Aug 01, 2023 City Council

ALL RIGHT.

[00:00:04]

[1) CALL TO ORDER]

MADAM CLERK, CAN WE PLEASE HAVE THE ROLL CALL? ALL MEMBERS PRESENT.

PLEASE STAND FOR A FLAG SALUTE.

SALUTE. PLEDGE.

. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR AN INVOCATION BY MANUEL CANTU.

AMEN. LET'S BOW OUR HEADS.

THANK YOU, HEAVENLY FATHER, FOR GIVING US FATHER TO BE HERE FOR THE CHARGE AND THE POSITION THAT YOU'VE GIVEN THIS COUNCIL TO LEAD THIS CITY AT THIS SUCH A TIME AS THIS.

FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU ALLOW YOUR HOLY SPIRIT TO TOUCH THEIR HEARTS AND THEIR MINDS AS THEY PLAN THE FUTURE OF THE CITY OF WASCO FATHER.

WE ALSO ASK FOR OUR CITY MANAGER, SCOTT AND HIS TEAM AS WELL AS THEY SUPPORT THE VISION THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS SET FORTH ALONG WITH OUR POLICE AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

FATHER, THAT YOU WOULD PROTECT THEM AT ALL TIMES.

ALSO, AS WE AS WE GET READY TO START THIS SCHOOL SEASON, FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU THAT YOUR MIGHTY HAND, YOUR ANGELS ACCOMPANY THOSE CHILDREN AS THEY WALK TO SCHOOL AND AND THOSE OUR SCHOOLS FATHER THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO TO HAVE THAT MINDSET OF OF GROWING OUR ACADEMICS GROWING OUR SCHOOLS.

FATHER, SO THAT OUR KIDS CAN GO OUT AND DO GREATER THINGS AND HAVE GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEMSELVES.

I ASK ALL THIS NAME, JESUS CHRIST.

AMEN. PLEASE BE SEATED.

PRESENTATION PROCLAMATION FOR KELLY RICHARDS.

[5) PRESENTATIONS]

AND. WHEREAS, IN 1993, MR. RICHARDS ACCEPTED A POSITION WITH WASCO UNION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT AS VICE PRINCIPAL FOR THOMAS JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HAS SINCE SERVED AS PRINCIPAL FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND PALM AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND DIRECTOR OF CATEGORICAL PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS.

EXCUSE ME. WHEREAS MR. RICHARDS BEGAN HIS SUPERINTENDENT ROLE IN 2014.

UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP AS SUPERINTENDENT, MR. RICHARDS SUCCESSFULLY SUPERVISED THE PASSAGE OF BONDS TOTALING $36 MILLION, CONSTRUCTED A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, CONVERTED TO PALM PALM AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO A MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH A NEW GYM, CONSTRUCTED NEW MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION BUILDINGS.

EXCUSE ME. SUPERVISED ADDITIONAL ADDITION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION BUSSES, RENOVATIONS TO OTHER SCHOOLS, EXPANSION OF SERVICES THROUGH SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPLEMENTARY FUNDS DIRECTED AT THOSE STUDENTS MOST IN NEED, EXPANDING NURSING STAFF, LIAISON AT EACH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE DIRECTED PROGRAMS. AND. WHEREAS, SUCCESSFULLY AND COURAGEOUSLY LED THE DISTRICT THROUGH ITS MOST UNPRECEDENTED TIME DURING COVID 19 PANDEMIC BY PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF AND REMAINED COMMITTED TO FOSTERING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THAT FOCUSED ON CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, PREPARING EVERY STUDENT TO BECOME A LIFELONG LEARNER AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN.

AND. WHEREAS, HIS LIFELONG DEDICATION TO EDUCATION IS EVIDENCED BY HIS DEDICATION AND LOYALTY TO THE COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH HE SERVED, AND ON THIS OCCASION, IT IS FITTING TO PAUSE AND REFLECT AND APPRECIATION OF MR. RICHARDS IN HIS DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE WASCO UNION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

NOW, THEREFORE, I VINCENT MARTINEZ MAYOR OF WASCO, ON BEHALF OF THE WASCO CITY COUNCIL AND ITS CITIZENS, DO HEREBY DECLARE OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION AND HEREBY EXTEND TO MR. KELLY RICHARDS OUR CONGRATULATIONS ON HIS WELL EARNED RECOGNITION OF RETIREMENT AND OUR BEST WISHES FOR HIS CONTINUED SUCCESS, HAPPINESS AND GOOD HEALTH IN THE YEARS TO COME. WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD, SIR, AND SAY A FEW WORDS? INTO THIS LITTLE THING? YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT THAT THEIR JOB BECOMES A SECOND HOME.

BUT IN THIS INSTANCE, WASCO HAS BECOME MY FIRST HOME.

I SPENT MORE TIME HERE THAN I HAVE AT HOME.

I SPENT 30 YEARS IN WASCO IN EVERY ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY THAT EXISTS.

AND THE THINGS THAT YOU SAY THAT WERE DONE, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND.

I DIDN'T BUILD ANYTHING.

OKAY? I WAS A MASON'S APPRENTICE AT ONE TIME AND LIFTED SOME CONCRETE BLOCKS.

BUT THE ABILITY OF THE PEOPLE OF WASCO TO SEE THE FUTURE IS WHAT REALLY WAS IMPORTANT HERE.

AND THEY ENABLED US TO BUILD A NEW SCHOOL NORTH OF 46 WHERE WE NEEDED IT.

CONVERT PALM AVENUE FROM A DETERIORATING, HORRIBLE SANDBOX INTO A MODERN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

[00:05:05]

WE WILL CONTINUE THIS AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A NEW OFFICE FOR CARL CLEMENS ON THE GRIFFITH SIDE SO THAT THERE UNLOADING WILL BE OFF THE STREET, WHICH IS SOMETHING I REALLY WANTED TO DO AND WE RAN OUT OF MONEY.

BUT THAT WILL BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR ALSO.

SO WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

AND IN THE INVOCATION, THE ANGELS WILL BE ASSISTED IN LOOKING OVER THE CHILDREN BY HAVING AN OFF THE STREET UNLOADING FOR THEM RATHER THAN ON BROADWAY, WHICH AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, IS NOT A BROAD WAY.

SO I DEEPLY APPRECIATE THIS HONOR FROM THE CITY.

THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.

IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK IN WASCO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I WILL. YOU KNOW, I'VE KNOWN KELLY SINCE HE FIRST ARRIVED IN THE DISTRICT.

I HAVE HAPPY AND PROUD TO CALL HIM A FRIEND.

AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S JUST A MAN THAT IS UNASSUMING.

AND FREQUENTLY WHEN I WENT TO VISIT HIM AT HIS OFFICE, HE WAS PLAYING SOLITAIRE ON HIS COMPUTER.

AND OTHER PEOPLE CAN TELL YOU THE SAME THING THAT HE WAS DOING THAT.

BUT HE WAS ALWAYS LISTENING.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE THIS.

THIS IS A MAN THAT CAN ACTUALLY WRITE BACKWARDS.

HE'S ABLE TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, SO THAT MEANS THAT HIS BRAIN IS SOMEHOW CONNECTED, THAT MOST OF US DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY.

SO HE'S A VISIONARY.

AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW HE WENT THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES AT ONE POINT BEFORE HE BECAME SUPERINTENDENT.

AND SO I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE HAD HIM HERE IN WASCO AND THAT HE WAS ABLE TO ACHIEVE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HE ACHIEVED BECAUSE ALL THOSE THINGS HAVE MADE US MADE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM BETTER FOR OUR CHILDREN.

THANK YOU, KELLY, FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE.

THANK YOU.

MIC].

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MOVING ON TO ITEM SIX PUBLIC COMMENTS.

[6) PUBLIC COMMENTS]

SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES.

A MAXIMUM OF 30 MINUTES WILL BE ALLOWED FOR ANY ONE SUBJECT.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE MAKING YOUR PRESENTATION.

BROWN ACT REQUIREMENTS.

THE BROWN ACT DOES NOT ALLOW ACTION OR DISCUSSION ON ITEMS, NOT ON THE AGENDA SUBJECT TO NARROW EXCEPTIONS.

THIS WILL LIMIT A COUNCIL MEMBER'S RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS MADE DURING THIS COMMENT PERIOD.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? MR. COUCH. YES, SIR.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

JUST JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE HERE.

FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS TO KELLY AND.

YES, KELLY, I KNOW I LOST THE BET.

I OWE YOU THE LUNCH.

YOU THOUGHT I'D NEVER ADMIT THAT, DIDN'T YOU? YOU TOLD ME OFF. AS YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT MY STAFF IS ART ARMENDARIZ, WHO HANDLES A LOT OF DELANO AND MCFARLAND ISSUES.

AND WE'VE GOT JESUS PEREZ.

MANY OF YOU KNOW HIM AS JESSE.

HE HANDLES A LOT IN ARVIN AND LAMONT.

AND I'VE BEEN REALLY LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO WORK IN THE SHAFTER WASCO AREA.

AND A YOUNG LADY CAME TO US LAST YEAR FROM THE MADI INSTITUTE.

HER NAME IS MARIA ESPINOSA.

AND WE LIKED HER SO MUCH THAT WE ASKED HER TO STICK AROUND AND BECOME A FULL TIME EMPLOYEE IN THE DISTRICT FOUR OFFICE.

[00:10:01]

YOU'LL BE SEEING A LOT MORE OF HER.

I REALLY WANT HER TO FOCUS ON THE WASCO AND SHAFTER AREA.

AND SO WITH THAT, I GIVE YOU MARIA ESPINOSA.

HELLO, EVERYONE.

SO MY NAME IS MARIA ESPINOSA, AND LIKE THE SUPERVISOR SAID, I AM THE NEWEST MEMBER OF DISTRICT FOUR TEAM.

I'M SUPER EXCITED.

I RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM CSUB WITH MY MASTER'S IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND I'M ORIGINALLY FROM LOS ANGELES, BUT I CAME HERE.

I LOVED IT SO MUCH THAT I DECIDED TO STAY AND TRY TO HELP OUT MY COMMUNITY.

SO I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED TO GET STARTED, START WORKING, MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND GET AS INVOLVED AS I CAN.

SO I DON'T HAVE ANY BUSINESS CARDS.

BUT AFTER IF YOU GUYS SEE ME AROUND, SAY HI, INTRODUCE YOURSELVES, I'LL INTRODUCE MYSELF AND THEN WE CAN CONNECT.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. THANK YOU.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU.

WELCOME TO OUR SIDE OF TOWN OR OUR SIDE OF THE DISTRICT, I SHOULD SAY, MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS? THERE ARE NO EMAIL COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM OR ANY OTHER ITEM ON THIS AGENDA.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO SUCCESSOR AGENCY BUSINESS.

WE HAVE NO BUSINESS FOR WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY CONSENT CALENDAR.

[9) CONSENT CALENDAR]

IN THE STAFF'S OPINION, THESE ITEMS ARE APPROVED IN ONE MOTION UNLESS A COUNCIL MEMBER OR A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REQUESTS THE REMOVAL OF A PARTICULAR ITEM.

THIS EVENING WE HAVE ITEMS NINE A THROUGH NINE H.

MOVE TO APPROVE. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK THE MEMBERS IF THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON A PARTICULAR ITEM ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA? NONE. MEMBER MEDINA? NO CONFLICT MEMBER REYNA? NO CONFLICT. MEMBER SALDANA? NO CONFLICT. AND I HAVE NO CONFLICT.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE AN ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE AN ITEM? MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA? MAYOR, WE DO WANT TO PULL ITEM 9F FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.

9F? OKAY. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED? NO, NOTHING ELSE. MEMBER MEDINA, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO REMOVE? NO, I'M GOOD. MEMBER REYNA.

YES, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM 9D AND 9E IS RELATED TO THAT ITEM.

SO DO I NEED TO PULL THEM BOTH? I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THE PARK.

SO DO I NEED TO PULL THEM BOTH? DO WE NEED TO PULL THEM TO ANSWER A QUESTION? NO. IF IT'S A QUICK QUESTION.

IF IT'S A QUESTION WE CAN ANSWER OR TRY.

IF NOT, IF IT NEEDS MORE THOROUGH DISCUSSION, WE CAN PULL ONE OR BOTH.

WHY DON'T I ASK THE QUESTION THEN YOU CAN TELL ME IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN JUST PROCEED.

SURE. OKAY.

SO I READ THE REPORT AND IT STATES THAT THE THE PARK IS GOING TO RECEIVE A DOG RUN.

RIGHT? A DOG PARK.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SEVENTH STREET PARK, RIGHT? YES. OKAY.

AND THEN ALSO, IT SAYS THAT THE MONEY THAT WE'RE RECEIVING, WHICH IS NOT A LOT, 177, 178,000 ROUND NUMBERS.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE A MINIMUM MINOR AMENITIES IS THE WORDING THAT IS USED IN THE REPORT AND ON THE CONTRACT.

AND SO I WANTED TO ASK, ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE PARK BENCHES OR TABLES SO WE BETTER WE I THINK WE BETTER GO AHEAD AND PULL IT BECAUSE THOSE ARE UNRELATED TO THIS ITEM.

THIS ITEM IS A CORRECTION OF A LEGAL DESCRIPTION, RIGHT, THAT OCCURRED DURING THE TRANSFER.

AND IT'S SOLELY TO TO CORRECT THAT ERROR.

THERE'S NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PARK DESIGN OR AMENITIES OR FUTURE OR PAST USE OF THE PARK AT ALL.

OKAY. BECAUSE I READ THE CONTRACT AND ALL OF THESE THINGS WERE STIPULATED ON IT.

ARE WE LOOKING AT TWO DIFFERENT ITEMS? I THINK NINE THERE ARE TWO ITEMS. SO THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING, WHETHER I NEED TO PULL THE CORRECTION SO NINE THE FIRST ITEM IS, IS JUST A CORRECTION.

SO THE SECOND ITEM IS A DEED RESTRICTION, RIGHT? WHICH INCLUDES THE GRANT AGREEMENT, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE DEED RESTRICTION, RIGHT? SO AM I ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS 9E? YEAH, I THINK WE BETTER PULL IT TO TO DISCUSS IT IN MORE DETAIL.

ALL RIGHT. SO I DON'T IT'S 9D, IT'S 9E.

