[00:00:16] IT MAY BE REQUIRED IN E361. MADAM CLERK. IS THERE AN ISSUE WITH THEM? NO, WE'RE GOOD. OKAY. GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE [LAUGHTER]. QUESTION 54953E, MR. HURLBERT? [1) CALL TO ORDER] YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. [5) Approval to continue to hold all City Council meetings until further notice by teleconference pursuant to Assembly Bill 361 and Government Code Section 54953(e), and finding that there is a proclaimed state of emergency in the state and city and that state and local officials have recommended measures to promote social distancing, all as required in AB 361 and Section 54953(e). (Hurlbert)] THIS ITEM IS OUR MONTHLY AFFIRMATION OF AB 361 AND IT'S REQUIRED THAT THE COUNCIL FINDS THERE ARE STILL CIRCUMSTANCES DICTATING ITS USE AND WE JUST NEED ACKNOWLEDGMENT FROM THE COUNCIL IF THAT IS THE CASE. THANK YOU, MR. HURLBERT. MADAM CLERK, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? GIVE ME ONE MINUTE. NO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME. DO WE HAVE AN EMAIL COMMENTS, MADAM CLERK? GIVE ME ONE MINUTE. NO EMAIL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME MAYOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS, MAYOR POTEM PALLARES? NO COMMENT. THANK YOU. MEMBER GARCIA, INCEPTION MEMBER LYNCH. NO COMMENTS SIR. MEMBER MARTINEZ? NO COMMENTS. MR. MAYOR. I HAVE NO COMMENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. SO MOVED, MR. MAYOR. SECONDED BY MAYOR MARTINEZ. THANK YOU BOTH. MOVED AND SECOND, MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL THE VOTE BY ROLL-CALL? MAYOR REYNA? AYE. MAYOR POTEM PALLARES? AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH? AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ? AYE. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ TO APPROVE ITEM 5. MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA ABSENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM 7. [7) PUBLIC COMMENTS] THERE IS NOTHING UNDER ITEMS 6, WHICH IS PRESENTATIONS. PUBLIC COMMENTS. THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS RESERVED FOR PERSONS DESIRING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AND INCLUDING THE COUNCIL ACTING AS THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY ON ANY MATTER NOT ON THIS AGENDA AND OVER WHICH THE COUNCIL AND THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY SAYS JURISDICTION. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE 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 NUMBER 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 EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED. ANYONE WHO HAS NOT PROVIDED THEIR COMMENTS BY THE CLOSE OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING CAN EMAIL THEIR COMMENTS TO THE CITY CLERK @CITYCLERK@ CITYOFWASCO.ORG AND THEIR COMMENTS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL RECORD. THE CITY COUNCIL IS VERY INTERESTED ON YOUR COMMENTS. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE BROWN ACT REQUIREMENTS, NO ACTION MAY BE TAKEN AT THIS MEETING. SHOULD YOUR COMMENTS REQUIRE FURTHER CONSIDERATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OR THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY, THE ITEM WILL BE AGENDIZED FOR A REPULSIVE REPORT AND DISCUSSED AT A FUTURE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. AT THIS TIME, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MADAM CLERK? WE DO NOT HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS MAYOR. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS? WE HAVE NO EMAIL COMMENTS MAYOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM 10, [10) CONSENT CALENDAR] WHICH IS THE CONSENT CALENDAR. THERE IS NOTHING UNDER ITEM 8, WHICH IS SUCCESSOR AGENCY BUSINESS, OR ITEM 9, WHICH IS WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BUSINESS. THE CONSENT CALENDAR CONSISTS OF ITEMS THAT IN STAFF'S OPINION ARE 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. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE A PARTICULAR ITEM USING ZOOM, [00:05:02] PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND BUTTON. IF YOU'RE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL 9 ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD. YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON BY THE NUMBER YOU'RE CALLING FROM WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK. TONIGHT, WE HAVE ITEMS 10A THROUGH 10F. ITEM A, APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR JANUARY 27, 2022, FEBRUARY 15, 2022, FEBRUARY 17TH, 2022, AND MARCH 1, 2022, REGULAR MEETING. I SHOULD NOTE THAT THE ITEM 1 IS FOR A SPECIAL MEETING. THAT'S JANUARY 27. FEBRUARY 15TH IS FOR A REGULAR MEETING. FEBRUARY 17TH FOR A SPECIAL MEETING AND MARCH 1ST IS A REGULAR MEETING. ITEM B, RECEIVE AND FINAL DEPARTMENT BILL PAY TOTALING $140,374.25 [NOISE]. ITEM C, ADOPTED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN AND EXECUTE [NOISE] AGREEMENT WITH SONSRAY MACHINERY AG IN THE AMOUNT OF $17,758.63 TO PURCHASE A DUMP TRAILER FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS WATER DEPARTMENT. ITEM D, RECEIVE AND FILE THE INVESTMENT REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED FEBRUARY 28TH, 2022. ITEM E RECEIVE AND FILE THE INVESTMENT REPORT FOR THE MONTH END OF JANUARY 31ST, 2022. ITEM F, F ADOPTED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE CERTIFICATIONS AND ASSURANCES AND AUTHORIZED AGENT FORMS FOR THE LOCAL CARBON TRANSIT OPERATION PROGRAM LCTOP FOR THE FOLLOWING PROJECT, ZERO-EMISSION BUS PURCHASE PROJECT, FOR A TOTAL OF $65,925. