1 MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL/SA
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER
38300 SIERRA
HIGHWAY,
SUITE
B
PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA
AUGUST 5, 2025
5:00 PM
www.cityofpalmdale
ca. gov
1)
CALL MEETING
TO
ORDER
Mayor Pro Tem Bettencourt called the meeting to order at 5:01 pm.
Note: All
City Council memberships are reflected in their City Council titles.
2)
ROLL CALL
MAYOR
PRO TEM
BETTENCOURT,
COUNCILMEMBERS
BISHOP,
LOA, OHLSEN,
ALARCÓN
PRESENT: Laura Bettencourt, Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Eric Ohlsen, Andrea Alarcón.
ABSENT:
None.
3)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOMENT OF
SILENCE
Councilmember Bishop led the
Pledge of Allegiance
.
4)
PRESENTATIONS
4.1)
-
2 program.
Mayor Pro
Tem
Bettencourt announced a short video
would be played
.
Mayor Pro
Tem
Bettencourt and representatives from Assemblym
e
n
Carrillo
and Lackey's offices
made
a
presentation to Michael Ead
s
, Michael Scott, and
Michael Edwards
.
4.2)
Public Safety Department Update.
Manager Vallarta provided an
update on the Public Safety division.
5)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jason Zink
spoke
in opposition to
approving
Item 6.9.
Councilmember
Alarcón
pulled Item 6.12 for discussion.
2 6)
CONSENT
CALENDAR
6.1)
Waive full reading of the Resolution(s) and/or
Ordinance(s) to be considered
and voted on at this meeting. (This allows for reading the title only in lieu of reciting the entire text).
6.2)
Receive and File the Monthly and Quarterly Investment Activity Reports for June 2025.
6.3)
Approve Agreement with Datalink Networks, Inc. for a total not to exceed amount of $992,224, including a 15% contingency, for continued Microsoft 365 licensing.
6.4)
Adopt Resolution No. CC 2025
-
058, a Resolution of the City Council of
the
City
of
Palmdale
authorizing
the
City
signature
authority
of
up
to
$300,000 per transaction for the purchase of performers or entertainment services and repealing Resolution No. CC 2023
-
058.
6.5)
Adopt Resolution No. CC 2025
-
060, a Resolution of the City Council of
the
City of Palmdale appointing Ken Pulskamp as Interim Director of Public Safety for the City under Government Code Section 21221 (h).
6.6)
Adopt Resolution No. CC 2025
-
056, a Resolution of the City Council of
the
City of Palmdale approving the application for Land and Water Conservation
Fund for the Arnie Quinones Park
Project.
6.7)
Approve Requisitions with SiteOne Landscape Supply LLC and Wilber -
Ellis
Company for fertilizer supplies in a combined total amount not to
exceed
$474,000 for Fiscal Year 2025
-
26. 6.8)
Approve Requisition with SiteOne Landscape Supply LLC for irrigation and
water conservation supplies in an amount not to exceed $380,000 for Fiscal
Year
2025
-
26. 6.9)
Accept Notice of Completion (NOC) for PN 867/868, Traffic Signal
Modification at Avenue M
and 20th/30th St. East
Project.
6.10)
Accept Notice of Completion (NOC) for PN 902 ESCO Energy Project.
6.11)
Approve Requisition with Boething Treeland Farms, Inc., for wholesale plant
materials in an amount not to exceed $137,500 for Fiscal Year
2025
-
26. 6.12)
Peak
Demand Response Incentive Program.
Senior Analyst
Talavera
provided a detailed presentation on the EPIC Incentive
Program.
3 Councilmember
Alarcón
provided further information on how to apply for
the
program.
Motion: Approve Energy for Palmdale's Independent Choice (EPIC) Residential Peak Demand Response Incentive Program.
Moved by Andrea Alarcón, seconded by Eric Ohlsen.
Vote:
Motion carried (5
-
0)
Yes:
Laura Bettencourt, Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Eric Ohlsen, Andrea
Alarcón.
6.13)
Approve the minutes from the previous meeting.
Motion: Approve all items listed on the Consent Calendar except for
Item 6.12.
Moved by Austin Bishop, seconded by Andrea Alarcón.
Vote:
Motion carried (5
-
0)
Yes:
Laura Bettencourt, Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Eric
Ohlsen, Andrea
Alarcón.
7)
PUBLIC HEARING
7.1) Adopt Resolution No. CC 2025
-
055, a Resolution of the City Council of
the
City of Palmdale approving the issuance of California Municipal Financing Authority
(CMFA)
exempt facility bonds in an aggregate amount not to
exceed
$95,000,000 for the purpose of financing or refinancing the acquisition, construction, improvement, and equipping of Palmdale family housing and certain other matters relating.
Mayor Pro Tem Bettencourt opened the Public Hearing.
City Clerk Scott read the title of
Resolution
No. CC 2025
-
055.
Director of Operations Samson presented the staff report.
Public Testimony: Jason Zink
Mayor Pro Tem Bettencourt closed the Public Hearing.
Motion:
A
dopt Resolution No. CC 2025
-
055, a Resolution of the City Council
of the City of
Palmdale approving the issuance of California Municipal Financing Authority (CMFA) exempt facility bonds in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$95,000,000 for the purpose of financing or refinancing the acquisition, construction, improvement, and equipping of Palmdale family housing and certain other matters relating
Moved by Andrea Alarcón, seconded by Austin Bishop.
