[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,74,86],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6676148,"mediaKeyId","3410898-37006fe7c3ad9e3f0d38bbdb91d5384a","parentId",3410898,"title","Board directs staff to support, oppose and monitor multiple election bills and to update county legislative platform","audioSeconds",2420,"startMs",3272260,"endMs",5693224,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3410898-37006fe7c3ad9e3f0d38bbdb91d5384a&start=3272&end=5693","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3410898-37006fe7c3ad9e3f0d38bbdb91d5384a/thumbnail_3272260.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6676148/Kern-County/California/Board-directs-staff-to-support-oppose-and-monitor-multiple-election-bills-and-to-update-county-legislative-platform","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6676148-0258d064d31bb95a1fb9d75d9661a617/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179608&Signature=JXqRmJzPjEcb4CsnUrlKi~utQ2WqeubYvWe~5OugyC~~8KKhHpU0LiOMVZKCatrSVc0DRVjvw7wjHMdnP9ucCKZuD2IhDOola2EfnUDG~58jaTGaalYWWn5jcVwYc7ghpSAyz472BPF8tGratX2nNcZ~YxZwzld8I2Mmu9yMcyKcx0vjMyJ7TvD4TL9v-6ZDtNw~pzCR4kHp7n31d-gUPI~ax641jb6rpixNmIR~vl7iTkbn0bGsqYNA6HBuzkazxEeTCXm9n24EYdBB~ohEjmQgcb7Xsbn0JYuuSSaQs5xu3aUuFRMaAYqlflAVJt1W4gTi5GQKf39wb4aCE~b5qg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-19T15:55:26Z","article","The Kern County Board of Supervisors on May 20 voted 4–1 to take positions on a package of federal and state bills dealing with voter identification, citizenship verification and election administration and to amend the county’s legislative platform to \"support comprehensive election integrity measures that enhance the accuracy, security, and accessibility of the voter registration and candidate qualification process.\"

Thomas Brown of the county administrative office briefed the board on legislation at the state and federal level and on the board’s earlier referral to the Legislative Program Committee. Brown summarized local steps taken to create a standalone registrar of voters (ROV) — an enabling change the board’s lobbyists advanced in Senate Bill 858 — and reviewed several measures under consideration, including federal bills HR 22 and HR 2499 and Senate bills S 128 and S 1240, plus state bill AB 1116 on signature uploads. Brown said some proposed California bills requiring citizenship verification or voter ID had failed to advance in committee and that AB 1116 remained on the Appropriations suspense file pending fiscal review.

After staff remarks and public comment, Supervisor Couch moved that the board support HR 22 (the Save Act), S 128, and HR 2499; oppose S 1240 and AB 1116; and amend the county legislative platform as proposed. Supervisor Peters seconded. The motion passed 4–1, with Chair Leticia Perez recorded as opposed. Supervisor Parlier said he would refrain from fully endorsing the motion earlier in the discussion but the final vote recorded four ayes.

Members of the public addressed the board during the hearing. Janine Adams urged supervisors to oppose proposed Medicaid cuts and asked whether board advocacy matched constituent priorities; she also urged monitoring S 1240 to limit federal agencies’ access to state voter registration data. Karen Bissard, a county employee, asked the board to review administrative classification and compensation tied to a 2021 memorandum of understanding affecting administrative coordinators. Auditor‑controller and elections staff were present during the presentation, Brown said, and were available to answer technical questions.

Board members stressed the need for staff and elections experts to vet any legislation before the county takes positions, and several supervisors said a standalone ROV would be positioned to recommend future legislative fixes.

