTS THAT THE COUNTY HAS TO RESPOND TO AREAS REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE IN A CITY LIMITS, OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, OR TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OTHER AGENCIES, EVEN BAKERSFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT OR SOMEBODY FROM AN ADJOINING COUNTY.
SO WASCO HAPPENS TO BE IN A POSITION THAT IS RECOGNIZED AS BEING STRATEGIC.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE STATION MIGHT NEED TO BE HERE EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OR EVEN THE EXISTENCE OF THE CITY OF WASCO.
COMBINED, THAT'S A 24.4 PERCENT DISCOUNT OFF OF THE TOTAL COST.
NEXT, THE AMOUNT OF OUR FIRE FUND IS SUBTRACTED FROM THE AMOUNT THAT WILL BE PAID AND IN OUR CASE, THIS AMOUNTS TO I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY IT'S 909,000 IS THE AMOUNT THAT IS DEDUCTED.
THIS IS A COMPONENT OF PROPERTY TAXES THAT'S COLLECTED COUNTYWIDE.
IF THE ADDRESS THAT IT'S COLLECTED FROM THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE, 909. GOOD FOR ME.
THE TAX REVENUE, THERE'S 909 THAT'S SUBTRACTED AND THIS IS A COMPONENT OF THE PROPERTY TAX.
IT GOES TOWARDS THE FIRE FUND, DIRECTLY TOWARD COUNTY EXPENSES.
IF IT'S AN ADDRESS IN THE COUNTY OR A PARCEL ADDRESS IN THE COUNTY AND IN THE CASE OF AN ADDRESS IN THE CITY, THAT AMOUNT COLLECTED BENEFITS WASCO SHARE OF WHAT'S CALLED THE FIRE FUND AND THAT IS A DEDUCTION AGAINST THAT TOTAL COST AS WELL.
THIS IS A NUMBER THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME EFFECT ON BY ATTRACTING BUSINESSES AND COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL ACTIVITY TO OUR CITY LIMITS.
WE CAN GROW THAT NUMBER OVER TIME.
IT TAKES TIME AND IT'S NOT IMMEDIATE, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I ENVISION US WORKING ON AS THIS IS AN ACCIDENTAL BENEFICIARY OF BRINGING BUSINESSES TO TOWN, NOT ONLY THE JOBS AND THE TAX REVENUE, BUT THIS COMPONENT OF THE FIRE FUND.
THAT BEING SAID, THE NUMBERS YOU SEE ON YOUR REPORT STARTING WITH THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR 22, 23, WILL BE 564,000.
THE FOLLOWING YEAR 610, THEN 668, 737, 818 AND FINALLY IN THE FINAL YEAR, 27, 28, IT WILL BE $912,000.
SOME PORTION OF THAT IS INFLATIONARY ISSUES.
SOME ARE EXPECTED COST INCREASES WITHIN THE ACTUAL DEPARTMENT OPERATION ITSELF, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE INCREASES ARE THIS MOVE TOWARD A 100 PERCENT COST RECOVERY.
OBVIOUSLY, IF WE HAD THE MEANS AND THE ABILITY TO PUT UP OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR LESS, WE WOULD AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE THAT.
THE FACT IS, WE LIKELY CAN'T, AT LEAST NOT AT THIS POINT, NOT ONLY FOR THE FINANCIAL RISK OF TRYING TO STAND UP OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT THESE NUMBERS ACTUALLY AREN'T CRAZY.
THEY'RE HIGH AND THEY'RE GETTING HIGHER.
BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE ABUSIVE OR UNFAIR OR CALCULATED UNFAIRLY.
I THINK THIS NEW CONTRACT IS A VERY FAIR WAY TO APPROACH THIS PROBLEM.
[00:35:02]
I THINK THE ROOT PROBLEM IS IT JUST COST TOO MUCH TO RUN FIRE DEPARTMENTS.BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE NEED FIRE PROTECTION, SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M RECOMMENDING WE APPROVE THIS CONTRACT.
I HAD SOME GOOD QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL ABOUT SOME OF THE DETAILS OF IT, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHERS THAT YOU HAVE TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. MR. ALFORD, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME REGARDING THIS ITEM? [NOISE] OKAY. SEEING NONE.
MADAM CLERK, TO YOU, DO WE HAVE ANY E-MAIL COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM?
>> NO E-MAIL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS MAYOR PRO TEM POLARIS?
>> WELL, JUST WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND HERE PROBABLY 18 MONTHS NOW SINCE IT WAS FIRST PROPOSED BY THE COUNTY, I THINK STAFF'S DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB OF REALLY TRYING TO DISSECT IT, UNDERSTAND IT, DIGEST IT ALONG WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES WHO HAD A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NUMBERS ARE CORRECT AND IN ORDER AND NOT SOME ARBITRARY NUMBER THAT THE COUNTY CAME UP WITH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, STAFF'S TIME FOR PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CORTES, MEMBER MARTINEZ?
>> I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I MET WITH MR. HERBERT TO UNDERSTAND THIS WELL AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GIVES ME PEACE OF MIND IS THAT THIS IS NOW PRETTY MUCH WELL DONE FOR EVERY CITY THAT THAT CONTRACT SERVICES, BEFORE, ACCORDING TO MR. HERBERT, IT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
NOW WE HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC AMOUNT THAT WE'RE BEING CHARGED.
BUT BE AWARE, AND I WANT YOU TO BE AWARE THAT THIS IS A 69 PERCENT INCREASE OVER THE SIX-YEAR PERIOD OF OVER WHAT WE WERE PAYING, AND THOUGH, AS MR. HERBERT POINTED OUT, WE WEREN'T PAYING REALLY THE ACTUAL COST OF THE SERVICES BEING PROVIDED.
NEVERTHELESS, WE DO NEED THE SERVICES AND HOPEFULLY SOMEDAY WE CAN HAVE OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
>> MADAM CLERK IT HAS BEEN MOVING SECOND.
WOULD YOU CALL THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL?
>> MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CORTES SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, TO APPROVE ITEM 12B.
MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA ABSENT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ITEM 12C,
[12) c. Update on City of Wasco Downtown Streetscape Re-design Efforts- Information Only. (Cobb)]
UPDATE ON CITY OF WASCO DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE AND REDESIGNED AT FIRST INFORMATION ONLY. MS. CAB.>> YES, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
TONIGHT WE'RE AGAIN, THIS IS JUST INFORMATION ONLY, BUT THIS IS AN UPDATE ON THE DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE REDESIGN PROJECT TO LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE, WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED, AND WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PUT THROUGH THIS SLIDESHOW AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE.
