ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: July 23, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Resolutions TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Kristina Budak, Water Director
DATE: July 14, 2025
SUBJECT: Resolution authorizing application for financial assistance through the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)
Expedited Grant Funding Program (EGFP) and Authorizing Representatives to act on the City’s behalf.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of resolution
BACKGROUND:
The City of Bakersfield’s Domestic Water System provides water services to almost half of the population of Bakersfield.
In November 2016, the SWRCB ordered the City of Bakersfield to negotiate consolidation with South Kern and Old River Mutual Water Companies into the City’s drinking water system. To follow up, in September 2018, the SWRCB issued two mandatory consolidation orders for the two mutual water companies, in which the City began preparing the consolidation plan to extend water services to the residents in the two mutual water company’s boundaries. City staff has since been coordinating with state and other governmental agencies on the consolidation efforts.
On January 17, 2025, the City received a preliminary funding award notification letter from the SWRCB’s Division of Financial Assistance for the South Kern and Old River Mutual Water Consolidation projects.
The funding letter identified items the City would be preparing for the submittal of a financial assistance application, which includes an adopted resolution by the City’s governing body to authorize the application and identify authorized representatives to act on the City’s behalf. With the approval of this resolution, the City will then submit a financial assistance EGFP application to SWRCB’s Division of Financial Assistance to secure grant funding for the consolidation project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Project expenditures are budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2026 CIP Budget. Grant funding from the financial assistance EGFP application will reimburse the Water Department the costs of the Project. No impact to General Fund.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Economic Opportunity for All
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution