[00:00:01]
THANKS. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
[1) CALL TO ORDER]
IT IS 6:00.I'M CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL? . THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
PLEASE STAND FOR A FLAG SALUTE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR AN INVOCATION.
THE ABSENCE OF AN INVOCATION WILL OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
THE FLAG SALUTE WILL BE LED BY HUNTER SKINNER, WASCO BENGALS FOOTBALL TEAM.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. LET'S ALL BOW OUR HEADS FOR THE INVOCATION.
THANK YOU, HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR THE MANY RICH BLESSINGS THAT YOU'VE BESTOWED UPON THE CITY OF WASCO.
AND WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES AS THEY'RE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY, OUR SHERIFF, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL, OUR AMBULANCE SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING, FATHER.
AND WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE THE CITY COUNCIL ITS STAFF AND EVERYONE THAT'S REPRESENTED HERE, FATHER, THE WISDOM TO CONTINUE TO FULFILL YOUR MASTER PLAN FOR THE CITY OF WASCO. NAME IF JESUS, WE PRAY.
THANK YOU, PASTOR CONCHU. OKAY.
[5) PRESENTATIONS]
AND I WANT TO NAME THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING RECOGNIZED TODAY.BENGALS AREA REPRESENTATIVE GONZALO CRUZ, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
VARSITY HEAD COACH SANTOS GONZALEZ.
VARSITY PLAYERS, NATHAN GALLARDO, GIANNI ZAPATA, GABRIEL HERNANDEZ, ISAAC JUAREZ, ADRIAN PETTIS.
JV HEAD COACH, REGINALD BAILEY.
JV PLAYERS PHILLIP HARRISON, JORGE MUNOZ, NOE SOLANO, NICK MORSE, NATE ROMERO.
SOPHOMORE HEAD COACH, OMAR RINCON.
PLAYERS, JOSHUA RINCON, KEYSTONE RUIZ, WESLEY FLORES, HAYDEN ZAVALA, HUNTER SKINNER.
FRESHMAN HEAD COACH RAUL GUTIERREZ.
PLAYERS AIDEN TORRES, FABIAN GALLARDO, AIDEN AYALA, ISAAC MIRANDA.
THE CITY OF WASCO PROUDLY PRESENTS A CERTIFICATE TO WASCO BENGALS FOOTBALL IN RECOGNITION FOR THE EXCELLENCE AND OUTSTANDING DEDICATION AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR YOUTH THAT WILL CARRY FORWARD IN LIFE.
THIS OCTOBER 4TH, 2022, YOUR MAYOR GILBERTO REYNA.
[00:09:18]
ONE IS IN BLACK AND WHITE, AND THE OTHER ONE IS IN COLOR.I NEED THE COLOR ONE, AND I'LL GIVE IT BACK TO YOU.
ALL RIGHT. GONZALO IS GOING TO INTRODUCE THE PLAYERS THAT WILL BE DOING THE DEMONSTRATION.
THANK YOU. BRING MY BRIEFCASE.
SO. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TRY TO TEACH, WE TRY TO TEACH A SAFER WAY OF
[00:10:06]
TACKLING. WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY THE USE OF THE HEAD TO TRY TO AVOID THOSE MULTIPLE HEAD INCIDENTS OF CONTACT WITH EITHER ANOTHER HELMET OR A BODY PART.SO THE WAY WE TEACH IT IS BE TEACH MORE OF A SHOULDER TACKLE.
USC HAS USED IT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND THE FINEST ARE THE ONES THAT ARE THE MAINSTREAM.
RIGHT NOW THEY'RE USING IT THE MOST.
THE WAY IT WORKS IS WE'LL HAVE OUR DEFENDER, WHICH IS AIDEN.
HE'S GOING TO TRACK THE INSIDE HIT OF THE BALL CARRIER.
SO HE TRACKS THE INSIDE HIP OF THE BALL CARRIER.
HE'S GOING TO INITIATE CONTACT BY PLACING HIS SHOULDER.
THERE'S HIS RIGHT SIDE SHOULDER PAD INTO THE RIGHTS ONTO ON THE RIGHT SIDE HIT THE RUNNING BACK.
AT THAT POINT, HE'S GOING TO HOLD UP.
EITHER HE'S GOING TO COME BACK AND WRAP AROUND HIM AND EITHER DRIVE FOR FIVE IF NECESSARY OR HE'S GOING TO DO THE TRADITIONAL WAY WHERE YOU WRAP THE LEGS AND YOU DO A ROLL.
THAT'S WHAT'S CALLED THE HAWK ROLL.
AGAIN, THIS KIND OF HELPS IN AVOIDING OUR HANDS, GETTING THAT CONSISTENT HELMET TO HELMET CONTACT.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO DEMONSTRATE RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S MORE OR LESS THE WAY OF THE LOOK.
