[3:29] Welcome to the Lancaster City Council

[3:31] meeting.

[3:32] >> May I have your attention, please?

[3:35] » May I have your attention, please?

[3:35] Welcome to the Lancaster City Council

[3:37] meeting. The city council encourages

[3:39] public participation at its meetings.

[3:41] However, the right of the public to

[3:43] address the council must be balanced

[3:45] with the need to ensure that public

[3:47] participation does not interfere with

[3:50] the orderly course of public business.

[3:52] The city council follows the city's code

[3:54] of conduct and ethics and Robert's rules

[3:57] of order in the conduct of its meetings,

[4:00] and we respectfully request that all are

[4:02] reminded to abide by the following

[4:04] rules. As stated on the agenda for this

[4:07] meeting, any person who would like to

[4:10] address the city is requested to

[4:11] complete a speaker card for the city

[4:13] clerk. Please be sure to identify the

[4:16] agenda item you would like to discuss on

[4:18] your speaker card. Speaker cards must be

[4:22] filled out and submitted prior to the

[4:24] agenda item being called. You will be

[4:27] given an opportunity to address the

[4:29] council at the time the agenda item is

[4:31] discussed.

[4:33] Individual speakers are limited to 3

[4:35] minutes unless a different time limit is

[4:37] announced.

[4:39] Speakers must cease speaking immediately

[4:42] when their time has ended.

[4:45] Public comment on agenda items must

[4:47] relate to the subject matter of that

[4:49] item.

[4:51] Public comment on non-aggendaized items

[4:53] is limited to subjects within the

[4:55] jurisdiction of the council. Please keep

[4:58] in mind that state law prohibits the

[5:00] council from acting on items that are

[5:02] not on the agenda. The public's right to

[5:06] address the council does not include the

[5:08] right to engage in a dialogue with

[5:10] individual council members or staff.

[5:13] Please remain respectful of the forum

[5:15] and refrain from uttering, writing, or

[5:18] displaying profane or threatening

[5:20] statements towards the council, any

[5:22] member thereof, staff, or any other

[5:25] person. Any person engaging in conduct

[5:29] that disrupts the meeting is subject to

[5:31] being removed from the council meeting.

[5:34] If you disrupt the meeting, you will

[5:36] receive one warning. If you continue to

[5:39] disrupt the meeting, you will be

[5:40] escorted out of the meeting or the

[5:43] meeting will be recessed. Upon

[5:46] reconvening, if disruptions continue,

[5:48] the meeting room will be cleared in

[5:50] accordance with the provisions of the

[5:51] Brown Act.

[5:53] We ask that you now silence your cell

[5:55] phones as the meeting is about to begin.

[5:58] Thank you for your participation.

[6:02] >> City Council member, agency director,

[6:04] » City Council member, agency director,

[6:04] authority members who Leslie

[6:06] >> present.

[6:06] » present.

[6:06] >> Molly

[6:07] » Molly

[6:07] >> present.

[6:08] » present.

[6:08] >> Man,

[6:08] » Man,

[6:08] >> present.

[6:09] » present.

[6:09] >> Vice Mayor, Vice Chairman Christ,

[6:11] » Vice Mayor, Vice Chairman Christ,

[6:11] >> present.

[6:11] » present.

[6:11] >> Mayor Chairman Paris

[6:13] » Mayor Chairman Paris

[6:13] >> here.

[6:13] » here.

[6:13] >> We have a quorum.

[6:14] » We have a quorum.

[6:14] >> Thank you. Uh I love the voice. The

[6:17] » Thank you. Uh I love the voice. The

[6:17] voice is much better uh for that. But I

[6:21] think what we should probably is let's

[6:23] do it let's play it after the

[6:25] presentations

[6:27] because it kind of you know it slows

[6:29] things down right so that's just just a

[6:33] thought all right uh tonight the inv

[6:36] this afternoon the invocation is Ethan

[6:39] Ethan I don't know how to say your last

[6:41] name

[6:41] >> it's like perfume birthing

[6:44] » it's like perfume birthing

[6:44] >> from Grace Chapel

[6:49] city council thank you for having me

[6:51] don't worry about the last name I still

[6:52] don't know how to pronounce it.

[6:55] Uh but uh ju just a a brief scripture to

[6:58] read before we pray. John 18 verse 36.

[7:02] Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of

[7:06] this world. If my kingdom were of this

[7:09] world, my servants would have been

[7:11] fighting that I might not be delivered

[7:13] over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not

[7:15] from this world." Then Pilate said to

[7:18] him, "So you are a king?" And Jesus

[7:20] answered, "You say that I am a king. For

[7:23] this purpose I was born, and for this

[7:25] purpose I have come into the world to

[7:27] bear witness to the truth. Everyone who

[7:31] is of the truth listens to my voice."

[7:34] Let us pray.

[7:37] Father, we pray that we would listen to

[7:40] your voice today. God, we thank you for

[7:45] the council, for our governors, for uh

[7:48] Lord, law enforcement, everything that

[7:51] you have appointed under your authority.

[7:53] But Lord, most of all, we thank you for

[7:55] your heavenly kingdom, the perfect

[7:58] kingdom, the eternal kingdom. And God, I

[8:02] pray that uh as decisions are made

[8:04] today, that that spiritual kingdom would

[8:06] break through, Lord. that it would bring

[8:08] wisdom, discernment, right justice,

[8:12] Lord, and grace upon this city. Lord,

[8:16] you are a good God. You hear what we ask

[8:20] of you. And Lord, you want relationship

[8:23] with us. Father, thank you for your

[8:26] perfect King, the Lord Jesus Christ, the

[8:30] promise he has to save our eternal soul

[8:32] for all who believe in him. And God, I

[8:34] pray that he would be present today in

[8:36] this meeting. In his name we pray. Amen.

[8:41] >> Thank you.

[8:41] » Thank you.

[8:41] >> Thank you.

[8:53] America

[8:55] stands nationy

[9:01] for all.

[9:03] Thank you.

[9:09] » Did you see what that barber did to me?

[9:15] » What' I do?

[9:16] >> What do you think? Should I get a new

[9:17] » What do you think? Should I get a new

[9:17] barber? [laughter]

[9:19] >> I vote yes.

[9:23] Okay.

[9:25] Presentations,

[9:27] police.

[9:39] » Good afternoon, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and

[9:40] Council. Today is a fun presentation.

[9:43] So, we're going to have a a brief video

[9:45] that summarizes all of our

[9:47] accomplishments in 2020 25.

[9:50] Too many numbers there. 2025.

[9:52] Uh but before we get to that, I just

[9:55] wanted to first by start by thanking

[9:56] this council. Um specifically the mayor.

[9:59] When I was installed as city manager

[10:01] about a year and a half ago, we were

[10:02] challenged. You challenge this whole

[10:04] team to come up with a new way of

[10:07] tracking city progress and and making

[10:10] sure that we were accomplishing the

[10:11] goals that we needed to accomplish as a

[10:13] city to make this city a better place

[10:14] for all of us, all of our residents,

[10:16] everybody who interacts with Lancaster.

