We reemphasize the need to include the community through all stages of the Housing Element Update in a culturally competent manner. While the City did provide printed materials in Spanish during its Housing Element workshops, leading to the development of the First Draft, the absence of qualified professional interpreters during workshop meetings was a significant missed opportunity. This oversight hindered the full participation of Spanish-speakers. Faith in the Valley recommended and provided contact information for Linguistica Interpreting & Translation, LLC. so that the City could hire interpretation and translation experts. Unfortunately, the City did not hire professional services during the development of the First Draft. As a result, Faith in the Valley launched several targeted efforts, in which approximately 200 people were engaged and informed in Spanish. These events, conducted with utmost cultural competence, made Spanish-speakers feel deeply understood and acknowledged. Most importantly, they had an opportunity to participate.
On June 12, 2024, the City opened a 30-day period for public comment on the First Draft.
Unfortunately, a comprehensive or condensed version of the translated document is not available for Spanish-speaking residents to review and provide feedback. The situation is urgent, and we urge the City to invest more financial resources for robust community engagement in the update process and establish more meaningful partnerships with community-based organizations like ours, which engage this segment of the community. A more meaningful collaboration with community-based organizations can significantly enhance community engagement and ensure the inclusion of Spanish-speaking residents in the process.
II. Programs
As noted in the First Draft, survey respondents shared a variety of needs that provide a framework for developing impactful programs the City can adopt. For example, respondents would like to see rent control, affordable housing, and right to counsel programs in place. Additionally, we recommend that the City include a Housing Element Advisory Committee as a Program in the Housing Element. The advisory committee should be composed of a diverse range of residents who live throughout the City, and including community-based organizations, City staff, and developers to play a significant role. Their input in the development and implementation of the Housing Element would be crucial in helping the City meet its public engagement obligations.
III. Conclusion
As we confront an urgent and escalating housing crisis throughout the state, the City must respond by doing its part to ensure that the housing needs of all Taft residents are met in the upcoming years. We understand that this is a complex issue with many challenges, but we are committed to finding solutions with you because a home is not just a physical structure; it is a sanctuary: a sacred space. It is where we learn to live in community with each other, value the needs of others, and share. Home is the cornerstone of healthy, thriving communities, and the City must fully commit to making Taft a place where every single person has a dignified place to call home during this 6th Cycle of the City of Taft’s Housing Element Update.
Taft City Council
July 12, 2024
Respectfully,
Daniel Rodela
Community Organizer
Faith in the Valley
(661) 800-7566
Cc:
Councilmember Josh Bryant, [email protected]
Councilmember Carlos Chavira, [email protected]
Councilmember Ron Waldrop, [email protected]
City Manager Craig Jones, [email protected]
Mayor Pro Tem Orchel Krier, [email protected]
Mayor Dave Noerr, [email protected]
Leslie Woodman, California Department of Housing and Community Development, [email protected]
1 Jenna Chilingerian
From: Daniel Rodela <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2025 2:18 PM
To: Mark Staples
Cc: Jenna Chilingerian; Bonique Emerson; Shin Tu; Nadine Storey; Lorena Lara; Lety Valencia; Pam Nelson-Hollis; Curtis Smith
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: City of Taft Housing Element First Draft Comments by Faith in the Valley Hi, Mark:
During the last community meeting, we made a few recommendations related to the "Homeless and Vagrancy Issues Ad Hoc Committee" and the creation of a "Housing/Element Advisory Committee" to help guide a community-integrated vision. You previously mentioned that you would consider adding a program that the City could host on an annual basis either via a public meeting format dedicated to addressing the public's questions and concerns about housing in the Taft area or a committee to address the same questions. I know you thought a committee was more formal but somewhat limited to input by committee members, and regular meetings each year dedicated to housing concerns could make it more open to anyone who wishes to attend.
I had a chance to review some of the revisions to the Housing Element Plan and was happy to see that you added a public engagement program under 5.r Public Participation. It's a great start, but more can be added to this program. For instance, the idea behind having an advisory committee with final approval by the City Council is to complement the work the city does to draft its housing elements, recommend affordable housing projects, and advise on housing policies. The committee wouldn't replace community input; it would complement it. In fact, it could consist of a specific number of members representing the city, stakeholders, and residents. It could integrate an at-large member, too, and the committee could meet once every quarter following the program's dissemination of information for public comment in these public committee meetings, similar to the Parks and Recreation Commission that the County of Kern has in place. It can provide an avenue for meaningful engagement and a conduit to build meaningful relationships with the city. We'd also love to see the Homeless and Vagrancy Issues Ad Hoc Committee reinstated as well, given that there are huge concerns with housing, and this topic intersects with that issue.
