City Council - Regular Meeting

conduct in the city council chambers. Rules of decorum for the public. Members of the audience shall not engage in disorderly or boisterous conduct, including the utterance of loud, threatening, or abusive language, clapping, whistling, stamping of feet, or other other acts which disturb, disrupt, impede, or otherwise render the orderly conduct of the city meeting infeasible. A member of the audience engaging in any such conduct shall at the discretion of the presiding officer or a majority of the city council be subject to ejection from the meeting per government code section 54954.3C. Removal from the council chambers. Any person who commits the following acts in respect to a meeting of the cities shall be removed from the council chambers per government code section 54954.3C. A disorderly, contemptuous or insolent behavior towards the city council or any member thereof tending to interrupt the due and orderly course of said meeting. a breach of peace, boisterous conduct, or violent disturbance tending to interrupt the due and orderly course of said meeting, disobedience of any lawful order from the mayor, which shall include an order to be seated or to refrain from addressing the city council, and any other unlawful interference with the due and orderly course of said meeting. Good evening everybody and welcome to tonight's Taff City Council successor a agency joint regular meeting this Tuesday April 7th 2026 here at city hall in the council chambers 209 East Kern Street Taft California 93268. The city of Taft City Council meetings are being held in person with full capacity seating and are livereamed at httpsw.youtube.com

youtube.com/ user/city oftaft. Public comment can be made in any made in person and also can be received per the following. Written comments may be dropped off in the dropbox in front of city hall. Comments may be emailed to the city clerk at city clerk at city oft.org. They can be made by phone to the city clerk's office at area code 661-7631222. Public comments will be accepted up until 5:00 p.m. the day of the meeting and any comments received will be read into the record. Uh tonight I would like to have uh city manager Jones lead us in the flag salutes. If you'd all please rise for us. Salute and pledge.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

And Mr. Piper, if you would please lead us in the invocation. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, this week that we celebrate the hope of resurrection, I stand before you as one who puts my hope in you as the giver of all things. And Lord, um, help us to know the things that we can and can't do, to rely on you for that which we can't, and to use wisely that which we have. Provide us with the resources we need. Lord, we we need uh treasure. We need people. We need time. Give us those resources to do the things we have to do. And grant us wisdom to know what the best things to do are. help us to pass on the baton of leadership to the next generation and to teach them well. And also finally um we want to ask that you would give courage to those who protect us, the firefighters, the police, the military service members. Watch over our city and may everything that happens at this meeting tonight be pleasing to you. We pray this in Jesus name.

Amen. Amen. Thank you, Sean. Before we get too deep in this, please set these to stun. Madame clerk, may we have a roll call, please? Mayor Proen Bryant here. Council member Crier here. Council member Waldrop here. Council member Shira here. And Mayor Nor is absent with notice.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. The first item on tonight's agenda is a proclamation for National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. And I've asked Council Member Shaveira to please read that on our behalf. Okay, please bear with me. Um, I know I'm fairly young, but I've been noticing the last couple months my vision is starting to be impacted. So, this is uh this is a a new journey for me. So, just bear with me. Uh, National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, April 12th to April 18, 2026. Proclamation declaring whereas national public safety telecommunications weeks was founded to honor the telecommunication personnel dedicating their lives to public safety. It was a local initiative that was initially set up in 1981 by Patricia Anderson of Contraosta County which later went on to become a nationwide week-long event. And whereas the National Public Safety Telecommunications Week is celebrated each year during the second full week of April to coincide with National 911 Education Month. And whereas emergencies can occur at any time that require police, fire, or emergency medical services. And whereas the safety of our police officers and firefighters is dependent upon the quality and accuracy of information obtained from citizens who telephone 911. And whereas public safety telecommunicators are the first and most critical contract, excuse me, contact our citizens have with the emergency services. And whereas public safety telecommunicators are the single vital link for our police officers and firefighters by monitoring their activities by radio, providing them

information and ensuring their safety. And whereas each dispatcher has exhibited compassion, understanding, and professionalism during the performance of their job over the years. Excuse me. Now therefore, the city council of Taft recognizes and extends appreciation to our dedicated and skilled dispatchers and hereby proclaim the week of April 12th, 1218, 2026 as public safety telecommunications week in the city of TAP, dated this 7th day of April 2026. Signed by David uh David Noer and the rest of the city council members. Seeing as we have some uniform personnel, we'd like uh Council M, if you'd like to go down and present that. I'm sure uh

Doug would like to get some pictures and I'm sure Absolutely.

