BAKERSFIELD CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
MEETING OF MAY 14, 2025
Council Chambers, City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue
Regular Meetings – 3:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING - 3:30 PM
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Goh, Councilmembers Arias (seated at 3:49 p.m.), Gonzales, Weir, Smith, Koman and Bashirtash
Absent: Vice Mayor Kaur
2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
2.a. Non-Agenda Item Public Statement
1. Eddy Laine spoke regarding tree trimming (written materials provided).
2. Michael Turnipseed spoke regarding financial analysis and reporting.
2.b. Agenda Item Public Statements
None.
3. REPORTS
None.
4. CLOSED SESSION
4.a. Conference with Labor Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
4.b. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation; Closed Session pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (d)(1) regarding City of Bakersfield v. 3M Company (f/k/a Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.), Et. Al United States District Court for the District of South Carolina Charleston Division Civil Case No. 2:23-cv-02487-RMG
Motion by Councilmember Gonzales adjourn to Closed Session at 3:37 p.m.
Closed Session reconvened at 5:11 p.m.
5. CLOSED SESSION ACTION
4.a. Conference with Labor Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
No reportable action.
4.b. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation; Closed Session pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (d)(1) regarding City of Bakersfield v. 3M Company (f/k/a Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.), Et. Al United States District Court for the District of South Carolina Charleston Division Civil Case No. 2:23-cv-02487-RMG
City Attorney was give direction by a vote of 6-0 with Vice Mayor Kaur absent.
6. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Goh adjourned the 3:30 p.m. meeting at 5:12 p.m.
Bakersfield, California, May 14, 2025 - Page 2
REGULAR MEETING - 5:15 PM
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Goh, Councilmembers Arias, Gonzales, Weir, Smith, Koman and Bashirtash
Absent: Vice Mayor Kaur
2. INVOCATION
by Councilmember Smith
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
by Dick Taylor, Marine Corps. Veteran
4. PRESENTATIONS
4.a. Proclamation to Jeremy Tobias, CEO of Community Action Partnership of Kern, and CAPK Board Chair Maritza Jimenez, declaring May 2025, as Community Action Month in Bakersfield.
5. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
5.a. Non-Agenda Item Public Statements
City Manager Clegg announced that staff will be recommending that the Prop 218 notice be rescinded. Item will be presented at the next City Council meeting under Deferred Business.
1. Dr. Chris Cruz-Boone, Josie and Jasmine spoke regarding safe school routes.
2. Brooke Malley Ault, District 5 Trustee spoke regarding safe school routes and requested a traffic study for 1st and A Streets (written material submitted).
3. Tracy Spencer, Manager at Parkwood Apartments located at 3401 Wible Road, spoke regarding a noise nuisance at a party hall located at 3510 Wible Road.
Mayor Goh requested staff reach out to Ms. Spencer, Manager of Parkwood Apartments, regarding the ongoing noise disturbance from a party venue located across the street from the apartments.
5.b. Agenda Item Public Statements
None.
6. APPOINTMENTS
6.a. Appointment of Conference Committee Members to Fill At-Large Vacancy on Golden Empire Transit District Board of Directors.
(Staff recommends Council determination.)
City Clerk Drimakis announced a staff memorandum has been received removing the item from the agenda.
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7. CONSENT CALENDAR
a. Minutes:
7.a.1. Approval of minutes of April 23, 2025, Regular City Council Meetings and the May 5, 2025, Department Budget Presentation Meeting.
(Staff recommends approval of the minutes.)
b. Payments:
7.b.1. Receive and file department payments from April 11, 2025, to May 1, 2025, totaling $32,062,342.55 as follows: department payments in the amount of $30,858,782.88 and Self Insurance payments in the amount of $1,203,559.67. (Staff recommends receive and file report.)
7.b.2. Receive and file department agreements over $40,000 and under $100,000 executed between April 11, 2025, to May 1, 2025.
(Staff recommends receive and file report.)
c. Ordinances:
7.c.1. First Reading of Ordinance enacting Chapter 8.42 to the Bakersfield Municipal Code related to Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
(Staff recommends first reading of the ordinance.)
FR ONLY
d. Resolutions:
7.d.1. Resolution confirming approval by the City Manager designee of the Code Enforcement Manager’s report regarding assessments of certain properties in the City for which structures have been secured against entry or for the abatement of certain weeds, debris and waste matter and the demolishment of dangerous buildings and authorizing collection of the assessments by the Kern County Tax Collector.
