[7)b. Adopt a Resolution of the Successor Agency to the Former Wasco Redevelopment Agency to add Eduardo Saldana as Authorizing Signer for all Successor Agency Bank Accounts and remove Alexandro Garcia, 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 15378, no environmental review is required. (Perez-Hernandez)]

ITEM B, ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE FORMER WASCO REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY TO EDUARDO SALDANA AS AUTHORIZING SIGNER FOR ALL SUCCESSOR AGENCY BANK ACCOUNTS AND REMOVE ALEJANDRO GARCIA AND FIND THAT THIS ACTION IS NOT A PROJECT AS DEFINED UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT STATE GUIDELINES.

THEREFORE, PURSUANT TO STATE GUIDELINES AND SECTION 15378.

NO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS REQUIRED.

MR. PEREZ? GOOD EVENING,HONORABLE CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTORS OF THE BOARD.

THIS IS A PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENT THAT IT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE WHENEVER THERE IS AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE CHAIRMAN AND THE VICE CHAIRMAN, AND TO UPDATE OUR BANK ACCOUNT SIGNERS.

[00:20:02]

AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE FOR ME.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? VICE CHAIRMAN SALDANA.

I HAVE NO COMMENTS. DIRECTOR MARTINEZ.

NO COMMENTS. DIRECTOR REYNA.

NO COMMENT AND I HAVE NO COMMENTS AS WELL.

I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

SO MOVED.

SECOND. MADAM CLERK.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. CAN WE HAVE THE ROLL? BY DIRECTOR MARTINEZ.

SECONDED BY DIRECTOR REYNA TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

[8)a. Nomination and Appointment of Chairman and Vice-Chairman. (Martinez)]

WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BUSINESS.

NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN MARTINEZ.

GOOD EVENING. DIRECTORS.

AGAIN, DUE TO THE VACANCY, THE DIRECTORS WILL NEED TO NOMINATE AND APPOINT A CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN FOR THE WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BOARD.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS. I WILL DO THIS IN TWO.

[INAUDIBLE]. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS DIRECTOR MARTINEZ.

NO COMMENTS. DIRECTOR REYNA.

NO COMMENTS. DIRECTOR SALDANA.

I HAVE NO COMMENTS. AND I TOO HAVE NO COMMENTS.

I WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE CHAIRMAN.

MAYOR, I NOMINATE YOU AS THE CHAIRMAN.

I ACCEPT.

I'LL SECOND THE NOMINATION.

SO I WILL NOW CLOSE THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATIONS AND I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPOINT MYSELF AS CHAIRMAN.

SO MOVED. I'LL SECOND IT.

CAN WE HAVE THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL? [INAUDIBLE]. MR. REYNA AND I SECONDED AND SALDANA SECONDED.

OKAY.

MOTION BY DIRECTOR REYNA, SECONDED BY DIRECTOR SALDANA.

TO APPOINT VICE CHAIRMAN MEDINA AS CHAIRMAN OF THE WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY.

MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

THANK YOU. I WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE VICE CHAIRMAN.

I NOMINATE VICE MAYOR EDDY TO THE SERVICE VICE CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU. I WILL NOW CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS.

I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO [INAUDIBLE].

SECOND. CAN I GET A SECOND? SECOND. OKAY.

I WILL NOW CLOSE THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATIONS.

I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPOINT MAYOR PRO TEM SALDANA AS VICE CHAIRMAN.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. CAN I GET THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL? YES.

A MOTION BY DIRECTOR REYNA, SECONDED BY DIRECTOR SALDANA TO APPOINT DIRECTOR SALDANA AS VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY. MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

THANK YOU.

MOVING ON TO ITEM EIGHT.

[8)b. Adopt a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Wasco Public Financing Authority to add Eduardo Saldana as Authorizing Signers for all Wasco Public Financing Authority Bank Accounts and remove Alexandro Garcia, 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 15378, no environmental review is required. (Perez-Hernandez)]

B ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE WASCO PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY TO ADD EDUARDO SALDANA AS AUTHORIZING SIGNERS FOR ALL WASCO PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY BANK ACCOUNTS AND REMOVE ALEJANDRO GARCIA AND FIND THIS ACTION IS NOT A PROJECT AS DEFINED UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT STATE GUIDELINES.

