Sep 19, 2023 City Council

[00:00:02]

GOOD EVENING. I NOW CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

THE TIME IS 6:00 PM.

[1) CALL TO ORDER]

PLEASE STAND FOR A FLAG SALUTE.

SALUTE. PLEDGE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR AN INVOCATION BY CHAPLAIN LYNCH.

SHALL WE BOW, PLEASE.

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE'RE HONORED TO BE HERE IN YOUR PRESENCE THIS EVENING.

THE CITY OF WASCO IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US AS OUR HOMES, OUR PLACES OF WORK AND OUR PLACES OF WORSHIP.

I'M THANKFUL THAT THIS CITY DISPLAYS THE WORDS IN GOD WE TRUST HERE IN THESE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AS OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS STRIVE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS THIS EVENING, LET THEM BE DILIGENT AND CORRECT.

WATCH OVER OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS AS THEY PROTECT US.

MAY GOD BLESS WASCO AND MAY GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AMEN. AMEN.

PLEASE BE SEATED. 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 ELIMINATE COUNCIL MEMBERS RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS MADE DURING THIS COMMENT PERIOD.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? MR. LYNCH, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

IT'S NOT A QUESTION, BUT I DO HAVE A COMMENT.

I'D LIKE TO PRAISE OUR PUBLIC WORKS PEOPLE FOR.

I'M REALLY BIG ON GRAFFITI ABATEMENT, AND LEWIS, EVERY TIME I CALL HIM, HE'S GOT IT TAKEN CARE OF.

WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF HIM.

THANK YOU, MR. LYNCH, AND THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS? MAYOR, THERE ARE NO EMAIL COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM OR ANY OTHER ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

MOVING ON TO ITEM NINE CONSENT CALENDAR.

[9) CONSENT CALENDAR]

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 F.

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 I HAVE NONE.

MEMBER MEDINA I HAVE NONE.

MEMBER REYNA NONE MAYOR MEMBER SALDANA I HAVE NONE 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 I HAVE NONE.

MEMBER MEDINA NONE.

MEMBER REYNA NONE.

MEMBER SALDANA I HAVE NONE AND I HAVE NONE.

I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. I KNOW IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED BY VALENTIN.

OKAY. CAN WE PLEASE HAVE THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL.

MOTION BY MAYOR MARTINEZ.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MEDINA TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

[12) a. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to Finalize and Execute a Purchase Agreement with Axon Enterprises, Inc. for body camera and Taser equipment for the Wasco Police Department, and Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c) (3), no environmental review is required]

FOR BODY CAMERA AND TASER EQUIPMENT FOR THE WASCO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIND THAT THIS ACTION IS NOT A PROJECT AS DEFINED UNDER CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT STATE GUIDELINES THEREFORE PURSUANT TO STATE GUIDELINES SECTION 15.06(D)(C)(3) NO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS REQUIRED.

YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THIS ITEM, AS YOU KNOW, BODY CAMERAS ARE NOW BECOMING STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR MOST, IF NOT ALL, DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE.

AXON IS A MANUFACTURER THAT INCLUDES NOT ONLY A BODY CAMERA, BUT A TASER THAT IS ELECTRONICALLY TIED TO THE BODY CAMERA. WHEN THE TASER IS REMOVED FROM THE HOLSTER, THE BODY CAMERA IS ACTIVATED IF IT'S NOT ALREADY ON.

[00:05:03]

SO IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT, THE DA'S OFFICE HAS GONE THROUGH AN ELECTRONIC INTERFACE.

SO WHILE THERE ARE OTHER BODY CAMERA MANUFACTURERS, THERE ARE OTHER TASER MANUFACTURERS.

NONE OF THEM OFFER THIS INTEGRATED PACKAGE.

NONE OF THEM OFFER THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE BETWEEN THE TWO PIECES OF EQUIPMENT OR THE INTEGRATION WITH OUR CASE MANAGEMENT AND DISPATCH SOFTWARE.

SO STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THIS SOLUTION, AND YOU CAN SEE THE COST IN THERE.

THE TOTAL COST, IT'S A 60 MONTH FIVE YEAR CONTRACT.

THE TOTAL ANNUAL COST IS $77,000.

WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED A $30,000 GRANT TOWARD THOSE EXPENSES.

SO THAT REDUCES OUR FIRST YEAR OUT OF POCKET TO UNDER $50,000.

SO IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO.

ARE THERE ANY. I'M SORRY.

NO, GO AHEAD. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA? NO, I JUST AM FAMILIAR WITH AXON WHEN I SAW THAT I KNEW THAT'S A VENDOR WE USED BEFORE.

MEMBER MEDINA? I HAVE NO QUESTIONS.

MEMBER REYNA, JUST A QUICK COMMENT.

THANK YOU FOR FINDING $30,000 WAS IT THAT CAN BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE? I KNOW IT IS YOU, MARIA.

SO THANK YOU, AND I KNOW IT'S AN EFFORT, COMBINED EFFORT BY ALL THE STAFF, BUT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

YES. BECAUSE THAT COVERS, I BELIEVE YOU SAID MORE THAN THE FIRST YEAR.

IT'S A PORTION OF THE FIRST YEAR, THE LARGEST PORTION OF IT.

YES. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL, MAYOR, THANK YOU.

MEMBER SALDANA. I HAVE NO QUESTIONS OR NO COMMENTS, AND I HAVE WELL, ACTUALLY, I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

SO DOES THAT AUTOMATICALLY SENDS AN ALERT, CHIEF, THAT IF A TASER IS DEPLOYED.

YES, SIR, THAT IS CORRECT.

WHEN THEY UN-HOLSTER THE WEAPON, THE SENSOR ON THE HOLSTER IT ACTIVATES THE CAMERA.

SO AT THE MOMENT IT CLEARS HOLSTER.

THANK YOU, BUT YOUR QUESTION MAY BE IF THERE'S AN EXTERNAL SIGNAL SENT AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, IF IT CAN BE CONFIGURED TO NOTIFY DISPATCH, SAY, IF A TASER IS UN-HOLSTERED.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS THAT FEATURE POSITIVE ABOUT ITS ABILITY TO NOTIFY DISPATCH.

OUTSTANDING. THANK YOU, SIR.

I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

SO MOVED, MAYOR. [INAUDIBLE] I SAID I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

I'LL SECOND IT. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

I'M SORRY. WHO? I MOVED IT FORWARD.

OKAY.

MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA, SECONDED BY MAYOR MARTINEZ TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION MOTION, IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

MOVING ON TO ITEM B, ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE AMENDED SALARY SCHEDULE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 23-24 IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM,

[12) b. Adopt a Resolution Approving the Amended Salary Schedule for the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 in Compliance with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Requirement for Publicly Available Pay Schedules, and Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c) (3), no environmental review is required.]

THEREFORE, PURSUANT TO STATE GUIDELINES SECTION 15.060(C)(3), NO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS REQUIRED.

YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THIS IS ANOTHER ROUTINE UPDATE TO THE SALARY SCHEDULE.

THERE WERE TWO POSITIONS THAT FAILED TO UPDATE ON THE PREVIOUS VERSION THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL AT THE LAST MEETING.

THAT OMISSION HAS BEEN CORRECTED WITH THIS SCHEDULE AND WITH YOUR APPROVAL WILL BE POSTED TO THE STATE FOR DISTRIBUTION AND POSTING.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA. NOTHING TO ADD, SIR.

MEMBER MEDINA. NO COMMENTS.

MEMBER REYNA. NO COMMENTS, MAYOR.

MEMBER SALDANA. NO COMMENTS, AND I HAVE NO COMMENTS.

I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

GOT IT RIGHT. MOVED AND SECONDED.

[00:10:02]

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MEDINA TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

MOVING ON TO ITEM 13 REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES.

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

YEAH, WE JUST WENT TO THE DINNER LAST WEEK.

WAS IT ON THURSDAY OR FRIDAY? IT WAS A NICE DINNER. IT WAS THE ANNUAL DINNER THURSDAY, RIGHT? THURSDAY.

MY DAYS ARE RUNNING TOGETHER, BUT THEY RECOGNIZED THEY HAD A FEW AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS.

IT'S AN ANNUAL DINNER I'M LOOKING FOR.

THE NEXT MEETING, I BELIEVE IS OCTOBER 19TH OR SEPTEMBER 19TH.

