Aug 18, 2020 City Council

KEEP OUR COMMENTS BRIEF AND CONCISE AND TO THE POINT ONLY BECAUSE WE MAY HAVE A BROWNOUT.

[00:00:05]

I ASK THAT YOU DO GO TO THE SCHEDULES WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE SIDEBAR SO WE CAN GET AS FAR AS WE CAN ON THE AGENDA TO PREVENT A BROWNOUT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO WE'LL CALL TO ORDER THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF WASCO AT SIX

[1) CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Cortez]

THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD PURSUANT TO SECTION THREE OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER [INAUDIBLE] TWENTY NINE DASH TWENTY.

ISSUED BY GOVERNOR NEWSOME ON MARCH 17TH, 2020.

AND ALL MEMBERS ARE JOINING THIS MEETING REMOTELY VIA ZOOM WEBINAR.

WE WILL NOW DO ROLL CALLS IN ORDER.

PLEASE STAND FOR THE FLAG SALUTE, REMAIN STANDING AND HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

STAND FOR THE FLAG SALUTE.

STANDING, IF YOU WANT TO, A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO COMFORT TO YOURSELF.

THANK YOU. OH, ITEM FOUR.

ROLL CALL. MARIA, YOU WANT TO DO THE ROLL CALL? ITEM FIVE, WE HAVE NO PRESENTATION.

SO MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX, PUBLIC COMMENTS.

THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS RESERVED FOR PERSONS TO DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, INCLUDING THE COUNCIL ACTING AS GOVERNING BOARD FOR THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY ON ANY MATTER, NOT ON THE AGENDA ON WHICH THE COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY HAS JURISDICTION.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE A RAISED HAND BUTTON TO REQUEST TO SPEAK. IF YOU ARE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR PHONE TELEPHONE KEYPAD.

YOU'LL BE CALLED UPON BY THE NUMBER YOU ARE CALLING.

WHEN YOU WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE BEFORE BEGINNING YOUR COMMENTS.

ONCE YOUR TIME'S EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED.

ANYONE WHO HAS PROVIDED THEIR COMMENTS TO [INAUDIBLE] PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THIS MEETING CAN EMAIL THE COMMENTS TO THE CITY CLERK AT CITYCLERK@CITYWASCO.ORG.

COMMENTS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL RECORD.

THE CITY COUNCIL IS VERY INTERESTED IN YOUR COMMENTS.

HOWEVER, DUE TO THE BROWN ACT REQUIREMENTS, NO ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN AT THIS MEETING.

SHOULD YOUR COMMENTS REQUIRE FURTHER CONSIDERATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OR SUCCESSOR AGENCY.

ITEM WILL BE AGENIZED FOR IMPORTANT DISCUSSER FURTHER CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT THIS TIME.

DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MADAM CLERK? THIS TIME, WE HAVE NO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM SEVEN, SUCCESSOR AGENCY BUSINESS.

[7a. Adopt a Resolution of the Board of Directors to the Successor Agency to the Former Wasco Redevelopment Agency, removing Diego Viramontes and adding Isarel Perez-Hernandez as Deputy Treasurer Authorizing the Signing Authority for all Successor Agency Bank Accounts. (Perez Hernandez)]

MR. PEREZ-HERNANDEZ? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBER, BEFORE YOU IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO TAKE THE PLACE OF THE CURRENT DEPUTY TREASURER FOR THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY BANK ACCOUNTS.

OK, THAT'S IT.

I LOVE IT. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

IF YOU LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE YOUR RAISE HAND BUTTON TO REQUEST SPEAK USING TELEPHONE.

PLEASE USE PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD.

IF YOU'RE CALLED UPON BY THE NUMBER YOU ARE CALLING FROM WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN TO SPEAK, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR RECORD, BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.

ONCE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED.

AT THIS TIME. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MADAM CLERK? NO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME, MAYOR PRO TEM.

[00:05:04]

MOVE TO APPROVE.

THIS IS REYNA.

I HAD A FAMILY ISSUE, SORRY.

IT'S OK. GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? PALLARES SECOND. ALSO THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA'S PRESENT.

WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND A SECOND.

WE'LL ENTERTAIN A ROLL CALL.

MADAM CLERK? MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA? AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA? AYE. PALLARES? PALLARES, AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? YES.

MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES TO APPROVE ITEM SEVEN A . MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH MAYOR CORTEZ ABSENT.

OK WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM B.

[7b. Adopt a Resolution of the Board of Directors to the Successor Agency of the Former Wasco Redevelopment Agency, removing Diego Viramontes and adding Isarel Perez-Herandez as Deputy Treasurer Authorizing Signing Authority for the Successor Agency’s Local Agency Investment Fund Account #65-15-004. (Perez Hernandez)]

ISAREL ? GOOD EVENING MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

BEFORE YOU IS THIS RESOLUTION THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO TAKE THE PLACE OF THE CURRENT DEPUTY TREASURER, THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY FOR THE LOCAL INVESTMENT FUND AND THE ACCOUNT, 65-15-004.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER, IF YOU LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND BUTTON TO REQUEST TO SPEAK, IF YOU'RE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD.

YOU'LL BE CALLED UPON BY NUMBER YOU ARE CALLING.

WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENT. ONCE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

YOU WILL BE MUTED. AT THIS TIME, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MADAM CLERK? HAVE NO COMMENTS AT THIS TIME MAYOR PRO TEM.

COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? NO COMMENTS ME. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? NO COMMENTS, THANK YOU.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA? NONE AT THIS TIME, THANK YOU.

DO WE NEED A MOTION FOR THE RESOLUTION, ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

SO MOVED.

MOTION MADE BY GARCIA.

ENTERTAIN A SECOND.

THEN WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? YES.

OK. ROLL CALL MADAM CLERK? MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA? AYE.

DIRECTOR GARCIA? AYE. PALLARES? PALLARES, AYE. DIRECTOR REYNA? YES.

MOTION BY DIRECTOR GARCIA, SECOND BY DIRECTOR PALLARES TO APPROVE ITEM SEVEN B.

MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH CHAIRMAN CORTEZ ABSENT.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BUSINESS, ITEM A ADOPT

[8a. Adopt a Resolution of the Board of Directors fo the Wasco Public Financing Authority removing Diego Viramontes and adding Isarel Perez- Hernandez as Deputy Treasurer authorizing Signing Authority for all Wasco Public Financing Authority Bank Accounts. (Perez Hernandez)]

ISAREL? MAYOR RO TEM AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE YOU IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO TAKE THE PLACE OF THE CURRENT DEPUTY TREASURER FOR THE WASCO PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY BANK ACCOUNTS.

OK. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

IF YOU LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE YOUR RAISE HAND BUTTON TO REQUEST TO SPEAK. IF YOU ARE USING A TELEPHONE.

PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD.

YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON BY THE NUMBER YOU ARE CALLING.

WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN YOUR TURN TO SPEAK, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU

[00:10:03]

MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? WE HAVE NO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC [INAUDIBLE].

OK, THANK YOU. COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? NO COMMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? NO COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA.

NO COMMENTS AT THIS TIME. I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM EIGHT A.

MOVE TO APPROVE. THIS IS REYNA.

GARCIA WILL SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA AND A SECOND BY GARCIA, IS THAT CORRECT? AND WE'LL DO A ROLL CALL.

VICE CHAIRMAN ESPITIA? AYE. DIRECTOR GARCIA? AYE. DIRECTOR PALLARES? PALLARES, AYE.

DIRECTOR REYNA? AYE. MOTION BY DIRECTOR REYNA AND A SECOND BY DIRECTOR GARCIA TO APPROVE ITEM EIGHT A.

MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES.

WITH CHAIRMAN CORTEZ ABSENT.

AND WE'LL, WE'RE ON ITEM EIGHT B.

[8b. Adopt a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Wasco Public Financing Authority, removing Diego Viramontes and adding Isarel Perez-Hernandez as Deputy Treasurer Authorizing Signing Authority for the Wasco Public Financing Authority’s Local Agency Investment Fund Account #40-15-003. (Perez Hernandez)]

AND ISAREL? HELLO AGAIN MAYOR PRO TEM AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE YOU IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO TAKE THE PLACE OF THE CURRENT DEPUTY TREASURER FOR THE WASCO PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY LOCAL INVESTMENT FUND.

40-15-003.

THANK YOU. NOW TO READ, AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND BUTTON TO REQUEST TO SPEAK. IF YOU'RE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD. YOU'LL BE CALLED UPON A NUMBER YOU'RE CALLING FROM.

WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.

ONCE YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED.

MADAM, CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC AT THIS TIME? AND WE HAVE NO COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC.

OK. COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? NO COMMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? NO COMMENT. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA.

NO COMMENTS NOW AND I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

THE MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA TO APPROVE.

I'LL NEED A SECOND.

THIS IS REYNA, SECOND.

[INAUDIBLE] WILL DO A ROLL CALL.

VICE CHAIRMAN ESPITIA? AYE. DIRECTOR GARCIA? AYE. DIRECTOR PALLARES? PALLARES, AYE. DIRECTOR REYNA? AYE. MOTION BY DIRECTOR GARCIA, SECOND BY DIRECTOR REYNA TO APPROVE ITEM EIGHT B . MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH CHAIRMAN CORTEZ ABSENT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO CITY

[9) CONSENT CALENDAR:]

THESE ITEMS ARE APPROVED IN ONE MOTION UNLESS A COUNCIL MEMBER A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REQUEST REMOVAL OF A PARTICULAR ITEM.

