[00:00:02] OKAY. WE'RE READY, MAYOR. [1) CALL TO ORDER: Mayor] I WILL NOW CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. IT IS 6 P.M. MADAM CLERK, CAN WE PLEASE HAVE A ROLL CALL? MAYOR SALDANA. HERE. MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA. I'M HERE. COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ. HERE. COUNCILMEMBER RAYA. HERE. COUNCILMEMBER MEDINA ABSENT. ALL RIGHT. PLEASE STAND FOR THE FLAG SALUTE. SALUTE. PLEDGE. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. IS THERE SOMEBODY IN THE CROWD. LEAD US ON AN INVOCATION? NOBODY. DO A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA. [5) APPROVAL OF AGENDA] ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? NO CHANGES. NO CHANGES? IF THERE AREN´T ANY CHANGES, STAFF WILL. I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL TO FORM. TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. APPROVE THE AGENDA. I'M SORRY. SO MOVED. I'LL SECOND IT. MADAM CLERK, VOTE BY ROLL CALL. MOTION IS. MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA. AYE. COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ. AYE. COUNCILMEMBER RAYA. AYE. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ, SECONDED BY MAYOR SALDANA TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS TO FORM. MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH COUNCILMEMBER MEDINA ABSENT. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 6. PRESENTATIONS. [6.a. 2026 Art and Mental Health Festival for Saturday, March 28, 2026.] PRESENTATION BY VERONICA JACUINDE AND MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY ABOUT OUR SECOND ANNUAL WORLD BIPOLAR DAY. BEFORE I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT, I'D LIKE TO SHARE A VIDEO FROM LAST YEAR'S EVENT, IF THAT'S OKAY. OH, YEAH. IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS, AND WE OWE IT ALL TO YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BRING THIS EVENT TO THE CITY. WORLD BIPOLAR DAY. THE VISION IS TO BRING WORLD AWARENESS TO BIPOLAR DISORDERS AND TO ELIMINATE SOCIAL STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, WORLD BIPOLAR DAY HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN OBSERVED ON MARCH 30TH, AND THAT IS THE BIRTHDAY OF VINCENT VAN GOGH, WHO WAS DIAGNOSED AFTER HIS DEATH AS LIKELY HAVING BIPOLAR DISORDER. [00:05:05] BECAUSE THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN BIPOLAR AND CREATIVITY, WASCO´S WORLD BIPOLAR DAY FESTIVAL IS DESIGNED TO CELEBRATE BOTH MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. ART IS NOT JUST A THEME OF THE EVENT, BUT AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FESTIVITIES. OH, YOU CAN CHANGE IT. YES. WE'RE AT THE GOAL OF WASCO´S WORLD BIPOLAR DAY. YES. THE GOAL OF WASCO´S WORLD BIPOLAR DAY IS TO BRING VALUABLE MENTAL HEALTH, EDUCATION AND INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY. AT LAST YEAR'S EVENT, WE HAD OVER 15 MENTAL HEALTH FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS PLUS A MOBILE MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC PARTICIPATED. LOCAL SERVICE CLUBS WERE ALSO ON HAND TO PROVIDE VALUABLE RESOURCES. SOME OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ATTENDED INCLUDED SUNSHINE HOSPITAL, KERN FAMILY HEALTHCARE, AND NAMI, THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS. WORLD BIPOLAR DAY CELEBRATES ART, AND WE HAD OVER 25 ARTISTS DISPLAY THEIR ART IN THE OPEN AIR GALLERY IN DOWNTOWN PLAZA. ALSO, THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WASCO STATE PRISON, THE FESTIVAL FEATURED THE ART OF ITS CLIENTS, HIGHLIGHTING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH AND CREATIVITY. THE EVENT ALSO INCLUDED THE LIVE PAINTING OF AN EIGHT FOOT BY EIGHT FOOT MURAL OF VINCENT VAN GOGH'S STARRY NIGHT, AND ARTIST AXZAY VILLAREAL ALSO LED A THREE DIMENSIONAL CLAY ART PROJECT, AND THERE WERE PAINTING WORKSHOPS WHERE FESTIVAL ATTENDEES OF ALL AGES PAINTED SOME OF VAN GOGH'S MOST FAMOUS WORKS, MAINLY HIS MOST WELL-KNOWN PIECES SUNFLOWERS AND MULBERRY TREES. IT WAS A CROWD FAVORITE ACTIVITY. GUESTS ALSO ENJOYED PERUSING THE ART BY SOME OF THE AREA'S MOST TALENTED ARTISTS. AND THESE ARTISTS, I'M SURE YOU ALL RECOGNIZE WE HAD ART SHERWYN, OUR BELOVED ARTISTIC DIRECTOR WHO PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN WASCO´S DOWNTOWN BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT. WE HAVE CHARLOTTE WHIGHT, WHO PARTICIPATED, AND SHE'S FROM THE BAKERSFIELD ART ASSOCIATION. WE HAVE AXZAY VILLAREAL, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WHO CREATED THE DOWNTOWN MOSAIC MURAL. WE HAD IRMA CEJAS, WHO'S A WELL-KNOWN MURALIST. CARMEN HERRERA, WHO LED ONE OF OUR PAINT WORKSHOPS. SHE'S ALSO A WELL KNOWN ARTIST. LEO ALVAREZ IS THE ARTIST BEHIND ALL OF THE MURALS AT THE 15TH STREET PARK. AND JOSE SILVA, A SHAFTER BASED ARTIST WHO ACTUALLY SOLD $3,000 WORTH OF ART AT OUR FESTIVAL. OUR ENTERTAINMENT WAS AMAZING. ON OUR VERY LARGE STAGE WE HAD DANCE PERFORMANCES, LIVE BAND, POETRY, MENTAL HEALTH SPEAKERS WHO SHARED THEIR STORIES AND STRUGGLES OF LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. WE HAD THE FAVORITE WASCO DJ, WELL-KNOWN DJ NONSENSE. WE HAD BIKE RAFFLES COURTESY OF WALMART WHO DONATED SEVERAL BICYCLES. CAR SHOW WAS A BIG HIT, AND WE ALSO AWARDED A MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR AWARD TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER DOCTOR JASMEET BAINS. THE FLAG SALUTE WAS PRESENTED BY LOCAL BOY SCOUTS TROOP 950, AND THE INVOCATION WAS PRESENTED BY PASTOR HARRISON. WE HAD TREMENDOUS VOLUNTEER SUPPORT. WE HAD OVER 100 VOLUNTEERS FROM THE LOCAL WASCO HIGH SCHOOL, SHAFTER HIGH SCHOOL, FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES AND SERVICE CLUBS JOINED OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE LAST YEAR'S EVENT A SUCCESS. THE COMMUNITY DID PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE SUCCESS OF OUR INAUGURAL WASCO WORLD BIPOLAR DAY, AND OF COURSE, WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY. OUR SPONSORS INCLUDED KERN FAMILY HEALTH CARE, THE WONDERFUL COMPANY STRATA, PEPSI, KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, SHAFTER LIONS CLUB, THE WASCO ELKS LODGE, AND OUR PARTNER, THE ORANGE HEART FOUNDATION. NAMI ALSO PLAYED A BIG ROLE. THEY WERE OUR BENEFITING ORGANIZATION THAT WE RAISED MONEY FOR LAST YEAR. THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS. SHAFTER ALSO SUPPORTED US. WE HAD THE SHAFTER LIONS CLUB AS A PARTNER. COUNCILMEMBER KATHY PROUT ATTENDED, THE SHAFTER ROTARY CLUB MEMBERS ATTENDED, LOCAL BUSINESSES PARTICIPATED. WE HAD LOCAL ARTISTS FROM SHAFTER PARTICIPATED, AND ALSO ARTISTS FROM THE COLORS FESTIVAL PLAYED A ROLE. WASCO WAS ALSO FEATURED PROMINENTLY IN THE NEWS. [00:10:03] WE HAD A FEATURE ARTICLE IN THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN PROMOTING OUR EVENT. THERE WERE TWO NEW SEGMENTS ON CHANNEL 23 ABC. SEVERAL ARTICLES IN THE WASCO TRIBUNE. THERE WERE ADS PROMOTING THE EVENT LEADING UP TO THE EVENT EVERY WEEK IN THE WASCO TRIBUNE. WE HAD LARGE BANNERS PROMOTING THE EVENT THROUGHOUT TOWN. WE HAD POSTERS THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN. WE HAD FLIERS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL OF THE STUDENTS IN ALL OF THE SCHOOLS IN THE WASCO UNION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT, ALL WASCO HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS RECEIVED FLIERS THROUGH THE ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. WE WERE ON PODCASTS, WE HAD RADIO SPOTS, WE WERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WE HAD A PARTNERSHIP WITH A SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER. WHY THIS EVENT MATTERS. WE THINK THAT MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS IS CRITICAL. MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER TO CARE. THIS EVENT PROVIDES CRITICAL EDUCATION, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. 60 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE ARE AFFECTED WITH BIPOLAR. ART AND CREATIVITY. VINCENT VAN GOGH, WHO LIVED WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER, EXEMPLIFIES THE POWERFUL LINK BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH AND CREATIVITY. BY CELEBRATING ART, WE HONOR AND INSPIRE HOPE. COMMUNITY UNITY. THIS EVENT WILL UNITE RESIDENTS, ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES, FOSTERING A SENSE OF BELONGING AND SOLIDARITY. MY CO-FOUNDER, MAYOR PRO TEM GILBERTO REYNA AND I ARE VERY PROUD OF THIS EVENT AND WE HOPE WE CAN COUNT ON YOUR SUPPORT AGAIN. AND I NOW OPEN IT UP TO MAYOR PRO TEM GILBERTO REYNA. THANK YOU, VERONICA. HONORABLE MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, STAFF, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS TIME TO TALK ABOUT THIS EVENT. ALL WE'RE ASKING FROM YOU IS THE SAME LEVEL OF COOPERATION THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR. WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH KERI, WITH LEWIS WITH ALBERTO AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE STAFF TO BRING THIS FORTH AND BRING IT TO FRUITION. SO IN REALITY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING ELSE. WE'RE ASKING WITH HELP WITH STREET CLOSURES. ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU DID LAST YEAR, WE PLAN TO HAVE THE SAME FOOTPRINT. AND SO IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE A WALK IN THE PARK FOR MOST OF US, SINCE WE ALREADY HAVE DONE IT ONCE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I'M JUST HAPPY YOU GUYS ARE PUTTING IT ON AGAIN AND HOPEFULLY IT'S A BIG SUCCESS LIKE IT WAS LAST YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU GUYS. ANY QUESTIONS? I ATTENDED IT, LIKE YOU SAID WELL ORGANIZED FROM ENTERTAINMENT, ART, CAR SHOW FOOD, EVERYTHING. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU GUYS DO THIS YEAR YOUR SECOND TIME. SO IT SHOULD BE GOOD. THANK YOU. WE'RE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 7. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA. THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS RESERVED FOR PERSONS DESIRING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, INCLUDING THE COUNCIL ACTING TO AS A GOVERNING BOARD FOR THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY ON ANY MATTER NOT ON THE 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 ANY ONE SUBJECT. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE MAKING YOUR PRESENTATION. BROWN ACT REQUIREMENTS. THE BROWN ACT DOES NOT ALLOW ACTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA, SUBJECT TO NARROW EXCEPTIONS. THIS WILL LIMIT A COUNCILMEMBER'S RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS DURING THE COMMENT PERIOD. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? SEEING NONE. ARE THERE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS, MADAM CLERK? THERE ARE NO EMAIL COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM OR ANY OTHER AGENDA ITEMS. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 8. SUCCESSOR AGENCY BUSINESS. WE HAVE NONE. ITEM NUMBER 9. WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BUSINESS. WE HAVE NONE. ITEM NUMBER 10. WASCO SAFETY REPORTS. [10.a. Kern County Fire Department (Appleton)] [00:15:03] KERN COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT. CHIEF APPLETON. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP FROM OUR LAST MEETING. WAS ABLE TO SECURE SOME EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FROM OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER FOR THE GENESIS PROTECT APP AND FOR NOTIFICATIONS FOR EVACUATIONS, THAT KIND OF THING. AND THEN ALSO A FLIER FOR KERN THAT PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP AND FOR READY KERN RECURRENT TO RECEIVE THOSE ALERTS. AND SO THOSE ALERTS WOULD COME IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND IN SIGN LANGUAGE. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TONIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, CHIEF. ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. THAT'S WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. RAYA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHIEF APPLETON. NOW WASCO POLICE DEPARTMENT. CHIEF MORA. GOOD EVENING. [10.b. Wasco Police Department (Mora)] HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. SO THIS PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT IS GOING TO COVER FROM THE 1ST THROUGH THE 15TH. AND SO TOTAL INCIDENTS FOR FEBRUARY WERE 913. CALLS FOR SERVICE, 508. AND OFFICER INITIATED ACTIVITY, 405. MOVING DOWN TO TOTAL CASES WORKED WERE 87, AND OUT OF THOSE THERE WERE 61 MISDEMEANOR FELONY ARRESTS. AND CITIZEN CONTACTS 18. VEHICLE, PEDESTRIAN AND CAR CHECKS WERE 44. TRAFFIC STOPS, 182. CITATIONS ISSUED, 53. AND TRAFFIC COLLISIONS WERE. THIS MONTH WE HAD 5, 4OF WHICH WERE DUI RELATED. AND STOLEN CARS ONE AND ONE RECOVERED. SO ONE AND ONE. AND OTHER NOTE FOR SUPER BOWL WEEKEND ON THE. OFFICERS, THAT'S WHERE THEY MADE MOST OF THE DUI ARRESTS. THAT'S WHERE THEY HAD THE FOUR. SO IT WAS NOT A VERY GOOD WEEKEND FOR SOME. AND UNFORTUNATELY, I DO HAVE KIND OF BAD NEWS. ON THE 15TH, WE HAVE. OFFICERS RESPONDED TO THE 1000 BLOCK OF 5TH STREET FOR A REPORT OF A STABBING. WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THEY LOCATED A VICTIM WITH A STAB WOUND. THEY PROVIDED FIRST AID, AND THE VICTIM ALSO RECEIVED MEDICAL AID BY AMBULANCE AND KERN COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT STAFF. I MEAN STAFF. PRIOR TO BEING TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL WHILE ON SCENE, OFFICERS RECEIVED INFORMATION AS TO WHO THE SUSPECT WAS. THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE AN IDENTIFICATION AND QUICKLY PLACED HIM IN CUSTODY. SO HE'S IN JAIL FACING SERIOUS CHARGES. BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT ON THIS IS THAT THE CALL CAME IN AT 1:16 P.M. OFFICERS GOT THERE AT 1:19 P.M. THREE MINUTES, AND WITHIN FIVE MINUTES HE WAS IN CUSTODY. SO OUR RESPONSE TIME HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD, AND WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON IT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT CONTINUES TO BE LIKE THAT. AND ON A LIGHTER NOTE, WE HAVE OUR MOBILE CLINIC ON THE 23RD THIS MONTH FROM 2 TO 5 P.M. AND ON FRIDAY THE 20TH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOTERIA CON LA POLICIA. IT'S A EVENT LIEUTENANT TORRES IS HEADING THAT, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE AT THE SENIOR CENTER. AND JUST TO ADD A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT CHIEF APPLETON WAS SAYING, WE DID GET THE FLIERS. WE HAVE SOME HERE IF YOU WANT TO PICK ONE UP. AND WE ALSO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH THE NOTIFICATIONS. WE´RE NOW GOING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO COPY THE MESSAGE AS THIS AND PASTE IT DIRECTLY ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA. THAT WAY THOSE THAT HAVE IT OR WILL NOT SIGN UP WILL HAVE THE MESSAGE, AT LEAST IN OUR PLATFORM. SO WITH THAT, ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, CHIEF. ANY QUESTIONS? MAYOR PRO TEM. REALLY GOOD TO HEAR ABOUT YOU FIXING THAT ISSUE. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK OUR CITIZENS WILL APPRECIATE IT OR OUR RESIDENTS WILL APPRECIATE IT AS WELL. JUST A NOTABLE. WE ARE HALF THE MONTH ON THIS REPORT AND YOU HAVE 913 INCIDENCES. [00:20:06] AND SO IF THAT DOUBLES, YOU'RE GOING TO BE AT 1800, WHICH IS ABOUT 400 MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS MONTH. YES. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO? I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO KNOW, BUT MAYBE YOU HAVE AN IDEA. YOU KNOW, I REALLY DON'T KNOW. I KNOW THE OFFICERS LIKE TO BE ACTIVE. IT'S KIND OF STRANGE TO SAY, BUT ALSO REFRESHING TO KNOW THAT THEY DON'T LIKE DOING IT. SO THEY'RE OUT THERE MAKING TRAFFIC STOPS. THAT'S WHY YOU'LL SEE THE NUMBER OF STOPS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE ACTUAL CITATIONS, BECAUSE THEY'LL MAKE THE STOP. THEY DO THEIR INVESTIGATION AND THEN THEY DECIDE WHETHER TO CITE OR NOT. BUT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OR DRUGS. WELL, THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT. SO IF THESE NUMBERS ARE BECAUSE OF OUR OFFICERS BEING ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S WELCOME NEWS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ. YEAH. FIRST OF ALL, GREAT JOB BY YOUR OFFICERS IN APPREHENDING THAT SUSPECT. YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE SHORT END OF THE STICK EVERY MEETING THAT WE HAVE UNTIL WE GET THIS FIXED. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY INFORMATION ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT. THE COMMUNITY HAS A DESIRE TO KNOW AND NEED TO KNOW, AND THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE'VE HAD A POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF, AND WE'RE STILL NOT DOING THESE RELEASES ON MAJOR INCIDENTS. I'M JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY WE'RE NOT DOING THAT. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK OUTSTANDING JOB. I DID HAVE A QUESTION GOING BACK TO THE STATS. IT SAID THAT THERE WAS 53 CITATIONS ISSUED. WHEN IT SAYS CITATIONS, IS THAT ACTUAL JUST VEHICLE CODE OR DOES THAT ALSO INCLUDE LIKE MISDEMEANOR WARRANTS, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT INCLUDED IN THAT NUMBER? THAT COULD BE ANYTHING BECAUSE. I INCLUDED IN THE MALL. THIS IS WHY. BECAUSE AS A RESULT OF A TRAFFIC STOP, COULD BE A PASSENGER WITH SOME SORT OF WARRANT TO BE CITED OUT. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE, I DON'T KNOW, WITH YOUR GUYS' SOFTWARE TO TRACK. REALLY, WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS HOW MANY MOVING VIOLATIONS WERE ACTUALLY WRITING TICKETS FOR SPECIFICALLY SPEEDING. WITH ME BEING OFF, I TAKE MY DAUGHTER OUT TO THE PARK EVERY DAY, AND WHEN WE'RE WALKING, I MEAN, WE'RE SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE SPEEDING UP AND DOWN, FLYING. I MEAN, DANGEROUSLY FAST UP AND DOWN SUNSET, SYCAMORE, POPLAR. ALL OVER THE PLACE. AND THE ONLY PLACE I REALLY SEE TRAFFIC STOPS TAKING PLACE ARE POZO F AND 46. I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE NOT DOING THEM ON THE SURFACE STREETS, BUT I JUST DON'T TEND TO SEE TRAFFIC STOPS IN THOSE AREAS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ENFORCING THESE VEHICLE CODE VIOLATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND NOT JUST ON THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARES. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS TO SEE LIKE HOW MANY SPEEDING CITATIONS WERE ISSUED IN A MONTH. I MEAN, IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO PULL THAT UP. I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE. AND I'M ALSO HAPPY TO REPORT THAT JUST TODAY WE GOT TWO NEW LIDARS. AWESOME. BRAND NEW LIDARS. AND WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE SCHEDULED TO GO TRAINING. SO I'M HOPING THESE NUMBERS GO UP. BUT I THINK IT'S VERY POSSIBLE. AND I CAN DO THAT AT THE VERY NEXT MEETING. I CAN BREAK IT DOWN. YEAH, THAT'D BE GREAT. EITHER THAT OR AT OUR. I THINK WE HAVE OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE COMING UP SOON. IF NOT FOR THAT MEETING FOR THAT, EITHER ONE WOULD BE. OH, I'M SORRY, WERE YOU THINKING A ONE TIME THING OR TO KEEP TRACK OF IT AS. I MEAN, IF IT'S NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK TO KEEP TRACK OF IT. I MEAN, IF IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, A HARD CATEGORY. I MEAN, IF IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE ANY KIND OF MANUAL WORK, I DON'T WANT YOU TO DO IT ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS, YOU KNOW? I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE BUSY, BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN EXTRAPOLATE TO THE SOFTWARE EASILY AND YOU CAN ADD IT TO OUR REPORT, YEAH, THAT'D BE GREAT. OKAY. YEAH, I CAN CERTAINLY CIRCLE BACK TO I BUT I THINK IT'S IT'S POSSIBLE. OKAY. THANK YOU SIR. AND AGAIN THANK YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING. COUNCILMAN RAYA. YEAH. GREAT NUMBERS. I'M JUST GOING TO ASK THAT THAT WAS A GREAT IDEA FOR THE SENIOR CENTER. THE BINGO, THE LOTERIA. THAT'S GREAT. I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO LOVE IT. I THINK SO TOO. WHAT DATE IS IT? THAT'S GOING TO BE FRIDAY FROM 10 TO 11. TEN. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU, CHIEF MORA, FOR YOUR REPORT. AND MY COLLEAGUES JUST, YOU KNOW, CALLED OUT. YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GOOD JOB. AND AS WE GO, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IMPROVING. AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST GIVE YOU GUYS KUDOS FOR YOU GUYS DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANKS AGAIN. ALL RIGHT. CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS. [11) CONSENT CALENDAR] NUMBER 1. CONSENT CALENDAR. THE CONSENT CALENDAR CONSISTS OF ITEMS THAT ARE ROUTINE AND NON-CONTROVERSIAL AND THE STAFF'S OPINION. THESE ITEMS ARE APPROVED IN ONE MOTION UNLESS A COUNCILMEMBER OR MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REQUESTS THE REMOVAL OF A PARTICULAR ITEM. THIS EVENING WE HAVE ITEMS 2.11.A THROUGH 2.11.I. [00:25:01] AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE MEMBERS, IF THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON A PARTICULAR ITEM ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA. I'VE NO CONFLICT, MAYOR. MEMBER MARTINEZ. NO CONFLICT. MEMBER RAYA. NO CONFLICT. I HAVE NO CONFLICT MYSELF. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE AN ITEM? ARE THERE ANY COUNCILMEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE AN ITEM? MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA. NO, MAYOR. MEMBER MARTINEZ. NO, SIR. MEMBER RAYA NO. I HAVE NONE MYSELF. I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. SO MOVED. SECOND. MADAM CLERK, VOTE BY ROLL CALL. MAYOR SALDANA. AYE. MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA. AYE. COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ. AYE. COUNCILMEMBER RAYA. AYE. MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES, WITH COUNCILMEMBER MEDINA ABSENT. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 12. PUBLIC HEARINGS. [12.a. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Conduct a public hearing to receive oral comments concerning unmet transit needs, consider comments, if any, and Adopt the Resolution Establishing Unmet Transit Needs Finding for Fiscal Year 2025-26. (Martinez)] COUNCIL FINDS THIS ACTION IS NOT A PROJECT UNDER SECTION 15378 OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES. CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE ORAL COMMENTS CONCERNING UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS. CONSIDER COMMENTS, IF ANY, AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS FINDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026. MS. MARTINEZ. OKAY, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. THIS EVENING, WE'RE CONDUCTING THE ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING ON UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS AS REQUIRED UNDER THE TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT AND CURRENT COUNCIL GOVERNMENTS PROCEDURES. THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH ON JANUARY THE 15TH IN THE WASCO TRIBUNE. IT WAS ALSO POSTED ON THE DIAL-A-RIDE VEHICLES AND CITY POSTING BOARDS. THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S HEARING IS TO RECEIVE WRITTEN AND ORAL COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING ANY UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY WRITTEN COMMENTS. ALL COMMENTS RECEIVED TODAY WILL BE DOCUMENTED AND FORWARDED TO KERN COG FOR REGIONAL EVALUATION AND INCLUSION IN THEIR ANNUAL UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS REPORT. THIS HEARING IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ENSURING THAT OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM REFLECTS THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO DEPEND ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THE MOST. STAFF RECOMMENDS THE COUNCIL TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, RECEIVE ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AFTER COMMENTS ARE COMPLETE, AND ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT IF COUNCIL HAS ANY QUESTIONS. ANY QUESTIONS, COUNCILMEMBERS? MAYOR PRO TEM. NO QUESTIONS. NO QUESTIONS. NO QUESTIONS. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? I SEE NONE. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA? NO COMMENTS. MEMBER MARTINEZ? NO COMMENTS. MEMBER RAYA? NO COMMENTS. I HAVE NO COMMENTS MYSELF. I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. SO MOVED. I'LL SECOND IT. MADAM CLERK. VOTE BY ROLL CALL. MEMBER SALDANA. AYE. MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA. AYE. COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ. AYE. COUNCILMEMBER RAYA. AYE. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ, SECONDED BY MAYOR SALDANA TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES, WITH COUNCILMEMBER MEDINA ABSENT. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 13. DEFERRED BUSINESS. WE HAVE NONE. ITEM NUMBER 14. NEW BUSINESS. COUNCIL FINDS THE ACTION IS NOT A PROJECT UNDER THE SECTION 15378 OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES. [14.a. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution approving the final five (5) year Transit Development Plan. (Martinez)] ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINAL FIVE YEAR TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN. MS MARTINEZ. OKAY, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. AS PART OF THE REGION'S ONGOING TRANSPORTATION PLANNING EFFORTS, KERN COG HAS HIRED NELSON/NYGAARD TO PREPARE THE FIVE YEAR TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR KERN COUNTY. THEY'LL BE PRESENTING THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DRAFT PLAN, AND ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. I AM PLEASED TO TURN OVER THE FLOOR TO KYLE, IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF, [00:30:02] KYLE. THANK YOU, MARIA. PLEASURE TO MEET ALL OF YOU THIS EVENING. MY NAME IS KYLE TANIGUCHI. I AM A SENIOR ASSOCIATE AT NELSON/NYGAARD CONSULTING. WE ARE A TRANSPORTATION PLANNING FIRM THAT WERE CONTRACTED BY KERN COG TO DEVELOP THE WASCO TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN. MARIA, WOULD YOU MIND GIVING ME SHARING PERMISSIONS TO SHARE THE SLIDES? AHEAD AND SHARE. ALL RIGHT. LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE SLIDES. I'LL GO AHEAD AND ADVANCE HERE. SO I WANT TO JUST BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO COVER IN TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE PURPOSE, WHY WE'RE HERE IN FRONT OF YOU ALL THIS EVENING. WE'LL GIVE A HIGHLIGHT OF WHAT THE PROJECT IS ABOUT. WE'LL WALK THROUGH SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EXISTING CONDITIONS EFFORT THAT WE CONDUCTED, TOUCH ON SOME OF THE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS. WE WON'T HAVE TIME TO COVER EVERYTHING, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE HIGHLIGHTS, AND THEN WE'LL KIND OF CLOSE OUT WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. SO FOR TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION, AGAIN, THE PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE WASCO TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT WE PUT TOGETHER. WE'RE NOT ABLE TO COVER EVERYTHING. I'LL PROVIDE SOME KEY FINDINGS, HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND REALLY HAVE A SPACE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE. AT THE END OF THIS PRESENTATION, WE'D LIKE TO REQUEST ADOPTION OF THE FINAL REPORT. I'D LIKE TO FIRST START OFF BY TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS A TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN OR TDP. EXCUSE ME. TDPS ARE SHORT TERM, FIVE YEAR HORIZON PLANS THAT ARE REALLY DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY IMPROVEMENTS FOR TRANSIT SERVICE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, IN THIS CASE, WASCO. THESE PLANS MUST BE COST CONSTRAINED SO THEY RECOGNIZE THE FISCAL REALITIES. WE DEVELOPED A FINANCIAL MODEL. WE'LL WALK THROUGH THAT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE ARE CONDUCTING NINE TDPS IN KERN COUNTY UNDER OUR CONTRACT WITH KERN COG. THE CITY OF WASCO IS IN THE FIRST GROUP OF TDPS THAT WE'RE PRODUCING. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS, SINCE WE'RE DOING NINE TDPS, WE'RE ABLE TO TALK TO A LOT OF THE TRANSIT AGENCIES IN KERN COUNTY TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT A LOT OF AGENCIES ARE FACING. AND THESE PRESENTED ITSELF AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION, WHICH WE'LL WALK THROUGH IN A FEW OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS LATER IN THIS PRESENTATION. OUR APPROACH WITH CONDUCTING THIS PLAN OR DEVELOPING THIS PLAN WAS A COLLABORATION. SO THE PUBLIC PROVIDED ESSENTIAL FEEDBACK ON WHAT ARE SOME OF THE NEEDS AND CHALLENGES WITH USING PUBLIC TRANSIT IN WASCO. OUR ROLE AS THE OUTSIDE CONSULTANT WAS TO PROVIDE AN INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF THE OPPORTUNITIES. AND CITY STAFF WERE INSTRUMENTAL ALONG THE WAY AND PROVIDING FEEDBACK ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS. FLAGGING THINGS THAT THEY WANTED TO SEE INCLUDED IN THE PLAN, AND REALLY ELEVATING CONCERNS AND ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO MAKE SURE THEY FULLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT WE WERE IDENTIFYING AS IMPROVEMENTS OR RECOMMENDATIONS, AND HOW THEY COULD BE IMPLEMENTED MOVING FORWARD. ULTIMATELY, WE WANT THIS DOCUMENT TO BE REFLECTIVE OF YOUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS AND PRIORITIES, AND I THINK THROUGH THIS COLLABORATIVE PROCESS, WE HAVE ACHIEVED THAT. AGAIN, THE TDP IS INTENDED TO BE A ROADMAP LOOKING AT A FIVE YEAR HORIZON THAT'S INTENDED TO HELP IMPROVE TRANSIT AND OVERALL MOBILITY WITHIN THE CITY OF WASCO. IT CAN ALSO BE USED TO PROVIDE JUSTIFICATION FOR BUDGETING IN ANY GRANT APPLICATION REQUESTS THAT THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE. THIS PROJECT CONSISTED OF THREE KEY COMPONENTS. WE STARTED OFF WITH AN EXISTING CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT IN THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR. THIS INVOLVED LOOKING AT DIAL-A-RIDE DATA THAT WAS SHARED BY CITY STAFF. WE HAD AN IN-PERSON KICKOFF MEETING WITH MARIA AND OTHERS AT WASCO DIAL-A-RIDE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE SERVICE. TALK WITH STAFF ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY'RE FACING. AND WE ALSO DEPLOYED A PUBLIC SURVEY AS PART OF OUR FIRST PHASE OF