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[1) CALL TO ORDER: Mayor]
AND WE HAVE A QUORUM.WELCOME, MR. GARCIA. GLAD TO SEE YOU HERE.
ALL RIGHT. I'M CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
GOOD EVENING, THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD PURSUANT TO AB 361 ISSUED BY GOV.
NEWSOM ON SEPTEMBER 2021 AND GOVERNMENT CODE 54953.
AND ALL MEMBERS ARE JOINING THIS MEETING REMOTELY VIA ZOOM WEBINAR WILL NOW CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL? MAYOR REYNA, CAN YOU HEAR ME? I CAN HEAR YOU NOW. YES.
ROLL CALL. MAYOR REYNA? I'M HERE. MAYOR PRO TEM PALLARES? HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA? PRESENT.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ? HERE.
[INAUDIBLE]. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
WE WILL NOW HAVE A FLAG SALUTE IF YOU'RE ABLE PLEASE STAND AND REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
SALUTE. PLEDGE I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. WE WILL NOW SERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
THANK YOU. WE MAY ALL BE SEATED.
PUBLIC COMMENTS, THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS RESERVED FOR PERSONS DESIRING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AND INCLUDING THE COUNCIL ACTING AS A GOVERNING BOARD FOR THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY ON ITEMS ONLY ON THIS AGENDA AND OVER WHICH THE COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY HAS JURISDICTION. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM.
PLEASE USE THE RAISED HAND BUTTON TO REQUEST TO SPEAK.
IF YOU'RE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD.
YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON BY THE MEMBER YOU'RE CALLING FROM WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
ONCE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED.
ANYONE WHO HAS NOT PROVIDED THE COMMENTS BY THE CLOSE OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING CAN EMAIL THEIR COMMENTS TO THE CITY CLERK AT CITY CLERK AT CITYODWASCO.ORG.
AND THEIR COMMENT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL RECORD.
AT THIS TIME, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MADAM CLERK? JUST ONE MOMENT, MAYOR.
WELL, MAYOR REYNA, THERE APPEARS TO BE NO COMMENTS.
DO WE HAVE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS? JUST ONE MORE.
MAYOR REYNA, THERE ARE NO EMAIL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
[5a. Conduct the interviews for the unexpired term in District 4 City Council vacancy. (Hurlbert)]
WE NOW DO ITEM FIVE SPECIAL MEETING ITEMS CONDUCT THE INTERVIEWS FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF DISTRICT FOR CITY COUNCIL VACANCY.HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
AS YOU KNOW, TONIGHT HAS BEEN SET ASIDE FOR THE INTERVIEWS OF APPLICANTS FOR THE VACANT SEAT VACATED BY MR. CORTEZ LAST MONTH.
THE CITY RECEIVED A TOTAL OF THREE APPLICATIONS FOR THIS SEAT AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED A COPY OF THE APPLICATION FOR EACH OF THE CANDIDATES.
EACH APPLICANT YOU WILL INTERVIEW TONIGHT AND THERE WILL BE THREE, AS I MENTIONED, HAS BEEN VETTED THROUGH THE CURRENT COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE AND THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS APPOINTMENT. THE SELECTION OF AN APPLICANT TO BE APPOINTED WILL BE AGENDIZED FOR THE FEBRUARY 1ST REGULAR MEETING, WHICH WILL OCCUR NEXT TUESDAY.
THE CITY CLERK, FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES APPROVED AT THE JANUARY 18TH MEETING, HAS ESTABLISHED THE INTERVIEW ORDER THROUGH A RANDOM PROCESS, AND THE APPLICANT INTERVIEW ORDER IS AS FOLLOWS FIRST, MR. LYNCH, THEN MR. SALDANA, AND FINALLY MR. WILLIAMS. APPLICANTS ARE CURRENTLY SEATED OUTSIDE THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND WILL BE CALLED
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IN ONE AT A TIME AND SEATED FOR THE INTERVIEW FOLLOWING EACH INTERVIEW, THAT CANDIDATE WILL LEAVE THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND THE NEXT WILL BE CALLED IN.THIS IS TO PRESERVE THE QUESTIONS AND SO WE DON'T HAVE AN APPEARANCE OF AN ADVANTAGE OF ONE APPLICANT OVER ANOTHER.
A STANDARD SET OF QUESTIONS HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND PROVIDED TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
EACH CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBER WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK AN ASSIGNED QUESTION OF THE APPLICANT IN IN ORDER PRIOR TO THE STANDARD QUESTIONS.
EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK A BRIEF QUESTION OR QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY TO CLARIFY AN ITEM ON THAT CANDIDATE'S APPLICATION FORM NOT REALLY INTENDED TO INTRODUCE A WHOLE NEW TOPIC OF DISCUSSION, BUT REALLY TO JUST CLARIFY A SECTION THAT COULD BE READ OR THAT IS MISSING OR MAYBE HAD A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS.
A TOTAL OF 20 MINUTES HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR BOTH THE CLARIFYING AND THE STANDARD QUESTIONS FOR EACH APPLICANT INTERVIEW.
AT THE END OF THE 20 MINUTES OR THE THE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED, THEN EACH APPLICANT WILL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL TWO MINUTES TO PROVIDE A CLOSING STATEMENT AND ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AT THAT TIME.
BEFORE THAT INTERVIEW, TIME IS COMPLETED.
SO FOLLOWING THESE INTERVIEWS, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONSIDER THE INFORMATION THAT THEY WERE PROVIDED IN THE APPLICATIONS AND ALSO WHAT IS DISCLOSED AND DISCUSSED DURING TONIGHT'S INTERVIEWS AND TO ENSURE THE TRANSPARENCY OF THIS APPOINTMENT PROCESS. OUTSIDE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN COUNCIL MEMBERS OR WITH THE APPLICANTS IS TO BE AVOIDED. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS TONIGHT? SCOTT, CAN I ADD SOMETHING? SURE. ON THAT LAST POINT, WHEN THIS MEETING IS OVER, THE COUNCIL MEMBER SHOULD NOT CONFER ON ON THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE CANDIDATES WITH ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER.
