City Council - February 25th, 2026 Meetings

The City Council of Bakersfield, California, held a regular meeting on February 25, 2026, focusing primarily on procedural changes to comply with recent amendments to the Brown Act, including implementing remote public participation in council meetings by July 1, 2026. The council discussed adjustments to meeting agendas and public comment time limits to accommodate remote participation, with a consensus to maintain most current practices while incorporating remote speakers. Additionally, the council addressed several procurement and budget-related items, including the creation of a development review streamlining ad hoc committee and multiple consent calendar items. A significant discussion centered on a $180,000 budget request for a tree inventory, which was ultimately not approved pending a more comprehensive tree plan from staff. The council also approved a $2.5 million funding agreement with the Open Door Network, a nonprofit providing homeless services, after extensive deliberation on accountability and community impact. Motions related to contract change order policies were also discussed, with a referral to consider capping change orders at 5%. The meeting concluded with no further motions but set the stage for future policy updates and budget considerations.