AS YOU CAN SEE, HIS HEAD STAYED BEHIND THE BALL CARRIER.
THE BALL CARRIER IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HIT HIS HEAD.
OBVIOUSLY, THE BALL CARRIER IS YOUR TOP.
SO AT THIS POINT, IT KIND OF TAKES AWAY ALL THAT LEVEL OF SEVERITY OF DAMAGE TO OUR BODIES.
BUT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE WAY WE KEEP OUR CAPITAL NICE.
GONZALES IT'S AN EXCUSE ME, GONZALO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT PRESENTATION.
MOVING ON TO ITEM SIX, PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING ON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ITEM SIX, 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 AND THE WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY ON ANY MATTER ON THIS AGENDA, AND OVER WHICH THE COUNCIL SUCCESSOR AGENCY AND THE WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY HAVE JURISDICTION.
SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO 2 MINUTES.
A MAXIMUM OF 30 MINUTES WILL BE ALLOWED FOR ANY ONE SUBJECT.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE MAKING YOUR PRESENTATION.
THIS WILL LIMIT A COUNCILMEMBERS RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS MADE DURING THIS COMMENT PERIOD.
ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEE NONE. MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS? MAYOR WE DO NOT HAVE, WE DID NOT RECEIVE EMAIL COMMENTS ON ANY ITEMS FOR THIS AGENDA.
THANK YOU, MADAM. WE DON'T HAVE ANY SUCCESSOR AGENCY BUSINESS.
[8) WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BUSINESS]
$6,124.29. MR. PEREZ-HERNANDEZ.JUST CHECKING, MAKING SURE IT WORKS.
GOOD EVENING HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL THIS EVENING IS, THIS IS THE QUARTERLY REPORT OF OUR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS THAT THE CITY PAYS NBS FOR THE ADMINISTERING OUR REVENUE BONDS.
[00:15:07]
WE HAVE TWO MORE THAT ARE REMAINING THAT ARE OUTSTANDING AND VERY ROUTINE REPORT THAT WE HAVE TO SUBMIT TO THE COUNCIL QUARTERLY.I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE AT THE MOMENT.
THANK YOU, MR. PEREZ-HERNANDEZ.
AT THIS TIME, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? SEEING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? VICE CHAIRMAN TIM PALLARES.
DIRECTOR LYNCH? NONE, SIR. DIRECTOR MARTINEZ.
NOTHING, SIR. I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
MADAM CLERK HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECOND, WOULD YOU CALL THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL? MOTION BY DIRECTOR LYNCH.
SECONDED BY DIRECTOR MARTINEZ TO RECEIVE AND FILE.
MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
[9) CONSENT CALENDAR]
THE CONSENT CALENDAR CONSISTS OF ITEMS THAT, IN STAFF'S OPINION, ARE ROUTINE AND NON-CONTROVERSIAL.THIS EVENING WE HAVE ITEMS 9A THRU 9G.
HONORABLE MAYOR, IF I COULD OFFER A POINT OF CLARIFICATION ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
YES, OF COURSE. ITEM F MAY LOOK FAMILIAR.
THIS IS THE IDENTICAL ITEM THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL.
HOWEVER, IT WAS LACKING THE SALES TAX.
AND SO THIS IS STAFF REPORTS IDENTICAL.
IT JUST NOW CORRECTLY INCLUDES THE SALES TAX.
IT WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT BY THE VENDOR, I BELIEVE, THE SALES TAX.
YES, WE SHOULD HOLD THEM TO THAT.
NO CONFLICT, MR. MAYOR. MEMBER MARTINEZ.
NO CONFLICT. I DO NOT HAVE A CONFLICT EITHER.
ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE AN ITEM? MAYOR PRO TEM PALLARES.
NO ITEMS. THANK YOU MEMBER GARCIA.
AND I DON'T HAVE AN ITEM TO REMOVE.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
NO, THAT'S FINE. MADAM CLERK HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECOND.
WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL? GARCIA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ITEM TEN, PUBLIC HEARINGS.
[10) a. Adopt a Resolution to Amend the 2020 Community Development Block Grant Program-Coronavirus Response Subsistence Program Agreement (20-CDBG-CV2- 3-000010)(Lara)]
ITEM A, ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE 2020 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE SUBSISTENCE PROGRAM AGREEMENT 20 DASH CDBG DASH CV 2-3-000010.YOUR HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THIS IS THE CDBG COVID MONEY THAT WAS AWARDED TO THE CITY BACK IN 2021 TO ASSIST RESIDENTS WITH RENT, UTILITIES, MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE.
DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE AWARDED 511,964 AS OF AUGUST 31ST OF 2022, WE'VE ONLY UTILIZED JUST A LITTLE UNDER $100,000.
THERE IS A DEADLINE FOR THESE FUNDS TO BE UTILIZED.
THE DEADLINE IS, I BELIEVE, IS NEXT SEPTEMBER OF 20 OCTOBER 19 OF 2023.
