[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6397341,"mediaKeyId","2092937-b781cb2981ec597cf0044c84245c18c5","parentId",2092937,"title","Taft police report: department short three officers; January shows 1,004 total incidents","audioSeconds",240,"startMs",4400000,"endMs",4640000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2092937-b781cb2981ec597cf0044c84245c18c5&start=4400&end=4640","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2092937-b781cb2981ec597cf0044c84245c18c5/thumbnail_4400000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6397341/Taft/Kern-County/California/Taft-police-report-department-short-three-officers-January-shows-1004-total-incidents","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6397341-aa399edcd387f3921133da79172d684f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773749825&Signature=G9G6q4HFj3efZt~Xyefrqcs3u~c299KmM2sAOeFwR1iiiCb-qHplxa~XmzsX2LzcQhKKlPv9OB7T~Bop7QYlrrupVBJJlYGrGbqZOEKRCbD~xcHp58io4ydngpvxchiEF8516GeSfNxm7mBOlLVVdSj02Ld1kmYLIx~O4f6qaVJJZd6KS~dYycmtHPaC5q5eW5IvghFCASVG3ocSKpjU-WOr0MFcwAGtZXmcDqp2VHmIGOY3c66tT4vwlovlE5F02liErZlq1GA-q8QGZ1x7xnBz0pMn6v4u1GPUvtyhgn9uF7qdpWLbhJTSo6lzhYKLMrWLITIDO9ui4YQ7cj-EcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Taft CA","date","2025-01-09T04:23:05Z","article","Taft Police Chief presented department statistics for January at the Jan. 7 City Council meeting and said the department is operating short-handed but maintaining patrol activity.

The chief reported 1,004 total incidents in the month, including 389 calls for service (dispatch-initiated) and 615 officer-initiated incidents (stops, traffic contacts and officer-generated contacts). Officers wrote 113 cases and made 39 arrests during the month (34 misdemeanors and five felonies). The department is down three staff members due to injury and other short-term absences, the chief said.

The city is sending two individuals from Taft to the sheriff’s academy on Jan. 19 (staff described these as the ninth and tenth recruits the city has supported through that program). The chief credited staff for maintaining service levels despite the staffing shortage and asked for the community’s patience until staffing returns to normal.

Council members thanked the chief and expressed support for recruiting and training efforts. No formal action was taken; the report was received for the record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Taft City Council Meeting | January 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Taft Police Department reported staffing shortfalls and activity statistics to the council: total incidents 1,004 in January, 389 calls for service, 615 officer-initiated incidents, 113 officer cases, and 39 arrests (34 misdemeanors, 5 felonies). Two new hires will attend the sheriff's academy.","taxTitle","Taft, Kern County, California","taxId",58534,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6397348,"New Kern County District 2 supervisor meets Taft; city leaders raise unpermitted vendor concerns ahead of Oildorado",442,3045000,3487000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2092937-b781cb2981ec597cf0044c84245c18c5&start=3045&end=3487","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2092937-b781cb2981ec597cf0044c84245c18c5/thumbnail_3045000.jpg","/articles/6397348/Taft/Kern-County/California/New-Kern-County-District-2-supervisor-meets-Taft-city-leaders-raise-unpermitted-vendor-concerns-ahead-of-Oildorado","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6397348-ff72dc5278c058609db44e8c625e9898/orig.mp4?Expires=1773749825&Signature=BXnHyJ0LwC3DuExs5A6lepA4kpQIMLHdbFMlLquvmp6B6sjyBBFhccta90IGHA8Va7Zy-uftg6YCcWc2rMB4DG~AYH-2exIkTUI5HanWJBE-BVMik~ec~-izCnUybL0ybSLZS-LOYFeLsA6KrO2MXBT4smeTuuYKx9~DVE5Q~FyS9UqscYGy5CrT0d4B~e1AmcwisOJYirpAKmyTdoVFEuDibzqaJUXIk5G17SyElyXGjMX8LYxoMBXeKvzofTWb1lviE-45MiVGVTG5Utj78Qq0VlGq~-ZXNoL-K3JtPSPA1JpkFCFfDOw9kRBY1PEJmLh1DQh0svUSw1dwbltDHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kern County District 2 Supervisor Chris Parlier introduced himself to Taft residents at the Jan. 7 City Council meeting and said his office is available to assist the city. Parlier introduced his field representative, Paul Yanez, and said he would attend local meetings and present a certificate to the Kiwanis Club’s centennial.

