MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2026
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 (arrived at 9:11 a.m.)
STAFF PRESENT:
Brian Saeki, City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa-Milward, 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-City Engineer
Todd Dusenberry, Public Utilities General Manager
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Merlo was absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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Mayor Lopez called for a recess of the City Council meeting at 9:03 a.m. to consider the Successor Agency agenda items.
Mayor Lopez reconvened the City Council meeting at 9:04 a.m.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Swearing-In Ceremony for Police Department Sworn Personnel Recommendation: Administer the Oath of Office to Police Officers Carissa Ibarra and Alexander Espinoza.
Police Chief Sousa presented the staff report and introduced Police Officers Carissa Ibarra and Alexander Espinoza. City Clerk Rocha administered the Oaths of Office.
2. Certificate of Recognition for Mr. and Mrs. Claus
Recommendation: Acknowledge and present a certificate of recognition to Alan and Jenny Gray.
City Administrator Saeki along with Police Chief Sousa presented the staff report and the City Council acknowledged and presented a certificate of recognition to Alan and Jenny Gray.
3. Proclamation Recognizing Retiring Employee - Anthony J. Serrano Recommendation: Acknowledge and present a proclamation to retiring employee Anthony J. Serrano, Business & Account Supervisor, in recognition of his dedicated service to the City of Vernon.
City Clerk Rocha read the proclamation and the City Council acknowledged and presented a proclamation and 35-year service pin to retiring employee, Business & Account Supervisor Anthony J. Serrano, in recognition of his dedicated service to the City of Vernon.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez, called for a motion.
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra 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:
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4. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the January 20, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
5. Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claims submitted by Law Offices of David Azizi on behalf of Maria T. LaGrave, and Mary Ann Chavez-Raya.
6. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 166 for the period of December 21, 2025 through January 3, 2026, totaling $9,889,580.22 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $9,814,278.22 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $75,302.
7. Quarterly Report of Cash and Investments
Recommendation: Receive and file the Fourth Quarter Cash and Investments Report.
8. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the December 2025 Building Report.
9. Amendment No. 1 to the Attorney Services Agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Attorney Services Agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP (Burke Williams) for outside legal services, in substantially the same form as submitted, to increase the total not-to-exceed amount by an additional $125,000.
10. Services Agreement with Southeast-Rio Vista Family YMCA, a Branch of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles (YMCA)
Recommendation: A. Find that the Services Agreement with the YMCA is exempt from the competitive bidding and selection process pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Section 3.32.110(B)(3) where the best interests of the City are served by a direct award; and B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Services Agreement with the YMCA, in substantially the same form as submitted, for community wellness programming and services for Vernon residents for a total amount not-to-exceed $170,000 for a three-year term.
11. Report on Contract Award to Avenu Insights & Analytics, LLC Approved by the City Administrator
Recommendation: Receive and file the report on the contract award to Avenu Insights & Analytics, LLC (formerly MuniServices, LLC) for Utility User Tax auditing services, without a competitive selection process, for a total not-to-exceed $55,698.14, as approved by the City Administrator pursuant to Sections
3.32.110(B)(2) and 3.32.110(B)(3) of the Vernon Municipal Code.
12. Authorization to Order Agreements with AT&T Corp. and AT&T Mobility (AT&T) for California Network and Telecommunications Program (CALNET) Next Generation Services
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a California Department of Technology (CDT) Non-State Entity Service Policy and Agreement (NESPA) to self-certify the City meets the CALNET eligibility criteria; and B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute Authorization to Docusign Envelope ID: D544B27B-5390-457F-B126-07730CB97523 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 6
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Order Agreements with AT&T Corp. and AT&T Mobility for various telecommunications and network services, in substantially the same form as submitted, for a total amount not-to-exceed $630,000 for a three-year term.
13. Classification and Compensation Plan
Recommendation: A. Approve a new job description; and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-003 adopting the Classification and Compensation Plan in accordance with Government Code Section 20636(b)(1) and repealing Resolution No. 2025-029.
14. Access to Confidential Sales, Use and Transactions Tax Records held by The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2026-002 authorizing the examination of sales, use and transactions tax records by designated City employees and Hinderliter de Llamas and Associates (HdL) on behalf of the City, and repealing Resolution No. 2020-24.
15. Police Department Vehicle Purchases
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize issuance of a Purchase Order to Unplugged Performance for the purchase of two (2) fully equipped Tesla Model Y patrol vehicles for a total amount not-to-exceed $173,862; and B. Authorize a contingency amount of ten (10%) percent or $17,386, for pricing fluctuations and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue a Change Order for an amount up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
16. Labor and Materials Contract with Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc.
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Labor and Materials Contract with Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc., in substantially the same form as submitted, for specialty gases for the Malburg Generating Station for a total amount not-to-exceed $105,132.54, for a three-year term; and B.
Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $10,513.25 in the event of unforeseen expenses, including surcharges, price volatility and tariffs, and variations in quantity, and grant authority to the City Administrator to approve and execute amendments up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
17. Zoning Code Amendments
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, because it has no potential to result in a direct or indirect physical change in the Environment. The Ordinance does not authorize any specific development or installation on any specific piece of property within the City’s boundaries. Moreover, when and if an application for installation is submitted, the City will at that time conduct preliminary review of the application in accordance with CEQA. Alternatively, even if the Ordinance is a “project” within the meaning of State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, the Ordinance is exempt from CEQA on multiple grounds. First, the Ordinance is exempt from CEQA because approval of the Ordinance will not result in the actual installation of any facilities in the City; therefore, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the Ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment. (State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b)(3)). Alternatively, the Ordinance is categorically exempt from CEQA under State CEQA Guidelines sections 15301 (existing facilities), 15302 (replacement or reconstruction), 15303 (new construction or conversion of small structures), and/or 15304 (minor alterations to Docusign Envelope ID: D544B27B-5390-457F-B126-07730CB97523 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 6
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land); and B. Adopt Ordinance No.1309 Amending Zoning Code to Regulate Wireless Telecommunication Facilities.
NEW BUSINESS
18. Personnel Transition Agreement
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Personnel Transition Agreement with the current Deputy City Administrator, in substantially the same form as submitted, which supersedes the employee’s AtWill Employment Agreement and approves certain executive-level benefits to be carried forward to the new classification of Deputy General Manager of Public Utilities.
City Administrator Saeki presented the staff report.
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for a motion
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to approve Item No.18. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
19. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements City Administrator Saeki announced the City would be hosting several Strategic Planning meetings. The first meeting would be a business community session on Thursday February 5, 2026, from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. at the Vernon City Hall Council Chamber. The second meeting would be a resident session at the Vernon Village Park Apartments on February 5, 2026, from 6 – 8 p.m. The third meeting would also be a resident session to be held on Monday February 9, 2026, at the Vernon City Hall Council Chamber. He encouraged all to visit the City’s website at www.cityofvernonca.gov for additional details.
20. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff
None.
RECESS
At 9:29 a.m., Mayor Lopez recessed the meeting to Closed Session.
CLOSED SESSION
21. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
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Douglas Castellanos, Julian Holloman v. City of Vernon, et al.
Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 21STCV05456
Simon Perez Melchor v. City of Vernon, et al.
Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 24NWCV01639
Raul Mojarro v. City of Vernon, et al.
Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 23NWCV02131
Teresa Rodriguez v. City of Vernon
Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 22STCV09515
RECONVENE
At 9:59 a.m., Mayor Lopez adjourned the Closed Session and reconvened the regular meeting.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Moussa-Milward 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 9:59 a.m.
_____________________________
LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
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