BUT IF ONE OF YOU GOES AND TALKS TO ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU'VE ALL OF A SUDDEN CREATED A SERIAL MEETING AND WE'RE IN VIOLATION OF THE BROWN ACT.
SO THE SAME THING THAT HANDLED THAT SCOTT ADVISED WITH REGARD TO THE APPLICATIONS ALSO GOES WITH AFTER THE INTERVIEWS.
THANK YOU, SCOTT. REMEMBER, MAYOR PRO PRESENT PALLARES, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. MEMBER GARCIA, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, NOT AT THE TIME.
MR. MARTINEZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
SO OK, THEN AT THIS TIME, I WILL ASK STAFF TO BRING IN MR. LYNCH AND WE WILL BEGIN HIS INTERVIEW.
HE WILL APPEAR IN THE SCREEN WITH THE CITY LOGO IN THE BACKGROUND.
AND THEN WE CAN PROCEED WITH IN THE SAME ORDER AS THE STANDARDIZED QUESTIONS, THEN I'VE ASK EACH OF YOU TAKE THAT TIME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPLICATION TO PRESENT THEM THEN.
GOOD EVENING, MR. LYNCH, AS YOU MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE THERE.
LOOKS LIKE SHE'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF IT FOR YOU.
OK, YEAH. AND JUST MIC PLEASE.
OK? OK. YOU SAID MR. LYNCH, I STARTED LOOKING FOR MY DAD.
OK. JUST TO QUICKLY PREPARE YOU FOR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK YOU A CLARIFYING QUESTION ABOUT THE INFORMATION INCLUDED ON YOUR APPLICATION, AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY EACH OF THEM, IN TURN, ASKING A STANDARDIZED QUESTION.
AND THEN AT THE END OF THAT TIME, YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A TWO MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT. OK.
ALL RIGHT. SO TAKE IT AWAY, MR. MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU, SCOTT.
GOOD EVENING, MR. LYNCH, AND I KNOW YOU WANT TO BE CALLED MICHAEL, SO I WILL CALL YOU
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MICHAEL. NO, MIKE, PLEASE.GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WE APPRECIATE. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND WILLING TO FILL A VACANT SEAT.
AND SO KUDOS TO YOU FOR DOING THAT.
THANK YOU. I WILL START WITH THE REST OF THE MEMBERS.
MEMBER PALLARES, DO YOU HAVE ANY CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASK AT LEAST ONE FOR MR. LYNCH? MIKE REGARDING HIS APPLICATION? UM, WELL, GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING, MIKE, AND ON YOUR APPLICATION NUMBER 15, WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE CITY? YOU MENTIONED ABOUT COMPLETING PROJECTS LIKE WAL-MART AREA TO BE COMPLETED.
COULD YOU EXPOUND ON THAT OF HOW IT WOULD BE COMPLETED? WELL, I WAS I WAS ON THE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY COMMISSION WHEN ALL OF THE STUFF WAS GOING ON ABOUT SELLING THE PROPERTY.
THERE WERE WAL-MART WAS GOING AND WE HAD THERE WAS TALK AFTER TALK AFTER TALK HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ABOUT.
WHAT WAS GOING TO GO IN THERE BESIDES WAL-MART AND THEY TALKED AND THERE WAS TALK OF A MOVIE THEATER RESTAURANTS, PANDA EXPRESS WAS ONE THAT WAS NAMED, AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S GONE IN THERE SO FAR.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THE CITY OF WASCO THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
ANY CITY THAT STARTS A PROJECT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUST SITS THERE AND NOTHING HAPPENS. IT MAKES PEOPLE WONDER, WHY DID WE SOMETIMES EVEN WHY DID WE EVEN BOTHER TO DO THIS? I LIKE WAL-MART BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE TO BAKERSFIELD TO GO TO IT, SO.
BUT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN MORE OF WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO GO IN THERE TO ACTUALLY GO THERE AND JUST INSTEAD OF BEING STALEMATED.
OH, WHAT EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS DO YOU BRING THAT WILL HELP US WITH THE CHALLENGES AND TO ACHIEVE THE VISION OF SUCCESS FOR THE COMMUNITY OF WASCO? WELL, I'VE SERVED CIVIL SERVICE ALMOST ALL OF MY LIFE.
I'VE SERVED AS A CONTRACT NEGOTIATOR FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF EL MONTE WHEN I WORK FOR THE CITY OF EL MONTE, AS WELL AS THE CITY OF HAWTHORNE, WHERE I SERVED AS A POLICEMAN AND ALSO WITH THE TULARE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHERE I'M CURRENTLY EMPLOYED, GETTING READY TO RETIRE FROM BECAUSE OF AN INJURY TO MY SHOULDERS AND ARMS. BUT I DID THAT FOR A QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS AND THEN I SERVED FOR FOUR YEARS WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY COMMISSION HERE IN WASCO.
I BELIEVE THAT I WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN I THINK WE HAD 13 PARTICULAR PROJECTS THAT CITY COUNCIL HAD SAID NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
AND I THINK DURING MY FOUR YEAR TERM WITH THAT, WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ABOUT NINE OF THOSE 13.
AND I LIKE TO SEE THINGS GO LIKE IN QUESTION 15, YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIKE TO SEE THINGS STARTED AND NOT COMPLETED.
I THINK WE HAVE A DUTY TO THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY TO TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THOSE THINGS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU, MIKE, FOR ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS.
MEMBER GARCIA, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AS IT PERTAINS TO MIKE'S APPLICATION? AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND FOLLOW A SIMILAR SUIT AS MAYOR PRO TEM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK OF MIKE FOR CLARIFICATION ON HIS ANSWER ON QUESTION 16.
