Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Wasco public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
24 issues in public safety
October police activity and drug interdiction
Police reported a slower month (1,781 incidents, 91 arrests) and a multi-agency operation that took two felons off the street and seized about a quarter pound of meth. Council also wants the e-bike/scooter safety pamphlet spread more widely.
Wasco bike ride safety
A resident who lives at 1270 Oak told the council the street serving Independence Elementary and a school for children with disabilities has no sidewalks, and she's been painting crosswalk stripes herself. The city's sidewalk program is focused on main streets near schools, so staff will follow up with her.
Storm season and El Niño preparation
Sand and sandbags are already stockpiled at city property, storm drains are being cleaned, and reverse 9-1-1 will be used for serious storms. Clear leaves out of your gutters, folks.
Youth e-bike and e-scooter safety
Chief Mora handed out a new pamphlet explaining e-bike rules after officers tracked down and seized a dirt bike from a 16-year-old who fled a traffic stop. The department will push the info through schools and at Saturday's Bike Rodeo. Council members flagged dangerous group stunts and sidewalk riding.
Domestic violence awareness and survivor support
The council proclaimed April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, honoring Lideres Campesinas for their work supporting farmworker communities and survivors.
Immigration enforcement fears and city communication
A resident asked the council to communicate with immigrant families amid regional enforcement activity, and Council Member Medina read a public statement affirming Wasco PD does not work with federal immigration officers and sharing know-your-rights resources.
Police e-bike unit grant
The police department wants five grant-funded e-bikes so officers can patrol parks, downtown, schools, and crowded events where cars can't go — at no cost to the city if the grant covers the full price.
Homelessness Update Requested
The council committed $645,883 in state Permanent Local Housing Allocation money to keep the Homeless Outreach Coordinator Program running, filing paperwork with the state housing department.
Lithium-ion battery fire hazards
Fire Chief Appleton warned that e-bike and scooter batteries can spontaneously release toxic smoke and cause fires — store them outside, don't leave them charging constantly, and stay away from smoking batteries.
Street Lighting and Public Safety
The council approved up to $130,000 in purchase orders — $90,000 to Loop Electric for installation and $40,000 for components — to bring lighting to G Street. It's a safety and visibility improvement for one of the city's main corridors.
PG&E yard burglaries
Two burglary-in-progress calls at the PG&E yard in July, with copper wire the target; Shafter, Kern County Sheriff, and McFarland police assisted and three arrests were made.
Wasco Police Department Full Staffing and July Operations
Chief Mora reported strong response times including a stabbing arrest within five minutes, but Council Member Martinez pressed for news releases on major incidents and monthly speeding citation data, noting dangerous speeding on residential streets.
Weed abatement responsibilities
Council Member Martinez flagged large overgrown vacant lots along the Highway 46 corridor as both an eyesore and a fire hazard, and asked staff to set a hard mowing deadline — possibly via notice on utility bills — for absentee owners.
Camera registry comeback?
Reyna wants staff to explore bringing back a program — last tried under sheriff service — where residents and businesses register cameras, possibly with subsidies to buy them.
Police activity and youth programs
May numbers show 42 arrests, 95 traffic citations, and only three collisions so far — way down from prior months. The department is also backing youth boxing and launching a bike safety event May 29 with helmets and lights giveaways.
Police Drone Program
The police department is launching a drone-as-first-responder program — the first in Kern County — that dispatchers can launch automatically, arriving in about 75 seconds. Council members also asked about rising gang graffiti and fireworks enforcement.
Code Enforcement Liens
The council approved nearly $8,000 in fines against one property after a long discussion; staff explained the owner ignored repeated warnings and built an illegal structure that cannot be legalized.
WPOA Labor Agreement
The council approved the new MOU with the Wasco Police Officers Association, whose members ratified the terms days before the vote.
Community policing momentum
Police stats show proactive officer activity outpaced calls for service for the first time this year, with traffic stops doubled and accidents down. A mobile clinic runs June 15 and a kids' nutrition program starts June 8.
Meeting Continuity Policy (SB 707)
Starting July 1, state law requires hybrid meetings, a call-in option, Spanish agenda translation, and backup plans if tech fails mid-meeting. The council adopted the policy but grumbled it's an unfunded mandate likely to cost small cities more than it's worth.
Child Abuse Prevention Month
The council proclaimed April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, citing 13,512 Kern County children suspected of abuse or neglect in 2024. Wasco Union Elementary staff accepted the proclamation on behalf of local family-support partners.
Gang graffiti surge
About a dozen graffiti reports came in over the weekend — half cleaned the same day, the rest the next. Council members praised the fast response, noting quick removal denies gangs the visibility they want.
Wasco PD report and arrest in Sunday shooting
Chief Mora reported April crime stats trending normal, plus an arrest in the April 19 shooting with a press release coming. Reyna asked police to develop an education program for kids riding e-scooters and bikes unsafely.
Emergency communication gaps after gas leak
After January's methane well leak, residents were confused about whether they needed to evacuate — and alerts went out only in English. Fire and police chiefs agreed to work with the city on clearer notifications, the Genesis Protect app, and Ready Kern sign-ups.