AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS
March 11, 2026 COUNCIL MEETING
REGULAR MEETING – 3:30
No items to highlight.
REGULAR MEETING – 5:15 PM
ORDINANCES
Item 7.c.1 New City Council Appointment Position Entitled Chief Assistant City Attorney (All Wards) The current City Attorney is expected to retire at the end of 2026 or soon thereafter. The City Council desires to begin recruitment immediately and use whatever remaining time the current City Attorney has to be a mentor to the prospective new City Attorney. As such, it is the Council’s desire to create a new City Council position called Chief Assistant City Attorney. Based on the Charter, this must be done by ordinance. Therefore, the attached Ordinance is submitted for First Reading. It has been reviewed by the Ad Hoc Committee of Councilmembers Bob Smith and Zack Bashirshtash, who were appointed by the Vice Mayor to oversee the hiring guidelines for the City Attorney recruitment. In essence, the ordinance creates the contract position and outlines the in tent of the Council and contains a sunset provision. Second Reading is expected on March 25, 2026, and the recruitment will begin soon thereafter, with Human Resources taking the lead in recruitment. The financial impact of a new position will be included as a subcomponent of the Administrative Report for 2nd reading and will request directions to include a salary range as part of the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget.
AGREEMENTS
Item 7.f.3 Emergency Solutions Grant with Homelessness Service Providers (All Wards) On May 5, 2025, City Council approved the City of Bakersfield’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 -26 Action Plan for the Department of Housing Urban Development (HUD), which describes activities to be funded with the City’s HUD entitlement grant funding. As part of that process, the council approved the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) for organizations to supply emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, and homelessness prevention activities. All agreements will be funded from HUD Emergency Solutions Grant funds allocated to each subrecipient in the FY 2025-26 action plan and budget. Therefore, no impact to the City General Funds.
CONSENT CALENDAR PUBLIC HEARINGS
Item 8.a Planning Commission's approval of General Plan Amendment and Zone Change (Ward 5) The project is a request for an amendment to the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan Land Use Element and the City of Bakersfield Zoning Ordinance on approximately 3.67 gross acres, located at 5525 and 5543 Buena Vista Road in southwest Bakersfield. The applicant proposes to change the land use designation from R -IA (Resource – Intensive Agriculture) to OS -P (Parks) , and to change the zone classification from A20A (Agricultural – 20-acre minimum) to RE (Recreation) zone.
Item 8.d Enhanced Photo Enforced Redlight Citation Program (All Wards) On August 31, 2022, the city and contractor entered into Agreement No. 2022-177 to increase the number of approaches with a not- to-exceed amount of $5,810,000 and a new term date of August 31, 2027. Additionally, Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. was acquired by a new entity, Verra Mobility. The City now desires to amend Agreement No. 2022-177 to expand the number of approaches (including 6 proposed approaches) , extend the term date to August 31, 2029, and increase compensation to $11,500,000. Any additional approaches installed through a mutually agreed-upon Notice to Proceed will be charged at a fee of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) per month. The agreement includes cost neutrality provisions for the City, which it does not require to pay the vendor more than or come out of pocket with more than the income received.
REPORTS
Item 10.a Tree Advisory Group Update (All Wards) Established at the direction of the City Council, the Tree Advisory Group (TAG) serves as a strategic partner in expanding Bakersfield’s urban forest. TAG’s mission is to enhance the city’s environmental and community health through the proactive planting, maintenance, and preservation of our urban forest. This report details the specific recommendations TAG has developed and the Recreation and Parks Department has successfully adopted since the group’s inception. : Funds have been appropriated in the Recreation and Parks Operating Budget within the General Fund and within the Recreation and Parks Capital Improvement Program within the Public Safety and Vital Services Fund. There are no additional funds required at this time.
DEFERRED BUSINESS
Item 11.a SB 707 Updates (All Wards) At the February 25, 2026 City Council meeting, the City Attorney’s Office provided an overview of the major operational changes required by Senate Bill 707, which made numerous changes to the Brown Act. Among other things, the City must allow the public to participate and provide public statements remotely via two -way audio at City Council meetings by July 1, 2026.
Incorporating remote participation requires an operational change to existing practice, as well as an amendment of Council policy set forth in Resolution No. 206(1). Ba sed on Council feedback and direction, a proposed Amendment No. 2 to Resolution No. 206 -2021 has been prepared for Council adoption. The policy has been revised to expressly delineate the agenda order for regular 3:30 and 5:15 City Council meetings, includ ing moving Appointments up to the 3:30 meeting and incorporating remote public statements at both meetings. Total time limits for Non -Agenda and Agenda Item Public Statements will remain the same, but will be divided equally between those participating rem otely and those participating in -person. Total time limits for Hearings will be increased to 20 minutes per side for argument, 10 minutes per side for rebuttal, to be divided equally between remote and in -person participants. The proposed Resolution will t ake effect on April 1, 2026, with remote participation provisions taking effect when the requisite technology is implemented, on or before July 1, 2026 . This action will result in minimal costs to provide these expanded services.
NEW BUSINESS
Item 12.a Office Property Lease and Purchasing Considerations (Ward 2) On January 7, 2026, City Council directed staff to negotiate a lease and option to purchase the property located at 1430 and 1440 Truxtun Avenue, a 10-story, 127,504-square-foot office building with a parking garage located near City Hall in downtown Baker sfield. Staff negotiated a five -year lease for approximately 41,871 square feet beginning October 1, 2026, with a first right of refusal for an additional 28,188 square feet if needed. The agreement also includes an option to purchase the property for $13, 600,000 if escrow closes by August 15, 2026, or $14,150,000 if closing occurs by January 15, 2027, with the ability for the City to terminate the agreement if due diligence identifies unresolved issues. The building currently has multiple tenants, and the City intends to maintain these tenancies to offset operating costs while continuing to use the existing property management company. Staff determined the location best meets the City’s needs due to its proximity to other government offices and available pa rking. Staff recommends Council approve the agreement and an initial appropriation from the Capital Reserve Fund to support due diligence, noting the lease rate is lower than the City’s current facilities and could generate more than $900,000 in savings over five years, with potential additional financial benefits if the City ultimately purchases the property.
Prepared by: Jaritza Nunez, Management Fellow CC: Department Heads Alex Hinojosa, Management Fellow City Manager’s File City Clerk’s File
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