1 ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA, ADDING CHAPTER 2.34 TO
THE LANCASTER MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING
ROADWAY MAINTENANCE AND TRAFFIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE, A CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, the City of Lancaster (the “City”) is a California municipal corporation and charter city, and under Section 101 of the City Charter the Charter and the ordinances of the City control over conflicting general law with respect to municipal affairs; and WHEREAS, the establishment, composition, and duties of advisory bodies to the City Council are matters of the City’s internal organization and are municipal affairs within the meaning of article XI, section 5 of the California Constitution; and WHEREAS, the City owns, maintains, and operates a network of public streets, roadways, sidewalks, traffic control devices, and related facilities, and is responsible under the Streets and Highways Code and the Vehicle Code for their maintenance and for the regulation of traffic upon them (Cal. Sts. & High. Code § 1806; Cal. Veh. Code §§ 21100, 21101); and WHEREAS, the condition of the City’s roadways and the safety of the traveling public are matters of substantial and continuing public interest, and the City Council desires the benefit of organized, informed community input on roadway maintenance priorities, the pavement management program, and traffic safety concerns before it acts on those matters; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to establish a citizens’ advisory committee that will make recommendations concerning roadway maintenance, pavement management, and engineering-based traffic safety strategies, informed by data on roadway conditions, pavement management practices, collision trends, and traffic safety improvements; and WHEREAS, the City Council intends that the committee created by this ordinance be advisory only, that it make its recommendations to the City Council, and that it neither exercise nor be delegated any legislative, regulatory, administrative, or fiscal authority of the City Council or of the City Manager; and
WHEREAS, adoption of this ordinance is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act because it is an organizational or administrative activity of government that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15378(b)(5)), and, independently, it is exempt under the common-sense exemption (Cal.
Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15061(b)(3)).
2 NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LANCASTER DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Recitals. The recitals set forth above are true and correct and are incorporated into this ordinance as findings of the City Council.
Section 2. Addition of Chapter 2.34. Chapter 2.34 (Roadway Maintenance and Traffic Safety Committee) is hereby added to the Lancaster Municipal Code, to read in full as set forth in Exhibit “A” attached to this ordinance and incorporated herein by this reference.
Section 3. Initial Appointments and Inaugural Meeting. Following the effective date of this ordinance, the City Clerk shall post the notice required by Cal. Gov’t Code § 54974 and shall receive applications for appointment to the committee for a period of not less than thirty (30) days. The mayor shall present the initial appointments to the committee for confirmation by the City Council at a regular meeting held on or after January 1, 2027, or as soon thereafter as practicable. The committee shall hold its inaugural regular meeting after its members have completed the training required by Section 2.34.140 of the Lancaster Municipal Code and not later than June 30, 2027, and shall elect its chair and vice chair at that meeting. The initial term of each member shall end on December 31, 2027.
Section 4. California Environmental Quality Act. The City Council finds that this ordinance is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15378(b)(5)) and, independently, is exempt under Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15061(b)(3).
Staff is directed to file a notice of exemption.
Section 5. Severability. If any provision of this ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are severable. The City Council declares that it would have adopted this ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, and phrase hereof irrespective of the invalidity of any other portion.
Section 6. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its adoption pursuant to Cal. Gov’t Code § 36937.
Section 7. Certification and Publication. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this ordinance and shall cause it, or a summary of it, to be published or posted in accordance with applicable law.
3 I, Andrea Alexander, of the City of Lancaster, do hereby certify that the foregoing ordinance was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading on the __________ day of ________________, 2026, and placed upon its second reading and adoption at a regular meeting of the City Council on the ____ day of ________________, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
____________________________ ______________________________ ANDREA ALEXANDER R. REX PARRIS
City Clerk Mayor
City of Lancaster City of Lancaster
STATE OF CALIFORNIA }
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES }ss
CITY OF LANCASTER }
CERTIFICATION OF ORDINANCE
CITY COUNCIL
I, ________________________________, ___________________________________ City of Lancaster, California, do hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of the original Ordinance No. , for which the original is on file in my office.
WITNESS MY HAND AND THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF LANCASTER, on this _________ day of ________________, ________.
(seal)
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EXHIBIT “A”
CHAPTER 2.34
ROADWAY MAINTENANCE AND TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Sections:
2.34.010 Creation and purpose.
2.34.020 Membership.
2.34.030 Qualifications.
2.34.040 Term of office.
2.34.050 Chair and vice chair.
2.34.060 Vacancy.
2.34.070 Removal.
2.34.080 Absence from meetings.
2.34.090 Meetings.
2.34.100 Duties.
2.34.110 Scope.
2.34.120 Advisory capacity—Limitations.
2.34.130 Staff liaison.
2.34.140 Training.
2.34.150 Compensation and expenses.
2.34.160 Conflicts of interest.
2.34.010 Creation and purpose.
A. There is created a roadway maintenance and traffic safety committee for the city (the “committee”) with the purpose of advising the city council on matters relating to the condition, maintenance, preservation, and safety of the city’s roadway network, and of making recommendations to the city council on those subjects as provided in this chapter.