SO WE HAVE ABOUT A YEAR TO UTILIZE THE ENTIRE AMOUNT, OR IF WE DON'T UTILIZE THESE FUNDS, THEY WILL NEED TO BE SENT BACK TO THE STATE. AFTER MEETING WITH SELF HELP AND THE STATE, THEY THEY OFFER US SOME OPTIONS THAT WE COULD
[00:20:05]
DO. AND ONE OF THEM WAS TO REPURPOSE THESE FUNDS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE UTILIZED AND BENEFIT WASCO STILL.ONE OF THE ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES THAT WAS DISCUSSED WITH THE SELF-HELP GROUP AND THE STATE WAS THE REHABILITATION OF THE [INAUDIBLE] BUILDING, WHICH IS IT'S THE SHERIFF ACTIVITY LEAGUE BUILDING THAT SERVES AT RISK YOUTHS.
PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS VERY UTILIZED BY THE YOUTH AND WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN REHAB IT, RE USE SOME OF THIS MONEY TO REHAB THAT AND REOPEN IT HERE WHEN THAT WORK GETS DONE.
IF COUNCIL DOES APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION AMENDING THIS GRANT AGREEMENT, WE WOULD HAVE ABOUT A YEAR TO GET WE HAVE TO GET THE WORK DONE BY OCTOBER OF NEXT YEAR.
EVERYTHING WILL HAVE TO BE COMPLETED BY THEN.
THE FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, THE RENT, MORTGAGE AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE WOULD END ON THIS OCTOBER.
WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH SELF HELP.
THERE IS OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTY THAT FAMILIES CAN GET ACCESS TO THROUGH CAP K THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA MORTGAGE RELIEF PROGRAM.
SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT STAFF CONSIDER THIS.
THERE IS A SIGN IN SHEET THAT OUR CITY CLERK HAS WE HAVE TO PASS IT OUT AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IN ATTENDANCE SIGNS THAT THAT IS A PROGRAM REQUIREMENT. WITH THAT, I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE.
THANK YOU, MS.. GUERRA. BEFORE WE DO THAT, AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
NOW, I GUESS I INVITE ANYONE THAT HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS ITEM TO COME FORTH.
I BELIEVE IT WAS SENT THROUGH THE BUILDING THAT EVERYBODY RECEIVES ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
AND WHAT OTHER METHODS WERE USED TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE THAT THIS MONEY WAS AVAILABLE FOR THEM? HONORABLE MAYOR I BELIEVE THAT SELF HELP I KNOW WAS OUT IN ONE OF OUR EVENTS THAT WE RECENTLY HAD THE PARADE THAT WE HAD FOR THE ROSE FESTIVAL. I KNOW THERE WERE OUT THERE DOING SOME OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE PUBLISHED IT ON OUR WEBSITE.
I KNOW THAT PER SELF-HELP, THEY'RE HAVING SIMILAR CHALLENGES WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES FOR SOME REASON.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE NOT UTILIZING THIS PROGRAM.
WE DON'T KNOW WHY. BUT I KNOW THAT WASCO IS NOT THE ONLY COMMUNITY.
SO IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE.
THANK YOU MS. {INAUDIBLE] THE REASON FOR MY QUESTION IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT A LOT OF EFFORT WAS MADE TO MAKE EVERYBODY AWARE, AND IN ACTUALITY A FEW PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IT.
EVEN THOUGH IF I MOVE FORWARD AND REASSIGN THIS MONEY TO ANOTHER PURPOSE, WHICH WOULD ALSO BE GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT WOULD END UP HELPING OUR YOUTH, YES, IT WOULD HELP OUR AT RISK YOUTH AND HOPEFULLY DO SOME COMMUNITY TRUST BUILDING WITH WHAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THANK YOU, MS. HONDA. NOW, DO I WAIT FOR EVERYBODY TO SIGN BEFORE I CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? NOW, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE WORD YOU.
ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, I'M CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MAYOR PRO TEM PALLARES?
[00:25:01]
NO COMMENTS. THANK YOU.MEMBER LYNCH. JUST ONE QUESTION.
IF THE WE'VE BEEN GRANTED THIS VARIANCE OVER JUST OVER THE PHONE OR PERSONAL MEETINGS OR WHAT THE AMENDMENT.
WE STILL HAVE TO SUBMIT THE PAPERWORK COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH TO THE STATE.
AND PART OF THE REQUIREMENT WAS THAT WE HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN THE WASCO NEWSPAPER AND THAT WE CAME TO COUNCIL, GOT IT APPROVED THROUGH THROUGH OUR COUNCIL, AND THEN WE SUBMIT THE WHOLE PACKET TO THE STATE, WHICH LIKE I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE DISCUSSED THIS NEW ACTIVITY WITH US, WITH THE STAFF, AND THEY ARE ON BOARD.
