[{"_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",[32,75,87],{"_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",6541466,"mediaKeyId","3417798-7c7521e7ea2bb1b32951af65764571ce","parentId",3417798,"title","Resident urges Taft to address overgrown lots and illegal dumping; council outlines reporting channels","audioSeconds",244,"startMs",788000,"endMs",1032000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3417798-7c7521e7ea2bb1b32951af65764571ce&start=788&end=1032","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3417798-7c7521e7ea2bb1b32951af65764571ce/thumbnail_788000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6541466/Taft/Kern-County/California/Resident-urges-Taft-to-address-overgrown-lots-and-illegal-dumping-council-outlines-reporting-channels","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541466-e7eb39d577c6aadb4796db54f411da63/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189298&Signature=enphySXeq9ijf9mlHfAGBiTs8TxelXWhFDQjHfFEXEBfAJ-tvjXK8Gm~oxxBc9wntQUsDPuBjR679NJ6YwpWLUR7Ns5cLQr~NQMcFEQTy5YTMWJFvawT~fvg6hTegwQ2dsgTrh9NX1l1nIskG2bPinS9HF1SLeoIhWdyn8EdLLXxd2fV2H4AMsOYkiL3axDZf6EjDuKw7Z2HQPeDII7sd-o6Je~GGIY12FZhPc4C-sTRT2M8se8-lwFnJeITOpB1KNO-hNWO1BVMTnZ422n67hi~pOXP9dZhIEfRTPbPWNfRqS-lQMfxQYDABuXEMYJWRcFtUCCHZfdEHg~QoVKKfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Taft City Clerk","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","A Taft resident urged the City Council Tuesday to address overgrown lots, vacant buildings and illegal dumping he said create fire hazards as summer approaches. City officials told him the city will review the locations and directed him to provide a written list to the city clerk.

Cody Lovett told the council he has identified several addresses with overgrown brush, vacant properties and dumping that he believes heighten wildfire risk. \"I have a list of locations that are overgrown with trash and debris that it just doesn't need to be there, especially with the warmer months coming up,\" Lovett said. He said he has called multiple agencies, including city hall and Kern County, seeking cleanup.

City staff and council members acknowledged the concern but explained the city’s ability to act is sometimes limited by jurisdictional boundaries and environmental permitting. City Manager Jones said crews had inspected an alleyway Lovett mentioned and removed debris where the city could, but cautioned that work in some areas (for example, Sandy Creek) required multi‑year permitting and compliance with state environmental rules.

Mayor Pro Tem Josh Bryant and several councilmembers encouraged residents to use the city’s online \"Report a Concern\" form at cityoftaft.org, which routes submissions to the responsible department head and the city manager. Bryant also gave two county email contacts for issues outside city limits: codecompliance@kerncounty.com and district2@kerncounty.com, which he said will route matters to the new county supervisor’s office for District 2.

Lovett answered that he would leave his list with the city clerk. The mayor confirmed the city would review the submitted addresses and that public works would act \"within the bounds of the law\" where possible.

No formal motion or council action was taken; the item was handled as public comment and council response. Councilmembers repeatedly thanked Lovett for raising the issue and asked residents to document and report similar concerns so staff can track and respond.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Taft City Council Meeting | May 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Taft resident told the council about multiple overgrown and dumped locations he says pose fire risks. The council and city manager described legal constraints but asked the resident to leave a list with the city clerk and explained reporting portals and county contacts.","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},6541470,"Taft council approves consent calendar including SB 1 project list, vehicle purchase",270,2143000,2413000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3417798-7c7521e7ea2bb1b32951af65764571ce&start=2143&end=2413","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3417798-7c7521e7ea2bb1b32951af65764571ce/thumbnail_2143000.jpg","/articles/6541470/Taft/Kern-County/California/Taft-council-approves-consent-calendar-including-SB-1-project-list-vehicle-purchase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541470-f6bfd4e682b80dfc1b5a1a9ee03dcf8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189298&Signature=i1fhuSgNe91b~UKb6VV8sia3-BzfmqWND1WdmePlkPOrrjUZGD5h89qyya-Owd5CbD5SVYUzsMxxoRulxSUPePQOt7h4JBPrJsoDxufQdsj~GzyCILXTZrXzblIyrVbbYdrF8uLMJaflUUncIkCPejWoIY3Y7oUv8pAdraLvbX~giKghofMMLomd4GYfzJCbueELBA1lSDVTreybDHEhncKSD-sO7UY6C0bVCsQrkvBs5PZGhNrd~~gM7JwD085oKk4LN5K3shMSg8nYt1nBh75O1Bw3hM0qysX-zsOh0vpHWKHZDFlcNOu3hRUYf96p7bIO8wqsCrayJJIaFRxgCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Taft City Council unanimously approved its consent calendar (items 9 through 16) by roll call vote Tuesday, enacting routine minutes, payments and several administrative agreements.

The council recorded a 5‑0 vote (Scribe — yes; Bryant — yes; Waldrop — yes; Chavira — yes; Noor — yes) to adopt the consent items as a block. The items included approval of the May 6, 2025 meeting minutes; payment of bills totaling approximately $290,000; and receipt of the monthly report from Kern County Fire Station No. 21 for April 2025.

