Jun 16, 2026 City Council

MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MEDINA, TO APPROVE ITEM 11J. MOTION IS

COUNCILMEMBER RAYA? AYE.

[14.a. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA Guidelines; Appointment of One (1) Candidate to Fill the unexpired term vacancy on the Planning Commission, with term ending December 31, 2030. (Raya and Martinez) ]

APPROVED WITH 4 AYES, WITH MAYOR SALDAÑA ABSENT.

OKAY, SO WE'RE MOVING ON

[00:55:03]

TO ITEM 14, NEW BUSINESS. ITEM A, COUNCIL FINDS THIS ACTION IS NOT A PROJECT DEFINED UNDER SECTION 153.78(B)(5) 153.78(B)(5) OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES.

APPOINTMENT OF ONE CANDIDATE TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM VACANCY OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2030. MR. RAYA AND MR. MARTINEZ.

YEAH, SO WE HAD, ONE VERY QUALIFIED CANDIDATE WHO PUT IN FOR THE POSITION. SHE ACED THE INTERVIEW AND IMPRESSED US, AND OBVIOUSLY WE KNEW HER BACKGROUND, SO WE WERE, I THINK, ALL PRETTY MUCH IN ALIGNMENT THAT, WE, THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND ORQUÍDEA OCAMPO BE PLACED IN THAT POSITION.

MR. HERNANDEZ.

I AGREE WITH VINCENT. SHE'S A VERY, QUALIFIED APPLICANT.

SHE'S GOING TO BRING A LOT TO THE PLANNING COMMITTEE. SHE LIVES HERE. SHE HAS SHE'S VERY HAS A LOT OF PRIDE. AND AS YOU GUYS KNOW, SHE'S VERY INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, SO SHE'S GOING TO BE A GOOD FIT FOR THE PLANNING COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MEMBER MARTINEZ, YOU ALREADY COMMENTED. MEMBER MEDINA, I TRUST THE JUDGMENT OF OUR, YOU KNOW, FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS.

OBVIOUSLY, I, I KNOW YOU, YOU'LL DO A GOOD JOB, SO, YOU KNOW, CONGRATULATIONS.

YEAH, WE ALWAYS ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF OUR COMMITTEES, BUT, YOU KNOW, I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB. SO THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPOINT ORQUÍDEA OCAMPO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION BOARD. SO MOVED.

I'LL SECOND.

OKAY, MADAM CLERK, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE VOTE BY ROLL? MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA.

COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ.

COUNCILMEMBER MEDINA.

COUNCILMEMBER RAYA.

MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MEDINA, TO APPOINT ORQUÍDEA OCAMPO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION BOARD. MOTION IS APPROVED WITH 4 AYES, WITH MAYOR SALINAS ABSENT.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. IF I MAY, I JUST HAD A QUESTION. IS THERE ANOTHER SEAT THAT'S OPEN, OR I WASN'T SURE. I IF I BECAUSE IT SAID 2, OR MAYBE I MEANT LIKE T-O INSTEAD OF 2, THE NUMBER 2, BECAUSE THE ACTION IS THE REAPPOINTMENT OF 2 PLANNING COMMISSION VACANCIES FOR I WASN'T SURE. I WHEN I READ THE REPORT, I WAS WE ONLY HAD ONE APPLICANT AND THERE WAS TWO VACANCIES, OR IF IT WAS JUST ONE.

BUT IT'S ON THE ENVIRONMENT THERE.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. SAY SEQUEL GUIDELINES BECAUSE THE ACTION IS THE REAPPOINTMENT OF TWO PLAINTIFFS. ONLY ONE.

IT'S ONLY ONE. OKAY. GOTCHA.

SO WE CAN MAKE THAT CORRECTION.

[14.b. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Approving the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Annual Operating Budget and 2027-2031 the Five-Year Capital Improvement Program. (Hurlbert)]

YES. IF NOT, ORKIDEA CAN TAKE CARE OF BOTH OF THEM. PRICE OF ONE. THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAD A FIRST ITEM B.

COUNCIL FINDS THIS ACTION IS NOT A PROJECT DEFINED UNDER SECTION 15378 OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES. ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET AND THE 20TH IN 2027 TO 2031, THE 5-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. MR. HERLBERG. SECOND.

