9-25-12 CC-Agency-Authority Minutes

CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY/
FINANCING/HOUSING/POWER AUTHORITY
REGULAR MEETING
AGENDA

Tuesday
September 25, 2012
Regular Meeting – 5:00 p.m.
Council Chambers – Lancaster City Hall
The City Clerk/Agency/Authority Secretary hereby declares the agenda was posted
by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 21, 2012
at the entrance to the Lancaster City Hall Council Chambers.
44933 Fern Avenue, Lancaster, CA 93534

LEGISLATIVE BODY

City Council/Successor Agency/Financing/Power Authority

Mayor/Chair R. Rex Parris
Vice Mayor/Vice Chair Ronald D. Smith
Council Member/Agency/Authority Member Marvin Crist
Council Member/Agency/Authority Member Sandra Johnson
Council Member/Agency/Authority Member Ken Mann

Housing Authority

Chair Kitty Kit Yee Szeto
Vice Chair Ronald D. Smith
Authority Member Marvin Crist
Authority Member Cassandra Harvey
Authority Member Ken Mann

AGENDA ITEMS TO BE REMOVED
Sometimes it is necessary to remove items from the agenda. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

PUBLIC BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR - AGENDIZED ITEMS
Any person who would like to address the City Council, Successor Agency, and Power/Financing/Housing Authorities on any agendized item is requested to complete a speaker card for the City Clerk/Agency/Authority Secretary and identify the agenda item you would like to discuss. Each person will be given an opportunity to address the Legislative Body at the time such item is discussed. Speaker cards are available at the rear of the Council Chambers and your speaker card must be filled out prior to the agenda item being called. We respectfully request that you fill the cards out completely and print as clearly as possible. Following this procedure will allow for a smooth and timely process for the meeting and we appreciate your cooperation. Individual speakers are limited to three (3) minutes each.

Consent Calendar items under the Legislative Body may be acted upon with one motion, a second and the vote. If you desire to speak on an item or items on the Consent Calendar, you may fill out one speaker card for the Consent Calendar. You will be given three minutes to address your concerns before the Legislative Body takes action on the Consent Calendar.

CALL TO ORDER
City Council/Successor Agency/Financing/Housing/Power Authority

ROLL CALL
City Council/Authority Members: Crist, Johnson, Mann; Vice Mayor/Vice Chairman Smith, Mayor/Chairman Parris

ROLL CALL
Housing Authority Members: Crist, Harvey, Mann; Vice Chairman Smith; Chair Szeto

INVOCATION
Associate Pastor Gabriel Ruhl - Lancaster Baptist Church

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PRESENTATIONS

1. Athlete of the Month Award – Brenden Baker, Desert Christian High School
   Presenter: Mayor Parris

HOUSING AUTHORITY ACTIONS

MINUTES

HM 1. Approve the Housing Authority Regular Meeting minutes of September 11, 2012.

COUNCIL ACTIONS

MINUTES

M 1. Approve the City Council/Successor Agency/Financing/Power Authority Regular Meeting minutes of September 11, 2012.

CONSENT CALENDAR

CC 1. Waive further reading of any proposed ordinances. (This permits reading the title only in lieu of reciting the entire text.)

CC 2. Approve the Check and Wire Registers for August 24, 2012 through September 8, 2012 in the amount of $2,969,175.02.
CC 2 attachment

At each regular City Council Meeting, the City Council is presented with the financial claims (invoices) against the City for purchase of materials, supplies, services, and capital projects for checks and wires issued the prior two to three weeks. This process provides the City Council the opportunity to review the expenses of the City. The justifying backup for each expenditure is available in the Finance Department.

CC 3. Authorize the purchase of two (2) pieces of equipment from VT LeeBoy, and two (2) pieces of equipment from Quinn Cat who were each awarded a contract competitively bid through the National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA) for heavy construction equipment. The regional distributor for VT LeeBoy will be Nixon-Egli Equipment Company located in Ontario, California. Quinn Cat is located in Lancaster, CA.