B. The committee shall support the city’s efforts to preserve its public roadway infrastructure, improve pavement conditions, enhance traffic safety, and promote the efficient use of public resources through data-driven review of roadway conditions, pavement management practices, collision trends, and traffic safety improvements.
C. The committee’s work shall focus primarily on roadway maintenance, pavement management, and engineering-based traffic safety strategies.
2.34.020 Membership.
A. The committee shall be composed of five (5) members.
B. Each member shall be appointed by the mayor, subject to confirmation by a majority of the city council. An appointment is effective upon confirmation.
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C. Three (3) members shall be appointed from the community at large (“community members”). Two (2) members shall be appointed on the basis of professional knowledge or experience as provided in Section 2.34.030(B) (“professional members”).
D. The mayor may, subject to confirmation by a majority of the city council, appoint up to two (2) alternates, who shall meet the qualifications of Section 2.34.030(A).
An alternate may sit and vote in the place of any member who is absent from a meeting or who abstains from a matter because of an actual or potential conflict of interest.
2.34.030 Qualifications.
A. Each member shall, at the time of appointment and throughout the member’s term, either (1) reside within the city or (2) be regularly employed at, or own and operate a business located at, a place of business within the city. A member who ceases to satisfy this subsection shall be deemed to have vacated the office.
B. Each professional member shall, in addition, have a history or background of professional practice, employment, or licensure as one or more of the following:
(1) a civil engineer; (2) a traffic engineer or transportation engineer; (3) a peace officer or other law enforcement professional; or (4) an attorney. A professional member need not be currently practicing or currently licensed in that field.
C. No member of the city council, and no officer or employee of the city, shall serve as a member of the committee.
2.34.040 Term of office.
The term of each member shall be one (1) year, commencing on January 1 of each year and ending on the following December 31. Notwithstanding said term, each member shall serve until a successor has been appointed and confirmed. Each member may be reappointed for additional terms. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, all members serve at the pleasure of the mayor and city council.
2.34.050 Chair and vice chair.
At its first regular meeting of each calendar year, and at its first meeting following the initial appointment of its members, the committee shall elect from among its members a chair, to preside over its meetings, and a vice chair, to preside in the absence of the chair. The chair and vice chair serve one-year terms in those capacities and may be re-elected. A vacancy in either office shall be filled by election at the next regular meeting.
2.34.060 Vacancy.
Any vacancy on the committee shall be filled by appointment by the mayor, subject to confirmation by a majority of the city council, from the same category of membership (community A-3
member or professional member) as the office vacated. A person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
2.34.070 Removal.
Whenever, in the opinion of the mayor or upon a vote of a majority of the city council, the best interests of the city shall be served thereby, any member of the committee may be removed from office by a majority vote of the city council.
2.34.080 Absence from meetings.
If a member fails to attend two (2) consecutive regular meetings of the committee, or three (3) regular meetings in any period of twenty-four (24) consecutive months, without cause, the mayor, subject to confirmation by a majority of the city council, may deem the member’s appointment terminated and may fill the resulting vacancy in accordance with Section 2.34.060.
2.34.090 Meetings.
A. The committee shall hold one (1) regular meeting in each calendar quarter, at Lancaster City Hall, 44933 Fern Avenue, Lancaster, California, or at such other location within the city as the committee may designate. The date and time of the regular meetings shall be fixed by the committee by majority vote and shall be set forth in a schedule adopted by the committee not later than its last regular meeting of each calendar year for the following year.
B. Special meetings may be called by the chair, or by a majority of the members, in the manner provided by Cal. Gov’t Code § 54956.
C. Three (3) members shall constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting, but in no event fewer than three (3) affirmative votes, is required for the committee to adopt a recommendation.
D. The committee is a legislative body within the meaning of Cal. Gov’t Code § 54952(b), and all of its meetings shall be noticed, held, and conducted in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act, Cal. Gov’t Code § 54950 et seq.
E. The committee may adopt rules of procedure for the conduct of its meetings not inconsistent with this chapter, the City Charter, or state law.
2.34.100 Duties.
The committee shall have the following duties, each of which it performs by making recommendations to the city council:
A. Roadway maintenance and preservation. To review and provide input regarding roadway maintenance needs, pavement preservation strategies, rehabilitation priorities, and practices intended to extend the useful life of city streets.
