Council rejects charter election changes

2025 Year in Review Presenter: Trolis Niebla, City Manager

Waive further reading of any proposed ordinance. (This permits reading the title only in lieu of reciting the entire text.)

Approve the City Council/Successor Agency/Financing/Housing/Power Authority Regular Meeting Minutes of December 09,2025

Check Registers – November 23, through December 27, 2025. Recommendation(s): Approve the Check and Wire Registers for payments made November 23, 2025, through December 27, 2025, in the amount of $13,563,295.10 as presented. At each regular City Council Meeting, the City Council is presented with a check and ACH/wire registers listing the financial claims (invoices) against and paid by the City for the purchase of materials, supplies, services, and capital projects during the prior three to four weeks. This process provides the City Council with the opportunity to review the City’s expenditures. Claims have been paid via checks, Electronic Funds Transfer EFT), Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments, or federal wires. The justifying backup information for each expenditure is available in the Finance Department.

Monthly Reports of Investments – November 2025. Recommendation(s): Accept and approve the November 2025 Monthly Report of Investments as submitted. Each month, the Finance Department prepares a report listing the investments for all separate entities under the jurisdiction of the City as identified in the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

Lancaster Maintenance District Annexations Recommendation(s): 1. Authorize Staff to Initiate Proceeding to Conduct a Public Hearing, tabulate the returned ballots, and announce results at February 10 Council Meeting. 2. Adopt Resolution No. 26-___, Initiating Proceedings for Annexations into the Lancaster Maintenance Districts. 3. Adopt Resolution No. 26-___, approving the Engineer’s Report, Announcing the Time and Place for a Public Hearing, and Its Intention to Annex into the Lancaster Maintenance Districts and to Levy and Collect Assessments Therein. The Lancaster Maintenance Districts, separately known as the Lancaster Lighting Maintenance District, the Landscape Maintenance District and the Drainage Maintenance District “Districts”) were formed to provide a dedicated funding source for the maintenance, operations, servicing and installation of public lighting, public landscaping and public drainage facilities within the City of Lancaster. The District properties, which include the Annexations, benefit from the services provided and are assessed their proportionate share of the costs for each District.

Purchase and Sale Agreement with Quartz Hill Water District Recommendation(s): 1. Find the sale of property categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act and authorize staff to execute and file a Notice of Exemption. 2. Approve the Purchase and Sale Agreement with Quartz Hill Water District for Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APNs) 3110-040-909 and 3110-040-910, two contiguous parcels located in the Open Space zone. 3. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to finalize, negotiate, and execute (i) a Purchase and Sale Agreement; and (ii) all documents necessary or appropriate to complete the transaction. 4. Make findings that the sale of property to Quartz Hill Water District is exempt from the Surplus Land Act pursuant to Government Code 54421 (f)(1)(D), because the City is transferring the property to another public agency for that public agency’s use. Quartz Hill Water District has a need to build critical infrastructure within the area to sustain its operations. The subject parcels would provide a suitable location for the needed infrastructure. The property contains an earthen drainage channel that provides stormwater management and flood control functions benefiting the surrounding properties and public infrastructure. Through this transaction, Quartz Hill Water District would assume full responsibility for the maintenance, operation, and repair of the drainage channel.

Harris & Associates Professional Services Agreement Amendment Recommendation(s): 1. Approve Agreement Amendment with Harris & Associates for Special District Re-Districting Professional Services in an amount not to exceed $136,000. 2. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to finalize and execute all documents related to the Agreement. The original agreement, executed in May 2025, provides special district re-engineering and balloting services. The existing scope of work includes calculating fees in accordance with the City’s Municipal Code (Ordinance). Since execution of the agreement, the City has determined that revisions to the Sewer Maintenance District apportionment methodology are necessary, including updates to land use classifications, unit counts, and square footage. These revisions represent an expansion of the original scope of work.

Tax Sharing Resolution for Proposed Annexation No. 14-469 into Los Angeles County Sanitation District No. 14 Recommendation(s): a. Adopt the Tax Sharing Resolution for proposed Annexation No. 14-469 into Los Angeles County Sanitation District No. 14 b. Direct the City Clerk to route three copies of the tax share resolution to the City Attorney and the Mayor for wet signatures. The property owners have requested, in writing, annexation of property (Annexation No. 14-469) into the County Sanitation District No. 14 (District) in order to receive off-site disposal of sewage.

