Docusign Envelope ID: 22D1F9F0-FBF5-41BC-972D-A6481FE4D3F3
MINUTES
WASCO CITY COUNCIL
and Successor Agency to the
Former Redevelopment Agency
Tuesday, March 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
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: Medina, Raya LATE: None
ABSENT: Council Member Martinez
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager M. Scott Hurlbert, City Attorney Tom Schroeter, City Clerk Maria O. Martinez, Executive Assistant I Cinthia Ugalde, Public Works Director Luis Villa, Community Development Director Keri Cobb, Accounting Manager Rocio Mosqueda, Police Chief Alecio Mora.
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, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MEDINA, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MARTINEZ
6) PRESENTATIONS: None
7) PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:
There were no public comments.
City Clerk Maria O. Martinez mentioned there were no email comments on this item or any other items on this agenda.
8) SUCCESSOR AGENCY BUSINESS: None
City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2026 Docusign Envelope ID: 22D1F9F0-FBF5-41BC-972D-A6481FE4D3F3 9) WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BUSINESS: None
10) PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS
a. Kern County Fire Department (Appleton)
• No reports - Chief Appleton absent.
b. Wasco Police Department (Mora)
• Police Chief Mora reported on the current public safety activity report, the PAL Robotics/STEM Program, Mobile Clinic scheduled for March 16, 2026.
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 $ 455,931.31 b. Approval of City Council Minutes for February 17, 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 Planning Commissioner to Attend the League of California Cities Planning Commissioners' Academy.
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 Public Works Executive Assistant I to attend the Laserfiche Empower 2026 Conference on April 27-30,2026, in Las Vegas, NV.
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 to Execute and Endorse a Task Order (2) to Agreement No. 2021-054 with QK Environmental for Conducting Preconstruction Biological Surveys for the City's State Revolving Fund Grant Water System Improvement and Treatment Project No. 1510021-004C, with a total cost not to exceed $50,000.00.
Reso#2026-4308
Agmt#2021-05(2) Task Order
f. 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 Finance Director and Accounting Manager to attend the Tyler Connect 2026 Conference from April 7-10, 2026, in Las Vegas, NV.
No Conflict of Interest on the consent calendar for any of the Council members.
City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2026 Docusign Envelope ID: 22D1F9F0-FBF5-41BC-972D-A6481FE4D3F3 Motion by Council Member Medina, Seconded by Mayor Saldaña, to approve the Consent Calendar by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MEDINA, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MARTINEZ
12) PUBLIC HEARINGS:
a. Council finds this action is not a "project" under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Conduct a Public Hearing to Discuss the City's Community Development Block Grant closeout of 21-CDBG-PL-30002 Grant and Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to Closeout Submissions to the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Reso#2026-4309
Public Works Director, Luis Villa, gave an oral presentation.
Mayor Saldaña opened the public hearing at 6:13 p.m.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Saldaña, closed the public hearing at 6:13 p.m.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Reyna, Seconded by Council Member Medina, to adopt the resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDANA, REYNA, MEDINA, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MARTINEZ
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 an Employment Agreement with Tracy Blakemore to fill the position of Finance Director for an Annual Salary amount of $155,000.00.
Reso#2026-4310
Agmt#2026-005
City Manager Scott Hulbert gave an oral presentation
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Reyna, Seconded by Council Member Medina to adopt the resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDAÑA, REYNA, MEDINA, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MARTINEZ
City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2026 Docusign Envelope ID: 22D1F9F0-FBF5-41BC-972D-A6481FE4D3F3 b. Council finds this action is not a "project" under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Approving the in-kind contributions for the 2026 World Bipolar Day event, consistent with the level of overtime support provided in the prior year, and formally included the event in the City's list of supported community events.
Reso#2026-4311
City Manager Scott Hulbert gave an oral presentation.
Mayor Pro Tem Reyna recused himself at 6:19 p.m. due to a conflict of interest and returned to the meeting at 6:42 p.m.
Motion by Council Member Medina, Seconded by Council Member Raya, to adopt the resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: SALDANA, MEDINA, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MARTINEZ, REYNA
15) REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES:
a. Kern Economic Development Corporation (Medina)
• No reports.
b. Kern Council of Governments (Reyna)
• Reported there is TDA Funding that can be used for bike racks for City parks, and requested staff to follow up.
c. Wasco Task Force (Saldana and Raya)
• Mayor Saldaña reported that the first cleanup was held on Saturday, February 28th, with a good turnout and the support of Wasco FFA, PAL students, residents, Police Chief Mora, and Police Lieutenant Galutira.
There will be a cleanup on the 28'h of March. Flyers will be distributed when the location has been determined. The Citywide cleanup will be held on April 25th.
16) REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER: (Hurlbert)
City Manager Hurlbert updated the city council on the following:
• The March SNIP event date is TBD.
• The Bipolar event will be held on March 28, 2026, in Downtown Wasco. • April 1st is the deadline to submit Form 700.
• There will be an Opportunity Zone Workshop for the City to be involved in setting the boundaries future zone. The first preliminary meeting has taken place, and there is a desire to have the council members and community members involved. The meeting dates will be coming up.
• The mid-year and budget meeting calendars will be rolled out at the next council meeting.
• Kern Cog Regional Awards will be held on March 5th at 5:30 p.m. • The Mobile Health Clinic is set for Monday, March 16th, at the PAL Building between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2026 Docusign Envelope ID: 22D1F9F0-FBF5-41BC-972D-A6481FE4D3F3 • Wasco Recreation and Parks Easter Egg Hunt event will be held on March 28th at 9:00 a.m.
17) REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL:
Council Member Raya reported the following:
• Attended the first PAL boxing exhibition on Saturday, February 28th, and assisted with coaching 7 PAL students. There will be another boxing exhibition on Friday, March 6™h.
• Requested the need for large equipment bags for the PAL boxing team. • His attendance to the upcoming 2026 Kern County History Day Competition on March 7™.
Mayor Pro Tem Reyna reported the following:
• Attended the Loteria with the Policia event on February 20th. • Attended the League of California Cities South San Joaquin Valley Division meeting in Lemoore.
• Attended the Shafter Colours Festival on Sunday, March 1st, and a recital from different folklorico groups, and attended the meet and greet exposition in Shafter.
• Requested PD to enforce that any vehicles parked on the corner blocking visibility for pedestrians or cyclists can be safe as they approach an intersection.
Council Member Medina reported the following:
• Requested staff to provide an update to the council regarding the Unwired Project.
• Requested a joint meeting with Wasco Recreation and Parks District and City Council.
• Will be volunteering at the upcoming Kern County Farm Day Event on March 4th at the Kern County Fairgrounds that is sponsored by the Kern County Farm Bureau from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• Will be attending the upcoming Kern County Water Summit on March 5th.
Requested staff extend the invitation to all council members for next year's event. • Requested staff to work on potential solutions to improve parking and safety near the Rosaleda Village Apartments on Gromer Avenue.
18) CLOSED SESSION: None
19) CLOSED SESSION ACTION: None
20) ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Saldaña adjourned the meeting at 6:52 p.m.
DocuSigned by:
90A00858501401
Varia O. Martinez, City Clerk
- Signed by:
-858CD19D1D064D5.
Eduardo Saldaña, Mayor
City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2026