IF YOU LIKE, TO REMOVE A PARTICULAR ITEM USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE YOUR RAISE HAND BUTTON.

IF YOU ARE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEY PAD AND YOU'LL BE CALLED UPON BY THE NUMBER YOU ARE CALLING.

WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.

WE HAVE ITEMS A THROUGH H.

AND I'LL READ THEM ALL AT ONE AT A TIME ITEM.

A RECEIVE AND FILE DEPARTMENT PAYMENTS TOTALING THREE HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND THOUSAND SIXTY EIGHT DOLLARS AND 19 CENTS.

ITEM B ADOPT A RESOLUTION REMOVING DIEGO VIRAMONTES AND ADDING ISAREL PEREZ-HERNANDEZ AUTHORIZING THE SIGNING AUTHORITY FOR THE CITY'S BANK ACCOUNTS.

ITEM C IS ADOPTED RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL REMOVING DIEGO VIRAMONTES AND ADDING ISAREL PEREZ-HERNANDEZ AUTHORIZING SIGNING AUTHORITY FOR THE CITY'S LOCAL AGENCY INVESTMENT FUND ACCOUNT NUMBER 98-15-964.

ITEM D IS APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE THOMAS F.

SCHROETER TO INCREASE THE HOURLY RATE FROM ONE HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE DOLLARS PER HOUR TO ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE DOLLARS PER HOUR FOR LEGAL SERVICES TO BE EFFECTIVE ON JANUARY 1ST, 2021.

ITEM E ADOPT A THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND EXECUTE TO THE EXTENSION OF THE AGREEMENT WITH THE BSK AND ASSOCIATES FOR MATERIALS TESTING AS NEEDED.

[00:15:04]

ITEM G IS ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE CERTIFICATIONS AND ASSURANCES FOR THE CALIFORNIA STATE OF GOOD REPAIR PROGRAM.

AND ITEM H ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A BUYER'S REPRESENTATION AGREEMENT WITH THE CENTRAL VALLEY COMMERCIAL BROKERS AND BROKER HENRY MENDEZ.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK ANY MEMBERS IF THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON A PARTICULAR ITEM ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? NO CONFLICT.

COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? NO, NO CONFLICT.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA? I HAVE NO CONFLICT.

AND I HAVE NO CONFLICT ON ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA.

WHERE AM I AT NOW? [INAUDIBLE] WE DID THAT, WE DID THAT [INAUDIBLE] IF ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE A PARTICULAR ITEM.

MADAM CLERK DO WE HAVE ANYONE FROM THE AUDIENCE ON THE PHONE? WE HAVE NO COMMENT FROM THE AUDIENCE.

WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? NO COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? NO COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA.

NONE AT THIS TIME. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION BY ROLL CALL.

THIS IS REYNA, MOVE TO APPROVE.

GARCIA WILL SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA AND A SECOND BY GARCIA.

THEN WE'LL DO A ROLL CALL AND THE VOTE, RIGHT? [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S CORRECT.

MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA? AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA? AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? PALLARES, AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? AYE. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH MAYOR CORTEZ ABSENT.

ITEM NUMBER 10. WE HAVE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT.

ITEM NUMBER 11, WE HAVE NO DEFERRED BUSINESS TONIGHT.

[12a. Adopt A Resolution Declaring an Emergency and Authorizing the City Manager to Waive Procurement Requirements to Expedite Purchasing and Contract Services to Modify, Install, and Implement Health and Safety Measures to Protect City Properties and the Public Due to the COVID-19 State of Emergency as Declared by the Governor. (Ortiz Hernandez)]

ADOPTED RESOLUTION DECLARING AN EMERGENCY IN AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO WAIVE PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENTS TO EXPEDITE PURCHASING AND CONTRACT SERVICES, TO MODIFY, INSTALL AND IMPLEMENT HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES TO PROTECT CITY PROPERTIES IN PUBLIC AND THE PUBLIC DUE TO THE COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY IS DECLARED BY THE GOVERNOR, BY THE GOVERNOR. CITY MANAGER? MAYOR PRO TEM, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU IS A RESOLUTION PIGGYBACKING OFF OF PRIOR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE FUNDING WE RECEIVED FROM THE COUNTY FOR COVID-19 EXPENSES, AS I MENTIONED IN PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS, PART OF THE EXPENSES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ARE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR FACILITIES, AS WELL AS SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT OUR PUBLIC SERVICE COUNTER, SUCH AS PLANNING, OUR FINANCE CITY HALL AND EVEN OUR COUNCIL CHAMBERS ENTRANCES TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS WITH COVID-19.

PART OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS REQUIRE PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS AND ALTERATIONS TO THOSE LOBBIES AND CUSTOMER SERVICE COUNTERS THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE CITY CONTRACTING WITH A CONTRACTOR TO MAKE THOSE MODIFICATIONS.

THE RESOLUTION PROVIDES UNDER THE STATE STATUTE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL TO DECLARE THE EMERGENCY, WHICH IT HAS PREVIOUSLY DONE FOR THE COVID-19 AND ALLOWS THE CITY TO WAIVE A TYPICAL PROCUREMENT PROCESSES THAT WOULD TYPICALLY REQUIRE BIDDING AND OBTAINING THE MULTIPLE QUOTES AND SERVICES.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE FACED IN THIS PROCESS AND TRYING TO DEVELOP THESE PROJECTS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR FACILITIES TO ADAPT COVID-19 WAS THAT EVERYONE ELSE WAS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING.

BOTH PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND PUBLIC AGENCIES WERE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR BUSINESSES AND THEIR STOREFRONTS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE COUNTERS.

AND SO TRYING TO GET MULTIPLE QUOTES UNDER THE TYPICAL BIDDING PROCESS, AS WELL AS THE TIMELINE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO SPEND THOSE FUNDS BY, BECOMES A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE TO TRY TO ACHIEVE.

AND SO WE HAVE FOUND THAT DEPENDING ON THE PROJECT, WE HAVE FOUND CONTRACTORS AND VENDORS

[00:20:04]

THE LARGER TASK, THE LARGER PROJECTS INCLUDE RENOVATING THE CUSTOMER SERVICE COUNTERS AND LOBBIES, MAKING ALTERATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE ENTRANCES TO HAVE AUTOMATIC DOORS IN THOSE LOCATIONS.

THEY ALSO WOULD ADDRESS ADA ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH THOSE ENTRANCES, AS WELL AS OTHER IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY FACILITIES, INCLUDING REMOVING OR UPDATING FIXTURES IN COMMON AREAS WHERE YOU HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE TURN ON A LIGHT SWITCH THROUGHOUT THE DAY OR RESTROOMS WITH FAUCETS TO GET USED BY MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

AND SO PART OF THE EFFORT IS TO REDUCE THE CONTACT THAT INDIVIDUALS WOULD HAVE WITH COMMON AREAS AND COMMON SERVICES TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF COVID-19.

ANY OTHER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE? MARIANNA [INAUDIBLE] HAS BEEN WORKING ON COMPILING THE LIST AND BEING THE POINT PERSON ON SOME OF THESE ITEMS AND PROJECTS.

YEAH THANKS DAN.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS TO LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

IF YOU LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE YOUR RAISE HAND BUTTON REQUEST TO SPEAK. IF YOU ARE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD.

YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON BY NUMBER YOU'RE CALLING WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE WE BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.

ONCE YOUR TIME IS UP, YOUR TIME WILL BE MUTED.

MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC WANTING TO MAKE A COMMENT? AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE NO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

OK. CITY COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM, I READ THE REPORT.

THESE CHANGES ARE NEEDED TO SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH OF OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC SO I AM FOR. THANK YOU.

THANKS, GILBERT.

COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? YES, IN REVIEWING THE LIST, I WAS WONDERING, HOW IS THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS SEALING LED LIGHTS JUSTIFIED UNDER THIS FOR COVID HEALTH AND SAFETY? IN REVIEW AND STAFF, THAT SPECIFIC ITEM WAS IT WAS INCLUDED IN THAT LIST AND ERROR PRIOR TO COVID-19, WE HAD ALREADY BEEN IN THE WORKS OF DOING SOME UPDATES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

AND THE CONFUSION OCCURRED WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT THE ENTRY DOORS AS WELL TO MAKE THOSE AUTOMATIC AND ADA ACCESSIBLE.

SO THAT ITEM SPECIFICALLY WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNDER COVID-19.

THERE ARE A FEW OTHER ITEMS AS WE AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECTS AND TASKS THAT WE ARE FURTHER EVALUATING AND REFINING.

AND THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE MOVED FORWARD, WHETHER OR NOT THERE BECAUSE NOT QUALIFIED UNDER COVID-19 OR SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT APPLICABLE OR WE FEEL THEY ARE NO LONGER NECESSARY BASED ON OTHER OPERATIONAL CHANGES.

OK, THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER, AND THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA? CITY MANAGER, A QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER.

IS THERE STILL IS IT GOING TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE ISSUE WITH HAVING BEEN WE WERE UP AGAINST THE DEADLINE AND SPENDING THESE FUNDS BY DECEMBER, CORRECT? I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH THE DISTRICT DIRECTOR AT THE CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE ABOUT THAT YET, BUT I WAS WONDERING IF THAT WAS IT WOULD. TYPICALLY, IF WE HAD TO FOLLOW TRADITIONAL PROCUREMENT AND BIDDING PROCESS, IT WOULD ADD MULTIPLE WEEKS JUST TO THAT PROCESS ALONE, LET ALONE ACTUALLY AWARD THE CONTRACT AND START THAT PROCESS.

