Board of Supervisors Meeting Recap for June 17, 2025

The Kern County Board of Supervisors met as scheduled for Tuesday's June 17, 2025, Board Meeting. Supervisor Phillip Peters (District 1), Supervisor Chris Parlier (District 2), Supervisor Jeff Flores (District 3), Supervisor David Couch (District 4), and Chairwoman Leticia Perez (District 5) were in attendance. For information on how to address the Board on a specific agenda item or provide general public comment, please click HERE.

Meeting Highlights

Item No. 1 AM session:

The Board proclaimed June 23-27, 2025, as National Boys and Girls Club Week in Kern County. You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 2 AM session:

The Board proclaimed July 2025 as Books in Motion Month, a summer dance and literacy program in Kern County. You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 9 AM session:

The Board unanimously approved (5-0) a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Uber Technologies, Inc., containing non-standard terms and conditions, for authorization to operate ridesharing services at the William M. Thomas terminal located at Meadows Field Airport from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028.

Item No. 10 AM session:

The Board unanimously approved (5-0) a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Lyft, Inc., containing non-standard terms and conditions, for authorization to operate ridesharing services at the William M. Thomas terminal located at Meadows Field Airport from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028.

Item No. 11 AM session:

The Animal Services Department presented to the Board an update on the services provided by the Department and its needs.

Item No. 15 AM session:

The Board approved an agreement with College Community Services dba Clarvida to provide a consumer family learning center in Bakersfield from June 17, 2025, through June 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $750,000.

Item No. 16 AM session:

The Board approved an agreement with Brown Family Home to provide specialty transitional housing services for dually diagnosed clients who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness in Kern County from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $360,000.

Item No. 17 AM session:

The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kern County Probation, Kern County District Attorney, and Kern County Public Defender for joint collaboration of the Supportive Pathway Opportunities Program for Kern County residents from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $1,718,069.

Item No. 18 AM session:

The Board approved an agreement with Crestwood Behavioral Health, Inc., to provide peer support crisis residential services for adult mental health clients residing at the Freise Hope House in Bakersfield from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $3,000,000.

Item No. 19 AM session:

The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kern County Aging and Adult Services Department to provide conservatorship services under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act to persistent and chronically mentally ill individuals in Kern County from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $1,602,397.

Item No. 20 AM session:

The Board approved a Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) with the California Department of State Hospitals and the California Mental Health Services Authority to provide hospital beds and secure bed rates for clients referred to State hospital facilities by Behavioral Health and Recovery Services from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027.

Item No. 22 AM session:

The Board approved an agreement with Telecare Corporation to provide crisis stabilization services for mental health clients at the Crisis Stabilization Unit located in Ridgecrest from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $3,175,000.

Item No. 23 AM session:

The Board approved an agreement with Central Star to provide therapeutic and rehabilitative inpatient psychiatric services for minors placed at the Kern Youth Psychiatric Health Facility in Bakersfield from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $8,000,000.

Item No. 26 AM session:

The Board approved an agreement with Special Treatment, Education and Prevention Services, Inc., dba STEPS, to provide outpatient substance use treatment services for adult residents in Bakersfield from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $761,400.

Item No. 28 AM session:

The County Administrative Office presented to the Board an outline of proposed funding alternatives for the construction of an Animal Services facility. Following the presentation, the Board voted to approve staff recommendations to utilize a combination of three funding sources for the project.

Item No. 31 AM session:

The Board approved an agreement with Edwards Air Force Base for mutual aid fire protection for a term of five years, effective upon date of last signature.

Item No. 32 AM session:

The Board approved an agreement with Dynamic Planning, LLC, dba Dynamic Planning + Science, for emergency management services to update the Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan from June 17, 2024, through June 17, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $399,412.

Item No. 33 AM session:

The Board approved a lease agreement, containing non-standard terms and conditions, with L.N. Curtis & Sons for lease of 49 portable ALTAIR io 4-Gas Portable Detectors used to detect four types of dangerous and explosive gasses during emergency incidents, effective June 17, 2025, for a term of four years, in an amount not to exceed $127,180.

Item No. 37 AM session:

The Board approved an agreement with Garden Pathways, Inc., to provide comprehensive youth mentoring services from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $72,290.

Item No. 38 AM session:

The Boad approved an agreement with Inyo County to provide inter-county adoption services from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030.