As presented to City Council on August 14, 2012, the Department of Public Works is implementing a shift to Pavement Preservation within the Pavement Management Program. These four (4) pieces of equipment are essential to the Maintenance Services Division’s role in Pavement Preservation. Utilizing existing staff and with selective material purchase agreements, to be presented to Council at a later date, the Maintenance Services Division will treat twice as many roads targeted in the Pavement Management Program for pavement preservation. The City will realize increased lane miles treated and reduced costs over conventional methods.

CC 4. Approve appropriations in the amount of $24,000.00 to Account No. 104-4662762 for the replacement of vehicle #EQ5602 and increase estimated revenues in Account No. 104-3602100 in the amount of $13,432.00 for insurance reimbursement.

Vehicle #EQ5602 was involved in an accident resulting in the vehicle being considered a total loss. The vehicle is necessary for the Park Ranger operations and the City received an insurance reimbursement for a portion of the anticipated cost of the vehicle. The balance will be funded through the Capital Replacement Fund.

CC 5. Adopt Resolution No. 12-69, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Lancaster, California, approving a disposition strategy for the sale of single-family residences acquired under the approved Neighborhood Stabilization Program III (NSP3).
CC 5 attachment

The City of Lancaster purchased and rehabilitated eleven properties under the NSP3 program. These properties will be marketed and sold to potential homeowners who agree to purchase the properties for appraised value and agree to the recording of Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions. The Affordability Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions contain affordability requirements and restrict the resale of the property to be owner occupied for forty-five years. The properties will be listed and sold through the Greater Antelope Valley Association of Realtors members via the local area Multiple Listing Service to qualified homebuyers.

The NSP3 program helps to eliminate blight in the neighborhoods, and it assists the community by providing much needed affordable homeownership for families. Sale of the rehabilitated properties to homeowners will also help provide a better balance of homeowner to investor in the neighborhoods. By encouraging homeownership, the value attributed to the land as a resource increases, as the conditions of physical deterioration and blight due to poor use of the property, squatting and illegal dumping have been removed. The rejuvenation of these properties is further bolstered with the real potential of providing long-term affordable homeownership.

CC 6. Approve appropriation in the amount of $54,000.00 to Account No. 324-4821771 for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant and increase estimated revenues in Account No. 324-3307110 by the same amount.

Lancaster has been awarded $54,000.00 from the Office of Traffic Safety for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant. Funds can be used for special operations targeting reduction of the number of persons killed and injured in crashes involving alcohol, speed, red light running and other collision factors. The program may include DUI checkpoints, speed, aggressive driving, seat belt enforcement, intersection operations with disproportionate numbers of traffic crashes and special enforcement operations encouraging motorcycle safety.

NEW BUSINESS

NB 1. Graffiti Abatement Volunteer Program

Recommendation:
Receive report and approve the implementation of a Graffiti Abatement Volunteer Program.

Graffiti is a challenge for the City, as it creates an eyesore and can negatively impact the quality of life in a community and affects people’s perceptions about safety. Graffiti vandalism continues to be one of the more challenging problems that the Public Works Department is facing.

Residents interested in participating in this volunteer effort are asked to contact the Public Works Department through the graffiti hotline. Upon completion of a Volunteer Interest & Information Sheet, they will be contacted to participate in training pertaining to the most common ways of removing graffiti based on the type of surface and substrate to be removed. Once trained, they will be given graffiti removal supplies color matched to the location they have chosen to adopt. Volunteers are asked to adopt a location for a minimum of three (3) months.

Staff believes that actively involving the community in graffiti prevention and removal will improve awareness and be instrumental in promptly removing graffiti thus creating a graffiti free community.

NB 2. International Energy Globe Award Prize

Recommendation:
Appropriate the $10,000.00 prize awarded to the City of Lancaster as a winner of the 2012 International Energy Globe Award to Account No. 486-4770-201 and Account No. 486-4770-205, with $5,000.00 allotted to each.

The City of Lancaster was recently honored for its groundbreaking initiatives in alternative energy with an International Energy Globe Award. The awards program, which is sponsored by Energy Globe founder Wolfgang Neumann, aims “to safeguard the future of the planet and the right of future generations everywhere to live healthy and fulfilling lives.” In recognition of its ongoing renewable energy efforts which contribute to achieving this goal, Lancaster was awarded first place, worldwide in the “Fire” category and third place, worldwide overall. Program categories include Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Youth.

