[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6531863,"mediaKeyId","3445533-1cdb75c3c3defb3d1d9eadeb1eab0976","parentId",3445533,"title","Votes at a glance — Ridgecrest City Council, May 21, 2025","audioSeconds",5794,"startMs",48000,"endMs",5842000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3445533-1cdb75c3c3defb3d1d9eadeb1eab0976&start=48&end=5842","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3445533-1cdb75c3c3defb3d1d9eadeb1eab0976/thumbnail_48000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6531863/Ridgecrest/Kern-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-Ridgecrest-City-Council-May-21-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531863-661d6bd931f28d0ec5b87315d4ed70ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151523&Signature=QK8-oCAO0QpfYySLGxV60MMXz5yKDMubTHXcdc-eisiNOloVNQ243ECo5690pXl-4i8a2BsAwT-RKypZDLUGrhVagLiJlRhCjBJdPuuXIP1AaqvGkTWwA9b9F07QLpbNpZH~uH2Yu1DIri71RG9N-kS83bCUWVjbST7zTfJA5BXx-T27erQrc9qDvEVsZEmXJRa4d97fWePTU-DTHpVFS7osQKp7-4KdxBWjDwijJtFaQBHUAS-~rYmGi6OA6Oa63zUxGG5LOmkirtKoVbkRfFdv7qD2kTd6NMtZenFYNp6pVU4HAmE6k0F1v3Vq-8g1wVAYyPV802Ve768CVtXROQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Ridgecrest","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","This is a consolidated list of formal votes recorded during the Ridgecrest City Council meeting on May 21, 2025.

1) Approval of agenda with change: move Item 3 from the consent calendar to discussion (to be heard before Item 5).
- Motion: Amend and approve agenda to pull Item 3 for discussion.
- Mover/Second: moved / second (not specified in audio).
- Vote: 4 ayes, 0 no, motion carries (Mayor Endicott was not yet participating at roll call).

2) Consent calendar approval (remaining consent items after Item 3 was removed).
- Motion: Approve remaining consent calendar items as amended.
- Vote: 5 ayes, motion carries.

3) Discussion item (Item 3) — Leroy Jackson Sports Complex completion and supplemental funds.
- Motion: Approve notice of completion for the Leroy Jackson Sports Complex and authorize additional funds from the general fund reserve to finish erosion repairs and install remote lighting timers.
- Vote: 5 ayes, motion carries.

4) Item 5 — Annual AB 481 military equipment use report (police)
- Motion: Accept the annual AB 481 report and record it in the public record.
- Vote: 5 ayes, motion carries.

5) Item 7 — AHSC improvement project contract award
- Motion: Award base bid/contract to Griffith Company for $8,960,155; authorize up to $300,000 contingency and amend professional services agreement for inspection/management ($144,708).
- Vote: 5 ayes, motion carries.

No motions failed or were tabled during the recorded portion of the meeting. Where a mover or seconder was not identified clearly on the audio record, entries show the vote as recorded by the clerk. Councilmembers voting aye on the recorded motions were Mr. Blades, Mr. Rajaratnam, Mr. Heyman, Mr. Gorman and Mayor Endicott (when present); absences or non‑participation were recorded where noted in the meeting minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 5/21/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal council votes taken at the May 21 meeting, including agenda amendments, consent calendar, project approvals and contracts; all motions listed below were approved by the recorded majorities.","taxTitle","Ridgecrest, Kern County, California","taxId",52022,"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},6531868,"Council approves final work and added funds for Leroy Jackson Sports Complex lighting and erosion fixes",298,2315000,2613000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3445533-1cdb75c3c3defb3d1d9eadeb1eab0976&start=2315&end=2613","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3445533-1cdb75c3c3defb3d1d9eadeb1eab0976/thumbnail_2315000.jpg","/articles/6531868/Ridgecrest/Kern-County/California/Council-approves-final-work-and-added-funds-for-Leroy-Jackson-Sports-Complex-lighting-and-erosion-fixes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531868-9779d6d6d6cb81772832c9391812e2af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151523&Signature=EQwvRzBGlcLbY-Xv0VmfTYevQ2yvHM5whFJljitMCTDsx2KsEMXyg~boler-cmJuajewM5tacbtq3DxSP1LjkeNdxm~tbxnjnO83Ez5jX8hZ1Y7YJ07OJA70J6w24NmgBhsBN4Ntjb3pFXFa54-0Kqb9Nji~lLePAxRjmaEPY~0jWmmqbFzUignGZbJr6F9clTmhroBrpCQGMYo90BXjfOht1WYlMDNrBZs2K7R1CdXCCTicty8196p3lYckkGL3x82hrNuQ9Sjj6Z649mfX86s72VOY0rn9p6~~L9jgi~zPzPY548i9~lTQoaYFFZyQgN0jTec7EWz8z3maKwX5Hg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council approved completion work and additional funding to finish the Leroy Jackson Sports Complex renovation, including repairs prompted by runoff after a rain event and the installation of remote timers to allow each field’s lights to be operated independently.

