Oct 06, 2020 City Council

MR. SULLIVAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS I KNOW WE HAVE YOU ON.

WELL, AT THIS MOMENT, I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY, BUT I'M WILLING TO ASK AND OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT MR. MAYOR OR THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO AGAIN, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS OR NO OTHER ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.

MIKE, IF MAYOR, I CAN ASK MR. SULLIVAN A QUESTION. MIKE, DO YOU KNOW, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE PENDING THAT CERTIS HAS WITH HIGH SPEED RAIL THAT YOU GUYS ARE NAVIGATING THROUGH AS IT PERTAINS TO THE PROPERTIES YOU'RE DEALING WITH? WE ARE CURRENTLY STILL WORKING WITH THE HIGH SPEED RAIL ON THE RELOCATION ENTITLEMENT PAYMENTS FOR THE RELOCATION OF THE PERSONAL PROPERTY THAT WAS LOCATED WITHIN THE TAKE AREA, ACQUIRED BY HIGH SPEED RAIL AND SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL WORK THAT HAD TO BE DONE ON THE REMAINING CAMPUS TO PLACE THE PERSONAL PROPERTY.

ALL REAL ESTATE ISSUES, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ARE COMPLETE.

AND OUT OF CURIOSITY, FOR THE COUNCIL'S PERSPECTIVE AND INFORMATION, I DON'T KNOW, IF [INAUDIBLE] CAN ANSWER, BUT WHAT'S BEEN THE HIGH SPEED RAILS IMPACT ON SERVICES OPERATIONS, CLEARLY WITH THE VACATION OF THE RIGHT OF WAY AND THERE'S A NEED FOR SERVICES TO ADAPT YOUR OPERATIONS.

AND SO WANT TO KIND OF JUST PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE FOR THE COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND THAT PIECE. [INAUDIBLE].

SURE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS AFFECTED, OBVIOUSLY, IS PRIOR TO THE ACQUISITION BY THE CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY, THE CAMPUS WAS FAIRLY CLOSED EXCEPT FOR THE ALLEYS BETWEEN FOURTH AND SIXTH AS A RESULT OF THE ACQUISITION, CERTIS PURCHASED THE PROPERTY FOR THE NEW WAREHOUSE.

YOU KNOW WHERE THAT IS CONSTRUCTED? IT'S JUST WEST OF THE ALLEY BETWEEN FOURTH AND FIFTH STREET, WHICH THEY HAD TO BUILD IN ORDER TO STORE THEIR MATERIALS THAT THEY LOST FROM THE THREE WAREHOUSES TAKEN BY THE HIGH SPEED RAIL SO THAT ALL OF THAT INVENTORY IN THERE WAS MOVED INTO THE WAREHOUSE.

AND THEN THE OTHERS OPENED STORAGE AREA WHERE ALL THE INVENTORY AND OTHER PALLETS AND MATERIALS WERE STORED HAD TO BE STORED ON THE REMAINING CERTIS CAMPUS, WHICH REQUIRED MORE SPACE. BECAUSE WHAT WAS TAKEN AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE AERIAL THAT YOU CAN SEE, THE WHOLE AREA TAKEN WAS EAST OF G STREET THERE ALL THE WAY FROM FOURTH TO SIXTH.

AND PRIOR TO THE TAKING, G STREET WAS USED BY CERTIS AS AN ACCESS WAY FOR A TRACTOR TRAILER RIGS TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE PROPERTY.

SO WE DID WORK WITH THE CITY.

AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE CITY DID ABANDON THAT PORTION OF G STREET, AND 5TH STREET.

SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS GET THIS ABANDONMENT TO CLOSE THE CAMPUS FOR SECURITY PURPOSES SO PEOPLE JUST CAN'T WANDER IN AND OUT, BECAUSE AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A GARAGE OR A WAREHOUSE DOOR OPENING ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE WAREHOUSE BUILDING AND OPENS INTO THE ALLEY. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A GATE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THAT THAT OPENS UP INTO THE CERTIS CAMPUS.

SO THIS WOULD ALLOW CERTIS TO SECURE THAT PROPERTY AND PROTECT IT.

THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION MIKE.

THANK YOU. WE'LL ENTERTAIN COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS, ONE BY ONE.

[00:20:03]

WE WILL START WITH MEMBER GARCIA.

YES, MAYOR THANK YOU.

I MEAN, I SUPPORT THE VACANCY.

I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A WHILE AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO MAKE IT MAKE IT EASIER FOR OUR BUSINESSES AS A SPEED RAIL COMES TO THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S ALL I GOT.

ALL RIGHT THANK YOU. MEMBER PALLARES.

NO COMMENTS FROM ME, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MEMBER REYNA. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT PART OF THE AGREEMENT IS THAT CERTIS WILL BE IN CHARGE OF MAINTAINING ANY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL REMAIN IN THAT VACATED AREA SO IN CASE THE PUBLIC WANTS TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THE CITY WAS IN CHARGE OF BEFORE, BUT NOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF IT.

AM I CORRECT, DANIEL? YEAH.

SO BASICALLY THOSE ESSENTIALLY THAT WATER MAIN AND THAT SEWER MAIN THAT'S IN THAT ALLEY ESSENTIALLY NOW BECOMES A SERVICE LINE FOR CERTIS AND SO BECOMES THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN AND THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY BEGINS AND ENDS AT THE END OF THAT ALLEY AND THOSE RIGHT OF WAYS. OKAY. AND WILL WE STILL HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF MONITORING DISCHARGE.

WE WILL THAT WAS SOMETHING WE WORKED OUT AS PART OF THE ORIGINAL VACATION OF G STREET.

THANK YOU. I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

I WILL SUPPORT THIS.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR MY POSITION.

I WANT TO THANK AGAIN CERTIS AND OUR STAFF FOR WORKING TOGETHER, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS A CLOSE TO TWO AND A HALF YEAR PROJECT NOW SINCE DANIEL CAME ON, I BELIEVE IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PROJECTS HE WAS DEALT AT THE CITY.

SO I WANT TO THANK CERTIS FOR BEING PATIENT.

SO MAKE SURE WE GOT THIS RIGHT.

AGAIN I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

MOVE TO APPROVE MAYOR THIS IS REYNA.

ALL RIGHT MEMBER REYNA MOTION IS THERE A SECOND.

GARCIA WILL SECOND. OK, GARCIA SECOND.

WE WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A VOTE BY ROLL-CALL.

MADAM CLERK.

MAYOR CORTEZ. YES.

AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES.

PALLARES AYE.

YES. MOTION BY REYNA, SECOND BY GARCIA.

TO APPROVE ITEM 10 A.

MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA ABSENT.

MAYOR IF I MAY INTERJECT FOR A MINUTE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, I MEAN, FOR THE CITY CLERK TO REFLECT IN THE MINUTES THAT THE CONDITIONS WERE INCLUDED IN THE ADOPTION WERE THOSE THAT WERE REFLECTED ON THE POWERPOINT THAT WAS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN.

WE WILL REFLECT IY ON THE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ITEM 11, WE HAVE NO DEFERRED BUSINESS, ITEM 12 NEW BUSINESS.

[12) a. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to Sign and File for and on Behalf of the City of Wasco, a Financial Assistance Application for a Financing Agreement from the State Water Resources Control Board for the Planning, Design, and Construction of the Water System Improvements and Treatment Project in the Amount of $25,868,862.00 (Bishop)]

12 A ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO SIGN AND FILE FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF WASCO, A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION FOR A FINANCING AGREEMENT FROM THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD FOR THE PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS AND TREATMENT PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,868,862.00 DOLLARS.

DIRECTOR BISHOP.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES. OK, SO OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR OR SO, STAFF HAS WORKED WITH COUNCIL AND CITY ENGINEERS ON IDENTIFYING NECESSARY WATER PROJECTS TO IMPROVE THE CITY'S WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT MUST MOVE FORWARD IN ORDER TO ENSURE A HEALTHY SYSTEM, INCLUDE A WATER STORAGE TANK WITH A BOOSTER PUMP STATION FOUR REPLACEMENT WELLS.

AND THEN ONE, TWO, THREE TCP TREATMENT AT WELL 12.

AND WE'VE ALSO DISCUSSED ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE TO IMPROVE OUR WATER METER NEEDS AND OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE.

IN ORDER TO MOVE THESE PROJECTS FORWARD STAFF HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY TO IDENTIFY VIABLE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THESE PROJECTS.

STAFF DID IDENTIFY THE STATE REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM AS A VIABLE FUNDING SOURCE.

THE STATE REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM FINANCES INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO MITIGATE DRINKING WATER RISKS AND SUPPORTS THE HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER.

THE PROGRAM PRIORITIZES FINANCING FOR PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS MOST SERIOUS HUMAN HEALTH RISKS ARE NECESSARY FOR COMPLYING WITH SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT AND ASSISTS PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS MOST IN NEED ON A PER HOUSEHOLD BASIS.

[00:25:04]

THE FUND HAS ALSO PREVIOUSLY FUNDED INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS SUCH AS AMI.

AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DIVISION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE REPRESENTATIVES, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CITY OF WASCO IS AN EXTENDED SMALL WATER SYSTEM SERVING A SEVERELY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY. SO THIS MAKES US ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT GRANT FOR PRINCIPAL LOAN FORGIVENESS ON A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS PER SERVICE CONNECTION FOR ELIGIBLE COSTS.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE A LITTLE OVER FIVE THOUSAND SERVICE CONNECTIONS.

THE ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE FOR THE LOAN PORTION OF THE FUNDS IS DEPENDENT ON WATER RATES AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME.

DEPENDING ON WHERE WE FALL, WE CAN BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANYWHERE FROM 0 TO 1.4 PERCENT APR FOR THE LOAN PORTION OF THIS FUNDING SOURCE.

STAFF COORDINATED A PRELIMINARY APPLICATION SUBMISSION WITH DEE JASPAR AND ASSOCIATES WHO IS OUR ON-CALL WATER SERVICES ENGINEER FOR CONSTRUCTION COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRILLING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE FOUR REPLACEMENT WELLS.

THE INSTALLATION OF THE ONE TWO THREE TCP TREATMENT AT WELL TWELVE AND THE NECESSARY WATER STORAGE AND ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE TO OUR WATER METERS.

WE DID REQUEST TWENTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS, EIGHT HUNDRED AND SIXTY [INAUDIBLE] THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND SIXTY TWO DOLLARS.

ALTHOUGH THIS IS ONE FEASIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR FUNDING THE AVERAGE TIME TO ENTER INTO A FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE WATER BOARD IS APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED COMPLETE.

THE CITY HAS THE OPTION TO SUBMIT FOR BOTH PLANNING OR CONSTRUCTION FUNDING.