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ALL MEMBERS IF THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON A PARTICULAR ITEM ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MAYOR POTEM PALLARES? NO CONFLICT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS A MEMBER GARCIA IS STILL NOT JOIN US. IS HE NOT JOIN US YET? HE HASN'T, MAYOR. MEMBER LYNCH? NO CONFLICTS SIR. MEMBER MARTINEZ? NO CONFLICTS, MR. MAYOR. I DO NOT HAVE A CONFLICT. ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT OR WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE A PARTICULAR ITEM FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS? [NOISE] WE DO NOT HAVE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS, MAYOR. OR ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? NO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ANY MEMBER THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE A PARTICULAR ITEM FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR? MAYOR POTEM PALLARES? NO ITEMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MEMBER LYNCH? [NOISE] NO ITEM, SIR. THANK YOU. MEMBER MARTINEZ? NO ITEMS, MR. MAYOR. I DON'T HAVE ANY ITEMS TO REMOVE. I WOULD NOW LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. MR. MAYOR, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR. THANK YOU, MEMBER LYNCH, IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL. MAYOR, RYENA? AYE. >> MAYOR PRO TEM PALLARES. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ. >> AYE. >> MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH, SECOND BY MAYOR REYNA TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOR AYES WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA ABSENT. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM 13. [13)a. Discussion and Possible Minute Action regarding Strategic Planning for Illegal Firework. (Hurlbert)] THERE IS NOTHING UNDER ITEM 12 OR ITEM 11. NEW BUSINESS, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE MINUTE ACTION REGARDING STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR ILLEGAL FIREWORKS. MR. HURLBERT. >> YES, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. AT A PREVIOUS MEETING, THE TOPIC OF ILLEGAL FIREWORKS WAS DISCUSSED IN SOME DEPTH AND THERE WAS A REQUEST TO FORM A COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL TO MEET WITH THE FIRE CHIEF AND PERHAPS A SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES AND MYSELF TO DISCUSS THIS IN SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DETAIL. AN AD HOC COMMITTEE WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE VEHICLE FOR THAT DISCUSSION BUT AN AGENDIZED ITEM IS REQUIRED TO FORM THAT COMMITTEE. TONIGHT, WE BRING THIS BACK FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONFIRMING THAT THAT IS STILL OF INTEREST TO THE COUNCIL, AND FOR THE COUNCIL TO SELECT UP TO [00:10:03] TWO MEMBERS TO REPRESENT THE REST OF THE COUNCIL ON THAT COMMITTEE. >> THANK YOU, MR. HURLBERT. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE 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 NUMBER 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. AT THIS TIME, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MADAM CLERK? >> ACTUALLY, I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA. GIVE ME ONE MINUTE. >> MADAM CLERK, I JUST PROMOTED HIM TO PANELISTS SO HE SHOULD BE VISIBLE NOW. >> LET ME JUST PUT THAT TIME. GIVE ME ONE MINUTE. WE HAVE NO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. DO WE HAVE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS? >> WE HAVE NO EMAIL COMMENTS, MAYOR. >> THANKS ONCE AGAIN. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS, MAYOR PRO TEM PALLARES? >> NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. I THINK THE LAST MEETING, EVERYONE MADE THEMSELVES CLEAR WHO WANTED TO BE ON THE AD HOC COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. >> MEMBER GARCIA. >> NOTHING TO ADD, MAYOR. >> I AM SORRY, MEMBER GARCIA, I DID NOT HEAR WHAT YOU SAID. >> NO COMMENT. >> THANK YOU. I'M HAVING TECHNICAL PROBLEMS TODAY. ANYWAY, MEMBER LYNCH. >> NO COMMENT, MR. MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. MEMBER MARTINEZ. >> NO COMMENTS, MR. MAYOR. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WOULD LIKE TO SERVE IN THIS COMMITTEE. I KNOW THAT MEMBER LYNCH ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SERVE IN IT. HE HAS PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND I BELIEVE ALSO WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. IF IT'S OKAY WITH EVERYONE, THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THAT WOULD BE THE COMMITTEE TO SERVE FOR THIS PURPOSE. DO WE NEED TO DO ANYTHING ELSE, MR. HURLBERT? >> LET ME DOUBLE-CHECK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY. >> NO. HE CAN DO THE APPOINTMENT HIMSELF. >> THEY ARE HEREBY APPOINTED. THERE'S NO NEED FOR A VOTE. >> THANK YOU. ITEM B, [13)b. Approval of Employment Agreement with Alberto Martinez as Deputy Public Works Director, Water Operations for an amount of $94,053.44 (Hurlbert)] APPROVAL ON EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH ALBERTO MARTINEZ AS DEPUTY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR WATER OPERATIONS FOR AN AMOUNT OF $94,053.44. MR. HURLBERT. >> YES, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. AS YOU MAY RECALL, WE HAVE DETERMINED A NEED FOR A DEPUTY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF WATER OPERATIONS AND WE HAD FILLED EVERYTHING BUT WATER DEPUTY POSITION EARLIER THROUGH PROMOTION OF MR. ARNOLD. WE OPENED A RECRUITMENT FOR THE SECOND DEPUTY POSITION EARLIER THIS YEAR AND CONCLUDED OUR INTERVIEWS LAST MONTH AND HAVE SELECTED ALBERTO MARTINEZ TO FILL THAT POSITION. A CONDITIONAL OFFER HAS BEEN MADE AND HE HAS ACCEPTED THAT. THERE ARE PAPERWORK OBVIOUSLY THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED NOW, BUT I THINK WE HAVE A TENTATIVE START DATE OF APRIL 2ND, IF MEMORY SERVES. IS THAT NOT RIGHT, MADAM CLERK? >> NO. START DATE WILL BE APRIL THE 4TH. >> APRIL 4TH, I'M SORRY. I'VE INVITED MR. MARTINEZ TO JOIN US ON THE PANEL HERE. HE CAN BRIEFLY INTRODUCE HIMSELF, NOT TO PUT HIM ON THE SPOT, BUT HE JOINS US WITH QUITE A BIT OF THE EXPERIENCE IN WATER OPERATIONS, WE'RE VERY IMPRESSED WITH HIM DURING THE INTERVIEWS, AND HE'S GOT EXISTING WATER CERTIFICATIONS WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT DEPTH IN OUR STAFF AND THE WATER OPERATIONS IN PARTICULAR, [00:15:04] AND VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO HIM COMING ON BOARD AND FILLING OUT OUR TEAM IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. >> THANK YOU, MR. HURLBERT. I ONLY CAN SEE YOU. I'M NOT SURE WHETHER HIS PICTURE CAN BE BROUGHT TO BE THE MAIN VIEW? AS I SAID, I AM HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. IF IT'S NOT POSSIBLE, IT'S OKAY. >> MADAM CLERK, WE COULD REMOVE THE SHARED SCREEN BRIEF. >> YES. I WILL DO THAT. >> THAT WILL CREATE LARGER PICTURES. ALBERTO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE VIDEO CAPABILITY BUT PERHAPS, YOU COULD UNMUTE YOURSELF BRIEFLY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> THERE YOU GO. SAY HELLO TO THE COUNCIL. >> HEY, COUNCIL. HOW'S IT GOING? >> [LAUGHTER] >> MY NAME IS ALBERTO MARTINEZ. I'VE ACCEPTED THE POSITION FOR THE DEPUTY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, SO I'M REALLY EXCITED. >> THANK YOU, ALBERTO. WE'RE EXCITED THAT YOU'RE COMING ON BOARD WITH US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WILL READ SOMETHING NOW. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE 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 NUMBER 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. AT THIS TIME, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MADAM CLERK? >> WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ANY EMAIL COMMENTS? >> NO EMAIL COMMENTS, MAYOR. >> VERY GOOD. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MAYOR PRO TEM PALLARES. >> AS FAR AS THIS ITEM 13B, WE'LL BE VOTING ON THIS APPROVAL? >> YES. THERE IS AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT AVAILABLE. THIS IS THE FINAL DRAFT OF THAT AGREEMENT. THIS IS VERY, VERY SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS CONTRACT EMPLOYEES CONTRACTS THAT WE'VE DONE AND SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE MADE TO THESE CONTRACTS LATE LAST YEAR ARE INCLUDED IN THIS CONTRACT. THIS IS A THREE-YEAR EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT AND STANDARD BENEFITS AND VACATION RATES AND SO FORTH. TONIGHT, THE VOTERS WERE ACTUALLY FOR A RECITE THE RESOLUTION IS TO AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THIS CONTRACT. >> THANK YOU. MR. MARTINEZ, ALBERTO. [NOISE] PENDING THE OUTCOME. WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES. [LAUGHTER] BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING INTERESTED IN THE CITY OF WASCO AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. MEMBER GARCIA. >> CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU MR. MARTINEZ ON THE POSITION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF WASCO. THANK YOU MAYOR. >> THANK YOU MEMBER GARCIA. MEMBER LYNCH. >> JUST LIKE TO SAY WELCOME ABOARD, SIR. >> THANK YOU. MEMBER MARTINEZ. >> MR. MARTINEZ, WELCOME TO THE CITY OF WASCO. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I LIKEWISE HAVE ALREADY SAID WELCOME. I WILL MOVE THIS FORWARD. IS THERE A SECOND? >> THANK YOU, GARCIA. >> THANK YOU MEMBER GARCIA. I APPRECIATE THAT. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL THE VOTE BY ROLL-CALL? >> MEMBER REYNA? >> AYE. >> MAYOR PRO TEM PALLARES? >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA? >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH? >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ? >> AYE. >> MOTION BY MAYOR REYNA, SECOND BY A COUNCIL MEMBER, GARCIA, TO APPROVE ITEM 13 B, MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. >> ITEM 14, REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES. CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, MEMBER GARCIA. [00:20:02] >> NO REPORTS I HAD AT THIS TIME MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. IN ITEM B, CURRENT COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, THERE WILL BE A MEETING THIS THURSDAY, SO THERE'S NOTHING TO REPORT AT THIS TIME. AND ITEM C WASCO TASKS FORCE MR. MARTINEZ. >> NOTHING TO REPORT, MR. MAYOR. >> THANK YOU ALL. REPORTS FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS. [15)a. Kern County Fire Department (Appleton)] CURRENT COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, CHIEF APPLETON. >> GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF REPORT ON OUR NUMBER OF INCIDENTS IN FEBRUARY. ENGINE 31 RESPONDING TO A 172 INDIVIDUAL INCIDENTS IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, WITH A 125 OF THOSE CALLS BEING MEDICAL CALLS AND 17 BEING FIRES. THE REMAINDER ARE MISCELLANEOUS CALLS IN-BETWEEN THERE. I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. ONE OF OUR CAPTAINS AT STATION 31 IS TRANSFERRING TO A DIFFERENT STATION AND HE'S BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS. HIS NAME IS CAPTAIN CLAUDIA. YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE RUN ACROSS HIM EITHER A STAFF MEETINGS PRIOR OR DIFFERENT EVENTS IN THE CITY. BUT HE'S TRANSFERRING OUT TO ANOTHER STATION AND HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB FOR THE CITY OF WASCO. JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW AND THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE CITY OF WASCO. ALSO JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW ANOTHER PERSONNEL ISSUE JUST TO PASS ALONG. ONE OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS THAT WORKS IN THE CITY OF WASCO WAS INJURED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON HIS WAY TO WORK A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. HE FRACTURED A VERTEBRAE IN HIS NECK, SO HE'LL BE OFF FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS. IT WON'T AFFECT THE STAFF AND INTO THE FIRE STATION NEEDED ONE OF THOSE TRANSFERS OR THE INJURY WILL AFFECT THE FIRE STATION AND STAFFING. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR PERSONNEL THAT WORK AT THE FIRE STATION IN WASCO. BUT FIREFIGHTER THAT WAS INJURED YOU USING THE CONDITION, BUT IT'LL JUST BE OFF FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS TRYING TO RECOVER. HE IS A YOUNG GUY AND HE'S IN GOOD SHAPE. BUT HE IS DEFINITELY EXCITED TO COME BACK TO WORK, BUT HE HAS TO WAIT AND RECOVER. THAT'S ALL I HAD FOR REPORT TONIGHT MR. MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF APPLETON. CERTAINLY WE WISH OUR INJURED FIREFIGHTER A QUICK RECOVERY. >> THANK YOU. >> OUR FIREFIGHTER THAT HAS TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER STATION. COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, SERGEANT SHINN. [15)b. Kern County Sheriff Department (Shinn)] >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. SERGEANT SHINN, SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WE USE THE MOMENT TWEAKING THE POWERPOINT BROUGHT UP, BUT WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF EXCITING INVESTIGATIONS OR EVENTS TO PRESENT ON THIS MEETING. TO START WITH PREVIOUSLY, I TOUCHED ON THIS COMMUNITY MEETING. BUT I WILL REVISIT MUSIC, EXCITING CLOSURES AND A COUPLE OF INVESTIGATIONS WE'VE HAD OVER RECENT MONTHS. THE FIRST ONE THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING REVISIT READ ON THURSDAY, MARCH 3RD, APPROXIMATELY 3:15 IN THE AFTERNOON. DEPUTY TO ALSO SUBSTATION WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CHAPTER POLICE DEPARTMENTS, WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY BRIAN MORALES, A 20-YEAR-OLD MALE FROM THE CITY OF DELANO. THE SUSPECT INVOLVED IN THE SHOOTING WHICH OCCURRED NEAR THE INTERSECTION AND BROADWAY IN 15TH STREET AND THE CITY OF WASCO ON DECEMBER 27TH, 2021. DURING THE FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY DEPUTIES FROM WASCO SUBSTATION, THEY WERE ABLE TO ALSO IDENTIFY MORALITY AS A SUBJECT INVOLVED. WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ATTEMPTED ROBBERY, WHICH OCCURRED IN THE 900 BLOCK OF EIGHTH STREET AND THE CITY OF WASCO ON FEBRUARY 9TH, 2022. MORALES WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE IN POSSESSION OF THE SUSPECTED WEAPON THAT WAS USED IN BOTH OF THESE ASSAULTS, AND WAS BROUGHT INTO THE CENTER RECEIVING FACILITY FOR ASSAULT WITH A WEAPON, PARTICIPATION IN A STREET GANG, POSSESSION OF A FIREARM, CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT A FELONY BY A GANG MEMBER UNDER THE CASE FROM DECEMBER, AND ALSO ADDITIONAL CHARGES, ATTEMPTED MURDER, ATTEMPTED ROBBERY. SAME FELONY CHARGES INVOLVING PARTICIPATION IN A STREET GANG AND POSSESSION OF A FIREARM. IF I GO TO THE NEXT SCREEN, WHICH WILL LOOK A LITTLE BIT SIMILAR. THE REASON BEING IS THAT IT'S RELATED TO THE SAME TWO PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED. WHERE ON TUESDAY, MARCH 8TH AND APPROXIMATELY 1:20 PM [00:25:05] DEPUTIES FROM THE CURRENT CASE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, HAIDA TASKFORCE, WERE ABLE TO LOCATE AND ARREST THE SECOND SUBJECT INVOLVED IN BOTH THE PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED IN SHOOTING INVESTIGATIONS AND THE SUBJECT WAS IDENTIFIED AS A JUVENILE FROM THE CITY OF DELANO. THE SECOND SUBJECT WAS THEN BROUGHT INTO JUVENILE HALL FOR ALL OF THE SAME CHARGES IN RELATION TO BOTH EVENTS, WHICH INCLUDE ASSAULTED AT THE WEAPON, ATTEMPTED MURDER, ATTEMPTED ROBBERY, AND ALL THE GAME PARTICIPATION CHARGES THAT HIS COUNTERPART WILL SHARE WITH HIM AS WE GO THROUGH THE COURT PROCESS. IF I JUST LIKE TO TOUCH ON THAT ONE THAT IS A BIG MOVE FORWARD FOR A SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND I THINK IT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ARREST ENCLOSURE ON THESE CASES, AS WE'VE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED, THE VIOLENT CRIME. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE LIGHTLY, IT IS SERIOUS. ITS A GOOD FEELING TO BE ABLE TO GET CLOSURE ON TWO OF THOSE SIGNIFICANT INVESTIGATIONS. MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE. HERE WE GO. I WAS JUST REALLY ITCHING TO SPEAK OUT A LITTLE BIT ON OUR MEETING LAST TUESDAY. I KNOW THERE A LOT OF STUFF IS DISCUSSING HOW ALONG WITH THE COMMUNITY. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ALSO WANTS TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT THERE AND GET DRUGS OFF THE STREET AND WEAPONS. AS WE DID IN THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED INVESTIGATIONS AND WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS DOING THAT IN DIFFERENT WAYS. ONE OF THOSE WAYS IS BY CONDUCTING WARRANT PROBATION SWEEPS, WHICH RESULTED IN THE SEIZURE THAT'S PRESENTED ON THE SCREEN FROM MARCH 9TH, WHERE APPROXIMATELY SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, DEPUTIES FROM THE SUBSTATION WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF PERSONNEL FROM THE CHAPTER POLICE DEPARTMENT, CURRENT COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT, AND HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS UNIT CONDUCTED A PROBATION IN WARRANT SWEEPING WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF WASCO. DURING THE OPERATION, 10 SUBJECTS WERE ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO THE CENTRAL RECEIVING FACILITY FOR VARIOUS FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR CRIMES, ONE OF WHICH WAS A SPECIAL NOTE WHERE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CURRENT HEIGHT SHERIFF'S OFFICE HIDE A TASK FORCE. ONCE AGAIN, WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE ANTHONY ARREOLA, AGE 21, IN THE WASCO INTO CUSTODY IN THE 1800, WALKING THE STREET. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, A DEPUTY IS LOCATED A SHOTGUN, APPROXIMATELY 2000 PILLS OR SUSPECTED FENTANYL, WHICH IS ACTUALLY DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN, WHICH ALSO HAS AN APPROXIMATE STREET VALUE OF $14,000 AND ABLE TO TAKE THAT OFF THE STREET, WHICH IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DRUG, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY, THAT DURING THE INVESTIGATION IN A SEARCH WARRANT WAS SERVED IN THE 2400 BLOCK OAK CREEK COURT WHERE DEPUTIES LOCATED AND AMMUNITION AND ADDITIONAL EDITION OF NARCOTIC CELLS REALIZED WAS SUBSEQUENTLY BOTH IN THE CENTRAL RECEIVING FACILITY FOR FELONY POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY PROHIBITED PERSON, POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS CELLS. PARTICIPATION IN A CRIMINAL STREET GANG, POSSESSION OF AMMUNITION BY PROHIBITED PERSON, POSSESSION OF A FIREARM, POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, AND MAINTAINING A RESIDENCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF NARCOTICS CELLS. ONCE AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS JUST REALLY EXCITING TYPE OF EVENT FOR US. WE'RE ABLE TO [NOISE] RESOURCES TOGETHER WITH OUR ADDITIONAL ALLIED AGENCIES OUT HERE. I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN OUT IN THE PUBLIC AND WE DISCUSSED IT EVEN PREVIOUSLY WITH OUR MEETINGS WHERE THERE ARE STAFFING ISSUES ALL ACROSS THE BOARD WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. BUT IT JUST SHOWS THAT IF WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND WE KEEP WORKING TOGETHER, THAT THERE ARE RESULTS TO BE HAD AND THIS IS VERY SIGNIFICANT AND PROUD RESULT THAT I'M ABLE TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS FROM YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE NEXT SLIDE. [NOISE]. THIS FACE THAT BLOCK ME THE AREA WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO CLICK IN ORDER TO GET THE SLIDE BUT I APPRECIATE THE HELP FROM YOU. THEN, ON MARCH 11TH AT APPROXIMATELY 10:17 IN THE MORNING, THE DEPUTIES AND LOTS OF SUB-SECTION WERE DISPATCHED THE AREA OF FILBURN AVENUE AND PALM AVENUE FOR REPORT OF SHOTS BEING FIRED INVOLVING TWO MARBLE VEHICLES. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE AREA, BOTH VEHICLES INVOLVED WERE NOT LOCATED, THEY HAD LEFT THE AREA. [00:30:01] BUT DEPUTIES LOCATED DAMAGE THEY BELIEVE OF THE RESULTS OF THE SHOT BEING FIRED FROM A VEHICLE AT NEARBY RESIDENCIES. NO SUBJECTS WERE INJURED DURING THIS INVESTIGATION, AND THIS INVESTIGATION IS ALSO ONGOING. SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CASES THAT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO OPEN UP TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND REQUEST ANYBODY WHO HAS INFORMATION REGARDING THAT INCIDENT, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S [NOISE] OFFICE AT 661-861-3110 OR THE SECRET WITNESS AT 661-322 -40400. ONCE AGAIN, WE CAN BE OUT HERE AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN, BUT WE CAN DO SO MUCH MORE WITH THE HELP OF THE PUBLIC AND OUR COMMUNITY. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE ONGOING HERE PRESENTED OR EVEN PREVIOUS TIMES, PLEASE, REACH OUT TO US. WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN AND FOLLOW UP WITH ANY TYPE OF LEADS THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE US. WITH THAT, I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, SERGEANT SHINN. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR SERGEANT SHINN. MEMBER [INAUDIBLE] PALLARES? >> NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MEMBER GARCIA? >> NONE AT THE TIME, MAYOR. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MEMBER LYNCH. >> JUST ONE QUESTION FOR SERGEANT SHINN. HOW OFTEN ARE WE GOING TO DO THESE SWEEPS? SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE PRETTY EFFECTIVE. >> THEY ARE. WE WILL BE DOING ANOTHER ONE. THE TIME-FRAME, I WILL NOT GIVE BECAUSE OF TACTICAL PURPOSES. BUT THE COMMUNITY CAN REST ASSURED THAT WE WILL BE DOING THIS AGAIN, AND AS FREQUENT AS POSSIBLE, IS THAT I CAN COORDINATE [NOISE] WITH THE UNITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO GET STUFF LIKE THIS AS A REOCCURRING THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY UNTIL WE ARE ABLE TO WEED OUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY OR WE'LL JUST KEEP GOING. IF THEY WANT TO KEEP GOING, WE'LL KEEP GOING. >> GOOD JOB, SIR. >> THANK YOU. >> MEMBER MARTINEZ? >> NO COMMENTS, MR. MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS OTHER THAN TO THANK SERGEANT SHINN FOR HIS GREAT WORK. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER, MR. HURLBERT. [16)REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER] >> YES, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU SERGEANT SHINN AND CHIEF APPLETON FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU MAKING YOURSELVES AVAILABLE, AND FOR OCCASIONAL GOOD NEWS, SO THAT IS HELPFUL. I HAVE A FEW ITEMS TONIGHT COUNCIL. ONE IS AN UPDATE ON THE WATER OR REAR EDGE PROGRAM, AND IF YOU RECALL, THERE WERE SOME FUNDS AVAILABLE AS A RESULT OF COVID, AND THE AFTERMATH OF THAT, AND SOME VARIOUS FUNDING STREAMS. ONE OF THOSE WAS TO HELP UTILITY CUSTOMERS WHO WERE UNABLE TO PAY AND GOT BEHIND ON THEIR CITY UTILITY BILLS, AND TO HELP THE CITY BECAUSE WE WERE PREVENTED FROM TAKING ANY ACTION ON THOSE DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN CHANGED. BUT I HAD AN UPDATE FROM OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR THAT WE HAVE TO DATE CREDITED 1498 OUTSTANDING UTILITY BILLS. THE WATER PORTION OF THAT BILL HAS BEEN APPLIED. THE CUSTOMERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THIS CREDIT THAT'S BEEN APPLIED TO THEIR ACCOUNT, AND THERE ARE ONGOING FINANCING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO OUR UTILITY CUSTOMERS, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING WILL COME THROUGH STATE OR FEDERAL SOURCES TO HELP WITH OTHER PORTIONS OF UTILITY BILL. BUT THE FAIR AMOUNT OF WORK TO GET THIS DONE. SO HAVE TALKED TO OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT, AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE WORKED WITH US TO GET THOSE ACCOUNTS BROUGHT MORE CURRENT. ADDITIONALLY, I WANTED TO REMIND COUNCIL TO PUT ON YOUR CALENDARS. THERE'S SPECIAL MEETING ON FEBRUARY 22ND NEXT WEEK, TO REVIEW THE DRAFT MAPS FOR THE REDISTRICTING EFFORTS. >> MR. HURLBERT, FEBRUARY 22ND ALREADY PASSED. >> I'M SORRY. MARCH 22ND. I'M LIVING IN THE PAST [LAUGHTER],3/22 DRAFT MAPS, THE FIRST SET OF DRAFT MAPS WILL BE DISPLAYED FROM OUR ANALYSTS CONSULTANTS WHO ARE HELPING US WITH THE REDISTRICTING EFFORT. IF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE FINDING THEMSELVES IN NEED OF ANY HELP WITH THAT REDISTRICTING TOOL, PLEASE REACH OUT, AND MYSELF OR ONE OF THE OTHER STAFF CAN HELP YOU GET THROUGH THOSE CHALLENGES. [00:35:02] A COUPLE OF OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS, ONE IS THAT I ATTENDED THE CURRENT COG REGIONAL AWARDS EVENT WITH THE MIRENA, COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH, AND COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA WHO ATTENDED ALSO, WAS GOOD EVENT, LOTS OF RECOGNITION OF LOCAL PROJECTS AND THE PEOPLE BEHIND THOSE PROJECTS. SO IT WAS POSITIVE NIGHT, AND WELL RUN. TWO ADDITIONAL ITEMS, WE STILL HAVE ONE PLANNING COMMISSION SEAT VACANT. SO PUT ON YOUR THINKING CAPS ABOUT HOW TO RECRUIT SOMEBODY FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHO CAN BE AN ASSET TO THE COMMISSION AND WILLING TO PUT IN THE TIME TO CONTRIBUTE IN THAT WAY. UNFORTUNATELY, WE STILL HAVE THREE EMPTY SEATS ON THE MEASURE X GUIDANCE COMMITTEE. WE HAVE ONE APPLICANT. THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION TODAY ABOUT WHETHER THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER THAT SINGLE APPLICANT THAT WE HAVE, TO AT LEAST FILL ONE SEAT OR WHETHER YOU'D LIKE US TO TRY TO COLLECT SOME MORE APPLICANTS BEFORE WE BRING THEM TO YOU. >> WOULD YOU LIKE AN ANSWER AT THIS TIME? >> YEAH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, JUST GUIDANCE TO ME ON WHICH WAY YOU'D LIKE ME TO PROCEED. >> HOW LONG HAVE WE HAD THIS VACANCIES? >> QUITE A TIME. IT'S BEEN A NUMBER OF MONTHS. >> I'LL START THE CONVERSATION BY SAYING THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT IS VOLUNTEERING TO SERVE SHOULD BE BROUGHT BOOK FOR US FOR A VOTE. BUT