Public Works staff told council the added controls allow individual softball, football or soccer field lights to be turned on without powering lights elsewhere on the complex, which staff said will reduce operating costs for community sports groups. Staff said the timing upgrades and the erosion fixes followed observations of wood‑chip runoff from the tennis courts after heavy rain.

Staff requested additional funds to complete the work and indicated the money would come from the city’s general‑fund reserve that earlier had been tapped for project shortfalls; the staff presentation contained two different figures while the project manager was speaking and the exact supplemental dollar amount is unclear in the meeting record. Staff described the work as necessary to finalize the project and to improve field operations and long‑term maintenance.

Mayor Endicott and other councilmembers expressed support for the changes in functionality and for the plan to fund the completion from reserves. Following public comment (including remarks about the park’s walking path orientation and ADA considerations), the council voted 5-0 to approve the notice of completion and the requested additional funds.

Staff later clarified in the meeting that benches and walking paths had been redesigned for ADA compliance and that future adjustments could be considered to improve sightlines from seating in places where feasible.

","Council approved staff’s notice of completion and additional funding to finish repairs at Leroy Jackson Sports Complex, including remote timers to operate field lighting individually and fixes to address rain‑driven wood‑chip runoff. Council voted 5-0 to accept completion and related funding as presented by staff.",{"_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},6531872,"Council awards nearly $9 million AHSC improvement contract to Griffith Company; project includes storm‑drain, transit station and bike facilities",907,4938000,5845000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3445533-1cdb75c3c3defb3d1d9eadeb1eab0976&start=4938&end=5845","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3445533-1cdb75c3c3defb3d1d9eadeb1eab0976/thumbnail_4938000.jpg","/articles/6531872/Ridgecrest/Kern-County/California/Council-awards-nearly-9-million-AHSC-improvement-contract-to-Griffith-Company-project-includes-stormdrain-transit-station-and-bike-facilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531872-f8803d6e69ba2d4492f07fa3996c9861/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151523&Signature=AyaCvMp3HChm93RQZ9WyymCNlIC0fSaJ0XI2D9BnwLVL3resPr92FxoQ9XHEREx7ghJ0ND8gF4eRZK8-Ch7giwV1XFLgXQDLxZL6qImh1olj5uJuGCYZuR0tH3cZdaMnd8uMpcFQyPXMjLsSw~vUZOEzHlcGHM1EjSDO8qZ1jLYvCVsntpeMRdJh7QCtlsiizQN1mDiefLsaXH124ftnmqeFA8pMwcMMkOaZNnbmwcdRQY0JwhY38uDkdJVeFUKUPJCZ8CNzQYZWzbWGGWQGoT~aMloO~w2tR6YBzLhX8Xl8j-pWrZ-XmVvWe4zNEWLWLS7Z~FPvbt4F3H4lP5gUmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ridgecrest City Council awarded a construction contract to Griffith Company for the city’s AHSC (Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities) improvement project and authorized related professional-service amendments and contingency funding.

City staff presented the project as a multi‑fund, multimodal improvement package concentrated north‑central in the city roughly between Drummond, Las Flores, Norma and China Lake Boulevard. The approved base construction contract is $8,960,155 and staff requested authority to amend a professional‑services agreement with Willdan/Wilden Engineering for $144,708 to provide construction engineering, inspection and project management support. Council also authorized up to $300,000 for a contingency, producing a maximum project authorization in the range presented in the staff report.

Project components include more than 1.5 miles of road repair and new road construction, full curb/gutter/sidewalk on Felspar between Norma and Sanders, a transit transfer station adjacent to the Mojave View apartment site, Class 2–4 bike facilities, ADA improvements along Drummond, Las Flores and Norma, solar street and pathway lighting, hawk crosswalk signals near Los Flores Elementary School, and a large sump and storm‑drain system sized to convey a 100‑year storm event and address flooding the city experienced during Tropical Storm Hillary.

