Changes in city personnel

City Planner Roger Mobley is set to retire in January 2020 and Senior Planner Keri Cobb has been promoted to the position of community development director with an annual salary of $115,000.

“Cobb will be responsible for managing planning code enforcement in the city,” City Manager Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez said. Cobb’s contract will be for three years.

In other business, Mayor Alex Garcia asked the council if they should establish specific dates to accept applications for the City of Wasco Community Grant program.

Council member John Pallares did not want to respond to Garcia’s request because he doesn’t believe that government funds should be used for nonprofits.

Councilmember Danny Espitia agreed with Pallares, as he also voted no on the grant in 2018.

The council decided the application period would begin after the first of the year and continue through the end of March 2020. “Each application will be individually reviewed,” Council member Gilberto Reyna said. “We will take it on a case-by-case basis.”

Sergeant Peter Martinez reported that officers stopped a car by a school on Oct. 16. The car took off, but the officers didn’t chase it because they were too close to children. However, the car was later located. The two suspects tried to outrun the officers but were both caught and identified as 17-year-old and 18-year-old Wasco residents.

Martinez reported on several additional incidents that occurred in town.

“On Sunday, Oct. 19, a vehicle hit a pedestrian across from Barker Park. The pedestrian, Victor Ochoa, passed away from the accident,” Martinez said.

Consequently, Bishop reported on the status of the Pedestrian Safety Report and said it should be available in November.

She also reported that 42 dogs were licensed at the latest vaccination and licensing clinic that the owner of Bakersfield Boxers and Bullies, Sundi Martinez, held in Wasco. There are enough funds for two additional clinic days in January.