BAKERSFIELD CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
MEETING OF JANUARY 21, 2026
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 4:05 p.m.), Gonzales, Smith, Koman and Bashirtash
Absent: Councilmember Weir
2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
2.a. Non-Agenda Item Public Statement
Michael Turnipseed spoke regarding the sewer rates (written materials provided).
2.b. Agenda Item Public Statements
None.
3. REPORTS
3. a. Clean City Initiative and Community Vitality Programs Update. (Staff recommends Council receive and file the update.)
City Manager Clegg, Assistant to the City Manager Achterberg, Solid Waste Director Leonard, Police Lieutenant Anderberg, Code Enforcement Manager Gonzales, Parks Superintendent Howell, Deputy Fire Chief Patterson, made staff comments and provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Councilmember Gonzales requested staff develop an ordinance that requires locking mechanism on all dumpsters.
Councilmember Gonzales requested staff explore the feasibility of requiring a business to file a letter of no trespassing for their property as part of their business license application.
Councilmember Gonzales requested staff provide an update on the Vacant Property Ordinance activities at a future City Council meeting.
Motion by Vice Mayor Kaur to receive and file. Motion approved with Councilmember Weir absent.
3.b. Jail Bed Task Force Update.
(Staff recommends that the City Council discuss the update and provide direction on how staff should proceed in collaborating with the County of Kern, City of Taft, and other partner agencies in addressing the need for greater accountability in the criminal justice system.)
City Manager Clegg made staff comments and provided a PowerPoint Presentation.
Motion by Councilmember Smith to move forward with a memorandum of understanding with the City of Taft and continue conversations with the County of Kern and other partner agencies. Motion approved with Councilmember Weir absent.
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4. CLOSED SESSION
None.
5. CLOSED SESSION ACTION
None.
6. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Goh adjourned the 3:30 p.m. meeting at 5:23 p.m.
Bakersfield, California, January 21, 2026 - Page 3
REGULAR MEETING - 5:35 PM
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Goh, Vice Mayor Kaur, Councilmembers Arias, Gonzales, Smith, Koman and Bashirtash
Absent: Councilmember Weir
2. INVOCATION
By Traco Matthews, Pastor of Church of God, Bakersfield.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
by Benjamin Pursel, Senior Bakersfield Christian High School.
4. PRESENTATIONS
None.
5. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
5.a. Non-Agenda Item Public Statements
1. Rich Oneil, Kern River Parkway Foundation, Anje Lauer, Kern County Chapter of the Sierra Club (written materials provided), Eddy Laine, Kern County Chapter of the Sierra Club, (written materials provided), and Rob Parsons spoke regarding tree canopy.
2. Ivan Crawford and Dennis McLean spoke regarding concerns of a bike path opened along the Friant Canal between Snow Road and 7th Standard Road.
Mayor Goh requested staff speak with Mr. Ivan Crawford about his concerns about the Friant Kern Canal Multiuse Path project between Seventh Standard and Snow Road, specifically near Isaak Lane.
Councilmember Arias requested staff try to prioritize funds to increase tree plantings at Mid-Year Budget review if funding is available.
Mayor Goh provided a presentation video in memory of Former Councilmember Irma Carson.
Vice Mayor Kaur requested staff explore feasible recognition options for former Councilmember Irma Carson, such as street or building naming, for presentation to the City Council at a future meeting.
5.b. Agenda Item Public Statements
Seth Hewett spoke regarding Consent Calendar item 7.h.1.
6. APPOINTMENTS
6.a. Appointments to Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Committee (Wards 1 & 7) (Staff recommends City Council determination.)
City Clerk Drimakis announced that applications were received from Hovik Beduryan, Jesse Dhaliwal, Nayeli Franco, Harvind Singh Grewal, Albert Eugene Johnson III, Jenny Annet Kurdi, Daniel C. Nolan, Lindsey Parker, Sandy Turner, James Howard Wheeler.
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6. APPOINTMENTS continued
item 6.a. continued
Vice Mayor Kaur Ward 7 nominated Harvind Singh Grewal, alternate member.
Councilmember Arias Ward 1 nominated Albert Eugene Johnson III, alternate member.
Motion by Vice Mayor Kaur to appoint Harvind Singh Grewal, Ward 7 alternate member and Albert Eugence Johnson III, Ward 1 alternate member to the Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Committee. Motion approved with Councilmembers Gonzales and Weir absent.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
a. Minutes:
7.a.1. Approval of minutes of January 7, 2026, Special and Regular City Council Meetings. (Staff recommends approval of the minutes.)
b. Payments:
7.b.1. Receive and file department payments from December 17, 2025, to January 6, 2026, totaling $47,250,300.83 as follows: department payments in the amount of $28,570,068.34, and Self Insurance payments in the amount of $18,950,232.49. (Staff recommends receive and file report.)
7.b.2. Receive and file department agreements over $40,000 and under $100,000 executed between December 17, 2025, to January 6, 2026. (Staff recommends receive and file report.)
c. Ordinances:
7.c.1. Adoption of an Ordinance amending Bakersfield Municipal Code Section 1.12.050 by adding Annexation 713, South H No. 4 consisting of approximately 0.673 acres, generally located at the northwest corner of South H Street and Cecil Brunner Drive. (Ward 2) (FR 11/19/2025)
(Staff recommends adoption of the ordinance.)
ORD 5210
7.c.2. Adoption of an ordinance amending Bakersfield Municipal Code Section 1.12.010 by adding Annexation No. 715, Cottonwood Rd No. 6 consisting of approximately 239.39 acres generally located east of Cottonwood Road at Pacheco Road intersection. (Staff recommends first reading of the ordinance.)
