May 06, 2025 City Council

[1) CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:05]

ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. I WILL NOW CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. THE TIME IS 6:01 P.M..

MADAM CLERK, CAN WE PLEASE HAVE THE ROLL CALL? THANK YOU. IF YOU CAN, PLEASE STAND FOR THE FLAG SALUTE.

SALUTE, PLEDGE.

PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO LEAD US IN INVOCATION.

NOW WILL OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

THANK YOU.

ITEM FIVE. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA?

[5) APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

SO MOVED. AND I WILL SECOND. MADAM CLERK, CAN WE GET THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL? MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM SALDANA. SECONDED BY MAYOR MEDINA TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.

[6.a. Proclamation – Community Action Month]

AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THE MEMBERS HERE. AND I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST ON PRONUNCIATION, BUT WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE]. SHE'S NOT HERE, JUST SUSANNA MAGANA.

SUSANNA MAGANA, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND NUTRITION SERVICES.

YES. OKAY. AND THEN WE HAD FIONA MITCHELL. YES.

YES. OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS SUPERVISOR. SO WE DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION HERE FOR COMMUNITY ACTION MONTH 2025. WHEREAS COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF KERN WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1964 AND HAS MADE ESSENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACROSS KERN COUNTY BY CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES.

WHEREAS COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF CURRENT ADDRESSES UNDERLYING CAUSES OF POVERTY ALLEVIATES THE EFFECTS AND PROMOTES DIGNITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. AND WHEREAS, COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF KERN DELIVERED OVER 22 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD ACROSS KERN COUNTY AND 2024 THROUGH THE FOOD BANK AND WE'RE ASKED THE COMMUNITY ACTION OF CURRENT OPERATES THE BROADWAY AND SUNRISE VILLA HEAD START LOCATIONS IN WASCO, TENDING TO THE CHILDREN WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING A HEAD START TO THEIR EDUCATION.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WASCO ON BEHALF OF THE WASCO CITY COUNCIL AND ALL THE CITIZENS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY 2025 AS COMMUNITY ACTION MONTH IN RECOGNITION OF THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, AND TESTIMONY WHEREOF I HAVE HEREUNTO SET MY HAND AND CAUSE TO BE AFFIXED THE GREAT SEAL OF WASCO, CALIFORNIA, ON THIS DAY OF 6TH OF MAY, 2025. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK. WE HAD A CHANCE TO TOUR AND MY FOOD BANK.

YOU DID? I REMEMBER, AND THAT WAS PRETTY AWESOME.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT SORT OF PAINTS A PICTURE OF THIS PROCLAMATION AND THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO.

SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS DO AND, AND ALL THE HELP THAT YOU PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WELL, ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITY ACTION, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING A GOOD PARTNER WITH US.

YOU KNOW, AS OUR HEAD START CENTER HERE, SERVING THE CHILDREN, PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION, WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, HAVE ALL THESE PARTNERS THAT WE CAN'T DO THE LAST MILE OF DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD WITHOUT THE PARTNERS.

SOME OF THOSE PARTNERS, INCLUDING GRIFFITH AVENUE CHURCH AND WASCO FREE WILL.

WITHOUT THOSE PARTNERS, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK THAT WE DO. SO WE REALLY GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT.

WE ALSO WANT TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT IF THERE IS ANY KIND OF NEED THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS, 211 IS THE CALL CENTER THAT COMMUNITY ACTION HAS FOR THE RESOURCES THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL MAY HAVE.

SO IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEBODY WHO IS LOOKING FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE OR ENERGY ASSISTANCE OR WANTS TO GET A CHILD ENROLLED IN HEAD START OR NEEDS MIGRANT CHILD CARE, YOU KNOW, TWO, ONE IS THE BEST WAY TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE SERVICES.

SO AGAIN, I ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITY ACTION, I THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE THIS CERTIFICATE? I WILL LET THE REST OF MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS IN CASE THEY WANTED TO ADD ANYTHING.

[00:05:03]

I MEAN, I'VE SEEN CAPC AND COMMUNITY ACTION ALL THROUGH THE WHOLE COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS.

AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOUR ALL YOU'VE DONE.

THANK YOU. MARTINEZ 22 MILLION POUNDS. THAT'S LIKE A HARD NUMBER TO WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES THAT TRANSLATE TO THAT WE'RE FED, YOU KNOW AS WE AS WE SEE THAT IN 2023, WE WERE SERVING OR HAVING ENGAGEMENTS OF AROUND 150,000 PEOPLE, INDIVIDUALS A MONTH.

AND AS OF LAST YEAR, AT THE END OF DECEMBER, THE NUMBERS HAD DOUBLED.

AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING ADDITIONAL MORE AND MORE PEOPLE COMING TO THE LINES.

I DID WANT TO FOCUS ON ONE THING THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE HAD SEVERAL FUNDING SOURCES COMPLETELY CUT.

WE JUST HAD ONE BIG COW FOODS GRANT, WHICH WAS A ONE TIME FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED TO PURCHASE FOOD THAT SUNSETTED AT THE END OF APRIL.

AND SO WE DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, NEED AND URGE THE COMMUNITY TO DONATE EITHER FOOD OR MONETARY SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK BECAUSE THE LINES AREN'T GETTING SHORTER. THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ACTUALLY GETTING LONGER. SO WE DO ALSO HAVE A CAPC FOUNDATION.

AND WE'RE ALWAYS, AGAIN, LOOKING FOR THE GENEROUS COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT WE DO AT THE FOOD BANK.

WELL THANK YOU. YEAH. CONGRATULATIONS FOR MEETING OUR NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, SUCH ITEMS AS FOOD HOUSING AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SERVES VERY WELL.

YOUR HARD WORK IS REALLY APPRECIATED IN OUR TOWN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAYOR REYNA. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORK YOU DO. I DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR THE FACILITY, BUT I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE WORK THAT YOU DO, AND SO I COMMEND YOU FOR ALL OF WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FROM FOOD DISTRIBUTION TO HEAD START.

I MEAN, THOSE ARE THOSE SERVE VERY IMPORTANT NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, AND I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE IS HUNGER WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THERE IS. AND YOU KNOW THAT WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

WE HAVE TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S THE WORKING POOR.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE JUST THINK, OH, IT'S PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO WORK OR WHO ARE OUT IN THE STREET, BUT IT'S THE WORKING POOR, THOSE THAT ACTUALLY HAVE JOBS THAT ARE STILL TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

AND WE ARE, YOU KNOW, THAT SAFETY NET THAT PROVIDES THOSE SERVICES TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH THE MONTH.

THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THAT YOU HAVE LOST SOURCES OF FUNDING.

ARE YOU ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF FUNDING, OR IS IT JUST SIMPLY DRIED UP AND YOU DON'T HAVE IT ANYMORE? WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING FOR FUNDERS THAT ARE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

WHENEVER THERE IS ANY CUTS TO EITHER FEDERAL OR STATE FUNDING, THAT'S VERY THAT'S HUGE FOR US.

FOR US, THE CUTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS HAVE EQUAL RIGHT AROUND $8 MILLION CUT.

SO THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. AND IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN JUST A COUPLE OF FOOD DRIVES TO BE ABLE TO FILL THAT GAP.

SO WE DEFINITELY LOOK AT MAKING THE AWARENESS OUT THERE SO THAT OUR GENEROUS COMMUNITY ASK KERN COUNTY IS THAT WE ALL JUST PUT IN A LITTLE BIT AND THAT WE CAN MAKE THAT FILL THAT GAP. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. WE SHOULD DO OUR PART. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CLAIRE TO SAY A FEW WORDS FROM DOCTOR JASMINE THOMAS.

THANK YOU. WELL, ON BEHALF OF MY BOSS, ASSEMBLYWOMAN DOCTOR JACKSON, I KNOW OUR DISTRICT 35TH IS ONE OF MORE THAN 80 COMMUNITIES THAT WE HAVE.

FROM LAMENT TO LOST HILLS TO DELANO, WHICH IS MY CITY.

AND I KNOW THAT THROUGH THE FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS THAT WE GET THERE, THE FAMILIES, AT LEAST THEY COULD PAY THEIR BILLS BECAUSE IT'S EITHER BUY FOOD OR PAY THE BILLS. AND YOU GUYS ARE BRIDGING THE GAP IN ALL THOSE AREAS.

SO ON BEHALF OF MY BOSS, ASSEMBLYWOMAN DOCTOR JASMINE, I KNOW THAT WE GAVE YOU GUYS ONE YESTERDAY AND I'M LIKE, OH YEAH, I FORGOT TO BRING ONE. BUT YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE IN OUR HEARTS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT WE GOT MR. NUNEZ IN THE BACK. AND THEN FROM THE FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU GUYS AND WITH THOSE, EVEN IN THE PANDEMIC, WHEN NOBODY WAS OUT THERE, NUNEZ AND I, WE WERE RUNNING AROUND BRINGING IT JUST TO GET EVEN IN THE FIELDS BECAUSE WE WERE GOING OUT THERE WHERE THEY WERE MEETING THEM, WHERE THEY ARE NOW. YOU NEED HELP. SO IN ORDER FOR YOU TO HELP US NOW, WE NEED THE HELP TO HELP YOU.

SO WE'RE GOING TO SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY TO MAKE SURE THEY GIVE BIG GIVE BIG TO THEY GIVE TO EVERYBODY IN KERN COUNTY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.

[APPLAUSE] WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE.

[00:11:34]

[6.b. Outdoor Food Vending (Informational Only – Keri Cobb)]

MRS. COBB. MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THIS IS AN INFORMATION ITEM ONLY.

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED WE'VE INCREASED OUR WEEKEND COVERAGE WITH CODE COMPLIANCE RECENTLY, AND THAT HAS DRAWN SOME ATTENTION WITH THE OUTDOOR FOOD VENDOR ENFORCEMENT.

WE'VE CREATED AN OUTDOOR FOOD VENDOR GUIDE THAT I THINK YOU HAVE ON YOUR DESKS IN FRONT OF YOU.

THAT SHOULD BE HELPFUL WITH THE COMMUNITY AS WE DO SOME ENFORCEMENT TO HELP THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S ALLOWED AND WHERE IT'S ALLOWED.

I'VE ALSO INVITED OUR CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS, CHRISTIAN AND SERGIO, HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THEY DO IT, AS WELL AS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHO IS OUR PARTNER IN ENFORCING OUTDOOR FOOD VENDING.

SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND LET CHRISTIAN COME ON UP AND SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HE'S BEEN UP TO.

AND THEN HE'LL INTRODUCE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WELL. SO SOME OF YOU GUYS KNOW I'M CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICER [INAUDIBLE] CITY OF WASCO.

YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE SEEN ME ON WASCO [INAUDIBLE] MOSTLY EDUCATION REGARDING ILLEGAL FOOD VENDING OR UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDING.

SO IT'S FRIDAYS OFF, SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS. IT'S JUST COVERAGE OF GOING OUT AND INFORMING THE COMMUNITY AND THE VENDORS OF THE PROCESS.

WE HAVE SET UP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THEN WITH OUR OWN PROCESS BEING BUSINESS LICENSES AND SUBSEQUENTLY SOME THAT JUST AREN'T ALLOWED HERE. OKAY. SO I HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH HERE THAT'S GOING TO GIVE US THEIR SIDE OF IT.

WE HAVE ELIZABETH P AND HER TEAM. THANK YOU GUYS.

ELIZABETH. ALL RIGHT. SO MY NAME IS ELIZABETH KING. I AM THE CONSUMER PROTECTION PROGRAM SUPERVISOR AT KERN COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, WHICH IS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF KERN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND I BROUGHT BRODY SALINE. HE'S THE DIVISION CHIEF AT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

AND THEN NATE PIMIENTA, SHE IS ON OUR UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDOR TASK FORCE TEAM.