BECAUSE OF THE TIME IT TAKES TO ENTER INTO A FUNDING AGREEMENT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THE CITY PROCEED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION, AS WE HAVE DONE LAST WEEK. AND THIS MEANS THAT THE CITY WILL INCUR ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROPERTY ACQUISITION, PRELIMINARY DESIGN, PLANNING AND ANY ENVIRONMENTAL WORK ASSOCIATED WITH THESE PROJECTS. ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS [INAUDIBLE] THAT THE CITY DID UTILIZE DURING THIS PROCESS, IS THAT THE APPLICATION WILL BE REVIEWED FOR ALL POSSIBLE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY RESPONSIBLE STATE AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, THE STATE WATER BOARD AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

STAFF IS REQUESTING THE COUNCIL ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO SIGN AND FILE FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF WASCO A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION WITH THE STATE REVOLVING FUND.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.

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

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISED HAND BUTTON TO REQUEST TO SPEAK. IF YOU ARE 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 BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.

AT THIS TIME DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MADAM CLERK.

JUST A MOMENT MAYOR. NO, THERE ARE NONE.

MAYOR CORTEZ. NO PROBLEM.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL GO ON TO COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS.

WE WILL START WITH MEMBER GARCIA.

YEAH, I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT OPTION, AND I WAS EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT IT.

NOW, IS THIS GOING TO BE A LOAN OR IS IT IN FACT A GRANT? IS THAT RIGHT? IT DEPENDS WHAT THEY DETERMINE AT THE END.

OKAY. OK, THAT'S FINE.

THAT'S ALL I REALLY JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF IT WAS GOING TO BE A LOAN AND WE'LL CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE GET THERE, SHOULD IT BECOME A LOAN.

THANK YOU, MEMBER PALLARES.

NO COMMENTS, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MEMBER REYNA.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO.

OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS AGING OR IT'S AGED AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AND NEW ONES NEED TO BE DRILLED. AND SO THIS IS A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IF WE GET THE LOAN, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAID OVER A PERIOD OF 30 YEARS.

AND IT IS LIKELY THAT A LARGE PORTION OF IT COULD BE FORGIVEN.

BUT I WANT TO ALSO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT NOT TOO LONG AGO, OUR CONGRESSMAN, T.J.

COX, INTRODUCED TWO BILLS THAT PASSED AND ONE OF THEM BEING H.R.

5347, THE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY DRINKING WATER ASSISTANCE ACT, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FOR SUPPORT FOR PROVIDING CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

SO HOPEFULLY WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TAP ON TO SOME OF THOSE MONIES AS WELL THAT WERE NOT MENTIONED ON THIS PRESENTATION, I DON'T THINK.

[00:30:03]

AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER AVENUE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET SOME MONEY, TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THIS INFRASTRUCTURE BUILDING THAT WE NEED.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THAT'S ALL FOR ME.

THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO COMMENT ON THE FACT THAT THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO SOME OF THE DEFICIENCIES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND HAVE FOUND OUT RECENTLY WITHIN THE CITY OF WASCO'S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

THIS WILL MOVE FORWARD AND GETTING THE THE WATER STORAGE TANKS PRIORITIZED AND BUILT.

SO, AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH AND GETS IT DONE.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

I KNOW IT TOOK A LOT OF TIME TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.

BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND I'M QUITE PLEASED TO SEE THIS.

AND WHAT STAFF PUT TOGETHER TO MOVE US FORWARD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

ALRIGHTY IS THERE ARE SECOND.

I'LL SECOND MAYOR. ALL RIGHT, THAT'S MEMBER GARCIA AND WE'LL ENTERTAIN A VOTE BY ROLL-CALL. MADAM CLERK.

MAYOR CORTEZ.

A RESOUNDING YES.

HECK YES. DOES THAT BEAT THE MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES.

JUST TEASING.

MOTION BY REYNA SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 12 A.

YES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA ABSENT.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. ITEM B ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE

[12) b. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Approve to Sell, Auction, or Disposition of Obsolete and Surplus Property. (Bishop)]

TO SELL AUCTION OR DISPOSITION OF OBSOLETE AND SURPLUS PROPERTY.

DIRECTOR BISHOP. MAYOR CORTEZ, I AM GOING TO DEFER THIS TO OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR SOBOLEWSKI . OK, GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. CAN YOU HEAR ME? AND WE CAN.

THANK YOU. OK, WONDERFUL.

GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS.

TONIGHT, WE PRESENT TO YOU TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE OR SELL AUCTION DISPOSITION OF OBSOLETE AND SURPLUS PROPERTY.

PER MUNICIPAL CODE 2.60180 DISPOSITION OF THE OBSOLETE [INAUDIBLE] DETAILS.

AS FAR AS READ OFF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, WE'LL START OFF WITH THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THE STAFF REPORT.

THE STAFF HAS IDENTIFIED VARIOUS RESOURCES, NO LONGER MEETING THE SERVICEABILITY NEEDS, OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES OR THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED TO INCLUDE OPERABLE AND INOPERABLE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN OUT OF SERVICE OR CAN NO LONGER SUPPORT PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS. THE CITY OF WASCO PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR MEASURE X FUNDING FOR FISCAL YEAR TWENTY TWENTY ONE BUDGET TO PURCHASE NEW SMALL FLEET VEHICLES TO BEGIN REPLACING OLDER, SMALL FLEET VEHICLES THAT ARE NO LONGER FEASIBLE TO MAINTAIN OR OPERATE.

STAFF ORIGINALLY PERFORMED AN INVENTORY ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY CITY VEHICLES IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER, IN DOING SO, STAFF IDENTIFIED THAT A NUMBER OF VEHICLES ALMOST MATCHED THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS.

AND WHAT THAT TRANSLATES TO IS BASICALLY WE FOUND THAT WE WERE ALMOST ON A ONE FOR ONE BASIS PER VEHICLE PER INDIVIDUAL.

SO BEFORE YOU, YOU SEE THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION THAT OUR CITY MANAGER HAS PULLED UP FOR US.

OUR INITIAL OBJECTIVE WITH ALL OF THIS WAS TO REMOVE AND REPLACE, OF COURSE, AGING OLDER VEHICLES, ONE FOR ONE, AND ESTABLISH A HEALTHY VEHICLE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.

HOWEVER, THINGS HAVE CHANGED, OF COURSE, WITH COVID AND OUR VIEWS OF HOW TO PERHAPS BE MORE CONSERVATIVE. WE WENT TO A DIFFERENT OR A NEWER OBJECTIVE TO POSSIBLY REDUCE THE VEHICLE INVENTORY.

THAT ARE NO LONGER FEASIBLE, OR TO RETAIN, OPERATE OR EVEN MAINTAIN.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE FOUND, THE TOP THREE DETERMINATIONS THAT WE CONCLUDED OUT OF THIS ANALYSIS WERE STAFF DISCOVERED A LARGE INVENTORY OF SMALL FLEET, ALMOST EQUIVALENT, AGAIN, TO THE NUMBER OF STAFF IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

NUMBER TWO, PUBLIC WORKS CURRENTLY HAS SIX DUMP TRUCKS IN INVENTORY WITH ONLY TWO BEING UTILIZED. FOUR OF THOSE SIX DUMP TRUCKS ARE ON THE VERGE OF BEING UNSERVICEABLE, OR ARE

[00:35:08]

UNSERVICEABLE AT THIS TIME AT A 30 YEAR MARK.

AND IT WOULD TAKE A LOT TO TO GET THOSE UP AND RUNNING.

AND NUMBER THREE, NO LONGER PROVIDING A RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR VEHICLES MORE THAN TWENTY FIVE YEARS OLD.

AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE DUMP TRUCKS THE OLD DUMP TRUCKS THAT WE FOUND.

AFTER MUCH CONSIDERATION, AN ANALYSIS OF THE OPERATION STAFF HAS REALIZED THAT DEFERRING THE PURCHASE OF NEW SMALL FLEET VEHICLES, PERHAPS UNTIL FISCAL YEAR TWENTY, TWENTY TWO OR LONGER IS A MORE FEASIBLE OPTION THAN SPENDING MEASURE X FUNDS TO REPLACE VEHICLES ON A ONE FOR ONE BASIS. STAFF MEMBERS CURRENTLY WORK IN PAIRS OF TWO AND RIDE IN ONE VEHICLE TO THEIR JOB SITE. EACH DEPARTMENT ALSO HAS SPECIALTY VEHICLES THAT THEY DO UTILIZE FOR DAILY OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, DISPLACING STAFF MEMBERS OUT OF TRUCKS DEPENDING ON THEIR WORKLOAD FOR THE DAY OF COURSE, THIS COULD CAUSE CONGESTION WITHIN THE PUBLIC WORKS YARD. I THINK THE FIRST SLIDE THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAD PULLED UP IS A GOOD OVERVIEW OF WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU LOOK AT ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THAT SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE CURRENT PUBLIC WORKS, PARKING, CONGESTED PARKING AREA.

THE STREETS DEPARTMENT IS PRIMARILY OUR MOST HEAVILY UTILIZED DEPARTMENT AS FAR AS VEHICLES UTILIZING A PATCH TRUCK TO PERFORM POTHOLE PATCHING, CRACKS SEALING.

THERE'S ALSO A LIFT TRUCK TO PERFORM LINING REPAIRS AND PAINT TRUCK FOR TO MAINTAIN MARKINGS IN CROSSWALKS.

THE WATER DEPARTMENT DOES UTILIZE SERVICE TRUCKS AND A VACUUM EXCAVATOR TO PERFORM LEAK REPAIRS. LEAKS ARE REPAIRED IN TEAMS OF TWO OR THREE MEMBERS.

DEPENDING ON THE LEAK SIZE.

THE WATER DEPARTMENT HAS THE HEAVIEST VEHICLE USAGE DURING RE-READ METERS.

ABOUT ONE WEEK EACH MONTH THEY GO OUT TO DO THEIR REREADS.

IN THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT MOSTLY UTILIZES REFUSE TRUCKS TO PERFORM THEIR DAILY TASKS.

SO PRIMARILY NINETY FIVE PERCENT OF THOSE DUTIES ARE PERFORMED WITHIN SPECIALTY REFUSE VEHICLE. IT WILL UTILIZE A FLATBED THAT THEY MAY UTILIZE A FLATBED TO DELIVER REFUSE BINS TO NEW AND EXISTING CUSTOMERS OR AS NEEDED TO CLEAN ANY OTHER BULKY WASTE OR CLEAN UP, BULKY WASTE AS NEEDED.

