MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2022
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Vernon Police Department Honor Guard presented the Colors and led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Leticia Lopez, Mayor
Crystal Larios, Mayor Pro Tem
Judith Merlo, Council Member
Melissa Ybarra, Council Member
ABSENT:
William Davis, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Carlos Fandino, City Administrator
Angela Kimmey, Deputy City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa, City Attorney
Lisa Pope, City Clerk
Scott Williams, Finance Director
Fredrick Agyin, Health and Environmental Control Director (via remote access) Michael Earl, Human Resources Director
Robert Sousa, Police Chief
Dan Wall, Public Works Director
Todd Dusenberry, Acting Public Utilities General Manager
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Mayor Pro Tem Larios seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Davis absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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August 16, 2022
PRESENTATIONS
1. Employee Service Pin Awards for July 2022
Recommendation: No action is required by City Council. This is a presentation only.
Human Resources Director presented the report.
2. Proclamation Recognizing Retired Employee - Gerardo C. Farias Recommendation: Acknowledge and present a proclamation to retired employee Gerardo C. Farias, Street Maintenance Worker, Senior, in recognition of his dedicated service to the City of Vernon.
City Clerk Pope read and presented the proclamation to Gerardo C. Farias.
3. Swearing-In Ceremony for New Police Officer
Recommendation: Administer the Oath of Office to Police Officer Rudy Hernandez.
Police Chief Sousa presented the staff report and introduced new Police Officer Rudy Hernandez.
City Clerk Pope administered the Oath of Office.
RECESS
Mayor Lopez called a recess at 9:10 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 9:16 a.m. with all Council Members present, except Council Member Davis.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar. The question was called and the motion carried 4- 0, Council Member Davis absent.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
4. Approval of Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the August 2, 2022 Regular City Council meeting minutes.
5. Ordinance No. 1287 Amending Title 17 of the Vernon Municipal Code pertaining to Warehouse Uses
Recommendation: Conduct second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 1287 amending Chapters 17.16.020 and 17.24.020 and adding Chapter 17.24.035 to Title 17 (Zoning) of the Vernon Municipal Code relating to warehouse uses.
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August 16, 2022
6. City Payroll Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve City Payroll Warrant Register No. 794, for the period of July 1 through July 31, 2022, totaling $2,833,434.93 and consisting of ratification of direct deposits, checks and taxes totaling $1,904,503.44 and ratification of checks and electronic fund transfers (EFT) for payroll related disbursements totaling $928,931.49 paid through operating bank account.
7. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 92, for the period of July 17 through July 30, 2022, totaling $17,248,396.66 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $15,784,135.95 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $1,464,260.71.
8. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the June 2022 Fire Department Activity Report.
9. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the June 2022 Police Department Activity Report
10. Quarterly Report of Cash and Investments
Recommendation: Receive and file the Cash and Investments Report for the quarter ending June 30, 2022.
11. Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the report.
12. Vernon Public Utilities 2022 Wildfire Mitigation Plan Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the general rule that CEQA only applies to projects that may have a significant effect on the environment. This action receives and files an update to the City’s plan for the implementation of preventative strategies and mitigation measures to minimize the risk of wildfires caused by electrical lines and equipment; this action does not authorize any construction activity or any disturbance of an environmental resource, and has no potential for causing a significant effect on the environment; and B. Approve the Vernon Public Utilities 2022 Wildfire Mitigation Plan.
13. Letter to United States Environmental Protection Agency Requesting Exide Technologies, Inc. (Exide) Lead Cleanup be Added to Superfund Priorities List
Recommendation: Receive and file.
NEW BUSINESS
14. League of California Cities 2022 Annual Conference Voting Delegate and Alternates
City Clerk Pope presented the staff report.
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August 16, 2022
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Larios moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to designate Council Member Ybarra as the City's voting delegate and Mayor Pro Tem Larios as the voting alternate to represent the City of Vernon at the League of California Cities 2022 Annual Conference and Expo scheduled for September 7-9, 2022, in Long Beach, California. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Davis absent.
15. Memorandum of Understanding by and between the City of Vernon and the Vernon Police Management Association
Human Resources Director Earl presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Mayor Pro Tem Larios seconded a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2022-32 approving the Memorandum of Understanding by and between the City of Vernon and the Vernon Police Management Association for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Davis absent.
16. Amendment to Classification and Compensation Plan
Human Resources Director Earl presented the staff report.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Larios moved and Council Member Ybarra seconded a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2022-33 amending Exhibit F of the Classification and Compensation Plan adopted by Resolution No. 2022-29 and amended by Resolution No. 2022-31 to incorporate Cost of Living Adjustments for classifications represented by the Vernon Police Management Association. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Davis absent.
ORAL REPORTS
City Administrator Reports on Activities and other Announcements.
City Administrator Fandino welcomed the Vernon Elementary students back for the new school year. He reminded non-profits serving the Vernon Area that the Vernon CommUNITY Fund grant applications were due by September 30, 2022.
He announced the upcoming Special Green Vernon Commission Meeting on August 24, 2022 at 3:30 p.m. and the New Business Welcome Breakfast on September 14, 2022 at 8:00 a.m.
City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff.
Mayor Lopez announced her attendance at the Independent Cities Association Summer Seminar from August 11-14, 2022, with a fiscal impact of $2,520.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 4EAB886E-188F-475E-B58B-907512E1EA71 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5
August 16, 2022
RECESS
Mayor Lopez recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:24 a.m.
CLOSED SESSION
17. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION Government Code Section 54956.9(D)(1)
Jerry Chavez v. City of Vernon
Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC719460
RECONVENE
At 10:48 a.m., Mayor Lopez adjourned Closed Session and reconvened the regular meeting.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Moussa reported that the Council met in Closed Session, discussed the item on the agenda, and took no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 10:48 a.m.
______________________________
LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
DocuSign Envelope ID: 4EAB886E-188F-475E-B58B-907512E1EA71