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 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 City 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. Welcome to the TAP City Council Successor Agency Joint Regularly Scheduled Meeting for Tuesday, September the 15th, City of Taft Council meetings are being held in person with full capacity seating or may be joined remotely through Zoom using meeting ID 822-2370-7823. Pass code. 613-564 or the following link as posted on our website. Meetings are also live streamed at www.youtube.com forward slash user forward slash City of Taft. Public comment can be made in person or remotely through Zoom and can be received per the following. Written comments may be dropped off in the drop box in front of City Hall. Comments may be emailed to the city clerk at cityclerk at cityoftaft.ca.gov. They may be made by phone to the city clerk's office at 661-763-1222. Public comments will be accepted up until 5 p.m. the day of the meeting, and any comments received shall be read into the record. We're going to begin this evening's meeting with a Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilman Carlos Chavarra in honor of of 9-11 as he served this country with distinction, followed by an invocation from Pastor Lloyd Francis. So if you would join us, please.

Right hand of the heart. Pledge.

I pledge allegiance.

May we pray. Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name. We do ask for your grace and your mercy to come upon the beautiful city of Taft, all of its residents. I pray for your safety for all your officers that are working here in this city, all the city managers, city officials, the councilmen, and any other official act. Father, I pray your wisdom, guidance, and protection Pray if there had been anybody sick in the police force, whether they're active patrolmen or even the spouse, that they would be touched, O God. If there's any issues in their homes, I pray you would bless. Father, for every fireman, every paramedic, and every responder, O God, we do honor and remember those who, given everything for the act of freedom and for the lives of those in 9-11, we so love our country, oh God. You gave us this country. I pray we can keep it. Again, thank you for the councilman. I pray you give wisdom and guidance throughout this meeting. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. Thank you very much.

Madam Clerk, may we have a roll call, please?

Mayor Knorr?

Here.

Council Member Cryer? Here.

Here.

Council member Walbrock here. Council member Shavira here. And Mayor Pro Tem Bryant is absent with notice.

All right. First item on the agenda this evening actually was pulled, be postponed until the next meeting. So we'll move right on to item number two. Item number two is proclamation community action partnership of Kern. I have that proclamation here. This is a proclamation declaring September 2026 Hunger Action Month in Kern County. Whereas hunger and food insecurity affect thousands of children, families, seniors, and individuals in Kern County, creating barriers to health, stability, and opportunity. And whereas the Community Action Partnership of Kern, CAPCA, Food Bank is the largest hunger relief organization in Kern County. distributing more than 22.5 million pounds of food in the past year, the equivalent of 18,750,000 meals to families in need through its network of community partners, mobile distributions, and choice pantries. And whereas during Hunger Action Month, Capco Food Bank joins Feeding America and food banks across the country to raise awareness about hunger, inspire advocacy, and encourage community engagement, to end food insecurity. And whereas in 2025, the Kern County Food Policy Council has been relaunched to strengthen collaborative efforts between public agencies, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and community members, building long-term strategies to improve food access, nutrition, equity, and sustainability across the county. And whereas the Capco Food Bank has distributed approximately 765,000 pounds of food to food insecure neighbors in the city of Taft, demonstrating its strong commitment to serving families and individuals facing hunger. And now, therefore, be it resolved that the City Council of Taft does hereby proclaim September 2026 as Hunger Action Month. and calls upon all residents to join in the fight against hunger by supporting local hunger relief efforts, advocating for stronger food systems, and taking meaningful action to ensure every neighbor has access to healthy, nutritious food. Signed this day, September of 2026, by myself and all four council members. So, I do believe we have somebody here to accept this. Ladies, please.

Okay.

Here you go. We've got to have a picture. Okay. It's a prerequisite. You're not going to be in the picture? Come on. You can't run from this. I won't buy it. I promise. One, two, three. Okay.

All right. There you are. Would you like to address the council?

You took most of my speech.

Oh, no, ma'am.

