STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
CC 6
01/13/2026
TN
Date: January 13, 2026
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From: Larissa De La Cruz – Assistant City Manager
Sydney Yeseta, Manager – Economic Development
Subject: Purchase and Sale Agreement with Quartz Hill Water District Recommendations:
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.
Fiscal Impact:
The purchase price of the parcel based on appraised value is $69,500. All revenue funds, minus escrow and other miscellaneous fees, will be appropriated to Account 10110300.4401.
Background:
The City currently owns and operates the Prime Desert Woodland Preserve, an open space area with walking trails and desert landscaping located at 43201 35 th Street West. The Preserve is roughly 120 acres in size and comprised of several parcels. 1 2
4 3
The subject parcels, APNs 3110-040-909 and 3110-040-910, are located at the southwest corner of the Preserve along the 40th Street West property border and total roughly 13,900 square feet.
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.
The sale of the property to Quartz Hill Water District will alleviate the burden of maintenance on the drainage channel, resulting in long-term cost savings for the City as well as supporting the water district’s operations.
SY/hb
Attachment:
Purchase and Sale Agreement with Quartz Hill Water District