OUTREACH. THESE EFFORTS WERE GEARED TOWARDS IDENTIFYING WHAT ARE THE NEEDS, THE CHALLENGES AND THE OPPORTUNITIES WITH IMPROVING TRANSIT AND WASCO. IN THE SUMMER AND FALL, WE PIVOTED TO RECOMMENDATIONS DEVELOPMENT, SO THAT CONSISTED OF WORKSHOPS WITH WASCO CITY STAFF, AND WE HAD A SECOND ROUND OF OUTREACH THAT INVOLVED A VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING AND A SURVEY THAT WENT ALONG WITH THAT TO GET FEEDBACK ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE WERE PROPOSING [00:35:04] AS PART OF THIS PLAN. FOLLOWING THE CLOSE OF THE PUBLIC OUTREACH PERIOD, WE PIVOTED TO REPORT DEVELOPMENT. SO THE REPORT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE CITY FOR REVIEW. WE HAD SOME FOLLOW UP CONVERSATIONS ON THAT. WE MADE REVISIONS TO THE REPORT TO ADDRESS THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED. AND THIS FINAL DOCUMENT IS NOW BEING PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL FOR PRESENTATION AND ADOPTION. SO AS PART OF THE EXISTING CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT, I JUST KIND OF WANT TO TOUCH ON A FEW THINGS. WE WON'T HAVE TIME TO COVER EVERYTHING, BUT TO KIND OF HELP ORIENT, YOU WANT TO START OFF BY TALKING ABOUT THE WASCO DIAL-A-RIDE SERVICE. IT OPERATES IN CITY LIMITS. SO THAT'S THE PINK AREA IN THE MAP TO THE RIGHT. RIDES ARE RESERVED THE DAY BEFORE. SAME DAY SERVICE MAY BE AVAILABLE IF CAPACITY PERMITS. BUT THE SERVICE OPERATES ON WEEKDAYS ONLY, SO 8 A.M. TO NOON. THERE'S AN HOUR FOR LUNCH BREAK, AND THEN SERVICE RESUMES FROM 1 TO 4 P.M. WASCO ALSO HAS INTERCITY FIXED ROUTE SERVICE PROVIDED BY KERN TRANSIT'S ROUTE 110, AND SO YOU CAN SEE THE ALIGNMENT OFF TO THE RIGHT OF THE SCREEN. IT OPERATES FROM DELANO IN THE NORTH TO BAKERSFIELD IN THE SOUTH, AND THEIR STOPS IN WASCO, SHAFTER, AND MCFARLAND. THERE'S A COUPLE OF STOPS IN WASCO THAT RIDERS CAN BOARD OR ALIGHT THE BUS, AND DEPENDING ON THE DAY OF THE WEEK, WEEKDAYS HAS MORE ROBUST SERVICE. THERE'S SIX ROUND TRIPS OPERATING BETWEEN DELANO AND BAKERSFIELD. SERVICE OPERATES IN WASCO ROUGHLY BETWEEN 5 A.M. AND 9 P.M. AND THEN SATURDAYS THERE'S A SHORTER SPAN OF SERVICE AND SLIGHTLY LESS ROUND TRIPS. OUR EXISTING CONDITIONS WORK COVERED A LOT OF GROUND. WE CONDUCTED A DEMOGRAPHICS ASSESSMENT TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHO'S LIVING IN WASCO AND WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COMMUNITY. WE LOOKED AT LOCAL AND REGIONAL DESTINATIONS LIKE GROCERY STORES, HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES TO UNDERSTAND WHERE PEOPLE GO IN WITHIN WASCO, BUT ALSO WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT MAY NECESSITATE TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY. WE ALSO COMBED OVER ALL OF THE DIAL-A-RIDE DATA THAT WE WERE PROVIDED LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE RIDERSHIP, HISTORICAL TRENDS, AND SYSTEM PRODUCTIVITY. AND I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT HERE THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOKED AT WAS HISTORICAL RIDERSHIP ON THE DIAL-A-RIDE SERVICE. LIKE A LOT OF AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, COVID REALLY PUSHED DOWN THE RIDERSHIP THAT WASCO EXPERIENCED. BUT IT HAS BEEN RECOVERING, WHICH IS PROMISING AND DEFINITELY IN LINE WITH THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT WE'RE SEEING IN KERN COUNTY. SO NOT QUITE BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, BUT THIS KIND OF HIGHLIGHTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THAT UPWARD TRAJECTORY THROUGH FOCUSED IMPROVEMENTS ON TRANSIT AND WASCO. AS PART OF THE OUTREACH PROCESS, I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME HIGHLIGHTS HERE. SO AGAIN, THE PHASE ONE PROCESS OCCURRED EARLY ON IN THE PROJECT, AND THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO TALK WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, IDENTIFY NEEDS, OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES WITH USING TRANSIT. THIS WAS A COUNTYWIDE EFFORT. SO WE CONDUCTED IT FOR ALL NINE TRANSIT AGENCIES IN KERN COUNTY. WE HAD A PUBLIC SURVEY AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. WE HAD STAFF OUT RIDING TRANSIT VEHICLES, FLYERING AT TRANSIT CENTERS, AND SPECIFICALLY IN WASCO. WE WERE ON BOARD THE VEHICLES, TALKING WITH RIDERS AND GETTING THEM TO TAKE OUR SURVEY. AND THE SECOND ROUND OF OUTREACH, WE SET UP A SEPARATE VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING AND SURVEY SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CITY OF WASCO AND THE SURVEY AGAIN WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT AND REVIEW THE PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE DEVELOPED AS PART OF THIS PLAN. WE ALSO HAD A VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING THAT WAS REALLY WELL ATTENDED, AND WE GOT A LOT OF GREAT FEEDBACK FROM THEM AS WELL. GOING BACK TO PHASE ONE, I JUST WANT TO SHARE SOME OF THE RESULTS THAT WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY. SO WE HAD 250 RESPONSES FROM THROUGHOUT KERN COUNTY. 17 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE FROM WASCO. AND THIS IS REALLY A POSITIVE THING. AND SO I REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT RIDERS WERE VERY HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE THAT WAS PROVIDED. WHEN YOU COMPUTE A NET SATISFACTION SCORE, TAKING A LOOK AT THE VERY HAPPY AND THE SOMEWHAT HAPPY, AND THEN SUBTRACTING OUT THE SOMEWHAT UNHAPPY AND VERY UNHAPPY, CITY OF WASCO IS WITH PLUS 70% SATISFACTION. [00:40:03] AND THIS IS REALLY A TESTAMENT TO MARIA AND THE ENTIRE WASCO DIAL-A-RIDE TEAM FOR THE TREMENDOUS SERVICE THAT THEY PROVIDE, BECAUSE IT'S RECOGNIZED AS AN ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY SERVICE BY ALL OF THE RIDERS. AND THIS CLEARLY REFLECTS THAT APPRECIATION FOR THAT SERVICE. SO THIS IS A GREAT FOUNDATION, IF YOU WILL, TO BUILD OFF OF IN TERMS OF WHAT KINDS OF IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED AS PART OF THIS PLAN, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT HAVING TO START AND DEAL WITH SOME OF THE BASICS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO AT ANOTHER AGENCY. WHAT'S WORKING. WE TALKED ABOUT THE RIDER SENTIMENT ALREADY. THERE'S ALSO BEEN AN EMPHASIS ON SAFETY. SO WHEN WE'RE DOWN IN WASCO, LAST YEAR WE HEARD ABOUT THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE BEING CONDUCTED ON BOARD VEHICLES. THAT'S GREAT FROM A STAFF SAFETY STANDPOINT. THERE'S NEW TRANSIT VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO THE FLEET. AND THERE WAS A VIDEO THAT WE FOUND ONLINE THAT KIND OF JUST HIGHLIGHTS THAT. SO NOT ONLY IS IT A GREAT CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, IT ALSO HELPS TO PLAN FOR POTENTIAL GROWTH AS THE SYSTEM REBOUNDS FROM THE COVID DROP. THE EXISTING CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT ALSO HIGHLIGHTED SOME OPPORTUNITIES OF THINGS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY WORKING THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON. SO IN THE PHASE ONE SURVEY, WE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC THAT TRANSIT TAKES TOO LONG. WE HEARD TRANSIT DOESN'T RUN WHERE IT'S NEEDED, GEOGRAPHICALLY SPEAKING. AND WE ALSO HEARD TRANSIT DOESN'T RUN WHEN IT'S NEEDED. SO TIME OF DAY OR DAY OF THE WEEK. WE ALSO HEARD THAT SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE TRANSIT FLEET IS AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLES THAT ARE CURRENTLY PARKED OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL. WE HEARD FROM STAFF THAT STAFFING CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN A PERSISTENT ISSUE, AND THERE WAS RECENTLY A STAFF DEPARTURE WITH THE TRANSIT COORDINATOR. SO THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO WRESTLE WITH. AND WE HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PLAN TO KIND OF ADDRESS THAT. WE'VE ALSO IDENTIFIED THAT THERE'S CHALLENGES WITH EXISTING DISPATCHING SYSTEM BASED ON THE CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH CITY STAFF, AND THERE'S JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE COLLABORATION WITH CURRENT TRANSIT BEYOND WHAT IS THERE TODAY. SO THESE WERE KIND OF THE THINGS THAT WE IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THE EXISTING CONDITIONS PROCESS AND TRANSLATED INTO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE DEVELOPED. IN TERMS OF PROCESS, AGAIN, WE LOOKED AT WHAT ARE THE ISSUES, WHAT ARE THE NEEDS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES, AND FROM THERE WE CRAFTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN RESPONSE TO THOSE. SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE BASED ON THE FEEDBACK, AGAIN, THAT WE HEARD FROM CITY STAFF. SOME OF IT WAS FROM THE DATA THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE REPORT. SOME OF IT IS JUST GENERAL TRANSPORTATION BEST PRACTICES BASED ON WHAT WE'RE SEEING THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY. BUT AGAIN, KIND OF TAKING A BROADER PICTURE OF THINGS. SINCE WE ARE CONDUCTING NINE TDPS, WE'RE ALSO ABLE TO IDENTIFY ARE THERE THINGS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IN OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WE THINK MIGHT ALSO BE APPLICABLE IN WASCO? OR IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COORDINATE WITH OTHER AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY ON ISSUES LIKE STAFFING THAT CLEARLY EVERYONE IS WRESTLING WITH TODAY? SO IN THE PLAN, WE'RE INCLUDING 21 DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS. THEY COVER FOUR DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. WE WON'T HAVE TIME TO COVER EVERYTHING THIS EVENING, BUT I KIND OF WANT TO TOUCH ON A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS ACROSS THESE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A LITTLE FLAVOR FOR WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE DOCUMENT. IN THE SERVICE CATEGORY, THERE'S TWO PILOTED SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE INCLUDED FOR WASCO DIAL-A-RIDE. AND THEN THERE'S ONE CURRENT TRANSIT RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HAVE AS WELL. SO IN TERMS OF THE TWO SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE INCLUDED FOR WASCO DIAL-A-RIDE, ONE OF THEM IS PILOTING EXTENDED WEEKDAY SERVICE. AGAIN, THE SERVICE OPERATES ON WEEKDAYS FROM 8 A.M. TO NOON AND 1 TO 4 P.M. THE PUBLIC HAS TOLD US IN THE PHASE ONE OUTREACH THAT TRANSIT DOESN'T RUN WHEN IT'S NEEDED, AND THERE WERE SPECIFIC COMMENTS FOR EARLIER AND LATER SERVICE. AND SO THIS IMPROVEMENT TRIES TO SPEAK TO THAT. WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING AS PART OF THIS PILOT PROGRAM IS LOOKING AT STARTING SERVICE AN HOUR EARLIER, POTENTIALLY, AND UP TO TWO HOURS LATER GOING TO 6 P.M. WE RECOGNIZE THAT STAFFING IS A CHALLENGE WITHIN THE CITY OF WASCO. AND SO THIS PILOT APPROACH WILL ALLOW YOU TO KIND OF TEST THE MARKET FOR EXTENDED WEEKDAY SERVICE WITHOUT NEEDING TO FULLY COMMIT TO THAT. [00:45:05] AND IF THE PILOT PROVES TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THEN YOU CAN HAVE INTERNAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO TRY TO FIND ADDITIONAL STAFF TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM AND PERHAPS SHIFTING FUNDING AROUND TO ACCOMMODATE THAT? BUT I WANT TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT SOME SUGGESTIONS THAT WE HAVE ON CONDUCTING A SUCCESSFUL PILOT. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BEFORE YOU START ANY KIND OF PILOT SERVICE, YOU SET SOME VERY CLEAR METRICS OF HOW YOU MEASURE SUCCESS ONCE THE PILOT IS OVER. THEY CAN BE QUANTITATIVE, SO IT COULD BE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS OR RIDERSHIP. IT COULD BE THE COST TO OPERATE THE SERVICE. IT COULD BE HOW MANY PASSENGERS YOU'RE CARRYING PER HOUR. BUT IT COULD ALSO BE QUALITATIVE. SO THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD HAVE TO GATHER THROUGH A SURVEY INSTRUMENT. IT COULD INVOLVE LIKE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WITH THE PILOT. ARE THE RIDERS THAT ARE TAKING THE SERVICE DURING THIS EXTENDED WEEKDAY TIME PERIOD? DO THEY HAVE ACCESS TO A VEHICLE? OR DO THESE INDIVIDUALS NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE DIAL-A-RIDE DURING REGULAR HOURS DUE TO WORK OR WHATEVER REASON, AND SO THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THAT THEY CAN MAKE THAT TRIP THAT THEY'RE TAKING ON DIAL-A-RIDE? SO ULTIMATELY, THE METRICS ARE FOR THE CITY TO SET. BUT I JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT HAVING CLEAR METRICS BEFORE THE PILOT WILL MAKE IT A LOT EASIER TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AT THE END OF IS THIS PILOT A SUCCESS, AND SHOULD WE BE CONTINUING THIS PAST THE SIX MONTH PROGRAM PERIOD? WE DO FIND THAT A RIDER FOCUS GROUP CAN BE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING TO ESTABLISH METRICS. GET THE WORD OUT. PROVIDE FEEDBACK. CERTAINLY HELP WITH THE EVALUATION PROCESS AT THE END POTENTIALLY. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHEN A PILOT PROGRAM IS DEPLOYED. AFTER THE PILOT, AGAIN, YOU'LL HAVE THE METRICS. THOSE METRICS WILL THEN BE USED TO EVALUATE THE PROGRAM. AND THAT WOULD BE THEN THE TIME THAT THE CITY WOULD NEED TO DISCUSS, DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO BE MADE PERMANENT AND WHAT IS THE STAFFING AND FUNDING IMPLICATIONS, IF SO? THE OTHER RECOMMENDATION SURROUNDING SERVICE FOR WASCO DIAL-A-RIDE THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HERE IS NEW SATURDAY SERVICE. AGAIN, THIS WOULD BE A PILOT PROGRAM. AGAIN, WE'RE SUGGESTING SIX MONTHS. THERE'S CURRENTLY NO WEEKEND SERVICE FOR WASCO DIAL-A-RIDE. AND FROM THE PHASE ONE PUBLIC OUTREACH, WE HEARD TRANSIT DOESN'T RUN WHEN IT'S NEEDED. AND THERE WERE SPECIFIC REQUESTS FOR WEEKEND SERVICE. SO THIS IS A NEW SATURDAY SERVICE, HOURS TO BE DETERMINED. IT COULD BE A SIX HOUR SERVICE ON SATURDAY. AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE WORKED OUT INTERNALLY. BUT WE DO RECOGNIZE AGAIN THAT STAFFING IS A CHALLENGE. AND SO WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS A SIX MONTH PILOT USING THOSE SAME APPROACH THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS WAS TESTED LESS THAN FIVE YEARS AGO. AND SO GIVEN THE FIVE YEAR HORIZON OF THIS PLAN, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THIS BE LOOKED AT TOWARDS THE END OF THE FIVE YEARS, SO 2030. THAT WOULD ALLOW A TEN YEAR LAPSE ROUGHLY BETWEEN WHEN THIS WAS LAST PILOTED TO SEE IF CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED AND THE SERVICE IS INDEED MORE VIABLE THAN IT WAS WHEN IT WAS PILOTED FIVE YEARS AGO. IN TERMS OF CURRENT TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS, WE'RE RECOMMENDING A FEW ALIGNMENT CHANGES. I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE HERE. ONE OF THEM IS POTENTIALLY CHANGING THE ALIGNMENT IN WASCO. SO CURRENTLY THE ROUTE 110 USES THE DASHED RED LINE, STOPS RIGHT BY CITY HALL AND THEN CONTINUES UP NORTH AND SOUTH. WE'RE PROPOSING A NEW ALIGNMENT IN PURPLE, AS SHOWN IN THE MAP TO GET RIDERS TO THE WALMART. THIS POTENTIALLY COULD IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE WALMART FOR GROCERIES AND OTHER GOODS FOR WASCO RESIDENTS. BUT I THINK THE VALUE IS ALSO WITH MCFARLAND AND SHAFTER RESIDENTS WHO NEED ACCESS TO THOSE SAME GROCERIES AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES. THIS WOULD NEED TO BE ANALYZED AND STUDIED FURTHER WITH CURRENT TRANSIT, AND THERE WOULD NEED TO BE SOME RIDER ENGAGEMENT IN TERMS OF LIKE, DOES THIS MAKE SENSE? WHERE SHOULD THE BUS STOPS BE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THE OTHER POTENTIAL ALIGNMENT CHANGE THAT WE WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS EVENING IS POTENTIALLY CHANGING THE ALIGNMENT IN SHAFTER TO [00:50:01] SERVE THE WONDERFUL INDUSTRIAL PARK. AGAIN, THE EXISTING ALIGNMENT IS SHOWN IN THE DASHED RED LINE, AND WE'RE PROPOSING A NEW ALIGNMENT IN PURPLE. WE KNOW THE WONDERFUL INDUSTRIAL PARK IS A LARGE CONCENTRATION OF JOBS, AND SO SERVING THAT INDUSTRIAL PARK COULD POTENTIALLY UNLOCK ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE REGION, INCLUDING WASCO. SO AGAIN, SOMETHING TO STUDY FURTHER. THERE'S NO CLEAR DIRECTION AT THIS POINT OTHER THAN STUFF TO EVALUATE AND STUDY. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. IN THE CAPITAL CATEGORY, WE TALKED ABOUT SAFETY AND SECURITY EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION. WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT CITY CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE NEW TRANSIT FACILITY TO HOUSE AND MAINTAIN VEHICLES, AS WELL AS PROVIDE OFFICE SPACE FOR TRANSIT STAFF. IN THE OPERATIONS CATEGORY, AGAIN, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO COORDINATE WITH OTHER AGENCIES, SPECIFICALLY IN THE WESTERN KERN COUNTY REGION, PARTNERING WITH MCFARLAND AND SHAFTER. THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO SHARE A DISPATCHER AND A TRANSIT COORDINATOR POSITION? AND THIS IS TO KIND OF SPEAK TO THE STAFF RESILIENCY STANDPOINT. IT MIGHT RESULT IN SOME COST SAVINGS. IT MIGHT NOT. BUT GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF TURNOVER ALL OF THESE AGENCIES ARE EXPERIENCING, BEING ABLE TO SHARE RESOURCES WOULD ALLOW QUICK PIVOTS IF A STAFF MEMBER IS ILL OR THERE'S A VACANCY THAT COMES UP UNEXPECTEDLY. AND CERTAINLY THIS ALSO PROVIDES SOME FLEXIBILITY TO IMPLEMENT THOSE SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS DURING PERIODS LIKE EXTENDED WEEKDAYS OR ON SATURDAYS, WHICH MIGHT EXCEED A 40 HOUR WORK WEEK FOR ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL. THERE'S ALSO OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO COORDINATE WITH OTHER TRANSIT AGENCIES. SO ON THINGS LIKE ZERO EMISSION VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, A NUMBER OF AGENCIES WERE INTERESTED IN NEW DISPATCHING SOFTWARE. AND DRIVERS ARE A CONSTANT CHALLENGE TO FIND AND TRAIN. AND SO THERE'S INTEREST ALSO IN SPEARHEADING SOME KIND OF COUNTYWIDE DRIVER TRAINING PROGRAM. SO A LOT OF COLLABORATION AND POTENTIAL TO KIND OF WORK WITH NEIGHBORING AGENCIES IN THE OPERATIONS CATEGORY. AND THEN FINALLY IN THE ADMIN SLASH POLICY CATEGORY, JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION IN THERE TO IMPROVE CUSTOMER COMMUNICATIONS IF THERE ARE SERVICE DISRUPTIONS AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS. WE ALSO HAVE THE TRANSIT WEBSITE AND WASCO TO MAKE IT EASIER TO FIND INFORMATION RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS BOTH WITHIN WASCO AND NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS. WE TALKED ABOUT FINANCES EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION. WE PUT TOGETHER A FINANCIAL PLAN AS PART OF THIS PROJECT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES OVER THE FIVE YEAR HORIZON OF THIS PLAN. AND BY OUR ESTIMATES, THE CITY SHOULD BE ABLE TO FUND BOTH THE EXISTING SERVICE THAT'S OPERATED TODAY, AS WELL AS THE TWO WASCO PILOT PROGRAMS THAT WE WALKED THROUGH EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE WOULD BE NEEDED IF THOSE TWO PILOT PROGRAMS ARE DETERMINED TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND THERE'S A DESIRE TO MAKE THE PROGRAM PERMANENT. THAT WOULD NEED TO BE THE CONVERSATION OF INTERNAL STAFF DISCUSSIONS AND AND ANALYZES. ONE POTENTIAL OPTION IS TO REALLOCATE SOME OF THE LTF AND STA FUNDING TO COVER MORE TRANSIT OPERATIONS THAN THERE ARE CURRENTLY. THE TRANSIT FACILITY ALSO REQUIRES ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT'S NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE PLAN, AND THOSE WOULD NEED TO BE SECURED IN ORDER TO FULLY FUND THE CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN OF THE FACILITY. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT, COULD POTENTIALLY REDUCE BARRIERS, AND THERE MIGHT BE SOME MARGINAL COST SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AS WELL. THE REPORT INCLUDES A LOT MORE INFORMATION ON THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. THERE'S A SUMMARY TABLE. WE HAVE ESTIMATED COSTS IN THERE. RESPONSIBLE PARTIES ARE ALSO IDENTIFIED. THE DETAILED WRITE UP INCLUDES DOCUMENTATION ON WHY WE PROPOSE SOMETHING AND HOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED. SO WE THINK THIS IS A VERY COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE THAT THE CITY CAN REFER TO OVER THE FIVE YEAR LIFESPAN OF THE PLAN. I WANT TO CLOSE OUT BY JUST TALKING ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. SO THE FINAL REPORT INCLUDES A SUGGESTED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR ALL 21 RECOMMENDATIONS. [00:55:05] IT COVERS THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD. IT'S OUR SUGGESTION. WE RECOGNIZE THAT REALITY OR CONDITIONS CHANGE. AND SO YOU HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING SOONER OR DEFER IMPLEMENTATION IF SOMETHING COMES UP THAT BECOMES A HIGHER PRIORITY THAN WE PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED. OUR PHILOSOPHY ON THIS TDP IS THAT THIS IS A LIST OF EFFORTS OR PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE UNDERTAKEN OR STUDIED FURTHER AS OVER THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD. AND SOME OF THE THINGS LIKE THE CURRENT TRANSIT RECOMMENDATION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT OR THE COUNTYWIDE COORDINATION OPPORTUNITIES ALL REQUIRE FURTHER DISCUSSION, FURTHER STUDY TO KIND OF REALLY HONE IN ON WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THESE COMMUNITIES CAN COLLABORATE AND WORK TOGETHER ON. I DO ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE THIS WAS A CONCERN FROM CITY STAFF. THERE IS NO PENALTY IF A RECOMMENDATION CANNOT BE IMPLEMENTED, OR FURTHER EVALUATION DETERMINES THAT THERE'S A FATAL FLAW FROM DOING SO. SO THESE ARE ASPIRATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS IN A SENSE. IF YOU STUDY IT AND IT'S DETERMINED THAT IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO WORK, OR THE PILOT PROGRAM DIDN'T YIELD THE RESULTS YOU EXPECTED, YOU CAN SET IT ASIDE AND THEN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. SO THAT IS THE TDP IN A NUTSHELL. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. AND WE'D LIKE TO REQUEST ADOPTION AS PART OF THIS HEARING AS WELL. THANK YOU, MR. TAGUCHI. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I READ THIS REPORT AND IT IS QUITE EXTENSIVE AND VERY DETAILED ABOUT MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. DEMOGRAPHICS WAS SURPRISING TO ME. THE WAY THE COMMUNITY IS BROKEN DOWN IN MANY DIFFERENT AREAS OF INTEREST. IT WAS ALSO SURPRISING TO ME HOW THE RESPONDENTS WERE VERY, VERY FEW. I BELIEVE MANY OF THESE WERE RESPONDED BY NINE PEOPLE WITH THREE RECOMMENDING A PARTICULAR CHANGE. SO I'M SKEPTICAL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW THESE CHANGES COULD BE IMPLEMENTED WITH SUCH A SMALL SAMPLE OF THE COMMUNITY. THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT GOOD. I WANT TO MAKE THIS DISTINCTION, BUT THAT THE PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE SURVEY, AT LEAST FROM WHAT I READ, WERE NOT VERY MANY. I DO LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT MAYBE ROUTE 110 CAN SERVE AS WALMART. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD CHANGE TO MAKE. I ALSO KNOW THAT OUR DIAL-A-RIDE SERVICES WALMART. WE HAVE A STOP RIGHT OUTSIDE WALMART ON CENTRAL. AND SO THAT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO ROUND UP FOR THOSE THAT ARE COMING FROM OUT OF THE CITY. FOR EXAMPLE, SHAFTER OR EVEN MCFARLAND TO GO THERE. I ALSO LIKE THE IDEA OF SERVICING THE WONDERFUL INDUSTRIAL PARK FOR ROUTE 110 DOING THAT. I DON'T KNOW HOW EARLY THAT SERVICE STARTS. I THINK THOSE THAT GO THERE WILL PROBABLY START REALLY EARLY, AND SO THAT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A 70% SATISFACTION RATE. THAT SPEAKS HIGHLY OF OUR SERVICE AND OUR STAFF. I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT STRENGTHENING OUR STAFF BEFORE WE CAN MAKE CHANGES. AND, YOU KNOW, MR. KYLE ALREADY ALLUDED TO THAT, THE DIFFICULTY THAT WE HAVE WITH STAFFING AND NOT HAVING A TRANSIT COORDINATOR. SO I THINK MY IDEA WOULD BE TO FIRST MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE OUR STAFF COMPLETE, OUR STAFFING COMPLETE, AND THEN THAT WE WOULD LOOK INTO IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THESE SUGGESTIONS BASED ON WHAT OUR STAFF HERE, WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE ABOUT THE SYSTEM, RECOMMEND. THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT I WANT TO ABANDON THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. I THINK THERE MAY BE GOOD, BUT I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO DO THEM AT THIS TIME. [01:00:05] THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS. THANK YOU, MR. REYNA. MEMBER MARTINEZ. SO I ACTUALLY LIKE THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE EXTENDED HOURS. I DON'T KNOW, THE FEASIBILITY OF HAVING SOMEBODY COME IN BEFORE CITY HALL IS OPEN AND LEAVING AFTER CITY HALL IS CLOSED. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE FOR US OR NOT, BUT I'LL LEAVE THAT UP TO STAFF TO DECIDE AND ULTIMATELY COME BACK AND GIVE A RECOMMENDATION ON. BUT I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT'S UNREASONABLE HERE, AND I WILL ECHO THAT WONDERFUL STOP BEING A GREAT IDEA. AS SOMEBODY WHO WORKS AT TWO OF THE FACILITIES OUT THERE IN THAT INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF, NOT ONLY WASCO, BUT DELANO, SHAFTER, BAKERSFIELD RESIDENTS THAT HAVE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES. AND IT WOULD BE A HUGE BENEFIT TO A LOT OF. ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNGER WORKFORCE THAT HAVEN'T HAD THE ABILITY TO BUY A CAR, TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT THERE AND GET A JOB OTHER THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THEY CAN FIND AROUND THE CITY. SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS, MR. MAYOR. MEMBER RAYA. YEAH. GREAT JOB, GREAT PRESENTATION. I JUST LOVE HOW THE HOW THE CITY STAFF, THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE CONSULTANT COMMUNITY AND IDENTIFY THE NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE TDP PLAN. I JUST THINK IT'S GREAT AND A GREAT PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MR. RAYA. WELL, ALWAYS BEING THE LAST ONE TO SPEAK AFTER MY COLLEAGUES. YOU KNOW, I KIND OF STAND ON BOTH SIDES. IT'S A GREAT IDEA. THEN AGAIN, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT. BUT THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, MR. TANIGUCHI. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE. SO MOVED. I´LL SECOND. MADAM CLERK, VOTE BY ROLL CALL. MEMBER SALDANA. AYE. MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA. AYE. COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ. AYE. COUNCILMEMBER RAYA. AYE. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ, SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES, WITH COUNCILMEMBER MEDINA ABSENT. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 14.B. COUNCIL FINDS THE ACTION IS NOT A PROJECT UNDER SECTION 15378 OF THE CEQA [14.b. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager or designee to endorse and enter into an agreement with an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Solution provider to conduct a feasibility study of the City’s current water meter-reading process, potential alternatives, and financing options, in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00. (Hurlbert/Martinez)] GUIDELINES. ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR DESIGNEE TO ENDORSE AND ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH AN ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE (AMI) SOLUTION PROVIDER TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF THE CITY'S CURRENT WATER METER RECORDING PROCESS, POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVES AND FINANCIAL OPTIONS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000 MR. HURLBERT OR MS. MARTINEZ. SO THAT'S ACTUALLY MR. VILLA, BUT I'LL GIVE HIM A QUICK INTRODUCTION. SO MR. VILLA WILL DO AN INITIAL INTRODUCTORY POWERPOINT HERE OF WHAT'S GOING ON. AND HE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HAS GOT TO OUR CURRENT POINT, AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER TONIGHT. SO DO A QUICK POWERPOINT. IT WILL BE QUICK, BRIEF, SO. AND THEN AFTERWARDS WE'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. WHAT IS THE ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE? AMI IS AN ADVANCED SYSTEM USED FOR REMOTE UTILITY METERING, INCLUDING WATER. IT PROVIDES REAL DATA ACCESS FOR BOTH UTILITIES AND RESIDENTS. KEY BENEFITS, IT'S REAL TIME DATA FOR BOTH CUSTOMERS AND THE UTILITY. ENHANCES EFFICIENCY AND RELIABILITY. LEAK DETECTION TO MINIMIZE NON-REVENUE WATER LOSS. LET'S GO. OH, HERE WE GO. PROJECT BACKGROUND. AS WE ALL KNOW, THIS ALL STARTED WITH THE SRF GRANT, WHICH INITIALLY WAS STARTED IN 2020. AND THE FUNDING SOURCE CHANGED IN 2024 TO FEDERAL FUNDING WITH LIMITING PROJECT SCOPE TO WATER QUALITY RELATED IMPROVEMENTS ONLY. SO WITH THIS, STAFF HAS BEEN ACTIVELY SEEKING ALTERNATIVE FUNDING WITH POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS. WASCO´S CURRENT METERING PROCESS IS WE RELY ON THIRD PARTY TO READ 5400M. OF COURSE THESE ARE ALL MANUALLY READ AND RESULTING WITH HUMAN ERROR, WE'D HAVE TO GO BACK. SOME STAFF IS THEN TAKEN AWAY, WHICH WE USE TO REREAD A METER. AGING METERS, SOME OF WHICH ARE NEAR OR HAVE EXCEEDED THEIR USEFUL LIFE LEADING TO REDUCED WATER CAPTURE. [01:05:04] THEN WE'LL GO INTO HOW DOES THE AMI BENEFIT WASCO. THIS REDUCES NON-REVENUE WATER. OBTAIN RELIABLE DATA TO MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR HUMAN ERROR. IMPLEMENT A UTILITY AND CUSTOMER PORTAL THAT PROVIDES REAL TIME DATA. NOTIFICATIONS TO CUSTOMERS ABOUT UNUSUAL WATER USAGE, HELPING TO REDUCE HIGH BILLS AND WASTEWATER. AND ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE THIRD PARTY METERING SERVICE. WITH THAT, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR. CITY MANAGER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTINUE ON WITH THE STAFF REPORT PORTION OF IT? OKAY, SO ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? AND JUST IN CASE IT WASN'T CLEAR THERE, WHEN THE PROJECT FUNDING RAN OUT AT THE STATE LEVEL, THIS PORTION OF THAT BUNDLE OF WATER RELATED FUNDING WAS REMOVED ALONG WITH THE TANK. AND LAST YEAR, THE COUNCIL APPROVED USING SOME OF OUR WATER RESERVE FUNDS TO GO AHEAD WITH THE TANK CONSTRUCTION TO SOLVE PART OF THAT. THE OTHER PART IS THIS, AND STAFF HAS SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF TALKING TO DIFFERENT PROVIDERS. THERE ARE COMPANIES, DIFFERENT VENDORS THAT PROVIDE VARYING DEGREES OF SERVICE IN THIS CATEGORY. SOME SPECIALIZE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON WATER IMPROVEMENT