RIDGECREST CITY COUNCIL
SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
FINANCING AUTHORITY
HOUSING AUTHORITY
MINUTES
Wednesday, December 21, 2022 Regular Session - 6:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER - 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Council Present: Mayor Eric A. Bruen; Vice Mayor Solomon P. Rajaratnam; Mayor Pro Tem L.
Scott Hayman; Council Member Peggy Breeden; Council Member Kyle Blade; Council Member Elect Skip Gorman
Absent: None
Staff Present: City Attorney M. Kozanowicz; City Manager Strand; City Clerk Charlon; Captain Dampier; Finance Director Freese; PW Director Reed; P & R Director Wegener
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion to approve Agenda as presented- Rajaratnam - Breeden 5 Ayes 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.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Proposed Action To Approve Draft Minutes Of The Ridgecrest City Council Regular Meeting Dated December 7, 2022 Charlon
2. Proposed Action To Adopt A Resolution Of The Ridgecrest City Council Reciting The Facts Of The Consolidated General Municipal Election Held On Tuesday November 8, 2022 Declaring The Results And Such Other Matters As Provided By Law Charlon Motion to approve Consent Calendar as presented - Blades - Rajaratnam 5 Ayes
PRESENTATION
3. Presentation To Outgoing Council Member Breeden Staff
4. Almitation And Presentation Of Corticates Of Elocion And Oaths Of offce To New
5. Fiscal Health Update Freese
PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA - None
COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS/DIRECTION
Bruen - Jan 26 Veterans Advisory Council meeting - 10am
ORDINANCES
6. Second Reading And Adoption, By Title Only, Ordinance 22-06, Adding Division 3 To Article IlI Of Chapter 9 Of The Ridgecrest Municipal Code Imposing A Transactions And Use (Sales) Tax Locally Controlled For City Services To Be Administered By The State Board Of Equalization (November 8, 2022 Ballot) Strand / Attorney
Motion To Waive Reading In Full, Ordinance 22-06 Of The City Of Ridgecrest City Council Adding Division 3 To Article III Of Chapter 9 Of The Ridgecrest Municipal Code Imposing A Transactions And Use (Sales) Tax Locally Controlled For City Services To Be Administered By The State Board Of Equalization (November 8, 2022 Ballot) • Blades - Hayman 5 Ayes
Motion To Adopt, By Title Only, Ordinance 22-06 Of The City Of Ridgecrest City Council Adding Division 3 To Article III Of Chapter 9 Of The Ridgecrest Municipal Code Imposing A Transactions And Use (Sales) Tax Locally Controlled For City Services To Be Administered By The State Board Of Equalization (November 8, 2022 Ballot)
• Blades - Hayman 5 Ayes
DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS
7. Nomination And Appointment Of Mayor Pro-Tempore And Vice Mayor Bruen Nomination made by Bruen for appointment of Rajaratnam as Mayor Pro-Tem, Nomination made by Hayman for appointment of Blades as Vice Mayor.
Hayman - Blades 5 Ayes
8. Discussion Regarding Needed Appointments To Council Committees, Boards, And Commissions Charlon
• Finance Committee - Bruen, Hayman
• Economic Development Committee - Blades, Rajaratnam
• City Organization and Services Committee - Gorman, Bruen • Infrastructure Committee - Blades, Rajaratnam
• Parks, Recreation and Quality of Life - Gorman, Bruen • Youth Advisory Council - Gorman, Bruen
• Ridgecrest Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (RACVB) - Rajaratnam Quad State Local Government Authority - Gorman
Kern Council of Governments - Blades
Navy Community Council - Mayor, Rajaratnam
IWV Groundwater Authority - Hayman, Blades
• East Kern Air Pollution Control Board - Blades, Gorman League of California Cities - Blades, Bruen
• Round Table/BLM - Gorman, Hayman
• EAST Kern EDC - Megan, Blades
Motion to approve appointments adding that on internal committees, any member of the council can serve as an alternate - Blades - Hayman 5 Ayes
9. A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Ridgecrest Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Agreements With The California Department Of Tax And Fee Administration For Implementation Of A Local Transactions And Use Tax Freese • Rajaratnam - Blades 5 Ayes with word change from ordinance to resolution in first whereas
• After approval of motion, Attorney asked to make further amendments to first whereas for clarity to state - "WHEREAS, on July 20, 2022, the City Council introduced Ordinance No. 22-06 amending the City Municipal Code and providing for a local
MINUTES - CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY / FINANCING AUTHORITY / HOUSING AUTHORITY REGULAR - December 21, 2022
transactions and use tax and approved Resolution No. 22-51 placing the measure on the ballot; and,"
• Blades - Rajaratnam 5 Ayes to approve Attorney clarity statement above
10. A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Ridgecrest Authorizing Examination Of Sales Or Transactions And Use Tax Records Freese
• Blades - Rajaratnam 5 Ayes
11. Discussion 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
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 12/14/22 - Canceled
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 12/13/22 - Canceled
• Special Meeting 12/19/22 - discussed Measure P budgeting - pool budget top priority, policy changes re: capital outlays
Infrastructure Committee
Members: Solomon Rajaratnam and Kyle Blades
Meeting: 4th Thursday each month at 5:00 p.m.
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
• Report from 12/14/22 - discussed grant solution for Las Flores crosswalk, Bowman bike path possible grants
OTHER COMMITTEES, BOARDS, OR COMMISSIONS
CITY MANAGER REPORT
Pool workshop potential dates - 3rd week of Feb. / 1st week of March Council workshop to discuss direction of city - Ricca to set up for late Jan.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Gorman - Empty buildings/rent costs (City Manager suggested taking it to City Org)
MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS
ADJOURNMENT - 8:45 p.m.
MINUTES - CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY / FINANCING AUTHORITY / HOUSING AUTHORITY REGULAR - December 21, 2022