HE BROUGHT UP TWO ISSUES THAT ARE CERTAINLY ONE OF THE TOP ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITY, AND AS OUR COMMUNITY GROWS, THEY WILL NO DOUBT CONTINUE TO BE THERE.
WHAT ARE SOME IDEAS OR WAYS THAT YOU WOULD PROPOSE TO, AS YOU SAY, NOT LET THEM GET OUT OF HAND OR FURTHER OUT OF HAND TO TACKLE THE DRUG AND GANG ACTIVITY IN WASCO? FOR ONE THING, WE I KNOW THAT IN THE PAST I'VE WORKED WITH COMMUNITY RELATIONS WITH THE
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POLICE DEPARTMENT. WHEN I WAS WORKING THERE, DO IT WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NOW.IS GETTING KIDS INVOLVED IN SOME KIND OF PROGRAM HELPS TO KEEP THAT KIND OF PROBLEM DOWN.
YOU KNOW, GANG ISSUES, DRUG ISSUES, THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE THERE.
BUT IF WE HAVE SOME KIND OF PROGRAM FOR THEM TO BE INVOLVED WITH, TO KEEP THEM BUSY, THAT I KNOW IT TAKES MONEY AND IT'S ONE WHERE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND TRY TO GET GRANTS FOR.
I KNOW THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS DONE THAT FOR THE [INAUDIBLE] PROGRAM AND TRYING TO GET THEM INVOLVED. THE PROBLEM WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW IS COVID, OBVIOUSLY, WHICH IS LIMITING EVERYTHING WE DO.
AND CAN WE STILL DO SOME THINGS? VERY LIMITED RIGHT NOW, AND AND COVID'S GOING TO BE WITH US FOR A WHILE, GUYS.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO OPEN UP AND THEN IT'S GOING TO CLOSE DOWN AGAIN.
IT'S GOING TO OPEN UP AND CLOSE AND WE'VE SEEN THAT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
I WORKED ON A PROGRAM WHEN I WAS WITH EL MONTE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR GETTING KIDS THAT WERE IN GANGS, WANTED TO GET OUT OF GANGS AND GET JOBS.
AND I WORKED ON A PROGRAM TO GET A LOT OF PEOPLE WON'T HIRE KIDS WITH TATTOOS.
SO I FOUND TWO DERMATOLOGISTS THAT WOULD REMOVE TATTOOS.
AND THEN WE WORKED ON GETTING THEM PLACED INTO JOBS SOMEPLACE.
AND VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM.
DIDN'T COST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ANYTHING.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO, I KNOW THAT I WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN PLACING ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT REALLY GOOD KIDS THAT HAD GONE STRAIGHT INTO GANGS BEFORE.
AND A COUPLE OF THEM PRETTY HEAVY INTO DRUGS AND THEY GOT OFF OF THEM.
THEY WANTED THEY HAD THE DESIRE TO TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING AND MAKE THEIR LIFE WORTH SOMETHING INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING THE PATH OF THE GANGS.
MEMBER GARCIA, BEFORE YOU ASK ANOTHER QUESTION, I WANT TO ASK SCOTT.
SCOTT, COULD WE HAVE A TIMER SO THAT WE ARE AWARE OF THE TIME.
WE ARE ALLOTTED ABOUT 20 MINUTES PER CANDIDATE, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REMAIN WITHIN THAT ALLOTTED TIME, STILL GIVING ALL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL THE ABILITY TO ASK QUESTIONS. SO CAN WE SET UP A TIMER AND WHERE ARE WE ON TIME AT THIS TIME? AND THAT'S WHAT WE DONE. YES.
I'LL DEFER TO THE CLERK AND SHE MAY HAVE A TIMER GOING AT THIS MINUTE.
THANK YOU, I THINK THAT'S PRUDENT, MAYOR, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING.
WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE THE STANDARDIZED QUESTIONS, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF SET A PRECEDENT.
MR. MAYOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA ASK HIS STANDARD QUESTION AND THEN WE'LL REPEAT THAT WITH WITH MR., MARTINEZ AND YOURSELF.
BUT WE ARE AWARE OF THE TIME? I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH TIME HAS BEEN USED OVER.
OK, I WILL BE TAKING CARE OF THAT HERE.
OK. LET'S, YOU GIVE US A WARNING BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
MAYBE A TWO MINUTE WARNING OR SO BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO ALLOW THE CANDIDATES FOR A TWO MINUTE STATEMENT.
I AGREE AND WE WON'T COUNT THIS CHATTER AGAINST YOUR TIME, MIKE.
THANK YOU. MEMBER GARCIA, PROCEED.
SURE. THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION.
SCOTT, SO GOING ON WITH THESE STANDARDIZED QUESTIONS PROVIDED, I WILL BE ASKING YOU, MIKE, THIS QUESTION. WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WASCO BUDGET PROCESS AND ITS CURRENT FINANCIAL HEALTH? I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE FINANCIAL HEALTH IS RIGHT NOW, EXCEPT FOR WHAT WE HEAR IS EVERYTHING IS GOING GOOD.
THE UP UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH AGO, ALL OF MY TUESDAY NIGHTS WERE TAKEN UP, SO I COULDN'T COME IN AND LISTEN TO COUNCIL MEETINGS.
WE WE SEEM TO BE DOING FAIRLY WELL.
I DIDN'T HEAR ANY RED FLAGS WHEN I WAS HERE THE NIGHT THAT THAT COUNCILMAN CORTEZ HAD RETIRED AND LISTEN TO THE, YOU KNOW, TO THAT, I BELIEVE IT WAS A BUDGET PLAN.
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I'M NOT REAL SURE. AND THEN I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT THAT I GOT CLARIFIED LATER ON. I KNOW THAT EVERY CITY HURTS FOR MONEY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS AND YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND SOLICIT FOR THAT MONEY IN THE WAY OF GRANTS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.AND RIGHT NOW, MONEY'S KIND OF TIGHT WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE COVID SITUATION, IT'S GOING OTHER PLACES.
