MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2024
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Larios called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Larios led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Crystal Larios, Mayor
Judith Merlo, Mayor Pro Tem
Melissa Ybarra, Council Member
Leticia Lopez, Council Member
Jesus Rivera, 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
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Ybarra seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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February 20, 2024
PRESENTATIONS
1. Employee Service Pin Awards
Human Resources Director Earl announced the January 2024 Employee Service Pin Award recipients: City Administrator, Carlos R. Fandino, Jr.; and Police Officer, Alfonso M. Madrigal.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Mayor Pro Tem 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:
2. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the February 6, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
3. Claims Against City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claim submitted by Jonathan Amoni.
4. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 124, for the period of December 31, 2023 through January 20, 2024, totaling $11,540,818.28 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $11,029,802.74 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $511,015.54.
5. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the December 2023 Fire Department Activity Report.
6. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the December 2023 Police Activity Report.
7. Public Improvements Agreement No. 2024-01 with Shewak & Laiwanti Holdings, LLC
Recommendation: 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 an existing facility and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use; and B. Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute a Public Improvements Agreement with Shewak & Laiwanti Holdings, LLC, in substantially the same form as submitted, for the City to construct necessary frontage improvements and receive payment in the amount of $137,651.55.
8. National Auto Fleet Group Vehicle Purchase
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the purchase of one new 2024 Ford Super Duty F-350 DRW for a total amount not-to-exceed $72,923.24; and B.
Authorize a contingency amount of $7,292.32 (approximately 10%) should the purchase of a comparable Utility Truck be necessary due to limited vehicle DocuSign Envelope ID: 7A424EAE-CC23-461E-90E5-7515D6092425 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5
February 20, 2024
inventory, and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue a Supplemental to the Purchase Order to National Auto Fleet Group for an amount up to the contingency amount.
9. Purchase Order with D&R Office Works, Inc.
Recommendation: A. Approve the issuance of a Purchase Order with D&R Office Works, Inc. for the purchase of chairs and workspaces for the Police Department, for a total amount not-to-exceed $21,679; and B. Authorize a contingency amount of 8%, or $1,735 for unforeseen price increases or substitutions due to inventory availability, and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue Change Orders for an amount up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
10. Purchase Order with Charles P. Crowley Company
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, because installation of monitoring equipment consists of minor alteration of existing structures/facilities and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use; B. Accept the bid from Charles P. Crowley Company as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and reject all other bids; and C.
Approve and authorize the issuance of a purchase order with Charles P. Crowley Company for the procurement of turbidity monitoring equipment, for a total amount not-to-exceed $106,228.14.
NEW BUSINESS
11. Fiscal Year 2022-23 Audited Financial Reports
Financial Services Administrator Alcaraz and Frances Kuo, The Pun Group presented the staff report and accompanying PowerPoint.
In response to Council questions, Financial Services Administrator Alcaraz explained the $10 million in committed funds.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Merlo moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to:
A. Receive and file the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Audited Financial Statements; and B.
Extend submittal of the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Final Audit and Report to Council to January 25, 2025. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
12. Fiscal Year 2023-24 Mid-Year Financial Update
Financial Services Administrator Alcaraz presented the staff report and accompanying PowerPoint.
In response to Council questions, Financial Services Administrator Alcaraz explained the process for allocating budget appropriations.
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February 20, 2024
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Ybarra seconded a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2024-02 authorizing and approving mid-year budget appropriations and amending the Annual Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
13. Professional Services Agreement with Architerra Design Group for Landscape Architectural Services – City Hall Plaza
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
In response to Council questions, Public Works Director Wall explained the proposed stakeholders.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Mayor Pro Tem Merlo seconded a motion to:
A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15262, because the project only involves feasibility or planning studies for possible future actions which the City has not approved, adopted, or funded; and B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Architerra Design Group in substantially the same form as submitted, for the design of the Civil Plaza for a total amount not-to-exceed $122,930 for a three-year term. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
14. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements.
City Administrator Fandino announced the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee meeting on February 21, 2024, at 10 a.m.
Chief Sousa summarized Vernon Police Department Crime Statistics.
15. 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 9:36 a.m.
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February 20, 2024
16. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Significant exposure to litigation (one potential matter)
RECONVENE
At 9:45 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 item on the agenda, and took no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Larios adjourned the meeting at 9:45 a.m.
______________________________
CRYSTAL LARIOS, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
YONNIE PARKER, Deputy City Clerk
(seal)
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