336 Pacific Avenue, Shafter, CA 93263
Meeting Held In-Person and Via Zoom and Livestream on YouTube.
AGENDA
SPECIAL MEETING
SHAFTER CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2026
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: 4:00 PM
ROLL CALL: Mayor Givens
Mayor Pro Tem Olvera
Council Member Alvarado
Council Member Espinoza
Council Member Prout
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. DISCUSSION ON LOCAL SALES TAX REFERENDUM: Council receive and file.
This item is for discussion purposes only.
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
Shafter City Council Agenda
January 20, 2026
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., January 16, 2026. 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 4:00 PM on January 20, 2026 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
January 20, 2026
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 January 20, 2026. The meeting will convene at 4:00 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. DISCUSSION ON LOCAL SALES TAX REFERENDUM: Council receive and file. This item is for discussion purposes only.
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., January 16, 2026. Further information regarding this Agenda Notice is available at City Hall, 336 Pacific Ave., Shafter, CA.
Yazmina Pallares, S/S, City Clerk Dated: January 16, 2026
MANAGEMENT REPORT
CITY OF SHAFTER
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
MEETING DATE: January 20, 2026
DEPARTMENT: Michael James, Assistant City Manager, Rogelio Sanchez, Finance Director
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION ON LOCAL SALES TAX REFERENDUM
RECOMMENDATION
Council receive and file. This item is for discussion purposes only.
BACKGROUND
At the December 16, 2025 City Council meeting, an item proposing professional services agreements related to sales tax initiative outreach was pulled from the agenda at the request of the Mayor prior to Council consideration or discussion. In response, and to support transparent community engagement on the matter, Staff now recommends conducting a public workshop to initiate dialogue on a potential local sales tax measure for the November 2026 ballot.
The workshop is intended as a conceptual discussion and will include a Staff presentation outlining a potential local sales tax and other revenue-generating alternatives aimed at maintaining existing service levels at a time when traditional revenue sources have come under increasing strain. The City continues to face fiscal pressures related to growth, infrastructure demands, and long-term service needs. No Council action is being requested at this time. Feedback gathered during the workshop will help inform future agenda items. These may include requests for Council authority to award professional services agreements to support the development of a proactive and transparent public engagement process as a first step prior to any formal consideration of a revenue measure.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. The proposed workshop will be conducted using existing staff resources and does not require any new appropriations.
CEQA ANALYSIS
This item does not require discretionary action as it is for discussion purposes only.
Therefore, it does not trigger CEQA review.
APPROVED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY
DISCUSSION ON LOCAL SALES TAX REFERENDUM
- 2 -
Not Applicable
ATTACHMENTS
None