We can't wait to hear from you, please.

So we would like to share that we have an event coming up on September 29th at the Kern County Fair. So this has been an ongoing event that we've done there. We are asking anyone that comes to the fair that day if they bring six cans or of any non-perishable food. they're going to get a free ticket into the fair. So that's the next event that we have coming up. I know you mentioned a couple of statistics. I would also like to recognize our partners here locally in Taft. We would not be able to provide the assistance that we do here locally without their partnership for our citizens as well as our seniors. But some of those partners include Five Loaves Pantry, St. Mary's Church, the Needs Center and New Hope Temple. And so we really appreciate their support as far as helping us getting the food distributed. And then once a month we do also come here with our senior food box program and deliver, we do home deliveries for our seniors here as well. So we really appreciate having that opportunity to do that.

Well, you all provide a critical service. I am curious, over the course of the last several years, five years, whatever, have you seen the need Increase or decrease? What have you seen?

I would say with the cost of living and the cost of everything else going up, that need has increased. In addition to the impacts to the SNAP benefits, we are slowly starting to feel the impact of that as far as the families that are coming in need. So I would say yes, it has increased. It's not at capacity yet. But our goal is to be the first food bank to in food security and security in the United States. And we are close to it, but we just need more agency partners to help us with that reach because we do serve all of Kern County, all 8,000 square miles. And so the more partners we can get, we will give them the food if they can hand off that resource. So that really is the only way to do that. So we are hopeful. We're about, 164 agency partners. We're hoping to get to 250.

My goodness, to cover 8,000 square miles, that is a substantial network. Well, thank you all very much for the work that you do and the people that you help. We appreciate it. Obviously, it's a blessing to everybody.

Thank you so much. Thank you all.

Thank you. Thanks for coming over. All right, next up, item number three, citizens request public comments. Madam Clerk? We'll be signed up. We'll move right on to council statements, non-action. Councilman Chavarro, sir, I'll begin with you. Thank you, sir. I'll be brief.

So this week, for those of you who don't know, is homecoming week at Tafta Union High School. So I don't know the schedule completely. However, you can log on to their website and you can see their complete schedule. They have a variety of activities for our students, and this is a good opportunity for our community to come out and support them and cheer them on, especially with some of the football activities coming up. In addition, thank you to West Side Rec. I know that she's gonna come out in a minute and talk about the trunk or treat, but you know, West Side Rec is consistently coming out and making activities for our community. So we definitely do appreciate them. So those of you who don't know, I'm actually a beekeeper. I do it for fun, but I'm just gonna share a quick story just to tell you how dangerous they can be. Someone in Cuyama called if I can go take a look at some bees. I ran out there, and for the most part, I generally don't suit up. However, if they start to get a little aggressive, I'll suit up. Well, I go out there, and I'm barely coming up to the bees, and they just started coming after me, which generally doesn't happen, but they're bees. They have minds of their own. And I know for a fact that I got stung on my arms around about a total of 50 times last night. And the reason I say this is this family has grandkids, and I was thinking last night, I thought, Man, if one of their grandkids would have got stung by these bees, I don't think it would have ended well. So I say all this, don't mess with bees. Call somebody. It doesn't have to be me. Just call somebody, some professionals that can come out and give you some support. In addition, I'd like to, since we've been talking about 9-11, I'd like to share two quotes from September 11th is one of our worst days, but it brought out the best in us. It unified us as a country and showed our charitable instincts and reminded us of what we stood for and stand for. 9-11, a day to remember that extraordinary heroes are often disguised as ordinary people and that spirit and soul are unbreakable. Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. Appreciate that, sir. Councilman Cryer.

