Nov 23, 2021 Special City Council

WE ARE READY TO START MAYOR.

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[1) CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Reyna]

THANK YOU. IF YOU'RE ABLE, PLEASE SALUTE, PLEDGE.

TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. [INAUDIBLE] WE DO NOT HAVE NOBODY HERE MAYOR, OK, MOVING ON TO ITEM 4R PUBLIC COMMENTS, THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS RESERVED FOR PERSONS GOVERNING BOARD FOR THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY IN ANY MANNER OF THIS AGENDA AND EXCUSE ME, ON ANY MATTER 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 FOR THE RECORD BEFORE MAKING YOUR PRESENTATION.

BROWN ACT REQUIREMENTS, THE BROWN ACT DOES NOT ALLOW.

ANY DISCUSSION ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA ARE SUBJECT TO NARROW EXCEPTIONS.

THIS WOULD BE A COUNCIL MEMBER RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS AND A REQUEST MADE DURING THIS COMMENT PERIOD.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? MADAM CLERK. WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS IN THE CHAMBERS AT THIS TIME MAYOR.

THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS VIA E-MAIL? GIVE ME ONE MINUTE MAYOR.

MAYOR WE HAVE NO E-MAIL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

MOVING ON TO ITEM 5 NEW BUSINESS ITEM A DISCUSSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION GRANT APPLICATIONS I MUST APOLOGIZE.

THE FONT THAT WAS USED IN WRITING THIS PUTS THE LETTERS SO CLOSE TOGETHER AND THEY'RE WRITTEN IN PURPLE AND MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO READ THEM.

I CAN'T READ THIS NEXT WORD.

DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND SAY THAT AGAIN? DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND READ IT? I'M SHARING THE SCREEN , CAN YOU SEE THE SCREEN? IT'S JUST THE SUBJECT LINE.

OK. ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD, I CAN READ THAT DISCUSSION OF GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR THE

[5) a. Discussion of grant applications for the abatement and clean-up of the Old Wasco Farm Labor Housing Project located at 750 H Street Wasco, CA. 93280. Informational Only (Hurlbert)]

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THIS ITEM, SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS MEETING, THIS IS ABOUT GRANTS THAT ARE BEING PURSUED FOR CLEANUP, AND I WILL TURN THIS OVER TO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER LAURA TO GIVE US THE

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THIS ITEM WILL.

THIS ITEM IS REGARDING TWO GRANT APPLICATIONS THAT THE CITY IS HOPING TO PARTNER OR QUOTE BE THE CO APPLICANT WITH THE WASCO HOUSING AUTHORITY.

WE'RE HOPING THAT COUNCIL JUST INFORMATIONAL.

WE'RE LETTING COUNCIL KNOW.

WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU GUYS WILL CONSIDER IT AND APPROVE US PURSUING THESE GRANTS.

THEY WOULD HELP US CLEAN, HOPEFULLY THAT SITE AND COME UP WITH A REUSE PLAN THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND THESE TYPE OF GRANTS NOT ONLY DO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS, BUT THEY DEVELOP REUSE PLANS THAT THAT BRING IN THE COMMUNITY INPUT.

SO THE GOAL WOULD BE THAT, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY HIRE A CONSULTANT.

THEY WOULD COME IN, LOOK AT THE SITE, TAKE COMMUNITY INPUT ON WHAT THAT SITE COULD POTENTIALLY BE USED FOR WITH FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY AND BUY IN AND WITH THE GOAL THAT HOPEFULLY ONE DAY WE'LL SEE A LOT OF JOBS, NEW JOBS IN THAT SITE.

SO THAT THAT IS THE MAIN GOAL FOR BOTH OF THESE GRANTS TO GO IN AND PARTNER WITH THE WASCO HOUSING AUTHORITY TO PURSUE THIS MONEY.

MADAM CLERK ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME IN THE CHAMBER.

THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME IN THE CHAMBER, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS VIA EMAIL THERE THERE'S NO EMAIL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS, MAYOR PRO TEM PALLARES? NO COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MEMBER CORTEZ NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.

