ADO build for Azure Function pipeline build fails - local.settings.json not found

Because local.settings.json is filtered by .gitignore it does not exist in the repository. But there is a reference to local.settings.json in the Function .csproj file. No problem locally, the file exists per template. But Azure DevOps pipeline builds fail. ('Error MSB3030 Could not copy the file...')

We solved this problem by adding a command task in the pipeline and emitting an empty local.settings.json file. This seems weird to have to do that and I can't find any discussion of this issue.

What is the recommended guidance to avoid this issue?

Start by inspecting the Function .csproj reference to local.settings.json and the Azure DevOps pipeline command that creates the empty file, then reproduce the failing build. Done means the recommended guidance for handling the ignored settings file is established and the pipeline behavior is verified.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.