Bakersfield City Council
Encyclopedia
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.
Ordinances are voted on by the city council and a majority vote is needed to pass it. However, approval by the mayor or other official 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.
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.
) to update changes in population and boundaries. 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 apart 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.
The seven wards generally represent the following regions:
The committees are:
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. 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.
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.Ordinances are voted on by the city council and a majority vote is needed to pass it. However, approval by the mayor or other official 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.
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.
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 CensusUnited States Census
The United States Census is a decennial census mandated by the United States Constitution. The population is enumerated every 10 years and the results are used to allocate Congressional seats , electoral votes, and government program funding. The United States Census Bureau The United States Census...
) to update changes in population and boundaries. 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 apart 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.
The seven wards generally represent the following regions:
- Ward 1:Southeast
- Ward 2:DowntownDowntown BakersfieldDowntown in the central business district for Bakersfield, California. Located in the heart of the city, it is easily accessible from all its other parts. It is also reemerging as the center of Bakersfield’s arts, culture and entertainment sectors...
and East BakersfieldEast BakersfieldEast Bakersfield is a region in Bakersfield, California directly east of downtown. The region was the former town of Sumner, which was later incorporated and renamed Kern City. It is primarily a mixture of residential and commercial developments... - Ward 3:NortheastNortheast BakersfieldNortheast Bakersfield is the northeast region of Bakersfield, California. Starting south and traveling clockwise, it is roughly bounded by East Brundage Ld, Mt. Vernon Ave, Columbus Ave, Union Ave, and the Kern River. Other boundaries are the city limits.-Overview:Growth in the northeast started...
- Ward 4:NorthwestNorthwest BakersfieldNorthwest Bakersfield is the northwest region of Bakersfield, California. It is bounded by the Kern River/Stockdale Hwy to the south and state route 99 to the east. The other boundaries are the city limits....
- Ward 5:Southwest (Seven Oaks)
- Ward 6:Southwest (Stockdale)
- Ward 7:South Bakersfield
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.The committees are:
- Budget & Finance
- Community Services
- Legislative & Litigation
- Personnel
- Planning & Development
- Safe Neighborhoods
- Water Resources