Wasco council adopts underground utility district for block between Eighth and Ninth streets

The Wasco City Council on May 20, 2025, adopted a resolution creating Underground Utility District No. 2025‑01, establishing a boundary between Eighth Street and Ninth Street that staff said is needed to pursue Rule 20A funding for electrical utility undergrounding.

City Attorney/Assistant (presenter) Mr. Halbert told the council this item is a critical step tied to the Rule 20A program and the city’s effort to restore its credit balance for undergrounding projects. He said the district will define the boundary within which overhead aerial service will be removed and underground service required going forward.

The district covers the block immediately south of the council chambers and a connector across Eighth and Ninth streets; staff’s materials describe the area as approximately 600 feet and cite two assessor parcel numbers: APN 030‑081‑02 and APN 030‑081‑01. Halbert told the council that the city’s municipal code already provides for creating such districts and that a CEQA determination applies; staff corrected the original agenda text to identify the proper CEQA guideline exemptions as Sections 15301(b) and 15302(c).

No members of the public spoke during the hearing. Council Member Reyna moved to adopt the resolution, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Salania; the motion passed unanimously on roll-call vote.

Halbert said the city is on a tight schedule to complete required steps before June after a reversal of an earlier denial of the project; he asked the council to approve the district so staff can proceed with the funding and implementation steps.

Next steps discussed on the record include finalizing paperwork and coordinating with the utility for the Rule 20A funding process; timelines and construction phasing were not specified in the staff presentation.

Resolution and voting details are in the public minutes and staff packet for the May 20 meeting.