AND SHE WORKS ALL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. SO TODAY WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FOOD SAFETY AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT GETTING A PERMIT AND WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT AND A LITTLE BIT OF THE PERMITTING PROCESS. AND SEE, SO THIS IS THE WHY AND HOW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERMIT.

AND I POINT IT THIS WAY RIGHT. YES. SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY FOOD SAFETY IS IMPORTANT, WHY YOU SHOULD GET A PERMIT. HOW DOES ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CONDUCT ENFORCEMENT, AND THEN WHAT TYPES OF PERMITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SELLING FOOD, AND THEN HOW TO GO THROUGH THAT PERMITTING PROCESS.

SO YES, AND I'M AT THAT AGE WHERE I HAVE TO GO BETWEEN MY GLASSES.

SO WHY IS FOOD SAFETY IMPORTANT? RIGHT. SO WE'RE FIRST AND FOREMOST WE WANT TO PREVENT HARM.

HARM FROM FOODBORNE ILLNESS FROM MISHANDLED OR MIS STORED FOOD.

AND THEN PROTECTING YOUR CONSUMERS AND YOUR CUSTOMERS BY PROVIDING SAFE FOOD OPTIONS.

OBVIOUSLY, PROVIDING FOOD SAFE FOOD TO PATRONS IS GOOD FOR YOUR BUSINESS.

LET'S SEE. SO WHY SHOULD I GET A HEALTH PERMIT?

[00:15:05]

WE HAVE ROUTINE INSPECTIONS THAT ENSURE THERE'S CONTINUED HYGIENE AND SANITATION AT FACILITIES, AND THAT FACILITIES ARE CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVING THEIR PROCESS AND MEETING THOSE STANDARDS AND ACTIVELY WORKING TOWARDS PROVIDING SAFE FOOD PRODUCTS FOR CUSTOMERS.

A ND THEN GOOD FOOD SAFETY PRACTICES CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF LIABILITY AND LAWSUITS.

WE DO SEE THAT IN OUR LINE OF WORK. AND YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR CUSTOMERS COMING BACK.

SO HAVING A HEALTH PERMIT SHOWS YOUR CUSTOMERS THAT YOU'RE ACTIVELY MEETING THOSE GOALS.

AND THEN LASTLY, STANDARDS MEAN EQUALITY. SO THE STANDARDS ARE THE SAME FOR EVERYONE.

AND OBTAINING A PERMIT IS THE FIRST STEP FOR ANY BUSINESS TO PREVENT ANY BUSINESS THAT'S WILLING TO CUT CORNERS IN SAFETY AND GAINING AN UNFAIR BUSINESS ADVANTAGE OVER THOSE WHO DO PRIORITIZE SAFETY. SO HOW DOES ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CONDUCT ENFORCEMENT? ON THE RIGHT SLIDE? YES. WE HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM THAT FOLLOWS UP ON COMPLAINTS, AND ALL OF OUR COMPLAINTS ARE SUBMITTED BY THE PUBLIC, AND IT'S THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. SO TAFT TO RIDGECREST TO LOST HILLS AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN.

WE ALSO HAVE JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATIONS WITH AGENCIES SUCH AS LOCAL CODE ENFORCEMENT OR CODE COMPLIANCE AGENCIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, STATE AGENCIES. SOMETIMES THE DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOL AND BEVERAGE CONTROL PARTICIPATES IN OUR SWEEPS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THEN SOMETIMES THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TAX AND FEE ADMINISTRATION WILL PARTAKE IN OUR INVESTIGATIONS AS WELL. WE PROVIDE EDUCATION TO OPERATORS ON THE TYPES OF PERMITS, EQUIPMENT AND PERMIT FEES.

WE DO ISSUE PENALTIES. AND WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY UNDER THE CALIFORNIA STATE RETAIL FOOD CODE, CALIFORNIA STATE LAW, RETAIL FOOD CODE TO CONFISCATE PERISHABLE OR UNSANITARY FOOD ITEMS. AND THEN UNDER KERN COUNTY ORDINANCE CODE, WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO IMPOUND EQUIPMENT THAT'S BEEN DEEMED UNSANITARY.

SO WHAT TYPES OF PERMITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SELLING FOOD? SO TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION, THE FIRST THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO KNOW IS WHAT IS ON A PERSON'S MENU, AND THEN WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO BE PREPARING THAT FOOD? THAT'S GOING TO DETERMINE WHICH ROUTE YOU GO IN TERMS OF PERMITTING. SO WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH BRICK AND MORTAR RESTAURANTS, AND THESE ARE CONSIDERED PERMANENT FOOD FACILITIES.

THESE INCLUDE RESTAURANTS, MARKETS, CONVENIENCE STORES AND EVEN LIKE SPECIALTY STORES THAT SELL TOBACCO AND MAYBE SOME PREPACKAGED FOOD ITEMS. THEN WE ALSO HAVE NON PERMANENT FACILITIES.

SO THESE ARE TEMPORARY FOOD FACILITIES AND THEN MOBILE UNITS.

SO AS THE NAME IMPLIES NON PERMANENT FOOD FACILITIES ARE RETAIL FOOD OPERATIONS THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY OPERATE FROM A FIXED LOCATION.

AND THESE TEMPORARY FOOD FACILITIES ONLY WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH PERMITTED COMMUNITY EVENTS.

SO I'M SORRY THE, THE TEMPORARY FOOD EVENTS SO THAT LIKE THE KETTLE CORN ON THE SCREEN, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ONLY WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH PERMITTED COMMUNITY EVENTS, SO WASCO ROSE FESTIVAL, 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS SHOW, OR ANY OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT OPERATE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY EACH WEEK. OTHER TYPES OF NON PERMANENT FOOD FACILITIES ARE MOBILE UNITS, AND THAT'S PRIMARILY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PRESENTATION.

SO WHAT TYPES OF FOOD PERMITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SELLING FOOD? WHEN IT COMES TO MOBILE UNITS THERE ARE TWO MAJOR CATEGORIES.

THE FIRST ONE ARE WHAT WE REFER TO AS THE MOBILE FOOD FACILITY.

SO MOST PEOPLE JUST CALL THEM FOOD TRUCKS. THESE ARE USUALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS MOTORIZED AND ENCLOSED.

SO SOME EXAMPLES. WE HAVE FOOD TRUCKS, FOOD TRAILERS, ICE CREAM TRUCKS, PRODUCE TRUCKS.

THOSE ARE THE ONES, THE MOST COMMON ONES WE SEE.

THE OTHER CATEGORY IS THE MOBILE FOOD FACILITY CALLED THE COMPACT MOBILE FOOD OPERATION.

THIS TYPE OF MOBILE UNIT THEY WERE INCLUDED IN THE CALIFORNIA RETAIL FOOD CODE.

AFTER THE PASSAGE OF SENATE BILL 972 ON SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2022, THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS BILL WAS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC INCLUSIVENESS BY PROVIDING A LEGAL PATHWAY TO OBTAIN A PERMIT FOR SIDEWALK VENDORS SPECIFICALLY.

THESE COMPACT MOBILE FOOD OPERATIONS HAVE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM YOUR OTHER MOBILE OPERATIONS, AND THEY HAVE KEY CHARACTERISTICS. SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT MUST BE NON-MOTORIZED.

[00:20:03]

SO EASILY MOVED BY ONE PERSON. IT HAS TO BE UNENCLOSED AND HAS TO PROVIDE OVERHEAD PROTECTION.

SO BESIDES THESE KEY CHARACTERISTICS, CMFOS MUST MEET OTHER STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS TO BE IN FULL COMPLIANCE BUT OVERSIMPLIFIED, THOSE ARE THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS. COMPLIANCE WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE CONFIRMED THROUGH A PLAN CHECK.

SO THE INTEGRAL EQUIPMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE HAND WASHING MECHANICAL REFRIGERATION, THERE'S A LIST.

AND REMEMBER IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU'RE MAKING.

SO WHAT YOU NEED WILL BE DEPENDENT ON WHAT YOU MAKE.

THERE ARE SOME EXEMPTIONS TO THIS PERMIT CRITERIA.

SO IF YOU'RE A CMO ONLY AND YOUR FOOTPRINT OF DISPLAY THE AREA IS 25FT² OR LESS.

AND YOU ONLY SELL PREPACKAGED NON POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD OR WHOLE UNCOOKED COOKED PRODUCE, YOU ARE EXEMPT FROM A PERMIT REQUIREMENT. YOU FILL OUT AN EXEMPTION FORM WITH US.

YOU REGISTER THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE OPERATING.

YOU KEEP A COPY WITH YOU. AND IF YOU'RE STOPPED IN THE STREET YOU SHOW US THAT AND WE'LL BE ON OUR WAY.

SO THE PERMITTING PROCESS THE FIRST STEP IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS IS THE PLAN REVIEW.

AND THIS IS JUST AS YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN. IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE OPERATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CFO CAN SUPPORT THE FOOD SERVICE BEING PROVIDED. DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH HAND OR DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH FRESHWATER? DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH STORAGE FOR WASTEWATER? DO YOU HAVE THE PROPER HOT HOLDING? ALL THOSE ITEMS ARE GOING TO BE CHECKED IN THE PLAN CHECK PROCESS.

AND THEN ONCE YOU'VE PASSED, ONCE THE FACILITY HAS OR THE OPERATION HAS PASSED THAT PLAN CHECK PROCESS, THEN YOU CAN APPLY FOR THE PERMIT. AND UNTIL THAT WHOLE BOTH THE PLAN CHECK AND THE PERMIT PROCESS OR THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS COMPLETE, YOU WOULDN'T BE PERMITTED TO OPERATE YET. THIS IS HOW YOU KNOW IF A FACILITY OR AN OPERATION HAS A PERMIT.

AND IF YOU'RE IF IT'S A MOBILE BEFORE YOU PURCHASE A UNIT, THOUGH, WE ASK THAT ALL OPERATORS COME TO US AND TALK TO AN INSPECTOR FIRST TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IN A UNIT.

WE DON'T WANT YOU TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY AND PURCHASE THE WRONG MOBILE UNIT.

WE'VE SEEN THAT BEFORE, SO WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME TALK TO US, AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND GIVE YOU RECOMMENDATIONS.

IT'S. LET'S SEE. SORRY, I LOST MY SPOT. AND SO AFTER YOU REVIEW THE COMPLIANCE AND COMPLETE THE APPLICATION OR THE APP, AFTER YOU REVIEW THE APPLICATION AND THEN COMPLETE IT, WE'LL TAKE THOSE DOCUMENTS FROM YOU AND AND NAVIGATE YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS THERE.

I THINK I KIND OF WENT OVER ALL THAT THOUGH. SO THAT'S MY PRESENTATION.

IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS, ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR PRO TEM? I HAVE NO QUESTIONS. MEMBER MARTINEZ. NO QUESTIONS, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.

IT'S NICE TO KNOW, BECAUSE WE DO GET ASKED THOSE KIND OF QUESTIONS, AND I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA OF HOW THIS WORKED.

SO THANK YOU. YEAH. AND WE HAVE SOME APPLICATIONS WE CAN LEAVE IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE THEM AND SOME OTHER INFORMATION JUST TO HAVE.

NO QUESTIONS. JUST THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE VALUABLE INFORMATION. SURE.

REYNA. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I AM SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT HELP IS OUT THERE FOR THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN AVAILING THEMSELVES OF THAT HELP.

I THINK THE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE HERE IS THAT MANY OF OUR VENDORS DON'T WANT TO COMPLY, AND SO THAT'S AN ISSUE.

I KNOW CHRISTIAN, HE'S SOMEWHERE HERE CAN ATTEST TO THAT, BECAUSE I SAW A VIDEO IN WHICH HE HAS ADMONISHED SOMEBODY FOUR TIMES, AND THAT INDIVIDUAL JUST CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME THING.