I GET TO DRIVE. OKAY. [LAUGHTER]
>> JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.
OCTOBER 6TH, 2020, CITY STAFF MADE A PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL REGARDING THE SEVENTH STREET TREE REMOVAL, AND THE CONDITIONS OF THE SEVENTH STREET AND FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
AT THAT MEETING, THE COUNCIL PROVIDED DIRECTION TO STAFF ON THE AREA THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A NEW CONCEPT PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN, AND DIRECTED STAFF TO HIRE A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT TO COMPLETE THE WORK.
TONIGHT IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO STEPHANIE SANDERS, SHE'S OUR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, SHE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US ON THE CONCEPT PLAN AND HAS DONE A REALLY GREAT JOB OF GUIDING US AND DIRECTING US IN SELECTING ITEMS THAT ARE INTENTIONAL AND FOR A REASON AND WITH AN EYE TOWARDS LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SUBSEQUENT TO THAT MEETING, WE HIRED SMS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, AND WE'VE WORKED WITH STAFF TO DEVELOP A LIST OF TASKS THAT WE NEEDED TO COMPLETE TO GET THROUGH THIS CONCEPT PLAN.
FROM THERE WE CONDUCTED A KICKOFF MEETING WITH STAFF AND STAFF WE WALKED THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WENT OVER WHAT STAFF'S PRIORITIES ARE, WHERE WE SEE NEEDS, WHERE WE SEE ISSUES.
WE DRAFTED AN ONLINE COMMUNITY SURVEY THAT WE COMPLETED IN MAY OF 2021, AND THEN STEPH DRAFTED SOME DRAFT CONCEPT PLANS FROM THAT POINT.
WE MET RECENTLY WITH HER TO DISCUSS THE CONCEPT PLAN, SHE UPDATED THOSE PLANS BASED ON OUR INPUT AND OUR NEXT STEPS ARE TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC WORKSHOP TO GET COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT PLAN AND THE OPTIONS THAT WE'LL PRESENT IN THAT PLAN.
FINALIZE THE CONCEPT PLAN AND THEN BRING THAT TO YOU, THAT FINAL CONCEPT PLAN TO THE COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.
BUT TONIGHT WE CAN GIVE YOU A BRIEF GLIMPSE
[00:40:03]
OF THE DRAFT PLAN THAT WE'LL TAKE TO THE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP.THIS IS AN OVERALL OVERVIEW OF THE WHOLE STREETSCAPE PROJECT FROM BROADWAY TO G-STREET.
TREES ARE STRATEGICALLY PLACED IN THE PLAN SO THAT THEY'RE NOT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ANY BUSINESS DOORWAYS.
SIDEWALK PAVING HAS BEEN STRATEGICALLY PLACED SO THAT IT GUIDES PEDESTRIANS TO THE FRONT DOORS OF BUSINESSES, AND IT'S ALSO BEEN SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO BE OF LOW MAINTENANCE.
THEN THROUGHOUT THE PLANNERS, INFORMAL SEAT WALLS THAT HAD BEEN SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THAT ARE NOT BENCHES AND WON'T LEND THEMSELVES TO LONG-TERM LOITERING OR SLEEPING, BUT WILL BE PLACES THAT RESIDENTS AND PEDESTRIANS AND SHOPPERS CAN FIND A SPOT TO SIT.
THESE GIVE YOU A GENERAL IDEA OF WHAT THOSE MIGHT LOOK LIKE, THEY'RE JUST SIMPLE HEIGHT WALLS WITH A WHITE CAT AND STUFF THAT WOULD BE A PLACE SOMEBODY COULD SET IT OR SET A BAG, THAT SORT OF THING, BUT AGAIN, WOULDN'T PROMOTE LONG-TERM SEATING.
SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS ON THE CENTER PART OF THE PLAN.
ALL CENTER PLANTER AREAS WILL RECEIVE NEW DROUGHT-TOLERANT, LOW-MAINTENANCE LANDSCAPING.
WHAT WE'RE AIMING AT IS TO DO THAT PART OF THE PROJECT FIRST TO GET THOSE CENTER PLANTER AREAS REPLANTED.
WE NEED TO ANALYZE STILL THE ELECTRICAL AND IRRIGATION SYSTEMS IN THOSE PLANTER AREAS, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO TARGET THOSE AREAS FIRST, THEY'RE VISIBLE.
IT'S THE ROUNDABOUT, AND THOSE AGAIN, THOSE CENTRE PARKING AREAS THAT ARE PLANTED THERE.
THE CENTER ISLAND ROUNDABOUT WILL RECEIVE NEW LOW MAINTENANCE, DROUGHT-TOLERANT, BOUNDED LANDSCAPING, THE IDEA WILL BE TO IMPROVE VEHICLE FLOW AND VISIBILITY AROUND THAT ROUNDABOUT AND TO RELOCATE THE CLOCK TOWER.
THEN THE PARKLETS YOU SEE LABELED AS A, B, C, AND D WILL BE SPACES WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN MOVE BETWEEN PUBLIC PARKING LOTS AND THE BACK OF DOWNTOWN TO SEVENTH STREET AND THEN GATHER FOR EVENTS OR OTHER PUBLIC SPACE HYPE IDEAS.
THAT'LL BE AN AREA WHERE THERE'LL BE SOME OPTIONS PROVIDED AT THE WORKSHOP FOR THE PUBLIC TO LOOK AT AND SAY LIKE THIS, THAT THING.
AGAIN, OPTIONAL ELEMENTS FOR THE PARKLETS SPACES WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE PUBLIC WORKSHOPS FOR INPUT, AND JUST TO GO OVER THESE SPACES IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL, PARKLET A IS THE VACANT LOT THAT IS NEXT TO THE EXISTING POKER'S PIZZA.
THE CITY DOES NOT CURRENTLY OWN THAT PROPERTY, BUT IF WE WERE TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE IT IN THE FUTURE, THIS IS THE CONCEPT THAT WE COULD USE IN THAT SPACE.
