City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, December 16, 2025
MINUTES
WASCO CITY COUNCIL
and Successor Agency to the
Former Redevelopment Agency
Tuesday, December 16, 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 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 Yolanda Tinajero, Public Works Director Luis Villa, Community Development Director Keri Cobb, Accounting Manager Rocio Mosqueda, Police Chief Alecio Mora
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 mentioned by the following roll call vote:
AYES: MEDINA, SALDAÑA, MARTINEZ, RAYA, REYNA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
6) PRESENTATIONS: None
7) PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:
• Claribel Gutierrez
• Jon Majors
Deputy City Clerk Tinjero mentioned that 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
Docusign Envelope ID: DF479720-628D-4ADE-8682-E3787FBEE0B6 City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, December 16, 2025 10) APPOINTMENT OF MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEM:
City Manager Hurlbert gave an oral presentation giving an overview of the nomination process.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Medina opened the floor for nominations for Mayor.
Council Member Martinez nominated Council Member Reyna, and Mayor Medina nominated Mayor Pro Tem Saldaña. The majority vote was for Mayor Pro Tem Saldaña, with three votes from the council members. Mayor Pro Tem Saldaña accepted the nomination.
Motion by Mayor Medina, Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Saldaña, to appoint Mayor Pro Tem Saldaña as Mayor by the following roll call vote:
AYES: MEDINA, SALDAÑA, MARTINEZ, RAYA, REYNA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Mayor Saldaña opened the floor for nominations for Mayor Pro Tem.
Council Member Martinez nominated Council Member Reyna for Mayor Pro Tem, Mayor Saldaña seconded the nomination. Council Member Reyna accepted the nomination.
Motion by Mayor Saldaña, Seconded by Council Member Medina, to appoint Council Member Reyna as Mayor Pro Tem by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, MARTINEZ, MEDINA, RAYA, REYNA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Mayor Saldaña recessed the meeting at 6:11 pm.
Mayor Saldaña reconvened the meeting at 6:16 pm.
11) PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS
a. Kern County Fire Department (Appleton)
No reports – Chief Appleton absent
b. Wasco Police Department (Mora)
Chief Mora gave a recent crime report.
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 $543,974.42 Docusign Envelope ID: DF479720-628D-4ADE-8682-E3787FBEE0B6 City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, December 16, 2025
b. Approval of City Council Minutes for November 18, 2025, Regular Meeting.
There was no Conflict of Interest on the consent calendar for any Council member.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Reyna , Seconded by Council Member Medina, to approve the consent calendar by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MARTINEZ, MEDINA, RAYA
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” as defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or designee to finalize and endorse a Professional Services Agreement with The CrisCom Company for Advocacy, Grant Writing, and Economic Development Services.
Reso#2025-4287
Agmt#2025-036
City Manager Hurlbert gave an oral presentation.
An oral presentation by CrisCom Chief Operating Officer, Renee Missakian.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Reyna, Seconded by Council Member Martinez, to adopt the resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MARTINEZ, MEDINA, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
b. Presentation of a Capital Project Direct Lending Model by Holman Capital.
PowerPoint presentation by James Lott, Director of Public Finance, and Brett Khun, Senior Vice President for Public Sector for Holman Capital.
There were no public comments.
No action, Informational item only.
c. Council finds this action is not a “project” as defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Presentation of SGMA Update and Authorize Letter of Support for Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District project.
Oral presentation by City Manager Hurlbert.
Docusign Envelope ID: DF479720-628D-4ADE-8682-E3787FBEE0B6 City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, December 16, 2025 There were no public comments.
Motion by Council Member Martinez, Seconded by Mayor Saldaña, to approve the letter of support by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MARTINEZ, MEDINA, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
d. Council finds this action is not a “project” as defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or designee to finalize and endorse a Task Order with Teter Architects & Engineers Connected for Professional Architectural Services.
Reso#2025-4288
Oral presentation by City Manager Hurlbert.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Reyna, Seconded by Council Member Medina, to adopt a resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MARTINEZ, MEDINA, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
e. Council finds this action is not a “project” as defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Approving the Amended Salary Schedule for the Fiscal Year 2025 -2026 in Compliance with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Requirement for Publicly Available Pay Schedules.
Reso#2025-4289
Oral presentation by City Manager Hurlbert.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Council Member Martinez , Seconded by Mayor Saldaña, to a dopt a resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MARTINEZ, MEDINA, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
f. Council finds this action is not a “project” as defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Approving an Application for Funding and the Execution of a Grant Agreement, Budget Appropriations, and any Amendments Thereto for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District’s New Alternative Fuel Vehicle Purchase Program, and amend the FY2025 -2026 Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
Reso#2025-4290
Docusign Envelope ID: DF479720-628D-4ADE-8682-E3787FBEE0B6 City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, December 16, 2025 Oral presentation by City Manager Hurlbert.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Reyna , Seconded by Mayor Saldaña , to a dopt a resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MARTINEZ, MEDINA, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
g. Council finds this action is not a “project” as defined under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to Endorse and Implement the Policy Updates for the City of Wasco Zero Tolerance Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy.
Reso#2025-4291
Oral presentation by City Manager Hurlbert.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Council Member Martinez , Seconded by Council Member Medina , to adopt a resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MARTINEZ, MEDINA, RAYA
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)
No reports.
c. Wasco Task Force (Saldaña and Medina)
No reports.
17) REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER:
City Manager Hurlbert updated the city council on the following:
• Community Breakfast will be held on February 4, 2026. Next January will be dark. • SNIP event 12/19 at 8:00 am in front of the Public Works Department. • Attended the Kern EDC mixer, Senator Hurtado’s open house, and the Wasco Christmas parade.
• The DAR Tour of Lights was yesterday, and on December 17th, the winners will be announced on December 19th.
• The first meeting in January will be going dark, and the next council meeting will resume on January 20, 2026, and will finish the balance of the organizational meeting for the Mayor and the Mayor Pro Tem.
• The interviews for the vacant Planning Commissioner s positions will be held after the first of the year, and will not be held until late January or early February.
Docusign Envelope ID: DF479720-628D-4ADE-8682-E3787FBEE0B6 City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, December 16, 2025 • He will be out of the office on vacation after Christmas, and will be back in the office the Friday after the New Year's holiday. Assistant City Manager Maria Lara will be acting City Manager during his absence.
18) REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL:
Mayor Pro Tem Reyna:
• Attended the Wasco Christmas Parade, Mingle and Flamingo Mixer, and the Wasco Employee Appreciation Dinner.
19) CLOSED SESSION: None
20) CLOSED SESSION ACTION:
21) ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Medina adjourned the meeting at 7:49 p.m.
____________________________________
Yolanda Tinajero, Deputy City Clerk
______________________________________
Eduardo Saldaña, Mayor
Docusign Envelope ID: DF479720-628D-4ADE-8682-E3787FBEE0B6