City of Wasco
City Council Minutes
TUESDAY, August 5, 2008
746 8th Street, Wasco, California 93280
1) CALL TO ORDER Mayor Wegman called the meeting to order at 7:00p.m.
2) FLAG SALUTE
3) INVOCATION: Johnny Martinez of Westside Family Fellowship offered the invocation.
4) ROLL CALL
Mayor Wegman, Members; Cortez, Espitia, Hively
Absent: Member West
Attorney E Plaza, City Manager Mittag, City Clerk Hight, Executive Assistant Rodriguez, Finance Director Zervis, Public Works Director Allen, Community Development Director Johnson, Sgt Lee
5) PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS:
a) Commendation presented to David Abernathy for his dedicated efforts in education and instilling within your students a sense of community service.
b) Commendation presented to Gary Garcia for his dedicated efforts in education and instilling within your students a sense of community service.
Mayor Wegman presented the commendation to both educators and thanked them for their dedicated service to the youth of our community.
6) COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE: None
7) CONSENT CALENDAR:
a) Approval of Minutes from the Following Meeting:
Regular Meeting on July 15, 2008.
b) Approval of Bill Paying List.
c) Report and Possible Approval, RE: Consider the Purchase of a new 586/6000lb forklift.
d) Report and Possible Approval, RE: Consider the Purchase of a new Ford F250 Pickup Truck from the Low Bidder for the Water Division of Public Works.
e) Acknowledge Receipt of Correspondence.
f) Approve the Reading of All Ordinances and Resolutions by Title Only and
Approve Publication of All Ordinances in Summary Form.
Member Cortez asked for items C and D to be removed for discussion.
Member Cortez made a motion to approve the remaining calendar, 2nd by Member Espitia. Motion carried with a 4-0-1 vote. Member West absent.
After brief discussion Member Cortez made a motion to approve items C and D, 2nd by Member Espitia. Motion carried with a 4-0-1. Member West absent.
8) Acceptance of Monthly Financial Report Related to Status of Quimby Fee Account.
City Manager Mittag gave a brief report of funds.
Member Hively made a motion to approve, 2nd by Member Cortez. Motion carried with a 3-0-1-1 vote. Member West absent and Member Espitia abstained.
9) Report and Possible Approval, RE: 08-2555 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WASCO OPPOSING FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE STATE BUDGET DECISIONS THAT WOULD “BORROW” LOCAL GOVERNMENT, REDEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION FUNDS. (Mittag)
City Manager Mittag gave a brief report and recommended approval.
Member Hively made a motion to approve, 2nd by Member Espitia. Motion carried with the following vote:
AYES: Wegman, Cortez, Espitia, Hively.
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: West
City Clerk Hight read the resolution title
10) Report, Public Hearing and Possible Introduction of an Ordinance and Waive First Reading, RE: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WASCO CONCERNING THE PROHIBITION AND ABATEMENT OF GRAFFITI. (Allen)
Mayor Wegman opened the public hearing.
Director of Public Works Allen gave a staff report regarding abatement of graffiti within a 24 hour time period and asked if there were comments or questions.
Member Espitia asked about private property and how that would be handled. Allen reported that there was an authorization/consent form. Member Cortez asked about allowances for residents who are on vacation or cannot be reached. Allen responded that every reasonable effort would be made to contact the resident before abatement.
Member Cortez recommended information to be placed on the website and in the paper.
With no further comment, Mayor Wegman closed the public hearing at 7:15 p.m.
Member Espitia made a motion to approve and waive the first reading, 2nd by Member Cortez. Motion carried with the following vote:
AYES: Wegman, Cortez, Espitia, Hively.
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: West
City Clerk Hight read the ordinance title
11) Report, Public Hearing and Possible Introduction of an Ordinance and Waive First Reading, RE: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WASCO AMENDING CHAPTER 13 SEWER, GENERAL PROVISIONS. (Allen)
Mayor Wegman opened the public hearing.
Public Works Director Allen gave a brief report and asked for comment or questions.
Hearing none, Mayor Wegman closed the public hearing at 7:16.
Member Cortez made a motion to approve and waive the first reading, 2nd by Member Espitia. Motion carried with the following vote:
AYES: Wegman, Cortez, Espitia, and Hively.
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: West
City Clerk Hight read the ordinance title
12) Report and Possible Approval, RE: Consider Awarding a Professional Service Contract for the Contract City Engineer’s Position to Helt Engineering Inc. (Allen)
Public Works Director Allen gave a brief report of the process and firms that sent in responses. Staff received three responses: Palmetto Engineering, Helt Engineering Inc, and Quad Knoff Engineering. Staffs recommendation was Helt Engineering Inc., who provided the lowest hourly rate schedule and has the most experience with City projects.
Member Espitia made a motion to approve the 2-year contract, 2nd by Member Cortez. Motion carried with a 4-0-1 vote. Member West absent.
13) Report and Possible Minute Action, RE: Recommendation to Appoint Paul Chounet to the Economic Development Committee (Mittag)
City Manager Mittag made the recommendation to appoint the Elementary School Superintendent Paul Choenet to the Economic Development Committee.
Member Espitia made the motion to approve, 2nd by Member Hively. Motion carried with a 4-0-1 vote. Member West absent.
14) REPORTS FROM CITY STAFF
Zervis- reported that recent hire Danny Brown, Economic Development Coordinator, was away on training.
Johnson- thanked Council for their time in recent individual conversations.
Sgt. Lee- reported of recent loss of 2 deputies who are moving up the ladder.
Hight- reminded incumbents about nomination period and deadlines.
15) REPORTS FROM CITY ATTORNEY- none
16) REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER- none
17) REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL
Espitia- Thanked Community Development Director Johnson for his time.
Hively- reported on ACCAP meeting he attended. He reported on the prison expansion possibilities and AB900 funding.
Cortez- Thanked Community Development Director Johnson for his time and asked staff to look into the pedestrian crossing of 5th street and F streets and the dangers to pedestrians in the unmarked area.
Mayor Wegman recognized John Bean in the audience for comment;
John Bean Palm Ave. requested the release of his $30,000 bond on his property. Staff will meet with Mr. Bean to discuss and then report to council.
Member Cortez made a motion to adjourn regular meeting to the RDA meeting at 7:33 p.m., 2nd by Member Espitia.
Mayor Wegman reconvened the regular meeting at 7:43p.m.
Member Cortez made a motion to move into closed session at 7:43p.m. 2nd by Member Espitia. Motion carried, all in favor.
Member West arrived at 7:50 and went into closed session.
18) CLOSED SESSION:
a) Sierra Club v. City of Wasco (No CV263663) and
Association of Irritated Residents v. City of Wasco (CV 263656)
Government Code Section 54956.9: Pending Litigation
Mayor Wegman reconvened regular session at 8:18 p.m.
Attorney Plaza reported that direction was provided and that no action was taken.
19) ADJOURNMENT Member Cortez made a motion to adjourn regular meeting
at 8:19 p.m., 2nd by Member Espitia. Motion carried. 5-0-0.
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Vickie Hight, City Clerk Cherylee Wegman, Mayor
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