We're going to make this is Stacy, one of our dispatchers, and there's no doubt about how I feel about it. I've brought it up many of times. They are the hub. What uh Councilman Cha just read, they are the hub of everything that goes on in our department. It all goes through them. our our officers depend on them for for safety for themselves and for the citizens by the information they gather, the first contact and how they relay it to our uh officers out on the street. And there's no doubt that they play an important part to the point where in in my opinion the brain hub of our department. That's just where it all starts. So totally appreciate it for that they get the chance to um the appreciation of what they deserve from the 12th on. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Chief. Oh, don't give me Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Stacy has a speech she would like to hear. No, she changed her mind. She doesn't. But she usually has a lot to say. Absolutely. For for as much praise as we hape on our police department. Equal amounts of praise cannot be left but not laid at the feet of our dispatchers. She's she is one of our outgoing ones. She's just being shy right now. She really is. Thank you very much guys so much. We appreciate it. Well, when we think of dispatch, right, you think of that late night radio DJ voice,

calm, cool, collected, collecting information and getting it out there, right? And that's because they're trained to do that. They're trained to stay calm to help keep you calm. And we are very thankful for our dispatchers. So, thank you very much. All right. They exit stage right or my left. I don't know which one it is. Wait, my ideas. Uhoh. Please hold. Please hold. Wait a minute. I'm not part of that. Or was like, I didn't do it. Uhoh. Oh, wow. Yep. Yeah. Move that mic to 90 degrees. I'm back.

What do you do? Push it down.

Thank you. Thank you. All right, ladies and gentlemen, we're going to move on to item two on tonight's agenda, which is citizens request and public comments. And since there are names on this paper, I get to read the words on this one. Uh, comments are to be received as stated in the 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, though council may receive comment and set the matter for a subsequent meeting. We ask that you kindly limit your comments to five minutes. First person on tonight's uh request is going to be Mrs. Lesley Miner representing Taft College. Good evening, council members. I wanted to let you know about an event that we are hosting to which you are invited. Taff College and the Taff College Foundation are hosting an event on April 30th, 1:30 to 3:30 at the Tap College President's Residence and the um address will be provided to you if you RSVP. We would like to invite you especially because we're working on building closer relationships between the college, the foundation, and the community itself. So, as leaders in our community, we want to make sure that you receive an invitation along with our chief of police.

So, if I can hand these out, I'm not sure faith if you have to do that or if I can do that. April 30. Thank you. So if there any any questions can please give my office a call office of the president at Tap College or if you would like to just RSVP, you're welcome to do that. We hope to see you there. And also for Councilman Crier and Councilman Waldruff, we're also inviting the service organizations in town. So if you could let your alliance club know, that would be that would be great. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Leslie. We appreciate it.

Citizen. Uh, second person on tonight's uh, public comments is going to be Mrs. Kathy Orin from the Taffft Chamber of Commerce. Good evening. It's nice to be here with you. Thank you. Um, I want to let you know about a few things coming up, but I want want to call attention to the fact that we made the front page of the Daily Midway Driller with this wonderful Rex Cooper fill helping out with the uh fixing the sign at the chamber. And we want to thank our um our firefighters for helping with that also. And I bet you anything that's my phone.

Okay, somebody we're gonna blame it on Eliza. That is true. Okay. The next thing I want to talk about is the chamber lunchon that is following the state of the city special meeting. So we are doing the state of the city a bit differently uh on Thursday, April 16th. There will be a special meeting here in chamber uh in the council chambers and that is at 11:00 a.m. Remember this is April 16th and it will be a regular um meeting of the of the um city council. Am I correct? Yes, ma'am. Okay. I think it's a special meeting. Is that how our agenda is now?