NEXT MEETING HAS ALREADY BEEN SCHEDULED FOR THE LOCATION HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR BC, BUT THE DATE IS TBA.

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

ALL RIGHT. MAYOR, AS YOU PROBABLY RECALL, ALL OF YOU, I WAS UNABLE TO REPORT ON THE LAST MEETING BECAUSE I HAD LEFT MY NOTES.

I HAVE THEM WITH ME AND BEAR WITH ME.

I'M GOING TO TRY TO DO THIS AS BEST I CAN.

ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE DISCUSSED, VOTED ON AND APPROVED.

SO THE FIRST ONE THIS IS A STATE OF GOOD REPAIR.

THESE ARE THE ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN WAS ADOPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 PROGRAM OF PROJECTS AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS TO SIGN THE RESOLUTION AND THAT FOR WASCO.

THIS IS MONEY THAT WILL HELP US UPGRADE AND MODERNIZE THE CNG FUELING STATION, AND THE TOTAL APPORTIONMENT IS $43,180. THAT'S ONE OF THEM.

OKAY. THE NEXT ONE IS THIS IS THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM FOR TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT, ARTICLE 3202324 PROGRAM OF PROJECTS.

THE ACTION TAKEN WAS APPROVED THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT, ARTICLE THREE PROGRAM OF PROJECTS, AND THIS WAS DONE BY ROLL CALL VOTE, AND I BELIEVE THE STAFF HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS.

WE ARE RECEIVING OR HAVE RECEIVED AT THIS TIME $2,000 FOR BIKE SAFETY AND ALSO $451,000 FOR PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT.

AT 11TH STREET FROM D STREET TO BIRCH AVENUE, NEW SIDEWALKS, CURB AND GUTTER ADA COMPLIANT RAMPS.

I'LL JUST KEEP GOING. STOP ME IF YOU GET TIRED.

ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ONE IS.

THIS IS FROM THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING POLICY COMMITTEE.

IT'S THESE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE THE LOCAL TRANSPORTATION FUND, AND THESE ARE ESTIMATES OF APPORTIONMENTS, AND FOR WASCO FOR LET ME SEE.

THEY HAVE SEVERAL YEARS HERE THAT ARE ALREADY PASSED.

1/1/15. THIS ONE I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND, AND I WAS HOPING THAT CAMERON WOULD BE HERE BECAUSE I AM TOLD THAT CAMERON IS DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND I BELIEVE THAT BUT IT HAS SEVERAL FEATURES HERE, AND THE TOTAL APPORTIONMENT FOR WASCO IS 1,131,455, AND THEN ON THE NEXT PAGE IT IS FOR, OKAY, THESE ARE MONIES THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED ALREADY.

SO THE ONE THAT I READ YOU WAS 2016-17.

THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE 2022-23 AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'VE ALREADY SPENT THIS MONEY.

[INAUDIBLE] AND THEN FOR THIS YEAR, 2023-2024, THE APPORTIONMENT IS $1,821,977, AND THAT'S FOR THAT ONE.

ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, AND THEN I HAVE.

A REPORT HERE HAVING TO DO WITH MILES TRAVELED.

SCOTT, I THINK YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT PREVIOUSLY.

THEY'RE TRYING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF MILES TRAVEL FOR EVERY COMMUNITY FOR GREATER WASCO THE 2046 PLAN, IT

[00:15:05]

THAT'S THOUSANDS, BUT THIS IS TRAVEL PER PERSON IN 2020, 38.20 MILES.

2046 OLD PLAN WAS 34.01, AND THE 2046 NEW PLAN IS 33.58.

SO WE HAVE A LOT YET TO ACHIEVE.

WE ARE UNDER 11% AND 12.1% FOR 2046.

ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL JUST KEEP GOING.

IN THIS ONE. I'M REALLY YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT ALL OF THIS AND I ASK QUESTIONS WHEN I'M THERE.

YOU BELIEVE ME, RIGHT? AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD ASKED IS, YOU KNOW, IS THERE WAS SOME APPLICATIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE TURNED IN, AND I ASKED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO STATUS WHERE THE APPLICATIONS WERE.