Tax Sharing Resolution for Proposed Annexation No. 14-468 into Los Angeles County Sanitation District No. 14 Recommendation(s): a. Adopt the Tax Sharing Resolution for proposed Annexation No. 14-468 into Los Angeles County Sanitation District No. 14 b. Direct the City Clerk to route three copies of the tax share resolution to the City Attorney and the Mayor for wet signatures. The property owners have requested, in writing, annexation of property (Annexation No. 14-468) into the County Sanitation District No. 14 (District) in order to receive off-site disposal of sewage. The annexation process requires that a resolution for property tax revenue exchange be adopted by all the affected local agencies before an annexation may be approved.

Appropriate Funds for the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for Home American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) Recommendation(s): 1. Appropriate additional HOME-ARP funds in the amount of $3,662.00 for expenditure in accordance with the HOME-ARP Program 2. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to sign all documents as it relates to these funds. During recent quality control efforts, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) identified an administrative error in the allocation of HOME-ARP funds. As a result, the City was inadvertently under-allocated by $3,662.00. HUD has corrected this error and revised the HOME-ARP award amount to increase by $3,662.00. Therefore, an additional awarded amount now brings the total revised HOME-ARP award amount to $2,454,186.00.

Adopt Resolution Authorizing Application for State of California Prohousing Incentive Program Funds Recommendation(s): 1. Adopt Resolution No.______, authorizing the submittal of an application to the California State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for funding under the Prohousing Incentive Program (PIP); the execution of a standard agreement if selected for such funding and any amendments thereto; and any related documents necessary to participate in the Prohousing Incentive Program . 2. If funded, accept the Prohousing Incentive Program grant award funds, and appropriate said funds into a Prohousing Incentive Program Fund account number, to be created by Finance. 3. Authorize the City Manager, or their designee, to allocate any awarded funds—up to $1,140,000—in alignment with the Prohousing Incentive Program. 4. Find that this item is not a project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. The PIP complements the Prohousing Designation Program by incentivizing jurisdictions that adopt Prohousing Policies to achieve a Prohousing Designation. Through this program, grants are offered to support a wide range of planning and implementation efforts focused on housing and community development. The program goal is to enable moderate-income households earning no more than 120 percent of Area Median Income (AMI), currently $127,900 per year for a family of four in Los Angeles County, to access affordable rental or ownership housing.

Conditional Use Permit (CUP) 18-26 - Acceptance of Improvements (Sewer) Recommendation(s): Approve the following developer-installed sanitary sewer and accept the sewer for maintenance by the City and for public use: Project No. Private Contract No. Location/Owner Conditional Use Permit No. 18-26 80-26 ±2.3 gross acres on the west side of Sahuayo Street, north of Avenue K-4; Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN):3126-031-039 Owner: Imagine Village II, LP The listed sanitary sewer has been constructed and completed by the developer in accordance with the approved plans and specifications. The work has been inspected and found to be satisfactory by the Director of Public Works.

Conditional Use Permit (CUP) 18-26 - Acceptance of Improvements (Streets) Recommendation(s): Approve the developer-constructed streets on the following project. In addition, accept the streets for maintenance by the City and for public use. Project No. Location/Owner Conditional Use Permit ±2.3 gross acres on the west side of Sahuayo Street, No. 18-26 North of Avenue K-4; Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN): 3126-031-039 Owner: Imagine Village II, LP The streets have been constructed and completed by the developer in accordance with the approved plans and specifications. The work has been inspected and found to be satisfactory by the Director of Public Works.

Final Map Approval – Parcel Map No. 84186 (Located on the Southwest Corner of Avenue K and 30th Street West) Recommendation(s): Approve the map and accept the dedication as offered on Parcel Map No. 84186 located on the southwest corner of Avenue K and 30 th Street West ; make findings that this project will not violate any of the provisions of Sections 66473.5, 66474.1, and 66474.6 of the Subdivision Map Act; and instruct the City Clerk to endorse on the face of the map the certificate which embodies the approval of said map and the dedication shown thereon. On December 14, 2023, the City of Lancaster Community Development Department approved Tentative Parcel Map No. 84186 for the subdivision of approximately 4.77 acres of land into four (4) parcels in the Commercial Planned Development zone.

