City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: May 19, 2026
From: Todd Dusenberry, General Manager of Public Utilities Department: Public Utilities
Submitted by: Adriana Ramos, Principal Management Analyst Subject
Services Agreement with Hafenfeld Ranch, LLC.
Recommendation
A. Find that it is in the best interests of the City to award a contract directly to Hafenfeld Ranch, LLC without a competitive selection process, based on their existing operational presence in Kern County and unique combination of services offered, pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Section
3.32.110(B)(2);
B. Find that the proposed action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), in accordance with the common-sense exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. Further environmental review, if required under CEQA, will be performed prior to approval of any activity that has the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment;
C. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute the Services Agreement with Hafenfeld Ranch, LLC (Hafenfeld Ranch), in substantially the same form as submitted, to provide consulting, infrastructure, and construction services in an amount not-to-exceed $600,000 for a three-year term; and
D. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $60,000 in the event of unforeseen expenses, including surcharges, price volatility, and additional work, and grant authority to the City Administrator to approve and execute amendments up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
Background
The City owns approximately 16,409.70 acres of property in the Jawbone Canyon area of Kern County, California, known as the Kern County Property. This land was originally purchased to explore potential renewable energy projects; however, its use has largely remained unchanged, and it is currently zoned for agricultural purposes.
The City-owned parcels consist of a checkerboard pattern of wild open space, with extremely rugged transitional terrain from desert floor to mountainous peaks. Vehicle access to all parcels is not possible in its current state without roads and utilities, due to overgrown vegetation, dense brush, and rock outcroppings. The limited accessibility to all parcels creates access, safety, wildfire risk, and operational challenges. The Hafenfeld Ranch, LLC, a working family ranch in Kern County, currently provides property maintenance and management services for the Cityowned Kern County property and utilizes the land for cattle grazing. Through its ongoing presence and longstanding history in the area, Hafenfeld Ranch has developed a comprehensive understanding of the property’s unique landscape, environmental conditions, suitable uses, adjacent landowners, and access constraints and possibilities.
To address the challenges noted above, Vernon Public Utilities (VPU) is working with Hafenfeld Ranch to perform limited vegetation management and land-clearing activities for wildfire safety and to enable access to all parcels, enabling better determination of future uses. These efforts will improve site accessibility, reduce wildfire risk through the use of fire breaks, provide efficient escape routes, and support controlled grazing and brush removal. This effort will help establish accessible and usable areas to support VPU’s evaluation of potential future uses of the property.
Hafenfeld Ranch possesses specialized equipment, established site access, historical knowledge, and demonstrated expertise and guidance necessary to perform this work efficiently and safely in a remote, difficult-to-navigate environment.
The proposed three-year agreement will enable VPU to make improvements to the property in preparation for potential uses, including a future staging headquarters and equipment storage facility. Hafenfeld Ranch will provide stakeholder outreach and coordination, along with accessibility, agricultural, land management, and land use consulting services. These services include technical analysis, land-use planning support, natural resource assessment and development, wildfire mitigation strategies, and recommendations for advantageous, responsible, and sustainable land use. Hafenfeld Ranch will also assist with engineering access considerations, including roadway siting and development, infrastructure support, and constructability input for future uses development.
Furthermore, Hafenfeld Ranch provides critical ancillary services that are integral to the ongoing management of the property. As the current on-site operator, Hafenfeld Ranch monitors the land continuously, helping deter trespassing, vandalism, and theft as well as reporting unauthorized or illicit activities. The use of grazing as a vegetation control method is a cost-effective, environmentally responsible approach to reducing fuel loads, mitigating wildfires, and providing necessary sustenance for human consumption. Hafenfeld Ranch is also uniquely positioned to provide emergency response support, as needed, due to its proximity to City-owned parcels and unparalleled familiarity with the terrain, and equipment availability.
The proposed agreement is exempt from competitive bidding pursuant to Section
3.32.110(A)(10) of the Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) and can be exempt from competitive selection pursuant to Section 3.32.110(B)(2) if a direct award is found to be in the best interests of the City. Section 3.32.110(B)(3) of the VMC indicates that the City Council has the authority to make such a finding when the proposed contract exceeds $100,000. The city's best interests are served by directly awarding the contract to Hafenfeld Ranch. This is due to their exclusive combination of services, which cannot be readily duplicated by another vendor without incurring high costs, significant time, and substantial risk to the City. Hafenfeld Ranch’s existing operational presence on the property, long-standing relationships with local landowners and agencies, and decades of experience managing similar terrain in the region provide a level of continuity, efficiency, and institutional knowledge that would be impractical to replicate. Engaging another vendor would require substantial mobilization, site familiarization, and coordination efforts, which could delay critical vegetation management activities and increase overall project costs.
Therefore, VPU staff recommends that the City Council approve the Services Agreement with Hafenfeld Ranch to provide consulting, infrastructure, and construction services, for a total amount not-to-exceed $600,000. Additionally, staff recommends a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $60,000 in the event of unforeseen expenses, including surcharges, price volatility, and additional work, for a combined total not-to-exceed amount of $660,000. Pursuant to VMC Section 3.32.030(A), City Council approval is required for the proposed contract, as the total value of the contract exceeds $100,000.
The proposed Services Agreement has been reviewed and approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact is not to exceed $660,000. Sufficient funds are available in the Electric Fund, Capital Outlay, Account No. 055-050-580-660000, for the current fiscal year and will be budgeted in subsequent years.
Attachments
1. Services Agreement with Hafenfeld Ranch, LLC.