FR ONLY
d. Resolutions:
7.d.1. Resolution approving On-Call Library of Professional Firms qualified to provide professional services including studies, surveying and mapping, planning, architectural, engineering and design, project management, and construction inspection services; and authorizing the city manager, or designee(s), to enter into agreements with qualified firms in accordance with Bakersfield Municipal Code Section 3.20.105.
(Staff recommends adoption of the resolution.)
RES 009-2026
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7. CONSENT CALENDAR continued
7.d.2. Resolution confirming approval by the City Manager designee of the Code Enforcement Manager’s report regarding December 2025 assessments of certain properties in the City for which structures have been secured against entry or for the abatement of certain weeds, debris and waste matter and the demolishment of dangerous buildings and authorizing collection of the assessments by the Kern County Tax Collector.
(Staff recommends adoption of the resolution.)
RES 010-2026
7.d.3. Resolution determining that Ford F550 service trucks can most efficiently be obtained through cooperative procurement bidding procedures from Downtown Ford Sacramento and authorizing the Finance Director to dispense with bidding for the purchase of two units in the amount of $231,472 for the Streets Division within the Public Works Department.
(Staff recommends adoption of the resolution and approval of the purchase.)
RES 011-2026
7.e. Job Specifications and Salary Updates:
7.e.1. Resolutions Approving Salaries and Benefits for Related Units (Staff recommends adoption of the resolutions.)
1. Resolution approving the Memorandum of Understanding for employees of the Firefighters and Engineers Unit and adopting salary schedule and related benefits.
RES 012-2026
2. Resolution approving the Memorandum of Understanding for employees of the Fire Supervisory Units and adopting salary schedule and related benefits.
RES 013-2026
7.f. Agreements
7.f.1. Amendment No. 4 to Agreement No. 2020-178 with Housing Authority of the County of Kern (extend term to June 30, 2026) for Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HHAP-3 and HHAP-4) for youth rental assistance. (Staff recommends approval of the amendment.)
AGR 2020-178 (4)
7.g. Bids:
7.g.1. Street Improvements 2023-2024 Intersection of Stine Road and McKee Road (Staff recommend acceptance of low bid, approval of contract, and approval of City-controlled contingency.)
1. Accept bid and approve contract with Griffith Company ($597,975) for the above referenced project.
AGR 2026-006
2. Authorizes staff to approve, as necessary, up to $100,000 in City-controlled contingency for unforeseen conditions encountered during construction of project. (Ward 7)
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7. CONSENT CALENDAR continued
7.h. Miscellaneous:
7.g.1. Authorize the Finance Director to write off accounts receivable in various funds totaling $54,185.95 and forward non-bankrupt accounts to a collection agency for additional collection efforts.
(Staff recommends approval.)
7.i. Successor Agency Business:
None.
7.j. Public Safety/Vital Services Measure:
7.j.1. Amendment No. 3 to Agreement No. 2023-028 with Citiguard, Inc. (increase compensation $1,284,000; revised not to exceed $4,766,948 and extend term to January 31, 2027), to continue high visibility private security patrols. (Staff recommends approval of the amendment.)
AGR 2023-028 (3)
City Clerk Drimakis announced that a staff memorandum was provided correcting the title of Consent Calendar item 7.c.2. to indicate it is the first reading of the Ordinance, not adoption.
Please note that Consent Calendar item 7.e.1. contains a staff recommendation to adopt resolutions approving salaries and benefits for specified units.
Motion by Vice Mayor Kaur to adopt Consent Calendar items 7.a. through 7.j.
Motion approved with Councilmember Weir absent.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
9. HEARINGS
None.
10. REPORTS
10.a. Report on Agreement No. 2021-142 with Union Pacific Railroad Company to Lease Sumner Station - City Council Member referral to receive a report on Agreement No. 2021-142 (Ward 2)
(Staff recommends City Council review Agreement 2021-142 for consideration and direction with options noted below:
1.) Take no action. Lease remains valid unless/until termination and will automatically renew for another one-year term on June 24, 2026; 2.) Direct staff to terminate the lease.
City must provide Union Pacific a thirty (30) day notice to terminate; 3.) Provide additional or alternative direction.)
City Clerk Drimakis announced that a staff memorandum was provided transmitting correspondence from the Historic Preservation Commission and Stephen Montgomery.
City Manager Clegg made staff comments.
Economic and Community Development Manager Cater and Assistant City Manager Hallen made staff comments and provided a PowerPoint Presentation
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10. REPORTS continued
item 10.a. continued
The following spoke in support of the lease: Stephen Montgomery, Chair Historic Preservation Commission, Johnathan Yates, Catalina Maldonado, Emprezz Nontzikelelo, and Mike McCoy, Historic Preservation Commission member (written materials provided).
Motion by Councilmember Bashirtash to terminate the lease with Union Pacific Railroad Company. Motion failed.
Motion by Councilmember Arias to allow the lease to remain valid and request staff bring an updated presentation on the project 30 days prior to June 24, 2026, for further Council action and consideration. Motion approved with Councilmember Weir absent.
11. DEFERRED BUSINESS
None.
12. NEW BUSINESS
None.
13. COUNCIL AND MAYOR STATEMENTS
Happy Birthday wishes expressed for Vice Mayor Kaur and Councilmember Arias.
14. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Goh called for a moment of silence in honor of Irma Carson and adjourned the meeting in at 7:37 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
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