I'd love to hear more of your thoughts about what I am sharing and also that this statement is incorporated into the draft as a recommendation to enhance this newly created program.
Kindly,
To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.
Daniel Rodela
Community Organizer
Faith in the Valley-Kern
M: 661.800.7566
W: www.faithinthevalley.orgE:[email protected] To help protect y our privacy,
Microsoft Office prevented automatic
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To help protect y our privacy,
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2 On Tue, Feb 11, 2025 at 4:02 PM Mark Staples <[email protected]> wrote:
Good afternoon Mr. Rodela,
The City of Taft along with is consultant Precision Engineering have completed the revisions to the Draft Housing Element 2023-2031. The draft incorporates the comments received from Faith in the Valley and the California Housing and Community Development.
This second public review period shall be for a minimum of 7 days. However, the draft is already up on the City website with a hard copy at City Hall. We have also posted notices on the City Facebook page. https://www.cityoftaft.org/pview.aspx?id=7699&catid=562 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064643981399 Please have any follow up questions or comments to the City by Friday, February 21, 2025.
Thanks,
MARK STAPLES | Director
CITY OF TAFT | PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
209 E. KERN STREET | TAFT, CA 93268
(661) 763-1222 X124 | (661) 765-2480 FAX
[email protected]
3 From: Daniel Rodela <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2024 1:09 PM
To: Mark Staples <[email protected]>
Cc: Josh Bryant <[email protected]>; Carlos Chavira <[email protected]>; Ron Waldrop <[email protected]>; Craig Jones <[email protected]>; Orchel Krier <[email protected]>; Dave Noerr <[email protected]>; [email protected]; Curtis Smith <[email protected]>; Lorena Lara <[email protected]>; Mariela Vega <[email protected]>; Pam Nelson-Hollis <[email protected]>
Subject: City of Taft Housing Element First Draft Comments by Faith in the Valley
Good afternoon, Mr. Mark Staples:
Please accept this letter in good faith as part of the public comment phase pertaining to the First Draft of the City of Taft 2023-2031 Housing Element Update.
Thank you, and please feel free to reach out if you would like to discuss further.
Kindly,
To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.
Daniel Rodela
Community Organizer
Faith in the Valley-Kern
M: 661.800.7566
W: www.faithinthevalley.orgE:[email protected] To help protect y our privacy,
Microsoft Office prevented automatic
download of this picture from the
Internet.
To help protect y our privacy,
Microsoft Office prevented automatic
download of this picture from the
Internet.
To help protect y our privacy,
Microsoft Office prevented automatic
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--
Kindly,
To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.
Daniel Rodela
Community Organizer
Faith in the Valley-Kern
M: 661.800.7566
W: www.faithinthevalley.orgE:[email protected] To help
protect your
privacy,
Micro so ft
Office
prevented
auto matic
download of
this picture
from the
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protect your
privacy,
Micro so ft
Office
prevented
auto matic
download of
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Office
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From: Lucille Holt <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 7, 2025 3:13 PM
To: Yvette Mayfield <[email protected]>; Mark Staples <[email protected]>
Subject: Homeless Count
Dear Yvette,
The Needs Center wishes to respond to the Housing Element Update for The City of Taft. As the oldest and largest foodbank within Taft and the surrounding area, we serve families within our communities on the westside of Kern County. Our clients come from McKittrick, Fellows, Derby Acres, Maricopa, Tupman, Valley Acres, Dustin Acres, Taft, South Taft, Taft Heights and Ford City. Our database has 3,781 clients we have been serving just during the last 3 years. We certify clients every 3 years, ensuring all clients meet the requirement of being a resident of this area and income qualified.
Within the last two years, our homeless population has exploded. Each week we serve over 100 homeless clients and some weeks it is as high as 176. We have huge settlements of homeless people popping up in the bushes, such as the one out near the Chevron property on the other side of 25 Hill. About 25% of these people are not native to Taft.
We are seeing women, often an elderly mother and middle-aged daughter, living in their car. We are seeing increasing numbers of unstable drug users in this population. Those who have an underlying mental illness do not have adequate resources within the community to help them obtain housing and support services because CCS, now ClarVita, does not seem to maintain enough caseworkers to handle the load. Flood Ministries only comes out when they get calls from people asking for health, leaving hundreds with no idea of how to help themselves or obtain help. Kern Regional does not offer services to help those receiving Social Security disability in the Taft area and these services are vital to helping them obtain housing and maintaining their housing. The state directs all homeless funds to the big nonprofits in Bakersfield and no one helps in Taft; you cannot even find out how to become an approved nonprofit to even apply for a grant through the state funding.
Unless we join together to address this problem of homelessness, caused by drug use, mental illness or societal issues, we will not be able to clear up our towns and streets, nor will we be able to alleviate the suffering of those who are unable to help themselves.
