City of Wasco
City Council Minutes
August 18, 2009
City Council Chambers
746 8th Street, Wasco, California 93280
1) CALL TO ORDER: Mayor West called the meeting to order at 7:00.
2) FLAG SALUTE
3) INVOCATION: John Ross of Westside Church offered the invocation.
4) ROLL CALL
Mayor West, Members; Cortez, Espitia, Hively, Wegman
Attorney Bonny Garcia, City Manager Zervis, City Clerk Hight, Executive Assistant Rodriguez, Public Works Director Allen, PMC Consultant Allinder, Sgt. Cantu
5) PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS:
a) Commendation presented to Samantha Solorio.
b) Commendation presented to Brian Solorio.
c) Commendation presented to Alex Solorio.
Member Wegman presented commendations to each of the youth commending them on their dedication, talents and goals in Tae Kwon Do.
6) COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE: None
7) CONSENT CALENDAR: The Consent Agenda consists of items that in staff's opinion are routine and non-controversial. These items are approved in one motion unless a Councilmember or member of the public removes a particular item.
a) Approval of Minutes from the regular meeting of August 4, 2009
b) Approval of Bill Paying List, total amount of $322,044.77.
c) Acceptance of Sheriff's Activity Report for the Month of July 2009.
d) Acceptance of Code Enforcement Report for the Month of July 2009.
e) Acceptance of Animal Control Report for the Month of July 2009.
f) Acceptance of Monthly Building Permit Report for July 2009.
g) Acceptance of Investment Policy and Compliance Report for the Month of July 2009
h) Community Development Department Project Status Report for the Month of July 2009
i) Acknowledge Receipt of Correspondence.
j) Approve the Reading of All Ordinances and Resolutions by Title Only and
Approve Publication of All Ordinances in Summary Form.
Member Wegman made a motion to approve the calendar, 2nd by Member Hively. Motion carried 4-0-1. Member Cortez absent
8) Acceptance of Monthly Financial Report Related to Status of Quimby Fee Account.
City Manager Zervis gave the balance of the account as $255,074.72 as of July 31, 2009. The account has recently decreased by $32,566.05 for expenditures related to the new soccer park.
No action taken.
9) Report, Public Hearing, and Possible Approval, RE: A CDBG Program Final Grantee Performance Report for the City of Wasco. (Zervis)
Mayor West opened the public hearing.
City Manager Zervis gave the report and read the required verbiage, findings and expenditures. The public hearing is for citizens to have the opportunity to give comment on the program. There were no comments from the audience.
Staff circulated a sign in sheet to those in attendance.
Mayor West asked again for comment at the conclusion of the report. Hearing none, closed the public hearing at 7:15 p.m.
Member Hively made a motion to approve, 2nd by Member Wegman. Motion carried with a 4-0-1 vote. Member Cortez absent.
10) Report, Public Hearing, RE: Conducting a Public Hearing to inform Citizens of the funding available through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and to obtain public input on the proposed FY 2009/2010 CDBG Economic Development Allocation activities. (Zervis)
Mayor West opened the public hearing.
City Manager Zervis gave the report. The public hearing is to inform citizens of the grant program and to gather comment from the public.
There were no comments from the audience.
Mayor West asked again for comment at the conclusion of the report. Hearing none, closed the public hearing at 7:17 p.m.
No action required or taken.
11) Report and Possible Approval, RE: 09-2660 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WASCO APPROVING AN APPLICATION AND CONTRACT EXECUTION FOR FUNDING FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALLOCATION OF THE STATE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROGRAM AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A GRANT AGREEMENT AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS GRANT. (Zervis)
City Manager Zervis gave the report and read the required verbiage, and gave the address where citizens could write to the city manager with comment. If funded this grant would provide business assistance for façade improvements to local businesses.
There were no comments from the audience.
Staff circulated a sign in sheet to those in attendance.
Mayor West asked again for comment at the conclusion of the report.
Member Espitia made a motion to approve, 2nd by Member Wegman. Motion carried with the following vote:
AYES: West, Espitia, Hively, Wegman
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Cortez
City Clerk Hight read the resolution title
12) Report and Possible Approval RE: An Amendment to the City of Wasco 2009/10 Annual Operating Budget. (Zervis)
City Manager Zervis gave a brief report of the recent States budget decision to borrow from the City's property tax and from the Redevelopment Agency. He stated that this amendment to the previously approved City's budget reallocates moneys through unfilled positions to an unfunded status and other line item expenditure reductions.
There was discussion regarding efforts being made by the League and Counties to bring litigation regarding the States "barrowing" of these funds and staff said that they would keep the council apprised of the results.
The City Manager stated that the unfilled positions are important and needed and expressed the desire to keep theses positions in an unfunded state until the budget allows them to be opened for hire.
There was discussion regarding the garbage truck replacement, and staff said that that adjustment was already taken.
Member Hively made a motion to approve, 2nd by Member Wegman. Motion carried with a 4-0-1 vote. Member Cortez absent.
13) Report and Possible Approval, RE: Emergency Purchase of a new 32 Yard Garbage Truck from Bridgeport Manufacturing Inc. (Allen)
Public Works Director Allen gave a brief report and recommended approval of the purchase of the new 32 yard garbage truck.
There was discussion regarding lease options, necessary route increase, mechanical failures to existing fleet, ratio of carts per vehicle, and reserve funds that are available for the purchase.
Member Espitia made a motion to approve, 2nd by Member Hively. Motion carried with a 4-0-1 vote. Member Cortez absent.
14) Report and Possible Minute Action, RE: Approval of Agreement for City Attorney Services with Thomas F. Schroeter Attorney At Law. (Mayor West and Council Member Hively).
Member Hively reported on the interviews held by the contract review committee and stated that a letter of resignation from Garcia Calderon has been received by staff. Based on the interviews, Member Hively made a motion to approve an agreement with Thomas F. Schroeter Attorney At Law be contracted as City Attorney.
Motion died due to lack of second.
Member Wegman asked about contracting with a larger firm. Member Espitia stated he wanted more information on consulting fees and outsourcing costs for litigation issues.
Mayor West asked that the council consider the costs of contracting with a larger firm.
Staff said that they would put together some numbers for comparison.
Member Wegman made a motion to table the agreement until the next meeting, 2nd by Member Espitia. Motion carried 4-0-1 Member Cortez absent.
15) REPORTS FROM CITY STAFF
Allinder: gave the highlights of the Community Development Department recommendations provided by PMC. Staff and Council had previously been given copies of the recommendation.
Allen: gave a report on the animal control capture of 25 chickens in town. They were given to a rescue organization.
Sgt. Armendariz: reported on his absence at the last meeting due to vacation leave. He also reported on recent foot patrol activity and asked council if they had any issues or concerns to email them to him or call his cell number.
16) REPORTS FROM CITY ATTORNEY- none
17) REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER- none
18) REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL
Hively asked about the 2nd meeting in September and its cancellation. Staff answered that there would be a meeting held in the fourth week.
Espitia: commended Sheriffs department on recent activity.
19) CLOSED SESSION: None
20) ADJOURNMENT Member Espitia made a motion to adjourn at 8:14 p.m. to Wasco Redevelopment Agency Meeting, 2nd by Member Wegman. Motion carried meeting adjourned.
_____________________ _____________________________
Vickie Hight, City Clerk Fred West Jr., Mayor
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