MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2026
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:00 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
Crystal Larios, Council Member
Judith Merlo, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Brian Saeki, City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa-Milward, City Attorney (by remote attendance) 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 Merlo seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Aisha Reyes of the Southcoast Air Quality Management District announced a funding opportunity for charging infrastructure with applications being due on June 2, 2026.
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PRESENTATIONS
1. Employee Service Pin Awards
Recommendation: Recognize January 2026 Employee Service Pin Award.
Human Resources Director Tan presented the staff report and City Council recognized the January 2026 Employee Service Pin Award recipients: Police Records Manager, Donna Aggers; Utilities Dispatcher, Shant Bicakci; Facilities Maintenance Worker, Senior, Jose Castenda; Principal Resources Scheduler/Trader, Efrain Sandoval; and Police Sergeant, Ignacio Estrada.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for a motion.
MOTION
Council Member Rivera 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:
2. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the February 3, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
3. Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claim submitted by Olivia Esparza for Jacob Cortez.
4. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 167, for the period of January 4, 2026 through January 17, 2026, totaling $10,335,348.37 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $9,960,867.73 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $374,480.64.
5. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the December 2025 Fire Department Activity Report.
6. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the December 2025 Police Department Activity Report.
7. Service Agreement with Sespe Consulting Inc., a Trinity Consultants Company (Sespe), for Environmental Compliance and Remediation Technical Consulting Services
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Sespe, in substantially the same form as Docusign Envelope ID: A61C29A5-F3B0-4C8E-BB15-DAAC68F079AD Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 7
February 17, 2026
submitted, for Environmental Compliance and Remediation Technical Consulting Services for an amount not-to-exceed $500,000 for a three (3) year term.
8. Classification and Compensation Plan
Recommendation: A. Approve a new job description; and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-004 adopting the Classification and Compensation Plan in accordance with Government Code Section 20636(b)(1) and repealing Resolution No. 2026-003.
9. Citywide Fringe Benefits Policy
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2026-005 adopting the Citywide Fringe Benefits Policy and repealing Resolution No. 2025-036.
10. Additional Funds for Contract No. 20230172 With RAMCO General Engineering Contractors, Inc. (RAMCO) and Mega Renovation, Inc. (Mega) 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 work consists of the maintenance, repair or minor alteration of existing structures and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use; and B. Approve $55,391 in additional funds for Contract No. 20230172 with RAMCO and Mega for on-call general contractor and minor construction services provided.
NEW BUSINESS
11. Clean Energy Savings Plan for Renewable Energy and Supporting Agreements
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is a purely administrative and financial transaction that would not cause either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and therefore is not a “project” as defined in Section 21065 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines and such activity is not subject to CEQA under Section 15060(c)(2) and (c)(3) and Section 15378; B. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-006 approving and authorizing the City Administrator to execute those interrelated agreements (Prepay Agreements) to which the City is a party, in substantially the same form as submitted, with such changes as the City Administrator deems necessary or advisable in furtherance of the purposes of this resolution, for participation in a clean energy savings renewable energy transaction that will create a discount for the City of Vernon (City) in its purchase of certain renewable energy including: 1. A Limited Assignment Agreement (Antelope DSR— Vernon) (the Antelope DSR LAA) among Antelope DSR 1, LLC (Antelope DSR), the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) and J. Aron & Company (J. Aron), providing for SCPPA to assign certain of its rights and obligations to receive and pay for renewable energy and associated resources under the Power Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 16, 2015 (the Antelope DSR PPA), between Antelope DSR and SCPPA, which rights and obligations relate to the Power Sales Agreement, dated as of July 16, 2015, between SCPPA and the City; 2. A Limited Assignment Agreement (Astoria—Vernon) (the Astoria LAA) among Re Astoria 2 Docusign Envelope ID: A61C29A5-F3B0-4C8E-BB15-DAAC68F079AD Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 7
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Solar LLC (Astoria), SCPPA and J. Aron, providing for SCPPA to assign certain of its rights and obligations to receive and pay for renewable energy and associated resources under the Power Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of July 23, 2014 (the Astoria PPA), among Astoria, SCPPA, Power and Water Resources Pooling Authority, City of Lodi, City of Corona, City of Moreno Valley and City of Rancho Cucamonga, which rights and obligations relate to the Power Sales Agreement, dated as of July 23, 2014, between SCPPA and the City; 3. A Limited Assignment Agreement (Daggett—Vernon) (the Daggett Solar LAA) among Daggett Solar Power 2 LLC (Daggett Solar), SCPPA and J. Aron, providing for SCPPA to assign certain of its rights and obligations to receive and pay for renewable energy and associated resources under the Power Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2022 (the Daggett Solar PPA), between Daggett Solar and SCPPA, which rights and obligations relate to the Power Sales Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2022, between SCPPA and the City; 4. A Limited Assignment Agreement (Desert Harvest—Vernon) (the Desert Harvest LAA) among Desert Harvest II LLC (Desert Harvest), SCPPA and J. Aron, providing for SCPPA to assign certain of its rights and obligations to receive and pay for renewable energy and associated resources under the Power Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2017 (Desert Harvest PPA), between Desert Harvest and SCPPA, which