Finance, Economic Development and Jobs Committee
July 20, 2026

FINANCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOBS
AGENDA

REGULAR MEETING

July 20, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

City Hall North Conference Room A
1600 Truxtun Avenue
Members
Larry Koman
Eric Arias
Andrae Gonzales

1. ROLL CALL

2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
a. Agenda Item Public Statements
b. Non-Agenda Item Public Statements

3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES
a. May 11, 2026 Minutes
Staff recommends adoption of the minutes.

4. STAFF REPORT

5. NEW BUSINESS
a. Update on Efforts to Promote Rosedale Ranch
Staff recommends the committee receive and file.
*1. PowerPoint Presentation

6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS

7. ADJOURNMENT

1 FINANCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOBS

MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING

May 11, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

City Hall North Conference Room A
1600 Truxtun Avenue

Members Present: Larry Koman, Eric Arias, Andrae Gonzales

City Staff Present: Gary Hallen, Assistant City Manager Rick Anthony, Assistant City Manager
Cari Cowling, Assistant City Clerk
_____________________________________________________________________

1. ROLL CALL
Meeting called to order at 12:03

2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
a. Agenda Item Public Statements
None
b. Non-Agenda Item Public Statements
None

3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES
a. Adoption of April 10, 2026, Special Meeting Minutes
Moved by: Andrae Gonzales
Staff recommends adoption of minutes.

Approved

4. STAFF REPORT

5. NEW BUSINESS
a. Economic Development Division Strategic Plan Update
Jason Cater, Economic & Community Development Manager
Moved by: Eric Arias

2 Direction to staff on program updates; receive and file.

1. Economic Development Strategic Plan Update Presentation

6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS

7. ADJOURNMENT

_________________________

LARRY KOMAN, CHAIR

_________________________

JULIE DRIMAKIS, CITY CLERK

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

MEETING DATE: July 20, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: New Business TO: Finance, Economic Development and Jobs Committee
FROM: Jason Cater, Economic Development Manager
DATE: July 15, 2026
SUBJECT: Update on Efforts to Promote Rosedale Ranch

[Document Description]

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends the committee receive and file.

BACKGROUND:

Rosedale Ranch is a privately held 1,650-acre site which sits in northwest Bakersfield. Strategically located along 7th Standard Road and the BNSF Railway , this site presents a catalytic opportunity to advance the region’s economic development and attract new industry. In September 2023, the property was rezoned from a mix of housing, commercial, and industrial uses to a predominantly industrial site , with approximately 60-acres remaining commercial. The site’s adjacency to the BNSF railroad, its size, zoning, and common ownership present an attractive opportunity for large-scale industrial growth in the region.

Following this rezoning, the City of Bakersfield and the property owner contracted with a private consulting group, Newmark Group , to conduct an economic development and property positioning strategy. The studies intent was to help the property owner and the City prepare for marketing the property and attracting development to the site. Completed in April 2025, the technical study provided a series of strategies for the property owner to support the sites development, and the City with a series of recommendations for positioning the site and region for economic growth.

Today’s presentation will provide an overview of effort by staff and the property owner to position Rosedale Ranch for industrial development.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Future items related to Rosedale Ranch may utilize City resources, however the item before the committee does not represent a fiscal impact.

COUNCIL GOAL:

Economic Opportunity for All

ATTACHMENTS:

None

Efforts to Promote

One of California’s premier industrial development opportunities•1,650-acre industrial site•Rail-served by BNSF Railway•Access to a 44-million-person market within a six-hour drive•Exceptional access to regional transportation infrastructure•Flexible sites for logistics, manufacturing, and distribution

Rosedale Ranch & City of BakersfieldEconomic Development and Property Positioning Strategy•In April 2025, Newmark Group Inc. completed a joint study between the City of Bakersfield and the Rosedale Ranch property ownership to identify strategies and recommendations for positioning Rosedale Ranch for industrial development.•38 strategy recommendations for the City to bolster its economic development systems, including ten top priorities;•The study also included seven (7) site specific strategies to support the sites development.

