Meetings and Participation

• 6 p.m., First and third Tuesday of each month.
• Shafter Council Chamber, 336 Pacific Ave, Shafter, CA 93263
• You are strongly encouraged to observe the City Council meetings live via the City's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/CityofShafter/
• If you wish to make a comment during the live meeting, callers must first register with the City Clerk at 661-746-5012 before the meeting begins to receive instructions and the call-in number and code. Please call by 5:00pm on the Monday prior to the Council meeting to allow ample time for sign up. You will need to provide your name, phone number and the item number you wish to address.

All public comments are provided to the City Council and applicable Staff, for review and consideration by the Board prior to taking action on any matters listed on the agenda and are incorporated into the official record of the Council meeting

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval. Most Recent Agenda | View All 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 and 24 hours prior to each special meeting at the Shafter City Hall Lobby and city Council Chamber, 336 Pacific Ave., the Shafter Police Department, 201 Central Valley Hwy, 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.

Addressing the Council

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.

Special Assistance to Participate

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 661-746-5000. Later requests will be accommodated to the extent feasible.

Agenda Posting Notification

To receive future notifications on when an agenda has been posted and other information, subscribe to the Shafter News Flash via the Blackboard portal. Customize to suit preferences on the type of information and preferred delivery methods. To subscribe:

1. Go to https://shafter.bbcportal.com/entry
2. Click “sign me up.” Enter desired login information. Wait for activation email. Click on the link to confirm.
3. Set Up security questions. Click “Save.”
4. Login. Follow the setup wizard to add address, phone number, and/or email addresses to receive communication.
5. Check box next to list you wish to subscribe to.

City Council Members

Chad Givens First Elected December 2016 Term Expires December 2024 Re-Elected December 2020 Appointed Mayor December 2022 (2-year term)
Cathy L. Prout First Elected December 1982 Re-Elected December 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 Term Expires December 2026 Appointed Mayor Pro Tem December 2022 (2-year term)
Gilbert T. Alvarado First Elected December 2008 Re-Elected December 2012, 2016, 2020 Term Expires December 2024
Pete Espinoza First Elected December 2020 Term Expires December 2024
Gustavo Olvera Jr First Elected December 2022 Term Expires December 2026

Council Overview

Incorporated on January 11, 1938, the City of Shafter is a charter city and operates according to the charter approved by the voters on 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.

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.

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. 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.

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 Avenue, Shafter, California 93263, and at the Shafter Public Library, 236 James Street, Shafter, California 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 expiration and resignations that occur during the year. Please contact the city clerk's office for a list of current vacancies at 661-746-5000, or email City Clerk.

Additional Information

If you have any questions for the City Council, please contact them directly, or refer general questions to the City Clerk at 661-746-5000, or by at email City Clerk.