CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA / CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA
SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY, JULY 31, 2023
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SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
Lancaster City Council and
Palmdale City Council
Monday, July 31, 2023
4:00 P.M.
Antelope Valley College
Performing Arts Theatre
3041 W. Ave K
Lancaster, CA 93536
http://www.cityofpalmdale.gov
http://www.cityoflancasterca.gov
MEETING ASSISTANCE INFORMATION
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Cities have implemented a procedure for receiving and swiftly resolving requests for reasonable modification or accommodation from individuals with disabilities, consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and resolving any doubt whatsoever in favor of accessibility. If you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk of Palmdale at (661) 267- 5151 and/or the City Clerk of Lancaster at (661) 723- 6020 or via email at [email protected] or
[email protected]. To ensure availability, you are advised to make your request at least 72 hours prior to the meeting/event you wish to attend. Due to difficulties in securing sign language interpreters, five or more business days notice is strongly recommended.
For additional information, please contact the City Clerk of Palmdale at (661) 261- 5151 and/or City Clerk of Lancaster at (661) 723-6020.
AGENDA ITEMS TO BE REMOVED
Sometimes it is necessary to remove items from the agenda. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA / CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA
SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY, JULY 31, 2023
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LIVE BROADCAST
1. Spectrum local access Channel 27 and local access Channel 28
2. Online live webcast at https://www.cityofpalmdaleca.gov/955/Agendas-and-Meetings; and https://www.cityoflancasterca.org/our-city/departments-services/city-clerk/meetings-agendas- and-minutes/public-meetings-web-streaming
PUBLIC BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR - AGENDIZED ITEMS
Any person who would like to address the Legislative Bodies on any agendized item is requested to complete a speaker card for the City Clerks/Agency/Authority Secretaries and identify the agenda item you would like to discuss. Each person will be given an opportunity to address the Legislative Bodies at the time such item is discussed. Speaker cards are available at the interior entrance to the Performing Arts Theatre and your speaker card must be filled out prior to the agenda item being called. 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. Individual speakers are limited to three (3) minutes each unless a different time limit is announced.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
Los Angeles County: Supervisor Kathryn Barger
Lancaster City Council: Mayor Parris; Vice Mayor Crist; City Council Members: Dorris, Malhi, and Mann
Palmdale City Council: Mayor Bettencourt, Mayor Pro Tem Alarcón, City Council Members: Bishop, Loa, and Ohlsen
3. INVOCATION
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
5. OPENING COMMENTS BY SUPERVISOR KATHRYN BARGER
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA / CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA
SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY, JULY 31, 2023
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6. PRESENTATIONS
6.1 Center for Transportation Technology Excellence
6.2 Care Court
7. JOINT NEW BUSINESS
7.1 AV Fair Multi Agency Regional Resiliency Center (MARRC) and Palmdale Regional Recreation Center
Recommendations:
1. City of Palmdale: (i) identify and appropriate $10 million for the MARRC facility; and (ii) reaffirm its commitment to the development of a center that will serve residents of the City of Palmdale in times of emergencies that may happen to occur.
2. City of Lancaster: (i) acknowledge it has contracted for design services in the amount of $6.5 million; and (ii) reaffirm its commitment to developing a funding strategy which will fully fund the construction of the evacuation center and direct the City Manager to pursue all available funding sources including, but not limited to, grant funds and/or debt financing.
In May 2021, at the Joint Palmdale and Lancaster City Council meeting, the City of Lancaster and the City of Palmdale identified the need for a new, larger, Event Center that, with certain facility upgrades, may also serve as a Regional Evacuation Center for the Antelope Valley, as well as a Regional Recreation Complex that provides a multi -generational place of entertainment for the Antelope Valley. Working together the Cities were tasked to expeditiously and efficiently identify a location, finance, and oversee the process of environmental review, design, bid, and construction of each project to their respective completion.
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA / CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA
SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY, JULY 31, 2023
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7.2 Animal Care & Control
Recommendation:
Review and consider options to mitigate the cost of animal care and control services through programs, engage local rescues, and feasibility study options for alternatives.
The cities of Palmdale and Lancaster (Cities) contract with the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control (County) to provide general animal care and control services within the corporate limits of the Cities, in accordance with the provisions outlined in Title 10, Animals of the Los Angeles County Code, and its amendments with the exceptions identified in the annual service level request. The Cities may opt out of certain provisions of Title 10 and substitute with a lawful City ordinance to be enforced in lieu of a County Ordinance.
The Cities complete an annual Service Level Request form identifying planned services and the rate for each service. The billing rate is established by the County’s Department of Animal Care and Control and approved by the Auditor Controller. The rates indicated in the Service Level Request form are readjusted by the County annually to increase or decrease to reflect the cost of each service. The Cities are billed based on the service level provided, within the parameters of the annual Service Level Request form.
7.3 Antelope Valley Community Workforce Agreement (CWA)
Recommendations:
1. Approve and authorize the City Managers, or their designees, to collaborate with the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building & Trades Council to identify, support and/or pursue changes to the Vehicle Miles Traveled M etric established by the State of California through the passage of Senate Bill 743.
2. Approve and authorize the City Managers, or their designees, to negotiate with the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building & Trades Council a mutually beneficial community work force agreement.