Funding sources for the effort include an existing AHSC grant of approximately $4,010,000, a newly available AHSC allocation of about $1.1 million, Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) funds to support the transit station, traffic impact fees for Norma improvements, and drainage impact fees for stormwater work. Reid (city staff) said the project was pared from an earlier, higher bid by removing “nice‑to‑have” work such as extensive block walls and replacing them with slotted chain‑link fencing, pursuing HSIP and other funding, and otherwise adjusting scope to bring the project within available grants and local match.

The council voted 5-0 to award the construction contract to Griffith Company, authorize the professional‑services amendment and approve the contingency. Reid requested an extended contract time (180 days) to allow the work to be completed with full time inspection and project management support.

The contract award directs staff to finalize construction documents, manage preconstruction coordination with funding agencies (including Caltrans for HSIP authorization where applicable), and return to council with notices as required if scope or cost changes exceed the authorized contingency.

","The City awarded an $8,960,155 construction contract to Griffith Company for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) improvement project, authorized a roughly $144,708 amendment for engineering, and approved contingency funding, with multiple funding sources including AHSC and TIRCP grants. Vote was 5-0.",{"_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},6531877,"Council hears Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority update; mediation and pipeline remain contentious",485,3798000,4283000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3445533-1cdb75c3c3defb3d1d9eadeb1eab0976&start=3798&end=4283","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3445533-1cdb75c3c3defb3d1d9eadeb1eab0976/thumbnail_3798000.jpg","/articles/6531877/Ridgecrest/Kern-County/California/Council-hears-Indian-Wells-Valley-Groundwater-Authority-update-mediation-and-pipeline-remain-contentious","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531877-b5beb942f0f113e8ed4adedf1cf0dd93/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151523&Signature=X~KKj3oVkUxUMulOvL4kr-p0WTFIL70u9lvXKZ8DeorPIyu4DvS~-8BcumrpOWi1DlztQ8HU5UwyH-qL0IU5gwSYXaTTXBtgiprolebjt~Cb-w5IEGKeqk0Jt39ARI5bDexLK1Ir2xsbfDw2n8J26YDTTEl1lwwCrafUZQCGsWFrkERPCIpjM1b0v1vRi-O-23WR~9ZjhxafVouF3d2cPw0D2c1JRICQSpPabz46L4rEdFsInYEKwVD-JrfjoZ6-iCJUFV3k6F2d-r908x-mWhwfKvNWjxhx-Lsn~AcSnnp2ezqFQYcif4HnZMYcRHzEsG-wOHS0YHUkLrBh0r31Ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilmember Scott Hammond reported to the Ridgecrest City Council on May 14 actions taken by the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority, including final approval of a second transient pool totaling 20,000 acre‑feet and a legislative update on state and federal developments affecting the basin.

Hammond told the council that 16,000 acre‑feet of the new transient pool will be offered first to Mojave Pistachios and 4,000 acre‑feet assigned to small farmers. He said the authority also discussed state and federal legislation and the need to reestablish relationships with newly seated state and federal staff.

At the council meeting several residents and stakeholders used public comment to press concerns about the Groundwater Authority’s direction and finances. Mike Neal told the council the imported-water pipeline plan and other GA actions were “extremely unpopular” in the valley and compared the governance structure to a joint powers authority that, in his view, had assumed taxing and policing powers without direct accountability. Tom Weknick and others raised questions about transparency and asked where the GA’s legal and consulting expenditures appear; board members and the council answered that budgets and expenditures are posted to the authority’s website (IWVGA.org) and that receipts or invoices are typically attached to GA meeting agendas.

Hammond said a water-district director, Chuck Griffin, suggested mediation between the water district and the Groundwater Authority, and Hammond welcomed the idea. Several councilmembers echoed support for mediation, while noting any proposal would require Board of Directors consideration and, if necessary, the approval of their respective agencies.

Councilmembers and public commenters raised process concerns: whether the water district or the GA should be the lead entity for basin governance, how costs for adjudication and litigation are being borne by ratepayers, and where detailed budget numbers can be obtained. GA materials, Hammond said, are published on the IWVGA website and the general manager presents budget and expenditure details at each GA meeting.

No formal city action or vote was taken on policy toward the Groundwater Authority at this meeting; council discussion focused on receiving the report, asking the GA representative to provide additional budget detail on request, and encouraging discussion and mediation between the GA and the Indian Wells Valley Water District.

