STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
PH 3
10/28/2025
TN
Date: October 28, 2025
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From: Trolis Niebla, City Manager
Allison E. Burns, City Attorney
Subject: Public Hearing re Ballot Measure to Voters to Amend the Lancaster City Charter Recommendation:
Conduct a public hearing to consider whether to submit a ballot measure to voters 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 Acts of 2001.
G.C. Section 84308: No
Fiscal Impact:
The costs associated with submitting the ballot measure have been allocated in the Election Budget, Account No. 101.12000.5313
Background:
The Lancaster City Charter generally provides that the City shall be governed by, and all powers of the City shall be vested in, a mayor and city council consisting of four council members, all elected to office from the City at-large. However, the California Voting Rights Act of 2001, Cal.
Elec. Code §§ 14025-14032 (“CVRA”), provides that an at-large method of election may not be used if it impairs the ability of a protected class to elect candidates of its choice or its ability to influence the outcome of an election, as a result of the dilution or the abridgment of the rights of voters who are members of a protected class (Cal. Elec. Code § 14027).
The City has been notified of an allegation that its current at-large method of election violates the CVRA and, although it generally denies the existence of such alleged violation, has determined it is in its best interest and will further the purpose of the CVRA to consider initiating the process of transitioning from its current at-large method of election to a district-based method of 2 2
3 1
election.
The general law provides an expedited process for general law cities to transition to a district- based method of elections by merely enacting an ordinance, without voter approval; however, that expedited process is not available to the City because the City must first amend section 201 of its Charter.
Staff asks that Council conduct the first of two public hearings 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.
Attachment:
Lancaster Charter Section 201 Proposed Changes