Laws and Legislation Committee
Minutes
Regular Meeting
Friday, May 22, 2026
12:00 p.m.
City Hall North, First Floor, Conference Room A
1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield CA 93301
Committee Members:
Eric Arias – Chair
Andrae Gonzales
Ken Weir
Agenda
Meeting called to order at 12:06 p.m.
1. ROLL CALL
Committee members present: Councilmembers Arias and Gonzales
Committee members absent: Councilmember Weir
City Staff: Christian Clegg, City Manager
Gary Hallen, Assistant City Manager
Juan Heredia, Jamie Achterberg, City Manager’s Office
Cari Cowling, Assistant City Clerk
2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
a. Agenda Item Public Statements
None.
b. Non-Agenda Item Public Statements
None.
3. Adoption of January 23, 2026, Regular Meeting Minutes. (Staff recommends adoption of the minutes.)
Motion by Councilmember Gonzales to adopt January 23, 2026, Regular Meeting Minutes.
Motion approved with Councilmember Weir absent.
4. STAFF REPORT
4.a. Quarterly Update on State Legislative Advocacy and Grant Funding - May 2026 (Staff recommends Committee receive and file.)
Assistant City Manager Hallen provided staff comments and introduced Sharon Gonsalves from California Public Policy Group (CPPG) who provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Jake Whitaker, CPPG provided comments Grant Funding.
Motion by Councilmember Gonzales to receive and file. Motion approved with Councilmember Weir absent.
Legislative and Legislation Committee
Regular Meeting May 22, 2026, Agenda
4. STAFF REPORT continued
4.b. Quarterly Update on Federal Legislative Advocacy – Advocacy and Grand Funding - May 2026
(Staff recommends Committee receive and file.)
Assistant City Manager Clegg and Assistant to the City Manager Heredia provided staff comments and introduced Mark Dedrick from Summit Strategies and provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Jake Whitaker, CPPG made provided additional comments .
Motion by Councilmember Gonzales to receive and file. Motion approved with Councilmember Weir absent.
5. NEW BUSINESS
None.
6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS
None.
7. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 1:13 p.m.
___________________________________
Eric Arias, CHAIR
LEGISLATIVE AND LITIGATION COMMITTEE
ATTEST:
___________________________________
JULIE DRIMAKIS, MMC
CITY CLERK and Ex Officio Clerk of
the Council of the City of Bakersfield