TAFT CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY
JOINT REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MAY 6, 2025
The May 6, 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 Scouts Troop 1 and the invocation was given by Pastor Sean Peifer.
PRESENT: Mayor Dave Noerr and Mayor Pro Tem Josh Bryant Council Members Carlos Chavira, Orchel Krier and Ron Waldrop City Manager Craig Jones and City Attorney Jason Epperson City Clerk Yvette Mayfield and Deputy City Clerk Faith Melton
1. PIN LIEUTENANT BRIAN MCLURE
2. PROCLAMATIONS -
• TAFT LIONS CLUB 80TH ANNIVERSARY
• GIVE BIG KERN "GIVING DAY"
• PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY AND POLICE WEEK
• CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEES' WEEK • BUILDING SAFETY MONTH
• NATIONAL NURSES WEEK
• 56TH ANNIVERSARY OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK
3. CITIZEN REQUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENTS
There was none.
4. COUNCIL STATEMENTS (NON-ACTION)
Council Member Krier expressed concerns about the cost of insurance, gave information on Taft Petroleum Club industry night being every first Wednesday of the month and invited all to the Taft Chamber Car show on May 17th and West Kern Oil Museum Pioneer Days on May 10th.
Council Member Waldrop thanked everyone and said he is proud to be a part of Taft.
Council Member Chavira stated it was good to see how many people attended the meeting in person and thanked the public for attending on behalf of the Council.
Mayor Pro Tem Bryant urged everyone to sign up for the Taft Chamber Car Show on May 17th and to shop local. He gave props to the Bank Sports Lounge for offering a 10% discount to anyone who shops local and mentioned the Westside Christian Ministers Association has some big things coming. He gave warning that if people watching the Council meetings on cable TV have no sound, to contact Spectrum.
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
May 6, 2025
Mayor Noerr thanked everyone for joining and thanked everyone for their service to Taft.
PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT
Planning Commissioner Livingston reported they have approved two Conditional Use Permits, one for a warehouse for General Petroleum Services and one for a water and ice vendor building on 10th Street.
6. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
There was none.
7. CITY MANAGER STATEMENTS
There was none.
8. CITY ATTORNEY STATEMENTS
There was none.
9. FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS
Krier requested staff to research the Cal Fire Firewise program to possibly mitigate local insurance costs. Council Member Waldrop concurred.
Krier explained he would like to see more growth and improvement in downtown Taft and requested an agenda item be provided pertaining to code enforcement activity. Bryant concurred.
******************************************************************************************* CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 10-23
• Bryant pulled item 13.
MOTION: Moved by Krier, seconded by Bryant to approve consent calendar items 10- 12 and 14-23
AYES: Krier, Bryant, Waldrop, Chavira, Noerr
PASSED: 5-0
10. MINUTES
April 01, 2025 Regular
April 10, 2025 State of the City Program
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
May 6, 2025
Recommendation - Approve as submitted.
11. PAYMENT OF BILLS
Warrant # 032825 Check No. 101464-101524 $ 269,252.82
Warrant #050225 Check No. 101525 $2,800,000.00
Warrant # 040425 Check No. 200001-200022 $ 67,508.74
Warrant # 041125 Check No. 200023-200064 $ 217,013.60
Warrant # 041825 Check No. 200065-200083 $ 76,995.88
Warrant # 042525 Check No. 200084-200161 $ 680,535.60
Warrant # 050225 Check No. 200162-200171 $ 53,830.93
Recommendation - Approve payment of the bills.
12. ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES - POLICY NO. 217 UNCLAIMED AND
UNCASHED CHECKS
Recommendation -
Motion to adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT ADOPTING POLICY NO. 217 OF THE CITY OF TAFT ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES
AND PROCEDURES MANUAL RELATING TO UNCLAIMED AND UNCASHED CHECKS (Resolution No. 4291-25) 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.