SO THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY WAY I CAN ANSWER THAT ONE FOR YOU.
THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, MIKE, FOR ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS.
AND NOW I'LL MOVE ON TO MEMBER MARTINEZ.
AND MARTINEZ, YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MIKE AS PERTAINS TO THIS APPLICATION AND MAYBE EVEN THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS.
YES, MR. LYNCH, WHAT YEARS DID YOU SERVE ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD OR THE BOARD THAT YOU SERVED ON? SORRY, WHAT YEARS? I DIDN'T QUITE HEAR YOU. YES.
WHAT YEARS? WELL, IT WAS DURING THE TIME THAT COUNCILMAN PIERSON WAS ON BOARD WITH COUNCIL. AND A LITTLE BIT AFTER THAT, I THE YEARS I'M TALKING, PROBABLY ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, SEVEN EIGHT YEARS AGO.
OK? WAS THERE A PARTICULAR REASON? DID YOU SEEK REAPPOINTMENT? YES, I DID. AND I WAS.
IN FACT, I WAS A LITTLE BIT MIFFED WITH THAT BECAUSE I WAS INTERVIEWED AND THE INTERVIEW PROCESS WAS DONE BY ONE COUNCILMAN AND THAT ONE COUNCILMAN AND I DON'T WANT TO BADMOUTH THEM AT ALL. BUT HE DIDN'T BOTHER TO COME BACK AND TELL THE REST OF THE COUNCIL THAT I HAD SOUGHT REELECTION.
OK. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT FOR ME.
BUT I DID SEEK ANOTHER FOUR YEAR APPOINTMENT.
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE MAKES WASCO DIFFERENT THAN OUR SURROUNDING CITIES AND OTHER SMALL TOWNS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY? I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN THAN THE REST OF THE CITIES AROUND US. WE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE BRINGING IN HOUSING AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET MORE INDUSTRY.
AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THE ONE THING THAT I SEE COMING THROUGH TOWN, WHICH IS I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GUYS SEE IT, BUT THAT BIG ICE OR THAT, IT'S JUST SOUTH OF US, YOU KNOW, THE THAT BIG BRIDGE COMING OVER THE TOP OF THE TRACKS DOWN THERE? I JUST WISH THAT IT WOULD BE FINISHED.
AND BUT I THINK THE CITY IS MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN OTHERS AROUND US.
I, YOU KNOW, I WORKED FOR TULARE COUNTY AND ALL THE CITIES AROUND THERE, THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH ARE PRETTY MUCH PROGRESSIVE.
AND I'D SEE IT KIND OF GOING THE SAME WAY.
I HOPE I ANSWERED THAT THE BEST.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, MR. MARTINEZ. THANK YOU, MIKE, FOR ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS.
THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD HAVE BEEN ANSWERED AS IT PERTAINS TO YOUR APPLICATION, SO I WILL ASK YOU THE FOLLOWING QUESTION.
PLEASE SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THE LAST YEAR TO VOLUNTEER OR BE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY OF THE CITY OF WASCO.
TO BE INVOLVED IN THE CITY OF WASCO, I HAVEN'T REALLY HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO DO SO EXCEPT FOR FUNERALS OUT AT OUR CEMETERY.
I AM STILL A ARMY RESERVE CHAPLAIN AND I SO I DO A LOT OF FUNERALS STUFF IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
THE LAST YEAR, LIKE YOU ASKED? PROBABLY NOT.
I CAN'T REALLY ANSWER MUCH TO THAT.
BUT IN THE PAST I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE SOUTH GATE AREA GOING DOWN AND DOING, YOU KNOW, THE THE ALLEY CLEANUPS.
AND I PROBABLY DID FOUR OR FIVE OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, AND.
I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I WOULD I WOULD LIKE TO BE A WHOLE LOT MORE INVOLVED, BUT MY JOB IN THE PAST IS NOT ALLOWED ME TO.
BUT NOW I'M TO THAT POINT TO WHERE I CAN.
THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS NOW YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO PROVIDE A CLOSING STATEMENT.
OKAY. WELL, GENTLEMEN, I HOPE THAT IF I'M CONSIDERED FOR THE POSITION OF
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COUNCIL, I WILL DO MY VERY, VERY BEST TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THE WARD, BUT I THINK EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE REPRESENTING ONE WARD EACH COUNCILMAN ANSWERS TO THE VOTERS OF THE CITY, AND I THINK THAT WE ALL NEED TO BE INVOLVED AND ALL HAVE TO BE ON THE SAME PLATE WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING DECISIONS, IF WE CAN POSSIBLY DO THAT.SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T, BECAUSE OF DIFFERENCES IN OPINIONS.
BUT. I HAVE I THOUGHT I WAS WITH WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY COMMISSION, I WAS VERY, VERY AGGRESSIVE IN TRYING TO KEEP THE GOOD OLD BOY SYSTEM AWAY.
AND I DON'T SEE THAT WITH OUR CURRENT COUNCIL.
I WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN TRYING TO GO AFTER SOME ISSUES THAT OF MONETARY ISSUES THAT I CLEARED UP AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A BUNCH OF FRAUD GOING ON.
AND WE ELIMINATED THAT, AND THAT WAS PART OF THOSE, THOSE 13 PROJECTS THAT WE WORKED ON.
I'M A PERSON THAT WHEN I'M GIVEN A TASK TO DO, I FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. AND I THINK THAT'S PROVEN IN MY WORK AS A FIREMAN.
AND PRIOR TO THAT, I WORKED AS A POLICEMAN AND WITH THE MILITARY.
I AM, AS A CHAPLAIN, I DON'T COMMAND ANYBODY, BUT I DO SUPERVISE PEOPLE.
I'M IN TOUCH WITH PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.
I BELIEVE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE BE WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY, YOU KNOW, GET OUT AND KNOCK ON DOORS OR GO TO COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT WHERE YOU CAN SEE WHAT OR HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
AND IF IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN, WE CAN INITIATE OR FIX OR REDIRECT.
