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Council repeals cruising code to conform with state law and discusses letting boulevard cruising return
Summary
Council approved an ordinance repeal to conform with state law and members discussed encouraging a return of cruising on the boulevard, while public commenters raised safety and activation ideas for the corridor.
The Lancaster City Council voted Jan. 13 to move forward with an ordinance repeal required to conform local rules to recent state law changes and discussed the possibility of allowing vehicle 'cruising' to return to the boulevard under close municipal oversight.
City staff presented NB2, an ordinance to repeal portions of the municipal code (noted in the staff packet as sections 10.04.035 and 10.04.04) that were affected by Assembly Bill 436’s amendments to the vehicle code. Staff said the repeal is required to keep the municipal code in compliance with state law.
During debate, Mayor Paris said the city could try allowing cruising on the boulevard again but warned the council would act quickly if problems arose. "Let's let them come back and see how it works," Mayor Paris said. "I don't hesitate to drop a hammer if it's necessary," he added, saying the city could hold emergency meetings to shut the activity down if needed.
A public commenter, Jose Diaz Alvarez, a Lancaster resident of 24 years, urged the council to make the boulevard a destination with monthly family events and suggested using empty lots for sound stages or other developments to attract visitors. Alvarez raised safety concerns including shootings, drugs and prostitution and said he owns a security company and would be willing to meet with city officials to discuss ideas.
Council members said the ordinance repeal is procedural to conform with state law; separate staff-led programs or political encouragement would be used if council wants to actively promote cruising as an event.
The motion to approve NB2 carried unanimously.
Next steps: staff will process the ordinance repeal to align the municipal code with state law and council discussed potential non-regulatory programs to encourage safe, organized cruising events on the boulevard.
