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MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 COUNCIL
CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Lopez led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Leticia Lopez, Mayor
Crystal Larios, Mayor Pro Tem
Judith Merlo, Council Member
Melissa Ybarra, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Carlos Fandino, City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa, City Attorney
Lisa Pope, City Clerk
Scott Williams, Finance Director
Fredrick Agyin, Health and Environmental Control Director Michael Earl, Human Resources Director
Robert Sousa, Police Chief
Dan Wall, Public Works Director
Todd Dusenberry, Public Utilities General Manager
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Larios moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Gwen Slaughter, Starline Tours, discussed efforts to transition to electric vehicles and the need to update their property.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Proclamation Recognizing Retired Employee - Eliseo Genera III City Clerk Pope read the proclamation and the Council recognized Eliseo Genera III, Civilian Court Officer, for his dedicated service to the City of Vernon.
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2. Employee Service Pin Awards for December 2022
Human Resources Director Earl presented the staff report.
Mayor Lopez recognized Angela P. Kimmey, Deputy City Administrator, for 5 years of service; George Tolmasoff III, Utilities Dispatcher, for 15 years of service; and Jason G. Tomlinson, Fleet Supervisor, for 20 years of service.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. Amendments to Vernon Municipal Code Section 17.24.080 Pertaining to General Industry Site Planning Standards
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
In response to Council questions, Public Works Director Wall stated the ordinance would promote safety, while ensuring the requirements were not onerous.
Mayor Lopez opened the public hearing. There being no speakers, Mayor Lopez closed the public hearing.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, because it is general policy and procedure-making activity that is unrelated to any specific project, which must undergo separate CEQA review, and that will not result in direct physical changes or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 15378; B. Introduce and conduct first reading of Ordinance No. 1292 amending Vernon Municipal Code Section
17.24.080 regulating building setbacks; and C. Direct staff to schedule second reading and adoption for the February 7, 2023 City Council meeting. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
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 unanimously.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
4. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the December 20, 2022 Regular City Council meeting minutes.
5. Conduct of Meeting via Teleconference Pursuant to Assembly Bill 361 Recommendation: Ratify the findings in Resolution No. 2021-36 authorizing continued conduct of City Council and other City legislative body meetings via DocuSign Envelope ID: 61976101-1BD3-43FF-8951-96EB396BF66C Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5
January 17, 2023
teleconference, in accordance with Assembly Bill 361, due to continued public health and safety concerns caused by COVID-19.
6. City Payroll Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve City Payroll Warrant Register No. 799, for the period of December 1 through December 31, 2022, totaling $3,900,635.79 and consisting of ratification of direct deposits, checks and taxes totaling $2,997,606.43 and ratification of checks and electronic fund transfers (EFT) for payroll related disbursements totaling $903,029.36 paid through operating bank account.
7. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 101, for the period of December 4 through December 24, 2022, totaling $16,075,929.49 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $13,857,444.41 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $2,218,485.08.
8. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the October and November 2022 Fire Department Activity Reports.
9. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the November 2022 Police Department Activity Report.
10. Quarterly City Housing Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the December 2022 Quarterly City Housing Report.
11. Authorization to Order Agreements with A T and T Mobility (AT&T) for State of California CALNET NextGen
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute the Authorization to Order Agreements with AT&T for various telecommunications and network services, in substantially the same form as submitted, for a total amount not-to-exceed $294,000 for a three-year term.
12. Revised Proclamation Recognizing Retired Employee – Jerry R. Chavez, Jr.
Recommendation: Approve revised proclamation.
13. Grant Deed Dedicating in Fee a Portion of the Property Located at 5655 Santa Fe Avenue
Recommendation: A. Find that accepting the Grant Deed is categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c) because if any construction occurs as a result of accepting and executing the Grant Deed, the project would involve negligible expansion of an existing street; and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2023-01 accepting the Grant Deed of a portion of the property located at 5655 Santa Fe Avenue – Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APN) 6308-017-011, 012 and 013.
NEW BUSINESS
14. Sapphire Solar Power and Battery Storage Project Power Sales Agreement Public Utilities General Manager Dusenberry presented the staff report.
In response to Council questions, General Manager Dusenberry confirmed that the project was expected to start in December 2025.
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MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Mayor Pro Tem Larios seconded a motion to:
A. Find that approval of the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, because it is an administrative and fiscal activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 15378. Pursuant to the Power Purchase Agreement between Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) and EDF Renewables North America, the lead agencies have obtained, or will reasonably and timely obtain, all CEQA determinations required for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the facility; and B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Power Sales Agreement (PSA) with Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA), in substantially the same form as submitted, to purchase 39 megawatts of solar power and up to approximately 19.7 megawatts of battery storage with associated green attributes through the Sapphire Solar Project for a projected annual amount of $6,665,000 over a 20-year term. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
15. City Council Appointments to Outside Agencies
City Clerk Pope presented the staff report.
Council Member Larios volunteered to serve as the alternate member on the Central Basin Water Association.
Council Member Merlo volunteered to serve as the alternate member on County Sanitation District Nos. 1 and 2.
MOTION
Mayor Lopez moved and Council Member Ybarra seconded a motion to: A.
Appoint Council Member Larios as the City’s alternate representative to the Central Basin Water Association; B. Appoint Council Member Merlo as the City’s alternate representative to County Sanitation District No. 1; and C. Appoint Council Member Merlo as the City’s alternate representative to County Sanitation District No. 2. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
16. City Administrator Reports on Activities and other Announcements.
City Administrator Fandino announced that former Council Member William Davis would be honored at the February 21, 2023 Council meeting; reported on the General Municipal Election to be held April 11, 2023; announced the Vernon CommUNITY Fund scholarship period was open; and provided an update on the utility pole upgrade project at 49th and 50th Streets to increase the capacity for large scale loads.
January 17, 2023
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17. City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff.
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 9:23 a.m.
______________________________
ATTEST: LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
____________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)