YES, HONORABLE MAYOR PRO TEM AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THIS ITEM HAS BEEN DISCUSSED OVER THE LAST 4 MEETINGS INCLUDING THE WORKSHOPS, AND THERE ARE NO SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES SINCE THE PRESENTATION AT OUR LAST MEETING. AND WE EXPECT THIS TO GO THROUGH. AS WAS MENTIONED AT THE PREVIOUS COUPLE MEETINGS, WITH THE, THE DYNAMIC STATE OF OUR REVENUE AND EXPENSE PROJECTIONS. WE EXPECT TO HAVE AT LEAST A COUPLE OF BUDGET AMENDMENT WORKSHOPS PROBABLY WITHIN A QUARTER OR SO, MAYBE LATE THIS SUMMER OR EARLY FALL, ONCE WE GET THE EXISTING AUDITS COMPLETED AND THE CLOSURE OF PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR BOOKS, WHICH ARE NOT YET COMPLETE. SO WE'LL EXPECT TO HAVE UPDATES TO THIS IN I CERTAINLY AM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTH SIDES OF THAT EQUATION. SO UNLESS THERE ARE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TONIGHT, WE'RE ASKING FOR ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED PREVIOUSLY. WE WILL PRODUCE A DRAFT PAPER COPY OF THE, THE AGENDA ITSELF, UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WILL NEED

[01:00:01]

TO BE AMENDED AND ADD THE TABS AND PAGE NUMBERING AND WHATNOT AS, AS STAFF HAS TIME AND WE COMPLETE THESE REVISIONS.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, MR. HOPPER.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? I'LL START THE CONVERSATION. I WENT THROUGH THIS CAREFULLY AND, YOU KNOW, I I'VE EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS CLEARLY THAT THIS ECONOMY MIGHT TAKE A TURN FOR THE WORSE AND THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT HOW WE GO ABOUT BUDGETING FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEARS.

AND EVERYBODY HAS LISTENED, YOU KNOW. SCOTT, YOU'VE BEEN CLEAR THAT I AGREE. WHAT YOU JUST SAID. WE'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING THIS CAREFULLY AND REVIEWING IT. YOU HAD MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY QUARTERLY.

WHICH IS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME PERSPECTIVE TO THIS BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS.

AND BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, YOU HEARD PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCE YESTERDAY THAT AN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED WITH IRAN AND THAT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS GOING TO BE OPEN AND THAT SUDDENLY EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE FINE.

YEAH.

AND I'VE SAID, BASED ON WHAT I'VE LEARNED, THAT NO SUCH A THING WILL HAPPEN, RIGHT? BECAUSE THE ECONOMY, THE WORLD ECONOMY HAS BEEN STRESSED TO A POINT IN WHICH IT'LL TAKE MONTHS FOR IT TO COME BACK.

WE MAY SEE A DECREASE IN THE COST OF GASOLINE FOR OUR AUTOMOBILES, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON OUT THERE, OUT THERE THAT CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM. AND PARTICULARLY ON JUNE 11TH, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT INFLATION HAD RISEN TO 4.2%, UP FROM 3.8% THE MONTH BEFORE AND NEARLY DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS A YEAR AGO, WHICH WAS 2.4%. AND SO IF YOU TAKE THIS PERCENTAGE AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THAT GONNA COST TO THE AVERAGE AMERICAN FAMILY, WHICH, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US IN WASCO WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THAT, THAT'S OVER $400 A MONTH OF ADDITIONAL EXPENSES FOR US. WOW. AND THE REASON WHY I BRING THAT UP IS BECAUSE THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, LOUD SIRENS THAT WE NEED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN, OKAY? THAT'S NOT MY GOAL. I DON'T WANT THIS INFLATION, YOU KNOW, TO AFFECT US THAT WAY.

BUT IT MAY. IT MAY. SO WE NEED TO BE READY AND PREPARED.

