City Council

The City of Shafter is a Charter City and operates according to the Charter approved by the voters June 6, 1995, and is a City Council-City Manager form of government.

The City Council serves as the legislative and policy making body of the City of Shafter, formulating city policy, approving new programs and services, appropriates funds and generally supervises the operations of City government. As elected representatives of the citizens, the City Council is responsible to all the people, and as such, devotes its energies to making decisions which are in the best interest of the public welfare.

Contact Information

If you have any questions for the City Council, please contact them directly, or refer general questions to the City Clerk.

City Council Members 

 Jon 
Johnston
First Elected Dec. 1998
Term Expires Dec. 2014
Appointed Mayor
December 2012

Gilbert
Alvarado
First Elected Dec. 2008
Term Expires Dec. 2016
Appointed Mayor Pro Tem
December 2012

 Jack "Woody"
Colvard
First Elected Dec. 1996
Term Expires Dec. 2016

 Fran
Florez
First Elected Dec. 2012
Term Expires Dec. 2016

 Cathy
Prout
First Elected Dec. 1982
Term Expires Dec. 2014

Meetings
Council Meetings are held the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Shafter City Hall, 336 Pacific Avenue, Shafter, CA 93263.

Meeting Agendas and Minutes

The City Clerk's office prepares and maintains the agendas and minutes of each City Council meeting. Agendas are posted at least 72 hours prior to each regular meeting at Shafter City Hall, the Shafter Police Department, and online. Any materials required by law to be made available to the public prior to the meeting can be inspected between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday, through Friday, in the City Clerk's office at Shafter City Hall, 336 Pacific Avenue, Shafter CA 93263.

Members of the public shall have an opportunity to address the City Council either before or during the board's consideration of each item of business to be discussed at regular or special council meetings. Each person who addresses the board must first be recognized by the presiding officer.

Anyone needing special assistance to participate in a Council Meeting pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, shall make a request at least three business days prior to the Council Meeting to the City Clerk at (661) 746-5006. Later requests will be accommodated to the extent feasible.

                                                    Most Recent Council Agenda

                                                     Archive of Council Agendas

City Council Involvement
The City Council leads a unique strategic planning effort each year to determine important issues and set overall goals for the City that year. The strategic planning effort is lead by the community wide Vision project, conducted in 1996, which involved 3,000 of Shafter’s residents. The most recent update was completed in 2011. The City’s annual budget becomes the guide and the means for implementing the strategies of the Vision project and community priorities. 

City Council Members are involved in a number of local and regional intergovernmental organizations, including the Kern Council of Governments, Kern Association of Cities, Kern Economic Development Corporation and local service clubs and community groups. 

Council Members also work closely with federal, state and local elected officials. Elected officials that represent Shafter on a County, State and Federal level can be found at Community Links.

 LOCAL APPOINTMENTS LIST

In compliance with the requirements of the Maddy Act, Government Code 54970, this Appointment List is posted on an annual basis on or before December 31, at Shafter City Hall, 336 Pacific Ave., Shafter, CA 93263, and at the Shafter Public Library, 236 James St., Shafter, CA 93263. It shows all current members of commissions, boards and committees which will expire during the next calendar year, and the dates of their terms of office. The names on this list are subject to change based on term expirations and resignations that occur during the year. Please contact the City Clerk office for a list of current vacancies at 336 Pacific Ave, Shafter, CA 93263, (661) 746-5006, online at City Clerk, or by email at Christine Wilson.