[10:19] So, we came up with the strategic goals

[10:22] plan that we've been using and

[10:24] monitoring. Happy to report that last

[10:26] year in 2025, we scored a little over

[10:29] 90%. So, of all the short-term goals we

[10:32] said we were going to accomplish, we got

[10:34] an A. Um, want to thank this team, it

[10:37] was really this executive team, some of

[10:39] the staff that are here, and the staffs

[10:41] throughout the city that made that

[10:42] happen. So, let's give them a round of

[10:44] applause.

[10:49] And we truly did accomplish some really

[10:51] big things last year. City manager's

[10:54] office, we implemented the leadership

[10:56] academy and we started building the

[10:58] staff up. We saw that at the last

[11:00] meeting. Our parks department, public

[11:03] art, you see it all over town now.

[11:06] You're going to see more of that again

[11:07] this year, but last year was amazing at

[11:09] what they accomplished there. The events

[11:12] top-notch once again culminated with

[11:14] magical. How many people do we have

[11:16] there? I think over 12 13,000 this year

[11:19] again. So awesome events. Um public

[11:23] works, we opened AV Alta Stadium. We had

[11:26] a successful soccer season. We started

[11:29] the Love Your City cleanup events and

[11:31] we'll talk about that a little bit

[11:32] later, but there's another one coming up

[11:34] this Saturday. Community development.

[11:36] They automated code enforcement. It's

[11:39] now all done through AI through use of

[11:42] cameras and we can issue virt you know

[11:43] citations remotely just with uh camera

[11:46] technology. She Patty also had to

[11:49] rebuild the whole team. I think you've

[11:50] got more new people on the team than

[11:53] you've ever had in the new team. So hats

[11:55] off to you Patty. And then um our

[11:57] administrative services department. We

[11:59] installed a new payroll system which

[12:01] we're working through that now. And last

[12:04] year we probably have more new hires

[12:06] than we've had in the last 10 years. And

[12:09] they were able to onboard those people,

[12:10] get them up to speed. So we're really

[12:12] doing a lot of things here. We're

[12:14] accomplishing a lot of goals. Hats off

[12:16] to the team for their hard work. And we

[12:18] have a brief video uh to to show last

[12:21] year.

[12:38] defying the laws of gravity

[12:43] passing by

[12:54] 200°.

[12:55] They call me

[13:03] out of you.

[13:07] » I'm having such a good time. I'm having

[13:10] a

[13:13] » w

[13:33] I'm out of control

[13:36] ready to reload

[13:52] at the speed of

[14:03] stopping.

[14:07] Good time. Good time.

[14:29] through

[14:31] 200.

[14:47] I'm having a fun

[15:19] Walk this way.

[15:26] This way.

[15:28] Walk this way.

[15:30] [music]

[15:32] Walk this way.

[15:35] This way.

[16:18] Heat.

[17:20] Thank

[17:22] So, happy new year, council. Happy new

[17:24] year, Lancaster. And I'll just leave you

[17:25] with we're not done yet.

[17:28] >> Good presentation. Don't go anywhere.

[17:31] » Good presentation. Don't go anywhere.

[17:31] So, what's the next step in regards to

[17:33] the leadership academy? I think

[17:35] everybody agreed that was a great

[17:38] >> We are actually working on what will be

[17:40] » We are actually working on what will be

[17:40] cohort two right now. I think uh

[17:42] applications are going to be released to

[17:44] staff in the next week or two. And then

[17:47] we are starting that program. When's the

[17:49] first month of it? April.

[17:51] >> Yeah, April will begin cohort two.

[17:53] » Yeah, April will begin cohort two.

[17:53] >> And where are we in developing one for

[17:56] » And where are we in developing one for

[17:56] the community?

[17:57] >> Uh we're looking at doing uh like a

[17:59] » Uh we're looking at doing uh like a

[17:59] citizens academy for the community right

[18:01] now as we speak and actually we'll talk

[18:02] about that tomorrow in a meeting we have

[18:04] together.

[18:04] >> Okay. Great. Great. So it's worth

[18:07] » Okay. Great. Great. So it's worth

[18:07] pursuing. Am I correct?

[18:09] >> Absolutely.

[18:10] » Absolutely.

[18:10] >> Okay. Good. Thank you.

[18:19] We're going to adjourn or not adjourn.

[18:22] What do you call it?

[18:23] >> I think we were going to go ahead and to

[18:25] » I think we were going to go ahead and to

[18:25] go through all of the rest of the

[18:27] agenda, then go to close session, then

[18:29] do NB1.

[18:31] >> That's right.

[18:33] » That's right.

[18:33] That you couldn't expect me to hold that

[18:35] for more than 10 minutes.

[18:37] >> That's what I'm here for.

[18:38] » That's what I'm here for.

[18:38] >> Okay.

[18:41] » Okay.

[18:41] All right. Moving on to the consent

[18:43] calendar.

[18:44] I have to recuse myself on CC14. So,

[18:48] let's take that off. Uh me and council

[18:53] member Molly and man have to recuse

[18:56] ourselves on CC-15.

[18:59] Uh but council member Molly is the

[19:03] rule of necessity person. Is that

[19:05] correct?

[19:06] >> Yes. So, uh you council member man and

[19:08] » Yes. So, uh you council member man and

[19:08] council member Molly each have a

[19:10] conflict with regard to CC-15. However,

[19:13] under the rule of necessity, Raj drew,

[19:16] excuse me, Council Member Molly drew the

[19:18] short straw and he will participate

[19:21] despite his conflict per the provisions

[19:24] of the Political Reform Act.

[19:26] >> Okay. So, Raj, don't screw it up. Okay.

[19:31] » Uh motion to approve the consent

[19:33] calendar pulling CC-14 and CC-15.

[19:37] >> Hey, I was on a roll.

[19:38] » Hey, I was on a roll.

[19:38] >> Second that.

[19:38] » Second that.

[19:38] >> I know. That's why I broke in there.

[19:44] a second. Let's vote.

[19:50] And it passes unanimously.

[19:55] So, if you two leave, we'll do CC15

[20:00] and then uh Ken can come back. We'll do

[20:03] CC. Fine.

[20:05] >> Are those medical?

[20:10] » Yeah. So tell us tell us about the

[20:11] matter glasses before we go.

[20:15] >> This is Cynthia Hernandez, right?

[20:17] » This is Cynthia Hernandez, right?

[20:17] >> Hello. I'm Cynthia Hernandez, criminal

[20:18] » Hello. I'm Cynthia Hernandez, criminal

[20:18] justice commissioner. Hello friend. Nice

[20:20] to see you. Um, yes, these are the meta

[20:22] glasses. They're the display meta

[20:23] glasses. So I'm currently recording you

[20:25] all right now. You can see the little

[20:27] light beeping. It also works as

[20:29] translation and caption and it continues

[20:32] to um teach us and as we teach it, we

[20:34] can speak to it and it can tell me what

[20:36] it sees and it just learns from us and

[20:38] it um supports of course the AI

[20:41] initiative that you've been really

[20:43] advocating in our schools because I'm

[20:45] also Antel Valley High School board

[20:46] trustee and I know that you've urged us

[20:48] as well to continue that initiative and

[20:50] and we do so and it's controlled by my

[20:52] hand the movements on my finger along

[20:54] with this band stop the recording now

[20:57] the light goes off and I could actually

[20:59] even send the photo via text right now

[21:01] to my ear thank you for letting me talk

[21:04] about my meta glasses [laughter]

[21:07] >> are they are they uncomfortable

[21:09] » are they are they uncomfortable

[21:09] No, I'm totally nerdy now. And when it

[21:11] gets bored, I could just play music.

