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Bakersfield City Council

{{For|current elected officials|List of elected officials in Bakersfield}}

{{Infobox legislature

|background_color={{party color|Republican Party (US)}}

|structure1=Bakersfield City Council.svg

|structure1_res=250px

|meeting_place=Bakersfield City Hall
1501 Truxtun Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93301

|session_res=

|alt=

|session_room=

|last_election1=November 5, 2024

|next_election1=November 3, 2026

|voting_system1=Single-member districts

|committees1=

|term_length=4 Years

|political_groups1=Officially nonpartisan

  • {{nowrap|{{Color box|#900000|border=darkgray}} Republican (4)}}
  • {{nowrap|{{Color box|#000090|border=darkgray}} Democratic (3)}}
  • {{nowrap|{{Color box|#DDDDBB|border=darkgray}} Independent (1)}}

|term_limits=

|name=Bakersfield City Council

|house1=

|members=9

|election2=

|party2=Democratic

|leader2=Andrae Gonzales

|leader2_type=Vice Mayor

|election1=November 2016

|party1=Republican

|leader1=Karen K. Goh

|leader1_type=Mayor

|house_type=Unicameral

|coa_pic=Seal of Bakersfield, California.png

|legislature=

|website=[https://bakersfieldcity.us/gov/elected_officials/city_council.htm/ Official Website]}}

The Bakersfield City Council is the main governing body for Bakersfield, California. Under the council-manager form of government, the city council is the most powerful branch of government. It has seven members who represent seven wards. The city council meetings are presided over by the elected mayor.[http://www.bakersfieldcity.us/administration/mayor_council/formofgovt.htm About Bakersfield's Form of Government]. City of Bakersfield. Accessed: 05-14-2010.

Powers and duties

The powers and duties are listed in Article III of the Bakersfield City Charter. Their primary function is the passing of ordinances for: raising revenue, appropriating money from the treasury, and regulations for the city. The specific duties, which ordinances passed to fulfill, are listed in Article III, section 12. There are too many to list here, but generally include all powers a city would need to provide proper services and maintain order for its citizens.Bakersfield City Charter. Article III, Section 12.

Ordinances are voted on by the city council and a majority vote is needed to pass it. However, approval by the mayor or other officials is not needed for the measure to become active. As a result, any measure with enough votes will become active 30 days after the vote, unless the council votes to repeal it.Bakersfield City Charter. Article III, Section 23.

Council members are elected to four-year terms. Elections are staggered every two years. As a result, only half of the members are up for reelection during one election cycle.Bakersfield City Charter. Article III, Section 15.

Representative Districts (Wards)

City council members are elected from one of seven wards. Each ward is drawn to represent an equal number of citizens. They are redrawn from time to time (typically after the United States Census) to update changes in population and boundaries.Bakersfield City Charter. Article II, Section 3. Wards are drawn to represent different regions of Bakersfield; however, the boundaries are not exact. This is primarily for two reasons. Bakersfield’s regions have sections that are not a part of the city and do not have representation. Also, each region is not of equal size. For example, the southwest, which is densely populated, requires two wards. The northeast, which is sparsely populated, shares its ward with part of the northwest.

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!Ward

!Councilmember

!Neighborhoods and Areas Represented

!Party (officially nonpartisan)

{{party shading/Republican}}

|Mayor

|Karen K. Goh

|City Wide

|Republican

{{party shading/Democratic}}

|1

|Eric Arias

|Southeast

|Democratic

{{party shading/Democratic}}

|2

|Andrae Gonzales

|Downtown and East Bakersfield

|Democratic

{{party shading/Republican}}

|3

|Ken Weir

|Northeast

|Republican

{{Party shading/Independent (United States)}}

|4

|Bob Smith

|Northwest

|Independent

{{party shading/Republican}}

|5

|Larry Koman

|Southwest (Seven Oaks)

|Republican

{{party shading/Republican}}

|6

|Zack Bashirtash

|Southwest (Stockdale)

|Republican

{{party shading/Democratic}}

|7

|Manpreet Kaur (Vice Mayor)

|South Bakersfield

|Democratic

Committees

The city council has several committees. Each committee examines potential ordinances and issues related to specific topics. Each is made up of three council members, one of which is the chairman.[http://www.bakersfieldcity.us/administration/mayor_council/council_committees.htm Council Committees]. City of Bakersfield. Accessed:05-14-2010.

The committees are:

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  • Budget & Finance
  • Community Services
  • Legislative & Litigation
  • Personnel

{{col-break}}

  • Planning & Development
  • Safe Neighborhoods
  • Water Resources

{{col-end}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20170418083107/http://publicagenda.bakersfieldcity.us/ Mayor & City Council Homepage]

{{City of Bakersfield}}

{{Government of Bakersfield}}

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Category:California city councils