City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, May 6, 2025
MINUTES
WASCO CITY COUNCIL
and Successor Agency to the
Former Redevelopment Agency
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
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
Mayor Medina called the meeting to order at p.m.
2) ROLL CALL: Mayor Medina, Mayor Pro Tem Saldaña, Council Members: Martinez, Raya, Reyna
PRESENT: All
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager M. Scott Hurlbert, City Attorney Tom Schroeter, Assistant City Manager Maria Lara, City Clerk Maria O. Martinez, Deputy City Clerk Monica Flores, Public Works Director Luis Villa, Community Development Director Keri Cobb, IT Manager Emmanuel Garcia, Police Ch ief Charlie Fivecoat, Assistant Police Chief Alecio Mora, Code Enforcement Officer Christian Tovar
3) FLAG SALUTE: by Mayor Medina
4) INVOCATION: by
5) APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Saldaña, 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. Proclamation – Community Action Month
Mayor Medina presented the proclamation to CAPK staff members Susana Magana, Director of Health and Nutrition Services, and TiYonna Mitchell, Outreach and Communications Supervisor.
b. Outdoor Food Vending (Informational Only – Keri Cobb) Elizabeth King, a registered environmental health specialist from the Kern County Department of Public Health, gave a PowerPoint presentation on Food Safety and the Why and How of Environmental Health Permits. Community Development Docusign Envelope ID: 693CBB76-6F0D-41BD-AF97-B4BC10FBAF3B City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, May 6, 2025 Director Keri Cobb provided an outdoor food vending guid e for all council members.
7) PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:
There were no public comments.
Deputy City Clerk Monica Flores mentioned no email comments for this item or other agenda items.
8) SUCCESSOR AGENCY BUSINESS: None
9) WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BUSINESS: None
10) NEW EMPLOYEE POLICE DEPARTMENT BADGE PINNING CEREMONY FOR:
1. Alecio Mora, Assistant Police Chief
2. Roman Nunez, Police Officer
Police Chief Fivecoat presented the Police Department staff for the badge -pinning ceremony.
City Clerk Maria Martinez administered the oath of office to the newly appointed Assistant Police Chief Alecio Mora and newly hired Police Officer Roman Nunez.
Mayor Medina recessed the meeting at 6:49 p.m.
Mayor Medina reconvened the meeting at 6:57 p.m.
11) PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS
a. Kern County Fire Department (Appleton)
No reports - Chief Appleton absent.
b. Wasco Police Department (Fivecoat)
Assistant Police Chief Mora gave a PowerPoint presentation on recent crimes.
CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS:
12) 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 $1,489,522.24
b. Approval of City Council Minutes for April 21, 2025, Special Meeting.
c. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Approve the travel Expenses Exceeding $500.00 for Code Compliance officers Tovar and Gonzalez to attend the 2025 California Association of Code Enforcement Officers (CACEO) Conference on October 28 – 30, 2025, in Sacramento, CA.
d. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Approval of Travel Expenses Exceeding $500.00 per participation for the Transit Coordinator and Administrative Manager to attend the Two-day Training on May 13-14, 2025, for ADA Compliance Requirements and Eligibility.
Docusign Envelope ID: 693CBB76-6F0D-41BD-AF97-B4BC10FBAF3B City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, May 6, 2025 There was no c onflict of Interest on the consent calendar for any of the Council members.
Motion by Council Member Reyna, 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
13) PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
14) DEFERRED BUSINESS: None
15) NEW BUSINESS:
a. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to Finalize and Execute a Temporary Employment Agreement for a Summer IT Intern Through Kern Intern Connections (KIC), Subject to City Manager and City Attorney Review.
Reso#2025-4202
Agmt#2025-017
Olivia Jones, Program Manager from the Kern Intern Connections, gave an oral presentation.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Council Member Reyna, 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
b. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Approving the Amended Salary Schedule for the Fiscal Year 2024 -2025 in Compliance with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Requirement for Publicly Available Pay Schedules.
Reso#2025-4203
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
Docusign Envelope ID: 693CBB76-6F0D-41BD-AF97-B4BC10FBAF3B City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, May 6, 2025 ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
c. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to Finalize and Execute a Professional Services Agreement with SuperC AI Inc. (BeWith) for the Launch of a New Community Engagement Platform, Subject to City Manager and City Attorney Review.
Reso#2025-4204
Agmt#2025-018
Oral presentation by City Manager M. Scott Hurlbert.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Council Mem ber 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
d. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or designee to finalize and endorse a Site Lease Agreement with the California Department of Technology for location of a Fiber Optic Network Telecommunications Hut.
