[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6428512,"mediaKeyId","5899955-ce22e1412e01352aa5fe5691ca351647","parentId",5899955,"title","Ridgecrest council approves $60,000 emergency appropriation to repair sports‑complex well","audioSeconds",331,"startMs",1936000,"endMs",2267000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5899955-ce22e1412e01352aa5fe5691ca351647&start=1936&end=2267","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5899955-ce22e1412e01352aa5fe5691ca351647/thumbnail_1936000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6428512/Ridgecrest/Kern-County/California/Ridgecrest-council-approves-60000-emergency-appropriation-to-repair-sportscomplex-well","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6428512-602ad70bc8bf7a1c37521027c96c7ab8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147671&Signature=AssG6KGVlahgPcx1sgSWscSCxwKWAwpJoeDfmloRgjGHRhVugaV-bVvRxLaYr8k7KNF1DSdOWpv16-fR8eOnREsCnwDAD5o6Qq41-sUpTXt8-gO02SeNXGpSQSJ2Bp9WosIWeKuKptLZwkjtrC4QbjFCgaNPNl6VxFADslas3Yr~4Z1xnm6krUX63sNMN7g79j3evoISsY1~EHlKyJjHt428LsgOXuzMNkMr7BeEQtauMwUwlPqyWra-eG1-DIdVfQvycLsMNi~E2~soMgpqEKV2vk4BBUEezviMP91ZQRkJAXsrc6jxaDlF8YuBrFmM4HRXRK4DL-bECNzBRc7CNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Ridgecrest","date","2025-10-02T14:55:51Z","article","The Ridgecrest City Council on Oct. 1 approved a $60,000 emergency appropriation to repair a failed well at Leroy Jackson Sports Complex and waived the standard bidding procedure, city staff said.

City maintenance personnel discovered on Aug. 26 that the sprinklers at the sports complex were not running. A subsequent inspection found burnt wiring and a burned pump and motor. Public works staff and Independent Well Drilling recommended cleaning the well interior, installing a gravel filter or plug as needed, descaling and disinfecting the screened casing and installing a properly sized replacement pump and motor.

The council voted to fund the repairs and allow staff to use Independent Well Drilling for the urgent work. The motion was approved 5‑0.

City staff said the work includes bailing and airlifting to remove silt, installing a gravel filter to prevent gravel migration into the PVC liner and replacing the pump and motor. Staff told the council the vendor estimated the repairs would return another 10 to 15 years of service and that the city is currently operating on a single remaining well for that site.

Council members asked whether the other well at the complex has shown trouble; staff said the other well has not had recent issues. Staff also said they consulted Public Works Manager Travis Reid about the repair plan and confirmed the recommended approach with the well company.

Why it matters: Restoring the Leroy Jackson Sports Complex well is intended to protect irrigated fields and reduce pressure on the city’s remaining wells. The council authorized the use of a single qualified contractor without formal bidding because of the urgency to restore irrigation and avoid overtaxing the only working well on site.

Formal action: Motion to increase appropriations by $60,000 for repairs to the Leroy Jackson Sports Complex well and to waive competitive bidding for the emergency repair; vote 5 ayes, motion carries.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 10/1/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The city council voted 5–0 on Oct. 1 to increase appropriations in the fiscal‑year 2025 budget and waive bidding to repair a burned pump and motor at a well serving Leroy Jackson Sports Complex.","taxTitle","Ridgecrest, Kern County, California","taxId",52022,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6428517,"Kern COG executive director outlines regional transportation role, funding and projects",758,118000,876000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5899955-ce22e1412e01352aa5fe5691ca351647&start=118&end=876","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5899955-ce22e1412e01352aa5fe5691ca351647/thumbnail_118000.jpg","/articles/6428517/Ridgecrest/Kern-County/California/Kern-COG-executive-director-outlines-regional-transportation-role-funding-and-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6428517-7b7f4e4b22ff61fb1147379f83324450/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147671&Signature=G7bZN4JJ4GGqrt-62Frf5-WexXJGhjYH25WAguDOQkQzQBoI72kw3SVt164Qw0WOGpldSC0T8hGxGNxGqWIixbvzk8EfVXIZPlOMH8-ktunhsck73bFXEksAJLFRo5cMaOHvj1qlAWbPE~TNq8vYzbsgvjtxjk4Ky161V8IyiRKOIK3xLJh3TBa0LxQW9QjocIzArJd8dNY8G8i2i-7ToEmyoJIZoZ-ic3zxL5hk1jg15LW~UJQH9JlcUdIZ3I3VJCqmbvU39Yg-V7kwA5Al4lenXmLAAvR6JZ8cLlCw8vJglYffF6RuomWEVZbtP2MobM8yXsK0w0mPu4AcqhCJEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jay Schlosser, executive director of the Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG), told the Ridgecrest City Council on Oct. 1 that Kern COG serves as the federally designated metropolitan planning organization (MPO) and the state regional transportation planning agency for Kern County, and outlined the agency’s planning, funding and advocacy roles.