THEREFORE, PURSUANT TO THE STATE GUIDELINES SECTION 15378, NO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS REQUIRED.

MR. PEREZ. HONORABLE CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTORS.

AS STATED PREVIOUSLY WITH THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY HERE, WE HAVE THE WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY AND THE SIMILAR FASHION WHEN THERE IS A NEW APPOINTMENTS TO THE CHAIRMAN AND THE VICE CHAIRMAN, THERE IS NEEDS TO BE AN UPDATE AS WELL TO OUR ASSIGNING AUTHORITIES FOR OUR BANK ACCOUNTS.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE FOR ME.

THANK YOU, MR. PEREZ.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? VICE CHAIRMAN SALDANA, I HAVE NO COMMENTS.

DIRECTOR MARTINEZ NO COMMENTS.

[00:25:01]

DIRECTOR REYNA? NO COMMENTS, MAYOR AND I TOO HAVE NO COMMENTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

SO MOVED. I MEAN, WE BOTH DID IT AND MARTINEZ SECONDED.

OKAY. MADAM CLERK, CAN I HAVE THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL? YES, CHAIRMAN.

A MOTION BY DIRECTOR REINA.

SECONDED BY DIRECTOR MARTINEZ TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER NINE.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY PENDING CEREMONIES TONIGHT.

ITEM NUMBER 10.

[10)a. Kern County Fire Department (Appleton)]

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS.

KERN COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF APPLETON.

GOOD EVENING. HONORABLE MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE.

IT'S BEEN AN EXTREMELY BUSY FIRE SEASON, AND SO SORRY I WASN'T HERE, BUT HERE WE ARE TONIGHT, AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

JUST JUST SOME NUMBERS FOR JULY OF 2024.

WE HAD 177 CALLS FOR SERVICE IN WASCO.

37 OF THOSE WERE FIRES, AND 104 WERE MEDICAL AIDS, AND THE REMAINDER WERE MISCELLANEOUS CALLS.

A LOT OF THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ACTIVITY COUNTY WIDE INCLUDING HERE IN WASCO AND SO WE'RE STILL OUT THERE AND WE ARE HAPPY TO BE HERE AND SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF WASCO. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU CHIEF. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? THANK YOU CHIEF. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER CHIEF, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

DID YOU ISSUE ANY ILLEGAL FIREWORK TICKETS TO ANYONE IN WASCO THIS YEAR? I WILL HAVE TO LOOK.

BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER FIRES AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE HAD GOING ON.

I HAVE NOT GOT THAT INFORMATION.

I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN BUSY.

I WILL REACH OUT AND FIND OUT IF WE HAD ANY.

THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING IT WAS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE PERSON THAT RECEIVED THE TICKET POSTED IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

OH THERE'S ONE.

SHE SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF DUMB AND DUMBER THAT SHE, THAT THEY GOT THE TICKET.

OH, OKAY. THAT'S HOW SHE PUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WELL, SHE GOT A TICKET, THOUGH.

YEAH. OKAY.

HUNDRED DOLLAR TICKET. THAT'S CORRECT.

YEAH. WOW. OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SIR.

10B WASCO POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF.

[10)b. Wasco Police Department (Fivecoat)]

GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

TONIGHT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DEPARTURE FROM THE WAY THAT I WOULD NORMALLY PROVIDE STATISTICS FOR YOU.

AT THE REQUEST OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, I WAS ASKED TO PREPARE A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE WASCO POLICE DEPARTMENT STARTUP.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT TONIGHT.

THERE WE GO. SO THE COMPARISON THAT I'VE GIVEN YOU IS A COMPARISON OF THE SAME MONTHS, 2023 WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, 2024 WITH THE SHERIFF, WITH THE NEW WASCO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SKEWS THESE STATS A LITTLE BIT IS WE DON'T HAVE RECORDS INDICATING SOME OF THE OFFICER INITIATED ACTIVITY THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAD.

SO WE COULD ONLY COMPARE THOSE NUMBERS THAT WE KNEW WERE LIKE TOTAL NUMBER OF CALLS INCIDENTS.

YOU CAN LOOK ACROSS THE BOARD, SEE HOW THE TWO AGENCIES COMPARE.

FOR THE MOST PART, OUR ACTIVITY IS A BIT HIGHER THAN WHAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAD.