In late 2017, the City of Lancaster leadership staff met with representatives of the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building & Trades Council to negotiate and prepare an agreement that would establish the labor relations policies and pr ocedures for the City and for the craft employees represented by the Unions engaged in work on certain City of Lancaster improvement projects. The agreement was approved and authorized by the Lancaster City Council during their regular meeting on January 23, 2018. On October 2, 2018, the Palmdale City Council approved a similar Community Workforce Agreement to strengthen the Antelope Valley’s commitment to utilizing a skilled and trained workforce. Over the course of the last several years, both the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale have had additional conversations and meetings with the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building & Trades Council. During these meetings the impacts of Senate Bill 743 to development in Suburban communities was discussed. It was mutually agreed that Senate Bill 743 creates barriers to development projects in suburban communities like the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale.
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA / CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA
SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY, JULY 31, 2023
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7.4 Wellness Center
Recommendations:
1. Authorize each City’s respective staff to develop and release a Request for Proposal for Wellness Center Operation (“RFP”) that generally requires a proposal to include at least the following information: (i) proposed operator’s identity, relevant experience, and ownership information; (ii) proposed location of the Wellness Center; and (iii) proposed programing, services, and other resources to be offered at the Wellness Center.
2. Authorize each City’s respective staff to coordinate and work with the operator (“Operator”) selected pursuant to the RFP process above and/or the County of Los Angeles to identify potential funding sources for the Operator to (i) identify, acquire, assemble, develop, and/or rehabilitate a site for operation of the Wellness Center and (ii) operate the Wellness Center on a long-term basis.
3. Authorize each City’s respective staff to negotiate and draft a Wellness Center Operating Agreement with the Operator.
4. Authorize each City’s City Manager, or his or her designee, to execute all documents (including, without limitation, the Wellness Center Operating Agreement) and take all actions necessary or convenient to facilitate Operator’s development and operation of the Wellness Center.
Across the nation, cities are facing the challenges presented by addiction and the opioid crisis. This crisis is inextricably linked with homelessness. Studies show that approximately one- third of unhoused individuals have issues related to alcohol and/or drugs, and approximately two-thirds have lifetime histories of drug or alcohol use disorders, according to American Addiction Centers.
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA / CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA
SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY, JULY 31, 2023
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7.5 Auto Dealers Sales Tax Sharing Agreement
Recommendations:
1. Direct staff to draft a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Palmdale and the City of Lancaster based on the deal points outlined within this staff report; and,
2. Authorize the City Managers, or their designees, to execute the Memorandum of Understanding.
Over the past 40 years, the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster have competed to attract new business and investment to each respective city. This type of competition is not unique to the Antelope Valley. Local, regional, and state governments routinely offer financial incentives including sales tax rebates, reduced land costs, and tax credits to entice businesses to locate in their jurisdiction. Vehicle dealerships are major sales tax generators for California cities. As a result, jurisdictions often go to great lengths, including offering sales tax rebates and other incentives, to attract and retain dealerships. In order to avoid these negative impacts, it would be beneficial for the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster to work together on creating policies to prevent this practice from occurring in the future.
7.6 Antelope Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District
Recommendation:
Direct staff of both Cities to explore opportunities and engage in discussions regarding entering a joint effort to ensure continued funding and support of the Antelope Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District.
The City of Lancaster and the City of Palmdale have historically faced similar health and safety concerns regarding mosquitos and have engaged in related regulatory and prevention efforts. The Antelope Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District (the District) is a special district formed in 1958. It provides essential mosquito abatement services to the approximately 250 square miles covering most of Palmdale, Lancaster, and areas of LA County. District services include spraying standing water regularly throughout mosquito season, responding to service requests to treat backyards, and performing public outreach to educate the public on the dangers of mosquitoes and their breeding sources
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA / CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA
SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY, JULY 31, 2023
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7.7 Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District ( AVAQMD) Petition for Review of US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Decision
Recommendation:
Authorize and direct each City’s respective staff to work with the AVAQMD, including entering into a common interest/joint defense agreement with AVAQMD regarding its filing a petition for review to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the EPA’s decision.
The AVAQMD is the local agency with the primary responsibility for the control of non-vehicular sources of air pollution throughout the Antelope Valley. The AVAQMD’s Governing Board is comprised of two members of the Palmdale City Council, two members of the Lancaster City Council, two members appointed by the 5th District Supervisor of Los Angeles County, and one public member. The AVAQMD’s mission is to protect the people and the environment of the Antelope Valley from the effects of air pollution through developing and implementing programs and regulations to improve air quality . On July 3, 2023, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its “Air Plan Approval and Limited Approval-Limited Disapproval; California; Antelope Valley Air Q uality Management District; District; Stationary Source Permits; New Source Review” (Final Rule) 88 Fed. Reg. 42621- 01 (July 3, 2023). This EPA Final Rule disapproves AVAQMD’s longstanding practice with regard to New Source Review and, if it should be upheld, would have dramatic impacts on industry throughout the Antelope Valley, including the aerospace industry. The AVAQMD Board of Directors has authorized the filing of a Petition for Review with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the rule.
8. CLOSING COMMENTS BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
9. ADJOURNMENT
AGENDA ADDENDUM INFORMATION
On occasion items may be added after the agenda has been mailed to subscribers. Copies of the agenda addendum item will be available at the City of Palmdale’s City Clerk Department and City of Lancaster’s City Clerk Department, and posted with the agenda on the windows of the City of Palmdale’s Council Chambers and the City of Lancaster’s Council Chambers . For more information, please call the City Clerk of Palm dale at (661) 261- 5151 and/or the City Clerk of Lancaster at (661) 723-6020.
All documents available for public review are on file with the City of Palmdale’s City Clerk Department and the City of Lancaster’s City Clerk Department.