SO THIS WOULD GREATLY EXPEDITE THE PROCESS.

I WOULD ESTIMATE ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO THREE TO EIGHT WEEKS IT WOULD CUT DOWN AND SAVE TIME ON.

OK, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANKS, ALEX.

I APPRECIATE THE CITY MANAGER AND STAFF TAKING THEIR CONCERNS REGARDING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY TO ALL OF OUR WORKERS.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP EVERYONE HEALTHY AT THIS TIME.

AT THIS TIME, I GUESS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.

SO MOVED.

THAT WAS A MOTION BY ALEX.

YEAH.

OK. AND A SECOND? THIS IS REYNA, I SECOND. THANK YOU GILBERTO, A SECOND.

WE'LL DO A ROLL CALL MADAM CLERK.

MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA? AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA? AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES?

[00:25:03]

MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH MAYOR CORTEZ ABSENT.

[12b. Adopt a Resolution approving the City of Wasco Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program. (Ortiz Hernandez)]

CITY MANAGER, DAN? MAYOR PRO TEM. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THIS WAS THIS WAS A TOPIC OR AN IDEA THAT CAME ABOUT PARTLY THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA AND I WENT THROUGH WITH DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES AND MEETING AND TALKING WITH THEM AND ALSO LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER CITIES WERE DOING.

I'LL KIND OF GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW AND JUST CAVEAT THAT WE'RE BASING THIS MODEL OFF OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARA BASED OFF REVIEWING WHAT OTHER GRANT PROGRAMS OR RELIEF PROGRAMS OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE. AND WE FELT THAT THAT WAS PROBABLY THE SIMPLEST AND QUICKEST PROGRAM WE CAN GET UP AND RUNNING, BEING MINDFUL THAT USING THE COVID-19 FUNDS ARE GOING TO REQUIRE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF RECORD KEEPING ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS, THAT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC RIGHT NOW FOR THE CITY, GIVEN THE OTHER PROJECTS, SUCH AS HIGH SPEED RAIL, OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES THAT WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO KEEP ON TOP OF.

SO THIS PROGRAM WAS PRETTY SIMPLE AND TRYING TO JUST CREATE A RELIEF PROGRAM THAT WOULD BENEFIT BUSINESSES.

I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MS. [INAUDIBLE] NOW TO KIND OF GO OVER IN MORE DETAIL.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CAN YOU HEAR ME OK? YEP.

GREAT. THANK YOU. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WILL GO OVER IS THE BACKGROUND.

A QUICK GRANT PROGRAM OVERVIEW, AND THAT IS A TYPO, SHOULD SAY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, AS WELL AS THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM, HOW WE PLAN TO COMMUNICATE AND COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS IN THE CITY REGARDING THIS PROPOSED GRANT PROGRAM.

AND FINALLY, THE RECOMMENDATION.

NEXT SLIDE. HERE'S SOME BACKGROUND HERE.

THIS TEXT WAS TAKEN STRAIGHT FROM THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND GUIDANCE FOR STATE TERRITORIAL, LOCAL AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.

THAT WAS UPDATED ON JUNE 30TH OF 2020.

AND SO SOME KEY SOME KEY TAKEAWAYS HERE SPECIFICALLY IS THAT THE EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROVISION OF THIS ECONOMIC SUPPORT OBVIOUSLY HAS TO BE CONNECTED WITH THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AND EXPENDITURES RELATED TO THE PROVISION OF THE GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESSES TO REIMBURSE THE COSTS FOR BUSINESS INTERRUPTIONS CAUSED BY THE REQUIRED CLOSURES. THE GRANT, I'M SORRY, ALSO HERE, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE DIRECT RECIPIENT OF THESE PAYMENTS FROM THE FUND IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE LIMITATION, THE USE OF THE PAYMENTS FROM THIS FUND.

SO ULTIMATELY, THAT WOULD BE US.

WE ARE THE DIRECT RECIPIENT OF THESE FUNDS.

AND SO IT'LL BE UP TO THE CITY OF WASCO TO ENSURE THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS OR THESE BUSINESSES ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS HERE.

NEXT SLIDE. THE REASON WHY WE WENT WITH A GRANT VERSUS A LOAN IS THAT THE LOAN NECESSARILY DOESN'T PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO THE SMALL BUSINESS BECAUSE THE LOAN HAS TO BE REPAID.

A LOAN PROGRAM WOULD ALSO REQUIRE THE CITY TO ENGAGE IN A THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR, SUCH AS WHAT KERN COUNTY DID IN THEIR PROGRAM WITH KERN RECOVERS.

THEY UTILIZED NUMEROUS BANKS WITHIN THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD TO HELP ADMINISTER THEIR PROGRAM. A GRANT WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL RELIEF TO THOSE QUALIFIED SMALL BUSINESSES WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF HAVING ADDITIONAL DEBT AND THE GRANT PROGRAM CAN BE ADMINISTERED WITH OUR CURRENT CITY STAFF.

NEXT SLIDE. WE'RE PROPOSING THAT THE ENTIRE GRANT PROGRAM BE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.

THE BUSINESSES WITH AT LEAST ONE, BUT NO MORE THAN FIVE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES WHO DEMONSTRATE A LOSS OF INCOME DUE TO COVID-19 WOULD BE AWARDED ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS GRANTS, WHEREAS BUSINESSES WITH MORE THAN FIVE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES WHO DEMONSTRATE A LOSS OF INCOME COULD QUALIFY FOR FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR GRANTS.

WE ALSO EXCLUDED FRANCHISES AND CHAINS, WHETHER NATIONAL OR LOCAL OR OPERATIONS RESTRICTED TO PATRONS ABOVE THE AGE OF 18 WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT AWARD.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE SMOKE SHOPS AND BARS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE, AND GRANTS WOULD BE AWARDED ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS FOR QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WHILE THE FUNDS LAST.

APPLICANTS MUST DEMONSTRATE LOSS OF INCOME DUE TO COVID-19, THEY MUST OPERATE OUT OF A PHYSICAL COMMERCIAL STOREFRONT INSIDE WASCO CITY LIMITS.

THEY MUST HAVE AN ACTIVE WASCO BUSINESS LICENSE AND THEY MUST HAVE BEEN AND THEY MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE FULL TIME EMPLOYEE.

[00:30:02]

AND ALSO KEY IS THAT THEY MUST HAVE RECEIVED OR PARTICIPATED IN THE KERN RECOVERS SMALL BUSINESS FORGIVABLE LOAN PROGRAMS OR THE FEDERAL PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM.

IF THEY'RE AWARDED A GRANT, BUSINESSES MUST PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE RECEIPT OF THE GROUND AWARD.

IF THEY DO NOT THE FOLLOWING YEARS BUSINESS LICENSE WOULD BE DENIED UNTIL PROPER DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED, A GRANT IS REPAID.

AND THAT GIVES US INSURANCE OR REASSURANCE, RATHER, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THOSE DOCUMENTATIONS, THAT DOCUMENTATION IN PLACE.

SHOULD WE BE AUDITED LATER IN THE FUTURE.

AND BUSINESSES WILL HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER 30TH, 2020, TO EXPAND THE GRANT MONEY IF THEY'RE AWARDED. APPLICATION PERIOD, IF APPROVED, WOULD BE OPEN SEPTEMBER 1ST OF TWENTY TWENTY, THE CITY WOULD ISSUE A PRESS RELEASE AND PROMOTE THE PROGRAM ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, AS WELL AS COLLABORATE WITH WASCO IS, ORANGE HEARTS FOUNDATION AND NORTH KERN NEWS TO ADVERTISE THE PROGRAMS. SO OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU IS TO APPROVE, ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY OF WASCO SMALL BUSINESS COVID-19 RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM.

AT THIS TIME, ANY QUESTIONS? [INAUDIBLE] READ A STATEMENT THEN GO ON TO QUESTIONS. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER. IF YOU LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE YOUR RAISE HAND BUTTON TO REQUEST TO SPEAK.

IF USING YOUR TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD.

YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON THE NUMBER YOU'RE CALLING WHEN YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENT, ONCE THE TIME EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED.

MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? AT THIS TIME WE HAVE NO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. DO YOU HAVE COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? YES, I'M JUST WONDERING, I WOULD ASSUME THAT MOST OF THE BUSINESSES IN WASCO HAVE PART TIME EMPLOYEES AND NOT FULL TIME EMPLOYEES.

SO I AM WONDERING HOW MANY ACTUAL BUSINESSES WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM? I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

I'M JUST NOT SURE HOW MANY BUSINESSES WILL BE POSSIBLY POSITIVELY AFFECTED BY IT.

I ALSO WANT TO BRING UP SOMETHING.

AS I READ THE REPORT, THERE'S A LETTER ATTACHED TO THE STAFF REPORT AND THE LETTER STATES THAT THE PROGRAM, IT'S ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR PROGRAM AND NOT ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY.

SO THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED IF THAT'S GOING TO BE SENT OUT AS WELL.

MARIANA, DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS QUESTION AS TO FULL TIME VERSUS PART TIME EMPLOYEES? MR. REYNA OR COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA. I DO NOT HAVE THOSE THAT INFORMATION HERE READILY AVAILABLE, I KNOW THAT I HAD BEEN WORKING WITH DIRECTOR PEREZ AND HIS STAFF TO ACQUIRE A LIST OF BUSINESSES WITH AT LEAST TWENTY FIVE EMPLOYEES JUST TO KIND OF GET AN IDEA OF WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR OR WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE.

BUT I DO NOT HAVE ANY PART TIME VERSUS FULL TIME EMPLOYEES.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. NO HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.

THANKS, GILBERT. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? NO COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA.

I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA WAS ON TO SOMETHING, PERHAPS IF WE CAN CONSIDER ADDING SOME KIND OF CAVEAT, IT'S SO MANY PART TIME EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES THAT WOULD EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT REQUIRED [INAUDIBLE]. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.

I MEAN, IT'S A QUESTION TO CONSIDER BETWEEN TOM AND CITY MANAGER, BUT I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE THAT COULD BE A SOLUTION POTENTIALLY FOR COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA.

YEAH, I THINK WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT PROBABLY.

I WANT TO LOOK BACK AT THE RESOLUTION REAL QUICK.

PROBABLY WHAT I PROPOSE IS IF THE RESOLUTION DIDN'T SPECIFY OR PROVIDED THE FLEXIBILITY, WHAT WE CAN POSSIBLY DO IS LOOK AT A COUNCIL, APPOINT AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO WORK WITH STAFF TO FINALIZE THE THE FINAL ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT AND THE PROGRAMS THAT WE SURE WOULD TAKE THE INPUT AND WHATEVER INPUT THAT COMES ABOUT THROUGH SOME OF THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVE FROM BOTH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE THAT WE CAN GET THIS DONE TONIGHT AND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

AS WE KNOW, THIS IS AN URGENT MATTER FOR A LOT OF BUSINESSES.

AND I THINK MYSELF AND REYNA CAN SERVE ON THE AD HOC COMMITTEE TO EXPEDITE ANY CHANGES

[00:35:04]

I AM WILLING TO SERVE IF THAT IS NEEDED, SO.

AND WHEN WE MAKE THE, ENTERTAIN A MOTION, WE'LL INCLUDE THAT AS PART OF THE MOTION.

IS THAT OK.

[INAUDIBLE] YEAH, THAT'D BE FINE.

OK, THEN I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF WITH AN AD HOC COMMITTEE BEING ESTABLISHED TO ADDRESS ANY CHANGES TO THE RESOLUTION MADE BY MY STAFF AND THOSE AND THE AD HOC COMMITTEE WILL BE MADE UP OF MYSELF AND MEMBER REYNA.

I'LL SECOND THAT. BUT I WANT TO HEAR FROM TOM.

IS THIS, IS THIS IN GOOD LEGAL FOOTING? TOM? YES.

I ASSISTED MARIANA IN REVIEWING THIS.

SHE PUT IT ALL TOGETHER.

SHE ASKED ME TO REVIEW IT, I DID.

I HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, BUT I THINK I THINK THERE WERE MINOR AND THIS IS PERFECTLY LEGAL. YES, SANTA CLARA IS DOING THIS.

OK, BUT MAKING THE CHANGES AFTER THE APPROVAL IS THAT LEGAL? OH, YEAH. YEAH. AS LONG AS THE COUNCIL AGREES.

ALRIGHT. AND YOU HAVE A FIRST AND SECOND VICE MAYOR.

AND THE ONLY COMMENT I WAS GOING TO HAVE, WE HAVE NEW SAFEGUARDS TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROGRAM. A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES IN TOWN ARE CASH ONLY, AND I FEEL THEY'RE NOT PAYING PROPER SALES TAX TO THE CITY OF WASCO.

SO I'D LIKE TO BE SURE YOU GUYS TAKE AN EYE OUT TO USE AS A CASH ONLY.

WE DON'T GIVE THEM ANY MORE THAT THEY'RE NEEDED BECAUSE I FEEL THAT WE'RE GETTING CHEATED OUT BY A CITY.

SO WE'LL DO THE ROLL CALL BY MADAM CLERK.

[INAUDIBLE] MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA? AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA? AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? PALLARES AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? AYE. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA TO APPROVE ITEM FOUR B AND THE CREATION OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA AND COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA. IT IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES AND MAYOR CORTEZ ABSENT.

THANK YOU.

ITEM C, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A COST SHARE AGREEMENT

[12c. Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Cost-Share Agreement with the City of Shafter to Conduct a Contract Fire Services Review in Response to Kern County’s Proposed Fee Increase for Fire Services. (Ortiz Hernandez)]

DANIEL? MAYOR PRO TEM, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THIS ITEM, AS I MENTIONED IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS, WE WERE RECEIVED NOTICE OR WE WERE MADE AWARE OF OF PENDING INCREASES TO OUR COST FOR FIRE SERVICE WITH THE KERN COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF JULY.

BOTH STAFF AND SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE BEEN HELPFUL IN WORKING AND GETTING THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO DELAY THAT IMPLEMENTATION THAT WAS BEING PROPOSED BY THE CEO'S OFFICE, WASCO AND MANY OF THE OTHER KERN COUNTY CITIES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS HAVE COME TOGETHER IN PARTNER TO REVIEW THE INFORMATION, AND WE HAVE SOLICITED THE SERVICES OF CITY GATE ASSOCIATES.

THEY DO THIS TYPE OF WORK OF REVIEWING AND ASSESSING COST OF SERVICE AND OPERATIONAL STUDIES PERTAINING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY MANAGER FROM SHAFTER WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE GROUP AND HAD BROUGHT THEM IN.

THE AGREEMENT BEFORE YOU OR THE RESOLUTION IS A COST SHARE WITH AMONG THE CITIES AND THAT WE WILL ALL SHARE EQUALLY BASED ON A PROPORTIONAL BASIS IN THE COST OF RETAINING CITY GATE TO ASSIST THE CITIES AND NAVIGATE THE VARIOUS AND LENGTHY PIECES OF INFORMATION TO DETERMINE AND DISSECT THE COUNTY'S PROPOSAL, AS WELL AS THE ACTUAL COST FOR FIRE SERVICES AND HOPEFULLY COME UP WITH AN IDEA OR A BETTER SOLUTION TO PROPOSE TO THE COUNTY.

OK, THANKS DANIEL. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

IF YOU LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE YOUR RAISE HAND BUTTON REQUEST TO SPEAK. IF YOU ARE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD.

YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON THE NUMBER YOU ARE CALLING FROM WHEN YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND RECORD TO MAKE A COMMENT.

ONCE YOUR TIME IS UP, YOU WILL BE MUTED AT THIS TIME.

MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC?

[00:40:09]

COMMENTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? I JUST HAVE A BRIEF QUESTION.

IS THIS REVIEW GEARED TOWARDS FINDING A WAY TO HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BACKTRACK ON THEIR EXCESSIVE REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS? I THINK IT WILL DEPEND.

WE FIRST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THE INFORMATION AND DATA THEY USED TO COMPILE THAT BEFORE WE START DEVELOPING THAT. IDEALLY, THAT WOULD BE THE GOAL, BUT WE DON'T YET KNOW WHAT THE APPETITE OR WHAT THE COUNTY WOULD ACTUALLY CONSIDER.

OK, SO.

I GUESS IT WOULD JUST GIVE US AN IDEA AS TO HOW THEY ARRIVE AT THEIR NUMBERS.

IS THAT BASICALLY IT? YES. AND THEN FROM THERE BE ABLE TO PROVIDE EITHER COUNTER TO THEIR PROPOSAL OR TO DEVELOP ONE THAT THEY COULD CONSIDER AS AN ALTERNATIVE.

OK, WELL, THAT WOULD BE GOOD IF THAT'S THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME, A COUNTERPROPOSAL, CERTAINLY THAT WOULD BE WORTH SPENDING MONEY.

IT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY. I THINK IT'S ABOUT SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS.

AM I CORRECT? SPECIFICALLY YES IT WOULD BE ABOUT THAT.

AND SO THE HARD PART IS KNOWING WHAT THE COUNTY IS INTENTIONS OR WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND WHAT THEY'RE WILLING TO ENTERTAIN AS PART OF THAT.

BECAUSE I THINK A BIG PART OF WHAT WE'VE LEARNED SO FAR IS THE COUNTY FIRE TAX.

AND THAT'S A BIG PART AND A BIG ISSUE WITH REGARDS TO THE COST FOR FIRE SERVICE AND THAT THE COUNTY HASN'T INCREASED THAT AND DOESN'T HAVE AN INTENTION RIGHT NOW OR DESIRE TO REVIEW INCREASING THAT THEY WOULD.

THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS PRESENTED IN JULY PREFERRED AND JUST ASSUMED TO PASS ON THE COST ONTO THE CITIES RATHER THAN TO PROPOSE A TAX INCREASE TO ALL COUNTY RESIDENTS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

THANKS GILBERT.

COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? NO COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA? NO, NO COMMENTS.

OK AT THIS TIME. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

MOVE TO APPROVE. THIS IS REYNA.

COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA.

WE'LL DO A ROLL CALL, MADAM CLERK? MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA? AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA? AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? PALLARES, AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? AYE. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA TO APPROVE ITEM 12C.

MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH MAYOR CORTEZ ABSENT.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER D.

[12d. Discussion and Possible Minute Action of How to Proceed with the Municipal Irrigation Well Located on the Municipal Land Leased by Paul Farms. (Bishop)]

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS ABOUT THE AGRICULTURE IRRIGATION WELL.

LOCATED CURRENTLY ON THE MUNICIPAL LAND THAT WE LEASE TO PAUL FARMS. IF YOU LOOK THERE, YOU'LL SEE THE THREE PARCELS THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY LEASING.

