City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2026
MINUTES
WASCO CITY COUNCIL
and Successor Agency to the
Former Redevelopment Agency
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
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 Saldaña called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2) ROLL CALL: Mayor Saldaña, Mayor Pro Tem Reyna, Council Members: Martinez, Medina, Raya
PRESENT: Mayor Saldaña, Mayor Pro Tem Reyna, Council Members: Martinez LATE: None
ABSENT: Council Member Raya
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager M. Scott Hurlbert, City Attorney Tom Schroeter, Assistant City Manager Maria Lara , City Clerk Maria O. Martinez, Executive Assistant I, Cinthia Ugalde, Public Works Director Luis Villa, Accounting Manager Rocio Mosqueda, Police Chief Alecio Mora, Kern County Fire Chief Joe Appleton.
3) FLAG SALUTE: by Mayor Saldaña
4) INVOCATION: observed a moment of silence.
5) APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Reyna, Seconded by Mayor Saldaña, to approve the agenda as to form with item 6a deferred to the next Council Meeting, February 17, 2026, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MARTINEZ, MEDINA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: RAYA
6) PRESENTATIONS:
a. 2026 Art and Mental Health Festival
b. Proclamation - Safe Surrender Baby Awareness Month, Mayor Saldaña presented the proclamation to Erin Rogers, the Director of Bakersfield Pregnancy Center.
Docusign Envelope ID: 51B8BAAA-16CB-4992-9E0D-33AF2EFA0E24 City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2026 7) PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:
• Oscar Ensino
City Clerk Maria O. Martinez mentioned there are no email comments on this item or any other items on this agenda.
8) SUCCESSOR AGENCY BUSINESS: None
9) WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BUSINESS: None
10) PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS
a. Kern County Fire Department (Appleton)
Chief Appleton reported on the Wasco gas leak.
b. Wasco Police Department (Mora)
Police Chief Mora reported on the current public safety activity report.
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.
This evening, we have items 11a to 11d.
a. Receive and File department payments totaling $ 538,849.15
b. Approval of City Council Minutes for January 20, 2026, Regular Meeting
c. Council finds this action is not a “project” under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of the FY 2024 -2025 Certifications and Assurances and Authorized Agent Forms for the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) for the following Pr oject: New Transit Operating and Maintenance Facility, $43,443.00.
Reso#2026-4301
d. Council finds this action is not a “project” under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Approval for Travel Expenses Exceeding $500.00 per participation for Mayor Saldaña, Mayor Pro Tem Reyna, Council Member Medina, and City Manager M. Scott Hurlbert to attend the League of California Cities City Leaders Summit on April 22 – April 24, 2026, in Sacramento, California.
No Conflict of Interest on the consent calendar for any of the Council members.
Motion by Council Member Martinez, Seconded by Mayor Saldaña, to approve the Consent Calendar by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MARTINEZ, MEDINA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: RAYA
Docusign Envelope ID: 51B8BAAA-16CB-4992-9E0D-33AF2EFA0E24 City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2026 12) PUBLIC HEARINGS:
a. Council finds this action is not a “project” under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Conduct a Public Hearing and Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Submission of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application(s) to the State of CA. Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD) for funds not to exceed $300,000.00 for a Public Service activity, and not to exceed $3,300,000.00 for a Project activity, and authorize the City Manager or Designee to execute a standard agreement and any amendments thereof.
Reso#2026-4302
Assistant City Manager Lara gave an oral presentation.
Mayor Saldaña opened the public hearing at 6:48 p.m.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Saldaña closed the public hearing at 6:48 p.m.
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
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: RAYA
13) DEFERRED BUSINESS: None
14) NEW BUSINESS:
a. Council finds this action is not a “project” under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Appointment of One (1) Candidate to Fill the unexpired term vacancy on the Planning Commission, with term ending December 31, 2028.
Oral presentation by Council Member Martinez.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Council Member Medina, Seconded by Mayor Saldaña to appoint Gonzalo Cruz to the Planning Commission Board by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MARTINEZ, MEDINA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: RAYA
b. Council finds this action is not a “project” under section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Appointment of Two (2) Candidates to fill the vacancies on the Wasco Recreation and Park District Board, with terms ending November 30, 2029.
Council Member Medina recused himself due to a conflict of interest.
Oral presentation by Council Member Martinez.
There were no public comments.
Docusign Envelope ID: 51B8BAAA-16CB-4992-9E0D-33AF2EFA0E24 City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2026 Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Member Reyna, Seconded by Mayor Saldaña, to appoint Ana Maria Orozco Cortez and Rafael Castro to the Wasco Recreation and Park District Board by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MARTINEZ
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: RAYA
15) 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 Raya)
Mayor Saldaña reported that there will be a cleanup on the 28th of February. Area has not been determined.
16) REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER: (Hurlbert)
City Manager Hurlbert updated the City Council on the following:
• The HAWK (High -intensity Activated Crosswalk) and the pedestrian beacon systems are under construction on Highway 43 and Highway 46. • Mobile Clinic at the Police Activity League on Monday, January 26, 2026, and it has been reported that 15 to 20 individuals attended.
• There was a SNIP event scheduled for January 28, 2026, and the next one is scheduled for February 23, 2026
• The Community Breakfast will be held on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at the Old Courthouse at 7 a.m.
• Signed by the President , the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development program funding for phase 2 of the downtown refurbishment might be contained in the bill, subject to verification by the end of the week.
17) REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL:
Mayor Pro Tem Reyna:
• Attended the Mayors and Council Members Academy from January 21st to the 23rd.
• Attended the Love Life Choose Life event.
• Attended the medical mobile clinic event.
Council Member Martinez:
• Recommended that city staff have a proactive social media presence.
Council Member Medina:
• Attended the Mayor's and Council Members' Academy
• Tigers Wellness Center at Wasco High School is now open and in need of formal attire for boys.
• Wasco High School Girls Basketball team is going to the Playoffs, for the first time since 2017.
Docusign Envelope ID: 51B8BAAA-16CB-4992-9E0D-33AF2EFA0E24 City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2026 • Recommended that the city staff have a proactive social media presence. • Requested an update from staff on several different projects.
Mayor Saldaña:
• Attended the Mayors and Council Members Academy from January 21st to the 23rd.
There were no public comments on any closed session items.
Mayor Saldaña adjourned into closed session at 7:27 p.m.
Mayor Medina adjourned from the closed session at 8:00 p.m.
18) CLOSED SESSION:
a. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE 54957
Evaluation of salary schedule
Designated representative: City Manager
19) CLOSED SESSION ACTION:
City attorney Tom Schroeter reported out.
a. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE 54957
Evaluation of salary schedule
Designated representative: City Manager
No reportable action.
20) ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Saldaña adjourned the meeting at 8:01 p.m.
____________________________________
Maria O. Martinez, City Clerk
______________________________________
Eduardo Saldaña, Mayor
Docusign Envelope ID: 51B8BAAA-16CB-4992-9E0D-33AF2EFA0E24