THANK YOU. MR. REYNA. COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA.

DO WE TAKE THIS INDIVIDUALLY, MADAM CLERK FOR A VOTE? WE'RE NOT VOTING ON ITEM 5A.

THIS IS JUST FOR INFORMATION POINT, THANK YOU.

[5) b. Discussion of recent RAISE grant award to California High Speed Rail Authority, impact on clean-up of the Farm Labor Camp, and request Council appoint a Committee to oversee various related negotiations and agreements. (Hurlbert)]

OK. IS THAT GOOD? YEAH, THIS IS VERY GOOD, THANK YOU.

THIS DISCUSSION OF RAISE GRANT AWARD TO CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY, IMPACT ON CLEAN-UP OF THE FARM LABOR CAMP, AND REQUEST COUNCIL APPOINT A COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE VARIOUS RELATED NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS. THIS IS MR. HURLBERT. YES, THANK YOU.

HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, AS WE BECAME AWARE LAST WEEK OF OF HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY'S SUCCESSFUL SOLICITATION OF THIS GRANT FROM THROUGH THE RAISE PROGRAM.

IT BEGAN DISCUSSIONS AND ACCELERATED THE DISCUSSIONS THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN HAVING WITH THE AUTHORITY. IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS, THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW THE RAISE GRANT FUNDS WILL BE APPLIED, AS WELL AS OTHER AGREEMENTS, EASEMENTS, RIGHT OF WAY, ACQUISITIONS AND SO FORTH THAT ARE INTERTWINED WITH THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT THAT'S GOING THROUGH TOWN.

IN THE PAST NUMBER OF YEARS, THESE DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN LARGELY STAGNANT JUST BECAUSE OF DISAGREEMENTS IN THE PROBLEMS SURROUNDING THE LABOR CAMP NOW THAT THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME FUNDING AVAILABLE.

AS I MENTIONED IN MY PREVIOUS REPORT IN THE PREVIOUS MEETING, NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO DOVETAIL WITH THESE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES, BUT ALSO NEED GUIDANCE IN

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IN PARTICULAR, THERE IS A GROUP OF ITEMS THAT WE ARE CALLING PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS, WHEREBY THE AUTHORITY, THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY, WILL PROVIDE FUNDING TO THE CITY TO COMPLETE WORK THAT IS OUTSIDE THE PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ENVELOPE.

THESE ARE IMPACTS TO THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT, BUT JUST REALLY WEREN'T CONSIDERED IN THE ORIGINAL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND IMPACTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED THERE.

THE THE AUTHORITY HAS AGREED THAT THEY ARE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS AND THEY'VE DEVELOPED THIS MECHANISM FOR HELPING THE CITY TO RESOLVE THOSE.

SO WE'RE WE'RE A WAYS ALONG IN THAT PROCESS, BUT THEY'LL BE COMING TO PAPERWORK SOON AND AGREEMENTS THAT WILL BE BINDING ON BOTH PARTIES SO WHILE THE FINAL AGREEMENTS WILL COME BACK TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR ULTIMATE APPROVAL.

I WOULD ASK THAT A COMMITTEE BE NAMED TONIGHT TO WORK WITH ME ON A MORE DYNAMIC WAY TO TO CHECK OFF ON THE PROGRESS ON THESE VARIOUS AGREEMENTS, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M INCLUDING THE COUNCIL'S WISHES ALONG THOSE LINES.

SO IF THERE ARE FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE.

PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME MADAM CLERK IN THE CHAMBER.

THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THE CHAMBER AT THIS TIME.

DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS VIA E-MAIL? GIVE ME ONE MINUTE MAYOR, MAYOR THERE'S NO E-MAIL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND MEMBERS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, HOUSE OF COMMONS, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BRING WASCO FROM THIS DARK CLOUD HANGING OVER US FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.

SO WHAT A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL CITY WITH YOU.

SO WE'RE GETTING FINALLY FUNDING TO WELL. [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AS PRO TEM, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE, HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE OF MY EMPLOYMENT AWAY.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GRACEFULLY DECLINE.

