[{"_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",6467891,"mediaKeyId","5783925-d0e23ae5defb8eed19d7c673c6d2b721","parentId",5783925,"title","Council members praise state action to codify countywide EIR allowing limited well permits","audioSeconds",204,"startMs",1442000,"endMs",1646000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5783925-d0e23ae5defb8eed19d7c673c6d2b721&start=1442&end=1646","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5783925-d0e23ae5defb8eed19d7c673c6d2b721/thumbnail_1442000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6467891/Taft/Kern-County/California/Council-members-praise-state-action-to-codify-countywide-EIR-allowing-limited-well-permits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467891-e94f2f6d4553701281f7e33ea61df1ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1775970647&Signature=nhV9IDt6lhaT4Ve1IFQLvFXsXhtSigZ1gDfkyoe6Jrv1r43d7ABXcTcASc8VAgJKMKt9D70DAtXi8RWgiqfHMu698M7soIA1QcLBTJjlkeYJsR1Kh~Qtgd98hWu18nGmdNIODrs9ELehx13DQxww8C7t6eBnZ1GoDVIc1wxbRDTawKG7RXfpO035Su4t12gOzTX5k4hgCXxeBV6fRm0zCRvBn0ZSlQWYTORNDjpQH-B49oQpeK2R2H2~bAIn5L7ijWup6ujpuMPVnsTaVHD2Ces2sVqkRch6iID7GM66VEqDtFlCTjgjOB0j8ToOPYxDSO2HJXiBARk8KSNI9Xy4WQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Taft City Clerk","date","2025-09-17T13:41:35Z","article","Members of the Taft City Council used their statement time to discuss recently passed state legislation that, according to comments on the record, would codify a countywide supplemental environmental impact report and permit Kern County to issue up to 2,000 new well-drill permits per year for the next 10 years.

A council member credited State Senator Shannon Grove with leading the effort and said the legislation passed both houses after extended negotiations. The council member said the measure had not yet been signed by the governor at the time of the meeting and that they were \"hoping that the governor will sign this document either, tomorrow or Friday.\" The council member described the legislative negotiations as difficult and said the statute would allow Kern County to manage existing reservoirs and issue well permits under the EIR for a 10-year period.

Council remarks emphasized the legislation as a \"critical component\" for local infrastructure planning; one member framed drilling permits as part of managing decline of existing resources and deploying new technologies. The council did not take formal action on the matter at the meeting; comments were informational and supportive. No city-level ordinance or resolution on the subject was introduced or adopted during this session.

Council members noted intensive late-night legislative sessions in Sacramento and thanked local supporters and officials who assisted in the negotiations. The discussion did not identify implementation steps the city would take pending final state action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Taft City Council Meeting | September 16th 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council members said recently passed state legislation would allow Kern County to issue up to 2,000 new well-drill permits per year for 10 years under a countywide supplemental EIR; council members thanked Senator Shannon Grove and said they expect the governor's signature imminently.","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},6467895,"Council approves consent calendar; residents highlight food distribution and housing needs",1441,580000,2021000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5783925-d0e23ae5defb8eed19d7c673c6d2b721&start=580&end=2021","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5783925-d0e23ae5defb8eed19d7c673c6d2b721/thumbnail_580000.jpg","/articles/6467895/Taft/Kern-County/California/Council-approves-consent-calendar-residents-highlight-food-distribution-and-housing-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467895-d28af28a95706f640695c76afd1651e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775970647&Signature=Shgbgw36AX39atotggRSM8ImnI2FO8A7j~vejsKyWuH28W8gDT6yUfsjN9YTFdne-2tMn6mx2QOBl4br5NLj62nf5Y1IJdkk~OlGS34RseEXByzUbuaqyEWoQiNGp0VgP8oiWY5Gk-JJ4M4ZFiq4RuCUJxHoQ1kVDcrLGjuOkiezLMkS6gi-NwhEW99jd5V-0T9~pyUlvF80mRHZ5b-ct7k45ou055LyJIPCT3YHiHgSUf5YbLstO01WgaydupQiMjNmo16967ycRsf7ed66clORHzQOPmCf0fBLltCEuWtzziZuvnK4Mglto2O--k4qoghOYaC2MjsLmR3HfoFkDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Taft City Council approved consent calendar items 7 through 10 by roll call, including the Sept. 2, 2025 minutes, payment of bills, the July 2025 monthly report from Kern County Fire Station 21, and a special-event permit for a temporary miniature-golf event submitted by Bernard Herrmann.

