1 00:19:19,007 --> 00:19:22,746 Welcome to the Special Meeting of the Bakersville City Council, 2 00:19:22,746 --> 00:19:30,145 now speaking the Honorable Mayor Karen K. Go. Afternoon. It's 3 00:19:30,145 --> 00:19:32,265 my pleasure to call to order the 12 p. m. 4 00:19:32,326 --> 00:19:40,926 Special City Council meeting. Of August 26, 2026. Madam Clerk, 5 00:19:40,926 --> 00:19:46,672 please call the role. Marigo. Here. Vice Mayor Cor. Council 6 00:19:46,712 --> 00:19:52,515 Member Aryas. Here. Council Member Gonzalez. Here. Council Member Weir. 7 00:19:53,362 --> 00:19:57,181 Council Member Smith. I'm here. Council Member Coman. Here. Council 8 00:19:57,221 --> 00:20:01,797 Member by Sher Tash. Here. Thank you. In Keeping with 9 00:20:01,818 --> 00:20:05,237 Council's Resolution, the Public Statements portion is divided into two 10 00:20:05,258 --> 00:20:07,637 periods. There's a period for items listed on the meeting 11 00:20:07,677 --> 00:20:11,797 agenda and items not on the meeting agenda. Additionally, pursuant 12 00:20:11,797 --> 00:20:14,437 to changes in state law. The City Council will now 13 00:20:14,458 --> 00:20:18,357 accept public statements via phone and in person. Statements for 14 00:20:18,378 --> 00:20:21,237 items listed on this afternoon's agenda are given a two 15 00:20:21,237 --> 00:20:24,517 - minute time limit, 10 minutes for participants by phone 16 00:20:24,618 --> 00:20:27,397 and 10 minutes for in - person participants, 20 minutes 17 00:20:27,418 --> 00:20:31,157 total. Statements regarding items not listed on the agenda are 18 00:20:31,157 --> 00:20:33,077 also given a two - minute time limit, 10 minutes 19 00:20:33,077 --> 00:20:36,037 for participants by phone, and 10 minutes for in - 20 00:20:36,037 --> 00:20:38,597 person participants. If you have written comments that are longer 21 00:20:38,597 --> 00:20:40,677 than your verbal statement, give them to the clerk who 22 00:20:40,717 --> 00:20:42,797 will give copies to the council. If you're here to 23 00:20:42,797 --> 00:20:45,797 make a public statement, please register using the kiosk in 24 00:20:45,797 --> 00:20:48,597 the back of the chambers where you entered staff are 25 00:20:48,597 --> 00:20:52,357 available to assist if needed. We ask that you select 26 00:20:52,378 --> 00:20:54,437 whether you're here to speak on an item listed on 27 00:20:54,458 --> 00:20:57,557 this afternoon's agenda or no matter not on the agenda. 28 00:20:57,557 --> 00:21:00,517 Speakers who do not identify specific agenda item will be 29 00:21:00,557 --> 00:21:03,557 presumed speakers for the non - agenda portion. Those speakers 30 00:21:03,597 --> 00:21:05,477 will be called during the non - agenda portion of 31 00:21:05,477 --> 00:21:10,480 the meeting. Everyone in attendance is expected. To adhere to 32 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:13,440 the world's vineycarum established by resolution of the city council 33 00:21:13,541 --> 00:21:16,320 failure to abide by the city's relations of decorum, including 34 00:21:16,501 --> 00:21:19,520 any disruptive behavior that interferes with our ability to have 35 00:21:19,621 --> 00:21:23,638 an orderly and efficient meeting. Prevents the City Council from 36 00:21:23,739 --> 00:21:26,678 conducting the business of the city. Consider this the first 37 00:21:26,678 --> 00:21:29,878 warning to everyone had participating. That conduct that disrupts the 38 00:21:29,899 --> 00:21:32,438 meeting may result in expulsion and or the Chambers being 39 00:21:32,478 --> 00:21:37,558 cleared. Behavior did its reps of meeting includes repetitive statements, 40 00:21:37,558 --> 00:21:42,598 shouting, hate speech, interrupting staff or presenters during the meeting, 41 00:21:42,598 --> 00:21:46,758 speaking out of turn, outbursts from the audience. Telephonic Participants 42 00:21:46,939 --> 00:21:49,478 are expected to adhere to the same worlds of decorum 43 00:21:49,739 --> 00:21:52,998 as those attending here in person. Madam Clerk, do we 44 00:21:52,998 --> 00:21:57,158 have any public speakers regarding regarding items not listed on 45 00:21:57,198 --> 00:21:57,558 the agenda. 