TAFT CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MINUTES
MAY 16, 2023
The May 16, 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 Dave Noerr at 6:00 PM. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Noerr invocation given Chief of Police Damon McMinn.
PRESENT: Mayor Dave Noerr and Mayor Pro Tem Orchel Krier Council Members Josh Bryant, Carlos Chavira and Ronald Waldrop City Manager Craig Jones and City Attorney Jason Epperson City Clerk Yvette Mayfield
1. PROCLAMATIONS –
• COMMUNITY ACTION MONTH IN KERN COUNTY
• PUBLIC WORKS WEEK
2. CITIZEN REQUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were none.
3. COUNCIL STATEMENTS (NON-ACTION)
Council Member Waldrop gave a follow up report on a local woman who wrote a book and would be having a book signing soon and encouraged people to participate in public comment, whether in person, or submitting it in writing to the City Clerk.
Council Member Bryant talked about Memorial Day coming up and thanking those that have lost their lives serving our country, encouraged the public to use the Report a Concern feature on the City’s website and expressed his appreciation for staff.
Council Member Chavira spoke about the debt ceiling mayhem, encouraged people to educate themselves on the issues and become better informed and shared relevant quotes.
Mayor Pro Tem Krier shared about recent vandalism at the Historic Fort, the upcoming car show and cautioned everyone to be careful of the children out and about during the summer months.
Mayor Noerr gave his apologies for missing the last meeting as he was a speaker at the America’s Rural Energy Coalition National Conference in Cannonsburg, PA representing Taft and Kern County and shared about an article in a national publication featuring a photo of the Taft Oil Worker Monument.
4. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT
Planning Commissioner, Jerry Livingston, reported that their last meeting had one item, which was a public hearing for a conditional use permit (CUP) for GPS’s batch concrete plant project. The public hearing was continued to a May 18th special meeting.
5. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
There was none.
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
May 16, 2023
6. CITY MANAGER STATEMENTS
There was none.
7. CITY ATTORNEY STATEMENTS
There was none.
8. FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS
There was none.
********************************************************************************************* CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 9-17
➢ Krier removed Item 15
➢ Noerr abstained from Item 9
Motion: Moved by Bryant, seconded by Krier to approve consent calendar items 9-14, 16 & 17.
AYES: Krier, Bryant, Chavira, Waldrop, Noerr
PASSED: 5-0
9. MINUTES
May 2, 2023
Recommendation – Approve as submitted.
10. PAYMENT OF BILLS
Warrant # 042823 Check No. 97887-97900 $ 272,037.18
Warrant # 042823 Check No. 97901-97917 $ 60,116.82
Warrant # 050523 Check No. 97918-97919 $ 2,195.92
Warrant # 050523 Check No. 97920-97923 $ 40,380.72
Warrant # 051223 Check No. 97924-97935 $ 2,907.35
Warrant # 051223 Check No. 97936-97942 $ 37,151.68
Warrant # 051223 Check No. 97943-97947 $ 21,341.08
Warrant # 051223 Check No. 97948-97960 $ 57,667.18
Warrant # 051223 Check No. 97961-97984 $ 393,150.09
Recommendation – Approve payment of the bills.
11. TITLE VI PLAN UPDATE
Recommendation –
1. Motion to ratify the Cost Proposal with Moore & Associates in the amount of $7,500 and to extend the Professional Services Agreement for the Title VI Plan update for 2023; 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 16, 2023
12. APPROVAL OF SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT FOR THE TAFT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO HOST THE 15TH ANNUAL RAILS TO TRAILS CAR SHOW ON MAY 20, 2023 Recommendation –
1. Motion to approve a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT APPROVING SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT NO. 2023-04 AUTHORIZING THE TAFT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO HOST THE 15TH ANNUAL RAILS TO TRAILS CAR SHOW ALONG THE TRAIL BETWEEN 4TH AND 10TH STREETS, INCLUDING THE
CLOSURE OF SIXTH STREET BETWEEN MAIN STREET AND SUPPLY ROW ON SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2023 (Resolution No. 4185-23); and
2. Find that the activity is not a project per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as set forth in Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines.
13. ON-CALL PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE CONTRACT EXTENSION
Recommendation –
1. Motion to Authorize the Mayor to sign an agreement with Kern Asphalt Sealing & Paving Co. Inc. for on-call pavement maintenance services as outlined in attached contract; 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. AGREEMENT WITH CALIFORNIA STATE CONTROLLERS’ OFFICE (SCO) TO PREPARE
THE REQUIRED ANNUAL STREET REPORT
Recommendation –
1. Motion to authorize the Mayor to execute the Professional Services Agreement with California State Controller; 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.
16. WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT BIOSOLIDS REMOVAL PROJECT 2023 Recommendation –
1. Motion to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a contract with SYNAGRO in the amount not to exceed $315,150 for the biosolids removal project; and
2. The project is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as set forth in Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines (Existing Facilities). The removal of biosolids is a regular maintenance activity of the Taft Wastewater Treatment Facility and involves no expansion of the existing facility.
17. 2023-2024 APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT
Recommendation –
1. Motion to adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT ESTABLISHING APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT FOR 2023-2024 (Resolution No. 4187-23); 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 16, 2023
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15. MEASURE A CITIZENS’ OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FORMATION AND ADOPTION OF
GUIDELINES AND DUTIES
Motion: Moved by Bryant, seconded by Krier to:
1. Adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF TAFT CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING THE
MEASURE A CITIZENS’ OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FORMATION
AND SETTING FORTH GUIDELINES AND DUTIES OF THE
COMMITTEE (Resolution No. 4186-23); 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, Noerr
PASSED: 5-0
Krier stated that he pulled the item in order to thank the community again for the passage of Measure A which will deeply help our community and he encouraged members of the community to apply to serve on the committee.
Bryant agreed with Krier and said he expects the committee will find that the City is doing exactly what we said would be done with the funds from Measure A.
Chavira concurred with the prior comments.
Noerr also thanked the community for the passage of Measure A.
At 6:46 PM the meeting was recessed to closed session.
CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
Government Code Section 54956.9 (a) – Taft Union High School vs. City of Taft ➢ The City Council discussed in closed session those items agendized for closed session discussion and direction was given to staff and negotiators. No other reportable action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT - With no further business to conduct the meeting was adjourned at 7:36 PM. __________ ____________
Yvette Mayfield, MMC Dave Noerr
City Clerk Mayor