MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2025
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:01 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
Zaynah Moussa-Milward, City Attorney
Genoveva Rocha, City Clerk
Alice Hui, Finance Director/City Treasurer
Veronica Petrosyan, Health and Environmental Control Deputy Director Su Tan, Human Resources Director
Robert Sousa, Police Chief
Dan Wall, Public Works Director-City Engineer
Todd Dusenberry, Public Utilities General Manager
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
City Clerk Rocha announced that staff requested to reorder the agenda, placing Closed Session Item Nos. 11 and 12 immediately after the approval of the agenda.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to approve the agenda as reordered. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Larios absent.
Mayor Lopez invited and received no public comments for closed session.
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RECESS
At 9:02 a.m., Mayor Lopez recessed the meeting to Closed Session.
CLOSED SESSION
11. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4)
Initiation of Litigation (1 potential matter)
12. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Significant exposure to litigation (1 potential matter) Council Member Merlo left at 9:44 a.m. at the conclusion of the Closed Session.
RECONVENE
At 9:45 a.m., Mayor Lopez adjourned the Closed Session and reconvened the regular meeting. Council Members Larios and Merlo were absent.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Moussa-Milward reported that the City Council met in Closed Session to discuss Item No. 11 and authorized legal counsel to initiate litigation with Mayor Lopez, Council Member Rivera, and Council Member Merlo voting in favor, Council Member Larios was absent and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra recused herself on the item due to a potential conflict of interest.
The City Council discussed Item No. 12 on the agenda and took no reportable action.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Aisha Reyes with the South Coast Air Quality Management District spoke and announced the “Go-Zero” pilot incentive program, and announced November marks the start of AQMD’s annual “Check Before you Burn” season, which runs through February, urging the community to check if a “No-Burn Day,” has been issued restricting wood burning residential fireplaces, backyard fire-pits and wood burning stoves. Additional details could be found on their website, AQMD.gov.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Vernon Public Utilities Water Rate Study
Recommendation: No action required by the City Council. This is a presentation only.
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Public Utilities General Manager Dusenberry, Public Utilities Planning and Analysis Manager, Richard Corbi and NewGen Strategies & Solutions Partner, Eric Callocchia provided a presentation to the City Council.
In response to questions from the City Council, Public Utilities Planning and Analysis Manager Corbi explained the term of the $10.5M loan to the Water Fund would be a 30-year payback, and the goal of the 5-year rate strategy plan was to stabilize and create certainty for customers and to the water fund. The plan provides for a reserve that will help mitigate risk. Public Utilities General Manager Dusenberry explained the previous and current 5-year plan for capital improvements, including past well rehabilitation, storage system, pumps, water main inspections, maintenance and replacement.
CONSENT CALENDAR
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 the Consent Calendar. The question was called and the motion carried 3- 0, Council Members Larios and Merlo absent.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
2. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the October 21, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
3. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 160, for the period of September 21, 2025 through October 4, 2025, totaling $8,002,715.72 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $7,620,235.05 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $382,480.67.
4. Quarterly Report of Cash and Investments
Recommendation: Receive and file the Second and the Third Quarter Cash and Investments Reports.
5. Services Agreement with Ocean Blue Environmental Services Inc. for OnCall Environmental Clean-Up Services Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15308, because the action is being carried out by a regulatory agency to maintain, restore, or enhance the environment, where the regulatory process includes procedures to protect the environment; and B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Ocean Blue Environmental Services, Inc. in substantially the same form as Docusign Envelope ID: C737DD63-5807-47AA-8264-8631834FEF8F Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5
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submitted, for on-call environmental clean-up services for an amount not-toexceed $500,000, for a three (3) year term.
6. Typographical Correction to Ordinance No. 1308
Recommendation: Acknowledge and accept typographical correction to Ordinance No. 1308 regarding Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) Section 8.20.050 (Appeals).
7. Notice of Completion for Contract No. 20250342 - Citywide Slurry Seal Project
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 an existing use; B. Accept the work of Pavement Coating Co. as related to City Contract No. 20250342; 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.
8. Labor and Materials Contract with SPX Cooling Tech, LLC 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 of the existing cooling tower and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use; B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Labor and Materials Contract with SPX Cooling Tech, LLC, in substantially the same form as submitted, for repair work on the Cooling Tower, for a total amount not-to-exceed $245,792; and
C. Authorize a contingency amount of five percent (5%) or $12,289.60 to cover any unforeseen expenses and grant authority to the City Administrator to approve and execute amendments up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
ORAL REPORTS
9. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements City Administrator Saeki announced and extended an invitation to attend the Business and Industry Commission meeting which would be held on November 13th. He noted that of interest on the agenda, there would be a presentation on a potential Utility Users Tax ballot measure. He also acknowledged and thanked veterans for their service and announced City Hall would be closed November 11th in observance of Veterans Day. He announced the City’s Fall Harvest event would take place November 17th, and 18th, beginning with a gift card give-away delivery to Vernon households on Monday the 17th, and a drive-thru distribution of turkeys to non-profits and community members on Tuesday, November 18th. Lastly, he expressed gratitude to all involved with the recent Halloween Spooktacular event.
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10. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra expressed gratitude to staff and praised the police department for another successful Halloween haunted maze.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 10:20 a.m.
_____________________________
LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
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