City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: August 5, 2025
From: Freddie Agyin, Director of Health and Environmental Control Department: Health and Environmental Control
Submitted by: Dulce Gonzalez, Management Analyst
Subject
Solid Waste Self-Hauling Regulations
Recommendation
A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from CEQA review because it is general policy and procedure-making activity that is unrelated to any specific project, which must undergo separate CEQA review, and that will not result in direct physical changes or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 15378;
B. Introduce, read by title only, and waive further reading of Ordinance No. 1306 Amending Vernon Municipal Code Chapters 8.12 (Solid Waste Management and Recycling) and 8.14 (Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction) regarding Solid Waste Self-Hauling; and C. Direct staff to schedule the adoption for the August 19, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting.
Background
On February 1, 2022, the City of Vernon adopted Ordinance No. 1278, updating the Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) to support the City’s sustainability efforts and ensure compliance with Senate Bill (SB) 1383, which mandates proper handling, transport, and disposal of solid and organic waste to reduce methane emissions.
During the implementation phase, minor discrepancies were observed between VMC Chapters
8.12 and 8.14, specifically concerning the regulation of self-haulers. These inconsistencies must be resolved to mitigate the risk of unregulated or unsafe waste hauling activities. Without a clearly defined regulatory mechanism, a heightened potential exists for illegal dumping, which poses serious threats to public health and the environment.
The proposed ordinance amends and clarifies the VMC to (1) establish clear, enforceable requirements for self-haulers of solid and organic waste, (2) introduce operational standards, documentation requirements, and performance measures to ensure waste is managed safely, legally, and sustainably, and (3) resolve regulatory inconsistencies between Chapters 8.12 and
8.14 to streamline enforcement and improve administrative efficiency.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report. Administrative costs associated with the permitting and compliance process are offset through the collection of self-haul permit fees.
Attachments
1. Ordinance No. 1306