PARKLET B IS THE PEDESTRIAN ALLEY THAT CURRENTLY CONNECTS SEVENTH STREET TO THE PARKING LOT AND F STREET ACROSS FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
PARKLET C RUNS IN THE ALLEY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SEVENTH STREET NEXT TO THE EL PUEBLO RESTAURANTS, AND D IS A PEDESTRIAN THAT CONNECTS SEVENTH STREET TO THE CITY PARKING LOT ON E STREET ADJACENT TO THE VFW BUILDING.
THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TO CONNECT PARKING LOTS TO THE MAIN PART OF SEVENTH STREET.
THEN AS FAR AS THE NEXT STEPS ARE CONCERNED LIKE I WENT OVER BRIEFLY, WE NEED TO SCHEDULE AND CONDUCT A PUBLIC WORKSHOP TO GET SOME FEEDBACK ON THE OPTIONS THAT WE'LL PRESENT, FINALIZE THE DRAFT CONCEPT PLAN BASED ON THAT INPUT, AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION, AND THEN WORK WITH A CIVIL ENGINEER TO DRAFT CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS AND PREPARE THE BID PACKAGE, AND THEN PUT THE PROJECT OUT TO BID AND CONSTRUCT.
TIMELINE-WISE, WE WOULD ANTICIPATE THE PUBLIC WORKSHOP HAPPENING THIS FALL, SO LATER IN THE FALL AND LATE FALL TO BE ABLE TO FINALIZE THE CONCEPT PLAN AND GET IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL BY THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR FOR FINAL ADOPTION.
THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MANAGE AND MOVE INTO FINAL DESIGN WITH A CIVIL ENGINEER AND GO OUT TO BID FOR CONSTRUCTION.
THERE'S A FURTHER TIMELINE IN YOUR STAFF REPORT, AGAIN, ESTIMATED TIMELINE ONLY, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN AT THIS POINT.
>> THANK YOU, MS. CARBON. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? I SEE NONE. MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS?
>> NO EMAIL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ANY COMMUNISTS FROM THE MEMBERS, MAYOR PROTEM POLARIS?
>> THIS IS THE NUMBER 1 CALL I GET FROM [LAUGHTER] DOWNTOWN, AND WHAT'S OUR TIMELINE LIKE THAT? THAT'S THE ONE QUESTION I GET ASKED THE MOST.
THAT'S MENTIONED THE MOST WELL, QUESTION MY WIFE ASK ME.
>> IT'S VERY VISIBLE, WE KNOW.
>> I'M GLAD THIS IS MOVING FORWARD.
WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT DOING IT CORRECTLY, SO WE DON'T ENCOUNTER THE SAME PROBLEMS WE HAD.
>> I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE TAKE THE TIME THAT WE NEED TO DO IT RIGHT, TO PLANT THE PROPER TREE IN THE PROPER PLACE,
[00:45:01]
AND STEPH IS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE ON THAT AND HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN HELPING US NAVIGATE HOW TO PLANT, WHAT TO PLAN, HOW TO MAINTAIN.I THINK IT WILL BE WORTH THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET IT DONE PROPERLY.
>> NOW I ASSUME IRRIGATION IS A COMPONENT TO HOW THESE TREES GET IRRIGATION SO THAT THE ROOTS DON'T COME UP AT ALL.
I MEAN, THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THIS PLAN I'M ASSUMING.
>> YEAH. [LAUGHTER] YOU'RE WELCOME TO JUMP IN IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT YES, THAT'S A BIG PIECE OF HOW THE TREES ARE CARED FOR, HOW THEY'RE IRRIGATED, WHAT TREES WE PLANT, ALL OF THAT IS IMPORTANT.
>> CAN YOU COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE?
>> HI, MY NAME IS STEPH TIZER SANDERS.
>> THANK YOU. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT TREES, I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT TREES.
WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, IT'S NOT ONLY THE LOOK, BUT WHEN YOU PLANT A TREE, IT IS AN INVESTMENT.
NOT ONLY AN INVESTMENT WE'RE MAKING IN OUR LIFETIME BUT IN GENERATIONAL LIFETIME.
I MEAN, WE WALKED THE WASHOE HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS TODAY AND, THOSE EUCALYPTUS OUT THERE ARE OVER 100 YEARS OLD.
WHEN YOU THINK OF THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU ALL ARE MAKING IN YOUR DOWNTOWN, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS AND THOSE EUCALYPTUS THAT ARE THERE AND LOOKING AT PUTTING THAT RIGHT TREE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND MAKING SURE THAT IT WORKS FOR MAINTENANCE, FOR IRRIGATION.
WE KNOW THAT WATER WILL BE AN ISSUE IN THE FUTURE AND CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE.
REALLY LOOKING AT NOT ONLY WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH CURRENTLY, BUT WHAT WE'RE PUTTING IN THE HANDS OF OUR CHILDREN.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I'M JUST HAPPY TO SEE THIS MOVING FORWARD LIKE MEMBER CORTEZ, THIS IS NEXT TO FIREWORKS.
THIS IS THE THING WE CARE ABOUT THE MOST.
[LAUGHTER] I'M GLAD IT'S MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU.
I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING UP ON THIS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, YOU PROBABLY ARE AWARE OF THAT.
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE IT MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THAT, MS. CARB AND STEPHANIE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION.
THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ONE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO END UP WITH THE SAME ISSUE THAT WE HAD BEFORE IN WHICH WE HAD TO TAKE THE TREES BECAUSE THEY DESTROY THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> I'M MOVING ON TO ITEM D. DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION TO STAFF REGARDING CITY OF
[12) d. Discussion and direction to staff regarding City of Wasco’s position on proposed reform of the Bradley Burns local sales tax distribution model. (Hurlbert)]
WASCO POSITION ON PROPOSED AND REFORM OF THE BRADLEY BURNS LOCAL SALES TAX DISTRIBUTION MODEL.>> YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I REALIZE I CAN TAKE THIS OFF WHEN TALKING.
THIS IS AN ITEM WE TALKED ABOUT DURING OUR DISCUSSION FOR VOTING DELEGATES FOR THE MEETING LATER THIS WEEK UP IN SACRAMENTO.
I WANTED TO DISCUSS THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE AND GET SOME DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL.
MY PROPOSAL GOES BACK TO THE ACTIVITY THAT'S TAKING PLACE WITH THIS TOPIC.
JUST AS A REMINDER, THIS IS THE ONE PERCENT LOCAL BRADLEY BURNS AS IT'S CALLED, SALES TAX THAT'S COLLECTED THAT STAYS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION IN THE PAST WHERE IT WAS COLLECTED PRIMARILY.
