336 Pacific Avenue, Shafter, CA 93263
Meeting Held In-Person and Via Zoom and Livestream on YouTube.
AGENDA
SPECIAL MEETING
SHAFTER CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 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: 4:30 PM
ROLL CALL: Mayor Givens
Mayor Pro Tem Olvera
Council Member Alvarado
Council Member Espinoza
Council Member Prout
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Givens
INVOCATION: Mayor Pro Tem Olvera
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
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.
MANAGEMENT REPORT:
1. AGREEMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICER SERVICES (MARTIN A. MUELLER OF ROEMER & HARNICK LLP): Council find that the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA Guidelines; authorize the City Manager to enter into an administrative hearing officer services agreement with Martin A. Mueller of Roemer & Harnik LLP to provide administrative hearing officer services to the City of Shafter.
Shafter City Council Agenda
November 10, 2025
ROLL CALL
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., November 7, 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 4:30 PM on November 10, 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 3:00pm 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 listed on the agenda and are incorporated into the official record of the City Council meeting.
Shafter City Council Agenda
November 10, 2025
336 Pacific Avenue, Shafter, CA 93263
Meeting Held In-Person and Via Zoom and Livestream on YouTube.
NOTICE OF
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SHAFTER CITY COUNCIL
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special meeting of the City Council of the City of Shafter will be held on November 10, 2025. The meeting will convene at 4:30 PM, in the Council Chamber, 336 Pacific Avenue, Shafter, California and via teleconference and Livestream on YouTube. Said special meeting shall be for the following purpose:
MANAGEMENT REPORT:
1. AGREEMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICER SERVICES (MARTIN A. MUELLER OF ROEMER & HARNICK LLP): Council find that the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA Guidelines; authorize the City Manager to enter into an administrative hearing officer services agreement with Martin A. Mueller of Roemer & Harnik LLP to provide administrative hearing officer services to the City of Shafter.ROLL CALL Yazmina Pallares, City Clerk
Affidavit of Posting Special Meeting Notice
This is to certify that this Special Meeting Notice was posted at City Hall and the Police Department by 5:00 p.m., November 7, 2025. Further information regarding this Agenda Notice is available at City Hall, 336 Pacific Ave., Shafter, CA.
Yazmina Pallares, S/S, City Clerk Dated: November 7, 2025
MANAGEMENT REPORT
CITY OF SHAFTER
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
MEETING DATE: November 10, 2025
DEPARTMENT: Marco Martinez, City Attorney
SUBJECT: AGREEMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICER
SERVICES (MARTIN A. MUELLER OF ROEMER & HARNICK LLP)
RECOMMENDATION
Council find that the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA Guidelines; authorize the City Manager to enter into an administrative hearing officer services agreement with Martin A. Mueller of Roemer & Harnik LLP to provide administrative hearing officer services to the City of Shafter.
BACKGROUND
On August 5, 2025, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 770, titled:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SHAFTER ADOPTING
ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES FOR VIOLATIONS OF COUNCIL GOVERNANCE
NORMS AND PROTOCOLS, CITY ORDINANCES AND CHARTER PROVISIONS
AND STATE AND LOCAL LAWS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHARTER OF THE
CITY OF SHAFTER
The provisions of Ordinance No. 770 are now effective. On September 18, 2025, the Shafter City Clerk received a complaint against Councilmember Gilbert Alvarado filed by Councilmember Pete Espinoza (presumably) related to certain findings contained in the Kern County Grand Jury Report issued by the Kern County Grand Jury on June 17, 2025. Pursuant to Ordinance No. 770, the City Attorney is required to “… arrange for an independent Administrative Hearing Officer who meets the following minimum requirements to be confirmed or rejected by majority vote of the entire City Council at a meeting held within sixty (60) days of receiving the complaint…” According to Ordinance No. 770, the Administrative Hearing Officer shall conform to the following criteria:
a. Active membership with the California State Bar in good standing, not subject to current investigation;
b. Minimum of 5-10 years practice experience in California; c. Familiarity with the Administrative Adjudication Code of Ethics; d. Familiarity with the California Code of Judicial Ethics, and
AGREEMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICER SERVICES (MARTIN A. MUELLER OF
ROEMER & HARNICK LLP)
- 2 -
e. Council shall approve the Administrative Hearing Officer through resolution at a special or regular meeting.
The City Attorney’s office made several inquiries to gauge potential administrative hearing officer candidates. Those inquires resulted in a recommendation of having Martin A. Mueller of Roemer & Harnik LLP serve as Administrative Hearing Officer. Mr.
Mueller’s qualifications are in the attached letter. Importantly, Mr. Mueller has 41 years’ experience as a lawyer in California, is in good standing and is familiar with the various codes of ethics referenced in Ordinance No. 770, having served as a trial lawyer and a trial judge in tribal court matters. In addition, Mr. Mueller is familiar with the operations of cities, having previously represented several Riverside County cities.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City Council has previously budgeted additional funds for legal matters Mr. Mueller indicates his rate would be $650 per hour and other attorneys in his firm that would assist would range between $425 to $650 per hour.
CEQA ANALYSIS
The action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA Guidelines because the action is approval of an agreement for administrative hearing officer services and therefore, it is organizational and administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes to the environment and not subject to CEQA.
APPROVED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY
Yes
ATTACHMENTS
1. Shafter Letter-c1