A costly service with almost no visitors
Wasco officials are debating the future of a city-run cooling center after a recent report showed extremely low attendance despite the kind of triple-digit temperatures that can make outdoor exposure dangerous across Kern County.
According to 23ABC, just one person used the center on three of the seven days it operated during the summer. The period cost the city approximately $3,800 in overtime, raising questions about whether the service is reaching the people who need it.
The issue surfaced while temperatures in the region were forecast to approach 105 degrees. During a three-hour visit, 23ABC reported seeing only two people who were not affiliated with the city stop by the facility.
City Manager Scott Hurlbert said officials tried multiple methods to inform residents about the center but had not generated significant attendance. That leaves the city evaluating whether limited use reflects low need, ineffective outreach or barriers such as transportation and operating hours.
One side sees waste. The other sees protection
Mayor Pro Tem Gilberto Reyna argued that the center remains important because people experiencing dangerous heat need somewhere safe to go, even if only a small number use the facility on any given day.
Public emergency services cannot always be judged exclusively by attendance. An air-conditioned public space may be essential for an older adult, a person without reliable housing, a resident whose electricity has been disconnected or someone with a medical condition that makes heat especially dangerous.
At the same time, city leaders must account for staffing costs and decide whether a different approach could serve more people. Partnering with existing libraries, community centers or nonprofit organizations could become part of future discussions, although no specific replacement plan has been announced.
A public notice from the Wasco Recreation and Parks District advertised a cooling center on August 20 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and encouraged residents to check on vulnerable neighbors. The notice shows local agencies are actively trying to communicate available resources.
Read the source: Wasco Recreation and Parks District notice ↗
For now, the doors stay open
The city voted to keep the cooling center available on days meeting its activation criteria, according to 23ABC. Officials expect to revisit the program and consider longer-term planning rather than making decisions only as individual heat waves arrive.
Councilmember Valentin Medina said the issue should be incorporated into annual planning so the city has time to examine costs, outreach and community needs before the next season of extreme temperatures.
The larger question for Kern County is not simply how many people walked through one door. It is whether residents know where to find help, whether they can reach it and whether local governments are prepared when dangerous heat becomes an emergency.