WASCO CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 6, 2005
1. CALL TO ORDER- Mayor Wegman called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
2. FLAG SALUTE.
3. INVOCATION- Pastor Scott Allred-First United Methodist Church.
4. ROLL CALL- Present: Mayor Wegman, Council Members Pearson, Espitia & Cortez, City Manager Pennell, City Clerk Height, Clerk Gibson, Executive Secretary Krause, Finance Director Wooner, Public Works Director Jones, Planning Director Woodcock, Senior Planner McNamara, Supt. of Streets & Projects Wren, Econ. Dev. Director Mittag and Sgt. McDonald. Councilmember West was absent.
5. PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS-
a. Commendation to Morris Lwenya, owner of Wasco Valley Pharmacy, in recognition for providing a much-needed service to the central business district- Mayor Wegman presented a plaque to Mr. Lwenya expressing the City’s appreciation for the opening of his new business.
b. Presentation by former Councilmember Paul Neufeld recognizing those elected officials who supported the adoption of our national motto “In God We Trust” for prominent and permanent public display in the City Council Chambers- On behalf of Jacquie Sullivan, President of the “In God We Trust America” Committee, Paul Neufeld presented plaques to Larry Pearson, Danny Espitia, Cheryl Wegman and Ofelia Hardin for their support of putting the motto on display in our Chambers.
c. Commendation to Dru Gibson for seventeen years of service as City Clerk for the City of Wasco- In appreciation for her service to the City, Mayor Wegman presented a plaque to Dru Gibson.
6. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE- DeeDee Hallmark, 1417 Annin Avenue, Wasco, complained about having two of her autos towed because they were left on the street in excess of 72 hours. Mr. Peake explained that the 72 hour law is in the California Vehicle Code and not a law of the City of Wasco. Ray Hallmark, 1740 1st Street, said that there are many cars in violation all over town and they are not being towed.
Pearson recommended that staff taken another look at our ordinance and questioned how we would know for sure how long a vehicle has been on the street.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR-
a. Approval of minutes from the August 16, 2005 regular city council meeting.
b. Approval of bill paying list.
c. Sheriff’s monthly activity report for June 2005.
d. Approval of No. 2205-2263 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WASCO ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT WITH ET ENVIRONMENTAL CALIFORNIA GP, FOR THE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT DIESEL TANK PROJECT.
e. Approval of No. 2005-2264 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WASCO APPROVING TAX REVENUE EXCHANGE AGREEMENT CONCERNING CITY OF WASCO ANNEXATION NO. 35.
f. Approval of No. 2005-2265 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WASCO APPROVING AN INDEMNITY AGREEMENT WITH THE KERN COUNTY LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION RELATED TO ITS APPROVAL OF ANNEXATION NO. 35.
g. Approval of No. 2005-2266 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WASCO AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO AMEND THE EXISTING AGREEMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CNG STATION PROJECT WITH ET ENVIRONMENTAL CALIFORNIA GP.
h. Approval to purchase alley materials from Granite Construction Company in the amount of $34,460.25 for 775 tons of 3/8 inch Cold Mix SC800 for the repair of local alleys.
i. Approval of an agreement between the City of Wasco and Rose Corp. Trust, Inc., concerning space rental set at $100 per month for installation and operation of communications equipment for an FM radio station.
j. Approval of three year extension of current Wastewater Municipal Farm Lease between the City of Wasco and Paul Farms, to terminate December 31, 2008.
k. Approval to advertise to increase public transit fares.
l. Approval of a contract with Chabin Concepts in the amount of $23,000 for the completion of an Economic Development Feasibility Study.
m. Acknowledge receipt of correspondence.
n. Approve the reading of all ordinances and resolutions by title only and approve publication of all ordinances in summary form.
Cortez asked that item “b” and Pearson asked that item “e”, be pulled for further discussion.
Motion made by Pearson to approve the remaining items, 2nd by Cortez. Motion carried with the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Wegman, Council Members Pearson, Cortez and Espitia.
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: Councilmember West
Peake read the resolution titles.
8. Report and possible minute action, re: Objections to abatement responsibilities in alleys-Truelight Baptist Church- A request was received to postpone this item until a later date.
9. Report, public hearing and introduction of an ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WASCO AMENDING SECTION 2.60.160 OF THE WASCO MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURES- Continued until meeting of September 20, 2005.
10. Report and possible minute action, re: Street Division Staffing Increase- Jones and Wooner made brief reports. The new Street Mtnce. Workers I will start November 1, 2005. Wegman said that in her opinion, salaries are not high enough and we must hire people with skills. Motion by Cortez to approve the increase in staff, 2nd by Pearson. All in favor, motion carried.
11. Report and possible minute action, re: Investment Portfolio- Wooner introduced David Whitson and Ron Young of Merrill Lynch who in turn made a PowerPoint presentation of their proposal for the investment of City reserves. Motion by Espitia to approve, 2nd by Cortez. All in favor, motion carried.
12. Report by City Attorney- Recommend recessing to RDA prior to the closed session.
13. Reports from City Staff- Wooner reported that the annual audit had been completed in “record time”. Sgt. McDonald briefly reported on stats for the Sheriff’s Department.
14. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER- Pennell reported that he and PWD Jones will be attending a Kern County Office of Emergency Management.
15. REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL- Cortez reported that the red painted area at 6th & Broadway needed to be repainted.
8:25 p.m. Motion by Pearson to adjourn to the RDA meeting, 2nd by Cortez. All in favor, motion carried and the Council went into closed session.
16. CLOSED SESSION- a) Annual performance evaluation-City Manager, Gov’t. Code Section 54957- Meeting reconvened at 8:48 p.m. and Attorney Peake made the following reported that “Information provided and by unanimous consent, directions were given”.
17. ADJOURNMENT-8:48 p.m. Motion by Pearson, 2nd by Cortez. All in favor, motion carried.
______________________________ __________________________________
Mayor City Clerk
| 