SO YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT FOOD VENDORS HAVE A PLACE, THEY HAVE CUSTOMERS.

THEY WOULDN'T BE THERE IF PEOPLE WERE NOT BUYING FROM THEM.

BUT I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL VENDORS COMPLY WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS AND ALSO PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS.

SO I'M JUST I HAVE CONCERNS, YOU KNOW, THEY GENERATE WASTE.

WHENEVER THESE VENDORS ARE ABOUT YOU CAN FIND WRAPPERS AND, YOU KNOW, THE CORN ON THE COB HAS A STICK.

YOU CAN FIND THE STICKS OR THE COB EVERYWHERE.

IS THERE A WAY THAT THEY CAN BE REQUIRED TO COMPLY ALSO WITH THAT TYPE OF CLEANLINESS? YEAH. SO ANY PERMITTED, ANY MOBILE WHETHER, WE'LL JUST SAY MOBILE FOR TO INCLUDE EVERYBODY WHO'S NOT A BRICK AND MORTAR FACILITY FOR THIS CONVERSATION. ANY PERMITTED OPERATION, MOBILE OPERATION IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A ROUTINE INSPECTION.

AND WE INSPECT THEIR UNITS EVERY YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED ON THE UNIT.

[00:25:06]

I AGREE WITH YOU. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS COMPLIANCE, YOU KNOW.

ABSOLUTELY TO OPERATE, BUT IN A SAFE AND CLEAN MANNER.

ABSOLUTELY. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE INFORMATION. STAFF, IF YOU COULD FORWARD TO ME THIS PRESENTATION, I'D LOVE TO HAVE IT. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING.

THANK YOU. YES. VERY ENLIGHTENING. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.

OBVIOUSLY, LIKE MR. REYNA SAID, IT'S BEEN A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION LATELY.

SO JUST KNOWING SORT OF THE FACTS IS IMPORTANT.

BUT, YEAH, IF WE CAN GET THIS, THIS POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, THEN THAT'D BE GREAT.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND TAKING THE TIME TO EDUCATE US TODAY.

ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING RESERVED FOR PERSONS DESIRING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, INCLUDING THE COUNCIL ACTING AS A GOVERNING BOARD FOR THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY ON ANY MATTER NOT ON THIS AGENDA OVER WHICH THE COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY HAVE JURISDICTION.

SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES. A MAXIMUM OF 30 MINUTES WILL BE ALLOWED FOR ONE SUBJECT.

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

BROWN ACT REQUIREMENTS OF 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 DURING THIS COMMENT PERIOD.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO. NOT ONE. ALL RIGHT.

[10.1. Alecio Mora, Assistant Police Chief]

WE HAVE ITEM TEN, NEW EMPLOYEE POLICE DEPARTMENT BADGE PINNING CEREMONY [INAUDIBLE] OH, SORRY. BEFORE THAT. MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS? THERE ARE NO EMAIL COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM OR ANY OTHER ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

NOW CHIEF FIVECOAT. THAT'S A GOOD EXCUSE, MAYOR.

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

IT'S WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO PROMOTE LIEUTENANT ALEX MORA TO THE RANK OF ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE. I'D JUST LIKE A MOMENT FOR A COUPLE COMMENTS ABOUT ALEX.

A FEW MOMENTS AGO, WE WERE SITTING AT THE TABLE AND I SAID, ALEX, ARE WE AT 18 YEARS? WHERE ARE WE AT NOW? AND HE SAID, NO, CHIEF, WE'RE AT 19 YEARS.

AND I'M THINKING, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO WHEN YOU CAME IN HERE.

SO YEAH, TIME HAS DEFINITELY SLIPPED BY. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE KIND OF INDIVIDUAL THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO PROMOTE TONIGHT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM AND WHY MR. HURLBUT, MYSELF AND YOU, THE COUNCIL, HAVE SUCH FAITH IN THIS INDIVIDUAL.

I HAVE FIVE LITTLE TENANTS THAT I'VE USED MOST OF MY CAREER THAT SEEM TO SERVE ME WELL.

AND I ASK EVERY OFFICER THAT COMES TO WORK FOR US HERE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THEIR WHY IS, WHY ARE THEY HERE? AND I DON'T WANT TO HERE TO PROTECT AND SERVE.

I WANT TO KNOW WHY ARE YOU HERE? AND I GOT TO THINKING ABOUT ALEX TODAY, AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, WE PREACH TO OUR STAFF ALL THE TIME ABOUT HOW IT HAS TO BE FOR THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE.

IT HAS TO BE FOR THE PEOPLE. THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE.

IT'S NOT. YOU'RE NOT HERE FOR THE MONEY BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET RICH IN THIS BUSINESS.

BUT THE THING THAT STRUCK ME ABOUT SOON TO BE ASSISTANT CHIEF MORA.

HERE'S A MAN THAT WORKED AT THE SHAFTER POLICE DEPARTMENT, WAS ON A CAREER PATH TO WHERE HE COULD ULTIMATELY HAVE BEEN CHIEF ONE DAY IN SHAFTER.

AND YET, SOME CRAZY OLD MAN LIKE MYSELF CALLS HIM UP AND SAYS, HEY, WE'VE GOT THIS GRAND EXPERIMENT WE'RE WANTING TO TRY UP IN WASCO, WHICH INCLUDES BUILDING A NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE DON'T KNOW. WE THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT OUR BEST SHOT.

BUT I DON'T SO MUCH AS HAVE A BUSINESS CARD RIGHT NOW.

ALEX SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING. AND HE IMMEDIATELY SAID, COUNT ME IN.

[00:30:04]

AND HE SAID, NO, I'M GOING TO GO TO WASCO BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BUILD A NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO DO YOU THINK THAT HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT HIS WHY IS? I THINK HE CERTAINLY DOES. I THEN THE SECOND LITTLE ADAGE I USE IS NEVER FORGET WHERE YOU COME FROM.

AND ALEX AND I HAVE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OUR PAST.

AND I THINK THAT MOST OF YOU IN LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN CONCUR WITH WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY.

MOST OF US COME FROM VERY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS. MANY OF US WERE VERY POOR.

SOME OF US WERE IN VERY BAD LIVING CONDITIONS WHEN WE WERE YOUNG.

NOT IN THE CASE OF ALEX, BUT IN THE CASE OF SOME.

AND SO WE GOT TO TALKING ABOUT OUR WORK CAREER.

AND ALEX SAYS, WELL, YOU KNOW, I WORKED IN THE FIELDS BEFORE AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I GOT MY START.

AND THEN HE GOT THE BIG PROMOTION AND WENT TO THE FLYING J TRUCK STOP, WHERE HE CLEANED TOILETS FOR GOD KNOWS HOW LONG.

AND HAVING WORKED IN A CHEVRON GAS STATION AT ONE TIME, I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT.

AND THEN EVENTUALLY GOES TO THE BIG TIME AND GOES TO WORK FOR THE SHAFTER SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND I BELIEVE YOU WERE CLEANING TOILETS THERE TOO, RIGHT? AND THEN THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, HE'S A BUS DRIVER AND HE BECOMES VERY POPULAR, AND HE GOES TO THE SHAFTER POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND THE REST, AS THEY SAY, IS HISTORY. BUT WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE MAN? IT SAYS THAT HE HAS BEEN FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, AND HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT'S ABOUT, TRYING TO WORK AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY AND DO THE RIGHT THING. AND ULTIMATELY, NOW HE'S MOVING TOWARDS AN EXECUTIVE POSITION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND HE'S KIND OF FILLED THE WHOLE SPECTRUM. THE THIRD THING THAT I ALWAYS SAY IS THINGS ARE SELDOM AS THEY FIRST APPEAR, AND IT DOESN'T REQUIRE MUCH DIALOG ABOUT THAT TONIGHT.

THE THING I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT ALEX IS HE'S ALWAYS LOOKING AND ANALYZING AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE PROPER THING TO DO AND WHAT IS THE MORALLY AND ETHICALLY CORRECT THING TO DO. AND NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS ONE THAT WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH, IS I TELL PEOPLE IF THINGS ARE GOING WRONG, GO LOOK IN THE MIRROR BECAUSE THERE'S A VERY HIGH PROBABILITY YOU GOT SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.

AND THE THING THAT I LOVE ABOUT ALEX IS THAT WHEN WE TALK AND WE TALK ABOUT ISSUES GOING ON IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, HE'S VERY QUICK TO REFLECT ON WHAT WE HAVE DONE, WHAT ACTIONS WE HAVE TAKEN, AND HOW THOSE ACTIONS MAY HAVE IMPACTED OUR STAFF OR OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO I KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING IN THE MIRROR AND I TRULY APPRECIATE THAT.

AND THE LAST ONE THAT I HAVE, WHICH THIS IS INTERCHANGEABLE, I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE TRUE LEADERS EAT LAST AND I BELIEVE THAT IS TRUE.

BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT PART OF THAT SHOULD BE HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED? AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I HAVE A VERY OUTSTANDING MAN STANDING BEFORE ME, AND I COULDN'T BE PROUDER THAN TO BE THE ONE THAT IS GOING TO PROMOTE HIM. AND YOU KNOW, THE WEIGHT OF THE BADGE GETS HEAVIER EVERY TIME YOU PROMOTE ALEX.

AND WE HAVE THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS TO CONSIDER THE REPUTATION OF OUR CITY AND THE WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND FOR ALL OF THE OFFICERS THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM, I CAN TELL YOU THERE ISN'T A ONE OF US AT THE COMMAND LEVEL THAT DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOU EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY, BECAUSE THE BIGGEST HORROR THAT ANY CHIEF COULD EXPERIENCE IS FOR ONE OF YOU TO GET HURT OR WORSE.

WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST WITH US TONIGHT WHO CAME UP HERE WITH 45 FIVE MINUTES TO SPARE.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY FUNNY. WHAT DO YOU TELL A GUY WHEN HE SAYS, WELL, I HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN A ROOT CANAL TONIGHT OR COMING TO A BADGE MEETING.

SO, ANYWAY, HE'S HERE, AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE ASSISTANT CHIEF BRIAN SMITH FROM THE AUBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HE'S BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME. WE SERVED TOGETHER AS CHIEFS BEFORE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION.

HE WAS THE CHIEF OF THE HIGHWAY PATROL, WHICH WAS ALMOST LIKE BEING A POLICEMAN.

AND THEN THE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY, AND I'VE SAID THIS TO YOU MANY TIMES, ALEX, I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU.

I'VE BEEN OFF FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, AS YOU KNOW, AND NOT ONCE DID I WORRY ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

AND IT'S A TESTAMENT TO YOU, IF I MAY ASK, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME UP AND HELP? AND MR. HURLBURT, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO HELP AS WELL, PLEASE.

[00:35:04]

SCOTT. AT LEAST MAKE HIM BLEED A LITTLE BIT.

IF YOU JUST STUCK IT IN HIS CHEST.

[APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

AND NOW I WOULD LIKE ASSISTANT CHIEF MORA TO DO OUR NEXT BADGE PINNING.

ALL RIGHT. IF YOU COULD TAKE THANK YOU. YEAH, WE GOT IT.

THANK YOU. OFFICER. OFFICER. FIRST OFF, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND FOR THE SUPPORT.

THIS IS TRULY AN HONOR TO BE THE FIRST ASSISTANT CHIEF AND NOT ONLY FOR A NEW DEPARTMENT, BUT WORKING UNDER CHIEF FIVECOAT.

THIS IS HIS DOING. THIS IS HIS LEADERSHIP I'M FOLLOWING AND TRYING TO LEARN AS MUCH AS I CAN.

MORE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES. I FELT IT FROM DAY ONE.

IT'S ALL GOOD STUFF HAPPENING HERE. SO THANK YOU ALL.

AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. OFFICER NUNEZ. SO I MET OFFICER NUNEZ WHEN WE WORKED IN SHAFTER, AND THIS OFFICER HERE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO SURPRISE ME.

THAT MAN CAN, HE'S A FAST LEARNER, AND HE HAS A SKILL SET THAT WE ALL APPRECIATED OVER THERE.

HE UNDERSTANDS TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, TRAFFIC INVESTIGATION.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE KIND OF HAVE IN COMMON.

SO WE HAVE THINGS TO TALK ABOUT. THIS ALSO ON TOP OF HIS GAME, HE'S GOING TO DO WELL.

HE'S GOT A SKILL SET THAT WE'RE GOING TO CAPITALIZE ON, AND GOD KNOWS WE NEED IT RIGHT NOW.

AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE TABLE.

AND I'LL HAVE HIS WIFE RUBY, COME OVER AND GIVE US GOOD LUCK.

THANK YOU. YEAH, SUPPOSED TO POKE ME.

FIRST TIME. YEAH.

THANK YOU. CHIEF. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

COME ON UP CLAIRE. HI. THANK YOU. YOU GUYS KNOW MY BOSS IS BIG ON SAFETY, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS. SAFETY, EDUCATION AND HEALTH.

SHE'S A BIG ADVOCATE. SHE MAKES SURE THAT YOU GUYS WERE ALLOCATED A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY.

SO YOU GUYS COULD DO YOUR OWN POLICE STATION AND ALSO THE TASK FORCE, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF OUR RESIDENTS ARE SAFE AND THEY ARE ABLE TO ENJOY LIFE TO THE FULLEST, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY.

AND THAT'S COMING WITH PICKING THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THE MENTOR I WAS TALKING TO, THIS YOUNG LADY RIGHT THERE, I WAS LIKE, WHO ARE YOU?

[00:40:04]

I WAS BRAGGING ABOUT YOU AND I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS BRAGGING.

BUT I TELL ALL OF CHIEF ASSISTANT MAURA THE GOD HAS CHOSEN HIM FOR THIS OCCASION.

AND WHEN THE CHIEF WAS BUILDING THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT, HE WAS BUILDING IT WITH BEING ABLE TO BE APPROACHABLE TO BE THE LIGHT OF THE CITY THAT YOU'RE SERVING. BECAUSE IF THE COMMUNITY OR THE RESIDENTS COULD BE ABLE TO APPROACH YOU AND THEY FEEL THAT THEY COULD TRUST YOU, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER PEOPLE. AND WHEN THE PEOPLE ARE COMMITTING CRIMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CALL SOMEBODY AND SAY, LOOK, THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON OVER HERE. WE NEED YOU GUYS HELP.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT GOD DOESN'T MAKE MISTAKES.

AND THE CHIEF HAS CHOSEN WELL. AND FROM DAY ONE I TELL HIM THAT, YOU KNOW, GOD HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR.

AND HE SAID THAT HE WANTS ALL HIS OFFICERS TO HAVE THE WINDOWS DOWN.

SO WHEN THEY TRAFFIC IN THE STREET, THEY BE ABLE TO HEAR SOMEBODY IF THEY'RE CALLING THEM OUT.

BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE YOUR AC ON AND. YOU DON'T HAVE AN EMERGENCY.

SO YOU HAVE TO TEACH THEM WELL. AND THAT REFLECTS ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID, THAT IT TAKES A GREAT LEADER TO MAKE SURE TO HAVE A GREAT MENTOR.

AND ON BEHALF OF MY BOSS, ASSEMBLYWOMAN, A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR YOUR PROMOTION TO ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE, AN HONOR TO BE SERVING AND WITH YOUR PRESENCE IN OUR DISTRICT.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOD BLESS YOU AND BE SAFE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THANK YOU. AND I ALSO HAVE ONE FOR OFFICER

[10.2. Roman Nunez, Police Officer]

I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT GOD HAS BROUGHT HIM BECAUSE I WAS LIKE IN SHAFTER, DELANO IN WASCO.

BUT GOD IS PLACING HIM WHERE HE NEEDS TO BE, AND HE'S GOING TO GIVE THE BEST OF HIM BECAUSE HE IS A GREAT MAN AND GOD IS GOING TO PROTECT HIM UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE ASSISTANT AND THE CHIEF, TO BE ABLE TO BE THE BEST HIM IN THE CITY THAT WE LOVE AS WELL IN DISTRICT 33.

AND WE HAVE FOR MY BOSS, ASSEMBLYWOMAN, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW JOB IN THE NEW CITY.

AMEN. [APPLAUSE] WHAT WOULD I BE GOING TO? I'M GOING TO LET THEM SAY A FEW WORDS AND THEN.

AND THEN. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THE OATH.

MARIA. JUMP IN THE CAMP.

OKAY. PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.

AFTER I SAY I. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE.

THAT WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

THAT I WILL TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION, AND THAT I WILL WELL, THAT AND THAT I WILL. WELL AND FAITHFULLY.

AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES. DISCHARGE THE DUTIES UPON WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER ALL THE TIME.

ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] MAYOR PRO TEM SALDANA. CONGRATULATIONS. ASSISTANT CHIEF MORA, AND WELCOME ON BOARD, OFFICER NUNEZ.

[00:45:08]

AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT. AND LIKE THE CHIEF MENTIONED, YOU TOOK A BIG LEAP OF FAITH COMING OVER HERE.

YOU WERE SITTING ON THE GOLDEN GOOSE OVER THERE IN SHAFTER. YOU KNOW, ALL EVERYBODY WANTED TO GO WORK THERE.

AND YOU WERE A RISING STAR. AND YOU TOOK A CHANCE ON US.

AND THAT'S NOT UNRECOGNIZED BY THIS COUNCIL. AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE IN PROMOTING FROM WITHIN.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK FORWARD TO BIG THINGS FOR YOU, SIR. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. OFFICER NUNEZ, YOU HAVE SOME BIG SHOES TO FOLLOW IN, AND YOU'VE GOT SOME GREAT MENTORS TO TEACH YOU.

WELCOME. AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH. YEAH.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ON YOUR NEW POSITION.

YOU KNOW, BEAUTIFUL STORY FOR CHIEF JUST SAID ABOUT YOU.

YOU KNOW, REALLY HUMBLE. I JUST I JUST WISH YOU THE BEST.

AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU IN YOUR NEW POSITION. WELCOME.

THANK YOU. MEMBER RAYNA. WOW, WHAT AN EXCITING MOMENT.

ALEX I KNOW YOU AS A PERSON, BUT HAVING THE CHIEF CONFIDENCE, YOU KNOW, IN YOU.

THAT'S JUST. IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE. AND WE ALL.

I'M CERTAIN I CAN SPEAK FOR THE COUNCIL BRIEFLY.

WE ALL HAVE FAITH IN YOU AND KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING A GREAT JOB.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PROMOTION. AND THEN, OFFICER NUNEZ, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO WORK WITH THE WASCO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU OUT THERE ON OUR STREETS DOING WHAT YOU DO BEST, RIGHT.

WHICH IS KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I MEAN, JUST TO ECHO WHAT THE GENTLEMEN HAVE SAID JUST LOOKING AT LOOKING BACK HOW FAR WE'VE CAME RIGHT.

THE FACT THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, DOING THE INTERNAL PROMOTIONS AND WE'RE RECOGNIZING OUR TALENT AND WE'RE SORT OF SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR SUCCESSION PLANNING, REALLY, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO? I THINK IT'S STEPS THAT ARE NEEDED RIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S SETTING US UP FOR THE FUTURE. AND, I MEAN, I THINK THE CHIEF SAID IT.

WELL, WE COULDN'T HAVE CHOSEN SOMEBODY BETTER, RIGHT? SO WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU HERE, INTERACTIONS WITH ALEX, YOU KNOW, HAVE ALL BEEN POSITIVE.

I KNOW YOU'RE ALL ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. YOU'RE ALL ABOUT MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT AND JUST HEARING THE STORY OF YOUR.

YOU KNOW, SORT OF YOUR STORY OF HOW YOU SORT OF CAME TO WHERE YOU'RE AT NOW.

IT'S GREAT TO HEAR. RIGHT. BECAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND YOU UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY. YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT'S NEEDED OUT THERE. SO, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU. AND TO OFFICER NUNEZ, WELCOME ON BOARD.

YOU KNOW, YOU GOT A LOT OF GOOD FOLKS HERE. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF TALENT HERE.

AND HOPEFULLY, YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU FIT IN WELL WITH THE REST OF THE FOLKS, AND, AND THEY DON'T GO TOO HARD ON YOU SINCE YOU'RE THE NEWBIE NOW.

SO WITH THAT, WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS.

THE TIME IS 6:49, SO WE'LL RECONVENE AT 6:55.

WE'LL DO SIX MINUTES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YEAH, I'LL CALL THIS MEETING BACK TO ORDER.

THE TIME IS 6:57. ITEM NUMBER 11, PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS.

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

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I WILL BE COVERING THE PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT.

AND OKAY, SO THIS IS WHAT THE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE.

I'M GOING TO KEEP IT AT THIS SLIDE, BECAUSE THIS DOES A GOOD JOB OF SHOWING THE PROGRESSION AND SHOWS WHERE WE ARE NOW.

SO FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, WE HANDLED 1695 TOTAL INCIDENTS, OF WHICH 1045 WERE CALLS FOR SERVICE.

OF THOSE, 650 WERE OFFICER INITIATED. STILL PUTS US AT ABOUT 40% OF THE TIME OF THE INCIDENTS ARE GENERATED BY THE OFFICERS. TRAFFIC STOPS 365.

PEDESTRIAN VEHICLE CHECKS 37, CITIZEN CONTACTS 29 AND TOTAL MISDEMEANORS AND FELONY ARRESTS, 97. AND IF WE LOOK AT THE CITATIONS, WE PRETTY MUCH DOUBLED UP THERE.

WE TOOK A WE GAVE OUR COMMUNITY A GRACE PERIOD.

WE ENGAGED IN A LOT OF TRAFFIC STOPS, A LOT OF VERBAL WARNINGS.

BUT NOW WE ARE MOVING INTO A MORE OF AN ENFORCEMENT STAGE.

[00:50:05]

TOTAL CASES 205. COLLISIONS, THREE, CRIMINAL CASES 155.

STOLEN VEHICLES, THIS GO AROUND 14, AND WE'VE RECOVERED 17.

AGAIN, WE WERE TRYING TO STAY ACTIVE, BEING PROACTIVE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE CITY SAFE, AS SAFE AS WE CAN. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER.

THANK YOU. MR. MORA. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS, MAYOR PRO TEM? I HAVE NO QUESTIONS. JUST THANK YOU. MEMBER MARTINEZ.

GOOD JOB. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, SIR. THANK YOU, MARIA.

THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD WAS ABOUT THE CITATION NUMBERS.

BUT YOU EXPLAINED IT. YOU WENT OVER IT. I JUST HAVE ONE COMMENT.

I'VE BEEN DRIVING AROUND HERE AROUND TOWN, AND I'VE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF GANG GRAFFITI.

YOU GUYS PROBABLY NOTICED IT, TOO? YES. IN FACT, WE SAW SOME IN THE SIDE OF TOWN.

BUT WE'VE SINCE TAKEN CARE. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO ADDRESS THAT AS SOON AS WE CAN.

AND I THINK THE ONE I'M TALKING ABOUT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED, HAS BEEN PAINTED.

YEAH. THERE'S ONE IF YOU GO DOWN POPLAR AND THOSE VALLEY ROADS APARTMENTS IN THOSE WALLS, THERE'S ONE THAT'S THERE.

AND IF YOU GO DOWN PALM THROUGH AN ALLEY, THERE'S SOME MORE OUT THERE TOO.

WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK ON THE ALLEY. I BELIEVE WE ADDRESS THE ONE ON THE NORTH LABOR CAMP.

NO, NO, IT'S A DOWN PALM AVENUE. PALM STREET? YEAH. OKAY. ALMOST GETTING TO SEVENTH STREET. THAT FIRST ALLEY BEFORE YOU GET TO THE RIGHT.

BEFORE YOU GET TO SEVENTH STREET. WELL, WE'LL MAKE NOTE OF THAT, AND WE'LL ADDRESS IT.

OKAY. YEAH. OKAY. MEMBER REYNA. THANK YOU. OUTSTANDING NUMBERS.

I LIKE TO SEE THAT 73 CITATIONS. I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAD A GRACE PERIOD.

THAT IS A LARGE GRACE PERIOD. IT WAS A YEAR, YOU KNOW, SO PEOPLE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, START PAYING CONSEQUENCES IF THEY DON'T FOLLOW THE TRAFFIC LAWS. SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT. AND I'M ALSO IMPRESSED.

I 14 VEHICLES WERE STOLEN AND YOU RECOVERED 17.

THAT IS A VERY GOOD OUTCOME. SO? SO THAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES.

THERE'S 14 OUT OF REPORTED OUT OF OUR JURISDICTION.

17 REPORTED TOTAL. SO SOME OF THEM ARE FROM OUT OF OUR.

I REALIZE THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST. YEAH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS REVERSED.

OF COURSE. OF COURSE, THE RECOVERY RATE BEING MUCH LARGER THAN THE STOLEN ONES.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. PORTER. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 12.

[12) CONSENT CALENDAR]

IN THE STAFF'S OPINION, 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 12 A TO 12 D. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE MEMBERS IF THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON A PARTICULAR ITEM ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

MAYOR PRO TEM. I HAVE NONE. MEMBER MARTINEZ. I HAVE NONE.

MEMBER REYNA. NO CONFLICT MAYOR. AND I HAVE NO CONFLICT.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE AN ITEM? NONE. ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ITEM MAYOR PRO TEM.

I HAVE NOTHING, SIR. RAYA. NO. REYNA. NO MAYOR.

THANK YOU. I HAVE NONE. I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. SO MOVED.

SECOND. MADAM CLERK, CAN WE GET THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL? OKAY.

MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA. SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 15.

[15.a. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to Finalize and Execute a Temporary Employment Agreement for a Summer IT Intern Through Kern Intern Connections (KIC), Subject to City Manager and City Attorney Review. (Hurlbert)]

ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR DESIGNEE, TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR SUMMER IT INTERN THROUGH KERN AND TURN CONNECTIONS KSC SUBJECT TO THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND HONORABLE COUNCIL. I AM VERY PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS ITEM TONIGHT.

A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE WERE BECAME AWARE OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM THAT THE CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION OFFERS WHICH IS IT GIVES OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TO EXPERIENCE AN INTERNSHIP. WE APPLIED AND WE WERE ONE OF THE AGENCIES THAT THEY SELECTED.

I WON'T SPEAK A LOT ABOUT THE PROGRAM BECAUSE WE DO HAVE OLIVIA JONES, THE PROGRAM MANAGER OF THE PROGRAM,

[00:55:03]

AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST YEAR THEY'RE DOING IT.

THEY'VE DONE IT IN FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. SO I'M SURE SHE'LL TALK ABOUT THE SUCCESS AND HOW IT WORKS.

THANK YOU. COME UP HERE, OLIVIA. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WELL, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK MARIA. SHE HAS BEEN SO WONDERFUL AND WORKING WITH HER HAS BEEN AN HONOR.

AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL FOR HOSTING US TONIGHT.

SO CURRENT INTERN CONNECTIONS IS A PROGRAM THROUGH THE CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION.

WHO ON THE COUNCIL KNOWS ABOUT THE CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION? OKAY.

YOUR HAND NEEDS TO BE UP MAYOR. COME ON. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

I'M TRYING TO THINK THE TWO THAT YOU MENTIONED.

WELL, THAT'S WHY I BRING IT UP. SO CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS A 501C6 WHICH IS HALF GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION, HALF PRIVATE ENTITY. SO THE ACTUAL FOUNDATION SIDE, WHICH IS WHERE I WORK IS A 501C3.

SO WE'RE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THROUGH AND THROUGH.

AND THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY BANK OF AMERICA, BANK OF THE SIERRA.

PG AND E AND CRC AND CHEVRON OF COURSE. WE HAVE SOME WONDERFUL PARTNERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THIS PROGRAM.

AND SO THE CITY OF WASCO HAS APPLIED TO THE PROGRAM.

AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT IS, IS THE CITY WILL RECEIVE A REIMBURSEMENT FOR HOSTING AN INTERN THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

AND THAT'S HOW IT HAS BEEN WORKING FOR THE NEXT THREE FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.

AND HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO EXPAND ON THAT PROGRAM WITH MORE FUNDS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO OFFER MYSELF, IF YOU GUYS HAD ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CURRENT INTERCONNECTION'S PROGRAM OR CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION.

THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. ANY COMMENTS? THE ONE PUBLIC. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MAYOR PRO TEM CELIA. I HAVE NO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.

MEMBER MARTINEZ. THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.

SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT PROGRAM AND I'M GLAD YOU LOOKED INTO THIS.

THANK YOU. MEMBER RAYA. I LOVE THIS IDEA. YOU KNOW, GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH HERE IN WASCO, SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, TO GET THE HANDS ON EXPERIENCE IN A PUBLIC SECTOR.

THIS IS GREAT. PLUS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR BOTH.

YOU KNOW THE CITY GETS TO HELP THE YOUTH GET THE EXPERIENCE.

AND WELL LIKE YOU SAID, THEY'RE GOING TO GET REIMBURSED.

SO IT'S AWESOME. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS FOR THE YOUTH LATER ON.

AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THE FUNDING, SO. BUT WE GET THAT FUNDING.

YEAH. THANK YOU. MAYOR REYNA. HE TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH.

NO, A GREAT PROGRAM, AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE WORKING WITH THE CITY WILL BENEFIT AS WELL AS THE CITY WILL BENEFIT FROM HAVING THE WAGES SUBSIDIZED. THAT'S A WIN-WIN SITUATION.

YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE NOT BE HAPPY ABOUT IT? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YEAH. THANK YOU GUYS. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND A THANK YOU TO CITY MANAGER HURLBERT AS WELL.

HE HAS BEEN FANTASTIC TO WORK WITH. THANK YOU.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION IN TERMS OF THE STUDENTS THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH, ARE YOU WORKING? IS IT AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL OR AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL? SO THESE ARE STUDENTS FROM ROC AND CTEC, WHICH IS THE REGIONAL OCCUPANCY CENTER AND CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER OUT FOR KERN HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT.

BUT WE DO HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY FROM SHAFTER, DELANO, WASCO TEHACHAPI THAT ARE APPLYING TO THIS PROGRAM THROUGH OUR CNC TECH.

HOW MANY APPLICANTS DO YOU HAVE? CURRENTLY WE HAVE ABOUT 50.

AND HOW MANY DO YOU PLACE? THIS YEAR WE WILL BE PLACING 24.

OKAY. SO YEAH. AND IT'S AND IT'S IN A WIDE RANGING.

OH, IT'S IN A WIDE RANGING INDUSTRY. SO WE HAVE DIGITAL MEDIA AND MARKETING.

WE HAVE CONSTRUCTION, WELDING. ONE OF THE MAJOR FOCUSES OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN KERN COUNTY IS MANUFACTURING, LOGISTICS AND DISTRIBUTION AND A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION AND ALL OF THAT.

SO THE CURRENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO CONNECT BUSINESS, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY.

AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO THAT THROUGH INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS? AWESOME.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. YEAH, HOPEFULLY WE GET A GOOD CANDIDATE AND THEY MAKE THE MOST OUT OF THE INTERNSHIP.

YEAH, I'M SUPER EXCITED. THANK YOU GUYS ALL SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. SO MOVED.

SECOND. MADAM CHAIR, CAN WE HAVE THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL? MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER. MARTINEZ. SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM SALDANHA TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. THANK YOU, GUYS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 15 B, COUNCIL FINDS THIS ACTION IS NOT A PROJECT DEFINED UNDER SECTION 15378 OF THE CEQA

[15.b. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Approving the Amended Salary Schedule for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 in Compliance with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Requirement for Publicly Available Pay Schedules. (Hurlbert)]

[01:00:06]

MR. HURLBERT. HONORABLE MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

WE CAN'T HAVE A NEW CLASS OF EMPLOYEE WITHOUT A NEW ROW ON OUR SALARY SCHEDULE.

SO TO COMPLY OR TO ALLOW THIS ADDITION OF THE INTERN, WE'VE CREATED A NEW PAY RANGE.

IT'S ON YOUR SCHEDULE, ATTACHED TO YOUR STAFF REPORT.

IT'S RANGE 18, I BELIEVE, IS THE NUMBER. CAN YOU SEE THAT? AND YES. SO IT'S THE HIGHLIGHTED ONE THERE, 18 THAT STARTS AT APPROXIMATELY MINIMUM WAGE AND GOES UP FROM THERE.

SO THAT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM FOR THESE NOT JUST THIS PROGRAM THIS YEAR, BUT IT WILL ALLOW US TO ACCOMMODATE OTHER INTERN OPPORTUNITIES AS THEY COME ALONG. SO IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE.

AWESOME. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO. NO COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS.

MAYOR PRO TEM SALDANA. I HAVE NO COMMENTS. MARTINEZ.

NO COMMENTS. RAYA. NO COMMENTS. AND REYNA. I HAVE A COMMENT.

I AM HOPING THAT UPDATING THE PAY RATE SCHEDULE ALMOST MONTHLY.

IT'S A SIGN OF GOOD PROGRESS FOR US. IT IS. IT'S A TASK SOMETIMES A NUISANCE TO DO THAT.

BUT YES, IT IS A GOOD INDICATOR THAT THINGS ARE GOING ON.

THAT'S HOW I'M VIEWING IT. SO. OKAY. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

SO MOVED MAYOR. AND I WILL SECOND. MADAM CLERK, CAN WE GET THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL? SECONDED BY MAYOR MEDINA TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 15, C COUNCIL FINDS THIS ACTION IS NOT A PROJECT DEFINED UNDER SECTION

[15.c. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to Finalize and Execute a Professional Services Agreement with SuperC AI Inc. (BeWith) for the Launch of a New Community Engagement Platform, Subject to City Manager and City Attorney Review. (Hurlbert)]

MR. HURLBERT. YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THIS PRODUCT THAT'S BEING PROPOSED HERE FITS IN WITH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY THAT WE'VE UNDERTAKEN HERE.

THIS PARTICULAR PRODUCT IS AT ITS CORE IS A COMMUNITY CALENDAR IS HOW IT'S PRIMARILY MARKETED.

BUT IT SOLVES A COUPLE OF PROBLEMS FOR OUR STAFF.

ONE IS THE ISSUE OF NOT HAVING A SINGLE PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE CAN CONTRIBUTE THEIR, THEIR CALENDAR ITEMS AND THEIR EVENTS EASILY.

AND THE OTHER IS WITHOUT THAT, WE CAN'T EASILY AVOID CONFLICTS BETWEEN EVENTS IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S COMING UP IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO AT THE SCHOOL, AND WE CAN EASILY SCHEDULE A CITY EVENT TO CONFLICT WITH THAT.

AND WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL THE CONFLICT OCCURS. SO THIS HELPS WITH THAT.

AND THE CITY WOULD CONTROL THIS. THIS IS A CLOUD BASED SYSTEM.

