City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, April 15, 2025
MINUTES
WASCO CITY COUNCIL
and Successor Agency to the
Former Redevelopment Agency
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Regular Meeting – 6:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers
746 8 th Street, Wasco, CA 93280
REGULAR MEETING – 6:00 pm
1) CALL TO ORDER: Mayor
Mayor Medina called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2) ROLL CALL: Mayor Medina, Mayor Pro Tem Saldaña, Council Members: Martinez, Raya, Reyna
PRESENT: Mayor Medina, Mayor Pro Tem Saldaña, Council Members: Martinez, Raya, Reyna
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager M. Scott Hurlbert, City Attorney Tom Schroeter, Assistant City Manager Maria Lara, Deputy City Clerk Monica Flores, Deputy City Clerk Yolanda Tinajero, Public Works Director Luis Villa, Finance Director Isarel Perez-Hernandez, Community Development Director Keri Cobb, Police Chief Charlie Fivecoat, Kern Fire Chief Joe Appleton
3) FLAG SALUTE: by Mayor Medina
4) INVOCATION: observed a moment of silence.
5) APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Motion by Council Member Martinez, seconded by Mayor Medina, to approve the agenda as to form by the following roll call vote:
AYES: MEDINA, SALDAÑA, MARTINEZ, RAYA, REYNA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
6) PRESENTATIONS:
a. Recognition of Former Sales Tax Committee Member CARL J. HIVELY Mayor Medina presented the certificate of recognition to Carl Joe Hively.
b. Sexual Harassment Awareness Month – LIDERES DE CAMPESINAS Mayor Medina presented the proclamation to the members of Lideres de Campesinas
7) PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:
Public comment by Claribel Gutierrez.
City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, April 15, 2025 Deputy City Clerk Monica Flores mentioned there were no email comments for this item or any other agenda items.
8) SUCCESSOR AGENCY BUSINESS: None
9) WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BUSINESS: None
10) PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS
a. Kern County Fire Department (Appleton)
No reports – Fire Chief Appleton absent.
b. Wasco Police Department (Fivecoat)
Chief Fivecoat gave a PowerPoint presentation on recent crime statistics.
CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS:
11) CONSENT CALENDAR:
The Consent Calendar consists of items that are routine and noncontroversial, in the staff's opinion. 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 $2,004,266.09
b. Approval of City Council Minutes for April 1, 2025, Regular Meeting.
c. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Approval for Travel Expenses Exceeding $500.00 per participation for Mayor Medina, Council Member Reyna, and City Manager M. Scott Hurlbert to attend the League of California Cities City Leaders Summit on April 23 – April 25, 2025, in Sacramento, California.
d. Council finds this action qualifies as categorically exempt pursuant to section 15308 of the CEQA Guidelines; 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 (CalRecycle) a Regional Application for the Used Oil Payment Program (OPP) Fiscal Year 2025-26 on its behalf.
Reso#2025-4194
There was no conflict of Interest on the consent calendar for any council members.
Motion by Mayor Medina, seconded by Council Member Martinez, to approve the consent calendar by the following roll call vote:
AYES: MEDINA, SALDAÑA, MARTINEZ, RAYA, REYNA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
12) PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
13) DEFERRED BUSINESS: None
City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, April 15, 2025 14) NEW BUSINESS:
a. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or designee to Sign and Execute a Consultant Services Agreement with California Consulting, Inc., a full-service grant writing firm, to provide grant writing assistance for projects listed on the Adopted Capital Improvement Program. (Hurlbert)
Reso#2025-4195
Agmt#2025-012
Oral presentation by City Manager M. Scott Hurlbert.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Mayor Medina, seconded by Council Member Reyna, to adopt the resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: MEDINA, SALDAÑA, MARTINEZ, RAYA, REYNA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
b. Council finds this action is not a “project” under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or designee to finalize and endorse an agreement with Teter Architects & Engineers Connected for Professional Architectural Services for the new Wasco Police Building Project.
Reso#2025-4196
Agmt#2025-013
Oral presentation by City Manager M. Scott Hurlbert.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Council Member Reyna, seconded by Mayor Medina, to adopt the resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: MEDINA, SALDAÑA, MARTINEZ, RAYA, REYNA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
c. Council finds this action is not a “project” under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or designee to finalize and endorse an Amendment to the Employ ment Agreement with Deputy Public Works Director Alberto Martinez. (Hurlbert)
Reso#2025-4917
Agmt#2022-008(1)
Oral presentation by City Manager M. Scott Hurlbert.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Pro Tem left the council chambers at 6:56 p.m.
Mayor Pro Tem returned to the council chambers at 6:58 p.m.
City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, April 15, 2025 Motion by Council Member Martinez, seconded by Mayor Medina, to adopt the resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: MEDINA, SALDAÑA, MARTINEZ, RAYA, REYNA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
d. Council finds this action is not a “project” under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or designee to finalize and endorse an Employment Agreement with Assistant Chief of Police, Alecio Mora. (Hurlbert)
Reso#2025-4198
Agmt#2025-014
Oral presentation by City Manager M. Scott Hurlbert.