SO THE SECOND SLIDE IS JUST A BREAKDOWN BY SOME OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF CALLS THAT WE BOTH HANDLE.

WE HAD TO SELECT CRITERIA WHERE WE BOTH WERE USING THE SAME NUMBERS.

AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THE TOTALS PLAY OUT.

I'M PARTICULARLY PROUD OF THE WAY THE 1013 PROGRAM IS GOING.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS.

THOSE ARE CITIZEN CONTACTS THAT ARE BEING MADE BY THE OFFICERS AS THEY'RE PATROLLING THE STREETS AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT NUMBER IS GOING UP MONTHLY.

WE'RE DOING QUITE WELL WITH THAT.

I THINK WE'RE AT 110 RIGHT NOW AND WE'VE JUST STARTED THE PROGRAM.

PROBABLY THE MORE DESCRIPTIVE SLIDE THAT I HAVE FOR YOU THAT KIND OF SHOWS THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE ACTIVITIES WE TOOK, EACH OF THE CATEGORIES WE DID, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF INCIDENTS FOR BOTH AGENCIES AND TRIED TO SHOW THE PERCENTAGES, IF YOU WILL, BETWEEN THE TWO DEPARTMENTS. IN THE CASE OF THE SLIDE BEFORE YOU, ALL OF THE LINES THAT ARE IN THE DARK BLUE ARE WASCO PD STATS.

THE PURPLE STATS ARE THOSE OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS.

[00:30:04]

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS NOTEWORTHY HERE IS THE NUMBER OF CALLS OR EXCUSE ME, THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT HAVE HANDLED BY THE AGENCIES.

THE NUMBERS WERE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF STOLEN VEHICLES THAT HAVE OCCURRED BETWEEN THE TWO AGENCIES AND THEN COMPARE THE NUMBER OF RECOVERIES, OUR RECOVERY RATE IS PRETTY HIGH AND WHAT HAPPENS IN THOSE CASES IS WE MAKE THE RECOVERY.

THE REPORT IS CONCLUDED, THE ARREST IS MADE, AND THAT'S THE END OF THE INVESTIGATION.

SO IT DOESN'T SHOW AS AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION.

VEHICLE ACCIDENT RATE FOR WASCO PD IS PRETTY HIGH.

THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN ALL LIKELIHOOD HANDED CALLS OFF TO THE HIGHWAY PATROL IN THE PAST AND IN WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH US NOW IS WE'RE HANDLING THOSE CALLS.

THE OTHER REQUEST THAT I GOT FROM THE COUNCIL LAST MEETING WAS THE NUMBER OF PURSUITS THAT WE HAD BEEN RUNNING.

WHAT WERE THOSE PURSUITS? HOW MANY AND WHAT WAS THE DISPOSITION? YOU'LL SEE THAT AS OF YESTERDAY, WE HAD 11 PURSUITS IN THE CITY OF WASCO.

HOWEVER, WE PICKED UP ANOTHER ONE LAST NIGHT WHICH WAS AN ASSIST.

OTHER DEPARTMENT. SHAFTER PD CHASED A VEHICLE THROUGH WASCO.

IT ENDED UP CRASHING OVER IT.

FORMOSA AND HIGHWAY 99.

ONE OF THE SUSPECTS HAD A GUN SOMEWHERE ALONG THE ROUTE.

THEY GOT RID OF THAT WEAPON, AND WE'VE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO PATROL AND FIND OUT WHERE THAT WEAPON MIGHT BE.

SO WE'VE HAD A TOTAL OF 11 PURSUITS UP UNTIL LAST NIGHT.

ALL OF THOSE INCIDENTS THAT ARE LISTED IN RED ARE THOSE THAT WE ACTUALLY CAUGHT.

THE SUSPECT MADE THE ARREST AND TOOK THEM TO JAIL.

THE OTHER CASES ARE CASES WHERE WE CHOSE TO CURTAIL THE PURSUIT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY REASONS AND A LOT OF TIMES WHAT THEY'LL DO IS THEY'LL GO OFF INTO AN ORCHARD AND I'VE GOT A STANDING POLICY THAT WE DON'T CHASE CARS IN ORCHARDS.

SO THOSE ARE.

THAT'S WHY WE DIDN'T HAVE A REST WITH THOSE.