But will be conducted just like any

It is a special meeting. It even says so right here on this piece of paper in front of me. Yes, it's a special meeting and it is free and open to the public. And then at noon or so, the Taft Chamber will offer a uh Chamber of Commerce lunchon on 501 North Street, which is what we have come to know as the oil dorado headquarters. And it is sponsored with by the Taff Chamber with special guests and speakers. And you will have a chance to listen to people that know about what's going on in the oil patch. Specifically, we're going to talk about what is happening, what we see ahead, what we see for solutions, and uh it will be very very interesting. We have uh very good speakers that are going to be there, including our mayor. And um we're you're all invited. It will be a lovely light lunch. That means it's not going to be uh 17 forks on the side of the plate. you are going to be very comfortable and we'll even have potato chips. So, that'll give you an idea of how how comfortable you can be. So, we invite you to do that. Please call the chamber and make your reservations. It is $40 a person and there are table sponsors for $100 and there are um also VIP sponsors for $400. So, we would like you to participate in that. I think you'll find it very informative. The next thing I want to talk to you about is uh to save the date for our car, truck, and bike show. That's Saturday, May 16th. I know that I'm way ahead of time, but that's a big deal in Taft. And we um people like showing off their cars, so I want you to be aware of that date, Saturday, May 16th. And of course, we always have a lot of vendors. The vendors are welcome to start calling us

right now so they can secure a spot. And this um Saturday is the official Taft Union High School Hall of Fame dinner. And our Hall of Fame um is unique in that it always starts with a welcome uh get together at the Best Western because a lot of the folks that come stay at the Best Western and Carlos Shiver does a wonderful spread. We have the best of the best of the best in shakuderie and I don't know what the other stuff is called. It's fancy. It's wonderful. It tastes good. And we always fill the parking lot with people that aren't even invited to the thing. But that's a good sign and we love it. And so thank you, Carlos. You're wonderful every every time. And I want to mention the names of those who will be honored um as um being uh put into the Hall of Fame. Jack Lynch, who is um no longer with us, who is a famous famous tennis star, he will be into inducted into the Hall of Fame. Carl Twistleman II will be inducted. John Means, my gosh, I can't believe John Means. I went to school with John Means. That's that's wonderful. And then Mary Schaer who is an incredible expert on textiles and she has made quite a name for herself. She is coming all the way from the um United Kingdom to be with us on that evening. So we will be honoring those four people for the Hall of Fame and you are all invited to join us on that. Please call the chamber to secure your your food. So thank you very much for that. Oh, I have one more thing uh to our wonderful city um manager. You and I are going to have to get together,

Craig, because we've run out of room for bricks. I have a shipment of bricks sitting in my office, and I went up to uh give directions to the guy that puts the bricks up for us, and it's a wonderful problem to have. I have some ideas that would be a good fix, but I want to run them by you. So, we'll have to get together on that. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Kathy. So, this is those were bricks at the monument. Correct. Yes. Wonderful.

It's a good problem to have folks being honored whether they're with us or after they've left us, but it's a legacy that's left for many years ahead for folks to appreciate. All right. Item number three on tonight's agenda is going to be council statements, non- action. I'm going to start with Councilman Shave to my right.

Thank you, sir. Uh, I'm going to start off by um talking about vagrants. You know, I don't know why they're vagrants, right? Uh, but the ones that concern me the most are the criminal ones. The ones that that um that are having issues with drugs by choice. Uh, those concerns me. Those concerns me for a variety of reasons. Uh, but more importantly for the security of our of our community. Um, and the reason I bring this up is because recently we had the city go out and uh do their continued work and trying to clean up after them. Excuse me, clean up after them. We are defeating the purpose by having folks, local community members go out and give them change, um, give them food. You're not helping them out. Ladies and gentlemen, we need to worry more about our community members here. So, please please um just really pay attention on the decisions that you're making and helping those vagrants who are drug addicts. Um you're just supporting their habits. So, please please think about what you're doing before you go and provide them with food and provide them with money. Okay. Um, anyways, I'll leave that at that, but just know that for for me myself, I I'm not okay with it and you shouldn't be either. We need to put our children, we need to put our community members first. And uh again, thank you to the public works uh for for their continued effort, including our law enforcement and uh and and in in the fight in combating them. Okay. In addition to that, snakes are out, temperatures rising, and for whatever reason, all over the county, we're hearing about uh

the risks of snakes. Ladies and gentlemen, please be careful out there. Uh there's quite a bit of snakes out there, and you don't want to be put in a position where you get bit by a snake. Um in addition to the heat increasing, hydrate, hydrate. I can't believe we should be having this conversation, but the reality is is please take it uh important and and hydrate yourself and your family. Our pastor talked about wisdom, hope and education. Um he also mentioned that you know future leaders we we need to focus on on leaders who have wisdom who understand hope and and are willing to to understand the importance of an education um and and in in order to be um a leader in this community. Know that we won't be here forever. I know I won't be running again. So, please look for leaders who focus on these areas. Okay. And uh that is it. Appreciate your time.

Thank you, Mr. Shiver. Mr. I like to uh mention uh TV land uh about the uh service clubs and uh whatever uh people going to be down at the hospital area and be at tables and chairs and information about what they do, how they do it, and uh from 9 to 1 on Saturday. Uh pre please come on by and uh let us show you what we got. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Wald. Mr. Crier.

Thank you. I'm Mayor Pro. Right. I al want to tag along with Councilman Waldrip. Yes. This this Saturday we're the Westside Healthcare District's having a really really good uh health fair coming along. Be a lot of doctors there. Uh there will be a mammograph um blood screening cancer screening uh uh vaccination stuff for the children for health for healthcare. It' be a lot of things going on and and CPR training, but some of it will cost a little bit, but it's subsidized quite a bit. A little, you know, where it doesn't cost a whole lot of your pocket. But it's one of those things that you it's like a one-stop shopping almost. Just go there and go up to the line and and see each booth and and see what what they all have to offer. And another thing like tag along, you know, Lions Club's going to have a booth there and they will also uh have vaccin vaccination for dogs. you have any dogs out there that need to be vaccinated is is all free. Um they'll also have other uh things that they'll offer on uh glasses uh vouchers for glasses whatever for the people who can't afford it. Um there's so much there to offer there. This is why I could brag on our community. We do a lot. A lot of people don't see it, but there's so much to do and see and be part of our community and be part, you know, and show it. This like the Chamber of Commerce and stuff that's that's that's like a a spoke in our uh in our endeavors to make our town a great deal. Coming up here pretty quick. The city is going to give a a uh a portion of our toot tax. It's about about $8,300. and for the fiscal year should be close

to 47,500 that goes to the the Chamber of Commerce. And there's things that we do, but they use that money to give back to help the the our vendors in our community, the stores, the shop, the advertising, promotion for and different activities for the kids and and uh to make our community a better community. So that that's where that money goes and helps out. Also, we got you have the uh the Quantis just recently they gave out 100 free bikes to the kids. How many places can you go to and get free bikes for the kids? You know, this is one of the things that we do and the Rotary is going to have a reverse drawing here pretty soon. Advise everybody to get a ticket. It be it'll be hard to get, but that money that they raise goes back to the community. So, a lot of that stuff is is make our community a better u city and uh I'm just proud of that. I like to brag about it. So, and also I encourage people to find a club and be part of it. Volunteer. You the fort is coming back to life. People need to go out there in the fort and take a look at it. We've been a lot of volunteers out there working on it, making making it a whole lot better and inviting the whole uh weddings and kieras and what whatnot out there. Hopefully more more meetings. But that's that's part of our jewels. The the our uh museum out there, that's a hell of a good place to go to and see and do to learn a lot about our city and learn about the oil industry. You want to see the oil industry? Go to the museum and see it. and and and uh be part of it. You guys like it, you want to volunteer, there there's openings there for volunteers to help out there. But we have so much in our community to offer and take advantage of it. It's all there for for the offering. That's that's u all I have to say. Mayor Pro

Tim,

thank you Councilman Cry. So, Pastor Sean mentioned it earlier and if you're a believer, I want to wish everyone a hope you had a fantastic Easter and Easter Easter holiday. And uh if not, hoping you've had a great, you know, spring, whatever you do celebrate, I hope you celebrate with friends, family, and loved ones. But with with that in mind, I mean, that's springtime. Spring is here and we know spring is a short season here in the city of Taft on the west side, right? So get on to some of that spring spring cleaning, especially the stuff that's outside your house. I know we've got a bunch of stuff that's uh a little bit of rain coming up here soon, but uh it's going to be getting warm, getting dry real soon. So do yourself a favor, get out there and get those weeds taken care of. It'll make the the community a little bit better. will make your house a little bit cleaner and uh ultimately safer when it comes to fire season, which is not far around the corner here. I do know that Councilman Shira mentioned the idea of folks being around the folks who just never do well, right? My best advice is don't be an easy mark. You need to be a victim. And I don't mean that you have to be taken advantage of, but you have to make a report or we don't we cannot have and expect the police department to do their job if we're not willing to stand there and make a report to do what we've asked them to do, what the law allows us to do. have to be a victim. So if you have to have somebody trespassed, whether it's your personal property or commercial property you own, you need to make a phone call. Especially if it's an emergency, dial 911. If it's not, call 7633101. And the dispatcher in her beautiful late night radio DJ voice will collect your information. Send over an officer. They'll take a report and now they can do something. But unless you're a victim, their hands are tied. And we can't complain if we're not willing to meet them halfway. So I just encourage folks to do that. Don't leave stuff in your car, especially valuables. It's It's not 1980 anymore. The truth is, folks are out there looking to wiggle handles and see what doors are open. And how often have we just forgotten about it? We didn't click the button. It happens. And it shouldn't have to be that we have to protect ourselves. But at the end of the day, you got to keep honest people honest by not giving them an opportunity. So do your best to not

