MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2025
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
The Vernon Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors and led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Leticia Lopez, Mayor
Melissa Ybarra, Mayor Pro Tem
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
Crystal Larios, Council Member
Judith Merlo, 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 Su Tan, Human Resources Director
Robert Sousa, Police Chief
Dan Wall, Public Works Director
Todd Dusenberry, Public Utilities General Manager
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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PRESENTATIONS
1. Swearing-In Ceremony for New Police Officer
Recommendation:
Administer the Oath of Office to Police Officer David Martinez.
Police Chief Sousa presented the staff report and introduced Officer Martinez. City Clerk Rocha administered the Oath of Office to Police Officer David Martinez.
Officer Martinez’s family was invited to join him after the Oath of Office was administered and his badge was pinned on his uniform by his mother.
2. Presentation of Life Saving Awards
Recommendation:
Present Life Saving Awards to Officer Brittany Gonzalez, Corporal Rafael Landa, and Sergeant Edward Hernandez.
Police Chief Sousa presented the staff report and, on behalf of the Vernon Police Department, presented the Life Saving Awards to Officer Brittany Gonzalez, Corporal Rafael Landa, and Sergeant Edward Hernandez for their exceptional bravery.
3. Vernon CommUNITY Fund 10-Year Anniversary Publication Recommendation:
Receive and file the Vernon CommUNITY Fund: A Decade of Giving 2014-2024 Impact Report.
City Administrator Saeki introduced the Jemmott Rollins Group, which provided a retrospective review of the Vernon Community Fund, accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation.
Shayla Spigler, Evaluator for the Jemmott Rollins Group, provided examples of the positive impacts of the funding.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Merlo 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 July 1, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
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5. Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claims submitted by Alejandro Savedra and Fred Manookian.
6. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 154, for the period of June 1, 2025 through June 28, 2025, totaling $17,009,331.30 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $16,266,187.71 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $743,143.59.
7. Public Works Department Monthly Reports
Recommendation: Receive and file the May and June 2025 Building Reports.
8. Report on Contract Approved by the City Administrator Recommendation: Receive and file the report on a one-year contract with Granicus, LLC for Granicus Agenda Management Software for $24,264.72, as approved by the City Administrator, pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Sections
3.32.110 (B)(2) and 3.32.110 (B)(3).
9. Carahsoft Technology Corp., Purchase Orders and Additional Funding Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize issuance of a Purchase Order with Carahsoft Technology Corp. (Carahsoft), for a one-year term for an amount not-toexceed $74,798.14, and authorize the City Administrator to execute the related End User Agreement with Secureworks, in substantially the same form as submitted, for managed network security services; B. Approve and authorize issuance of a Purchase Order with Carahsoft, for a one-year term for an amount not-to-exceed $21,580.38, and authorize the City Administrator to execute the related End User Agreement with Secureworks, in substantially the same form as submitted, for Incident Management Response services; and C. Approve additional funds with Carahsoft in the amount of $50,000 for ancillary purchases that may be necessary during Fiscal Year 2025-26.
10. Motorola Solutions Inc. Service Agreement for Radio System Support and Maintenance
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Service Agreement with Motorola Solutions Inc. (Motorola), in substantially the same form as submitted, including related attachments incorporated by reference, for police dispatch radio system support and maintenance for a total amount notto-exceed $84,458.17 for a three-year term.
11. Purchase Orders with National Auto Fleet Group
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the issuance of a Purchase Order with National Auto Fleet Group (NAFG) for a 2025 Super Duty Ford F-350 SRW for a total not-to-exceed amount of $66,567.03; (1). Authorize a contingency amount of twenty percent (20%) or $13,313.41 for the vehicle purchase from NAFG in case of unforeseen fluctuations in price caused by inflation or supply chain issues; (2). Authorize the City Administrator to facilitate the bidding and purchase of a comparable vehicle for an amount not-to-exceed $79,880.44 (NAFG price plus contingency amount) from an alternate source/dealership should NAFG vehicle availability be impacted by inventory shortages; and B. Approve and authorize the issuance of a Purchase Order with NAFG for a 2024 Ram 2500 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $55,733.03; (1). Authorize a contingency amount Docusign Envelope ID: 5FFFD064-F14C-45DB-8C01-0BFFF9203056 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 8
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of five percent (5%) or $2,786.65 for the vehicle purchase from NAFG in case of unforeseen fluctuations in price caused by inflation or supply chain issues; and (2).
Authorize the City Administrator to facilitate the bidding and purchase of a comparable vehicle for an amount not-to-exceed $58,519.68 (NAFG price plus contingency amount) from an alternate source/dealership should NAFG vehicle availability be impacted by inventory shortages.
12. Regulatory Mandate to Increase Procurement of Energy from Renewable Sources
Recommendation: Receive and file the annual Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Report for Calendar Year 2024 and Summary Report for Compliance Period
4. 13. Services Agreement with Geoscience Support Services, Inc.
