Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
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As we continue this modified version of life during the Coronavirus pandemic, it's important to note that we're working on two fronts simultaneously here in the City of Tehachapi. What I mean by that is obviously we're working through a variety of issues as related to COVID-19 and dealing with those on a daily basis. This is work with a variety of partners, our fellow cities, our law enforcement agencies and health care leaders; all of whom are doing incredible work as we adjust to the...
Get out and run! The Tehachapi Recreation and Park district (TVRPD) has transformed several of its cancelled events into bright lights for the community. District Manager Corey Torres said the district has given the eggs it had purchased for the popular Easter Egg Hunt to a volunteer group to give to families for Easter egg hunts at home. The Easter Egg Hunt, which was scheduled for Sat. April 11 at West Park, draws hundreds of children every year in four age categories up to age 10. The event...
City approves utility deferments, waivers during COVID-19 crisis In an effort to address the continuing COVID-19 crisis and support small businesses and city residents, the Tehachapi City Council met in a Special Meeting on March 18 in front of City Hall to vote on a temporary policy to defer water, sewer and trash payments for small businesses and to waive late fees for residential customers for two months. With Councilman Phil Smith on the phone, the council unanimously approved the plan. The...
COVID-19 impact and small business impact In response to the COVID-19 virus and its impact on national and local economies as well as small business, several resources have been made available for business owners to reduce strain. The City of Tehachapi held a special City Council meeting on Wednesday, March 18 on the steps of City Hall where, at the suggestion of the Economic Development Department, the City Council authorized a temporary program to defer utility payments for small businesses...
The first order of business at the March 2 Tehachapi City Council meeting was to choose a new council person to fill the at-large seat held by Kenneth Hetge who resigned on Jan. 2. Four applications were received by the City and all were qualified for the position but it was Christina Scrivner who was chosen in a 3-1 vote. Councilman Phil Smith nominated Kim Nixon, a prior City Councilwoman now serving on the Planning Commission. "I am very humbled by this opportunity to serve my community,"...
City Manager Greg Garrett reported to the City Council Monday, March 16 that the City departments are meeting daily at 4 p.m. to plan for the next 24 hours as COVID-19 protocols are moving swiftly and they want to stay ahead of or flatten the curve. As of March 16, all City facilities are closed to the public although all are in operation. Until further notice, the Tehachapi Museum, Tehachapi Depot and the Visitor Center will be closed. The Police Department is available through their phone...
In an effort to address the continuing COVID-19 crisis and support small businesses and city residents, the Tehachapi City Council met in a Special Meeting on March 18 in front of City Hall to vote on a temporary policy to defer water, sewer and trash payments for small businesses and to waive late fees for residential customers for two months. With Councilman Phil Smith on the phone, the council unanimously approved the plan. The program includes an opt-in for businesses to defer utility...
City Council updates connection, water/sewer fees The Tehachapi City Council recently approved a new slate of water and sewer connection fees that result in a net-decrease for new businesses looking to invest and build in the City of Tehachapi. Led by the Development Services Department, the City of Tehachapi contracted with MKN and Associates for an in-depth study on the rates for new commercial and residential construction projects as it pertains to potential expansion of the City's water and...
The interaction within the City of Tehachapi is as unique as the day is long. Working with and talking with community volunteers, citizens, visitors and residents means interacting with people from all walks of life. Nothing served as a reminder of this more than an experience a few weeks ago. Myself and a few other members of the City staff were invited as guests to witness President Trump sign in new federal guidelines aimed at helping Kern County farmers receive more water from the State...
On Jan. 22, the City of Tehachapi received another award for the Finance Department from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). The GFOA notified Finance Director Hannah Chung her department had received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the annual budget for fiscal year 2019-20. This award, considered the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting according to the GFOA. “I am so happy that we received this award. It reflects the hard work of the Finance Department. We have been improving our budget for las...
On Friday, Feb. 7, State Senator Shannon Grove held a Town Hall at the Slice of Life Enrichment School in Tehachapi. The purpose of the meeting was to address the Public Safety Power Shutoffs during the autumn of 2019. Also taking part were representatives from Southern California Edison; Laura Lynne Wyatt of Kern County Board of Supervisors; Tehachapi City Officials Greg Garrett and Key Budge; Kern County Fire Department; Deputy Michael Dorkin and spokesperson Megan Person of the Kern County...
TK Pizza expands again, adds outdoor patio There has not been a shortage of investments from the owners of TK Pizza & Pasta, the local Tehachapi favorite since the business was purchased by Tyler and Wesley Shryock in 2013. Located at 640 W. Tehachapi Boulevard adjacent to the former Kmart building, the investments continue, despite the anchor tenant closing up shop a few months ago. Since taking ownership of the business in 2013, the Shryocks have transformed the once-struggling Tehachapi...
