MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 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 (Arrived at 9:01 a.m.)
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
Crystal Larios, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Daniel Calleros, Interim City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa, City Attorney
Deborah Harrington, Interim City Clerk
Gigi Decavalles-Hughes, Interim Finance Director
Fredrick Agyin, Health and Environmental Control Director Lisette M. Grizzelle, Interim 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 Ybarra moved and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Megan Moyette announced she is the new General Manager of Sterigenics and looks forward to working with the City.
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October 15, 2024
PRESENTATIONS
1. Employee Service Pin Awards
Interim Human Resources Director Grizzelle announced the September 2024 Employee Service Pin Award recipients and Council recognized Assistant to the City Administrator, Lilia Hernandez and Police Lieutenant, Gabriel A. Martinez.
2. Indigenous Peoples’ Day Proclamation
Interim City Clerk Harrington read the proclamation and Council recognized October 14, 2024 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the City of Vernon.
3. City Administrator Report
Interim City Administrator Calleros conducted a presentation on various topics including Business Activity, Grant Funding Opportunities, Blue Line Therapy Dogs, Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Workshop, Business Engagement, and Community Events.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Larios 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 October 1, 2024 Regular City Council and Joint Special City Council/Commissions/Committee (Ethics Training) Meeting Minutes.
5. Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claim submitted by Ken Evans.
6. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 137, for the period of September 1, 2024 through September 14, 2024, totaling $7,209,818.81 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $6,984,732.32 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $225,086.49.
7. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the August 2024 Fire Department Activity Report.
8. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the August 2024 Police Department Activity Report.
9. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the August 2024 Building Report.
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October 15, 2024
10. Amendment No. 1 to Software Support Agreement with Tritech Software Systems and Additional Funds for CentralSquare Technologies, LLC Recommendation: A. Approve and Authorize Amendment No. 1 to the Software Support agreement with TriTech Software Systems (a CentralSquare Company) for the Vernon Police Department Record Management System (Contract No. IT0171) for a total amount not-to-exceed $72,643.94; B. Approve and authorize payment to CentralSquare Technologies, LLC for outstanding invoices for a total amount not-to-exceed $22,285.05 for Lucity and Lucity Mobile Annual Maintenance; and C. Approve and authorize payment to CentralSquare Technologies, LLC in the amount of $3,000 for anticipated travel fees not included in Contract No. 20240184 for CentralSquare’s Pro-Suite software implementation.
11. Office of Traffic Safety Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant Agreement
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator, Police Chief, and Police Sergeant to execute a Professional Services Agreement with the Office of Traffic Safety, in substantially the same form as submitted, for participation in STEP for a one-year term, with an effective date of October 1, 2024.
12. Notice of Completion for Contract No. 20240173 Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Cycle 9
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15302, because the project consists of the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced; B. Accept the work of Elecnor Belco Electric, Inc. as related to City Contract No. 20240173; and C.
Authorize the Director of Public Works to execute and submit the Notice of Completion for the project to the Los Angeles County Recorder’s Office.
13. Professional Services Agreement with Kevin Ko & Associates, LLC for OnCall Civil Engineering Services Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Kevin Ko & Associates, LLC, in substantially the same form as submitted, for On-Call Civil Engineering Services for a total amount not-to-exceed $420,000 during a three (3) year term.
14. Resource Adequacy Plan for 2025
Recommendation: A. Adopt Resolution No. 2024-022 approving and adopting the Vernon Public Utilities Department Resource Adequacy Plan for 2025, which includes the coincident peak Demand Forecast, the Planning Reserve Margin, the Qualifying Capacity Criteria, and the Qualifying Capacity from such resources, the City’s Resource Adequacy and Supply Data and approving the resources used to satisfy the California Independent System Operator’s (CAISO) tariff requirements and repealing Resolution No. 2023-21; and B. Authorize staff to submit the Vernon Public Utilities Department’s Resource Adequacy Plan for 2025 and the Monthly Resource Adequacy and Supply Data to the CAISO.
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October 15, 2024
NEW BUSINESS
15. Sports Access Community Alliance Program
Interim City Administrator Calleros presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to approve the Sports Access Community Alliance Program and related documents, in substantially the same form as submitted, and authorize the City Administrator to facilitate the administration of the Program for Fiscal Year 2024-25 for a total amount not-to-exceed $100,000 for the purpose of enabling youth in the Southeast Los Angeles area equitable access to athletic activities. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
16. City Council Appointment to Outside Agency
Interim City Clerk Harrington presented the staff report.
Council requested the item tabled to the December 3, 2024, Regular City Council Meeting.
ORAL REPORTS
17. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements.
Interim City Administrator Calleros announced the following:
• League of California Cities Annual Conference will be held October 16-18 at the Long Beach Convention Center.
• Great California Shake Out drill is scheduled for October 17, at 10:17 a.m.
The City will participate in this statewide exercise.
• Lower LA River – 2nd Community Consultation: Southeast Los Angeles Collaborative has extended an invitation for City Council to join in the 2nd Community Consultation: Lower LA River Para Todos Campaign on October 17 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.at a location to be determined. The purpose is to share updates of the second phase of the Para Todos Campaign with local elected officials.
18. 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 9:28 a.m.
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October 15, 2024
19. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Significant Exposure to litigation (1 potential matter)
RECONVENE
At 9:44 a.m., Mayor Merlo adjourned the Closed Session and reconvened the regular meeting.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Moussa reported that Council met in Closed Session, discussed the item on the agenda, and took no reportable action.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Merlo invited public comment.
John Briscoe spoke, candidate for U. S. Congress.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Merlo adjourned the meeting at 9:48 a.m.
_____________________________
JUDITH MERLO, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
YONNIE PARKER, Deputy City Clerk
(seal)
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