Wasco council validates top‑five strategic pillars: water, staffing, economic development, public safety, animal control
April 30, 2026 | Wasco City, Kern County, California
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Wasco City Council used its April 30 strategic planning session to confirm a compact list of priorities to guide the coming fiscal year.
Staff consolidated individual council submissions and presented the top recurring items. Councilmembers reached consensus on a top five that included: 1) infrastructure and water capacity, 2) staffing development, retention and succession planning, 3) economic development and downtown improvements, 4) public safety (including a new police facility and pedestrian/traffic safety), and 5) animal control and shelter capacity.
Why it matters: the prioritized list will steer department budget requests, grant applications and CIP scheduling during the FY27 budget process. Several items on the list carry material cost and timing implications—most notably new water wells and facilities investment.
What staff reported: staff emphasized that these items recur year to year and that some (water and public safety facilities) may require a mix of grants, reserves and potential financing. For animal control, staff proposed adding a third full‑time officer and reported four new kennels to expand shelter capacity.
Council response and next steps: Council did not take formal votes on ordinances; instead members validated the ranked priorities and directed staff to use them as the policy framework for upcoming budget and grant work. Staff will return during budget sessions with granular requests tied to these pillars.
Staff consolidated individual council submissions and presented the top recurring items. Councilmembers reached consensus on a top five that included: 1) infrastructure and water capacity, 2) staffing development, retention and succession planning, 3) economic development and downtown improvements, 4) public safety (including a new police facility and pedestrian/traffic safety), and 5) animal control and shelter capacity.
Why it matters: the prioritized list will steer department budget requests, grant applications and CIP scheduling during the FY27 budget process. Several items on the list carry material cost and timing implications—most notably new water wells and facilities investment.
What staff reported: staff emphasized that these items recur year to year and that some (water and public safety facilities) may require a mix of grants, reserves and potential financing. For animal control, staff proposed adding a third full‑time officer and reported four new kennels to expand shelter capacity.
Council response and next steps: Council did not take formal votes on ordinances; instead members validated the ranked priorities and directed staff to use them as the policy framework for upcoming budget and grant work. Staff will return during budget sessions with granular requests tied to these pillars.
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