1 MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL/SA
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER
38300 SIERRA
HIGHWAY,
SUITE
B
PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA
FEBRUARY 3, 2026
www.cityofpalmdale.org
1)
CALL MEETING
TO
ORDER
Mayor Ohlsen 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
OHLSEN,
MAYOR
PRO TEM
BISHOP,
COUNCILMEMBERS
LOA,
BETTENCOURT,
ALARCÓN
PRESENT: Eric Ohlsen, Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Laura Bettencourt, Andrea Alarcón.
ABSENT:
None.
3)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOMENT OF
SILENCE
Councilmember Bettencourt led the pledge of allegiance.
4)
PRESENTATIONS
4.1)
Commendation to Roxanne Faber and Linda Willis in honor of their retirement from the City of Palmdale.
Mayor Ohlsen presented Roxanne Faber and Linda Willis with a
Commendation
in honor of their retirement from the City of Palmdale.
4.2)
Planning / Building & Safety Divisions Update
Economic and Community Development Director Taggart presented the staff report.
Planning Manager Magana gave an overview of the Planning Division's role within the City
,
and Building Official George provided an overview of the Building and Safety Division.
There was Council discussion regarding
the statistics for projects in 2025
and
th
e housing element requirements. Building Official George responded
.
Mayor
Pro Tem Bishop thanked staff for their work and for remaining business -
friendly.
2 5)
CONSENT
CALENDAR
The following individuals provided public input:
Jason Zink discussed items 4.2, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7.
Rich Gallego spoke regarding item 5.4.
Resident, no
-
name given, commented on item 4.2, and another resident, no -
name
given, expressed interest in wanting to know how many single -
family homes will be
built as opposed to multi
-
unit homes.
Mayor Ohlsen closed public comments.
The following items were pulled for discussion: 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, and 5.7.
5.1)
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).
5.2)
Receive and file the Monthly and Quarterly Investment Activity Reports for December 2025.
5.3)
Adopt Resolution No. CC 2026
-
004, a Resolution of the City Council of
the
City
of Palmdale, dissolving the Palmdale Civic
Authority.
5.4)
Receive and file the City Manager Recruitment Update.
Director of Operations Samson provided a detailed update and overview on the City Manager recruitment.
There was Council and staff discussion regarding the timeline for
the evaluation
and final selection of the City Manager candidates, and Council review of all submitted applications.
Motion: Receive and file the City Manager Recruitment Update.
Moved by Austin Bishop, seconded by Eric Ohlsen.
Vote:
Motion carried (5
-
0)
Yes:
Eric Ohlsen, Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Laura Bettencourt, Andrea
Alarcón.
5.5)
Approve Agreement with Onward Engineering for Construction Management and Observation Services for PN 869
-
A, Arterial Road Rehabilitation
at
Palmdale Boulevard Project, for a total not to exceed amount of $267,174 for a term of 150 working days from the date of the Notice to Proceed.
Director of Public Works Torres presented the staff report.
Councilmember Alarcón discussed the procurement and bidding process and 3 requested that every staff report include all bidders. There was further discussion on the selection process and the contingency amount. Director of Public Works Torres provided clarification.
Motion: Approve Agreement with Onward Engineering for Construction Management and Observation Services for PN 869
-
A.
Moved by Austin Bishop, seconded by Laura Bettencourt.
Vote:
Motion carried (5
-
0)
Yes: Eric Ohlsen, Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Laura Bettencourt, Andrea Alarcón.
5.6)
Approve Agreement with Maestro Development, LLC, for
Construction
Management and Observation Services for PN 851, Melville J. Courson Park Revitalization Project for a total not to exceed amount of $456,500 for a term of 360 working days commencing from the date of the Notice to Proceed.
Director of Public Works Torres presented the staff report.
A discussion ensued between Council and staff regarding the bidding and evaluation process, the cost of materials, including time and labor for the
project,
relevant experience, underbidding, and hiring local contractors.
There
was further
discussion regarding security fencing, lighting, the amenities at
Courson Park,
and the need for a refresh. Director of Parks and Recreation Smith responded, detailing the process behind designing the park.
Motion: Approve Agreement with Maestro Development, LLC, for Construction Management and Observation Services for PN 851.
Moved by Austin Bishop, seconded by Laura Bettencourt.
Vote:
Motion carried (5
-
0)
Yes: Eric Ohlsen, Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Laura Bettencourt, Andrea Alarcón.