[00:15:01]

SO THAT'S TRUE. LET ME JUST MAKE SURE.

MEMBER SALDANA, THERE'S NOTHING YOU'D LIKE TO PULL? NO, NO. OKAY. I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR 9E AND F.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

MADAM CLERK, WE HAVE THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL.

THAT WAS. THAT WAS IT. SO WE'RE GOOD? NO, JUST. OKAY.

MOTION BY MAYOR MARTINEZ, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MEDINA, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR WITH SEPARATE CONSIDERATIONS ON ITEM 9E AND 9F OR FURTHER DISCUSSION MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

[9) e. Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager or Designee to record a deed restriction on City owned property at APN 030-071-12 and 19 and find that this project is classified as categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Section 15061(b)(3).]

SO MY THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS THIS THE CONTRACT STIPULATES THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THIS DOG PARK IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING PARK AND THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE MINOR AMENITIES.

AND SO I HAVE A CONCERN BECAUSE WE KNOW I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THAT PARK IS USED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I'VE COUNTED AS MANY AS OVER 40 MEN AT ONE TIME IN THAT PARK.

AND SO MY QUESTION IS THIS ARE WE GOING TO HAVE IN THOSE MINOR AMENITIES STILL THE ABILITY TO HAVE TABLES AND BENCHES WHERE THESE PEOPLE CAN SIT AND ENJOY AN AFTERNOON PLAYING CARDS OR DOMINOES OR WHATEVER IT IS THEY PLAY, AND SECOND, THAT DO OUR PLAN OR DOES OUR PLAN INCLUDE A BATHROOM? AND THE REASON FOR THAT QUESTION IS BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THIS MAN, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST WHEN I WENT THERE AND TALKED TO THEM WITH THE PREVIOUS CITY MANAGER, THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE A BATHROOM.

AND PEOPLE JUST EITHER GO BEHIND THE TREE OR ACROSS THE STREET AND DO THEIR BUSINESS.

SO THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE.

AND I'M WONDERING WHETHER THIS MINOR AMENITIES ALLOW US TO INCLUDE THOSE THINGS OR NOT.

CORRECT ME IF I'M STRAY HERE, BUT THE THIS THIS IS A DEED RESTRICTION THAT PRIMARILY THE AIM OF THE DEED RESTRICTION IS TO ENSURE THAT THE PROPERTY, THAT PARCEL IS USED FOR A PARK.

THE REST OF IT IS THEIR WORDS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH A TYPICAL KIND OF A PARK.

THE SPECIFIC AMENITIES OR LACK OF AMENITIES IN A PARK AREN'T AFFECTED BY THIS DOCUMENT OR THIS ITEM AT ALL.

THOSE HAVE TO DO WITH THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARK, WHICH HAVE BEEN EVOLVING OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS.

A COUPLE OF YEARS ANYWAY, AND WILL BE FINALIZED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION PLANS.

SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE CURRENT DESIGN CALLS FOR A RESTROOM BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS THAT FOLLOW PUBLIC RESTROOMS. AND I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN AND THE PERIL OF THAT CHOICE.

BUT IT'S A CHOICE THAT HAS CONSEQUENCES EITHER DIRECTION.

SO AS FAR AS THE DOG RUN IS CONCERNED, THERE IS A CORNER OF THE PARK THAT IS DESIGNATED CURRENTLY ON THE DESIGN TO BE USED FOR A DOG AREA.

AND AND THERE ARE BENCHES AND AND TABLES INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT DESIGN.

OKAY. YEAH. THE DOG RUN SEEMS VERY APPROPRIATE BEING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE DOGS IN THAT PARK ALL THE TIME BECAUSE OF THE VETERINARY CLINIC NEXT DOOR.

BUT IN THE PAST ONE SOMETHING THAT WE DID WAS THAT WE PLACED A MOBILE NOT THAT'S NOT THE CORRECT MOVE.

MAYBE IT IS A MOBILE BATHROOM.

PORTABLE. PORTABLE.

PORTABLE. YES, THAT AND THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED.

BUT WELL, WITH OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THIS, THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, WE WOULD NEED TO AGENDISE A SEPARATE ITEM TO START TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT.

VERY GOOD. SO YOU'VE ANSWERED MY QUESTION.

THERE IS NO RESTRICTIONS BASED.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE LANGUAGE OF THIS CONTRACT DOES NOT PROHIBIT US OR PREVENT US FROM DESIGNING THE PARK TO OUR NEEDS.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? I'M GOING TO SAY NO.

AND DOUBLE CHECK THAT STAFF AND.

[00:20:02]

THE DEED RESTRICTION INCLUDES THE ITEMS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THAT PARTICULAR GRANT APPLICATION THE DOG PARK, THE OTHER PARK AMENITIES KIND OF GENERIC TERM. THAT FUNDING IS GOING TO BE USED TO REHABILITATE THAT PARK INCLUDING PARKING.

AND THE DEED RESTRICTION JUST SAYS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THAT AS A PART OF THAT SPACE, AS A PARK.

SO WE CAN'T SELL IT TO SOMEBODY TO BUILD A BUILDING ON OR WE CAN'T.

WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN IT AS OPEN SPACE.

IN FACT, UNTIL 1948, IF I READ CORRECTLY.

YEAH. SO THAT'S A LONG TIME.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR ON ALL THESE THINGS BECAUSE ONCE WE ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT, I DON'T WANT TO FIND OUT THAT WE'RE UNABLE TO DO THESE THINGS THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS.

SECOND. WE HAVE TO DO THEM SEPARATE, RIGHT, MARIA? THE TWO ITEMS THE TWO ITEMS WILL BE SEPARATE.

YES. MADAM CLERK, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

CAN WE HAVE THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL? I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR.

WHO SECONDED. OKAY.

OKAY.

. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

SORRY. MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA TO APPROVE ITEM 9E.

MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

[9) f. Adopt a Resolution to Execute a Transfer of the Kern County Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) Funds from the City of California City to the City of Wasco for Fiscal Years 2022 Through 2023, for the Transit Bus Shelter(s) Project, in the amount of $37,178.00; and Find that Pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities), the proposed project is Categorically Exempt]

OKAY. I WILL JUST INTRODUCE STAFF WHO WILL GO INTO MORE DETAIL.

IT'S LARGELY A CORRECTION TO THE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS FOR THE RESOLUTION.

OKAY, I'M GOING TO GET UP TO THE PODIUM.

OKAY? HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THE CITY OF WASCO WAS CONTACTED BY KERN COX STAFF LAST WEEK, AND THEY HAD SOME MONEY THAT WAS NOT UTILIZED BY CALIFORNIA CITY AND THEY WERE ASKING IF WASCO COULD ACCEPT THAT TRANSFER.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS ITEM IS ALL ABOUT.

IT'S ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 37,001 78 THAT THE CITY OF CALIFORNIA COULD NOT FIND A PROJECT FOR.

AND WE'RE BEING ASKED IF IF IF WASCO ACCEPTS IT, THAT WOULD BE ADDED TO OUR CURRENT ELK TOP PROJECT, WHICH WAS THE BUS SHELTERS AT THE CITY CLERK TRANSIT DEPARTMENT WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR TEAM IDENTIFYING THOSE KEY LOCATIONS OF WHERE THESE SHELTERS WOULD BE PLACED.