Staff recommended finding items on the consent calendar as not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per the sections cited in the staff report; the council approved the consent calendar on a 4-0 vote with one member absent.

During public comment, Louis Gillum of Face in the Valley described a recent fresh-produce distribution co-hosted with Taft United Methodist Church that served more than 200 families in West Kern and cited partners including Building Healthy Communities, CAPK and California Rural Legal Assistance. Gillum said informal surveys in farmworker communities show strong support for emergency shelters, transitional housing and supportive housing; he also referenced community-survey data that \"shows that agricultural farmworker housing was the need most widely supported by respondents at 61.7%.\" (Louis Gillum, public comment.)

Bernard Herrmann told the council he is applying for a special-event permit for a temporary miniature-golf attraction and said he was available to answer questions. Stephanie Molina, representing Taft El Dorado, invited the council to event activities Oct. 10–19 and noted the store will open Sept. 26.

The council did not remove any consent items for separate consideration. The clerk recorded a roll-call vote with affirmative votes from Mayor North, Mayor Pro Tem Bryant, Council member Kreier and Council member Waldrop; Council member Shavir was absent.

No formal council direction or action beyond approval of the consent calendar was recorded during the public-comment period.","The Taft City Council approved the consent calendar including minutes, bills, a Kern County Fire monthly report and a special-event permit for a miniature-golf event; members of the public spoke about a local produce distribution and support for farmworker housing.",{"_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},6467900,"Taft council approves El Dorado celebration permits, street closures for fall festival",307,2328000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5783925-d0e23ae5defb8eed19d7c673c6d2b721&start=2021&end=2328","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5783925-d0e23ae5defb8eed19d7c673c6d2b721/thumbnail_2021000.jpg","/articles/6467900/Taft/Kern-County/California/Taft-council-approves-El-Dorado-celebration-permits-street-closures-for-fall-festival","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467900-888aca1397abdc808e233fa8603bfacc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775970647&Signature=k48-gPe8vz7NCuJffB4VNzBLbzgVDWpk5XECLfqY0BAXcpU6AWYH~ku8cHn-Xg4msaAjKV3iGheL2x~vdl~al05H3YsG7Njx613vD~JH98FsdTBZKOVFn9rsG2VT47Ar6x5qB-WzszLfRXo0nevkxo2eoHj3Jw5tpHpdjeQyoG0VQtafjffFZo-An1nY-6C2BGfVnEUhpf9P7ramsfVpWsrnvciEsomS6lx3oIiRvWX3YZMSDJSxaOXab-7oAkslHksOqCyVEwzW4rcAqd5xw5JiXbxvM8g~lHrUdKWFXD4eWadw6~zfnX1IGxo9wFe2EnAucVG~j7NzLAMJZYwwtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Taft City Council on an unanimous recorded vote approved a resolution authorizing special-event permits and encroachment permits for the 2025 El Dorado celebration, including multiple street closures and related conditions.

City Manager Jones presented the request, which included a list of nine separate street closures and requests to use city property for festival activities. Conditions of approval included naming the City of Taft as a certificate holder on liability insurance with $2,000,000 per-occurrence and $4,000,000 aggregate limits, security and fire protection per Taft Police Department and Kern County Fire requirements, sufficient restrooms and hand-wash stations, trash receptacles, and a $1,500 refundable cleaning deposit for use of city property for flat-track races.

The council moved to adopt a resolution \"approving the special event permit for the 2025 Old Dorado celebration and encroachment permit for street closures\" and found the activity exempt from CEQA under the cited guidelines. The motion carried on a 4-0 roll-call vote; Council member Shavir was absent. Mayor North announced, \"That passed on a 4-0 vote,\" after the roll call.

Council members offered brief remarks in support of the event, noting its periodic five-year schedule and local economic and civic significance. One council member said the celebration \"brings our city together\" and noted volunteers and local service clubs benefit from festival activity.

The resolution directs city staff to coordinate required permits, insurance evidence, and public-safety staffing with event organizers before the festival dates. No separate environmental study beyond the CEQA determination was requested during the meeting.

The council adjourned shortly after the vote.","The Taft City Council approved a resolution authorizing special-event permits and encroachment permits for the 2025 El Dorado celebration, including multiple street closures and insurance and sanitation conditions; the measure passed 4-0 with one member absent.","actionData","errors"]

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Council members praise state action to codify countywide EIR allowing limited well permits

Council approves consent calendar; residents highlight food distribution and housing needs

Taft council approves El Dorado celebration permits, street closures for fall festival