Rosedale Ranch Top Ten Recommendations; (City Recommendations) Develop a business retention program and conduct retention visits on a regular basis Continue to add specificity and clarity to the consolidated standard permitting and development timeline. Create multiple versions of the timeline Develop a dedicated industrial opportunity response team across multiple agencies, including the City of Bakersfield, Kern EDC, Kern County, and other public and non-profit economic development partners Identify stakeholder groups that may oppose develop at key industrial sites. Conduct outreach and engage these individuals/organizations early on to educate them about the development process Promote case studies of target industry businesses that have located or expanded in the region. Post on Bakersfield Economic Development webpage

Develop a standard community visit itinerary for site selection visits. Ensure the itinerary reserves some time to address specific interests of site selectors and their clients.

Identify private sector target industry cluster "champions" who can promote the region and its assets to their peers inside and outside of Bakersfield.

Continue to meet with GO-Biz on a regular basis to ensure GO-Biz is telling the Bakersfield Region story appropriately. Ensure that Bakersfield/Rosedale Ranch is included in target industry RFP responses.

Assess alignment between CTE and target industry needs. Ensure programs are operating at scale and assess any barriers to completion.

Assess city staffing needs to bolster economic development activity, considering the need to implement report recommendations. Ensure economic development staff are primarily focused on economic development activities as distinct from other community development functions.

Rosedale Ranch Top Ten Recommendations; (City Recommendations)

City EffortsSpecific actions towards the top ten (Since April 2025):Timeline clarity(Strategy #2)•Development Services developed timeline for studies•Continue to work with prospects to navigate processContinue to partner with local entities on attraction efforts (Strategy #3)•Three in-market visits, twenty-two company/contact follow-ups, and five (5) RFI responses submissions(Since April 2025)Case studies (Strategy #5)•Part of business marketing package; Interviews underway to select consultantFacilitated three in-market visits from outside entities (Strategy #6)

City Efforts (Cont’d)Specific actions towards the top ten:Collaborating with local leaders to promote Unbound 2026 (Strategy #7)Ongoing engagement with Go-Biz; (Strategy #8)•Attended SelectUSA as a delegate member of California (Go-Biz led the delegation)•Continue to foster relationship, including engaging business prospects (three currently)Land Asset and Workforce Strategy (Strategy #9)•California Jobs First funded technical study. RFP completed, Newmark recommended to complete the study. Contract in August-SeptemberFormation of new economic development unit (Strategy #10)

City Efforts (Cont’d)
Other Complimentary City Staff Efforts•Nomination for Go-Biz Business Ready Sites Program•Bolstering business marketing effortsoIncentives package, opportunity zones prospectus, market overview•Business attraction playbook kick-off in July 2026•Continued outreach to contacts and prospects

Site Specific RecommendationsTop actions for the Rosedale Ranch to become a competitive Mega site:1.Update General Plan – Confirm the planned highway will not bisect the site.2.Validate water capacity – Secure an updated will-serve commitment from Cal Water based on a Specific Plan or conceptual site plan.3.Validate power scalability – Work with PG&E to define service capacity, timing, and costs, while exploring behind-the-meter power options.4.Build data room – Compile key approvals, studies, and documentation to demonstrate site readiness.5.Monitor for environmental changes – Track potential wetlands, endangered species, and changes in air-quality attainment status.6.Continue to advance transportation hub marketing strategy – Coordinate with BNSF, the Port of Oakland, and Caltrans to promote the site’s transportation assets 7.Pursue site certifications –Complete required studies and documentation for BNSF Certified Sites, followed by the Site Selectors Guild REDI Sites program.

Property Specific Actions
Working with City staff to amend the circulation element to the General Plan(Strategy #2) Validate water capacity; Property owner working with California Water Company to analyze water capacity(Strategy #3) Validate power capacity; in discussion with PG&E on power delivery (high level) (Strategy #3) Developer is pursuing site certification process with BNSF (Strategy #6 and #7)

Property Specific Actions (cont’d)
Actively listed with Newmark Team
Development partner being sought
Active projects submitting interest (Unable to disclose at this time)

Questions?