THERE IS A ROLL OFF TRUCK, ALSO A SPECIALTY VEHICLE THAT'S OFTEN UTILIZED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK TO ENSURE PROPER DUMPING OF THE EXISTING COMMUNITY RECYCLE BINS AND HAULING OF THE GREEN WASTE OF WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT OPERATORS TYPICALLY REMAIN AT THE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, SO THEY DON'T DO MUCH IN THE WAY OF TRAVERSING ACROSS THE CITY UNLESS THEY NEED TO OBTAIN THE FLUID SAMPLES FROM INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGE USERS, RESPOND TO A RESIDENT CONCERN, OR PERHAPS TO MAINTAIN STATIONS OR CLEAN EXISTING SEWER LINES.

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS THREE VEHICLES IN INVENTORY.

SO THERE ARE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO CALL THOSE SPARES, THAT WOULD BE FINE.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO THREE VEHICLES IN INVENTORY FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION, AND ONLY THREE OUT OF THE FIVE STAFF MEMBERS UTILIZE THOSE VEHICLES TO PERFORM INSPECTIONS IN THE FIELD ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS.

THAT WOULD NOT BE ON A DAILY BASIS.

BUT AS NEEDED.

SO AFTER REVIEWING THE OPERATIONS AND NOTING THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES THAT REMAIN IN THE PUBLIC WORKS YARD, STAFF DETERMINED THAT THE CITY COULD BEST BE SERVED BY REMOVING AGING VEHICLES FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS FLEET AND REDUCE THE CITY'S OPERATIONAL LIABILITY BY REASSIGNING REMAINING VEHICLES WITHIN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT'S.

STAFF HAS ALSO CONCLUDED THAT REMOVING THESE AGING VEHICLES WOULD HAVE NO NEGATIVE IMPACT ON PUBLIC WORKS, DAILY OPERATIONS OR ANY SPECIAL PROJECTS AND WOULD ALSO INCREASE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY.

THE TWO COSTS THAT [INAUDIBLE] THE MOST OVER VEHICLE'S LIFETIME ARE DEPRECIATION AND REPAIRS.

DEPRECIATION COSTS IS VERY HIGH OVER THE EARLY YEARS OF THE VEHICLES LIFE USUALLY LOSES ABOUT HALF ITS VALUE IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS ALONE.

REPAIR COSTS ARE USUALLY COVERED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTIES FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS OR MORE, HOWEVER, REPAIR COSTS DO INCREASE WITH VEHICLE AGE AND TEND TO RISE DRAMATICALLY AFTER ROUGHLY ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND MILES.

IN THE PAST 30 YEARS, SPECIFIC VEHICLE MODELS HAVE UNDERGONE REDESIGN.

THEREFORE, REPAIR PARTS ARE NO LONGER MANUFACTURED AND ARE PHASED OUT OF THE SUPPLY SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE DEFICIENCIES MAY ONLY BE REPAIRED BY LOCATING ANY SIMILAR VEHICLES IN PERHAPS A SALVAGE YARD, UNLESS THAT PART CAN BE FABRICATED IN THE SHOP OR IT WOULD BE CANNIBALIZED FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE.

HOWEVER, THAT WOULD RENDER THE OTHER VEHICLE TO WHICH THE PARK WAS CANNIBALIZED FROM THAT WOULD RENDER THAT VEHICLE INOPERATIVE AS WELL.

SO WHEN THESE OPTIONS ARE NOT FEASIBLE, IT RENDERS THE VEHICLE UNUSABLE FOR ITS INTENDED

[00:40:03]

PURPOSE. ONE OF THE OTHER MAJOR FACTORS THAT STAFF [INAUDIBLE] WAS THAT THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD CARB STRICT DIESEL TRUCK EMISSION STANDARDS.

IT RESTRICTS AGING MEDIUM TO HEAVY DUTY DIESEL TRUCKS AND LESS MODIFIED WITH NEWER DIESEL ENGINES BUILT AFTER 2010 AND PARTICULATE MATTER MODIFICATION SYSTEMS, CATALYTIC SYSTEMS. FORTUNATELY, CARB DOES PROVIDE EXEMPTIONS TO LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT ALLOWED OPERATION OF THE CITY'S HEAVY DUTY DIESEL VEHICLES WITHOUT SUCH MODIFICATIONS AS LONG AS THEY CONTINUE TO PASS THEIR ANNUAL SMOG EMISSIONS TEST.

HOWEVER, RECENT SMOG EMISSIONS AND INSPECTIONS TO THESE TRUCKS HAVE BECOME A CONCERN FOR CITY MECHANICS BECAUSE OF THE AGING CATALYTIC AND EMISSION SYSTEMS DETERIORATION.

SO THEY ARE ON THE VERGE OF FAILING THEIR SMOG INSPECTIONS.

THE STAFF HAS DETERMINED THAT THE CITY'S AGING HEAVY DUTY FLEET DIESEL EMISSIONS ARE NO LONGER SUSTAINABLE FOR OPERATION WITHOUT BEING RETROFITTED WITH A 2010 ENGINEER MODEL OR NEWER DIESEL ENGINE AND PARTICULATE MATTER CATALYTIC SYSTEMS SET FORTH BY CARB.

THE STAFF HAS CONCLUDED THAT OPERATIONAL TIME AND USAGE OF THESE AGING VEHICLES DO NOT WARRANT THE [INAUDIBLE] THOUSAND DOLLAR COST PER VEHICLE FOR A RETROFIT TO MEET THE CARB STANDARDS. THE BEST ALTERNATIVE IS TO REMOVE THESE AGING VEHICLES TO REDUCE OPERATIONAL LIABILITY AND MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR THE CITY.

WHAT DID WE USE? HOW DID WE GET THERE? WELL, THE STAFF DETERMINED WHICH VEHICLE SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE INVENTORY BY PERFORMING AN INVENTORY ANALYSIS.

WE USED THE FLEET REPLACEMENT EVALUATION TOOL, WHICH WAS DEVELOPED BY THE EDWARD J.

COLLINS JUNIOR CENTER FOR PUBLIC MANAGEMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, BOSTON.

THIS EVALUATION TOOL CONSIDERD THE VEHICLES OPERATIVE, OUR OVERALL OPERATIVE STATUS, AND PUTS IT INTO CONTEXT OF THE MUNICIPALITIES POTENTIAL IMPACT SHOULD THAT VEHICLE BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS ANALYSIS ALLOWED STAFF TO DETERMINE THE MOST LOGICAL AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE COURSE OF ACTION TO ENSURE THE EXPENDITURE OF MANY THOUSANDS OF PUBLIC TAXPAYER DOLLARS WERE NOT APPLIED WITHOUT FIRST CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

USING A WEIGHTED QUANTITATIVE SCORE VALIDATES THE NEED TO REPLACE A VEHICLE BY ANSWERING TWO KEY QUESTIONS.

WHAT PROBABILITY WILL THE VEHICLE FAIL OR WHAT IS THE PROBABILITY THE VEHICLE WILL FAIL IN THE NEXT YEAR? AND WHAT IS THE CONSEQUENCE TO THE CITY SHOULD THAT FAILURE OCCUR? SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID FIND IN THIS ANALYSIS HAS FOUND SOME OF THE BENEFITS WOULD BE TO REMOVING VEHICLES, PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING ADVANTAGES.

IT WOULD ALLEVIATE PARKING CONGESTION, AND INCREASED MANEUVERABILITY WITHIN THE MAIN PUBLIC WORKS YARD, INCREASE OPERATIONAL SAFETY FOR PERSONNEL, INCREASE ALSO BOOTH PROPERTY GARAGE STORAGE AREA.

AND HOW IS THAT RELATED TO AND HOW WE COULD USE BOOTH AS A RESULT OF REMOVING THESE VEHICLES.

VEHICLES CURRENTLY STORED AT THE BOOTH GARAGE SLATED FOR REMOVAL, WILL INCREASE THE GARAGE STORAGE AREA CAPACITY BY AT LEAST 15 HUNDRED SQUARE FEET.

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE PUBLIC WORKS AND EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES CURRENTLY STORED AT PIONEER BUILDING, WHICH IS SLATED FOR DEMOLITION BY HIGH SPEED RAIL, CAN BE RELOCATED TO THE BOOTH GARAGE, NEWLY ACQUIRED STORAGE AREA.

SO IF WE LOSE SOMETHING AND THEN WE GAIN SOMETHING OUT OF IT.

DECREASES THE CITY'S VEHICLE EMISSIONS AND CARBON FOOTPRINT, REDUCES THE WEAR AND TEAR IN THE CITIES RIGHT OF WAY BY PUTTING FEWER VEHICLES, MILES TRAVELED ON THE ROAD.

IT REDUCES THE STRAIN ON THE FLEET MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS AS WELL, REDUCES THE PERIODIC MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS, REDUCES THE CARB AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION INSPECTIONS, AND ALLOWS THE SHOP TO PRIORITIZE LARGE FLEET OPERATIONS THAT REQUIRE ONGOING MAINTENANCE TO KEEP IN SAFER OPERATIONS.

THOSE WOULD BE OUR REFUSE AND STREET SWEEPER VEHICLES, THOSE ONES THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO UNSCHEDULED MAINTENANCE DOWNTIME.

AND ALSO LASTLY, IT WOULD REDUCE COSTS TO THE CITY IN THE FORMS OF LIABILITY AND INSURANCE. FUEL COSTS AND PARTS AND LABOR.

STAFF HAS COORDINATED WITH LOCAL SALVAGE YARDS FOR PICKUP AND REMOVAL OF VEHICLES AT NO COST TO THE CITY WITH EASE OF TRANSACTION.

THAT DOES INCLUDE FINALIZED VEHICLE OFFERS AND ACCEPTANCE FOR THE SMALL FLEET OPERATION OR NOT. THAT SMALL FLEET ONLY.

AND A MAJORITY OF THE LEGWORK BY THE SALVAGE YARD TO PROVIDE PAYMENT, PICKUP AND REMOVAL OF VEHICLES. STAFF PREDICTS THAT THERE IS NO FISCAL IMPACT WHATSOEVER TO REMOVING THESE VEHICLES. THAT WAS IT MR. SOBOLEWSKI.

OK, WELL, LET ME READ THIS BEFORE I MAKE ANY STATEMENTS.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES FOR SPEAKER.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM.

PLEASE USE THE RAISED HAND BUTTON TO REQUEST TO SPEAK IF YOU ARE USING YOUR TELEPHONE,

[00:45:05]

PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD.

YOU'LL 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.

ONE MOMENT MAYOR CORTEZ. NOTHING AT THIS TIME MAYOR CORTEZ.

THANK YOU. SO WE WILL RETAIN COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS ONE BY ONE.

MEMBER GARCIA. NO, THIS IS GOOD, I WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT THIS REPORT AND THIS PROJECT IS GOING FORWARD AND CONTINUING.

I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT REDUCING OUR CARBON EMISSIONS AND THE VEHICLE EMISSIONS AND CARBON FOOTPRINT AS A CITY.

