BAKERSFIELD CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
MEETING OF OCTOBER 22, 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, Vice Mayor Kaur, Councilmembers Arias (seated at 3:34 p.m.), Gonzales (seated at 3:34 p.m.), Smith, Koman and Bashirtash
Absent: Councilmember Weir
2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
2.a. Non-Agenda Item Public Statement
None.
2.b. Agenda Item Public Statements
Theresa Perez made comments regarding safety concerns.
Mayor Goh requested staff follow up with Ms. Theresa Perez regarding her concerns.
3. REPORTS
3. a. First Quarter General Fund Budget Update.
(Staff recommends receive and file report.)
City Manager Clegg made staff comments. Finance Director McKeegan made additional comments and provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Motion by Vice Mayor Kaur to receive and file. Motion approved with Councilmember Weir absent.
4. CLOSED SESSION
4. a. Conference with Labor Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Motion by Mayor Goh to adjourn to Closed Session at 5:27 p.m.
Closed Session meeting was adjourned at 5:29 p.m.
Meeting reconvened at 5:29 p.m.
5. CLOSED SESSION ACTION
4. a. Conference with Labor Negotiator pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Matter continued for further discussion to the next meeting.
Mayor Goh adjourned the 3:30 p.m. meeting at 5:29 p.m.
Bakersfield, California, October 22, 2025 - Page 2
REGULAR MEETING - 5:31 PM
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Goh, Vice Mayor Kaur, Councilmembers Arias, Gonzales, Smith, Koman and Bashirtash
Absent: Councilmember Weir
2. INVOCATION
by Chief of Police, Greg Terry.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
by Nathaniel Catalan, Sophomore at Garces High School, Youth Commissioner, Ward 6.
4. PRESENTATIONS
4.a. Proclamation to Gennessa Fisher, Peer Support Specialist for Kern County Superintendent of Schools and Youth Action Board Chair, and Cynthia Lira Martinez, Foster Youth Specialist with Kern County Network for Children and Youth Action Board Co-Chair, declaring Homeless Youth Awareness Month in Bakersfield during November 2025.
4.b. Presentation by Human Resources Manager Woods-Collins, to winners of the 2025 Excellence in Action CARES Awards, the Extra Mile Award and S.T.A.R. Award in recognition of outstanding service to the City of Bakersfield (written material provided).
Finance Department: Alexandra Cruz, Accounting Specialist I
Development Services: Charles Hernandez, Code Enforcement Officer I; Jose Fernandez, Associate Planner II
Police Department: Amy Porwall, Police Officer; Brandon Doyle, Senior Police Officer; Dena Murphy, Crime Analyst
Public Works: Breanne Banks, Secretary II; Fernando Montes, Civil Engineer III; Jessie Ayala, Supervisor II; Hector Hernandez, Administrative & Fiscal Services Specialist II.
Recreation & Parks: Julio Sepulveda, Facility Worker.
Technology Services: Diante Epps, Technology Systems Technician I.
Water: Moises Bibian, Light Equipment Operator; Omar Flores, Supervisor I; Rosario Negrete, Accountant I.
The recipient of the Extra Mile Award was presented to Amy Porwoll.
The recipients of the Cares S.T.A.R. Award was presented to the Park Rangers Team, Recreation & Parks Department: Robert Achorn, Bertha Amaya, Frank Andrade, Jorge Banuelas-Quirino, James Brown, Michael Dobbs, Bernardo Fernandez, Jonathan Gonzales, Fernando Hurtado, David Lara, Jeffrey Martin, Ester McRoberts, Jennifer Montes, Arnulfo Osorio, Gloria Osornia, Juan Quezada, Juan Sandoval, Kyle Schellenberg, Candelario Sotelo Jr. and Andres Torres.
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5. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
5.a. Non-Agenda Item Public Statements
None.
5.b. Agenda Item Public Statements
None.
6. APPOINTMENTS
None.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
a. Minutes:
7.a.1. Approval of minutes of October 8, 2025, Regular City Council Meetings. (Staff recommends approval of the minutes.)
b. Payments:
7.b.1. Receive and file department payments from September 26, 2025, to October 9, 2025, totaling $22,534,255.00 as follows: department payments in the amount of $21,547,249.55, and Self Insurance payments in the amount of $987,005.45. (Staff recommends receive and file report.)
7.b.2. Receive and file department agreements over $40,000 and under $100,000 executed between September 26, 2025, to October 9, 2025. (Staff recommends receive and file report.)
c. Ordinances:
None.
d. Resolutions:
7.d.1. Resolution to authorize the sale of a surplus vehicle (equipment) to Critters Without Litters, a non-profit organization, for one dollar ($1.00). (Staff recommends adoption of the resolution.)