SCOTT, AS YOU MENTIONED, TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS BUDGET SO THAT WE DON'T GET FURTHER INTO THE HOLE. ENERGY SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT SAID THAT GAS PRICES MAY DROP BELOW 3% A GALLON MAY NOT DROP BELOW $3 A GALLON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. HERE IN CALIFORNIA, IT'S MUCH HIGHER, OVER $4. SO I DO NEED TO ASK YOU THIS QUESTION. SO I'VE ASKED YOU THIS QUESTION BEFORE, AND THAT IS, WHAT PERCENTAGE MORE ARE WE HAVE WE INCREASED THIS BUDGET THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO APPROVE FROM THE PREVIOUS ONE, AND WHAT IS OUR EXPECTED REVENUE INCREASE? IN OTHER WORDS, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH IS OUR REVENUE GOING TO INCREASE AND HOW MUCH HAS OUR BUDGET INCREASED AS IT STANDS? SO WE'D HAVE TO THERE ARE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT FROM THE PREVIOUS DRAFT OF THIS BUDGET? NO, THE ONE WE'RE ABOUT TO APPROVE.

VERSUS LAST YEAR? WELL, WE DON'T HAVE EVEN THOSE NUMBERS.

CORRECT.

WHICH WE'VE GONE OVER SEVERAL TIMES. SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE, AGAIN, JUST TO REPEAT AGAIN, ESPECIALLY FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WASN'T HERE FOR THE LAST MEETING, IS THAT WE HAVE FORECASTED REVENUES AS ESSENTIALLY FLAT, NO INCREASES WHATSOEVER, EVEN THOUGH WE SAW SPIKES IN 2 CATEGORIES OF OUR REVENUES LAST YEAR. ONE FOR $800,000 A ABOVE PROJECTIONS, AND ANOTHER COULD BE AS MUCH AS $170,000 ABOVE PROJECTION. WE HAVE NOT USED THOSE.

WE HAVE HAD THE ABSOLUTE MOST NEGATIVE PROJECTION WE CAN POSSIBLY USE FOR REVENUES,

[01:05:03]

AND WE'VE ALSO USED A NOT EXAGGERATED, BUT A FULL EXPECTATION ON EXPENSES SO THAT WE HAVE THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO ON PAPER I FULLY EXPECT SOME OF THOSE REVENUES TO OUTPERFORM WHAT WE ARE PROJECTING. I FULLY EXPECT, LIKE EVERY YEAR IN ANYBODY'S MEMORY, FOR US TO UNDERSPEND WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING ON EXPENSES. WE'LL HAVE VACANCIES, SO OUR LABOR COSTS WON'T BE THE FULL AMOUNT THAT WE'RE SHOWING, AND WE'LL HAVE PROJECTS THAT GET DEFERRED. WE'LL GET EXPENSES THAT ARE DEFERRED, PURCHASES THAT ARE DEFERRED.

OKAY.

SO WE'LL COME IN UNDER OUR WORST-CASE EXPENSE CATEGORY THAT WE HAVE NOW. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU REFER BACK TO THE STAFF REPORT FROM 2 WEEKS AGO IF I REMEMBER, IT WAS $1.4 TO $1.9 DEPENDING ON THE CASE. I'M TALKING ABOUT MILLION-DOLLAR WELL, YEAH, THAT'S THE DEFICIT NUMBER.

THAT'S NOT THAT DOESN'T ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

RIGHT. AND I DID WANT A PERCENTAGE TO GET A BETTER IDEA, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO ANSWER.

SO THE PERCENTAGE ON TAX REVENUES IS ESSENTIALLY DEAD FLAT. IT'S LESS THAN $20,000 DIFFERENCE ON A $10.9 MILLION NUMBER. JUST AS I SAID, EXACTLY THE SAME EXPECTATION.

THE OTHER EXPENSES OR OTHER TAXES OR REVENUES TOTAL $1.651 MILLION VERSUS $1.672 MILLION.

AGAIN, MINUSCULE. I DON'T HAVE MY CALCULATOR HERE. I COULD USE MY PHONE IF YOU WANT THE PERCENTAGE, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE LESS THAN 1%. DIFFERENCE THERE. SO THOSE, THOSE NUMBERS ARE ESSENTIALLY FLAT. AGAIN, WORST-CASE SCENARIO VERSUS WHAT WE SAW LAST YEAR. OUR TAX SALES TAX CONSULTANT SAID WE SHOULD USE A ZERO INCREASE, AND WE SAW ACTUALLY 3% OVER AT LEAST A LARGE PART OF THE YEAR. SO TO ANSWER THAT, THE AND THEN THE REST OF IT SO, SO REVENUES DEAD FLAT, NO, NO BLUE SKY THERE WHATSOEVER ON PAPER. THE OTHER IS, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ON EXPENSES, IS CONTAINED ALMOST ALL OF THOSE IS THROUGH LABOR COST INCREASES.

AND THOSE, AGAIN, WITH COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND GUIDANCE, WE ARE EXECUTING ONE OF THE PILLARS OF THE, OF THE COUNCIL'S VISION, WHICH IS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN BEST WORKFORCE WE POSSIBLY CAN FOR THE CITY AND DELIVERING CITY SERVICES. SO THE VAST MAJORITY OF THAT DEFICIT IS DUE TO KEEPING UP WITH REGIONAL LABOR COSTS, BENEFIT COSTS, AND RIGHT.

YEAH, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I MYSELF HAVE MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY. YOU HAD MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, AND I'VE MENTIONED IT AS WELL, THAT THE MAJORITY OF THAT INCREASE IS LABOR COSTS.

YES.

SO AS WE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE VOTE WILL BE, BUT AS WE MOVE TO POSSIBLY APPROVE THIS, THIS BUDGET, OKAY, I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS AND I KNOW I'VE ALREADY SAID THAT, BUT I WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD MULTIPLE TIMES THAT IF THIS STARTS GOING SOUTH, WE CAN'T WAIT. WE GOTTA TAKE ACTION, RIGHT? AND I HOPE MY HOPE IS THAT THE PROJECTIONS, AS YOU MENTIONED, ARE LOW AND THAT WE WILL COME IN BEYOND THOSE PROJECTIONS.

THAT IS MY HOPE. THANK YOU.

SURE.

OKAY, BUT WHAT I'M READING ABOUT AND, YOU KNOW, HOW THE ECONOMY IS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD DOESN'T SEEM THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN. I HOPE I'M WRONG, AND I HOPE EVERYBODY ELSE, ALL THE PUNDITS, ARE WRONG, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, SUDDENLY THINGS TURN ROSY FOR US. YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE STOCK MARKET, YOU KNOW, THOSE PEOPLE JUST KEEP BETTING ON IT, RIGHT? IT JUST KEEPS GOING HIGHER AND HIGHER.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOND MARKET, AND I MENTIONED THAT PREVIOUSLY, OKAY, THE BONDS, NOT AS SUCCESSFUL. AND I THINK YOU MENTIONED, BECAUSE I HAD MENTIONED THAT WE WERE EARNING 4%, AND YOU SAID NOT ANYMORE. I THINK IT DROPPED LIKE A TENTH OF A POINT OR SOMETHING.

SO WE JUST NEED TO BE VERY WATCHFUL AND REACT TO IT TIMELY. AGREED. ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I SHARE SOME OF GILBERT'S ECONOMIC CONCERNS, BUT OVERALL I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD SOLID BUDGET. I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, AND I AGREE, I THINK MOST LIKELY WE'RE GOING TO COME IN UNDER BUDGET AND OVER PROJECTIONS. SO I'M COMFORTABLE WITH IT. THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS PUT INTO IT. THANK YOU.

[01:10:01]

I MEAN, I'LL JUST SAY I'M GLAD WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO THE POINT WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAVE THIS BUDGET PUT TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, AND GIVEN SORT OF WHAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS.

AND I MEAN, I HEAR MR. REYNA'S CONCERNS IN TERMS OF JUST BEING VIGILANT, RIGHT? I MEAN, I THINK EVERYBODY'S DOING THAT JUST IN GENERAL WITH THE ECONOMY NOWADAYS AND COST OF LIVING AND EVERYTHING'S SO VOLATILE. AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE, I GUESS, THAT ADVANTAGE IN A WAY IS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS CAN ALWAYS ROLL OVER, RIGHT? SO THAT'S WHERE WE CAN MANAGE SOME OF OUR COSTS AND WHATNOT, WHICH I'M, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST. BUT, YOU KNOW, I, I HEAR THE, THE CONCERNS ON THAT FRONT.

BUT I'M GLAD TO BE AT THE POINT THAT WE'RE AT, THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A BUDGET PUT TOGETHER AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT'S READY TO MOVE FORWARD, SO.

THANK YOU, MR. MCNEIL. MR. ARROYO, ANY COMMENTS? NO COMMENTS.

SCOTT, I DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, IF I MAY. WE HAD TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY IDENTIFYING WHICH CIP PROJECTS WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD AND NOT ELIMINATE THE OTHER ONES, BUT MAKE THOSE, YOU KNOW, OUR PRIORITY. AND THOSE WOULD BE GIVING US A BETTER PICTURE AS TO WHERE WE STAND. DID WE DO THAT? THAT'S NOT COMPLETE YET, BUT THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING ON. YES. WELL, WHAT I, WHAT I HOPE TO DO IS PRIORITIZE THOSE OR SORT THOSE PROJECTS INTO DIFFERENT EXPECTATION CATEGORIES. WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO START THIS ONE OR IT'S ALREADY UNDERWAY.

THESE WE PLAN TO START DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR. THESE ONES, IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON RESOURCES AND BOTH MANPOWER RESOURCES AND MANAGEMENT RESOURCES TO GET THOSE DONE.

SO THAT WILL THEN THE SUMS OF THOSE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES WILL GIVE US A MUCH MORE REALISTIC VIEW OF WHAT KIND OF CAPITAL WILL GO TOWARD THOSE. NOW, KEEPING IN MIND ALSO THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE NOT GENERAL FUND FUNDED. THEY ARE THROUGH GRANTS AND THROUGH THE ENTERPRISES. SO THOSE BUT THEY ARE BUDGETED. I MEAN, SOME OF THOSE THEY'RE PART OF THIS BUDGET, YES. AND, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE CHALLENGE OF THE BUDGET THIS YEAR IS THAT WE'RE DISPLAYING IT AND PRESENTING IT IN A MUCH MORE ACCOUNTING CORRECT WAY SO THAT THERE IS A MIX BETWEEN THOSE TRANSFERS IN, TRANSFERS OUT, THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE REGARDLESS OF WHAT SOURCE IT COMES FROM, IT'S IN THE PLAN. AND SO THIS SLICING AND DICING OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT LIST, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT NUMEROUS TIMES WHY THE LIST IS SO LONG AND THE BENEFITS OF THAT. YES.

BUT HOPEFULLY GET THOSE INTO CATEGORIES WHERE WE HAVE A MORE REALISTIC EXPECTATION OF WHICH ONES WE PLAN TO ATTACK THIS FISCAL YEAR AND IN WHAT ORDER.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT WAS MENTIONED AT OUR LAST MEETING, MAYBE THE PREVIOUS TO THE LAST, I DON'T REMEMBER, THAT MAYBE THAT THOSE THAT DON'T MAKE IT TO THAT PRIORITY LIST SHOULD GO AWAY. AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT BECAUSE THAT IS HOW WE VIEW OUR FUTURE.

IT'S A 5-YEAR PLAN.

EXACTLY. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE IN THE HOPES THAT WE WILL HAVE THE FUNDING, AS YOU MENTIONED, MANY OF THEM ARE THROUGH GRANTS, TO GET THEM DONE. IF THEY'RE OUT OF SIGHT, THEY'RE OUT OF MIND, AND WE'LL NEVER GET THEM ACCOMPLISHED. I LIKE THAT APPROACH BETTER. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE READY? I THINK SO.

I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. PLEASE CALL THE VOTE BY ROLL.

MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA.

COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ.

COUNCILMEMBER MEDINA.

COUNCILMEMBER RYAN.

MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MEDINA, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ, TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

MOTION IS APPROVED WITH 4 AYES, WITH MAYOR'S SALDANA ABSENT.

ALL RIGHT, LET ME GO BACK TO THE AGENDA.

[14.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 select the CDBG program that best aligns with the City’s current needs and execute the associated agreement or written notification by July 7, 2026. (Cobb)]

[01:15:10]

ALL RIGHT, ITEM 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 SELECT THE CDBG PROGRAM THAT BEST ALIGNS WITH THE CITY CURRENT NEEDS AND EXECUTE THE ASSOCIATED AGREEMENT OR WRITTEN NOTIFICATION BY JULY 7TH, 2026.

YES, MAYOR PRO TEM AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS A REQUEST FOR YOU TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION THAT AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE A DECISION AND EXECUTE THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENT REGARDING OUR CDBG FUNDING. I'VE INCLUDED IN YOUR STAFF REPORT A PRETTY DETAILED HISTORY OF THE CITY'S USE OF CDBG FUNDS. THE CITY HAS A CHOICE AS A SMALL CITY. WE CAN EITHER PARTICIPATE WE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE COUNTY ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM WHERE WE PUT IN OUR CDBG APPLICATIONS WITH THE COUNTY. WE ARE ENTITLED TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FUNDING AND WE'RE GUARANTEED THAT FUNDING. OR WE CAN CHOOSE TO COMPETE AT THE STATE LEVEL. AND SO FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS OR SO, WE'VE CHOSEN TO COMPETE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS THAT ARE OUTLINED IN YOUR STAFF REPORT, THAT WAS THE DECISION THAT WAS MADE THAT WAS BEST FOR THE CITY AT THE TIME. WE'RE NOW LOOKING AT RETURNING TO THE COUNTY'S PROGRAM. THE STATE'S PROGRAM HAS BEEN A LITTLE LESS THERE HAVE BEEN SOME BENEFITS. THERE'S PROS AND CONS TO BOTH PROGRAMS. THERE'S BEEN SOME BENEFITS TO THE STATE PROGRAM. WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE CV23 FUNDING DURING COVID THAT WE USED TO REHAB THE POWELL BUILDING.

SO WE DID BENEFIT FROM THE STATE PROGRAM. BUT IT IS VERY COMPETITIVE AND VERY DIFFICULT TO GET LARGER GRANTS THROUGH THAT PROGRAM. THE COUNTY'S PROGRAM GUARANTEES US BETWEEN $80,000 AND $230,000 A YEAR FOR A 3-YEAR PERIOD. AND THE OTHER BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY PROGRAM IS THAT OUR RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE COUNTY'S HOUSING REHAB PROGRAMS AND THEIR HOME ACCESS PROGRAMS. SO THAT WOULD BENEFIT OUR RESIDENTS AS WELL. SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TONIGHT IS JUST TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION THAT ALLOWS THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE THAT DECISION, THOUGH I CAN TELL YOU WE'VE MET RECENTLY CITY MANAGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AND I MET TO DISCUSS THIS AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE BELIEVE, BASED ON WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE RIGHT NOW AND WHAT OUR STAFFING LEVELS ARE, THAT RETURNING TO THE COUNTY PROGRAM MAKES THE MOST SENSE.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, MRS. COBB. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MEMBER MARTINEZ? NO COMMENTS. MEMBER MEDINA? NO COMMENTS. MEMBER RAYA? NO COMMENTS. AND, I'LL JUST SAY THAT I, I TRUST OUR STAFF TO MAKE THE, THE RIGHT DECISION, AND THAT SEEMS LIKE THE RIGHT DECISION AT THIS TIME, SO I'M HAPPY WITH THAT. I'LL MOVE THIS FORWARD.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL THE VOTE BY ROLL? YES. MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA? AYE.

COUNCILMEMBER ARAYA? AYE.

MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MEDINA, TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

MOTION IS APPROVED 4 AYES.

[14.d. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution calling and giving notice of holding a General Municipal Election for the Office of City Council Members for Districts 1 and 3 for the full term of four (4)years and requesting that the Kern County Board of Supervisors consolidate the election with the Statewide General Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. (M. Martinez)]

MAYOR SALDAÑA ABSENT.

ITEM D. COUNCIL FINDS THIS ACTION IS NOT A PROJECT DEFINED UNDER SECTION 15378 OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES. ADOPT A RESOLUTION CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF HOLDING A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION FOR THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR DISTRICTS 1 AND 3 FOR THE FULL TERM OF 4 YEARS, AND REQUESTING THAT THE KERN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONSOLIDATE THE ELECTION WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026. MRS. MARTINEZ.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEMPORE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM IS TO FORMALLY CALL AND ORDER THE CITY OF WASCO'S GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026, AS REQUIRED BY THE CALIFORNIA LAW FOR GENERAL LAW CITIES.

OFFICES UP FOR ELECTION ARE DISTRICT 1 AND DISTRICT 3. EACH FOR FULL 4-YEAR TERM. THE CITY IS REQUESTING TO CONSOLIDATE THE ELECTIONS WITH THE COUNTY. THE NOTICE OF ELECTION, IT NEEDS TO BE PUBLISHED ON OR BEFORE JUNE 26TH 29TH, SORRY, BUT NO LATER THAN JULY 13TH.

