TAFT CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MINUTES
APRIL 07, 2026
The April 07, 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 Pro Tem Josh Bryant 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 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
ABSENT: Mayor Dave Noerr
1. PROCLAMATION - NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK
2. CITIZEN REQUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENTS
President of Taft College, Leslie Minor invited the City Council to a Community Mixer hosted by Taft College Foundation on April 30th at the President's residence.
Taft Chamber Executive Director, Kathy Orrin said thank you to the firefighters for fixing the electronic Chamber sign, mentioned the State of the City on April 16th will be on the topic of oil, invited the Council to the Car Show on May 16th, and gave a shoutout to the Taft High Hall of Fame award winners. She also informed City Manager Jones that the Monument is out of brick space. Jones concurred he would speak to her concerning the issue.
3. COUNCIL STATEMENTS (NON-ACTION)
Mayor Pro Tem Bryant reminded everyone that spring is here and to clean up your weeds, urged the community to be proactive in making reports for trespassing and criminal activity, and said to go check out the Kern Oil movie playing at the Fox Theatre on April 26th.
Council Member Krier stated the Health Care District will be hosting a Health Fair this weekend and emphasized how great all the events are that the different organizations in Taft host.
Council Member Waldrop spoke about the Health Fair hosted by the Health Care District.
Council Member Chavira thanked Public Works for cleaning up the city, urged everyone to report vagrants and reminded future leaders to focus on wisdom and hope.
4. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT
There was none due to the April 1st meeting cancellation.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Taft Police Chief, Damon McMinn reminded the public to be sure your car doors are locked and do not leave valuable items out and spoke about the Taft crime statistics for the month of March.
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
April 07, 2026
6. CITY MANAGER STATEMENTS
There was none.
CITY ATTORNEY STATEMENTS
There was none.
8. FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS
There was none.
**************************************************************************************** CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 9-13, 15
• Bryant removed item 14
Motion: Moved by Waldrop, seconded by Krier to approve consent calendar items 9- 13, 15.
AYES: Krier, Bryant, Chavira, Waldrop
9. MINUTES
March 17, 2026, Regular
Recommendation - Approve as submitted.
10. PAYMENT OF BILLS
Warrant # 032026 Check No. 201777-201782 $ 35,258.86
Warrant # 032726 Check No. 201783-207863 $ 346,110.45
Recommendation - Approve payment of the bills.
11. EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF A 24,000 BTU DUCTLESS HEATING / AIR CONDITIONING
SYSTEM FOR THE TAFT POLICE DEPARTMENT
Recommendation -
Motion to ratify the purchase of a 24,000 BTU ductless heating / air conditioning system provided by Airco of Bakersfield. The total amount for purchase and installation, $5,669.00 and requests the Mayor to sign and accept the purchase.
APPROVAL OF SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT APPLICATION FEES TO BE WAIVED AND
STREET CLOSURE TO WEST SIDE HEALTH CARE DISTRICT FOR A HEALTH FAIR TO BE HELD AT 100 E. NORTH STREET, IN FRONT OF WEST SIDE FAMILY HEALTH CARE ON SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2026, FROM 7:30 AM TO 2:00 PM AND
AUTHORIZING THE STREET CLOSURE FOR THE WEST SIDE HEALTH CARE DISTRICT HEALTH FAIR.
Recommendation -
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
April 07, 2026
Motion to approve a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF TAFT APPROVING THE WAIVING OF SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT
APPLICATION FEES TO WEST SIDE HEALTH CARE DISTRICT FOR A HEALTH FAIR EVENT AT 100 EAST NORTH STREET TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2026 AND AUTHORIZING THE STREET CLOSURE FOR THE WEST SIDE HEALTH CARE DISTRICT HEALTH FAIR (Resolution No. 4336-26), 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.
UPDATED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING WORKERS COMPENSATION COVERAGE
FOR VOLUNTEERS
Recommendation -
Motion to adopt resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF TAFT PROVIDING WORKERS' COMPENSATION COVERAGE FOR NON- SAFETY CITY VOLUNTEERS (Resolution No. 4337-26).
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NO. 4 WITH SECURUS TECHNOLOGIES AT THE
TAFT COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Recommendation -
Motion to authorize the City Manager to sign amendment No. 4 with Securus Technologies.
*******************************************************************************************
14. FUNDING TO THE TAFT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR THE QUARTER OF OCTOBER 2025 TO DECEMBER 2025
Bryant requested staff to bring to a future meeting the past five years of transient occupancy tax received by the Chamber and the resolution or agreement that had set that amount.
Motion: Moved by Krier seconded by Chavira to bring past agreements and financials to a future meeting.
Krier, Bryant, Chavira, Waldrop
PASSED:
******************************************************************************************* At 6:48 PM the regular meeting was recessed to closed session.
CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Government Code Section 54956.9(b) - Two (2) undisclosed case B. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR, CRAIG JONES, CITY MANAGER City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
April 07, 2026
Government Code 54957.6 - All units
> The City Council discussed in closed session the 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 adjourned at 7:25 PM.
Faith Melton Dave Noerr
City Clerk Mayor