RES 120-2025
7.d.2. Sewer Connection and Construction Fee assessments for 7609 Hooper Avenue:
(Staff recommends adoption of the resolution and approval of the agreement.)
1. Resolution confirming assessments for sewer connection and construction fees and authorizing the collection of assessments by the Kern County Tax Collector.
RES 121-2025
2. Agreement with Jeffrey Hunter and Michelle Hunter to pay sewer connection and construction fees through the Kern County Tax Collector. (Ward 4)
AGR 2025-197
7.d.3. Resolution of Intention No. 2246 to Vacate the Street Right of Way located in front of 7410 Niles Street. (Ward 3)
(Staff recommends adoption of the resolution of intention.)
ROI 2246
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7. CONSENT CALENDAR continued
7.d.4. Resolutions of Intention (ROI) to add the following territories to the Consolidated Maintenance District and preliminarily approving, confirming, and adopting the Public Works Director's Report for each:
(Staff recommends adopting the resolutions of intention.)
1. ROI No. 2247 adding Area 5-141 (ATN 173-191-25-00-7): Street Tier = 1; Park Tier = 0 – (Ward 1)
ROI 2247
2. ROI No. 2248 adding Area 2-93 (5601 District Boulevard): Street Tier = 1; Park Tier = 0 – (Ward 6)
ROI 2248
3. ROI No. 2249 adding Area 4-312 (117 Brundage Lane): Street Tier = 2; Park Tier = 0 – (Ward 2)
ROI 2249
7.e. Agreements:
7.e.1. Letter Agreement with County of Kern (extending term of the Master Tax Sharing Agreement No. 15-277 to May 4, 2027) for transfer of tax revenues upon annexation. (Staff recommends approval of the letter agreement.)
AGR 15-277 (2)
7.e.2. Reimbursement Agreement with North Kern Water Storage District for Weather Resources Management Program.
(Staff recommends approval of the agreement.)
AGR 2025-198
7.e.3. Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 2024-254 with Magnet Forensics, LLC (revised not to exceed $111,500, and extend term 1 year) for GrayKey Software, a data extraction forensic tool.
(Staff recommends approval of the amendment.)
AGR 2024-254 (1)
7.e.4. Amendment No. 3 to Agreement No. 2023-253 with J.L. Plank, Inc. DBA Cen-Cal Construction (extend term one year), to continue the service of canal liner repair. (Staff recommends approval of the amendment.)
AGR 2023-253 (3)
7.e.5. Amendment No. 3 to Agreement No. 13-038 with ASM Global and AEG Management Bakersfield to eliminate the $500,000+ base fee paid by the City to the Manager, eliminates the $500,000 operating loss currently covered by the City, and pays the Manager of the Facilities an annual payment equal to 50% of the Net Operating Income for the management and operations of Dignity Health Arena, Theater, & Convention Center; Valley Children’s Ice Sports Center; and Dignity Health Amphitheatre. (Ward 2)
(Staff recommends approval of the amendment.)
AGR 13-038 (3)
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7. CONSENT CALENDAR continued
7.e.6. Amendment No. 4 to Agreement No. 2021-242 with Rincon Consultants, Inc. (Staff recommends appropriation of funds and approval of the amendment.)
1. Amendment of Agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc. to increase compensation not to exceed $3,329,250 and expand scope of work to complete zoning ordinance update alongside the General Plan Update.
AGR 2021-242 (4)
2. Appropriate $290,691 from the General Plan Maintenance and Update Trust account to the General Fund Development Services Department Operating Budget.
7.e.7. Contract Change Order No. 20 to Agreement No. 2024-235 (7th Movement) with Granite Construction Company (increasing compensation by $122,841.97; revised not to exceed $27,632,081.35) for the Centennial Corridor EB58 to NB99 Loop Connector Project. (Wards 1, & 2)
(Staff recommends approval of the change order.)
CCO 2024-235 (20)
7.f. Bids:
7.f.1. Street Improvements - Mt. Ridge Drive, between Weeping Rock Way and Lustrous Lane
(Staff recommend acceptance of bid, approval of contract, and approval of City-controlled contingency.)
1. Accept bid and approve contract to Bowman Asphalt, Inc. ($519,606), for said project.
AGR 2025-199
2. Authorize staff to approve, as necessary, up to $30,000 in City-controlled contingency for unforeseen conditions encountered during construction of said project. (Ward 7)
7.g. Miscellaneous:
7.g.1. Appropriate and transfer $100,000 from identified savings (one-time carryover funds) in the General Fund to the Bakersfield SPCA for continued Spay and Neuter services. (Staff recommends approval of the appropriation.)
7.g.2. Appropriate $10,000 from the Accelerate California program to the Economic and Community Development Operating Budget from the Accelerate Central Valley subaward granted to the city.