SERVICES, AND THEY VARY IN THE TURNKEY FEATURES THAT THEY OFFER. THEY ALSO VARY IN THEIR LEVEL OF SERVICE AFTER THE FACT AND WHETHER. IN SOME CASES IT'S HANDLED LIKE A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT. THERE'S A GUARANTEED COST AND THE VENDOR TAKES OVER THE OPERATION OF THE METERS AND THE OTHER. IT'S SIMPLY FOR INSTALLATION, TRAINING AND WARRANTY COVERAGE. TO GET A TRUE APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON ACROSS THESE DIFFERENT VENDORS THOUGH, STAFF IS REALLY RELIANT ON AN ACCURATE FEASIBILITY STUDY, WHICH LOOKS AT OUR CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE, THE NUMBER OF METERS THAT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED IN THE INITIAL SWATH, AND THE ONGOING COST OF BOTH THAT WORK AND OPERATION AFTERWARD. A COUPLE OF THE VENDORS WE'VE SPOKEN WITH WILL DO COMPLEMENTARY KINDS OF EVALUATIONS. THEY'LL GIVE US A QUOTE, BUT THEY DON'T REALLY DO A HIGHLY VALID STATISTICAL SAMPLE OF OUR CITY TO COME UP WITH THOSE ESTIMATES. SO LIKE MOST SERVICE PROVIDERS, THEY'RE GOING TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN WITH A PRICE THAT PROTECTS THEIR DOWNSIDE IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE ACCURATE DATA. THE ONES THAT DO AN EXTENSIVE FEASIBILITY STUDY, SPEND A FAIR AMOUNT OF STAFF TIME TO DO THAT. AND THEY CHARGE FOR THAT IF YOU END UP NOT GOING WITH THEM FOR THE SOLUTION. AND SO TONIGHT, WHAT STAFF IS ASKING FOR IS THE PROVISION OF FUNDING THAT WOULD COVER THAT. SHOULD WE DECIDE TO GO WITH A VENDOR TO DO THAT EXTENSIVE FEASIBILITY STUDY, THE ACTUAL INITIAL PRICE THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US WAS AROUND $35,000. IN THE STAFF REPORT, YOU´LL NOTICE WE'RE ASKING FOR AUTHORIZATION UP TO 50. IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL STUDY OR WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ALONG THE WAY, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET THAT DONE. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE VENDOR THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THAT WE BELIEVE CAN PROVIDE AN ACCURATE FEASIBILITY STUDY, WOULD THEN CREDIT THAT FEASIBILITY STUDY COST BACK INTO THE PROJECT. AND IT WOULD END UP, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY'S PAYING FOR IT SOMEWHERE AND WOULD NOT BE CHARGED INITIALLY. IT WOULD BE ROLLED INTO THE PROJECT PRICE. SO THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST STEP. WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR AUTHORIZATION TO MOVE FORWARD. ANY DECISION ON CHOOSING THE ULTIMATE VENDOR WILL BE BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THIS. AND THEN WE WOULD USE THAT TO PRODUCE A MORE ACCURATE REQUEST FOR QUOTES OR REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS THAT NORMALIZES ACROSS VENDORS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SO IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS, WE WILL ATTEMPT TO ANSWER THOSE BETWEEN. SEEING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA? I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. THE FIRST QUESTION I HAVE IS, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. [01:10:01] AND BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS, IN FACT, WE WERE SPENDING ABOUT $29,000 EVERY TIME WE ORDER METERS. AND I WOULD ALWAYS QUESTION WHETHER THOSE METERS WERE ALREADY CAPABLE TO TRANSMIT VIA THE AIRWAVES OR INTERNET, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE WE HAVE AND WHETHER WE HAVE CONTINUED TO BUY CAPABLE METERS THAT WAY. I ALSO KNOW THAT WE'RE PAYING ABOUT $5,000 MONTHLY FOR METER READING. SO IT'S ACTUALLY 8000 NOW. SO IT HAS GONE UP SINCE WE FIRST STARTED? YES. BECAUSE IF IT'S OKAY, I'LL BACK UP AND ANSWER THE FIRST QUESTION. SO WE HAVE BEEN REPLACING BLOCKS OF METERS AS THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. AND THE NEW METERS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE AUTOMATIC READING EQUIPMENT. SO IN SOME CASES THE ACTUAL TRANSMITTERS ARE A BOLT-ON ACCESSORY TO THE METER. BUT THE METERS, THE BODIES THEMSELVES ARE COMPATIBLE. RIGHT. AND ALSO I CAUGHT ON SOMETHING THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE AGING METERS WHICH RESULT IN REDUCED WATER CAPTURE. AND ALL THAT IS MEANING IS THAT WE'RE NOT CHARGING THE CUSTOMER FOR THE WATER USAGE THAT THEY HAVE. BECAUSE THE WATER METER DOESN'T SPEED UP, IT ACTUALLY SLOWS DOWN AS IT AGES. YES. PEOPLE MAY BE USING MORE WATER, AND WE'RE NOT ABLE TO CAPTURE THE AMOUNT THAT THEY'RE USING. MY CONCERN IS THIS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS IS WHERE WE'RE MOVING TO, AND YOU MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. WE'RE NOT MOVING TO OUTSOURCE OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE TO SOMEONE ELSE. THIS JUST WOULD BE STRICTLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF CAPTURING HOW MUCH WATER EACH INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD OR APARTMENT OR BUSINESS IS USING. IS THAT CORRECT? NOT THIS STUDY, NO. WELL, OKAY. BUT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL TO DO THAT, THEN? THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO HAVE EVERY METER IN THE CITY BE AN INTELLIGENT METER THAT CAN TRANSMIT THE USAGE WITHOUT SOMEONE DRIVING BY. AND THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE WATER SERVICE? YES. OKAY, SO THIS IS STRICTLY ABOUT THE METERS. OKAY. THIS IS ABOUT METERS AND REDUCING THAT WATER THAT IS LOST FOR TWO PRIMARY REASONS. ONE IS INACCURATE METERS. IT'S BEING DELIVERED AND USED BUT NOT BILLED. THE OTHER IS JUST OUTRIGHT LEAKS. AND OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF JUST SPONTANEOUS LEAKS OCCUR IN OUR AGING WATER SYSTEM. THERE ARE ADDITIONAL FEATURES THAT THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY CAN ADD THAT ACTUALLY WATCHES FOR THOSE AND PROVIDES SOME ADVANCE WARNING. YEAH, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF BENEFITS. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN FOR IT. THAT'S WHY I KEEP ASKING, YOU KNOW, ARE WE BUYING THESE METERS THAT ARE READY TO DO THIS? SO I THINK THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE IS THIS. THIS COMPANY THAT IS GOING TO DO AN EXTENSIVE STUDY, WHICH IS THE ONE THAT YOU'RE DOING, WILL PROVIDE THE STUDY AND PROVIDE THE METERS FOR US? THEY WILL PROVIDE THE STUDY, AND THAT'S A STOP SPOT. WE WILL USE THAT STUDY TO PREPARE OUR RFI. WE'LL GO BACK TO THE OTHER ALL COMPANIES THAT ARE INTERESTED IN BIDDING TO SAY, DELIVER THIS FOR US. WE NOW KNOW WHAT OUR ISSUES ARE. WE KNOW HOW MANY METERS ARE THERE. WE KNOW HOW MANY BOXES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED AS PART OF THIS INSTALLATION. WE KNOW WHICH ONES ARE GOING TO REQUIRE NEW CONNECTIONS TO MAINS OR TO THE HOUSE. WE'LL KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH THIS FEASIBILITY STUDY IN HAND, INSTEAD OF A BLIND RFI THAT JUST SAYS GIVE US A BID AND THEN A BUNCH OF CHANGE ORDERS. YEAH. VERY GOOD. THAT'S A LOT MORE INVOLVED THAN WHAT I HAD ENVISIONED. I MEAN, YOU TALKED ABOUT CONNECTIONS AND OTHER THINGS THAT MAY NEED TO CHANGE. YES. AND SO, YEAH, YOU HAVE MY VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ. YEAH. I'M ALL FOR THIS. IF IT'S ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE FOR US TO DO THIS. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. AND I'M ALSO FINE WITH, YOU KNOW, MAKING PEOPLE PAY FOR WHAT THEY USE. JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, THOUGH, ON THE REDUCED WATER CAPTURE, LIKE, DO YOU GUYS THINK IT'S, LIKE SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET HIT WITH LIKE A SIGNIFICANT 40% RAISE IN THEIR WATER BILL, OR WOULD IT BE MORE LIKE A MORE, YOU KNOW. WHICH IS OKAY, I MEAN, IF THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE USING, I'M JUST CURIOUS. CITYWIDE, OUR BEST ESTIMATE RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT 15%. THAT'S BEING LOST SOMEHOW THROUGH THOSE TWO OUTLETS, EITHER THROUGH INACCURATE METERING OR JUST OUTRIGHT LEAKS. OKAY. SO, NO, I WOULD NOT EXPECT THAT USAGE EVEN ON A HOUSEHOLD WITH A TOILET RUNNING. [01:15:06] YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT HUGE NUMBER. IT WOULD BE. MORE MODEST. MANY DOLLARS PER MONTH, BUT NOT $50 OR $100. OKAY. I WOULDN'T IMAGINE. WELL, I MEAN, IF THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE USING, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE USING. SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'M OKAY WITH IT. I JUST WAS CURIOUS. AND BEAR IN MIND THAT THIS OCCURS DURING THE TIME WE'RE APPROACHING OUR FIFTH YEAR OF THE FIVE YEAR RATE PLAN THAT WAS DESIGNED TO MOVE OURSELVES TOWARD THE STATE MANDATED GOAL OF USAGE PER PERSON, AND ALSO AN ADJUSTMENT TO OUR RATES THAT REDUCES THE BASE RATE, INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF OVERAGE USAGE, SO THAT FINAL STEP OCCURS THIS JULY 1ST, AND WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NEXT RATE PLAN THAT WILL BE COMING BACK TO YOU SHORTLY, SO OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO NOW IS GET A PRICE TIED DOWN, FIGURE OUT THE MOST EFFICIENT AND FAIR WAY TO COVER THE COST OF THAT. TURNING IT DIRECTLY OVER TO THE RATE PAYERS IS NOT AN IMMEDIATE OPTION FOR US. WE CAN'T ABSORB THAT. THE COST OF A PROJECT LIKE THIS AND PASS IT ALONG TO THE RATEPAYERS IN A FOUR YEAR, FIVE YEAR SPAN, IT WOULD NOT BE FEASIBLE. SO ALONG WITH THIS, WE'RE ALSO STUDYING HOW IS THIS GOING TO GET FINANCED OUT OF WATER REVENUES, WATER RESERVES AND PERHAPS FINANCING TO SPREAD OUT THAT COST TO THE RATEPAYERS. OKAY. THANK YOU. DO WE KNOW THE LIFESPAN FOR THESE SMART METERS AND THE COST? THEIR LIFESPAN IS 20 YEARS. 