NO ADDITIONAL SERVER REQUIREMENTS ON OUR OWN NETWORK, BUT WE WOULD HAVE ONE OR MORE ADMINISTRATORS WHO WOULD CONTROL THE SUBMISSIONS TO THE CITY OF, LET'S SAY, A REC AND PARK DISTRICT EVENT OR ONE OF THE CAREER DAYS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

THOSE EVENTS NOW CAN BE SUBMITTED. OUR STAFF WILL VET THEM, MAKE SURE THEY'RE THE PROPER FORMAT, AND THE CONTENT GETS A QUICK PROOF. AND THEN WE CONTROL WHEN AND HOW THAT GETS POSTED.

THE OTHER MAJOR FEATURE OF THIS IS THAT IT HAS A PART OF ITS FEATURES, IS THAT WE CAN CONTROL WHEN AND WHERE THOSE POSTINGS ARE PUSHED OUT. SO WITH OUR FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM PAGES, THIS PRODUCT WILL ALLOW THOSE POSTINGS NOT ONLY TO BE ON THIS COMMUNITY CALENDAR, BUT CAN AUTOMATE THAT SUBMISSION TO THE OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS, AND CAN ALSO CONTROL WHEN THEY DISAPPEAR FROM THOSE CALENDARS.

SO AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THE EVENT HAS OCCURRED, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY DO THAT.

HOUSEKEEPING. THERE WERE SOME GOOD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRODUCT AND ABOUT THE PRICING OF IT.

THE ANNUAL COST FOR THIS IS 9720. THAT'S A DISCOUNT FROM THEIR NORMAL PRICING, AND IT'S AT OR BELOW THEIR COMPETITORS IN THIS SPACE.

SO IT'S A IT'S A FAIRLY REASONABLE COST WITHIN THIS CLASS OF PRODUCT.

[01:05:04]

THEIR SUPPORT SEEMS PRETTY STRONG. ANY QUESTIONS WE HAVE GET ANSWERED, IF NOT IMMEDIATELY, VERY QUICKLY. AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE.

SO WE HAVE SOME CONFIDENCE THAT THAT'S A STRONG OFFERING FROM THEM.

SO THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS I'M HAPPY TO ATTEMPT TO ANSWER THOSE.

THANK YOU, SCOTT. ANY COMMENTS OR ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS. MAYOR PRO TEM SALDANA. NO COMMENTS.

MEMBER MARTINEZ. SCOTT ALREADY ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM. SO YEAH, I THINK I LIKE THE IDEA I'LL BE WITH.

I THINK IT'S ALSO A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THE CITY IS DEALING WITH, THE SOCIAL MEDIA IN ONE PLATFORM, EVERYTHING THERE YOU CAN UPDATE ANY UPDATES ANY EVENTS AND STOP DOING ALL THE PRINTING, ALL THESE FLIERS.

RIGHT? YEAH. SO IT'S GOOD. IT'LL HELP. MEMBER REYNA.

NO, I LIKE THE PROGRAM. I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

IT MAKES IT EASY FOR EVERYONE. AND, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING TO NAVIGATE THROUGH PAGES OF A WEBSITE MAKES IT A LOT EASIER.

SO I LIKE IT. IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE IT.

I WILL SECOND, MADAM CLERK, CAN WE GET THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL? MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAYA. SECOND BY MAYOR MEDINA TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 15.

[15.d. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or designee to finalize and endorse a Site Lease Agreement with the California Department of Technology for location of a Fiber Optic Network Telecommunications Hut. (Hurlbert)]

ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND ENDORSE THE SITE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY FOR LOCATION OF A FIBER OPTIC NETWORK.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS. MR. HURLBERT. YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THE CITY BECAME AWARE OF THIS PROJECT A WHILE BACK, SEVERAL MONTHS BACK, AND WAS CONTACTED BY A SITE SELECTING COMPANY THROUGH THIS TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT CALLED THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA MIDDLE MILE BROADBAND INITIATIVE.

AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND IN THAT IN YOUR STAFF REPORT THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO CONNECT THE EXISTING LONG, WHAT ARE CALLED LONG HAUL FIBER PATHS WITHIN THE WITHIN THE STATE THAT SERVE MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS AND OFTEN FALL FOLLOW UNINTERRUPTED INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS RAILROAD PATHS.

THE AQUEDUCTS USUALLY HAVE FIBER IN SOMEWHERE IN THEIR RIGHT OF WAY, WHERE THEY ARE FAIRLY WELL GUARANTEED THEY WON'T HAVE CONFLICTS IN THE FUTURE.

WHAT THAT LEAVES OUT, THOUGH, IS INTERCONNECTIONS BETWEEN THOSE LONG HAUL PIPELINES, IF YOU WILL, FROM THE LA BASIN NORTH TO SAN FRANCISCO AND SACRAMENTO, AND WHICH LEAVES SMALLER COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS, OFTEN IN BETWEEN THOSE PATHS AND WITHOUT GOOD, GOOD CONNECTIVITY.

THIS PROJECT CREATES HUNDREDS OF CONNECTIONS STATEWIDE.

AND IT'S PART OF THAT IS THE REQUIREMENT THAT EVERY SO OFTEN, SO MANY MILES YOU NEED A REGENERATION HUT OR A PLACE TO SPLICE INTO THE VARIOUS NETWORKS. THIS IS ONE SUCH SITE.

THE SITE SELECTOR CHOSE THIS. YOU HAVE A DIAGRAM IN YOUR STAFF REPORT.

RIGHT ADJACENT TO, WELL, 12. RIGHT AT THE WEST END OF THE NEW MACOMBS FLYOVER BRIDGE.

THIS IS A PIECE OF LAND THAT THE CITY OWNS, A PARCEL THAT THE CITY OWNS THAT IS NOT ANTICIPATED TO BE NEEDED FOR, WELL, 12. THERE'S ROOM ON THE WELL 12 SITE FOR THE FILTRATION SYSTEM THAT'S ABOUT TO GO IN THERE AS PART OF OUR REVOLVING FUND PROJECT.

AND THERE'S ALREADY ACCESS TO IT. AND THIS PROVIDES A REVENUE SOURCE FOR THE CITY FOR THE NEXT UP TO 30 YEARS. ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE LEASE THE ANNUAL FEE IS FIXED AT 24,000.

IT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO NOTE THAT THE INITIAL THAT THE INITIAL OFFER WAS FOR 18,000, BUT THEY DO NOT OFFER ANY KIND OF A CPI INFLATOR FROM YEAR TO YEAR, WHICH WE TYPICALLY ASK FOR IN OUR LEASES.

SO THE COMPROMISE WAS BASICALLY CALCULATED. WHAT WOULD THE 20 YEAR VALUE BE? AND ADJUSTED THE FOR THE CONSTANT PRICE TO REPRESENT 1.5 CPI ACROSS THE LIFE OF THE OF THE LEASE,

[01:10:07]

IT'S A 20 YEAR INITIAL TERM WITH TWO FIVE YEAR EXTENSIONS.

AND OF COURSE, IF THE PROJECT IS STILL FUNCTIONAL AND THERE AREN'T ANY CONFLICTS FROM THE CITY STANDPOINT, THAT CAN BE EXTENDED BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT BY THE CITY AND THE STATE.

THERE ARE SOME COSTS BY LEGAL OF LEGAL SERVICES FOR REVIEWING THE LEASE AND SO FORTH, BUT THOSE ARE NOMINAL AND COVERED BY THE EXISTING CITY ATTORNEY BUDGET. THERE ARE QUESTIONS I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER.

THANK YOU. SCOTT. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MAYOR PRO TEM, I HAVE NO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.

MARTINEZ. NO COMMENTS. I THINK IT'S A SOLID AGREEMENT.

YOU KNOW IT'S A DEAL. 24000 FOR THE FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

YEP. IT'S AWESOME. BUT PLUS IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE FAST INTERNET FOR CITIZENS.

WELL, THIS THIS WON'T DIRECTLY DO THAT, BUT IT DOES CREATE AN ON RAMP FOR PROVIDERS, INCLUDING THE ONE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH NOW.

UNWIRED MAY CHOOSE TO ATTACH TO THIS. AND I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THAT THIS SAME BRANCH OF THE PROJECT TRAVELS RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF WASCO.

IN FACT, JUST A BLOCK FROM CITY HALL HERE, AND THEN PROCEEDS SOUTH AND GOES THROUGH SHAFTER.

AND SO THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION HAPPENING NOW ABOUT WHETHER THE TOWNS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS PROJECT CAN MAYBE BENEFIT BY A CONNECTION.

ON THIS PATH. I DON'T HAVE ANY YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T PUT A PERCENTAGE ON WHAT THAT MIGHT HAPPEN, BUT AT LEAST WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. AND IT WOULDN'T REQUIRE THEM TO CHANGE THEIR PATH OR CONNECTIONS AT ALL.

YOU COULD MAKE A CONNECTION HERE AT THIS LOCATION.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I READ THE REPORT, AND I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS GOT MY ATTENTION.

AND I'M GOING TO READ IT VERBATIM, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

IT'S A SHORT PARAGRAPH. IT SAYS IT CREATES FASTER ACCESS TO THE INTERNET BY BUILDING A STATEWIDE NETWORK THAT INCLUDES LOOPS THAT WILL BRING THE INTERNET CLOSER TO COMMUNITIES SO THAT HOMES AND BUSINESSES CAN CONNECT WITH THE LAST MILE PROJECTS.

THIS LOOP ROUTES ARE IN AREAS WHERE THE INTERNET EXISTS TODAY NOT TO SERVE THE AFFLUENT, BUT TO REACH THOSE HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED.

AND THAT'S MY QUESTION. YOU KNOW, HOW IS OUR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY MEMBERS GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS PROJECT? SO I WILL CLEAR OUT THAT I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT, BUT I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT TO GET AN ANSWER TO.

RIGHT. SO THAT THAT VERBIAGE IS LIFTED DIRECTLY FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA'S MIDDLE MILE BROADBAND INITIATIVE PAGE.

AND THIS IS PART OF THEIR JUSTIFICATION FOR IT.

AND SO THE WAY THAT IT DOES THAT IS IT CREATES THESE BRIDGES AND PATHS BETWEEN THE STATE LONG HAUL LINES THAT ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE TOWNS THAT AREN'T RIGHT ALONG THE HIGHWAY OR RIGHT ALONG THE RAIL.

AND IT STILL TAKES SOME SORT OF INITIATIVE, EITHER GOVERNMENT OR PRIVATE SECTOR, TO TAP INTO THOSE AND PROVIDE THAT SERVICE, JUST LIKE WE'RE DOING WITH UNWIRED NOW. SO BY ITSELF, IT WILL NOT.

NO ONE CAN HOOK THEIR HOUSE TO THESE PATHS, NOR ARE THEY PROVIDING THAT SERVICE.

BUT THEY'RE PROVIDING THAT SERVICE TO PROVIDERS.

IT MAKES IT EASIER TO ACCESS FOR PROVIDERS THAT MAY WANT TO ACCESS A PARTICULAR MARKET.

OKAY. WELL, KIND OF A UNLESS YOU HAD TRUTH. THAT STATEMENT IS THEN.

I MEAN, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT IT IS BECAUSE IT BRINGS THE INTERNET NEARBY.

YES, BUT THEN YOU NEED SOME KIND OF AN OPERATOR TO ACTUALLY HOOK TO IT AND PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, TO THOSE THAT ARE DISADVANTAGED BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HERE PREVIOUSLY IN WHICH WE NEED TO HAVE ACCESS FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO AFFORD INTERNET, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IN THIS DAY AND AGE, PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, WELL, THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE, BUT IT DOES HAPPEN.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT CANNOT AFFORD IT. AND THAT TERM, MIDDLE MILE IS A THAT IS A TERM THAT IS DIFFERENTIATED FROM LAST MILE.

SO WHAT IS STILL MISSING? YOU'VE GOT THE THE LONG HAUL.

