MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2025
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
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
Crystal Larios, Council Member
ABSENT:
Leticia Lopez, 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 Rivera seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Lopez absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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PRESENTATIONS
1. Proclamation Recognizing Retired Employee – Ruben Rodriguez City Council acknowledged the reading of a proclamation for retired employee Ruben Rodriguez, Power Resources Settlement Analyst, Senior, in recognition of his dedicated service to the City of Vernon.
2. Proclamation Recognizing Retired Employee – Armando Hinojos City Council acknowledged and presented a proclamation to retired employee Armando Hinojos, Utilities Dispatcher, in recognition of his dedicated service to the City of Vernon.
3. Employee Service Pin Awards
City Council acknowledged the recipients of the December 2024 Employee Service Pin Award recipients. Mayor Merlo presented a Thirty-Year Service Award to Carlos Gudino, Street Maintenance Worker, Senior, Hired December 1994.
4. Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Awards and Direct Service Grantee Certificates for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25
Interim City Administrator Calleros presented the staff report and Mayor Merlo presented Certificates to FY 2024-25 Direct Service Grant recipients.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to receive and file the report. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Lopez absent.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra 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:
5. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the December 17, 2024 Regular, December 30, 2024 Special, and the January 7, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting minutes.
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6. Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claim submitted by Travelers Commercial Insurance Company, a/s/o Andrea Garcia-Schmidt, Eugenia Schmidt, and Armando Garcia.
7. Operating Account Warrant Register Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 142, for the period of November 17, 2024 through December 21, 2024, totaling $24,671,559.27 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $23,937,286.16 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $734,273.11.
8. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the November 2024 Fire Department Activity Report.
9. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the November 2024 Police Department Activity Report.
10. Appointments to the Los Angeles Gateway Region Integrated Water Management Joint Power Authority (GWMA)
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-002 updating the City staff appointments to the GWMA and repealing Resolution No. 2020-27.
11. Notice of Completion for Contract No. 20240259 – North Parking Security Fencing
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 existing structures and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use; B. Accept the work of Golden Gate Steel, Inc. as related to City Contract No. 20240259; 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.
12. Closure of the Net Energy Metering Electric Program Offering to New Customers
Recommendation: Approve and recognize that Vernon Public Utilities (VPU) has successfully met its Net Metering obligation of five percent (5%) of the electric utility's aggregate peak demand and authorize the closure of VPU’s three Net Metering (NM) electric rate schedules: “NM-Small”, “NM-Medium”, and “NM-Large” for any new customers as of January 1, 2025.
NEW BUSINESS
13. City Council Appointments to Outside Agencies
Interim City Clerk Harrington presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to appoint Council Member Larios to serve on the Vernon Solid Waste Hearing Panel.
Docusign Envelope ID: DEE24BC6-A613-43BB-AEDC-DD2B34E9433E The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Lopez absent.
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to appoint Council Member Rivera as the delegate to represent the City at the Southern California Association of Governments 2025 Regional Conference and General Assembly. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Lopez absent.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to confirm the appointment of Council Member Larios to the Vernon Solid Waste Hearing Panel, and of Council Member Rivera as the delegate to represent the City at the Southern California Association of Governments 2025 Regional Conference and General Assembly. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Lopez absent.
14. Fiscal Year 2023-24 Audited Financial Reports
Interim Finance Director Decavalles-Hughes presented the staff report.
Interim Finance Director responded to questions raised by Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra on the effects of businesses leaving on revenues to the City. It was noted there will be some losses along with sales tax losses.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to A) receive and file the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Annual Financial Statements and B) Extend submission of the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Annual Financial Statements and Report to Council to January 20, 2026. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Lopez absent.
15. Ordinance No. 1305 Amending Chapter 13.24 of the Vernon Municipal Code Regarding the Sewer System
Public Works Director Wall presented the Staff Report.
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to:
A) Find that the proposed action is exempt from CEQA; B) Introduce and conduct first reading of Ordinance No. 1305 amending Vernon Municipal Code Section
13.24.050 (Definitions) and adding Section 13.24.101 regarding responsibility for the sewer system pipes; and C) Direct staff to schedule second reading and adoption for the February 4, 2025 City Council Meeting. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Lopez absent.
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ORAL REPORTS
16. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements Interim City Administrator Calleros announced the City Council is invited to attend the Community Swearing-In Celebration for Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez of the 54th Assembly District. The festivities will take place on Sunday, January 26, at 3:00 p.m. at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo.
Vernon CommUNITY Fund Scholarship – Since 2019, the Vernon CommUNITY Fund has proudly supported students with its scholarship program to assist high school seniors with their educational pursuits – trade school, community college, and university. The City is accepting 2025 applications through March 27, 2025.
The City continues to accept tax-deductible donations from businesses and individuals for the VCF Scholarship Program that empowers our youth and shapes brighter futures.
17. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Merlo adjourned the City Council Meeting in Memory of Dwight Pierce, a member of the City’s facilities maintenance team at 9:56 a.m. _____________________________
JUDITH MERLO, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
YONNIE PARKER, Deputy City Clerk
(seal)
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