During the public-comment portion that followed, a resident and community event organizer described a problem with unpermitted vendors at recent parades. The speaker said many mobile vendors operated without permits during the city’s parade, selling food from carts and obstructing views and crowd flow; the speaker thanked Officer Brian McClure for attempting to corral them but urged the city to take stronger measures ahead of the larger Oildorado parade in October.

The speaker asked for stronger enforcement and suggested the city consider taking unpermitted vendors’ carts as a deterrent; council members cautioned there may be legal and logistical challenges but agreed the issue warranted attention. Councilmember Kreier, Councilmember Chavera and others said they would follow up and work with police and staff to minimize unpermitted vendors at future events. Parlier said he would help as needed and noted his office could assist with community cleanups and event organization.

No formal directive or ordinance change was adopted at the meeting; council members discussed potential next steps and requested staff input on ways to prevent and manage unpermitted vending at large community events.","Kern County District 2 Supervisor Chris Parlier introduced himself to the Taft council and public, and community speakers and council members raised concerns about unpermitted vendors at recent parades and asked staff to consider enforcement and remedies before the annual Oildorado event.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6397354,"Taft council approves consent calendar; several routine measures passed 5-0",204,4793000,4997000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2092937-b781cb2981ec597cf0044c84245c18c5&start=4793&end=4997","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2092937-b781cb2981ec597cf0044c84245c18c5/thumbnail_4793000.jpg","/articles/6397354/Taft/Kern-County/California/Taft-council-approves-consent-calendar-several-routine-measures-passed-5-0","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6397354-f2394add7f8d30d2adaf4fae13d6803b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773749825&Signature=AJ1oIi3iBRoIzSrByk-IuYvfd8RfCq-buAIgvwLOEEnfFAcRwCSsvhlHfA3pD6CZguIZLMFYE7wert-hN6tW5Lk12Hna0gPDj8FvFT-noPj54-EhIZdn32HgGiA7NYfYqEuXHWbzO2d2rDyNcRR1wbysClpfWuZCr0IMQCiYiVrnZJicrjJUaJxKjFdslWMBgKFV1kExxGo0daG4LyjFctfuj52ElKuPQapujZytBGRpI1EVWHz1yDPXXJVde~C~UmUyFsyfxdK0arvyLHp1Mr5WiI020J~4sfDDt9lvV4NiCcl~Z8Q56oat6AfQH6JEcXA0GmrosbjlNuyaRN4jBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Taft City Council approved its consent calendar (items 9–13) by a 5-0 roll-call vote at the Jan. 7 meeting.

The consent calendar included: the Dec. 17, 2024 meeting minutes (item 9); an item described in the packet as approximately $700,000 (item 10; detail not specified during the meeting); an update to the drug-and-alcohol testing policy for Taft Area Transit (item 11); the successor agency’s Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule (ROPS) for the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, which staff said will be presented to the countywide oversight board on Jan. 23 for approval (item 12); and acceptance of completed work by JL Plank, Inc. dba Sen Cal Construction for TDA Article 3 pedestrian improvements at 10th Street and 4th Street, with staff recommending release of 5% retention after 30 days pending claims (item 13).