SOME OF THEM WERE FOR OCTOBER, BUT THE ONES THAT WERE NEEDED TO BE TURNED IN PRIOR TO THAT MEETING WERE ALREADY TURNED IN, AND THAT'S WHEN I WAS TOLD CAMERON DOES AN OUTSTANDING JOB AT KEEPING UP WITH ALL OF THIS.

SO I'M REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THESE APPLICATIONS WERE DUE.

THIS IS THE RSVP APPLICATIONS WERE DUE JULY 17TH, 2023, AND THIS WAS APPROVED, AND THESE ARE FOR FUTURE EXPENDITURES. SO FAR, THE PLAN IS FOR WASCO TO RECEIVE.

OKAY, WE HAVE A LOCAL MATCH FOR 50,000 IN 2024-2025, AND THEN RSVP FUNDING.

WE'RE GOING TO PLAN TO RECEIVE 841,029 WITH A LOCAL MATCH OF 59,000 FOR A TOTAL OF $950,075.

I HAVE MORE. ALL RIGHT.

SO THIS IS THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, CONGESTION MITIGATION, AIR QUALITY PROGRAM AND REGIONAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, AND THESE ARE MONIES THAT WE.

THIS APPLICATIONS ARE ALREADY IN AND THEY ARE APPROVED, AND THIS IS MONIES FOR CENTRAL AVENUE ROAD FROM FILBURN STREET TO SR 46, APPROXIMATELY 6567FT OF PAVEMENT REHABILITATION.

THE AMOUNT IS, LET'S SEE, $77,710, AND THEN THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS WASCO [INAUDIBLE] AVENUE FROM CENTRAL AVENUE TO MARTIN STREET, BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS SOUTH SIDE AND PAVED SHOULDERS AND THE AMOUNT IS 55,525, AND THEN THE NEXT ONE IS NORTH PALM AVENUE, BETWEEN MARGALLO STREET AND [INAUDIBLE] AVENUE.

PAVED SHOULDERS CONSTRUCT BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES TOTAL FOR THAT IS $396,105, AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, STAFF MAY HAVE REPORTED ALREADY ON THESE.

I'M NOT QUITE SURE, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING AT CURRENT, AND THERE'S ONE MORE ON THIS ONE.

FIND THE PAGE. [INAUDIBLE] THESE ONES ARE NOT TURNED IN YET, BUT THEY DON'T START UNTIL OCTOBER.

THESE ARE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE DUE, AND THE FIRST ONE IS CENTRAL AVENUE ROAD FROM FILBURN STREET TO SR 46, APPROXIMATELY 6567FT. PAVEMENT REHABILITATION FOR A TOTAL FUNDING OF 780,757.

THE OTHER AMOUNT SEEMS SMALL, RIGHT? I THINK THEY REFER TO THE SAME PROJECT AND THEY SEEM VERY SMALL.

THEN THE NEXT ONE, [INAUDIBLE] FROM CENTRAL AVENUE TO MARTIN STREET, BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS PAVED SOUTHSIDE UNPAVED SHOULDERS FOR A TOTAL FUNDING REQUEST OF $349,320.

[00:20:01]

FOR FUNDING, AND THIS IS IN WASCO, EAST SIDE OF CENTRAL AVENUE FROM 1310 NORTH OF FILBURN STREET TO VIA MOROCCO BOULEVARD AND BETWEEN [INAUDIBLE] AVENUE AND SR 46.

INSTALL CLASS ONE AND CLASS TWO BICYCLE TRAILS, ADA CURB RAMPS, DRIVE APPROACHES AND RELATED PEDESTRIAN AND LANDSCAPING IMPROVEMENTS.

THERE ARE THREE OF THEM.

THESE ARE REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

THE FIRST ONE IS FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING 2023-2024.

WE ADDED $5,000.

THOSE WERE APPROVED, AND THEN FOR THE NEXT ONE IS ADD $71,000 AND THE NEXT ONE, BY THE WAY, THE ONE THAT I JUST MENTIONED IS FOR YEAR 2024-2025, AND THE LAST ONE, 2025-26, ADD $584,000.

SO THAT'S A MOUTHFUL, I KNOW, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I REPORTED ON IT.

THAT'S ALL FOR ME. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I PROBABLY WON'T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER THEM.

