Board of Supervisors Meeting Recap for March 24, 2026

The Kern County Board of Supervisors met today as scheduled for Tuesday's March 24, 2026, Board Meeting. Chairman Phillip Peters (District 1), Supervisor Chris Parlier (District 2), Supervisor Jeff Flores (District 3), and Supervisor Leticia Perez (District 5) were in attendance. Supervisor David Couch (District 4) was absent. For information on how to address the Board on a specific agenda item or provide general public comment, please click HERE.

Item No. 1 AM session:

The Board proclaimed April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Kern County.

You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 2 AM session:

The Board proclaimed March 23-27, 2026, as Adult Education Week in Kern County.

You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 3 AM session:

The Board proclaimed April 30, 2026, National Therapy Animal Day in Kern County.

You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 4 AM session:

The Board proclaimed April 2026, as Financial Literacy Month in Kern County.

You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 5 AM session:

The Board adopted a Resolution honoring Probation Division Director Joel D. Walton, Kern County Probation Department, upon his retirement with 26 years of dedicated service to the County of Kern.

Item No. 6 AM session:

The Board adopted a Resolution honoring Senior Deputy Probation Officer Stacy L. Crawford, Kern County Probation Department, upon her retirement with 31 years of dedicated service to the County of Kern.

Item No. 7 AM session:

The Board adopted a Resolution honoring Deputy Probation Officer II Michele Nguyen, Kern County Probation Department, upon her retirement with 31 years of dedicated service to the County of Kern.

Item No. 32 AM session:

The Board approved a sole source procurement with PublicInput, a comprehensive digital engagement platform to enable remote public participation in Board of Supervisors meeting per the requirements of SB707.

Item No. 34 AM session:

The Board continued this item to the April 14, 2026, meeting. The District Attorney's Office proposed an Occupancy Agreement with Bakersfield Recovery Services, Inc., to provide services to victims of crime at the Kern County Justice Family Center Facility, 1300 18^th Street, Bakersfield, from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2028.

Item No. 39 AM session:

The Board approved the Library's request to accept the California State Library Lunch at the Library Grant to support Summer 2026 Lunch at the Library effort.

Item No. 40 AM session:

The Board approved an Amendment to temporary license Agreement with American Red Cross to conduct two additional community blood drive events at the Rosamond Branch Library Community Room on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, and Thursday, September 24, 2026.

Item No. 45 AM session:

The Board approved the Sheriff's Office proposed Agreement with Independent Living Center of Kern County to provide American Sign Language interpreting services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals seeking County services, for one year from date of signing.

Item No. 46 AM session:

The Board approved the Veterans' Service Department's request for waiver of application and use fees for Stramler Park, on behalf of Community Action Partnership of Kern (CapK), for the 2026 Kern County Veterans Stand Down taking place October 7-8, 2026, in the amount of $1,755.

Item No. 1 PM session:

The Board adopted a Resolution honoring Kymberly Baldwin, Public Works Program Manager, upon her retirement with 36 years of dedicated service to the County of Kern.

You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 2 PM session:

The board adopted a Resolution honoring Alfredo Rojas, Public Works Program Manager, upon his retirement with 32 years of dedicated service to the County of Kern.

You can watch the presentation HERE .

Item No. 3 PM session:

The Kern Sanitation Authority approved a request to set public hearing for Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the Chambers of the Board, to consider a Written Report of Sewer Service Charges for Kern Sanitation Authority and consider an Ordinance establishing sewer service charges and collection of Fiscal Year 2026/2027 sewer service charges on the tax roll.

Item No. 4 PM session:

The Ford City-Taft Heights Sanitation District approved a request to set a public hearing for Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the Chambers of the Board to consider a Written Report of Sewer Service Charges for Ford City-Taft Heights Sanitation District, and consider an Ordinance establishing sewer service charges and collection of Fiscal Year 2026/2027 sewer service charges on the tax roll.

Item No. 9 PM session:

The Board approved the request of 29SC 8me LLC (Avantus), for the Buttonbush Solar and Storage Project, for land use entitlements necessary to construct and operate a 2 gigawatt (GW) solar facility with a corresponding 16 gigawatt hours (GWh) battery energy storage facility on approximately 11,983 acres across seven (7) sites in the vicinity of the unincorporated communities of Buttonwillow, Shafter and Wasco, north of State Route 58 and south of Kimberlina Road, and straddling the east and west sides of Interstate 5.

You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No.16 PM session:

A public hearing was held to consider an Ordinance establishing the Solid Waste Administration Fee for residential and commercial properties that use franchise hauling services for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, and providing for the collection of the same on the tax roll for universal collection areas. The Board found that the project is exempt from further environmental review, approved the report, waived reading, and enacted the ordinance.