5.7)
Approve Agreement with Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc., for
Professional Services for PN 788, Regional Basin Infrastructure Project, for a
total not to exceed amount of $1,508,304 for a term of 36 months from the date of the Notice to Proceed.
Councilmember Loa recused himself.
Deputy Director of Public Works Wu presented the staff report.
There was a discussion between Councilmember Alarcón and staff regarding drainage concerns in the community, bid analysis and proposals, the delivery of work and the hourly rate, and the reasons for selecting PACE as the bidder.
PACE representatives
provided a presentation addressing
flooding, drainage,
and the project's benefits.
4 Interim City Manager Mendez spoke about the project's timeline. Further discussion ensued amongst Council about flooding in their districts and public safety issues.
Motion: Approve Agreement with Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc., for
Professional Services for PN 788.
Moved by Andrea Alarcón, seconded by Austin Bishop.
Vote:
Motion carried (4
-
0)
Yes:
Eric Ohlsen, Austin Bishop, Laura Bettencourt, Andrea
Alarcón.
Councilmember Loa returned to the dais.
5.8)
Approve the minutes from the previous meeting.
Motion: Approve all items listed on the agenda with the exception of items 5.4, 5.5,
5.6, and 5.7.
Moved by Austin Bishop, seconded by Richard J. Loa.
Vote:
Motion carried (5
-
0)
Yes:
Eric Ohlsen, Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Laura Bettencourt, Andrea Alarcón.
6)
PUBLIC HEARING
6.1)
Receive and file the Fiscal Year 2025
-
26 Annual Employee Vacancy Report in
accordance with Assembly Bill 2561.
Mayor Ohlsen opened the Public Hearing.
Director of Operations Samson presented the staff report.
There was
a discussion between the Council and staff
regarding the report and
vacancies.
Public testimony: Jason Zink.
Mayor Ohlsen closed the Public Hearing.
Motion: Receive and file the Fiscal Year 2025
-
26 Annual Employee Vacancy
Report in accordance with Assembly Bill 2561.
Moved by Austin Bishop, seconded by Laura Bettencourt.
Vote:
Motion carried (5
-
0)
Yes: Eric Ohlsen, Austin Bishop, Richard J. Loa, Laura Bettencourt, Andrea Alarcón.
Mayor Ohlsen called for a recess from 6:51pm
-
7:01pm.
5 7)
CITY MANAGER’S
REPORT
Interim City Manager Mendez provided an update on several upcoming events including: Wednesdays at The Trucks at the Palmdale Auto Mall, Valentines Day dance February 6 at Marie Kerr Park Recreation Center, Celebrating Black History Month
-
Tap Into Soul S
aturday February 7 at the Palmdale Playhouse, Cupid in the Park from Friday February 9 through February 14 at Domenic Massari Park, Marie Kerr Park, and Sam Yellen Park, and Valentines Day with Always Adele at the Palmdale Playhouse on February 14.
8)
NON
-
AGENDA PUBLIC
COMMENTS
The following individuals provided public comments:
Eugene Hernandez
spoke about
ICE enforcement and Hispanic heritage holidays
.
Dejeet Sarkar
submitted a proposal to the
Council related to honoring hometown
heroes, including John Allen. Mayor Ohlsen stated th
e importance of
recognizing all
local service members and indicated that the request would be taken into
consideration.
David Jester
spoke about
honoring veterans,
the AV Edge contract
,
and various other
items
.
Roger Soderstedt
discussed the spending costs for the Chimbole Center
and Courson
Park
and
requested a bench at
Arnie Quinones Park
.
Jason Zink
discussed donating city funds to assist certain businesses and various
other
items
.
Rich Gallego
addressed the Council on their fiduciary responsibility, the new city logo, the AV Edge contract, and
various
other
items
.
Felix Menendez spoke
on the economic impacts of immigration raids and thanked the Council for its efforts to support the Latino community .
Marcos Alvarez
spoke ab
out the impacts of federal immigration enforcement on the community
.
9)
COUNCIL REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REQUESTS FOR
FUTURE
AGENDA
ITEMS
Councilmember Alarcón requested
an agenda action item for a future meeting
to
discuss the Council meeting dates.
Interim City Manager Mendez provided clarification
on moving the second
Council
meeting in February. Council voted to agendize the
item, with Councilmembers Loa, Alarcón, and Bettencourt voting in favor, and Mayor Ohlsen and
Mayor Pro Tem
Bishop voting
in opposition
.