[21:14] >> Wow. Okay. Thank you.

[21:15] » Wow. Okay. Thank you.

[21:15] >> Thank you.

[21:21] » I need a motion to second for CC-15.

[21:24] >> I move to approve CC-15.

[21:26] » I move to approve CC-15.

[21:26] >> I second that.

[21:27] » I second that.

[21:27] >> I have a motion and second. Let's vote.

[21:35] » Passes with three yes votes. Raj, will

[21:37] you go get Ken?

[21:38] >> Yes.

[21:51] » You have to stay there for one more.

[21:55] >> I need a motion and a second for CC-14.

[21:58] » I need a motion and a second for CC-14.

[21:58] >> I'll second that motion.

[22:02] » I'll second that motion.

[22:02] >> I'll make the motion to approve CC 14.

[22:05] » I'll make the motion to approve CC 14.

[22:05] And council member man will second it.

[22:08] >> And you second it [clears throat]

[22:09] » And you second it [clears throat]

[22:09] >> and I'll second it. I thought you made

[22:10] » and I'll second it. I thought you made

[22:10] the motion.

[22:11] >> Okay, we have a motion and a second.

[22:12] » Okay, we have a motion and a second.

[22:12] Let's vote.

[22:16] » And that one passes with four yes votes.

[22:19] Rush.

[22:29] » I thought you were

[22:32] trying.

[22:36] NB1.

[22:38] >> We're skipping NB1. We'll come back to

[22:40] » We're skipping NB1. We'll come back to

[22:40] it after close session.

[22:42] >> Okay.

[22:50] » Okay. NB2,

[22:52] any speaker cards? I want to hear the

[22:55] staff report anyway.

[23:12] Uh, Mayor Paris and council members uh

[23:15] MB2 before you is an ordinance to repeal

[23:19] sections 10.04.035

[23:23] and 10.04.040

[23:25] 040 of the municipal code uh pursuant to

[23:29] requirements of uh Assembly Bill 436

[23:33] which amended provisions of the vehicle

[23:35] code to delete the statutory authority

[23:39] upon which uh the codes we're seeking to

[23:42] we are proposing to repeal was based. Um

[23:45] this made it uh the code pertained to uh

[23:50] vehicular cruising and require and the

[23:52] uh amendments to state law require us to

[23:55] repeal uh the provisions over municipal

[23:57] code to remain in compliance with state

[24:00] law. So we are simply uh taking the

[24:02] steps necessary to conform to what our

[24:05] legislators in Sacramento have deemed

[24:08] appropriate.

[24:10] >> This is for the cruising.

[24:11] » This is for the cruising.

[24:11] >> This is cruising. You didn't get the

[24:13] » This is cruising. You didn't get the

[24:13] memo.

[24:14] >> I didn't get the memo. Okay.

[24:17] » I didn't get the memo. Okay.

[24:17] >> What what I'm proposing is that we allow

[24:20] » What what I'm proposing is that we allow

[24:20] cruising to come back to the boulevard.

[24:22] >> Okay.

[24:23] » Okay.

[24:23] >> Uh many of us in this Well, maybe not

[24:26] » Uh many of us in this Well, maybe not

[24:26] many of us, but certainly me and Fran,

[24:28] we remember when they used to go

[24:30] cruising on the boulevard. Uh and it was

[24:34] vibrant. It was it was fun. People met

[24:37] their spouses there. It it was a good

[24:41] thing. And then what always happens is a

[24:44] few jerks broke some windows and next

[24:48] thing you know there there's no more

[24:50] cruising

[24:51] since we have to amend the statute

[24:53] anyway or the ordinance anyway. My

[24:55] thought is let's let them come back and

[24:58] see how it works. Uh make it very clear

[25:01] to everybody. I mean I mean the younger

[25:05] people of this community ought to

[25:06] recognize by now that I don't hesitate

[25:08] to drop a hammer if it's necessary but

[25:12] until it's necessary and hopefully it

[25:14] will never be necessary. Let's see how

[25:18] vibrant we can make the boulevard on,

[25:21] you know, whatever night they choose.

[25:24] It'll probably be organic in the way it

[25:26] develops. But I want it very clear if we

[25:30] have to do an emergency meeting to shut

[25:33] it down, we will. I hope that doesn't

[25:36] happen. I hope that this just is another

[25:39] form of activity we can bring to the

[25:41] young people of this city. Uh that I

[25:44] think they'll appreciate, but let's give

[25:46] it a shot and see. Okay.

[25:48] >> Okay.

[25:49] » Okay.

[25:49] >> But it's up to you guys.

[25:53] » But it's up to you guys.

[25:53] >> I'm all for it. Ken tells me about that

[25:55] » I'm all for it. Ken tells me about that

[25:55] all the time. Nice

[25:58] [cough]

[25:58] [clears throat]

[26:00] to see him there.

[26:00] >> It would be interesting

[26:03] » It would be interesting

[26:03] because there was a distinct car culture

[26:07] back when cruising was pro prominent or

[26:10] prevalent. So it'd be interesting to see

[26:13] what happens today because obviously the

[26:16] 60s and 70s were where it really emerged

[26:20] from. So it' be interesting to see

[26:23] >> 1900 or 1800

[26:26] » 1900 or 1800

[26:26] I think that was 19.

[26:29] You were like I think you did that quite

[26:31] often because you're like what two years

[26:32] behind me?

[26:34] >> Something like that. That's right. You

[26:35] » Something like that. That's right. You

[26:35] are only two years younger.

[26:38] >> But I'm still younger. That's a fact

[26:39] » But I'm still younger. That's a fact

[26:39] that will never go away.

[26:42] >> I guess that's accurate.

[26:44] » I guess that's accurate.

[26:44] >> Well, maybe not. I mean, if one of us

[26:48] » Well, maybe not. I mean, if one of us

[26:48] dies first, I would no longer continue

[26:51] to age.

[26:54] But I wouldn't care that. [laughter]

[26:57] >> Just Never mind. I got off in my nerd.

[27:00] » Just Never mind. I got off in my nerd.

[27:00] Sorry.

[27:01] >> Okay, great.

[27:04] » Okay, great.

[27:04] >> So, do we need to approve NB2 if we're

[27:06] » So, do we need to approve NB2 if we're

[27:06] going to approve cruising?

[27:08] >> So, this is an introduction of uh MB2 uh

[27:12] » So, this is an introduction of uh MB2 uh

[27:12] we need to do regardless of whether we

[27:14] want to encourage cruising. that would

[27:15] be more of a um uh political or

[27:19] staff-based uh encouragement effort and

[27:22] and program. But right now, we do need

[27:25] to amend our ordinance to conform with

[27:27] state law.

[27:28] >> Okay.

[27:28] » Okay.