rights and obligations relate to the Power Sales Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2017, between SCPPA and the City; 5. A Limited Assignment Agreement (BP Energy—Vernon/SCPPA) (the BP Energy— Vernon/SCPPA LAA) between the City and SCPPA, assigning to SCPPA certain of the City’s rights and obligations to receive and pay for renewable energy credits under the City’s Confirmation Letter outlining the general terms and conditions of the agreement between the City and BP Energy Company (BP Energy), whose terms are subject to the WSPP Agreement dated October 21, 2024, as amended from time to time (collectively, the BP Energy PPA); 6. A Limited Assignment Agreement (BP Energy—SCPPA/J. Aron) (the BP Energy—SCPPA/J. Aron LAA) and together with the BP Energy—Vernon/SCPPA LAA, the BP Energy LAA), among SCPPA, J. Aron, and the City, assigning to J. Aron certain of SCPPA’s rights and obligations to receive and pay for renewable energy credits under the BP Energy PPA; 7. A Clean Energy Purchase Contract (CEPC) with SCPPA by which SCPPA will sell to VPU at discounted prices the prepaid renewable energy and associated resources generated by the assigned Antelope DSR PPA, Astoria PPA, Daggett Solar PPA, Desert Harvest PPA, BP Energy PPA (together, the PPAs) for a term of up to 30 years; 8. A Custodial Agreement with J. Aron and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, or selected financial institution as selected by J. Aron, as custodian, for a term equal to the CEPC’s term, to establish bank accounts for and administer payments to Antelope DSR, Astoria, Daggett Solar, Desert Harvest and BP Energy in satisfaction of performance under their respective PPAs; 9. A Project Coordination and Governance Agreement with SCPPA and the three other participating SCPPA members (Burbank, Colton, and Docusign Envelope ID: A61C29A5-F3B0-4C8E-BB15-DAAC68F079AD Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 7
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Pasadena) by which SCPPA will administer this project and allocate administrative direct costs associated with the transaction to all SCPPA project participants, including Vernon Public Utilities; 10. A Letter Agreement with SCPPA for a term equal to the terms of the Antelope DSR LAA, the Astoria LAA, the Daggett Solar LAA, the Desert Harvest LAA, and the BP Energy LAA (together, the “LAAs”), providing that the parties may terminate the LAAs only upon certain specified events, such as termination or suspension of performance under the assigned PPAs or suspension or termination of performance under the Clean Energy Purchase Contract; and C. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to (a) execute and deliver the Prepay Agreements in substantially the forms presented to City Council, with such changes as the City Administrator deems necessary or advisable in furtherance of the purposes of this resolution; (b) execute and deliver any related documents, such as amendments of any of the Prepay Agreements or any agreements necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by the Prepay Agreements; and (c) take such actions as are necessary or advisable to implement and administer the Prepay Agreements.
Public Utilities General Manager Dusenberry presented the staff report, and the accompanying PowerPoint Presentation was presented by Public Utilities General Manager Dusenberry; Public Utilities Assistant General Manager, Richard Corbi; PFM Financial Advisors Managing Director, Mike Berwanger; and Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke (DWGP) Consultant, Peter Scanlon.
Discussion ensued regarding clarification on terms of the agreement, avenues to exit, timelines and performance. Council expressed an interest in receiving more information and tabling the item to the next council meeting.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved, and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to table the Clean Energy Savings Plan for Renewable Energy and Supporting Agreements item to the March 3, 2026 regular meeting. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
12. Update on Los Angeles County Proposed 1/2 Cent Sales Tax Measure Recommendation:
A. Receive an oral report from staff on the Los Angeles County proposed 1/2 cent sales tax measure to be placed on the June 2, 2026 Statewide Direct Primary Election ballot; and B. Provide direction on potential consideration of a 1/4 cent local sales tax measure.
City Administrator Saeki presented the staff report.
The Council expressed concern over declaring a fiscal emergency, the City’s bond rating and their preference to receive more detailed information related to the item and the financial impact of the ballot measure.
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In response to Council questions, City Administrator Saeki elaborated on Council’s options to take no action, the variables relating to the County measure passing or failing, considerations for Vernon, including the implications of declaring a fiscal emergency, the timeline to take a ballot measure to a June 2, 2026 Special Election, and the unknown impacts to the City’s bond rating.
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for a motion.
MOTION
Mayor Lopez moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to direct staff to table the Los Angeles County Proposed ½ Cent Sales Tax Measure item to the March 3, 2026 City Council meeting and move forward with Option B, directing staff to prepare resolutions and ordinances for consideration of calling a special election on June 3, 2026 to bring a ballot measure of a ¼ cent local sales tax to the voters. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
13. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements City Administrator Saeki announced the LAUSD Family Academy Webinar, which would be a co-hosted by the Los Angeles Unified School District Family Academy and the City of Vernon on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 from 9:00am – 10:30am where participants would meet City leaders serving the Vernon community, learn about essential services, programs and resources.
City Administrator Saeki also announced the write-in candidate filing period for the April 14, 2026 General Municipal Election would run through March 31, 2026.
14. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff
None.
RECESS
At 10:03 a.m., Mayor Lopez recessed the meeting to Closed Session.
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CLOSED SESSION
15. Public Employee Annual Performance Evaluation
Government Code Section 54957(b)(1)
Title: City Administrator
RECONVENE
At 10:58 a.m., Mayor Lopez adjourned the Closed Session and reconvened the regular meeting, Council Member Larios absent.
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 10:58 a.m.
_____________________________
LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
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