The board instructed staff to proceed consistent with the motion: take positions on the specified bills, monitor others, and incorporate the proposed language into the county legislative platform to enable faster responses to future election legislation. Brown said the county will circulate any position letters for board review per existing processes and will bring technical items to the full board as appropriate for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kern County Board of Supervisors 2:00 p.m. meeting for Tuesday, May 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Following a staff briefing on proposed state and federal election‑related bills and options for a standalone Registrar of Voters, the Kern County Board of Supervisors voted 4–1 on May 20 to support several federal measures, oppose others, and amend the county legislative platform to seek comprehensive election integrity measures.","taxTitle","Kern County, California","taxId",2913,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6676156,"Board approves higher CSA 56 streetlight assessment after ballot count shows majority support",334,2938119,3272960,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3410898-37006fe7c3ad9e3f0d38bbdb91d5384a&start=2938&end=3272","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3410898-37006fe7c3ad9e3f0d38bbdb91d5384a/thumbnail_2938119.jpg","/articles/6676156/Kern-County/California/Board-approves-higher-CSA-56-streetlight-assessment-after-ballot-count-shows-majority-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6676156-d3b2f1afb85cae3625c6d17317572e85/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179608&Signature=Wm1~Q61bbjt26iN4C-Sv07KRmxA8guFGnJQhJckzA25xtSNVWrm9NhsIIJr8OvqAtpu35lGCZdFcH3IdSr2XjPWPxheqUBBTd0cDliZ8H0JcEcwPnZ2O7wI199c6X9L5je98TvGVGNGWac~5-Dy9r3m~SkRDtI8zOhGzSsYTbkHDg6gRbzr~xDaWNmlylUxUXRBu96YrO0hObN1snNta-VnnzkyWjSK-GQc~7SxSViyjN0dadsJm0dz-AM0eaCF-CMx3SzXE3hC8z4wXlE~NtGs42~Eb5fJK6jDQ5Mhikq~0FcFzi7UI7AmpbuqZP~C3kR67wzXL9eOM6D0pnbLa6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kern County Board of Supervisors on May 20 closed a Proposition 218 public hearing and adopted an ordinance raising the annual streetlight assessment in County Service Area 56 (northwest Bakersfield) from $38 to $73 per parcel for fiscal year 2025–26.

Assistant Public Works Director Adrian Nava told the board that CSA 56 covers 51 single‑family parcels with 14 streetlights. The assessment is collected on property tax bills; current revenues were no longer sufficient to cover operating costs, Nava said, because roughly 90% of CSA 56's costs are pass‑through electric charges to Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). \"For CSA 56 and fiscal year 23–24, CSA 56 had revenue of about $2,000; total expenses were about $2,925 with about $2,250 going to PG&E alone,\" Nava said.

Under the proposed engineer's report, the new flat assessment of $73 per parcel would increase annual revenue by an estimated $1,785 and close an approximately $630 shortfall. The county mailed 51 ballots to affected property owners and conducted door‑to‑door and meeting outreach; staff reported 14 ballots were returned by the hearing: nine in favor and five opposed. The Proposition 218 procedure for streetlights requires a majority of returned ballots to approve the increase.

County staff recommended the board confirm the ballot tabulation, waive reading and enact the ordinance imposing the increased assessment. A motion to approve passed and the clerk recorded the motion as approved \"all ayes.\" The clerk reported no ballots were submitted in person at the hearing.

