STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
CC 14
09/08/26
TN
Date: September 8, 2026
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From: Sonya Patterson, Director of Parks, Arts, Recreation and Community Services Subject:Task Order No. 03 for Multi-Year Professional Services Group Category 5 - Environmental Services for Prime Desert Woodland Preserve Recommendation:
a. Approve Task Order No. 03 with Michael Baker International, in accordance with the Multi-Year Professional Services Agreement under service group category five, environmental services, in the amount of $63,265, plus a 10% contingency for Prime Desert Woodland Preserve.
b. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the Task Order and associated documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
G.C. N/A
Fiscal Impact:
$ 69,591.5 (including 10% contingency); sufficient funds are available in 10160000.5710.
Background:
The City of Lancaster intends to apply for grants to support weed abatement at Prime Desert Woodland Preserve and to implement a professional, strategic, quadrant-based invasive species management and hazardous fuel reduction program across the preserve. The Preserve serves as a pristine native habitat, surrounded by residential and commercial development. It protects a dense, complex plant community dominated by mature Joshua Trees (Yucca brevifolia), California Junipers (Juniperus californica), creosote, and native shrubs. This localized micro-ecosystem provides crucial sanctuary, nesting, and foraging habitat for diverse native wildlife.
As a condition of the grants we intend to apply for, applicants must comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 to support informed decision-making and to protect the history and culture of the proposed site.
9 0
7 On November 7, 2022, the City Council approved Multi-Year Professional Service Agreements with the consulting firms recommended by staff to be pre-qualified service providers through December 31, 2026. The Multi-Year Agreement permits City staff to issue Task Orders for individual projects.
City staff requested proposals for design from several firms on the Multi-Year Professional Services Agreement List of Pre-Qualified Firms under Environmental Services, and the City received proposals from firms for review.
Responsibilities under this Task Order include completing the cultural resources identification and evaluation study required to meet the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) as follows:
Delineate the Area of Potential Effects (APE)
Conduct a records search with the South-Central Coastal Information Center with a 0.5- mile search radius to identify previous cultural resources reports and records of the APE and the surrounding area.
Conduct a literature and historic map review to identify cultural resources within the APE. Request a search of the Sacred Lands File from the Native American Heritage Commission. Draft and send tribal consultation letters to tribes identified in the HAHC search, conduct the two-week follow-up, and maintain a consultation log of correspondence. If a tribe requests consultation, coordinate a city-led response.
Conduct an archaeological survey of the APE; complete an effects analysis to determine if the project may adversely affect a historic property; and Draft an Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) consultation letter describing the cultural resources identification efforts and findings of effect.
SP:AC
Attachment:
Task Order No. 03