Councilmember Alarcón
also
requested a list of all
special events supported and
6 funded by the City, and
requested
that
the information
be posted on the City’s website
for public viewing
. She also requested an update on the City logo, an
AV
Edge
presentation for the public,
and
requested
a
cap on
the Interim City Manager Mendez
’s
unilateral contracting
authority
. Interim City Manager Mendez
stated his signing
authority for contracts
.
Councilmember Loa requested scheduling a meeting to discuss City Manager candidates and to conduct Council interviews. A motion was made by
Councilmember
Loa and seconded by Councilmember Alarcón. Council voted on
the motion, with
Councilmembers Loa and Alarcón voting in
favor,
and
with
Mayor Ohlsen
, Mayor Pro
Tem
Bishop
,
and
Councilmember
Bettencourt voting
in opposition
.
Mayor Pro Tem
Bishop spoke in support of moving forward with the subcommittee process and holding discussions in closed session.
Mayor Pro Tem
Bishop
thanked staff and the community for the opportunity to serve.
Councilmember Bettencourt commented on the MLK Festival at Poncitlan Square
and
a play she attended at the Playhouse. She requested future agenda items, including discussion of a Rose Parade
float
, formation of a committee for the City’s 250th
anniversary celebration, and an update on the City logo at the next meeting. She also
stated that
updates
from the Cal
Cities Desert Mountain Division meeting would be
provided at the next meeting
.
Mayor Ohlsen reported on meetings he attended in Sacramento and a meeting with Governor Newsom.
10)
CITY
ATTORNEY’S
REPORT
10.1)
Legislative and litigation update regarding Federal Immigration Enforcement.
Councilmember Alarcón noted that the staff report and agenda item was insufficient to address what she requested at the February 3 meeting and further clarified that she requested a resolution be brought back for Council consideration.
City Attorney Severino presented the staff report.
There was further d
iscussion between Council and staff regarding th
is item
.
Mayor Ohlsen opened public comments.
The following individuals provided public comments: Eugene Hernandez, Felix
Menendez, Marcos Alvarez, Rich Gallego, David Hester,
and
Jason Zink.
Mayor Ohlsen closed public comments.
Mayor Ohlsen received and filed the report.
7 11)
CLOSED SESSION
PRESENTATION BY CITY ATTORNEY
11.1 )
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE
EVALUATION
Title: City Attorney
This closed session is being held pursuant to the authority of California Government Code Section 54957.
11.2 )
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL
-
ANTICIPATED
LITIGATION
Initiation of litigation: (2 cases)
This closed session is being held pursuant to the authority of
California
Government Code Section 54956.9, paragraph (4) of subdivision (d).
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
Title: City Manager
Recruitment
This closed session is being held pursuant to the authority of California Government Code Section 54957.
11.3 )
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL
—
ANTICIPATED
LITIGATION
Significant exposure to litigation: (1 potential case
–
facts and circumstances
unknown to potential plaintiffs)
This closed session is being held pursuant to the authority of California Government Code Section 54956.9, paragraph (2) of subdivision (d).
12)
ANNOUNCEMENT BY CITY
ATTORNEY
Closed Session was held from 8:14 pm to
11:05
pm.
Interim
City Manager Mendez announced the following:
11.1 There
were
two
actions:
1)
Continue
the
item
to
the
next
Council
meeting;
and
2) Provide a report that outlines the process for
new,
additional, or supplemental
City
Attorney services.
City Attorney Severino announced the following:
11.2 -
There was no reportable
action.
11.3 -
The subcommittee made its recommendation to the City Council and the City
Council will continue the City Manager recruitment process.
11.4 -
There was no reportable
action.
8 13)
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ohlsen adjourned the meeting at
11:07
pm to February 18, 2026, at 5:00
p.m.
in the City Hall Council Chamber located at 38300 Sierra Highway,
Suite
B,
Palmdale,
California.
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this
3rd
day of
March
2026.
Eric Ohlsen, Mayor
ATTEST:
Rochelle Scott, City Clerk
Eric
Ohlsen
(
Mar
9 ,
2026
09 :
03 :
40
PDT
)
Rochelle
Scott
(
Mar
9 ,
2026
10 :
40 :
03
PDT
)
Rochelle
Scott