Items No. 17-20 PM session:

A public hearing was held to consider a requested rate increase and an Ordinance establishing the schedule for solid waste collection charges for all commercial properties in Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3, Franchise Areas 3, 19, 38, 43, 5, and 10, in Unincorporated Kern County, for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. The Board found that the projects are exempt from further environmental review, approved the reports, waived readings, and enacted the ordinances.

Items No. 21 PM session:

A public hearing was held to consider a requested rate increase and an Ordinance establishing the schedule of universal solid waste collection charges for all residential properties in the Eastern Kern universal collection area, for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, and providing for the collection of the same on the tax roll. The Board found that the project is exempt from further environmental review, approved the report, waived reading, and enacted the ordinance.

Item No. 22 PM session:

A public hearing was held to consider a requested rate increase and an Ordinance establishing the schedule of Solid Waste Management Program service charges for non-residential property. The Board found that the project is exempt from further environmental review, approved the report, waived reading, and enacted the ordinance.

Item No. 23 PM session:

A public hearing was held to consider an Ordinance establishing the schedule of alternate universal solid waste collection charges for all residential properties in the Keene alternate universal collection area for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 and providing for the collection of the same on the tax roll. The Board found that the project is exempt from further environmental review, approved the report, waived reading, and enacted the ordinance.

Item No. 24 PM session:

A public hearing was held to consider a requested rate increase and an Ordinance establishing the schedule of the Solid Waste Management Program service charges (Land Use Fees) for residential property for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 and providing for the collection of the same on the tax roll. The Board found that the project is exempt from further environmental review, approved the report, waived reading, and enacted the ordinance.

Item no. 25 PM session:

A public hearing was held to consider a requested rate increase and an Ordinance establishing the schedule of universal solid waste collection charges for all residential properties in the Metropolitan Bakersfield universal collection area for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, and providing for the collection of the same on the tax roll. The Board found that the project is exempt from further environmental review, approved the report, waived reading, and enacted the ordinance.

Items No. 26-29 PM session:

A public hearing was held to consider a requested rate increase and an Ordinance establishing the schedule for solid waste collection charges for all residential non-tax roll billed properties in garbage Zone 1, garbage Zone 2, garbage Zone 3, Franchise Area 5, and garbage Zone 3, Franchise Area 10 in Unincorporated Kern County, for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. The Board found that the projects are exempt from further environmental review, approved the reports, waived readings, and enacted the ordinances.

Items No. 30-31 PM session:

A public hearing was held to consider an Ordinance establishing the schedule of alternate universal solid waste collection charges for all residential properties in the Randsburg alternate universal collection area and all residential properties in the Western Kern universal collection area for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, and providing for the collection of the same on the tax roll. The Board found that the projects are exempt from further environmental review, approved the reports, waived readings, and enacted the ordinances.

Items No. 32-34 PM session:

The Board opposed the proposed Resolution to set public hearing on a proposed increase and an Ordinance within County Service Area (CSA) No. 71, (CSA) No. 71.1, (CSA) No. 71.2, for sewer service charges for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.

You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 35 PM session:

The Board opposed a Resolution to set a public hearing on a proposed increase and an Ordinance within County Service Area (CSA) No. 71.3, for sewer service charges for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, within the City of Bakersfield sewer service area.

You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 36 PM session:

The Board adopted a Resolution to set a public hearing for Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. on a proposed increase and an Ordinance within County Service Area (CSA) No. 71.3, for sewer service charges for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, within the North of River Sanitary District sewer service area.

You can watch the presentation HERE.

Items 54-57 PM session:

The Board approved proposed contributions to CSUB Foundation, in the amount of $500; Keepers of the Cross, in the amount of $700; Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce, in the amount of $1,000; Beardsley School Community Foundation, in the amount of $500; Arts Council of Kern, in the amount of $500; McFarland Greater Chamber of Commerce, in the amount of $400; Bear Mountain Recreation and Park District, in the amount of $500; Delano Joint Union High School, in the amount of $500.

Item No. 58 PM session:

The Board adopted the proposed Resolution of Intent to set and advertise a public hearing for Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., for the proposed purchase of real property located at 20890 Hacienda Boulevard in California City, from the City of California City, as the successor to the dissolved Redevelopment Agency of the City of California City, for continued use as a fire station.

Item No. 59 PM session:

The Board adopted the proposed Resolution of Intent to set and advertise a public hearing for Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., for the proposed purchase of real property located at 601 Gardner Field Road in Taft, from Millie Development Company, LLC, for use as a Sheriff substation; and approve Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate.

Item No. 62 PM session:

The Board approved a contract with Remedial Transportation Services, Inc., for the Hart Park Equestrian Trail Repair Project, in an amount not to exceed $809,300.

The next regular board meetings are scheduled for April 14, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.