One of the benefits of being City Manager is interaction with the public and more importantly with the local organizations that support our City with their work and services to the residents. One of those groups is the Tehachapi Senior Center, an organization that provides a multitude of services to our senior citizen community. Through a partnership with the City of Tehachapi they operate the Senior Center located at 500 E. F St. The first Wednesday at noon every month they have a board...
At their Jan. 21 meeting, the Tehachapi City Council directed City staff to publish two times a notice to appoint an at-large member of City Council to replace Councilman Kenneth Hetge who resigned on Jan. 2. The appointee will finish out the rest of Hetge’s term, which ends on Nov. 3, 2020. A special election was not an option due to the November election when that seat will change from at-large to district. The Council again took up the subject of the Urban Greening Grant project that would s...
The City of Tehachapi is proud to present our 2019 Year in Review. The annual printed publication recaps the accomplishments and major initiatives by the various departments within our organization. It's a top-level view of what is being done on your behalf. We unveil the report this week to the entire City staff before we open our regular tour, so to speak, of various community groups and meetings beginning with the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce. We address service organizations,...
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, Tehachapi's Development Services Director Jay Schlosser received word that he had been awarded the 2019 Outstanding Civil Engineer in the Public Sector for Region 9 (State of California) from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). This is a huge honor for Schlosser who had won the award for the San Joaquin Valley in July and Los Angeles Section last September before moving on to the Regional level. The ASCE is made up of 10 regions and has over 100,000...
As 2020 begins, 2019 left a lasting impression on the local economy In 2019 the City of Tehachapi experienced incredible economic growth. New businesses, expanded retail opportunities and private reinvestment into Downtown have set the stage for another great year in 2020. Here's a look at some of the highlights from 2019 in our local economy. Adventist Health sparks health care growth in the City of Tehachapi. Expanded hospital offerings in 2019 meant more employees in the health care industry...
Kern County Dist. 1 Supervisor Mick Gleason said the state's goal of being fossil-fuel-free by 2045 "is not in the best interests of Kern County or for the security of the United States." Speaking at the Jan. 9 East Kern Economic Alliance meeting at Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest, Gleason said, "I think Sacramento is nuts. Their regulations are directly targeting Kern County. We have invited the governor's staff [Jan. 14] and I am going to lay into them." He said the other challenge...
City Clerk Tory Marsh began the Jan. 6 City Council meeting by announcing that the City had received a letter of resignation from Councilman Kenneth Hetge. Mayor Susan Wiggins stated that as the letter was received too late to be addressed at this meeting, his replacement will be discussed at the Jan. 21 meeting. Development Services Director Jay Schlosser announced that the City is asking for public input for possible non-motorized projects. The Development Services Department has been very...
Newer Tehachapi residents who have wondered what it was like back in the old days, when there used to be more snow, don't have to wonder any more: our snowstorm on December 26 was like the winter storms that used to be a yearly occurrence. In fact, the speed of this snowfall would be exceptional during any year, past or present – we went from having no snow at all to having a foot and a half in less than 24 hours. Even in previous decades when we routinely got more snow, it would typically t...
One can understand, given today's climate, the desire for many to leave the state of California. The issues have been well noted and continue to be so daily in the news media. Just read the Los Angeles Times and you'll see things unfathomable for those of us in Tehachapi. These examples are a few reasons why the U.S. Census Bureau estimated 600,000 left the state last year, while only around 500,000 came in, a net loss of 100,000 residents. But many of us in Tehachapi also relate to the desires...
We had another large turnout for Coffee with the Mayor and City Manager held Nov. 21 at the Coffee Mill in Downtown Tehachapi. This marks the two-year anniversary for this community engagement event, bringing local government even closer to the public it serves. "I can't believe it has been two years that we have been holding this gathering, said City Manager Greg Garrett. "It has been such a tremendous positive response and another opportunity for the citizens in the local government process....
Although Jennine Gillespie knew about Tehachapi for most of her adult life, it wasn't until she moved here about a year ago that she got to know Tehachapi. Her father was real estate developer, Asa Swingley, who along with Los Angeles developer Don Adams owned The Land Co. on Woodford Tehachapi Rd. They were the pair who subdivided and sold the lots that would become Alpine Forest. Jennine was born in North Hollywood, Calif. and raised in the San Fernando Valley. She has a sister currently...
Towneplace Suites by Marriott issued Building Permit for new Tehachapi hotel in Capital Hills After receiving approval from the Planning Commission in early 2019, the developers of the new Towneplace Suites by Marriott in Capital Hills have been issued their building permit. The three-story hotel will consist of 82 rooms and will be over 46,000 square feet. Holiday shopping still needs physical stores, plenty available locally The International Council of Shopping Centers claims that this...
Kern County Director of Public Health Matt Constantine appeared at the Dec. 2 Tehachapi City Council meeting to present a new program being sponsored by the Health Department in 2020 called “Know Your Numbers.” According to Constantine, Kern County residents are among the highest risk in the state for heart disease, diabetes and obesity. The “Know Your Numbers” program is a free six week program to make people aware of the numbers that show up in tests in the doctor’s office and what they mean...
