336 Pacific Avenue, Shafter, CA 93263
Meeting Held In-Person and Via Zoom and Livestream on YouTube.
AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING
SHAFTER CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 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 Alvarado
INVOCATION: Mayor Givens
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
PRESENTATION:
1. Shafter High School Varsity Girls Tennis
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
December 16, 2025
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: November 26, 2025, November 26, 2025, November 26, 2025, December 9, 2025, December 10, 2025, December 11, 2025.
2. Approve Payroll: November 5, 2025, November 19, 2025, November 25, 2025, November 26, 2025, December 10, 2025.
3. Council find the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines; and accept the Treasurer’s Report for October 2025.
4. Council find the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines; adopt Resolution No. 3052, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Shafter authorizing wages and related benefits for Non-Represented Full-time Employees for the period of January 3, 2026, through December 31, 2026; and authorize a budget amendment in the amount of $104,000 for Fiscal Year 25/26.
5. Council find the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines; adopt Resolution No. 3053, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Shafter authorizing wages and related benefits for Non-Represented Part-time and Extra-Help Employees for the period of January 3, 2026, through December 31, 2026.
6. Council find the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(2) of the CEQA Guidelines; ratify the MOU between the City and SEIU L521 for the period of January 3, 2026, to December 31, 2028; and authorize a budget amendment in the amount of $100,000 for Fiscal Year 25/26.
7. Council find action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA Guidelines; approve and adopt the revised Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Federal Transit Administration Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy.
8. Council, serving as the Successor Agency to the Former Shafter Community Development Agency, find the proposed action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b) (4) of the CEQA Guidelines; and adopt Resolution 3054, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Shafter serving as the Board of Directors of the Successor Agency to the Dissolved Shafter Community Development Agency, Approving and Adopting a Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule Covering the Period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 34177(l) And (m).
9. Council, serving as the Successor Agency to the Former Shafter Community Development Agency, find the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines; and adopt Resolution 3055, a Resolution of Shafter City Council Agenda
December 16, 2025
the City Council of the City of Shafter serving as the Successor Agency to the Dissolved Shafter Community Development Agency, Approving and Adopting a Proposed Administrative Budget for the Period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 34177(j).
10. Council find that the action is not defined as a “project” under Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines; declare the list of equipment in this item as surplus property; authorize the sale or disposal of said items through a public sale process or auction as necessary.
11. Council find the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines; authorize the Finance Director or Public Works Director to sign the Delegated Maintenance Agreement with the Department of Transportation, increasing cost reimbursement collected annually from $2,739.10 to $11,268 for the service of street sweeping for the route Central Valley Highway from E. Euclid Ave to W. Tulare Ave. A length of Approximately 0.85 miles (1.5 curb miles).
12. Council find the action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act; approve request for proposal documents for the drilling of Well No. 22 and No. 23; and authorize the release of said projects for formal bid purposes.
13. Council find that the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA Guidelines; accept the public improvements completed for the Shafter Aquatic Center Improvement Project (CIP PF00002); authorize the Deputy Public Works Director to file a Notice of Completion and acceptance of work for said improvements.
14. Council find the action is not defined as a “project” per section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines; introduce for second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 773, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Shafter, California, Acting in its Capacity as the Legislative Body of the City of Shafter Community Facilities District No. 0815, County of Kern, State of California, Authorizing the Levy of a Special Tax in Such Community Facilities District, Including Certain Annexation Territory Identified as Annexation No. 1.
15. Council find the action is not defined as a "project" under Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines; accept the low bid from S&B Sons, Inc. in the amount of $341,110.23 for the Shafter Library & Learning Center Chess Garden Project; and approve a budget amendment to increase project funding by $100,000 (to $350,000 total) from General Fund Reserves.
16. Council find the action is not defined as a “project” per Section 15378(b)(2) of the CEQA Guidelines; approve and adopt the revised Shafter Library & Learning Center (SLLC) Privacy Policy, attached to this report.
MANAGEMENT REPORT:
1. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WITH STUDENT COUNCILS: Council find that the action is not defined as a “project” under Section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA Guidelines; approve the invitation for student councils from Grow Academy, Richland Junior High, and a subset of Shafter High School (6 students) to meet with City staff, shadow City Council at a meeting, receive City polo shirts, and participate in a trip to Sacramento to meet elected officials and tour the Capitol. Confirm that this expenditure does not constitute a gift of public funds.
Shafter City Council Agenda
December 16, 2025
ROLL CALL
2. ADOPT URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 774 TO AMEND TITLE 17 (ZONING ORDINANCE) SECTION 11.200 RELATING TO ACCESSORY DWELLING
UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS TO COMPLY WITH RECENT CHANGES IN STATE LAW: That the Shafter City Council (1) Waive full reading and adopt by title only Urgency Ordinance No. 774, an Urgency Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Shafter, California, amending Title 17 (Zoning Ordinance) Section 11.200 of the Shafter Municipal Code relating to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) to comply with recent changes in state law, and (2) find that the adoption of the proposed urgency ordinance is statutorily exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per Public Resources Code Section 21080.17.
ROLL CALL
3. FIRE SERVICES FEASIBILITY STUDY AWARD: Council find that the action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act; approve the award of a professional services agreement to Matrix Consulting Group to conduct the Cost Study for the Implementation of a Municipal Fire Department; authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement, including optional public engagement services and any amendments thereto, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney; and authorize a total budget appropriation not to exceed $75,000 from the General Fund for this purpose.
ROLL CALL
4. DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION ON ANNUAL DISCRETIONARY ALLOCATION OF $4,000 (DIRECT)/$25,000 (IN-KIND) PER COUNCIL MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS: Council find that the action is not defined as a "project" per Section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines; that the City Council should discuss and provide direction to the management team on the preferred approach.
ROLL CALL
5. SALES TAX INITIATIVE PUBLIC OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT: Council find the action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act; authorize the City Manager to execute a professional services agreement with CiviSocial for communications training and engagement services in an amount not to exceed $20,000; and authorize the City Manager to execute a separate professional services agreement with Polco for digital engagement platform services in an amount not to exceed $10,000.
ROLL CALL
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND REPORTS:
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND REPORTS:
RECESS:
CLOSED SESSION:
1. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: Pursuant to California Government Code, Section 54957. Title: City Manager.
Shafter City Council Agenda
December 16, 2025
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION: Pursuant to California Government Code, Section 54956.9 Name of Case: Coalition for Clean Air. Case IDs 25CUB00652. Kern County Superior Court.
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., December 12, 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 December 16, 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 listed on the agenda and are incorporated into the official record of the City Council meeting.