Wasco Council approves grant-writer contract, police-building planning, personnel changes and $1.3M for undergrounding

The Wasco City Council on April 15 voted unanimously to adopt a set of resolutions to expand the city’s grant-writing capacity, prepare formal site plans and renderings for a proposed police building, correct an employment agreement for a deputy public works director, promote a lieutenant to assistant police chief and pursue more than $1.3 million in power-line undergrounding funds.

City Manager Scott Horvath told the council the consultant arrangement with California Consulting, Inc., is structured so the firm will provide grant alerts at no cost and the city will engage the firm on individual grants on an hourly or fixed-fee basis if the city chooses to proceed. “This is a low-risk way for us to take advantage of their expertise,” Horvath said during his presentation. Council members asked whether consultant fees could be paid from awards and raised concerns about the city’s capacity to implement larger grants if funds are secured.

Council also authorized a professional services agreement with Teeter Architectural and Engineers to produce a site-plan/master plan and a 3D rendering package for the property acquired across from city hall for a new police facility. Staff said those initial tasks are budgeted at a not-to-exceed $45,000 to produce a two-dimensional site diagram and presentation-level elevation renderings intended for grant applications and legislative briefings.

On personnel matters the council approved an amendment to the employment agreement of Deputy Public Works Director Alberto Martinez to align his executive leave benefit with other director-level employees (increasing the executive leave provision from 56 to 80 hours). The council also adopted an employment agreement promoting Lieutenant Alessio Mora to assistant chief of police; staff said the lieutenant position will remain vacant for now and the promotion’s immediate fiscal impact is minimal.

Separately, staff reported that after two earlier denials the city successfully protested an application decision and received allocation of more than $1.3 million in PUC power-line undergrounding funds to support burying utility lines for the proposed police site. City staff said a time-sensitive ordinance establishing an undergrounding district will be required under PUC rules and that the council authorized the city manager to finalize documents and meet the June deadline to retain the funds.

The council also approved a memorandum-of-understanding letter with the Wasco Police Officers Association to adjust pay for evidence-room duties to a fixed $7.50 stipend (described by staff as a market-adjustment stipend agreed with the union). All motions passed on unanimous roll calls.

Votes at a glance

- Consultant services agreement with California Consulting, Inc. — Adopted unanimously (5-0). Motion and second: not specified in roll call transcript. Staff summary: month-to-month arrangement; alerts at no cost; fee paid only if engaged on a per-grant basis; council noted capacity concerns.

- Professional services agreement with Teeter Architectural and Engineers (police building site plan and renderings) — Adopted unanimously (5-0). Not-to-exceed $45,000 for initial site/3D concept tasks.

- Amendment to employment agreement, Deputy Public Works Director Alberto Martinez (executive leave correction from 56 to 80 hours) — Adopted unanimously (5-0).

- Employment agreement promoting Lieutenant Alessio Mora to Assistant Chief of Police — Adopted unanimously (5-0). Staff indicated budget impact minimal and lieutenant slot to remain vacant.

- Authorization to finalize documents to use PUC power-line undergrounding funds (city to pursue ~ $1.3 million allocation) — Adopted unanimously (5-0). Staff warned of a tight statutory/PUC timeline to establish an undergrounding district.

- Memorandum/side letter with Wasco Police Officers Association to set evidence/property-room duty incentive at a $7.50 stipend — Adopted unanimously (5-0).

Why it matters

Taken together, the actions give staff tools to pursue external funding for multiple capital projects, supply presentation-level design materials for the police facility effort, adjust city personnel contract equity, and secure a sizeable utility undergrounding allocation that staff say is critical to the police-building site plan. Council members repeatedly urged staff to ensure the city has the implementation capacity to manage large grants if awarded.

Implementation and next steps

Staff will: (1) proceed under the month-to-month consultant agreement to receive grant alerts and engage the consultant as needed; (2) begin initial site-plan and rendering work under the Teeter contract and bring further design work back to council for approval; (3) prepare an ordinance and supporting materials required by the PUC to create an undergrounding district before the stated deadline; and (4) finalize the employment and MOU amendments approved tonight.

Members of the council expressed unanimous support for the package but several asked staff to return with specific plans to expand administrative capacity so the city can both win and implement larger grants without delaying projects.