[CHUCKLING] A LOT OF INFORMATION.

OKAY, BUT AGAIN, AND I KNOW I'M REPEATING MYSELF LIKE FOR THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME, IT IS WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL TO HEAR, YOU KNOW, THOSE KIND OF COMMENTS FROM THE PEOPLE AT KEN COG THAT OUR STAFF IS DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB AT FOLLOWING UP ON THESE APPLICATIONS AND ANY PAPERWORK THAT NEEDS TO BE TURNED IN.

SO THANK YOU ALL.

THAT'S IT, MAYOR. THANK YOU.

WASCO TASK FORCE.

MEMBER MEDINA. WE HAVE NOT MET, SO NOTHING TO REPORT.

[14) REPORTS FROM KC FIRE AND SHERIFF]

CHIEF APPLETON. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

JUST A QUICK REPORT FROM AUGUST FOR OUR INCIDENTS.

WE HAD 176 INCIDENTS IN AUGUST.

26 OF THOSE WERE FIRES.

103 WERE MEDICAL CALLS AND THE REST WERE MISCELLANEOUS CALLS FOR DIFFERENT SMALLER TYPES OF SMALLER CALL TYPES.

LAST WEEK, WEEK BEFORE LAST, I WAS HERE FOR ON SATURDAY FOR THE WASCO ROSE FESTIVAL PARADE.

IT WAS A GREAT TIME.

IT WAS VERY GOOD.

I ALWAYS GO THROUGH IN THE FRONT SO I DON'T GET TO SEE EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT WE SAW SOME PEOPLE TOWARDS THE FRONT AND IT WAS VERY GOOD.

SO AND THEN I DID VISIT THE CERT TRAINING THAT WAS HERE FOR THE CITY EMPLOYEES A WEEK OR TWO AGO, AND THAT WAS VERY GOOD.

SO I HAD A GOOD TIME. SO GREAT TO BE HERE IN THE CITY OF WASCO.

ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS? I HAVE NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHIEF.

[15) REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER]

YES, I HAVE JUST A FEW.

KERN COUNTY FAIR SENIOR DAY FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND.

DIAL RIDE HAS 18 LOCAL SENIORS SIGNED UP TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT PROGRAM AND IN COLLABORATION WITH THE PARK AND REC DISTRICT.

SO THEY WILL BE PROVIDING A SACK LUNCH FOR THOSE SENIORS AND TAKE THEM DOWN TO ENJOY A DAY AT THE FAIR.

OCTOBER 21ST IS A COMMUNITY CLEANUP DAY.

START NOW INVITING FOLKS TO VOLUNTEER AND THAT WILL BE THE WORD RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE'LL START AT BARKER PARK RUN FROM ABOUT 9 A.M.

TO NOON.

[INAUDIBLE] WHAT'S THAT? WHAT WAS THE DATE AGAIN? 21ST, OCTOBER 21ST.

SO WE'RE STILL A WAYS OUT.

SEPTEMBER 20TH.

TOMORROW IS ANOTHER SNIP EVENT AT THE OLD COURTHOUSE, AND THE TIME ON THAT 8 TO 9. THEN WE WILL HAVE SOME MORE HIRING STATS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

ALTHOUGH WE HAD AN OATH OF OFFICE TODAY FOR OUR SENIOR DISPATCHER, ERICA JOINED US TODAY.

SO SHE'S OVER THERE WORKING AWAY, AND I BELIEVE NEXT WEEK, WE'LL HAVE THREE SWORN OFFICERS HERE TO BEGIN WORK.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE JUST A FAIRLY INFORMAL OATH OF OFFICE, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A BADGE PINNING THAT WILL BE COORDINATED WITH OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS.

FOR EVERY SWORN OFFICER THAT COMES ON, THEY'LL THEY'LL BE INVITED TO THE MEETING AFTER THEY START AND GET THE BADGE PINNING DONE.

SO THAT'LL BE SOMETHING NEW THAT THIS COUNCIL HASN'T SEEN IN A WHILE.

SO, UM, LASTLY, I HAVE AUDITORS WILL DISTRIBUTE A QUESTIONNAIRE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS AS SOON

[00:25:06]

IT'S JUST TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE.