The council voted yes on the motion to approve the consent calendar (Councilmember Kreier, Mayor Pro Tem Josh Bryant, Councilmember Waldrop, Councilmember Chavera and Mayor Knorr). No items were pulled for separate discussion.","Council approved consent calendar items 9–13 by 5-0 roll-call vote, including minutes, a transit drug-and-alcohol policy addendum, a successor agency recognized obligation payment schedule (ROPS) for July 2025–June 2026, and acceptance of a completed pedestrian-improvement project.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6397362,"Taft voters block proposed landscape and lighting assessment increase; council declares results",2107,746000,2853000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2092937-b781cb2981ec597cf0044c84245c18c5&start=746&end=2853","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2092937-b781cb2981ec597cf0044c84245c18c5/thumbnail_746000.jpg","/articles/6397362/Taft/Kern-County/California/Taft-voters-block-proposed-landscape-and-lighting-assessment-increase-council-declares-results","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6397362-ea81061dbf0c118b73f5d15b58e072ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1773749825&Signature=DnDZ13Gs5I4OJUSjhOC7F4KeEl2naKfpGQD8nhyn6BIzP09eUQqUv-bEt2k4qQEM-5hv14ffEvKWRXUII-VNusRNF71dUFbIFz8v0ouQBWAwbPvPW5yyNklyJWj~VxLsKDjVP3PGwtgt5plT7V5EOUuDMoZx-uAYxPbBZLm8ZcT1BR0EjRM1CCj-69mszCLNlMHpzTVdTkRR-rYJ16fOQwdyxSuz4-DoYIt8dGeiW1P0wU9MRViiIWBPM2ItN~HepT1xiyWsVy6mLvgtf~S9rSDwaB0NlT~u6T-KzgMYJ8v9QJ5c0vI2D6TguV~0roXI1YZefg4LiwEXSFSfBo1F0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A mailed-ballot majority protest defeated a proposed assessment increase for Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District No. 1, the Taft City Council confirmed after counting returned ballots at its Jan. 7 meeting.

City Clerk (unnamed) reported that 144 ballots were sent and 45 were returned; 18 ballots supported the increase and 27 opposed it. The clerk said the tally constituted a majority protest and the assessment increase failed. The council then moved and seconded a resolution to formally declare the results of the assessment balloting in the negative; the resolution passed on a 5-0 roll-call vote (Councilmember Kreier, Mayor Pro Tem Josh Bryant, Councilmember Waldrop, Councilmember Chavera and Mayor Knorr voting yes).

The hearing drew public comment from residents who urged the council to find alternatives rather than simply raising assessments. Terry Randall, a resident of 109 James Avenue, said he opposed the increase, calling the proposed rise “over 200%” compared with current rates and saying he would support a lower rate if staff presented alternatives. Paul Linder, a long-time Taft Kiwanis member and resident, praised city crews but urged the council to form a small ad hoc committee to identify cost-saving options such as replacing turf with low-water landscapes and greater reliance on hardscaping. Linder offered to serve on such a committee.

Council members acknowledged past failed attempts to raise the assessment and stressed the need to find a sustainable approach. Mayor Knorr said ballot measures on the district have failed before and noted staff has looked at alternatives; Mayor Pro Tem Bryant and others said they supported forming a committee or using the existing public works committee to solicit public input and explore options. Councilmember Waldrop nominated Paul Linder to chair the proposed committee and suggested including other residents who volunteered during public comment.

Council staff and speakers also discussed the cost of street lights. Linder suggested evaluating a citywide funding approach—similar to the city’s street-sweeping charge—so costs would be shared by all property owners; council members noted the city does not control power rates and that PG&E charges for street-light service have risen. No new assessment or ordinance was adopted; the only formal action was the council’s resolution declaring the ballot results and closing the public hearing.

The council directed staff to return the matter for further consideration, with multiple members suggesting the public works committee or a small ad hoc group meet with residents and staff to review alternatives before bringing recommendations back to the full council.","A mailed-ballot protest defeated a proposed increase to Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District No. 1. City staff and council members said they will explore alternatives and form a small committee to seek options for maintaining district landscaping and street lighting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Taft police report: department short three officers; January shows 1,004 total incidents

New Kern County District 2 supervisor meets Taft; city leaders raise unpermitted vendor concerns ahead of Oildorado

Taft council approves consent calendar; several routine measures passed 5-0

Taft voters block proposed landscape and lighting assessment increase; council declares results