1 00:21:51,862 --> 00:21:54,961 The 330pm meeting of the Bakersfield City Council is now 2 00:21:55,302 --> 00:22:03,360 in session. Good afternoon. It's my pleasure to call it 3 00:22:03,360 --> 00:22:06,080 to order the 330 regular City Council meeting of August 4 00:22:06,501 --> 00:22:11,349 26, 2026. Madam Clerk, please call the role. Marigo. Here. 5 00:22:11,450 --> 00:22:16,535 Vice Mayor Core. Council Member Arias. Here. Council Member Gonzalez. 6 00:22:16,636 --> 00:22:20,135 Here. Council Member Weir here. Council Member Smith. I'm here. 7 00:22:20,236 --> 00:22:23,495 Council Member Coman. Here. Council Member Bush Your Tash. Here. 8 00:22:23,916 --> 00:22:27,735 Thank you. In keeping with Council's Resolution, the Public Statements 9 00:22:27,775 --> 00:22:31,015 portion is divided into two periods. There's a period for 10 00:22:31,055 --> 00:22:33,895 items listed on the meeting agenda and items not on 11 00:22:33,895 --> 00:22:37,955 the meeting agenda. Additionally, pursuant changes in state law. The 12 00:22:37,955 --> 00:22:42,135 City Council will now accept Public Statements via Phone and 13 00:22:42,236 --> 00:22:45,735 in person. Statements for items listed on this afternoon's agenda 14 00:22:45,916 --> 00:22:48,055 are given a two - minute time limit, 10 minutes 15 00:22:48,316 --> 00:22:51,495 for participants by phone and 10 minutes for in - 16 00:22:51,495 --> 00:22:55,735 person participants for 20 minutes total. Statements regarding items not 17 00:22:55,756 --> 00:22:58,295 listed on the Agenda are also given a two - 18 00:22:58,295 --> 00:23:01,335 minute time limit, 10 minutes for participants by phone and 19 00:23:01,335 --> 00:23:04,135 10 minutes for in - person participants. If you have 20 00:23:04,135 --> 00:23:06,375 written comments that are longer than your verbal statement, please 21 00:23:06,396 --> 00:23:08,295 give them to the clerk who will give copies to 22 00:23:08,295 --> 00:23:11,015 the council. If you're here to make a Public statement, 23 00:23:11,015 --> 00:23:14,615 please register using the kiosk at the back of the 24 00:23:14,716 --> 00:23:19,015 chambers where you entered. Stafford available to assist if needed. 25 00:23:19,116 --> 00:23:21,815 We as a select, whether you're here to speak on 26 00:23:21,855 --> 00:23:24,695 an item listed on this afternoon's agenda or no matter 27 00:23:24,796 --> 00:23:28,535 not on the agenda. Speakers who do not identify a 28 00:23:28,535 --> 00:23:30,935 specific agenda item will be presumed speakers for the non 29 00:23:31,036 --> 00:23:33,735 - agenda portion. Those speakers will be called during the 30 00:23:33,836 --> 00:23:37,495 non - agenda portion of the meeting. Everyone in attendance, 31 00:23:37,495 --> 00:23:39,815 in person, or by phone is expected to adhere to 32 00:23:39,855 --> 00:23:42,615 the rules of decorum established by Resolution of the City 33 00:23:42,636 --> 00:23:46,375 Council. Failure to abide by the City's rules of decorum, 34 00:23:46,375 --> 00:23:49,975 including any disruptive behavior that interferes with our ability to 35 00:23:50,156 --> 00:23:53,495 have an orderly and efficient meeting prevents the City Council 36 00:23:53,495 --> 00:23:56,615 from conducting the business of the City. Consider this a 37 00:23:56,655 --> 00:24:00,535 first warning to everyone in attendance and participating. That conduct 38 00:24:00,796 --> 00:24:04,055 that disrupts the meeting may result in expulsion and or 39 00:24:04,055 --> 00:24:07,895 the chambers being cleared. Behavior that disrupts the meeting includes 40 00:24:08,876 --> 00:24:15,095 repetitive statements, shouting, hate speech, interrupting staff or presenters during 41 00:24:15,135 --> 00:24:19,919 the meeting. Speaking out of turn, outbursts from the audience. 