YES. NO, WE'VE VERIFIED WHAT SELF HELP AND WHAT THE STATE.
WE'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH THEM AND WE'RE FOLLOWING THE DIRECTION THEY'RE GIVING US.
YEAH, AND MYSELF AND MS. LAURA HAVE BEEN ON THOSE CALLS AND AND IT'S THERE ARE NO RESERVATIONS APPARENT FROM SELF HELP.
THEY HAVE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT THEY CAN FACILITATE.
AND AND I DON'T THINK WE WOULD HAVE MOVED FORWARD IF WE THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS A POPULATION OUT THERE THAT NEEDED THIS AND THERE WAS NO OTHER RECOURSE OR IF SELF HELP HAD PROTESTED, I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR.
THANK YOU. MEMBER LYNCH, MEMBER MARTINEZ.
SHE'S GOT BOXING COACHES ON STANDBY EQUIPMENT, ALL KINDS OF STUFF.
WE JUST GOT TO GIVE HER A BUILDING.
SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA.
I'VE ALREADY MADE MY COMMENTS.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
UNTIL WHEN IS THE PROGRAM AVAILABLE? IT ENDS NEXT YEAR, OCTOBER.
YEAH. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS DONE BY NEXT YEAR, OCTOBER.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE MOVING FORWARD TODAY TO HAVE AMPLE TIME TO GET THIS DONE..
FOR THE ARE YOU COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA? ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE UTILITY ASSISTANT RENT UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER THIS MONTH? SO ONCE THE AMENDMENT GETS APPROVED THROUGH THE STATE AND EVERYTHING, WHICH LIKE I SAID, OUR DEADLINE TO SUBMIT ALL THE PAPERWORK IS BY THE END OF OCTOBER, WHICH WE WE WILL SUBMIT IT SOONER THAN THAT.
BUT ONCE THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED, WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER..
OF 2023, TO UTILIZE THE FUNDS.
CORRECT. BUT FOR THE UTILITY AND MORTGAGE AND RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, THAT WILL END AT THE END OF THE MONTH ONCE WE REPURPOSE, ONCE THE REPURPOSING OF THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING. SO IS THIS KIND OF JUST A FORMALITY FOR THEM TO APPROVE IT? YES. SO HOW LONG DO YOU THINK WE'D ACTUALLY TAKE TILL WE CAN ACTUALLY START WORKING ON THE BUILDING? THE WE GOT TO START WORKING ON IT PROBABLY ASAP TO MAKE SURE WE MEET OUR OCTOBER DEADLINE FOR NEXT YEAR.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ROUGHLY 11 MONTHS TO GET ALL THE WORK DONE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE OUT THERE.
OKAY. SO THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT SIR.
MADAM CLERK HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECOND.
WOULD YOU CALL THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL? COUNCILMEMBER LYNCH TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION, MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY DEFER BUSINESS OR NEW BUSINESS REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES.
CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MEMBER GARCIA.
[13) a. Kern Economic Development Corporation (Garcia)]
I HAVE, I'M SORRY.CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
I APOLOGIZE. I WAS TAKING A DRINK.
I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE LAST MEETING/DINNER AS.
AS I HAD PERSONAL FAMILY ISSUES.
I DID ATTEND, ALONG WITH MR. LYNCH, HIM AND I ATTENDED.
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAD TO HANG AROUND WITH THE ENEMY.
WE WERE SITTING AT THE CHAPTER TABLE AND THEY MADE NOTE OF THAT.
[00:30:05]
LIKED TO HANG WITH SHAFTER.BUT ANYWAY, IT WAS A WONDERFUL DINNER.
WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO SEVERAL OF THOSE THAT WERE ATTENDING.
I AGREE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING? JUST KUDOS, THE LOCATION WE WERE AT WAS RIGHT ON THE RIVER AND JEH RANCH ON ROUND MOUNTAIN ROAD AND JUST IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL TIME AND WE DIDN'T EVEN GET EATEN BY MOSQUITOES.
SO I DID NOT SEE A SINGLE MOSQUITO.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENS.
NOT A SINGLE ONE, BECAUSE WE WERE ONLY ABOUT 20 FEET FROM THE WATER.
THERE WERE SOME LITTLE GNATS THAT WERE KIND OF BOTHERSOME, BUT NOT MANY.
[13) b. Kern Council of Government (Reyna)]
I ATTENDED THE LAST MEETING, AND THERE WAS REALLY SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED FROM THAT MEETING IS THAT I BELIEVE I REPORTED ON THAT LAST TIME.AM I CORRECT? OUR LAST MEETING THAT THERE WAS 700 EXCUSE ME, IT WAS 775 MILLION LAST TIME. WHAT IT IS, IT'S A GRANT THAT ENDED AND NOW IT'S 150 MILLION.
AND I BELIEVE OUR STAFF IS WORKING ON GETTING SOME OF THOSE FUNDS DILIGENTLY.