AS WE GO AHEAD AND REPLACE THESE I KNOW WE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST REPLACING THEM WITH ELECTRIC OR SMALLER SEDAN VEHICLES FOR THOSE WHO DON'T REALLY NEED A TRUCK.

AS I UNDERSTOOD FROM THE REPORT, THERE ARE NEEDS FOR THEM IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, WHICH MAKES SENSE. BUT I DO BELIEVE MEMBER REYNA HAS ALLUDED TO IN THE PAST THAT WE SHOULD SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO PURCHASE ELECTRIC VEHICLES SINCE WE'RE ALREADY MAKING THE INVESTMENTS AND PURSUING GRANTS TO INSTALL THAT INFRASTRUCTURE ANYWAYS.

THANK YOU, MEMBER PALLARES.

NO COMMENTS THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. MEMBER REYNA.

THANK YOU MAYOR A VERY COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE'RE GETTING RID OF VEHICLES THAT ARE COSTING THE CITY MONEY AND IN DOING SO, WE WILL ALSO OPEN UP SOME NEEDED SPACE FOR STORAGE. SO I'M ALL FOR IT.

AND AS MEMBER ALEX GARCIA NOTED, THAT I HAVE PROPOSED IN THE PAST THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO PURCHASE ELECTRIC VEHICLES WITH GRANTS AS IS NEEDED AND ONLY BY TRUCKS FOR THOSE THAT REALLY USE THEM.

AND EVERYBODY ELSE SHOULD JUST USE A SEDAN.

ANYWAY. THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE EXTENSIVE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.

I HAVE TO THINK, MEMBER REYNA TOOK THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY A PHENOMENAL, COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION.

I THINK IT JUST SHOWS THE CULTURE OF OUR DIRECTORS AND OUR CITY STAFF AND NOT ONLY JUST NOT STAYING AWAY FROM JUST WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, BUT ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROPERLY ANALYZE THE NEEDS OF THE CITY.

I APPRECIATE THAT IT'S SEEN IN THIS REPORT.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ONE OF THE MEMBERS.

MAYOR I'LL SO MOVE.

OKAY MEMBER GARCIA.

IS THERE A SECOND. I'LL SECOND THAT THIS IS REYNA.

SO WE HAVE A FIRST BY MEMBER GARCIA.

A SECOND BY MEMBER REYNA.

WE WILL ENTERTAIN A VOTE BY ROLL-CALL.

MADAM CLERK.

MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 12 B. MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH MAYOR.

I'M SORRY.

WE STILL NEED TO TAKE THE VOTE, I DON'T THINK WE'VE TAKEN THE VOTE YET.

OR DID I MISS IT? NO.

OH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

ROLL CALL VOTE. MAYOR CORTEZ.

AYE FOR ME. COUNCIL MEMBER PALLARES. PALLARES AYE.

AYE. OK, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 12 B.

MOTION IS APPROVED WITH FOUR AYES WITH COUNTS WITH MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA ABSENT.

GREAT, THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

I DIDN'T SEE THIS RECENT RESOLUTION NUMBER 2020-5516 AND AGREEMENT NUMBER 036 WITH OBAID

[12) c. Rescind Resolution NO. 2020-5516 and Agreement NO. 036 with Obaid Markets INC. an Authorized Payment Location for City of Wasco Utility Billing. (Perez- Hernandez)]

MARKETS, INC., AN AUTHORIZED PAYMENT LOCATION FOR THE CITY OF WASCO UTILITY BUILDING.

DIRECTOR PEREZ-HERNANDEZ.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN THANK YOU.

GREAT.

COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ZOOM ATTENDEES BEFORE YOU ALL IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RESCIND RESOLUTION 2020-5616 AND AGREEMENT 036 THAT WAS APPROVED AT OUR AUGUST 18TH COUNCIL MEETING. THE REASON WHY STAFF IS RECOMMENDING FOR THESE TWO ITEMS BEFORE YOU TO BE

[00:50:03]

RESCINDED IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHEN THE CONTRACTOR RECEIVED THE UPDATED INSURANCE DOCUMENTATION FROM THE INSURANCE BROKER STAFF WAS REVIEWING THE DOCUMENTATION AND DISCOVERED THAT ALL THE INSURANCE WAS ISSUED TO TRADICIONES NOT BY OBAID MARKETS AS SUCH, THE CITY CAN ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH OBAID MARKETS SINCE OBAID MARKETS INC.

IS A SUBSIDIARY COMPANY OF TRADICIONES MARKETS INC.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT AT OUR OCTOBER 20TH COUNCIL MEETING, STAFF WILL BE BRINGING BACK A REVISED AGREEMENT WITH THE CORRECTIONS.

WITH REMOVING OBAID MARKETS INCLUDING TRADICIONES MARKETS INC.

I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY OR MIGHT HAVE.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

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. IF YOU ARE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD. YOU WOULD 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.

AT THIS TIME DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MADAM CLERK.

MAYOR CORTEZ MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA HAS LOGGED IN AT 6:59 AND THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON, MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA.

I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE.

I WAS WORKING FOR THE WARDEN SO GOLF TOURNAMENT OUT THIS EVENING PRETTY MUCH.

OH WOW. I WAS HERE FOR 12 B BUT I JUST COULDN'T GET MY THING TO WORK MY IPAD, SO I THOUGHT I WAS ON THE WEBINAR NOT ON THE PANEL LIST.

I DIDN'T NOTICE UNTIL AFTER THE FACTS.

NO WORRIES. THANK YOU FOR BEING [INAUDIBLE].

YOU GOT TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION.

SO FANTASTIC. ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL START WITH.

NO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, SO WE'LL START WITH NOW WE WILL GO WITH MEMBER GARCIA.

I GUESS SO THIS IS JUST GOING TO BE AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM, WE DON'T HAVE A NEW AGREEMENT TO SIGN TODAY. YOU ACTUALLY ARE RESCINDING THE AGREEMENT YOU PREVIOUSLY APPROVED.

WE WERE HOPING TO KIND OF HAVE EVERYTHING IRONED OUT AND WORKED OUT WITH TRADICIONES AND CLEAN UP THE AGREEMENT, BUT WE'RE STILL GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM TO KIND OF MAKE SURE IT'S ALL IN ORDER.

SO WE'LL HAVE THAT AGREEMENTS AT THE NEXT MEETING.

BUT IN TALKING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE CLEANEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD WAS JUST TO RESCIND THIS AGREEMENT AND DO A NEW ONE UNDER THE CORRECT NAME AND ALL THE PROPER COVERAGES. THAT MAKES SENSE, AND I WOULD GIVE THE STAFF AS MUCH TIME AS THEY NEED TO DO DUE DILIGENCE. HOWEVER, I THINK WE DEFINITELY NEED THIS SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. RIGHT. I WOULD HOPE THAT ONCE WE GET THE 20TH AGREEMENT APPROVED, WOULD IT BE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PAY THEIR BILLS THIS MONTH? IT COULD PROBABLY BE EFFECTIVE THE FOLLOWING MONTH JUST BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF WHEN BILLS ARE DUE.

USUALLY BILLS GO OUT BEGINNING OF THE MONTH AND THEY'RE DUE BY THE 20TH.

SO TRY TO MAKE SURE IT COINCIDES WITH A COMPLETE CYCLE AND I THINK WHAT END UP HAPPENING IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE FOR THIS PARTICULAR RETAILER AND PERHAPS SOME OF THE OTHER RETAILERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE INTERESTED IN THE FUTURE WITH THEM NOT HAVING HAD A RELATIONSHIP OR A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY, THEY DIDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND ALL THE TERMINOLOGY AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE GOING TO BE REQUIRED AND WORKING WITH THE CITY AND MAKING SURE FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE WE PROTECT THE CITY AND OUR TAXPAYERS.

SO THAT'S WHERE I THINK SOME OF THE CONFUSION ENDED UP WITH AND THEM HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE AGREEMENTS AND NOT FULLY UNDERSTANDING ALL THE SPECIFIC CRITERIA THAT WAS NEEDED.

RIGHT. WELL, THAT MAKES SENSE.

AS LONG AS WE'RE GETTING THEM THE HELP AND THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE [INAUDIBLE] INTO BECAUSE THEY ARE A LOCAL BUSINESS AS WELL.

SO WE WANT TO HELP THEM OUT.

HELP THEM UNDERSTAND AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

I THINK ONE MORE POINT THAT ESCAPES ME NOW.

GO AHEAD MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. MEMBER PALLARES.

NO COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

MEMBER REYNA. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST HAVE A QUESTION, HAS OBAID MARKET STARTED TAKING PAYMENTS FOR THE CITY AT ALL? THAT'S MY QUESTION UNDER THIS AGREEMENT THAT WE APPROVED.

[00:55:05]

NO COUNCIL MEMBER REYNA, NO, THEY HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY PAYMENT SO FAR SINCE THAT CLAUSE IN THE AGREEMENT STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO PROVIDE THE INSURANCE PORTION.

AND SINCE IT HASN'T BEEN MET, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ANY PAYMENTS SO FAR.

OK, SO THEY WON'T BE ACCEPTING PAYMENTS UNTIL THE NEW AGREEMENT IS IN PLACE.

THAT IS CORRECT. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, OPENING OURSELVES FOR LIABILITY, OPENING THE CITY FOR LIABILITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THANK YOU. MEMBER ESPITIA.

GILBERT HIT IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD, I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LIABILITY ISSUES REGARDING THAT, BUT I THINK WE'RE GOOD WITH IT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OK.

MAYOR IF I COULD, JUST A QUICK COMMENT, DANIEL, WE YOU DO SEND THAT OUT THE NEXT STATEMENT. CAN WE INCLUDE A LIKE A LITTLE BLURB INSIDE OR ON THE STATEMENT THAT SAYS, HEY, WE NOW HAVE THIS OPTION.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WE'LL USE OUR TEXT MESSAGING ALERT TO SEND THAT OUT.

VERY COOL EVEN BETTER. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. I HAVE NO COMMENT OTHER THEN LET'S GET IT DONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

SO MOVE MAYOR. ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S A MOTION BY MEMBER GARCIA.

THIS IS DANNY I'LL SECOND. OK, NOW THAT SECOND BY MEMBER ESPITIA WE'LL ENTERTAIN A VOTE BY ROLL CALL, PLEASE, MADAM CLERK.

MAYOR CORTEZ.

MAYOR PRO TEM ESPITIA.

AYE.

MEMBER PALLARES.

PALLARES AYE.

MOTION BY GARCIA SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ESPITIA TO RESCIND THE RESOLUTION AGREEMENT WITH OBAID MARKETS.

AYE.

RESOLUTION ITEM 12 C.

ITEM D DIRECTION REGARDING SEVENTH STREET PARK IMPROVEMENTS, MR.

[12) d. Direction regarding 7th Street Park Improvements. (Ortiz Hernandez)]

ORTIZ-HERNANDEZ.