\"We are the federally designated metropolitan planning organization and the state designated regional transportation planning agency,\" Schlosser said, summarizing Kern COG’s mandate to do long‑range transportation planning for all of Kern County. He described the regional transportation plan (RTP) as the agency’s major recurring product and said staff maintain a traffic model that covers more than 3,000 centerline miles of roadway.

Schlosser told the council that Kern COG allocates and manages state and federal transportation funds for the county and acts as a regional liaison with agencies such as Caltrans, the California Transportation Commission, the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Highway Administration. He listed several regionally significant projects that have relied on Kern COG funding or coordination, including widening on U.S. 395 and State Route 14, the Highway 58 truck‑climbing lanes project (which he said is a roughly $257,000,000 program with a first segment scheduled to start in 2027) and State Route 46 widening work.

Schlosser also described Kern COG’s role in the state Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) process, which assigns long‑range housing targets to the county and its cities. \"The state tells each county how many houses it thinks will land in the next 30 years,\" he said, and Kern COG facilitates a negotiated allocation among local agencies. He said the recent RHNA cycle directed most new housing to Bakersfield because of the statewide push to increase multifamily housing where it can occur at scale.

Council members asked how Kern COG predicts where housing and industry will locate. Schlosser said the allocation is a negotiated process informed by state projections and local input; Kern COG convenes the county’s agencies to divide the statewide total and refine assumptions.

Schlosser noted that the RTP is on a four‑year cycle and that Kern COG is preparing the 2026 update. He asked for public feedback on priorities such as transit, bike facilities and road pavement, and said the agency is soliciting comments from member jurisdictions. He also said the Metropolitan Bakersfield area receives the majority of funds simply because it contains most of the county’s population but that Kern COG advocates on behalf of all member cities, including Ridgecrest.

Council member comments thanked Schlosser for the overview and raised local issues including storm drainage and coordination on specific corridor needs. Schlosser said Kern COG performs advocacy in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., and that he had recently met with U.S. and state representatives about East Kern transportation matters.

Kern COG provided a short list of local streets it has helped resurface and Schlosser estimated Kern COG had funneled \"just under $10,000,000\" to the city of Ridgecrest in the past 10 years for various projects.

Why it matters: Ridgecrest is part of Kern COG’s countywide planning and funding system. The council received an operational briefing that identifies funding sources, the 2026 RTP timeline and points of contact for project requests and public input.

