MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 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.
PRESENT:
Leticia Lopez, Mayor
Melissa Ybarra, Mayor Pro Tem
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
Judith Merlo, 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 Su Tan, Human Resources Director
Robert Sousa, Police Chief
Dan Wall, Public Works Director
Todd Dusenberry, Public Utilities General Manager
Mayor Lopez requested a consensus from the City Council to reorder the agenda and consider Item No. 12 - Closed Session prior to the regular meeting items.
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to convene into Closed Session to consider Item No. 12 prior to the regular meeting. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
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September 2, 2025
RECESS
At 9:03 a.m., Mayor Lopez recessed the meeting to Closed Session.
CLOSED SESSION
12. 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 9:12 a.m., Mayor Lopez adjourned the Closed Session and reconvened the regular meeting with all Council Members present.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Moussa reported that the City Council met in Closed Session, provided direction on the item on the agenda, and took no reportable action.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
Item No. 2 Public Hearing on Zoning Code Amendments was taken out of order and considered prior to Item No. 1 Presentations.
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September 2, 2025
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. Zoning Code Amendments
Recommendation:
A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because the adoption of this ordinance is not a “project” pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378;
B. Introduce, read by title only, and waive further reading of Ordinance No. 1307 Amending Zoning Code to meet California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Requirements; and
C. Direct staff to schedule the adoption for the September 16, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting.
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra inquired about the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) impacts and enforcement requirements. Public Works Director Wall responded that RHNA applies to the City to implement policies and make code amendments to encourage the development. The requirement that impacts property owners is that there is a minimum density of 20 units per acre.
Mayor Lopez opened the public hearing at 9:15 a.m. There being no speakers, Mayor Lopez closed the public hearing at 9:15 a.m.
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to approve recommendations A, B, and C. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Los Angeles Unified School District Resources
Recommendation:
No Action required by the City Council. This is a presentation only.
City Administrator Saeki introduced Karla Griego.
Karla Griego, Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member for District 5, shared immigration information and additional resources available to students and their families. She provided a “We Are One” pamphlet and stated their 24-hour hotline number is (323) 443-1300.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for a motion.
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September 2, 2025
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Larios 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:
3. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation:
Approve the August 19, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
4. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 156, for the period of July 20, 2025 through August 2, 2025, totaling $14,946,772.11 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $14,408,067.06 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $538,705.05.
5. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the July 2025 Building Report.
NEW BUSINESS
6. Code Enforcement Update
Recommendation:
A. Find that the proposed action is not a project within the meaning of Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guidelines because it has no potential for resulting in physical change in the environment, either directly or ultimately. In the event that the proposed Ordinance is found to be a project under CEQA, it is subject to the CEQA exemption contained in CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty to have no possibility of a significant effect on the environment;
B. Introduce, read by title only, and waive further reading of Ordinance No. 1308 Amending Certain Sections of Chapters 1.08 (Administrative Citations), 8.20 (Nuisances), and 10.16 (Parking Regulations) of the Vernon Municipal Code regarding Public Nuisances, Administrative Citations, and Enforcement of Code Violations;
C. Direct staff to schedule the adoption for the September 16, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting; and
D. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-021 adopting amended Administrative Citation and Civil Penalties Fee Schedules pursuant to the Vernon Municipal Code and repealing Resolution No. 2011-195.
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
In response to a question from Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra about whether any feedback has been received from residents or businesses, Public Works Director Wall stated no feedback had been received.
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September 2, 2025
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for a motion.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to approve recommendations A, B, C, and D. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
7. Classification and Compensation Plan
Recommendation:
A. Approve new, retitled and revised job descriptions; and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-022 adopting the Classification and Compensation Plan in accordance with Government Code Section 20636(b)(1) and repealing Resolution No. 2024-12.
City Administrator Saeki presented the staff report.
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for a motion.
MOTION
Council Member Merlo moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to:
A. Approve new, retitled and revised job descriptions; and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-022 adopting the Classification and Compensation Plan in accordance with Government Code Section 20636(b)(1) and repealing Resolution No. 2024-12.
The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
8. Memoranda of Understanding – Labor Negotiations
Recommendation:
A. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-023 approving the 2025-2028 Memorandum of Understanding by and between the City of Vernon and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 47 (IBEW);
B. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-024 to recognize Teamsters, Local 986 as an employee organization; and approve the 2025-2028 Memorandum of Understanding by and between the City of Vernon and Teamsters Local Union 986 (Teamsters);
C. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-025 approving the 2025-2028 Memorandum of Understanding by and between the City of Vernon and the Vernon Police Management Association (VPMA); and
D. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-026 approving the 2025-2028 Memorandum of Understanding by and between the City of Vernon and the Vernon Police Officers’ Benefit Association (VPOBA).
Human Resources Director Tan presented the staff report.
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September 2, 2025
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for a motion.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-023 approving the MOU with IBEW, Resolution No. 2025-024 recognizing Teamsters, Local 986 as an employee organization and approving the MOU with Teamsters, Resolution No. 2025-025 approving the MOU with the VPMA, and Resolution No. 2025-026 approving the MOU with the VPOBA.
The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
9. Citywide Fringe Benefits Policy
Recommendation:
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-027 adopting the Citywide Fringe Benefits Policy and repealing Resolution No. 2024-026.
Human Resources Director Tan presented the staff report.
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for a motion.
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025-027 adopting the Citywide Fringe Benefits Policy and repealing Resolution No. 2024-026. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORT
10. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements City Administrator Saeki thanked and congratulated the City Council on another successful round of negotiations. He noted that City Council has held approximately 10-15 meetings over the past year discussing the Memorandums of Understanding that were memorialized and approved at today’s meeting. He invited the community to attend the Vernon Housing Commission Meeting which will convene to discuss housing needs on September 10, 2025, at 6 p.m.
11. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff
None.
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September 2, 2025
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 9:58 a.m.
_____________________________
LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
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