46 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:10,819 Regarding items not listed on the Agenda, all Public Speakers 47 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:13,539 are in person. Thank you. Would you call for them, 48 00:22:13,539 --> 00:22:18,344 please? The first public speaker is Michael Orloff. 49 00:22:23,603 --> 00:22:29,881 Have some. Materials here. Well, complete introduce yourself. Michael Orloff, 50 00:22:29,881 --> 00:22:35,081 I'm a resident of Larry Cohen's district, Ward 5. Thank 51 00:22:35,081 --> 00:22:38,894 you very much, counsel. I'm writing to you today to 52 00:22:39,075 --> 00:22:42,734 request that each council member consider going on the record. 53 00:22:43,318 --> 00:22:47,057 About a rule of law, resolution, or the city of 54 00:22:47,097 --> 00:22:52,587 Bakersfield. I strongly oppose any effort to designate Bakersfield a 55 00:22:52,587 --> 00:22:59,227 sanctuary city American citizens are the victims of foreign nationals, 56 00:22:59,227 --> 00:23:07,237 not the immigrants. Sanctuary City Policy is fiscally irresponsible, exacerbates 57 00:23:07,258 --> 00:23:13,296 inflation. Ruins the American dream. Foreign nationals reduce job availability 58 00:23:13,717 --> 00:23:19,616 and drain our health care, feeding, education, housing, criminal justice, 59 00:23:19,616 --> 00:23:24,829 and public safety systems. The cost of sustaining population of 60 00:23:24,869 --> 00:23:28,189 foreign nationals is part of the problem and exacerbates the 61 00:23:28,290 --> 00:23:30,749 CPI increases that we've seen in the last few years. 62 00:23:31,741 --> 00:23:36,519 Sanctuary City violates federal law. And interferes with law enforcement 63 00:23:37,420 --> 00:23:43,090 and facilitates about 10 different federal crimes. Border security by 64 00:23:43,090 --> 00:23:51,650 contrast, including ICE, serve important functions, dismantling international criminal networks 65 00:23:51,671 --> 00:23:57,449 involved in human trafficking, weapons smuggling and financial crimes. I 66 00:23:57,630 --> 00:24:01,289 fully support everyone who comes here to escape from oppression 67 00:24:01,630 --> 00:24:05,049 and improve their lives so long as they enter America 68 00:24:05,070 --> 00:24:09,529 legally. Council should kindly go on the record with the 69 00:24:09,630 --> 00:24:13,920 attached resolution of rule of law. For the city of 70 00:24:13,941 --> 00:24:18,797 Bakersfield. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Orloff. Next speaker, please. 71 00:24:20,617 --> 00:24:27,317 Jesse Sanders. Morning. Boy. Jesse Sanders. Welcome. S. A. N. 72 00:24:27,317 --> 00:24:30,317 D. E. R. S. I hear, I am here also 73 00:24:30,338 --> 00:24:35,098 to oppose Sanctuary Cities. Excuse me, sorry, can we hold 74 00:24:35,098 --> 00:24:37,018 on for just one moment? We're having a technical difficulty 75 00:24:37,058 --> 00:24:37,578 with the timer. 76 00:25:04,668 --> 00:25:08,797 Our apologies to that. Please go ahead. Good morning. So 77 00:25:10,578 --> 00:25:14,157 Carl Sololensky and Cloud and Pivots never use the term 78 00:25:14,498 --> 00:25:18,631 sanctuary city because it wasn't coined in their day. However, 79 00:25:18,892 --> 00:25:25,985 sanctuary city status fits boldly into their strategy. Because selectively 80 00:25:26,326 --> 00:25:32,305 enforcement of laws create victimhood status, social strife and lawlessness, 81 00:25:32,305 --> 00:25:35,185 much like the gang shooting at our high school here, 82 00:25:35,185 --> 00:25:40,135 just the other night. Where a young man was killed. 