(Staff recommends adoption of the resolution.
RES 041-2025
7.d.2. Resolution declaring various real properties as exempt surplus land Resolution declaring fourteen (14) city-owned properties as “exempt surplus land” per Government Code Section 54221(f)(1)(B) (Wards 1 & 2)
(Staff recommends adoption of the resolution.)
RES 042-2025
7.d.3. Resolution determining that a water jetter truck can most efficiently be obtained through cooperative procurement bidding procedures from E.M. Tharp Inc., dba Golden State Peterbilt and authorizing the Finance Director to dispense with bidding for the purchase of one unit in the amount of $524,320. (Staff recommend adoption of the resolution and approval of the purchase.)
RES 043-2025
7.d.4. Resolution adding Area 4-302 to the Consolidated Maintenance District and approving, confirming and adopting the Public Works Director’s Report:
Area 4-302 (1101 Brundage Lane): Street Tier = 1; Park Tier = 1 (Ward 2) (Staff recommends adopting the resolution.)
RES 044-2025
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7. CONSENT CALENDAR continued
7.d.5. Resolutions of Intention (ROI) 2230, 2231, 2232, and 2233 to add the following areas to the Consolidate Maintenance District (CMD) and preliminarily approving, confirming, and adopting the Public Works Director’s Report:
(Staff recommends adopting the resolutions of intention.)
1. Adding Area 1-140 (7820 Allen Road): Street Tier = 0.5; Park Tier = 0 (Ward 4)
ROI 2230
2. Adding Area 1-141 (13004 Stockdale Hwy): Street Tier = 2; Park Tier = 0 (Ward 5)
ROI 2231
3. Adding Area 3-122 (9001 Panama Lane): Street Tier = 1.5; Park Tier = 0 (Ward 5)
ROI 2232
4. Adding Area 4-304 (710 Jackson Street): Street Tier = 1; Park Tier = 0 (Ward 2)
ROI 2233
7.e. Agreements:
7.e.1. Agreement with Cherry Road Technologies (not to exceed $180,000) to provide review and analysis of Oracle ERP configuration.
(Staff recommends approval of the agreement.)
AGR 2025-066
7.e.2. Agreement with CivicPlus (not to exceed $218,290.95) for website services. (Staff recommends approval of the agreement.)
AGR 2025-067
7.e.3. Agreement with Kern Asphalt Paving and Sealing Company Inc. (not to exceed $2,340,000), to provide transportation and hauling services for the Public Works Department, Street Division.
(Staff recommends approval of the agreement.)
AGR 2025-068
7.e.4. Work Plan Agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric (not to exceed $674,394) for 34th Street Rule 20-A Utility Undergrounding. (Ward 3) (Staff recommends approval of the agreement.)
AGR 2025-069
7.e.5. Redesign and upgrade of the sorting line at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)
(Staff recommends approval of the agreement and appropriation.)
1. Agreement with Green Machine Sales, LLC not to exceed $5,147,934, for the redesign and upgrade of the sorting line at the Materials Recovery Facility.
AGR 2025-070
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7. CONSENT CALENDAR continued
Item 7.e.5. continued
2. Appropriation of $4,273,000 Refuse Enterprise Fund Balance to the Public Works Department’s Capital Improvement Program.
7.e.6. Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 2024-204 with Flock Group Inc. (not to exceed $3,000,000 and purchase of additional equipment and video integration gateway), for Automatic License Plate Reading (LPR) cameras.
(Staff recommends approval of the amendment.)
AGR 2024-204 (1)
7.e.7. Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 2023-131 with Global CTI Group, Inc. (increase compensation $31,993.41; revised not to exceed $428,681.75), for the Employee Mass Notification System.
(Staff recommends approval of the amendment.)
AGR 2023-131 (1)
7.e.8. Amendment No.1 to Agreement No. 2024-110 with Southstar Engineering and Consulting Inc. (extend the term date to May 8, 2026), for professional and virtual webmaster and content management services.
(Staff recommends approval of the amendment.)
AGR 2024-110 (1)
7.e.9. Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 2023-105 with Bender Rosenthal Inc. (extend term to May 10, 2026), for right-of-way acquisition services. (Staff recommends approval of the amendment.)
