MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2026
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:11 a.m.
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
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
Council Member Larios moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
Docusign Envelope ID: DF104054-2B58-473F-B79B-AC1FA8AE0F37 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 7
March 17, 2026
PRESENTATIONS
1. Employee Service Pin Awards
Recommendation: Recognize February 2026 Employee Service Pin Award recipient.
Human Resources Director Tan presented the staff report, and City Council recognized the February 2026 Employee Service Pin Award Recipient: Facilities Maintenance Worker, Richard A. Cimarusti.
2. City Council Strategic Priorities
Recommendation: Receive a presentation on potential City Council goals and determine key goals to guide the City’s strategic planning process.
City Administrator Saeki presented the staff report and accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
Discussion ensued regarding publicizing the goals and achievements on the City’s website.
City Administrator confirmed the information would be made public facing on the website and available on social media.
Mayor Lopez invited public comment and further discussion from Council. There being none, Mayor Lopez initiated a motion.
MOTION
Mayor Lopez moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to approve the highlighted goals to formulate a strategic plan. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. Adoption of the 2025 California Building Standards Code by Reference Recommendation: A. Conduct a Public Hearing; B. Find that the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, because it is general policy and procedure-making activity that is unrelated to any 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 C. Adopt Ordinance No. 1310 adopting the 2025 California Building Standards Code by reference.
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
Docusign Envelope ID: DF104054-2B58-473F-B79B-AC1FA8AE0F37 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 7
March 17, 2026
Mayor Lopez opened the public hearing at 9:24 a.m. There being no speakers, Mayor Lopez closed the public hearing at 9:24 a.m.
Mayor Lopez invited further Council questions. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for a motion.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Mayor Lopez seconded a motion to approve recommendations A, B, and C. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
4. Sidewalk Vending Regulations
Recommendation: A. Conduct a Public Hearing; B. Find that the proposed action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15378, as an action for which there is no possibility that the ordinance will have any significant effect on the environment; C.
Introduce, read by title only, and waive further reading of Ordinance No. 1311 amending Chapter 12.10 (Sidewalk Vending) of Title 12 (Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places) of the Vernon Municipal Code pertaining to the regulation of sidewalk vending; and D. Direct staff to schedule the adoption for the April 7, 2026, City Council meeting.
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
Mayor Lopez opened the public hearing at 9:26 a.m. There being no speakers, Mayor Lopez closed the public hearing at 9:26 a.m.
Mayor Lopez invited further Council questions. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for a motion.
City Clerk Rocha read the title to Ordinance No. 1311
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to approve recommendations A, B, C, and D. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez, called for a motion.
Docusign Envelope ID: DF104054-2B58-473F-B79B-AC1FA8AE0F37 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 7
March 17, 2026
MOTION
Council Member Rivera 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:
5. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the March 3, 2026 Regular City Council and Special City Council Meeting Minutes.
6. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 169, for the period of February 1, 2026 through February 14, 2026, totaling $9,191,307.17 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $8,795,879.66 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $395,427.51.
7. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the January 2026 Fire Department Activity Report.
8. Police Department Activity Report - January 2026
Recommendation: Receive and file the January 2026 Police Department Activity Report.
9. Professional Services Agreement with Actum-E, LLC
Recommendation: A. Find that it is in the best interests of the City to award a contract directly to Actum-E, LLC without a competitive selection process, pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Section 3.32.110(B)(2); and B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Professional Services Agreement with ActumE, LLC, in substantially the same form as submitted, for government affairs related to the Big 4 cities, for a total amount not-to-exceed $45,000, through June 30, 2026.
10. Amendment No. 1 to Attorney Services Agreement with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Attorney Services Agreement with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore (LCW) for outside legal services, in substantially the same form as submitted, to increase the total not-to-exceed amount by an additional $75,000.
11. Side Letters of Agreement with Police Bargaining Groups Regarding In-Lieu Holiday Time
Recommendation: A. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-011 approving the In-Lieu Holiday Time Side Letter of Agreement by and between the City of Vernon and the Vernon Police Officers' Benefit Association (VPOBA); and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-012 approving the In-Lieu Holiday Time Side Letter of Agreement by and between the City of Vernon and the Vernon Police Management Association (VPMA).
Docusign Envelope ID: DF104054-2B58-473F-B79B-AC1FA8AE0F37 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 7
March 17, 2026
12. Removal of Marked Crosswalks Along Pacific Boulevard at 45th, 46th, and 49th Street
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 restriping an existing street by removing the crosswalk markings to avoid potential adverse impacts to pedestrian and vehicular safety, and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use; and B. Authorize pavement striping crew to remove all marked crosswalks along Pacific Boulevard at 45th, 46th, and 49th Street.
NEW BUSINESS
13. Consulting Services Agreement with CNS Engineers, Inc. for the Atlantic Boulevard Bridge Rehabilitation and Widening Project
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is within the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with Section 15063 of the CEQA Guidelines; B. Find that the best interests of the City are served by a direct award of a Services Agreement to CNS Engineers, Inc., without a competitive selection process pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Section 3.32.110 (B)(2); and C. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Services Agreement with CNS Engineers, Inc. for the rehabilitation and widening of the Atlantic Boulevard Bridge (Federal Project No. DBPL02-5139(010).
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
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 approve recommendations A, B, and C. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
14. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements City Administrator Saeki wished everyone a happy St. Patrick’s Day and announced the Green Vernon Commission would meet on March 18 at 3:30 pm to discuss its work plan and budget for this fiscal year.
On election related matters, he announced the first day for mailing vote-by-mail ballots was Monday, March 16, the last day to register to vote would be Monday, March 30, the write-in candidate filing period runs through Wednesday, April 1, he reminded the public Election Day would be Tuesday, April 14, 2026, and instructed Docusign Envelope ID: DF104054-2B58-473F-B79B-AC1FA8AE0F37 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 7
March 17, 2026
anyone with questions could reach out to the City Clerk’s Office at [email protected].
Regarding the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Scholarships, he announced a reminder that scholarship applications would be due Thursday, March 26th. Students may submit their applications via email or deliver them to City Hall. More information could be found on the City’s website cityofvernonca.gov/communityfund.
He announced the annual Spring Egg-Stravaganza event would be scheduled for Thursday, March 26 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. TK Burgers would be serving dinner while families could enjoy fun activities, raffle prizes and an egg hunt.
Lastly, he announced heat advisories would be in effect through 8:00 p.m., Friday March 20th. Cooling centers throughout Los Angeles County could be found by accessing a link on the City’s community resources webpage.
15. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff
None.
RECESS
At 9:31 a.m., Mayor Lopez recessed the meeting to Closed Session.
CLOSED SESSION
16. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Government Code Section 54956.8
Property: 4528 Bandini Boulevard, Vernon, California
Agency negotiator: Brian Saeki, City Administrator
Negotiating parties: Zeem Solutions
Under negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
RECONVENE
At 9:51 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.
Docusign Envelope ID: DF104054-2B58-473F-B79B-AC1FA8AE0F37 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 7 of 7
March 17, 2026
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 9:51 a.m.
_____________________________
LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
Docusign Envelope ID: DF104054-2B58-473F-B79B-AC1FA8AE0F37