BAKERSFIELD CITY COUNCIL
POST-MEETING AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING
February 26, 2025, 3:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue
1. ROLL CALL
2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
a. Non-Agenda Item Public Statements
b. Agenda Item Public Statements
3. CLOSED SESSION
a. Conference with Labor Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.6
4. REPORTS
a. Update on City Council Priority Initiatives and Council Referrals Staff will provide a presentation update on priority initiatives and Council Referrals and outline which initiatives and referrals will be prioritized for staff action through the end of the fiscal year.
Staff recommends the City Council provide feedback and direction on the prioritization of initiatives and referrals
*1. PowerPoint presentation provided by the City Managers Office *2. List of referrals submitted by the City Managers Office
5. CLOSED SESSION ACTION
*a. Conference with Labor Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.6
6. ADJOURNMENT
1Page 2 of 56
2Page 3 of 56
Council Goals: 5
5-Year Objectives: 26
Council Priority Initiatives: 88
High Priority Initiatives: 10
3Page 4 of 56
1. Ease of Development
2. Homeless Encampments & Services
3. Housing
4. Police Response Times
5. Traffic Safety/Multi-Modal
4Page 5 of 56
6. Annexation
7. Capital Projects
8. Charter Review
9. Economic Development
10. Urban Reinvestment
5Page 6 of 56
6
7
8
9
• Prioritize 29 Referrals for the next quarter
• Referrals related to highest priority City Council initiatives • Referrals related to work already in progress at a Council Committee or in progress by staff action
10Page 11 of 56
11
12
13 Initiative; Task/Activity
Ease of Development Process
-1) Complete implementation of the electronic permitting system; hold additional training sessions for staff and system users; hold quarterly development process customer service workshops; conduct development process efficiency study under new permitting system; transition to paperless inspection process - 2) Create a one-stop shop for building permitting
-3) Evaluate Fire plan review timeframes and fee schedule for large projects - Evaluate fee schedule for large projects
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested the Planning and
Development explore and review the development of a
resolution that eliminates the requirement of offsite
improvements such as curb, gutter, sidewalks, for projects in the downtown core.
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff explore the
development of a resolution that will outline the
timeframes and expectations related to the permitting
processes.Page 14 of 56
14 Rosedale Ranch Trade and Transportation Center
- Rezoning process completed
- Address utility and infrastructure needs
- Labor Market Profile
- Complete Megasite Designation
15 Complete parking enterprise feasibility study
- Manage comprehensive parking study of City’s Downtown and Old Town Kern areas that will review existing parking conditions and ordnances - Determine future parking needs to serve the study area - Provide recommendations and implementable long term parking strategies for the area
Complete the Cultural Resource Survey and adopt a Mills Act ordinance Councilmember Gonzales requests that staff provide a
historical analysis of the Mills Act in regards to the City.
Councilmember Gonzales requested staff establish a
Parking Enterprise Fund, it should encompass the parking structure on 18th and Eye Streets. He also requested staff work with existing parking structure owners (County,
School District, Private Property Owners, etc.) to develop a joint-use agreement to utilize their facilities outside their regular business hours and usage.
16 Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff work with the current owners of the Crystal Palace and offer incentives to aide a potential buyer who can sustain the operations with the same atmosphere and environment.
17 Recent accomplishments
• Entrepreneurship Grants – Launch Pad and Partners
• Downtown Development Fund
• Old Town Kern visioning
• Direct Air Capture Grant Support
• EOA and Large Façade Grants
• Expansion of Youth Jobs to include trade apprenticeships
18 Pending
• Energy Innovation Center and Technology Park
• Advanced Manufacturing Park
• EIFD/CRIA planning efforts
• Downtown and Chester redevelopment plans
• Downtown Element
• Economic Development Ordinance
• Mixed-Use Demonstration Projects
• Trade School
19 Chronic offenders’ accountability - dedicated jail beds - Develop a regional diversion program
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff reach out to the
County to ensure individuals being released from the local prisons are being returned to their originating cities and not being left in Bakersfield. In addition, work with the County to establish a better program to coordinate the
release of these individuals.