BUT JUST TO CLOSE, I WOULD SAY, I HOPE THAT I WOULD BE THE BEST THAT I COULD BE FOR THIS COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, MIKE. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
AS I SAID BEFORE, THE COUNCIL APPRECIATES IT AND THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
MR. HURLBERT, DO WE HAVE A, WE HAVE TWO MORE CANDIDATES THAT WE WILL INTERVIEW; RIGHT? YES. SO IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK THE STAFF TO ASSIST MIKE OUT OF THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND THEN WE'LL BRING THE NEXT CANDIDATE IN.
JUST TO CLARIFY, MIKE UNDERSTANDS THAT THE DECISION IS NOT BEING MADE TODAY THAT IT WOULD BE MADE AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ON TUESDAY.
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU, BE BLESSED.
HAVE A GOOD EVENING. YOU, TOO.
YOU TOO. MADAME CLERK, MAY I ASK THAT ONCE THE CANDIDATE STARTS THEIR STATEMENT, CAN WE HAVE A TWO MINUTE CLOCK AT THAT POINT? WOULD THAT BE POSSIBLE? YES, THAT'S POSSIBLE.
IF I COULD, MR. MAYOR, I GUESS WE CAN PUT THE CLOCK UP AND THEN MINIMIZE IT.
OR UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THE CLOCK IS SHARED, IT BLANKS OUT.
THE CANDIDATE'S FACE BECOMES A TINY LITTLE WINDOW FOR THE VIEWERS.
SO WE'LL START THE CLOCK AND THEN MINIMIZE IT.
AND THEN WHEN THE TWO MINUTES IS REACHED, MAYBE PUT IT BACK OR.
INTERJECT. YEAH, THAT WOULD WORK, JUST SO THAT WE GIVE EVERYONE EQUAL TIME.
AND I LIKE THE WAY IT FLOWED, HAVING COUNCIL MEMBER DO BOTH THE FINE AND THE STANDARD QUESTION BACK TO BACK, THAT'S FINE.
I'LL ASK THE REST OF THE MEMBERS.
MEMBER PALLARES, DID THAT WORK FOR YOU? YES, THAT SEEMED TO WORK.
SO WE DON'T BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH.
HE'S GIVEN US THE THUMBS UP HERE.
I DON'T SEE HIM. AND MEMBER MARTINEZ, I DON'T SEE HIM EITHER.
THANK YOU. SO WE WILL CONTINUE THIS WAY.
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OK, SO, MADAM CLERK, OH, THERE IS MR. SALDANA.MONICA, CAN YOU PLEASE CHANGE THE NAME? I WILL THANK YOU.
OK. LET ME GET A LITTLE BIT OF WATER.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. WELCOME MR. SALDANA. AS WE DISCUSSED PRIOR, THE MAYOR WILL TAKE OVER WELCOMING YOU AND THEN EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK YOU A CLARIFYING QUESTION ABOUT YOUR APPLICATION, FOLLOWED BY A STANDARD QUESTION WITH ANY MINOR BACK AND FORTH.
THERE'S 20 MINUTES TOTAL ALLOCATED FOR THESE QUESTIONS, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AT THE END FOR A TWO MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT.
SO UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MAYOR REYNA.
GOOD EVENING, MR. SALDANA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO BE INTERVIEWED AND THE COUNCIL DOES AS WELL.
AND SO, BEFORE I GET STARTED, I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE DEFINITE OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN WASCO, BUT FEW, VERY FEW ARE WILLING TO SERVE. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
OK. WE WILL GET STARTED WITH THE MEMBER'S QUESTIONS REGARDING THE APPLICATION.
MAYOR PRO TEM PALLARES, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. SALDANA? YES, THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING, MR. SALDANA. I HAD A QUESTION ON THE APPLICATION NUMBER 12.
IT WAS DESCRIBED YOUR QUALIFICATIONS, WHICH WILL ASSIST THE CITY COUNCIL IN EVALUATING YOUR APPLICATION.
COULD YOU GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARIFICATION ON THE QUESTION, PLEASE? YES, DEFINITELY.
I APOLOGIZE, FIRST OF ALL, ON MY APPLICATION, I WAS RIGHT BEFORE WAS IN A HURRY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING OUT OF TOWN.
BUT MY QUALIFICATIONS THAT I FEEL I HAVE MY HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY AND MY QUALIFICATION WOULD BE I AM DEDICATED.
I JUST AM KIND OF ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY. I FEEL THAT I HAVE THAT BIT OF QUALIFICATION.
THAT WOULD BE IT. OK, THANK YOU.
WHAT EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS DO YOU BRING THAT WILL HELP US WITH THE CHALLENGES AND TO ACHIEVE THE VISION OF SUCCESS FOR THE COMMUNITY OF WASCO? YES, I WOULD. THE SAME, I WOULD SAY THE FACT THAT I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR 28 YEARS, I'VE, YOU KNOW, HELD A RESPECTFUL PERSONA HERE IN WASCO.
AND I FEEL THAT WITH MY ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE MORE WITH THE COMMUNITY, I FEEL THAT WE COULD GET MORE RESULTS WITH MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED FROM THE FROM THE COMMUNITY.
I JUST FEEL THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US, YOU KNOW? STARTED KIND OF CREATING NEW WAVES, YOU KNOW, THROUGH ALL THIS, THAT WE'RE ALL LIVING THROUGH, YOU KNOW, JUST TO STAND OUT AS WASCO, YOU KNOW THAT AS A GOOD COMMUNITY.
OK, WELL, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, I APPRECIATE THAT.
GIVE ME JUST A SEC. ALL RIGHT, MEMBER GARCIA.
WELL, YEAH. DID YOU CALL ON ME, MAYOR? IS THAT RIGHT? YES, I DID.
THANKS FOR HANGING IN THERE WITH US.
I APPRECIATE IT. MR. SALDANA, I DID NOTICE YOUR RESPONSE TO NUMBER 16.
