City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, April 16, 2024
MINUTES
WASCO CITY COUNCIL
and Successor Agency to the
Former Redevelopment Agency
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Regular Meeting – 6:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers
746 8th Street, Wasco, CA 93280
REGULAR MEETING – 6:00 pm
1) CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Garcia called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
Mayor Pro Tem Garcia dedicates the meeting in honor of colleague and friend, former Wasco City Council Member Tilo Cortez’s father who passed this week.
2) ROLL CALL: Mayor Garcia, Mayor Pro Tem Medina, Council Members: Martinez, Reyna, Saldaña
PRESENT: Mayor Garcia, Mayor Pro Tem Medina, Council Members: Martinez, Reyna ABSENT: Council Member Saldaña
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Hurlbert, City Attorney Schroeter, Deputy City Clerk Flores, Deputy City Clerk Tinajero, Assistant City Manager Lara, Community Development Director Cobb, Public Works Director Villa, Chief of Police Fivecoat, Finance Director Perez-Hernandez
3) FLAG SALUTE: by Mayor Garcia
4) INVOCATION: Observed a moment of silence
5) PRESENTATIONS: None
6) PUBLIC COMMENTS:
City Manager Hurlbert introduced new staff member Emmanuel “Manny” Garcia, IT Manager, to the council.
Laura Rodriguez made a public comment regarding animal control.
Deputy City Clerk Monica Flores mentioned there were no email comments for this item or any other item on this agenda.
7) SUCCESSOR AGENCY BUSINESS: None
8) WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BUSINESS: None
9) NEW EMPLOYEE POLICE DEPARTMENT BADGE PINNING CEREMONY FOR: None
City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, April 16, 2024 CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS:
10) CONSENT CALENDAR:
The Consent Calendar consists of items that, in the staff's opinion, are routine and non- controversial. These items are approved in one motion unless a Council Member or member of the public requests the removal of a particular item. a. Receive and File department payments totaling $ 1,376,525.91
b. Approval of City Council Minutes for April 2, 2024, Regular Meeting
c. Adopt a Resolution Approving an Amendment to The Standard Agreement (20- CDBG-CV2-3-000010) Issued Under The 2020 Community Development Block Grant Program-Coronavirus Response (CDBG-CV), and Find that the project is Categorically Exempt (Class 1: Existing Facilities) from the provisions of (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301; and Categorically Excluded under (NEPA) per 24 CFR
58.35(a) and subject to laws and authorities at §58.5: (3)(iii) (B), no environmental review is required.
Reso#2024-4050
d. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Ci ty Manager or Designee to Execute a Purchase Order with Farm Pump and I rrigation in an amount not to exceed $16,000.00 for Emergency Repairs of the Wastewater Treatment Facility’s Domestic Water Well, and Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15378, no environmental review is required.
Reso#2024-4051
e. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Ci ty Manager or designee to Execute a Purchase Order with Duthie Power Services in an amount not to exceed $15,000.00 for Emergency Repairs of the Wastewater Treatment Facility’s Standby Generator, and Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15378, no environmental review is required.
Reso#2024-4052
f. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Sign a Letter Authorizing the County of Kern as the Lead Agency to Submit to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRe cycle) a Regional Application for the Used Oil Payment Program (OPP) Fiscal Year 2024-25 on its behalf, and Find that this Project is classified as categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Section 15332; no environmental review is required.
Reso#2024-4053
g. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or his Designee to Execute an Agreement Between the City of Wasco and the County of Kern for participation in the County of Kern Work Release Program, and Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15378, no environmental review is required.
City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, April 16, 2024 Reso#2024-4054
Agmt#2024-008
h. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Ci ty Manager or designee to endorse an agreement with Dee Jasper & Associates, Inc. for Professional Engineering Services for Water System Related Matters, and that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Qua lity Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15378, no environmental review is required.
Reso#2024-4055
Agmt#2024-009
No Conflict of Interest on the consent calendar for any of the Council members.
Motion was made by Council Member Reyna, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Medina, to approve the consent calendar, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: GARCIA, MEDINA, REYNA, MARTINEZ
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: SALDAÑA
11) PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
12) DEFERRED BUSINESS: None
13) NEW BUSINESS:
a. Discussion and Direction to Staff regarding the Veteran Salute Banner Program, and Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines (CEQA); therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15378, no environmental review is required.
City Manager Hurlbert requested direction from the council regarding the Veterans Salute Banner program.
There were no public comments.
City Council gave staff the proposed policy and procedures for moving forward with the veteran’s banner program to br ing back in a future meeting for the council’s approval:
x Create a new line item in the city co uncil’s budget to hold donations or interim holdings for specific banners and/or toward donations toward future expenses for the banner program.
x Add a checkbox on the application to request a scholarship for support or partial subsidy for the banner.
x The city will contribute to the fund from the general fund in conjunction with the donations provided by the community.
x For the renewal process, staff to make an effort to contact the applicant to offer options for renewing the banner and add to the initial application a check box indicating whether the applicant would like to cover the cost or have the City cover the cost.