20 Deploy Regional Public Safety Communications Network (radios)
21 Complete DOJ Stipulated Judgment workplan
22 Decrease the number of arsons and repeat structure fires Vice Mayor Kaur requested staff develop a Fire Master
Plan; she requested funding be allocated in the upcoming fiscal budget or an alternative funding sources available.
23 Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff develop a policy outlining the parameters for use of automatic license plate reading cameras and present it to the Safe and Healthy
Neighborhoods Committee.
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff prepare a plan of
action with short-, mid-, and long-term goals to address systematic issues that exists on Union Ave, between State Route 58 and California Avenue and present it to the Safe and Healthy Committee meeting.
24 Multi-modal Demonstration Projects and CIP Safety Projects Vice Mayor Gonzales requested the Multimodal
Transportation Ad Hoc Committee prioritize
pedestrian safety improvements around school
zones.
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff develop a
public online dashboard of all traffic calming
treatment requests and include information on
their status and the area of concern.
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff pursue a
uniform and aggressive media campaign
related to distracted driving to educate the
community.
Councilmember Freeman requested staff study the
traffic calming safety measure requirements for
future schools to reduce speeding around them
including the street design, speed signs, speed
humps, etc. Vice Mayor Gonzales supported the
request and referred it to the Multi-Modal & Traffic
Safety Committee.
25 Improve the economic security, health and stability of homeless and at-risk individuals
Advocacy for new behavioral health housing and in-patient treatment options
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff assist St. Vincent de Paul and Good Samaritan Hospital in developing a
permanent clinic facility at St Vincent de Paul to provide medical services to homeless individuals. Staff to
determine if there is one-time funding sources available to fund program.
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff provided an update
on the Eviction Protection Pilot Program during the FY 24- 25 Mid Year Budget Review.
26 Committee Member Arias requested staff provide
the Committee with information on what proactive
measures exist and are utilized to support and
connect chronic homeless individuals to available
resources.
Committee Chair Gonzales requested staff begin
tracking the number of petitions being submitted
to CARE Court.
Committee Chair Gonzales requested staff expand
Homeward Bound strategy to assist homeless
individuals return to their place of origin
communities. The strategy should include
measures that can track the city's progress.
27 Make affordable housing affordable: create City policies and programs
- Affordable Housing Fee Deferral Program
- Create an Affordable Housing Prospectus
- Complete study of development impact fees
- Complete residential zoning code update
Increase the affordable housing inventory for homeless
individuals and families
- Implement Affordable Housing Strategy
- Create and fund a Community Development Corporation
- Secure financing to complete the Bakersfield Senior
Center Mixed-Use Housing Project
- Begin construction on the Renaissance at Baker project - Support a development entity to redevelop the Kerntown Motel
- Complete a Downtown Housing Study
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested the Planning
and Development Committee research the
development of a Lien Forgiveness Program.
