Zack Bashirtash

Municipal Surveillance and Automated License Plate Readers (Flock Cameras)

City expenditures on surveillance technology and system maintenance were questioned by residents.

Public Safety Vital Services Budget and Capital Outlay Projects

Authorizes $117,680,000 in public expenditures funded primarily by local sales tax revenues.

Police Department Personnel Appointments and Eligibility Lists

Personnel actions impact the police department's operational budget and staffing levels.

Urban Farming and Title 17 Modernization

Minimal municipal expenditures required to update zoning codes.

Youth Commission Representation and Outreach

None reported.

Urban Tree Canopy and Air Quality Management

Utilizes $300,000 from previously approved tree allocation funds for tree purchases.

New Residential Subdivisions and Time Extensions

Private investment in local housing infrastructure.

Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget and Spending Priorities

Directly impacts municipal resource allocation and city services.

city council election

How City Hall handles the budget affects your tax dollars and the quality of local services.

Riverview Marketplace Commercial Center & General Plan Amendment

Generates extensive private investment and creates approximately 2,000 construction and operational jobs.

Nepotism Waiver Consideration

No direct fiscal impact beyond standard administrative review processes.

City Homelessness Initiatives and Updates

City expenditures and regional grant allocations support local shelter and outreach programs.

Violence Intervention Program Expansion

None discussed.

Departmental Position Reclassifications

Financial impacts are tied to internal position adjustments and are managed within existing departmental budgets.

2025 Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan

Long-term infrastructure and planning costs associated with municipal water management.

officer-involved shooting

Taxpayers are likely on the hook for potential legal fallout, investigations, and administrative costs.

Immigration Enforcement and Sanctuary City Policy

Financial impact on the city is currently undetermined pending staff review.

Harris Road Traffic Safety

Staff is reviewing corridor redesign costs to be incorporated into future capital planning.

Illegal Dumping and Neighborhood Blight

Involves an upfront municipal expenditure of $500,000 to be recovered through property liens.

General Plan Update Public Comment Period

Long-term planning affects city infrastructure investments and development fees.

Zone Change 24-0004 Austin Creek Park

CDBG Agreement with Community Action Partnership of Kern

Agreement with Kern Community Foundation for Bakersfield Youth Jobs Program

Purchase of Trees for Recreation and Parks Department

Continued Public Appeal Hearing of Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 7451

Report on Funding Jail Bed Space and Setting Aside Funding

Approval of minutes of October 7, 2026, Regular City Council Meetings.

Receive and file department payments from September 23, 2026, to October 6, 2026, totaling $20,437,886.75

Resolution to Accept Funds from the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Mini Grant Program

Agreement with Buena Vista 6577 LLC ($371,000)

Amendment No.1 to Agreement No. 2025-211

Amendment No. 4 to Agreement No. 2023-253 with J.L. Plank, Inc., DBA Cen-Cal Construction

Amendment No. 2 to Agreement No. 2023-263 with Parsons Transportation Group

Contract Change Order No. 6 to Agreement 2024-331 with JTS Construction

Purchase of six Electric Vehicle (EV) 4X4 One-ton Super Cab Pickup Trucks for multiple Departments

Appropriate $404,000 to the Police Department Capital Improvement Budget within the General Fund

Appropriate $13,775.86 a Cal Water charitable donation to the Fire Department General Fund

Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 2023-248 with Summit Strategies, LLC

Adjourn to Closed Session

Adjournment

Consent Calendar Approval

Acquisition of 1430 and 1440 Truxtun Avenue via Interfund Loan

That just makes me sick to my stomach we're going to pay interest on taxpayer money...

Contingency Funds for Clean City Special Project on East Plans Avenue

Consent Calendar Approval

Approval of University of Pennsylvania Grant Agreement (Item 6F2)

Adoption of Traffic Safety Policy Resolution

Approval of Grant-Funded Intervention Worker Positions

Expressed concerns about long-term financial liabilities and lack of oversight for grant-funded positions.

Consent Calendar Approval (Partial)

Economic Development Consulting Agreements (6J2 and 6J3)

H Street Corridor Improvement Project

Recused due to property proximity.

Consent Calendar Approval (with exceptions)

Consent Calendar Public Hearings (Items 7A through 7C)

Property Purchase Due Diligence Deposit (Item 7H3)

Questioned the financial sense of purchasing a $14 million building when city funds are tight and future tenant revenues are uncertain.

Utility-Scale Distributed Energy Resources Implementation Planning

Criticized the presentation as a one-sided sales pitch rather than an objective analysis of taxpayer interests.

Receive and File Budget and Reserve Presentation

Lease and Purchase Option Agreement for Truxton Towers

Voted against the motion due to a desire for further financial review and due diligence before committing city funds.

Appointments to Miscellaneous Civil Service Board

Appointment to Historic Preservation Commission

Community Vitality Update Receive and File

Jail Bed Task Force Recommendations and Taft Facility Exploration

This is an opportunity for us to do something different and present real results to our community.

Continuation of Union Pacific Railroad Lease for Sumner Station Depot

Viewed the lease as an extreme financial liability and urged focusing resources on pressing city needs like infrastructure and sewage.