be an easy mark. Be a victim where you have to and be proactive as best you can. That's the only way to secure yourself. And even then, you know, life's uh it's a risk. Every time you turn around, you can be the victim of something crazy, even though you did everything right. Do yourself not to do yourself a favor and not have to put yourself in a a tough spot from the get-go. I did want to mention the current oil documentary, and Kathy, you might have the date. If anybody has it, please just yell it out. I don't mind. The Fox is hosting the Current Oil documentary.

April 26. Thank you, Jan. I would encourage you all go see the film. It's going to be right here in our backyard. It tells the story of everything that's happened and really centered right here in the Western Kern and all of Kern County in terms of what we do uh for oil and gas production. It's a fantastic documentary uh about, you know, how we became who we are today, what value that industry brings to our state, our nation, and the global economy. Go see it, right? You don't always have to agree. Maybe you disagree, maybe it changes your mind, maybe it doesn't. But at least you're then informed. At the end of the day, the best decision you can make is an informed decision. And whether we agree or not, do yourself a favor, get boned up on it, and then make the decision for yourself. That's the best thing we could ask of our population. So, uh, that's all I have. Uh, we'll move on to item number four, planning commissioners report. Do we have a planning commissioner here?

No report. No report. Fantastic. Item number five, department reports. Do we have any department reports tonight? We do. Thank you, Chief. kind of want to touch on a few things that were talked about earlier before I get into the statistics. Um I agree, don't be a victim. Pay attention of your surroundings. Take care of yourself and your and your loved ones. Keep your cars locked, your your windows, doors locked. It's sad that I have to say that, but it's it's a fact that we live in this day and and please do so. Um, leaving things in your vehicle just that are valuable just causes an individual to have that opportunity to break out a window or or force their way into your vehicle. And there again, if you leave it unlocked, then you're going to be missing something. That's kind of how things are.

Yes, sir. And it's sad that we're in that state of affairs, but it's unfortunate. It's kind of California.

I'm sure it's elsewhere as has the same issues, but it seems what I've seen in California seems to be going down the same path. um touch a little bit on what uh Councilman Chavar said tonight. You know, we we've we've done a lot of cleanup. We've been in the Sandy Creek area and down in the under the bridges and trying to clear the individuals out and they are the individuals that um um seem to be vandalizing and and crime of opportunities and taking things that of course that don't belong to them. Um it's a proven fact that 85 plus percent of those individuals are addict have addiction to something and that's a sad state of affairs and it's the it's the times we live in unfortunately. Um this is kind of a shameless plug but we have uh Michael Gates who is running for AG in California and please reach out do your research look this gentleman up. I've had a chance to sit down with him, myself, the sheriff, BPD, Chief Stratton, um, with CHP, friends of mine, Mary Maria Pagano, and her husband Vince, and others. Had a dinner with him recently, and I think this is going to be an individual that seems to be a good man. Um, he has great ideas when it comes to immigration and and everything that he's brought up and turning back the time of Proposition 47 and 57, um, the ones that we have those issues with and AB 109. So, I'm hoping this individual um gets elected um in according to him um and others, this is a good time for conservatives to uh put their foot down and not only conservatives, but individuals that just believe in uh law enforcement and freedoms and rights of others to be in the community and not be uh victims. And finally, we'll have law enforcement will have a chance to get teeth back where if you commit a crime, then you will be

arrested for it and you will do your time. And that's what we're hoping for. Um, I'm going to step into our patrol statistics for the month of March. Total incidents for the month of March is 1131. Calls for service were 498. Officer initiated incidents, and this is also with our citizen patrol, 633. Total officer cases were 114 written. Total misdemeanor and felony arrests of 51. So 35 and 16 for felony arrests. I also want to touch on something that's going on Saturday that's kind of close to my heart along with Jan Ashley and others of the Westside District Healthc Care is having the fair that uh health fair which starts and Councilman Crier touched on it as well. It's going to start at 9:00 and go to 1 at 1x way. Um my wife will be there with her students from Taff Union High School, hosa students and all her healthcare students along with Jan Ashley, I'm sure. And visit, please come down there and take an opportunity to walk through and um a lot of services are going to be rendered down there for you to take advantage of. Please do so. Um, there's one thing in life and that's being healthy because if you don't have your health, you're going to struggle with life. That's just how it is. So, appreciate it. Thank you for your time.