WHAT DO YOU PERCEIVE TO BE THE PRIMARY ISSUES FACING THE COMMUNITY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS? YOU BROUGHT UP BRINGING UP SOLUTIONS, TO SOLUTIONS, UTILIZING SOCIAL MEDIA AND [INAUDIBLE]
[00:35:05]
IT UP HERE, AS WELL AS GETTING OTHERS INVOLVED.WHAT ARE SOME TOP LINE IDEAS FOR YOU TO GETTING MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ENGAGED IN? YEAH. ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT? IS THAT WHAT YOU ASKED? YES, SIR.
PRETTY MUCH WHAT I WAS AIMING FOR ON THAT RESPONSE WAS.
YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS MORE INVOLVEMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE MORE AWARE OF WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON WITH THE CITY GOVERNMENT SO THEY COULD GET MORE.
SO IF WE COULD ENGAGE MORE WITH THE COMMUNITY SO WE COULD KIND OF GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED SO THEY COULD KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT AND GET DIFFERENT PEOPLE'S IDEAS OR POINTS OF VIEWS AND TRY TO COME INTO A WHOLE AS A COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, AS WASCO, I FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FOR US TO REALLY, REALLY START LITERALLY GOING, YOU KNOW, ENGAGING MORE, LIKE I SAID WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
SOME, A LOT OF PEOPLE, CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE, YOU KNOW.
MR. SALDANA, IF I COULD, I DIDN'T MEAN TO STUMP YOU AND JUST OUT OF THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'M GOING TO GO AND BE MORE SPECIFIC.
YOU MENTIONED SOCIAL MEDIA AS ONE WAY TO OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER IDEAS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE OR YOU MIGHT TAKE AN ACTION TO SEEK THAT INPUT THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
I'M SORRY? TO SEEK THE INPUT AND PARTICIPATION OF THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SPEAK OF.
YOU MENTIONED SOCIAL MEDIA AS ONE.
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER IDEAS OR AVENUES THAT YOU MIGHT ATTEMPT OR? I MEAN, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW? ON SOME OF THESE THINGS, I PROBABLY WON'T HAVE THE RIGHT ANSWER FOR YOU GUYS AT THIS MOMENT, YOU KNOW, I DO KNOW THAT.
THAT'S OK. IF ELECTED, [INAUDIBLE].
I WILL GO AHEAD AND GET YOU RIGHT TO THE NEXT QUESTION.
WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WASCO BUDGET PROCESS AND ITS CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS? I WOULDN'T LIKE I SAID I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE I MEAN, FOR WHAT WE'VE HEARD OR HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, BROUGHT UP, I MEAN, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T KNOW MUCH.
EXCELLENT. OK, WELL, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION AGAIN.
MR. MAYOR, GO AHEAD BACK TO YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. GARCIA, THANK YOU, MR. SALDANA, FOR ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS.
MEMBER MARTINEZ? MR. SALDANA, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE MAKES WASCO DIFFERENT THAN OUR SURROUNDING CITIES AND OTHER SMALL TOWNS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY? I FEEL THAT WE HAVE.
HUGE. OUR I MEAN, THIS IS WE HAVE A LOT OF.
I MEAN, I WOULD I DON'T KNOW, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS, I'M KIND OF GETTING STUCK. I GET NERVOUS.
I MEAN, JUST THE FACT WHERE WE'RE LOCATED, I MEAN, IT'S JUST I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF.
WE, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF HARD, I DON'T KNOW.
I CAN'T ANSWER THAT. I'M SORRY.
OK, THANK YOU, EDDIE MR. MAYOR, NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, AND I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, EITHER.
WAIT, WAIT, DON'T LET ME SAY THAT.
YOU DO HAVE NOW TWO MINUTES TO MAKE A STATEMENT, SO THE TIME STARTS NOW.
SO FRANK. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S ALL THIS HAS BEEN.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET TO THE CITY COUNCIL MYSELF FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
YOU KNOW, TITO CORTEZ WAS THE ONE THAT INTRODUCED ME TO THIS AND AT TIMES I MIGHT NOT HAVE THE RIGHT ANSWERS.
ALL I KNOW IS THAT I HAVE THE HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND WITH A LITTLE HELP, YOU KNOW, MENTORING OR TRAINING OR WHATNOT.
I FEEL I COULD DO AREAL GOOD JOB, YOU KNOW, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND I JUST WOULDN'T MIND, YOU KNOW, TO SEE AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE FUTURE.
EVERYTHING LINES UP, AND I'LL BE ABLE TO SHOW WHAT I'M YOU KNOW WHAT MY CAPABILITIES ARE.
I FEEL THAT I COULD ENGAGE A LOT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND HOPEFULLY GET MORE IDEAS GOING TOGETHER. SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SALDANA, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
[00:40:02]
THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.MR. HURLBURT. WILL SOMEONE BE BRINGING THE NEXT CANDIDATE AT THIS TIME.
YES, MR. MAYOR. MR. SALDANA, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALSO FOR COMING IN TONIGHT AND DON'T FEEL BAD.
NONE OF THESE QUESTIONS WERE DESIGNED TO STUMP YOU.
IT'S JUST TO GIVE EVERYBODY AN IDEA WHERE WE STAND, SO.
THAT'S OK. THANKS FOR BEING A GOOD SPORT.
THE CLERK WILL COME IN AND HELP YOU OUT, AND THEN WE'LL SEE OUR NEXT CANDIDATE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU, GUYS. YOU GUYS HAVE GOOD EVENING.
I WILL HAVE A CLARIFICATION TO MAKE ON THE APPLICATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS INTERVIEW. MR. MAYOR. YES, I FEEL FREE TO DO.
WELL, THAT APPEARS THAT MR. MARTINEZ IS NOW AT HIS RESIDENCE.
IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, BUT YES, I'M ACTUALLY AT MY MOTHER IN LAW'S HOUSE, BUT THIS WORKS FOR FOR FINISHING THIS INTERVIEW.
