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Taft council asks KEDC to brief city on potential impacts of newly authorized oil permits
Summary
Council members asked staff to invite Richard Chapman of KEDC for a briefing and discussed commissioning an economic study after state action that council members said could allow Kern County to issue up to 2,000 drilling permits per year; council did not adopt any study funding at the meeting.
Taft city council members on Nov. 18 agreed to invite the Kern area economic development organization KEDC to brief the council on potential local impacts from recently authorized oil-permitting changes, and discussed commissioning a follow-up economic study.
The request came from Councilman Crier, who said state action will allow Kern County to issue “2,000 drilling permits every year for the next 10 years” and estimated the associated permitting activity could reach about $1,500,000,000 annually. He asked the council to invite Richard Chapman of KEDC and, if available, Les Quark to present countywide findings tailored to Taft and the West Side.
“Now we just need to grab it,” Councilman Crier said, urging officials to consider the positives of new local investment while preparing for increased demand on housing, motels, schools and municipal services. The council discussed whether an economic-development staff report or a commissioned study would best examine local opportunities and costs.
Mayor (name as recorded in the transcript) supported the next step of extending an invitation to KEDC to present to the council. No formal study contract or appropriation was approved at the meeting; the council directed staff to arrange the briefing.
Background: speakers referred to Senate Bill 237 as the state action that prompted discussion; council members emphasized the need to understand both the positive economic opportunities and the public-safety and service demands new oil activity could bring. The council asked staff to pursue an initial presentation from KEDC and then consider additional analysis if needed.