14. UPDATING AND ESTABLISHING USER AND REGULATORY FEES
Recommendation -
Direct staff to apply the regional cost inflation factor of 3.3% and proceed with the Fiscal Year 2025/26 fee schedule update as presented 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. MONTHLY REPORT FOR KERN COUNTY FIRE STATION NO. 21 - MARCH 2025 Recommendation -
Receive and file the monthly report for March 2025 from Kern County Fire Station No. 21 ano 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. APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURES FOR THE STATE SEWER SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLAN
AUDIT AND UPDATE
Recommendation -
Motion to approve expenditures not to exceed the amount of $23,230 for the Sewer System Management Plan audit and update as required by state law and find that the activity is not a City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
May 6, 2025
project per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as set forth in Section 15060(c)(3) and Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines.
17. JMP & QUADIENT POSTAGE MACHINE LEASE AGREEMENTS
Recommendation -
Motion to authorize the Mayor to execute both the ]MP and the Quadient leasing agreements 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.
18. AUTHORIZATION OF BANK CARD SERVICES
Recommendation -
Motion to adopt resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT AUTHORIZING BANK CARD SERVICES (Resolution No. 4292-25) 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.
19. DONATION OF TWO GEM ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO THE WEST KERN OIL MUSEUM Recommendation - -
Motion to adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT APPROVING DONATION OF TWO (2) 2019 GEM ELECTRIC
VEHICLES TO THE WEST KERN OIL MUSEUM AND ESTABLISHING PUBLIC BENEFIT (Resolution No. 4293-25) 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.
20. FRANCHISE AGREEMENT - WESTSIDE WASTE MANAGEMENT CO., INC. - AMENDMENT #4 TO SECTION 11.1 COMPENSATION FOR BASIC RESIDENTIAL SERVICE Recommendation -
Motion to authorize the Mayor to sign Amendment #4 to the Franchise Agreement between the City of Taft and Westside Waste Management Company, Inc. 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.
21. AGREEMENT WITH CATALIS PAYMENTS, TECH TRANSACTION TECHNOLOGIES AND
WORLDPAY LLC
Recommendation -
Motion to authorize the Finance Director to execute the Agreement with Catalis Payments, Tech Transaction Technologies and WorldPay LLC 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
May 6, 2025
22. APPROVAL OF SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT APPLICATION FEES TO BE REFUNDED TO ST.
MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR A FESTIVAL EVENT HELD ON THE CHURCH PROPERTY AT 110 E. WOODROW STREET ON SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2025
Recommendation -
Motion to approve a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT THE REFUND OF SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT APPLICATION FEES TO ST.
MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR A FESTIVAL EVENT HELD ON CHURCH PROPERTY AT 110 E. WOODROW STREET ON SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2025 (Resolution No. 4294-25) 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.
23. APPROVAL OF SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT APPLICATION FEES TO BE REFUNDED TO EDGAR AND SUSANA GIL FOR CHRISTIAN SERVICE EVENT HELD AT THE CORNER OF 6TH
STREET AND SUPPLY ROW AT THE OIL WORKER MONUMENT PARK AREA ON SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2025
Recommendation -
Motion to approve a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF TAFT APPROVING THE REFUND OF SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT APPLICATION
FESS TO EDGAR AND SUSANA GIL OF IGLESIA DE DIOS PENTECOSTES JESUCRISTO REY
DE REYES FOR A CHRISTIAN SERVICE EVENT ON CITY PROPERTY ON THE CORNER OF
SIXTH STREET AND SUPPLY ROW AT OIL WORKER MONUMENT PARK AREA HELD ON SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2025 (Resolution No. 4295-25) 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.
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13. AWARD FOUR SAFE AND SANE FIREWORK STANDS FOR 4TH OF JULY 2025 Motion: Moved by Bryant, seconded by Waldrop to award four Safe and Sane Firework stands for July 4, 2025, to the Taft Motorcycle Club, Taft Sportsmen's Club, Diamond in the Rough and Taft High Baseball 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
Bryant stated that he pulled this item to confirm there are still only four spots for firework booths within Taft City limits, and he asked if there were only four applicants. City Clerk Mayfield confirmed we only have four booths available within City limits and only the four awarded applicants applied. Bryant encouraged more nonprofits to participate and apply for a fireworks booth.
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
May 6, 2025
********************************************************************************************* At 7:18 PM the regular meeting was recessed to closed session and adjourned in honor and memory of Vic Killingsworth.
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 Tatt > 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 8:10 PM.
Faith Melton Dave Noerr
Deputy City Clerk Mayor