ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: August 5, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Agreements TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Gary Hallen, Assistant City Manager
DATE: July 24, 2026
SUBJECT: Purchase agreement and Farming Lease with Bolthouse Land Company, LLC ($600,480) for the purchase of future right-of-way located south of Stockdale Hwy East of Nord (Ward 5)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the agreement and lease.
BACKGROUND:
The Westside Parkway (Hwy 58) provides a major east/west route through the western portion of Metropolitan Bakersfield, an element of the network that connects State Route (SR) 99 with Interstate
5. This freeway reduces traffic congestion on SR 99 and provides a link from SR 99 to Interstate 5. Long term plan is to continue Westside Parkway west along the Cross Valley Canal and connect at Interstate
5. As Bolthouse and other landowners in the area develop the land in the future freeway path the City is purchasing the needed right-of-way for corridor preservation.
The City has purchased the future right-of-way from Stockdale Highway west past Wegis Ave.. The City is now proposing the purchase of approximately 7.376 acres of land for the next section of the future right-of-way west of Wegis Ave. to Nord Ave. Purchasing the property now alleviates the potential development of the subject property and the need to acquire fully developed land at a later date.
The purchase price represents the property's fair market value as established by an independent appraisal prepared by Merriman, Hurst & Associates.
In addition, Bolthouse currently has farming operations on this land and the surrounding land. This Farming lease will allow Bolthouse Land Company to continue farming util such time as their development surrounding it is complete. It is in the City’s best interest to allow Bolthouse to continue farming operations until the area is fully developed. This generates cost savings to the City by alleviating the need to maintain the property long term until it is eventually needed for the project.
Development Services Department, Planning Division, completed a General Plan Review (65402) and found this project consistent with the Metropolitan Bakersfield 2010 General Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT: There are currently adequate funds budgeted in the Transportation Development Fund for the acquisition
COUNCIL GOAL:
Reliable Infrastructure
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Purchase Agreement
2. Farming Lease