YOU'VE GOT THE MIDDLE MILE CONNECTIONS THAT THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO CREATE.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE LAST MILE, WHICH ARE COMPANIES LIKE UNWIRED THAT GO IN AND SAY, OKAY, NOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT FROM THE INTERNET BACKBONE, IF YOU WILL, AND TAKE THAT SERVICE TO HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS. AND THAT TAKES TIME.

AND IT INVOLVES CAPITAL RISK AND, AND SO THIS TAKES IT ONE STEP FURTHER.

[01:15:03]

THAT'S WHAT UNWIRED THAT'S WHAT UNWIRED ACTUALLY IS GOING TO DO.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A LESSER PRICE CONNECTION, INTERNET CONNECTION TO THOSE THAT ARE THAT CAN BARELY AFFORD IT.

THEY PROVIDE A COMPETITIVE AS WE HEARD, THEY PROVIDE COMPETITIVE SERVICES BOTH AT THE HIGHER END. THE ONE GIG SYMMETRICAL IS THEIR COMMITMENT TO BE ABLE TO PUT TECHNOLOGY IN THE GROUND THAT IS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THAT AND ALSO LOWER SPEED, MORE AFFORDABLY PRICED SERVICES. SO I DID HEAR YOU SAY THAT THIS PROJECT TIES INTO THE UNWIRE PROJECT. NO. NOT NECESSARILY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

VERY GOOD. I THINK I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.

OKAY. I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK FOR A WAY TO CONNECT THOSE THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONNECT BECAUSE OF PRICING.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE WON'T BE DOING THAT, BUT WE NEED TO FIND A PARTNER THAT CAN THAT CAN PROVIDE THAT.

MAYBE IT IS UNWIRED, I DON'T KNOW. AND IF THERE IS A DEMAND FOR THAT CATEGORY OF, OF SERVICE AT A, AT A LOWER PRICE THAN I WOULD IMAGINE IT'S TO THEIR INTEREST, THEIR BEST INTEREST TO ADDRESS THAT NEED RATHER THAN NOT HAVE A CUSTOMER. RIGHT. EXCEPT THAT THERE WOULD BE THEY WOULD HAVE COMPETING CUSTOMERS EXCEPT THE SERVICE WOULD BE DIFFERENT, RIGHT? MAYBE A SLOWER SERVICE. NOT AS RAPID AS HIGH SPEED INTERNET.

EXACTLY. THANK YOU. SCOTT, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, I HAVE NO QUESTIONS. I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE.

I'LL SECOND MAYOR. MADAM CLERK, CAN WE GET THE VOTE BY ROLL CALL? MAYOR.

MOTION BY MAYOR MEDINA. SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 16.

[16.a. Kern Economic Development Corporation (Medina)]

THE MEETING ACTUALLY HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE OUT AT THE CAL CITIES CONFERENCE.

SO I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND. SO I HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT ON THAT.

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

MAYOR. YEAH. I HAVE THREE ITEMS TO REPORT FROM [INAUDIBLE] THE SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL.

THIS IS A US DEPARTMENT PROGRAM. THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM THAT HAD ALLOCATED $5 BILLION IN FUNDING OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS, FROM 2022 TO 2026 AND THROUGH 2024.

THEY HAVE AWARDED 2.9 BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO OVER 600 COMMUNITIES IN ALL 50 STATES.

THE APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR THIS CYCLE, EXCUSE ME, IS JUNE 26TH, 2025, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'VE LOOKED INTO THAT PROGRAM IN THE PAST, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO TAP INTO BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE ABOUT 2 BILLION TO GIVE OUT FOR THE, FOR THIS PERIOD AND THE NEXT. MARIA, HAVE WE TAPPED INTO THAT ALREADY OR ATTEMPTED TO.

OKAY, SO MICHAEL NAVARRO HAS ALREADY BEEN PROMOTED TO THE DISTRICT SIX DIRECTOR.

SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO REACH OUT TO HIM AGAIN AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY ON THE TABLE THERE.

[01:20:01]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HIGHWAY 46 AND 43 ARE ROUNDABOUT.

UTILITY RELOCATION WILL OCCUR THIS SUMMER. AND I WANT TO ASK THE STAFF, DID YOU HEAR FROM THE PROJECT MANAGER? HAS HE REACHED OUT TO YOU ABOUT COMING TO THE COUNCIL TO GIVE US AN UPDATE? YES, WE'RE WORKING ON SCHEDULING THAT UPDATE.

THAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO MAYBE HAPPEN TONIGHT, BUT THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD.

YEAH. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. OKAY.

AND THERE WAS ONE MORE THING HERE. THE RSCP ORIGINAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM IN THE CMAC CONGESTION MITIGATION AND AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM ARE OUT, AND DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS JULY 17TH.

HAVE WE STARTED THE PROCESS FOR THOSE ALREADY? THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE ON TOP OF IT.

SO THANK YOU. THAT IS IT FROM [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU.

UNLESS YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS. THEY DO HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR HAS BEEN NAMED.

OH, YES. YES. TO REMIND ME OF HIS NAME. JACE LOSHER.

JACE LOSHER. JACE. A WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL. YES.

HIGH ENERGY. VERY SHARP. WHEN WE WERE CONSIDERING, WELL, WE WERE FORCED TO CONSIDER GETTING A NEW DIRECTOR IS BECAUSE OUR CURRENT DIRECTOR DECIDED TO RETIRE.

AND SO WE HAD SEVERAL CANDIDATES. AND TO ME, HE JUST ROSE TO THE TOP.

THERE WAS A COMMITTEE FORMED TO INTERVIEW THOSE THAT WERE VYING FOR THE POSITION.

AND I HAD SAID THAT WHOEVER THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD PUT FORTH, THAT WE SHOULD GO WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL.

NOT EVERYBODY AGREED WITH THAT, AND WE HAD TO HAVE ADDITIONAL MEETINGS ON THAT.

BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT HE'S THE MOST QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL.

AND SCOTT, NO DOUBT YOU KNOW HIM, RIGHT? HE WORKS IN TEHACHAPI.

OKAY. THEY MISS HIM IN TEHACHAPI. YEAH. THEY'RE GOING TO MISS HIM.

DEFINITELY. AND SO I JUST LOVE I THINK HE'S THE RIGHT PERSON TO MOVE US FORWARD IN THE CAUSE.

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM.

YEP. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO ITEM 16, C WASCO TASK FORCE.

[16.c. Wasco Task Force (Saldaña and Medina) ]

WE'LL EMAIL. AND SO WE COULD INFORM THE VOLUNTEERS THE TIME AND LOCATION.

NO CLEANUP. SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO THAT THAT PROJECT OVER ON PALM AND CHROME.

SO WE HAD TALKED ABOUT. SO I NEED TO CONNECT WITH YOU IN TERMS OF SORT OF NEXT STEPS AND WHATNOT.

SO AND THEN THAT WAY WE CAN PUT A DATE SET IN STONE ON THE CALENDAR AND WE CAN PUT A FLIER TOGETHER.

SO EVERYTHING ON THAT END SHOULD BE ON OUR END SHOULD BE COMPLETED.

MAYBE WE'RE HOPING THE END OF NEXT WEEK AND WE CAN FINE TUNE THE DATE FOR YOU.

OKAY. YEAH. SO I SAW I TALKED A LITTLE BIT WITH SCOTT EARLIER IN TERMS OF THE STUMPS GETTING GRINDED UP AND WHATNOT.

SO WE JUST NEED TO RETHINK HOW WE APPROACH IT BECAUSE, I MEAN, IT IS KIND OF A BIG, A BIG LITTLE SECTION IN TERMS OF THE WOOD CHIPS AND ALL THAT. SO I'LL CONNECT WITH YOU.

YEAH. YEAH, DEFINITELY. SO. SO THE STUMPS, ARE THOSE ALREADY BEEN GRINDED OUT? YES, I SAW THAT. SO BUT IT IS A BIG AREA. SO YEAH, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.

GOT IT. ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER.

[17) REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER]

WE GOT A GOOD LIST, SO I'LL TRY TO SHOOT THROUGH IT HERE QUICKLY.

COMMUNITY BREAKFAST TOMORROW TO BE HOSTED AT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM, 7 A.M..

SCOFIELD ROAD, PROJECT STATUS. IT STARTED MONDAY YESTERDAY.

[01:25:03]

QUICK QUESTION. ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ROAD CLOSURE OR PARTIAL COMPLAINTS OF THAT? I KNOW NONE THAT HAVE COME ACROSS MY DESK. YEAH, I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS, SO.

RIGHT. WEATHER DOESN'T GET TOO CRAZY. IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY QUICK.

AWESOME. THANK YOU. I DON'T IMAGINE IT'LL TAKE MORE THAN TWO SHIFTS BEFORE EVERYBODY FIGURES OUT THEIR PREFERRED DETOUR.

YOU DID GIVE HIM PLENTY OF NOTICE. OH, YES. SO THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON FOR THEM TO BE COMPLAINING? NO. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED ANYWAY. THE PAVING ON THE CENTRAL REHAB PROJECT IS COMPLETE.

STRIPING STARTS ON 5/12. AND THERE WILL BE MINIMAL DISRUPTION.

THE WAY THEY DO THAT. THEY CAN ROUTE TRAFFIC SECTION BY SECTION AND GET THAT DONE PRETTY QUICK.

THE UNWIRED PROJECT THAT WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT YESTERDAY, WE HAD A EXHAUSTIVE AND EXHAUSTING MEETING, BUT FINALIZED THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENTS WITH THAT.

SO WITH THE COUNCIL'S PREVIOUS RESOLUTION AND APPROVAL FOR US TO FINALIZE THAT IT SHOULD BE EXECUTED THIS WEEK.

THEY'RE VERY ANXIOUS TO START. SO ONCE IT IS SIGNED, THEY WILL BE MOVING THEIR PERMITS THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENTS VERY QUICKLY AND STARTING THEIR COMMUNITY INFORMATION CAMPAIGN WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND NEWSPAPER AND DOOR HANGERS AND SO FORTH.

SO JUST A QUICK QUESTION. I HAD REQUESTED THAT THAT CONTRACT THAT HAD ALL THOSE CROSS-OUTS AND IN RED AND SOME NOT IN RED, THAT IT BE SENT WITHOUT ALL OF THOSE.

YES. WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO STILL DO THAT? THE CLEAN VERSION THAT I EXPECT TO BE EXECUTED WILL BE FINISHED TOMORROW MORNING, SO I'LL GET IT SHIPPED TO YOU. THANK YOU. THE LANDSCAPE PROJECT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, IT'S GOING TO KICK OFF THIS MONTH.

THERE WAS A QUESTION AT THE LAST MEETING ABOUT HOW MANY OF THE BANNERS AND THE BANNER PROGRAM WERE SPONSORED, AND THERE WERE FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OF THE SUBSIDY, IF YOU WILL.

THAT'S A VERY GOOD PERCENTAGE. YES. SNIP. EVENTS.

MAY 9TH AND THE 30TH. THE USUAL TIME AND PLACE.

08:08 A.M.. ACROSS THE STREET. BY APPOINTMENT.

VERY IMPORTANT. THIS IS THE NEXUS OF THREE PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION DAYS OR WEEKS.

SO I DON'T KNOW. THIS THIS MAY IS VERY POPULAR.

SO THIS IS CITY CLERK APPRECIATION WEEK, SO WE CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

WE GET A PROCLAMATION, NO DOUBT. RIGHT. NEXT MEETING.

SO THERE WILL BE. IT SNUCK UP ON EVEN OUR VERY AWARE CITY CLERKS WERE SURPRISED BY THIS.

SO IT'S JUST HUMBLE. SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BRING IT UP HERSELF.

YEAH. THAT'S IT. DONUTS. AND STARBUCKS. SO THAT'S ALWAYS THE FIRST FULL WEEK OF MAY EACH YEAR.

