City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 17, 2026
MINUTES
WASCO CITY COUNCIL
and Successor Agency to the
Former Redevelopment Agency
Tuesday, February 17, 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, Raya LATE: None
ABSENT: Council Member Medina
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager M. Scott Hurlbert, City Attorney Mark Bateman, Assistant City Manager Maria Lara , City Clerk Maria O. Martinez, Deputy City Clerk Cinthia Ugalde, Public Works Director Luis Villa, Community Development Director Keri Cobb, 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 Council Member Martinez , Seconded by Mayor Saldaña, to approve the agenda as to form, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MARTINEZ, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MEDINA
6) PRESENTATIONS:
a. 2026 Art and Mental Health Festival
7) PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:
There were no public comments.
Deputy City Clerk Cinthia Ugalde mentioned there are no email comments on this item or any other items on this agenda.
Docusign Envelope ID: 56D50E44-E0ED-4BA7-A9E6-45A002AEB38B City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 17, 2026 8) SUCCESSOR AGENCY BUSINESS: None
9) WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BUSINESS: None
10) PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS
a. Kern County Fire Department (Appleton)
Chief Appleton shared information on the emergency communication platform:
Genasys Protect
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. a. Receive and File department payments totaling $ 1,036,964.08.
b. Approval of City Council Minutes for February 3, 2026, Regular Meeting.
c. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Approval of Travel and Training Expenses Exceeding $500.00 per trip for one -half of City Attorney Thomas F. Schroeter to attend at the League of California Cities Annu al City Attorneys Spring Conference held on May 13 -15, 2026, in Universal City, California, not to exceed $576.00.
d. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Approval of Travel and Training Expenses Exceeding $500.00 per trip for the Police Department Administrative Staff to attend the California Police Chiefs CPCA Annual Training Symposium from March 15 -18, 2026, in San Di ego, CA.
e. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or Designee t o Submit an Application, Execute a Grant Agreement, Budget Appropriations, and any Amendments Thereto for Fiscal Year 2026 -2027 for the Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program (CTFGP) from the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Reso#2026-4303
f. Council finds that this action, based on the evidence in the Mitigated Negative Declaration, and the approval of the Water System Improvement and Treatment Project, will not have a significant environmental impact, and CEQA requirements, all of which have been fully met; Adopt a Resolution to Award to Finalize and Enter into an Agreement with Unified Field Services Corporation (UFSC) for the Well #12 Installation of the 123 -TCP Treatment Project for $3,904,504.00 and authorize the City Manager or Designee t o Execute Contract Change Orders and make quantity adjustments to the contract, not to exceed a total project cost of $4,500,000.00.
Docusign Envelope ID: 56D50E44-E0ED-4BA7-A9E6-45A002AEB38B City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 17, 2026 Reso#2026-4304
Agmt#2026-003
g. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Receive and File the Investment Reports for October 2025 through December 2025.
h. Receive and File the Community Development Quarterly Report - Information only
i. Receive and File the Homeless Outreach Quarterly Report - Information only
There was no conflict of interest on the consent calendar for any Council member.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Reyna , Seconded by Council Member Martinez , to approve the Consent Calendar by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MARTINEZ, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MEDINA
12) PUBLIC HEARINGS:
a. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Conduct a public hearing to receive oral comments concerning unmet transit needs, consider comments, if any, and Adopt the Resolution Establishing Unmet Transit Needs Finding for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
Reso#2026-4305
City Clerk Maria Martinez gave an oral presentation.
Mayor Saldaña opened the public hearing at 6:28 p.m.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Saldaña closed the public hearing at 6:28 p.m.
Motion by Council Member Martinez, Seconded by Mayor Saldaña, to adopt the resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MARTINEZ, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MEDINA
13) DEFERRED BUSINESS: None
14) NEW BUSINESS:
a. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution approving the final five (5) year Transit Development Plan.
Reso#2026-4306
Docusign Envelope ID: 56D50E44-E0ED-4BA7-A9E6-45A002AEB38B City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 17, 2026 Kyle Taniguchi, a Senior Associate at Nelson Nygaard Consulting, gave a PowerPoint presentation.
Motion by Council Member Martinez, Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Reyna to adopt the resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MARTINEZ, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MEDINA
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 endorse and enter into an agreement with an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Solution provider to conduct a feasibility study of the City’s current water meter-reading process, potential alternatives, and financing options, in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00.
Reso#2026-4307
Agmt#2026-004
Oral presentation by Public Works Director Luis Villa
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Member Reyna, Seconded by Mayor Saldaña, to adopt the resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MARTINEZ, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MEDINA
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)
A cleanup event will take place at Cormack Park on the 28th of February from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
16) REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER: (Hurlbert)
City Manager Hurlbert updated the city council on the following:
• SNIP event to occur on February 23, 2026; the March event date is still to be determined.
• Community Breakfast will be on March 4, 2026, at 7:00 a.m. at Wasco High School, hosted by Wasco High School and Wasco Union Elementary School District. • The budget workshop and the Strategic Workshop have no dates for the initial schedule. The City Clerk will contact the City Council for availability. • The Loteria event is coming up on February 20, 2026, at the Vets Hall from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.
Docusign Envelope ID: 56D50E44-E0ED-4BA7-A9E6-45A002AEB38B City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 17, 2026 • Staff received confirmation from Congressman Valadao’s office for the Downtown phase two funding.
17) REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL:
Mayor Pro Tem Reyna:
• Requested an update from staff on the completion of asphalt repairs on Beckes & Palm Ave.
• Requested that the Agenda page numbers be updated.
• Requested to have a detailed budget for Bi -Polar Day by the next Council Meeting scheduled for March 3, 2026.
Council Member Martinez:
• Recommended an education campaign and strategic planning for pet owners to reduce stray dogs in town
There were no public comments on the closed session items.
Mayor Saldaña adjourned into closed session at 7:27 p.m.
Mayor Saldaña adjourned from the closed session at 7:42 p.m.
18) CLOSED SESSION:
a. Closed Session Minutes for February 3, 2026.
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: (3 potential cases).
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)
d. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE 54957
Evaluation of salary schedule
Designated representative: City Manager
19) CLOSED SESSION ACTION:
City Manager Hulbert reported out.
a. Closed Session Minutes for February 3, 2026.
Motion by Council Member Martinez, Seconded by Mayor Saldaña, to approve the closed session minutes by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MARTINEZ, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MEDINA
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: (3 potential cases) No reportable action
Docusign Envelope ID: 56D50E44-E0ED-4BA7-A9E6-45A002AEB38B City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 17, 2026 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
d. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE 54957
Evaluation of salary schedule
Designated representative: City Manager
No reportable action
20) ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Saldaña adjourned the meeting at 7:43 p.m.
____________________________________
Maria O. Martinez, City Clerk
______________________________________
Eduardo Saldaña, Mayor
Docusign Envelope ID: 56D50E44-E0ED-4BA7-A9E6-45A002AEB38B