Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Wasco public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
29 issues with high priority
SR46 Improvement Project construction impacts
Caltrans is building a roundabout at SR43/46, replacing the BNSF rail bridge, and adding bike lanes and ADA upgrades. Construction starts November 2026 and finishes October 2029, with night lane closures and some full closures of 46 at F and J Streets. Residents and businesses should expect disruption and watch for commuter alerts.
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.
Utility rate workshop coming November 10
Staff announced the first workshop on utility rates for Tuesday, November 10 at 4 p.m. — this is where future water bills could start taking shape, so it's worth tuning in.
Data centers and Wasco's water supply
Mayor Pro Tem Reyna asked staff to put data centers on a future agenda, worried they'd strain Wasco's limited water. Staff is already researching it.
Water SCADA system upgrade
Reyna flagged hackers targeting water systems nationwide, including a Bakersfield-area Calwater breach; the council agreed to review Wasco's protections in a separate session rather than open session.
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.
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.
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.
unWired Broadband Street Cut Repairs
The Unwired representative canceled his update, but the city manager reports continued resident complaints about temporary repairs — Unwired is doing batch repairs rather than cement crews. Residents are still encouraged to register complaints.
Dedicated soccer fields / sports complex
Council members agreed the community wants a sports complex but the city shouldn't take on huge debt to build one. The consensus: partner with the Recreation and Parks District, state officials and sponsors, with the city playing a supporting funding-seeking role.
New city facilities financing
The council is weighing how to pay for a new police department/city hall complex and a public works campus, with loan scenarios from $8M to $12M and a structured-loan option that could save about $5 million. Members want digestible public-facing materials before any decision, knowing residents will scrutinize the price tag.
Audit-related budget adjustment of $111,523.25
Wasco is in strong shape financially — about $25.6 million in general fund reserves, well above the 35% policy minimum. The council added $406,224 to the current-year budget, mostly from higher sales tax and Measure X projections, but Reyna pushed hard on recession worries and asked everyone to plan cautiously.
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.
Cooling Center Program Future
The cooling center was curtailed after low usage last year, but with a seven-day heat wave ahead the council ordered it reopened starting August 5, promoted on social media, with usage numbers due at the next meeting.
Road projects on track for summer construction
G Street streetlights and the 8th Street pedestrian crossing are done; HAWK signal poles for Highway 46 ship August 28.
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.
Animal Control Staffing and Shelter Capacity
Council Member Martinez raised growing concerns about loose dogs around town and parks, suggesting an education campaign and possible strategic planning committee action.
Street and alley rehabilitation contracts
Council also wants a firm timeline for redoing Beckis and Palm avenues. Both projects are in design, mostly done in-house, and a newly hired project manager is expected to speed things up.
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.
FY 2026-27 budget reaffirmed under AB 2561
The proposed budget projects $18.2 million in revenue against conservative spending, showing a $1.4 million deficit (or $931,000 excluding tech reclassification). Council wants quarterly updates, a realistic capital project list, and six-month budgeting of vacant posts before adoption on June 16. Your city services and potential rate impacts hang on how this gets resolved.
Return to County CDBG Program
Wasco is applying for up to $3.6 million in state CDBG money — $300K for the PAL youth facility and $3.3 million for a 1.5-million-gallon second water tank. Staff says the tank's added storage could support about 400 new homes, though a new well is still needed down the road.
Regional Transportation Plan Update
The adopted plan charts Dial-A-Ride improvements including extended weekday hours and Saturday service pilots, plus a possible Route 110 realignment to serve Walmart and the Wonderful Industrial Park.
Solar Farm Repairs
Thieves cut through two fences at the city's solar farm twice, going after copper wiring. Repairs will cost up to $30,000 (the inverters are under warranty but labor isn't), and the city is losing the power those panels would have produced.
Gromer Avenue parking and school-route speeding
Public Works will add 16 parking stalls and two crosswalks near Rosalinda Village as part of the Gromer paving project — a quick fix for chronic overflow parking. A resident concern was relayed about cars speeding 60–70 mph during school drop-off; staff discussed possible enforcement and traffic-calming ideas.
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.
Missing sidewalks and Safe Routes to School
Mayor Pro Tem Reyna again pressed staff for a date to finish the sidewalk on the south side of 5th Street between Poplar and Broadway — a route kids use to walk to school. Staff says it's in design.
Downtown phase two funding confirmed
Congressman Valadao's office confirmed downtown phase two funding — about $5 million — so the city can finish plans and start bidding and construction.
Well #12 1,2,3-TCP water treatment project
The city locked in a $3.9 million contract to install Well #12 with treatment for 1,2,3-TCP contamination, keeping the clean-water project on track with total cost capped at $4.5 million.
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.