20 YEARS PLUS. THEY'RE GUARANTEED FOR 20 YEARS. OKAY. AND THEN YOU ANSWERED THE OTHER ONE I HAD, IT WAS LIKE INSTALLATION OF THE WATER LINE TO THE ADDITIONAL MODIFICATION. THEY WERE ARE THEY GOING TO BE NEEDED. IN SOME CASES, AND THIS WILL BE A DECISION THAT WE GET TO MAKE IS, WHEN THE NEW METER IS DROPPED IN, IF THE PIPES ARE HEALTHY ON BOTH SIDES, IT'S JUST A FLANGE DROP IN. IF THERE ARE DETERIORATED LINES, EITHER ON THE CITY SIDE OR ON THE HOMEOWNER SIDE, THERE MAY NEED TO BE SOME REMEDIATION THAT TAKES PLACE THERE. I THINK THIS FEASIBILITY STUDY WILL GIVE US A RATIO OF, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO DIG UP EVERYBODY'S LAWN TO SEE HOW GOOD THEIR PIPES ARE, BUT IT SHOULD GIVE US A RATIO OF HOW MANY ARE SUSPECT AND WE CAN COME UP WITH A PLAN, WHETHER THE CITY IS GOING TO HELP WITH THAT COST OR WHETHER WE NEED TO PROVIDE SOME OTHER MECHANISM FOR HOMEOWNERS TO GET THAT WORK DONE. IN MOST CASES, THE CONNECTION SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE CHANGED. AND SO IT SHOULD BE MINIMAL, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED. THANK YOU. I AGREE. AFTER ALL I HEARD IT'S A GREAT PLAN, YOU KNOW, TO START STUDYING OR GETTING THESE PEOPLE INVOLVED SO WE CAN GET A BETTER INSIGHT OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT ALL THESE SMART METERS. SO IT'S A GREAT PLAN. LIKE MR. REYNA SAID, YOU GOT MY VOTE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE. SO MOVED. I'LL SECOND IT. MADAM CLERK, VOTE BY ROLL CALL. MAYOR SALDANA. AYE. MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA. AYE. COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ. AYE. COUNCILMEMBER RAYA. AYE. MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA, SECONDED BY MAYOR SALDANA TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES, WITH COUNCILMEMBER MEDINA ABSENT. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM 15. WE HAVE REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES. 15.A. MR. MEDINA IS ABSENT, SO 15.B. MR. REYNA. NO REPORT. I WILL BE ATTENDING THE MEETING THIS THURSDAY. AND 15.C. WE HAVE OUR FIRST CLEANUP OF 2026, WHICH IS SCHEDULED ON FEBRUARY 28TH BETWEEN 8 AND [15.c. Wasco Task Force (Saldaña and Raya) ] 9. AND WE'LL BE MEETING AT CORMACK PARK. JUST LOOK FORWARD TO KICKING OFF THIS YEAR AND GETTING TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP THIS WASCO TASK FORCE INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY. MR. RAYA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? NO, WE'LL SEE EVERYBODY THERE FROM 8 TO 9 A.M. AT CORMACK PARK. AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN BRING SOME YOUTH IN THERE TO HELP US OUT, TOO. THANK YOU. ITEM 16. REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER. [16) REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER] YES. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. JUST A FEW ITEMS. SNIP EVENT WILL OCCUR ON 2/23. [01:20:04] AND THEN ALSO A MARCH DATE TO BE DETERMINED. BOTH EVENTS WILL AT BE 8 A.M. OVER HERE AT 8TH STREET. COMMUNITY BREAKFAST WILL BE AT MARCH 4TH MARCH 4TH AT WASCO HIGH SCHOOL AND BE HOSTED BY THE HIGH SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY DISTRICT. OH, IT'S RIGHT THERE ON THE NEXT LINE, 7 A.M. WE DO HAVE THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, STRATEGIC WORKSHOP THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE PROCEEDINGS HERE. SO I DO HAVE AN INITIAL SCHEDULE. NO DATES YET. BUT HERE'S HOW IT'S LOOKING FOR OUR BUDGET PROCESS THIS YEAR. SO YOU CAN EXPECT MID TO LATE NEXT MONTH TO HAVE OUR MID-YEAR REVIEW, WHICH WILL LOOK AT THE EXISTING 25-26 BUDGET, WILL HAVE ANY ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE NECESSARY BEFORE THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR BEGINS AND AN INITIAL LOOK AT THE PERFORMANCE THUS FAR. THEN THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED IN APRIL BY THE STRATEGIC WORKSHOP. IF WE DO LIKE WE'VE DONE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THAT USUALLY IS HANDLED IN ONE SESSION, AND WE TRY TO MAKE THAT ON A SATURDAY MORNING AND GET IT. JUST WORK THROUGH TILL WE GET THROUGH THE ENTIRE EVENT. TAKING THE OUTPUT FROM THE STRATEGIC WORKSHOP THAT WILL LINE US UP FOR BUDGET WORKSHOP OR WORKSHOPS DURING MAY. AND THEN FINALLY WE WILL HAVE THE DRAFT BUDGET READY FOR ADOPTION IN JUNE AHEAD OF THE DEADLINE. SO KIND OF KEEP THAT IN MIND. AND ONCE WE HAVE DATES TIED DOWN, THEN THE CITY CLERK WILL BE CONTACTING YOU FOR AVAILABILITY FOR EACH OF THOSE. IT WAS MENTIONED ALREADY, BUT WE'VE GOT THE LOTTERY COMING UP ON 2/20 FROM 10 TO 11 A.M. AT THE VETS HALL ON BARKER. AND THEN YOU PROBABLY RECEIVED THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN SEEING, THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE DID GET CONFIRMATION FROM OUR OFFICE ON THE PHASE TWO FUNDING. SO THAT IS IN HAND. AND THANKS TO HARD WORKING STAFF AND FOR, YOU KNOW, OUR PARTNERS OUT IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR GETTING THAT APPROVED AND PUSHING IT THROUGH SO THAT WORK REALLY BEGINS NOW WITH LINING UP AND GETTING THE PLANS COMPLETED AND GETTING THE BID IN CONSTRUCTION GOING. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY. THANK YOU, MR. HURLBERT. ITEM NUMBER 17. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. [17) REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL] MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ALL GOOD NEWS, SCOTT. THAT'S $5 MILLION. YES. GOOD THING. THANK YOU, STAFF FOR WORKING ON THAT. AND THANK YOU TO DAVID VALADAO FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE GOT THAT. I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THE COMPLETION OF ASPHALT REPAIRS ON BECKETTS AND PALM AVENUE. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THOSE. AND ARE THEY ALREADY ON THE CALENDAR? WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR THOSE? WHAT WAS THE IMPROVEMENT? BECAUSE IT HAS SOUTH OF 5TH STREET. EXCUSE ME, NORTH OF 5TH STREET AND ALSO PALM AVENUE. BACK AS A SCHEDULE FOR THIS YEAR, BUT LET ME DOUBLE CHECK WITH OUR CITY ENGINEER, AND I CAN TIE DOWN THE DATES FOR YOU. OKAY, THAT WOULD BE FINE. AND THEN I HAVE A SIMPLE REQUEST. FOR THE LAST FEW AGENDAS, THE NUMBERING OF THE PAGES AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH PAGE IS ALL ONE OF 700, AND THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR ME WHEN I WANT TO REFER BACK TO A PAGE. IT MAKES IT QUITE DIFFICULT. SO IF YOU COULD CORRECT THAT, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. AND I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR ALL YOU DO TO KEEP US INFORMED. THIS WAS A BIG, BIG AGENDA. AND PART OF IT WAS THE PDA REPORT, I DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, IF I MAY. I DID NOT ASK WHILE I WAS AT THE PODIUM. WE ARE APPROVED FOR THE WORLD BIPOLAR DAY. SO THE FUNDING FOR THIS LAST YEAR CAME FROM THE COMMUNITY PROMOTION LINE ITEM. THERE ARE FUNDS THERE. THIS WOULD COVER OVERTIME PRIMARILY VERY LITTLE OUT OF POCKET COST FOR THAT IN KIND OF LABOR. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT FUNDING IF IT WOULD MAKE EVERYBODY MORE COMFORTABLE, WE CAN CERTAINLY BRING IT BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING FOR [01:25:04] ALLOCATION OF THAT FUNDING. YOU KNOW, ALONG THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, ONCE THE BUDGET IS ESTABLISHED, THEN PROJECTS JUST COME AND GO, EXPENDITURES COME AND GO, AND WE DON'T BRING EACH ITEM BACK, BUT WE CERTAINLY CAN. THIS WOULD BE. I WOULD RELY ON YOUR DIRECTION AS TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO. OKAY. YOU KNOW, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS. AND THE LAST THING WE WANT TO FIND OUT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT APPROVED. I DID NOT ASK THIS. I SAID AT THE END OF MY PRESENTATION. BRIEF PRESENTATION. BUT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH IT. AND I'M TAKING FOR AWARDED. YOU JUST SAID THAT THERE'S ENOUGH MONEY THERE TO COVER AT THE SAME LEVEL THAT WAS COVERED. I BELIEVE SO, AND IF. WELL, HOW ABOUT THIS? EITHER WAY, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND BRING IT BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING. AND THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE A QUORUM. I DON'T. WELL, WE'LL NEED TO DECIDE WHETHER BECAUSE OF YOUR ASSOCIATION WITH THE EVENT. YEAH, I PROBABLY WILL STEP OUT AND NOT VOTE. YEAH. BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY BRING IT BACK. YEAH. AND SO, JUST FOR OUR OWN PURPOSE, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT TO DO FROM HERE UNTIL THEN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. THANK YOU. BASED ON THE REACTIONS THAT I SAW FROM THE DAIS, I'M MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SAME ASSUMPTION THAT THE FUNDING IS THERE AND WILL BE APPROVED. THERE SEEMS TO BE SORT OF LIKE UNANIMOUS AGREEMENT THAT THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHAT I HEARD FROM YOU ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH, THAT ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS. MR. REYNA? COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ. YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M JUST MORE AWARE OF IT NOW THAT IT'S WARMER AND I'M OUTSIDE OR IF WE'RE HAVING A PROBLEM, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF STRAY DOGS AROUND TOWN AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY'RE STRAY. I THINK A LOT OF THEM ARE JUST IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE WAY TO TACKLE THIS IS MAYBE THROUGH AN EDUCATION CAMPAIGN THAT, HEY, YOU CAN BE, YOU KNOW, CITED FOR THIS. WE CAN TAKE YOUR DOG. YOU KNOW, THAT TYPE OF THING. BUT I CAN TELL YOU IT'S VERY UNSETTLING WHEN YOU'RE WALKING A SEVEN MONTH OLD AND YOU HAVE A 50 POUND PIT BULL COME RUNNING UP TO YOU, AND YOU'RE JUST LIKE, IS THIS DOG FRIENDLY OR NOT? AND THE DOG JUST WANTS ATTENTION. FORTUNATELY, I HAVEN'T RAN INTO ANY VICIOUS ANIMALS, BUT THERE'S JUST A LOT OF THEM AROUND TOWN AND A LOT OF THEM CONGREGATED AT THE PARKS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO JUST SOMETHING TO PUT ON YOUR RADAR, AND MAYBE WE CAN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION AT THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR IT. OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. THANK YOU GUYS. MEMBER RAYA. NOTHING, SIR. I HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT EITHER. MOVING ON TO ITEM CLOSED SESSION. THIS EVENING. [18) CLOSED SESSION] WE HAVE ITEMS 18.A. TO 18.D. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING CLOSED SESSION ITEMS AT THIS TIME? WE WILL NOW ENTER CLOSED SESSION AND RETURN TO REPORT OUT. MAY WE TAKE A RECESS? YES, PLEASE. MOTION BY VINCE. SECOND BY EDDIE. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. IS THAT RIGHT? YES. OKAY. VINCE, EDDIE. AND NO REPORTABLE ACTION ON D D. 07:43. MEETING IS ADJOURNED. MEETING IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.