LET'S CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. [1) CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Cortez] [00:00:02] GOOD EVENING THIS MEETING IS HELD PURSUANT TO SECTION THREE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER N2920 ISSUED BY THE GOVERNOR NEWSOM ON MARCH 17, 2020 OF THE MEMBERS ARE JOINING THE MEETING REMOTELY VIA ZOOM WEBINAR. WE WILL NOW CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. PLEASE STAND FOR THE FLAG SALUTE. REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE INVOCATION. SALUTE PLEDGE. WE'RE ITEM NUMBER FOUR AND WE'LL DO THE ROLL CALL, MADAM CLERK. MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES. PALLARES HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA. PRESENT. MAYOR CORTEZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA ARE ABSENT. OK, AT NUMBER FIVE, WE HAVE NO PRESENTATIONS TODAY, ITEM SIX, PUBLIC COMMENTS. THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS RESERVED FOR PERSONS DESIGNED TO JUST ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, INCLUDING THE COUNCIL ACTING AS GOVERNING BOARD PLUS SUCCESSOR AGENCY ON ANY MATTER NOT ON THE AGENDA IN WHICH THE CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY HAS JURISDICTION. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENT BY USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE YOUR RAISED HANDS BUTTONS TO REQUEST TO SPEAK. IF YOU'RE USING A TELEPHONE. PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR PHONE TELEPHONE TO REQUEST TO SPEAK. IF YOU'RE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL, I ALREADY SAID THAT. YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON BY THE NUMBER YOU BEING CALLED FROM WHEN YOU RETURN TO YOUR SPEAK . PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENTS. ONCE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, IT WILL BE MUTED. ANYONE HAS NOT PROVIDED THEIR COMMENTS [INAUDIBLE] PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING CAN EMAIL THEIR COMMENTS TO CITY CLERK AT CITYCLERK@CITYOFWASCO.ORG, AND YOUR 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 MAY BE TAKEN AT THIS MEETING. SHOULD YOU COMMENTS REQUIRE FURTHER CONSIDERATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OR THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY, THE ITEM WILL BE AGENDIZED FOR REPORT AND DISCUSSED FURTHER CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT THIS TIME. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC MADAM CLERK? AT THIS TIME WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. AND MOVING ON TO ITEM SEVEN, WE HAVE NO BUSINESS WITH THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY. ITEM 8, WASCO PULIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BUSINESS. [8) WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BUSINESS:] ITEM A, RECEIVE THE FINAL DEPARTMENT PAYMENTS TOTALING SIX THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED TWENTY EIGHT DOLLARS AND 14 CENTS. AGAIN, AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER. IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL PRESENTATION USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE YOUR RAISE HAND BUTTON ON THE REQUEST TO SPEAK. IF YOU'RE ON THE TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON THE TELEPHONE KEYPAD. IF YOU CALL UPON THE NUMBER YOU'RE CALLING FROM, IT'LL BE YOUR TURN TO SPEAK. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENT. WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED, MADAM CLERK. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? [INAUDIBLE] I'M SORRY WAS NO. GIVE ME A QUICK MINUTE. AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. AWESOME. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? NO COMMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES. NO COMMENTS. THANK YOU. CAN WE ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO AN ITEM, [INAUDIBLE] 8A. MOVE TO APPROVE. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA. A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES. ALL IN FAVOR BY ROLL CALL. [INAUDIBLE] DIRECTOR PALLARES. PALLARES AYE. DIRECTOR REYNA. YES. MOTION BY DIRECTOR REYNA. SECOND BY DIRECTOR PALLARES TO APPROVE ITEM 8A. MOTION IS APPROVED WITH THREE AYES WITH DIRECTOR CORTEZ AND GARCIA ABSENT. AND WE'RE MOVING ON TO CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS ITEM NINE CONSENT CALENDAR. [9) CONSENT CALENDAR:] THE CONSENT CONSISTS OF ITEMS AND STAFF OPINIONS ARE ROUTINE AND NON-CONTROVERSIAL. THESE ITEMS ARE APPROVED IN ONE MOTION UNLESS THE COUNCIL MEMBER OR A MEMBER OF THE [00:05:03] PUBLIC REQUESTS REMOVAL OF A PARTICULAR ITEM. IF YOU ELECT TO REMOVE A PARTICULAR ITEM USING ZOOM PLEASE USE YOUR RAISED HAND BUTTON. IF YOU'RE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD. YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON BYT THE NUMBER YOU ARE CALLING FROM WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN TO SPEAK . TONIGHT WE HAVE ITEMS A THROUGH LOOKS LIK E. ITEM A APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES FOR JULY 7, 2020 REGULAR MEETING AND A2 JULY 21ST, 2020 REGULAR MEETINGS. ITEM B RECEIVE A FINALLY DEPARTMENT PAYMENT TOTALING ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY TWO THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY EIGHT DOLLARS AND TWENTY FIVE CENTS. ITEM C ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING TASK ORDER NUMBER NINE AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENDORSE TASK ORDER NUMBER NINE FOR DEE JASPAR AND ASSOCIATES TO COMPLETE THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING FOR REPLACEMENT IRRIGATION WELL LOCATED ON MUNICIPAL LAND LEASED TO PAUL FARMS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THIRTY SIX THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND THIRTY TWO CENTS. THIRTY TWO DOLLARS, I'M SORRY, ITEM D ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING APPLICATION FOR FUNDING AND THE EXECUTION OF A GRANT AGREEMENT AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FROM THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND UNDER 9E ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT TO THE RESTATED AGREEMENT WITH ALTA PLANNING AND DESIGN AMENDING SCOPE OF SERVICE TO MOVE ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS FROM THE EXPENSE TO TASK ONE AND EXCEED THE CONTRACT FOR ONE MONTH. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ASK ANY COUNCIL MEMBER IF THERE'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON A PARTICULAR ITEM. COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA. NO CONFLICT. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES. NO CONFLICT. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME IS THERE ANYONE AND I HAVE NO CONFLICT AS WELL. AT THIS TIME AS ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE, MADAM CLERK, TO REMOVE A PARTICULAR ITEM. ONE MINUTE, MAYOR PRO TEM . I GUESS WE HAVE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MAYOR PRO TEM, BEFORE WE DO THAT. I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM A, JUST A COMMENT. A IS A HOUSEKEEPING ISSUE. OK, IF YOU WANT ME, I CAN JUST ADDRESS THAT OR WE CAN TAKE IT SEPARATELY, WHICHEVER YOU WANT TO DO. NO, GO FOR IT. OK. THE MINUTES OF JULY, THE21ST STATE THAT THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 6:21 AND ITEM TEN STATES THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED BY THE MAYOR AT 6:15 AND CLOSED AT 6:16. SO ALL OF THOSE CANNOT BE TRUE. SO WE JUST NEED TO CORRECT THAT. I'M CERTAIN IT IS. WELL, I'M NOT CERTAIN, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS THAT THE TIME THAT THE MEETING STARTED. THAT IS INCORRECT. I'LL MAKE THOSE CHANGES. YES, AND OTHER THAN THAT, I MOVE TO APPROVE. PALLARES SECOND. ROLL CALL. YOU WANT TO DO A ROLL CALL/ THAT IS CORRECT. MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES. PALLARES AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA. AYE. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES. TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR WITH A MINOR CHANGES ON THE MINUTES. MOTION IS APPROVED WITH THREE AYES WITH MAYOR CORTEZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA ABSENT. OK, WE CAN GO ON TO ITEM NUMBER 10, CORRECT. THAT IS PART OF THE CLEARANCE WE HAVE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY ITEM 11 FOR BUSINESS. WE DON'T HAVE ANY IN ITEM 12 NEW BUSINESS, ITEM A DESIGN A VOTING DELEGATE AND AN [12a. Designation of Voting Delegate and Alternate for the League of California Cities Annual Conference scheduled for October 7-9,2020. (Ortiz Hernandez)] ALTERNATIVE FOR THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 7TH - 9TH, YEAR 2020. CITY MANAGER. MAKE SURE I UNMUTE MYSELF. MAYOR PRO-TEM, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THIS ITEM IS FOR SELECTING DELEGATES TO THE LEAGUE OF CITIES ANNUAL CONFERENCE. LAST YEAR, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THE DELEGATES THAT WERE SELECTED WERE FOR COUNCIL MEMBER ALEX GARCIA AND THE ALTERNATE WAS COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA. NOT SURE IF WITH MAYOR CORTEZ ABSENT AND COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, NOT PRESENT AS WELL, IF THE GROUP WISHES TO DEFER THIS TO THE NEXT THING TO HAVE A FULL COUNCIL TO DISCUSS AND APPOINT THE TO DELEGATES. [00:10:01] HEY, DANIEL, THIS IS DANNY, IF THERE IS A LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES MEETING, DO WE KNOW WHO'S GOING TO BE GOING TO THE MEETING? WE DON'T ACTUALLY, AS FAR AS WE UNDERSTAND, THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES ANNUAL CONFERENCES CAN BE HELD VIRTUALLY. SO, WE WOULD HAVE TO COORDINATE WITH THOSE THAT WISH TO PARTICIPATE. AND I WOULD IMAGINE YOU'D BE ABLE TO VIEW THEM OFF OF YOUR TABLETS LIKE YOU WOULD WITH THE COUNCIL MEETING. OK, I'M FINE WITH HOLDING OFF TILL NEXT NEXT MEETING AND SEE IF TILO OR [INAUDIBLE] WOULD LIKE TO DO IT OR WE WOULD KEEP IT THE SAME. IT'S UP TO YOU. I'M FINE WITH IT. I MEAN, IF IT IS VIRTUAL, I'LL ATTEND IT. IF IT'S PERSONAL, I WILL NOT BE ATTENDING IT. I'M THE SAME WAY. OK, SO I'LL HOLD IT OFF FOR THE NEXT NEXT MEETING, CORRECT? OK. WE'LL TABLE IT FOR THE NEXT MEETING. OK. DO WE NEED A MOTION OR ANYTHING, OR ARE WE GOOD LIKE THAT? [INAUDIBLE] WE DON'T NEED ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING THAT, OR SHOULD WE JUST MOVE ON TO ITEM B. MOVE ON TO ITEM B. THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENTS; IT'S BEEN DEFERRED TO THE NEXT MEETING. [12b. Adopt a Resolution to Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with ClearSource Financial Consulting to conduct a User / Regulatory Fee Study with an Optional Full Cost Allocation Plan for an amount not to exceed $22,200. (Cobb)] OKAY, ITEM B: ADOPT RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH CLEAN SOURCE FINANCIAL CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT A USER SLASH REGULATORY FEE STUDY WITH THE OPTION FULL COST ALLOCATION PLAN FOR THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED TWENTY TWO THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS. KERI, IS SHE AROUND? I'M HERE. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. PRO TEM AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING, KERI. HI. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. IN THE TWENTY TWENTY ONE YEAR BUDGET, THE COUNCIL APPROVED TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO CONDUCT A USER FEE STUDY. THAT'S WHAT THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS. AND WHILE THE COUNCIL RECENTLY ADOPTED A NEW MASTER SCHEDULE THAT WAS PRIMARILY AN EFFORT TO CLARIFY AND CONSOLIDATE ALL OF THE CITY'S USER FEES INTO ONE PLACE, FOR THE MOST PART, THAT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO EXISTING FEE AMOUNTS. THE LAST TIME USER FEES WERE UPDATED FOR OUR PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS WAS IN TWENTY THIRTEEN AND PRIOR TO THAT, LAST TIME FOR THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT WAS IN TWO THOUSAND AND SEVEN. WE ARE IN NEED OF UPDATES TO OUR USER AND REGULATORY FEES AND IN GENERAL THOSE FEES ARE THE FEES THAT ARE INTENDED TO COVER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING NON TAX SUPPORTED SERVICES. SO PLAN CHECK FEES, PERMITTING FEES, THAT SORT OF THING. THE PROPOSAL THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT FROM CLEAR SOURCE FINANCIAL INCLUDES THE USER AND REGULATORY FEE STUDY FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED FIFTEEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS AND ALSO AN OPTIONAL FULL COST ALLOCATION PLAN FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED SIX THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS. THE USER FEE STUDY WILL PROVIDE US WITH THE BACKUP AND THE DATA TO SET OUR FEES, OUR USER REGULATORY FEES. IT WILL INCLUDE BOTH DIRECT AND INDIRECT COSTS OF PROVIDING DEVELOPMENT AND PERMITTING SERVICES. AND THE OPTIONAL FULL COST ALLOCATION PLAN WOULD PROVIDE THE CITY WITH A SPREADSHEET BASED ALLOCATION PLAN OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH GENERAL SUPPORT SERVICES LIKE FINANCE, CITY MANAGER, HUMAN RESOURCES AND SUCH. AND THAT DATA CAN BE MAINTAINED ANNUALLY BY THE CITY AND IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN ESTABLISHING DIRECT STAFF BILLING RATES. STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL TONIGHT FOR THE FEE STUDY WITH OPTIONAL FULL COST ALLOCATION PLAN IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THE TWENTY TWO THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED. AND I ALSO HAVE TERRY MADSEN WITH CLEAR SOURCE FINANCIAL ON THE CALL TONIGHT. IF YOU HAVE ANY DIRECT QUESTIONS FOR HIM ABOUT HOW THE PROCESS WILL WORK, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. OK, LET ME READ THE STATEMENT FIRST AND THEN WE'LL GET ALMOST ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE AND/OR FROM THE COUNCIL. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER. IF YOU WOULD 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 WILL BE CALLED UPON BY THE NUMBER YOU ARE CALLING FROM WHEN IT'S 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. AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. DID WE HAVE COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? NO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, THANK YOU. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? NO COMMENTS. THANK YOU. OK, I'M [INAUDIBLE] TOO, SO WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. VOTE BY ROLL CALL, OR PUT IT IN A MOTION, I GUESS, RIGHT? MOVE TO APPROVE, MAYOR. PALLARES, SECOND. SO WE HAVE A MOTION FLOOR AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR BY ROLL. [00:15:20] GARCIA ABSENT. OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER C, ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO RESCIND ITS [12c. Adopt a Resolution to Rescind its approval of the conceptual plan to permanently close 6th Street as Requested by California High-Speed Rail Authority and California Rail Builders. (Ortiz Hernandez)] APPROVAL OF THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN TO PERMANENTLY CLOSE 6TH ST., AS REQUESTED BY THE CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY AND CALIFORNIA RAIL BUILDERS. CITY MANAGER. MAYOR PRO-TEM, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THIS IS AN ITEM WE ARE BRINGING BACK TO YOU RELATED TO THE HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECT THAT'S COMING TO WASCO. BACK ON APRIL OF TWENTY SEVENTEEN, THE CITY COUNCIL WAS PRESENTED WITH A CONCEPTUAL PLAN TO APPROVE OR TO CONSIDER CLOSING THE 6TH ST. RAIL ROAD CROSSING JUST NORTHEAST HERE OF CITY HALL. THAT WAS AN AMENDMENT TO THE ORIGINAL PLAN, AND THAT ENTAILED KEEPING 6TH STREET OPEN AS OPPOSED TO CLOSING IT AS IT WAS