Summary

Closed session with legal matters

LancasterSep 23, 20251 min read

At a glance

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The Council met in closed session on 22 legal items, then reported it gave direction to staff and legal counsel on four of them but took no reportable action.

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City Council

Topics discussed

Public Safety

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What this means

Lancaster’s City Council special meeting was mostly spent in closed session, which means the public was not in the room for the discussion. The Council discussed several potential and active legal matters, including anticipated litigation and specific cases involving the City of Lancaster and related agencies. When the meeting reopened, officials said the Council gave direction to staff and legal counsel on four items, but there was no reportable public action. No other decisions were made in open session.

Key decisions

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Mayor Parris was excused from the special meeting by a 4-0-0-1 vote.
The Council went into closed session to discuss 22 legal items.
After reconvening, the Council gave direction to staff and legal counsel on closed session items 1, 6, 19, and 21.
No reportable action was announced after closed session.

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Meeting information

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City Council Special Meeting

Sep 23, 2025, 7:00 PMTuesday, September 23, 2025, Special Meeting –, 12:00 PM, Council Chambers – Lancaster City Hallcompleted

Agenda

No action required at this time.
Decision: LANCASTER HOUSING AUTHORITY
No action required at this time.
Decision: LANCASTER FINANCING AUTHORITY
No action required at this time.
Decision: LANCASTER POWER AUTHORITY
No action required at this time.
Decision: LANCASTER SUCCESSOR AGENCY
1. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation: significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d) (2) - four potential cases. 2. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation: consideration of initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d) (4) – four potential cases. 3. Conference Involving a Joint Powers Agency: Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.96 Discussion will concern: Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District v. United States Environmental Protection Agency, et al. 9 th Cir. Case No. 23-1614 Name of local agency representative on joint powers agency board: Marvin Crist, Ken Mann 4. Antelope Valley Groundwater Cases Included Action: Los Angeles County Waterworks District No. 40 v. Diamond Farming Co. Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, Case No. BC325201; Los Angeles County Waterworks District No. 40 v. Diamond Farming Co. Superior Court of California, County of Kern, Case No. S-1500-CV-254-348; Wm. Bolthouse Farms, Inc. v. City of Lancaster, Diamond Farming Co. v. City of Lancaster, Diamond Farming Co. v. Palmdale Water District Superior Court of California County of Riverside, consolidated actions; Case Nos. RIC 353 840, RIC 344 436, RIC 344 668 5. Galant v. Lancaster School District, LASC Case No. 25AVCV00196 6. Abaied v. City of Lancaster, LASC Case No. 25STCV14733 7. Montenegro v. Green, LASC Case No. 22AVCV01050 8. Perez v. Lancaster, LASC Case No. 23AVCV00577 9. City of Whittier v. Superior Court, LASC Case No. 23 STCP03579 10. Lindo v. Lancaster, LASC Case No. 23AVCV00950. 11. Nazari v. City of Lancaster, LASC Case No. 25AVCV00192 12. Mahfound v. County of Los Angeles, City of Lancaster, LASC Case No. 25AVCV00586 13. Morgan v. Antelope Valley Transit Authority, City of Lancaster, LASC Case No. 25AVCV00061 14. Lea v. City of Lancaster, LASC Case No.: 25STCV09046 15. Stockman v. City of Lancaster, LASC Case No. 23 AVCV00838 16. Zimmerman v. City of Lancaster, LASC Case No. 24AVCV00848 17. Snyder v. City of Lancaster, LASC Case No. 21AVCV00770 18. Higgins v. City of Lancaster, LASC Case No. 23AVCV00125 19. Wright v. City of Lancaster, LASC Case No. 23AVCV00864 20. Cordova v. City of Lancaster, Case No. 24AVCV00221 21. Darnell Wayne Thomas 25STCV17622 22. Payne v. City of Lancaster 24AVCV00308
Decision: CLOSED SESSION