Thank you, Chief. We appreciate the information. Absolutely. Orchard. What do you have? I have a question. Do you see um crime or more petty crime uptick in the city or you see it leveling off or is it holding its own or is it going down a little bit? It's like any any other statistic in our city. It has its peaks and valleys. We know the individuals when we start seeing uh upticks in certain areas and of certain crimes, we start looking to certain individuals that have been recently released and lo and behold, they're recently released.

And then we start uh doing our investigations and we solve that problem and then they seem to uh go the other way. We have the down we have the downs slope of those crimes. Um I I I have to say that Taft is one of the safest cities that I know of. I mean I see individuals that walk our town and on rails trails. Yes, we have homeless like anybody else has homeless. Um and we're dealing with that. That was the city manager um along with our code enforcement and all our uh city workers along with the the police department. We're dealing with them on a daily basis. We dealt with two this morning and both went to jail. Now, I can't test how long they stay in jail, but I can tell you they both went to jail. So, um, not a not we are relatively safe. We don't have violent crimes here. Knock on wood. Should never say that, but you know, I'm I'm pretty confident in in our city and what we've put together and the team that we have at our police department. And I I don't really see a major uptick at all in in crimes. you you get the how I always say the stolen gnome from the yard routine which happens often. If you are a victim and you allow yourself to be a victim and you don't take care of your house and your belongings, things could happen, but that's in the state of California and other places as well, I'm sure.

Yeah, I understand that. I know we got Peace doing a really, really good job and we're very proactive and stuff. It'll be being my belief and stuff. um been preached that we'll always have the poor, you always have the beggars, but it seems like we sometimes we change the name to be politically correct on some of the things, but um we just needed to be more church base or more. So, I think uh it would it would um help people who who could be salvageable, I guess you might want to call it, but um we just don't have the um a strong enough uh attorney general or judges and stuff anymore. Just wants to let them let them loose and and perpetuate it instead of going ahead and work with them to get them out of that situation. I know some you're not going to be able to because of their, you know, brain brains are fried or whatever reason they can't help it. But there's got to be programs uh in the past that could use right now to help salvage the people that could be salvageable by through church base or through institutions to make things better for us.

I agree. I I I don't believe that um putting people in prison is the goal of any society. that that's going to change everything. But in certain areas where individuals are have addictions, if you don't ever get them off the streets and into a program or into the institution where they have a chance to uh be free of drugs or whatever their addiction is, alcohol, whatever, for that 60, 90 days, 120 days, then they don't make good choices. When they get released, they go back to what they know and what they do. And then we're seeing this cycle continue over. 25 years ago, I said the same thing over and over. Where were the homeless? Well, you didn't see them. You saw individuals that had mental health issues that we dealt with. And you know, and there's always uh room for improvement in every area, but to to believe that

putting them in jail is the answer to everything, which I don't believe that at all. Let me clarify myself on that. I didn't I didn't want to mean go to jail or prison. No, I know. But

I'm talking about like an institution where they go there, get the right medication, get the food they need, the nourishment and stuff, and hopefully get a vocation out of there where it be more of a salvageable deal for them. But this prison, I agree it all they do is learn new tricks basically. Um, it's we we are doing what we can here and I'm hoping California uh changes its uh laws and we start trying different instead of housing, you know, with what we're dealing with now. I'm hoping that things will change. Um, and the only way to do so is is your voter. I think you're the new person you mentioned earlier might be a good guy to go ahead and take the reigns on that and help our great state here.

That's my belief, but I don't want my political beliefs to bleed over to anybody else. Do the research, look it up, look him up, understand him, and then make your own decision. Thank you both very much, Chief. We appreciate the explanations. Councilman Cry, we appreciate the additional uh clarity and questions to be asked. Uh I will clarify a couple things just to make sure I speak clearly. If I understood Kathy and uh and Jan's motions here and text message, the Colon Oil documentary is going to be played March or uh April 25th at 6:30 p.m. at the uh Fox Theater. So, 25th of April. Yeah, I was trying to read lips and signs and I was like, "Please, for the love of God, just text me so I'll know and I can clarify." So, thank you ladies very much.