AND THIS YEAR IT'S FROM THE FOURTH THROUGH THE 10TH, SO WE DIDN'T MISS IT BY MUCH.

NATIONAL POLICE WEEK IS OBSERVED ANNUALLY DURING THE WEEK THAT INCLUDES MAY 15TH.

SO WE'RE AHEAD OF THAT ONE. THIS WEEK IS ALSO DESIGNATED AS PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY.

AS A TIME TO HONOR AND REMEMBER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO HAVE PASSED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND THEN SINCE 1960 JOHN F KENNEDY INITIATED THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION AND THE NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS APPRECIATION WEEK.

AND IT'S THE WEEK, THE THIRD WEEK OF MAY. SO WE STILL HAVE TIME TO RAMP UP FOR THAT FOR LEWIS AND HIS CREW.

AND SO THAT'S COMING UP AS WELL. SO BUSY MONTH FOR RECOGNITIONS.

THEN THE LAST ITEMS ICSC IS COMING UP THE 18TH THROUGH TUESDAY, THE 20TH MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY SATURDAY THE 24TH AT 9 A.M. AT THE NATIONAL CEMETERY AND THE WASCO BIKE RODEO SATURDAY, MAY 24TH.

THE TIME IS YET TO BE DETERMINED AT BARKER PARK, SO AS SOON AS WE HAVE A FLIER WITH A TIME ON IT, WE'LL DISTRIBUTE THAT TO YOU. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. NO QUESTION. THANK YOU.

SCOTT. YEP. REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL. MAYOR PRO TEM SELENA.

[18) REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL]

THAT WAS A REALLY A LOT OF INFORMATION, A LOT OF GOOD OPTIONS FOR THE SENIORS THAT ARE GRADUATING.

[01:30:06]

SO I THOUGHT IT WAS A COOL THING. THAT'S ALL I GOT.

THANK YOU. MARTINEZ. I ATTENDED THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AIR POLLUTION DISTRICT SELECTION CITY SELECTION COMMITTEE MEETING. I THINK I FORGOT SOME WORDS IN THERE.

BASICALLY, WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR ELECT A NEW BOARD MEMBER.

BUT I DID FIND OUT THAT MR. REYNA IS A BOARD MEMBER.

HE IS CURRENTLY SERVING A THREE YEAR TERM HERE IN YOUR SECOND YEAR OF THREE, AND THEY TYPICALLY WANT TO RENEW THAT THREE YEAR TERM.

SO IT'S A SIX, SIX YEAR TERM. SO I'M JUST ON THE CITY SELECTION COMMITTEE APPARENTLY.

AND THEN HE'S THE ACTUAL BOARD REPRESENTATIVE FOR.

CORRECT. AND THE CITY SELECTION IS A MYSTERIOUS BUT USEFUL GROUP THAT KIND OF FILLS IN THE GAPS OF ASSIGNING FOLKS. FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS ASSIGNED THROUGH THE CITY SELECTION GROUP TO BE THE CITY REPRESENTATIVE TO THE M CAB, ANOTHER MYSTERIOUS AND LITTLE KNOWN GROUP THAT HANDLES EMERGENCY MEDICAL, SUCH AS AMBULANCE FRANCHISES AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR THE COUNTY.

SO IT AND OUR FORMER WASCO EMPLOYEE, I THINK, OR AT LEAST AN AFFILIATE.

CATHY KRAUS IS HEADS UP THAT INTERFACE TO THE CITY SELECTION COMMITTEE.

AND SHE'S WONDERFUL. SHE'S SHE IS GREAT. AND SO I DO WANT TO SAY I MENTIONED THIS BEFORE THE SERVING OF THE BOARD MEMBERS IS ON A ROTATION BASIS. SO AFTER MY TERM IS UP, THEN IT WILL GO TO ANOTHER CITY, YOU KNOW.

SO AND THAT'S HOW IT WORKS. SO WELCOME TO THE CLUB.

THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR. THANK YOU.

NOTHING TO REPORT. MAYOR REYNA. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

I HAVE I HAVE A REQUEST. YOU KNOW HOW WE HAD THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HERE, AND WE HAD CHRISTIAN HERE AS WELL, WHO'S DEALING WITH ALL OF THIS PROBLEMATIC ISSUES BECAUSE THEY PUT HIM ON BLAST, AND THEY'RE ACCUSING HIM OF ALL KINDS OF WRONGDOING WHEN HE'S JUST DOING HIS JOB.

RIGHT? AND AS I MENTIONED, THERE IS THIS INDIVIDUAL THAT HE HAD ADMONISHED FOUR TIMES.

THAT WAS THE FOURTH TIME. AND THE GUY KEEPS SAYING, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU KNOW, HE'S SOMEHOW BEING HARASSED.

WELL, HE'S NOT HE'S BEING ASKED TO COMPLY. AND SO I WANT TO ASK STAFF TO HAVE OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO CARRY THE INFORMATION WHERE THESE INDIVIDUALS CAN REACH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THE SPECIFIC PHONE NUMBER OR WEBSITE WHERE THEY CAN GO TO MAKE A REQUEST FOR A PERMIT.

OKAY. AND A CHECKUP OF THEIR VEHICLE, WHATEVER IT IS, SO THAT WHEN CHRISTIAN IS DEALING WITH THESE PEOPLE, IT'S JUST SAYING, HERE'S THE INFORMATION FOR YOU TO MAKE THIS RIGHT, OKAY? AND DO THAT WHERE THAT PARTICULAR USE IS PERMITTED.

IN SOME CASES, IT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY PERMITS, RIGHT? THERE'S NO SENSE IN SENDING THEM TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. BUT WHERE IT'S APPLICABLE, OKAY. WHERE IT'S APPLICABLE. LET'S DO THAT. SO THAT DIMINISHES THE IDEA THAT WE'RE JUST TRYING TO HARASS THEM.

IT'S A CITY WHEN IN REALITY WHAT WE WANT THEM TO DO IS TO COMPLY, RIGHT.

SO IF YOU COULD DO THAT THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I HAVE A QUESTION.

DID WASCO RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT REACH OUT TO PUBLIC WORKS REGARDING SOME GANG GRAFFITI THAT WAS ON THE BACK OF THE BATHROOMS AT WEST SIDE PARK? YES. AND HAS THAT BEEN CLEANED UP? YES. IT HAPPENED TODAY THAT THEY CLEANED IT UP.

OH, OKAY. YEAH, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ON FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I HAD ADDRESSED IT AND IT REMAINED. I BELIEVE IT WAS SINCE THE 19TH OF APRIL THAT THAT'S WHEN I SAW IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS CLEANED UP TODAY. THAT'S A LONG TIME FOR IT TO REMAIN UP.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE IT BRINGS MORE OF THE SAME.

IN FACT, THE SOMEBODY HAD TAGGED THAT WALL AND THEN SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY ELSE CAME AND CROSSED IT OUT AND PUT THEIR NAME ON TOP OF IT, WHICH IS THE PROBLEM. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THAT.

SO NO WORRIES ON THAT. AND JUST TO CLARIFY, THEY ATTEMPTED TO TO PRESSURE WASH IT BEFORE.

AND THEY NOTIFIED US ON FRIDAY THAT, HEY WE NEED SOME ADDITIONAL HELP.

MAYBE WE HAD THE EQUIPMENT AND WE DID. YEAH. SO THEY ATTEMPTED IT THEMSELVES.

THANK YOU. I'VE TAKEN AT LEAST THREE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THAT BEING UNTOUCHED SINCE I REPORTED IT.

SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE ALREADY ESTABLISHED A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, THAT THEY CAN REACH OUT TO YOU AND HAVE IT DONE.

SO I'M GLAD THAT IT'S ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.

[01:35:02]

MAY IS ALSO MENTAL HEALTH MONTH. AND SO MAYBE WE CAN SET UP A PROCLAMATION MAYOR IF YOU WOULD APPROVE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND INVITE SHARON WOOLFORK FROM NAMI TO ACCEPT THAT PROCLAMATION.

MARIA CAN ADD IT TO THE NEXT SCHEDULE. YEAH. AND ONE MORE THING, IF I MAY, I ATTENDED THE NAMI KERN COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH GALA ON SATURDAY WHERE I RECEIVED A SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD AS A MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE FOR MY WORK ON THE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS IN OUR FESTIVAL AND FOR BRINGING BACK MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOPS TO OUR COMMUNITY. VERONICA [INAUDIBLE] ALSO RECEIVED THE MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR AWARD.

THAT WAS QUITE A NICE THING FOR HER. THAT'S FOR HER WORK ON AND COMMITMENT TO MENTAL HEALTH.

SHARON WOOLFOLK. I ALWAYS HAVE DIFFICULTY PRONOUNCING THAT LAST NAME.

NAMI KERN, PRESIDENT WILL FACILITATE THE HEARTS AND MINDS WORKSHOPS, AND THEY WILL START ON MAY 18TH AT THE SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST PARISH HALL.

AND THIS IS A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS. SO THAT'S THAT WILL BE THE FIRST ONE.

AND THEN TWO WEEKS AFTER WILL BE THE SECOND ONE AND SO ON.

SO THIS IS ALL AS A RESULT OF THE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND ART FESTIVAL.

SO THANK YOU TO THEM. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO REPORT.

THANK YOU, MR. REINA. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR ADDRESSING THAT SEVENTH AND CENTRAL APARTMENT DEAL THAT GOT CLEANED UP PRETTY QUICK.

THE WHOEVER DID THAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT LOOKS A LOT BETTER.

I ALSO ATTENDED THE WASCO CAREER DAY. I THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY COOL.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FOLKS OUT THERE, A LOT OF DIFFERENT RESOURCES.

I KNOW I SAW THE CITY FOLKS OUT THERE, TOO. WE HAD A TABLE.

I THINK IT'S JUST GOOD TO SEE THE RESOURCES. I JUST IT WASN'T AS WELL ATTENDED AS I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BECAUSE IT'S ON A FRIDAY EVENING, RIGHT? MAYBE IT'S THE DATE TYPE OF DEAL, BUT IN TERMS OF THE RESOURCES, I THINK IT'S GREAT.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES. I THINK THE ONE THING I'M SURE WE HAVE A LOT OF CONNECTIONS, RIGHT. THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE IS, I KNOW WE HAVE HR CITY STAFF THERE, BUT MAYBE IT'S SOMEBODY ELSE THAT'S THERE TO REPRESENTATIVE MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH SOME OF THE SOME OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNERSHIPS THERE. I JUST THINK OF, YOU KNOW, LIKE OUR HOMELESS COORDINATOR THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT OF CURRENT COUNTY FOLKS THERE, THERE WAS A LOT OF TABLES THERE. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONNECTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, MINGLING AND WHATNOT FOR WORKSHOPS OR OTHER RESOURCES.

AND THEN BESIDES THAT I ATTENDED THE CAL CITY'S SO THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION THERE.

THERE WAS ONE CLASS THAT I WENT TO SPECIFICALLY THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING.

IT WAS ABBREVIATED GOOD GANGS OUT OF DOWNEY. SO IT KIND OF GOES NICELY WITH EVERYTHING.

RIGHT? I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT THE PELL PROGRAM, BUT, I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY COOL. THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. AND THE WAY THAT THEY'VE APPROACHED SORT OF KEEPING KIDS OUT OF THE STREET AND WHATNOT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT, BUT PROBABLY WORTH SOMETHING LIKE LOOKING INTO SORT OF HOW THEY'VE STRUCTURED THE PROGRAM AND WHATNOT. SO THAT'S ALL I GOT. SO WITH THAT, IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, WE HAVE ITEM 19,

[19) CLOSED SESSION]

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING THE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE, WE WILL NOW RETURN TO CLOSED SESSION AND RETURN TO REPORT OUT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.