SO THIS MONEY WOULD BE ADDED TO THAT PROJECT, WHICH WOULD GIVE US AROUND A LITTLE OVER $100,000 TO IMPLEMENT THAT.

AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING TONIGHT IS THAT COUNCIL APPROVES THIS RESOLUTION AND WITH WITH THE ADDITION OF TWO SECTIONS TOWARDS THE BOTTOM, SECTION THREE AND SECTION FOUR.

SECTION THREE, BASICALLY, WE'RE AGREEING THE CITY OF WASCO AGREES TO COMPLY WITH ALL THE CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THE CERTIFICATION AND ASSURANCE DOCUMENT AND REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES OF THE LCT PROGRAM.

AND THEN SECTION FOUR IS WE'RE ACCEPTING THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS AND THE TERMS AND THE CONDITIONS FOR DOING SO AND ALLOWING OUR CITY MANAGER AUTHORIZING HIM TO SIGN ANY DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE TRANSFER TO TAKE PLACE.

SO WE'RE ASKING THAT IF TO CONSIDER AND ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION WITH THE ADDITION OF SECTION THREE AND FOUR.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS? I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM F.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

MADAM CLERK, CAN WE HAVE THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL? . MOTION BY MAYOR MARTINEZ.

SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA TO APPROVE ITEM 9F WITH THE CHANGES AS MENTIONED.

MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS, NO DEFERRED BUSINESS, NO NEW BUSINESS.

ITEM 13 REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES.

CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

[13) a. Kern Economic Development Corporation (Garcia)]

CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA NO MEETING, NOTHING TO REPORT.

[13) b. Kern Council of Government (Reyna)]

[13) c. Wasco Task Force (Reyna & Medina)]

WE'LL BE MEETING IN AUGUST.

I HAVE NOT SENT OUT AN EMAIL, BUT IT WILL PROBABLY BE MID AUGUST AND THEN WE PROBABLY WON'T MEET UNTIL NOVEMBER.

I'LL BE PRETTY BUSY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

[00:25:01]

[14) REPORTS FROM KC FIRE AND SHERIFF]

SERGEANT STACEY? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

I'VE BEEN OUT OF TOWN TRAINING FOR A WEEK.

AND THEN BECAUSE OF THE 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY, YOU GUYS DIDN'T HAVE A MEETING, SO I GOT TO MISS ONE.

NOTHING TOO EXTRAVAGANT HAS COME UP OVER THE LAST MONTH OR SO.

WE HAVE BEEN MAINTAINING OUR FOCUS TOWARDS THE OLD LABOR CAMP, TRYING TO GET THE SUBJECTS THAT ARE ENDED UP MOVING IN THERE ILLEGALLY.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET THOSE GUYS OUT OF THERE, MAKING SOME ARRESTS OFF OF SOME GOOD THEFTS.

AND THE FROM THE BUSINESSES, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY CERTAIN PEOPLE AND MADE GOOD ARRESTS FROM THERE.

ON THE 26TH OF JUNE, THERE WAS AN ARMED ROBBERY OFF OF 46 AND 43 AT THE GAS STATION THERE.

MY DEPUTIES DID A GREAT JOB AND WITH ALL THE EVIDENCE THAT THEY LOCATED, IDENTIFIED BOTH SUBJECTS INVOLVED AND TIED THEM ALSO TO A BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT ROBBERY. SO THEY ARE ALSO IN CUSTODY AT THIS TIME.

SO THAT WAS A GOOD A GOOD INVESTIGATION THAT DEPUTIES DID THERE.

THEY DID A PHENOMENAL JOB.

THE AMOUNT OF CALLS AT THE LILY ADDRESS HAVE GONE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY.

SO WITH THE WASCO CITY'S HELP AND WHOEVER YOU GUYS WORKED WITH ON THAT HAS REALLY TAKEN DOWN THE CALLS FOR SERVICE FOR THE DEPUTIES AND THE ATVS, THE OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLES THAT ARE DRIVING AROUND THE ROADS.

I HAVEN'T HEARD TOO MANY COMPLAINTS LATELY ABOUT THEM.

HOPEFULLY WE'VE MADE SEVERAL ARRESTS ON IT AND TOLD TO SEVERAL OF THEM.

SO HOPEFULLY THEY'RE GETTING THE THE IDEA THAT IT'S ILLEGAL TO RIDE THOSE OUT ON THE STREETS AND TO BE SAFE.

SO THAT'S THE MAIN THINGS I HAVE LATELY.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND COMMEND YOUR STAFF.

I'VE HAD A FEW PEOPLE THAT HAVE COMMENTED TO ME THAT THEY'VE SEEN INCREASED PATROLS IN WASCO AND MORE TRAFFIC STOPS AND IT IS NOTICEABLE IN THE COMMUNITY IS PAYING ATTENTION.

SO THANK YOU, SIR. ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.

AND, YOU KNOW, A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH SCOTT AND CHIEF [INAUDIBLE].

I KNOW HE'S OUT OF THE STATE, BUT WHATEVER YOU WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.

SO WE APPRECIATE THE BACKING ON THAT.

THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOU, SHERIFF.

I THINK THAT THE DEPUTIES, AGAIN, ARE WORKING UNDER VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS.

BUT I DID MENTION TO YOU WHEN I MET WITH YOU NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT I SEE THE DEPUTIES OUT THERE MORE THAN EVER.

SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT.

AND WELL, THANK YOU. YOU'RE MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE.

I DO MY JOB. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE DEPUTIES ARE HERE TO PROTECT THE CITY OF WASCO.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S TIMES WHERE WE CAN'T GET TO CERTAIN THINGS RIGHT AWAY, BUT THEY DO MAKE AN EFFORT TO HANDLE EVERYTHING TO THE FULLEST.

AND I THINK IT'S SHOWN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS OF THE CASES THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER AND THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO SO FAR.

SO I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR.

[15) REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER]

YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

I HAVE A FEW ITEMS. FIRST, SINCE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC, I'D LIKE TO THANK SERGEANT STACY FOR HIS SPECIFIC COOPERATION.

NEXT DOOR. WE'RE INVADING THEIR SPACE REGULARLY NOW WITH THE REMODELING EFFORTS IN THE FACILITY, PREPARING IT FOR THE PD.

THEY'VE BEEN VERY TOLERANT AND VERY UNDERSTANDING IN SPITE OF NOISE AND DUST AND AND FREQUENT VISITS.

SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED.

SO A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS, SNIP EVENTS, THEY'RE STACKING UP NOW.

WE HAVE ONE TOMORROW, AUGUST 2ND, AND THEN AGAIN AUGUST 23RD, 8 TO 4 AT THE COURTHOUSE AND ALSO SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER THE 6TH AND THE 20TH OF THE MONTH.

THOSE ARE WEDNESDAYS, 8 TO 4 AT THE COURTHOUSE.

PREVIOUS EVENT, WE STRUGGLED WITH THE THE.

TERM TO USE HERE, BUT WE DECIDED THAT WE SNIPPED 47 ANIMALS DURING THE LAST EVENT TOTAL.

SO THAT'S THE BEST TERMS WE COULD COME UP WITH.

ADVENTIST HEALTH IS HOSTING A FREE WASCO WASCO COMMUNITY BACK TO SCHOOL HEALTH FAIR ON THE SECOND TOMORROW.