Uh 6:30 at night on the 25th of April, which is probably a Saturday or maybe a Friday. Saturday.

Perfect. Good. All right. And uh I guess to the the chief's point, I'll kind of belabor it when it comes to my council comments being split up just a bit. The critical thing we can do is try to find some balance. In a in a society with no laws, chaos reigns. In a society with too much law, everyone lives in fear. So you got to find the balance. In California, obviously, we we like a pendulum. We swing, right? Uh, I personally don't believe that Taft is unique in the grand scheme of California especially, but nationwide in terms of the negatives or, you know, stuff we see out there that we probably don't want to see. I just think when we look at it in our own fishbowl, not as part of the big ocean, but our own fishbowl, of course, you're going to notice the negative. And of course, it's never going to be exactly what we want, what we'd like to see, but our hands are tied just a bit. I think we do a a good job of doing what we can with the tools we're allowed to work with. Period. Can we be better? Amen. Could we be worse? Amen. So, work till you getting better. Be okay with where we are now, but never never rest easy and accept it. But again, you've got to be a willing participant. You've got to be a vict don't be a victim, but don't be a mark, I guess, the word I'm looking for. So, do what you can to secure yourself, support the police department as they try to support and defend you, and then we'll keep working toward a better community as best we can. So, thank you, Chief. Well said.

Could I could I make a comment on that? Just because everyone has made comment. Why not? Can I? Why not? So, I was watching the Andy Griffith Show before I came over. And so, I'm thinking of what we're having a conversation about, and again, I'm I'm I'm considering what was happening on the Andy Griffith Show, right? We have Otis, who's this alcoholic, right? And they had somewhat simil similar situations. They dealt with their own form of of crime. But the reality is this, our society is different from then to today. And we as a society need to take responsibility. We need to take responsibility and not tolerate some of these certain lifestyles. We cannot tolerate vagrancies walking around half-neaked completely drugged up and they need to know that they're not welcomed in this community, but it takes us collectively to work together to let them know that they're not welcome, that we don't tolerate them. It is just not only the police officer's responsibility. Um, anyways, that's my comment. Thank you so much. I appreciate your work.

You're welcome. Thank Very well said. Thank you. Thank you. All right, guys. Now that we've ventured far, we're going to get back on track here. Item number six, city manager statements. Uh, city manager Jones. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, sir. Uh, item number seven, city attorney statements, Mr. Eperson, thank you. No statements. Thank you. That beard is plenty statement. I still like it. I remember what you look like without the beard. Jason, that's why I don't shave mine anymore either. Look dignified. At least I'm told. Uh, item number eight, future agenda request. Gentlemen, do we have any future agenda requests here?

No. None. See? None. All right. We're going to move on to the consent consent calendar. Items 9 through 15. All items listed on the consent calendar should be considered routine and will be enacted by one roll call vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless there is a member of the city council requesting that item be removed from the consent calendar for separate action. Any item removed from the consent calendar will be considered after the regular business items. Are there any items on the consent calendar that any member of the public would like to comment on? Seeing none, those items are item number nine, the minutes from the March 17th regular meeting. Recommended action there is to submit, excuse me, approve as submitted. Item number 10 is the payment of bills. The warrant registers are listed there with one correction uh on warrant number 032726. It needs to be corrected to read warrants number or checks number 20183 through number 201863 as opposed to what's listed there. It's some $375,000. The recommended action on that is to approve the uh payment of bills. Item number 11 is an emergency purchase of 24,000 BTU ductless heating air conditioning system for the Taff Police Department. The recommendation there is a motion to ratify the purchase of a 24,000 BTU ductless heating and air conditioning system provided by Airco Bakersfield. The total amount of the purchase and installation is $5,669 and no cent. and request the mayor to sign and accept the purchase. Item number 12 is approval of the special event permit application fees for those to be waved and the street closures to the Westside Healthcare District for a health care health fair, excuse me, to be held at 100 East North Street in front of the Westside Family Healthc Care on Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 7:30 in the morning to 2:00 in the afternoon and authorizing the street closure for the Westside Healthcare District Health Fair. The recommended action there is a motion to approve a resolution entitled a resolution to the city council of the city of Taft approving the waving of a special event permit application fee to the Westside Healthcare District and for a health

