City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, May 20, 2025
MINUTES
WASCO CITY COUNCIL
and Successor Agency to the
Former Redevelopment Agency
Tuesday, May 20, 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 Medina called the meeting to order at 6:02 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, City Clerk Maria O. Martinez, Deputy City Clerk Monica Flores, Public Works Director Luis Villa, Community Development Director Keri Cobb, Finance Director Isarel Perez -Hernandez, Police Chief Charlie Fivecoat , Antonio Maldonado, Nellie Garcia, Alberto Martinez, Hershey Washington, Vincent Villanueva, Rolando Rodriguez
3) FLAG SALUTE: by Mayor Medina
4) INVOCATION: observed a moment of silence
5) APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
City Manager Hurlbert requested that items 6.a. and 6.b. be moved down the agenda as the meeting proceeds, until all parties are available.
Motion by Council Member Martinez , seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Saldaña , to approve the agenda with items 6.a. and 6.b to be moved down the agenda as the meeting proceeds until all parties are available by the following roll call vote:
AYES: MEDINA, SALDAÑA, MARTINEZ, RAYA, REYNA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
6) PRESENTATIONS:
c. Proclamation – National Police Week
Mayor Medina presented the proclamation to Chief of Police Charlie Fivecoat.
d. Proclamation – National Public Works Week
Docusign Envelope ID: CA69F087-B97F-48AB-8B63-0743D80EE39C City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, May 20, 2025 Mayor Medina presented the proclamation to the Public Works Director, Lu is Villa, and the public works staff.
a. Recognition for the Mental Health Advocate of the Year Award Mayor Medina and Claribel Gutierrez, Field Representative for Assemblymember Dr.
Jasmeet Bains, presented a certificate of recognition to Veronica Jacuinde.
b. Proclamation – Mental Health Awareness Month
Mayor Medina presented the proclamation to Sharon Woolfolk, President of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
7) PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:
There were no public comments.
Deputy City Clerk Monica Flores mentioned there are 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 $525,489.42
b. Approval of City Council Minutes for May 6, 2025, Regular Meeting.
c. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Approval of Travel and Training Expenses Exceeding $500.00 for a Police Officer to attend the CA POST Field Training Officer Course scheduled for June 2-6, 2025, in Fresno, CA.
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 execute a Professional Services Agreement with ADA GURU to Update the Dial -a- Ride Operating Policies.
Reso#2025-4206
Agmt#2025-020
e. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution to Authorize the City Manager or Designee to Docusign Envelope ID: CA69F087-B97F-48AB-8B63-0743D80EE39C City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, May 20, 2025 Execute a Contribution to CV SALTS – Central Valley Salinity Alternatives for Long - Term Sustainability in an amount not to exceed $15,000.00.
Reso#2025-4207
f. Council finds this action not a “project” under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Approval of the Acceptance of the Poso Avenue CMAQ Project and Authorize the City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion.
Rec#2025-006
g. Council finds this action not a “ project” under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Approval of the Acceptance of the Historic Downtown Business District Transformation Project and Authorize the City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion.
Rec#2025-007
h. Council finds this action not a “project” under section 15060(c) (3) of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to Sign and Execute a Purchase order with CONFAB, LLC a subdivision of Wastequip, in the amount not to exceed $ 12,000.00 to purchase 10 - 3yd metal bins with steel lids, and lock bars, via Sourcewell Contract.
Reso#2025-4208
There was no conflict of interest on the consent calendar for any of the 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:
a. Council finds this action is not a “project” defined under section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA Guidelines; Conduct a Public Hearing and Adopt a Resolution Ordering the Creation of Underground Utility District No. 2025 -01 property between 8 th Street & 9th Street, dividing APN 030-081-02 & APN 030-081-01(approximately 600 feet).
Reso#2025-4209
Oral presentation by City Manager M. Scott Hurlbert. There is a correction to the CEQA exemption findings. The agenda item title should be corrected to read :
Council finds that this project is exempt pursuant to CEQA guidelines, as defined under sections 15301(b) and 15302(c).
