MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2025
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Merlo called the meeting to order at 9:06 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:
Brian Saeki, City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa, City Attorney
Genoveva Rocha, City Clerk
Alice Hui, Finance Director/City Treasurer
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
City Clerk Rocha announced Item #7 on Consent Calendar would be pulled from the agenda.
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved, and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to approve the agenda as amended removing Item #7 from Consent. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
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PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Results of the City of Vernon April 8, 2025, General Municipal Election City Clerk Rocha presented the staff report,
Mayor Merlo invited public comment and discussion from Council. There being no speakers or discussion, Mayor Merlo called for a motion.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved, and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-011 reciting the facts and declaring the results of the General Municipal Election held on April 8, 2025. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
City Clerk Rocha administered the Oath of Office and presented the Election Certificate to newly re-elected Council Member Judith Merlo.
Council Member Merlo thanked all, expressed appreciation for everyone’s support and grateful for the support from the community, Marisa Olguin, President/CEO of the Vernon Chamber of Commerce, and the businesses for her re-election.
Mayor Merlo invited refreshments to be enjoyed once Council recesses to Closed Session.
2. Municipal Clerks Week
City Clerk Rocha read the proclamation and City Council proclaimed the week of May 4 – 10, 2025 as Professional Municipal Clerks Week in the City of Vernon in recognition of the professional contributions and vital services performed by Municipal Clerks.
3. Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Workshop I
Finance Director Hui presented the staff report and the budget team conducted a PowerPoint presentation.
City Administrator Saeki provided an overview of the Budget.
Finance Director/City Treasurer Hui provided information on the proposed Budget.
Public Utilities General Manager Dusenberry, Health and Environmental Control Director Agyin, Police Chief Sousa, and Public Works Director Wall each provided information on their department budget, service deliveries, departmental highlights, and accomplishments.
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Director Wall, Police Chief Sousa, and General Manager Dusenberry also spoke on staffing changes for their respective departments to ensure service deliveries and succession planning.
City Administrator Saeki provided information on city staffing changes and the next steps in the budget process.
In response to Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra’s questions on tariffs and water, Public Works Director Wall addressed the scalability of Public Works projects to respond to potential tariff impacts. Public Utilities General Manger Dusenberry provided information on Water Replenishment District (WRD) and Central Basin water rate increases, water importing, active mitigation and advocacy efforts.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Rivera moved, and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar Items 4-6 and 8-15. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
4. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the April 15, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
5. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 149, for the period of March 16, 2025, through March 29, 2025, totaling $8,524,384.84 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $7,967,327.12 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $557,057.72.
6. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the March 2025 Building Report.
8. Quarterly Report of Cash and Investments
Recommendation: Receive and file the First Quarter Cash and Investments Report
9. Amendment No. 3 to the Attorney Services Agreement between the City of Vernon and Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP for specialized outside legal services
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute Amendment No. 3 to the Attorney Services Agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP (Burke Williams), in substantially the same form as submitted, to increase the total not-to-exceed amount by an additional $70,000.
10. Notice of Completion for Contract No. 20250060 – Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Improvements and Street Tree Planting Along Santa Fe Avenue and Vernon Avenue
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 Docusign Envelope ID: B86C35CF-E044-4CE2-8CC3-E1F1A2E24815 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 7
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an existing use; B. Accept the work of Oppenheimer National as related to City Contract No. 20250060; 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.
11. Contract with Oppenheimer National for 55th Street Recycle Center & Nursery – Perimeter Wall Project
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15303(e)(Fences), because the project consists of new construction of limited small new facilities; B. Accept the bid proposal from Oppenheimer National as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the 55th Street Recycle Center & Nursery – Perimeter Wall Project, and reject all other bids; C. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a contract with Oppenheimer National, in substantially the same form as submitted, for facility improvements at 55th Street Recycle Center in an amount not-to-exceed $388,224.90; and D. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $38,822.49 in the event of an unexpected changed condition in the project, and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue change orders for an amount up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
12. Contract with Onyx Paving Company, Inc. for Bandini Boulevard Street Improvements from Downey Road to Indiana Street
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 facilities and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use; B. Accept the bid proposal from Onyx Paving Company, Inc. as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Bandini Boulevard Street Improvements from Downey Road to Indiana Street, and reject all other bids; C.
Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a contract with Onyx Paving Company, Inc., in substantially the same form as submitted, for street improvements on Bandini Boulevard from Downey Road to Indiana Street in an amount not-to-exceed $906,000; and D. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $90,600 in the event of an unexpected changed condition in the project, and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue change orders for an amount up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
13. Contract with Pavement Coatings Co. for Citywide Slurry Seal Project Recommendation: A. Find that award of the proposed Citywide Slurry Seal Project is categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities), part (c) (existing highways and streets), because the project is merely to repair existing streets and involves no expansion of existing use; B. Accept the bid proposal from Pavement Coatings Co. as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Citywide Slurry Seal Project, and reject all other bids; C. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a contract with Pavement Coatings Co., in substantially the same form as submitted, for citywide street improvements in an amount not-to-exceed $667,840.53; and D. Authorize a contingency amount of ten Docusign Envelope ID: B86C35CF-E044-4CE2-8CC3-E1F1A2E24815 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 7
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percent (10%) or $66,784.05 in the event of an unexpected changed condition in the project, and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue change orders for an amount up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
14. Services Agreement with Axiom Group for On-Call Sidewalk Repair Services
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Services Agreement with Axiom Group, in substantially the same form as submitted, for On-Call Sidewalk Repair Services for a total amount not-to-exceed $400,000, for a three (3) year term.
15. Purchases Related to the Fall 2025 Malburg Generating Station (MGS) Planned Outage
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt from the 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; B. Approve and authorize the issuance of a purchase order (PO) with Siemens Energy, Inc., for the purchase of steam turbine generator parts for a total amount not-to-exceed $535,861.68; C. Authorize a contingency amount of fifteen percent (15%) or $80,379.25 in the event of unforeseen expenses and grant authority to the City Administrator to approve the issuance of change orders to the PO for steam turbine generator parts, up to the contingency amount, if necessary; D. Approve and authorize the issuance of a PO with Siemens Energy, Inc., for the purchase of replacement valve seats for a total amount not-to-exceed $387,249.63; E. Authorize a contingency amount of fifteen percent (15%) or $58,087.44 in the event of unforeseen expenses and grant authority to the City Administrator to approve the issuance of change orders to the PO for replacement valve seats, up to the contingency amount, if necessary; F. Approve and authorize the issuance of a PO with Siemens Energy, Inc., for the installation of new highpressure (HP) and low-pressure (LP) steam strainers and the redesign of the Emergency Stop Valve for a total amount not-to-exceed $325,545; G. Authorize a contingency amount of twenty percent (20%) or $65,109 in the event of unforeseen expenses and grant authority to the City Administrator to approve the issuance of change orders to the PO for HP & LP steam strainer installations and redesign of the Emergency Stop Valve, up to the contingency amount, if necessary; H.
Approve and authorize the issuance of a PO with First Global Gear Services LLC, for the purchase of gearbox bearings for a total amount not-to-exceed $116,708.42; and I. Authorize a contingency amount of fifteen percent (15%) or $17,506.26 in the event of unforeseen expenses and grant authority to the City Administrator to approve issuance of change orders to the PO for gearbox bearings, up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
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ORAL REPORT
16. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements City Administrator Saeki requested clarification from the City Council regarding the next steps for the budget adoption. There was a consensus from the City Council to hold a second study session on May 20, 2025.
City Administrator Saeki expressed delight on officially certifying the election results and congratulated Mayor Merlo on her election to another five years on the City Council.
He announced the City’s next Regular Business and Industry Commission meeting was scheduled for May 8, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., where staff would present the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget and the City’s Business License Tax.
In honor of the 56th Annual Professional Municipal Clerk's Week, City Administrator Saeki acknowledged the City Clerk Department staff, introduced City Clerk Genoveva Rocha to the Mayor and City Council, and welcomed her to the City of Vernon. He also expressed his gratitude to Interim City Clerk Harrington for her service to the City and stated he was happy to see her resume her retirement.
Council thanked Interim City Clerk Harrington for her service and Mayor Merlo expressed gratitude for her patience and assistance during the election.
17. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff
Council Member Rivera announced he attended and enjoyed the study sessions at the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Annual Conference and Business Meeting. He stated the registration and lodging were paid for by SCAG.
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra requested consensus from the City Council to direct staff to agendize for discussion at the next regular meeting of the City Council a policy or guidelines on Council attendance and time off requests that would align with the Charter’s reference to such a policy.
A short discussion ensued on regulations related to Council absences.
In response to a question from Council Member Larios, City Attorney Moussa provided the Charter language on Council absences and referenced other cities have language in a policy or a handbook outlining excused absences.
There was a consensus from the City Council to agendize the request for the next regular meeting.
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RECESS
At 10:09 a.m., Mayor Merlo recessed the meeting to Closed Session.
Council Member Larios left the meeting at 10:09 a.m.
CLOSED SESSION
18. Conference With Labor Negotiators
Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Designated Representative: Brian Saeki, City Administrator Employee Organizations:
Teamsters Local 911,
IBEW Local 47,
Vernon Police Management Association, and
Vernon Police Officers’ Benefit Association
Unrepresented Employees:
Confidential, Temporary, Unclassified, Mid-Management, Management, and Executive classifications
RECONVENE
At 10:45 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.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Merlo adjourned the meeting at 10:45 a.m.
_____________________________
JUDITH MERLO, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
(seal)
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