AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS
June 25, 2025 COUNCIL MEETING
REGULAR MEETING – 3:30 PM
Meeting Cancelled.
REGULAR MEETING – 5:15 PM
PRESENTATIONS
Item 4.a National Recreation and Parks Month (All Wards ) Proclamation to Keith Powell, Recreation Supervisor; Keith Howell, Parks Superintendent; and Darin Budak, Director of Recreation & Parks Department for the City of Bakersfield, declaring July 2025 as National Recreation and Parks Month in Bakersfield.
AGREEMENTS
Item 7. e.1 HOME-ARP Funding to Support Affordable Housing (Ward 3) The City of Bakersfield was conditionally awarded $5.46 million in HOME -ARP funds by HUD to address homelessness and housing instability. As part of this initiative, a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) was released on May 28, 2024, to support affordable rental housing, supportive services, and nonprofit capacity building. In response, the Housing Authority of the County of Kern proposed a $1.4 million project at CityServe Elevate Apartments to support 48 permanent housing units lacking subsidies. The funding includes $1.1 million for a capitalized operating reserve and $300,000 for onsite supportive services over five years. Once construction is completed, the development will offer 126 units for individuals and youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The project has no impact on the City’s General Fund.
Item 7.e.15 Community Cat Program (All Wards) Since 2022, the City of Bakersfield has partnered with Critters Without Litters (CWOL), a local nonprofit, to implement a Community Cat Program aimed at reducing the feral cat population through spay, neuter, and vaccination services. Initially funded at $180,000, the agreement has undergone several amendments due to program success and funding needs, with compensation gradually increasing to $610,000 and the term extended to June 30, 2025.
The City now proposes a fifth amendment to raise the contract total to $830,000 and extend the term through June 30, 2026. CWOL remains the sole responsive provider, and funding for the program is included in the Bakersfield Police Department’s FY 2025 –26 budget, requiring no additional appropriation.
PUBLIC SAFETY/VITAL SERVICES MEASURE
Item 7. i.2 Downtown Biohazard Cleanup Services (Ward 2) Since 2019, the City of Bakersfield has operated a successful Biohazard Cleanup Program in the Downtown and Old Town Kern neighborhoods to address health and sanitation issues related to homelessness. Due to positive community feedback and program effectiveness, service hours and coverage were expanded in 2021. On June 28, 2023, the City contracted with Valley Pressure Pros, Inc. under Agreement No. 2023 -163 to provide weekday biohazard cleaning services, which was later extended through June 30, 2025, with funding not to exceed $590,200. A proposed second amendment seeks to extend the contract to June 30, 2026, and increase the funding limit to $885,300. This expense is already budgeted in the City’s FY 2025 –26 Public Safety and Vital Services Fund.
DEFERRED BUSINESS
Item 11.a Fiscal Year 2025-26 City Budget (All Wards) The City of Bakersfield is presenting three key items for City Council approval related to the Fiscal Year 2025–26 budget process. The first item is the adoption of a balanced citywide budget totaling $852.7 million, which includes $765.2 million in operat ing
expenses and $87.5 million for capital improvements. This budget incorporates $114.96 million in appropriations from the Bakersfield Public Safety and Vital Services (PSVS) Measure and reflects ongoing investment in public safety, infrastructure, and essen tial services. The second item adopts an appropriations limit of $621.5 million, well below the State -imposed maximum for applicable tax revenues. The third item approves the FY 2025 –26 Master Fee Schedule and an updated pay schedule to ensure compliance with CalPERS requirements. These actions collectively support responsible financial management, service delivery, and regulatory compliance.
Prepared by: Jaritza Nunez, Management Fellow CC: Department Heads City Manager’s File
City Clerk’s File
News Media File