TAFT CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MINUTES
APRIL 21, 2026
The April 21, 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 Council Member Orchel Krier, and invocation was given by Greg Mudge.
PRESENT: Mayor Dave Noerr and May or Pro Tem Josh Bryant Council Members Orchel Krier and Ron Waldrop
City Manager Craig Jones and City Attorney Jason Epperson City Clerk Faith Melton
ABSENT: Council Member Carlos Chavira
1. PROCLAMATION - NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH
2. CITIZEN REQUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENTS
Executive Director of the Taft Chamber of Commerce, Kathy Orrin, spoke about Taft High Hall of Fame and thanked Council Member Chavira for his cooking. She also mentioned the event State of the City, said it was a great turnout and thanked the city and speakers.
3. COUNCIL STATEMENTS (NON-ACTION)
Council Member Krier gave props to all the service clubs in Taft and reminded the community about the Westside Recreation Spring Garden on April 21st, the Chamber Car show on May 16th and the St. Mary's festival on May 3rd.
Council Member Waldrop spoke briefly about his past and current political views.
Mayor Pro Tem Bryant reminded the community to question everything and went over the context of his message at the April 7th meeting, stating the city is a steward of taxpayer funds.
Mayor Noerr mentioned that he appreciated Council Member Bryant's message and reminded the community that the movie Kern Oil will be playing at the Fox Theatre on April 25th at 6:00PM.
4. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
There was none.
5. CITY MANAGER STATEMENTS
There was none.
6. CITY ATTORNEY STATEMENTS
There was none.
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
April 21, 2026
7. FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS
There was none.
******************************************************************************************** CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 8, 10-16
• Waldrop removed item 9
Motion: Moved by Waldrop seconded by Bryant to approve consent calendar items 8, 10-16.
AYES: Krier, Bryant, Waldrop, Noerr
8. MINUTES
April 07, 2026, Regular
Recommendation - Approve as submitted.
10. APPROVAL OF SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT APPLICATION AND FEES TO BE WAIVED FOR ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR A FESTIVAL EVENT HELD ON THE CHURCH PROPERTY AT 110 E. WOODROW STREET ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2026 Recommendation -
Motion to approve a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT TO WAIVE THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT APPLICATION FEES FOR ST.
MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR A FESTIVAL EVENT TO BE HELD ON CHURCH PROPERTY AT 110 E. WOODROW STREET ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2026 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.
11. SENATE BILL NO.1 GAS TAX FUNDING PROJECTS FOR FISCAL 2026/2027 Recommendation -
A motion to adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT ADOPTING A LIST OF PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 FUNDED BY SB 1:
THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017 and find that the activity is not a project per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as set forth in Section 15061(b)(3).
12. AWARD FOUR SAFE AND SANE FIREWORK STANDS FOR 4TH OF JULY, 2026 Recommendation -
Motion to award four Safe and Sane Firework stands for July 4, 2026, to the Taft Sportsmen's Club, Diamond in the Rough, Taft High Baseball and Westside Outreach and Rescue 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. STREET CLOSURES AND SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT FOR THE 2026 WSRPD COMMUNITY
SPRING GARDEN FESTIVAL
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
April 21, 2026
Recommendation -
Motion to adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF TAFT AUTHORIZING THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT AND STREET CLOSURES FOR THE 2026 WSRPD COMMUNITY SPRING GARDEN FESTIVAL 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. STATE SEWER SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLAN AUDIT AND UPDATE REVISION NO. 4 Recommendation -
Motion to adopt and file revision no. 4 to the City of Taft Sewer System Management Plan.
15. LOW CARBON TRANSIT OPERATION PROGRAM (LCTOP) FY2025-26 CERTIFICATIONS
AND ASSURANCES AND AUTHORIZED AGENT FORMS FOR ZERO-EMISSION TRANSIT BUS
Recommendation -
Motion to adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF TAFT AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE CERTIFICATIONS AND ASSURANCES
AND AUTHORIZED AGENT FORMS FOR THE LOW CARBON TRANSIT OPERATIONS PROGRAM (LCTOP) FY2025-26 FOR THE FOLLOWING PROJECT: PURCHASE OF ZERO- EMISSION TRANSIT BUS USING $16,128 IN LCTOP FUNDS 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. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH MOORE & ASSOCIATES Recommendation -
Motion to authorize the mayor to execute the Professional Service agreement with Moore & Associates 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. *********************************************************************************************
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Warrant # 040326 Check No. 201864-201870 $ 32,546.60
Warrant # 041026 Check No. 201871-201926 $257,016.60
Warrant # 041726 Check No. 201927-201939 $ 199,071.31
• Waldrop recused himself as there was a purchase from his business "Waldrop's Auto Parts" in the payment of bills.
Motion: Moved by Bryant seconded by Krier to approve payment of bills.
AYES: Krier, Bryant, Noerr
PASSED: 3-0
********************************************************************************************* At 6:36 PM the regular meeting was recessed to closed session.
City of Taft Council/Successor Agency Meeting
Minutes
April 21, 2026
CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR, CRAIG JONES, CITY MANAGER Government Code 54957.6 - All units
B. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR, CRAIG JONES- CITY MANAGER Government Code Section 54956.8 - (1) undisclosed parcel C. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION
Government Code Section 54956.9 (a) - Taft Union High School vs. City of Taft Kern County Superior Court Case No. S-1500-CV-283804
ADJOURNMENT
> 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 adjourned at 7:19 PM. faith With
aith Melto Dave Noerr
City Clerk Mayor