42 00:24:19,919 --> 00:24:22,879 Telephonic participants are expected to adhere to the same rules 43 00:24:22,900 --> 00:24:26,559 of Dickhorn as those attending here in person. Medical, do 44 00:24:26,559 --> 00:24:29,279 we have any Public Speaker's regarding items not listed on 45 00:24:29,279 --> 00:24:36,743 the agenda. Marigo, we have two speakers by phone and 46 00:24:36,844 --> 00:24:40,663 four speakers in person for items not listed on today's 47 00:24:40,663 --> 00:24:43,976 agenda. Thank you. Would you call the Speakers by Foam, 48 00:24:43,976 --> 00:24:47,416 please? The first Public Speaker by Phone will be Francis 49 00:24:47,677 --> 00:24:51,082 White. Welcome, please introduce yourself. 50 00:25:00,169 --> 00:25:02,691 Ms. White. Welcome. Please introduce yourself. 51 00:25:16,164 --> 00:25:18,543 Here's that she is not there right now. Let's go 52 00:25:18,583 --> 00:25:20,943 ahead to the next person by phone and then we'll 53 00:25:20,943 --> 00:25:29,190 try to come back to her. Mayor Go. Welcome. Hi. 54 00:25:29,198 --> 00:25:32,057 I'm here. Sorry, I get my microphone's meeting on my 55 00:25:32,057 --> 00:25:37,427 M2. That's what I'm apologizing. I have a proposal for 56 00:25:37,467 --> 00:25:41,870 Bakersfield. I think may help. With Laura Income Families and 57 00:25:41,870 --> 00:25:45,070 Individuals that have a better way of lies and actually 58 00:25:45,070 --> 00:25:49,550 more income. It's a mentor - based cottage of cooperative. 59 00:25:51,033 --> 00:25:54,772 Centered model that connects people who have skills and ideas 60 00:25:54,812 --> 00:26:02,076 with experienced mentors. And sheared resources, business education. Like cooperative 61 00:26:02,097 --> 00:26:05,825 opportunities. Uh, there's people that do live already in Baker's 62 00:26:05,846 --> 00:26:09,405 Phillies and do very skilled, good build. So, you know, 63 00:26:09,526 --> 00:26:14,625 Referee's needs, had ideas, grow, design, teach and throttles with 64 00:26:14,625 --> 00:26:17,443 the services, and we know that. Somehow it's out to 65 00:26:17,443 --> 00:26:19,683 be entrepreneurs, but they may not have the capital or 66 00:26:19,723 --> 00:26:23,857 equipment. Or even the knowledge or workspace or connections tonight 67 00:26:23,878 --> 00:26:26,897 that is necessary as transitions to Megan Hoods with themselves. 68 00:26:27,948 --> 00:26:31,527 I see this as something that's not helped people who 69 00:26:32,028 --> 00:26:37,687 are, whether they're covering the coming from. And of JC, 70 00:26:37,727 --> 00:26:40,087 a problem with homelessness in this area. And I think 71 00:26:40,988 --> 00:26:44,247 certainly these people can be helped with this once they're 72 00:26:44,287 --> 00:26:47,927 allowed to get housing that they would be able to, 73 00:26:47,927 --> 00:26:50,487 that within shelter or another group would help them to 74 00:26:50,487 --> 00:26:53,367 be able to transition both into housing and into an 75 00:26:53,367 --> 00:26:57,099 industry. Uh, which would give them, uh, self - worth 76 00:26:57,200 --> 00:27:00,379 and something to be able to live above the poverty 77 00:27:00,419 --> 00:27:06,990 level. Maybe by fraction, uh, says property would allow people 78 00:27:07,011 --> 00:27:10,210 to have these skills and resources. To be able to 79 00:27:10,231 --> 00:27:13,810 