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

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.