City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, April 16, 2024 x After the banners are replaced, send the replacement banner to the family, the shipping cost paid by the family, or have the family decide if they would like to receive the replacement banner.
x Waive the residency requirement for city employees.
b. Review and Approval of Mural Concept for the East Wall of the Building located at 1140 7
th Street and Find that this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines (CEQA); therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15301, no environmental review is required.
Oral presentation by Community Development Director Cobb.
There were no public comments.
Motion was made by Council Member Martinez, seconded by Council Member Reyna, to approve the mural concept, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: GARCIA, MEDINA, REYNA, MARTINEZ
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: SALDAÑA
c. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or designee to finalize and execute a Tow Service Agreement consistent with the California Highway Patrol Tow Service Agreement Model establishing a tow rotation with approved tow service providers, and Find that this acti on is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines (CEQA); therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15378, no environmental review is required.
Reso#2024-4056
Oral presentation by City Manager Hurlbert.
public comments.
Motion was made by Council Member Martinez, seconded by Council Member Reyna, to approve the mural concept, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: GARCIA, MEDINA, REYNA, MARTINEZ
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: SALDAÑA
14) REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES:
a. Kern Economic Development Corporation (Garcia)
The next meeting is scheduled for April 25, 2024, in Arvin.
No report.
b. Kern Council of Government (Reyna)
The next meeting will be this week, April 18, 2024.
No reports.
c. Wasco Task Force (Saldaña and Medina)
City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, April 16, 2024 x The first Wasco Task Force Clean-up event was on April 6, 2024. x The next clean-up event will be on April 26, 2024, and would like to have the clean-up event monthly.
15) REPORTS FROM KC FIRE AND SHERIFF:
a. Kern County Fire Department (Appleton)
Chief Appleton gave a recent fire report.
b. Kern County Sheriff’s Department (Stout)
No reports - Sergeant Stout is absent.
13) NEW BUSINESS:
d. Discussion and Direction to Staff Regarding a Letter of Support from Primex Farms, LLC., and Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines (CEQA); therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15378, no environmental review is required.
The City Manager mentioned that item 13d was on the agenda packet that was uploaded to the website, and it was on the city attor ney’s copy, but the agenda item was not on the hard copy of the agenda. The city attorney confirmed that action can be taken on this item. There was an oral presentation by City Manager Hurlbert.
There were no public comments.
Motion was made by Council Member Reyna, seconded by Council Member Martinez, to approve the letter of support by the following roll call vote:
AYES: MEDINA, REYNA, MARTINEZ
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: GARCIA
ABSENT: SALDAÑA
16) REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER:
City Manager Hurlbert updated the city council on the following:
x The Wasco Police Department will go live on April 18, 2024, and is within three to four positions of being fully staffed.
x The labor camp demolition is in the final stages and will be completed in a few weeks.
x The Wasco Police Department participated in Community Clean-up and the Little League T-Ball Opening Day on April 6, 2024.
x There was a SNIP event on April 12, 2024, where 58 animals were seen. x Free adoption event at the Grocery Outlet on April 19, 2024. x Attended the Spring Carnival event on April 11, 2024, with Chief Fivecoat at Teresa Burke Elementary.
x Spring Carnival event on April 18, 2024, at John L. Pruiett Elementary School. x Bike Rodeo Summer Safety event at Barker Park on June 17, 2024. x There is one Wasco Recreation and Parks District Board seat that is open for a partial term ending November 2025.
x Once the open seat is filed, will work on scheduling a meeting with the Wasco Recreation and Parks Board per council request.
City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, April 16, 2024 x Attended a meeting with the Kern Initiative for Economic Development (KEDC) through the KITE Program, looking to possibly form a business development incubator.
17) REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL:
Mayor Pro Tem Medina:
x Attended the ribbon-cutting event for Carnitas by Jessie on Friday, April 5, 2024. x Attended the opening of the 15th Street park on Saturday, April 13, 2024. x Will attend the City Leaders Summit in Sacramento, this week.
Council Member Reyna:
x Concerned about the roundabout where th e clock tower used to be located downtown.
x Participated in the Wasco Task Force Clean-up event on April 6, 2024. x The Knights of Columbus approved $525.00 to purchase five veterans’ banners, and have contacted local veterans to pay for their banners; requested staff for a list of veterans who have been honored with banners on the city website. x Will attend the City Leaders Summit in Sacramento this week.
Mayor Garcia:
x Thanked his colleagues for being at the events when he could not attend and thanked the City for the career fairs, ribbon-cuttings, and all the events.
18) CLOSED SESSION: None
19) CLOSED SESSION ACTION: None
20) ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Garcia adjourned the meeting at 7:13 p.m.
____________________________________
Monica Flores, Deputy City Clerk
______________________________________
Valentin Medina, Mayor