[27:28] >> Okay.

[27:30] » Okay.

[27:30] >> Motion to approve NB2.

[27:32] » Motion to approve NB2.

[27:32] >> I'll second that.

[27:33] » I'll second that.

[27:33] >> Let's vote.

[27:39] » It's unanimous.

[27:42] You know, as as I've been as I go into

[27:46] my 19th year, it occurs to me how much

[27:49] of the things we used to be able to do

[27:52] that we slowly have shaved away because

[27:57] of that 1% of the population, you know,

[28:00] and I think maybe it's time we bring

[28:03] those things back with an understanding

[28:06] that as a community, we just don't

[28:09] tolerate people screwing it because we

[28:12] see what happens with it, you know, we

[28:13] we see how quickly we lose a quality of

[28:16] life that we shouldn't be losing

[28:20] for what it's worth. Okay.

[28:24] Uh

[28:28] wow

[28:31] already. That was quick. Council

[28:34] reports.

[28:38] » Uh we need to do public comment.

[28:41] Oh, that's right.

[28:42] >> We need to do public comment and then

[28:43] » We need to do public comment and then

[28:43] we'll do NB1.

[28:45] >> Oh, public comment, then uh close

[28:47] » Oh, public comment, then uh close

[28:47] session, then NB1.

[28:49] >> Okay.

[28:55] » This is the time to address the city

[28:56] council agency authority on

[28:57] non-agendized matters. Speaker cards may

[28:59] be found on the back table of the

[29:00] council chambers. If you have completed

[29:02] one, please ensure you have given it to

[29:03] us to us so you may be recognized.

[29:06] Individual speakers are limited to three

[29:07] minutes each. Please keep in mind state

[29:09] law prohibits council from acting on

[29:10] items that are not on the agenda and

[29:12] your matter may be referred to the city

[29:14] manager. Thank you.

[29:16] >> I have a question before. Why are we

[29:18] » I have a question before. Why are we

[29:18] skipping council reports?

[29:21] >> We can do council reports before we go

[29:22] » We can do council reports before we go

[29:22] to close session.

[29:26] » Just Well, I went to council reports.

[29:29] You told me no. We got

[29:31] >> Oh, my apologies. Um,

[29:33] » Oh, my apologies. Um,

[29:33] >> you know, we're in our 70s here. Would

[29:35] » you know, we're in our 70s here. Would

[29:35] you quit confusing us?

[29:38] >> We can do council reports now. I I

[29:40] » We can do council reports now. I I

[29:40] apologize. I thought we were uh skipping

[29:42] to the very end and we were not.

[29:44] >> Thank you.

[29:45] » Thank you.

[29:45] >> I'll kick us off with council reports.

[29:48] » I'll kick us off with council reports.

[29:48] So, I had the opportunity along with our

[29:50] city manager and a few other staff

[29:52] members to attend the most recent Los

[29:55] Angeles cohort graduation. Phenomenal

[29:57] program. I know nobody sitting up here

[29:59] is a stranger to the program. Uh it was

[30:02] a joy to be a part of it, to be able to

[30:04] to celebrate uh the graduation. And we

[30:07] have a short video to play.

[30:17] » It's fantastic. We work so hard to get

[30:20] them ready and to find the employers

[30:21] that want them. And we've been very

[30:23] fortunate. We have great kids, great

[30:25] employers, and the matches are getting

[30:27] easier and easier. It's the most

[30:28] satisfying work I've done in my life.

[30:30] And I'm grateful every day for the

[30:32] opportunity. You never know unless you

[30:34] try. You never know unless you try. I

[30:37] didn't know how to do a lot of things at

[30:39] Dayton, but I got a job with PCC as a

[30:43] level one painter and I'm ready to get

[30:45] to work.

[30:46] >> Don't be scared of the trades. There's a

[30:49] » Don't be scared of the trades. There's a

[30:49] lot a lot of money to be made in the

[30:50] trades. Um, I love seeing women in the

[30:53] trades. I love seeing men in the trades.

[30:55] >> Trust me, coming from a person like me,

[30:56] » Trust me, coming from a person like me,

[30:56] I grew up I I used to get in fights,

[30:59] getting expelled. I was in a lot of

[31:00] situations as a kid. I always misled. I

[31:01] had anger problems. Since I joined this,

[31:03] it helped me control a lot of things,

[31:05] help me become a better person. Join it.

[31:06] Just take that step. And once you take

[31:08] that step, walk through it. You going to

[31:10] be great.

[31:11] >> Everybody who comes here, almost

[31:13] » Everybody who comes here, almost

[31:13] everybody has never touched a car

[31:15] besides, you know, been in it to drive

[31:17] around. Nobody has done anything work

[31:19] with tools. They really take it step by

[31:21] step and teach you everything that you

[31:23] need to know.

[31:24] >> It's just like Lost Angel says, hard

[31:27] » It's just like Lost Angel says, hard

[31:27] work pays off. And it's just like Josh

[31:29] just said, you never know until you try.

[31:33] >> It can change the entire course of your

[31:35] » It can change the entire course of your

[31:35] life.

[31:40] » You know, I' I've seen a lot of programs

[31:42] and that one is has to be the top at the

[31:46] very top of the the list of programs

[31:49] that actually make a huge difference in

[31:51] people's lives. And I just can't believe

[31:54] how well it's uh administered. Every one

[31:57] of those kids go to work at plant 42 if

[32:00] they want to. Did you know that building

[32:03] an airplane is very similar to building

[32:05] a car? They just fly.

[32:08] >> That uh

[32:10] » That uh

[32:10] pretty cool. I thought that that's

[32:13] something that deserves our support

[32:14] every single day.

[32:18] Okay. And now it's my turn. Magical

[32:20] Boulevard.

[32:29] Lancaster, I am so excited to welcome

[32:32] you back to my favorite city event of

[32:34] every single year. It's a magical

[32:37] Boulevard Lancaster event.

[32:39] >> I I see great things happening. This

[32:42] » I I see great things happening. This

[32:42] particular event is always a wonderful

[32:44] event. I mean, everybody gets engaged

[32:48] and everybody becomes part of the city.

[32:50] That uh that's important to me. Every

[32:53] year it's all about family and kids and

[32:57] of course food and everything, but look

[32:59] at how many kids are here. It's so

[33:00] beautiful.

[33:01] >> But this year, I think the staff really

[33:03] » But this year, I think the staff really

[33:03] kicked it out, hit it out of the park.

[33:05] Um, they added some new elements and

[33:07] really made it an amazing event for our

[33:08] community.

[33:19] Councilman Ken Man and I along with our

[33:21] family members got to start our morning

[33:23] at the Lancaster Cemetery where we got

[33:25] to lay wreaths with the rest of our

[33:27] nation for wreaths across America and to

[33:29] to top it off with lighting the

[33:31] Christmas tree. It truly has just been

[33:32] such a blessed day.

[33:34] >> I I just wish everybody a merry

[33:36] » I I just wish everybody a merry

[33:36] Christmas. I hope that they are are as

[33:39] fulfilled and happy as I am.

[33:41] >> Well, just merry Christmas to everyone.

[33:43] » Well, just merry Christmas to everyone.