AGAIN 9 A.M.

TO 4 P.M.

CITY WILL MAN A BOOTH THERE FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION TO THE VISITORS AND YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED AN INVITE A CALENDAR INVITE ON YOUR CITY EMAIL FROM THE CITY CLERK IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO STOP BY BETWEEN 4:00 AND OR BETWEEN 9 AND 4, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

WE HAVE A RIBBON CUTTING COMING UP FOR THE POSO UNDERPASS.

[00:30:04]

AND WE'RE GOING TO YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A FLIER AND OR INVITE FOR THAT AS WELL.

IF YOU CAN ATTEND, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

REALLY DON'T HAVE A GOOD FEELING FOR THE SIZE OF THE GROUP THAT'S GOING TO SHOW UP THERE.

IT COULD BE 10 OR 15.

IT COULD BE 50.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

SO WE'RE WE'RE PLANNING ON 50 JUST IN CASE.

BUT WE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM THE MAYOR AND MYSELF.

THEY'RE TELLING ME AND AS WELL AS BRIAN KELLY, THE CEO OF THE HIGH SPEED RAIL, IS GOING TO BE PRESENT, AS WELL AS SOME OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE ORGANIZATION.

SO AND WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE FIRST VEHICLE TO OFFICIALLY DRIVE ON THE OPEN ROAD WILL BE A CITY VEHICLE AND OCCUPIED, HOPEFULLY BY SOME OF YOU. SO LOVE IT.

AGAIN, 10 A.M. ON THURSDAY.

AND I THINK PARK NORTH OF THE PARK WEST, THERE'S A THAT NORTHERN END OF THAT BLOCK HAS SOME PARKING AREA AND SOME DIRT AREA.

SO THERE WON'T BE A LOT OF ROOM FOR PARKING RIGHT IN THE UNDERPASS AREA.

WE HAVE A COMMUNITY BREAKFAST MEETING WILL BE TOMORROW AS WELL, 7 A.M.

AT THE OLD COURTHOUSE ACROSS THE STREET.

THERE IS A DEADLINE.

YOU MAY RECALL THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR A TOUR OUT AT THE WASCO STATE PRISON FACILITY THAT WAS BEING PUT TOGETHER THROUGH THAT GROUP. AND THEY'RE MANAGING SOME OF THE THE CLEARANCE THAT MUST BE OBTAINED BEFORE ATTENDING THAT.

SO THE DEADLINE IS AUGUST 23RD TO HAVE YOUR PAPERWORK SUBMITTED FOR TO GET CLEARANCE TO ATTEND WITH THAT THAT ACTUAL TOUR AND THE TOUR WILL BE ON SEPTEMBER.

FIFTH, SIXTH, SEPTEMBER 6TH AFTER THE COMMUNITY BREAKFAST.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A CONFLICT WITH A FUTURE ITEM ON MY LIST HERE.

WE HAVE AN OPEN RECRUITMENT FOR TWO SEATS ON THE MEASURE X COMMITTEE.

SO IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT MAY BE INTERESTED IN THAT, WE'LL BE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THAT.

IT WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THURSDAY AS WELL.

LET FOLKS KNOW THAT IF THEY'RE INTERESTED, THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY AND POSSIBLY SERVE IS COMING UP.

MAY I ASK A QUESTION? ARE THESE PEOPLE THAT TERMS AS THEIR TERM HAS ENDED AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO CONTINUE? IS THAT WHY WE HAVE TWO SEATS AVAILABLE? YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND THE OBLIGATION THERE IS AT MINIMUM, AN ANNUAL MEETING.

AND THEN OCCASIONALLY WE'LL HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING FOR THAT COMMITTEE.

BUT IT'S IT'S PRETTY RARE.

SO NOT A HUGE REQUIREMENT.

SO THE CONFLICTING EVENT, SEPTEMBER 5TH THROUGH SEVENTH IS THE CERT TRAINING, WHICH IS THE CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY ENTITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM.

THERE YOU GO. COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM.

SO THAT'S COMING UP. THIS IS THREE SOLID DAYS, SO IT'S A PRETTY GOOD COMMITMENT.

SEPTEMBER 5TH, SIXTH AND SEVENTH AT THE COURTHOUSE.

IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE CERT TRAINING IN THE PAST, THEN THERE WILL BE A 1 OR 2 ONLINE PREREQUISITES THAT CAN BE COMPLETED ANY TIME BEFORE THEN. SO IF YOU HAVE INTEREST, LOOK FOR FURTHER INFORMATION FROM STAFF AND WE'LL GET THE INFORMATION FOR YOU.

SOUNDS GOOD. CENTRAL PARK GROUNDBREAKING.

TENTATIVE DATE OF AUGUST 10TH AT 9 A.M.

OUT AT THE SITE.

THIS WOULD BE AT PHIL IN CENTRAL.

AND WE'LL HAVE SOME SHOVELS AVAILABLE TO THROW SOME DIRT TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF THAT PROJECT OUT THERE.

THE PROJECT ACTUALLY BEGINS THE FOLLOWING WEEK, BUT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF CONFLICTS FOR THAT DATE AS WELL.

SO IT'LL BE CEREMONIAL.

SO EIGHT, TEN AT NIGHT, 810 AT 9 A.M.? YES. YOU SHOULD HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED A CALENDAR INVITE FOR THAT.

JUST A COUPLE MORE TO GO HERE.

AND THIS IS WHERE I GOT CONFUSED.

WE HAVE CERT TRAINING, BUT WE ALSO HAVE SURF THE SURF MEETING, WHICH IS THE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC RESILIENCE FUND.

SO I'M HAVING SOME ACRONYM OVERLOAD HERE.

KERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT HAS IS SPONSORING THIS EFFORT AND THERE'S A FLIER.

[00:35:01]

AND ALSO, I BELIEVE THAT WILL BE HERE AT THE AT THE OLD COURTHOUSE.

THIS IS RELATED TO THE EVENT WE ATTENDED LAST MONTH, MR. REYNA. THAT SAME SUBSET OF FOLKS WITH THE ENERGY RESILIENCE.

OH, YES, YES, I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EFFORT.

YEAH. YEAH.

OKAY. NEXT TO LAST CITY HAS ACCEPTED AN OFFER OR A NEGOTIATED DEAL, WHICHEVER WAY YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT, TO DISTRIBUTE COMPOST BE PROVIDED BY AMERICAN REFUSE AND DISTRIBUTED IN THE SAME LOCATION AT ANNAN AND GROMER, WHERE WE HAVE THE RECYCLE FOR FOLKS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.

SO PART OF 1383 TRASH LEGISLATION IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF COMPOST.

GREEN WASTE NEEDS TO BE TURNED INTO COMPOST AND THEN DISTRIBUTED FOR BENEFICIAL USES.

WE DON'T HAVE A MECHANISM OR A STAFF TO DO THAT OURSELVES, BUT THERE IS EXCESS COMPOST AVAILABLE THAT AMERICAN REFUSE OFFER TO BRING IN AND DISTRIBUTE FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

SO I'M HOPING THAT THAT WILL START SOON, TOMORROW, TOMORROW BEING SOON.

AND IT'S FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.

