RIDGECREST CITY COUNCIL
SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
FINANCING AUTHORITY
HOUSING AUTHORITY
Minutes
Wednesday, November 16, 2022 Closed Session -5:30 p.m.
Regular Session - 6:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER - 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Council Present: Mayor Eric A. Bruen; Vice Mayor Solomon P. Rajaratnam; Council Member Peggy Breeden;
Absent: Mayor Pro Tem L. Scott Hayman;
Staff Present: City Attorney P. Early (via WebEx); City Manager Strand; City Clerk Charlon; Chief McLaughlin: PW Director Reed; Finance Director Freesc
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Due to Hayman's absence item 2 is pulled
• Rajaratnam - Breeden 4 Ayes; 1 Absent
NOTE: The vote is displayed in bold below each item. For example, Blades-Rajaratnam denotes Council Member Blades made the motion and Vice Mayor Rajaratnam seconded the motion. Ayes, Noes, Absents, Abstentions follow.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION
CLOSED SESSION
Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation (§ 54956.9) Name of Case: Finley v. City of Ridgecrest et al. - Case No. BCV-22-100048 REGULAR SESSION - 6:00 p.m.
ATTORNEY REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
PRESENTATION
Presentation Of The Key To The City to Veterans Of Foreign Wars (VFW) Ship 4084 & American Legion Post 684 RAJARATNAM
PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA - None
COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS/DIRECTION
Bruen - Christmas tree lighting Friday Dec 2 @ City Hall - 4pm Rajaratnam - China Lake Alliance - Adm Hash was speaker - Quality of Life most important
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Proposed Action To Approve Draft Minutes Of The Ridgecrest City Council Regular Meeting Dated November 2, 2022 CHARLON
• Blades - Rajaratnam 4 Ayes; 1 Absent
DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS
2. Diseussion Regarding The Board Of The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority (IWVGA) HAYMAN
COMMITTEE REPORTS**Committee Meeting dates are subject to change and will be announced on the City website
City Organization and Services Committee ('City Org')
Members: Mayor Eric A. Bruen and Peggy Breeden
Meeting: 1s Thursday each month at 5:30 p.m.
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
Report from 11/3/22
Economic Development Committee
Members: Kyle Blades and Solomon Rajaratnam
Meeting: 2nd Wednesday of the Month @5:00 p.m.
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
› Report from 11/9/22
Finance Committee
Members: Mayor Eric A. Bruen and Scott Hayman
Meeting: 2nd Tuesday each month at 5:30 p.m.
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
• Report from 11/8/22
Ridgecrest Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (RACVB)
Members: Solomon Rajaratnam and Megan McKenzie (staff)
Meeting: 3rd Wednesday of the Month, 9:00 a.m.
Location: Kerr McGee Center Meeting Rooms
› Report from 11/16/22 - CANCELED
OTHER COMMITTEES, BOARDS, OR COMMISSIONS
CITY MANAGER REPORT
• Election results slowly coming in, will certify results by Dec. 8. We will be swearing in new council at the Dec. 21 meeting.
• City Hall closed for Christmas holiday so suggested to cancel the Jan 4, 2023 meeting - council agreed.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
• Maintaining and continuing both fire stations
• Leveling and rebuilding of Pinney Pool
• Addressing and supporting Police staffing issues appropriately • Redundancy of roles - succession planning
• EV infrastructure and strategy to handle future of it Access to community rooms / service groups-volunteerism / without cost for use Freedom park complex and its ability to be used for the youth of the valley • Balsam street revitalization
• Pearson Park bathroom building, not porta-potties
MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS
ADJOURNMENT - 7:06 p.m.
MINUTES - CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY / FINANCING AUTHORITY / HOUSING AUTHORITY REGULAR - November 16, 2022