[33:43] Happy holidays and let's have a great

[33:45] 2026.

[33:47] >> Merry Christmas.

[33:49] » Merry Christmas.

[33:49] >> Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas.

[33:52] » Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas.

[33:52] >> You see those great kids?

[33:59] » It was a great

[34:03] >> Okay, Raj is next.

[34:05] » Okay, Raj is next.

[34:05] >> Raj.

[34:06] » Raj.

[34:06] >> Yes. So month of December is always like

[34:09] » Yes. So month of December is always like

[34:09] a lot of give gives way and food and

[34:12] toys and stuff. So 7-Eleven guy he the

[34:16] owner he's really generous every year he

[34:19] bring like about five six hundred people

[34:21] he feed them give a food away jackets

[34:24] all kind of good stuff. So he does such

[34:26] a good job. So we have a video about

[34:29] that.

[34:57] Hey, hey, hey.

[35:47] Thank you,

[35:51] Marvin.

[35:53] I got nothing. No.

[35:56] Uh, we're going to show a recap of the

[35:57] AV toy grocery giveaway. Uh, before we

[36:01] start it, just like to remind everybody

[36:03] this is an event that schools, churches,

[36:08] unions,

[36:10] uh, everybody goes to. It's, uh, it's an

[36:13] event that brings everybody together. We

[36:16] served a little over 2,200 people. Uh,

[36:19] it was a great It's put on by both

[36:22] cities. Um, but it's a very, very good

[36:26] event. So, play the video, please.

[36:29] >> It's grown from 300 people to over

[36:32] » It's grown from 300 people to over

[36:32] 2,000. So, it's it's not only the bikes

[36:35] make a difference, but the community

[36:37] sees that this is where it's a onetop uh

[36:41] place to shop. You get your toys, you

[36:43] get your food, you get your turkeys, you

[36:45] get everything. We not only have unions

[36:48] here, we have churches here. We have

[36:50] schools here. We have paraclete here. We

[36:52] have the college here. We have, you

[36:54] know, staff from a lot of different

[36:56] places. All the elected officials are

[36:58] here. This is a place where everybody

[37:00] congregates. They can see everybody's

[37:03] participating. They can see it. They get

[37:05] the toy of their choice. Uh special kids

[37:08] get the bikes, they get everything. Our

[37:11] sheriffs are passing them out. The

[37:14] police department is helping them with

[37:16] uh traffic. It's just it's a very

[37:18] organized event. And It's it's because

[37:21] of the city of Lancaster, city of

[37:23] Palmdale have got together and they're

[37:25] really making this work.

[37:27] >> You know, I when I was driving here

[37:30] » You know, I when I was driving here

[37:30] earlier, I asked the people in the

[37:32] front, what time you did you guys get

[37:34] here? And they they've been in line

[37:36] since 5:30 in the morning. This food is

[37:39] and this toys and everything. It's very

[37:41] important for them.

[37:43] >> It's a blessing. Everybody here really

[37:46] » It's a blessing. Everybody here really

[37:46] should be able to have a great Christmas

[37:49] dinner this year. And then we got the

[37:52] weather cooperating again and uh this

[37:55] just turned out to be a spectacular

[37:56] event.

[37:57] >> I think everyone here has the same

[37:58] » I think everyone here has the same

[37:58] feeling that we are blessed as

[38:00] individuals and as a community so that

[38:02] we could share those blessings with

[38:03] others. So [music] to see those needs be

[38:06] there and to be able to meet them is

[38:07] just an incredible feeling. If you can

[38:10] and if you you will and you'll join us,

[38:12] be a light. spread the joy, spread the

[38:14] spirit of the holiday season. We all

[38:16] made a pack at our Christmas tree

[38:18] lighting ceremony um as a council here

[38:21] in city of Lancaster and that's to

[38:23] collaborate, to work together, [music]

[38:24] to truly understand one another and just

[38:27] celebrate joy.

[38:30] » Where did you get that hat?

[38:33] >> Oh my,

[38:35] » Oh my,

[38:35] >> I was festive.

[38:38] » I was festive.

[38:38] >> Okay, so what's the plan now? Do I do

[38:40] » Okay, so what's the plan now? Do I do

[38:40] the speaker cards or do we

[38:42] >> Yes, we should do the speaker cards and

[38:43] » Yes, we should do the speaker cards and

[38:43] then we'll go to close session and then

[38:45] MB1.

[38:46] >> Okay,

[38:49] » Okay,

[38:49] Jose Alvarez.

[38:53] » How are you? How are you?

[38:54] >> I'm great, thank you. Um, good

[38:57] » I'm great, thank you. Um, good

[38:57] afternoon, city council, mayor,

[39:00] Lancaster residents. Um, my name is Jose

[39:03] de Alvarez. I have been a resident of

[39:05] Lancaster for 24 years and um you know

[39:10] always think um I was invited to this

[39:12] meeting by uh mayor bishop um Henry

[39:14] Hearns a long time ago but uh because of

[39:17] my work I just couldn't. So here I am.

[39:20] Um like everybody was saying and I think

[39:24] you all know this boulevard has a lot of

[39:26] potential and uh but people is afraid to

[39:29] go out like my family is afraid to go

[39:32] out because of the shootings and uh

[39:34] what's happening you know in the city um

[39:37] bringing up like drugs you know

[39:39] prostitution now on the streets um

[39:42] violence all over. So, um I have a bunch

[39:45] of ideas on how to uh um bring uh people

[39:51] like families to, you know, to have fun

[39:54] on the boulevard and perhaps uh if we

[39:57] can get um um investors to do something.

[40:01] I have been on 42 states because of my

[40:03] work. So, I've seen what people likes

[40:05] and I know um building like a complex

[40:08] somewhere where people is going to come

[40:10] and enjoy them themselves and family. I

[40:13] think is going to be something good for

[40:14] the city as well as filming. I work for

[40:17] the movie studio. So, um um we have a

[40:20] lot of empty lots all over. Why not

[40:22] building a um stages, sound stages,

[40:25] something that will bring people to film

[40:27] in Lancaster to keep our jobs local, you

[40:30] know? Um I was um well, there's a lot of

[40:35] things about um security outside. So,

[40:39] I'll get to that on other meetings if I

[40:41] could um to bring a safety. I own a

[40:43] security company in Los Angeles, but

[40:45] since I live here, so I was wondering if

[40:47] maybe I can just do business with the

[40:50] city or locally with, you know, people

[40:52] down here. But, uh it's all about

[40:54] bringing safety to the city, not just

[40:56] to, you know, to just some residents.

[41:01] And um you know also why wait till uh

[41:06] Christmas to do something nice on the

[41:09] boulevard or maybe just those events

[41:10] that we have once a year. Uh you know

[41:13] wait not like do something with like

[41:17] every month once a month something that

[41:20] will bring people to Lancaster. I have

[41:22] some of those ideas. So, um hopefully I

[41:25] can make a um a meeting with the

[41:30] council, the mayor, somebody that can

[41:32] hear my ideas and maybe we can take it

[41:33] from there. Um thank you for listening

[41:36] to me and have a nice day.

[41:37] >> Thank you.

