RIDGECREST CITY COUNCIL
SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
FINANCING AUTHORITY
HOUSING AUTHORITY
MINUTES
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 Special Session – 5:00 p.m.
Closed Session – 5:10 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; Council Member Gorman; Council Member Hayman
Absent: Vice Mayor Rajaratnam
Staff Present: City Attorney M. Koczanowicz; City Manager Reed; City Clerk Charlon APPROVAL OF AGENDA - Motion To Approve – Blades – Gorman – 4 ayes; 1 absent
DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS
1. Approval Of Consulting Services Agreement With Mr. Ron Strand To Assist As Needed With The Groundwater Adjudications And Upcoming Mediation Attorney / Reed Public Comment – M. Neel
Motion To Approve – Blades - Hayman – 3 ayes; 1 no (Gorman); 1 absent
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION
CLOSED SESSION – 5:25 p.m.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - Existing Litigation (GC Sec. 54956.9) Mojave Pistachios, LLC v Indian Wells Valley Water District, et al.
Orange County Superior Court Case No. 30-2021-01187275-CU-OR-CJC REGULAR SESSION – 6:36 p.m.
ATTORNEY REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION – Mayor Endicott will be the representative for GA mediation
PRESENTATION
2. Safely Surrendered Baby Awareness Proclamation Council PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA – M. Licitra; M. Neel; S. Whiting; M.
Sinnott
COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS/DIRECTION
MINUTES - CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY / FINANCING AUTHORITY / HOUSING AUTHORITY REGULAR – February 4, 2026
CONSENT CALENDAR
3. Proposed Action To Approve Draft Minutes Of The Ridgecrest City Council Charlon
4. Approve A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Ridgecrest, California, Requesting The Board Of Supervisors Of The County Of Kern To Consolidate A General Municipal Election To Be Held On June 2, 2026, With The Statewide Primary Election To Be Held On That Date, Pursuant To §10403 Of The Elections Code Charlon Motion To Approve – Blades - Hayman – 4 ayes; 1 absent
DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS
5. Approval Of An At-Will Employment Agreement For Professional Services For City Manager With Travis Reed Attorney
Motion To Approve – Blades - Gorman – 4 ayes; 1 absent
6. A Resolution To Approve A Surplus Police Vehicle Donation Agreement Between The City Of Ridgecrest And The Friends Of The Fair Ysit
Public Comment - None
Motion To Approve – Hayman - Blades – 4 ayes; 1 absent
ORDINANCES
7. Adoption Of A Resolution And Introduction And First Reading Of An Ordinance Amending The Ridgecrest Municipal Code To Clarify That Any Term Of Service On The Council That Is More Than Two Years Counts As A Full Term For Purposes Of Term Limits And To Change Mayoral Term From Two To Four Years And Placing The Measures On The Election Ballot For June 2, 2026 Election Attorney
Public Comment – L. Horny, T. Wiknich, M. Neel, A. Gross, M. Sinnott, S. Whiting Motion to Approve A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Ridgecrest, California, Calling For The General Municipal Election To Be Held On Tuesday, June 2, 2026 For The Submission To The Voters A Question Relating To Local Ballot Measure Clarifying And Resetting The Terms Of Office For Council Members And Resetting And Changing The Term Of Elected Mayor with the change of wording as follows: In order to correct an ambiguity, shall the City of Ridgecrest Municipal Code be amended to change term limits from 8 consecutive years to two 4-year terms, and provide, for purposes of term limits, that any council member appointed to a partial term of more than two years shall be deemed to have served a full term for the purposes of determining term limits? Gorman - Hayman – 4 ayes; 1 absent
Motion To Introduce An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Ridgecrest Amending The Ridgecrest Municipal Code To Provide For 4-year Term For An Elected Mayor, Set Term Limits At Two Terms And Clarifying A Term Calculation For An Appointed Council Member Gorman - Hayman – 4 ayes; 1 absent
Motion To Waive Reading In Full Of An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Ridgecrest Amending The Ridgecrest Municipal Code To Provide For 4-year Term For An Elected Mayor, Set Term Limits At Two Terms And Clarifying A Term Calculation For An Appointed Council Member Gorman - Hayman – 4 ayes; 1 absent
MINUTES - CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY / FINANCING AUTHORITY / HOUSING AUTHORITY REGULAR – February 4, 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 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
➢ Report from January 22, 2026 / January 29, 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 February 3, 2026
OTHER COMMITTEES, BOARDS, OR COMMISSIONS
CITY MANAGER REPORT
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS
ADJOURNMENT – 8:03 p.m.