Mayor Medina opened the public hearing at 7:04 p.m.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Medina closed the public hearing at 7:04 p.m.
Docusign Envelope ID: CA69F087-B97F-48AB-8B63-0743D80EE39C City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, May 20, 2025 Motion by Council Member Reyna, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Saldaña, to adopt the resolution and to make the correction to the CEQA exemption to 15301(b) and 15302(c) by the following roll call vote:
AYES: MEDINA, SALDAÑA, MARTINEZ, RAYA, REYNA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
13) DEFERRED BUSINESS: None
14) NEW BUSINESS: None
15) REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES:
a. Kern Economic Development Corporation (Medina)
No reports.
b. Kern Council of Government (Reyna)
Attended the meeting on May 15, 2025. Funding for the beacons was released on May 4, 2025.
c. Wasco Task Force (Saldaña and Medina)
During the most recent meeting, the project on Gromer Avenue and Palm Avenue was discussed, and will work on a flyer. A possible date in June, and will provide the details when confirmed.
16) REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER:
City Manager Hurlbert updated the city council on the following:
The Community Breakfast will take place on June 4, 2025, at 7:00 a.m., with the location to be determined.
Scofield Road Project Status: Paving is scheduled to begin tomorrow morning.
Striping on Central Avenue is now complete
SNIP event is scheduled for May 30, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. by appointment in front of the Public Works Department.
Memorial Day Ceremony, held at the Bakersfield National Cemetery on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
Bike Rodeo held on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Barker Park at 10:00 a.m. Wasco Memorial Day Ceremony held at Wasco Memorial Park on Monday, May 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
17) REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL:
Council Member Reyna:
The first of the four Hearts and Minds Workshops was held at St. John's Catholic Church.
Attended the ICSC Conference held from May 18-20, 2025. Requested information on when the HAWK System will begin. Requested information from Community Development Director Keri Cobb regarding the mobile vendor information sheet that was provided to the city council, to be translated into Spanish and shared on the City’s social media Docusign Envelope ID: CA69F087-B97F-48AB-8B63-0743D80EE39C City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, May 20, 2025 page, and if the Code Enforcement Officers can carry that information to provide it to the public when it is applicable.
Invited the City Council members to help read the names of the deceased veterans during the Wasco Memorial Day Ceremony.
There were no public comments on the closed session items.
Mayor Medina adjourned into closed session at 7:18 p.m.
Mayor Medina adjourned out of closed session at 7:44 p.m.
18) CLOSED SESSION:
a. Closed Session Minutes for May 6, 2025.
b. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS 54957.6
Agency designated representatives: City Manager, HR Manager, Employee Organization: SEIU Local 521
c. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION – City Manager per Government Code Section 54957
d. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS 54957.6
Agency designated representatives: Mayor Medina and Councilmembers Unrepresented employee: City Manager
e. 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. 19) CLOSED SESSION ACTION:
City attorney Tom Schroeter reported out.
a. Closed Session Minutes for May 6, 2025.
Motion by Mayor/Mayor Pro Tem/Council Member Martinez,
Seconded by Mayor/Mayor Pro Tem/Council Member Saldana to approve the closed session minutes.
b. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS 54957.6
Agency designated representatives: City Manager, HR Manager, Employee Organization: SEIU Local 521
No reportable action.
c. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION – City Manager per Government Code Section 54957
No reportable action.
d. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS 54957.6
Agency designated representatives: Mayor Medina and Councilmembers Unrepresented employee: City Manager
No reportable action.
Docusign Envelope ID: CA69F087-B97F-48AB-8B63-0743D80EE39C City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, May 20, 2025
e. 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.
20) ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Medina adjourned the meeting at 7:45 p.m.
____________________________________
Monica Flores, Deputy City Clerk
______________________________________
Valentin Medina, Mayor
Docusign Envelope ID: CA69F087-B97F-48AB-8B63-0743D80EE39C