SO I HAVE ALREADY REPORTED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY MEETING SINCE.
AND THE WASCO TASK FORCE HAS NOT MET, NOR DID OUR ADVISORY STEERING COMMITTEE MEET THIS LAST TIME.
REPORTS FROM KERN COUNTY FIRE AND SHERIFF EXCUSE ME.
ONE AT A TIME. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
NOTHING TO REPORT TONIGHT, SO SERGEANT SHINN CAN TAKE THE FLOOR.
I KNOW HE'LL HAVE PLENTY TO SAY.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, CHIEF APPLETON AND SERGEANT SHINN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
[14) b. Kern County Sheriff Department (Shinn)]
IT'S ALL YOURS. PROBABLY MORE THAN 2 MINUTES TOO.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THE ONGOING REOCCURRING THEME IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, ONE THING I REALLY WANT TO TOUCH HARD ON, INSTEAD OF JUST TOUCHING SPEAKING ON THREE DIFFERENT CASES, THIS TIME IT'S MORE OF LIKE A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY.
IS THAT JUST THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF GUN VIOLENCE AND GUN POSSESSION, ESPECIALLY WITH JUVENILES AND MINORS IN OUR COMMUNITY? I'D LIKE TO BRING THE ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AND AN 11 DAY SPAN, YOUR WASCO DEPUTIES TOOK FOUR FIREARMS OFF THE STREETS, THREE OF WHICH WERE FROM THE HANDS OF JUVENILES.
ON THE SCREEN I HAVE PICTURED ARE THREE OF THE FOUR FIREARMS THAT WERE SEIZED.
AND THOSE CASES THAT I'M DISCUSSING.
AND IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THERE ARE NOT MORE FIREARMS BEFORE AND SINCE THAT HAVE BEEN SEIZED, BUT IT'S JUST THESE FACTS, THESE THE INFORMATION, IT'S VERY CONCERNING TO US AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND IT LEADS TO MORE DIRE ISSUE AS FAR AS THE SHOOTINGS THAT WE'RE FACING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE FAILING AT SOME LEVEL WITH THE KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE THEY'RE NOT DEVELOPING GOOD HABITS, THEY'RE LOOKING TOWARDS THE WRONG GROUPS AS BEING ROLE MODELS, WHICH DOES BRING TO LIGHT THE FACT THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE WASCO, THE FOOTBALL TEAMS, THE KARATE, EVEN THE SAL PROGRAM, ARE THINGS THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING IN THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY'RE WHAT KEEP THE OTHER JUVENILES ON A STRAIGHT PATH AND OUT OF TROUBLE.
WE'RE SAVING THAT JUVENILES LIFE AND THE ONE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THE LIFE OF WITH THEM RUNNING AROUND WITH THESE GUNS THINKING IT'S COOL BECAUSE WE HAVE PARENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT ARE MAKING EXCUSES FOR THEIR CHILDREN RUNNING AROUND WITH GUNS INSTEAD OF JUST FACING THE FACT AND ENFORCING STRICT RULES AND GUIDELINES AT HOME.
[00:35:06]
SO I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT TO THE COMMUNITY'S ATTENTION, THAT THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING.SO MOVING ON FROM THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M DISCUSSING AS FAR AS WHAT THESE FIREARMS AND THE LEAD TO WAS THAT LAST NIGHT ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 3RD, ABOUT 7:38 P.M., WASCO DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO THE 1000 BLOCK OF POZO DRIVE THE REPORT OF A SHOOTING WHERE UPON ARRIVAL THEY LOCATED A SINGLE VICTIM OF MULTIPLE GUNSHOTS AND SECURED THE SCENE.
WHERE THE VICTIM WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE HE'S IN STABLE CONDITION.
WHILE ON SCENE AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00 PM LAST NIGHT, DEPUTIES HEARD ADDITIONAL GUNSHOTS HEARD FROM THE AREA OF BELIEVE IT WAS ALMOND COURT AND F STREET WHERE THEY RESPONDED THE AREA AND LOCATED AN ADDITIONAL VICTIM OF A SHOOTING WHERE THE SUBJECT WAS ONCE AGAIN TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE THEY ARE ALSO IN STABLE CONDITION.
BOTH OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS ARE ONGOING AND UNFORTUNATELY JUST BRINGS LIGHT AND BACKS UP THE CREDENCE TO WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET ACROSS TO EVERYBODY, THE BOARD AND EVERYBODY ELSE IN THIS COMMUNITY, THAT THE GUNS ARE NOT THE SOLUTION AND THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO GET THESE JUVENILES AND YOUNG ADULTS TO CHANGE THEIR MINDSETS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT IT LEADS TO.
AND FORTUNATELY, THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE SHOT ARE NOT DECEASED.