Burying our heads in the sand will not make this issue go away and it will only continue to snowball resulting in an increase in crime and property vandalism further impacting our ability to encourage home buyers and businesses to invest in our community. We must seek solutions to these issues including forced incarceration in mental facilities and/or drug rehabilitation facilities. The biggest drawback is the fact we do not have long term mental health or drug rehabilitation facilities. We do have two large empty former prisons which could house both of these populations and begin to help these people regain their lives and independence.
Thank you,
Lucille Holt
661-330-8999
From: Sandra Pope joy <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, May 8, 2025 7:24 AM
To: Mark Staples <[email protected]>
Subject: Housing Element 2025
May 8, 2025
Dear Mr. Staples,
I have been a volunteer at the NEEDS Center for 3 1/2 years. The data and observations have come from my direct experience at NEEDS from March 7th and 15th.
I recorded a total of 37 adults as unsheltered homeless. Most of these folks sleep on the streets in Taft, or in the fields around Taft-many times in holes in the ground they have covered with brush, wood, or anything that could serve as a roof to shield them from the weather and predictors.
However, there were additional people who I did not record who would be classified as sheltered homeless, and were couch hopping, or sleeping in a tent or vacated trailer, with permission, in people’s yards, encampments, etc.
Obviously, the lack of housing and services affects their lives and our community.
It is the common belief of many sociologists that a stable life for the unsheltered is housing.
That is the starting point to stability for them.
For this reason, I am requesting a serious look at a housing component for the unsheltered and sheltered homes citizens of Taft.
I appreciate the opportunity to have input on this issue.
Sandra Popejoy
NEEDS Volunteer
Citizen of Taft
[email protected]
(661) 477-2820
TAFT CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MINUTES
AUGUST 05, 2025
The August 05, 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 City Manager Craig Jones and invocation was given by Pastor Sean Piefer.
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 Deputy City Clerk Faith Melton
1. SWEARING IN OF OFFICERS – JUAN TOPETE AND BRYCE VEACH
2. CITIZEN REQUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENTS
There was none.
3. COUNCIL STATEMENTS (NON-ACTION)
Council Member Krier spoke about school starting back up and mentioned some things the California Governor needs to deal with such as wildfires, crime, high taxes, etc.
Council Member Waldrop had no statement.
Council Member Chavira said he had a nice summer vacation and is glad to be back. He mentioned a new policy “California Phone Free Schools Act” that will go in effect in 2026 and said Taft High is preparing.
Mayor Pro Tem Bryant congratulated our new Taft Police Officers Juan Topete and Bryce Veach and mentioned how amazing it is to watch kids grow up in Taft become leaders in the community. Bryant urged all to stay safe as Taft High School starts back up on August 14th and Taft City Schools start August 18th.
Mayor Dave Noerr spoke about California Governor Gavin Newsom’s newly released article being lies and he gave statistical facts about energy prices, global warming, and wildfires proving the Governors article to not be accurate.
4. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Chief of Police, Damon McMinn gave the statistics for the month of July and urged everyone to come to the graduation of Juan Topete and Bryce Veach this Friday at Bakersfield College.
He gave thanks to Kern County Sheriff’s Office for their program that helps train new officers.
5. CITY MANAGER STATEMENTS
There was none.
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
August 05, 2025
9. CITY ATTORNEY STATEMENTS
There was none.
10. FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS
There was none.
********************************************************************************************* CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 11-15
MOTION: Moved by Krier, seconded by Bryant to approve consent calendar items 11-
15. AYES: Krier, Bryant, Waldrop, Chavira, Noerr
PASSED: 5-0
11. MINUTES
July 15, 2025 Regular
Recommendation – Approve as submitted.
12. PAYMENT OF BILLS
Warrant # 071125A Check No. 200467-200480 $ 51,106.19
Warrant # 071525A Check No. 200560-200580 $ 93,742.03
Warrant # 071825A Check No. 200483-200521 $ 160,244.20
Warrant # 071825 Check No. 200522-200559 $ 124,689.03
Warrant # 072425A Check No. 200609 $ 500.00
Warrant # 072525A Check No. 200581-200596 $ 53,966.83
Warrant # 072525 Check No. 200597-200608 $ 182,172.07
Recommendation – Approve payment of the bills.
13. MONTHLY REPORT FOR KERN COUNTY FIRE STATION NO. 21 – JUNE 2025 Recommendation – Receive and file the monthly report for June 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. AMENDMENT TO JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT OF THE CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
RISK MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
Recommendation – Motion to adopt a resolution entitled AMENDMENT TO JOINT
POWERS AGREEMENT OF THE CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY RISK MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY (Resolution No. 4311-25) 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.
