STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
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1/13/2026
TN
Date: January 13, 2026
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From: Allison Burns, City Attorney
Trolis Niebla, City Manager
Subject: Resolution Submitting a Measure to the Voters to Amend Section 201 of the Lancaster Charter
Recommendation:
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.
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). 2 2
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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 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.
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.
At the Lancaster City Council meeting held on October 28, 2025, the City Council also approved resolutions calling for the April 14, 2026 general municipal election; establishing procedures to conduct the April 14, 2026 election, and requesting specified services from the County to administer the election.
Staff requests that Council approve the proposed resolution 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.
Attachment:
Resolution No. ______