The Kern County Board of Supervisors met today as scheduled for Tuesday’s July 28, 2026, Board Meeting. Chairman Phillip Peters (District 1), Supervisor Chris Parlier (District 2), Supervisor Jeff Flores (District 3), Supervisor David Couch (District 4), and Supervisor 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 adopted a Resolution honoring Senior Youth Services Officer Laura Reyes, Kern County Probation Department, upon her retirement with 31 years of dedicated service to the County of Kern.

Item No. 2 AM session:

The Board adopted a Resolution honoring Melanie Torczon, Sheriff’s Office, upon her retirement with 25 years of dedicated service to the County of Kern.

Item No. 3 AM session:

The Board adopted a Resolution honoring Chief Probation Officer William Dickinson, Kern County Probation Department, upon his retirement with 32 years of dedicated service to the County of Kern. You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 4 AM session:

The Board proclaimed August 2026 as Child Support Awareness Month in Kern County. You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 5 AM session:

The Board proclaimed August 2026 as Valley Fever Awareness Month in Kern County. You can watch the presentation HERE

Item No. 12 AM session:

The Board approved Aging and Adult Services request to retroactively accept the 2026-2027 Meeting Unmet Needs Acceleration grant from Meals on Wheels America for Senior Nutrition program, effective July 17, 2026, in the amount of $100,000.

Item No. 20 AM session:

The Board authorized the Elections Division to conduct the November 3, 2026, election, as requested by the City of Arvin, to include a Transaction and Use Tax ("Sales Tax") measure on the ballot.

Item No. 21 AM session:

The Board authorized the Elections Division to conduct the November 3, 2026, election as requested by the City of McFarland to consolidate a General Municipal Election for a measure proposing to adopt a City Charter with the General Election.

Item No. 22 AM session:

The Board authorized the Elections Division to conduct the November 3, 2026, election as requested by Lost Hills Union School District for their Bond Election.

Item No. 23 AM session:

The Board authorized the Elections Division to conduct the November 3, 2026, election as requested by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools to fill a vacancy on the Governing Board within the Standard School District and consolidate the election with the General Election.

Item No. 30 AM session:

District 2 and District 5 presented their contributions of $3,500 each to support the Community Action Partnership of Kern Good Neighbor Crew. You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 31 AM session:

The Board adopted the Resolution to place the California Living Museum Zoo Improvement and Conservation Act of 2026-Retail Transactions and Use Tax Citizens' Initiative Petition on November 3, 2026, General Election ballot.

Item No. 32 AM session:

The Board approved the proposed ordinance adding Chapter 5.31 to Title 5 of the Kern County Ordinance Code relating to sidewalk vendors. You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 37 AM session:

The Board adopted the Resolution and authorized the District Attorney to submit a grant application and accept award agreement for the Office of Victims of Crime (VOC) Fiscal Year 2026 Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking grant program, in the amount of $500,000.

Item No. 45 AM session:

The Board heard a presentation and received and filed the report on the Social Policy Institute’s external review of child welfare services, including findings and recommendations. You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 48 AM session:

The Board approved the Library’s request to accept in-kind donation from Southern California Library Cooperative through the EmPOWERing Access Project, in the form of 4 family workstations, 45 sewing machines, 1 privacy booth, 1 Charlie cart, and 3 light tables, valued in the amount of $76,375.

Item No. 6 PM session:

The Board held a public hearing to consider and an Ordinance establishing the schedule for sewer service charges for County Service Area (CSA) No. 71, for Fiscal Years 2026-2027 through 2030-2031, and authorizing collection of service charges on the tax roll for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. The motion was opposed. You can watch the presentation HERE.

Items No. 7-9 PM session:

No hearings were held for to consider a rate increase and an Ordinance establishing the schedule for sewer service charges for County Service Area (CSA) No. 71.1, west Bakersfield – Lewis Ranch; County Service Area (CSA) No. 71.2, west Bakersfield – Laborde Ranch; and County Service Area (CSA) No. 71.3, west Bakersfield, for Fiscal Years 2026-2027 through 2030-2031, and authorizing collection of service charges on the tax roll for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 10 PM session:

The Board set a public hearing on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. to consider a Resolution of Application to Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) for annexation of property within Parcel Map 12319 into County Service Area (CSA) No. 17, located in east Bakersfield area, and extend Zone Benefit No. 1 for the purpose of drainage facility maintenance and extend the Zone of Benefit No. 3 for the purpose of proving street sweeping.

Item No. 14 PM session:

The Board authorized Public Works to publish a notice to bidders opening Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. for Contract No. 25041 for road reconstruction on Zerker Road Bridge Abutment, Bakersfield.

Item No. 19 PM session:

The Board approved the proposed salary for Chief Probation Officer Elaine Moore, at Step 8, Salary Range 83.6 and biweekly auto allowance, effective retroactive to July 25, 2026. You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 20 PM session:

The Board introduced an ordinance to establish a new Kern County Department of Elections and appointment of the Registrar of Voters, describing the duties of the Department of Elections, and exempting the Registrar of Voters from the County’s Civil Service System. You can watch the presentation HERE.

Item No. 23 PM session:

The Board approved the Agreement with the City of Bakersfield for Fentanyl Task Force funding reimbursement, for the acquisition of one robotic canine unit, from July 28, 2026 through December 31, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $404,000.

Items No. 27-29 PM session:

The Board approved contributions to the following community organizations: Tehachapi Art Commission, in the amount of $250; Church Without Walls, in the amount of $500; Kern County Bar Association Charitable Foundation, in the amount of $500; Kiwanis Club of Delano, in the amount of $500; Buttonwillow Recreation and Park District, in the amount of $1,000; Soroptimist International of Delano, in the amount of $1,500; and Shafter Lions Foundation, in the amount of $250.

Item No. 30 PM session:

The Board authorized General Services to publish notice contractors with the bid opening on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. for the Probation Wi-Fi Project, ID No. 250744PRJ, Contract No. CS26-0004.

Item No. 34 PM session:

The Board approved and adopted the Resolution providing a personal holiday with no cash value, each year, to employees in bargaining units M, D, X, and I, effective July 25, 2026.

Item No. 37 PM session:

The Board approved Human Resources’ request to create a new classification titled Sheriff’s First Responder Paramedic, Item No. 3284, at Range 65.3, effective August 8, 2026.

Item No. 38 PM session:

The Board approved the salary increase for Sheriff’s Medical Transcriptionist, Item No. 3198, from Range 54.0 to 55.8, effective August 8, 2026.

The next Regular Board Meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.