28 Launch Accessory Dwelling Unit Incentive Program
29 Recent accomplishments
• Created 3rd and 4th Impact Teams and Co-response teams • Mental health clinician staffing in Communications Center • Utilization of private security
• Gun violence reduction strategy
• Security Grant Program
30 Recent accomplishments
• Complete Streets Ordinance
• Multi-modal demonstration projects
31 Recent accomplishments
• Community Vitality Team
• BLNC Expansion
• Community Land Trust
• Neighborhood Stabilization Program
32 Pending
• Domestic Violence Strategy
• Adopt program to secure alleys
• Master EIR for mixed-use projects
33 Allocate funding to bring more projects to design
completion to make them shovel ready
- Allocate unspent grant-match funds to fund
environmental and design work
34 Conduct Community Choice Aggregator Feasibility Study
35 Solar Infrastructure Plan for City Facilities: Continue to install solar energy systems and battery storage facilities on City properties where the resulting energy production and reliability can justify installation costs
- Start construction of solar and battery storage systems - Install backup generators and battery backup systems
- Complete installation of the City Hall North Generator - Apply for grant funding
- Initiate planning for next phase of City facilities for installation
36 Recent accomplishments
• Manor Street completed
• Centennial Corridor Opening; 7th movement construction initiated; 8th movement design underway
• Shovel readiness strategy working
• Design underway for multiple complete streets projects • Repaving pace and strategy more effective
• Facility Condition Assessment complete
• Turf replacement program working
37 Pending
• Hageman Flyover funding
• Solid Waste Facilities Master Plan
• SiFi Broadband Installation
• Fueling and charging stations
38 Complete the Climate Action Plan, Municipal Service Review, Habitat Conservation Plan, Housing Element, Residential zoning ordinance and keep General Plan Update on track
39 Clean City Initiative
- Incorporate Dumpster Security Program into the
Economic Opportunity Area program
- Establish an Illegal Dumping Enforcement program
including modifications to the Bakersfield Municipal Code to provide additional tools
- Continue to enhance RRT operations and utilization of clean city teams to provide a better urban environment
and quality of life
- Establish systematic proactive Code Enforcement
program to address our high visibility corridors to further our Clean City efforts
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff
provide an update on all Illegal
dumping efforts. He also requested
staff work on promoting programs via a
comprehensive ad marketing campaign
and research the possibility of
partnering with local nonprofits (like
Goodwill) to designate areas at their
location to receive items not accepted
by them which can them be retrieve by
the Clean City Initiative Teams.Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff review the scope of work for the Clean City Initiative to include abatement of illegal dumping on vacant lots. He also requested staff review the Chronic Nuisance Ordinance to determine if it can be applied to vacant lots. Page 40 of 56
40 Continue the “island” annexation strategy with completion of four more annexations, complete four additional large annexations
- Complete four island annexations encompassing 133
acres
- Complete four additional annexations in support of the Vacant Sites Inventory of the Housing Element Update,
adding 1600 additional acres of land into the City
- Adopt 5-year annexation strategy
41 Martin Luther King Regional Park redevelopment
- Complete Design for MLK Park renovation
Councilmember Freeman requested staff plan to allocate
funding for three of the 11 unconstructed parks during the FY 24-25 Mid Year Budget Review to begin the
construction process.
42 Vice Mayor Gonzales requested the Safe and Healthy
Neighborhoods explore and review the expansion of the
Tobacco Retailer's License ordinance to include regulation of smoke shops.
The P&D Committee requested staff to research minor
comprehensive sign plan for small centers and additional time for promotional signs to the comparable cities and provide the research to the Committee.
43 Councilmember Freeman requested staff share
the feedback received from several
constituents regarding the ongoing
maintenance of city trees with contractors.
Councilmember Kaur requested staff review
any case studies that exist where cities have
been able to reduce the temperatures within
their cities and explore the elements that may
be incorporated locally.
Councilmember Gonzales requested staff
prepare an update to the City's Tree Ordinance
to include the recommendations included in the
Parks Master Plan.
Councilmember Kaur requested staff included a
tree canopy element as part of the Heat Island
Mitigation Plan.
Councilmember Arias requested the Safe &
Healthy Neighborhoods Committee agendize
the tree canopy topic for ongoing discussions.
44 Recent accomplishments
• Municipal Services Review and Residential Zoning Code Update • Chronic nuisance property acquisitions in disadvantage neighborhoods
• Parks Master Plan
• Parks projects in underserved communities
• TCC and Community Change Grants
• Community Event and Special Events Permits
45 Pending
• Highway corridor beautification projects and gateway
projects
• Water Management Plan
• Water conservation and enforcement
• Community Event and Special Events Permits
• Motel Registry Referral
46 Complete initial phase of Performance Audit Program
Complete 6-8 performance and internal control projects
each year in response to risk assessment
47 Fill citywide vacancies and continue staff development
48 Create grant monitoring and application
system
49 Recent accomplishments
• Healthy reserve balances
• Fire service fee
• ERP Implementation – Finance
• Water-SMART Grant for Advanced Metering Infrastructure • Classification & Compensation Study Implementation
• Key Performance Indicators
• Increased presence in Sacramento and Washington
50 Pending
• Short-term rental revenue recovery
• ERP Implementation – HR
• Charter Review
• Data dashboard for KPIs and Council Goals
• Digital transformation of the organization
• Create process improvement teams and annual efficiencies projects
51Page 52 of 56
# Date Agenda
Se
ction
Council
Member Referral Delegation Committee Council Top 10
13 1/20/21 Council & Mayor
Statements Gonzales Councilmember Gonzales requests that staff provide a historical analysis of the Mills Act in regards to the City.