OVER THE YEARS, VARIOUS CARVE-OUTS HAVE OCCURRED.
THERE WAS THE INTRODUCTION OF STATE AND COUNTYWIDE POOLS FOR PLACES OF THE SALE TOOK PLACE COULDN'T BE DETERMINED ACCURATELY OR EASILY AND THEN THE MONEY WAS DIVIDED UP BASED ON POPULATION OR SOME OTHER FACTOR.
IN RECENT YEARS, LESS THAN 10 YEARS, FOLKS ARE LOOKING MORE AND MORE AT WHAT HAPPENS WITH ONLINE SALES.
THERE IS A SENATOR, IN PARTICULAR, MR. GLAZER, WHO'S A STATE SENATOR, WHO HAS TAKEN IT ON AS A PERSONAL CRUSADE TO REFORM THE WAY THAT THIS SALES TAX IS DISTRIBUTED.
IN EARLY DISCUSSIONS, IT WAS TO TAKE ALL OF THE TAX ALLOCATION FROM WHERE THE POINT OF SALE WAS AND SHIFT THAT IN RECOGNITION OF THIS NEW ECONOMY MODEL TO THE DESTINATION, THE DELIVERY OF THAT PRODUCT AND SALES TAX WOULD BE ALLOCATED THAT WAY.
A WORKING GROUP WAS PUT TOGETHER BY THE LEAGUE OF CITIES.
I PARTICIPATED ON THAT WORKING GROUP FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, VARIOUS SPIRITED DEBATE AMONGST DIFFERENT CITIES WHO HAVE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES AND DEALING WITH THIS.
THOSE WITH WAREHOUSING, THOSE WITH CALL CENTERS,
[00:50:02]
THOSE WITH AUTO MALLS, THOSE WITH OTHER FACTORS THAT HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE WAY THAT THE TAX LAWS ARE CURRENTLY TODAY AND MADE VERY SERIOUS ZONING AND GENERAL PLAN AND LAND USE DECISIONS BASED ON THAT SET OF RULES.THE ALL SALE SHIFT FROM POINT OF SALE TO POINT OF DESTINATION WOULD PULL THAT WHOLE MODEL UP IF IT HAPPENED IN ONE STEP.
THE FOLKS INVOLVED WITH THE WORKING GROUP THREE, FOUR YEARS AGO TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR THAT, ABOUT GRADUAL CHANGES, ABOUT TWO-WAY SPLITS AND EVEN A CONCEPT THAT I INTRODUCED WAS A THREE-WAY SPLIT.
THE TAKEAWAY FROM ALL OF THAT WORK THAT THE WORKING GROUP DID THAT INVOLVED MORE THAN A DOZEN CITIES, THE CITY MANAGERS, FINANCE DIRECTORS, AND SO FORTH, WAS THAT WE'D SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE DATA NECESSARY TO CRAFT GOOD LEGISLATION.
WE COULD MAKE SOME GOOD DECISION OR WE COULD ALLOW LOBBYISTS TO INFLUENCE THE CREATION OF REFORM LEGISLATION, BUT THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH DATA COLLECTED ABOUT HOW THIS DISTRIBUTION OCCURS TODAY OR HOW IT WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF CHANGES TO THE FORMULA.
FORTUNATELY, SENATOR GLAZER HEARD THAT MESSAGE, ENDED UP EITHER WITHDRAWING OR HIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION AT THE TIME WAS ALLOWED TO DIE.
THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS BIG SHIFT.
INSTEAD, JUST THIS WEEK, HIS BILL SB-792 IS MOVING FORWARD AND AWAITING THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION THAT WOULD ENACT LEGISLATION TO START COLLECTING A DATA THAT'S NECESSARY.
IT WOULD REQUIRE LARGE ONLINE RETAILERS TO SUBMIT DESTINATION DATA ALONG WITH THE DOLLARS THAT THEY COLLECT FOR SALES TAX.
IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, IT'S NOT PERFECT.
THE DEFINITION OF LARGE RETAILERS IS $50 MILLION [LAUGHTER] A YEAR IN SALES.
IT'S A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL SALES, BUT IT'S A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF SAMPLES.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THIS TOPIC WILL NOT GO AWAY.
THERE ARE THOSE THAT WILL WIN THOSE, THERE ARE THOSE THAT WILL LOSE BASED ON CURRENT PROPOSALS.
MY REQUEST TO THE COUNCIL TONIGHT IS THAT I'D BE AUTHORIZED TO ENGAGE WITH THE GROUPS THAT ARE DISCUSSING THIS, NOT ONLY THIS WEEK AT THE LEAGUE CONFERENCE, BUT ALSO IF IT'S MADE AVAILABLE TO ME TO RESUME MY SEAT ON THAT WORKING GROUP AND BRING THE NEW MEMBERS UP TO SPEED ON WHAT HAS GONE UNDER THE BRIDGE AND WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT AND TO BRING OUT SMALL CENTRAL VALLEY TOWNS PERSPECTIVE TO THE DISCUSSION.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE WOULD BE A FISCAL IMPACT BEYOND THEIR TRAVEL TO SACRAMENTO FROM TIME TO TIME.
MOST OF THESE MEETINGS I IMAGINE HAVE NOW MOVED TO VIRTUAL.
THERE'S ALREADY A TRAINING AND TRAVEL BUDGET ADOPTED FOR THE CITY MANAGER, AND I THINK WE WOULD BE WELL WITHIN THAT FOR ACTIVITY IN THIS AREA.
ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME ON THIS ITEM? [NOISE] SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM?
>> NO EMAIL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MAYOR PRO TEM PALLARES.
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO GET RE-ENGAGED INTO THE COMMITTEES AND TALKS AND TO THE RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF IT, OR LEAVE IT IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE INFORMATION.
I THINK THAT'S GOOD IDEA. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PALLARES. MR CORTEZ?
>> THANK YOU. I MET WITH MR. HURLBERT ON THIS ITEM AS WELL AND HE SAID, IF YOU ARE NOT LOOKING AT THE MENU, YOU'RE ON THE MENU.
[LAUGHTER] GO THERE. [LAUGHTER]
>> WE DON'T NEED A VOTE ON THAT, OR DO WE? IT'S A CONSENSUS? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND THEN, CLERK?
>> I THINK YOU HAVE A UNANIMOUS DECISION HERE. WE NEED YOU TO BE THERE.
