ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: November 5, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Calendar TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Virginia Gennaro, City Attorney
DATE: October 14, 2025
SUBJECT: First Reading of the following ordinances amending various sections of the Bakersfield Municipal Code (BMC):
1. An ordinance amending Section 3.20.105 relating to Purchasing and Contract Procedure.
2. An ordinance amending Sections 15.66.020, 15.66.060 and 15.66.080 relating to Drilling for and Production of Petroleum.
3. An ordinance amending Chapters 15.04, 15.05, 15.07, 15.09, 15.11, 15.13, 15.15,
15.17, 15.19, 15.30, and Chapter 15.31 relating to the 2025 versions of the California Building and Construction Codes.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends first reading of the proposed ordinances.
BACKGROUND:
Periodically, various Departments throughout the City request minor changes to the Bakersfield Municipal Code (“BMC”). Generally, the changes are sought to make a section read better or to reflect current practice or correct typographical errors, or to comply with new rules and regulations. Among other things, the following amendments will clean up outdated purchasing threshold amounts, allow construction over or within ten feet of a California Geologic Energy Management Division (“CalGEM”) classified/identified plugged and abandoned dry hole and adopt the State of California 2025 vers ions of the Building Code, among other codes.
The following is a list of ordinance changes that are being recommended by Staff:
1. BMC Section 3.20.105 this amendment cleans up inadvertent references to the outdated purchasing threshold amounts to ensure consistency throughout the section. Additionally, Subsection E, which applies to contract change orders for public works contracts, will be updated to similarly reflect the increased threshold amounts, authorizing change orders up to $25k or 25% of the contract without Council approval.
2. BMC Section 15.66.020 this amendment revises the correct name of the Uniform California Fire Code, which is relied upon within Chapter 15.66.
3. BMC Section 15.66.060 this amendment includes a reserved section for future use.
4. BMC Section 15.66.080 this amendment adds Subsection D, which addresses development/construction over or within ten feet of a CalGEM classified/identified plugged and abandoned dry hole.
5. BMC Chapter 15.04, BMC Chapter 15.05, BMC Chapter 15.07, BMC Chapter 15.09, BMC Chapter
15.11, BMC Chapter 15.13, BMC Chapter 15.15, BMC Chapter 15.17, BMC Chapter 15.19, BMC Chapter 15.30 and BMC Chapter 15.31. These amendments are part of the normal code adoption
cycle which occurs every three years after the publication of the new national model codes. The new codes include mostly minor revisions updating the 2025 version of various codes, as well as identifying that City is not adopting the Sleeping Lofts and Emergency Housing, and enacting the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
Building staff made contact with the Home Builders Association (HBA) about the adoption of the new codes and proposed amendments and they are in agreement of the changes.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The action to amend the Ordinance will have no impact on the City General Fund. As the ultimate development of the future project will be born by the developer when the ultimate sites are developed.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Innovative and Efficient City Government
Safety and Resilience
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance 15.66
2. Ordinance 15.04 and 15.09
3. Ordinance 3.20.105