CAN YOU PROCEED TO THE NEXT SLIDE? SO JUST SOME BRIEF HISTORY ON THE WELL, IT WAS BUILT IN NINETEEN SEVENTY TWO, THAT'S ABOUT 48 YEARS OLD AND THE CITY'S BEEN LEASING THIS LAND FOR AT LEAST AT LEAST 30 YEARS, WAS WHAT I COULD PINPOINT BACK.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN DOING IT FOR OVER THAT.

AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF LAND THAT IS LEASED IS APPROXIMATELY SIX HUNDRED AND NINTY SIX ACRES.

OF THAT SIX HUNDRED AND NINTY SIX ACRES, ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY FOUR ACRES ARE FARMABLE.

AND THIS IS FOR THE CURRENT LESSE.

PARCEL ONE, TWO AND THREE, THEY'RE ARE WHERE THEY'RE CURRENTLY GROWING CROP, THE IRRIGATION WELL IS LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF SCOFIELD AND POSO, AND THAT'S CURRENTLY WHERE THE WELL IS NOW.

JUST A QUICK TIMELINE OF EVENTS, AND WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS SINCE SEPTEMBER OF TWENTY NINETEEN, THAT'S WHEN THE WELL ORIGINALLY MALFUNCTIONED AND PAUL FARMS PROVIDED THE ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR.

STAFF BROUGHT THIS TO COUNCIL FOR A DECISION.

COUNCIL DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND REPAIR THE WELL.

AND THEN FROM THERE WE RAN INTO SOME ISSUES WITH THE RFP PROCESS, MAKING SURE THAT WE

[00:45:04]

SO IT TOOK US A LITTLE WHILE TO GET EVERYTHING OUT AND AWARDED.

BUT BY MAY OF THIS YEAR WE DID GET THAT AWARDED TO BAKERSFIELD WELL AND PUMP.

THEY WERE THE [INAUDIBLE] BIDDER AND DURING THIS TIME WE ALSO HAD SOME WATER PRESSURE ISSUES. SO BAKERSFIELD WELL AND PUMP WAS THE CONTRACTOR WHO STEPPED IN AND ASSISTED US WITH GETTING WELL 14 ON LINE.

AND THAT TOOK A LITTLE TIME FOR THEM TO GET STARTED ON THE IRRIGATION WELL.

WHEN THEY GOT STARTED ON THE IRRIGATION, WELL, DURING THE PROCESS OF PERFORMING THE SCHEDULED REPAIRS, THE WELL COLLAPSED.

AND THAT WAS JULY 17TH OF TWENTY TWENTY.

AND SO CURRENTLY THE WELL IS IN DISREPAIR AND WE HAVE TO ANALYZE THE OPTIONS MOVING FORWARD. SO BEFORE YOU IS WHAT PAUL FARMS HAS BEEN PAYING SINCE TWENTY SIXTEEN, THEY'RE CURRENTLY PAYING A LITTLE UNDER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY DOLLARS AN ACRE AND THEY HAVE INFORMED US THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE RENEWING THE LEASE.

THEIR LEASE IS OVER AT THE END OF THIS YEAR IN DECEMBER THIRTY FIRST OF TWENTY TWENTY.

WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING INQUIRIES FROM A LOCAL FARMER INDICATING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO LEASE THE LAND.

STAFF ANTICIPATES THAT THE MARKET VALUE IS GOING TO BE AROUND ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY FIVE DOLLARS PER ACRE.

HOWEVER, THIS IS JUST A GUESSTIMATE.

WE WOULD RECOMMEND PROCEEDING WITH THE APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT TO GET AN EXACT FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR THAT LAND.

THE CAVEAT TO THIS LAND IS THAT ITS FARMERS ARE ONLY PERMITTED TO FARM CROPS AS SET FORTH BY TITLE TWENTY TWO OF THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS THAT THIS CURRENTLY GOVERNING SECONDARY TREATED WASTEWATER, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR PLANT.

BEFORE YOU IS OPTION NUMBER ONE, WE CAN REPLACE IRRIGATION, WELL COMPLETELY.

WE CAN CONTINUE TO LEASE FOR TITLE 22 CROP PRODUCTION.

WE CAN RECOUP THE COSTS AND MAINTAIN OPERATIONS LIKELY IN THE SPAN OF A FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT. IT'S NOT A GUARANTEE, BUT WE WOULD RECOUP MOST, IF NOT ALL.

WELL DRILLING PERMIT IS ANTICIPATED TO CHANGE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

SO CURRENTLY, WHEN YOU APPLY FOR A WELL DRILLING PERMIT, IT'S A MINISTERIAL REVIEW, WHICH IS KIND OF OVER THE COUNTER STAFF TO MAKE THEIR DISCRETIONARY APPROVAL.

BUT RECENTLY, THE SUPREME COURT IS CURRENTLY DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT DRILLING WELL DRILLING PERMITS WILL REQUIRE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THAT WILL ADD AN ADDITIONAL COST TO DRILLING A WELL IN THE FUTURE. THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING THEIR DECISION IN THE UPCOMING TWO WEEKS.

AND THEN ALSO THE BENEFITS TO REPLACING THE WELL IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT, IT IS IN THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST TO MAXIMIZE THE WATER PRODUCTION. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT ANY WATER THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY PULLING FROM THE GROUND COUNTS AS WATER PRODUCTION.

SO HISTORICALLY, WE HAVE HAD A LESSEE ON OUR LAND AND THEY HAVE BEEN PULLING WATER FROM THAT IRRIGATION. WELL, BECAUSE IT IS OUR LAND AND BECAUSE IT IS OUR WELL, WE ARE THE ONE THAT ARE GETTING USAGE PRODUCTION FOR THAT PARTICULAR WELL.

AND THEN WE ARE ALSO ALLOWING THAT LESSEE TO UTILIZE OUR EFFLUENT WATER FROM THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT TO IRRIGATE THAT LAND.

SO WE'RE ALSO GETTING USAGE YIELD FROM THE WASTEWATER EFFLUENT WATER THAT'S GOING AND PERCOLATING INTO THE GROUND.

SO IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THAT HISTORY IN THAT USAGE, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT WE REPLACE THE EXISTING WELL TO CONTINUE TO CULTIVATE AND PROMOTE WATER USE ON THE CITY'S LAND.

AS THAT WOULD PUT US IN A BETTER POSITION FOR THE FUTURE.

OPTION TWO WOULD BE TO JUST REPAIR THE IRRIGATION WELL, THIS WOULD JUST CONTINUE REPAIRING AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD BE UNRELIABLE AND IT WOULD BE UNPREDICTIVE WHEN THAT WOULD GO DOWN AGAIN.

IT MAY POSE PROBLEMS FOR A FUTURE TENANT AND THAT COST IS APPROXIMATELY ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED.

OPTION NUMBER ONE, THE ESTIMATE IS ABOUT FIVE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN THOUSAND.

AND THAT COST INCLUDES DESIGN AND ENGINEERING AND A 20 PERCENT CONTINGENCY AS WELL.

THEN OPTION THREE WOULD BE TO JUST DEMOLISH AND ABANDON AND NOT PROCEED WITH ANY

[00:50:01]

BUT THIS WOULD MEAN THAT THERE WOULD BE NO IRRIGATION WELL, TO OFFSET IRRIGATION DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS FOR ANY FUTURE TENANT AND THE LAND COULD POTENTIALLY BE UNATTRACTIVE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO ATTRACT A FUTURE TENANT.

SO STAFF IS PRESENTING THIS INFORMATION TO THE COUNCIL AND SEEKING DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO PROCEED. THE THREE OPTIONS ARE BEFORE YOU.

THANK YOU, MS. BISHOP.

I'M GONNA READ THE STATEMENT REAL QUICK.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND BUTTON TO REQUEST TO SPEAK. IF YOU ARE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD. YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON A NUMBER YOU'RE CALLING FROM WHEN YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.

ONCE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED AT THIS TIME.

MADAM CLERK, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? WE HAVE NO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC MAYOR PRO TEM.

DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. WE ARE MOVING AWAY OR TRYING TO BUILD NEW WELLS BECAUSE OUR EXISTING WELLS ARE ALL AGING AND THIS WELL IS PAST THOSE OTHER WELLS.

SO IT WOULDN'T BE WISE TO TRY TO REPAIR TO REPAIR IT AT A COST OF EIGHTY THOUSAND.

I THINK YOU SAID, MRS. BISHOP, IT WOULDN'T BE WISE, I THINK, TO DEMOLISH THE WELL BECAUSE THEN THAT LAND WOULD NOT BE LEASABLE.

AND SO I THINK THE BEST OPTION WOULD BE TO BUILD A NEW WELL.

BUT THE COST OF OVER FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND.

MY QUESTION IS, AND I READ THE REPORT, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE THE MONEY WOULD COME FROM TO DO THAT. MR. REYNA, WE'RE PROPOSING THAT THE MONEY COMES FROM THE WASTE WATER ENTERPRISE FUND AS THE REVENUES THAT HAVE BEEN GENERATED FROM THE LEASE OF THE LAND HAVE CURRENTLY BEEN PUT IN THE WASTE WATER ENTERPRISE FUNDS.

AND HOW MUCH IS THAT AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE IN THAT IN THAT FUND THAT WE COULD.

LET ME ASK YOU THIS. WOULD IT WOULD THERE BE ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND IT? SO THE WHOLE CONSTRUCTION? ASKING HOW MUCH WE HAVE IN THE WASTE WATER ENTERPRISE FUND? AND I'M JUST ASKING IF THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE IN THE WASTE WATER FUND WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO BUILD THIS NEW WELL.