>> ITEM 12E, REPORT REGARDING THE PROCUREMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF
[12) e. Report regarding the procurement and deployment of body worn cameras, and Adopt a Resolution Approving Amendment No. 1 to the June 15, 2021 Agreement by and between the City of Wasco and the County of Kern to Provide Fire Protection Services within the City of Wasco. (Hurlbert)]
BODY-WORN CAMERAS AND ADOPTED RESOLUTION APPROVING THE AMENDMENT NUMBER 1 TO THE JUNE 15, 2021 AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF WASCO AND[00:55:03]
THE COUNTY OF KERN TO PROVIDE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES WITHIN THE CITY OF FEDERAL WAY.>> I SHOULD'VE CORRECTED THIS BEFORE YOU STARTED READING.
THERE IS AN ERROR IN THE ABSTRACT OF THIS ITEM.
IT WAS BEING PREPARED VERY LATE AT NIGHT.
I WILL ADMIT, [LAUGHTER] AND I CUT AND PASTED THE WRONG PARAGRAPH IN THERE.
BOTH ON THE AGENDA ITSELF, THE ABSTRACT, AND IN THE STAFF REPORT.
IT SHOULD SAY, POLICE SERVICES RATHER OR SHARE OF SERVICES RATHER THAN FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES OR LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES.
THE REST OF THE STAFF REPORT, THE ATTACHMENTS, EVERYTHING ELSE IS EXACTLY PERFECT.
>> I DID READ THE REPORT AND I DIDN'T NOT KNOW THE SERVICE.
>> I'LL TAKE MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF THE BLAME ON THAT.
>> WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR BLAME.
HOWEVER, WE'RE LOOKING TO CORRECT THAT ERROR.
>> THERE'S NO NEED TO CORRECT IT.
LIKE I SAID IT, THE ERROR IS CONTAINED IN JUST THE SUBJECT OF THE STAFF REPORT AND NO FURTHER.
>> ANY CASE, PLEASE, FEEL FREE. PROCEED.
>> THE AMENDMENT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
THIS ITEM, IT GOES BACK TO THE ADOPTION OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE COUNTY OF KERN AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
AT THE TIME THE CONTRACT WAS BEING FINALIZED, THERE WAS A QUITE A BIT OF DISCUSSION BEFORE MY TIME HERE ABOUT BODY-WORN CAMERAS AND THE FACT THAT THE CURRENT BODY-WORN CAMERAS SYSTEM THAT'S BEING USED BY THE DEPUTIES ASSIGNED TO THE WASCO SUBSTATION WAS AGING OUT.
IT HAD BEEN PROCURED BY THE CITY, BEING USED BY THE COUNTY, BUT IT WAS AN ISOLATED SYSTEM, REQUIRED SOME ONGOING MAINTENANCE, HAD SOME FAILURES THAT WERE GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE TO CORRECT.
CONCURRENT WITH THAT, THE COUNTY WAS IN THE MIDST OF NEGOTIATING A DEPARTMENT-WIDE CONTRACT FOR A STANDARDIZED BODY CAMS ACROSS THEIR ENTIRE FORCE.
THE COST FOR PARTICIPATING IN THAT COUNTY WIDE INITIATIVE WAS ATTRACTIVE TO US AND ALTHOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FINAL NUMBER AND TIME TO INCLUDE IN THE BASE CONTRACT IN THAT SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN ADOPTION OF THE CURRENT SERVICES CONTRACT AND THE ADOPTION OF OUR '21, '22 BUDGET, THAT NUMBER BECAME KNOWN.
THE AMOUNT BUDGETED EXACTLY REFLECTS THAT ADDITIONAL COST OF 55,500.
YOU'LL NOTICE IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET, THE TOTAL FOR POLICE OR FIRE SERVER.
NOW, HERE I'M SAYING [LAUGHTER] OR LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES WAS ADJUSTED FROM $4.3 MILLION TO 4.355518.
HAPPY TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF THAT, BUT THIS IS AN ITEM THAT COUNCIL HAS DISCUSSED IN LENGTH WITH PREVIOUSLY.
TONIGHT, WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT A.
IT'S A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THIS AMENDMENT IN THE EXACT AMOUNT OF $55,518, AND THAT IS WASCO'S SHARE FOR THE 18 CAMERAS THAT WILL BE DEPLOYED HERE.
ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MAYOR PRO TEM PALLARES?
>> YES. I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM, CITY MANAGER TO WORK WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ON THIS.
I'VE SEEN THEY'RE DOWNLOADED THEIR BODY CAMS ONTO ARCHAIC DEBURN TO HAND IT OVER AND SO IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PALLARES. MEMBER CORTEZ?
>> I HAVE A COMMENT. MR. HERBERT, GET SOME MORE SLEEP. [LAUGHTER]
>> YES. I'LL START THAT TOMORROW.
>> THANK YOU. I GUESS THE CONSENSUS IS THAT WE PROCEED WITH THIS.
IS THERE A VOTE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE?
>> THERE'S A RESOLUTION THAT NEEDS TO BE APPROVED.
>> IT'S NOT ON MY REPORT HERE, BUT I'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE IT FORWARD. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> MADAM CLERK, THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.
WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL?
[01:00:01]
>> MOTION BY MAYOR REYNA SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM PALLARES TO APPROVE ITEM 12E.
MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA ABSENT.
>> EXCUSE ME. HONORABLE MAYOR, IF I COULD JUST ASK A QUESTION JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.
WAS THAT SUFFICIENT FOR APPROVAL OF THAT RESOLUTION OR DID WE NEED A MOTION SPECIFIC TO THE RESOLUTION?
>> NO, THIS WAS SUFFICIENT BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING] IT'S THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION.
>> I JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE-CHECK.
>> NO, THANK YOU FOR BEING THOROUGH. THAT'S IMPORTANT.
ITEM 13, REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES.
[13) REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES:]
ITEM A, CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. MR. CORTEZ?WE HAVE MEETING COMING UP ON THURSDAY AND ON THURSDAY I WILL BE AT THE LEAD CALIFORNIA CITIES CONFERENCE WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I WOULD ASK IF ANYBODY WHETHER JOHN FLORES OR MAYOR CAN ATTEND IN MY STEAD.
DEFINITELY WORTHWHILE IF WE CAN MAKE IT OUT THERE.