BUT IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
BUT THESE THESE ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE I SAID, ARE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I COMMEND YOU GUYS ON SUPPORTING THEM LIKE YOU DO OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE RECOGNIZED BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE VITAL THAN THEY REALLY UNDERSTAND TO THESE JUVENILES ENTIRE LIFE, THEIR UPBRINGING, THEIR YOUTH, EVERYTHING.
AND THEN OUR NARCOTICS RELATED ARRESTS WENT UP JUST BY ONE.
AND THAT I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, DEFINITELY WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE SAL PROGRAM FOR SURE, TRYING TO GET THAT BACK AND RUNNING AFTER COVID BECAUSE IT HIT US HARD AND THEN TRY TO GET BACK AROUND ON THAT HORSE.
SO OPEN ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS? THANK YOU, SERGEANT SHINN ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE SERGEANT? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SERGEANT.
APPRECIATE IT. MR. MAYOR, IF I. IF I MIGHT REAL FAST.
SERGEANT SHIN, YOU WEREN'T AT THE LAST MEETING, BUT WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DID GETTING THE DEPUTIES AND THE VOLUNTEERS FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR THE ROSE FESTIVAL.
IT WENT OFF WITHOUT ISSUES AND IT WAS JUST A NICE LITTLE GATHERING.
SOME OF THE ROSES FROM LAST WEEK'S ROSES.
THAT'S CORRECT. SO IT WAS A VERY NICE EVENT.
AND I THANK YOU, SIR. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT IT WAS YOU WHO WAS ABLE TO BRING THE DEPUTIES TO OUR CITY, YOU KNOW, TO PARTICIPATE DURING THE PARADE. SO THANK YOU.
YES, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ALL RIGHT. ITEM NEXT ITEM, REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER.
[15) REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER]
YES, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.A COUPLE OF ITEMS I'LL REPORT VERY BRIEFLY AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE THAT WAS ATTENDED BY THE MAYOR AND MYSELF AND MS. LAURA LAST WEEK, WE ALL AGREED WAS EFFECTIVE AND WE BELIEVE, PRODUCTIVE.
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF CONTACTS WE MADE THAT WE THINK ARE VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THEM BEARING FRUIT AND BRINGING COMPANIES HERE TO WASCO. SO HOPEFULLY A LOT MORE ON THAT LATER AS WE GO FORWARD.
JUST A COUPLE OF ITEMS HERE TONIGHT.
ONE COMING UP ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT, OCTOBER 31ST, WE'LL HAVE OUR ANNUAL TRUNK OR TREAT EVENT.
[00:40:02]
THE CITY IS PLANNING ON HAVING AT LEAST ONE TRUNK THERE AND STAFF WILL MAN THAT AND HAND OUT CANDY.SO THAT'S OCTOBER 31ST AND I BELIEVE BEGINS AT FIVE.
SIX. CORRECT. OR SIX, 6:00 6 P.M.
. TOMORROW WE'LL BE RECONVENING IN PERSON OF THE COMMUNITY BREAKFAST SERIES.
SO COBB WILL BE LEADING THAT TOMORROW AND IT STARTS AT 7 A.M.
SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, THAT'S AVAILABLE ALSO IN SATURDAY, THE 10TH OF GOING TO BE NOVEMBER, NOVEMBER OR OCTOBER, SATURDAY, THE 10TH OF OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, NOVEMBER, I'M SORRY, IS THE CERT RODEO.
THAT'S THE COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM EVENT.
FINAL ITEM IS ONE THAT JUST IN BACKGROUND INFORMATION I'D LIKE THE COUNCIL TO HAVE.
THOSE HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT SUCCESSFUL.
WE'RE SEEING IMPROVED QUALITY THERE, BUT THE STATE NONETHELESS MAY REQUIRE NOTIFICATION OF OUR RESIDENTS OF THE HIGH NITRATE TEST LEVELS ON THAT WELL, THAT WELL IS CURRENTLY NOT CONNECTED TO THE CITY SYSTEM.
IT'S THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY FOR THE RESIDENTS TO CONSUME THAT WATER.
BUT NONETHELESS, THE STATE HAS THERE RULES, SO A NOTICE MAY GO OUT.
THIS IS JUST A WARNING THAT FOLKS IN CERTAIN CATEGORIES, INFANTS, PREGNANT WOMEN OR THOSE WITH OTHER UNDERLYING CONDITIONS, SHOULD NOT CONSUME THIS WATER IN GREAT AMOUNTS.
MR. HURLBERT IF I MAY JUST ADD, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE SEND THIS NOTICE THAT WE TELL PEOPLE THIS WATER IS NOT IN YOUR SYSTEM, RIGHT? IT'S NOT BEING DELIVERED TO TO THE HOME.
WE ARE NEGOTIATING WITH THE STATE.