[41:41] » Where's

[41:43] ah there you are. you know, he raises

[41:45] good points, but I I realize there's

[41:47] really not a vehicle for people in the

[41:50] community to come and and present their

[41:53] ideas and have, you know, meaningful

[41:56] discussions about it. I don't know how

[41:58] to fix that or how to do that, but I

[42:01] know somebody who does.

[42:03] Uh, so let's put that on the to-do list.

[42:07] Okay,

[42:08] >> we definitely will. And if I could

[42:09] » we definitely will. And if I could

[42:09] mention, we have our parks master plan

[42:11] that's underway. So we have a survey

[42:13] that's going to be going out in the next

[42:14] few weeks. And we also have a community

[42:15] engagement. So that's a perfect

[42:17] opportunity for the community to to

[42:19] provide us the input of things they

[42:20] would like to see not only on the

[42:21] boulevard but in their parks and

[42:22] facilities and programs throughout the

[42:24] city. So that is a mechanism that will

[42:26] is in place and we'll be rolling out in

[42:28] the next couple weeks.

[42:29] >> We'll explore other alternatives as

[42:31] » We'll explore other alternatives as

[42:31] well.

[42:32] >> Thank you. Thank you for talking to us

[42:35] » Thank you. Thank you for talking to us

[42:35] about that.

[42:38] Um,

[42:40] Fran,

[42:42] how have you been?

[42:53] » So, what do you think about cruising the

[42:56] boulevard on Friday night?

[42:58] >> I think it's great. I think there's been

[43:01] » I think it's great. I think there's been

[43:01] a lot of progress here since the years

[43:03] that I've been living here. Uh

[43:06] and I also wanted to bring about you

[43:10] know they're speaking about the area

[43:12] plan here for Lancaster but I'm also on

[43:15] the committee for the area plan for the

[43:17] LA county for all the county for the

[43:19] next uh from the 25th to the 28th. We're

[43:23] going to uh and I'm representing

[43:26] Lancaster. I represent you everywhere I

[43:28] go. Everywhere I go. And uh and that's

[43:33] my main purpose. I feel in my life right

[43:36] now. God has given me a lot of graces

[43:39] and I'm so happy to be able to do this

[43:41] for all of you because uh it's I know it

[43:45] and people say, "Oh, well, how about

[43:46] you, friend? Do you get anything out of

[43:48] it?" I says, "Yeah, I do, but that's not

[43:50] for me only. I'm doing it for everybody

[43:52] and especially the seniors and the

[43:54] disabled and the people that can't get

[43:56] around and people that just don't know

[43:59] how to communicate or can't, you know,

[44:01] because it's a big it's a big city and a

[44:04] lot of different people. But I just

[44:07] wanted to wish everybody a beautiful and

[44:11] pleasant and happy and blessed new year.

[44:15] I wanted to bring up the oh the area

[44:17] plan. By the way, if I may, we are going

[44:19] to have a meeting

[44:22] uh the county is going to be coming to

[44:23] the Lancaster Senior Center uh on the

[44:27] 15th, which is two days from 1:30 to 3.

[44:30] We are going to be telling

[44:34] the public what the area plan is and how

[44:36] they can get involved. And this is a

[44:39] time where the individuals that live in

[44:41] Lancaster or anywhere else, they can

[44:44] give their input no matter if it's good,

[44:46] bad, or indifferent.

[44:48] So that we as the county, as the

[44:52] the legislative end of the of the

[44:54] spectrum, you might say, have an idea of

[44:57] what you want because if you don't tell

[45:00] us, we we don't know what you want, we

[45:01] can't do anything about it. We try and I

[45:04] I mean I say we like if I'm a big contro

[45:08] here, but I'm I'm just a little pee on

[45:10] the bottom of the P. But anyway, thank

[45:13] you very much. God bless you all and

[45:17] hallelujah.

[45:21] » Thank you, friend.

[45:23] Okay.

[45:32] So, we should we go ahead and finish

[45:33] everything but new business item one?

[45:37] >> Yes, please.

[45:39] » Yes, please.

[45:39] >> All right. City manager, you're on.

[45:44] » All right. City manager, you're on.

[45:44] >> Yes. I have a few updates. So, this

[45:47] » Yes. I have a few updates. So, this

[45:47] weekend is going to be a busy weekend.

[45:50] I'd like to invite everybody to come out

[45:51] on Sunday, January 18th over at the

[45:54] ELPAC from 400 pm to 8:00 PM. It's our

[45:57] Justice Sunday performance. So that is

[45:59] the annual performance that is done uh

[46:02] by local high school students to

[46:04] celebrate Martin Luther King Day. If you

[46:06] have not had the opportunity to come,

[46:08] it's a wonderful event. Um I know I mark

[46:10] my calendar every year and I look

[46:12] forward to it and I will be there again

[46:13] on Sunday. Um the day before that on

[46:17] Saturday, we are doing our MLK Day of

[46:21] Service. So, this is another one of our

[46:23] Love Your City Cleanup events. It'll be

[46:26] at Desert Vineyard Church at 8:00 a.m.

[46:29] Um if you haven't signed up to

[46:30] volunteer, please do so now. Uh I I I'll

[46:34] summarize a few of the stats from the

[46:36] first two cleanup events. We had about a

[46:40] thousand volunteers and staff come out

[46:42] between the two events. We've cleaned up

[46:45] close to 90 tons of waste. We've hit

[46:48] about 15 different locations to clean up

[46:51] graffiti. And we've impacted over a

[46:54] thousand residences that we've gone and

[46:56] picked up trash and helped clean the

[46:58] yard up and and in the different

[47:00] neighborhoods that we've hit. This

[47:02] Saturday,

[47:04] we plan to do another 870 residents.

[47:08] We're going to do some block wall

[47:10] painting. We're painting a community

[47:12] mural. We're going out and cleaning up a

[47:14] couple of fields. We're going to go

[47:16] engage some of the homeless encampments

[47:17] and see if we can get them the services

[47:19] they need. So, it's going to be a big

[47:21] event. I think we're anticipating over a

[47:23] thousand volunteers. So, and we'd love

[47:25] to have more. So, if you haven't signed

[47:27] up, please come sign up for that event.

[47:32] » Thank you. I'm curious, why are there

[47:36] homeless encampments?

[47:38] I thought we were knocking them down as

[47:41] soon as they went up.

[47:45] » We're definitely addressing them, sir,

[47:47] but uh it def it does take a while to

[47:49] get individuals placed and and get them

[47:52] to accept the services we need to get

[47:54] them off the streets. So, it's a

[47:56] continuous uh battle, but uh we are

[47:59] making advances. I can tell you that.

[48:01] >> All right. Thank you.

[48:07] What else we have?

[48:11] » I believe that is it other than uh close

[48:14] session and NB1. So at this time

[48:18] >> before we do that, so are the drones

[48:21] » before we do that, so are the drones

[48:22] launching now?

[48:24] >> Yes, sir. Uh we have our three uh DFR

[48:27] » Yes, sir. Uh we have our three uh DFR

[48:27] drones as first responders uh up.

