HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/23/20 CC AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS
AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS
SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 COUNCIL MEETING
REGULAR MEETING – 3:30 p.m.
Item 3a. Workshops - Update on Shelter Expansion Projects at the Mission of Kern County and the Bakersfield Homeless
Shelter. (Ward 2) The City Council approved funding to assist with the expansion of two shelter projects; one at the
Mission of Kern County and the other at the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter. Both projects will expand current shelter
capacities by 40 beds each. Both construction projects are underway and it is anticipated they will be complete by early
2021.
Item 3b. Workshops - City efforts to address homelessness: Update on construction progress at the new Brundage Lane
Navigation Center. (Ward 2) Staff will provide a presentation on the construction progress at the new Brundage Lane
Navigation Center. The project is on schedule to open early fall 2020. Prior to opening, a soft opening will be scheduled
for Councilmembers, city staff and media to tour the facility and meet administrators from Mercy House, the new
operator of the BLNC.
Item 3c. Workshops - Council Goals Quarterly Review. (All Wards) Staff will provide a review of the FY ’21 Quarter 1
projects, and introduce project focuses for Quarter 2. The proposed Goals document will include language revisions to
action items and provide updates on project priorities based upon Council and department feedback.
REGULAR MEETING – 5:15 p.m.
Item 6a. Citywide Solar Electricity Generating Project. (Wards 1, 2, 3, 4) The City has several facilities, including
Mechanic’s Bank Arena and the Greenwaste Facility, that command significant demand charges as part of utility bills to
ensure power will be available when needed. Staff have researched the Renewable Energy Aggregate Procurement
(REAP) program to leverage collective purchasing power to secure pre-negotiated solar project pricing. Staff have
identified eight facilities that would benefit from this program resulting in a projected a 62% energy offset with
approximately $1.1 million in annual cost savings.
Item 6b. First Reading of ordinances amending various sections of the Bakersfield Municipal Code related to Urban
Hens (All Wards) At the August 12, 2020 City Council meeting, Council directed staff to draft an easy-to-follow ordinance
without many restrictions allowing hens in residential zones within the City, present first reading of that ordinance at
the September 23, 2020 City Council meeting. Council will be presented with two options on residential set back
requirements and will need to determine which is preferred.
Item 7a. Youth Commission appointments. (Wards 3, 4, 5) The Bakersfield Youth Commission is composed of eight
commissioners and eight alternates which are nominated by the Mayor and each Councilmember and then approved
by the full City Council. There are 13 vacancies in the Youth Commission in all Wards and the mayor appointment. Staff
recommends Council determination of Youth Commission appointments.
Item 8i. Resolution to waive the fee established to cover the City’s cost of issuing the COVID-19 Special Event Outdoor
Permit. (All Wards) In July 2020, the City of Bakersfield established a “COVID-19 Special Event Permit” (SEP) to assist
qualifying businesses to comply with State guidelines related to mitigating the effects of Coronavirus through social
distancing while continuing to operate. At the September 9, 2020 City Council meeting, Vice Mayor Parlier requested
staff research the possibility for the cost of the SEP, currently $86, to be waived to assist these businesses experiencing
financial hardships due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions. Staff recommends adoption of the resolution.
Item 8v. Design Consultant Agreement with IBI Group ($122, 661) for Downtown Corridor Enhancement Project.
(Ward 2) The Downtown Corridor Enhancement Project will develop a Streetscape Master Plan for Downtown
Bakersfield. Once the preliminary phase is developed, City staff will negotiate with the consultant to proceed with the
design phase. After the initial RFQ and interviews were finalized, the City selected IBI Group (Los Angeles, CA) as the
firm with the qualifications and proposal most favorable to the City. Sufficient Capital Outlay Funds have been allocated
for the award of the agreement. Staff recommends approval of the agreement.
Item 8x. Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Kern ($5,275,000) to fund COVID-19 Small Business and
Non-Profit Assistance Programs. (All Wards) In March 2020 Congress approved the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and
Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide funding to individuals, businesses and governments to address the negative
impacts of COVID-19. The $2 trillion CARES package included Coronavirus Relief Funding (CRF) for local governments,
of which $33.5 million as part of its FY 2021 budget. At the August 12, 2020 Council meeting, City Council approved a
plan to allocate a portion of the City’s CARES funding to small businesses and non-profit organizations in Bakersfield.
City staff recommends contributing up to $2,050,000 in CRF to the Kern County Recovers: Non-profit Grant Program
and $3,225,000 to the Kern County Recovers: Forgivable Loan Program. Staff recommends approval of the
Memorandum of Understanding.
Item 8aa. Agreements for 2020 State Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Services (HHAP) (All Wards) On
July 31, 2019, Governor Newsom signed the $650 million Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program
to provide local jurisdictions with funds to support regional coordination and develop or expand local capacity to
address immediate homelessness challenges. The City of Bakersfield received $3,265,736.61 in HHAP funds; sub
awardees will expend allocated funds from the Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative (BKRHC) over a 2-5
year timeframe. The total budgeted amount for these activities through the BKRHC (including the City of Bakersfield
allocation) is $6,294,113.83. Only agreements for Case Management (BHC), Emergency Shelter (BHC), Rental Assistance
and Youth Rental Assistance (HACK) are on the September 23, 2020 agenda for approval: The remaining agreements
will be brought forward at future Council meetings. Staff recommends approval of the agreements and appropriation
of funds.
Item 8ah. Pilot Recycling Program at BARC Recycling Facility. (All Wards) On July 15, 2020, the City entered into two
agreements with BARC, Inc. to lease a facility and to provide staffing for a pilot program to process and sort recycling
materials with BARC staff as a result of rising costs from buyers of recycling materials. Both agreements with BARC, Inc.
are set to expire on October 17, 2020. Proposed amendments will extend the agreements until January 31, 2021 to
allow the City to continue working with BARC Inc. and continue discussions on a potential long-term lease. Staff
recommends the approval of the amendments of the agreement with BARC Inc., which includes increasing
compensation for the BARC recycling center lease and increasing the amount for staffing with considerations for future
scheduled minimum wage increases.
Item 8ar. Kentucky Street Greenscape Project between Beale Avenue and Mt. Vernon Avenue. (Ward 2) The City of
Bakersfield was awarded an Urban Greening Grant approved improvements on Kentucky Street between Beale Avenue
and Mt. Vernon Avenue. The project includes 0.8 mile of pedestrian sidewalk and cycle track, 120 new drought-resistant
street trees, solar-powered street lights and irrigation controller; the project also includes a landscaped bio swale which
will absorb runoff from Kentucky Street. The project has been estimated at $826,000; the grant budget is in the amount
of $835,504. Appropriation of funds in the amount of $172,000 will be required to fully fund this project and will be
appropriated in the Public Works Department’s Capital Improvements Program budget. Staff recommends acceptance
of low bid, approval of appropriation and approval of contract.
cc: Department Heads
JK
Approved: Jacqui Kitchen, Assistant City Manager
City Manager’s File
Prepared: Nathan Gutierrez, Management Assistant
City Clerk’s File
News Media File
Agenda Highlights – September 23, 2020 Council Meeting Page 2