","Councilmember Scott Hammond reported IWVGA approved a 20,000 acre‑foot second transient pool, with 16,000 acre‑feet offered to Mojave Pistachios and 4,000 to small farmers. Public commenters reiterated opposition to the proposed imported-water pipeline and called for greater transparency and mediation between the water district and the authority.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531881,"Ridgecrest council hears annual military-equipment report; approves continued use and training",2687,4298000,6985000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3445533-1cdb75c3c3defb3d1d9eadeb1eab0976&start=4298&end=6985","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3445533-1cdb75c3c3defb3d1d9eadeb1eab0976/thumbnail_4298000.jpg","/articles/6531881/Ridgecrest/Kern-County/California/Ridgecrest-council-hears-annual-military-equipment-report-approves-continued-use-and-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531881-ed52735c443ee11cb91dc5b7b9fde635/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151523&Signature=LLGccwy8RdFNZB6LL0QxdG2ohu1e~Jsp-FGd9VMEDIUPSD4bba6uoqsxYq9E20RiC5ao47KRg4IJhTcXM1qN1Exz7NMYPvgGhAmGhiv2dfDV3J0eu5hAKhKrUH-z6LJf0VBl0X-ru9WoKq58YtvbxkXhHfnFRrpPOdXhfETPZs2FN6~6p-DmCI~WqHuGDz-CE4dmMmCu86sLM8zMJLD8~51~pxfqNu~Ah5NbeNZ-2NeGpbhL7v4-WNR5DvaBnbs~tjBs03ZUPhSGlCXVxUMGfz9kEU0hGpxD9VFPcvh5mD5xAHp-fQ3zVokZOKIN~BtQ3COvUN1NZRXJlWn5-9nUxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ridgecrest City Council on Wednesday approved the police department's annual Assembly Bill 481 military-equipment use report, a presentation by the police chief describing current and planned gear, training and related costs.

Under AB 481, local agencies must disclose acquisition, use and policy for listed equipment. “The Government of California listed several items as military equipment and required us to confer with the council and get these items approved for purchase, use and advise of the ongoing costs of these things,” the chief said during the presentation.

The chief listed active items and recent changes: the department’s armored rescue vehicle (Bearcat) has been deployed 17 times (about half for community events and the remainder for crisis-response or warrant operations); 30 shotguns were converted from lethal ammunition to beanbag-launching less-lethal shotguns (painted orange to distinguish them); the department used about 15,000 rounds of ammunition for training in 2024; and two interior drones were acquired last year. The department also reported purchases and expenses including roughly $13,000 to convert shotguns, about $7,000 for training ammunition, about $1,600 for beanbag and 40mm less-lethal rounds, and about $4,300 for light-sound diversionary devices; a $94,000 purchase for 33 patrol rifles plus one precision rifle was approved earlier in the year and expected to arrive within roughly 60 days.

The chief said the department will phase in exterior drones this year, train pilots under the FAA Part 107 program and coordinate operations near Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake to stay within applicable ceilings and notify base tower when operations take place. He described exterior drones as a “force multiplier” for searches, vehicle pursuits that end offroad and tactical operations, and said training emphasizes safe vertical launches and collision-avoidance systems.

Council members asked about drone risks near power lines and the base and about how less-lethal munitions affect people. The chief said exterior drones include collision avoidance, that operations generally ascend to elevation before maneuvering, and that the 40mm “sponge” and “super sock” less-lethal rounds are intended to inflict pain and encourage compliance, not penetrate; they can bruise and, rarely, break skin, but significant injuries such as broken bones would be “completely out of the ordinary.”

The presentation included a line-item summary of planned maintenance and recurring costs: the department budgets about $20,000 a year for Bearcat wheels and tires, and noted that wheels are expensive and may be replaced rather than disassembled; the department also budgeted for future chemical agent training and potential purchases that would appear in next year’s report. The chief said officers who carry rifles complete a 24‑hour POST-approved rifle course.

After council questions and public comment acknowledging support for properly equipping police, the council voted 5-0 to accept the report and continue the department’s equipment program as described.

The council action does not change policy beyond accepting the report and recording the equipment and costs in the public record; future purchases of items on AB 481’s list would return to council for approval as required by state law.

","The City Council received and approved the Ridgecrest Police Department's annual report on military equipment under Assembly Bill 481, including patrol rifles, an armored rescue vehicle (Bearcat), less-lethal conversions and plans to phase in exterior drones. Council approved the report 5-0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance — Ridgecrest City Council, May 21, 2025

Council approves final work and added funds for Leroy Jackson Sports Complex lighting and erosion fixes

Council awards nearly $9 million AHSC improvement contract to Griffith Company; project includes storm‑drain, transit station and bike facilities

Council hears Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority update; mediation and pipeline remain contentious

Ridgecrest council hears annual military-equipment report; approves continued use and training