Tehachapi News

The Tehachapi City Council met Monday, March 20 to discuss several issues important to the future of Tehachapi. Two issues on the agenda were the implementation of a crossing guard and a tentative planned senior housing project.

New crossing guard

The Tehachapi Unified School District had approached the city in 2005 to study the traffic pattern on Valley Boulevard at Snyder Avenue. After two studies were conducted, a traffic-engineering firm recommended that a traffic signal at that intersection was not warranted, but the school board and the city felt that some control was necessary during peak school hours. Assistant City Manager Greg Garrett stated that it is the city’s priority to keep all pedestrian and vehicle traffic crossings as safe as possible so the city voted to provide a crossing guard at the intersection of Valley Boulevard and Snyder Avenue.

Senior community

The other item discussed was the proposed subdivision of a 1.03-acre parcel at D Street and Mill Street. The planned residential development would be senior-only housing with appropriate CC&R’s. The map was approved; the developers will now get it recorded and subdivided into 11 residential sites for the development.

Central Park

During the open audience comment period, Susan Wiggins, vice chairperson of the Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Parks District, asked the council to consider requests the TVRPD has made for redevelopment funds for Central Park. Wiggins stated that although all areas of government have been affected by state budget cuts in the past two years, the TVRPD does need funds for the improvement and of our park. Mayor Ed Grimes said, “A clean, nice looking park is an important quality of life issue.” Grimes and Council Member Deborah Hand will meet with park representatives to determine how funding can be accomplished.

The city council meets on the first and third Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Kern County Veterans Hall, 125 E. F St. The public is invited to attend and encouraged to participate.