WELCOME TO YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THIS MEETING. I HOPE YOU FIND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HELPFUL. ADDITIONALLY, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE “AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT,” SHOULD YOU
NEED SPECIAL ASSISTANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING, OR HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE AGENDA, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE THREE DAYS PRIOR DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS AT (661)326-3767.
JULIE DRIMAKIS, CITY CLERK
LEGEND
1 – Eric Arias, Councilmember, First Ward 8 – Zack Bashirtash, Councilmember, Sixth Ward 2 – Andrae Gonzales, Councilmember, Second Ward 9 – Zack Meyer, Public Works Director 3 – Ken Weir, Councilmember, Third Ward 10 – Phil Burns, Development Services Director 4 – Karen Goh, Mayor 11 – Christian Clegg, City Manager 5 – Manpreet Kaur, Vice Mayor, Seventh Ward 12 – Virginia Gennaro, City Attorney 6 – Bob Smith, Councilmember, Fourth Ward 13 – Julie Drimakis, City Clerk 7 – Larry Koman, Councilmember, Fifth Ward 14 – News Media Your City Government
The City of Bakersfield is operated under the Council-Manager form of Government. Legislative and policy-making duties necessary to govern the City’s affairs are handled by the City Council, with the Administrative duties handled by the City Manager, as outlined in the City Charter. The City is divided into seven wards, each represented by a Councilmember, elected on a non-partisan basis and serving four-year overlapping terms. City Council Meetings are a vital part of the Democratic process and citizens are urged to attend. The meetings are open to the public and held in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue, at 3:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m., on calendared Wednesdays.
The video broadcast of the meeting may be accessed through the City’s Web Page at: www.bakersfieldcity.us
The Council is organized into seven standing committees that were created to review and analyze all City policies and programs and make necessary recommendations back to the full Council. Each committee consists of three Councilmembers and each Councilmember will chair at least one of the following Committees:
Budget & Finance Community Services Legislative & Litigation Personnel Planning & Development Safe Neighborhoods
Water Resources
Conduct of Council Meetings
Meetings of the Council are governed under “Robert’s Rules of Order” on all matters pertaining to parliamentary law.
However, no action of the Council will be invalidated nor legally challenged by the failure to strictly follow such rules.
Additionally, Ordinances and policies have been adopted covering Council meeting procedures, including time limitations for public comment.
MAYOR
The Mayor is the presiding officer at Council Meetings. The Mayor executes all legal instruments and documents however, is not vested with administrative authority. The Mayor is elected at-large for a four-year term and serves as the official head of the City for all legislative policy and ceremonial purposes. In the event of a tie vote among the Council, the Mayor has the authority to cast a vote, in order to break the tie.
PUBLIC COMMENTS MAY BE MADE ONLY UNDER PUBLIC STATEMENTS OR HEARINGS.
PUBLIC STATEMENTS - Following the guidelines established in California Government Code §54950, known as the “Brown Act,” most cities establish specific rules and procedures governing public comment and conduct of their meetings.
You are invited to address the Council during the Public Statements portion of the Agenda on any matter related to City business except matters set for Public Hearing on the agenda before the Council.
To address the Council, fill out a Speaker’s Card and present it to the City Clerk before the meeting begins and no later than the conclusion of the Public Statement portion of the Agenda.
All persons desiring to address the Council on an item listed on the agenda shall speak during the Agenda Item Public Statements portion of the meeting. Speakers will be limited to two (2) minutes per person, twenty (20) minutes per agenda item. Note: The Consent Calendar as a whole constitutes one agenda item.
All persons desiring to address the Council on a general item of interest within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Council that is not listed on the agenda shall speak during the Non-Agenda Item Public Statements portion of the meeting. Speakers will be limited to two (2) minutes per person, (20) twenty minutes total. Speakers who do not identify the topic on which they wish to speak will be presumed speakers for Non-Agenda Item Public Statements and called during that portion of the meeting.
The purpose of the speaker’s cards is to facilitate orderly and relevant public statements during the appropriate portions of the meeting.
You may provide written comments to the Clerk, or send written communication addressed to the Council.
Communication to Councilmembers not requiring Council action will be distributed to them through their mailboxes.
A party requesting use of audio/video, computer equipment, or network or internet access, must provide presentation/video files and/or network, equipment, internet access requirements/requests to the Clerk at least 3 working days prior to the meeting.
City Council Agenda
AGENDA PACKET - The Agenda and packet containing supporting material is available generally by 5:00 P.M., the Friday prior to the Council Meeting. Complete packets are available for review at City Clerk’s Office. Additionally, citizens can access the materials through the City’s Web Page at: www.bakersfieldcity.us.
Any writings or documents received by staff and provided to a majority of the Council regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection at the City Clerk’s Office located at 1600 Truxtun Avenue during normal business hours.
CONSENT CALENDAR - All matters are considered routine and generally approved in one motion. A Councilmember, or member of the public during Public Statements, may request an item be taken off the Consent Calendar for discussion or have the item deferred for further study prior to the time Council votes on the motion to adopt the item.
HEARINGS - Proponents and opponents may address Council during the public portion of the hearing. Each side is limited to 15 minutes, with an additional 5 minutes for rebuttal. The Mayor will close the public portion of the hearing, at which time no member of the public will address Council unless specifically asked to by a member through the Presiding Officer. THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF COMMUNICATING YOUR THOUGHTS TO THE COUNCIL ON PUBLIC HEARING MATTERS IS BY SUBMITTING YOUR COMMENTS IN WRITING, PREFERABLY NO LATER THAN 2:00 P.M., THURSDAY OF
THE WEEK PRIOR TO THE COUNCIL MEETING IN ORDER FOR YOUR COMMUNICATION TO BE REPRODUCED FOR THE AGENDA PACKET. However, legally you may submit such material up to, and including, the time of the public hearing.
REPORTS - Council Committee reports and Staff updates are provided to the Council either orally or in writing.
COUNCIL STATEMENTS - Councilmembers may refer matters and issues of concern to Committees and/or staff.
Definitions
THE FOLLOWING ARE TERMS & PHRASES YOU WILL ENCOUNTER DURING A COUNCIL MEETING OR ON THE AGENDA:
CITY BOARDS & COMMITTEES -Council appointed advisory bodies that carry out Council designated functions or law.
CLOSED SESSION - A “closed door” meeting provided for by State Law which allows Councilmembers to consider, in private, legal matters, specific personnel issues and labor negotiation matters.
MOTION - A proposal made by a Councilmember, for action by the full Council.
ORDINANCE - A “legislative act” that requires two readings at separate Council meetings and becomes effective thirty (30) days after adoption.
EMERGENCY ORDINANCE - This Ordinance requires only one reading and is effective immediately upon adoption.
RESOLUTION - A formalized action of the Council expressing policy or directing certain types of administrative action. It becomes effective immediately and may be changed by an amendment or subsequent resolution.
STAFF - Professional employees of the City who direct day-to-day operations and carry out policies set by Council. The City Manager is appointed by Council to direct administrative operations of City government. The City Attorney is appointed by Council and serves as chief counsel and legal representative of the City.