TAFT CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MINUTES
MARCH 03, 2026
The March 03, 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 Pastor Sean Piefer.
PRESENT: Mayor Dave Noerr and May or Pro Tem Josh Bryant Council Members Carlos Chavira, Orchel Krier and Ron Waldrop City Manager Craig Jones and City Attorney Jason Epperson City Clerk Faith Melton
1. PUBLIC HEARING - 2025 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT (APR) FOR THE CITY OF TAFT'S 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT AND GENERAL PLAN
The Public hearing was opened at 6:05 PM. Seeing there were no comments, the hearing was closed.
Motion: Moved by Bryant, seconded by Krier to approve a resolution entitled 2025 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT (APR) FOR THE CITY OF TAFT'S 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT AND GENERAL PLAN AND
AUTHORIZING ITS SUBMITTAL TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF LAND USE AND CLIMATE CHANGE (Resolution No. 4333-26) and find that the project is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as set forth in Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA guidelines.
AYES: Krier, Bryant, Chavira, Waldrop, Noerr
PASSED: 5-0
2. CITIZEN REQUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENTS
Nicole Villaruz with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) gave some information about utility pricing lowering over the past couple years. Nicole let the Council know she is available for a sit-down meeting or any questions any of the Council had. Council Member Bryant, Chavira and Krier gave direction to staff to schedule Nicole with PG&E as a future agenda item to do a presentation and/or Q and A.
3. COUNCIL STATEMENTS (NON-ACTION)
Council Member Krier mentioned that it is racing season and weed season. He urged everyone to make sure you clean up your weeds.
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
March 03, 2026
Council Member Waldrop spoke about a nice, clean park in Cuyama that he went to for a Lions Club retreat.
Council Member Chavira gave a shout out to the Taft High Soccer team for being league champions and thanked everyone who has helped them. He also reminded everyone looking at the freshly bloomed wildflowers to be careful not to go on private property.
Mayor Pro Tem Bryant congratulated the Taft High Soccer team on their historic wins and gave congratulations to Coach Gonzalez.
Mayor Noerr stated that the new movie "Kern Oil produced by local industry workers played on Friday night at a red carpet premiere at the Fox Theatre in Bakersfield. He urged everyone to watch the movie to hear the real facts, he then shared a report on Climate Change.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Police Chief, Damon McMinn gave the Taft Police Department Statistics for the month of February and stated he was very proud of Officer Tellez for having 26 DUl arrests since January.
CITY MANAGER STATEMENTS
There was none.
6. CITY ATTORNEY STATEMENTS
There was none.
7. FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS
Bryant requested a proclamation for the Taft High Boys Soccer Team. Noerr and Chavira both concurred.
****************************************************************************************** CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 8-10, 12-17
Motion: Moved by Bryant seconded by Krier to approve consent calendar items 8-10, 12-17.
AYES: Krier, Bryant, Chavira, Waldrop, Noerr
• Bryant tabled item 11 to be moved to another meeting so he can suggest some edits with staff. Chavira concurred.
8. MINUTES
February 17, 2026 Regular
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
March 03, 2026
Recommendation - Approve as submitted.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Warrant # 022026 Check No. 201619-201626 $ 74,290.19
Warrant # 022726 Check No. 20627-201709 $ 549,324.69
Recommendation - Approve payment of the bills.
10. CANCELLATION OF JULY 7, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Recommendation -
Motion to approve the cancellation of the July 07, 2026 City Council Meeting.
11. CITY INVESTMENT POLICY ANNUAL REVIEW
Recommendation -
Motion to concur with the Finance Committee's recommendation to adopt the policy with no changes 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. TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT FUNDS ANNUAL AUDIT - FY 2020-2021 Recommendation -
Motion to receive and file the City of Taft Transportation Development Act Funds Annual Audit for the fiscal year 2020-2021 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.
13. TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT FUNDS ANNUAL AUDIT - FY 2021-2022 Recommendation -
Motion to receive and file the City of Taft Transportation Development Act Funds Annual Audit for the fiscal year 2021-2022 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. ANNUAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR FY 2021-2022 Recommendation -
Motion to receive and file the Annual Audited Comprehensive Financial Reports for the year ended June 30, 2022 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 03, 2026
15. FINANCE AND HUMAN RESOURCE STAFF TO ATTEND TYLER MUNIS 2026 ANNUAL TRAINING IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, TO BE HELD ON APRIL 7 - 10, 2026 Recommendation -
Motion to approve funds from capital reserves of $1,000, for Human Resources and to approve the out of state travel for Finance and HR employees to attend Tyler Connect 2026 training in Las Vegas, Nevada from April 7 - 10th, 2026.
16. TYLER MUNIS AGREEMENT FOR CLOUD SERVICES
Recommendation -
Motion to authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement with Tyler Technologies for Cloud Services.
******************************************************************************************* At 6:42 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 LABOR NEGOTIATOR, CRAIG JONES, CITY MANAGER Government Code 54957.6 - All units
> The City Council discussed in closed session the two items agendized for closed session discussion and directions were given to staff and negotiators. The City Council took no other reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT - With no further business to conduct, the meeting was ajourned at 7:05 PM. faith mul delh
Faith Melton Dave Noerr
City Clerk Mayor