Construction Award of Bid – Public Works Construction Project 24-028 – Lancaster Health District Phase 2 Recommendation(s): 1. Award Public Works Construction Project ( PWCP) 24-028, Lancaster Health District Phase 2, to Toro Enterprises, Inc., of Oxnard, CA, in the amount of $5,589,286.60, plus a 20% contingency, for the improvements to 18 th Street West between Avenue J and Avenue J-8, and authorize City Manager, or his designee, to sign all documents in accordance with California Public Contract Code Section 22038(b). 2. Find that the City has complied with the California Environmental Quality Act. An Environmental Impact Report was prepared, mitigation measures were made a condition of approval of the project, and a Notice of Determination was filed on June 8, 2021. 3. Authorize Task Order expenditure amount of $74,762.00 plus a 10% contingency for Construction Support Services to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. 4. Authorize Task Order expenditure amount of $151,130.00 plus a 10% contingency for Environmental and Cultural Resources Support Services to Psomas. 5. Authorize Task Order expenditure amount of $44,714.30, plus a 5% contingency for labor compliance services to the successful firm in Multi-Year Professional Services Agreement, Service Group Category (SGC) 16 - Labor Compliance. 6. Authorize Task Order expenditure amount of $20,000.00, plus a 5% contingency for materials and laboratory testing services to the successful firm in Multi-Year Professional Services Agreement, Service Group Category (SGC) 09 – Materials and Laboratory Testing. On November 8, 2022, the City Council approved Multi-Year Professional Service Agreements for various Service Group Categories with the consulting firms recommended by staff to be pre‑qualified service providers through December 31, 2026. The Multi-Year Agreement permits City staff to issue Task Orders for individual projects. Proposals will be requested from those prequalified under Service Group Category’s (SGC) 09 – Materials and Laboratory Testing and 16 – Labor Compliance, and a task order will be executed with the successful firm in each category.

Resolution Submitting a Measure to the Voters to Amend Section 201 of the Lancaster Charter Recommendation(s): Approve Resolution No. _____approving the submission of a measure to the voters at the General Municipal Election on April 14, 2026, to amend Section 201 of the Lancaster Charter to authorize the City Council to enact an ordinance to (I) increase the number of Council Members from 4 to 5, (II) add the office of Vice Mayor, and (III) transition from at-large to district-based elections for Council Members consistent with the California Voting Rights Act of 2001. On October 28, 2025 and December 9, 2025, two public hearings were held as required by the Elections Code to consider whether to submit a ballot measure to voters to amend section 201 of its Charter to authorize the City Council to enact an ordinance to (i) increase the number of council members from 4 to 5, (ii) add the office of vice mayor, and (iii) transition from at-large to district-based elections for council members consistent with the California Voting Rights Act of 2001. The last step requires the approval of a resolution to submit the measure to the voters at the General Municipal Election on April 14, 2026.

Ordinance Repealing Sections 10.04.035 and 10.04.040 of the LMC, 4903-4278-5150_1 Recommendation(s): Approve an ordinance repealing sections 10.04.035 and 10.04.040 of the Lancaster municipal code relating to vehicular cruising to align with AB436 which amended Section 21100(k) CVC. Since the City enacted Ordinance No. 726, the California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 436, which amended Section 21100(k) of the California Vehicle Code to delete the statutory authorization upon which Ordinance No. 726 was based.

Council Reports

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This portion of the agenda allows an individual the opportunity to address the Legislative Bodies on any item NOT ON THE AGENDA regarding City/Agency/Authority business and speaker cards must be submitted prior to the beginning of this portion of the Agenda. Please complete a speaker card for the City Clerk/Agency/Authority Secretary and identify the subject you would like to address. We respectfully request that you fill the cards out completely and print as clearly as possible. Following this procedure will allow for a smooth and timely process for the meeting and we appreciate your cooperation. State law prohibits the Legislative Body from taking action on items not on the agenda and your matter may be referred to the City Manager/Executive Director. Individual Speakers are limited to three (3) minutes each unless a different time limit is announced.

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