TAFT CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MINUTES
AUGUST 20, 2024
The August 20, 2024, 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 Council Member Krier, and invocation was given by Pastor John Getty.
PRESENT: Mayor Dave Noerr and Mayor Pro Tem Orchel Krier Council Members Josh Bryant, Carlos Chavira and Ron Waldrop City Manager Craig Jones and City Attorney Jason Epperson City Clerk Yvette Mayfield
1. PUBLIC HEARING - AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CITY OF TAFT TO SUBMIT THE DRAFT HOUSING ELEMENT 2023-2031 (GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 2023-01) TO THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
FOR A FORMAL REVIEW
Motion: Moved by Bryant, seconded by Krier to table this item until the next regular City Council meeting on September 3, 2024.
AYES: Krier, Bryant, Chavira, Waldrop, Noerr
PASSED: 5-0
2. CITIZEN REQUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENTS
There was none.
3. COUNCIL STATEMENTS (NON-ACTION)
Council Member Bryant encouraged those that can to avoid the areas around schools during drop-off and pick-up times, mentioned the first events of the sports season and talked about the celebration of the 100th season of football at Taft High School happening this year.
Council Member Chavira encouraged parents to have their children in activities as the local youth is eager to learn and be involved and he shared two relevant quotes.
Mayor Noerr talked about truth and trust of elected officials, sharing a video of the Governor in one of his appearances stating to one of his constituents that California has one of the lowest electricity rates out of all the states, and he requested people to fact check that if they did not believe it. Noerr in order to fact check, provided the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) rates for all the states that shows that California actually has one of the highest energy rates of all the states.
3. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
There was none.
4. CITY MANAGER STATEMENTS
There was none
5. CITY ATTORNEY STATEMENTS
There was none.
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
August 20, 2024
6. FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS
Bryant requested the Council consider an item to change the time or date of the 9/17 meeting in order to allow for Council Members and staff to be able to attend the California for Energy and Science Back to School Night at the Fox that is being held at the same time. Waldrop concurred and City Clerk Mayfield stated that she would bring an item back to the 9/3 meeting to consider.
********************************************************************************************* CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 7-12
Noerr pulled Item #12
Motion: Moved by Bryant, seconded by Chavira to approve consent calendar items 7-
11. AYES: Krier, Bryant, Chavira, Waldrop, Noerr
PASSED: 5-0
7. MINUTES
August 6, 2024, Regular
August 13, 2024, Special
Recommendation – Approve as submitted.
8. PAYMENT OF BILLS
Warrant # 080924A Check No. 100254-100262 $ 41,541.42
Warrant # 081624A Check No. 100263-100269 $ 47,464.70
Warrant # 081624 Check No. 100270-100335 $1,051,398.39
Recommendation – Approve payment of the bills.
9. CANCELLATION OF NOVEMBER 5, 2024 ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF INCUMBENT
NOMINEES
Recommendation - Motion to adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT TO THE OFFICES OF THIS CITY THAT WERE TO BE ELECTED ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024 AND CANCEL SAID ELECTION. (Resolution No. 4254-24)
10. ACCEPT THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BID AND AWARD THE TDA ARTICLE 3 - PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS - 10TH STREET & 4TH STREET PROJECT TO J.L. PLANK, INC. dba CEN-CAL CONSTRUCTION
Recommendation - Motion to accept the lowest responsible bid, award the project and to execute a construction agreement with J.L. Plank, Inc. dba Cen-Cal Construction in the amount of $224,500.00 for the TDA Article 3 - Pedestrian Improvements - 10th Street & 4th Street Project and authorize the City Mayor to execute the construction agreement and 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.
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
August 20, 2024
11. APPROVAL OF MEMORADUM OF AGREEMENTS AND EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION PLANS
Recommendation - Motion to adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT APPROVING THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENTS
AND EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION PLANS AND UPDATING THE CITY SALARY CHART FOR:
1. THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION (SEIU LOCAL 521)
2. THE TAFT POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
3. MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY/CONFIDENTIAL COMPENSATION PLAN
4. DEPARTMENT HEAD BENEFITS COMPENSATION PLAN (Resolution No. 4255-24) And 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. *********************************************************************************************
12. MONTHLY REPORT FOR KERN COUNTY FIRE STATION NO. 21 - JULY 2024 Motion: Moved by Bryant, seconded by Krier to receive and file the monthly report for July 2024 from Kern County Fire Station No. 21 and 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
Noerr stated that he pulled this item in order to have Kern County Fire Division Chief, Cary Wright, who was in attendance, give the report and share some about the local fires.
At 6:39 PM the meeting was recessed in order to hold the Annual Taft Public Financing Authority (TPFA) meeting.
At 6:42 PM the meeting was reconvened and at 6:43 PM the regular meeting recessed to closed session.
CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR, CRAIG JONES, CITY MANAGER Government Code 54957.6 – All units
ADJOURNMENT
The City Council discussed in closed session those items agendized for closed session discussion and directions were given to negotiators and staff. No other reportable action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT - With no further business to conduct the meeting was adjourned at 7:23 PM. __________ ____________
Yvette Mayfield, MMC Dave Noerr
City Clerk Mayor