I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE OTHERS AS WELL. MEMBER PALLARES? >> YES. THAT SEEMS PRUDENT TO HAVE THE APPLICANT BROUGHT FORWARD AND THEN WE'LL REQUIRE AN INTERVIEW. >> MADAM CLERK, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'VE HELD IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS OR JUST REVIEW OF AN APPLICATION. >> WE HAVE IN THE PAST DONE INTERVIEWS. WE USUALLY DO IN THAT HOT COMMITTEE FOR THE INTERVIEW PROCESS, HAVE THEM SCHEDULED AND THEN THEIR RECOMMENDATION WOULD GO TO CEO THEN TO THE CITY COUNCIL. >> THAT WOULD BE OUR FIRST STEP TO CONDUCT THE INTERVIEW? >> YES. >> HURLBERT. WE NEED TO FORM A COMMITTEE. I KNOW THAT IN THE PAST, MAYOR PALLARES AND MEMBER GARCIA WERE PART OF THAT COMMITTEE, AND I'M WONDERING WHETHER THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO SERVE AGAIN IN THAT OR WHETHER THAT COMMITTEE IS STILL STANDING. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S STILL STANDING OR I'M NOT SURE. MR. HURLBERT? >> MR. MAYOR, MAY I ASK THE QUESTION REAL QUICK? >> OF COURSE. >> SCOTT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THEY'RE ONLY MEETING ONCE A YEAR. SO DO THEY HAVE A MEETING UPCOMING THAT WE NEED TO FILL THIS POSITION RIGHT AWAY? >> NO, IT ISN'T URGENT, BUT THE CLERK HAS A COMMENT. >> OH, WE ARE REQUIRED TO MEET ONCE A YEAR BUT WE DO FRIDAY MEETINGS QUARTERLY. >> OKAY. >> WE'VE HAD OUR ANNUAL MEETING FAIRLY RECENTLY, SO YOU ARE CORRECT. AS FAR AS FULFILLING THAT ANNUAL REQUIREMENT, WE HAVE THAT, AND WE HAVE SOME TIME, BUT AS WAS POINTED OUT, WE WOULD LIKE TO DO A QUARTERLY. WHAT I CAN DO IS, I WILL RESEARCH THIS AND FIND OUT WHETHER THAT COMMITTEE IS STILL STANDING. IF BOTH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, GARCIA AND PALLARES ARE WILLING TO CONTINUE, AND THERE ISN'T ANY OBJECTION WE'LL JUST REACTIVATE OR HAVE THAT COMMITTEE MEET. IF THAT COMMITTEE HAS EXPIRED FOR SOME REASON AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE, THEN WE'LL BRING THAT BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING FOR REINSTATEMENT. >> MY CHOICE WOULD BE THAT IF THEY ARE WILLING TO SERVE, THAT THEY SHOULD GO AHEAD AND PROCEED. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THEM. >> I AM WILLING TO SERVE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MEMBER GARCIA. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> THANK YOU. WELL, EVEN IF THE COMMUNITY HAS TO EXPIRE, THEN I GUESS WE COULD FORM ONE TODAY AS WELL AS MR. HURLBERT. BUT I'LL LET YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO. >> OKAY. I BELIEVE FOR THE SAME REASONS THAT THE PRIOR WORKS COMMITTEE REQUIRED AN AGENDA AS ITEM, WE MAY BE RESTRICTED. BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG THERE WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN NAME THIS AD HOC COMMITTEE TONIGHT WITHOUT AN AGENDA ITEM. [00:40:03] OH MUTED. >> I THINK THAT'S FINE. I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. I'M FORMING THE COMMITTEE. >> WELL, GO AHEAD AND DO THAT THEN IF THAT MEETS YOUR PLEASURE, THEN WE'LL DO THAT. >> SURE. I KNOW WE HAVE A MAJORITY AT THIS TIME, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM MR. MARTINEZ. MR. MARTINEZ, YOU'RE WITH US? >> YEAH, I AGREE, MR. REYNA WITH EVERYTHING. >> THANK YOU. >> THEN WE'RE GOOD TO GO. WE WILL LET YOU BOTH KNOW WHEN WE HAVE THE APPLICANT AVAILABLE FOR AN INTERVIEW. >> THANK YOU BOTH FOR WILLING TO SERVE. THANK YOU. YES, MR. HURLBERT, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU. >> OH NO, I WAS THE ONE INTERRUPTING. I'M SORRY. BUT I AM CONCLUDED FOR THIS EVENING. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING] >> YES, MA'AM. >> I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAD ASKED COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH IF HE WAS OKAY WITH THE PROCESS. >> I PROBABLY DID NOT. SINCE YOU'RE BRINGING TO MY ATTENTION, [LAUGHTER] MEMBER LYNCH, I APOLOGIZE. I'M AGAIN BACK TO MY SCRATCHES OF NAMES HERE. [LAUGHTER] NO EXCUSE THOUGH. MR. LYNCH, I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU AS WELL. >> I HAVE NO OBJECTIONS AT ALL. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY APOLOGY. ALL RIGHT. MADAM CLERK, I THINK THAT HAS BEEN FIXED NOW. REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL, [17)REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL] MAYOR PRO TEM PALLARES. >> NOTHING MUCH TONIGHT. I DID HAVE THE PLEASURE OF TALKING TO ONE OF WASCO'S CENTENARIANS, ALBERTO DON HILL. HE'S AROUND 105. I FORGOT HIS EXACT AGE, BUT HE SAYS HE'S DOING FINE AND HE WISHES THAT HE HAD MORE TIME TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIS FELLOW WASCO ONES, BUT HE'S BEEN SUPER BUSY, HE SAYS SO. IT'S JUST GREAT TO HEAR FROM ANYONE OVER 50. IF YOU'RE OVER 50, IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET SOMEBODY WHO REMEMBERS YOUR GRANDFATHER. THOSE PRIVATE THRILLED TO TALK TO HIM FOR OVER AN HOUR, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. MEMBER GARCIA. >> I HAVE NOTHING TO ADD AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MEMBER LYNCH. >> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT TONIGHT, SIR. >> THANK YOU. MEMBER MARTINEZ. >> I HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT, MR. MAYOR. >> THANK YOU [NOISE] VERY MUCH. I WILL REPORT THAT WE DID HOLD THE PUBLIC SAFETY FORUM THAT