THANK YOU, MR. PALLARES MEMBER, CORTEZ, I'D LOVE TO BE A PART OF THIS TEAM.

MR. REYNA, I ACCEPT IF YOU'RE NOMINATING ME.

YES. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU SAID.

YES, YES, I'D LOVE TO BE ON THE ON THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.

OK. YOU WOULD LIKE TO SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE, THAT'S WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

YES. YES, SIR. OK, THANK YOU.

MEMBER, GARCIA, LEFT UNDONE IN THE PAST.

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, THIS THIS COLLABORATION.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE MYSELF AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT. SO THIS IS NO REFLECTION IN ANY OF THESE I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE RAISE GRANT THOUGH, OF COURSE.

I DO. I DO WANT TO CONVEY THE IMPORTANCE AND THE IMPACT THIS POTENTIAL GRANT IS ON THE

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OLD FARM LABOR HOUSING COMPLEX WAS TO A POINT THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST THE CITIZENS OF WASCO NOT ONLY JUST FUNDS BUT IMPACT SERVICES, IMPACT ON SERVICES.

AND HONESTLY, THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR FUTURE AS A CITY.

SO I GIVE CREDIT TO OUR CURRENT STAFF.

CITY MANAGER AND STAFF DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES.

I GIVE CREDIT AS WELL TO FORMER CITY MANAGER [INAUDIBLE] AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR [INAUDIBLE] AND A BISHOP FOR THEIR EFFORTS WHILE THEY WERE HERE.

IT'S JUST A COMBINATION OF EVERYBODY'S EFFORTS TO COUNSEL EVERYBODY WHO PARTAKE IN THIS IN THIS EFFORT, AND IT IS.

IT IS. IF THIS HOLDS OUT TO BE WELL, WE HOPE IT'S GOING TO BE.

IT'S REALLY GOING TO MAKE A GREAT IMPACT IN THE FUTURE OF CITY WASCO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CORTEZ. ITEM C, MADAM CLERK COULD YOU PUT IT ON

[5) c. Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the approved Memorandum of Understanding Agreement covering July 1, 2021 thru June 30, 2024 between SEIU Local 521 and the City of Wasco, and extend matching wage and benefit provisions to employees outside of the barging unit. (Hurlbert)]

YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS THAT YOU REVIEWED MANY TIMES IN CLOSED SESSION, THE TERMS OF WHICH YOU'RE PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH.

THEY HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE OUR LAST UPDATE BRIEFING, BUT I WILL QUICKLY GO THROUGH SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, PARTICULARLY WHERE THE THE WAGE AND BENEFITS ARE CONCERNED.

AS WAS STATED IN THE PREAMBLE, THE AGREEMENT WILL GO THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2024.

IT'S A THREE YEAR AGREEMENT, WHICH I BELIEVE IS BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY AND THE EMPLOYEES.

OF COURSE, THE CENTERPIECE OF THE AGREEMENT IS THE WAGE AGREEMENT THAT WAS REACHED, AND THAT INCLUDES A ONE TIME NON-RECURRING GROSS PAYMENT OF $5000 TO EACH FULL TIME EMPLOYEE AND A $2500 ONE TIME GROSS PAYMENT OF FOR PART TIME EMPLOYEES.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE FUNDS ARE COMING FROM THE ARPA FUNDING STREAM, A RESULT OF SOME OF THE COVID RELIEF FUNDS THAT ARE FLOWING THROUGH TO THE CITY, AND THIS RECOGNIZES THE THE WORK THAT CRITICAL EMPLOYEES PERFORMED DURING THE BEGINNING AND THROUGH THE TEETH OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE.

BYPASSING OF COLA AND THAT THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

AND SO THIS IS REALLY A AN EFFORT TO CATCH UP FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO WHO NOT ONLY STUCK WITH THE WORK, BUT DID SO AT ESSENTIALLY A FROZEN WAGE DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

AND BECAUSE THE ARPA FUNDS ARE USED, IT DOES NOT DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR GENERAL FUND FOR THE CURRENT OR FUTURE BUDGET YEARS.

IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THIS AGREEMENT.

THERE WILL BE A THREE PERCENT COLA INCREASE, FOLLOWED BY A SECOND THREE PERCENT INCREASE IN THE IN THE THIRD YEAR.

SO OVER THE THREE YEARS, THERE WILL BE THAT ADJUSTMENT IN BASE WAGES.

THERE WERE A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THIS UPDATE.

ONE IS A STANDBY DUTY.

THERE WAS A PREVIOUS PROVISION THAT PAID A FIVE PERCENT STANDBY DUTY PAYMENT TO EMPLOYEES THAT WERE THERE WERE DIRECTED BY THEIR DEPARTMENT HEADS TO BE AVAILABLE FOR STANDBY DUTY.

THAT WAS ADJUSTED AGAIN FROM FIVE PERCENT TO SIX PERCENT AND THAT THAT NUMBER HAD BEEN IN PLACE FOR SOME TIME.

ALSO, A AN ADDITIONAL SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL WAS IDENTIFIED AND AND ADDED TO THIS MOU.

SHIFT DIFFERENTIALS ARE USED FOR TO COMPENSATE BETWEEN A NORMAL BASE RATE AND A RATE FOR

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AND SO THERE ARE VARYING AMOUNTS, AND THERE HAD BEEN THREE DIFFERENT SHIFT DIFFERENTIALS APPLIED IN THE PAST.

A FOURTH SHIFT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AND IT'S USED IN CONNECTION WITH OUR SANITATION PICK UP. AND IT HAS SPECIFICALLY TO DO WITH THE ROUTE FOR SERVICING THE STATE PRISON AND THE HOURS THAT ARE REQUIRED.

THERE ARE OUTSIDE OF THESE OTHER SHIFT DIFFERENTIALS.

SO A 3 A.M.

TO NOON SHIFT WAS IDENTIFIED AND ADDED TO THE MOU ALSO DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A BIG DEAL, BUT IT HAS TURNED INTO IT.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONFUSION ABOUT HOW WE DOCUMENTED HOLIDAY SCHEDULES IN THE PAST WHEN SINCE WE HAVE A 9-80 SCHEDULE AND THERE ARE FOLKS THAT HAVE FRIDAYS OFF ALTERNATING FRIDAYS OFF. WE'RE SURE TO HIT ONE OF THOSE FRIDAYS OFF DURING THE THANKSGIVING CHRISTMAS NEW YEAR CYCLE EACH YEAR.

AND SO THE WORDING IN THE PREVIOUS MOU IS A BIT AMBIGUOUS AND CAUSED SOME CONFUSION.

IT ALL WORKED OUT FINE, FOLKS THAT WANTED TO SCHEDULE WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS A DAY OFF, AND IT WASN'T. THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WERE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT WITHOUT PROBLEMS, BUT WE TOOK THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH THE NEW MOU TO ADD WORDING THAT MAKES THAT PERFECTLY CLEAR HOW THOSE OVERLAPS WILL WORK IN THE FUTURE.

SOME SMALL CHANGES IN UNIFORM AND BOOT ALLOWANCE PROCESSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT MOSTLY AND SOME CLERICAL WORK HAVE TO THINK OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR NANCY VERA FOR PUTTING IN WAY MORE HOURS THAN I HAD TO ON PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, CLEANING UP THE MOU WORKING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE UNION.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE THE UNION MEMBERS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES THAT THEY SET TO TO NEGOTIATE THIS DEAL.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT DEAL FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE EMPLOYEES AND AND I THINK IT WILL WEAR WELL FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

SO TONIGHT I'M JUST ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF THE MOU AND AS THE PREAMBLE STATED, IT HAS BEEN A TRADITION AND HOPEFULLY WILL CONTINUE THAT THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, WHERE THE WAGES AND AND COMMON BENEFITS ARE CONCERNED, WOULD BE EXTENDED TO NON REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES.

IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THOSE NOW.