YES.

YES, WE SHOULD WE SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH RESERVE TO COVER THE COST OF THE WELL.

OK. I'LL HAVE THE EXACT DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR YOU, BUT WE DO HAVE RESERVES IN THE WASTE WATER ENTERPRISE FUND.

OK, AND IN DOING SO, WITH THOSE RESERVES BEING DIMINISHED COMPLETELY OR WILL BE USED COMPLETELY, OR WOULD WE STILL HAVE SOME RESERVES IN CASE WE HAVE OTHER ISSUES? WASTE WATER FUND HAS A LITTLE OVER 12.

IT'S A MILLION TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS.

THANK YOU, ALEX. I DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET IN FRONT OF ME, SO I'M NOT SURE.

[INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. YEAH, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO BUILD A NEW WELL BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS TO IT. AND SO THAT'S MY OPINION.

I THINK I WILL BE VOTING YES ON IT.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? I'M IN FAVOR OF OPTION ONE, AND THAT'S ALL, MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA? WELL, I THINK IT'S IT MAKES SENSE TO GO AHEAD AND REPLACE THE AG WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT [INAUDIBLE].

AND THE AMOUNT THAT WAS GENERATED BY THE LESSEE OR BY THE LEASE, I THINK IT'S JUST THE SMART MOVE. LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET IT DONE.

OVER FIVE YEARS, WHAT WE GET WOULD THAT BE DONE IN TIME FOR THE NEW THE PERSON THAT'S INTERESTED IN LEASING IT NEXT, OR ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE IT WITHOUT WHILE WE'RE BUILDING IT? THAT WOULD BE MY QUESTION.

SO CURRENTLY, WE WOULD PROCEED WITH WORKING ON PUTTING TOGETHER THE RFP.

WELL, FIRST LET ME BACK UP.

WE WOULD DESIGN THE WELL, IDENTIFY THE LOCATION, THEN WE WOULD PUT TOGETHER THE RFP AND THEN WE WOULD BID THE PROJECT.

SO THE CONSTRUCTION MAY NOT HAPPEN FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE CAN TIME IT PROPERLY WHERE WE PUT OUT A BID FOR THE LAND AND ENTERTAIN OFFERS FOR A LESSEE.

ALL RIGHT. AND SHOOT TO HAVE THAT WELL IN OPERATION BY THE TIME WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE].

[00:55:06]

ALRIGHT THANKS ALEX.

THE ONLY COMMENT I HAVE IS, MS. BISHOP. THE WELL, ONCE IT'S FIXED TO WHATEVER THE COUNCIL WANTS TO GO TO, IS THAT WELL, ONLY SERVES THAT PROPERTY THAT THAT'S RESTING ON, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. OK.

THE PRISON DOESN'T USE ANY OF THAT WATER COMING OFF THAT WELL, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. THOSE ARE THE ONLY COUPLE OF COMMENTS THAT I HAD.

I GUESS WE COULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION NOW TO SEE WHICH DIRECTION THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO GO.

REYNA. I'LL SECOND MEMBER REYNA'S MOTION.

WHAT WAS THE MOTION SPECIFICALLY, IF I MAY? OPTION ONE, MOVE TO OPTION ONE.

MR. CITY MANAGER, DID THEY MOTION TO APPROVE OPTION ONE AND AUTHORIZE THE TRANSFER OF THE WASTE WATER ENTERPRISE FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT? YEAH. YES.

YES. SO YOU AMEND YOUR MOTION, INITIAL MOTION, READDRESS IT GILBERT.

OK.

OK, WELL, I WITHDRAW MY MOTION AND I MAKE A MOTION TO TAKE OPTION ONE AND MOVE TO USE THE FUNDS, THE EMERGENCY IS IT AN EMERGENCY FUND? THE WASTE WATER RESERVE FUNDS.

THE WASTE WATER RESERVE FUNDS TO PAY FOR THE BUILDING OF THE NEW WELL.

OK. WE NEED A SECOND.

I SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR. COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA AND A SECOND BY ALEX.

[INAUDIBLE] ROLL CALL, MADAM CLERK.

MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA? AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA? AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? PALLARES AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? AYE. MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA TO APPROVE OPTION ONE AND TRANSFER FROM THE WASTE WATER RESERVE FUND.

OK. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM E.

ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH OBAID

[12e. Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an Agreement with Obaid Markets, Inc. as an Authorized Payment Location for the City of Wasco Utility Billing at a rate of $0.18 per transaction (Perez-Hernandez)]

ISAREL? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEM AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

BRING BEFORE YOU A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH OBAID MARKET, INC AS AN AUTHORIZED PAYMENT LOCATION FOR THE CITY OF WASCO UTILITY BILLS.

PRIOR TO COVID-19, THE CITY OF WASCO WAS COLLECTING, ON AVERAGE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED TWENTY SEVEN DOLLARS IN CASH PAYMENTS.

BUT WITH THE RISING CASES OF COVID-19, THE CITY OF WASCO FINANCE OFFICE REMAINS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, WHICH LIMITS CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE A PREFERENCE OF PAYING IN PERSON.

THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS STILL EXPERIENCING A RISE IN DELINQUENT BILLS.

WE ARE UNSURE IF THIS IS DUE TO THE RESIDENTS BEING FINANCIALLY UNABLE TO PAY THEIR UTILITY BILLS OR IF THEIR PREFERRED METHOD OF PAYMENT IS JUST IN PERSON.

THE GOAL OF THIS PILOT PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE OUR RESIDENTS WITH ANOTHER AVENUE TO PAY THEIR UTILITY BILL IN PERSON.

THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH OBAID MARKET, INC AS AN AUTHORIZED PAYMENT LOCATION.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS ISAREL.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATIONS ARE LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER, IF YOU LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND BUTTON REQUEST TO SPEAK.

IF YOU ARE YOUR TELEPHONE, PLEASE.

DIALS STAR NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD.

YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON A NUMBER YOU ARE CALLING FROM.

WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

WHEN YOUR TIME EXPIRES, YOU WILL BE MUTED, MADAM CLERK.

DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? AND WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS MAYOR PRO TEM.

OK, COMMENTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? NO COMMENT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? NO COMMENT. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA?

[01:00:03]

THIS IS A LONG TIME COMING BECAUSE I REMEMBER WE USED TO BE ABLE TO DO [INAUDIBLE].

SO THIS IS REALLY COOL TO HAVE THIS COME BACK.

IT'S A GREAT ADDED SERVICE COVID OR NOT.

SO I SUPPORT IT AND I APPRECIATE STAFF'S [INAUDIBLE].

I AGREE WITH YOU, ALEX, I THINK THAT STAFF THINKING OUT OF THE BOX AND GIVING THEM ANOTHER AVENUE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO PAY WHEN WE'RE CLOSE, WHEN THE.

WE HAVE TO BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS OR WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE.

AT THIS TIME I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.

OK. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA.

I'LL NEED A SECOND. THIS IS REYNA, I'LL SECOND IT.

THANK YOU, GILBERTO.

WE'LL ESTABLISH A ROLL CALL. MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA. AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA.

AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES.

PALLARES AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA.

AYE. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, THE SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA TO APPROVE ITEM 12E. MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH MAYOR CORTEZ ABSENT.

WE'LL GO ON TO ITEM F TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF CITY COUNCIL APPROVING THE ACQUISITION OF

[12f. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council Approving the Acquisition of Real Estate owned by the Wasco Housing Authority (Wasco Farm Labor Housing Property) in the Amount of in the Amount of One Hundred dollars. ($100.00). (Ortiz Hernandez)]

DANIEL. MR. MAYOR PRO TEM, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU IS AN AGREEMENT THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAD APPROVED EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON RELATING TO THE FORMER WASCO FARM LABOR HOUSING PROPERTY.

AS YOU'RE AWARE WE'VE BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSFERRING THE PROPERTY AND DEALING WITH A NUMBER OF ISSUES RELATED TO THE THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY.

THE INTENTS HAD BEEN, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WAS TO TRANSFER THE PROPERTY FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO THE CITY OF WASCO ONCE ALL THE FINAL TENANTS WERE RELOCATED AND VACATED THE PROPERTY.

THE AGREEMENT SPELLS OUT SPECIFIES THAT THE PROPERTY WON'T THE TRANSFER WON'T CLOSE UNTIL ALL THE TENANTS ARE FINALLY REMOVED AND ALL THE DEEDS ARE RE CONVEYED AND REMOVED FROM THE TITLE REPORT SO THAT WE RECEIVE A CLEAN TITLE REPORT.

ONCE WE TAKE POSSESSION OF THAT, IN ADDITION TO THE THE JUST THE THE TRANSFERRING AND THE FORMAL ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY STAFF IS ALSO WORKING ON A COUPLE OF ISSUES RELATED TO THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY THAT WILL PROBABLY BE ONGOING AND WE'LL PROBABLY RAMP UP ONCE WE'VE ACTUALLY ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY IN OUR POSSESSION.

PART OF THAT WILL BE TRANSFERRING THE PROPERTY UNDER OUR INSURANCE.

MS. VARA IS EVALUATING THAT WITH OUR INSURANCE CARRIER AND WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE MORE INFORMATION IN THE COMING MONTHS AS TO WHAT EXACTLY THE COST FOR THAT WILL BE.

PUBLIC WORKS IS ALSO LOOKING AND BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF DISCONNECTING WATER LINES AND WATER SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY.