IT'LL JUST BE DROPPED OFF IN LOADS WHEN THOSE LOADS ARE GONE, YOU GOT TO WAIT TILL THE NEXT LOAD SHOWS UP.

SO MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS IS IT'S GENERALLY PRETTY GOOD QUALITY COMPOST.

I USED TO BUY MINE FROM THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD GREEN WASTE FACILITY DOWN OFF OF 58, GET AN OCCASIONAL PIECE OF PLASTIC OR SOMETHING IN THERE, BUT OVERALL IT'S PRETTY GOOD QUALITY COMPOST.

SO HOPEFULLY THE FOLKS IN TOWN WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS.

YOU RECEIVED NO WEEDS WITH IT.

NO WEEDS? NO, THAT WOULD BE MY CONCERN.

I CAN DEAL WITH THE PLASTIC, BUT THE WEEDS, THE PLASTIC, A LITTLE PIECE OF GLASS ONCE IN A WHILE OR SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T, THAT'S BOUND TO HAPPEN.

YEAH, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, PRETTY GOOD.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE EYESORE AT JUST NORTH OF SEVENTH STREET ON D, THAT ABANDONED BUILDING THAT USED TO BE A MARKET IS GONE.

IT'S BARE DIRT NOW.

SO I KNOW A COUPLE OF YOU ARE WATCHING THAT VERY CLOSELY.

SO I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT IS GONE.

SO. OKAY. COMING IN WHERE THE STREET JUST NORTH OF SEVENTH ON D, ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE STREET, THERE'S A SQUARE BUILDING THAT USED TO BE A MARKET A LONG TIME AGO.

IT HAD A FIRE, SO THE ROOF HAD COLLAPSED.

AND IT WAS THE WEDDING SHOP.

THE WEDDING SHOP. OKAY.

THAT'S TRUE. AT ONE TIME IT WAS THE TUXEDO THERE.

SO IT WAS OCCUPIED BY TRANSIENTS AND A MAGNET FOR TROUBLE.

YEAH, THAT WAS A PROBLEM. AND A MAGNET FOR CALLS FOR SERVICE.

SO NO LONGER.

THEY MOVED TO ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS PREDICTABLE, BUT.

WELL, WAS THAT AN UPGRADE FOR THEM? PROBABLY NOT.

SO ONE LAST THING I ALMOST FORGOT.

LAST MEETING WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE SHUT OFF NOTICES FOR DELINQUENT UTILITY BILLS WAS GOING TO BE REENGAGED.

THE NOTICES WENT OUT.

WE DID A FAIRLY EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC THAT IT WAS COMING AND THAT IT WAS HERE.

AND WE HAD REMARKABLE RESULTS FROM THIS ADVANCED NOTICE AND HOW SERIOUSLY PEOPLE TAKE THIS.

I WON'T READ ALL THE NUMBERS TO YOU, BUT I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE WERE 432 NOTICES DELIVERED.

OF THOSE, ABOUT HALF CAME IN AND EITHER PAID THEIR ACCOUNT, BROUGHT IT CURRENT OR ENTERED INTO A PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT WITH THE CITY.

SO WE CUT OUR DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS BY ABOUT HALF IN JUST THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS.

THAT'S FOR RESIDENTIAL AND MULTIFAMILY ACCOUNTS.

FOR COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS, A LITTLE BETTER THAN 50%.

31 TOTAL WERE DELINQUENT, 16 EITHER PAID OR MADE AN ARRANGEMENT.

THREE HAD A SERVICE CHANGE, LEAVING ONLY 12 DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS.

SO VERY GOOD A HAPPY RESULT FROM THAT UNDERSTANDING.

AND THAT, I BELIEVE, IS ALL I HAVE.

[16) REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL]

WELL, ON THAT NOTE, I ACTUALLY RIGHT AFTER THAT, I KIND OF ANTICIPATED IT BEING A I DIDN'T REALLY WANT IT TO BE A SHOCKER FOR A LOT OF RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, SO I DECIDED

[00:40:06]

SO I'VE VISITED SOME OF THE CHURCHES SHARING THE NEWS WITH THEM, AND THEY'VE REALLY APPRECIATED THAT AND TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IT.

SO, I MEAN, I'M NOT TAKING CREDIT FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS DAYS AFTER THAT.

BUT I'D LIKE TO.

I'D LIKE TO. I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT EVERYONE'S TAKING ADVANTAGE OF GETTING THAT IN ORDER.

I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THEY'RE JUST.

I IS ANY ASKING ABOUT THE ASSISTANCE AND STILL TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT, OR IS IT JUST PAYING THEM OFF AND GETTING THEM INTO A PAYMENT PLAN? I'M GLAD YOU ASKED BECAUSE THERE IS STILL SOME SELF HELP FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THAT AND THAT IS BEING OFFERED ALONG WITH THE NOTICE AND AT THE COUNTER EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE. RIGHT.

COOL. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TELLING FOLKS ACTUALLY.

CAP K YEAH, I'M SORRY.

NO, I KNEW WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TELLING FOLKS TO CALL CAP K OR JUST TO CALL THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY.

AND YOU GUYS CAN CONNECT THEM WITH THE APPLICATION, BUT THAT'S IT.

OTHER THAN THAT, I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. WE'RE SO DONE.

YOU. I HAVE NOTHING.

MEDINA I WAS PLEASED WITH THE WITH THE NEWS OF THAT BUILDING BEING KNOCKED DOWN.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR FOR THAT EFFORT.

I KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE.

RIGHT. THE PROBLEM ISN'T RESOLVED.

BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THE GENTLEMAN OVER AT HOUSE OF FADES ON SEVENTH STREET ARE GOING TO BE HAVING AN EVENT ON SUNDAY WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE HAVING SOME FREE HAIRCUTS, FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE FOR KIDS.

SO ANY, YOU KNOW, ANY KID THAT MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PAY FOR A HAIRCUT, IT'S GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE HAVING SOME FREE, FREE BACKPACKS, FOOD AND DRINKS.

SO THAT'S ON SUNDAY FROM 9:00 STARTING AT 9:00 IN THE MORNING.

UM, AND THEN I JUST HAD A QUESTION.

IT MAY HAVE CAME UP IN A MEETING PREVIOUSLY, BUT THE WORK THAT HAS HAPPENED ON PALM AND GROMER AREA, WAS THAT JUST EXPANSION OF THE STREET OR IS THERE GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING TO START HAPPENING IN THAT CORNER NOW? THAT WAS THE THAT WAS THE CMAC PROJECT THERE ON PALM AND GROMER, RIGHT? CORRECT. YES. THAT WAS JUST THAT AREA JUST TO EXPAND IT JUST AND THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO CONTINUE DOWN PALM ON SOUTH TO FILBERT.

OKAY. AS WELL.

SO JUST THE EXPANSION THAT WAS JUST THE EXPANSION OF THE ROAD, CORRECT? RIGHT. AND TO ANSWER THE FOLLOW UP QUESTION, SO THERE HAS BEEN INTEREST IN THAT AREA BY DEVELOPERS, BUT NOTHING PENDING AT THIS POINT.

OKAY. SO THAT WAS PURELY GRANT FUNDED.

OKAY. THANK YOU. MEMBER REYNA THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. APPRECIATE THAT.

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL.