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B. Pavement management. To review pavement condition information, pavement management methodologies, maintenance cycles, treatment strategies, and the prioritization criteria used to guide investment in the city’s roadway network.
C. Infrastructure investment. To provide recommendations regarding the efficient and responsible allocation of available roadway maintenance and pavement preservation resources, with consideration given to pavement condition, lifecycle costs, safety, mobility, and long-term infrastructure needs.
D. Traffic safety. To review traffic collision data, roadway characteristics, traffic patterns, and identified safety concerns in order to assist in evaluating engineering improvements intended to reduce the frequency and severity of traffic collisions, particularly fatal and serious-injury collisions.
E. Data and performance measures. To review roadway condition, maintenance, collision, traffic, and safety performance data in order to evaluate trends, identify priorities, and assess the effectiveness of roadway maintenance and traffic safety investments; and to receive traffic enforcement statistics for the purpose of distinguishing conditions that may warrant engineering improvements from matters primarily associated with traffic-law compliance or enforcement.
F. Public input and education. To provide a forum for community input regarding roadway conditions and traffic safety concerns, and to support public understanding of pavement maintenance practices, roadway investment priorities, and engineering-based traffic safety strategies.
G. Recommendations to the city council. To provide advisory recommendations to the city council regarding roadway maintenance priorities, pavement management practices, infrastructure preservation, and engineering-based traffic safety improvements, and to perform such other duties within the scope of Section
2.34.110 as the city council may from time to time refer to it.
H. Annual report. To report to the city council, not less than once each year, on the committee’s activities and recommendations during the preceding year.
2.34.110 Scope.
A. The scope of the committee’s work is limited to the following subjects: (1) roadway maintenance and pavement preservation; (2) pavement condition and pavement management; (3) prioritization of roadway maintenance and rehabilitation investments; (4) traffic collision and roadway safety data; (5) engineering-based traffic safety improvements; (6) roadway-related pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements; (7) performance measurement and evaluation of roadway investments; and (8) community input concerning roadway conditions and engineering-related traffic safety issues.
B. The committee shall not consider, and shall not make recommendations regarding, matters outside the scope described in subsection (A), including the enforcement of A-5
traffic laws, individual citations or collisions, personnel matters, or land use and development applications, except to the extent such a matter is referred to the committee by the city council under Section 2.34.100(G).
2.34.120 Advisory capacity—limitations.
A. The committee is advisory only. Its recommendations are made to the city council and are not binding on the city council, the city manager, or any officer or employee of the city.
B. Nothing in this chapter delegates to the committee, and the committee shall not exercise, any authority to adopt, amend, or enforce any ordinance, resolution, regulation, or traffic control measure; to establish, install, or remove any traffic control device; to award, approve, or direct any contract, expenditure, or appropriation; to direct the work of any officer or employee of the city; or to represent the city before any other public agency. All such authority remains with the city council and the city manager as provided by the City Charter, this code, and state law.
C. Neither the committee nor any member thereof shall incur any financial liability in the name of the city.
D. The committee shall not conduct any hearing, and shall not exercise any function, that is by this code or by state law assigned to the planning commission, to the city council, or to any officer of the city.
2.34.130 Staff liaison.
The director of public works, or another officer or employee of the city designated by the city manager, shall serve as staff liaison to the committee. The staff liaison shall prepare and post the committee’s agendas in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act, keep a record of its proceedings, provide the committee with such reports and technical information as are reasonably available, transmit the committee’s recommendations to the city council, and assist the committee in preparing its reports. The police department shall designate a representative to attend meetings of the committee at which traffic safety matters are to be considered.
2.34.140 Training.
Before participating in the committee’s first regular meeting following the member’s appointment, and not less than once every two (2) years thereafter, each member shall complete (1) the ethics training prescribed by Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 53234–53235.2, and (2) an orientation on the Ralph M. Brown Act (Cal. Gov’t Code § 54950 et seq.), the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov’t Code § 81000 et seq.), and this chapter, presented or approved by the city attorney. The city clerk shall maintain the records of completion required by Cal. Gov’t Code § 53235.2.
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2.34.150 Compensation and expenses.
Members of the committee shall serve without compensation. With the prior approval of the city manager, a member may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the member’s duties, in accordance with the city’s expense reimbursement policy adopted pursuant to Cal. Gov’t Code § 53232.2.
2.34.160 Conflicts of interest.
Members of the committee are subject to the Political Reform Act of 1974, Cal. Gov’t Code § 81000 et seq., and to Chapter 2.40 of this code to the extent the committee or its members are designated therein. A member shall disqualify himself or herself from participating in any recommendation in which the member has a financial interest within the meaning of Cal. Gov’t Code § 87103.