336 Pacific Avenue, Shafter, CA 93263
Meeting Held In-Person and Via Zoom and Livestream on YouTube.
AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING
SHAFTER CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2025
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC:
Any documents produced by the City and distributed to a majority of the City Council regarding any item on this agenda will be made available in the City Clerk’s Office during normal business hours at City Hall located at 336 Pacific Avenue, Shafter CA. In addition, such documents will be posted on the City’s website at www.shafter.com.
CALL TO ORDER: 6:00 PM
ROLL CALL: Mayor Givens
Mayor Pro Tem Olvera
Council Member Alvarado
Council Member Espinoza
Council Member Prout
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council Member Espinoza
INVOCATION: Mayo Pro Tem Olvera
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
PRESENTATION:
1. Proclamation: Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2025 PUBLIC COMMENT:
Those persons wishing to speak on any item included on the agenda, or on any matter within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council, are invited to speak from the podium and address the City Council. Speakers are limited to five minutes unless additional time is needed for translation. Please state your name and address for the record before making your presentation.
COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS:
On their own initiative, Council Members may make a brief announcement or a brief report on their own activities. Council Members may ask a question for clarification, make a referral to staff, or take action to have staff place a matter of business on a Shafter City Council Agenda
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future agenda. No formal action by the Council will be taken unless an item is identified on the Agenda.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
All items on the consent calendar are considered routine and non-controversial by staff and will be approved by one motion if no member of the Council or public wishes to comment or ask questions. If comment or discussion is desired by anyone, the item will be removed from the consent calendar and will be considered in the listed sequence with an opportunity for any member of the public to address the Council concerning the item before action is taken.
1. Approve General Checks: October 3, 2025, October 7, 2025, October 16, 2025.
2. Approve Payroll: October 1, 2025, October 3, 2025.
3. Approve Certificate of Recognition: Lideres Campesinas del comite de Kern Norte.
4. Council find the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines; and approve the annual renewal of the Arctic Wolf Security as a Service contract in the amount of $58,391.61.
5. Council find the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines; authorize the City Manager to add an Assistant Chief position within the Shafter Police Department’s organizational structure as part of the operating budget.
6. Council find the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines; and approve and authorize the Chief of Police to enter into a three-year contractual agreement with California Highway Patrol for the use of the Weapons Shooting Range.
7. Council find that the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines; adopt Resolution No. 3047, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Shafter, authorizing appropriation of funds to pay the City of Shafter’s annual allocation to the Kern Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).
8. Council find that the action is not defined as a “project” under Section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA Guidelines; and adopt Resolution No. 3048, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Shafter, authorizing the City Manager or Designee to add and fund a Transit Driver Position (Full-Time or Part-Time) to support increased ridership and service reliability within the Shafter Transit System.
9. Council find that the action is not defined as a “project” under Section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA Guidelines; approve the addition of one full-time position within the Finance Department to strengthen operational capacity, enhance analytical and compliance functions, and expand strategic initiatives; and authorize staff to fund the position through existing and proportionally allocated enterprise and operating funds, with minimal impact to the General Fund and inclusion in the next budget cycle.
10. Council find that the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines; approve a budget adjustment in the amount of $230,000 to the Legal Services appropriation for FY 2025–26, increasing the total budget from Shafter City Council Agenda
October 21, 2025
$834,000 to $1,064,000; and authorize the Finance Director to allocate funds as necessary to support ongoing and emerging legal matters.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Should anyone challenge any proposed action which is the subject of a public hearing listed on this agenda, that person challenging any action taken after the public hearing may be limited to raising only those issues addressed at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City Council at or prior to this public hearing.
1. GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 23-39 AND ZONE CHANGE NO. 23-72:
Staff recommends your Council conduct hearing to consider General Plan Amendment (GPA) No. 23-39 and Zone Change (ZC) No. 23-72 and:
1. Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project;
2. Approve Resolution No. 3046 approving GPA No. 23-39; and
3. Introduce for first reading, by title only, and waive reading of Ordinance No. 772 approving ZC No. 23-72.
The GPA amends the City of Shafter General Plan land use designation for the property from LDR (Low Density Residential) to MHDR (Medium High Density Residential). The ZC changes the zone district under Title 17 of the Shafter Municipal Code from R-1 (Low Density Residential) to R-3 (Medium High Density Residential) of an approximately 8.72-acre parcel (Assessor’s Parcel Number 028- 180-57) located at the northeast corner of Birch Street and East Los Angeles Avenue.
Should Council decline the project, staff recommends that $9 million from reserves be allocated to cover potential state fines and the legal defense for the City.,
ROLL CALL
MANAGEMENT REPORT:
1. RESIDENT ACCESS TO DATA ON POLICE ACTIVITIES VIA CITIZEN RIMS COMMUNITY PORTAL: Council find the item does not require CEQA review, as the action is a demonstration of the Citizen RIMS community portal; receive and file presentation.
ROLL CALL
2. POLICE MOTOR UNIT PROGRAM APPROVAL AND FUNDING FOR SAID PROGRAM COSTS: Council find the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines; approve purchase of training cost, motor officer uniform, protective equipment, and two (2) BMW police motorcycles with a total estimated cost of $101,729.06.
ROLL CALL
3. CHESS GARDEN PROJECT CHANGE OF FUNDING SOURCE: Council find the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines; approve a budget amendment in the amount of $250,000 from General Shafter City Council Agenda
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Fund Reserves to add the Shafter Library & Learning Center Chess Garden Project to the Capital Improvement Plan and Direct staff to proceed with advertising the project for public bid in accordance with the City of Shafter procurement policies.
ROLL CALL
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND REPORTS:
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND REPORTS:
RECESS:
CLOSED SESSION:
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS: Pursuant to California Government Code, Section 54957.6 Agency Representative: Lance Lippincott, City Manager. Employee Organization: Shafter Police Officers Association and Shafter Public Works Unit, SEIU Local 521.
ADJOURNMENT:
Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in a City Council Meeting, please contact the City Clerk at (661) 746-5000 at least three (3) days prior to the meeting or time the special services are needed to allow City staff in making reasonable arrangements to provide you with access to the meeting. Any public record, relating to an open session agenda item, that is distributed within 72 hours prior to the meeting is available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s Office at Shafter City Hall, 336 Pacific Ave., Shafter, CA 93263. This is to certify that this Agenda notice was posted at City Hall and Police Dept. by 5:00 p.m., October 16, 2025. Yazmina Pallares, S/S, City Clerk
REMOTE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS ALLOWED IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS, SEE BELOW FOR INSTRUCTIONS.
1. You are strongly encouraged to observe the City Council meetings live via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/CityofShafter/
2. If you wish to make a comment on a specific agenda item or public comment, please submit your comment via email by 6:00 PM on October 21, 2025 to the City Clerk at [email protected]
3. If you wish to make a written comment to the City Clerk, 336 Pacific Avenue, Shafter, CA 93263.
4. If you wish to make a comment during the live meeting, callers must first register with the City Clerk at 661-746-5012 before the meeting begins to receive instructions and the call- in number and code. Please call by 5:00pm on the Monday prior to the City Council meeting to allow ample time for sign up. You will need to provide your name, phone number and the item number you wish to address.
5. All public comments are provided to the City Council and applicable Staff, for review and consideration by the Board prior to taking action on any matters Shafter City Council Agenda
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listed on the agenda and are incorporated into the official record of the City Council meeting.