Schlosser said he was available to answer follow‑up questions and encouraged Ridgecrest officials and residents to provide feedback on RTP priorities as the 2026 cycle proceeds.","Jay Schlosser, executive director of the Kern Council of Governments, told the Ridgecrest City Council on Oct. 1 that Kern COG is the federally designated metropolitan planning organization for Kern County, explained major funding streams and highlighted local projects and the agency’s role in RHNA housing allocations and advocacy.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6428496,"Council gives first reading to ordinance targeting illegal aerial fireworks; second reading set for Nov. 5",2027,4920000,6947000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5899955-ce22e1412e01352aa5fe5691ca351647&start=4920&end=6947","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5899955-ce22e1412e01352aa5fe5691ca351647/thumbnail_4920000.jpg","/articles/6428496/Ridgecrest/Kern-County/California/Council-gives-first-reading-to-ordinance-targeting-illegal-aerial-fireworks-second-reading-set-for-Nov-5","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6428496-c88bae58bb3ceeadda10d42cc4ab377d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147671&Signature=kEg8xoaDnzBeDxo9-f0GafvJBTzx9ncWJYxWYA7-8ij2CcoOkcS~isTbrWLXyEMIviyayMAtzziRO6FCPHSJV7eEJRJC3hZURXCOHTmcf6eD4Kld7RiWnZX7H48jZleYNTlVIy27NgzF5TvlBVapk76D0m466eVoYMa61AN5WF2oMfSKW8BDuW6Un77gQLyPhK~2jgXMePArpEYZlG3QBgOgF6UF3yNn3ZHb2CY5eGmx3SWjttekrlN08WYqarbYIrxhrar0ygsQgqud3wI0nBZ78ZmZuPFl56fkk7ws0UV6X4q1bkeRTSjamzNd5Tjc-bzqgz8dRc1JehBzxVs2tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ridgecrest City Council on Oct. 1 introduced an ordinance that would prohibit dangerous aerial fireworks, establish a social‑host standard for property owners or others in control of property, and create an administrative citation process to deter illegal fireworks use. The council approved the ordinance introduction and waived full reading by a 5‑0 vote; the second reading is scheduled for Nov. 5.

City legal staff said the draft ordinance would not affect \"safe and sane\" fireworks (those approved by the fire marshal and commonly sold at fundraising booths). The ordinance targets aerial and other dangerous fireworks that can start fires or travel onto combustible property. It would allow officers to issue administrative fines against a host who \"permits or fails to prevent\" the discharge of dangerous fireworks on property under their control or on an adjacent public or private street or sidewalk, subject to probable‑cause requirements and the right to rebuttal.

Police and fire representatives said the ordinance is intended as a deterrent and to give officers an enforcement tool where probable cause exists. The police chief provided background: the city logged more than 100 fireworks calls for service in each of 2023 and 2024, and county data requests for fires specifically tied to fireworks were pending. The chief said an administrative citation typically requires an officer to develop probable cause by observing the violation and associating it with a particular residence or person before issuing a citation.

The ordinance draft includes a $1,000 starting administrative fine (the chief said $1,000 for a municipal administrative citation; Kern County’s comparable fine schedule starts higher) and allows seizure and disposal of up to 25 pounds or less of dangerous fireworks under municipal authority; possession of larger amounts would fall under state health and safety felony provisions and be handled by county or state prosecutors.

Council members asked for clarifications about enforcement in public streets, cul‑de‑sacs and rental properties. The chief said officers would still need to develop probable cause and that social‑host authority is most appropriate where fireworks are launched from private yards or adjacent streets where an association with a residence can be established. Officers would first attempt to identify and confront the person launching illegal fireworks and, if necessary, hold the property host responsible under the ordinance’s standards unless the host rebuts the presumption at a hearing.

Why it matters: The ordinance aims to reduce fire risk and injuries from aerial fireworks by creating a deterrent tied to property hosts, and it provides an administrative enforcement path short of criminal prosecution when officers can establish probable cause.

