TAFT CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MINUTES
JUNE 17, 2025
The June 17, 2025, special 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 Bryant at 5:00 PM. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council Member Chavira and the invocation was given by Greg Mudge.
PRESENT: Mayor Pro Tem Josh Bryant
Council Members Carlos Chavira, Orchel Krier and Ron Waldrop City Manager Craig Jones and City Attorney Jason Epperson Deputy City Clerk Faith Melton
ABSENT: Mayor Dave Noerr
1. STUDY SESSION - CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY UPDATE AND REVISION OF LOCAL
CODE OVERVIEW - PRESENTATION BY VALERIE ESCALANTE TROESH WITH CIVICA
LAW GROUP
2. PRESENTATION BY FINANCE DIRECTOR TERESA BINKLEY - 2025/2026 BUDGET Finance Director Binkley, attending via Teams, gave a detailed presentation on the budget.
Mayor Pro Tem Bryant, and Council members Krier, Waldrop and Chavira thanked Binkley for her hard work on the budget. City Manager Jones mentioned that our budget is never set in stone due to governmental changes throughout the year, it's more of a fluid item that the Finance Committee meets regularly to discuss. Jones reminded everyone that the Finance Committee meetings are agendized and open to the public.
3. APPROVAL OF FINAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 AND PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026
Motion: Moved by Krier, seconded by Waldrop to adopt resolution entitled A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT ADOPTING THE CITY OF TAFT FINAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 AND PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 (Resolution No. 4301-25) 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.
AYES: Krier, Bryant, Chavira, Waldrop
PASSED: 4-0
CITIZEN REQUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENTS
There was none.
5. COUNCIL STATEMENTS (NON-ACTION)
Council Member Krier mentioned that he had a great weekend watching the 250-year celebration parade of the US Army. He asked that we plan something for Jerry Gibby who has recently passed.
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
June 17, 2025
Council Member Waldrop gave his thoughts and condolences to Jerry Gibby and his wife and said he was a Lions Club member and a former Council Member.
Council Member Chavira urged the community to speak up if they see something or want to make a change. He mentioned ways you can voice your concern is through our website or by attending a council meeting to address the council.
Mayor Pro Tem Bryant had nothing further.
PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT
Planning Commissioner Livingston reported that the Planning Commission just approved an ABC license for Apple Market, and he said goodbye and gave props to Mark Staples who has recently left the position of Planning Director.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
There was none.
8. CITY MANAGER STATEMENTS
-
City Manager Jones stated that due to a public hearing that must be published, the Planning Commission meeting scheduled for July 2nd might be postponed and that there will be a new Associate Planner that will attend every Planning Commission meeting.
9. CITY ATTORNEY STATEMENTS
There was none.
10. FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS
Waldrop requested an adjournment in memory of Jerry Gibby and his wife for an upcoming meeting. Krier concurred.
********************************************************************************************* CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 11-23
MOTION: Moved by Krier, seconded by Waldrop to approve consent calendar items 11- AYES: Krier, Bryant, Waldrop, Chavira
PASSED:
11. MINUTES
June 03, 2025, Regular
Recommendation - Approve as submitted.
12. PAYMENT OF BILLS
Warrant # 060625 Check No. 200301-200342 $ 326,252.54
Warrant # 061325 Check No. 200343-200361 $ 89,903.79
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
June 17, 2025
Recommendation - Approve payment of the bills.
13. MONTHLY REPORT FOR KERN COUNTY FIRE STATION NO. 21 - MAY 2025 Recommendation -
Receive and file the monthly report for May 2025 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.
14. LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NO. 1 ENGINEERS REPORT Recommendation -
Motion to 1) Receive 2025-2026 Engineer's Report for Landscape Maintenance District No. 1; and
2) adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF TAFT DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO REVIEW THE
IMPROVEMENTS AND FEES FOR LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING
MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NO. 1 AND SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR JULY 15, 2025 (Resolution No. 4302-25) 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.