WE'RE ALSO REVIEWING RIGHT NOW AND PROBABLY PUTTING A PACKAGE TOGETHER FOR FENCING THE THE PERIMETER OF THE PROPERTY.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE NECESSARY FOR US TO PREVENT ANY INDIVIDUALS OR PEOPLE FROM TRESPASSING ON THE PROPERTY, AS WELL AS ANY LIABILITIES WE MAY INCUR IF WE FAIL TO SECURE THE PROPERTY ADEQUATELY.

AND THAT'S IN ADDITION TO ALL THE OTHER EFFORTS WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN THE WORKS, AS WELL AS THE EFFORTS TO TRY TO OBTAIN THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY TO DEMOLISH AND CLEAR THE SITE. GIVEN THAT THE CONDITION AND ITS CURRENT CONDITION AND CIRCUMSTANCES ARE ATTRIBUTED TO THE AUTHORITIES HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECT IN THE NEED TO RELOCATE THE RESIDENTS.

THANK YOU, DANIEL. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

IF YOU LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE YOUR RAISE HAND BUTTON TO REQUEST TO SPEAK.

IF USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE USE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD.

YOU'LL BE CALLED UPON THE NUMBER YOU ARE CALLING FROM WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENTS.

MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ONLINE? [INAUDIBLE] CALLER WITH THE NUMBERS 747 7379 YOU MAY SPEAK . WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW. OK, [INAUDIBLE] DANIEL, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

[01:05:01]

OH OK. ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK, WAS THAT OUR ONLY SPEAKER? [INAUDIBLE] WE'LL TAKE COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL.

COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA. NO COMMENT MAYOR PRO TEM.

COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES.

NO COMMENT. THANK YOU.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA.

NOTHING. NOTHING MUCH BESIDES THE QUESTION THAT THIS IS SIMPLY PROCEDURAL JUST SO WE CAN REPOSSESS THE PROPERTY RIGHT DANIEL? WELL NOT REPOSSESS. BUT YES, TAKE POSSESSION OF IT.

WON'T TAKE ON OWNERSHIP OF IT.

ALL RIGHT. OK, THANK YOU.

NO MORE FURTHER COMMENTS MAYOR PRO TEM. OK THANKS ALEX.

WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE.

THIS IS REYNA, MOVE TO APPROVE.

OK, WELL, WE'LL NEED A SECOND.

GARCIA WILL SECOND. THANK YOU, ALEX.

ESTABLISH A ROLL CALL.

MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA.

AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA.

AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES.

PALLARES AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA.

AYE. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA THE SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA TO APPROVE ITEM 12F. MOTION APPROVED WITH 4 AYES.

WITH MAYOR CORTEZ ABSENT.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 13.

[13) REPORTS FROM SHERIFF]

YEY. [INAUDIBLE] TONIGHT, SO IT'LL BE A NICE AND SHORT.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO SWITCH SLIDES.

SO ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9TH AT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON, DEPUTIES FROM THE [INAUDIBLE] SUBSTATIONS WERE DISPATCHED TO THE AREA OF WILDWOOD AND FORTY SIX FOR A REPORT OF SHOTS FIRED. DURING THE INVESTIGATION DEPUTIES DETERMINED JOSE PEREZ, FORTY FOUR YEAR OLD FROM WASCO, HAD DISCHARGED A HANDGUN IN A NEGLIGENT MANNER AT A MOVING VEHICLE.

PEREZ WAS LOCATED IN THE 600 BLOCK OF NORTH MAPLE AVENUE IN WASCO APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES LATER. DURING THE SERVICE OF A SEARCH WARRANT OF THE APARTMENT HE WAS FOUND IN, DEPUTIES LOCATED A HANDGUN ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL ILLEGAL ITEMS. PEREZ WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO THE KERN COUNTY JAIL FOR NEGLIGENT DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM, DISCHARGING A FIREARM FROM A VEHICLE ALONG WITH OTHER FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR CHARGES.

ALL RIGHT, THE DEPUTIES FROM THE WASCO SUBSTATION CONDUCTED A PROBATION SEARCH OF A RESIDENCE IN THE ONE THOUSAND BLOCK OF ROSE AVENUE, AND THIS WAS ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 16TH, AT ABOUT FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON.

DURING THE SEARCH, DEPUTIES DETAINED PATRICK [INAUDIBLE] WHO WAS ON PROBATION AND IN POSSESSION OF A LOADED FIREARM.

DEPUTIES LOCATED ADDITIONAL ILLEGAL ITEMS DURING THE SEARCH OF THE ROOM WHERE [INAUDIBLE] WAS LOCATED. [INAUDIBLE] WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO THE KERN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE [INAUDIBLE] FACILITY FOR POSSESSION, LET'S SEE, FOR FELONY POSSESSION OF A FIREARM, POSSESSION OF AN ILLEGAL FIREARM, PROHIBITED PERSON IN POSSESSION OF AMMUNITION, PARTICIPATION IN A CRIMINAL STREET GANG, POSSESSION OF COCAINE FOR SALE, POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WHILE BEING ARMED.

DANIEL GO AHEAD.

DURING OUR LAST MEETING, I TALKED TO YOU GUYS AND I INTRODUCED TO THE COUNCIL THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS CURRENTLY TESTING FOR FUTURE ACADEMY CADETS.

WELL, THE COUNTY HAS ACTUALLY OPENED UP THE POSITION OF DEPUTY SHERIFF TRAINEE.

AND I'M ENCOURAGING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY OF WASCO TO TAKE THIS TEST AND TAKE THIS PROCESS. WE'RE NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.

IT'S ALL DONE ONLINE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A PAID POSITION.

TO ATTEND AN UPCOMING ACADEMY IN THE NEAR FUTURE, APPLICANTS WILL START WITH THE ONLINE

[01:10:02]

ONCE ACCEPTED, APPLICANTS WILL TAKE WILL BE INVITED TO TAKE A WRITTEN TEST AND I EXPLAIN THE WRITTEN TEST AT THE LAST MEETING.

IT'S CALLED THE POST ENTRY LEVEL LAW ENFORCEMENT TEST BATTERY.

AND IT'S NOTHING MORE THAN READING, WRITING AND ARITHMETIC.

NOTHING LAW ENFORCEMENT IN RELATION TO THOSE THAT PASS THE TEST WILL BE INVITED TO TAKE A PHYSICAL AGILITY TEST.

THIS IS GOING TO CONSIST OF A CAR PUSH, A BALANCE BEAM WALK, A BODY DRAG, AN OBSTACLE COURSE AND A FIVE HUNDRED YARD RUN.

APPLICANTS WHO PASS THAT WILL BE INVITED TO AN ORAL BOARD INTERVIEW.

AFTER THE ORAL INTERVIEW, APPLICANTS WILL BE RANKED BY THE PERFORMANCE THEY DID IN ALL THREE TEST AND POSSIBLY BE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BACKGROUND PROCESS OR A FUTURE ACADEMY, WHICH SHOULD BE, I'M HEARING, THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR.

IF NOT AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, THEN GO AHEAD AND THIS WILL BE MY LAST SLIDE COMING UP.

THE WASCO DEPUTIES HAVE INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF PARKING CITATIONS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY ISSUING AND TOWING CARS FOR EXPIRED AND ABANDONED ON THE STREETS OF WASCO.

THIS IS BEING DONE FOR TWO PURPOSES.

IT PUTS THE DEPUTIES OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND ON THE STREETS.

I HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS, OR ASKING FOR DEPUTIES TO BE MORE PRESENT IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS ONE WAY WE CAN DO IT WITHOUT EXPOSING OURSELVES GREATLY TO THE PANDEMIC OF THE COVID-19.

IT ALSO CLEANS UP THE COMMUNITY.

AND AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, AND YOU DRIVE AROUND THE STREETS OF WASCO, YOU'LL SEE CARS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF DIRT AND COBWEBS THAT THESE CARS HAVE USUALLY BEEN PARKED AT MORE THAN SEVENTY TWO HOURS AS A WARNING.

THE FIRST, THE DEPUTIES WILL PLACE A PARKING TICKET ON THE WINDOW TO GIVE THE OWNER THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE THE CAR.

HOPEFULLY THEY CAN MOVE IT, IF NOT, WE WILL RETURN AT LEAST SEVENTY TWO HOURS LATER, IF NOT A LITTLE BIT MORE, AND HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED, SOMETIMES VEHICLES ARE EXPIRED OVER SIX MONTHS. IT CAN BE TOWED IMMEDIATELY BASED UPON THE CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE.

I WANT TO CLEAR UP A COMMON MISCONCEPTION IN THE COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE THE CAR IS NON OPERATIONAL, THAT THEY COULD PARK IT ON THE STREET. IT STILL NEEDS TO BE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

A VEHICLE IS PARKED ON THE STREET.

IT NEEDS TO HAVE CURRENT REGISTRATION.

THIS IS FOR THE PUBLIC STREETS IN WASCO, MOST OFTEN THE VEHICLES WITH 2019 STICKERS OR REGISTRATION EXPIRED ARE GOING TO BE TOWED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

AND WE HAVE OUR COPS DEPUTY THAT'S BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY, DEPUTY VASQUEZ, ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL DEPUTIES THAT HAVE BEEN TOWING CARS IN THE COMMUNITY OF WASCO FOR THOSE CHARGES. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SERGEANT.

APPRECIATE IT. [INAUDIBLE] REPORTS FROM OUR CITY MANAGER.