Item No. 41 AM session:

The Board approved a retroactive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with City of Delano allowing Library's use of 11th Avenue Community Center from June 11, 2025, through July 11, 2025, to continue offering children and families free reading activities, healthy meals and other summer programming, during temporary closure of Delano Branch.

Item No. 52 AM session:

The Board considered the proposed selection of Summit Correctional Services LLC as the successful vendor in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP) to provide inmate food and kitchen services for the Sheriff's Office detention facilities and considered an appeal by Trinity Services Group, Inc. After thorough discussion, by a vote of 3-2, the Board granted the appeal filed by Trinity Services Group, Inc. and awarded the contract to Trinity Services Group. You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 62 AM session:

In Closed Session, by a unanimous vote (5-0), the Board appointed Mr. Bill LaManque as the Director of Airports, effective July 12, 2025.

Item No. 63 AM session:

In Closed Session, by a vote of 4-1, the Board appointed Kendra Graham as interim County Counsel, effective July 5, 2025, upon the retirement of current County Counsel Margo Raison.

Item No. 5 PM session:

The Planning and Natural Resources Department presented to the Board in response to February 25, 2025 Board referral on land use issues regarding California Redemption Value (CRV) recycling centers.

Item No. 22 PM session:

The Board approved agreement with Kern Economic Development Corporation for economic development services from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $350,000.

Item No. 23 PM session:

The Board approved agreement with California State University, Bakersfield Auxiliary for Sponsored Programs Administration, for economic and small business development services from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $60,000.

Item No. 27 PM session:

The Board approved contributions to the Fox Theater Foundation in the amount of $500 to support the historic Fox Theater and to the Downtown Bakersfield Development Corporation in the amount of $500 to support improvements in the downtown area.

Item No. 31 PM session:

The Board approved plans, specifications, and notice to contractors for Hart Park Nature Center Project ID: 25065PRJ, Contract No. CS25-001. The Board authorized General Services to publish notice to contractors in a newspaper of general circulation; bid opening to be Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 11:00 A.M.

Item No. 36 PM session:

The Board unanimously approved (5-0) a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Service Employees' International (SEIU) Union Local 521, for employees in bargaining units 1-6 and A, B, E, G, H, J, and S, for wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026.

Item No. 37 PM session:

The Board approved proposed collapse of the Communication Technician I/II/III flexible classification series into two flexible classifications of Communication Technician, Item Nos. 0993 and 8309 - Extra-Help, at salary range 60.8; and Senior Communications Technician, Item Nos. 0992 and 8310 - Extra-Help, at salary range 63.8, effective June 28, 2025.

Item No. 38 PM session:

The Board approved proposed collapse of the Librarian I/II/III flexible classification series into Librarian, Item Nos. 4172 and 8480 - Extra-Help, at salary range 62.6, and Senior Librarian, Item No. 4171, at salary range 63.8, effective June 28, 2025.

Item No. 39 PM session:

The Board approved proposed collapse of the Group Counselor I/II/III flexible classification series and the Human Services Aide classification into the Youth Care Associate, Item Nos. 3563 and 8547 - Extra-Help, at salary range 55.4, Youth Care Specialist, Item Nos. 3562 and 8546 - Extra-Help, at salary range 57.4, and Youth Care Supervisor, Item Nos. 3561 and 8545 - Extra-Help, at salary range 59.4, effective June 28, 2025.

Item No. 40 PM session:

The Board approved proposed collapse of the Deputy Clerk of the Board I/II classification series into the Deputy Clerk of the Board, Item Nos. 3061 and 8183 - Extra-Help, at salary range 60.6, effective June 28, 2025.

Item No. 41 PM session:

The Board approved proposed equity adjustments ranging from 2% to 20.5% for Library Associate, Heavy Equipment Mechanic, Fire Equipment Mechanic, Supervising Heavy Equipment Mechanic, Equipment Maintenance Superintendent, Security Attendant, Technology Services Supervisor, Elections Process Coordinator, Administrative Coordinator, Senior Human Resources Specialist, Fiscal Support Supervisor, Office Services Coordinator, Sheriff Aircraft Pilot, Sheriff Aircraft Mechanic, Supervising Aircraft Mechanic, and Broadcast Engineer l classifications represented by Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) Local 521, effective June 28, 2025.

Item No. 42 PM session:

The Board approved proposed resolution changing terms and conditions of employment for Bargaining Units M, D, X and Unrepresented Extra-Help employees, effective July 12, 2025.

The next Regular Board Meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.