SO WATCH FOR THAT IN YOUR INBOX IN YOUR CITY EMAIL AND TURN THAT AROUND AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN.

THAT HELPS THE AUDITORS KEEP MOVING.

IS THERE A DEADLINE FOR THAT? THERE IS. I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE AT THE CONFERENCE.

IF IT'S SENT EMAIL, WE CAN PROBABLY SEND IT VIA DOCUSIGN OR ADOBE SIGN AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO READ IT AND EXECUTE IT FROM YOUR PHONE.

PERFECT. THAT WOULD WORK ASSUMING YOU'VE GOT YOUR CITY EMAIL ON YOUR PHONE.

SO WE'LL PLAN ON DOING THAT.

RIGHT. A TOTAL OF TEN SHORT QUESTIONS THAT YES OR NO? YES OR NO? YEAH, I BELIEVE WE DID THAT LAST YEAR AS WELL.

YEP, WE HAVE A COUPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED THE JOY OF THE AUDITING PROCESS.

SO WATCH FOR THOSE.

NEXT MEETING IS OCTOBER 3RD AND UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TONIGHT.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY MANAGER?

[16) REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL]

JUST A FEW THINGS.

YOU MENTIONED THE SNIP.

HAVE WE BEEN ABLE TO GOTTEN ANY FEEDBACK FROM THEM AS FAR AS LIKE THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF IT AND HOW IS THAT GOING? I KNOW WE RECENTLY TRANSITIONED FROM FULL DAY TO HALF DAY AND HAS THERE BEEN ANY FEEDBACK, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE ON THAT? SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S WORKING OUT A LITTLE BIT BETTER BECAUSE I MENTIONED EARLIER SPLIT IN HALF.

SO IF ORIGINALLY IT WAS LIKE 50 ANIMALS, WE HAD TO STAY ALL DAY OR DEPENDING ON LARGE ANIMALS, THEY STAYED LONGER.

THEY DO ABOUT 25, SO THEY'RE USUALLY OUT HERE BY NOON.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT JUST WORKS OUT BETTER FOR THEM.

THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE DO TWO PER MONTH INSTEAD OF ONE, BUT SOUNDS GOOD.

NO, NO, THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

I GUESS I'M JUST CURIOUS.

I KNOW THAT THEY MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE GETTING A LOT OF NO SHOWS, SO THEY WERE TRYING TO FILL THOSE IN WITH OTHERS, AND YOU GUYS HAVE REPORTED ON THAT BEFORE WE WENT TO THE HALF. HALF DAY.

HALF DAY? YEAH. SO IF WE DO FIND OUT, LIKE, SAY, TOMORROW MORNING THERE WAS A COUNCIL, WE CAN ACTUALLY USE SOME OF THE SHELTER DOGS THAT ARE THERE TO GET IT SEEMS TO BE LIKE A RIGHT.

IT SEEMS TO BE A PERSISTENT ISSUE.

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO TO CHANGE THE PROGRAM? MAYBE ADD A DEPOSIT TO THE FOR THE RESIDENTS OR SOMETHING, OR IS THAT KIND OF JUST SET AND DONE? HAVE WE BROUGHT IT BEFORE? THEY GET IT BACK AT THE DOOR WHEN THEY GET THERE.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.

YOU MIGHT GO THAT ROUTE.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER, DEFINITELY.

THE WORKSHOP WITH CAPK WENT VERY WELL.

IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. THERE WERE SEVERAL DOZEN FAMILIES, INDIVIDUALS, ACCOUNTS THAT CAME AND WERE WERE ASSISTED.

A HANDFUL OF THEM WERE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE AREA, SHAFTER, DELANO, SO I'M SUPER EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE NOT ONLY TO OUR OWN RESIDENTS, BUT TO THIS CORNER OF KERN FOR FOR EVERYBODY IN THE AREA.

THERE WAS ONE MORE THING, AND IT'S ESCAPING ME NOW, BUT THAT'LL BE IT FOR NOW, THEN.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. MEMBER SALDANA.

I HAVE NO QUESTIONS.

MR. MEDINA, I JUST HAD A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO THE COMMUNITY CLEANUP.

IS THERE A FLYER FOR THAT ALREADY? THERE IS. I'LL MAKE SURE TO GET IT SENT OUT TO COUNCIL.

