Agendas are available on the City Website
https://www.ridgecrest-ca.gov/council-agendas
Ridgecrest City Council
Successor Redevelopment Agency
Financing Authority
Housing Authority
AGENDA
January 21, 2026
Closed Session 5:00 p.m.
Regular Session 6:00 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers
100 100 West California Avenue
Ridgecrest CA 93555
Ricca Charlon, CMC
City Clerk
[email protected]
(760) 499-5002
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you are a disabled person and you need a disability-related modification or accommodation to participate in the meeting, please contact Ricca Charlon at (760) 499-5002. Requests must be made as early as possible and at least one full business day before the start of the meeting.
Watch meetings on-line:
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Call in for public comments:
To participate with verbal comments, please call (760) 499-5010. This phone line will allow only one caller at a time, so if the line is busy, please continue to dial. We will be allowing a 20-30 second delay between callers to give time for media delays and callers to dial in. If you wish to comment on multiple items you will need to call in as each item is presented.
CITY COUNCIL
Travis Endicott, Mayor
Kyle Blades, Mayor Pro-Tem
Solomon P. Rajaratnam, Vice Mayor
L. Scott Hayman, Council Member
John ‘Skip’ Gorman, Council Member
Ron Strand, City Manager
Keith Lemieux, City Attorney
Martin Koczanowicz, City Attorney
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100 W. CALIFORNIA AVE. | RIDGECREST, CA 93555
Phone 760.499.5000 | Fax 760.499.1520
www.ridgecrest-ca.gov
NOTICE AND CALL OF A SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION MEETING OF THE
RIDGECREST CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY /
HOUSING AUTHORITY / FINANCING AUTHORITY
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE RIDGECREST CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY / HOUSING AUTHORITY / FINANCING AUTHORITY, PUBLIC AND CITY CLERK:
PUBLIC NOTICE that a SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION MEETING of the Ridgecrest City Council/Successor Redevelopment Agency/Housing Authority/Financing Authority is hereby called on:
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 @ 5:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers
100 W. California Avenue
Ridgecrest, California
Said SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION MEETING shall be for the purpose of:
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL GOV CODE SECTION 54956.9 ( b) Potential Litigation (4 cases)
Closed Session held pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957 Subpart (b):
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Title: City Manager
Dated: January 15, 2026
Travis Endicott, Mayor / Chair
ATTEST:
Ricca Charlon, City Clerk
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RIDGECREST CITY COUNCIL
SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
FINANCING AUTHORITY
HOUSING AUTHORITY
AGENDA
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 Closed Session – 5:00 p.m.
Regular Session – 6:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
CLOSED SESSION
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL GOV CODE SECTION 54956.9 ( b) Potential Litigation (4 cases)
Closed Session held pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957 Subpart (b):
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Title: City Manager
REGULAR SESSION
• Pledge Of Allegiance
• Invocation
ATTORNEY REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
PRESENTATION
1. Presentation Of The Key To The City to Tex Hoppus Gorman PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA - Persons wishing to address the Council on matters that are within the Council’s jurisdiction and DO NOT ALREADY APPEAR ON THE AGENDA, may do so at this time.
COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS/DIRECTION
CONSENT CALENDAR – All Matters Listed Under The Consent Calendar Are To Be Considered Routine And Enacted By One Motion Unless Pulled By A Council Member Or A Member Of The Public.
2. Proposed Action To Approve Draft Minutes Of The Ridgecrest City Council Charlon
PRESENTATION
3. Presentation Of Retirement to City Manager Ron Strand Staff / Council
AGENDA - CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY / FINANCING AUTHORITY / HOUSING AUTHORITY REGULAR – January 21, 2026
COMMITTEE REPORTS
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, 1st Floor
➢ Next meeting February 2, 2026
Finance Committee
Members: Solomon Rajaratnam and Scott Hayman
Meeting: 2nd Tuesday every other month at 5:30 p.m.
Location: City Hall Conference Room B, 1st Floor
➢ Next meeting February 10, 2026
Infrastructure Committee
Members: Mayor Endicott and Kyle Blades
Meeting: 4th Thursday each month at 5:00 p.m.
