Financial report, sidewalk bid addressed by Council

In order for the city to receive the Transportation Development Act funds it needs to operate the city’s Dial-A-Ride service, it must present a Public Transit Claim. In order to present the claim they must conduct a public hearing and adopt a resolution that, “there are no areas within the city with unmet public transit needs that could be reasonably met by expansion of the existing system or establishment of a new system.”

The city received no public input at the hearing and the resolution was adopted.

City Finance Director Hamed Jones said that the city provides the Dial-A-Ride service through Kern Regional Transit. It has two buses that operate between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a..m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. The fare is $2 for the General Public and $1 for Disabled and Seniors (62 and over), children under 4 are free.

Jones introduced Greg Frankhanel from the auditing firm of VanLant & Frankhanel, LLP who said the company had audited the city’s 2023 financial statements and found them to be in order and showing no apparent weaknesses. Frankhanel also noted that the city’s general fund had increased $3.5 million in 2023.

Development Services Director Jay Schlosser asked the council to award the pending Brentwood Drive sidewalk project to Cen-Cal Construction who submitted the lowest bid for the project at $223,585. The project is being completed with TDA article 3 funds and $75,000 from Measure S funds with no match from the city. However, due to cost increases the sidewalk will be completed only on the south side of the street from Curry Street to Oakwood Street.

The Tehachapi City Council meets on the first and third Monday of the month at 6 p.m. They are currently meeting at the Police Department Community Room, 220 W. C St.