THAT WOULD BE THURSDAY FROM 9:00-11:00 AM.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CORTEZ. I WILL CONSIDER IT.
I JUST HAVE TO CHECK MY CALENDAR AFTER THE MEETING.
>> ITEM B, CURRENT COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS, MR. GARCIA, HE'S NOT PRESENT, SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
>> WE HAD A SMALL MEETING THIS WEEK, I THINK WITH CHURCHES AND EVERYTHING BACK IN SESSION.
WE MAY HAVE TO CHANGE IT FROM A WEDNESDAY MEETING DATE, BUT REALLY THE ONLY THING OF NOTE IS THAT THE ROSE GARDEN IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE BEAUTIFICATION DOWN AT BARKER PARK AND SHARON NICKEL WILL BE NEEDING SOME HELP TO PLANT SOME ROSES AND THINGS DOWN THERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
>> COUNT ME AS WELL. I'LL BRING MY OWN SHOVEL.
>> ITEM 14, REPORTS FROM KERN COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT. NO ONE HERE?
[14) REPORTS FROM KC FIRE AND SHERIFF:]
>> I'M BEING FACETIOUS, RIGHT?
>> [INAUDIBLE] THE AWARD AND ANOTHER KEYS LEFT UP HERE.
>> YEAH, THAT WAS ME [LAUGHTER].
I WAS DEALING WITH THAT BEING STUCK TO THE FLOOR.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD?
IT'S TOO FAR. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'M [INAUDIBLE] STANDING IN AGAIN FOR SERGEANT MARTINEZ WILL BE BACK TOMORROW.
I'M GOING TO BE PRESENTING A COUPLE DIFFERENT INVESTIGATIONS AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND YOUR WASCO'S DEPUTIES HANDLED IN THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS.
THERE WON'T BE ANY STATISTICS TODAY BEING THAT IT'S THE SECOND MEETING OF THE MONTH THAT WAS PRESENTED IN THE FIRST MEETING.
THE FIRST INVESTIGATION HANDLED BY THE DEPUTIES AND DISCUSS OCCURRED ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH AT APPROXIMATELY 12:39 PM.
ALL DEPUTIES WERE DISPATCHED TO THE THOMAS JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR A SUSPICIOUS PERSON WHO WAS BELIEVED TO BE ARMED WITH A MACHETE ON SCHOOL GROUNDS.
DEPUTIES ARRIVE OR DISPATCH ARRIVED WITHIN THREE MINUTES OF BEING DISPATCHED AND CONTACTED THE SUSPICIOUS PERSON IDENTIFIED AS FERNANDO TORRES, A 38-YEAR-OLD MALE FROM THE CITY OF WASCO, AND NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF 4TH STREET AND GRIFFITH AVENUE.
HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND TO HAVE BEEN IN POSSESSION OF A BLUNT FORCE OBJECT, WHICH IS ACTUALLY PICTURED ABOVE, AND TO BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.
HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING, POSSESSION OF A WEAPON ON SCHOOL GROUNDS, AND FOR BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.
I BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT DEPUTIES WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE THIS CALL AND RESPOND EXTREMELY QUICKLY.
DUE THE FACT THAT THERE WAS OBSERVANT MEMBER OF THE WASCO COMMUNITY WHO OBSERVED THE INDIVIDUAL ACTING ERRATIC AND THEN CLIMBING THE FENCE ONTO THE SCHOOL GROUNDS WHO IMMEDIATELY CALLED US WITHOUT HESITATION, ALLOWING US TO RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER.
IT'S JUST A QUICK THANK YOU TO THAT MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND REMIND EVERYBODY ELSE IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT SEEMED OUT OF PLACE, PLEASE CALL SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS IT APPROPRIATELY AND QUICKLY.
THE SECOND AND THIRD INCIDENTS OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 17TH AND THEY'RE BOTH STOLEN VEHICLE RELATED.
THE FIRST OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 1:12 AM IN THE MORNING WHERE DEPUTIES AND ALSO SUBSTATION CONDUCTED A TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT STOP IN THE 1600 BLOCK OF F STREET OF A STOLEN VEHICLE.
DURING THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT STOP, DEPUTIES DETAINED MARISOL COSTA, A 32-YEAR-OLD FEMALE, WASCO AND RODOLFO RODRIGUEZ, 31-YEAR-OLD MALE FROM WASCO, WHO ARE OCCUPYING THE VEHICLE.
BOTH SUBJECTS WERE SUBSEQUENTLY ARRESTED AND BOOKED IN THE KERN COUNTY JAIL FOR FELONY,
[01:05:03]
POSSESSION OF STOLEN VEHICLE, AND FELONY AUTO THEFT.LATER IN THE SAME DAY AT APPROXIMATELY 10:46 AM, DEPUTIES WERE DISPATCHED TO A SUSPICIOUS PERSON, BELIEVED TO BE INVOLVED INTO A THEFT INVESTIGATION AND NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF POPLAR AND HIGHWAY 46.
UPON ARRIVAL TO THE AREA, DEPUTIES DETAINED THE SUBJECT INVOLVED IDENTIFIED AS 27-YEAR-OLD MALE OF WASCO, MICHAEL VALDEZ, WHO WAS OCCUPYING A STOLEN VEHICLE.
DEPUTIES SUBSEQUENTLY ARRESTED VALDEZ AND HE WAS BOOKED IN THE KERN COUNTY JAIL FOR POSSESSION OF STOLEN VEHICLE, POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS, AND FIXING A FALSE PLATE TO THE VEHICLE.
AS A QUICK GLANCE BACK ON THIS STOLEN VEHICLE ASPECT IS JUST A QUICK REMINDER FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS THAT, IF YOU VALUE YOUR VEHICLE, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO PARK IT IN A SECURE MANNER, LOCK YOUR DOORS.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT VEHICLES ARE EXTREMELY EASILY STOLEN AND TAKEN AT THIS POINT IN TIME, ESPECIALLY IN A LITTLE BIT OLDER.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL TO REMAIN VIGILANT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
ALSO, YOU SEE SOMEBODY THAT'S LOOKING AT VEHICLES, APPEARS TO BE DOING SOMETHING OUT OF PLACE, PLEASE CALL US SO WE CAN ADDRESS THAT ISSUE ALSO.
ON SEPTEMBER 19TH AT APPROXIMATELY 1:49 PM, DEPUTIES IN WASCO SUBSTATION THIS PAST SUNDAY WERE DISPATCHED TO THE 2600 BLOCK OF SPRUCE AVENUE TO A REPORT OF A VICTIM OF STABBING.