Reso#2025-4205
Agmt#2025-019
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
16) REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES:
a. Kern Economic Development Corporation (Medina)
No reports
b. Kern Council of Governments (Reyna)
The U.S. Department of Transportation has allocated $5 billion in funding over a five-year period and has awarded $2.9 billion in federal funding to over 600 communities in 50 states. The application deadline for this cycle is June 26, 2025. Michael Navarro has been promoted to District Six Director and has requested that staff reach out to him.
Regarding the Highway 46 and Highway 43 roundabout, utility relocation will occur this summer, and inquired if the project manager had contacted staff Docusign Envelope ID: 693CBB76-6F0D-41BD-AF97-B4BC10FBAF3B City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, May 6, 2025 to come to the city council meeting to provide an update; staff is working to schedule the project manager for the update to the council. The Regional Surface Transpiration Program RSTP and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program CMAQ are out and the deadline for applications is July 17, 2025.
c. Wasco Task Force (Saldaña and Medina)
Next cleanup will be on May 31, 2025.
17) REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER:
City Manager Hurlbert updated the city council on the following:
Community Breakfast will be hosted by the Historical Society at the Wasco Historical Museum on May 7, 2025, at 7:00 a.m.
The Scofield Road project began yesterday, May 5, 2025. Paving on the Central Rehab project is complete; striping will begin on May 12. 2025.
Unwired project – A meeting was held yesterday, and the terms of the agreement were finalized, which will be executed this week. They will begin their community meeting campaign.
The Gromer Landscape project will kick off this month There were four sponsored Veterans’ banners for the Veterans Banner Program subsidy.
The SNIP will take place on May 9, 2025, and May 30, 2025 in front of Public Works Department beginning at 8:00 a.m. by appointment.
The Municipal Clerks Appreciation Week is from May 5-9, 2025. The National Police Week, May 11-17, 2025, and Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15, 2025.
National Public Works Appreciation Week, May 18-24, 2025. The International Conference of Shopping Centers ICSC Conference will be from May 18 -20, 2025, in Las Vegas, NV. , which the City Manager, the Community Development Director, and two City Council Members will attend. Memorial Day Ceremony at the Bakersfield National Cemetery will be held on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
Bike Rodeo will be held on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Barker Park.
18) REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL:
Mayor Pro Tem Saldaña:
Attended Wasco High School Career Day at Wasco High School on April 25, 2025.
Council Member Martinez:
Attended the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District City Selection Committee meeting on April 29, 2025.
Council Member Reyna:
Requested that the Code Enforcement Officers carry the information for the Kern Public Health Department for the public when applicable. Requested staff to invite Sharon Woolfolk, NAMI President, for Mental Health Month to present a proclamation.
Attended the NAMI Kern County Gala on Saturday, May 3, 2025, and received special recognition as a mental health advocate for his work on mental health Docusign Envelope ID: 693CBB76-6F0D-41BD-AF97-B4BC10FBAF3B City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, May 6, 2025 awareness in our festival, for bringing back mental health workshops to the community.
Sharon Woofolk, NAMI President, will facilitate the Heart and Minds Workshops to begin on May 18, 2025, at the St John the Evangelist Parish Hall. Attended the Wasco High School Career Day at Wasco High School on April 25 , 2025.
Mayor Medina:
Attended Wasco High School Career Day at Wasco High School on April 25, 2025.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Medina adjourned into closed session at 7:48 p.m.
Mayor Medina adjourned out of closed session at 8:05 p.m.
19) CLOSED SESSION:
a. Closed Session Minutes for April 15, 2025.
b. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS 54957.6
Agency designated representatives: City Manager, HR Manager, Employee Organization: SEIU Local 521
c. 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: one potential case.
20) CLOSED SESSION ACTION:
City Attorney Tom Schroeter reported out.
a. Closed Session Minutes for April 15, 2025.
Motion by Council Member Martinez, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Saladaña, to adopt the resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: MEDINA, SALDAÑA, MARTINEZ, RAYA, REYNA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
b. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS 54957.6
Agency designated representatives: City Manager, HR Manager, Employee Organization: SEIU Local 521
No reportable action.
c. 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: one potential case.
No reportable action.
Docusign Envelope ID: 693CBB76-6F0D-41BD-AF97-B4BC10FBAF3B City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, May 6, 2025 21) ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Medina adjourned the meeting at 8:06 p.m.
____________________________________
Monica Flores, Deputy City Clerk
______________________________________
Valentin Medina, Mayor
Docusign Envelope ID: 693CBB76-6F0D-41BD-AF97-B4BC10FBAF3B