Council cuts tower lease rate, will promote city in Tribune

A main provider of wireless service in the city will get a substantial lease reduction on its use of the Wasco water tower after a vote by the City Council. The council also agreed to a marketing partnership with the Tribune at their meeting Tuesday night.

The council agreed to revise the city’s communications site lease agreement with unWired Broadband. The lease involves Wasco's historic water tower at the northeast corner of 8th Street and E Street. Since 2009, Wasco has had multiple lease agreements with unWired, which have been updated over time.

The current lease, which has been month-to-month, is now considered financially unsustainable due to high rates set by earlier agreements, the company has said. UnWired’s move toward building out fiber-optic services throughout the city will reduce its wireless customer base and that revenue, according to the company, and the water tower lease needs to be adjusted to remain viable. If the site is abandoned, wireless customers may lose internet service, and the city could lose lease revenue.

To address this, two key changes were negotiated: resetting the base lease rate from $1,850.30 to $1,100 per month and switching to a Consumer Price Index-based rate inflator capped at 3% annually. While the new terms will cause a $6,000 revenue reduction this year, they will secure around $13,200 in annual revenue moving forward.

A $24,000 annual advertising agreement with the Wasco Tribune, including a regular print presence and online promotion, was approved. The Tribune has served the Wasco community for over 50 years, and is the sole media outlet focused on the city, along with its companion website, WascoTribune.com.

City Manager Scott Hurlbert explained that the agreement comes at a time when print media faces significant financial challenges, with many local papers struggling to remain operational. In a staff report, he said that, in particular, the owners of the Tribune have been subsidizing its operations for years to keep it afloat, but they now face the difficult decision of potentially shutting down. By purchasing this advertising block, the city not only secures a cost-effective means of meeting its legal notice requirements – far less expensive than alternatives such as the Bakersfield Californian – but also strengthens its communication channels with residents through the paper's print, website and social media platforms.

He added that the partnership with the Tribune is seen as a strategic opportunity to enhance community engagement and ensure that residents have access to reliable, locally focused information. Additionally, the Tribune's "adjudicated legal" status allows the city to publish essential legal notices that may not be available in all local papers, thus preserving an important resource for the community.

Further, Hurlbert believes that the agreement aligns with the city's broader communication strategy, enabling it to reach a wider audience while fostering a sense of connection between the government and its citizens. The approval of the agreement not only supports the sustainability of a vital local publication but also demonstrates the city's commitment to maintaining an informed and engaged community.

Mayor Valentin Medina said, "The Wasco Tribune is part of our history. It's a win-win. We need to cater to our citizens. I'm all for it."

"The Wasco Tribune has been a part of our community for so long. It's great that we can help them out. What better way to support our community than by helping them?" Councilmember Miguel Raya said.

Councilmember Gilberto Reyna said, "I think it's good for our city."

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Chief of Police Charles Fivecoat provided an update on the Wasco Police Department, noting that call activity is starting to decline, and this trend is expected to continue into the winter. Since the department's launch on April 18, there have been 8,500 incidents, with 43% of those being officer-initiated.

DUI drivers remain a concern, but the department is working on programs to address the issue. While Wasco has a high number of stolen vehicles, Chief Fivecoat pointed out that the volume is consistent with other areas in the southern valley. "We've conducted 1,686 vehicle stops but issued only 495 citations, which is about a 30% rate," he said. "Our focus is more on educating the public about safety concerns."