SO WE'RE COMMITTED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY FOR CERTAIN AND WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO TRY TO IMPROVE PUBLIC TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK THAT WE'VE BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL AT IS WORKING ON THE FUTURE LEADERS OF THIS COMMUNITY THROUGH SOME OF OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMS, AND WE'RE QUITE PROUD OF THOSE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM FOR YOU.

THANK YOU. CHIEF.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, MAYOR PRO TEM? NO QUESTIONS. CHIEF, JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

THANK YOU. MEMBER MARTINEZ.

YEAH, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.

I THINK IT SHOWS A STARK CONTRAST BETWEEN WHAT WAS HAPPENING A YEAR AGO VERSUS WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT ARE DOING.

YES, SIR AND WHAT I HOPE TO DO IN THE FUTURE IS TO GO BACK TO THIS, SHOWING THE WASCO PD STATS AND DOING MONTH OVER MONTH.

MAYOR REYNA ANYTHING TO ADD? WELL, I KNOW THAT I DIDN'T NEED THE STATISTICS TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE DOING A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN THE SHERIFF EVER DID.

IN THE END, THERE AND AGAIN, I'D NEVER BLAME OUR DEPUTIES BECAUSE THEY WERE WORKING UNDER VERY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR THAT SIMPLY, THEY WERE NOT FULFILLING THE DUTY THAT THEY HAD TO WASCO AND NOW WE HAVE OUR OWN PD AND IT'S LIKE NIGHT AND DAY.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

THANK YOU TO OUR OFFICERS FOR SUCH AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE.

THANK YOU CHIEF. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU CHIEF. ITEM NUMBER 11 CONSENT CALENDAR. THE CONSENT CALENDAR CONSISTS OF ITEMS THAT, IN THE STAFF'S OPINION, ARE ROUTINE AND NONCONTROVERSIAL.

[11)CONSENT CALENDAR]

THESE ITEMS ARE APPROVED IN ONE MOTION.

UNLESS A COUNCIL MEMBER OR MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REQUESTS THE REMOVAL OF A PARTICULAR ITEM.

THIS EVENING WE HAVE ITEMS 11A THRU 11E.

AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MEMBERS IF THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON A PARTICULAR ITEM ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

MAYOR PRO TEM SALDANA I HAVE NONE.

MARTINEZ NO CONFLICT.

MAYOR REYNA NO CONFLICT.

MAYOR AND I TOO HAVE NO CONFLICT.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE AN ITEM? SEEING NONE, ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE AN ITEM? MAYOR PRO TEM SALDANA, I HAVE NONE.

MAYOR MARTINEZ NOTHING, SIR.

MAYOR MAYOR REYNA. NO, MAYOR.

THANK YOU AND I HAVE NONE.

I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

SO MOVED.

EDDIE'S MOVED, AND I'LL SECOND.

MADAM CLERK, CAN I HAVE A VOTE BY ROLL CALL?

[00:35:02]

YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR REYNA A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM SALDANA, SECONDED BY MAYOR MEDINA, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 12 NEW BUSINESS.

[12)a. Adopt A Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to Implement the Downtown 5-Year Strategic Vision Plan for The City of Wasco and Find that this action is not a project defined under the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, no environmental review is required pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15378. (Lara)]

ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR DESIGNEE, TO IMPLEMENT THE DOWNTOWN FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC VISION PLAN FOR THE CITY OF WASCO AND FIND THAT THIS ACTION IS NOT A PROJECT DEFINED UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT STATE GUIDELINES.

THEREFORE, NO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO STATE GUIDELINES.

SECTION 15378 MRS. [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AS YOU ALL RECALL, ABOUT A YEAR AND A ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW.

YEAH, TWO YEARS.

WE APPROVED THE CONTRACT WITH RETAIL STRATEGIES TO DO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HELP US WITH NOT ONLY BEING IN TRAINING FOR ICSC, BUT ALSO HELP US WITH AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VISION FOR WASCO AND TODAY WE HAVE THAT A STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN, AND WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND WE ALSO HAVE THE PLAN.

THE CONSULTANT IS GOING TO BE DOING A PRESENTATION VIA ZOOM.

THEY WILL DO A BRIEF PRESENTATION AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THE PLAN.