event health fair event, excuse me, at 100 East North Street to be held on Saturday, April 11th, 2026. further authorizing the street closure for the Westside Healthcare District Healthcare Fair and find that such activity is not a project per the California Environmental Equality Act SQA as set forth in section 15061B3 of the SQA guidelines. Item number 13, updated resolution authorizing workers compensation coverage for volunteers. The recommendation there is a motion to adopt a resolution entitled a resolution of the city council of the city of Taft providing workers compensation coverage for non-safety city volunteers. Item number 14 is funding to the Taft Chamber of Commerce for the quarter of October 2025 to December 2020, excuse me, 2025. The recommendation there is a motion to approve the 25% allocation of the transit transient occupancy tax to the Taff Chamber of Commerce for the quarter of October 2025 through December 2025. And item number 15, approval of the amendment number four with Securous Technologies at the Taft Community Correctional Facility. The recommendation there is a motion to authorize the city manager to sign amendment number four with Securous Technologies. Members of the council, would you like to remove any of the items for from the consent agenda agenda? Uh, I would request that we remove item number 14, please. Madame Cler, excuse me. At this time, I'll accept a motion to approve items number 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15 on the consent agenda.

Motion second. So, we have a motion by Waldrip and a second by Crier. Madam Clerk, may we have a roll call, please. Council member Crier, yes. Mayor Proen Bryant, yes. Council member Waldrop, yes. Council member Shira, yes. That passes on a 40 vote with one absence. Back to the item number 14, the funding to the Taft District Chamber of Commerce for the quarter of October 2025 to December 2025. the recommendation there being a motion to approve the 25% allocation of the transient occupancy tax to the Taft District Chamber of Commerce for the quarter of October 2025 through December 2025. Can I get a motion to discuss? I have a motion.

I'm sorry. City Manager Jones, do you have a staff report for that? Perfect. Even better. So, uh, can I have a At this time, I accept a motion to accept that item or to discuss that item? Motion. Second. Two motions, a second and a third. Um, gentlemen, I'm going to open this up to comment if you'd like to comment on it any further. No, not here. No, sir.

Well, um, I think the the chamber is well deserving, what what they're receiving, what they use them what they use it for to make our community better. And I I I have, you know, if anything, wish we can give them more. It help the community and all that. Um, it's a you just don't see the behind the scenes, the things that goes into it, the intricacy of um making things happen and going um maybe I'm going too far on this, but that's all I have to say.

Thank you, Councilman Crier. Uh my question here is more of just kind of getting to the root of uh one maybe my request is that we have a some type of staff report or follow-up at a later meeting. U what's what is this based in? Was there a resolution done by the city council at some point in the past that established this practice? And two, I I guess maybe for the last five years looking back the last five fiscal years, so including the the current, how much has been given of the transient occupancy tax from the city to the Taff District Chamber of Commerce. I was on the chamber when we worked on that. the president's time or maybe right afterwards, but we raised it up from I think 10% to 25% if I'm not mistaken.

Okay. So, I guess what I'm look seeking for here is maybe some concurrence that we have ask staff to report back to the council at a later time. Um, I guess this maybe a separate motion. Jason, should I do this separately? I should have asked. It's more of a request for some information. I think concurrence is just fine. Okay, perfect. uh the motion to actually

perfect. So uh can I have concurrence to have staff provide the information for the last five fiscal years of the amount that we provided by way of uh this resolution or whatever underlies it to the chamber of commerce. I'll give you concurrence on that. Um because um at the time we raised it, we weren't getting much of a toot tax, but since then uh with a new um motel this western and and also we had issues getting getting the money collected toot from other uh motel, but that's been resolved. So that's been a big boon for the city and for the chamber.

Wonderful. Thank you. So, we have concurrence there and and uh seeing no further discussion about the motion at hand regarding the funding uh detailed on item 14. Um madam clerk, may we have a roll call, please? Did I do that in the right order? Okay. Council member Crier. Yes. Mayor Prom Bryant. Yes. Council member Waldrop. Yes. Council member Shiver. Yes.

And that passes on a 40 vote with one absence. At this time, ladies and gentlemen, we're this council is going to be moving into close session session for two items. Item A is conference with legal council anticipated litigation pursuant to government code section 54956.9B two undisclosed cases and item B is conference with labor negotiator Craig Jones city manager pursuant to government code section 54957.6 Six all units. This council has a journ to close session.