MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2024
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Merlo called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Merlo led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Judith Merlo, Mayor
Melissa Ybarra, Mayor Pro Tem
Leticia Lopez, Council Member
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
Crystal Larios, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Angela Kimmey, Deputy City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa, City Attorney
Deborah Harrington, Interim City Clerk
Jessica Alcaraz, Financial Services Administrator
Fredrick Agyin, Health and Environmental Control Director Michael Earl, Human Resources Director
Nicolas Perez, Police Lieutenant
Dan Wall, Public Works Director
Todd Dusenberry, Public Utilities General Manager
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Interim City Clerk stated staff requested Council consider Item 2 before Item 1.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to approve the agenda with the amendment that Item 2 be considered before item 1.
The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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May 21, 2024
PRESENTATIONS
2. Employee Service Pin Awards
Human Resources Director Earl announced the April 2024 Employee Service Pin Award Recipients: Eric L. Anderson, Warehouse Worker; Joseph M. Alvarado, Water Maintenance Worker; Nathan R. Linnert, Gas Systems Technician; Nicholas J. Mannino, Police Officer; Bryan S. Redona; Police Officer.
1. Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget Workshop II
Financial Services Administrator Alcaraz presented the staff report.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Lopez announced she will abstain from voting on item No. 11 of the Consent Calendar.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously with Council Member Lopez abstaining on Item 11.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
3. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the May 7, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
4. Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claims submitted by Chao Tian and Abimael C. Garcia.
5. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 130, for the period of March 31 through April 20, 2024, totaling $14,695,710.34 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $14,322,028.74 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $373,681.60.
6. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the March 2024 Fire Department Activity Report.
7. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the March 2024 Police Department Activity Report.
8. Report on Emergency Purchase Secured by the City Administrator Recommendation: Receive and file report on Emergency HVAC and Ventilation Repair Services for City Hall Secured by the City Administrator.
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May 21, 2024
9. Project Funded by Senate Bill 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 for Fiscal Year 2024-25
Recommendation: A. Find that the approval of the proposed resolution does not constitute a "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 projects that may have a significant effect on the environment; and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2024-07 adopting a project list to be funded by Senate Bill 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25.
10. Letter Agreement with Southern California Edison Company Recommendation: Ratify the execution of the Letter Agreement between the City of Vernon and Southern California Edison Company (SCE) to reflect SCE's updated project commencement and payment start dates regarding the engineering and procurement work related to Interconnection Facilities, Distribution Upgrades, and Network Upgrades.
11. Excuse for Absence
Recommendation: A. Excuse the absences of Committee Member Steven Froberg from the May 17, 2023 and May 15, 2024 Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meetings; and B. Excuse the absence of Committee Member Leticia Lopez from the May 15, 2024 Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
12. City Council Appointments to Outside Agencies
Interim City Clerk Harrington presented the staff report.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to affirm or modify existing and new appointments to outside agencies as listed below. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
Board/Agency Delegate / Alternate
California Contract Cities Association Larios
Rivera
Central Basin Water Association
Merlo
Larios
VPU Rep
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May 21, 2024
Board/Agency Delegate / Alternate
City Selection Committee (Mayor) Entire Council
County Sanitation District No. 1 (Mayor)
(Alternate is typically Mayor Pro-Tem)
Merlo
Ybarra
County Sanitation District No. 2 (Mayor)
(Alternate is typically Mayor Pro-Tem)
Merlo
Ybarra
County Sanitation District No. 23 Entire Council
Gateway Cities Council of Governments Larios
Lopez
Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District
Health and Safety Code Section 2024
Lopez
Independent Cities Finance Authority Lopez
Merlo
Southern California Association of Governments N/A
Southeast Community Development Corporation
(Outside City Appointment)
Ybarra
Southeast Water Coalition Ybarra
Rivera
Vernon Solid Waste Hearing Panel
(up to 3 Council Members)
Ybarra
Lopez
Merlo
13. Annual City Council Reorganization Process
Interim City Clerk Harrington presented the staff report.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to bring the item back for discussion on the reorganization process based on seniority and Council Members terming out as Mayor. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
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May 21, 2024
ORAL REPORTS
14. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements.
Deputy City Administrator Kimmey announced the following:
• The City is seeking membership on the City’s Business and Industry Commission and Green Vernon Commission. The deadline to apply has been extended to May 23, 2024.
• Vernon’s next Job Fair is scheduled for May 23, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• The City’s Annual Electronic and Universal Waste Recycling event will be held on May 23, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Leonis Substation, 3382 E. 50th Street.
• National Public Works Week is May 19-25, 2024. The Public Works teams are top notch and were thanked for all they do each and every day.
15. City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff.
None.
CLOSED SESSION
RECESS
Mayor Merlo recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:23 a.m.
16. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Teresa Rodriguez v. City of Vernon
Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 22STCV09515
Douglas Castellanos, Julian Holloman vs. City of Vernon, et al.
Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 21STCV05456
17. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Significant exposure to litigation (1 potential matter) Facts and Circumstances: The City has been identified as a potentially responsible party in the BKK Landfill matter.
RECONVENE
At 10:04 a.m., Mayor Merlo adjourned the Closed Session and reconvened the regular meeting.
DocuSign Envelope ID: F94945AF-6751-4654-A35A-102F1644775F Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 6
May 21, 2024
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Moussa reported that Council met in Closed Session, discussed the items on the agenda and took no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Merlo adjourned the meeting at 10:04 a.m.
_____________________________
JUDITH MERLO, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
YONNIE PARKER, Deputy City Clerk
(seal)
DocuSign Envelope ID: F94945AF-6751-4654-A35A-102F1644775F