Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Wasco public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
14 issues in public safety with medium priority
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
WPOA Labor Agreement
The council approved the new MOU with the Wasco Police Officers Association, whose members ratified the terms days before the vote.
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.
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.