WE'RE HOPING TO USE THIS PLAN AS A GUIDE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO FOR OUR FUTURE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

WE'RE HOPING THAT IT COULD BE A DOCUMENT THAT OUR OUR CHAMBER CAN USE AND ALSO OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, IF THEY ARE CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, TO KNOW WHAT WOULD WORK IN DOWNTOWN.

WE'RE HOPING TO REALLY USE THIS AND AND HELP THEM, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR VISION IS AND WITH THAT I WILL HAVE OUR CONSULTANT DO HER PRESENTATION AND THEN IF COUNCIL HAS QUESTIONS OR THE AUDIENCE AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, I BELIEVE SHE WILL TAKE THOSE QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, MS. VERA. MRS. MARINOS. YES.

WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

IS THAT ON OUR END OR HER END? I THINK IT'S ON HER END.

WE CAN'T HEAR YOU, LAURA.

SO I'M UNMUTED.

I THINK IT MAY BE ON YOUR END.

THEN. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. YEAH, I CAN HEAR YOU AS WELL.

YOU CAN? OKAY.

YEAH. CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ANY OF US? YEAH. SHE'S TALKING.

[INAUDIBLE]. CAN YOU TRY SPEAKING AGAIN? NO. CAN YOU TRY AGAIN? IT WAS WORKING.

I AM YOUR IT PERSON.

ONE MORE TRY.

OKAY. [INAUDIBLE].

GIVE ME A MINUTE. CAN YOU HEAR ME, LAURA? YOU CAN HEAR ME. OKAY.

MONICA, [INAUDIBLE].

GIVE US A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

OKAY, I'LL GET IT TO WORK.

[INAUDIBLE]

[00:40:05]

. OKAY. CAN YOU TRY ONE MORE TIME? [INAUDIBLE].

IS THAT BETTER? YES. CAN YOU GUYS HEAR?.

WE CAN HEAR YOU. OKAY.

WE'RE GOOD. CAN I RAISE THE VOLUME ON THIS MONITOR HERE? NO, NOT THAT ONE.

JUST ASKING. OKAY.

WELL, GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN YOU THIS EVENING AND IT HAS BEEN A REAL PLEASURE TO PARTNER WITH WASCO, WITH YOUR ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF AND WE ARE EXCITED TO BE AT THE POINT THAT THROUGH A LOT OF COLLABORATIONS, WE REACHED A FINAL VERSION OF DOWNTOWN FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.

I DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO SHARE MY SCREEN ON IN THE SETTINGS, SO IF YOU.

MAYBE I'LL KEEP TALKING AND I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS TO DO.

IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE PREVIOUS IN YOUR PACKET.

THERE IS A BRIEF HORIZONTAL SLIDE DECK FOR THIS DOCUMENT.

OKAY. SO JUST AS A BRIEF OVERVIEW, OUR COMING UP WITH THIS DOWNTOWN FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN RESULTED IN A LOT OF COLLABORATION AND MARKETING.

SO I WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH YOUR CITY STAFF AS WELL AS PROPERTY OWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN DOWNTOWN WASCO THROUGH OUR STRATEGIC VISIONING WORKSHOP HAD AN EXTENSIVE TOUR OF THE CITY WASCO AND ALSO DOWNTOWN AND RAN SOME EXTENSIVE DATA ON CONSUMER BEHAVIOR.

FOR WASCO AS A WHOLE AND ALL OF THAT IS MEMORIALIZED IN THE FULL PLAN, WHICH IS IN YOUR PACKET.

OUR FIVE YEAR ACTION PLAN.

IF YOU ADVANCE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, IT IS AN AREA OF FIVE FOCUS AREAS.

THESE FOUR PLUS THE MARKET ANALYSIS.

SO THE MARKET ANALYSIS INFORMED INSTITUTIONS WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PLAN THAT FALL INTO EACH OF THESE FOUR AREAS.

SO POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION YOU'LL SEE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PLAN ON THIS.

[INAUDIBLE] SUPPORT THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

WITH EVENTS [INAUDIBLE] SUPPORT AND SUCH THROUGH EVENTS.

THE SECOND AREA IS SO REALLY THE PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE TOWN.

[INAUDIBLE].

THAT WOULD FIT INTO THIS TOURISM PROMOTION AS WELL, REALLY FOCUSING ON HOW TO GET NEW DOLLARS INTO THE DOWNTOWN AND THE VITALITY WHERE WE CAN RELAX SOME OF THE AVAILABLE REAL ESTATE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON NEXT STEPS.