IN 2013, THE CITY RECEIVED 2,000,781 $433 IN CALTRANS ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE RECOMMENDATIONS LAID OUT ON THAT PLAN.

MY QUESTION TO YOU, AND I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER TONIGHT, YOU CAN GET BACK TO ME NEXT MEETING IF POSSIBLE.

HAS HAS THOSE FUNDS BEEN EXHAUSTED? YOU KNOW, HAVE WE USED ALL OF THOSE FUNDS AND HAVE WE APPLIED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO MAINTAIN AND ALSO EXPAND THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, AS, YOU KNOW, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL IS A PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO KEEP BOTH KIDS AND, YOU KNOW, BICYCLE RIDERS, PEDESTRIANS AND OF ANY TYPE SAFE.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF WE HAVE USED ALL OF THAT MONEY AND IF WE HAVEN'T OR IF WE HAVEN'T OR IF WE HAVE APPLIED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR IT.

ALSO, EARLIER THIS WEEK, I SENT AN EMAIL TO KERI, TO SCOTT AND TO THE CHIEF.

THERE WAS A VENDOR THAT HAS SET UP A TRUCK AT THE WEST SIDE PARK AND THERE WAS ALSO THIS WAS A TRUCK VENDOR SELLING TACOS.

APPARENTLY THEY HAVE A GREAT REPUTATION BECAUSE EVERYBODY WAS, YOU KNOW, SINGING THEIR PRAISES, HOW GOOD THEIR FOOD IS, AS WELL AS ONE OF THOSE TRICYCLES THAT GO AROUND THE CITY. AND THEY WERE BOTH THERE, YOU KNOW, JUST HAVING THEY WERE SELLING THEIR WARES OR THEIR FOOD.

AND THERE WAS THIS BIG CONVERSATION HAPPENING ON FACEBOOK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE ARE NOT TENDING TO THESE THINGS.

AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE.

I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OUT THERE TRYING TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES.

BUT BEING THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE PROLIFERATING AND THAT WE DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO GET GET A STEP AHEAD OF THEM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY OUT THERE.

I SEE IT ALL THE TIME.

I'M CERTAIN YOU SEE IT AS WELL.

I'M WONDERING WHETHER WE COULD DISCUSS HAVING A NIGHTTIME MARKET OR A NIGHTTIME MARKET THAT WOULD OCCUR

[00:45:06]

AND NOT BEING IN COMPLIANCE WITH ORDINANCES OR EVEN, YOU KNOW, JUST THE BASIC LAWS OF FOOD HANDLING.

SO I'D LIKE FOR US TO CONSIDER THAT FOR THE FUTURE.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

AND I DO WANT TO SAY THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY MY IDEA.

SCOTT, A LONG TIME AGO YOU TALKED ABOUT HAVING A GATHERING PLACE WHERE WE COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER MENTIONING THAT TO ME, BUT I JUST THINK THAT THE SITUATION IS RIPE FOR THAT KIND OF A SOLUTION.

AND MAYBE IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE.

YOU KNOW, THESE VENDORS ARE OUT THERE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BUYING THEIR THINGS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST IT'S JUST A FACT.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY'RE SELLING CORN OR WHATEVER THEY'RE SELLING, PEOPLE ARE BUYING IT.

AND SO IF WE CAN FIND A WAY THAT THEY CAN DO IT SAFELY AND ALSO THAT MAYBE THE CITY CAN COLLECT WHATEVER TAXES WE NEED TO COLLECT, MAYBE THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.

OKAY. SO MAYBE WE CAN BRING THIS IN THE FUTURE FOR A DISCUSSION.

YES. SO WHAT WHAT I'M GOING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS IS WE'LL GET YOU AN ACCOUNTING OF THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM AND WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT.

AND THEN, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, BEING GOVERNMENT, THE THE VENDOR GATHERING SPOT IS PROBABLY MORE INVOLVED THAN WE THINK AS FAR AS POLICIES AND ORDINANCES AND WHATNOT WOULD NEED TO PRECEDE ROLLING OUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT WE CAN DO SOME RESEARCH ON ON THE STEPS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED AND, AND POTENTIAL PROS AND CONS.

YEAH. AND I READ THAT THE STATE HAS RELAXED THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

SO IT SHOULD NOT BE AS DIFFICULT AS IT WAS BEFORE.

SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I REALLY WANT TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROLIFERATION OF VENDORS.

PEOPLE ARE SELLING FOOD FROM THEIR HOMES, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING.

THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING.

AND IT'S HAPPENING MORE THAN WE KNOW.

YOU KNOW, I HAPPENED TO BE AT A GATHERING AND THEY BROUGHT SOME CARNITAS AND THEY BROUGHT OTHER THINGS AND THEY SAID THE PEOPLE WERE LIKE, OH, YEAH, WE SELL THEM AT OUR HOUSE, YOU KNOW, SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS, YOU KNOW, JUST WE COOK THEM AND THEN WE ONCE WE'RE DONE, WE MOVE ON.

SO THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING FOR US TO HAVE.

UM, REGARDING THE, THE SHOT OF NOTICES, CONGRATULATIONS.

I THOUGHT THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT WE HAD OVER 800 ACCOUNTS THAT WERE DELINQUENT ON YOUR REPORT LAST TIME.

AND SO IF 200 HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOMEHOW EITHER PAID OR MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO MAKE THEIR ACCOUNTS CURRENT, IT'S A GOOD THING.

HOWEVER, I LEFT HERE LAST MEETING AND I AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THIS COULD BE A REAL SERIOUS MATTER IF WE SHUT OFF THE WATER.

THE PARENTS ARE AT WORK, THE CHILDREN ARE AT HOME.

AND THEN SUDDENLY WE FIND THEY FIND THEMSELVES WITH NO WATER, NO COOLING.

IF THEY HAVE EVAPORATIVE COOLER.

SO WHAT I WANTED TO ASK IS, COULD WE CONSIDER BEFORE SHUT OFF, PARTICULARLY WITH ALL OF THESE ACCOUNTS THAT HAVE BEEN DELINQUENT FOR MONTHS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU EXPRESS.

CAN WE PUT A LOT OF NOTICE ON THEIR DOOR? COULD WE DO THAT? YES, THERE WAS.

THERE'S A EXCEEDINGLY COMPLEX PROCEDURE THAT WE FOLLOW.

PART OF IT STATE IMPOSED, PART OF IT'S SELF IMPOSED.

I'LL LET COUNCIL MEMBER REYNOLDS SO AS PART OF SB 908, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT ALL CITIES MUST, MUST ADHERE TO.

AND ONE OF THOSE IS WE HAVE TO SEND A NOTICES, CONTACT THE CUSTOMER'S PHONE AND ALSO LEAVE A DOOR HANGER. AND ALSO THE THE THE THE FINAL DISCONNECTION NOTICE, WHETHER IT'S IN THEIR NON CONSPICUOUS LOCATION.

SO THAT MEANS IT HAS TO BE VISIBLE, IT CAN'T BE HIDDEN OR ANYWHERE, BUT THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO BECAUSE THE STATE THERE WAS NO THERE WAS THERE WASN'T THERE WERE EVERY CITY HAD A DIFFERENT POLICY, A DIFFERENT PROCEDURE AS TO HOW HOW OFTEN WATER WAS BEING DISCONNECTED.

