MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Lopez led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Leticia Lopez, Mayor
Melissa Ybarra, Mayor Pro Tem
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
Judith Merlo, Council Member
ABSENT:
Crystal Larios, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Brian Saeki, City Administrator
Mark Austin, Legal Counsel
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
Margie Otto, Public Utilities Assistant General Manager Diana Figueroa, Senior Management Analyst
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Larios absent.
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PUBLIC COMMENT
Aisha Reyes of the Southcoast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) provided an update on funding opportunities available under the Invest Clean Program. She announced several proposals were currently being accepted by the SCAQMD, and that more information along with applications could be found on the SCAQMD website at www.aqmd.gov.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Employee Service Pin Awards
Recommendation:
Recognize July 2025 Employee Service Pin Award recipient.
Human Resources Director Tan presented the staff report.
The City Council recognized the July 2025 Employee Service Pin Award recipient:
Police Captain, Brandon A. Gray, hired in July 1995, for reaching 30 years of service.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Council Member Merlo moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar. The question was called and the motion carried 4- 0, Council Member Larios absent.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
2. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the August 5, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
3. Claim Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claim submitted by Larry Harrow.
4. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 155, for the period of June 29, 2025 through July 19, 2025, totaling $13,761,902.94 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $13,211,575.58 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $550,327.36.
5. Fire Department Activity Reports
Recommendation: Receive and file the May and June 2025 Fire Department Activity Reports.
6. Police Department Activity Reports
Recommendation: Receive and file the May and June 2025 Police Department Activity Reports.
7. 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 Docusign Envelope ID: D1A81E29-BE0F-4817-B618-A4EBD0993521 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5
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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; and B. Adopt Ordinance No. 1306 Amending Vernon Municipal Code Chapter 8.12 (Solid Waste Management and Recycling) and 8.14 (Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction) regarding Solid Waste SelfHauling.
8. Amendment No. 1 to the Service Agreement with Southeast Area Animal Control Authority (SEAACA)
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 1 with SEAACA, in substantially the same form as submitted, for animal control services effective July 1, 2025.
9. Federal Equitable Sharing Agreement and Annual Certification Report Recommendation: Approve and authorize the Police Chief and City Administrator to execute the Federal Equitable Sharing Agreement and Annual Certification Report.
10. Purchase Order with Merrimac Energy Group for Fuel Procurement Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize issuance of a Purchase Order with Merrimac Petroleum, Inc. dba Merrimac Energy Group in an amount not-to-exceed $600,000 to procure fuel for the Citywide fleet for Fiscal Year 2025-2026; and B.
Approve and authorize payment of an outstanding invoice in an amount not-toexceed $29,143.29.
NEW BUSINESS
11. Green Power (GP) Electric Rate Schedule
Recommendation:
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-020 Approving a Voluntary Electric Rate Schedule No.
GP (Green Power) regarding electrical rates to be charged for electrical energy distributed and supplied by the City within its boundaries.
Public Utilities General Manager introduced Assistant General Manager Otto, who presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-020 Approving a Voluntary Electric Rate Schedule No.
GP (Green Power) regarding electrical rates to be charged for electrical energy distributed and supplied by the City within its boundaries. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Larios absent.
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12. Sports Access Community Alliance Program
Recommendation: A. Receive and file the Sports Access Community Alliance (SACA) Program Summary Report; and B. Provide direction to staff on whether to continue the SACA Program for Fiscal Year 2025-26
Senior Management Analyst Figueroa presented the staff report.
Staff shared a video from the Hollenbeck Youth Center, showcasing the Hollenbeck Youth Stadium outing and lunch event with the Dodgers, which was funded by the SACA Program.
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra highlighted the positive impacts of the program, and the City Council agreed to support it.
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Mayor Lopez seconded a motion to approve the item recommendations.
City Clerk Rocha shared a written comment submitted by the Huntington Park Youth and Cheer Board in support of continuing the program.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved, and Mayor Lopez seconded a motion to: A. Receive and file the Sports Access Community Alliance (SACA) Program Summary Report; and B. Direct staff to continue the SACA Program for Fiscal Year 2025-26. The question was called, and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Larios absent.
ORAL REPORT
13. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements City Administrator Saeki announced the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee would convene on August 20 at 10 a.m. to discuss scholarship grants for 2025 and determine student awards. He also shared a welcome back to school to Vernon Elementary and LAUSD schools and thanked the Vernon Police Department for visiting the Vernon Elementary campus on August 14, the first day back to school. He assured the City’s commitment to ensuring the welfare of parents, students, and school staff. He also reassured that the Vernon Police Department and City staff would continue maintaining a regular presence at the school to support the positive partnership.
14. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff
None.
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RECESS
At 9:27 a.m., Mayor Lopez recessed the meeting to Closed Session.
CLOSED SESSION
15. 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 9:43 a.m., Mayor Lopez adjourned the Closed Session and reconvened the regular meeting with Mayor Pro-Tem Ybarra, and Council Members Rivera and Merlo present.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Legal Counsel Austin reported that the City Council met in Closed Session, discussed the item on the agenda, and took no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 9:43 a.m.
_____________________________
LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
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