STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
CC
{{item.num
ber}}
09/09/25
TN
Date:September 10, 2025
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From:Trolis Niebla, City Manager
Subject: Urgency Ordinance Declaring the Existence of a Local Emergency Related to Critical Infrastructure Impacted by Homeless Encampments and Property Maintenance Issues; Authorization for Emergency Procurement Authorizing Immediate Actions to Protect Public Health, Safety, and Welfare; and Temporarily Suspending Competitive Procurement Requirements to expedite response Recommendation:
Adopt Urgency Ordinance XXX declaring the existence of a local emergency due to homeless encampments and property maintenance issues impacting the City’s critical infrastructure, authorizing immediate actions to mitigate hazards, and suspending competitive procurement requirements to expedite response.
Fiscal Impact:
Expenditures will be incurred for emergency contracting, cleanup, and related services. Funding will be drawn from existing public works and emergency operations accounts, with additional appropriations requested from the City Council if necessary. Staff will pursue reimbursement opportunities from county, state, and federal partners wherever possible.
Background:
In 2024, the City adopted Ordinance No. 1112 with a clear mission: to safeguard critical infrastructure and reduce wildfire risk by prohibiting camping, encampments, and the storage of personal property in vulnerable areas—including near bridges, utilities, public facilities, and designated wildfire zones.
This ordinance empowered the City to take action: removing unsafe encampments, establishing secure storage and retrieval systems for personal belongings, and enforcing penalties for violations. Yet despite these measures, the situation on the ground has become increasingly urgent. 1 4
1 5
Since the ordinance took effect, City crews have cleared 575 encampments across a six-square- mile area—from Sierra Highway to 20th Street West, between Lancaster Blvd and Avenue K— resulting in the removal of a staggering 1,196 tons of trash. These encampments have contributed to growing blight, unsanitary conditions, and heightened safety risks, particularly near essential infrastructure.
Compounding the issue, two major storm events forced the City to deploy additional resources to remove encampments from Amargosa Creek, where blocked drainage and debris posed immediate flood hazards.
City staff have worked tirelessly, in close coordination with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Fire Department, to respond swiftly and effectively. According to Los Angeles County Fire Department, they responded to 71 homeless related fires and 46 homeless related medical calls for service between September 2, 2024, and September 2, 2025. The escalating environmental and public safety impacts underscore a critical need for strengthened enforcement and sustained support.
Ordinance No. 1112 was not just a policy, it was a commitment to public safety, environmental health, and the protection of vital city services. Fulfilling that commitment requires urgent, continued action.
The proposed urgency ordinance enables the City Manager to take immediate action, including contracting services, cleaning and securing facilities, and removing hazardous debris without compliance with standard competitive procurement requirements.
The proposed ordinance is provided in Attachment A. Immediate action is required to safeguard Lancaster’s critical infrastructure and protect public health and safety. Staff recommend adoption of the urgency ordinance.
Attachments:
A: Urgency Ordinance No. XXX