MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Larios called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Vernon Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors and led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Crystal Larios, Mayor
Judith Merlo, Mayor Pro Tem
Leticia Lopez, Council Member
Melissa Ybarra, Council Member
Jesus Rivera, 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 Robert Sousa, Police Chief
Dan Wall, Public Works Director
Margie Otto, Public Utilities Assistant General Manager
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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May 16, 2023
PRESENTATIONS
1. Employee Service Pin Awards for April 2023
City Clerk Pope announced the recipients of the Employee Service Pin Awards.
2. Proclamation Commending Sweetener Products Company on its 100th Anniversary
Mayor Larios presented the proclamation to Sweetener Products Company in recognition of its 100th Anniversary.
Matthew Ruiz, Field Deputy for Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, presented a commendation to Sweetener Products Company.
Dale Jabour, President/CEO, and Jim Boltinghouse, Controller/CFO, thanked the Council for its recognition.
3. Swearing-In Ceremony for New Police Officer in the Police Department Police Chief Sousa presented the staff report and introduced new Police Officer Salvador Ramos.
City Clerk Pope administered the Oath of Office to Officer Ramos.
4. Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget Workshop II
City Administrator Fandino and Finance Director Williams presented a PowerPoint.
Health and Environmental Control Director Agyin discussed the proposed health program.
Tyler Evans, Wellness Equity Alliance (WEA), discussed his experience and the importance of health care.
Administrative Analyst Figueroa explained the CommUNITY Fund grant process, including administration costs and possibility of reducing the amount allocated.
Public Works Director Wall discussed the plan for street maintenance.
Public Utilities Assistant General Manager Otto discussed the proposed utility rate adjustments.
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May 16, 2023
CONSENSUS
By consensus, the Council directed staff to reduce the total allocation to the CommUNITY Fund from the Fiscal Year 2022-23 amount of $500,000 to $250,000; and to include $573,674 for WEA Health Services.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Ybarra pulled Item No. 15.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar, with the exception of Item No. 15. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
5. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the May 2, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
6. Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claim submitted by Fred Gamboa in the amount of $425.73.
7. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 109, for the period of April 16 through April 28, 2023, totaling $7,605,472.01 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $7,429,785.37 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $175,686.64.
8. City Payroll Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve City Payroll Warrant Register No. 803, for the period of April 1 through April 30, 2023, totaling $2,708,248.97 and consisting of ratification of direct deposits, checks and taxes totaling $1,767,051.71 and ratification of checks and electronic fund transfers for payroll related disbursements totaling $941,197.26 paid through operating bank account.
9. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the March 2023 Fire Department Activity Report.
10. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the March 2023 Police Activity Report.
11. Electrical Easement Deed with 3430 E. 26th Street Investors, LLC Recommendation: Accept the Electrical Easement and authorize the Mayor to execute the Certificate of Acceptance.
12. Professional Services Agreement with The Pun Group LLC for Professional Auditing Services
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Professional Services Agreement with The Pun Group LLC, in substantially the same form as submitted, for Professional Auditing Services for a total amount notto-exceed $384,999, for a three-year term.
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May 16, 2023
13. Services Agreement with Camfil Power Systems
Recommendation: A. Find that approval of the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, because it is an administrative 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. To the extent the future installation of the equipment constitutes a “project”, staff anticipates that the work will be exempt from CEQA review in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15302, because the project consists of the replacement or reconstruction of existing equipment where the new equipment will be located on the same site as the equipment replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the equipment replaced; the installation work will be procured through a separate selection process and contract at a later date. B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Services Agreement with Camfil Power Systems (Camfil), in substantially the same form as submitted, to provide engineering and design services for generator cooling filter housing modification for a total amount not-to-exceed $250,576; and C. Authorize a contingency amount of 10% or $25,100 in the event of unforeseen changes in the project and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue amendments for an amount up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
14. Services Agreement with Waterline Technologies, Inc.
Recommendation: A. Accept the bid proposal from Waterline Technologies, Inc. (Waterline) as the lowest responsive and responsible bid for the supply of sodium hypochlorite 12.5 percent solution; B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Waterline, in substantially the same form as submitted, for the supply of sodium hypochlorite 12.5 percent solution for a total amount not to exceed $234,490.56, for a three-year term; and C. Authorize a contingency amount of 10% or $23,449, in the event of increased system demands or price volatility and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue amendments for an amount up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
16. LA River Path Project Master Cooperative Agreement
Recommendation: A. Find that approval of the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, because it is a continuing administrative 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. To the extent that the LA River Path Project requires CEQA analysis, the Project is currently undergoing an environmental review process led by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA or Metro); and B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator, to execute the Master Cooperative Agreement between the City of Vernon and the LACMTA, in substantially the same form as submitted, for the design and construction of a portion of the LA River Path Project.
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May 16, 2023
The following item was pulled from the Consent Calendar for individual consideration:
15. Project Funded by Senate Bill 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act for Fiscal Year 2023-2024
Public Works Director Wall explained the purpose of the item and that the allocation was based on population.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Mayor Pro Tem Merlo seconded a motion to:
A. Find that the approval of the proposed resolution does not constitute at "project" pursuant to Sections 15378(b)(2) and (4) of the Guidelines to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), because it constitutes an administrative activity and government funding mechanism that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant impact on the environment; and even if the adoption of the proposed resolution did constitute a project, it would be exempt from CEQA in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3), the general rule that CEQA only applies to project that may have a significant effect on the environment; and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2023-08 adopting a project list to be funded by Senate Bill 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-2024. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
17. Citywide Striping and Pavement Markings FY22-23
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Ybarra seconded a motion to:
A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, because the project consists of the maintenance, repair or minor alteration of existing facilities and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use; B. Accept the bid proposal from WGJ Enterprises Inc., dba PCI as the lowest responsive and responsible bid for the Citywide Striping and Pavement Markings FY22-23 project and reject all other bids; C. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute Contract No. 20230179 in the amount of $332,005 for the Citywide Striping and Pavement Markings FY22-23 project for a period not to exceed 30 days; and D. Authorize a contingency of $10,000 in the event of an unexpected changed condition in the project and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue a change order(s) for an amount up to the contingency amount if necessary. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
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May 16, 2023
18. Los Angeles Unified School District Education Compact City Administrator Fandino presented the staff report.
Genesis Coronado, LAUSD Legislative Analyst, explained the program.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Ybarra seconded a motion to approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute an Education Compact with the Los Angeles Unified School District, in substantially the same form as submitted, for a term through June 2026. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
19. City Administrator Reports on Activities and other Announcements.
City Administrator Fandino stated staff, WEA, and LA County Public Health would visit the Vernon Village Park Apartments to encourage participation in WEA’s health needs assessment survey and to provide information about the County’s free blood lead testing program. He provided an update on the lead remediation work at the Vernon Village Park apartments and announced upcoming meetings including the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee meeting on May 17, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. and cancellation of the July 4, 2023 City Council meeting.
20. City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff.
Council Member Ybarra thanked the businesses that helped raise funds for the Vernon Elementary School field trip.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Larios adjourned the meeting at 11:31 a.m.
______________________________
CRYSTAL LARIOS, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9DE4E3CA-825A-4789-96D9-187EC3E4D9A2