Thank you, Mayor. We have an election coming up in less than 50 days. A lot of things are going on in politics locally, statewide, nationwide, and stuff is happening. And it seems like that with 9-11 that just passed last weekend, last Friday, yes, it was a sad day. Yes, we all came together. But 25 years from then, we're a nation that forgot about, basically, only except for a few. We've got socialism, strong. Especially in New York, you've got a communist mayor there. We have been Muslim. I'm not afraid to say it. But the hijackers, where were they? Where did they come from? fanatical beliefs were. They were there to destroy America. We all came together and fought to overthrow the other countries like Iraq and others that were involved with it. But we soon forget. You can't even say the word of Muslims anymore because then you're all of a sudden Islamophobia. But you've got to look at who our enemies are. Our enemies are here. But it's not the people themselves. It's mainly the fanaticals that's in there. And you'll see everywhere the main states were very centralized and they're slowly taking over. Look at who's running the Democratic Party now. Who's running it? Look at their background. Do they destroy our country? They know they can't win it from a war, but they can sure take it from within. That's what's scary, that we don't Watch our great country because we are a nation of a melting pot. We all come together here to make lives for our family, make our country better. Yes, we make mistakes, but we learn from our mistakes. We're slowly losing our individual freedom. Things are happening. Sharia law. Look what they're trying to do in Texas, trying to make towns where only Muslims only can go in there or in other areas of the United States. We're losing our identity. And I welcome the Islam or Muslims in our country as far as them to express their freedom. They're not there to change me, change our values, and to change our great country to be like them. And I'm just worried and concerned that we are losing our country identity. I feel that we've got an election coming up. It could be a crossroads. That's my concern I have. And my background I have in my stuff overseas and stuff, I see through that. But sometimes we get blinded. You see so much on the news, all the things, the lies are repeated all the time. All of a sudden it becomes truth. But we are a country of freedom. We welcome all faith. We welcome all colors and stripes of people We don't have prejudice here other than the ones who are trying to take us over by calling us who they want people to believe. So I'd just like to say that we reflect back and again ask the question of politicians who are running for office, are we for our great Constitution? Are we following what our founding fathers wanted?

And vote. Vote.

Vote and follow your heart and belief. I'm not going to tell you to change your deal, but look and reflect. If that's what you want, that's what you believe, stand by your convictions. But don't call people that are trying to keep our freedom. They hear all the time in the news media, in the press and stuff, that if you say anything against Islam, that you're Islamophobia. It's not that. They keep drilling in there so we keep us silent. Keep us quiet so we're afraid to say anything. And I'm not afraid. I'm not. Another thing, too, is people who are on the Internet or on Facebook and stuff, we have the freedom. We can speak what we want. But it seems like people complain a lot about our city or things that are happening to our city or our surrounding areas. They bitch a lot. But you don't see them here at the council chambers here talking to us, not talking to the people. You don't see them out there contributing. All they want to do is sit there in their basements or their mom's home or their dad's garage or whatever. They just want a bitch from right there but don't have a solution to our problems. Can you contribute to it? I'd like to hear from it. And I'm sure you have some great ideas what you want to do, but act on them. Act and tell us what you think is better, what we ought to do, and to make our city a better place to live and grow. And that's about pretty much all I want to say, because being so close to 9-11 and stuff and seeing it, because not too many years ago, we got away from communism in Europe. Russia fell. USSR fell. A lot of the eastern countries rejoiced to get away from it And we were the freedom fighter. We were the ones that were the beacon for the world. I think our lights have dimmed. I don't think we're that beacon no more. So that's all I want to say, Mayor. Thanks, sir. Councilman Waldrop.

Well, the United States is one of the greatest countries in the world. We've had a lot of great, great people that fought for it and died for it. We got a big vote coming up. If you're not registered to vote, go by the post office. Get you a form to fill out. If it's closing hours and 601 Kern, I got them down there if you want some. But register to vote and vote. We need your vote. It's a serious time right now. A lot of people don't realize it. But get out and vote, whatever. That's the big thing. Get out and vote. Thank you.