I JUST WENT OVER TO FINANCE [INAUDIBLE] WATER BILLS.

OKAY. IT'S A PLAN.

THE SAME AS LAST TIME WHERE THERE'LL BE SERVICE COSTS WILL BE VERY SIMILAR.

YES. YES. OKAY.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

MAYOR REYNA. SOUNDS LIKE FUN.

YEAH, IT IS FUN.

YEAH. A FEW THINGS.

YOU KNOW, I WAS NO DOUBT DISTRACTED ABOUT ITEM 12E.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION. MAY I ASK THAT QUESTION AT THIS TIME? WOULD THAT BE OKAY? CITY MANAGER? 12E? SURE I'LL DO MY BEST TO ANSWER THAT.

YEAH. IT'S NOTHING COMPLICATED.

THE SCHEDULE IS DATED 07/01/2023 THE SALARY SCHEDULE, AND IS THAT WHAT THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE

[00:30:04]

I'M NOT CERTAIN I CAN ANSWER THAT ACCURATELY.

THE REST OF THAT SCHEDULE DEFINITELY IS EFFECTIVE AND SOME BECAUSE WE APPROVED THE OTHER SCHEDULE IN JUNE, RIGHT? IS THAT CORRECT? JUNE 20TH TO BE EXACT, AND SOME OF THESE CHANGES IN IN RANGE ARE RETROACTIVE TO THAT DATE.

OKAY, I'LL FIND OUT.

YEAH, IF YOU COULD LET US KNOW.

I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THAT.

OH, IT APPEARS THAT OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

SO, YES, THE SALARY SCHEDULE DOES HAVE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF 07/01/2023.

SO IT RUNS ALL THE WAY TILL JUNE 30TH OF 2024, AND CALPERS DOES KEEP A RECORD OF ANY UPDATES THAT HAPPEN SO THAT THEY CAN RECONCILE WITH THE PAYROLL AND [INAUDIBLE] SWORN OFFICERS.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS THE DATE ON THE SCHEDULE ITSELF DOESN'T CHANGE, EVEN IF THERE ARE ADDITIONS DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

OKAY. SO THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION HAS NOT YET COME UP.

RIGHT. I MEAN, WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE CHANGES THAT WE MADE TODAY ARE EFFECTIVE 7/01.

OR EFFECTIVE TODAY.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING. RIGHT.

YEAH, THEY ARE EFFECTIVE.

THEY ARE EFFECTIVE AT 07/01.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT QUESTION.

SEPTEMBER 8TH, I ATTENDED IN THE EVENING A WINE AND ROSES EVENT AND PRESENTED A TROPHY AND A RING TO THE ROSE QUEEN.

THE FIRST AND SECOND RUNNER UPS ALSO RECEIVED A TROPHY, AND BY THE WAY, THOSE ITEMS WERE PROVIDED BY THE ROSE PAGEANT COMMITTEE.

I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE CALLED.

A NICE RING. I INVITED ASSEMBLY MEMBER DR.

JASMEET BAINS AND STATE SENATOR MELISSA HURTADO TO ATTEND THE WASCO ROSE FESTIVAL PARADE AND WRITE ON THE FIRE TRUCK.

SINCE MANY OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ABSENT, THEY HAD OTHER THINGS TO DO TOO, AND SENATOR HURTADO ACCEPTED THE INVITE AND JOINED US, EDDIE AND I AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER DR.

BAINS WAS IN SACRAMENTO AND COULD NOT ATTEND, AND ALSO WE HAD ASSEMBLY MEMBERS EXCUSE ME, SENATOR MELISSA HURTADO, JEANETTE TAPIA RIDING WITH US ON THE TRUCK.

DID YOU HAVE FUN? GOOD.

ON THURSDAY, I ATTENDED THE CURRENT ADC 35 ANNUAL DINNER WITH OUR CITY MANAGER AND HIS LOVELY WIFE, BEV, AND ALSO MAYOR PRO-TEM GARCIA. IT WAS A PLEASURE TO RECONNECT WITH PEOPLE THAT I HADN'T SEEN IN A WHILE.

SOMEBODY SENT ME A MESSAGE ON FACEBOOK SAYING, HEY, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE SAW EACH OTHER, SO THAT WAS NICE.