Other consent actions included a five‑year service agreement with Mission Linen Supply; adoption of a resolution listing city projects funded by SB 1 (the Road Repair and Accountability Act) for fiscal year 2025–26; adoption of an appropriations limit for 2025–26; approval of Amendment No. 2 to a professional services agreement with JAS Pacific updating billing rates for plan check, building official, planning and inspection services; and ratification of a $12,012 purchase of a used GMC Sierra 2500 pickup for the Public Works Department.

Staff repeatedly noted that each consent item contained a CEQA determination that the listed activity was not a project under CEQA (citing Guidelines §§15060(c)(3) and 15378 or §15030(c)(3) where applicable). No councilmember requested removal of any item after the staff presentation; Mayor Noor called for a motion and the mayor accepted a motion and second before roll call.

The council did not discuss substantive changes to the listed agreements during the roll call vote. Any item removed from the consent calendar for separate action would have been considered after regular business, but no such removal occurred.","The council approved consent calendar items 9–16 on a 5-0 vote, including payment of bills (~$290,000), adoption of SB 1 project list, a five‑year linen services agreement, contract rate updates for JAS Pacific, and ratification of a $12,012 pickup purchase for Public Works.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":80,"_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":73,"_74":73},6541475,"Taft council approves lease of vacant downtown building to Californians for Energy and Science",1150,3563000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3417798-7c7521e7ea2bb1b32951af65764571ce&start=2413&end=3563","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3417798-7c7521e7ea2bb1b32951af65764571ce/thumbnail_2413000.jpg","/articles/6541475/Taft/Kern-County/California/Taft-council-approves-lease-of-vacant-downtown-building-to-Californians-for-Energy-and-Science","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541475-1bfd0fd961ed1a4622e6c6d69523ae14/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189298&Signature=RBfGqmbbU39mBestOZ~7DYZsICAEQCK5MrTohkY8flM3bnMX6lwBx~Z1AjjJCOKPsRYGlqPEmZOKmEOMu8oR9mI0vmfUmRTFYcGX5peYDMTWh3CvLbNEnxuIWtRTVOBR-XueIpHmieCXA7FAZtYLhKnfeCh1iiSpMSXr7a9GpyYugHoTS8dlAgkaYj28NKtlMQfmKrI~71DVjzvAHk7hcR4WJO4veUPcWpri77EfIGGtDsp8nAqlyYkMr-NigP98ldpqOtRQEgmtK~wJH-nQwViPkgftvP5ScRQfabPR9dnjy7TgX1a4HWZaIvMC-E6CSe-5-LHup4-OVoFvwxA92g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Taft City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday to adopt a resolution authorizing a no‑cost lease of 410 Supply Road to Californians for Energy and Science, a nonprofit that told the council it will use the long‑vacant building for air‑quality monitoring, education and workforce training.

The lease, approved after public discussion, directs city staff to finalize terms and includes a CEQA finding that the activity is not a project under California Environmental Quality Act sections 15060(c)(3) and 15378.

City Manager Jones told the council the building had been vacant for more than a decade and was subject to vandalism and squatting. \"The building is currently in need of repairs and improvements to bring it up to current codes, and the Californians for Science and Energy is willing to make the improvements as part of their lease agreement,\" Jones said. He recommended the lease as a public benefit because the nonprofit proposes to invest in the property and operate community programs there.

George Harmer, who represented the group at the meeting, described the nonprofit as founded \"a little over 2 years ago\" to collect data, educate the public and support local oil‑industry workers. \"We are going to provide folks the opportunity to receive the training they need to better themselves with a job,\" Harmer said, describing partnerships with training providers and plans for equipment simulators and internship opportunities.

Council members praised the proposal’s potential to put downtown space back into use and to provide local training. Mayor Pro Tem Josh Bryant said data and fact‑based monitoring were central to the group's work: \"The only way to really fight an argument is with logic and with data and with fact and science,\" he said.

After discussion, the council adopted the resolution on a 5‑0 roll call vote (Scribe — yes; Bryant — yes; Waldrop — yes; Chavira — yes; Noor — yes). The motion as stated by the mayor included the CEQA finding that the lease is not a project under CEQA guidelines (sections 15060(c)(3) and 15378).

The nonprofit described activities that include portable air monitoring at active field sites, community outreach and partnerships with higher‑education student chapters for internships. Harmer told the council the group has conducted monitoring at drill sites and brought students from UC Berkeley on field visits; he said the organization intends to host training run in partnership with trade groups and equipment vendors.

The lease document, under the resolution approved by council, was authorized for execution by the mayor; the resolution did not specify a numbered lease or resolution identifier in the council discussion. The council recorded no amendments to the motion during debate.

The council moved into closed session at the end of the meeting; the lease resolution was adopted in open session and will be finalized administratively.","The Taft City Council voted 5-0 to lease 410 Supply Road to Californians for Energy and Science, a nonprofit that plans air-quality monitoring, workforce training and community outreach in the vacant building.","actionData","errors"]

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Resident urges Taft to address overgrown lots and illegal dumping; council outlines reporting channels

Taft council approves consent calendar including SB 1 project list, vehicle purchase

Taft council approves lease of vacant downtown building to Californians for Energy and Science