SO I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS.

BUT ON THE NEXT SLIDE, I REALLY WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING THAT THE CITY TEAM AND OUR FIRM WORKED COLLABORATIVELY ON PRETTY EXTENSIVELY WAS THIS IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE.

SO THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF THAT IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE INCLUDES ALL STRATEGIES AND STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN, AS WELL AS A TIMEFRAME OF WHEN THE STRATEGY SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON THE STRATEGIES THAT ARE IN THAT NOW CATEGORY, WHICH MEANS THEY DON'T COST A LOT OF MONEY, JUST TIME AND EFFORT AND THESE ARE GREAT WAYS TO KIND OF GET SOME MOMENTUM AND AN ESTIMATE OF INVESTMENT REQUIRED AND THEN THE RESPONSIBLE ENTITY AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE FOR ANY OF THEM, IT TAKES A LOT OF COLLABORATION.

AND SO WHILE THERE ARE SPECIFIC STRATEGIES IN THIS PLAN FOR THE CITY, THERE ARE ALSO STRATEGIES FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO MEET WITH MANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THE WASCO.

REALLY, THE RESOUNDING THEME WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE AN IMPROVEMENT DOWNTOWN.

BUT THERE IS SORT OF THIS BALANCE OF YOU KNOW, EXPECTATIONS AND SO WE FELT LIKE BY IDENTIFYING SPECIFIC STRATEGIES FOR THE PUBLIC

[00:45:08]

SECTOR IN THE CITY, THAT WOULD REALLY PROVIDE A ROADMAP FOR BOTH OF THOSE ENTITIES.

SO I'LL PAUSE THERE.

I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS TO GET TO, BUT I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE AND GO INTO A MORE IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OR WHAT MAY BE BETTER IS IF I COULD JUST INSERT ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE.

IF YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THIS SUMMARY AS WELL AS THE WHOLE PLAN.

THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM SALDANA.

I HAVE NO COMMENTS.

MEMBER MARTINEZ. NO COMMENTS.

MAYOR REYNA. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

LET ME JUST SAY THAT I LOVE THIS PLAN.

I THINK IT IS VERY DETAILED, WELL LAID OUT.

EVERYTHING IS THOUGHT OF, AND THERE IS A CALENDAR FOR EVERYTHING AND SO I REALLY LIKE IT.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT WORK THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY PUTTING THIS PLAN TOGETHER.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE.

WHEN IT COMES TO IMPROVING THE LOOK OF DOWNTOWN AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF GRANULAR DETAILS ABOUT MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, LIKE NOT HAVING A DARK FILM ON THE WINDOWS OR NOT HAVING CURTAINS ON THE WINDOW AND NOT HAVING BIG SIGNS IN THE WINDOW.

ALL OF THAT WOULD IMPROVE DOWNTOWN DRAMATICALLY.

BUT I NOTICED THAT THERE IS A GRANT PROGRAM THAT WE WILL INSTITUTE AT ONE POINT, AND IT IS PROGRAMED TO BE ON THE THIRD TO FIFTH YEAR AND FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE A QUESTION AS TO WHERE THAT GRANT MONEY WOULD COME FROM.

AND SCOTT, MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THAT AND SECOND IS I'M WONDERING WHETHER WE COULD MOVE SOME OF THAT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FIRST TO THIRD YEAR, SUCH AS PAINTING THE FACADES OF SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES AND I KNOW WE THE PLAN TALKS ABOUT IMPROVING THE FACADES, IMPROVING THE ROOF, IMPROVING MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS, WHAT I CONSIDER MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD COST A LOT OF MONEY, A LOT OF INVESTMENT AND THE WHAT I THINK IS THAT JUST SLAPPING PAINT ON THE FRONT OF SOME OF THOSE BUILDINGS WHICH ARE THAT DON'T REQUIRE A LOT OF REDOING OR RECONSTRUCTION WOULD GET US THERE A LOT SOONER.

THAT'S MY QUESTION ACTUALLY.

TWO QUESTIONS IN ONE. SO THE ANSWER I THINK IS SIMILAR FOR BOTH AND THE REASON THAT SOME OF THOSE INITIATIVES ARE PUSHED OUT INTO THE LATER YEARS IS THERE IS NO FUNDING STREAM FOR THEM.