AGR 2023-105 (1)
7.e.10. Amendment No. 2 to Agreement No. 2023-104 with Overland Pacific and Cutler (extend term to May 10, 2026; and update the fee schedule to current rates and staffing) for right-of-way acquisition services.
(Staff recommends approval of the amendment.)
AGR 2023-104 (2)
7.f. Bids:
None.
7.g. Miscellaneous:
7.g.1. Appropriate Integrated Regional Water Management Implementation Grant funds ($442,860.93) in grant funding to Fiscal Year 2023-24 and ($4,448,535.07) in Fiscal Year 2024-25 to the Water Resources Capital Improvement Budget. (Staff recommend approval of the appropriations.)
7.g.2. Convention and Visitors Bureau Amendments to Agreement and Board of Directors By-laws.
(Staff recommends approval of amendment and amended By-Laws.)
1. Amendment No.1 to Agreement No. 2016-251 with CVB (to reflect the current management) for operations of CVB;
AGR 2016-251 (1)
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7. CONSENT CALENDAR continued
Item 7.g.2. continued
2. Amended By-Laws for Greater Bakersfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, commonly referred to as Visit Bakersfield (“CVB”)
7.h. Successor Agency Business:
None.
7.i. Public Safety/Vital Services Measure:
None.
Motion by Councilmember Gonzales to adopt Consent Calendar items 7.a. through 7.i.
Motion approved with Vice Mayor Kaur absent.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
9. HEARINGS
9.a. Public Hearing to consider a resolution approving the issuance of California Municipal Finance Authority Revenue and Refunding Bonds (HumanGood). (Staff recommends adoption of the resolution.)
RES 045-2025
City Attorney Gennaro provided staff comments.
Public Hearing item 9.a. opened at 5:48 p.m.
No one spoke in opposition or in favor of the staff’s recommendations.
Public Hearing item 9.a. closed at 5:49 p.m.
Motion by Councilmember Gonzales to approve staff’s recommendations. Motion approved with Vice Mayor Kaur absent.
10. REPORTS
None.
11. DEFERRED BUSINESS
11.a. Rescind Proposition 218 Notice Concerning Fiscal Year 25-26 Proposed Increases to Sewer Rates.
(Staff recommends City Council rescind Proposition 218 Notice concerning Fiscal Year 2025-26 Proposed Increases to Sewer Rates that was authorized for publication and distribution on March 26, 2025.)
City Clerk Drimakis announced that correspondence was received from Vice Mayor Kaur who requested it be read into the record.
I, Vice Mayor Kaur, am not in attendance at tonight’s City Council Meeting due to a family medical issue. I want to express my support for rescinding Prop 218 sewer notice so we, as the City Council, along with city management, can reevaluate rates that are feasible for our residents. I apologize for not being in attendance, but you have my assurance that I will work alongside my colleagues to walk back this process and redesign something that makes sense for all.
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11. DEFERRED BUSINESS
Item 11.a. continued
City Manager Clegg made staff comments.
Roman Matera spoke in favor of the proposed sewer rate increase (written materials provided).
Debbie Busby spoke in opposition to the proposed sewer rate increase.
Councilmember Koman requested staff analyze the possibility of Private-Public Partnerships to assist in offsetting costs associated with wastewater treatment.
Councilmember Gonzales to approve staff’s recommendations. Motion approved with Vice Mayor Kaur absent.
12. NEW BUSINESS
None.
13. COUNCIL AND MAYOR STATEMENTS
Councilmember Arias left the meeting at 6:05 p.m.
Councilmember Bashirtash requested a listing of upcoming street repaving and maintenance scheduled for Ward 6, specifically Ming Avenue, White Lane, and El Portal.
Councilmember Bashirtash requested staff prepare an analysis for creating potential personnel policies related to vacancies and hiring including potential for a third-party staffing analysis and present to the Personnel Processes Committee.
Councilmember Bashirtash requested staff provide a list of expenditures associated with Open Door Network and Moss Adams dating back to 2020.
Councilmember Gonzales requested staff prepare a resolution waiving the traffic impact fees associated to the Open Door Network’s relocation site project and present it to the City Council for consideration.
Mayor Goh spoke about National Police Week.
15. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Goh adjourned the meeting at 6:11 p.m.
______________________________
KAREN GOH
MAYOR of the City of Bakersfield
ATTEST:
___________________________________
JULIE DRIMAKIS, MMC
CITY CLERK and Ex Officio Clerk of
the Council of the City of Bakersfield
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