Next steps: The council set the ordinance for second reading and final consideration on Nov. 5; staff said they will provide additional data from Kern County Fire Department about fires potentially associated with fireworks before the second reading.","Ridgecrest introduced an ordinance Oct. 1 that would hold property hosts responsible for illegal aerial fireworks, exempt safe‑and‑sane devices, authorize administrative fines and allow seizure of small quantities; council approved the introduction and waiver of full reading 5–0 and scheduled a second reading for Nov. 5.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6428505,"Ridgecrest council debates East Kern Healthcare District annexation, urges public engagement and clearer hospital oversight",2687,2269000,4956000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5899955-ce22e1412e01352aa5fe5691ca351647&start=2269&end=4956","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5899955-ce22e1412e01352aa5fe5691ca351647/thumbnail_2269000.jpg","/articles/6428505/Ridgecrest/Kern-County/California/Ridgecrest-council-debates-East-Kern-Healthcare-District-annexation-urges-public-engagement-and-clearer-hospital-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6428505-5f996834c8b10f688ffd3c0c203bbc38/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147671&Signature=fvoPkWh7ZCPEFfJEPCummNS4La0mvi2qJcb0vOGHPIICo39sClHF1oC9zg9HcxGfSSSfL1a9c1Y6McIIsOnvs~pciay0pgZ-O8uhdEwNuC4Y0VOJTbcs8anm52Yn6UAni1ujH4mUcfNIQk5B0zEFssra9tTjTrGcm5bC4c3HAXgOcU5Al3vxAffP94q7KmZlRpGJYG3DxhczOwu0M9xoraqKuCeSSxudiBBAUjYJ0ku5cnW9iBvwWHG1WhsbesKI3Prg4i1ckH3t0kxfEQirMfjUfckABZDj4qcZoXbPibFbprOZoWwINeCq8GL-Nzpgih~fAlvtxXzl9IzpE0X3vQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ridgecrest City Council on Oct. 1 held an extended discussion about the proposed annexation of unincorporated areas into the East Kern Healthcare District and related implications for Ridgecrest Regional Hospital. The item focused on transparency, potential public oversight, and the next steps in the LAFCO process rather than formal council action.

Council members said they support increased public visibility into hospital governance and want to ensure local elected officials and residents have oversight when public funds or district tax authority could affect the community. Councilman Kyle Blades urged the hospital and district to consider having an elected official or an elected district appointee on the hospital board to provide public insight. \"I think having a publicly elected official, an appointee with the hospital board as well as the Eastern Health District being elected, I think that is logical and makes sense,\" he said.

Other council members cautioned that the hospital is a private entity and cannot be compelled to accept a council designee on its board. Council discussion repeatedly distinguished between what the annexation process will accomplish (creating or expanding a public healthcare district) and what contractual governance arrangements between the district and the hospital might later require.

Public commenters stressed two recurring themes: (1) the LAFCO schedule and protest process requires public awareness, and (2) community members want greater accountability from the hospital. Mike Neal, a Ridgecrest speaker active in the groundwater issue, said LAFCO’s Oct. 14 protest hearing is a critical moment and urged residents to file protest letters if they oppose annexation. \"This upcoming meeting on October 14, if they do not get 25% or more protest votes against this, the annexation will happen,\" Neal said during public comment, and he urged residents to submit protest letters in time.

City officials said LAFCO will hold an informational session in the area on Oct. 14 (the council identified the location as Spring Hills). The annexation process that LAFCO oversees includes a protest procedure; council members and members of the public described complex timelines and multiple opportunities for protest ballots if the initial threshold is met or not met.

Council members also discussed practical governance matters: whether a future district would assume ownership or leasing arrangements for hospital property; whether district trustees would be locally elected; and what kinds of public‑funding flows and reporting would follow annexation. Several council members said they want early, regular discussions with the hospital and the East Kern Healthcare District to clarify any contract that would define the relationship between the hospital and the district. One council member noted that district seats are on an election schedule (two seats in 2026, others in 2028, per a council remark in the meeting).

No formal motion or council vote was recorded on the annexation itself at the Oct. 1 meeting; council members agreed to continue public engagement and to press for clearer terms in any contract between the hospital and the district.

Why it matters: Annexation into a healthcare district can change how a local hospital accesses public funds, the district's taxing authority and the mechanisms for public accountability. Council members and residents told the council they want clearer representation and transparency if public money or district oversight becomes part of future hospital governance.

Next steps: LAFCO will hold hearings in the coming weeks; council members encouraged residents to attend the LAFCO informational session and to submit protest letters if they object to the annexation.","Council members and residents discussed the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO)‑led annexation to the East Kern Healthcare District and what increased public oversight of Ridgecrest Regional Hospital would mean. No formal council action was taken; LAFCO is scheduled to hold a protest hearing Oct. 14.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Ridgecrest council approves $60,000 emergency appropriation to repair sports‑complex well

Kern COG executive director outlines regional transportation role, funding and projects

Council gives first reading to ordinance targeting illegal aerial fireworks; second reading set for Nov. 5

Ridgecrest council debates East Kern Healthcare District annexation, urges public engagement and clearer hospital oversight