Vote: Motion carried (5
-
0)
Yes: Laura Bettencourt, Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Eric Ohlsen, Andrea
4 Alarcón.
8)
REPORT
City Manager Pro Tem Mendez provided an update on several upcoming events, including: Farmer's Market at Oasis Park on Fridays through October 31, Family Movie Night at the Amphitheater on August 8, and the Concert Series at the Amphitheater featuring TLC on August 9 and the Beach Boys on August 16.
9)
NON
-
AGENDA PUBLIC
COMMENTS:
The following individuals provided public comments:
Rich Gallego expressed concerns about Lancaster's mayor speaking out against the with Lancaster, and discussed the at
-
large mayor ordinance submitted by the PFC.
Jason Zink discussed the agenda language, the super commuters problem, the City Council budget, former City Manager Perez, the Antelope Valley Unified High School District aquatic center, and the at
-
large elected mayor position.
Betsy Haslett urged community members to attend the Palmdale Partner's Academy.
Tammy Davis, a resident of Twin Palms, expressed concerns about falsified information and rent hikes.
David Berver discussed issues related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, increased traffic caused by new housing developments, and the agenda information.
Roger Soderstedt expressed support for the rotational mayor system.
Xit
l
ali Bravo
-
Soza addressed concerns related to immigration enforcement, specifically requesting identification due to public safety considerations.
Marsha Furman spoke about expanding Palmdale recreation centers for emergency response purposes and referenced the $10 million Aquatic Center under construction for the Antelope Valley High School District.
Mark Maldonado expressed support for an at
-
large mayor and the ordinance
proposed by the Palmdale Freedom Coalition (PFC), as well as support for veteran organizations.
Michael Ross commented on the recall efforts and conduct of the Lancaster mayor and urged the Palmdale City Council to publicly oppose such behavior.
Carol Ross expressed support for an at
-
large mayor and opposed Palmdale's
5 association with Lancaster.
Betsy Haslett provided feedback regarding the 5 pm scheduled time for City Council meetings.
10)
COUNCIL REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REQUESTS FOR
FUTURE
AGENDA
ITEMS
10.1) Council Reports.
Mayor Pro Tem Bettencourt briefly
addressed the public's interest in having a directly
elected mayor, stated she has no association with Lancaster, and noted her vote against the Multi
-
Agency Regional Resilience Center (MARRC).
Councilmember Loa motioned to include the topic of a directly elected mayor on a future agenda as soon as possible. The motion died for lack of a second.
Councilmember Ohlsen made a counter motion and discussed important
considerations before
moving
back to an at
-
large
elected
mayor,
including the
election
code, the
Palmdale Charter, and the California Voter's Rights Act. He proposed forming
a
Citizen Advisory Committee to work with a CVRA consultant and a demographer to go down a legal path to explore whether the City can create districts that
racially polarizing. Further discussion included maintaining an open process, engaging the courts for declaratory relief, and ensuring fiscal responsibility to residents.
Motion: Explore the creation of a Citizen Advisory Committee to work with a CVRA consultant and a demographer to go down a legal path to explore whether we can create districts that
racially polarizing
.
Moved by Eric Ohlsen, seconded by Andrea Alarcón.
Vote:
Motion carried (5
-
0)
Yes:
Laura Bettencourt, Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Eric Ohlsen, Andrea Alarcón.
Councilmember Bishop participated in various meetings and events, including the July 4th Fireworks Show at the Amphitheater, Sanitation District meetings, the Transportation Coalition meeting, the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District meeting, the District 1 Neighborhood Watch event at Poncitlan Square, the summer concert with Kool & The Gang, and the Youth Fentanyl Awareness Summer program.
Councilmember Ohlsen reported attending the Transportation meetings and the Joshua Tree workshop.
require Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents working within the jurisdiction
6 to reveal their identification. She also talked about the recent actions by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Motion: Request a full report on what has transpired with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents identifying themselves.
Moved by Andrea Alarcón, seconded by Laura
Bettencourt.
Vote:
Motion carried (5
-
0)
Yes:
Laura Bettencourt, Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Eric Ohlsen, Andrea Alarcón.
Mayor Pro Tem Bettencourt provided an update on the League of California Cities Desert Mountain Division meeting. She also requested a meeting to discuss strategies for increasing the number of grocery stores in Palmdale, suggested adding a link to the website with the road paving plan, and asked about the names of Veteran organizations that did not receive funding.
Councilmember
Alarcón
discussed the Emergency Needs Veterans Fund
and
requested that it be brought back as an agenda item to provide the public with details.
Motion: Bring back a future presentation item to provide details on the Emergency Needs Veteran Fund.
Moved by Andrea Alarcón, seconded by Laura Bettencourt.
Vote:
Motion carried (5
-
0)
Yes:
Laura Bettencourt, Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Eric Ohlsen, Andrea Alarcón.
City Manager Pro
Tem
Mendez updated the Council on a future Pavement
Management Plan.
Mayor Pro Tem Bettencourt discussed the previous public survey on preferred meeting times for City Council meetings and requested that the public be surveyed again. City Attorney Halfman informed the Council that the meeting time is at the Councilmember Alarcón, to add a discussion item about the City Council meeting time to a future agenda; no vote was taken.
Mayor Pro Tem Bettencourt announced a District 3 Town Hall meeting scheduled for September 18th at 6:00 pm at the Palmdale Playhouse.
7 11)
ADJOURN
Mayor Pro Tem Bettencourt adjourned the meeting in honor of Mr. Vincent Dino at 6:37 pm to August 19, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber located at 38300 Sierra Highway, Suite B, Palmdale, California.
Laura Bettencourt, Mayor Pro Tem
ATTEST:
Rochelle Scott, City Clerk