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is statutorily exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15262, because the project only involves feasibility or planning studies for possible future actions which the City has not approved, adopted, or funded. To the extent the project includes well maintenance or rehabilitation, find that the proposed action is categorically exempt from 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; and B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute the Services Agreement with Geoscience Support Services, Inc., in substantially the same form as submitted, for on-call professional hydrogeological services, in an amount not-to-exceed $200,000, for a three-year term.
14. Payment to California Municipal Utilities Association Recommendation: Approve and authorize the issuance of a payment to the California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA) for the annual membership dues for a total amount not-to-exceed $110,143.
15. Services Agreement with General Pump Company, Inc.
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. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute the Services Agreement with General Pump Company, Inc., in substantially the same form as submitted, for the on-call pump repair and maintenance services, in an amount not-to-exceed $3,210,000, for a three-year term; and C. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $321,000 in the event of unforeseen services and expenses, and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue amendments for an amount up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
16. Notice of Completion for 55th Street Recycle Center & Nursery – Soil & Miscellaneous Construction Material Removal, Contract No. 20250045 Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land), part (a) (grading on land Docusign Envelope ID: 5FFFD064-F14C-45DB-8C01-0BFFF9203056 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 8
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with a slope of less than 10 percent), because the project is merely making minor alterations to the land and involves negligible or no expansion of existing use; B.
Accept the work of Elka Construction, Inc. as related to City Contract No. 20250045; 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.
NEW BUSINESS
17. 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.
Health and Environmental Control Director Agyin presented the staff report.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to:
approve recommendations A, B, and C. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
18. Commission and Committee Appointments
Recommendation:
A. Appoint one (1) Vernon Area Representative to a partial term (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026) to the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee (VCFGC); B. Appoint two (2) Vernon Area Representatives to full terms (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2029) to the VCFGC;
C. Appoint one (1) City Council Member Representative to a full term (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2029) to the VCFGC;
D. Appoint one (1) Business Representative to a full term (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2029) to the Vernon Housing Commission (VHC);
E. Appoint one (1) Resident Representative (non-City Council Member) to a full term (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2029) to the VHC;
F. Appoint one (1) Resident Representative (City-Council Member) to a full term (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2029) to the VHC; and
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G. Appoint one (1) Vernon Business Representative to a partial term (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026) to the Green Vernon Commission (GVC).
City Clerk Rocha presented the staff report.
The City Council reached consensus to defer the appointment of the partial term on the VCFGC to a later date and make appointments to the three vacant full-term seats.
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Mayor Lopez seconded the nomination to appoint Steven Froberg, Frank Gaviña, and Sandra Solorzano to the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee as the Vernon Area Representatives to full terms, from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2029.
Council Member Larios moved and Mayor Lopez seconded the nomination to appoint Jacquie Cabrera to serve as the Business Representative on the Green Vernon Commission to a partial term, from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
Mayor Lopez moved and Council Member Larios seconded the nomination to appoint Ulisses Sanchez as the Resident Representative on the Vernon Housing Commission (VHC) to a full term, from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2029.
Council Member Larios moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a nomination to appoint Jacquie Cabrera to serve as the Business Representative on the VHC to a full term, from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2029.
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved, and Council Member Larios seconded the nomination to appoint Mayor Lopez to serve as the Resident (City Council Member) Representative on the VHC to a full term, from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2029.
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved, and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to defer the partial term appointment of the Vernon Area Representative to a later date. Additionally, the motion approved the applicants and the Council Member nominated to their respective positions on the following committees: the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee (VCFGC), the Vernon Housing Commission (VHC), and the Green Vernon Commission (GVC). The question was called, and the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORT
19. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements City Administrator Saeki invited the community to the National Night Out event at City Hall and reminded participants of the Vernon Reads! Summer Reading Docusign Envelope ID: 5FFFD064-F14C-45DB-8C01-0BFFF9203056 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 7 of 8
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Challenge deadline, highlighting prize opportunities. He also encouraged enrollment at Vernon Elementary School, which offers a supportive learning environment and various programs. He shared that the school operates from 6:35 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. providing a great opportunity for those that work in Vernon and announced that those interested could obtain more information at VernonCityES.lausd.org.
Lastly, City Administrator Saeki thanked the City Council for appointing members to the City Boards and affirmed recruitment efforts would continue to fill the remaining partial term seat of the VCF Grant Committee.
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra commented on the recruitment for Boards and Commissions, suggesting that staff prepare and bring back a report on the various Commissions. The report should assess the needs of each committee and consider expanding recruitment efforts to include the Vernon area beyond the city limits.
20. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff
None.
RECESS
At 9:45 a.m., Mayor Lopez recessed the meeting to Closed Session.
CLOSED SESSION
21. 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
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22. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Initiation of Litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4)
Number of potential cases: 1
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra and Council Member Larios were not present for the discussion of Item No. 22.
RECONVENE
At 10:23 a.m., Mayor Lopez adjourned the Closed Session and reconvened the regular meeting with all Council Members present, with the exception of Council Member Rivera.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Moussa reported that the City Council met in Closed Session, discussed the items on the agenda, and took no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 10:26 a.m.
_____________________________
LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
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