83 00:25:41,095 --> 00:25:47,234 Needlessly. Sanctuary City status has been strategically tabled only to 84 00:25:47,234 --> 00:25:50,914 be reinduced at a more convenient time down the road. 85 00:25:54,194 --> 00:25:57,213 Un contrary, a rule of loss status would invite law 86 00:25:57,234 --> 00:26:00,173 - abiding citizens, promote law and order, and send a 87 00:26:00,173 --> 00:26:02,973 message to our local and federal law enforcement that the 88 00:26:03,074 --> 00:26:07,749 city backs our officers in the field. I urge a 89 00:26:07,749 --> 00:26:11,989 counsel to proclaim Bakersfield City as a law and order 90 00:26:12,010 --> 00:26:16,029 city. Protect our U. S. citizens in Bakersfield. Much of 91 00:26:16,029 --> 00:26:20,149 this can go on to what we're addressing at the 92 00:26:20,170 --> 00:26:25,909 Board of Supervisors with the roach coach areas around. They're 93 00:26:25,909 --> 00:26:27,211 trying to shut them down. But a lot of them 94 00:26:27,251 --> 00:26:29,851 aren't following the laws because they didn't follow the laws 95 00:26:29,891 --> 00:26:34,471 to get here. I'm having, I'm in Andrew Gonzalez, who 96 00:26:34,471 --> 00:26:37,691 I have some of those trucks dumping their ways in 97 00:26:37,691 --> 00:26:41,371 my trash cans, which means I'm picking up their cost. 98 00:26:41,904 --> 00:26:44,363 That they should be paying, which means my taxes go 99 00:26:44,363 --> 00:26:48,645 up, they're not paying it to their profiting. On my 100 00:26:48,645 --> 00:26:52,565 taxes. I think the law should be applied all the 101 00:26:52,565 --> 00:26:54,725 way across the board. I don't care what your race 102 00:26:54,746 --> 00:26:59,361 or color is. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Sanders. Next 103 00:26:59,401 --> 00:27:02,508 speaker, please. Dennis McLean. 104 00:27:09,368 --> 00:27:16,533 Welcome. Please introduce yourself. Dennis McLean, MCLAN. Good afternoon, Council 105 00:27:16,573 --> 00:27:20,738 members. I was denied the opportunity to speak at the 106 00:27:20,919 --> 00:27:25,218 August 5th meeting due to our liberal governor's time restraints 107 00:27:25,218 --> 00:27:30,852 for public comments. So we will continue on. I'm a 108 00:27:30,852 --> 00:27:34,236 county resident for 75 years. And I'm opposed to the 109 00:27:34,417 --> 00:27:39,799 Bakersville becoming a sanctuary city. The previous administration flooded our 110 00:27:39,820 --> 00:27:43,559 nation with illegal foreign nationalists, and we must enforce the 111 00:27:43,660 --> 00:27:50,107 rule of law. And remove these illegal individuals. Your counsel 112 00:27:50,128 --> 00:27:52,987 is not representing the needs and desires of the citizens 113 00:27:52,987 --> 00:27:58,282 of Bakersfield. Are failing infrastructure is a result of bad 114 00:27:58,303 --> 00:28:04,202 decision - making and mismanagement of city funds. Homelessness, crime, 115 00:28:04,242 --> 00:28:07,962 depleted roads and highways, wasted spending on the downtown area. 116 00:28:08,831 --> 00:28:11,930 Millions spin on 90 cential bike paths. The list goes 117 00:28:11,930 --> 00:28:17,525 on and on. I recommend city council members. I'm sorry, 118 00:28:17,626 --> 00:28:21,845 I commend counsel, member Bastard Hart for standing up for 119 00:28:22,426 --> 00:28:26,471 the citizens of our community. We need more common - 120 00:28:26,471 --> 00:28:30,054 sense in decision - making on this Council. I'd like 121 00:28:30,054 --> 00:28:32,374 to close and saying God bless Dolly