SO WHAT THE STATE DID WITH SB 908 IS LET'S HAVE SOMETHING ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND SO THAT DOES ANSWER YOUR THAT QUESTION.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE THE WATER DEPARTMENT DID A PHENOMENAL JOB.

AND IT THOSE 432 ACCOUNTS IN TWO DAYS TWO AND A HALF DAYS DELIVER THOSE NOTICES.

[00:50:09]

BUT YES, THOSE NOTICES CAME ALONG WITH THE DOOR HANGER AND WE HAVE TO DOCUMENT THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REPORT THAT TO THE STATE AND TAKE AN IMAGE AS WELL.

ALL THOSE ARE, AGAIN, PART OF THE THE FOLLOWING THE STATE LAW.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU KNOW. I WAS UNEASY ABOUT IT.

I KNOW WE NEED TO RECOUP OVER $90,000 THAT WE HAVE IN ARREARS ON THOSE ACCOUNTS.

BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT NOT PUTTING PEOPLE IN DANGER.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SHUT OFF THE WATER.

SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

AND YEAH, THAT IS AN OUTSTANDING RESULT, REALLY.

AND WAS IT IN TWO WEEKS THAT YOU'VE DONE THAT OR LESS THAN TWO WEEKS? NO, WE WE STARTED LAST LAST WEDNESDAY AND BETWEEN WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, ALL OF THE NOTICES WERE DELIVERED.

AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER CALLING, EMAILING.

AND IT WAS JUST A WAVE OF CUSTOMER LESS THAN A WEEK.

THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.

AND ONE LAST PIECE HERE.

QUESTION REGARDING THE 800 ACCOUNT.

THAT'S 800 AND TOTAL.

SO AS SOON AS A CUSTOMER IS DELINQUENT ON THE 31ST DAY.

OKAY. THAT'S WHAT MAKES UP THE OTHER 400, RIGHT? IT DID NOT INCLUDE THOSE THAT WERE IN ARREARS FOR MONTHS.

CORRECT. 61 DAYS AND.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, AND ONE, TWO MORE THINGS.

I'LL BE BRIEF. LILY STREET PROPERTY.

GREAT JOB. CITY AS WELL.

YOU KNOW THAT THAT HAS ELIMINATED THE ACCESS TO THAT PROPERTY, TO TRANSIENTS.

HOWEVER, ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS REPORTED TO ME THAT THAT CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR IS IN THE DRIVEWAY NOW, BUT THEY SAID THAT THAT CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY IS BEING USED FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE TO SLEEP IN IT.

SO IF WE COULD REMOVE IT FROM THE DRIVEWAY, THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY.

THAT'S AN ONGOING EFFORT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THE VEHICLE. WE CAN'T JUST TALK.

I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T HEAR. WE CAN'T TELL.

IT'S ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, SO THAT'S SOMETHING.

I DON'T KNOW IF.

GOOD CLIENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT OR THEY'RE WORKING ON IT.

THEY'RE WORKING ON IT. OKAY.

SO YEAH, BECAUSE IT'S ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

SO IF IT WAS ON THE STREET, IT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.

I THINK VALENTINE IS THINKING ABOUT REMOVING THE HANDBRAKE AND LET IT DRIVE DOWN.

I'M KIDDING. I'M KIDDING, VALENTINE.

I WAS THE ONE. YEAH, THE CAR JUST ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY.

THAT WHEELS. THAT MIGHT BE A PROBLEM.

STAFF THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO PROVIDE ALL OF THIS REPORTS THAT YOU PROVIDE.

SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, I READ TOO MUCH FOR MY OWN GOOD, BUT, YOU KNOW, I ASK THE QUESTIONS AND YOU GIVE ME THE ANSWERS.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

I APPRECIATE YOU, ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU. THAT'S IT FOR ME, MAYOR.

AND I HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT.

I'M NOW GOING TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR DIRECTION ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH THE CLOSED SESSION.

WELL, YOU HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT ALSO.

AND THIS CLOSED SESSION, I WOULD SUGGEST, IS THAT YOU ADJOURN THIS MEETING.

THE CLERK WILL THEN TAKE THE ROLL AND CONVENE THE SPECIAL MEETING.

THE CLERK WILL TAKE THE ROLL FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE MINUTES OF THAT MEETING, OF OPENING THAT MEETING, AND THEN ADJOURN THAT MEETING AND ADJOURN BOTH THE SPECIAL CLOSED SESSIONS TO TO TO THE OFFICE BACK.

DO WE DO? WE WANT TO ADJOURN.

WHY? WELL, CALL IT A DRAW.

I THINK I GOT IT.

WHATEVER. RECESS.

CHRONOLOGY. SO WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE REGULAR MEETING.

YOU'RE GOING TO. YEAH. YOU'RE GOING TO ADJOURN IT.

ADJOURN AND RECESS IT AS OKAY.

AND THEN OPEN UP THE MEETING FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING AND THEN TAKE A ROLL AND THEN ADJOURN TO CLOSE SESSION ON THAT ONE AND ON THE REGULAR MEETING.

AND THEN WE'LL REPORT OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY AND CLOSE BOTH MEETINGS AT THE END.

OKAY. BUT YOU WILL NEED TO ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BOTH SETS OF CLOSED SESSIONS BEFORE WE GO, GO INTO THE OTHER ROOM.

OKAY, SO I NEED TO READ THE CLOSED SESSION OFF OF THE REGULAR MEETING FIRST, I THINK.

I THINK SO. OKAY. ITEM 17 CLOSED SESSION APPROVAL OF CLOSED SESSION MINUTES FOR JULY 18TH, 2023.

[17) CLOSED SESSION]

[00:55:01]

ANTICIPATED LITIGATION.

SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH TWO SUBDIVISION D, DAVID AND PARAGRAPH ONE OF SUBDIVISION E OF 54956.91 POTENTIAL CASE.

NOW I CAN MOVE ON TO THE SPECIAL MEETING.

CORRECT? PUBLIC COMMENTS.

OH, I'M SORRY. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS? NO EMAIL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU. SO NOW WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE SPECIAL MEETING RECESS.

WE'LL NOW TAKE A RECESS FROM THE REGULAR MEETING AND MOVE INTO THE SPECIAL MEETING.

GOOD EVENING. I'LL NOW CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

THE TIME IS 6:57 P.M..

MADAM CLERK, CAN WE PLEASE HAVE THE ROLL CALL? MAYOR MARTINEZ HERE.

MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER MEDINA HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA I'M HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SALDANA HERE.

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT ITEM THREE CLOSED SESSION CONFERENCE CALL WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EXISTING LITIGATION PARAGRAPH ONE OF SUBDIVISION SECTION 54 950 6.9 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON VERSUS STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.

ITEM B PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION CITY MANAGER PER GOVERNMENT CODE 54947.

AND WE'LL NOW MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION PUBLIC COMMENTS.

I'M SORRY, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? AND MADAM CLERK, ANY EMAIL COMMENTS? NO EMAIL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

OKAY. WE'LL NOW MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION.

MAYOR, MAY I REQUEST A SHORT RECESS, MAYBE FIVE MINUTES? YES, SIR. WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS AND THEN WE'LL MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION.

AND THEN REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.