I FEEL LIKE. DO I NEED TO TAKE MY HAT OFF OR DO I LEAVE IT ON ? THAT'S UP TO YOU. VINCENT IS WEARING HIS CAP, SO YOU'RE OK.
WELL, MR. WILLIAMS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME. WE APPRECIATE YOU WILLING TO STEP FORWARD AND PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE TO FILL THIS SEAT THAT IS VACANT ON THE COUNCIL.
WE ARE GOING TO GET STARTED WITH THE MEMBERS QUESTIONS AND THEN THERE'S SOME STANDARD QUESTIONS THAT YOU WILL BE ASKED TO BE.
AND IF I COULD? GO AHEAD. INTERJECT, MR. MAYOR, I WANTED TO POINT OUT AND THANK YOU, MYRON, FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AGAIN.
I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY THE ITEM THAT THE CLERK TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON ON YOUR APPLICATION FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON MR. WILLIAMS' APPLICATION QUESTION NUMBER EIGHT WAS ANSWERED IN ERROR AND NINE WAS NOT COMPLETED. BOTH OF THOSE ANSWERS SHOULD BE NO.
CLARIFY THAT UP FRONT IN CASE ANYBODY WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THAT.
SO AT THIS POINT, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK YOU A CLARIFYING QUESTION IF THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ON YOUR APPLICATION AND THEN A STANDARDIZED QUESTION EACH, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES AT THE END TO MAKE A CLOSING STATEMENT.
SO, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO MAYOR REYNA. NO, SIR, I DO NOT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. HURLBERT, I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND FOR MAKING THOSE CLARIFICATIONS REGARDING THE ANSWERS ON SOME OF THE QUESTIONS, AT LEAST EIGHT AND NINE, ON THE APPLICATION.
ALL RIGHT. MAYOR PRO TEM PALLARES, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WILLIAMS REGARDING HIS APPLICATION? WELL, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YES, THERE WERE, EIGHT AND NINE, BUT MOVING RIGHT ALONG.
MR. WILLIAMS, COULD YOU GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARIFICATION ON YOUR QUALIFICATIONS ON WHAT THE QUESTION WAS, DESCRIBE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS, WHICH WILL ASSIST THE CITY COUNCIL IN EVALUATING YOUR APPLICATION? COULD YOU EXPOUND ON THAT A LITTLE BIT FOR ME? YES. MY QUALIFICATIONS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I STATED THAT I'M A PEOPLE PERSON, OUTGOING.
I GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, I HELP MY CHURCH, I HELP WITH THE WRESTLING TEAMS, I HELP WITH THE FOOTBALL TEAMS AS WELL AS I'M ALSO ACTIVE IN CALLAWAY 4-H, AS WELL AS I'M GOING
[00:45:03]
TO BE A POULTRY LEADER.SO THERE'S JUST DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE THAT I BELIEVE THAT I CAN BRING AND HELP THE COUNCIL.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME ACTUALLY RUNNING TO BE IN A COUNCIL SEAT, SO THIS IS ALL NEW TO ME.
WHAT EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS DO YOU BRING THAT WILL HELP US WITH THE CHALLENGES? AND TO ACHIEVE THE VISION OF SUCCESS FOR THE COMMUNITY OF WASCO.
WHAT I BRING TO THE TABLE IS, COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION, WHICH TO ME IS VERY APPARENT BECAUSE I FEEL THAT WE NEED A PEOPLE PERSON TO GET OUT THERE AND TO SPEAK TO EVERYONE AS WELL AS JOB, YOU KNOW, SEARCH AS WELL FUNDRAISERS.
IT AND JUST BEING A PEOPLE PERSON, LIKE I SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT MY GOAL IS.
OK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, MEMBER PALLARES, AND THANK YOU, MR. WILLIAMS, FOR ANSWERING MR. PALLARES' QUESTIONS.
AND NOW WE WILL GO ON TO MEMBER GARCIA.
I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY STAY AWAY FROM THAT ONE, AND IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, AND IT GOES TO HEAD MY STRAIGHT OUT TO MY STANDARD QUESTION HERE, MR. MYRON. MY QUESTION FOR YOU THIS EVENING IS WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WASCO BUDGET PROCESS AND ITS CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS? HMM. MY CURRENT UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE IS A SET BUDGET FOR WASCO AND FOR WASCO TO MOVE FORWARD IN ANY PROCESSES WHERE AS JOBS, HOUSING ANYTHING ELSE, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BRING MONEY AND REVENUE IN IN ORDER TO PROCEED FURTHER.
THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWER, YOUR RESPONSE.
MAYOR, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SEE ME.
AND THANK YOU, MEMBER GARCIA, AND THANKS AGAIN, MR. WILLIAMS, FOR ANSWERING MR. GARCIA'S QUESTIONS.
AND NOW WE GO ON TO MEMBER MARTINEZ.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MR. WILLIAMS, YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR APPLICATION A MAJOR CITY EXPANSION.
CAN YOU ELABORATE ON WHAT THAT VISION IS AND WHAT YOU EXPECT THAT TO BE? FOR ME, SO A MAJOR CITY EXPANSION IS BECOMING ALL OF OUR BOUNDARIES TO EXPAND AND TO BRING PEOPLE IN, LIKE AG TECH PROGRAMS, SCIENCE TECH PROGRAMS, JOB FAIRS, CREATING DIFFERENT HOUSING SITUATIONS FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY WANT TO MOVE TO WASCO, MAKING THIS CITY A LOT BETTER AND CREATING AN OPEN ENVIRONMENT.
SO THAT WAY, PEOPLE WOULD COME HERE AND WANT TO BRING THEIR BUSINESS HERE AND AS WELL AS LIVE HERE AND POSSIBLY IN THE FUTURE, HAVE A SECOND HIGH SCHOOL.
