WASCO CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
OF JANUARY 6, 2004
1) CALL TO ORDER- Mayor Espitia called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2) FLAG SALUTE
3) INVOCATION- Public Works Director Jones.
4) ROLL CALL- Present: Mayor Espitia, Council Members Neufeld, Wegman, West and Pearson, City Manager Pennell, City Clerk Gibson, City Attorney Alan Peake, Executive Secretary Novins, Public Works Director Jones, Engineer Whitten, Temporary Planning Director Leonard, Planning Associate McNamara, Finance Director Wooner, Housing Specialist Litten, Commander Porter and Sgt. McDonald.
5. PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS- City Manager Pennell introduced Catherine Medina, Regional Representative, South San Joaquin League of California Cities and Liz McCray, Superintendent of Wasco High School.
6. COMMUNICATIONS FROM AUDIENCE- NONE.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR-
a. Approval of the minutes of the City Council meeting of December 16, 2003.
b. Approval of bill paying list.
c. Approval of request for proposals for a consultant to conduct a housing survey in the City of Wasco.
d. Approval to collect and pass along to the County Clerk the State Department of Fish and Game the $25 fee for processing and reviewing CEQA Documents that are filed with the County Clerk.
e. Approval of Resolution (04-2150) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WASCO TO EXECUTUTE A CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT WITH QUALITY FENCE COMPANY FOR FENCE INSTALLATION SERVICES ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF “H” STREET FROM “J” STREET TO 6TH STREET AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $49,989.
f. Acknowledge receipt of correspondence.
g. Approve the reading of all ordinances and resolutions by title only and approve publication of all ordinances and resolutions
Motion to approve all items by Councilmember Wegman, 2nd by Councilmember West.
Motion carried with the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Espitia, Council Members Wegman, West, Neufeld and Pearson.
NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Attorney Peake read the resolution title.
8. REPORT, PUBLIC HEARING, AND POSSIBLE MINUTE ACTION, RE: Proposed
projects for fiscal year 2004-2005 Community Development Block Grant Program
(CDBG)- Mayor Espitia opened the public hearing at 7:06 pm.
Public Works Director Jones addressed the Council with public concerns voiced at the
December 11, 2003 public meeting. Engineer made a presentation explaining the three
proposed options for FY 2004-2005 for a total of $242,000.00. His recommendation was
to go with option 1 which would make improvements to drainage problems on 5th Street.
With no public comments, the public hearing was closed at 7:33 pm.
Motion made by Councilmember West to go with the Engineer’s recommendation and
have the item brought back to the Council at its next meeting with further details, 2nd by
Councilmember Pearson. All in favor, motion carried.
9. REPORT AND POSSIBLE MINUTE ACTION, Re: Proposed budget reductions and
cost allocations due to lack of Vehicle License Fee (VLF) Backfill by State Legislature-
City Manager Pennell reported on Finance Director Wooner’s memo outlining proposed
budget cuts and transfers and the effects that they would have on the city and especially,
the Sheriff’s Department.
Commander Porter and Sgt. McDonald voiced their concerns to the Council on the
proposed cutting of four deputy positions.
Councilmember West said that he had concerns in the legality of General Fund/Enterprise
Fund Transfers.
Attorney Peake recommended that this matter be considered information only and any final action be taken at a future meeting.
Motion to accept recommendation of the City Attorney made by Councilmember Pearson, 2nd by Councilmember Neufeld. Councilmember Wegman voted “no”. Motion carried.
10. REPORT AND POSSIBLE MINUTE ACTION, RE: Purchase of two (2) CNG powered buses- Public Works Director Jones explained that this request was for one bus and not two; that the CNG Fueling Station would be completed by late summer; what the funding sources would be and; that our two existing buses would be kept as backups.
A motion to approve was made by Councilmember West, 2nd by Councilmember Pearson. All in favor, motion carried.
11. REPORT AND POSSIBLE MINUTE ACTION, RE: Two appointments to serve on the Planning Commission- Councilmember West said that he and Mayor Espitia were under the impression that there was only one vacancy to be filled. Due to the misunderstanding, he made the motion to reappoint Vetrice Mitchell to another four year term and to again advertise to fill the remaining two year vacancy, 2nd by Mayor Espitia. Councilmember Pearson voted “no”. Motion carried.
12. REPORT AND POSSIBLE MINUTE ACTION, RE: 30 day extension of receipt of Vehicle License Fees (VLF) Backfill Funds from 1-9-04 to 2-9-04 for the purpose of triggering the MOU approved 7-1-03 general salary increase- Finance Director made a brief staff report and added that the Employees Union had approved the extension.
Motion to approve by Councilmember Neufeld, 2nd by Councilmember Pearson. All in
favor, motion carried.
13. REPORTS FROM CITY ATTORNEY- NONE.
14. REPORTS FROM CITY STAFF- NONE.
15. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER- NONE.
16. REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL- Councilmember West said that he was in favor of keeping the KCSO contract intact and should have voted “no” on agenda item #8.
9:18 pm. Councilmember Pearson made the motion to recess this meeting to conduct the
RDA and WPFA business, 2nd by Councilmember Neufeld. All in favor, motion carried.
Meeting reconvened at 9:30 pm. A motion to go into closed session was made by
Councilmember Pearson, 2nd by Councilmember Neufeld. All in favor, motion carried.
17. CLOSED SESSION: a) Conference with Legal Counsel, Re: Byron A. Brown vs. Wasco. Gov’t. Code Section 54956.9(a)- Open session reconvened at 9:52 pm. Attorney Peake made the following report:
17a) Information provided, no action taken.
18. ADJOURNMENT- 9:53 pm. Motion to adjourn by Councilmember Wegman, 2nd by Councilmember Neufeld. All in favor, motion carried.
________________________________ ________________________________
Mayor City Clerk
| 