Thank you very much. On September the 11th here in the city of Taft, the chamber put on the mayor's prayer breakfast and it was the first time they put this together and it was a wonderful event. I think it was attended by, I don't know, 150, 160 people. Uh, we had electeds from around the county that came to be a part of it and a lot of first responders and we remembered it. Not only did we remember the events, of 9-11 and the sacrifice and the horrors of it all, but we remembered what came out on 9-12, and that is who America can be. And everybody flew American flags. I spoke of it at the prayer breakfast. And on that day, we just remembered that we were all Americans. America was under attack, and America would respond, and America needs to remember that. We are one nation under God, indivisible. So it was a great event, and I look forward to that being an annual event, as it should be. So those of you who are not fortunate enough to attend, I would encourage that you do that next year. That's all I have this evening. Item number five, department reports. Do we have any department reports this evening? Seeing none, we'll move on to city manager statements. No statement this evening, Mr. Mayor. No statement this evening, all right. We have an interim city manager, as city manager Craig Jones is not here this evening. City attorney statements this evening, sir.

Also no statement this evening, sir.

All right, thank you very much. Future agenda requests. Gentlemen.

I have one.

Yes, indeed you do. What would that be, sir?

Well, I'd like to put... on the next agenda to discuss about the e-bike safety. We need to do a few things there and whatever's legal to help these kids that just don't respect. I see them driving through my section over there. In fact, one of them got hit one time and it wasn't the driver's fault, it was his. But, uh, we gotta do something, you know, for instance, uh, age limit, maybe a helmet, uh, school for it, whatever is proper, but I like to put it on an agenda to discuss.

Okay. So the request is to put e-bike safety as a community on the agenda for discussion. And that would require some research regarding state laws and, uh, DMV if they're involved in it. But, uh, anyway, Would anybody care to concur with that request?

I'll concur.

All right. There you go. So, Madam Clerk, we'll need to do a little bit of background research and then set that up for a subsequent meeting. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

I'm sorry. Go ahead. I have a small comment on the agenda request. A lot of people know about Dr. Ross. He's been a veterinarian here in TAF for many, many years, and he's retiring here pretty soon. I thought maybe we could recognize him for his years of service. And he was in the military and very patriotic and donated so much of his time and his expertise in helping TAP out. So I'd like to make a proclamation for his service well done or whatever. Okay.

Do I have a second on that?

Absolutely, sir. Yeah.

Okay. Then, then obviously councilman, you would need to get with city clerk regarding all the background information would be necessary to make that happen. All right. Okay. Very good. Any others, gentlemen? None. All right, then we'll move on with consent calendar items eight through 10. All items listed on the consent calendar shall be considered routine and will be enacted by one roll call vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the City Council requests specific items to 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? I don't see any hands going up there, so those items are. Item number nine, the minutes of the September 1st, 2026 regularly scheduled meeting. Item number 10 is the payment of bills, some $950,000. Item number 11, approval of street closure for the Westside Recreation and Park District trunk or treat event on October the 26th. The recommendation is a motion to adopt a resolution entitled Resolution of the City Council of the City of Taft Authorizing the Street Closure for the 2026 Trunk or Treat Event and find that the activity is not a project per the California Environmental Quality Act, CEQA, as set forth in Section 15060C3 and Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines. I would entertain a motion for approval of the consent calendar. Motion.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Madam Clerk, may we have roll call, please?

Council Member Cryer?

Yes.

Council Member Waldrop? Yes. Council Member Shavira?

Yep.

Mayor Norton?

Yes. Now passes on a 4-0 vote. Thank you. All right, that brings the open session portion of this evening's meeting to a close. This governing body will go into closed session for two items. Item A, conference with labor negotiator, lawn board. Sorry, Craig's not here. City Manager, Government Code Section 54957.6, all units. Item B, Conference with Legal Counsel, Existing Litigation, Government Code Section 54956.9A, Taft Union High School versus the City of Taft, Kern County Superior Court Case Number S-1500-CV-283804. I want to thank you all for being a part of this evening's meeting. Remember... It is your government. It is your city. Be a part of it. Thank you all. We are adjourned.