ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 10, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Agreements TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jennifer M. Byers, Economic and Community Development Director DATE: August 25, 2025
1. SUBJECT: Agreement with the Community Action Partnership [Document Description] (not to exceed $4,630,005.60) for Low Income Energy Project.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the agreement.
BACKGROUND:
In 2023, the City of Bakersfield applied for a Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) grant from the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC). In partnership with local organizations and the community, the Southeast Strong initiative was created. It consists of projects and programs focused in Southeast Bakersfield, an area of the City with some of the most disadvantaged census tracts in the State of California as determined by CalEnviroScreen 4.0. This initiative is aimed at making capital improvements within the area to address underinvestment and to bring new opportunities to southeast residents.
Proposed improvements include new affordable housing, urban greening, bicycle and pedestrian transportation improvements, energy efficiency improvements for low-income homeowners, and support programs.
On March 10, 2025, the City entered into Agreement No. SGC23129 with SGC for the TCC grant in the amount of $22,125,000 for the Southeast Strong initiative. Funds will be used to support multiple revitalization projects and programs for Southeast Bakersfield.
Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) will assist the City in implementing the Low Income Energy-Efficiency Program (LIEEP) under the TCC grant program. They will also subcontract with Grid Alternatives and Kern Community College District to complete the project. This project will fund energy retrofits for 30 owner occupied single family residential units that will reduce the cost and consumption of electricity. TCC funds will expand this effort by retrofitting another 60 homes with solar panels and storage battery capabilities that will address rising energy costs for low-income residents and contribute to a reduction in GHG emissions while mitigating some of the long-term impacts associated with climate change (e.g., extreme weather events, poor air quality, drought) as well as the economic challenges associated with rising utility costs. The agreement would award CAPK $4,630,005.60 in TCC funds for the LIEEP.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The funding that will support this contract is from State TCC Grant funds, no fiscal impact will occur to the General Fund.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Economic Opportunity for All
Community Character & Quality of Life
Reliable Infrastructure
ATTACHMENT:
Agreement