I'LL OPEN IT UP BRIEFLY AND THEN MRS. SOBOLEWSKI CAN PROBABLY TOUCH ON MORE, BUT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE SEVENTH STREET PARK, WHICH IS JUST NORTH OF THE CITY HALL FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND TRYING TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY KIND OF CAME ABOUT WAS WAS TRYING JUST TO FIND AN OVERALL DIRECTION OF WHAT THEME OR CONCEPT WE WANT TO HAVE FOR THE PARK.

THERE HAS BEEN INTEREST FROM THE VFW TO CONSIDER CONVERTING THE PARK AND RECOGNIZING OUR VETERANS IN THE COMMUNITY AND DESIGN AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PARK AND IN SUCH A WAY THAT RECOGNIZES THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COUNTRY AND OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE KIND OF WANT TO JUST HAVE A DIALOG AND HAVE SOME DIRECTION.

AND WHAT THE COUNCIL FEELS AND WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SEVENTH STREET, I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE A COMMENT THAT THE CITY CLERK HAS SPECIFIC TO THIS ITEM.

IF THE CITY CLERK WANTS TO READ THAT, OTHERWISE, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MRS. SOBOLEWSKI TO ADD ANY ADDITIONAL ITEMS. MADAM CLERK, YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO READ.

YES. MAYOR CORTEZ WE'LL BE READING IT WHEN YOU GET READY FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

OK, FAIR ENOUGH. THANK YOU, MS. SOBOLEWSKI. I APOLOGIZE I WAS MESS UP YOU GUY'S LAST NAME.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WHOLE TRAINING CLASS ON THAT.

MARIANA, I'M READY FOR YOU.

DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS TO MAKE? SOBOLEWSKI. SOBOLEWSKI.

I'LL GET THERE.

SHE'S ON MUTE. I DON'T SHOW HER ON MUTE.

MS. SOBOLEWSKI ARE YOU ON. ANYBODY ELSE HERE?

[01:00:03]

NO. NO.

OK, SO WE'LL COME BACK TO HER COMMENTS HERE.

LET ME GO AHEAD, AND READ THE STATEMENT.

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 ARE 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.

AT THIS TIME DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MADAM CLERK.

I HAVE ONE COMMENT.

WE'RE READY. OK, THIS EMAIL IS FROM DANNY [INAUDIBLE] EX COMMANDER, VFW, 6742.

AND HE SAYS, I AM WRITING ON BEHALF OF ITEM 12 D, WHICH IS SEVENTH AND FORTY THREE PARK, THE VFW WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THEY COULD NAME THE PARK AFTER VFW POST SIXTY SEVEN FORTY TWO. AND WE CAN PUT OUR PERMANENT FLAGS LIKE AMERICAN FLAG, CALIFORNIA FLAG AND OTHERS.

I WOULD LIKE IT TO LOOK NICE AT THAT CORNER AND I BELIEVE AS THE EX COMMANDER OF OUR CLUB, THE OTHER COMRADES WOULD AGREE WITH ME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I HOPE THIS WILL HELP WITH AGENDA 12 D.

THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? THERE'S ONE MORE.

THERE'S ONE MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY.

HIS NAME YES, AM I ON.

GO AHEAD. YES, YOU'RE ON.

JAMES MEDRANO A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF WASCO.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, FOR HEARING ME OUT.

I'M CURRENTLY THE COMMANDER OF THE VFW POST SIX SEVEN FOUR TWO.

AND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE PARK ON SEVENTH STREET, WE ARE PROPOSING THAT THE VFW WASCO VFW DONATE THREE ALUMINUM FLAGPOLES, APPROXIMATELY TWENTY FIVE TO THIRTY FEET TALL WITH SOLAR LIT [INAUDIBLE].

SO THERE WILL NOT BE NO NECESSITY FOR ELECTRICITY.

THEY WILL BE CONCRETE BASED.

WE'RE PROPOSING THAT WE WILL DONATE THE POLES, THE INSTALLATION.

WE ALSO PROPOSE THAT THE WASCO VFW WILL MAINTAIN THE POLES AND THE FLAGS.

THE FLAGS NORMALLY LASTS APPROXIMATELY 8 TO 12 MONTHS WHEN THEY'RE WORN OR WHEN THEY'RE FRAYED, OR FADED, THE WASCO VFW WILL REPLACE THE FLAGS.

WE WILL REPAIR THE POLES, UNFORTUNATELY, IF THEY ARE VANDALIZED.

THERE'S WASCO VFW WAS FOUNDED IN 1946 SEVENTY FOUR YEARS AGO BY A LOT OF PROMINENT WASCO PEOPLE. FORREST, HALTERMAN, [INAUDIBLE], PREWETT, [INAUDIBLE] SNOW TO JUST NAME A FEW PROMINENT WASCO MEMBERS.

I THINK IT WOULD BE AN HONOR TO THEM AND ALL LOCAL ALL WAR VETERANS AND LOCAL VETERANS TO SEE THOSE FLAGS WAVING AND WAVING IN THE WIND.

WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE, WITH YOUR PERMISSION OR GUIDANCE, TO PLACE A PLAQUE AT THE BASE OF THESE FLAGPOLES RECOGNIZING THE CITY OF WASCO, THE CITIZENS OF WASCO, IN RECOGNITION OF SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL WAR VETERANS AND ALL VETERANS.

AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THAT'S WHAT WE PROPOSE.

AND THIS MATTERS, THANK YOU, MR. MEDRANO. THAT'S QUITE A PROPOSAL TO THROW IN A COUPLE OF GOATS AND A COUPLE OF CHICKENS, AND WE MIGHT HAVE A DEAL. NO CHICKENS, PLEASE.

[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU FOR THAT. FOR THOSE COMMENTS WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND SOMEONE AGAINST THAT. SO MADAM CLERK DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS.

NO MAYOR CORTEZ THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS.

THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE MARISSA SOBOLEWSKI ON MAKE ANY COMMENTS.

CAN YOU HEAR ME. I CAN BARELY YOU SOUND LIKE YOU ARE IN A TIN CAN.

[01:05:03]

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN HEAR ME THROUGH MY PHONE OR THROUGH MY COMPUTER.

THERE YOU GO I CAN HEAR YOU NOW. I'LL JUST USE MY OUTSIDE VOICE.

THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S PERFECT.

RIGHT THERE. JUST PRETEND YOU'RE TALKING TO CHUCK.

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

I THINK THAT THE PUBLIC COMMENT SAID IT ALL.

ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS CHANGE THE FACE OF THAT PARK.

THAT PARK IS A BEAUTIFUL GREEN SPACE THAT'S ALSO UTILIZED BY THE NEXT DOOR VETERINARIAN, THE BUSINESS WHEN THEY COME, WE HAVE MANY TRAVELERS GOING DOWN HIGHWAY FORTY THREE AND I BELIEVE ADDING OR CREATING A SPACE FOR ALL RESIDENTS TO UTILIZE TO COME.

ALSO, THERE'S MANY DAYS DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR WHERE WE NEED TO OBSERVE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE SACRIFICES THAT OUR MILITARY MEMBERS HAVE MADE.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT GATHERING SPACE FOR THE CITY TO COME WHEN WE WANT TO HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE, WHEN WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE CERTAIN DIGNITARIES WHO HAVE MAYBE PASSED.

SO I LOVE THE IDEA OF HAVING THE FLAG POLES THERE AND OTHER FLAGS OR WHATEVER THE IDEA IS. I JUST FEEL THAT, THAT GREEN SPACE CAN BE UTILIZED BY ALL CITIZENS OF WASCO AND BY ADDING THE FLAGS OF OUR NATION AND POSSIBLY THE ARMED FORCES WOULD BE A GREAT SHOWCASE FOR OUR CITY. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

BEFORE I MOVE ON TO THE COUNCIL ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS, MADAM CLERK, I'LL ASK ONE MORE TIME. JUST ONE MOMENT, MAYOR CORTEZ.

NO, THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

ALL RIGHT. ANY COMMENTS WE WILL START WITH MEMBER GARCIA.

YES, I THINK THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL IDEA FOR A LONG TIME, I AGREE WE WITH WANTING TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S A BIT OF A TIP OF THE HAT TO OUR VETERANS COMMUNITY, EITHER ASSIGNED VETERANS PARKING NEAR CITY HALL OR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA RIGHT THERE IN THE CORNER, SOMETHING THAT'S A FOCAL POINT AND THAT INCLUDES THE FLAGS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND A MESSAGE FROM OUR VFW POST.

I WILL PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT ON THE NAME JUST BECAUSE I'M NOT WILD ABOUT NUMBERS IN THE NAME, BUT SOMETHING VETERAN RELATED VETERANS PARK OR VALOR PARK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT WOULD BE, I GUESS, MY PERSUASION.

BUT THIS IS A LONG TIME COMING.

I THINK IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AREA.

THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR POSSIBLY EXPANDING IT OR JUST GETTING MORE USE OUT OF IT.

SO I LIKE IT AND IT'S GOOD.

I SUPPORT IT MAYOR. THANK YOU.

MEMBER PALLARES. SO I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA HONORING THE VETERANS.

I WOULD LIKE TO I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.

I BELIEVE THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND WAS SET ASIDE FOR IT.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LIGHTING IMPROVED AROUND THERE, THE WATER FOUNTAIN DEMOLISHED OR RECONFIGURED.

AS FAR AS THE RESTROOM, WE NEED TO THINK ON THAT LITTLE BIT OF HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT THE PARK. AND PERHAPS WHATEVER'S MORE INEXPENSIVE, EITHER CONCRETE ALONG THE BACK SIDE SO PEOPLE CAN WALK AROUND THE PARK OR A TYPE OF [INAUDIBLE] WALKWAY LIKE THEY HAVE WITH NATIONAL PARKS OR SOMETHING TO THAT NATURE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL THERE.

AND HOPEFULLY PARK WILL BE EXPANDED IN THE FUTURE.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK THIS WOULD BE A WONDERFUL IDEA HONORING OUR VETERANS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. MEMBER REYNA.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I AGREE THIS IS A WONDERFUL IDEA.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING PLAQUE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POLES AT THE BASE, THAT WE BUILD A SMALL MONUMENT WHERE THIS PLAQUE WOULD BE LOCATED.

SO IT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE, A RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF ALL VETERANS.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF CALLING IT VETERANS PARK.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BUILD A PERGOLA THAT WOULD GO ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PARK AND MAYBE

[01:10:04]

EVEN INCLUDE A WATER FEATURE.

I KNOW THE FOUNTAIN THAT WE HAVE THERE DOES NOT WORK, BUT THAT IS CERTAINLY THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ADDED AND MADE MORE BEAUTIFUL.

AND ALSO BECAUSE WE ARE SO CLOSE TO THE VET THERE, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKE THEIR DOGS THERE TO DO THEIR BUSINESS WHILE THEY'RE WAITING FOR SERVICE AT THE VETERINARY CLINIC.

AND SO WE NEED TO INCLUDE A DOG SPOT THAT WOULD PROVIDE ALSO BAGS FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP AFTER THEIR DOGS.

I'VE BEEN THERE. AND ANY TIME THAT YOU'RE THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF POOP THAT THE DOGS HAVE LEFT BEHIND. UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE DON'T PICK UP AFTER THEIR DOGS, BUT THAT WOULD PROBABLY ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WHEN DANIEL CAME IN, I TOOK HIM TO THAT PARK BECAUSE I KNOW IT GETS A LOT OF USE. I'VE COUNTED AS MANY AS 40 MEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT PARK.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE PARK IS CLOSED NOW.

ALL PARKS ARE CLOSED, BUT THAT IT DOES GET A LOT OF USE.

AND WHAT A BETTER WAY TO HONOR OUR VETERANS THAN MAKING THIS PARK MORE BEAUTIFUL AND MORE USABLE. I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE US TO I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE THAT WE PUT NEW TABLES, MORE MODERN TABLES AND SOME BENCHES AS WELL.

THAT WOULD BE MY PROPOSAL.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU.

MEMBER ESPITIA. I THINK THE CONCEPT OF A WAR MEMORIAL PARK IS NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I DO NOT WANT LIKE TO SEE RESTROOMS THERE.

I WOULD NOT LIKE TO SEE TABLES THERE BECAUSE THEN YOU ENCOURAGE PEOPLE THAT WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE PARK TO DRINK AS THEY HAVE BEEN.

AND THERE'S A HIGH VOLUME OF PEOPLE WHO USE THAT PARK WHO DO DRINK THERE, WHICH THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT. I THINK IF WE DO LANDSCAPE THERE, WE SHOULD DO DROUGHT TOLERANT PLANTS, THE LANDSCAPING THERE, MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF GRASS, MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF WATER USE OF NATIVE PLANTS WHICH ARE INDIGENOUS TO THE KERN COUNTY.

AND SEE, IF WE CAN RESEARCH FUNDING FOR LIKE STATUES, LIKE THEY HAVE IN BEACH PARK THAT ARE ON THE CORNER OF 24TH AND OAK, THAT WAY IT WOULD MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF USAGE AND PEOPLE JUST TERRORIZING THAT PARK LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN, BUT STILL KEEP THE CONCEPT OF NATURAL GRASS TO SOME OF THOSE TREES THERE.

AND BENCHES FOR RESTING, BUT I WOULDN'T ENCOURAGE TABLES.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. MEMBER ESPITIA.

MAYOR IF I MAY. MEMBER PALLARES YOU MAY.

YES, I'D LIKE TO CONCUR ON THE BENCHES.

THAT WAS AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

THE TABLES REDUCTION OR ELIMINATION OF IT THIS WAY IT'LL ENCOURAGE MOVEMENT AND NOT CONGREGATION. THAT'S VERY DISHEARTENING WATCHING A GENTLEMAN ACROSS THE STREET WITH THEIR BROWN PAPER BAGS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU.

AND I WILL SAY.

YES, IF I COULD JUST PUSH BACK ON THAT, IT SOUNDS LIKE AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.

I THINK GREEN SPACE NEEDS TO NATURALLY HAVE SEATING AND TABLING AND OF COURSE, FACILITIES LIKE WE'VE SEEN THE ISSUE OF PEOPLE DEFECATING OR URINATING IN THAT ALLEY.

SO WE ABSOLUTELY NEED FACILITIES THERE.

SO I WOULD JUST PUSH BACK ON THAT.

I LIKE THE PERGOLA IDEA.

MAYBE WE CAN PUT SOMETHING AROUND THAT CORNER AND SOME BENCHES THE PERGOLA THAT MATCHES THE ONE OUTSIDE OF OUR STATION.

IT WOULD ALL BE TIED TOGETHER.

THAT'S THE ONLY COMMENT I HAVE. THANK YOU AS FOR MY COMMENTS.

I DON'T WANT TO LOSE TRACK OF MRS. SOBOLEWSKI. I THINK YOU HAVE A GRAND SLAM IDEA HERE.

I THINK YOU HAVE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT.

I THINK IT'S A FANTASTIC IDEA.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS ON THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THEY'VE VOICED TONIGHT.

I FOR ONE OTHER THAN THE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO WE CAN DO NOW OR WE SHOULD DO NOW. I THINK I LOVE SEEING PEOPLE SITTING ON BENCHES, PLAYING CARDS OR PLAYING CHESS OR OR DOING WHATEVER IT IS, THROUGH THE BENCH OR TO A TABLE.

I LIKE THAT IDEA. BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S A DIFFERENT ENFORCEMENT ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AT THIS POINT.

BUT I THINK YOU HAVE A WIN WIN WIN PROPOSAL HERE.

AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD TO THAT END, I THINK.

ANY OTHER DIRECTIONS FROM IN EITHER DIRECTION FROM CITY COUNCIL.

MS. SOBOLEWSKI OR MR. ORTIZ. I THINK WE WILL PROCEED WITH TAKING THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED AND WORK IN A DIRECTION THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL THE DESIRES THAT WAS STATED.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ITEM E AS IN EDWARD UPDATE REGARDING THE DOWNTOWN 7TH STREET CONDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS.

[12) e. Update regarding the Downtown 7th street conditions and improvements. (Ortiz Hernandez)]

MR. ORTIZ-HERNANDEZ.

TURN THAT OVER TO MS. COBB HERE IN A MINUTE AS SOON AS I GET HER POWERPOINT GOING.

[01:15:03]

GREAT. DIRECTOR COBB, YOU'RE ON.

I'M ON. I THINK I MIGHT HAVE DRAWN THE SHORT STRAW.

JUST KIDDING. [LAUGHTER] THIS ACTUALLY TIES IN NICELY TO WHAT WE WERE DISCUSSING WITH THE PARK, THE SEVENTH STREET PARK.

SO THIS IS JUST A KIND OF A BRIEF PRESENTATION TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE HISTORY OF THE STREETSCAPES IMPROVEMENTS IN DOWNTOWN WHERE WE ARE TODAY, HOW WE GOT HERE AND WHERE STAFF WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GO IN THE FUTURE AND THEN GET YOUR FEEDBACK ON THAT.

SO JUST A BRIEF BIT OF HISTORY ON THE EXISTING DOWNTOWN DESIGN EFFORTS IN THE 1960S OR 70S THE BEST I CAN TELL, THE CITY UNDERTOOK SOME DESIGN EFFORTS TO INSTALL STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

AND THEN AGAIN, IN 2000, THE CITY ADOPTED THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN OVERLAY DISTRICT, WHICH WAS A POLICY DOCUMENT THAT INCLUDED DESIGN CONCEPTS FOR THE DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF INPUT ON THAT PROCESS FROM A COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDED STAFF MEMBERS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE CITY'S CONTRACT ENGINEER.

NEXT SLIDE. THEN AGAIN, IN 2009, THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION STUDY AND DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT MARKET PLAN, WHICH ALSO LOOKED AGAIN AT POTENTIAL UPDATES AND ADDITIONS TO THE DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS.

AND IN 2015, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT POLICY AND DESIGN PLAN, WHICH INCLUDED ADDITIONAL UPDATED CONCEPT IDEAS FOR THE DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE.

SO THIS IS JUST A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ACTUAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE GONE IN IN THE DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE IN THE 60S AND 70S, AND SOME OF YOU WILL PROBABLY REMEMBER THIS.

THE CITY COMPLETED A DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE PROJECT WHICH MOVED ON STREET PARKING ON THE TWO BLOCKS BETWEEN D AND F TO THE CENTER OF THE STREET, BUILT A TRAFFIC CIRCLE AND GAZEBO IN THE INTERSECTION OF 7TH AND E RELOCATED UTILITIES TO THE REAR OF PROPERTIES AND ESTABLISHED THE TWO EXISTING PUBLIC PARKING LOTS.

AND THEN IN 2000, THE CITY UNDERWENT AN UPDATE TO THOSE STREETSCAPES, WHICH INCLUDED NEW STREET TREES, BOLLARDS, LIGHTS, STREET FURNITURE, PAVERS AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE EXISTING PUBLIC PARKING LOTS.

KEY ELEMENTS OF THAT PROJECT WERE REVIEWED AND SELECTED BY A COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDED CITY STAFF, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

AND THE PROJECT WAS FUNDED BY A GRANT AND CONSTRUCTED BY CITY STAFF UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE THEN PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.

SO EXISTING CONDITIONS THIS KIND OF BRINGS US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

THE CITY HAS FIELDED A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS FROM RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS REGARDING DISEASED TREES AND TRIP HAZARDS ON THE SIDEWALKS.

OF THE EIGHTY FOUR TREE WELLS THAT ARE DOWNTOWN.

TWENTY TWO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REMOVED.

FIFTY NINE ARE DAMAGED AND TWENTY FIVE HAVE NO DAMAGE.

DANIEL, DO YOU WANT TO CLICK THAT LINK AT ALL? THIS IS A LINK TO A MAP THAT SHOWS THOSE LOCATIONS IF IT'LL POP UP.

THERE WE GO. THE RED ARE LOCATIONS THAT ARE DAMAGED AND THE GREEN LOCATIONS THAT ARE NOT DAMAGED. SO IT KIND OF GIVES YOU A VISUAL IDEA OF WHERE THE TREES ARE AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE, I THINK WE HAVE A FEW OTHER IMAGES AND THEN IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES.

SO PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE THE DAMAGE TO THE SIDEWALK IS CERTAINLY A LIABILITY PROBLEM FOR THE CITY IN THIS HUCKEY VS.

CITY OF TEMECULA, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SIDEWALK ELEVATIONS RANGING BETWEEN THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH AND AN INCH AND A HALF ARE GENERALLY TRIVIAL, AS A MATTER OF LAW.

IN DOWNTOWN WASCO, WE HAVE SIDEWALK ELEVATIONS THAT RANGE FROM HALF INCH TO FOUR INCHES.

THIS IS AN IMAGE OF SOME OF THE DECEASED AND DYING TREES THAT HAVE BEEN REMOVED.

AND THIS GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF SOME OF THE SIDEWALK DAMAGE WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE ELEVATION DIFFERENCES. PRETTY SIGNIFICANT IN SOME AREAS.

SO IN EARLY MARCH OF 2020, PUBLIC WORKS CREWS BEGAN TREE REMOVAL AND STAFF AT THAT TIME ANTICIPATED MOVING FORWARD AND HAVING TIME TO REMOVE AND GRIND TREE STUMPS TO PREPARE FOR SIDEWALK AND TRIP HAZARD REPAIR.

