2-25-14 CC-Agency-Authority Minutes

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

Tuesday
February 25, 2014
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, February 21, 2014
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 Marvin Crist
Council Member/Agency/Authority Member Sandra Johnson
Council Member/Agency/Authority Member Ken Mann
Council Member/Agency/Authority Member Ronald D. Smith

Housing Authority

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

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: Johnson, Mann, Smith; Vice Mayor/Vice Chair Crist, Mayor/Chair Parris

ROLL CALL

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

INVOCATION

Pastor Tim Stroup, Crosswind Community Church

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PRESENTATION

Recognition of Greg Hanes of Hanes & Associates for his contribution to the remodel of the Lancaster Sheriff Station dispatch and customer service area.

Presenter: Mayor Parris

COUNCIL ACTIONS

MINUTES

M 1. Approve the City Council/Successor Agency/Financing/ Power Authority Regular Meeting minutes of February 11, 2014.

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 January 26, 2014 through February 8, 2014 in the amount of $1,146,025.21.
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 Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments issued the prior two to three weeks. This process provides the City Council the opportunity to review the expenses of the City.

CC 3. Accept and approve the January 2014, Monthly Report of Investments as submitted.
CC 3 attachment

Each month, the Finance Department prepares a report listing the investments for all separate entities under the jurisdiction of the City as identified in the City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the City of Lancaster and the Lancaster Housing Authority.

CC 4. Approve the transfer of funds for checks issued by the City for individual items less than fifteen dollars ($15) which have remained unclaimed for the period of one year.
CC 4 attachment

California Government Code sections 50050-50057 establish the rights and procedures related to unclaimed checks issued by local agencies and City Administrative Policy 200-08 stipulates the proper accounting and disposition procedures for these unclaimed checks. The City is permitted to retain any individual items of less than fifteen dollars ($15.00) which remain unclaimed in the treasury or in the official custody of the City for the period of one year without the necessity of publication of a notice in a newspaper.

CC 5. Adopt Resolution No. 14-09, approving and authorizing the re-designation of the County of Kern/City of Lancaster Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ) and approve the submittal of the renewal application to include the City of Lancaster.
CC 5 attachment

On November 11, 2003, the City passed and adopted Resolution 03-435 in which the City of Lancaster was made a part of the Kern County RMDZ program boundary. Pursuant to Title 14, Section 17901(j) of the California Code of Regulations, the RMDZ program designations must be renewed every ten (10) years to be active. In 2003, the Kern County/City of Lancaster RMDZ was renewed for ten years and is set to expire this year on March 31, 2014.

NEW BUSINESS

NB 1. Building Incentive Stimulus Program for existing tracts and new commercial development
NB 1 attachment

Recommendation:

Adopt Resolution No. 14-10, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Lancaster, California, approving the continuation of the Building Incentive Stimulus Program for existing tracts and new commercial development.

In an effort to encourage new construction and alleviate the blight of abandoned tracts, the City Council approved a Building Stimulus Program in February 2010. The original program was extended through the end of Fiscal Year 2010-2011. For Fiscal Year 2011-2012, the program was modified to provide a twenty-five (25) percent discount of development impact fees within tracts only, and to defer the payment of non-discounted impact fees for commercial construction to the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy. This program was continued for Fiscal Year 2012-2013. The current Fiscal Year 2013-2014 program limits discounts to tracts where construction has begun prior to the end of 2013. These programs have managed to maintain a steady rate of new home construction in a market that has continued to decline in other communities. It is for this reason staff believes it is still in the best interest of the City to support the building industry by continuing the existing program through June 30, 2015.

For existing tracts, twenty-five (25) percent of the development impact fees will be waived and landscaping will not be required in the rear or side yards when not visible from the street. The discount will apply to all new homes permitted for construction within tracts recorded prior to December 31, 2013. For new commercial and industrial development, development impact fees will be deferred from building permit issuance to any certificate of completion or occupancy. This program will be in effect from March 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015, in order to help stimulate the local job market, eliminate blight, increase property values, and encourage developers to continue to build in the City of Lancaster.

NB 2. Safe Routes to School program update/presentation

Recommendation:

Receive and file Safe Routes to School program update.

NB 3. Lancaster Corporate Challenge update/presentation

Recommendation:

Receive and file Lancaster Corporate Challenge update.

COUNCIL REPORTS

CR 1. Report on the Activities of the Board of Directors for the Antelope Valley Transit Authority

Presenter: Vice Mayor Crist

LANCASTER HOUSING AUTHORITY

No action required at this time.

LANCASTER FINANCING AUTHORITY

No action required at this time.

LANCASTER POWER AUTHORITY

No action required at this time.

LANCASTER SUCCESSOR AGENCY

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

1. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation: significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d) (2) - four potential cases.

2. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation: consideration of initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d) (4) - one potential case.

3. Conference with Legal Counsel--Existing Litigation - Government Code Section 54956.9(d) (1)

4. Coalition for Open Government v. City of Lancaster, Case No. BC499047

5. Quartz Hill Cares v. City of Lancaster, Case No. BS 122336

6. Palmdale v. Lancaster - Case No. BC443280

7. Lancaster v. Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles (HACoLA) Case No. MC023649

8. Rubin v. Lancaster - United States District Court Case No. CV 10-4046 DSF (JCx)

9. Save Our Neighborhood Group v. City of Lancaster, et al. Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BS 121501.

10. Shabazz v. Parris, USDC, Central Case No. CV12-5803 SVW (JEM)

11. 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 District
    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

Next Regular Meeting:
Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - 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.