Bakersfield Reorganizes Clean City Program, Impacting Downtown Businesses

City streamlines contracts and adjusts service levels, raising concerns from local business owners

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Bakersfield's Clean City initiative, which employs people experiencing homelessness to provide sanitation and outreach services across the city, has undergone recent changes as the city reorganizes the program. While the overall investment of over $1 million annually remains, the city has streamlined contracts, adjusted service levels, and shifted funding sources, leading to concerns from some downtown business owners about the impact on maintaining a clean and welcoming environment.

Why it matters

The Clean City program has become a critical part of downtown Bakersfield's cleanup efforts, helping to address issues like trash, debris, and biohazards that can deter customers and impact the overall vibrancy of the area. As the city reorganizes the program, there are concerns from local businesses about potential reductions in service levels and the ability to maintain the cleanliness that has become expected.

The details

As part of the restructuring, the city has made several changes to the Clean City program, including: handling biohazard cleanup through a separate contract, reducing pressure-washing services for downtown businesses from five days per week to three, and shifting the funding source from the city's Public Safety and Vital Services tax to county landfill fee revenue. City officials say these changes are intended to improve efficiency, but some business owners worry they could negatively impact the program's ability to keep downtown clean and inviting.

  • The Clean City program has expanded significantly over the years, growing from just a few partner organizations to more than 10 cleanup teams operating throughout the city.
  • The recent changes to the program, including the reduction in pressure-washing services for downtown businesses, have been implemented in the last few months.

The players

David Brust

Owner of Roosters Cantina on 19th Street, a downtown Bakersfield business that relies on the Clean City program to help maintain the area.

Christian Clegg

Bakersfield City Manager, who oversees the changes to the Clean City program, including the shift in funding sources and service level adjustments.

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What they’re saying

“Downtown would be a lot more difficult for business owners if the streets weren't cleaned by these teams.”

— David Brust, Owner, Roosters Cantina (turnto23.com)

“We're still investing more than a million dollars a year, and we're still doing Clean Cities, and our service level impacts are intended not to change. But we're organizing the work just a little bit differently.”

— Christian Clegg, City Manager, Bakersfield (turnto23.com)

What’s next

The city plans to continue monitoring the impact of the Clean City program changes on downtown businesses and may make further adjustments to service levels or funding sources if needed to maintain the cleanliness and vibrancy of the area.

The takeaway

The reorganization of Bakersfield's Clean City program highlights the delicate balance between fiscal responsibility and maintaining essential services that support the local business community. As cities navigate budget constraints, finding ways to preserve critical cleanup and outreach efforts will be crucial for the continued revitalization of downtown areas.