The board's action authorized the assessment increase to take effect on the 2025–26 tax roll and instructed the county to implement the adjusted assessment formula described in the engineer's report. No amendments to the proposed rate were made at the hearing.","The Kern County Board of Supervisors confirmed a Proposition 218 ballot process and enacted an ordinance increasing the annual streetlight assessment for County Service Area (CSA) 56 from $38 to $73 per parcel after staff reported 14 ballots returned: 9 in favor and 5 opposed; board vote was unanimous.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6676162,"Kern County proclaims National Public Works Week, highlights decade of department integration and projects",906,1210720,2117140,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3410898-37006fe7c3ad9e3f0d38bbdb91d5384a&start=1210&end=2117","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3410898-37006fe7c3ad9e3f0d38bbdb91d5384a/thumbnail_1210720.jpg","/articles/6676162/Kern-County/California/Kern-County-proclaims-National-Public-Works-Week-highlights-decade-of-department-integration-and-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6676162-4b3ca8a7798ce641bda33701c87442b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179608&Signature=A3ro74phSZ6xaza6yZM-KvP6UyolEYPLn4EUFcuSk98vU8I29gzivg3uO8fJXoIn8XTMDlGbHr01PRY0~5LEpVn1uYEyEXpWl0MtkPbAY~LRu2B-YxCf6Lpuo017AWLFQTl~JGU95TOqd6VOxYmyke5F4eOH5x5OhJejUlhCYtNlv8okmg4n8paXJbrVtB715oOisupRLyQ-pFVuXaDx8uk7xchJPN8exxO1O42bAyjQF0ddoykJDLUIBpFdhx1V6qx~q2clUBt9KJgm0NZd3vu93M3BChggGZwwb16covqNIMPg38zGP6SGn-wrpGx4628PxDXLdGp96gs5m3YZpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kern County Board of Supervisors on May 20 proclaimed May 18–24, 2025, as National Public Works Week and heard a detailed 10‑year progress report from Public Works Director Josh Champlin.

The presentation summarized the department’s consolidation — combining engineering survey services, roads and waste divisions — and listed workload and project metrics. \"Kern County Public Works is the foundation of Kern's thriving communities,\" Public Works Director Josh Champlin told the board, noting cross‑training, combined administrative systems and expanded grant activity.

Champlin said the building inspection division performed more than 420,000 inspections and issued over 96,000 permits in the last decade. He told the board county code enforcement has averaged about 2,600 cases per year, and the engineering division has reviewed roughly 195,000 plan checks. He also described the county sanitation authority's operation of six treatment plants treating an estimated 5.2 million gallons of sewage each day, serving about 60,000 residents.

On transportation, Champlin said Kern Transit operates 12 fixed routes across 30 communities and provides on‑demand curb‑to‑curb rides; he said transit ridership totals about 235,000 annually. In public works' roadway portfolio, he said the department maintains more than 3,300 miles of roads, 325 street lights, 150 bridges and about 120 traffic signals, and currently oversees more than $175 million in active projects.

Champlin listed capital investments and grant totals: roughly $31o million in grants over the past decade, including funding for sidewalks, bike paths, shoulder and road repairs, safety projects and emergency flood work. He highlighted several recent capital projects, including a $5.5 million crosswalk and accessibility upgrade program and a $4.5 million bike‑lane connection to the Buena Vista Aquatic Center. He also described a $6.8 million drainage project in Rexland Acres and ongoing work to repair Sierra Way after 2023 storm damage.

On solid waste, Champlin said the county manages seven landfills and multiple transfer stations; over 10 years the county processed more than 10 million tons of material and diverted roughly 2 million tons for recycling. He noted a state‑of‑the‑art compost facility at the Shafter‑Wasco landfill and an upcoming special waste facility near Downing in Bakersfield, planned to begin construction in 2026.

The board formally approved the proclamation. Supervisor Peters moved the proclamation; the motion received a second and passed by unanimous vote. Several supervisors praised Champlin and the department for their work during subsequent remarks on the dais.

The presentation and proclamation were ceremonial but provided the board and public with an account of staffing, capital commitments and grant fundraising that county leaders said will shape service levels going forward.","The Kern County Board of Supervisors proclaimed May 18–24, 2025, as National Public Works Week and heard a presentation from Public Works Director Josh Champlin reviewing 10 years since a departmental consolidation, large capital projects, transit and landfill operations, and grants totaling roughly $310 million.","actionData","errors"]

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Board directs staff to support, oppose and monitor multiple election bills and to update county legislative platform

Board approves higher CSA 56 streetlight assessment after ballot count shows majority support

Kern County proclaims National Public Works Week, highlights decade of department integration and projects