THANK YOU. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE MAKES WASCO DIFFERENT THAN OTHER SURROUNDING CITIES AND OTHER SMALL TOWNS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY? I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE DIFFERENT IS BECAUSE EVERYBODY IN WASCO HERE IS LIKE A REALLY CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITY AND WE ALL CARE FOR EACH OTHER.
AND REALLY, HONESTLY TOO, IS THAT WASCO IS HUGE ON AGRICULTURE, WHICH I'VE BEEN IN AGRICULTURE MY WHOLE LIFE.
SO THAT'S REALLY CLOSE TO MY HEART AS WELL.
AND ALSO THE SCHOOLING PROGRAM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER IS IN THE SCHOOL PROGRAM HERE, AND I BELIEVE IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM HERE IN WASCO AND WITH THE WONDERFUL AND HOW THEY REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THEY GO OUT AND THEY TRY AND HELP DIFFERENT STUDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS, MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MARTINEZ. MR. WILLIAMS, ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MR. MARTINEZ'S QUESTIONS, AND I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
PLEASE SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THE LAST YEAR TO VOLUNTEER OR BE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY OF THE CITY OF WASCO.
OH, MAN, I'VE, WE ALL KNOW I LIVE ON 14TH STREET.
WE HAVE FUNDRAISERS THERE, CLEAN THE COMMUNITY, CLEAN UP 15TH STREET HORSE PROJECTS, POULTRY PROJECTS.
I DONATE CONSTANTLY TO, LIKE I SAID, SCHOOL TEAMS. ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SCHOOL.
THAT'S WHAT I DO. OK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ANSWERING THAT QUESTION.
AND NOW YOU GET TWO MINUTES TO MAKE A STATEMENT.
OK, YES. I JUST, YOU KNOW, THIS IS LIKE I SAID, MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS AND OBVIOUSLY YOU GUYS CAN TELL I'M NERVOUS.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE AND I HOPE
[00:50:04]
THAT I CAN MOVE FORWARD AND LEARN MORE AND CONTRIBUTE TO YOU GUYS' TEAM.AND IT'D BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AND I HOPE THAT I CAN ACTUALLY BRING A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO THE CITY AS WELL AS JUST RESPECT THAT I HAVE ONLY FOR YOU GUYS, BUT FOR THE CITY AS WELL AND JUST PERSON WITH AN OPEN HEART.
THANK YOU, MR. WILLIAMS. ONCE AGAIN, WE DO APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TAKING THE TIME TO VIE FOR THIS SEAT.
YOU DO UNDERSTAND THE DISTINCTION WILL NOT BE MADE TONIGHT.
IT WILL BE MADE AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH WILL BE ON TUESDAY.
YES, SIR. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I APPRECIATE IT.
YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT, AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE NERVES. YOU DID FINE.
YES, SIR. UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, THE CLERK WILL COME IN AND SHOW YOU OUT. NO, I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
DEPUTY CLERK, COULD YOU LET US KNOW AND CONFIRM WHEN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ARE EMPTY SO WE CAN PROCEED FORWARD WITH THE REGULAR CLOSING OF THE MEETING? I WILL DO THAT.
THE CHAMBERS ARE EMPTY. OK, THANK YOU.
UNLESS THERE ARE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, I WANTED TO CLOSE THIS ITEM OUT AND REITERATE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S CAUTION ABOUT DISCUSSION AMONG YOURSELVES OR WITH THE CANDIDATES.
JUST WANT TO KEEP THIS THIS PROCESS AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT'S THE SAFEST WAY TO DO THAT. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, TECHNICAL QUESTIONS OR ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT'S COMING UP, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME OR THE CITY CLERK AND WE'LL TRY TO GET THOSE CLEARED UP FOR YOU. THE AGENDA FOR TUESDAY NIGHT'S MEETING WE'LL POST TOMORROW SOMETIME AND HOPEFULLY THAT'LL CLEAR UP ANY QUESTIONS.
MAYOR REYNA? YES, MADAM CLERK? WE DO HAVE A QUESTION FROM THE PUBLIC.
UM, YEAH, I'M CERTAIN WE COULD, SCOTT, THAT WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE? TAKING A QUESTION AT THIS TIME; RIGHT? AT A SPECIAL MEETING, THE ONLY PUBLIC COMMENTS COULD CAN BE ON THE AGENDA ITEM.
MADAM CLERK, IS IT REGARDING THIS AGENDA? ACTUALLY, THEY PUT THEIR HAND DOWN ALREADY, SO I'M SURE THEY.
MR. MAYOR, MAY I ASK YOU A QUESTION REAL QUICK? YES, OF COURSE. SCOTT OR TOM.
CONSTITUENT'S REACHING OUT TO US WITH THEIR INPUT REGARDING THE CANDIDATES, ARE WE ALLOWED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM REGARDING THAT? OR SHOULD WE JUST NOT HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS? IF YOU'RE AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO TALK TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
JUST BE MINDFUL THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO PREJUDGE WHAT YOU DID TONIGHT.
YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR DECISION IN AN OPEN MEETING ON TUESDAY.
BUT CERTAINLY, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AS A AS A POLITICAL PERSON AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY TO TALK TO THOSE CONSTITUENTS.
THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF SCOTT MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT OR MORE YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT.
NO, I THINK THE LEGAL ADVICE IS IS SOUND.
I THINK THERE'S A PRACTICAL ADVICE TO IS TO NOT HAVE THE APPEARANCE OF BEING LOBBIED.
SO, YOU KNOW, JUST BE CAUTIOUS OF THAT.
MR. HURLBERT, I AM READY TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
ARE WE DONE AT THIS POINT? I BELIEVE WE ARE UNLESS THERE'S A REMAINING.
[00:55:03]
ANOTHER QUESTION. PUBLIC.OKAY, SO DO ANY OF THE OTHER MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS THEN? MAYOR PRO TEM? NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MEMBER GARCIA? NONE AT THIS TIME, MAYOR, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AND I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
GOOD NIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.