TAFT CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MINUTES
MAY 2, 2023
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The May 2, 2023, regular joint meeting of the Taft City Council/Taft Successor Agency, held in the Council Chamber at Taft City Hall, 209 East Kern Street, Taft, CA 93268, was opened by Mayor Pro Tem Orchel Krier at 6:00 PM. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council Member Chavira and invocation given by Greg Mudge.
PRESENT: Mayor Pro Tem Orchel Krier
Council Members Josh Bryant, Carlos Chavira and Ronald Waldrop City Manager Craig Jones and City Clerk Yvette Mayfield ABSENT: Mayor Dave Noerr
1. PROCLAMATIONS –
• 54TH ANNIVERSARY OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK
• PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY AND POLICE WEEK
• BUILDING SAFETY MONTH
2. CITIZEN REQUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENTS
Dr. Kathy Orrin, Executive Director of the Taft Chamber of Commerce, shared about the State of the City held in April and about upcoming events.
Rene Adamo from the West Side Recreation and Parks District spoke about the upcoming Derby at the Fox.
Tony Renteria of Bike Bakersfield talked about May being Bike Month and shared about some upcoming events in Taft.
3. COUNCIL STATEMENTS (NON-ACTION)
Council Member Waldrop shared about a former Taft resident who has recently wrote a book and will be coming to Taft in the future for a book signing.
Council Member Bryant reported on the Kern Economic Development Corporation Board meeting that was hosted by Taft and the Valley Wide Special City Selection Committee meeting he attended.
Council Member Chavira spoke about the importance of being informed Americans and shared three quotes.
Mayor Pro Tem Krier talked about the many things going on locally and gave a shout out to the Taft Petroleum Club.
4. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT
Planning Commissioner, Jerry Livingston, reported that the Planning Commission is continuing to review the Housing Element update to the General Plan.
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
May 2, 2023
5. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Police Chief, Damon McMinn, shared police department statistics for the month of April.
6. CITY MANAGER STATEMENTS
There was none.
7. CITY ATTORNEY STATEMENTS
There was none.
8. FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS
There was none.
********************************************************************************************* CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 9-16
Krier remove Item 11
Motion: Moved by Bryant, seconded by Waldrop to approve consent calendar items 9,10 & 12-16.
AYES: Krier, Bryant, Chavira, Waldrop
PASSED: 4-0
9. MINUTES
April 18, 2023
Recommendation – Approve as submitted.
10. PAYMENT OF BILLS
Warrant # 042823 Check No. 97843-97851 $ 13,983.42
Warrant # 042823 Check No. 97869-97886 $ 183,859.22
Recommendation – Approve payment of the bills.
12. APPLICATION TO THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT NEW
ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE PURCHASE GRANT PROGRAM
Recommendation –
1. Motion to adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF TAFT APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION TO THE SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT PUBLIC BENEFIT GRANTS
PROGRAM UNDER THE NEW ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE PURCHASE PROGRAM AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS and City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
May 2, 2023
authorize the sale of the four (4) previously purchased plug in vehicles. (Resolution No. 4182-23)
2. Find that the activity is not a project per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as set forth in Section 15060(c)(3) and Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines.
13. STREET CLOSURES FOR THE 2023 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CAR SHOW Recommendation –
1. Motion to adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT AUTHORIZING THE STREET CLOSURES FOR THE 2023 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CAR SHOW (Resolution No. 4183-23); and
2. Find that the activity is not a project per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as set forth in Section 15060(c)(3) and Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines.
14. ACCEPT NOTICE OF RESIGNATION TO THE WEST SIDE MOSQUITO AND VECTOR
CONTROL DISTRICT BOARD
Recommendation –
1. Motion to accept notice of resignation from Roy House and instruct the City Clerk’s office to recruit for the unscheduled vacancy.
2. Find that the activity is not a project per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as set forth in Section 15060(c)(3) and Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines.
15. APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER TO THE 2023 POLICE DEPARTMENT INTERIOR
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR CARPET REPLACEMENT IN THE ADJACENT MCCF ENTRY,
ADMINISTRATION AND LOBBY AREAS
Recommendation –
1. Motion to approve the change orders to the 2023 Taft Police Department Interior Improvement Project totaling $56,312.50.
2. Find that the activity is not a project per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as set forth in Section 15061(b)(3) and Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines.
16. APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE CITY’S SEWER SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLAN (SSMP) AND THE CITY’S SANITARY SEWER SPILL EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN Recommendation –
1. Motion to adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT APPROVING AND ADOPTING CITY’S SEWER SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLAN (SSMP) AND THE CITY’S SANITARY SEWER SPILL EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN (Resolution No. 4184-23); and.
2. Find that the activity is not a project per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as set forth in Section 15060(c)(3) and Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines.
********************************************************************************************* City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
May 2, 2023
11. REVIEW AND ADOPTION OF A REWARD POLICY FOR CITY OF TAFT Motion: Moved by Bryant, seconded by Waldrop to:
1. Adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF TAFT APPROVING THE ISSUANCE OF A FIVE
THOUSAND DOLLAR ($5,000) REWARD FOR INFORMATION
LEADING TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF ANYONE
CONVICTED OF ARSON AND/OR ANY CRIME AGAINST LOCAL
PROPERTIES THAT JEOPARDIZES PUBLIC SAFETY AND ENDANGERS LIVES (Resolution No. 4181-23); and
2. Find that the activity is not a project per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as set forth in Section 15060(c)(3) and Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines.
AYES: Krier, Bryant, Chavira, Waldrop
PASSED: 4-0
Krier said that he thought it was great that Bryant brought this item forward, and asked if there would be any increments of the $5,000 or lesser amounts offered. City Manager Jones said that there was no incremental breakdown, offered a little more clarification to the process and shared that it is just another tool to assist the police and fire departments in their investigations.
Bryant shared that he requested the item as he doesn’t believe that the City can sit idly by without taking some action to assist and sees this reward as an investment and a win/win for everyone if solid information is received and prosecution is made.
CLOSED SESSION
C. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
Government Code Section 54956.9 (a) – Taft Union High School vs. City of Taft Closed session was cancelled
ADJOURNMENT - With no further business to conduct the meeting was adjourned at 7:18 PM. __________ ____________
Yvette Mayfield, MMC Dave Noerr
City Clerk Mayor