TAFT CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY
JOINT REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 18, 2025
The March 18, 2025, 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 Ron Waldrop and the invocation was given by Pastor Lloyd Francis.
PRESENT: Mayor Dave Noerr
Council Members Orchel Krier and Ron Waldrop
City Manager Craig Jones and City Attorney Jason Epperson City Clerk Yvette Mayfield and Deputy City Clerk Faith Melton ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Bryant and Council Member Carlos Chavira
1. PROCLAMATIONS -
• AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH IN TAFT
MEASURE A CITIZEN'S OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT AND PRESENTATION Finance Director, Teresa Binkley, gave the annual presentation on behalf of the Citizen's Oversight Committee.
3. CITIZEN REQUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENTS
There was none.
4. COUNCIL STATEMENTS (NON-ACTION)
Council Member Waldrop said that the Taft Lions Club would be taking over the yard sales for Unity Thrift Rescue to continue to raise money to help the dogs and cats in the area.
Council Member Krier was happy to state that things are moving slowly but coming along nicely in the City of Taft.
Mayor Noerr mentioned that there are a lot of good changes happening and looks forward to the future. He also reminded everyone that with all the rain and sun happening to make sure to keep up with your weeds in your yard.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Police Chief Damon McMinn thanked American Red Cross for all they do and shared a story about working with them in the past. He informed the public of an operation that happened last Friday involving a task force for probation involving cities from all over the County. This operation led to 14 arrests in our community, and he stated we plan to have more.
6. CITY MANAGER STATEMENTS
City Manager Craig Jones gave good news about a successful $700,000 Grant to help repair intersections near the schools and warned that in a couple months there will be construction on San Emidio and 10th Street.
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
March 18, 2025
7. CITY ATTORNEY STATEMENTS
There was none.
8. FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS
Mayor Dave Noerr put in a request to look into cancellation of the April 15th meeting due to lack of quorum and completing all business at the April 1st meeting. ********************************************************************************************* CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 9-15
Motion: Moved by Krier seconded by Waldrop to approve consent calendar items 9-
15. AYES: Krier, Waldrop, Noerr
PASSED: 3-0
9. MINUTES
March 04, 2025
Recommendation - Approve as submitted.
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10. PAYMENT OF BILLS
Warrant # 022125 Check No. 101290-101323 $133,724.06
Warrant # 022825 Check No. 101324-101359 $132,764.00
Warrant # 022824 Check No. 101360-101374 $ 29,262.03
Warrant # 030725 Check No. 101375-101394 $266,765.17
Warrant # 031425 Check No. 101395-101445 $162,060.85
Recommendation - Approve payment of the bills.
11. UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS IN THE CITY OF TAFT
Recommendation -
Motion to adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF TAFT MAKING FINDINGS REGARDING UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS IN THE CITY OF TAFT (Resolution No. 4288-25) 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. FUNDING TO THE TAFT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR THE QUARTER OF JULY 2024 TO SEPTEMBER 2024
Recommendation -
Motion to approve the 25% allocation of the Transient Occupancy Tax to the Taft Chamber of Commerce for the quarter of July 2024 through September 2024 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.
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
March 18, 2025
13. FUNDING TO THE TAFT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR THE QUARTER OF OCTOBER 2024 TO DECEMBER 2024
Recommendation -
Motion to approve the 25% allocation of the Transient Occupancy Tax to the Taft Chamber of Commerce for the quarter of October 2024 through December 2024 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.
14. LOW CARBON TRANSIT OPERATION PROGRAM (LCTOP) FY 2024-25 CERTIFICATIONS
AND ASSURANCES AND AUTHORIZED AGENT FORMS FOR ZERO-EMISSION TRANSIT Recommendation -
Motion to adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF TAFT AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE CERTIFICATIONS AND ASSURANCES
AND AUTHORIZED AGENT FORMS FOR THE LOW CARBON TRANSIT OPERATIONS PROGRAM (LCTOP) FY2024-25 FOR THE FOLLOWING PROJECT: PURCHASE OF ZERO- EMISSION TRANSIT BUS USING $24,385 IN LCTOP FUNDS (Resolution No. 4289-25) 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.
15. THE PURCHASE OF (20) 9MM GLOCK MODEL 45 PISTOLS WITH RED DOT TRIJICON RMR SIGHTS, (15) TLR-7X 500 LUM MINI LIGHTS, (20) SAFARILAND RETENTION III HOLSTERS FOR TAFT POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Recommendation -
Motion to accept the sole source quote provided by Pro-Force in the amount of $26,177.79 and authorize the Chief of Police to sign and accept the quote 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.
******************************************************************************************** At 6:39 PM the regular meeting was recessed to closed session.
CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (1 undisclosed cases) Government Code Section 54956.9 (b)
B. 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 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 7:05 PM. salt mie
Faith Melton Dave Noerr
Deputy City Clerk Mayor