help, whether to every Ms. White, you only have about 80 00:27:13,991 --> 00:27:18,592 15 seconds left. Go ahead and wrap up. Hey. Look, 81 00:27:18,592 --> 00:27:20,993 we're about to say, let's see, it's. English. Yet. And 82 00:27:20,993 --> 00:27:24,533 I'm asking for a pilot program that was a dude 83 00:27:24,634 --> 00:27:28,773 some kind of idea program caused to happen. So I 84 00:27:28,773 --> 00:27:32,693 just faced industry mentor co - op, the attached plate 85 00:27:32,693 --> 00:27:36,773 for our innocence participate and the mentors and people who 86 00:27:36,813 --> 00:27:40,453 have the industries within the families, individuals. Thank you, Ms. 87 00:27:40,474 --> 00:27:46,367 White. Thank you. Next person, please, by phone. 88 00:27:50,412 --> 00:27:53,911 The next person by phone has not connected. I will 89 00:27:53,951 --> 00:27:55,831 go ahead and move on to the in - person 90 00:27:55,852 --> 00:28:00,391 speakers. Thank you. The first person speaker is Don Miller. 91 00:28:11,573 --> 00:28:14,856 Welcome, please introduce yourself. Yeah, my name is Don Miller, 92 00:28:14,856 --> 00:28:16,592 M - I - L - E - R. Good 93 00:28:16,632 --> 00:28:23,260 afternoon. Council and staff. From now until November, on January 94 00:28:23,441 --> 00:28:27,820 15th, July 15th, three city council members, Gonzalez, Arias and 95 00:28:27,841 --> 00:28:32,220 Carelessly supported drafting documents to make Bakersfield a sanctuary city. 96 00:28:32,641 --> 00:28:35,420 Thanks to where he jurisdictions do not provide sanctuary to 97 00:28:35,460 --> 00:28:39,251 anything but potential violence and political theater. Therefore, from now 98 00:28:39,352 --> 00:28:42,851 until November 1st, I will be reminding Bakersfield voters what 99 00:28:42,851 --> 00:28:45,890 was said on July 15th and who said it. What 100 00:28:45,890 --> 00:28:49,624 else might be affected by such recklessness. Department of Justice 101 00:28:49,645 --> 00:28:53,482 grant funding. Fundy needed to do real law enforcement. At 102 00:28:53,482 --> 00:28:56,122 the August 14th, laws and legislation committee, I spoke about 103 00:28:56,543 --> 00:29:00,145 a staff report recommended to be received and filed. Within 104 00:29:00,145 --> 00:29:03,585 it, page 13 of the report titled Municipal Funding Outlook 105 00:29:04,166 --> 00:29:09,092 speak specifically to grants affected by sanctuary policy. On February, 106 00:29:09,092 --> 00:29:13,252 2025, then Attorney General Pan Bondi issued a memorandum titled 107 00:29:13,273 --> 00:29:16,692 Sanctuary City Directives. The Memos seeks to end the provision 108 00:29:16,692 --> 00:29:20,212 for DOJ grant funding to state and local jurisdictions that 109 00:29:20,553 --> 00:29:24,532 unlawfully interfere with federal law enforcement operations until a review 110 00:29:24,553 --> 00:29:28,153 is completed. And to terminate any agreements that are in 111 00:29:28,153 --> 00:29:31,913 violation of the law or R a source of waste 112 00:29:31,953 --> 00:29:36,073 fraud or abuse and initiate clawback a recruitment procedures were 113 00:29:36,073 --> 00:29:40,771 appropriate. Bottom line is sanctuaries jurisdictions risk losing grant funding. 114 00:29:41,718 --> 00:29:44,017 I will not stand by and watch Bakersville be turned 115 00:29:44,017 --> 00:29:48,337 into some political spectacle as ambitious individuals seek favor within 116 00:29:48,337 --> 00:29:51,650 the now extremely far - left Democrat Party. It appears 117 00:29:51,831 --> 00:29:54,290 our city is in need of maintenance. And from now 118 00:29:54,330 --> 00:29:57,410 until November, be prepared to hear a lot more from 119 00:29:57,410 --> 00:30:00,210 a lot more conservative people about the council meeting on 120 00:30:00,250 --> 00:30:04,856 July 15th. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Miller. Madam Clerk, 121 00:30:04,856 --> 00:30:09,328 next speaker, please. Melissant close. 122 00:30:21,429 --> 00:30:24,940 To douce yourself. Hi, I'm, my name is Millicent Clouse 123 00:30:25,281 --> 00:30:27,740 and I'm a freshman at the Central Academy of Arts 124 00:30:27,761 --> 00:30:32,562 in Town Technology located in war too. I'm also a 125 00:30:32,663 --> 00:30:37,362 girl's trout senior in Troop 2815 where I have experienced 126 00:30:37,463 --> 00:30:41,290 the impact of community surface that can make. As I 127 00:30:41,330 --> 00:30:45,850 have completed two major projects with the community, happy toys 128 00:30:45,850 --> 00:30:49,530 for SAT cats with the current county animal shelter and 129 00:30:49,530 --> 00:30:52,250 a common room for students at my school. These projects 130 00:30:52,511 --> 00:30:56,250 allowed me to earn my bronze and silver award for 131 00:30:56,271 --> 00:31:00,330 Girl Scouts. I recently had the honor of Representing Five 132 00:31:00,330 --> 00:31:03,850 Counties of Girl Scouts as a national Girl Scout delegate 133 00:31:04,431 --> 00:31:07,450 in Washington, D. C. where I learned Robert's roles of 134 00:31:07,490 --> 00:31:11,414 order. And what it means to serve. I am learning 135 00:31:11,435 --> 00:31:13,334 how to work on the team and how to be 136 00:31:13,515 --> 00:31:17,414 a leader at the Cadet Technical Sergeant and Civil Arbitrol 137 00:31:17,835 --> 00:31:21,717 Squadron 121. I am also learning how to identify problems 138 00:31:22,618 --> 00:31:25,477 work with people who are different than I am and 139 00:31:25,498 --> 00:31:29,877 make things happen. I am working on my pilot's license 140 00:31:30,058 --> 00:31:33,477 even now and have seen how progress can be made 141 00:31:33,477 --> 00:31:36,917 with just a handful of people. Ultimately, I want to 142 00:31:36,957 --> 00:31:40,517 serve humanity as an astronaut, first though, I want to 143 00:31:40,517 --> 00:31:43,797 learn how to be a, how to better surf breakers 144 00:31:43,837 --> 00:31:47,877 filled, respectfully, I hope the council will consider my nomination 145 00:31:47,898 --> 00:31:52,646 to the BakerShield Ucid Council. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. 146 00:31:52,747 --> 00:31:58,003 Claus, and congratulations on your bronze and silver awards. Madam 147 00:31:58,003 --> 00:32:03,347 Clerk next item, please. Michael Orloff. 148 00:32:17,365 --> 00:32:25,323 Welcome. You might race the mic. Okay, I'm following up 149 00:32:25,344 --> 00:32:29,725 on my 12 noon comments. I'm writing to request that 150 00:32:29,725 --> 00:32:32,205 this council go on the record with a motion to 151 00:32:32,306 --> 00:32:37,563 consider. That we should be adopting rule of law. Policies 152 00:32:37,603 --> 00:32:42,852 for the City of Bakersfield. I also strongly suggest the 153 00:32:42,873 --> 00:32:48,403 city does not designate this a sanctuary city. American citizens 154 00:32:48,424 --> 00:32:54,813 are the victims of foreign nationals, not the immigrants. Sanctuary 155 00:32:54,914 --> 00:33:01,146 City policy is irresponsible. Exacerbates inflation, ruins the American dream. 