WE'RE EXTREMELY LIMITED DUE TO THE REGULATORY LAWS ABOUT NOTIFICATIONS ON WHAT WE CAN SAY ON THAT NOTICE AND WHAT WE CAN PUBLISH TO THE PUBLIC EVEN OUTSIDE OF THAT NOTICE.
SO THE NOTICE SAYS IN BIG, BOLD LETTERS, DO NOT DRINK THIS WATER.
AND WE'RE RIGHT NOW NEGOTIATING THAT FOLLOW UP IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RESIDENTS TO DO.
IT CAUSES PEOPLE TO WORRY NEEDLESSLY.
I THINK WE CAN ALL HELP IN SENDING THAT MESSAGE OUT.
SO LET US KNOW WHEN THIS IS COMING OUT.
RIGHT. AND THAT WAS MY PURPOSE FOR BRINGING IT UP TONIGHT SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE DO ASK AND THEY LIKELY WILL, ONCE THE NOTICE GOES, THAT YOU WILL HAVE THE FACTS AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ASSURE THEM THAT THAT WATER IS NOT IN THE SYSTEM AND IT WON'T BE UNTIL THAT WELL IS CLEARED.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TONIGHT.
THANK YOU. OK, REPORTS FROM THE COUNCIL.
[16) REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL]
I'LL START THE CONVERSATION.I PARTICIPATED ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLE, WHICH OUR PARISH PRIEST WAS ABLE TO START TWO MONTHS AGO WORKING WITH A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UFW WHO HAPPENS TO BE A PARISHIONER OF OUR CHURCH HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN MORE THAN ONE WAY.
I PARTICIPATED IN BOTH OF THEM.
ALEX WAS THERE, AND THIS LAST ONE, TOO, WORKING VERY HARD.
I THINK HE REGRETTED THE STATION THAT HE DECIDED TO WORK IN.
I THINK HE SAID HE WAS VERY SORRY, BUT IN ANY CASE, THIS ALLOWED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO EVERY SINGLE CAR THAT WAS ON THE QUEUE. WE HAD SIX LINES AND TELL THEM ABOUT OUR VACCINATION CLINIC THAT WAS OCCURRING THE FOLLOWING DAY ON THE 25TH.
AND AND SO WE WERE ABLE AND I SAY WE AT 110 PEOPLE WERE VACCINATED.
WE HAVE INCREASED OUR NUMBERS EVERY CLINIC.
AND I THINK IT IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT IT.
[00:45:04]
I AM PASSING THE WORD AROUND AT THE CHURCH AND AS WELL AS I JUST MENTIONED, AND SO MANY PEOPLE CAME AND THEY GOT THEIR VACCINATION.THE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR MONTHS, I BELIEVE WE STARTED LAST YEAR SOMETIME I LOOKED IT UP AND WE WERE DOING THIS BACK IN OCTOBER OF THE YEAR PRIOR.
AND STILL, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE ONLY A 47.24 VACCINATION RATE AND 45.99 INFECTION RATE, WHICH IS VERY HIGH THE HIGHEST, IN THE NORTH KERN COMMUNITIES.
AND SO WE, I THINK, ALL NEED TO WORK DILIGENTLY ON MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
IF YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, COULD GET OR NEED A VACCINE, SEND THEM OUR WAY.
WE'RE STILL HAVING THESE CLINICS AT THE END OF EACH MONTH ON THE LAST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH.
SO PLEASE PASS THE WORD AROUND IS MR. HURLBERT MENTIONED WE ATTENDED THE ICSC CONFERENCE IN SAN DIEGO.
I WAS VERY, VERY PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS.
I THINK MR. HURLBERT IS BEING A LITTLE BIT SHY ABOUT IT.
PERHAPS. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL.
I THINK WE TOOK AN APPROACH THAT WAS PERHAPS DIFFERENT.
IF FOR SOME REASON THEY WERE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WE SORT OF INTERPRETED THAT THEY WERE ON THE FENCE OR MAYBE THE LOCATION THAT WE WERE OFFERING WAS NOT PERHAPS IDEAL FOR THEM.
SO WE DIDN'T LEAVE IT UP TO CHANCE FOR THEM TO GO SEARCHING FOR ANOTHER LOCATION.
WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT IT TO THEM AND WE DID THAT MORE THAN ONCE AND I THINK WE CAME BACK.
I CAME BACK WITH A VERY GOOD FEELING ABOUT IT AND I THINK IT'LL BE FRUITFUL.
AND I THINK IT'LL IT'LL PROVE IN THE RESULTS THAT WE GET.
UM, SOME BIG BRANDS ARE VERY INTERESTED.
THEY SAY, I WANT TO BE IN WASCO.
SO LOOK FOR SOME MAJOR BRANDS TO COME OUR WAY.
MR. MAYOR, A LOT OF THAT CREDIT GOES TO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
SHE SET UP THE APPOINTMENTS AHEAD OF TIME AND AND MADE A LOT OF THAT HAPPEN.