CMO
DS
94 10/25/23 Council & Mayor
Statements Gonzales
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested the Planning and Development explore and review the development of a resolution that eliminates the requirement of offsite improvements such as curb, gutter, sidewalks, for projects in the downtown core.
PW P&D
Committee
93 10/25/23 Council & Mayor
Statements Gonzales
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested the Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods explore and review the expansion of the Tobacco Retailer's License ordinance to include regulation of smoke shops.
SHN
Committee NA
6 1/24/24 Council & Mayor
Statements Gonzales
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff explore the development of a resolution that will outline the timeframes and expectations related to the permitting processes.
P&D
Committee
1. Ease of
D
evelopment
13 2/14/24 Council & Mayor
Statements Gonzales
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff reach out to the County to ensure individuals being released from the local prisons are being returned to their originating cities and not being left in Bakersfield. In addition, work with the County to establish a better program to coordinate the release of these individuals.
CMO
PD NA
14 2/14/24 Council & Mayor
Statements Gonzales Vice Mayor Gonzales requested the Planning and Development Committee research the development of a Lien Forgiveness Program. ECD P&D Committee
10. Urban
R
einvestment
35 4/10/24 Council & Mayor
Statements Gonzales
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff assist St. Vincent de Paul and Good Samaritan Hospital in developing a permanent clinic facility at St Vincent de Paul to provide medical services to homeless individuals.
Staff to determine if there is one-time funding sources available to fund program.
CMO
2. Homeless
E
ncampments &
Services
February 2025 Priority Referral List
39 4/24/24 Council & Mayor
Statements Gonzales
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff prepare a plan of action with short-, mid-, and long-term goals to address systematic issues that exists on Union Ave, between State Route 58 and California Avenue and present it to the Safe and Healthy Committee meeting.
SHN
Committee
5. Traffic
Safety/Multi-
Modal
56 5/22/24 Council & Mayor
Statements Gonzales
Councilmember Gonzales requested staff establish a Parking Enterprise Fund, it should encompass the parking structure on 18th and Eye Streets. He also requested staff work with existing parking structure owners (County, School District, Private Property Owners, etc.) to develop a joint-use agreement to utilize their facilities outside their regular business hours and usage.
CMO 9. Economic
Development
67 6/26/24 Public Statements Gonzales
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff provided an update on the Eviction Protection Pilot Program during the FY 24-25 Mid Year Budget Review.
ECD
2. Homeless
Encampments &
Services
71 6/26/24 Deferred Business
Agenda Item 11.a Freeman
Councilmember Freeman requested staff plan to allocate funding for three of the 11 unconstructed parks during the FY 24-25 Mid Year Budget Review to begin the construction process.
Rec & Parks NA
78 7/24/24 Public Statements Gonzales
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff develop a policy outlining the parameters for use of automatic license plate reading cameras and present it to the Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods Committee.
SHN
Committee NA
82 7/24/24 Council and Mayor
Statements Gonzales
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff work with the current owners of the Crystal Palace and offer incentives to aide a potential buyer who can sustain the operations with the same atmosphere and environment.