UPON ARRIVAL, DEPUTIES LOCATED THE VICTIM WHO WAS SUFFERING FROM MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH LIFE THREATENING INJURIES.
THE SUSPECT SERGIO COSTA, A 24-YEAR-OLD MALE OF WASCO WAS SUBSEQUENTLY IDENTIFIED AND ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ASSAULT WITH THE DEADLY WEAPON.
UNFORTUNATELY, ON SEPTEMBER 20TH, THE VICTIM SUCCUMBED TO HIS INJURIES IN THE HOSPITAL AND WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED.
COSTA'S CHARGE WERE SUBSEQUENTLY UPDATED AND UPGRADED TO A SINGLE COUNT OF MURDER, WHERE HE'S CURRENTLY BEING HELD IN THE CUSTODY KERN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON NOVELL.
WITH THAT IN MIND, I JUST REQUEST THAT ANYBODY THAT HAS INFORMATION RELATION TO IMPROVE WITH ANY CASES TO CONTACT THAT CONTAIN SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT 6618613110 OR THE SECRET WITNESS LINE AT 6613224040.
JUST TO PIGGYBACK OFF WE'VE ACHIEVED A LITTLE BIT WITH THE BODY CAMERAS STUFF.
THE DEPUTIES IN THE MOSCOW SUBSTATION ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED TO GET THE UPGRADED NEWER BODY CAMERAS.
WE SHOULD BE GETTING THEM NEXT WEEK.
I JUST SPOKE WITH OUR COMPUTER TECH GUYS AND UPDATED THEM WITH THE COMPUTERS THAT WE HAVE AND THEY'RE PLANNING ON COMING OUT LATER THIS WEEK OR NEXT WEEK TO ACTUALLY INSTALL THE DOCKING DEVICES TO ALLOW US TO GET THOSE NEWER CAMERAS OUT AND IN THE FIELD.
IT'S A GREAT THING TO RECOGNIZE THE CITY OF MOSCOW IS A FACT THAT YOU GUYS WERE THE FIRST FOR THE CURRENT COUNTY COMMUNITY, TO ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT THESE BODY CAMERAS, SOMETHING YOU GUYS DID ON YOUR OWN AND IT LED THE WAY FOR THE CURRENT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND A WHOLE AND I DEFINITELY COMMEND YOU GUYS FOR DOING THAT, TAKING THAT FIRST STEP AND THEN ACTUALLY HELPING US UPGRADE OUR EQUIPMENT TO HAVE BETTER SERVING AND KEEP THE OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC TO A LEVEL THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT THEY RESPECT. I THANK YOU, GUYS.
>> THANK YOU SENIOR DEPUTY SHIM. GREAT REPORT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. REPORT STAFF FROM CITY MANAGER, MR. HERBERT?
[15) REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER:]
>> YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I DON'T HAVE ANY DETAILED REPORTS.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN A LOT OF ACTIVITY.
THE AGENDA TONIGHT REPRESENTS A LOT OF THAT.
I WILL SAY THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME CONTINUED PROGRESS WITH HIGH-SPEED RAIL NOT AS AFFECTS THE LABOR CAMP, UNFORTUNATELY BUT ALL OF THE REST OF THE ISSUES THAT STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THEM FOR YEARS NOW AND SO WE'RE STARTING TO GAIN A LITTLE BIT OF GROUND ON MOVING FORWARD WITH THE GOAL OF HAVING THE WORK DONE RIGHT IS SHOWING THE ENCROACHMENT PERMITS WHEN THE ISSUES OF TRULY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND TO HELP THEM GET DONE AND GET OUT OF TOWN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I SHARED THAT GOAL WITH THE PROJECT LEAD TODAY AND SEEM TO SHARE THAT.
IT'S SPENDING MORE TIME THAN I'D LIKE, BUT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME FRUIT FROM THAT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO RE-ENGAGING WITH FOLKS AT THE CONFERENCE
[01:10:02]
THIS WEEK AFTER HAVING FOR ME THREE YEARS OFF SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.[16) REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL:]
MAYOR PRO TEM POLARISE.>> I WORKED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA OVER THE WEEKEND FOR MANY HOP-UP COMMUNITY CLEANING OF TWO ALLEYS.
THERE IS FOUR MEMBERS, ONE TRUCK, AND AN HOUR AND A HALF, AND WE MADE A SUBSTANTIAL EFFORT TO CLEAN UP THE LITTER.
SOME SMALL BULKY ITEMS, BUT THAT'S JUST ONE EFFORT FROM A SMALL GROUP SO LET'S NOT WAIT FOR ANNUAL BIANNUAL CLEANUPS REALLY.
IF THERE'S TRASH ON THE FLOOR, LET'S CLEAN IT UP.
SECOND, I PARTICIPATED WITH THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH COLLABORATIVE ON MOCK COUNCIL MEETING WITH THE YOUTH ALONG THE CENTRAL VALLEY, SEVERAL DIFFERENT TOWNS.
THE TOPIC WAS ON TOBACCO, SO IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO INTERACT WITH THE YOUTH, THE NEXT GENERATIONS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REPRESENT THIS VALVE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. POLARISE. MR. PROTESS.
>> FROM PLENTY OF THE EXAMPLES THAT WE'VE SEEN TODAY, THIS IS WHY I LOVE THE SMALL TOWN.
THIS IS WHY I LOVE THIS CITY ALASKA BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT PEOPLE RELYING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO DO THINGS FOR YOU, PEOPLE STEPPING UP LIKE MR. POLARISE.
WE HAVE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY DOES THEIR PART.
I THINK THIS IS A CHAR LEVEL SMALL TOWN AND I AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PROTESS. MR. MARTINEZ.
>> YEAH. I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I ALREADY TALKED ABOUT.
NEARLY TWO WEEKS AGO, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT RELEASED THE BODY CAM FOOTAGE FROM THE TRAGIC INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED HERE IN MOSCOW.
I DIDN'T WANT TO WATCH THE FOOTAGE, BUT I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM MY MOM AND SHE WAS IN TEARS.
SHE WANTED TO KNOW IF I KNEW A SENIOR DEPUTY CHARLES SHIN BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW HEROIC HIS ACTIONS WERE THAT DAY.
