MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2024
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Larios called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
The Vernon Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors and led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Crystal Larios, Mayor
Judith Merlo, Mayor Pro Tem
Melissa Ybarra, Council Member
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
ABSENT
Leticia Lopez, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Carlos Fandino, City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa, City Attorney
Lisa Pope, City Clerk
Jessica Alcaraz, Financial Services Administrator
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 Merlo moved and Council Member Ybarra seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Lopez absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 94C1DD46-5126-4B61-AE22-3AA69D62DD4B Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4
February 6, 2024
PRESENTATIONS
1. Swearing-In Ceremony for Various Personnel in the Police Department Police Chief Sousa presented the staff report and introduced new Police Officers Aaron Perry, Bryan Silva; Sergeants Edward Hernandez and Carlos Ourique; and Lieutenant Gabriel Martinez.
City Clerk Pope administered the Oaths of Office.
2. City Administrator Report
City Administrator Fandino presented a PowerPoint and provided information on various topics including New Business Welcome, Tree Planting with Vernon Elementary, Vernon Randolph-to-River Greenway Project, City of Vernon General Municipal Election, Vernon CommUNITY Fund Scholarships, Community Partner Engagement, and Community Events.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Mayor Larios seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Lopez absent.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
3. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the January 16, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
4. Claims Against City
Recommendation: Receive and file claims submitted by Joshua Tsiu and Victor Hernandez.
5. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 123, for the period of December 17 through December 30, 2023, totaling $6,966,220.21 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $6,498,266.73 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $467,953.48.
6. Redevelopment Agency Obligation Retirement Account Warrant Register Recommendation: Approve Redevelopment Agency Obligation Retirement Account Warrant Register No. 68, for the period of October 1 through December 30, 2023 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $2,250.
7. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the November 2023 and December 2023 Building Reports.
8. Quarterly Report of Cash and Investments
Recommendation: Receive and file the Fourth Quarter Cash and Investments Report.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 94C1DD46-5126-4B61-AE22-3AA69D62DD4B Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4
February 6, 2024
9. Lease Agreement with TreePeople, Inc.
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Lease Agreement with TreePeople, Inc., in substantially the same form as submitted, for a one-year term.
10. Renewable Energy Credit Confirmation with Silver Peak Energy, LLC Recommendation: A. Find the action is not in reference to a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Guidelines Section 15378 because it involves the continuing administrative activity of purchasing power and resource adequacy; and even if it were a “project” subject to CEQA, the approval requested is exempt 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, and any construction that may occur by a private party in the future in reliance on this approval would be subject to CEQA review by another governmental agency at the time when actual details of any physical proposal would be more than speculative; B. Approve, as to form, the Edison Electric Institute Master Power Purchase and Sale Agreement, in substantially the same form as submitted, for the purpose of buying and selling power and resource adequacy consistent with the Transaction Authority as defined in the Energy Risk Management Policy; and C. Approve and authorize the General Manager of Public Utilities to execute the Renewable Energy Credit Confirmation with Silver Peak Energy, LLC in substantially the same form as submitted, for the Sale and Purchase of Portfolio Content Category Product 1 Energy in the amount-not-to exceed of $1,674,000.
NEW BUSINESS
11. Environmental Sustainability Action Plan
Health and Environmental Control Director Agyin, Stephanie Cadena and Jeff Caton, Environmental Science Associates, presented the staff report and accompanying PowerPoint.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Mayor Pro Tem Merlo seconded a motion to adopt the Environmental Sustainability Action Plan. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Lopez absent.
12. Best Practices for Ballot Measure and Campaign Activities for Local Government Officials
City Attorney Moussa presented the staff report and accompanying PowerPoint.
REPORTS
13. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 94C1DD46-5126-4B61-AE22-3AA69D62DD4B Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4
February 6, 2024
City Administrator Fandino discussed recent storm impacts, causing delays in the City’s street improvement work. He announced the WEA team visit to the Vernon Village Park Apartments to inform residents of available services at the Vernon Health + Wellness Center; and Vernon CommUNITY Fund scholarship program.
14. City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff.
None.
CLOSED SESSION
RECESS
Mayor Larios recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:51 a.m.
15. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Significant exposure to litigation (one potential matter)
16. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Maria Madrigal v. City of Vernon
Workers Compensation Appeals Board Case Nos.: ADJ12881762 and ADJ12881765
RECONVENE
At 10:35 a.m. Mayor Larios adjourned the Closed Session and reconvened the regular meeting.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Moussa reported the Council met in Closed Session, discussed the items on the agenda, and took no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Larios adjourned the meeting at 10:35 a.m.
______________________________
CRYSTAL LARIOS, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
DocuSign Envelope ID: 94C1DD46-5126-4B61-AE22-3AA69D62DD4B for