THE CITY OF WASCO'S NOTICE OF ELECTION WILL BE PUBLISHED JUNE 25TH IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH IN OUR WASCO TRIBUNE.

[01:20:02]

NOMINATION PERIOD OPENS JULY 13TH AND CLOSES AUGUST 7TH.

HOWEVER, IF AN INCUMBENT DOES NOT FILE, THE PERIOD EXTENDS TO AUGUST 14TH. STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE RESOLUTION CALLING THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION AND REQUESTING CONSOLIDATION WITH THE COUNTY. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MEMBER MARTINEZ? NO COMMENTS.

MEMBER MEDINA? NO COMMENT.

MEMBER RAYA? NO COMMENT.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

SO MOVED.

SECOND.

MADAM CLERK, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. WOULD YOU CALL THE VOTE BY ROLL? MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA? AYE.

COUNCILMEMBER ARAYA? AYE.

MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MEDINA, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ARAYA, TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

MOTION IS APPROVED WITH 4 AYES, WITH MAYOR SALDAÑA ABSENT.

[18) CLOSED SESSION]

THIS EVENING, WE HAVE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS 18A THROUGH 181? NO, 18I OR L? THAT WOULD BE A HUGE CLOSED SESSION. ALL RIGHT.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM E, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY STRUCK.

THAT'S CORRECT. THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. THERE'S SOMETHING MISSING HERE.

ANYWAY, IT SAYS SEEING NONE.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? OR CONFLICTS? CONFLICTS ALSO.

I'M SORRY, WOULD YOU REPEAT? CHECK FOR CONFLICTS.

OH YEAH, ALL RIGHT. DOES ANYONE HAVE A CONFLICT? I DON'T THINK ANY OF US HAVE A CONFLICT, AND NO PUBLIC COMMENT APPARENTLY.

OKAY, WE WILL NOW RECESS INTO CLOSED SESSION. HOWEVER, WE WILL TAKE A 7-MINUTE RECESS BEFORE WE GO INTO CLOSED SESSION. WE WILL RETURN TO REPORT OUT ONCE CLOSED SESSION HAS CONCLUDED.

AFTER WE RETURN, WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE NEW BUSINESS ITEMS. STAFF HAS TO WAIT, RIGHT? YES.

YES, BECAUSE IT'S AN INCOMPLETE GOTTA GET THROUGH IT AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN FOR EVERYONE.

ALL RIGHT, NOW,

[19) CLOSED SESSION ACTION]

CLOSED SESSION IS NOT CONCLUDED, BUT WE'RE COMING BACK OUT TO REPORT ON THE ACTION THAT WE JUST TOOK. IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, WE DON'T HAVE TO REPORT ON IT, BUT WE CAN.

I CAN REPORT THE MOTION ON THE MINUTES. YOU CAN REPORT ON THE MOTION BUCKET AND THE POA.

YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

OKAY, SO I NEED TO CALL THIS MEETING BACK IN SESSION. YEAH, YOU NEED TO CLOSE OPEN THE THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. ALL RIGHT, SO WE ARE BACK FROM OPEN SESSION. I'M OPENING THIS MEETING IT IS 8:42.WHAT IS THAT? THAT IT'S LATE. IT, IT IS, TOM.

ALL RIGHT, TOM. ALL RIGHT, SO, I WILL NOW ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PROVIDE A REPORT ON THE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS FOLLOWING THAT REPORT, I WILL REPORT ON AN ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN AS WELL. OKAY, THE, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER RAYA, TO APPROVE, I THINK IT'S THE JUNE 2ND MINUTES. OKAY, AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED. OKAY, THERE WAS A MOTION WELL, WE'LL GET INTO THE I WILL REPORT ON THE REST OF IT.

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. SO THE COUNCIL HAS REVIEWED THE CITY MANAGER'S CONTRACT, AND WE HAVE MOVED THE COUNCIL HAS UNANIMOUSLY MOVED, UNANIMOUSLY MOVED TO RENEW HIS CONTRACT WITH A 2-YEAR RENEWAL AND 3 1-YEAR EXTENSIONS.

WITH A SALARY OF $217,510.

