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Kern LAFCO opts for one‑year lease with six‑month opt‑out as staff evaluates alternatives
Summary
Facing an April 30 lease deadline, the Kern County LAFCO voted to sign a one‑year lease at its current 5300 Lennox Avenue location with an option to leave after six months and 30 days' notice while staff explores county-owned space and possible co-location with Kern COG.
Kern County LAFCO voted Feb. 19 to approve a one‑year lease at 5300 Lennox Avenue at the current rate with the option to leave after six months with 30 days’ notice. The action is intended to bridge the expiration of the commission’s current lease on April 30 while staff pursues alternatives.
Executive Officer Mr. Knox reviewed four options: (1) sign a long-term lease at the current site, (2) co‑locate at Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG) pending their executive director’s decision and space availability, (3) move into county-owned space at East Bell Terrace after a build-out (earliest late summer/early fall), or (4) sign a one‑year lease at the current rate with a six‑month opt-out. Knox recommended option 4.
Commissioners said the one‑year option gives time to evaluate whether Kern COG or East Bell Terrace would be viable. Commissioners noted Kern COG has not hired a new executive director and that the timeline for county space availability depends on the probation department’s planned move. One commissioner cautioned that county leases can be “onerous and take a long time.”
A motion to approve option 4 passed on a roll‑call vote with all commissioners voting yes. The executive officer was directed to execute the lease and continue exploring alternatives, including potential co‑location with Kern COG and a possible fit at East Bell Terrace if county build‑out timelines work.
Practical details recorded in the staff presentation: the current lease ends April 30; the recommended one‑year lease would start at the end of the current lease and include a six‑month opt‑out clause; the unit of space LAFCO would occupy at East Bell Terrace was described as substantially smaller than the space being vacated by the probation department and would require a build‑out before occupancy. No dollar amounts for the lease rate were stated on the record.
Next steps: staff to execute the one‑year lease with the six‑month opt-out and report back to the commission on progress finding alternative office space. If county-owned space becomes available and terms are acceptable, the commission may relocate in late summer or fall pending build-out and county approval.