PROPOSED. BACK IN DECEMBER OF TWENTY SIXTEEN, THE COUNCIL RECEIVED THE FULL REPORT AND CONCEPTUAL PLAN FROM BOTH THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY REPRESENTATIVES AS WELL AS CALIFORNIA RAIL BUILDERS REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF THE PROJECT THROUGH WASCO AND THE KEY RAILROAD CROSSINGS THAT WOULD REMAIN OPEN. THERE WERE SEVERAL KEY RAILROAD CROSSINGS THAT WOULD REMAIN OPEN AND THAT THERE WERE AGREED TO AS PART OF THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT THAT THE CITY ENTERED INTO WITH THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY MANY YEARS AGO, 6TH ST. BEING ONE OF THEM. AND THAT IS SPECIFIED THAT THIS RAILROAD CROSSING WOULD REMAIN OPEN AS PART OF THE PROJECT AND NOT BE CLOSED UNLESS THERE IS A WRITTEN AGREEMENT AGREED TO BY BOTH PARTIES TO THAT. COUNCIL APPROVED THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN. BUT HERE IT'S BEEN OVER THREE YEARS AND THERE HASN'T BEEN AN AGREEMENT PROVIDED FOR THE COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION BY THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY. AND SO STAFF IS REQUESTING THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVE THE RESOLUTION, RESENDING THE THE AGREEMENT OR I'M SORRY NOT TO AGREE, BUT THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN TO CLOSE 6TH ST. UNTIL OR UNLESS AN AGREEMENT IS PROVIDED BY THE RAIL AUTHORITY TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT THIS IS IN LIGHT OF THE REQUEST THAT THE CITY HAS MADE TO THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY, WHERE IN WHICH BOTH IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAVING ON THE COMMUNITY, WHY I WASN'T PRESENT DURING THE DISCUSSIONS FOR THIS RAILROAD CROSSING CLOSURE. I DO RECALL OR I'M AWARE THAT THERE WERE BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY OWNERS SURROUNDING THIS RAILROAD CROSSING WHO WERE IN OPPOSITION TO CLOSING OF THE CROSSING. IN ADDITION, WITH THE IMPACT THE PROJECT, IS HAVING IN WASCO AND THE EXPLANATION THAT THE PROJECT DOESN'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL MORE FUNDING AND OR AS IN THE MOST RECENT CASE IN WHICH THE CITY COUNCIL'S LETTER TO THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT, ESPECIALLY THE IMPACT THAT THE FORMER WASCO FARM LABOR HOUSING COMPLEX, WHICH YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN TO THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER WHERE THE EXPLANATION AND THE DENIAL OF THE CITY'S REQUEST WAS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO AGREEMENT OR THAT IT WASN'T AGREED TO BY BOTH PARTIES IN WRITING. IN A SIMILAR NOTION. IF THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY'S POSITION IS THAT THERE IS NO AGREEMENT OR THAT THE AGREEMENT CANNOT BE REVALUED OR REOPENED IN THE SIMILAR CASE, THE CLOSURE OR THE CONCEPT TO CLOSE SIXTH STREET, THERE IS NO AGREEMENT THAT WHICH THE CITY HAS AGREED TO ON THIS. AND SO THE COUNCIL CAN CONSIDER TO RESCIND THEIR APPROVAL OF THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN TO CLOSE SIXTH STREET. I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT GIVEN THE RATIONALE OR THE ESTIMATION FROM THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY AND THE CRB--THAT'S THE CALIFORNIA RAIL BUILDERS--REGARDING THE COST OF THE PROJECT AND THAT THERE IS NO FUNDS AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE IMPACT, THE MITIGATION THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT THAT THE CITY OF WASCO AND OUR COMMUNITY IS DEALING WITH. I WOULD POINT THAT LAST YEAR, BOTH THE CALIFORNIA RAIL BUILDERS AND THEIR CEO, ANTONIO CAÑETE HAD PREPARED A CONFERENCE REPORT FOR THE AMERICAN RAILROAD ENGINEERING ASSOCIATION IN 2019 IN WHICH THEY SPECIFICALLY TALKED ABOUT THE PROJECT OF HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECT COMING TO WASCO. THEY PREPARED A PURELY TECHNICAL AND COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ABOUT THE DESIGN AND CHALLENGES AND THEN THEY TOUT OR I SHOULD SAY THEY ALSO BRAG ABOUT THE COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS IN WHICH THEY APPROACHED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES WITH THE WITH THE CITY OF WASCO, [00:20:03] SPECIFICALLY NOTING THAT THE REQUEST TO ELIMINATE AND SIXTH STREET RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT COST AND SCHEDULE SAVINGS FOR THE PROJECT. SO I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY WILL TOUT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE CONSIDERABLE COST SAVINGS WITH THE CLOSURE OF SIXTH STREET AND NOT PLAN FOR THAT CONSTRUCTION, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TELL THE CITY AND THE COUNCIL THAT THERE'S NO MONEY AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT THAT THE PROJECT IS HAVING ON THE CITY OF WASCO. IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I CAN SPECIFICALLY ANSWER. OK, LET ME READ THIS REAL QUICK, CITY MANAGER, AND THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER. IF YOU LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE YOUR RIGHT 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 THE NUMBER YOU'RE CALLING FROM WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN TO SPEAK. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY COMMENTS. WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED. MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. OKAY, AND DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA? WELL, I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVERSE THIS. HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY'RE NOT A GOOD PARTNER. YOU KNOW, THEY CREATED A LOT OF ISSUES FOR OUR CITY AND WE HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO THEM. BUT THEY ARE NOT BEING HELPFUL TO US, SO I WILL BE VOTING YES ON THIS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES? NO COMMENTS, THANK YOU. I CAN PROBABLY SAY A BUNCH OF STUFF, BUT I'M [INAUDIBLE] IT MYSELF, BECAUSE THE HIGH SPEED RAIL DID NOTHING TO [INAUDIBLE] SINCE DAY ONE. [INAUDIBLE] SAY IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. JIM [INAUDIBLE] WAS OUR CITY MANAGER, ACTING CITY MANAGER. WE WENT TO SACRAMENTO MORE THAN TWO TIMES, THREE TIMES TO GO TESTIFY HOW BADLY WE DID NOT WANT THEM DISSECTING OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THEY DIDN'T LISTEN TO US AND THEY JUST STUCK IT TO US. SO I HAVE NO SYMPATHY FOR THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AND I'VE BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT IT SINCE DAY ONE. SO, GILBERT, YOU'RE MAKING THAT IN A MOTION? YES, SO MOVED. OK, AND I'LL SECOND THAT ONE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S STICK IT TO 'EM TIME. CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL? APPROVED WITH THREE AYES WITH MAYOR CORTEZ AND COUNCILMAN GARCIA ABSENT. ITEM D ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE TWO ALL ELECTRIC UTILITY [12d. Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to purchase two (2) all-electric utility vehicles from Power Machinery Center and three (3) hybrid vehicles utilizing the State of California’s statewide contract for fleet vehicles in an amount not to exceed $146,000 and all vehicles compliant with the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District Public Benefit Grant Program. (Ortiz Hernandez)] VEHICLES FROM POWER MACHINERY CENTER AND THREE HYBRID VEHICLES UTILIZING THE STATE CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE CONTRACT FLEET VEHICLES IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS AND ALL VEHICLES COMPLIANT WITH THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT PUBLIC BENEFIT GRANT PROGRAM AND CITY MANAGER, YOU'RE ON-STAGE. THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR PRO-TEM, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. LAST YEAR, IN JULY LAST SUMMER, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO APPLY, SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY UNIFIED AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT AND THEIR PUBLIC BENEFIT GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE GRANT FUNDS TO GO TOWARDS NEW ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE PURCHASES. THE GRANT PROVIDES UP TO TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS PER VEHICLE, WITH A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER AGENCY PER YEAR. THE CITY OF WASCO WAS AWARDED THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND STAFF IS CONSIDERING REQUESTING APPROVAL TO PURCHASE TWO LOW SPEED UTILITY VEHICLES FOR THE WASTEWATER PLANT AND THREE PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLES FOR THE CITY'S OPERATIONS. AS YOU'RE AWARE, WE CURRENTLY HAVE SEVERAL HYBRID VEHICLES IN OUR FLEET, INCLUDING TWO FORD FUSION PLUG IN VEHICLES THAT ARE USED IN OUR OPERATIONS. UNDER THIS REQUEST, WE'RE LOOKING TO REPLACE SOME OUTDATED VEHICLES IN OUR WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT AND EQUIP THEM WITH TWO CLUB CARRYALL 510 LOW SPEED VEHICLE UTILITY VEHICLES. THE COST OF EACH PER UNIT IS EIGHTEEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SIXTY SIX DOLLARS AND THIRTY TWO CENTS, WITH THE GRANT PROCEEDS OF TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS PER VEHICLE, THIS PURCHASE [00:25:04] COMES AT A NET ZERO COST TO THE CITY FOR THOSE TWO VEHICLES, THE OTHER THREE VEHICLES THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED, FORD HAS DISCONTINUED PRODUCTION OF THEIR FORD FUSION VEHICLES, WHICH WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN OUR FLEET. AND WE UTILIZED SUCCESSFULLY WITH DISCONTINUANCE OF THAT MODEL WHERE YOU'VE HAD TO LOOK AT OTHER MODELS THAT WOULD MEET THE CRITERIA. THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE ELIGIBILITY LIST THAT'S INCLUDING YOUR COUNCIL PACKET, THE TOYOTA PRIUS PRIME LE IS ONE OF THOSE MODELS THAT'S ELIGIBLE. WE ALSO SAW THAT THERE ARE TWO SMALL SUV MODELS THAT ARE INCLUDED ON THAT ELIGIBILITY LIST THAT WE ARE LEANING TOWARDS AND CONSIDERING PROCURING IF THEY MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS AND IF WE'RE ABLE TO UTILIZE IN OUR OPERATIONS PART OF THE REASON WHY WE LIKED THE SMALLER SUV IS BECAUSE OF ITS HIGHER GROUND CLEARANCE, IT HAS GREATER UTILITY FOR THE CITY'S OPERATIONS. SO WE WOULD CONSIDER PROBABLY USING THEM IN AN AREA SUCH AS BUILDING INSPECTIONS OR CODE ENFORCEMENT WHERE A TRUCK MAY JUST BE A BIT TOO MUCH OVERKILL FOR THEIR OPERATIONS AND REPURPOSE THOSE VEHICLES IN OTHER AREAS OR UTILIZE JUST THE FORD ESCAPE TO ROUTE OTHER OPERATIONS IN THE CITY FOR BUSINESS, TRAVEL AND SERVICES. LOOKING AT PRICE WISE, THE TOYOTA PRIUS PRIME, WHICH WE KNOW IS ELIGIBLE PER VEHICLE COST UNDER THE STATE CONTRACT IS TWENTY EIGHT THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTY SEVEN DOLLARS AND NINETY THREE CENTS. THAT WOULD MAKE THREE VEHICLES AT JUST OVER EIGHTY SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS. THERE IS A FOUR MONTH DELIVERY TIME FRAME FROM THE TIME WE PLACED AT THE NET COST TO THE CITY AFTER THE YEAR DISTRICT'S GRANT FUNDS, THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE OVER TWENTY SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE FORD ESCAPE, WHICH WE RECEIVE QUOTES FOR IT, IT WOULD BE TWENTY TWENTY ONE FORD ESCAPE PLUG IN HYBRID. THE COST PER UNIT WAS THIRTY TWO THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY EIGHT DOLLARS AND SEVENTY SIX CENTS, MAKING THE TOTAL FOR THREE VEHICLES AND A LITTLE OVER NINETY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE DIFFERENCE IN NET COSTS IS THIRTY SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS. SO THERE'S ABOUT A TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOING TO A TOYOTA PRIUS PRIME VERSUS A FORD ESCAPE, BUT IN STAFF'S OPINION, THE FORD ESCAPE WOULD BE MUCH MORE BENEFICIAL FOR OTHER OPERATIONS SUCH AS PUBLIC WORKS, CODE ENFORCEMENT AND BUILDING INSPECTION. WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE FORD ESCAPE HYBRID VERSION THAT'S USED IN PUBLIC WORKS FOR INSPECTIONS AND OTHER PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION MATTERS. SO, I CAN ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT I CAN ADDRESS, I WOULD SAY THIS IS ALSO WE'RE PROCURING THIS UNDER THE STATE CONTRACT, THE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO ISSUE A REQUEST FOR BIDS AND [INAUDIBLE] BIDS, WHICH WOULD DELAY THE PROCESS AND ALSO WOULD HAVE SOME ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO NAVIGATE IN MAKING SURE THAT THE VEHICLE THAT IS BEING BID IS CONFORMS TO THE GRANT REQUIREMENTS WITH THE AIR DISTRICT. THANK YOU, DAN. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED 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 USING YOUR TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD. YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON BY THE NUMBER YOU'RE CALLING FROM WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN TO SPEAK. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENT. WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED. AT THIS TIME. MADAM, CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS, MAYOR PRO-TEM. WE'LL ENTERTAIN COMMENTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA. THANK YOU, MA'AM. I THINK WE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND USE THE STATE PROCUREMENT PROGRAM RATHER THAN REQUIRING BIDS AND ALSO I SUPPORT THE STAFF'S PROPOSAL TO BUY THE SUVS. I THINK THEY WOULD BE MORE USEFUL TO THE CITY. SO AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. WE SHOULD BE DOING AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE BECAUSE THIS IS A GREAT SAVINGS TO OUR CITY WHEN WE BUY THIS VEHICLE THROUGH THESE GRANTS. THANK YOU. THANKS, GILBERT. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES. I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT EMAILING MY QUESTION TO STAFF EARLIER, BUT MY QUESTION IS WHERE WOULD WE TAKE THESE VEHICLES FOR SERVICING OR REPAIRS? IF THERE'S ANY SERVICE ITEMS THAT OUR MECHANICS CAN'T SERVICE ON, THEY WOULD LIKELY BE SERVICED AT THE LOCAL FORD OR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE WE GO WITH. SO THAT'S LOCALLY, AS IN BAKERSFIELD? CORRECT. WE'RE ALSO INVESTIGATING THE AIR DISTRICT ALSO HAS TRAINING FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR [00:30:07] TRAINING OUR MECHANICS ON SPECIFIC ITEMS RELATED TO HYBRID VEHICLES. SO WE'RE PURSUING THAT AND LOOKING AT THAT IN THE FUTURE. THIS PAST YEAR WITH COVID A LOT OF THE TREES THAT WERE AVAILABLE WERE OUT OF STATE. AND SO IT WASN'T A POSSIBILITY. BUT AS THINGS HOPEFULLY CHANGE IN THE NEAR FUTURE WITH COVID AND RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE, WE'RE GOING TO BE APPLYING FOR SOME OF THOSE TRAINING FUNDS FROM THE AIR DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO TRAIN OUR CURRENT MECHANICS [INAUDIBLE] OF THE VEHICLES. OK, GREAT. I THINK THE TRAINING WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO THE CITY AND I WAS JUST CONCERNED ABOUT EXCESSIVE DOWNTIME IN CASE THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLES. THIS WILL CUT THAT TIME DOWN. THANK YOU. I WOULD ADD, FORTUNATELY, WITH THE CURRENT FLEET OF HYBRID VEHICLES THAT WE HAVE, INCLUDING TO PLUG IN, TO MY RECOLLECTION, THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY MAJOR ISSUES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT DOWNTIME. AND DANIEL, ON THIS GRANT, ARE THERE ANY TRUCKS THAT WE PURCHASED, SO ANY TRUCKS AVAILABLE USING THIS GRANT? THEY DO LIST A TRUCK AND I THINK IT'S A--THEY DON'T SPECIFY THE MODEL. IT REFERENCES A CONVERSION KIT THAT WOULD COME TYPICALLY ON, I BELIEVE, F250 TRUCKS. I LOOKED AT THE NEAREST VENDOR. I COULDN'T GET SPECIFIC DETAILS ON WHAT THE COST IS OR WHAT THE SPECIFICS WERE ON THAT. SO I DO UNDERSTAND THAT FORD IS COMING OUT WITH AN ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLE OR ALL ELECTRIC TRUCK ON THEIR F150 BASED MODEL THAT'S COMING OUT IN TWENTY, TWENTY ONE. SO I WOULD IMAGINE IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO THAT HOPEFULLY WOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE LIST OF ELIGIBLE VEHICLES AT THE GRANTS FROM THE AIR DISTRICTS CAN BE CAN BE APPLIED TO. THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING IS IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS IN OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT NOW THAT [INAUDIBLE] ASKING FOR A TRUCK OR WANTING A TRUCK AND THE SUPERVISORS ARE HAVING TO SHARE TRUCKS AND WE HAVE STAFF THAT ARE OUT, A TRUCK WOULD BE BETTER FOR HER OR SHOULD BE BETTER FOR HER RIGHT NOW. THAT WAY SHE CAN LET THE SUPERVISORS DO THEIR JOB AS NEEDED. I WISH WE CAN GET A TRUCK OR SOMETHING FOR HER SO WE'RE NOT DISRUPTING THROUGH THIS GRANT, DISRUPTING SUPERVISORS AND THEIR POSITIONS WITH OUR STAFFS. I LIKE THIS PROGRAM. I HOPE THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING IN THAT CALIBER. WE JUST COMPLETED A VEHICLE INVENTORY LIST. AND I MEAN, UNFORTUNATELY, I WOULD BE HONEST IN SAYING THAT WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY, I THINK, CLOSE TO ONE VEHICLE PER PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE IN SOME CASES DEPENDING ON. SO BUT THE THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF DOES USE ONE OF THE CURRENT PLUG IN FORD FUSIONS THAT ARE IN THE FLEET, AS WELL AS THE OTHER FORD ESCAPE HYBRID THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE FLEET AS WELL. AND SO IN TERMS OF TRUCKS, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT BETTER UTILIZATION OF OUR CURRENT FLEET AND WE'LL ALSO REQUIRE AT SOME POINT RETIRING SOME OF OUR OLDER TRUCKS THAT ARE WORN OUT, THAT HAVE SEATS THAT ARE NONEXISTING IN SOME CASES. AND SO BUT IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL NUMBER OF FLEET, WE CURRENTLY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF VEHICLES AVAILABLE, ESSENTIALLY ONE PER EMPLOYEE IN SOME CASES DEPENDING ON WHICH GROUP. OK, WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MOVE TO APPROVE, MAYOR PRO-TEM. THANK YOU, GILBERT. POLLARES SECONDS. THANK YOU, JOHN. ENTERTAIN A MOTION BY ROLL CALL. THE MOTION IS APPROVED WITH THREE AYES WITH MAYOR CORTEZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER GARCÍA. ITEM 13, THE REPORTS FROM SHERIFF, HE IS ABSENT TODAY. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. GO TO [INAUDIBLE] TEAM REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER DANIEL. [14) REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER] MAYOR PRO-TEM [INAUDIBLE] THE COUNCIL. JUST A COUPLE OF UPDATES. ONE WITH REGARDS TO THE SECURITY GUARD AT THE FARM LABOR HOUSING PROPERTY IN LINE WITH COUNCIL'S DIRECTION LAST MONTH. THE SERVICES HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED. HIS LAST DAY WAS YESTERDAY. AND SO WE'VE DISCONTINUED THE SECURITY GUARD PRESENCE AT THE FARM LABOR HOUSING PROPERTY. I BELIEVE THERE ARE TWO TENANTS REMAINING THAT THE WASCO HOUSING AUTHORITY IS WORKING WITH TO TRY TO RELOCATE IN THAT PROCESS. [00:35:01] STAFF IS ALSO OUR PUBLIC WORKS STAFF IS CURRENTLY PREPARING SPECIFICATIONS AND WILL BE PUTTING OUT A BID FOR FENCING OF THE PROPERTY. FENCING OF THE PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE NEEDED IN ORDER TO SECURE IT AND ALSO TO AVOID ANY ISSUES THAT WOULD COME ABOUT FROM TRANSIENTS OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS ENTERING THE PROPERTY AND CAUSING DAMAGE OR OTHER UNWANTED ACTIONS. JUST THE OTHER WEEKEND, IT WAS A GROUP OF THREE TO FOUR YOUNG ADULTS THAT WERE WALKING THROUGH THE PROPERTY AND SUBSEQUENTLY GOT INTO A VEHICLE AND DROVE OFF AFTER THEY WERE BEING FOLLOWED BY CITY STAFF, MAKING SURE THAT THEY LEFT THE PROPERTY. SO WE NEED TO SECURE THAT PROPERTY WITH A FENCE AT A MINIMUM AS WE WAIT AND PURSUE WHAT OPTIONS WE HAVE FOR DEMOLITION AND HOPE THAT THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY WILL MITIGATE THE ISSUE THAT WE REQUESTED OF THEM. THE COST FOR THE FENCE IS SOMETHING THAT WAS UNFORTUNATELY, I BELIEVE, I LEFT OUT OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. SO IT'LL BE SUBJECT TO A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER IN THE FUTURE. OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW. ALL RIGHT, DAN, THANKS. [INAUDIBLE] FROM CITY COUNCIL GILBERT. [15) REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL] THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO-TEM. I HAVE THREE ITEMS [INAUDIBLE] ITEM 12A, BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT VOTING DELEGATES AND THE [INAUDIBLE], THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO DISCUSS THE ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE VOTED ON AHEAD OF THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES. I'VE BEEN A VOTING DELEGATE BEFORE AND I VOTED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS BEST. AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT IT'S INTENDED TO BE. IT'S INTENDED TO BE A REFLECTION OF THE COUNCIL'S WISHES. SO FOR THE FUTURE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THESE ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE VOTED ON BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE COUNCIL SO THE COUNCIL CAN COME TO A CONSENSUS AND THEN THE DELEGATE OR THE ALTERNATIVE CAN VOTE ON THEM ACCORDING TO THE COUNCIL'S WISHES. REGARDING THE SMALL BUSINESS, GRANT, I'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. WE WENT AHEAD AND MET TO DISCUSS THE GRANTS AND WE REMOVED LANGUAGE PERTAINING TO FULL TIME EMPLOYEES. SO WE CHANGED THE AMOUNT TO BE GRANTED AND THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES NEEDED TO QUALIFY. WE WENT WITH THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR UP TO 10 EMPLOYEES AND FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM ELEVEN EMPLOYEES TO TWENTY FIVE. I THINK THIS WILL ENSURE THAT MORE OF OUR BUSINESSES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT MONEY. BEFORE IT WAS A THOUSAND DOLLARS AND FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. SO WE CHANGED THAT. THE FINAL LANGUAGE THAT WILL ENSURE THAT OUR SMALL MOM AND POP BUSINESSES ARE THE ONES THAT BENEFIT FROM THE GRANTS IS STILL BEING WORKED OUT AND IT WILL BE DONE HOPEFULLY VERY SHORTLY. I ALSO HAVE A REQUEST THAT I'VE ADDRESSED THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, THE [INAUDIBLE]. AND THE LAST TIME I ADDRESSED IT, THEY GAVE ME A BRIEF ANSWER, BUT THEY ASKED ME TO ADDRESS IT WITH STAFF. AND SO, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ASKED CALTRANS TO PROVIDE PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS, HIGHWAY 46 AND POPLAR, AS WELL AS 8TH STREET AND HIGHWAY FORTY THREE, WHICH IS THAT STREET, AND SO IF STAFF COULD PLEASE PROVIDE AN UPDATE AS TO WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO ON THE NEXT MEETING, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I KNOW THAT THEY INTEND TO PUT A BEACON AT HIGHWAY FORTY SIX AND POPLAR, BUT I LIKE TO HAVE MORE DETAILS AS TO WHEN THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AGAIN, THEY TOLD ME I THINK IT WAS NOVEMBER, BUT I WANT TO KNOW MORE DETAILS ABOUT. IF YOU COULD, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND THAT'S IT FOR ME, MAYOR PRO-TEM, THANK YOU. THANKS, GILBERT. JOHN. NO COMMENTS TONIGHT, THANK YOU. OK, I HAVE ONE COMMENT REGARDING THE DOWNTOWN 7TH STREET. I WAS AT ONE OF THE STORES OVER THE WEEKEND, AND I WAS APPROACHED BY A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO OWNED BUSINESSES THERE. AND THEY'RE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE PLANNERS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF THEIR THEIR BUSINESSES. THEY SAID THEY HAD HEARD THAT THERE WERE GOING TO CEMENT THEM OVER AND THEY WEREN'T VERY HAPPY WITH THAT. WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT? MAYBE WE COULD DISCUSS THAT IN OUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO TACKLE THOSE TREE BARRIERS, BECAUSE FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WE HAVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES UNDER THERE AND WE HAVE WATER LINES UNDER THERE. SO IF WE DO CEMENT THEM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BIGGER ISSUES DOWN THE LINE OR WHOEVER IS IN THE COUNCIL TO ADDRESS THAT. THIS WOULD BE A GOOD PLAN. MAYOR PRO-TEM, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WE WERE HOPING TO BRING [00:40:05] BACK THE NEXT MEETING OR NEXT MONTH AS PART OF A LARGER, I GUESS, DOWNTOWN PLAN FOR STREETSCAPE AND SIDEWALK, BUT WILL AGENDIZE THAT. AND I WISH SOMEONE COULD GO TO THE CITY OF KINGSBURG AND LOOK AT THEIR DOWNTOWN AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE GOING. KINGSBURG HAS THEIR ACT TOGETHER FOR THEIR DOWNTOWN. THE BUSINESS OWNERS TAKE OWNERSHIP IN THOSE PLANNERS AND THEY TAKE CARE OF THEM. AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL. I REALLY ENCOURAGE SOMEONE TO GO TO THAT. WE CAN LOOK AT THAT BETTER PERSPECTIVE BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TONIGHT. I GUESS WE'LL RECESS THIS AND GO TO A CLOSED SESSION. OR MADAM CLERK, YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? I'M SORRY I MISSED YOU, TOO. NO, NO, I HAVE NO COMMENT. I'M NOT SURE ARE YOU GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION. [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE A CLOSED SESSION. THE ITEM THAT WAS ORIGINALLY FOR A CLOSED SESSION WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S URGENT. IF YOU WANT TO DEFER THAT TO THE NEXT MEETING, YOU CAN. WE CAN WAIT TILL NEXT MEETING THAT WAY WE HAVE A FULL COUNCIL THERE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES. I'M FINE WITH THAT. DO WE NEED A MOTION OR JUST WANT TO TABLE IT? WELL, YOU NEED COUNCIL APPROVAL. IF THEY DON'T OBJECT, YOU CAN TABLE IT. GILBERT, YOU WANT TO HOLD OFF, OR JUST WANT TO ADDRESS IT? NO OBJECTION. I THINK IF STAFF DOESN'T HAVE A, YOU KNOW, HURRY TO GET THIS, THEN I CAN WAIT. DO YOU MAKE THAT INTO A MOTION? WE NEED A SECOND? YES. YES. OK, WE'LL DO A ROLL CALL ON IT. [INAUDIBLE] AN ACTION JUST [INAUDIBLE] OKAY, WE'LL TABLE IT, I'M FINE WITH THAT. MAYOR PRO-TEM, I WONDER IF OTHER STAFF MEMBERS MIGHT HAVE ANY COMMENTS THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO'S ON. [INAUDIBLE]. OK ANYWAY. SO ARE WE GOOD TO LEAVE? YOU'RE GOOD TO LEAVE. MOTION TO ADJOURN. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. YOU AND I. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.