15. RECOMMENDATIONS TO MODIFY SIX CITY POSITION CLASSIFICATIONS FOR
EMPLOYEE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
Recommendation -
Motion to adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF TAFT UPDATING THE POSITION CLASSIFICATION PLAN FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS
TO ADD TRANSIT SUPERVISOR, MECHANIC II, ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR,
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TECHNICIAN, OFFICE ASSISTANT II AND CHANGE (ONE) EQUIPMENT OPERATOR I/II TO LEAD MAINTENANCE WORKER (Resolution No. 4303-25) 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.
16. MEASURE A CITIZENS' OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT Recommendation -
Motion to appoint Sheri Black, to the vacant position on the Measure A Citizens Oversight Committee effective July 1, 2025, 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.
17. ANNUAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR CITY WWTP FY 2019-2020 Recommendation -
Motion to receive and file the Annual Audited Comprehensive Financial Report for the Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Management Report for the WWTP for the year ended June 30, 2020 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
June 17, 2025
18. ANNUAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR FY 2020-2021 Recommendation -
Motion to receive and file the Annual Audited Comprehensive Financial Reports for the year ended June 30, 2021 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. CONTRACT FOR INTERIM PROFESSIONAL PLANNING SERVICES Recommendation -
Motion to approve the ratification of the agreement with Precision Engineering Services Inc for general on-call planning services 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. APPROVAL OF SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT 2025-08 FOR THE TAFT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO HOST THE FIREWORKS SHOW ON THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2025 Recommendation -
1. Motion to approve a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT APPROVING SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT NO. 2025-08 BY THE TAFT -
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO HOST THE FIREWORKS SHOW ALONG THE RAILS TO TRAILS BETWEEN 2ND AND 10TH STREETS, ON THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2025 (Resolution No. 4304-25)
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.
21. UPDATED RENTAL FORM AND RATES FOR THE OILDORADO ROOM LOCATED AT THE
TRANSIT CENTER
Recommendation -
Motion to approve the update of the rental forms and rates for the City owned event center known as the Oildorado Room located at the Taft Transit Center Building at 550 Supply Row, Taft CA 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.
22. PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT- HF&H SB 1383 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Recommendation -
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as set forth in Section 15060(c)(3) and Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines.
23. THE PURCHASE OF (8) EIGHT, MODEL 7, LESS LETHAL TASERS FOR THE TAFT POLICE
DEPARTMENT
Recommendation -
Motion to accept the quote provided by Pro-force for $24,929.57 and authorize a signature from the City Manager to accept the quote and find that the activity is not a project per the City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
une 17,202
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as set forth in Section 15060(c)(3) and Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines.
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24. APPOINT THREE (3) MEMBERS TO THE CITY OF TAFT PLANNING COMMISSION TO FILL
SCHEDULED VACANCIES
Motion: Moved by Waldrop, seconded by Krier to appoint Jerry Livingston, John Dowden and Steven McDaniel to the Taft Planning Commission for terms ending June 30, 2029.
Commissioner Livingston and Commissioner Dowden were both in attendance. Mayor Pro Tem Bryant read a letter from Steven McDaniel into the record as he was not able to attend.
AYES: Krier, Bryant, Chavira, Waldrop
PASSED: 4-0
25. LEASE OPTION AGREEMENT- VERIZON CELL TOWER
Motion: Moved by Krier, seconded by Waldrop to authorize the Mayor to sign an agreement with "The Towers LLC." Option to Lease for a Verizon Cell Tower Krier said this is a good way to get more income. Chavira asked if there are risk assessments done on these, Jones replied that each unit is state tested and safe.
AYES: Krier, Bryant, Chavira, Waldrop, Noerr
PASSED: 4-0
******************************************************************************************** ADJOURNMENT - With no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 6:44 PM. fath rhett
aith Meltor
Deputy City Clerk Mayor Pro Tem