Public comments by Claribel Gutierrez.
Motion by Mayor Medina, seconded by Council Member Reyna, to adopt the resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: MEDINA, SALDAÑA, MARTINEZ, RAYA, REYNA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
e. Council finds this action is not a “project” under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizi ng the City Manager or designee to develop, finalize and endorse all documents and agreements necessary to make full utilization of Rule 20A Power Line Undergrounding funds allocated to the City of Wasco. (Hurlbert)
Reso#2025-4199
Oral presentation by City Manager M. Scott Hurlbert.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Council Member Martinez, seconded by Mayor Medina, to adopt the resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: MEDINA, SALDAÑA, MARTINEZ, RAYA, REYNA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
f. Council finds this action is not a “project” under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or designee to finalize and endorse a Side Letter with WPOA concerning Evidence and Property Room Duty incentive pay. (Hurlbert)
Reso#2025-4200
Oral presentation by City Manager M. Scott Hurlbert.
There were no public comments.
City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, April 15, 2025 Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Saldaña, seconded by Council Member Martinez, to adopt the resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: MEDINA, SALDAÑA, MARTINEZ, RAYA, REYNA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
15) REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES:
a. Kern Economic Development Corporation (Medina)
No reports – the next meeting will be May 1, 2025.
b. Kern Council of Governments (Reyna)
No reports – the next meeting will be April 17, 2025.
c. Wasco Task Force (Saldaña and Medina)
The month of April will be going dark. Mayor Medina requested an update from the City Manager regarding the location of Gromer Avenue and Palm Avenue, as well as the date for the next cleanup. The City Manager will provide a final update and get back to the Mayor.
16) REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER:
City Manager Hurlbert updated the city council on the following:
x The Community Breakfast will be hosted by the Wasco Historical Society, located at the Wasco Museum, on May 7, 2025, at 7:00 a.m.
x The SNIP event will be on April 7, 2025, at 8:00 am. To 4:00 p.m. in front of the Public Works department.
x The Veterans Banner Program open enrollment ended on April 7, 2025. There are five new banner requests, and they will be ordered. A small portion of the banner maintenance budget has been established to replace the oldest and most worn seasonal banners. There are some for spring and for winter. x The Wasco Recreation and Parks District Easter Egg Hunt event on Saturday, April 12, 2025, was well attended.
x The Police Activities League PAL Ribbon Cutting is being held on April 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the PAL Building.
x Wasco Resources Fair at Wasco High School on April 25, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
x League of California Cities Leaders Summit from April 23-25, 2025, in Sacramento. x Kern EDC Economic Summit on May 1, 2025, at California State University, Bakersfield at 7:00 a.m.
x The International Conference of Shopping Centers ICSC Conference will be from May 18-20, 2025, in Las Vegas.
x Memorial Day Ceremony at the National Cemetery will be on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
x Wasco Bike Rodeo will be on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Barker Park. x There are two potential Special City Council meetings in the next week before May 6, 2025. One will address what may ha ve been missed with Rule 20A. The other is that the completion of the Unwi red fiber overbuild contract is near, and a quorum is needed for the special meetings to move forward with those items.
City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, April 15, 2025
17) REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL:
Council Member Reyna:
x Attended the first anniversary of Carnitas El Jessie on April 6, 2025. Requested that the Community Development Director, Keri Cobb, contact the owner regarding concerns about the building's status.
x Attended the UCLA Mobile Ophthalmology Clinic at the Courthouse, which provided free services to the Wasco farm working community by appointment. x Attended the Wasco Recreation and Parks District Easter Egg Hunt event on April 12, 2025.
x Requested staff to attend to unfinished sidewalks at the location of Fifth Street east of Poplar Avenue, to Karl Kelemen’s Elementary School, and further.
Mayor Medina
x Requested staff look into who is responsible for cleaning up the overgrown weeds in front of the apartments on the corner of Palm Avenue and 7th Street, and have them cleaned up.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Medina adjourned into closed session at 7:36 p.m.
Mayor Medina adjourned out of closed session at 7:46 p.m.
18) CLOSED SESSION:
a. Closed Session Minutes for February 4, 2025.
b. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) and paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 54956.9: two potential cases.
c. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATIONS 54956.8
Property: APN 487-010-83
City Negotiator: City Manager, Mayor
Negotiating Party: TBD
Under Negotiations: Price and terms of payment
19) CLOSED SESSION ACTION:
City attorney Tom Schroeter reported out.
a. Closed Session Minutes for February 4, 2025.
Motion by Council Member Martinez, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Saladaña, to approve the closed session minutes by the following roll call vote:
AYES: MEDINA, SALDAÑA, MARTINEZ, RAYA, REYNA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, April 15, 2025 b. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) and paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 54956.9: two potential cases.
No reportable action.
c. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATIONS 54956.8
Property: APN 487-010-83
City Negotiator: City Manager, Mayor
Negotiating Party: TBD
Under Negotiations: Price and terms of payment
No reportable action.
20) ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Medina adjourned the meeting at 7:48 p.m.
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Monica Flores, Deputy City Clerk
______________________________________
Valentin Medina, Mayor