AND SO WE'RE BUYING OURSELVES SOME TIME TO SEE SOME INCREMENTAL GROWTH AND SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT COULD BE USED TOWARD THOSE KINDS OF PROGRAMS AND PAINT IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN YOU MIGHT THINK.

IT'S TRUE. WHICH WE'VE DISCOVERED DURING THE CURRENT PROJECT AND SO GOOD IDEAS TO MOVE THOSE FORWARD.

BUT WE FOUND OURSELVES HANDLING THE SAME SORT OF BALANCE AND HAVING TO PUSH SOME OF THOSE BACK SO WE HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TO DEVELOP REVENUE STREAMS AND EVEN GRANTS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE OR KNOWN TODAY OFTEN TAKE A YEAR OR MORE TO GO THROUGH THE APPLICATION AND AWARD AND CONTRACT PROCESS.

SO. YEAH.

WELL THAT'S A REASONABLE ANSWER.

YOU KNOW, I FIGURED THAT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE FUNDING.

BUT THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.

YOU KNOW, WHERE DO WE GET THIS FUNDING FROM? AND IN THE PAST, WASCO HAS DONE NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME PROJECT, BUT A SIMILAR PROJECT IN WHICH WE OFFER GRANTS AND WHERE DID THAT COME THAT MONEY COME FROM? AT THE TIME, DO YOU KNOW SCOTT? I DO NOT KNOW.

I WOULD SAY IT WAS A THERE WAS A PROGRAM MANY YEARS AGO WITH REDEVELOPMENT FUNDS, WHICH THOSE ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANYMORE.

CORRECT AND I THINK I MIGHT ADD THAT JUST BECAUSE IT'S IN ONE TIME FRAME OR HORIZON DOESN'T MEAN IF, YOU KNOW, FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE THAT. IF FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE FOR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, IF WE FIND A PROGRAM THAT WOULD WORK, WE COULD CERTAINLY APPLY FOR IT.

AND CERTAINLY WOULD I LIKE THAT.

MOVE IT ALONG QUICKER.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE A QUICK WAY OF IMPROVING DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE THE PROGRAM ALSO TALKS ABOUT PUTTING STICKERS ON WINDOWS, MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE

[00:50:04]

THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY VERY EXPENSIVE, THAT WOULD IMPROVE DRAMATICALLY THE LOOK OF DOWNTOWN IN A MUCH FASTER WAY THAN WAITING FROM, YOU KNOW, THIRD TO FIFTH YEAR TO DO IT.

THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS, AND I APPRECIATE THE ANSWERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MONEY FOR THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

SO THANK YOU.

MEMBERS REYNA.

THE ONLY COMMENT I HAVE IS OBVIOUSLY, STRATEGY IS IMPORTANT.

NO MATTER. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, WHETHER IT'S IN BUSINESS, CITY DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO I THINK IT'S A VERY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

IT'S VERY WELL PUT OUT.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO IT.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THERE WAS MEETINGS THAT HAPPENED.

SO IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT SAID, HEY, HERE'S THIS PLAN AND, YOU KNOW, RUN WITH IT.

THE ONLY QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS, SO IT'S A FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF THIS PLAN? AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE IN TERMS OF METRICS, ARE WE GOING TO BE VISITING THIS, YOU KNOW, ONCE A YEAR, EVERY SIX MONTHS? LIKE WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? RIGHT. BECAUSE IT'S A FIVE YEAR PLAN.

A LOT OF THINGS CAN CHANGE.

RIGHT. FROM NOW TO YEAR TWO OR YEAR FIVE.

SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO GAUGE OR REALLY GET GET A FULL SENSE OF LIKE THE METRICS OF HOW SUCCESSFUL THIS WAS, RIGHT? BECAUSE THERE'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN A LOT OF EFFORT PUT BEHIND IT.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE JUST GOING TO REVISIT, YOU KNOW, ONCE A YEAR OR AT THE END OF IT? LIKE, WHAT'S THE PLAN THERE? MAY I TAKE THAT? SURE.

I'LL JUMP ON THAT ONE TOO.

MANY TAKERS, I LIKE THAT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, FOR ASKING ALL THESE GREAT QUESTIONS.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT.

SO IT'S A DOCUMENT THAT I MYSELF USE FOR GRANT PURPOSES.