[01:25:03]

AND THIS IS FOR ITEM 18I, OR ARE WE IS THIS ITEM 18D? GOOD QUESTION.

THAT IS 18I.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, DO I NEED TO CALL FOR A VOTE? NO, THAT WAS JUST A REPORT OF THE ACTION. OKAY, NOW YOU CAN RESUME WITH NEW BUSINESS ITEM E.

OKAY, VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.

[14.e. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Approving Proposed Memorandum of Understanding Agreement between Wasco Police Officers Association (WPOA) and the City of Wasco. (Hurlbert)]

OKAY, WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE REMAINING NEW BUSINESS ITEMS. ITEM E. COUNCIL FINDS THIS ACTION IS NOT A PROJECT DEFINED UNDER SECTION 15378 OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES. ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING PROPOSED MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN WASCO POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, WPOA, AND THE CITY OF WASCO. MR. HURLBURT.

YES, HONORABLE MAYOR PRO TEM AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN IN NEGOTIATION WITH THE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION FOR A LITTLE BIT, AND THE TERMS WERE QUICKLY NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THE PARTIES. THE POA MEMBERSHIP VOTE WAS TAKEN AND THEY RATIFIED THE TERMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY PROPOSED ON SUNDAY NIGHT.

AND IT HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR US TO BRING FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL TONIGHT UNDER THE SAME TERMS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED IN PREVIOUS CLOSED SESSIONS.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO, NO CHANGES OTHER THAN TYPOGRAPHICAL CORRECTIONS IN, IN THE AGREEMENT. YOU SHOULD HAVE A REDLINED VERSION OF THAT AGREEMENT IN YOUR PACKET. IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE. OTHERWISE, WE RECOMMEND TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PROPOSED MOU.

THANK YOU, MR. HERLBERT.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MEMBER MARTINEZ? NO COMMENTS.

MEMBER MEDINA? NO COMMENTS.

MEMBER RAYA? NO COMMENTS.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS.

I WILL MOVE FORWARD, THIS ITEM. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

OKAY, MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL THE VOTE? BY ROLL.

MAYOR I'M SORRY, MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA? AYE.

COUNCILMEMBER ARAYA? AYE.

MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MARTINEZ, TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

MOTION IS APPROVED WITH 4 AYES,

[14.f. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Approving the Employment Agreement for the City Manager position. (Saldaña) ]

WITH MAYOR SALDAÑA ABSENT.

ITEM F, COUNCIL FINDS THIS ACTION IS NOT A PROJECT DEFINED UNDER SECTION 15378 OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES. ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE CITY MANAGER POSITION.

MS. VERA, WE JUST DID THAT.

WELL, YOU REPORTED OUT, BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT NOW. NOW THE, THE APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. OKAY.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.

BEFORE YOU IS A COPY OF THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR CITY MANAGER SCOTT HERBART. AFTER THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED WITHIN CLOSED SESSION ITEM 18I, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PROPOSE THAT THE TBD WITHIN THE CONTRACT NOW BE UP FOR HIS PARTICULAR SALARY LINE ITEM NOW BE UPDATED TO $217,510. SECOND. AND THAT THE INFORMATION WITH REGARDS TO THE TERM OF HIS CONTRACT AGREEMENT BE FOR A 2-YEAR INITIAL CONTRACT WITH UP TO 3 1-YEAR CONTRACT RENEWAL EXTENSIONS. OUTSIDE OF THAT, I'M FREE TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS WITH REGARDS TO THE REMAINING ITEMS ON HIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.

THANK YOU, MRS. VERA. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MEMBER MARTINEZ? NO COMMENT.

MEMBER MEDINA? NO COMMENTS.

MEMBER RAYA? NO COMMENTS.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS.

DO WE NEED A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

OKAY, MADAM CLERK, IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. WOULD YOU CALL THE VOTE BY ROLL? MAYOR PRO TEM REYNA ? AYE.

MOTION BY MAYOR PROTEM REYNA SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER RAYA, TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.

COUNCILMEMBER RAYA? AYE.

[14.g. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Approving the Salary Schedule for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 in Compliance with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Requirement for Publicly Available Pay Schedules. (Hurlbert)]

MOTION IS APPROVED WITH 4 AYES.

RICK MAYOR SALDAÑA ABSENT.