Two pioneering projects garnered Lancaster this prestigious recognition: the “Home of the Future” and the Solar Lancaster Program. Both emphasize the immense value of public-private partnerships in developing sustainable energy projects as Lancaster continues its quest to become the Alternative Energy Capital of the World.

COUNCIL AGENDA

CA 1. Discussion and possible action regarding adoption of Resolution No. 12-70, to avert Federal Sequestration Cuts
Presenter: Mayor Parris

COUNCIL REPORTS

CR 1. Report on the Activities of the Board of Directors for the Antelope Valley Transit Authority
Presenters: Council Member Crist and Council Member Mann

LANCASTER SUCCESSOR AGENCY
No action required at this time.

LANCASTER FINANCING AUTHORITY
No action required at this time.

LANCASTER POWER AUTHORITY
No action required at this time.

CITY MANAGER / EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANNOUNCEMENTS

CITY CLERK / AGENCY / AUTHORITY SECRETARY ANNOUNCEMENT

PUBLIC BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR - NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
This portion of the agenda allows an individual the opportunity to address the City Council/Successor Agency on any item NOT ON THE AGENDA regarding City/Agency business and speaker cards must be submitted prior to the beginning of this portion of the Agenda. Please complete a speaker card for the City Clerk/Agency Secretary and identify the subject you would like to address. We respectfully request that you fill the cards out completely and print as clearly as possible. Following this procedure will allow for a smooth and timely process for the City Council/ Successor Agency meeting and we appreciate your cooperation. State law prohibits the City Council/ Successor Agency from taking action on items not on the agenda and your matter will be referred to the City Manager/Executive Director. Individual speakers are limited to three (3) minutes each.

COUNCIL / AGENCY COMMENTS

CLOSED SESSION

Conference with Legal Counsel--Existing Litigation - Government Code Section 54956.9(a)

• The Community Action League v. City of Lancaster - United States District Court Case No. 11-CV-4817-ODW-VBK
• CSCNAACP v. City of Lancaster, California Case Number: 09-11-0954-8
• GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9 (a) - Pending Litigation-Palmdale v. Lancaster - Case Number BC443280
• Antelope Valley Allied Arts Association et al v. Lancaster et al, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC45017
• Rubin v. Lancaster - United States District Court Case No. CV 10-4046 DSF (JCx)
• Mongols Nation Motorcycle Club v. City of Lancaster, et al. Case No. BC439791
• Miracle Star Women's Recovering Community, Inc. et al. v. City of Lancaster, et al. LASC Case No. MC 020079
• Save Our Neighborhood Group v. City of Lancaster, et al. Los Angeles Superior court Case No. BS 121501
• ANTELOPE VALLEY GROUNDWATER CASES
  Included Actions:
  Los Angeles County Waterworks District No. 40 v. Diamond Farming Co.
  Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, Case No. BC325201;
  
  Los Angeles County Waterworks District No. 40 v. Diamond Farming Co.
  Superior Court of California, County of Kern, Case No. S-1500-CV-254-348
  
  Wm. Bolthouse Farms, Inc. v. City of Lancaster, Diamond Farming Co. v. City of Lancaster, Diamond Farming Co. v. Palmdale Water Dist.,
  Superior Court of California County of Riverside, consolidated actions;
  Case Nos. RIC 353 840, RIC 344 436, RIC 344 668
  
  Santa Clara Case No. 1-05-CV 049053

ADJOURNMENT (Agency, Council and Authority)
In memory and honor of the victims and heroes of September 11, 2001, they will always be remembered.
Next Regular Meeting:
Tuesday, October 9, 2012 - 5:00 p.m.

MEETING ASSISTANCE INFORMATION
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk Department at (661) 723-6020. Services such as American Sign Language interpreters, a reader during the meeting, and/or large print copies of the agenda are available. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.

AGENDA ADDENDUM INFORMATION
On occasion items may be added after the agenda has been mailed to subscribers. Copies of the agenda addendum item will be available at the City Clerk Department and are posted with the agenda on the windows of the City Council Chambers. For more information, please call the City Clerk Department at (661) 723-6020.