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Rosamond Switching Station Project / Public Hearing / Resolution of Necessity Authorizing Commencement of Eminent / Five Parcels of Real Property Acquisition

Council File 26-0446

Under review — the Energy and Environment Committee is examining a legal resolution that would let the city begin eminent domain proceedings to acquire five parcels of land for a water and power switching station; the City Attorney has approved the revised ordinance, but it still needs a supermajority vote from the full Council.

Introduced
2026-03-24
Last changed
2026-07-08
Status
open
Expires
2028-07-08
Committee
Energy and Environment Committee
Initiated by
Board of Water and Power Commissioners
References
City Administrative Officer Report: 0220-06141-0000Resolution: 026181City Attorney Report: R26-0184; R26-0394

Brief

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is requesting a Resolution of Necessity to exercise eminent domain and acquire five parcels of real property needed for the Rosamond Switching Station Project. The Board of Water and Power Commissioners initiated the matter on March 24, 2026. The Energy and Environment Committee has received City Attorney legal opinions supporting the acquisition, with the most recent referral in July 2026. The file remains pending and has not yet been scheduled for a public hearing or full Council vote.

Full summary

The Rosamond Switching Station Project requires the acquisition of five parcels of real property located southwest of the intersection of Rosamond Boulevard and 100th Street West in unincorporated Kern County. The Board of Water and Power Commissioners initiated this file by requesting a Resolution of Necessity, the formal legal mechanism that authorizes the City to commence eminent domain proceedings to acquire privately held land for a public purpose. Under California law, a public agency must adopt such a resolution before filing an eminent domain action, and the resolution must affirmatively find that the public interest and necessity require the acquisition. The City Attorney's office has prepared two versions of the authorizing ordinance. The original draft was submitted on April 1, 2026. A revised draft was transmitted on July 8, 2026, with a narrow but legally significant correction: the signature page was updated to clarify that the ordinance must pass the City Council by a vote of not less than two-thirds of all its members, a supermajority threshold required for eminent domain proceedings of this type. City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto's office, through Chief Assistant City Attorney Michael J. Dundas, confirmed the revised draft is approved as to form and legality. Since introduction in late March 2026, all activity has been confined to the Energy and Environment Committee, which has received the Board of Water and Power Commissioners' initial submission and both City Attorney reports. The committee has not yet scheduled a public hearing or advanced the matter to the full Council for a vote. The file remains active and does not expire until July 2028, leaving substantial time for the Council to act. If and when the Council adopts the ordinance by the required supermajority, LADWP would be authorized to proceed with formal eminent domain proceedings in Kern County court to acquire the five parcels for the switching station.

Activity (6)

  • 2026-07-08 City Attorney document(s) referred to Energy and Environment Committee.
  • 2026-07-08 Document submitted by City Attorney, dated July 8, 2026.
  • 2026-04-01 City Attorney document(s) referred to Energy and Environment Committee.
  • 2026-04-01 Document submitted by City Attorney, dated April 1, 2026.
  • 2026-03-25 Board of Water and Power Commissioners document(s) referred to Energy and Environment Committee.
  • 2026-03-24 Document submitted by Board of Water and Power Commissioners, dated March 24, 2026.

Documents (10)

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