City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2026
MINUTES
WASCO CITY COUNCIL
and Successor Agency to the
Former Redevelopment Agency
Tuesday, March 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 Pro Tem Reyna 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 Pro Tem Reyna, Council Members: Martinez, Medina, Raya LATE: None
ABSENT: Mayor Saldaña
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager M. Scott Hurlbert, City Attorney Tom Schroeter, City Clerk Maria O. Martinez, Executive Assistant I Monica Flores, Executive Assistant I Cinthia Ugalde, Public Works Director Luis Villa, Community Development Director Keri Cobb, Finance Director Tracy Blakemore, Senior Police Officer Shaun Manuele.
3) FLAG SALUTE: by Mayor Pro Tem Reyna
4) INVOCATION: observed a moment of silence.
5) APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Motion by Council Member Martinez, Seconded by Council Member Medina , to approve the agenda as to form, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: REYNA, MARTINEZ, MEDINA, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: SALDAÑA
6) PRESENTATIONS: None
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: AA106E4B-E2B3-4F32-A3F7-05C754E3AD38 City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2026 8) SUCCESSOR AGENCY BUSINESS:
a. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution of the Successor Agency to the Former Wasco Redevelopment Agency to add Tracy Blakemore as an Authorizing Signer for all Successor Agency Bank Accounts.
Reso#2026-034
City Manager Scott Hurlbert gave an oral presentation.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Director Martinez, Seconded by Vice Chairman Reyna , to adopt the resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: REYNA, MARTINEZ, MEDINA, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: SALDAÑA
9) WASCO PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BUSINESS:
a. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Wasco Public Financing Authority to add Tracy Blakemore as an Authorizing Signer for all Wasco Public Financing Authority Bank Accounts.
Reso#2026-071
City Manager Scott Hurlbert gave an oral presentation.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Director Medina, Seconded by Director Martinez, to adopt the resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: REYNA, MARTINEZ, MEDINA, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: SALDAÑA
10) PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS
a. Kern County Fire Department (Appleton):
• No reports – Chief Appleton absent.
b. Wasco Police Department (Manuele):
Senior Police Officer Manuele reported on the current public safety activity report and the participation of Reading Across America at Teresa Burke Elementary.
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 $ 535,708.91
Docusign Envelope ID: AA106E4B-E2B3-4F32-A3F7-05C754E3AD38 City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2026 b. Approval of City Council Minutes for March 3, 2026, Regular Meeting.
c. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution to Authorize the City Manager or Designee to Finalize and Execute an Engineering Services Agreement with Precision Civil Engineering, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $10,000.
Reso#2026-4312
Agmt#2026-006
d. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Receive and File the Donation Financial Activity Quarterly Report for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 2nd Quarter - October 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025.
e. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Approval of Travel Expenses Exceeding $500.00 per trip for the Administrative Manager/City Clerk, the Executive Assistant I/Deputy City Clerk, and Public Works Executive Assistant to attend the International Institute of Municipal Clerks IIMC Annual Confer ence on May 17 – May 21, 2026, in Reno, Nevada.
f. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution to add Tracy Blakemore as an Authorizing Signer for all City Bank Accounts.
Reso#2026-4313
g. 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 Finalize and Execute a Purchase Order with Loop Electric in an amount not to exceed $90,000 to Install Electrical Infrastructure for Lighting along G Street.
Reso#2026-4314
h. 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 Finalize and Execute a Purchase Order in an amount not to exceed $40,000.00 to Purchase Electrical Infrastructure Components for Lighting along G Street.
Reso#2026-4315
i. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Ratification of Training and Travel Exceeding $500.00 for Police Department Sergeant – Critical Incident Leadership for Field Supervisors training scheduled for March 16–17, 2026, in Atascadero, CA.
j. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Updating the Authorized Signatories for U.S. Bank to add Tracy Blakemore.
Reso#2026-4316
Docusign Envelope ID: AA106E4B-E2B3-4F32-A3F7-05C754E3AD38 City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2026 k. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Updating the Authorized Signatories for the Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) to add Tracy Blakemore.
