City returns to county conomic group – for now

The city will rejoin the Kern County Economic Development Corporation after a number of years out of the organization.

It will be test to evaluate the benefits of the relationship, and at least one council member is skeptical.

Councilmember Danny Espitia said the only benefit he could see about rejoining the group was "free Condor tickets," referring to arrangement with the Bakersfield ice hockey team.

Espitia did state that the lower cost of $5,000 as compared to the $10,000 the council paid in the past to be a part of Kern EDC was worth trying it out for a year to see how it will benefit the city.

At the same time, builders in the city will have to pay a little more for the impact their developments have on the infrastructure.

The City Council voted unanimously to increase traffic impact fees from $92.92 to $94.82. These fees are generated by vehicle use of roads per daily trip, and are set between those of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

In other business, the council accepted and filed the City of Wasco audited financial statements and supplemental information for the period ending June 30, 2018.

"There were no areas of recommendations needing improvement by the audit committee," City Manager Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez said. He noted that the General Fund and Measure X sales tax budget were included in the report.

Additionally, the city council authorized Ortiz-Hernandez to execute an agreement with Government Staffing Services, Inc. (MuniTemps) for temporary staffing needs in the finance department at $110 per hour.

Ortiz-Hernandez explained that the former interim finance director Satwant Takhar concluded his work on the budget process and another interim finance director, Daniel Briney, will be replacing him. "This will be a short-term assignment," Ortiz-Hernandez said.

The council also approved a resolution updating the city's General Plan by adopting final changes.

It presented a proclamation to Martha Villarreal for the Wonderful Company for the organization's help with upgrades to Westside Park.