Sec. 31.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares the following:(1) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has contracted for the construction of a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), also known as the “X-33.”
(2) NASA plans for the RLV’s first launch to occur in April 2000, at Edwards Air Force Base, located in the northern portion of the Antelope Valley.
(3) The RLV site will stimulate economic development of the area surrounding the base but may also encourage incompatible development within the RLV’s flight path.
(4) Though the base is located in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County that is not within the sphere of influence of the City of Lancaster, it is the Legislature’s intent that the city and the county encourage compatible development within the RLV’s flight path.
(5) It is the Legislature’s intent to temporarily expand the City of Lancaster’s sphere of influence to include the base and adjacent territory so that the city and the county may cooperate to discourage incompatible development in the areas that will be affected by the RLV’s flight path.
(6) It is also the Legislature’s intent to allow the City of Lancaster to expend specified funds outside its city limits but within its temporary sphere of influence to promote commercial space efforts, to retain and create commercial space jobs, and to develop commercial space infrastructure on and around the Edwards Air Force Base.
(b) Notwithstanding Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 56425) of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 5 of the Government Code, the Legislature deems the City of Lancaster’s sphere of influence to include the area described in subdivision (d).
(c) Notwithstanding Section 56133 of the Government Code, the Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission shall not disapprove the City of Lancaster’s expenditures for the following improvements and services pursuant to an interagency agreement entered into to expend moneys and technical assistance, to promote commercial space efforts, to retain and create commercial space jobs, and to develop commercial space infrastructure at the Edwards Air Force Base:
(1) The acquisition, construction, improvement, and maintenance of transportation facilities and improvements.
(2) The acquisition, construction, improvement, and maintenance of fuel facilities and improvements.
(3) The acquisition, construction, improvement and maintenance of drainage facilities and improvements.
(4) The acquisition of rights-of-way.
(5) The relocation of utility transmission facilities.
(6) The acquisition, construction, improvement, and maintenance of testing facilities and improvements.
(d) Pursuant to subdivision (b), the City of Lancaster’s sphere of influence shall be deemed to include the territory that is bounded by the Los Angeles County line on the north and east, by Avenue J on the south, and by 120th Street East on the west.
(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2002, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2002, deletes or extends that date.