ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: August 26, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Resolutions TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Phillip Burns, Development Services Director
DATE: August 5, 2026
SUBJECT: Resolution designating Certifying Officers for HUD Environmental Review Records pursuant to the requirements of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends adoption of the resolution.
BACKGROUND:
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 24 CFR Part 58, an entitlement community such as the City of Bakersfield, that annually executes HUD grant agreements for federal funds assumes responsibility for complying with NEPA laws and regulations. Under NEPA laws and regulations, only the responsible entity’s Certifying Officer has the authority to execute documents concerning federal environmental review, decision-making and environmental action. Additionally, by federal regulation, the Certifying Officer is responsible for ensuring that any conditions, procedures, and requirements resulting from the environmental review process are incorporated into project plans and become implemented.
On August 21, 2021, the City adopted Resolution No. 144-2021, designating the City Manager or his or her designee as the Certifying Officer for all Environmental Review Records requiring publication and submission to HUD for authority to use grant funds. Additionally, the Economic and Community Development Director or the Planning Director were designated to act as Certifying Officers for the Environmental Review records which did not require such publication and submission.
Due to reorganization within the City concerning the Economic and Community Development Department, the Certifying Officer designation must now be revised to reflect current City positions and organizational structure. Therefore, the attached Resolution designates the City Manager or his or her designee as the Certifying Officer for any NEPA document requiring publication and submission to HUD, and the Development Services Director or the Deputy Development Services Director as the Certifying Officers for NEPA documents not requiring publication and submission.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Action to certify new officers has, no fiscal impact.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Innovative and Efficient City Government
ATTACHMENT:
Resolution