THANK YOU, MR. HURLBERT, JUST TO CLARIFY THIS IS TO GIVE YOU A POSITION TO EXECUTE THE APPROVAL MIC] IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME IN THE CHAMBER MADAM CLERK? THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THE CHAMBER AT THIS TIME MAYOR.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS VIA EMAIL MADAM CLERK? GIVE ME ONE MINUTE MAYOR.

MAYOR THERE ARE NO EMAIL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS, MAYOR PRO TEM PALLARES? NO COMMENT. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES MEMBER, CORTEZ, OTHER THAN HAPPY WITH THE AGREEMENT AND I THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR EFFORTS.

THANK YOU, MR. CORTEZ.

MEMBER GARCIA, NOTHING ELSE TO ADD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THIS.

I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL AT THIS TIME, AND I'LL MOVE IT FORWARD MYSELF.

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MOTION BY MAYOR REYNA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CORTEZ TO APPROVE ITEM 5C, MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ MARTINEZ IS ABSENT.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. MOVING ON TO REPORTS.

[6) REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER]

SO DURING THAT MEETING, WE WILL CONSIDER MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS, MAYOR PRO TEM APPOINTMENTS AND REVIEW AND CONFIRM OR ADD CHANGES TO ANY AND ALL COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS.

SO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING THROUGH THAT.

THAT'S ALWAYS A BUSY MEETING, BUT WE'LL GET EVERYBODY LINED OUT AND SCRIPTED TO TO GET THROUGH THAT QUICKLY. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS AT THIS TIME? I GUESS THERE AREN'T QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME, I'M SURE, THANK YOU.

[7) REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL]

NO REPORT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MEMBER CORTEZ.

NO COMMENTS THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU. AND MEMBER GARCIA? JUST HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE.

JUST A QUESTION I GUESS I WANTED TO CLOSE WAS THAT THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD JUST [INAUDIBLE] BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING.

YES, I'LL ASK THE CITY CLERK TO RESPOND TO THAT.

YES, WE WILL BE PARTICIPATING ON THE PARADE.

IT'S SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER THE 11TH, WHICH IS ON SATURDAY.

WE WILL TRY TO HAVE THE FIRE TRUCK READY AND A SLED.

HOPEFULLY THIS YEAR AGAIN, BUT I'LL SAY I'LL BE SENDING THAT INFORMATION TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

OK, WELL, WE'LL DEFINITELY SEE EACH OTHER BEFORE, BUT YOU, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SOME BRIEF COMMENTS.

YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS THANK THE STAFF FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL WORK THEY DO AND ONE [INAUDIBLE] MAYOR, EXCUSE ME, MEMBER CORTEZ ALREADY ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT IT'S.

THE ABILITY TO GET THIS RESOLVED AS THE ISSUE WITH THE HIGH SPEED RAIL IN WHICH THEY WOULD NOT COOPERATE WITH US FOR A LONG, LONG TIME AND SUDDENLY WE FIND OURSELVES, WITH YOU KNOW, AN OFFER OR A GRANT THAT WOULD WE SOLVE THIS ISSUE THAT IS REALLY WEIGHING US DOWN WAY IN THE CITY OF WASCO, NOW 90 MILLION DOLLARS HEAVY.

AND SO I GIVE ALL CREDIT, YOU KNOW, TO OUR STAFF AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE LIGHT [INAUDIBLE] CITY COUNCIL WAS ALWAYS ON BOARD WITH THIS [INAUDIBLE] MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SPOKE BEFORE THE COMMISSION.

IN FACT, DEFINITELY OUR STAFF NEVER LET THIS GO FROM SINCE DANIEL WAS HERE, YOU KNOW [INAUDIBLE] AND MR. HURLBERT CAME AND HE CONTINUED WITH THE ITSELF.

AND NOW WE FIND OURSELVES WITH A WONDERFUL RESOLUTION, SO I THANK YOU.

I THANK ALL THE STUFF, WE'VE BEEN WORKING SO HARD ON THIS FOR SO LONG UNTIL FINALLY SEEING THE LIGHT OF THE DAY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

AND THAT'S IT FOR ME.

WE DON'T HAVE A CLOSED SESSION, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING.

[INAUDIBLE] YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.