AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS
August 5, 2026 COUNCIL MEETING
REGULAR MEETING – 3:30 PM
APPOINTMENTS
Items 3.a and b Various Appointments (All Wards) Staff requests that the City Council appoint an elected or appointed official to be a voting delegate (and up to 2 alternates) to represent the City at the 2026 League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo. Additionally, staff requests that the City Council appoint 1 regular and 1 alternate each (for a total of 16 commissioners) to the Bakersfield Youth Commission for the 2026-2027 term.
REGULAR MEETING – 5:15 PM
BIDS
Item 6.g.1 Bid and Contract with South Valley Companies, Inc. (Ward 5) On August 21, 2015, the city contracted with Porter & Associates, Inc. to conduct a water study for the Stockdale River Ranch development. The study concluded that a new water well was needed to ensure adequate flow and pressure for the development’s build-out. Recent development in the area has placed increased demand on the existing municipal water infrastructure and has necessitated further system improvements. The Water Department’s Water Well CBK-85 Construction project will address these demands, with the establishment of a new water well and all necessary appurtenances for its function. City staff recommends award of the contract to South Valley Companies, Inc. for a compensation amount of $2,289,050.00 based on their proposal being the most favorable to the City. Sufficient funds are budgeted in the Water Resources Capital Improvement Budget within the Domestic Water Fund; therefore, no General Fund dollars will be expended for this project.
HEARINGS
Item 8.a Energy Savings Performance Contract with Willdan Energy Solutions (Ward 5) Staff are recommending adoption of findings and approval of Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC), by resolution, for energy-related improvements to the Water Resources Administrative Building with Willdan Energy Solutions (Willdan). The approval of this contract will allow for the construction and implementation of photovoltaic (PV), battery energy storage (BESS), and electric vehicle (EV) charging systems at the Water Resources building. This project includes complete design, engineering, procurement, installation, testing, commissioning, and placement into operation of all systems. These systems will allow the Water Department to realize energy and energy-related cost savings that will offset the City’s project cost while also advancing energy efficiency and reliable infrastructure. The energy savings performance contract and project have no impact to the General Fund. Sufficient funds are budgeted in the Water Department’s Capital Improvement Budget within the Domestic Water fund.
REPORTS
Item 9.a Bakersfield Youth Commission Annual Project (All Wards) Each year, the Bakersfield Youth Commission (BYC) is responsible for developing an annual project that serves the community, particularly local youth. This year, the BYC decided to decorate, stock, and install 8 Little Free Libraries across town, one for each ward and an additional library for the Mayoral appointees. The purpose of this report is for the BYC to present the scope of their project, including the community partnerships they made throughout the year and the final installation locations of each library. The annual project was funded through the BYC FY 2025-26 budget.
NEW BUSINESS
Item 11.a Traffic Safety Policy for the Construction and Improvement of City Streets (All Wards) The City Council has highlighted traffic safety as a Council priority, including through creation of the Multi-Modal Transportation & Traffic Safety Committee, updates to the City’s Complete Streets policy, adoption of the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program and Safe Routes to Schools GIS map, and implementation of numerous traffic calming measures throughout the City. Based on more recent referrals from Councilmember Smith, staff explored the feasibility of expanding the traffic safety policies of the City to more specifically prioritize bike and pedestrian facilities. This most often arises in the context of pavement rehabilitation projects that occur each year (repaving, restriping, etc.), as there may be an opportunity to reduce vehicle lane widths and increase bicycle lane widths. City staff has consulted with Caltrans and FHWA in recent months to affirm that even in instances of arterials on the National Highway System, in which the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standards remain the default, the City retains discretion to determine appropriate local design alternatives. Adoption of the proposed resolution provides greater legal protection to the City when City engineers evaluate roadway designs and utilize the NACTO guidelines in furtherance of adopted Council standards. The resolution also allows for a more robust traffic safety policy that is consistent with Council action to incorporate traffic calming and complete streets features.
There is no fiscal impact with the adoption of this resolution.
Prepared by:
Alex Hinojosa, Management Fellow CC: Department Heads City Manager’s File
City Clerk’s File
News Media File