THE SEPTEMBER 6TH COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINIC WAS A SUCCESS.

WE HAD 34 PEOPLE RECEIVE THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

25 PEOPLE RECEIVED THE FLU VACCINE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAD LIKE 69 PEOPLE RECEIVING ALL OF THIS.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE RECEIVING BOTH 59 WHERE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE VACCINATED.

26 WASCO RESIDENTS OBTAINED A $50 CARD, WHICH I GAVE THEM, AND EIGHT NON WASCO RESIDENTS OBTAINED $50 FROM OUR PARTNERS. THE LAST TIME WE HAD THIS, NOT THIS VERY LAST TIME, WE HAD PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER COMING TO US.

IF YOU RECALL, I REPORTED ON THAT, BUT THIS TIME IT WAS JUST PEOPLE FROM MACFARLAND.

THEY HEARD THAT WE WERE HAVING THE VACCINATION CLINIC AND SO THEY DECIDED TO COME AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

I DO WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THESE CLINICS WILL CONTINUE.

WE DON'T HAVE A PARTNER NOW TO CONTINUE.

SCOTT, I MENTIONED THAT TO YOU ALREADY WE DON'T HAVE A PARTNER THAT WILL CONTINUE HAVING THESE MOBILE CLINICS.

IT COSTS THE KERN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF KERN $200 FOR EVERY SHOT THEY PUT IN AN ARM, AND SO THEY ARE ONLY GETTING 6000 OF THE NEW VACCINE, AND THEY HAVE DECIDED TO TARGET THAT TO A SPECIFIC PROGRAM, WHICH IS CALLED BRIDGE, AND THIS IS FOCUSED ON VERY LOW INCOME UNINSURED PEOPLE.

SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PERHAPS HAVING PARTNERING UP WITH A PHARMACY OR, YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, BUT WE'RE HOPING THAT WE COULD

[00:35:04]

THANK YOU. THAT'S IT FOR ME.

MEMBER GARCIA, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO ADD? YEAH, I REMEMBER WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.

SO THE OPEN DOOR NETWORK IS PARTNERING WITH IT WANTS TO I'M SORRY, IS HOSTING A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH EVENT HERE ON THE 11TH, AND WE'RE TRYING TO LOCK DOWN THE LOCATION AND POSSIBLY AT THE CHILD CCS HERE IN SIXTH STREET.

LOOKING FORWARD TO HELPING THEM OUT AND PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.

THE INVITATION IS OPEN TO EVERYBODY TO PARTICIPATE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A JUST A VIGIL KIND OF SIMPLE PROGRAM WITH A FEW SPEAKERS, JUST KIND OF LIKE I SAID, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS, TALKING ABOUT IT AND BRINGING AWARENESS ABOUT RESOURCES HERE IN KERN AND IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY.

SO WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE AGAIN.

THAT'S THE 11TH AT 6 P.M., THE LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED, AND I THINK THAT WAS IT.

MAY OR MAY I SAY SOMETHING ELSE ON THAT NOTE.

MAYOR PRO-TEM I WAS APPROACHED BY THE WHAT IS THAT, [INAUDIBLE] NORTH KERN ABOUT PRECISELY HAVING A PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING OCTOBER A A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS. YES.

YEAH, AND SO THAT'S ALREADY IN THE WORKS.

SO THIS WILL BE HAPPENING ON THE MEETING OF THE 17TH OF OCTOBER.

PERFECT. OKAY, AND THAT'S CITY MANAGER.

THAT'S SCOTT THAT'S MARIA IS HANDLING THAT ASPECT OF.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

WHICH MEANS MONICA, [INAUDIBLE].

WELL, YEAH AT THE TIME THEY CAME, IT WAS MARIA WHO I HAD ASKED THEM TO CONTACT.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE SIT ON THAT.

YEAH. BOTH VERY CAPABLE.

ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL AMBULANCE FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP AND JOINING US FOR OUR MEETING.

I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR NEW ROSE QUEEN, ESMERALDA RODRIGUEZ, EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT THERE.

SHE SEEMS LIKE SHE'S A GREAT, GREAT YOUNG LADY.

SO WITH THAT SAID, THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

IT IS 6:38.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.