CHARLES, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
I'VE TOLD YOU THIS MANY TIMES, YOU ARE A HERO AND THE CITY IS INDEBTED TO YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THIS MODEL THAT WE USE TO GET THIS SIDEWALK REPAIR IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE USED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
I HAVE ALREADY APPROACHED ANOTHER ORGANIZATION FOR FUNDING BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY SIDEWALKS, THAT NEED REPAIR WHERE FAMILIES ARE UNABLE TO DO SO.
THEY PROMISED THAT THEY WOULD TAKE IT UPON THEIR NEXT MEETING IN THAT THEY WOULD GIVE ME AN ANSWER.
BUT WE CAN DO THIS MANY TIMES OVER AND FIX PEOPLE SIDEWALKS.
I'D ALSO ASK ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO KNOWS CONCRETE, IT'S NOT YOUR [INAUDIBLE].
I DO APPRECIATE YOU [LAUGHTER] DOING THIS OTHER ONE.
BUT HE SAID YES ALSO, AND SO I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT I CAN APPROACH ANOTHER DISTRIBUTOR OF BUILDING MATERIALS TO ALSO HELP US WITH THIS ENDEAVORS.
I THINK HE HAS PROMISED. I'VE HEARD ABOUT IT.
I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE THAT THERE IS A LIST OF SIDEWALKS IN EITHER REPAIR THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY CODE ENFORCEMENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT, MRS. [INAUDIBLE].
>> THEY ARE PROBABLY AWARE OF SOME LOCATIONS [OVERLAPPING].
>> IF SUCH A LIST EXISTS WOULD YOU MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO ME SO THAT I CAN USE THAT TO GUIDE US AS TO WHERE WE SHOULD GO NEXT? I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING THAT.
I ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE GRAND OPENING OF THE SCANDALOUS CAFE.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT IS, THAT IS LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF 5TH NS STREET ON THE NORTH WEST CORNER.
ORANGE HOUR FOUNDATION WAS THERE, OUR HR WAS THERE AS WELL.
I MET MARIO AND MONICA AGUILAR, WHO ARE THE OWNERS, IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE GO HAVE LUNCH, DINNER, BREAKFAST WITH THEM.
MARIO IS QUITE AN EXCEPTIONAL INDIVIDUAL, VERY POSITIVE INDIVIDUAL AND I REALLY ENJOYED HAVING A CONVERSATION.
BE SURE TO STOP BY AND SAY HI AND PURCHASE A MEAL FROM THEM.
I WAS ALSO INVITED BY LAURIE KOEHLER TO SPEAK TO THEM,
[01:15:01]
AND I DID THAT THIS PAST MONDAY, YESTERDAY.THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT HAD A SPEAKER COME BEFORE THEM FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL I DID, BUT THEY WERE HAPPY TO SEE ME [LAUGHTER].
>> EVERYONE'S ALWAYS HAPPY TO SEE YOU, GILBERT?
>> [LAUGHTER] NO, NOT NECESSARILY, I ASSURE YOU.
THEN I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK STAFF.
I DO THIS AT EVERY MEETING, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT JUST DOESN'T SOUND LIKE I'M REPEATING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING CAN BE DONE WITHOUT ALL OF OUR STAFF, INCLUDING OUR SENIOR ENDURE OUR EXECUTIVES.
BUT AS WELL AS THE RANK AND FILE, I HAD BEEN BRINGING THINGS TO YOU THAT NEED ATTENTION AND EVERYTHING TAKEN CARE OF.
THERE WAS THIS PARKWAY BETWEEN POSTAL AND FILBURN ON THE FARM AVENUE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE STREET THAT WAS IN VERY BAD NEED OF ATTENTION AND THAT HAS BEEN CORRECTED.
I WANT TO THANK YOU LOUIS FOR TAKING THAT UNDER YOUR WING I SUPPOSE MR. HERBERT FOR LISTENING TO ME AND HAVING THIS DONE.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE OUT THERE ACTUALLY WITH A BEACON AXES AND A SHOVEL DOING THE WORK.
I KNOW I WENT THERE AND I MET ANGELA AND HOZE OR HEZOS?
>> HEZOS. ALMOST THE SAME, BUT NOT QUITE THE SAME [LAUGHTER].
THEY WERE OUT THERE GETTING THE WORK DONE EVEN WHEN IT WAS HOT.
IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, GO CHECK IT OUT WITH SOME SEPARATION OF THE SIDEWALKS AND WHAT WAS DONE.
SOME ASPHALT WAS PUT ON THERE TO PREVENT SOMEBODY FROM TRIPPING.
THEY WERE PAINTED YELLOW TO CALL ATTENTION TO THAT AREA.
SOME SIGNS THEY'VE BEEN OLDER.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUT UP SO THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT THERE IS AREA OF CAUTION.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE WHEN THIS WAS DONE MANY YEARS BACK, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS, 20 YEARS, MAYBE EVEN LONGER.
THE TREES THAT WERE PLANTED THERE, WE HAD NO SAY ON WHAT NEEDED TO BE PLANTED AND SO NOW THEY ARE DESTROYING THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WAS PUT THERE AND THE SIDEWALKS ARE COMING UP, THE CURVE IS BEING DAMAGED, THE GATHER IS BEING DAMAGED, AND SO I'M REALLY, REALLY HAPPY TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH DOWNTOWNS.
STEPHANIE, I'M REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR YOUR INVOLVEMENT SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I HAVE SAID THAT I THINK WE HAVE A CLOSED SESSION. IS THAT CORRECT?
[17) CLOSED SESSION:]
>> WE DO HAVE ONE ITEM [OVERLAPPING].
>> I WANT TO THANK ANYONE THAT CAME TO THE MEETING TODAY.
[INAUDIBLE] VERONICA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CITY.
AS YOU HEARD ALL OF US SAY, IT'S NOT ALWAYS GOVERNMENT THAT CAN RESOLVE THESE THINGS, IT'S ALL OF US TOGETHER COLLABORATING WITH EACH OTHER.
THANK YOU, SHARON FOR BEING HERE, AND THANKS EVERYBODY ELSE.
ANYWAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO CLOSE SESSION AND THEN WE'LL COME OUT AND CLOSE THE MEETING, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE [INAUDIBLE] FOR US TO RETURN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> CLOSE SESSION. [BACKGROUND].
>>[NOISE] THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. [NOISE].
>> [LAUGHTER]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.