WAS ON MARCH 8TH. MEMBER MARTINEZ AND OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR SCOTT HURLBERT WERE THERE. IT WAS OUR SERGEANT SHINN AND ALSO WE HAD LAURIE MEZAR FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WHO IS A PUBLIC SAFETY EXPERT. THEN ALSO WE HAD DAVID COUCH OUR SUPERVISOR AND ALSO CYNTHIA ZIMMER ATTENDED THE MEETING. IT WAS A WELL-ATTENDED MEETING, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT ADVERTISED. [NOISE] WE HAD A FULL-PACK COURTHOUSE THERE. THAT WAS GOOD TO SEE. WE HAD [NOISE] A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPRESSING FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR CITY. BUT WE ALSO HAD PEOPLE THAT AFTER IT WAS EXPLAINED TO THEM, THAT IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WHICH WE ARE EXPERIENCING SOME ISSUES HAVING TO DO WITH STAFFING, BUT IT ALSO HAS A LOT TO DO WITH FAMILIES, AS WELL AS THE LAWS THAT ARE IN CALIFORNIA THAT ARE MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO ACTUALLY HAVE ANY CONSEQUENCES FOR THESE CRIMINALS THAT ARE IN OUR CITY, AND ALSO CRIMINALS THAT ARE COMING FROM OTHER CITIES TO COMMIT CRIMES HERE. THERE WAS A TALK ABOUT ESTABLISHING OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES SOMETHING THAT OUR CITY MANAGER MR. HURLBERT AND I HAD SIT DOWN AND DISCUSSED. EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE BUT OF COURSE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT IS VERY COSTLY TO DO SO AND WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER, I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THE PEOPLE PRESENT IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL ONE CENT ON THEIR PURCHASES TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. I THINK [NOISE] MORE THAN HALF OF THE PEOPLE THERE SAID, [00:45:02] "ABSOLUTELY, I'M WILLING TO DO THAT." MAYBE THAT'S A WAY THAT WE CAN GO AND ACHIEVE THIS PARTICULAR GOAL AT THE TIME THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IT. MR. HURLBERT, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD ABOUT THIS? MR. MARTINEZ, [NOISE] YOU AS WELL, I WANT TO INVITE YOU BOTH TO TALK ABOUT IT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO STOP. >> LET'S NOT GET TOO MUCH INTO A SUBSTANTIVE TOPIC LIKE THAT. IT SHOULDN'T [OVERLAPPING] REPORT ON IT, BUT I'LL LET THE OTHER TWO THAT YOU'VE INVITED TO SPEAK, SPEAK, BUT LET'S HAVE THEM KEEP IT ABOUT JUST THE GENERAL IDEA THAT IT WAS DISCUSSED AT THAT MEETING. >> SURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT. MR. HURLBERT. >> I'M HAPPY TO DEFER TO COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ IF HE'D LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS FIRST. >> WELL, I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE ATTENDED THE MEETING. I MAY HAVE COME ACROSS AS BEING VERY HARSH ON OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A GREAT SERGEANT WHO IS WORKING VERY HARD. I THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD TO GET SOME COMMUNITY INPUT AND I THINK AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO HAVE THE WHOLE COUNSEL HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ALTOGETHER AND MAKE SOME DECISIONS ABOUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD AS A CITY. THANK YOU, MR. [INAUDIBLE] >> THANK YOU, MR. MARTINEZ. MR. HURLBERT. >> YES. I'LL AGREE WITH THAT. I THINK I'VE MENTIONED TO MORE THAN ONE PERSON AFTER THE MEETING THAT IT WENT BETTER THAN I HAD THOUGHT OR WAS PREPARED FOR, AND YOU ARE CORRECT. THE MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS THAT WERE THERE FROM THE COMMUNITY ARE FRUSTRATED, BUT THEY EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR OUR SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES AND FOR THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL, [NOISE] AND FOR THE CITY STAFF. I THINK DEEP DOWN THEY UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A DIFFICULT QUESTION, DIFFICULT PROBLEM, [NOISE] AND THERE ISN'T ANY ONE GROUP OR ANY ONE PERSON THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE IT RIGHT AWAY. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT EVENING IN AN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND A GOOD FIRST STEP TOWARD MAKING SOME PROGRESS IN THIS AREA. >> THANK YOU, MR. HURLBERT, AND I DO WANT THE COUNSEL TO KNOW THAT I EXPRESSED TO THE PEOPLE PRESENT THERE THAT I'M COMMITTED TO HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY, WE WILL HAVE MORE OF THEM. I AGREE THAT AT ONE POINT THIS NEEDS TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MARIA MARTINEZ FOR BEING PRESENT THERE, EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS OFF. SHE SHOWED UP AND HELPED A GREAT DEAL, AS WELL AS LEWIS VIELA WHO WAS THERE ALSO AND WAS ABLE TO BRING ADDITIONAL CHAIRS BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE PRESENT; SO THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING THERE AND FOR ALL YOUR HELP. [NOISE] NEXT THING, NEXT PAGE. WE DON'T HAVE CLOSE SESSION AND AT THIS TIME, IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. [NOISE] THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING. >> THANK YOU. >> HAVE A GOODNIGHT, EVERYONE. >> YOU TOO. THANK YOU. GOODNIGHT. >> GOODNIGHT ALL. >> THANK YOU, GOODNIGHT. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.