WASCO CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY 3, 2004
1. CALL TO ORDER- Mayor Pro-Tem Neufeld called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2. FLAG SALUTE.
3. INVOCATION- Scott Allred, First United Methodist Church.
4. ROLL CALL- Present: Councilmembers Neufeld, Pearson, Wegman & West, City Manager Pennell, City Clerk Gibson, Executive Secretary Novins, Associate Planner McNamara, Temporary Planning Director Leonard, Public Works Director Jones, Engineer Whitten, Attorney Alan Peake. Commander Porter and Sgt. McDonald. Mayor Espitia and Finance Director Wooner were absent.
5. PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS- NONE.
6. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE- NONE.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR-
a) Approval of the minutes from the January 20, 2004 meeting.
b) Approval of bill paying list.
c) Approval of A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WASCO, APPROVING THE FINAL SUBDIVISION MAP, IMPROVEMENT PLANS, IMPROVEMENT SECURITY AND IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT FOR TRACT NO. 5305, PHASES 3, ACCEPTING FOR PUBLIC USE ALL DEDICATIONS FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THEY ARE OFFERED, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT, AND AUTORIZING THE CITY CLERK TO ENDORSE THE FINAL MAP AND TRANSMIT SAME TO THE COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE.
d) Approval of re-classification of Marcial Chavana from Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator I to Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator II.
e) Approval of contract for geotechnical service with BSK Engineering Services for soil engineering services associated with the Walnut Street Area CDBG Project and Authorizing the City Manager to sign the agreement at a cost not to exceed $2400.00.
f) Acknowledge receipt of correspondence.
g) Approve the reading of all ordinances and resolutions by title only and approve publication of all ordinances in summary form.
Engineer Whitten asked that item 7c be tabled. Items 7e and 7d were pulled for further discussion.
Motion to approve items 7a,b,f & g by Councilmember Wegman, 2nd by Councilmember Pearson. All in favor motion carried.
Item 7d)- Councilmember Pearson said that we should consider future staffing needs and build a staff to replace Luis Pena upon his retirement. Public Works Director Jones replied that he has already been giving this some thought, and he intends to utilize Marcial Chavana in ways that will prepare him to eventually run the plant.
Motion to approve item 7d) by Councilmember Pearson, 2nd by Councilmember West. All in favor, motion carried.
Item 7e)- Engineer Whitten explained that this is all conditional with our being approved for this CDBG program. There might be some minor changes to the agreement but the dollar amount will remain the same.
Motion to approve with possible agreement changes by Councilmember West, 2nd by Councilmember Pearson. All in favor, motion carried.
8. REPORT, PUBLIC HEARING AND POSSIBLE MINUTE ACTION, RE: Grant application to the State of California Department of Transportation for Federal Transit Administration Section 5311 Program, CMAQ funding in the amount of $106,236 for the purchase of one CNG powered, 21-28 Passenger Transit Bus- Mayor Pro-Tem Neufeld opened the public hearing at 7:15 pm. Engineer Whitten gave a brief staff report. With no pubic comments or questions, the public hearing was closed at 7:18. No action taken.
9. REPORT AND POSSIBLE MINUTE ACTION, RE: Acceptance of Annual Kern County Sheriff’s Report for the Wasco Substation- Sgt. McDonald made a report and answered a few questions.
Motion to accept by Councilmember West, 2nd by Councilmember Wegman. All in favor, motion carried.
10. REPORT AND POSSIBLE MINUTE ACTION, RE: Appointment to Planning Commission- Councilmember West said that Mayor Espitia had asked that this item be tabled until the next meeting.
Motion to table by Council Member West, 2nd by Councilmember Pearson. All in favor, motion carried.
11. REPORT AND POSSIBLE MINUTE ACTION, RE: Clarification of tuition reimbursement policy for City Employees- Councilmember Pearson said that he felt this should be only to those employees who are taking courses that will directly benefit their jobs with the City and not those employees who are just trying to obtain a degree- After a brief discussion, staff was instructed to draft an amendment to the policy and have it brought back to the Council at a later date.
12. REPORT, POSSIBLE MINUTE ACTION, RE: Policies for interviewing candidates for Board/Commission appointments- City Clerk Gibson made a few comments and recommended how this matter might be handled in the future. It was suggested that perhaps a member of the Planning Commission should be included on any Board/Commission appointments. Councilmember West asked that the Council submit interview questions by February 10th from which a standard set of questions will be drafted. No action taken.
13. REPORTS FROM CITY ATTORNEY- NONE.
14. REPORTS FROM CITY STAFF- Engineer Whitten reported on 7th Street Demolition Project bid opening and that the Railroad Fence Project will begin very soon.
Temporary Planning Director Leonard said that Triple H are using good quality plant materials in their landscaping and acknowledged the good job that the WHA did on the bike lane.
15. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER- NONE.
16. REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL- Councilmember Pearson commented on: the importance of Propositions 57 & 58; the CNG Fueling Station; the railroad fence; the Red Roof Inn development start and completion dates, and that he would like to see a policy developed that would require trash dumpsters be on-site for construction projects.
Councilmember Wegman thanked the brush crew for the alley cleanup and said that she felt the train depot was looking bad.
17. CLOSED SESSION- NONE.
18. ADJOURNMENT- 8:09 pm. Motion to adjourn by Councilmember Wegman, 2nd by Councilmember Pearson. All in favor, motion carried.
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Mayor Pro-Tem City Clerk
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