[14) REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER]

AND SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID AT THE LAST ELECTION WHERE THERE WAS THREE I'M SORRY TO TWO CANDIDATES, ONE FOR EACH DISTRICT, I CAN CONFIRM THAT FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION THERE ARE FOUR CANDIDATES, I BELIEVE, IN DISTRICT TWO, AND I FORGET WHICH WHICH DISTRICT MAYOR CORTEZ IS IN AND ONE ONE CANDIDATE INCOUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA'S DISTRICT, THAT BEING COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA. SO THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE CAN SAVE SOME MONEY.

CITY CLERK IS TRYING TO GET INFORMATION FROM THE COUNTY ON HOW MUCH CAN BE SAVED IF THE COUNCIL WERE TO APPROVE AND FOREGO THE ELECTION FOR THAT DISTRICT ITSELF.

SO WE'LL DISCUSS AND HAVE MORE DETAILS TOMORROW EVENING FOR THAT SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ONCE WE HEAR BACK FROM THE COUNTY ON THAT.

SO ON A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS, THE KERN COUNTY EDC HAD RECEIVED A DONATION OF GIFT CARDS FROM CHEVRON.

WE BELIEVE WE RECEIVED TEN OF THOSE.

I BELIEVE THEIR VALUE OR FIFTY DOLLARS EACH CHEVRON AND KERN EDC WERE DISTRIBUTING THOSE TO BUSINESSES. THAT'S JUST TO HELP THEM DURING THESE TIMES, WHETHER IT BE RESTAURANTS OR SERVICE LOCATIONS, WE'RE GOING TO REFER THOSE TO EACH OF YOU, THE FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS, TO DECIDE WHERE YOU LET YOU DISPERSE THEM TO WHAT BUSINESSES YOU'D LIKE TO DISPERSE THEM

[01:15:02]

SO WE'LL GET MORE INFORMATION TO YOU VIA EMAIL HERE IN THE COMING DAYS.

ONCE YOU ONCE YOU GET ALL THE DETAILS IRONED OUT.

BUT THOSE ARE TWO GIFT CARDS DONATED BY CHEVRON TO KERN EDC, WHO IN TURN DONATED THEM TO ITS MEMBERS. WE RECEIVED TEN.

EACH OF YOU GET TO DECIDE TO RECIPIENTS FOR THAT, TO BUSINESSES, PREFERABLY FOR THAT.

SO ON OTHER NEWS, THE CALIFORNIA FARM WORKERS FOUNDATION IS COORDINATING AND LOOKING TO DO A COVID TESTING SITE IN COORDINATION WITH, I THINK, GOOD SAMARITAN.

IF MR. GARCIA, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THEM.

THEY WERE LOOKING AT THE THE HALL AT [INAUDIBLE] PARK AND WE'RE UNABLE TO SECURE THAT SITE. AND WE'RE CURRENTLY COORDINATING WITH THEM TO TRY TO USE THE COURTHOUSE IF THAT SUITS THEIR NEEDS. SO THAT'S ANTICIPATED SCHEDULING WORKS OUT WOULD BE, I BELIEVE, LATER THIS WEEK, IF NOT THIS WEEKEND OR POSSIBLY NEXT WEEK, JUST DEPENDING ON THEIR AVAILABILITY AND SCHEDULE.

WE'VE ALSO HAVE RESTORED THE SCHEDULE FOR THE GREEN WASTE SITE OUT BY THE SOLAR FARM AND THE WASTEWATER PLANTS THAT HAD GOTTEN CURTAILED DUE TO COVID.

WE'RE GOING BACK TO A NORMAL SCHEDULE OF TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY.

SO THAT'LL BE REOPENED AGAIN FOR PATIENTS TO USE.

I BELIEVE THAT COVERS ALL OF MY UPDATES.

HEY, DANIEL, REAL QUICK, THE SCHEDULE FOR THE GREENWAYS, WHEN WOULD THAT BE KICKED OFF? NEXT MONTH? NEXT WEEK, [INAUDIBLE], PROBABLY STARTING THURSDAY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

OK. THANK YOU.

REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL.

[15) REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL]

THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM.

I WANTED TO BRING SOMETHING UP THAT SERGEANT MARTINEZ MAY NOT BE AWARE OF, AND THAT IS THAT THE DMV IS NOT PROCESSING CAR REGISTRATIONS.

THEY DO THESE THINGS BY APPOINTMENT.

IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO DO IT ONLINE AND THEY'RE NOT GIVEN APPOINTMENTS FOR THAT, AT LEAST THEY WERE NOT A FEW WEEKS BACK, NOT LONG AGO.

AND SO WE NEED TO BE CONSIDERATE OF THAT IN THE FACT THAT THERE MAY BE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REGISTER THEIR CARS BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DO IT ONLINE AND THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GO TO THE DMV AND DO IT IF THAT'S NOT A PRIORITY THING FOR THEM AT THIS POINT, SIMILAR TO LICENSES, THEY'VE EXTENDED THE LICENSE DATES THAT LICENSES THAT WERE EXPIRED, I BELIEVE, THROUGH THE NEXT YEAR.

THEY'RE NOT WANTING PEOPLE TO GO THERE TO ADDRESS THIS THING AT THIS POINT.

SO PLEASE BE AWARE OF THAT.

AND AGAIN, I'M FOR CLEANING UP THE CITY.

THERE'S A LOT OF CARS THAT ARE ABANDONED OUT THERE, JUST PARK ON THE STREETS.

LET'S BE AWARE OF THAT AS WELL.

AND I WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING THAT I SHOULD HAVE ASKED WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE WELL BY THE WASTEWATER PLANT.

AND THAT IS DANIEL, WILL THE CURRENT LEASEE BE PAYING FOR ANY OF THE EXPENDITURES AND TRYING TO REPAIR THAT WELL? I KNOW WE SPENT TWENTY THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED, I BELIEVE IT WAS.

AND WILL THEY BE PAYING ANY OF THAT? I NEED TO GO BACK AND REFER TO THE CONTRACT ON THAT.

I KNOW IT HAD PROVISIONS ON THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THAT HAD BEEN ADDRESSED RECENTLY, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT RENEWING THE LEASE.

RIGHT. SO THAT WE SHOULD IF THEY ARE IF THE LEASE STIPULATES THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY PART OF THIS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COLLECT FROM THEM.

JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP.

WE'LL REVIEW THE LEASE TERMS AND BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL [INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT.

AND THAT'S IT FOR ME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MOVING ON TO COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES.

NO REPORT, THANK YOU.

THANKS, COUNCIL MEMBER GARCÍA.

NOT MUCH, ASIDE FROM WANTED TO THANK DANIEL FOR MAKING THE SITE, IT IS CONFIRMED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING THE TESTING ON THE TWENTY SEVEN AT THE OLD COURTHOUSE AND THAT'S WITH THE CBFF AND THE GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL.

AND THE TIMES WE WEREN'T SURE ABOUT IT BETWEEN FOUR AND SEVEN OR SIX AND NINE.

BUT AS SOON AS THAT'S CONFIRMED, I'M SURE THAT INFORMATION WILL GET TO [INAUDIBLE].

DANIEL ONCE YOU DO GET THAT CONFIRMED COULD YOU SHARE THAT WITH EVERYONE? WILL DO. LASTLY, IF YOU COULD, A QUESTION FOR THE NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR, I THINK IT WAS IN THE REPORT, I JUST CAN'T REMEMBER RIGHT NOW.

[01:20:02]

IT IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER.

OK, PERFECT. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALL I HAVE THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, ALEX. A COUPLE OF ITEMS I WANT TO DISCUSS THE OLD KFC SITE ON HIGHWAY 46 IS A BUNCH OF DEAD WEEDS UP THERE.

AND IF WE CAN MAYBE TO THE NOTICE TO THE OWNER AND TAKE CARE OF THOSE WEEDS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY PREMATURE, BUT I LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALEX FOR HIS DISTRICT AND GOING UNCONTESTED.

I APPRECIATE YOUR ENERGY.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW I APPRECIATE YOUR ENERGY AND APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU BRING TO THE COUNCIL. IT'S BEEN A BREATH OF FRESH AIR ALEX.

YOU DO A FABULOUS JOB.

SO APPRECIATE IT. AND I GUESS WE GO ONTO ITEM 16 CLOSED SESSION, WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF

[16) CLOSED SESSION:]

SEE YOU IN A LITTLE BIT. MAYOR PRO TEM, CAN WE TAKE FIVE? YEAH, WE COULD TAKE FIVE.

ALL RIGHT, SEE YOU IN FIVE.

THE ONLY ACTION WE HAVE TO REPORT ON IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES JOHN MADE, THE MOTION

[17) CLOSED SESSION ACTION]

DANNY HAD RECUSED HIMSELF EARLIER.

SO HE WAS HE HAD LEFT THE MEETING.

ALL THE REST ARE NON REPORTABLE ACTIONS.

JOHN. MADE THE MOTION, ALEX SECOND TO APPROVE THE CLOSED SESSION MINUTES WITH MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA ABSENT, RIGHT? YEAH, HE RECUSED HIMSELF FROM AN EARLIER IN THE MEETING, NOT OVER THE MINUTES, BUT OVER SOMETHING ELSE. YOU DON'T NEED. YOU DON'T NEED TO SHOW THAT, BUT YOU WILL NEED TO SAY THAT HE HAD RECUSED HIMSELF.

I'LL SEND YOU AN EMAIL TO THAT EFFECT.

YES. SO WE HAVE A GOOD TIME, EVERYBODY HAPPY AND EVERYBODY BE SAFE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.