TAFT CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MINUTES
JANUARY 20, 2026
The January 20, 2026 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 Mayor Dave Noerr and invocation was given by Greg Mudge.
PRESENT: Mayor Dave Noerr
Council Members Orchel Krier and Ron Waldrop
City Manager Craig Jones and City Attorney Jason Epperson Deputy City Clerk Faith Melton
ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Josh Bryant
Council Member Carlos Chavira
1. PROCLAMATION - CITY CLERK YVETTE MAYFIELD
2. APPOINTMENT AND SWEARING IN OF NEW CITY CLERK
Motion: Moved by Krier, seconded by Waldrop to appoint Deputy City Clerk Faith Melton as City Clerk, effective January 20, 2026 to ensure continuity of operations and compliance with State and local requirements. Upon appointment, the City Clerk will be sworn in and assume the duties of the office.
• City Clerk Yvette Mayfield swore in Deputy City Clerk Faith Melton as City Clerk.
AYES: Krier, Waldrop, Noerr
PASSED: 3-0
3. PUBLIC HEARING - ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 2025-16 AMENDING TITLE 6 OF
THE TAFT MUNICIPAL CODE TO IMPLEMENT HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRAMS OF THE 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE (2023-2031)
The Public hearing was opened at 6:19 PM. Seeing there were no comments, the hearing was closed.
Motion: Moved by Krier, seconded by Waldrop to adopt an Ordinance entitled AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT APPROVING ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 2025-16 (AMENDING TITLE 6 OF THE
TAFT MUNICIPAL CODE) TO IMPLEMENT HOUSING ELEMENT
PROGRAMS OF THE 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE (2023- 2031) (Ordinance No. 856-26) waive full reading and find that the project is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
January 20, 2026
(CEQA) as set forth in Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines in that the proposed Amendment will have no significant effect on the environment.
AYES: Krier, Waldrop, Noerr
PASSED: 3-0
4. CITIZEN REQUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENTS
COMMENTS ARE TO BE RECEIVED AS STATED IN ABOVE POLICY
THIS IS THE TIME AND PLACE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON MATTERS WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION. STATE LAW PROHIBITS THE COUNCIL FROM ADDRESSING ANY ISSUE NOT PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA. COUNCIL MAY RECEIVE COMMENT AND SET THE MATTER FOR A SUBSEQUENT MEETING. PLEASE LIMIT COMMENTS TO FIVE MINUTES.
5. COUNCIL STATEMENTS (NON-ACTION)
Council Member Krier wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, spoke about his accident, and reminded everyone that oaths are important.
Council Member Waldrop wished all a Prosperous New Year, warned about the recent rain and fog, and urged the community to cut your weeds to avoid fire hazards.
Mayor Noerr spoke about some facts concerning the California state budget, the highspeed rail and California tax.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Police Lieutenant, Brian McClure gave the Taft Police Department statistics for the month of December.
CITY MANAGER STATEMENTS
There was none.
CITY ATTORNEY STATEMENTS
City Attorney Jason Epperson thanked Yvette for all her service and stated he is excited to work with Faith.
FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS
There was none.
******************************************************************************************** CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 10, 11, 12, 14
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
January 20, 2026
• Council Member Krier pulled item 13
Motion: Moved by Waldrop, seconded by Krier to approve consent calendar items 10, 11, 12, 14.
AYES: Krier, Waldrop, Noerr
PASSED: 3-0
10. MINUTES
December 16, 2025 Regular
Recommendation - Approve as submitted.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Warrant # 121925 Check No. 201274-201360 $ 446,695.67
Warrant # 122625 Check No. 201361-201366 $ 78,200.16
Warrant # 010226 Check No. 201367-201401 $108,387.04
Warrant # 010926 Check No. 201402-201406 $ 5,847.28
Warrant # 011626 Check No. 201407-201479 $ 489,189.25
Recommendation - Approve payment of the bills.
12. MONTHLY REPORT FOR KERN COUNTY FIRE STATION NO. 21 - NOVEMBER 2025 Recommendation -
Receive and file the monthly report for November 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. PURCHASE OF REPLACEMENT POLICE PATROL VEHICLE DUE TO AGING FLEET Recommendation -
Motion to approve the purchase one (1) Chevrolet Tahoe Police Vehicle for the Police Department 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. *********************************************************************************************
13. FUNDING TO THE TAFT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR THE QUARTER OF JULY 2025 TO SEPTEMBER 2025
Krier asked why the timeline of the tax was July through September of 2025, Noerr concurred that receiving the money takes a while as it must go through vendors and requirements.
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
January 20, 2026
Motion: Moved by Krier, seconded by Waldrop to approve the 25% allocation of the Transient Occupancy Tax to the Taft Chamber of Commerce for the quarter of July 2025 through September 2025.
AYES: Krier, Waldrop, Noerr
PASSED: 3-0
15. PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH NBS TO CONDUCT A SEWER AND SOLID
WASTE RATE STUDY
Motion: Moved by Krier seconded by Waldrop to authorize the Mayor to execute the professional services agreement with NBS Government Finance Group 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.
Krier, Waldrop and Noerr all concurred that this study is a good thing to keep up with service to the citizens.
AYES: Krier, Waldrop, Noerr
PASSED: 3-0
***
*************************************************************************** At 6:43 PM the regular meeting was recessed to closed session.
CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Government Code Section 54956.9(b) - One (1) undisclosed case B. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR, CRAIG JONES- CITY MANAGER Government Code Section 54956.8 - (1) undisclosed parcel C. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR, CRAIG JONES, CITY MANAGER Government Code 54957.6 - All units
> The City Council met in closed session to discuss the items agendized for closed discussion and direction was given to staff and
negotiators. The City Council took no other reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT - With no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 7:39 PM. taith
Faith Melton Dave Noerr
City Clerk Mayor