Reso#2026-4317
l. Council finds this action is not a “project” under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; Adopt a Resolution Updating the Authorized Signatories for the California Cooperative Liquid Assets Securities System (CA CLASS) to add Tracy Blakemore.
Reso#2026-4318
No Conflict of Interest on the consent calendar for any of the Council members.
Motion by Council Member Medina, Seconded by Council Member Martinez , to approve the Consent Calendar by the following roll call vote:
AYES: REYNA, MARTINEZ, MEDINA, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: SALDAÑA
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-30001 Grant and Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to Closeout Submissions to the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Reso#2026-4319
Public Works Director, Luis Villa, gave an oral presentation.
Mayor Pro Tem Reyna opened the public hearing at 6:14 p.m.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Pro Tem Reyna closed the public hearing at 6:14 p.m.
Motion by Council Member Martinez, Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Reyna, to adopt the resolution by the following roll call vote:
AYES: REYNA, MARTINEZ, MEDINA, RAYA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: SALDAÑA,
13) DEFERRED BUSINESS: None
14) NEW BUSINESS: None
Docusign Envelope ID: AA106E4B-E2B3-4F32-A3F7-05C754E3AD38 City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2026 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)
Council Member Raya reported that the task force will be helping with the Citywide cleanup on April 25th at Barker Park. The task force will be going dark this month.
16) REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER: (Hurlbert)
City Manager Hurlbert updated the city council on the following:
• Demolition of the building across the street started and finished in about 28 hours by staff from the Public Works Department, and will be completely cleaned up by the end of the week.
• SNIP event scheduled for April 24 th at 8:00 a.m. and will be the final SNIP event that is funded through the grant the City received about two years ago from U.C.
Davis. Staff is seeking additional funding for that program. • The Bipolar event has been scheduled for Saturday, March 28 th, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• A free adoption event at the Grocery Outlet occurred on March 5th, and there were four dogs adopted: two puppies and two adult dogs. • The Community Breakfast is scheduled for April 8th at 7:00 a.m., located at the Old Courthouse.
• The city council has been notified of the preliminary mid -year and strategic and budget meetings schedule.
• The Wasco Recreation and Parks Easter Egg Hunt event is scheduled for March 28th at 9:00 a.m. at the Little League field.
• Opportunity Zone community meeting to be held on March 25 th at 3:00 p.m. at the old Courthouse.
• The representative canceled the presentation from Unwired tonight, and he will be at the next scheduled council meeting.
• Public works director Luis Villa gave an update on the utilities work and repaving, and the road closure on Gromer Avenue.
17) REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL:
Council Member Martinez reported the following:
• Attended the Grand Opening and Ribbon -Cutting event at JBee’s Boutique on March 14th.
Council Member Medina reported the following:
• Attended the Grand Opening and Ribbon -Cutting event at JBee’s Boutique on March 14th.
• Attended the Water Summit in Downtown Bakersfield on March 6th. • Attended the Kern Council of Governments Regional Awards on March 5th.
Council Member Raya reported the following:
• Attended the Community Breakfast at the Wasco High School. • Reported on the PAL receiving the Community Involvement Award
Docusign Envelope ID: AA106E4B-E2B3-4F32-A3F7-05C754E3AD38 City of Wasco City Council Meeting Minutes, February 3, 2026 Mayor Pro Tem Reyna reported the following:
• Requested staff to provide an update on the unfinished sidewalk located on 5 th Street between Poplar Avenue and Broadway Street.
• Attended the Kern Council of Governments Regional Awards on March 5th. • Attended the Knights of Columbus Fish Fry; over 400 dinners were served. • A food distribution on March 14th, at St. John’s Catholic Church; there were over 80 volunteers, over 36,000 pounds of food were distributed to over 500 families. • Attended the Community Breakfast at the Wasco High School. • Attended the Grand Opening and Ribbon -Cutting event at JBee’s Boutique on March 14th.
18) CLOSED SESSION: None
19) CLOSED SESSION ACTION: None
20) ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Pro Tem Reyna adjourned the meeting at 6:34 p.m.
____________________________________
Maria O. Martinez, City Clerk
______________________________________
Gilberto Reyna, Mayor Pro Tem
Docusign Envelope ID: AA106E4B-E2B3-4F32-A3F7-05C754E3AD38