156 00:33:03,313 --> 00:33:07,692 And foreign nationals reduced job availability and create drain on 157 00:33:07,732 --> 00:33:15,932 our health care feeding education, housing, criminal justice, infrastructure, and 158 00:33:16,513 --> 00:33:22,031 public safety systems. The cost of sustaining foreign nationals is 159 00:33:22,031 --> 00:33:28,541 part of the problem to exacerbate CPI increases. Sanctuary City 160 00:33:28,581 --> 00:33:35,065 Policy. Violates federal law. And interferes with law enforcement. Facilitating 161 00:33:35,166 --> 00:33:40,770 about 10 different federal crimes that people can make. Order 162 00:33:40,791 --> 00:33:47,824 security. Including ICE, serve important functions, including dismantling international criminal 163 00:33:47,925 --> 00:33:54,319 networks. Involved in human trafficking, weapon smuggling, and financial crimes. 164 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:59,019 I fully support everyone who comes to this country to 165 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:03,419 escape oppression and improve their lives so long as they 166 00:34:03,520 --> 00:34:09,421 enter America legally. Council should kindly go on record regarding 167 00:34:09,421 --> 00:34:13,821 the attached rule of law resolution. Thank you very much. 168 00:34:13,861 --> 00:34:15,741 Thank you. And for the record, would you just say 169 00:34:15,762 --> 00:34:20,687 your name, please? Michael Orloff. Thank you. Thank you. Madam 170 00:34:20,687 --> 00:34:29,949 Clerk, next speaker, please. Jesse Sanders. I don't see him 171 00:34:29,949 --> 00:34:35,642 here. Nick Speaker, please. Mayor Co, that was our final 172 00:34:35,903 --> 00:34:40,386 speaker for non - agenda Public Statements. Thank you. And 173 00:34:40,386 --> 00:34:44,542 then do we have any four agenda. Marico, we have 174 00:34:44,542 --> 00:34:48,702 not received any Public Speaker requests for agenda items. Thank 175 00:34:48,702 --> 00:34:55,289 you. Next item, please. Closed session. Item 5A, conference with 176 00:34:55,329 --> 00:34:59,209 legal counsel, personnel matter, conference to conduct interviews and to 177 00:34:59,249 --> 00:35:02,649 consider discuss the employment appointment of a chief assistant city 178 00:35:02,670 --> 00:35:08,889 attorney applicant. Item 5B, conference legal counsel, existing litigation regarding 179 00:35:09,230 --> 00:35:13,289 Melrose Gabriel Flores, a minor buy and through her guardian, 180 00:35:13,289 --> 00:35:18,009 Adlitum, Sabrina Rico, the Julian Garcia, City of Bakersfield at 181 00:35:18,049 --> 00:35:21,306 all. Thank you. We're adjourned to close session. 182 01:54:01,231 --> 01:54:05,450 The 330 City Council meeting at 502. Council Member Gonzalez 183 01:54:05,871 --> 01:54:09,850 on 5A, please. Thank you, Mayor Council has concluded its 184 01:54:09,890 --> 01:54:13,770 interview for chief assistant city attorney and has offered the 185 01:54:13,951 --> 01:54:17,850 position to Ashley Zambrano. We further direct the City Attorney 186 01:54:17,890 --> 01:54:21,210 to Draft Anemoyment Contract for the Chief Assistant City Attorney 187 01:54:21,631 --> 01:54:24,090 and bring that contract to the City Council for a 188 01:54:24,090 --> 01:54:28,650 vote on September 16, 2026. Thank you, Council Member Gonzalez. 189 01:54:28,650 --> 01:54:32,250 And now to 5B, Madam City Attorney. Thank you, Mayor. 190 01:54:32,250 --> 01:54:36,240 By unanimous vote. Of 6. 0 with Vise Mear Corps 191 01:54:36,261 --> 01:54:39,665 absent, the City Attorney was given direction. Thank you. Thank 192 01:54:39,705 --> 01:54:45,425 you. And with no other business, the meeting of 330 193 01:54:45,465 --> 01:54:46,705 is adjourned at 503.