Location: City Hall Conference Room B, 1st Floor
➢ Next meeting January 22, 2026
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 February 3, 2026
OTHER COMMITTEES, BOARDS, OR COMMISSIONS
CITY MANAGER REPORT
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS
ADJOURNMENT
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Ridgecrest City Council
Successor Redevelopment Agency
Financing Authority
Housing Authority
STAFF REPORT
SUBJECT: Presentation Of The Key To The City to Tex Hoppus PRESENTED BY: Skip Gorman, Council Member
SUMMARY:
Tex Hoppus is a local hero. Just walk into our Historical USA Building on West Ridgecrest Boulevard to witness the decades of Tex Hoppus (and company’s) quiet dedication to that noble old structure which keeps the vivid history of Ridgecrest alive in our hearts.
It all started with Tex’s interest in family genealogy. His small genealogy group ultimately merged with the Historical Society and under Tex’s leadership the hard-working group gradually rehabilitated the venerable USO Building. The jail, firehouse and peripheral associated Quonset huts emerged to their present form under Tex’s stewardship and, additionally, the peripheral (redesignated) Veteran’s Building, which was rescued from becoming a submerged one-room schoolhouse in the depths of Lake Isabella, ultimately joined the growing Historical Society complex to showcase our community’s colorful past.
So it is owing to his effective, persistent, and visionary leadership that we honor Tex Hoppus the Key to the City of Ridgecrest with sincere thanks and appreciation.
Written and submitted by Skip Gorman
FISCAL IMPACT: None
ACTION REQUESTED: Presentation Of Key To The City
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION:
Submitted by: Skip Gorman Action Date: January 21, 2026 This Page Intentionally Left Blank
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Ridgecrest City Council
Successor Redevelopment Agency
Financing Authority
Housing Authority
STAFF REPORT
SUBJECT: Proposed Action To Approve Draft Minutes Of The Ridgecrest City Council Regular Meeting January 7, 2026
PRESENTED BY: Ricca Charlon, City Clerk
SUMMARY:
Draft Minutes of the City Council / Successor Redevelopment Agency / Housing Authority / Financing Authority Regular Meeting January 7, 2026
FISCAL IMPACT: None
ACTION REQUESTED: Approve minutes
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION: Action as requested
Submitted by: Ricca Charlon Action Date: Jan 21, 2026
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RIDGECREST CITY COUNCIL
SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
FINANCING AUTHORITY
HOUSING AUTHORITY
DRAFT MINUTES
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 Closed Session – 5:00 p.m.
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 – 5:00 p.m.
Council Present: Mayor Endicott; Mayor Pro-Tem Blades; Vice Mayor Rajaratnam; Council Member Hayman; Council Member Gorman
Absent: None
Staff Present: City Attorney M. Koczanowicz; City Manager Strand; City Clerk Charlon APPROVAL OF AGENDA - Motion To Approve – Rajaratnam - Blades – 5 ayes
CLOSED SESSION
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL GOV CODE SECTION 54956.9 ( b) Potential Litigation (1 case)
Closed Session held pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957 Subpart (b):
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Title: City Manager
PRESENTATIONS
Ridgecrest Tourism Improvement District Annual Report 2024-25 K. Crutcher ATTORNEY REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION - No reportable action
PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Public Comment – E. Edwards, M. Licitra, B. Licitra
COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS/DIRECTION
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Proposed Action To Approve Draft Minutes Of The Ridgecrest City Council Charlon
2. Resolution To Update And Adopt Salary Schedule Per Public Employee Retirement Law Brewton
Motion To Approve Consent Calendar - Blades - Hayman– 5 ayes
DRAFT MINUTES - CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY / FINANCING AUTHORITY / HOUSING AUTHORITY REGULAR – January 7, 2026
COMMITTEE REPORTS
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, 1st Floor
➢ Report from January 5, 2026
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
➢ Next meeting January 13, 2026
Infrastructure Committee
Members: Mayor Endicott and Kyle Blades
Meeting: 4th Thursday each month at 5:00 p.m.
Location: City Hall Conference Room B, 1st Floor
➢ Next meeting January 22, 2026
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
➢ Report from January 6, 2026
OTHER COMMITTEES, BOARDS, OR COMMISSIONS
CITY MANAGER REPORT
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS
ADJOURNMENT – 6:45 p.m.
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