Bakersfield oversight committee finds $3 million MLK Park match not recommended

The PSVS Citizens Oversight Committee in Bakersfield voted to recommend that the city not allocate a $3,000,000 match for the MLK Junior Park project at this time, a motion approved with Members Garcia and Reid voting no and Members Ortiz and Rojas Mora absent.

City Manager Clegg told the committee the $3 million item is intended as match for grants the city has applied for, and that the city already holds an $11,900,000 reimbursable federal grant that could be applied toward the park’s first phase. Clegg said the park portion’s first phase is estimated at about $23,000,000 and the full project (including a community center) could be roughly $80,000,000. He warned that the reimbursable $11.9 million could be lost if construction does not begin in about 18–24 months.

Committee members split on whether the park matches the purpose of PSVS funds. Member Harmon, who moved that the MLK project “is not a recommended use of the PSVS funds at this time,” argued committee duties include recommending how scarce resources should be prioritized and that one-time PSVS allocations should not be used broadly when structural general-fund deficits and urgent infrastructure needs exist. “We just shouldn’t use this money at this time for that purpose,” Harmon said during debate.

Opponents of the motion said the MLK project addresses several PSVS priorities identified by the council and voters, including improving community amenities and helping prevent crime by offering youth programs and safe public spaces. Member Garcia argued parks and centers can address root causes of crime and noted the city has already engaged residents through dozens of TCC planning meetings and community summits.

Staff and members discussed the project’s funding mix: a $1,000,000 donation from Valley Strong, a $2,000,000 state allocation, the $11.9 million federal grant (reimbursable), and additional grant and philanthropy efforts to close about a $7,000,000 gap for the park portion. Rick Anthony, assistant city manager, clarified that roughly $3,000,000 has been spent so far on design, not $11,000,000, and that the $11,000,000 figure referenced earlier is the amount of the federal grant.

The committee recorded that the city council has signaled conceptual support for the project but has not approved a single CIP at the full amount; staff suggested phasing the work to deliver the park portion first and consider the community center timing later. Clegg said staff would prefer not to rescope materially while the reimbursable grant window remains open because that could jeopardize the $11.9 million.

The committee’s recommendation is advisory; the city council retains authority over final budget allocations. The committee asked staff to clarify how PSVS funds and reserves are tracked and to provide evaluation metrics for ongoing contracts when they come up for renewal. The committee adjourned after completing the day’s actions.

The PSVS committee’s next procedural step is for staff to include the committee’s recommendation and minority opinions in the materials sent to the council for budget deliberations.