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

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.