Bakersfield Council Approves Park Restrooms, School Safety, Police Cameras Unanimously

Bakersfield City Council voted 7-0 on November 6 to buy two prefabricated restrooms for Jefferson and Stiern Parks, fund pedestrian safety upgrades near Norris Elementary School and Stiern Middle School, and sign a five-year contract with AXON Enterprise for new body-worn cameras for the Bakersfield Police Department.

The decisions affect everyday use of city parks and routes to two schools while locking in equipment for officers. Residents who spoke during public comment said the city’s broader approach to people living outdoors still relies too heavily on punishment rather than support, leaving families with fewer paths to stable housing.

Measures touch parks, schools and police operations

The restroom purchase targets Jefferson and Stiern Parks directly. The safety work focuses on sidewalks and crossings serving Norris Elementary and Stiern Middle. The AXON contract covers body cameras for the police department over the next five years. Council also adjusted the Park Development and Improvement fee and set the 2025 schedule for regular meetings, budget presentations and hearings. Fourteen students from the Kern High School District opened the session as part of the city’s 48th annual Teen Government Day.

These steps shape how residents move through public spaces and how officers document encounters. Parents who drop children at Norris or Stiern now have added sidewalk improvements on the books, while park users will see new facilities at two specific sites. The camera contract keeps the department on the same vendor track it has used in prior years.

Residents urge more spending on housing and tenant help

During public comment, speakers including Ashe Huang of the American Civil Liberties Union Southern California argued that rules against sleeping in public make it harder for people to stay connected to services and jobs. Huang and others called for greater investment in tenant rights education and affordable housing options instead. The comments came right after the consent calendar votes, turning the meeting toward the city’s handling of homelessness.

The next regular council session is set for November 20 at 3:30 p.m. Residents who want to track how the approved items move forward can follow updates through the city’s posted agenda process.

Reporting for this story draws from the November 6, 2024 meeting coverage published by BakersfieldNow at https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/bakersfield-city-council-approves-new-measures-community-voices-concern-over-policies.