(Staff recommends appropriate the grant subaward to the Economic and Community Development Department.)
7.g.3. Appropriate $88,000 from the Water Resources Enterprise Fund to Fiscal Year 2026 Salaries Budget for positions outlined in the 2025 Supplemental Report to the 2023 Drinking Water Rate Study, with funding sourced from the recently approved and adopted Municipal Water Rate.
(Staff recommends approval of the appropriation and Council to acknowledge, receive, and file.)
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7. CONSENT CALENDAR continued
7.h. Successor Agency Business:
7.h.1. Receive and file Successor Agency payments from September 26, 2025, to October 9, 2025, in the amount of $4,070.00
(Staff recommends report be received and filed.)
7.i. Public Safety/Vital Services Measure:
None.
Motion by Vice Mayor Kaur to adopt Consent Calendar items 7.a. through 7.i.
Motion approved with Councilmember Weir absent.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
9. HEARINGS
9.a. Public Appeal Hearing of Planning Commission’s Approval of Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 7500 (Phased)
(City staff recommends denying the appeal and upholding the Planning Commission’s decision to approve Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 7500 and its proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration.)
McIntosh & Associates, representing Franmar Company and Loyola Properties I, LP, is proposing to subdivide 39.92 acres into 208 single-family residential lots, 1 sump lot, and 4 landscape lots in the R-1 (Single-Unit Dwelling) zone located at the northeast corner of Old River Road and Mc Cutchen Road.
Consideration of a Resolution adopting the Mitigated Negative Declaration pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act and approving Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 7500 (Phased). Lozeau Drury LLP submitted an appeal to the Planning Commission’s approval of the request. (Ward 5)
City Clerk Drimakis announced the receipt of two staff memoranda: one transmitting received correspondence, and the other requesting that Item 9.a. be continued to a future, yet-to-be-determined meeting date, as additional time is needed to review the submitted correspondence regarding the item.
Hearing item 9.a. opened at 6:00 p.m.
No one spoke.
Hearing item 9.a. closed at 6:01 p.m.
Motion by Councilmember Koman to adopt staff’s recommendation to continue to a future meeting date. Motion approved with Councilmember Weir absent.
9.b. Public Appeal Hearing to consider Planning Commission's Approval of Conditional Use Permit 24-0010 and its proposed notice of exemption from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
(Staff recommends denying the appeal and upholding the Planning Commission’s decision to approve Conditional Use Permit No. 24-0100 and adoption of the notice of exemption from CEQA.)
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9. HEARINGS continued
Item 9.b. continued
PDA, Inc, representing Upscale Union LLC, requested a conditional use permit to allow a banquet venue (B.M.C. 17.24.040.A.6) in the C-2 (Regional Commercial) zone located at 2930 Union Avenue.
Consideration of a Resolution adopting Planning Commission’s approval of Conditional Use Permit 24-0010 and its proposed notice of exemption from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The owner of 2930 Union Avenue submitted an appeal to Planning Commission's condition that limits the operating hours from 8am - 12am to 8am -10pm. (Ward 3)
RES 122-2025
Development Services Director Burns made comments and provided a PowerPoint Presentation.
Hearing item 9.b. opened at 6:05 p.m.
Nav Brar with Five Rivers Investment Group spoke in opposition to staff’s recommendation.
No one spoke in support of staff’s recommendation.
Hearing item 9.b. closed at 6:10 p.m.
Motion by Councilmember Arias to uphold the appeal and authorize operating hours from 8:00 am to 12:00 midnight daily; and to impose an additional condition to the conditional use permit that excessive complaints will result in the matter being returned to the Planning Commission for further review.
Motion approved with Councilmember Weir absent.
10. REPORTS
10.a. Cost of Service Analysis and Options for Sewer User Rates. (Staff recommends Council receive and file report presentation.)
Mayor recessed the meeting at 6:37 p.m.
Meeting reconvened at 6:48 p.m.
City Clerk Drimakis announced that a staff memorandum was received transmitting correspondence.
City Manager Clegg made staff comments.
Water Resources Director Budak, Rick Simonson, Senior Vice President, and Gabe Sasser, HF&F Consultants, and Gabe Sasser, Project Manager, provided additional comments and provided a PowerPoint presentation.
The following speakers spoke in opposition:
Joel Paramo, Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce.
Councilmember Koman clarified that the letter from the Bakersfield Coalition was not in opposition.
Wastewater Manager Roldan and Finance Director McKeegan made additional comments.
Motion by Vice Mayor to receive and file. Motion approved with Councilmember Weir absent.
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11. DEFERRED BUSINESS
None.
12. NEW BUSINESS
None.
13. COUNCIL AND MAYOR STATEMENTS
None.
14. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Goh adjourned the meeting at 8:20 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