BUT AS YOU KNOW, SHORTLY AFTER THAT, COVID-19 BEGAN AND CREATED A LARGE DELAY IN THE PROCESS. TO DATE, BARRICADES HAVE BEEN REMOVED ON TWENTY FIVE TREE WELLS THAT HAD NO DAMAGE. AND TO DEAL WITH TO ADDRESS THESE CURRENT CONDITIONS, THE RECOMMENDATION RIGHT

[01:20:03]

NOW IS TO PROCURE A CONTRACTOR TO CONCRETE IN THE OPEN TREE WELLS AND REPAIR THE TRIP HAZARDS WHILE PRESERVING ACCESS TO POWER AND WATER UTILITIES.

THE ESTIMATED COST IS ABOUT FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

AND NEXT STEPS ON THAT IMMEDIATE NEXT STEPS WOULD BE TO DRAFT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO SECURE CONTRACTOR TO CONCRETE IN THOSE OPEN TREE WELLS.

I WILL ADD, PART OF THE BUDGET WE HAD ADOPTED OR BUDGETED I BELIEVE IT WAS THREE HUNDRED, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, FOR SIDEWALK REPAIR THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY THAT COULD BE UTILIZED FOR THIS SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

SO THIS GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF STAFFS, CURRENT AND PLANNED ACTIONS TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT CONDITIONS THROUGH UPDATED DESIGN PLANS AND IMPROVEMENT DESIGNS, THE CITY COUNCIL IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET APPROVED A HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR DOWNTOWN'S LANDSCAPE STREETSCAPE DESIGN.

THIS WILL INCLUDE BOTH A NEW CONCEPT PLAN AND DETAILED CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS.

STAFF HAS BEEN DISCUSSING THIS WITH A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT WHO DID THE CONCEPT DRAWING FOR OUR RECENT GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE PARK AND BIKE PATH CONNECTION AT CENTRAL AND FILBURN. SHE'S INDICATED THAT SHE'S INTERESTED IN THE PROJECT AND COULD BEGIN WORK ON IT IN MID-NOVEMBER AND COULD COMPLETE BOTH THE CONCEPT, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS.

STAFF WOULD REQUEST, THE ARCHITECT TO REVIEW AND DESIGN ALL LANDSCAPE AND HARDSCAPE TREATMENTS, AS WELL AS REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING PUBLIC OPEN SPACE AREAS, INCLUDING THE PEDESTRIAN ALLEYWAYS.

STAFF WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A CONTRACT WITH THIS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, AND WE NEED DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL REGARDING THE AREA TO BE LOOKED AT AND DESIGNED.

AS SHOWN, I THINK IN THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS THE AREA THAT WE WOULD PROPOSE TO HAVE HER LOOK AT IN A DESIGN, IT'S THE AREA BETWEEN ON 7TH STREET, BETWEEN BROADWAY AND G STREET, AND AGAIN INCLUDES BOTH OF THE PEDESTRIAN ALLEYWAYS, PUBLIC PARKING LOTS, AS WELL AS THE 7TH STREET PARK THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED.

JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE KIND OF WORK THAT SHE DOES, THIS IS THE CONCEPT DESIGN THAT WAS DRAWN UP FOR THE GRANT APPLICATION AT THE CENTRAL AND FILBURN BIKE PATH CONNECTION AND PARK PLANS WOULD BE DRAWN TO SCALE AND INCLUDE PROPOSED PLANT PALETTE.

AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE, I THINK, WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THE PROCESS WOULD LOOK LIKE. SO PROCESS FOR COMING UP WITH THE DETAILED CONCEPT PLAN.

I'VE REVIEWED THIS BRIEFLY WITH HER.

WE WOULD ENVISION THREE TO FOUR STAFF MEETINGS TO DEVELOP A CONCEPT PLAN.

AFTER AN INITIAL COMMUNITY MEETING WHERE WE GATHER FEEDBACK LIKELY TO BE DONE, VIA ZOOM WE COULD ALSO PUT TOGETHER AN ELECTRONIC SURVEY.

WE'VE HAD PRETTY GOOD RESPONSE WITH ELECTRONIC SURVEYS RECENTLY.

THAT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A REALLY GOOD WAY TO ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I THINK I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT DIRECTION.

THE FINAL CONCEPT PLAN WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND FROM THERE SHE COULD DRAFT THE CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS BASED ON THE CONCEPT PLAN AND FROM THEIR STAFF WOULD USE THE CONCEPT PLAN AND CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS TO AID IN GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT. OR THE COUNCIL COULD IDENTIFY AND APPROVE CITY FUNDS TO CONSTRUCT THE PROJECT.

I THINK THAT IS MY LAST SLIDE, SO I'M APPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT WOULD YES, I WOULD LIKE TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNCIL IF THIS LOOKS LIKE A DIRECTION YOU'D LIKE TO HEAD IN, IF WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN A CONTRACT WITH A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT.

I'M OPEN TO HEARING THOSE THINGS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR COBB.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A VERBAL COMMENT USING ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISED HAND BUTTON TO REQUEST TO SPEAK. IF YOU ARE 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 BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.

ONCE YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, YOU WILL BE MUTED.

AT THIS TIME DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC, MADAM CLERK? JUST A MOMENT, MAYOR CORTEZ.

NO, THERE ARE NONE AT THIS TIME.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

WE WILL START WITH COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS.

MEMBER GARCIA. YES, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

I WILL RESERVE MY IDEAS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT I HAVE FOR THOSE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND FEEDBACK, CONCEPT PLANS, BUT ASIDE FROM THAT, I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS.

I CONSTANTLY HEAR FROM MY BARBER AND OF COURSE, LOTS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS GOERS TO DOWNTOWN THAT IT IS VERY NEGLECTED AND OBVIOUSLY I EXPLAINED TO THEM THE PANDEMIC, WHAT'S HAPPENING. BUT THIS STILL SEEMS TO BE A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THEM.

THE ONLY THING, I GUESS DESIGN WISE.

I WOULD CONSIDER JUST ADDING MORE SHADE.

THERE IS NO SHADE THERE EVEN IF IT'S BY A PERGOLA OR MATERIALS OR GREENSCAPE

[01:25:10]

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

MEMBER PALLARES. YES, THE PROPOSED PROCESS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US.

I LIKE THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AS WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE THEIR INPUT AND TAILOR IT TO THE WAY THE COMMUNITY WANTS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU.

MEMBER REYNA. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I AGREE THIS IS SORELY NEEDED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO CONSIDER IS THAT THESE TREES DIED POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF A LACK OF WATER. SO THE WAY THAT THESE TREES ARE ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO BE THERE, IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE BEST WAY.

AND SO WE NEED TO POSSIBLY CONSIDER NOT AS MANY TREES AND MAYBE HAVE SOME TYPE OF PLANTERS THAT WOULD REQUIRE A LOT LESS WATER.

IN ANY CASE, THERE IS WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS WELL.

I LIKE THE PLAN, SO I SUPPORT IT.

THANK YOU, MEMBER ESPITIA.

I THINK IT'S MUCH NEEDED FOR DOWNTOWN 7TH STREET, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO GET A BUY INTO THE BUSINESS OWNERS TO HELP ASSIST TAKING CARE OF THE SCAPES THAT ARE INTENDED FOR SEVENTH STREET.

IF YOU GO TO [INAUDIBLE] IN KINGSBURG.

THE OWNERS REALLY TAKE CARE OF IT AND THEY'RE MANAGING TO MAINTAIN THEIR GROUNDS IN FRONT OF THEIR BUSINESSES.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT BACK THEN, BRENT DAWSON WASN'T LISTENING TO WARREN CRAIG WHEN HE INSISTED ON THEM HAVING ROOT BARRIERS AND THE ROOT BARRIERS WERE NEVER PUT INTO THE TREES AND THEY TORE UP OUR SIDEWALKS.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO GET A DEFINITE BUY IN FROM OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNERS BEFORE WE CAN PROCEED ON THIS, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY HELP THEIR AREA IN FRONT OF THEIR BUSINESSES.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

QUESTION DIRECTOR COBB.

THAT FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND PROPOSAL FOR THE CEMENTING OF THE TREE WELLS, IS THAT SOMETHING WE'RE DOING BEFORE THE DESIGN OR PART OF THE DESIGN? BECAUSE I WOULD HATE TO DO THAT IF PART OF THE DESIGN IS GOING TO KEEP THOSE TREE WELLS THERE. I BELIEVE THE INTENT AND ALL THAT DANIEL OR [INAUDIBLE] TO JUMP IN AND LET ME KNOW, BUT I BELIEVE THE INTENTION IS TO DO THAT SOONER THAN LATER TO ELIMINATE THOSE HAZARDS.

THAT WOULD BE CORRECT, WE WOULD GENERALLY HAVE A LIABILITY THE LONGER THEY'RE EXPOSED AND UNADDRESSED DURING THIS OR WE GET THIS GOING FORWARD WITH WHATEVER THE FINAL DESIGN WOULD BE. I THINK PART OF THE FINAL DESIGN MAY INCORPORATE INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY HAVING PLANTERS, LIKE MR. REYNA SAID, OF HAVING FEWER TREES.

SO IN COMBINATION WITH ABOVE GROUND PLANTERS AND OTHER FEATURES THAT WON'T PENETRATE THE GROUND. BUT FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, THERE ARE SOME IMMEDIATE CONCERNS THAT WOULD BE A LIABILITY FOR THE CITY. NOW, IN REGARDS TO THE TREE WELLS, MOST OF THOSE TREE WELLS, IF NOT ALL OF THEM, HAVE THE DECORATIVE BRICK INLAY.

ARE WE LOOKING TO KEEP WITH THE EXISTING DESIGN OR ARE WE GOING WITH JUST STRAIGHT CONCRETE? THIS WAS INITIALLY JUST LOOKING AT STRAIGHT CONCRETE PENDING WHAT THE FINAL DESIGN OUTCOME FROM THE ARCHITECT WOULD BE.

I WONDER IF WE COULD HAVE IT AND LIKE I SAID [INAUDIBLE], THESE OUT MIGHT BE JUST AN IDEA THAT'S OUT THERE, EITHER GETTING IT TO MATCH THE SAME COLOR AS THE BRICKS OR DO STAMP CONCRETE TO MATCH THE EXISTING BRICKS THAT ARE THERE NOW.

JUST SO WE CAN KIND OF KEEP THE AESTHETIC.

WE'LL LOOK AT THAT.

JUST AN IDEA, JUST AN IDEA.

YEAH WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT.

BUT SO, KERI, I'M SORRY, DIRECTOR COBB, TONIGHT YOU NEED DIRECTION.