SO, YEAH, SO DON'T BE SO MODEST.
I THINK WE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
KUDOS TO YOU FOR SETTING UP THOSE APPOINTMENTS.
YEAH, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE WORKED WELL AS A TEAM.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DID A VERY DECENT JOB, A GOOD JOB, NOT A DECENT JOB, BUT A VERY GOOD JOB.
LAST THURSDAY, WE ATTENDED THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR STRADA CREDIT UNION.
IT WAS MY FIRST TIME IN SUCH AN EVENT.
AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN GARCIA FOR BEING THERE AND BEING A MENTOR, HELPING ME THROUGH THOSE TIMES AS WELL AS THE STAFF. WHETHER YOU WERE ABLE TO GO OR NOT, THE STAFF HELPED OUT TREMENDOUSLY AND AND HAVING THEM ON SITE AS WELL.
WE KIND OF WISH WE COULD BRING MORE STAFF OUT THERE.
SO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING THERE AS I WAS IN SAN DIEGO.
MY PLEASURE. I COULDN'T DO THAT.
SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MEMBER GARCIA.
AND CONDOLENCES THAT WERE SENT BY A MESSAGE BY A PHONE OVER THE RECENT PASSING OF MY FATHER.
MY STEPFATHER SUPPORTED MY FAMILY THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TIMES OF OUR LIVES.
SO I CREDIT A LOT OF THE SUCCESS THAT MYSELF AND MY FAMILY ENJOY TO HIS LEGACY.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO MENTION HIS NAME THIS EVENING, WHICH IS [INAUDIBLE] BEYOND THAT, THOUGH, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
BUT NOW I DO WANT TO SEND MY APPRECIATION TO THE STAFF.
[00:50:03]
AND THAT'S JUST THE RECURRING THEME HERE.EVERY MEETING, THEY REALLY DO SO MUCH.
AND I LOVE BEING ABLE TO DISPLAY AN EXHIBIT, WHAT WE DO AND WHO WE ARE AS A CITY TO OUR RESIDENTS.
I TOO WAS AT THE GROUNDBREAKING LAST THURSDAY.
I WAS VERY, VERY HAPPY TO BE THERE, EXCITED.
I WISH MORE STAFF WAS THERE TO BE THERE IN CELEBRATION WITH US AS WELL, BECAUSE IT REALLY IS YOUR GUYS'S VICTORY, THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND BEING ABLE TO JUMP ON THEM WHEN THEY COME TO OUR DOORSTEPS IS ALL THE IS REALLY UP TO THE PREPARATION AND THANKS TO THE PREPARATION THAT THEY DO, I'M NOT TAKING ANY CREDIT. BUT I REMEMBER AS SOON AS THE BANK OF AMERICA CLOSED, I WENT TO MY BUDDY JOSE OVER AT STRADA AND I TOLD HIM, HEY, WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.
AND I DO A LOT OF THAT AND KNOCK ON DOORS OF PEOPLE'S, YOU KNOW, OFFICES OR WHATNOT.
AND I ASKED THEM, HEY, WHAT ABOUT WASCO? AND OFTENTIMES IT FALLS ON THE ON THE BACK BURNER.
AND TO HAVE THAT HERE LOCALLY AND FOR THE AREA UP HERE IN NORTH KOREA.
AND SO I WILL RESERVE THE REMAINDER OF MY COMMENTS IN FOR THE SAKE OF TIME.
BUT THANK YOU FOR FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
I HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT, MR. MAYOR, EXCEPT YOU CAN ADD MY WIFE AND I TO YOUR COVID SHOT STATISTICS.
WE TOOK OUR WE GOT OUR SECOND BOOSTER ON SATURDAY, AND IT DIDN'T HURT.
I'LL BE THERE NEXT MONTH. I'LL BE THERE NEXT MONTH.
I GOT TODAY HURT WORSE OF THE COVID SHOT.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A NEW BOOSTER SHOT.
SO IF THEY HAD FOUR FULL VACCINES, THE TWO ORIGINAL PLUS TWO BOOSTERS, YOU'RE ELIGIBLE.
I THINK EVERYBODY'S ELIGIBLE FOR A FIFTH ONE.
NOW, I JUST WANT A DIFFERENT KIND OF AND IT'S NOT IT'S NOT BEING DONE BY A MEMBER.
YOU COULD HAVE FIRST AND SECOND VACCINE AND A THIRD A BOOSTER.
AND THEN YOU CAN GET THIS ONE AND IT SUPERSEDES THE OTHERS.
AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S SPECIFICALLY FORMULATED FOR VA FOUR AND VA FIVE, WHICH IS OMICRON.
ALL RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT I GOT ON SATURDAY.
SO, YEAH, I'M ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES.
MR. MARTINEZ, MEMBER MARTINEZ.
ALL RIGHT. WE DON'T HAVE A CLOSED SESSION.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.