[48:29] They've deployed different incidents

[48:31] including some uh incidents uh involving

[48:34] the sheriff's department and we're still

[48:36] working with the sheriff's department to

[48:38] get a a good understanding on uh

[48:40] complete use of that system.

[48:43] >> Are they launching when they hear a

[48:44] » Are they launching when they hear a

[48:44] gunshot?

[48:45] >> Uh they're they're not deploying as of

[48:48] » Uh they're they're not deploying as of

[48:48] yet when they hear a gunshot. Uh we

[48:50] still have a few more personnel we need

[48:52] to hire uh which are pilots, but we're

[48:55] we're working towards that now. So, you

[48:58] need pilots on them?

[48:59] >> Yes, sir. You need you do need pilots

[49:01] » Yes, sir. You need you do need pilots

[49:01] once they're up overhead and there's

[49:02] still laws that require you to monitor

[49:04] to have a human monitoring. Uh, they

[49:07] deploy to the location. They can do that

[49:09] automatically, but then a pilot has to

[49:11] take over.

[49:12] >> Okay.

[49:13] » Okay.

[49:13] >> Yes, sir.

[49:13] » Yes, sir.

[49:13] >> The other thing I wanted to ask you, do

[49:15] » The other thing I wanted to ask you, do

[49:15] we know if there's any offtheshelf AI uh

[49:18] agents that could do homeless counts

[49:21] using our drones?

[49:23] >> Uh, you know what? Let me get with the

[49:25] » Uh, you know what? Let me get with the

[49:25] assistant chief and do some research on

[49:27] that. Get back to you. Uh it's an

[49:29] interesting thought, so we'll take a

[49:30] look at it.

[49:30] >> I mean, if we could have up to date, you

[49:32] » I mean, if we could have up to date, you

[49:32] know, to the day what our homeless

[49:34] counts are within reasonable margins,

[49:38] >> uh it may be beneficial.

[49:40] » uh it may be beneficial.

[49:40] >> Yes, sir. Continuous count. Yeah.

[49:42] » Yes, sir. Continuous count. Yeah.

[49:42] >> Right.

[49:42] » Right.

[49:42] >> Absolutely. You got it. We'll look into

[49:44] » Absolutely. You got it. We'll look into

[49:44] it, sir.

[49:45] >> All right. Thank you.

[49:47] » All right. Thank you.

[49:48] Okay. Now,

[49:50] Allison

[49:54] At this time, the city council will

[49:56] adjourn to close session to discuss

[49:58] close session agenda items 1 through 22

[50:01] is stated on the agenda. And for the

[50:04] public's knowledge, upon returning from

[50:06] close session, we'll take up agenda item

[50:08] NB1.

[50:11] Thank you.

[1:38:35] We're back in session. City attorney.

[1:38:38] >> In close session, the city council took

[1:38:41] » In close session, the city council took

[1:38:41] up agenda items close session one one

[1:38:45] case and two two cases and gave

[1:38:48] direction to staff and legal counsel. No

[1:38:51] reportable action.

[1:38:54] >> Thank you. Moving back to NB one.

[1:38:58] » Thank you. Moving back to NB one.

[1:38:58] >> Yes. Give me just a second.

[1:38:59] » Yes. Give me just a second.

[1:38:59] >> Are you doing the presentation on that?

[1:39:01] » Are you doing the presentation on that?

[1:39:01] >> I am. Give me a moment. There we go.

[1:39:13] Mayor Paris and council members. Uh

[1:39:16] before you for consideration today uh is

[1:39:20] MB1 a resolution submitting a measure to

[1:39:22] the voters to amend section 2011 of the

[1:39:25] Lancaster city charter. Uh as proposed,

[1:39:29] the resolution would place on the ballot

[1:39:31] for the April 14th, 2026 election uh a

[1:39:35] revision to section 2011 of the charter

[1:39:37] to authorize the city council to enact

[1:39:40] an ordinance to one increase the number

[1:39:42] of council members from four to five and

[1:39:46] add the office of vice mayor and

[1:39:49] transition from at large to

[1:39:50] district-based elections for the five

[1:39:53] council members, which would result in a

[1:39:55] council of five council members. members

[1:39:57] plus a mayor and a vice mayor. Uh the uh

[1:40:02] reasoning is uh in consideration of the

[1:40:04] requirements of the California Voting

[1:40:06] Rights Act um and has been discussed at

[1:40:09] two public meetings uh held uh in recent

[1:40:13] months and I'm here to answer any

[1:40:16] questions that you may have.

[1:40:20] >> So a vote yes means we want to put it on

[1:40:24] » So a vote yes means we want to put it on

[1:40:24] the ballot.

[1:40:25] >> Correct. A vote no

[1:40:27] » Correct. A vote no

[1:40:27] >> means you do not want to put it on the

[1:40:28] » means you do not want to put it on the

[1:40:28] ballot

[1:40:32] and the text of the revisions is in uh

[1:40:36] contained within the attachment to the

[1:40:39] resolution for your information.

[1:40:44] » Thank you.

[1:40:44] >> Thank you.

[1:40:46] » Thank you.

[1:40:46] >> Any discussion?

[1:40:49] » Any discussion?

[1:40:49] >> We good? Let's vote.

[1:40:52] » We good? Let's vote.

[1:40:52] >> Oh, we did have one.

[1:40:54] » Oh, we did have one.

[1:40:54] public comment.

[1:40:56] >> We have one person submitted a a card

[1:40:59] » We have one person submitted a a card

[1:40:59] for NB1,

[1:41:05] » David Paul.

[1:41:26] Mr. Mayor and Vice Mayor and Councel,

[1:41:29] good evening. I'm glad to be here.

[1:41:32] You know, just listening to the reading

[1:41:35] again. And the thing that

[1:41:38] is good about this, I guess, is that

[1:41:39] it'll go to the voters. So, unless it

[1:41:42] doesn't get on the agenda uh ballot,

[1:41:45] then it won't. But

[1:41:48] I have been going back and forth and in

[1:41:51] the new reading just now it seemed like

[1:41:55] we're going to have five council

[1:41:56] members, a vice mayor and a mayor and I

[1:41:59] thought we were adding one council

[1:42:04] person and a vice mayor.

[1:42:07] So that that's where I'm confused

[1:42:09] because you know with the

[1:42:13] um manager council system

[1:42:16] you guys are really

[1:42:19] just one of five votes.

[1:42:22] So are you saying that we'll put a mayor

[1:42:26] slot in there or what? because

[1:42:31] that that's what I don't understand and

[1:42:33] I I I guess it'll unfold over time and

[1:42:36] the fact that it goes

[1:42:38] to an election or part of the election

[1:42:42] >> can I mean yeah

[1:42:44] » can I mean yeah

[1:42:44] >> yeah I'm fine go ahead sir

[1:42:48] » yeah I'm fine go ahead sir

[1:42:48] the charter stays pretty much the same

[1:42:52] as it is now it's there'll be seven

[1:42:56] people sitting up here instead of

[1:42:59] the vice mayor will not be appointed by

[1:43:01] the mayor but will rather be uh voted

[1:43:04] for at large by the people. Um that's

[1:43:08] really basically the only difference,

[1:43:10] right? Council members will be at five.