WE'RE HOPING THAT WE GET OUR CHAMBER GOING.

SO WE'RE HOPING TO ALSO GET OUR, BUSINESS LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS INVOLVED AND, YOU KNOW, IMPLEMENTING, HELPING US IMPLEMENT SOME OF THIS AND WE'RE HOPING I'M HOPING THAT EVERY AND AT LEAST ANNUALLY WHEN WE DO OUR BUDGET WE LOOK AT THIS WHEN WE'RE DOING OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUDGET.

THAT'S WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT ANNUALLY, WHEN WE DO OUR BUDGET, WE WE COME BACK AND WE ALREADY DO THAT.

I KNOW OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR HAS A GREAT PERFORMANCE CHART AND THIS WOULD BE THE PLAN THAT WE WOULD GO OFF OF TO, YOU KNOW, SELECT OUR PERFORMANCE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

OKAY. DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? MAYOR. SO HOPEFULLY EVERY BUDGET WORKSHOP WE WOULD UNDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE WOULD REVISIT AND THIS WOULD BE PART OF THAT. YOU WOULD INDULGE ME.

I DO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL QUESTION.

SO IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, OUR CONTRACT WITH RETAIL STRATEGIES WAS FOR THREE YEARS AND SO WE ARE MAYBE AT THE END OF THE SECOND YEAR OR PAST THE END OF THE SECOND YEAR.

SO CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE CONTRACT AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE END? I MEAN, IS IT THE STAFF'S IDEA THAT WE RENEW THE CONTRACT? I KNOW IT'S TOO SOON, BUT I'M JUST WONDERING.

YEAH, WE HAVE A FULL YEAR.

WE JUST STARTED THE THIRD YEAR.

WE WOULD REVISIT THAT IN THE SECOND HALF OF THIS THIRD YEAR TO TALK ABOUT, WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WE WOULD DO GOING FORWARD AND SO, YEAH, IT IS A LITTLE EARLY TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION AT THIS POINT I UNDERSTAND.

ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. MR. PEREZ, YOU WERE GOOD.

ALRIGHT. DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? NO. GOOD. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, WITH THAT BEING SAID THANK YOU MRS. MARINO. I THINK YOU KNOW, YOU'VE ANSWERED OUR QUESTIONS ALONG HERE WITH OUR FOLKS.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

MADAM CLERK, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

CAN I HAVE A ROLL CALL? MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA.

SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM SALDANA TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

[INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU. MOVING ON.

ITEM 12B CONSIDERATION ON ADOPTING A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR DISTRICTS TWO, FOUR AND FIVE AND

[12)b. Consideration on Adopting a resolution providing for the appointment of City Council Members for Districts 2, 4, and 5 and canceling the November 5, 2024 election.]

[00:55:02]

COUNSELING THE NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024 ELECTION..

YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

IF YOU RECALL, AT THE LAST MEETING, THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ACCEPTED THE CERTIFICATE FROM THE CITY CLERK, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE HAVE A SINGLE NOMINEE IN EACH OF OUR THREE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE AN ELECTION CYCLE COMING UP THIS YEAR, THIS NOVEMBER AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF THAT CERTIFICATE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT LEADS UP TO THIS ITEM TONIGHT.

IT ENABLES THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER AND DISCUSS AND ULTIMATELY VOTE ON WHETHER TO TO SELECT BETWEEN TWO OPTIONS HERE.

ONE IS TO CONTINUE AS NORMAL.

HOLD THE ELECTION INCLUDING THESE THREE DISTRICTS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

AS WE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY, THERE IS A COST TO THAT.

WE ESTIMATE FROM 10 TO 20 OR MAYBE MORE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PRINTED BALLOTS.

WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COUNTY ELECTIONS FOLKS AND ALSO WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO US.

IN FACT, IT WAS THE COUNTY ELECTIONS FOLKS THAT POINTED OUT THIS PROCESS WAS AVAILABLE THAT OUR PARTICULAR SITUATION DOES DOES APPLY.

SO ONE THE OTHER OPTION IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE THREE NOMINEES THAT WE HAVE, ONE PER OPEN SEAT COMING UP IN NOVEMBER AND THROUGH AN APPOINTMENT PROCESS, THOSE THREE CANDIDATES OR NOMINEES WOULD ASSUME OFFICE AFTER THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.