IF THERE IS NO OBJECTIONS TO THE PROCESS OR IF THERE'S NO ANY ADDITIONAL ADDITIONS YOU'D LIKE US TO LOOK AT BOTH IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS OR OTHER AREAS ADJACENT TO THE DOWNTOWN.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO BRING IT BACK TO YOU.

I KNOW THIS WAS A TOPIC, A QUESTION THAT WAS RAISED AT LEAST TWICE IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR THE LAST FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS.

AND SO NOW THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE FIRMING UP OF THE PLANS AND THE DIRECTION INTERNALLY WE WANT TO COME BACK TO YOU BEFORE WE FINALIZE ANYTHING WITH THE ARCHITECT.

MAYOR I'D LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING, IF I MAY.

YES, SIR. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO BE LAYING DOWN CONCRETE AND THE

[01:30:03]

AREAS AND THE TREE WELLS, WE DID TALK ABOUT HAVING LESS TREES, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO ADD TREES AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE THERE ARE VERY FEW TREES LEFT IN THAT CORRIDOR.

AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO NOT LAY CONCRETE ON WHERE WE ARE, CONSIDERING THAT WE WILL HAVE A TREE IN THE FUTURE.

SO MAYBE THE SOLUTION FOR THOSE AREAS WOULD BE TO REMOVE ANY TREE ROOTS THAT ARE THERE AND THEN LEVELING THE GROUND AND PUTTING THE PAVERS BACK.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T DO THE WORK TWICE SO.

THE ONLY DOWNSIDE WITH THE EXISTING TREE WELLS AND THE CONDITION OF MANY OF THESE TREES IS THAT YOU DO HAVE THOSE ROOTS THAT ARE FAIRLY WELL SET.

AND SO ALTHOUGH WE'VE GROUND AS MUCH AS WE CAN, SOME OF THOSE TREE ROOTS GO DOWN SEVERAL INCHES TO A COUPLE FEET.

AND SO TRYING TO REPLANT A TREE IN THE EXACT LOCATION MAY BE PROBLEMATIC TO DO THEM IN THE FUTURE. I SEE. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, ANYWAY, CONSIDER THEN WHERE THE TREES ARE GOING TO GO.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF ANY OF THEM ARE GOING TO END UP IN AREAS WHERE THERE WAS AN EXISTING TREE, THAT WE DON'T LAY CONCRETE IN THAT AREA.

BUT I'M SURE YOU WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT AT THIS POINT.

AND I WILL ADD, THERE'S ONE THING THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM [INAUDIBLE].

IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE COMMUNITY INPUT IN THIS PROCESS.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THAT WANT TO HAVE SOME SORT OF INPUT IN THIS PROCESS.

SO LET'S DO THAT KERI.

I THINK YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK THERE WITH GETTING THEIR INPUT.

YEAH. AND IF YOU HAVE SPECIFICS, WHEN WE SEND OUT ZOOM INVITES, PLEASE SHARE.

I'LL LOOK ON MY FACEBOOK FEED I HAVE A LOT OF THEM ACTUALLY. THERE YOU GO.

RIGHT. AND LIKE I SAID, I THINK THE ELECTRONIC SURVEYS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

AND WHEREVER YOU CAN ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SIGN UP FOR AN ACCOUNT WITH OUR CITY WEBSITE, THAT'S HOW THOSE NOTIFICATIONS ARE GOING OUT.

AND SO, LIKE I SAID, IF YOU'RE SIGNED UP AND YOU GET A NOTIFICATION, YOU CLICK THE LINK TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY.

IT'S A REALLY SIMPLE, QUICK WAY TO PUT YOUR INPUT OUT THERE.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO BE SIGNED UP FOR AN ACCOUNT.

SO WHEREVER YOU HEAR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THOSE PROCESSES, PLEASE DO ENCOURAGE THEM TO SIGN UP FOR AN ACCOUNT WITH OUR WEB SITE.

WILL DO. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ITEM F DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO STAFF ON AMENDED AND

[12) f. Discussion and Direction by the City Council to Staff on Amended and Restated Lease Agreement with Wasco Recreation and Parks District. (Ortiz Hernandez)]

RESTATED LEASE AGREEMENT WASCO, PARKS AND REC DISTRICT.

MR. ORTIZ-HERNANDEZ.

MR. MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

SO THIS WAS AN AGENDA ITEM THAT WAS BROUGHT BACK BACK IN MAY AND WAS TABLED BY THE COUNCIL PENDING A REVIEW AND AND FEEDBACK FROM THE WASCO RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT.

THIS ORIGINALLY STEMS FROM 2019 BUDGET WORKSHOP IN WHICH THE COUNCIL RECEIVED INFORMATION AND A REQUEST FROM THE PARKS DISTRICT TO ASSIST THEM WITH THEIR LIGHTING PROJECT THAT THEY WERE MOVING FORWARD WITH AT WEST SIDE PARK.

AND IN PART, THEY WERE REQUESTING ASSISTANCE WITH FUNDING OF THAT PROJECT.

AND AFTER REVIEWING THE LEASE AGREEMENTS THAT WERE IN PLACE FOR WEST SIDE PARK AND FOR PART OF BARKER PARK, THE COUNCIL RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT SPELLED OUT SOME OPTIONS FOR HELPING TO FUND THEM.

ONE, THAT OPTION WAS TO SPECIFICALLY SUPPORT THE THE PARKS THAT THE CITY OWNS, THAT WEST PARK AND PART OF BARKER PARK.

THERE'S NO LEGAL QUESTION IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY CAN FINANCIALLY SUPPORT CAPITAL PROJECTS THERE.

THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SOME SOME LEGAL QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH THAT WOULD HAVE HAD BEEN DONE TO JUSTIFY THE CITY'S ABILITY TO SUPPORT THE PARK DISTRICT AND OTHER PARKS THAT THE CITY DOESN'T OWN.

AND SO THE COUNCIL AT THAT TIME JUST LIMITED THE SCOPE IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECTS TO THE TWO PARKS WE OWN AT LEAST FOR DISTRICT.

AND THAT SUMMER OF 2019 THE CITY ATTORNEY AND I REVIEWED THE LEASE AGREEMENTS AND FELT IT BEST TO CONSOLIDATE ALL THE AGREEMENTS INTO A SINGLE MASTER GUIDING AGREEMENT THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH AND INCORPORATE TERMS THAT ALLOWED FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE PARK AND REC DISTRICT TO SUPPORT THEIR LIGHTING PROJECT. NOW, FAST FORWARD THROUGH MAY.

THERE WAS SOME ADDITIONAL MODIFICATIONS THAT ALLOWED FOR AUTHORIZATIONS BY THE PARK MANAGER AND MYSELF WERE FOR A CERTAIN REQUEST THAT EITHER PARTY CAN MAKE TO THE OTHER.

AND WE FIND OURSELVES NOW WE RECEIVED AN UPDATED VERSION, ESSENTIALLY A REWRITTEN VERSION

[01:35:03]

OF THE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE PREPARED THAT REALLY DIFFERS FROM THE DRAFT THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY AND I HAD PREPARED.

AND IT REALLY GOES BEYOND THE ORIGINAL SCOPE THAT THE COUNCIL HAD GIVEN US DIRECTION ON.

AND SO WE BRING THIS BACK TO YOU.

AND BOTH COPIES, BOTH VERSIONS WERE INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET FOR REVIEW.

IN THE STAFF REPORT I OUTLINED SOME OF THE KEY DIFFERENCES, SOME THAT HAVE SOME VERY COMPLEX AND PERHAPS SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CITY, BOTH IN TERMS OF FINANCES AS WELL AS THE LEASE TERMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE WITH THE DISTRICT.

AND SO WE WANTED TO GET YOUR GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION ON HOW YOU WANT US TO PROCEED AND IF THERE'S ONE VERSION VERSUS ANOTHER THAT YOU WANT US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

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 ARE USING A TELEPHONE, PLEASE.

DIAL STAR NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD.

YOU'LL BE CALLED UPON BY 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.

DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS MADAM CLERK.

JUST A MOMENT MAYOR CORTEZ. THANK YOU.

NO, THERE ARE NONE AT THIS TIME.

GREAT, THANK YOU, WE'LL START WITH MEMBER GARCIA.

OH, I AM SORRY, SORRY, I WAS CONFUSED.

YES, NO, I LIKE THIS.

I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE APPROACHING THIS AND BASICALLY GIVING THIS ANOTHER SHOT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY DEFINITELY WANTS US TO HELP OUT WITH PARKS BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL INTENT IS THERE.

IS THERE A TIME LIMIT OR CAN WE TABLE IT ANOTHER TWO WEEKS? I READ THROUGH THE REPORT, BUT I STILL LIKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO STUDY ON THIS.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. DO YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT MR. CITY MANAGER DANIEL. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE ARE ANY SPECIFIC TIMELINE.

I THINK THE ORIGINAL TIMELINE WAS TIED TO THEIR LIGHTING PROJECT.

I DON'T RECALL WHERE THINGS ARE AT WITH COVID 19 THAT GOT DELAYED A LITTLE BIT.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TIME FRAME OF THAT IS.

SO I BELIEVE YOU MAY HAVE TIME IF YOU SO WISH.

BUT YEAH, I THINK THERE ARE, I DO RECOMMEND THAT YOU TAKE THE TIME TO TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE THE DIFFERENCES IN BOTH AGREEMENTS AND WHAT REPRESENTS ONE FROM ANOTHER.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, ONE OF THE KEY DIFFERENCES AND WHAT THE DISTRICT HAS PROPOSED WAS THAT THE CITY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MAINTENANCE COST THAT THE PARKS AT WESTLAKE PARK AND BARKER PARK IN EXCESS OF FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT UNDER THE CURRENT TERMS IS NOT APPLICABLE WHERE I BELIEVE THE TERMS LEAVES THE MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITY AND COST WITH THE DISTRICT.

AND SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING THE COUNCIL WISHES TO CHOOSE, THERE'S GOING TO BE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS IN TERMS OF HAVING TO BUDGET FOR THAT.

JUST RECENTLY ON ANOTHER MATTER, WITH THE AG WELL OUT AT THE ACREAGE THAT THE CITY LEASES TO A FARMER, NOW WE ARE INCURRING THE EXPENSE OF HAVING TO REBUILD THAT WATER WELL.

AND IT WAS AN EXPENSE THAT WASN'T FACTORED OR BUDGETED IN THAT HAS A FACTOR ON OUR FINANCES, UNFORTUNATELY.

AND SO THESE ARE SOME THINGS THAT MAY SEEM SMALL AND MINOR AT THE TIME, BUT CAN HAVE SOME VERY DRASTIC IMPLICATIONS.

AND GIVEN THE WIDE LATITUDE AND THE BROAD SCOPE THAT THESE TERMS ARE CRAFTED IN THAT COULD BE FINANCIALLY DETRIMENTAL TO THE CITY IN THE EVENT OF A MAJOR ISSUE.