[1:43:14] There'll be five council members plus a

[1:43:17] vice mayor plus a mayor.

[1:43:21] The mayor and the vice mayor will be at

[1:43:24] large. So they'll be elected by the

[1:43:27] entire city whether the councils will be

[1:43:30] elected by their district and their

[1:43:32] district only.

[1:43:34] >> No.

[1:43:35] » No.

[1:43:35] >> Okay. Well, well, thank you. But the

[1:43:37] » Okay. Well, well, thank you. But the

[1:43:37] thing I'm really trying to just get to

[1:43:39] the bottom of is how does the fact that

[1:43:42] we start as a manager council soft mayor

[1:43:46] system work with this new arrangement?

[1:43:50] >> Same.

[1:43:51] » Same.

[1:43:51] >> Nothing changes other than the number of

[1:43:53] » Nothing changes other than the number of

[1:43:53] people voting.

[1:43:55] Okay. Well,

[1:43:58] let it work and I appreciate your time

[1:44:00] and I believe a little bit confused, but

[1:44:02] I'm sure I'll understand in time. Thank

[1:44:05] you for your time.

[1:44:07] >> All right. Is that all the speakers?

[1:44:11] » All right. Is that all the speakers?

[1:44:11] You know, I was one of the lead

[1:44:12] attorneys on the Palmdale case which

[1:44:14] brought this uh horror show to the state

[1:44:18] and we've now had 10 years to look at

[1:44:22] it, see what happens. Tell me one city

[1:44:25] that went to district to doing better.

[1:44:28] Tell me one school district that's doing

[1:44:30] better. Tell me one of anything that is

[1:44:34] doing better because they went to

[1:44:35] districts.

[1:44:38] My experience has been it was probably

[1:44:40] this the worst thing I ever did. And

[1:44:42] let's face it, sometimes I've done some

[1:44:45] things I shouldn't be proud of, but this

[1:44:48] one I am absolutely not proud of. And

[1:44:50] you have we have school districts in our

[1:44:53] own community that can't get people to

[1:44:55] run at all. Not at all. So what do you

[1:44:59] think that does to the quality of the

[1:45:01] people who do run, you know, or who who

[1:45:04] do sign up for the seat? The it is it is

[1:45:10] I would just hate to see it come to

[1:45:12] Lancaster. We have seen what it does to

[1:45:15] other cities.

[1:45:17] And you know, when I took on the

[1:45:19] Palmdale case, I I thought their

[1:45:22] leadership left something to be desired.

[1:45:25] But now they they're leaderless because

[1:45:27] they have to rotate the mayor. You know,

[1:45:30] they're leaderless. You you come in with

[1:45:32] a very short period of time to serve.

[1:45:35] Nobody listens to you. The city is now

[1:45:38] run by the city manager. It uh and

[1:45:41] that's what happens. I uh

[1:45:45] you know, we put

[1:45:47] All of us have put a major portion of

[1:45:50] our life into this city.

[1:45:53] I don't want to see it fall apart

[1:45:56] because of of something like this. I

[1:45:58] think we fight. We fight. We fight. We

[1:46:01] fight because we are right. We know

[1:46:04] we're right. The whole world knows we're

[1:46:07] right because the evidence is

[1:46:08] irrefutable.

[1:46:11] Well, I'm going to vote no. But, you

[1:46:14] know, let's vote. Oh, we got a mo. Need

[1:46:16] a motion.

[1:46:19] >> Okay. How do we make a motion?

[1:46:23] » Okay. How do we make a motion?

[1:46:23] >> One of you can choose to move to approve

[1:46:25] » One of you can choose to move to approve

[1:46:25] or one or move to disapprove uh the

[1:46:29] recommended action which is to approve

[1:46:31] resolution 26-04.

[1:46:33] >> I'll move to disapprove the resolution

[1:46:37] » I'll move to disapprove the resolution

[1:46:37] NB1.

[1:46:38] >> I'll second.

[1:46:40] » I'll second.

[1:46:40] >> Okay. So that means a yes vote would not

[1:46:44] » Okay. So that means a yes vote would not

[1:46:44] place this on the ballot because the

[1:46:46] motion is to disapprove.

[1:46:48] >> Yeah, we are voting. If you vote yes,

[1:46:50] » Yeah, we are voting. If you vote yes,

[1:46:50] it's to put it in the round file. If you

[1:46:53] vote no, it to let's run with it.

[1:46:56] >> What? No. If you vote no, then we if we

[1:46:59] » What? No. If you vote no, then we if we

[1:46:59] want to approve the resolution, we'd

[1:47:00] need a new vote because we will have

[1:47:02] never voted to approve the resolution.

[1:47:04] >> Okay. Right now we're there's been a

[1:47:07] » Okay. Right now we're there's been a

[1:47:07] motion and my second. I think it's the

[1:47:09] first time I've ever seconded the motion

[1:47:11] in 20 years, which would give you some

[1:47:13] indication of how detrimental I think.

[1:47:18] >> What?

[1:47:18] » What?

[1:47:18] >> Your penance.

[1:47:19] » Your penance.

[1:47:19] >> Allison, just to clarify, yes means

[1:47:21] » Allison, just to clarify, yes means

[1:47:22] file.

[1:47:22] >> Yeah.

[1:47:23] » Yeah.

[1:47:23] >> No means

[1:47:24] » No means

[1:47:24] >> what?

[1:47:25] » what?

[1:47:25] >> Take no action.

[1:47:26] » Take no action.

[1:47:26] >> A the motion is to disapprove the

[1:47:29] » A the motion is to disapprove the

[1:47:29] resolution.

[1:47:30] >> That's correct. So, if you vote yes, you

[1:47:33] » That's correct. So, if you vote yes, you

[1:47:33] are disapproving the resolution and you

[1:47:36] are not

[1:47:38] uh seeking to place it on the ballot. If

[1:47:41] you vote no, then we would potentially

[1:47:46] have another motion later, but we're not

[1:47:47] there yet.

[1:47:49] >> Okay.

[1:47:49] » Okay.

[1:47:49] >> So, yes means no.

[1:47:50] » So, yes means no.

[1:47:50] >> Yes means no.

[1:47:51] » Yes means no.

[1:47:51] >> No means yes.

[1:47:53] » No means yes.

[1:47:53] >> Only in this context. Yes.

[1:47:56] » Only in this context. Yes.

[1:47:56] >> With regards to NB1. [laughter]

[1:48:05] I'm ready to vote. I don't know about

[1:48:06] you.

[1:48:07] >> I already voted.

[1:48:14] » Okay. So, the motion to disapprove the

[1:48:18] resolution has passed unanimously, which

[1:48:22] means the item will not appear on the

[1:48:25] ballot.

[1:48:28] Well, that was fun, guys. Uh, so that's

[1:48:34] it.

[1:48:36] >> Yes, we have now completed the agenda.

[1:48:42] » It would be appropriate to adjourn.

[1:48:44] >> Okay.

[1:48:46] » Okay.

[1:48:46] The next meeting is scheduled for

[1:48:47] Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.

[1:48:52] This meeting is adjourned. And Carol,

[1:48:55] I'm coming home.

Lancaster Meeting of January 13, 2026

Transcript