RIDGECREST CITY COUNCIL
SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
FINANCING AUTHORITY
HOUSING AUTHORITY
MINUTES
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Regular Session - 6:00 p.m.
This meeting was recorded and will be on file in the Office of the City Clerk for a certain period of time from date of approval by the Ridgecrest City Successor Agency/Financing Authority/Housing Authority. Meetings are recorded solely for the purpose of preparation of minutes.
ROLL CALL - 6:00 p.m.
Council Present: Mayor Endicott; Mayor Pro-Tem Blades; Vice Mayor Rajaratnam; Council Member
Absent: Norman; Council Member Gorman
Staff Present: City Attorney M. Koczanowicz (Webex); City Manager Strand; City Clerk Charlon APPROVAL OF AGENDA - Attorney asked to add a need arose item as #14 - Motion To Approve Addition - Hayman - Blades - 5 ayes. Motion To Approve agenda as amended - Rajaratnam - Gorman - 5 ayes.
REGULAR SESSION
PRESENTATIONS
1. Lifesaving Award - Officer Matt Rowland
PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA - J. Weissmuller, S. Christman, S.
Kirkpatrick, Brenda, T. Wiknich, M. Sinnott, unknown caller
COUNCIL ANGEMEN/DIRECTION
CONSENT CALENDAR
2. Proposed Action To Approve Draft Minutes Of The Ridgecrest City Council Regular Meeting Dated June 18, 2025 Charlon
3. A Resolution Fund and Prost a Council Approving The Acceptance Of The California Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program Grant Funds
4. A Resolution Of The Ridgecrest City Council Approving The Application For Funds For The FY26/27 Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Program (CMAQ) And/or Carbon Reduction Program For The Procurement Of One (1) Battery-Electric Cutaway Bus; Committing The Necessary Local Match Funding And Assuring The Completion Of The Project
5. A Resolution Regarding The Annual Assessments For The Drainage Benefit Assessment District No. 2016-1 (The "District"); And Adoption Of The Resolution (1) Approving The Annual Engineer's Report And (2) Ordering The Levy And Collection Of Assessments For Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Reed
6. A Resolution Regarding The Annual Assessments For The Consolidated Landscaping And Lighting District No. 2012-1 (The "District"); And Adoption Of The Resolution (1) Approving The Annual Engineer's Report And (2) Ordering The Levy And Collection Of Assessments For Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Reed
7. Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Ridgecrest To Levy And Collect Sewer Fees On The General Tax Rolls For Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Reed
8. Authorization For The City Manager, Ron Strand To Sign The Notice Of Completion For The Replacement Of Two 25-Ton Units In City Hall, Authorizing The City Clerk To File The Notice Of Completion And Authorizing The Release Of Retention Funds In The Amount Of Six Thousand Four Hundred Ninety-Nine Dollars And Thirty Cents ($6,499.30) Thirty Days After The Recordation Of The Notice Of Completion To Johnson Controls Inc. Wegener Motion To Approve Consent Calendar less items 3 & 4 - Blades - Hayman - 5 ayes Item 3 - Rajaratnam asked if there were any downsides to accepting the grant.
No public comments
Motion To Approve item 3 - Hayman, Blades - 4 ayes - 1 No (Rajaratnam) Item 4 - PW Director Reed presented the item
Public comments - S. Christman, R. Westa-lusk
Motion To Approve item 4 with discretion to PW director to adjust grant numbers as needed -Blades - Rajaratnam - 5 ayes
DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS
9. A Resolution Of The Ridgecrest City Council Approving The Application For Funds For The FY25/26 & FY26/27, Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSP) And Highway Infrastructure Program (HIP) Under The Moving Ahead For Progress In The 21st Century (Map- 21) For The South Mahan Street Phase /I Resurfacing Project Reed Public comments - T. Wiknich, Unknown speaker
Motion To Approve - Blades, Rajaratnam - 5 ayes
10. A Resolution Of The Ridgecrest City Council Approving The Application For Funds For The FY26/27, Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) And Highway Infrastructure Program (HIP) Under The Moving Ahead For Progress In The 21st Century (Map-21) For The Phase / W. Las Flores Ave Rehabilitation Project Reed
Public comments - R. Westa-lusk
Motion To Approve - Blades, Endicott - 5 ayes
11. A Resolution Of The Ridgecrest City Council Approving The Application For Funds For The FY26/27, Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) And Highway Infrastructure Program (HIP) Under The Moving Ahead For Progress In The 21st Century (Map-21) For The Phase /I W Las Flores Ave Rehabilitation Project Reed
Public comments - None
Motion To Approve - Blades, Gorman- 5 ayes
12. A Resolution Of The Ridgecrest City Council Approving The Application For Funds For The FY26/27, Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) And Highway Infrastructure Program (HIP) Under The Moving Ahead For Progress In The 21st Century (Map-21) For The Phase III W. Las Flores Ave Rehabilitation Project Reed Public comments - None
Motion To Approve - Rajaratnam - Gorman- 5 ayes
Minutes - CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY / FINANCING AUTHORITY / HOUSING AUTHORITY REGULAR - July 16, 2025
13. A Resolution To Approve A Professional Service Agreement With Provost & Pritchard Services For The East Bowman Channel Design, An OLDCC Grant Project; And Authorize The City Manager To Sign The Agreement Reed
Public comments - T. Wiknich
Motion To Approve - Rajaratnam, Gorman - 5 ayes
14. A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Ridgecrest To Amend The Zero Tolerance Drug And Alcohol Testing Policy Attachment B, Updating The City's Designated Drug And Alcohol Program Manager, Medical Review Officer, And Substance Abuse Professional Reed Public comments - None
Motion To Approve - Hayman - Gorman - 5 ayes
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: 1st Monday of the month @ 5:15 p.m.
Location: City Hall Conference Room B, 15 Floor
• Next meeting August 4, 2025
Finance Committee
Members: Solomon Rajaratnam and Scott Hayman
Meeting: 2nd Tuesday each month at 5:30 p.m.
Location: City Hall Conference Room B, 1st Floor
> Report from July 8, 2025
Infrastructure Committee
Members: Mayor Endicott and Kyle Blades
Meeting: 4h Thursday each month at 5:00 p.m.
Location: City Hall Conference Room B, 1st Floor
• Next meeting July 24, 2025
Parks, Recreation, and Quality of Life Committee
Members: Mayor Endicott and Scott Hayman
Meeting: 1st Tuesday each month at 5:30 p.m.
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
Next meeting August 5, 2025
OTHER COMMITTEES, BOARDS, OR COMMISSIONS
CITY MANAGER REPORT
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS
ADJOURNMENT - 9:00 p.m.
Minutes - CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY / FINANCING AUTHORITY / HOUSING AUTHORITY REGULAR - July 16, 2025