9. Economic
Development
89 8/14/2024 Council and Mayor
Statements Gonzales
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff provide an update on all Illegal dumping efforts. He also requested staff work on promoting programs via a comprehensive ad marketing campaign and research the possibility of partnering with local nonprofits (like Goodwill) to designate areas at their location to receive items not accepted by them which can them be retrieve by the Clean City Initiative Teams.
PW NA
February 2025 Priority Referral List
90 8/27/24 P & D Committee
New Business 6.a. Smith
The P&D Committee requested staff to research minor comprehensive sign plan for small centers and additional time for promotional signs to the comparable cities and provide the research to the Committee.
DS P&D
Committee NA
107 10/22/24 H & H Committee
Report 4.a. Arias
Committee Member Arias requested staff provide the Committee with information on what proactive measures exist and are utilized to support and connect chronic homeless individuals to available resources.
CMO
CV
H&H
Committee
2. Homeless
Encampments &
Services
108 10/22/24 H & H Committee
Report 4.a. Gonzales Committee Chair Gonzales requested staff begin tracking the number of petitions being submitted to CARE Court.
CMO
PD
H&H
Committee
2. Homeless
Encampments &
Services
109 10/22/24 H & H Committee
Report 4.a. Gonzales
Committee Chair Gonzales requested staff expand Homeward Bound strategy to assist homeless individuals return to their place of origin communities. The strategy should include measures that can track the city's progress.
CMO H&H
Committee
2. Homeless
Encampments &
Services
96 9/11/24 Council and Mayor
Statements Freeman
Councilmember Freeman requested staff study the traffic calming safety measure requirements for future schools to reduce speeding around them including the street design, speed signs, speed humps, etc. Vice Mayor Gonzales supported the request and referred it to the Multi-Modal & Traffic Safety Committee.
PW Multi-Modal
5. Traffic
Safety/Multi-
Modal
112 10/23/24 Public Statements Gonzales
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested the Multimodal Transportation Ad Hoc Committee prioritize pedestrian safety improvements around school zones.
CMO
5. Traffic
Safety/Multi-
Modal
February 2025 Priority Referral List
113 10/23/24 Public Statements Gonzales
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff develop a public online dashboard of all traffic calming treatment requests and include information on their status and the area of concern.
PW
5. Traffic
Safety/Multi-
Modal
116 10/23/24 Public Statements Gonzales
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff pursue a uniform and aggressive media campaign related to distracted driving to educate the community.
CMO
5. Traffic
Safety/Multi-
Modal
123 11/6/24 Council and Mayor
Statements Gonzales
Vice Mayor Gonzales requested staff review the scope of work for the Clean City Initiative to include abatement of illegal dumping on vacant lots. He also requested staff review the Chronic Nuisance Ordinance to determine if it can be applied to vacant lots.
CMO
DS
CAO
NA
74 7/10/24 Public Comments Freeman
Councilmember Freeman requested staff share the feedback received from several constituents regarding the ongoing maintenance of city trees with contractors.
Rec & Parks NA
75 7/10/24 Public Comments Kaur
Councilmember Kaur requested staff review any case studies that exist where cities have been able to reduce the temperatures within their cities and explore the elements that may be incorporated locally.
Rec & Parks NA
128 11/20/24 Deferred Business
Agenda Item 11.a. Gonzales
Councilmember Gonzales requested staff prepare an update to the City's Tree Ordinance to include the recommendations included in the Parks Master Plan.
Rec & Parks NA
130 11/20/24 Deferred Business
Agenda Item 11.a. Kaur Councilmember Kaur requested staff included a tree canopy element as part of the Heat Island Mitigation Plan. CMO NA
131 11/20/24 Deferred Business
Agenda Item 11.a. Arias Councilmember Arias requested the Safe & Healthy Neighborhoods Committee agendize the tree canopy topic for ongoing discussions. Rec & Parks H&CD Committee NA
1/22/25 Consent Calendar
Agenda Item 7.d.3 Kaur
Vice Mayor Kaur requested staff develop a Fire Master Plan; she requested funding be allocated in the upcoming fiscal budget or an alternative funding sources available.
Fire
February 2025 Priority Referral List