Pardon. Thank you. 122 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:37,302 Thank you, Mr. McLean. Next speaker, please. Eddie Lane. 123 00:28:45,326 --> 00:28:48,543 Welcome. I'm editing with the Cyril Clow. This feels so 124 00:28:48,543 --> 00:28:53,327 odd today with nobody here. My comments today are regarding 125 00:28:53,508 --> 00:28:58,472 an August 18 letters into the city council. With regard 126 00:28:58,472 --> 00:29:00,712 to our letter, we were informed that the city council 127 00:29:00,752 --> 00:29:03,719 received a copy of the letter. But that the city 128 00:29:03,740 --> 00:29:06,599 attorney would treat it as a California Public Records Act 129 00:29:06,620 --> 00:29:10,762 request. That was not our request. Got it. We in 130 00:29:10,762 --> 00:29:12,762 the Sierra Club have submitted many, many letters in the 131 00:29:12,802 --> 00:29:16,233 past. Uh, as well as California Public Records Act requests 132 00:29:16,233 --> 00:29:21,255 directly to the city attorney's office. Previous records Act request 133 00:29:21,276 --> 00:29:24,775 the City Attorney's Office and resulted in invoices as one 134 00:29:24,775 --> 00:29:31,118 attached to them. Here. Um, not reports. The invoices are 135 00:29:31,139 --> 00:29:35,929 the records. Our very first August 18 request is reports, 136 00:29:35,929 --> 00:29:38,889 not invoices prepared by and for the staff to the 137 00:29:38,990 --> 00:29:43,209 Council and the Public regarding number of trees trimmed, removed, 138 00:29:43,249 --> 00:29:47,929 planted during fiscal year 25, 26, including caused by ward. 139 00:29:49,011 --> 00:29:51,390 We, you the council and then the tax paying public 140 00:29:51,811 --> 00:29:54,750 need to know where we have been before we plan 141 00:29:54,931 --> 00:29:58,430 to go where we're headed with the 500, 000 dollars 142 00:29:58,771 --> 00:30:02,534 We want to plan wisely for the 500, 000. It's 143 00:30:02,574 --> 00:30:04,774 not up to the city attorney who is not elected 144 00:30:05,115 --> 00:30:08,454 to decide to invoke the California Public Records Act as 145 00:30:08,635 --> 00:30:12,685 a default for your position. Based on invoices we did 146 00:30:12,725 --> 00:30:15,405 receive many months ago. We found out that the city 147 00:30:15,445 --> 00:30:18,605 trimmed over 1, 000 trees in August and September of 148 00:30:19,026 --> 00:30:23,674 2025. National Standards, which the city is using now to 149 00:30:23,695 --> 00:30:28,004 advise the public for use are clear. We shall only 150 00:30:28,044 --> 00:30:31,987 be trimming and planting when the trees are dormant. Without 151 00:30:32,008 --> 00:30:36,307 regular reporting, again, our first request in our letter, important 152 00:30:36,307 --> 00:30:39,468 issues are hidden from the Council and the public. We're 153 00:30:39,468 --> 00:30:43,141 asking for transparency. Thank you for your consideration. Thank you, 154 00:30:43,181 --> 00:30:46,727 Mr. Lane. Madam City Clerk, is that our final speaker. 155 00:30:47,803 --> 00:30:49,942 Marigo, that is our final speaker. We have not received 156 00:30:50,123 --> 00:30:54,422 any speaker requests for the closed session item. Thank you. 157 00:30:54,422 --> 00:31:01,254 So would you please read the next item. Close session. 158 00:31:01,254 --> 00:31:05,574 Close session with legal counsel personnel matter. Conference to conclude, 159 00:31:05,574 --> 00:31:08,774 excuse me, to conduct interviews with potential chief assistant city 160 00:31:08,774 --> 00:31:12,374 attorney applicants. And to consider discuss the employment, appointment of 161 00:31:12,635 --> 00:31:17,143 a chief assistant city attorney. Thank you. We're adjourned to 162 00:31:17,143 --> 00:31:17,543 close session.