Council holds hearing on possible ballot measure to allow district elections, add vice mayor and expand council

Lancaster's city attorney held a public hearing to inform the community about a proposed ballot measure that would amend the city charter to authorize three potential changes: increase the number of council members from four to five, add the office of vice mayor, and permit the council to adopt district-based elections consistent with the California Voting Rights Act.

Allison, the city attorney, explained the hearing was informational only and that the council must conduct two public hearings and observe a statutory waiting period before it may consider placing a charter amendment before voters. She described the proposed charter language as permissive: it would authorize the council to adopt an ordinance effecting the changes if voters approve the charter amendment; it would not itself implement districting.

The attorney also said the proposal was in part a risk-management response to litigation under the California Voting Rights Act, noting that jurisdictions sued under that law have struggled to defend at trial and that attorney-fee awards in some cases have reached as high as $15 million. "Not a single public agency has successfully defended against such a lawsuit," Allison said, summarizing statewide litigation experience cited in the staff report.

Councilmembers and members of the public asked procedural questions about timing, how districts and at-large offices would interact, and the scheduling of future hearings. Allison said the city expects to return to council in December for a second hearing and could present the question for council action on placing a measure on the ballot at the first meeting in January 2026, subject to the required notice periods.

No action was taken at this meeting.