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
August 05, 2025
15. ADOPTION OF THE CITY OF TAFT TITLE VI PROGRAM UPDATE FOR CITY OF TAFT AND
TAFT AREA TRANSIT
Recommendation – Motion to adopt resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT AUTHORIZING THE TITLE VI PROGRAM UPDATE FOR THE CITY OF TAFT AND THE TAFT AREA TRANSIT SYSTEM (Resolution No. 4312-25) 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. ********************************************************************************************* At 6:44 PM the regular meeting was recessed to closed session.
CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR, CRAIG JONES- CITY MANAGER Government Code Section 54956.8 – (1) undisclosed parcel 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 7:39 PM. __________ ____________
Faith Melton Dave Noerr
Deputy City Clerk Mayor
REVIEWED BY:
CITY CLERK FINANCE DIRECTOR CITY MANAGER
City of Taft Agenda Report
DATE: AUGUST 19, 2025
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
AGENDA MATTER:
PURCHASE OF USED VEHICLE FOR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
A vehicle being used by Public Works Staff is no longer prudent to maintain. Staff is seeking a replacement vehicle to meet the needs of the department and is recommending the purchase of a used vehicle rather than incurring much higher expenditures on a new vehicle.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Motion to authorize the City Manager or his designee to purchase a used truck for the Public Works Department for a total cost not to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) and authorize the City Manager or Designee to execute all documents 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.
IMPACT ON BUDGET (Y/N): The total cost for the purchase will be charged to account 10433.
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): None
PREPARED BY: Lonn Boyer, Director of Human Resources/Assistant City Manager
REVIEWED BY:
CITY CLERK FINANCE DIRECTOR CITY MANAGER
City of Taft Agenda Report
DATE: AUGUST 19, 2025
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
AGENDA MATTER:
APPROVING A RESOLUTION FOR CALIFORNIA STATE OF GOOD REPAIR PROGRAM FOR FY 2025-2026 FOR USE AND APPLICATION OF $16,632 FOR TRANSIT PROJECTS.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The City of Taft is an eligible project sponsor and may receive State Transit Assistance funding from the State of Good Repair Account (SGR) now or sometime in the future for transit projects. The statutes related to state-funded transit projects require a local or regional implementing agency to abide by various regulations.
The city submitted a project list which included the replacement of rolling stock with Transit Buses, but the list can be updated or modified as Transit needs change.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Motion to adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT APPROVING THE PROPOSED TRANSIT PROJECT LIST FOR THE FY 2025 – 2026 CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL 1-STATE OF GOOD REPAIR PROGRAM 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.
IMPACT ON BUDGET (Y/N): No
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): Yes – Resolution
PREPARED BY: Teresa Binkley, Finance Director
RESOLUTION NO. 4314-25
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT
APPROVING THE PROPOSED TRANSIT PROJECT LIST FOR THE FY 2025 – 2026 CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL 1 -STATE OF GOOD REPAIR PROGRAM WHEREAS, the City of Taft is an eligible project sponsor and may receive State Transit Assistance funding from the State of Good Repair Account (SGR) now or sometime in the future for transit projects; and
WHEREAS, the statutes related to state-funded transit projects require a local or regional implementing agency to abide by various regulations; and WHEREAS, Senate Bill 1 (2017) named the Department of Transportation (Department) as the administrative agency for the SGR; and
WHEREAS, the Department has developed guidelines for the purpose of administering and distributing SGR funds to eligible project sponsors (local agencies); and WHEREAS, the City of Taft wishes to delegate authorization to execute these documents and any amendments thereto to the City Manager, Human Resources/Assistant City Manager, Finance Director; and
WHEREAS, in order to qualify for the SB1-SGR funding allocation, the City of Taft is required to submit a proposed project list of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) on an annual basis and for FY 2025-2026, City of Taft propose to fund the Replacement of Rolling Stock for Transit Buses; and
WHEREAS, the City of Taft wishes to authorize the use of, and application for $16,632.00 in fiscal year 2025-2026 SB1-SGR funding to be used for the Replacement of Rolling Stock with Transit Buses.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Taft authorizes the use of and application for $16,632.00 in fiscal Year 2025-2026 SGR funding to be used for the Replacement of Rolling Stock with Transit Buses.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED on this 19th day of August 2025. ___________________________
Dave Noerr, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Faith Melton
Deputy City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA }
COUNTY OF KERN }SS
CITY OF TAFT }
I, Faith Melton, Deputy City Clerk of the City of Taft, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting thereof held on the 19th day of August, 2025, by the following vote:
Resolution No. 4314-25
August 19, 2025
AYES: Councilmembers:
NOES: Councilmembers:
ABSENT: Councilmembers:
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers:
___________________________
Faith Melton
Deputy City Clerk