MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2026
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m.
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
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
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.
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PRESENTATIONS
1. Presentation of the Police Department’s 2025 Police Officer and Employee of the Year Awards
Recommendation: No action required by City Council. This is a presentation only.
Police Chief Sousa presented the staff report, and the City Council recognized and presented certificates to the 2025 Officer of the Year Award recipient, Officer Rafael Sepulveda, and the Employee of the Year Award recipient, Dispatcher Jessica Davis.
2. Arbor Day Proclamation
Recommendation: Proclaim April 22, 2026, as Arbor Day in the City of Vernon.
Public Works Director Wall read the proclamation, the City Council proclaimed April 22, 2026, as Arbor Day in the City of Vernon, and the proclamation was presented to Public Works employees who are involved in the maintenance and care of the City trees and who are collaborating with Vernon City Elementary School in an Arbor Day celebration taking place on April 22, 2026.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Lopez inquired whether the City Council wished to pull any items from the Consent Calendar, and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra stated she wished to pull Item Nos. 10 and 11 for more information.
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez, called for a motion.
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar with the exception of Item Nos. 10 and 11. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
3. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the April 7, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
4. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 171, for the period of March 1, 2026 through March 21, 2026, totaling $14,795,334.53 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $14,102,775.51 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $692,559.02.
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5. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the February 2026 Police Department Activity Report.
6. New Regulations for the Discharge of Fats, Oils, and Grease to the City’s Sewer System
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, because the adoption of the ordinance is not a “project” pursuant to the California Code of Regulations, Title 14 Section 15378(b)(2) as the Ordinance is a general policy and procedure making activity; and B. Adopt Ordinance No. 1312, adding Chapter 13.25 to the Vernon Municipal Code regulating the discharge of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) to the City’s Sewer System.
7. General Services Agreement with the County of Los Angeles Recommendation: A. Find that it is commercially unreasonable to rebid the General Services Agreement (GSA) with the County of Los Angeles in three years as the County is a governmental entity and sole provider of the desired services; and B. Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute the proposed GSA with the County of Los Angeles for a five-year term effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
8. Notice of Completion for Contract No. 20250340 – 55th Street Recycle Center & Nursery – Perimeter Wall Project
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 (e)(Fences), because the project consists of new construction of limited small new facilities; B. Accept the work of Oppenheimer National as related to the City Contract No. 20250340; 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.
9. Amendment No. 1 to the Services Agreement with Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.
Recommendation: A. Pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Sections 3.32.220(B) and 3.32.110(B)(3), find that it is commercially unreasonable to rebid the agreement for environmental compliance services as the current vendor, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Jacobs) had already initiated the lengthy process of revising and updating critical facility permits for the Utility with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD); and B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Services Agreement with Jacobs for environmental compliance services, in substantially the same form as submitted, to extend the agreement to June 30, 2027 at no additional cost.
The following items were pulled from the Consent Calendar for individual consideration:
10. Services Agreement with Good Guard Security, Inc.
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Services Agreement with Good Guard Security, Inc. (Good Guard), in substantially Docusign Envelope ID: F46299B0-D80F-8EB1-8101-07545AF6DA41 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 7
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the same form as submitted, to provide unarmed security guard services for a total amount not-to-exceed $3,067,821.56 for a three-year term; and B. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $306,782.16 in the event of unforeseen services and expenses, and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue amendments for an amount up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra asked for more information on the scope of work for the rover and what it entails, and Public Utilities General Manager Todd Dusenberry explained that a rover is not a stationary guard. The rover would patrol multiple City facilities, including the plant substation and water infrastructure. He informed the City Council that the rover would be present at night and weekends to check each facility, at random times.
There being no further discussion, Mayor Lopez called for a motion.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved, and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to approve Item No. 10. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
11. Report on Contract Approved by the City Administrator for a Business Tax Contribution Study
Recommendation: Receive and file the report on the Services Agreement with Kosmont & Associates, Inc. for real estate advisory services related to the analysis of municipal fees and taxes, as approved by the City Administrator pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Section 3.32.110(B)(2).
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra asked for more details on the contract, and City Administrator Saeki explained that the services of Kosmont and Associates were retained to help the City with the preparation of the Business Fee Parity Project, which entails analyzing how businesses pay fees, licensing costs, and utility costs via the City’s Utility User Tax (UUT). They are an industry leader in these types of services, so the City went directly to them due to a timing issue, as staff intended to present a draft to the Business and Industry Commission and the City Council in the next couple of months.
There being no further discussion, Mayor Lopez called for a motion.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved, and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to approve Item No. 11. The question was called, and the motion carried unanimously.
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NEW BUSINESS
12. City Council Strategic Plan – Goal Tasks
Recommendation: As part of the City’s Strategic Planning Process, receive a presentation on proposed tasks to achieve identified City Council goals and provide direction to staff regarding any desired modifications.
City Administrator Saeki presented the staff report.
Mayor Pro-Tem Ybarra expressed concerns about funding for the School Interventionist position and stated that the funds should be used to fulfill residents' requests. She suggested that the school partner with an organization that is already receiving funding for tutoring. Mayor Lopez stated that the School Interventionist has direct access to the students at the school and that transportation could pose an issue for parents in attempting to get the students tutoring.
Council Member Larios said she understood the concerns expressed by Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra and that perhaps the amount of funding required could be discussed, and asked whether the City Council could obtain more details for consideration of a plan. City Administrator Saeki responded that he would forward that information to the City Council and asked that, in the meantime, they consider leaving the task on the workplan so that it could be considered when the budget is presented to the City Council, because it would need to be budgeted should the City Council decide to move forward. He reminded the City Council that the task was only for the fiscal year. Council Member Merlo asked the City Council to consider the City's area and demographics, and said many parents could not afford tutoring for their students. Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra asked that the City Council consider other options. There was a consensus from the City Council to leave the task on the work plan.
Regarding Task 1.14, Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra inquired whether there was a staff portal where staff could provide feedback via a survey to address morale and the services provided by the department to employees.
City Administrator Saeki informed the City Council that an anonymous survey was conducted by a consultant to assess city-wide issues and that changes had been implemented as a result.
Mayor Pro-Tem Ybarra questioned whether staff would control the cost of service to businesses as it relates to Task 3.10 – Transitioning to an Exclusive Franchise Agreement (EFA) for waste haulers. She stated the cost of service to businesses was the primary reason why the transition had not occurred. City Administrator Saeki responded that the City would control that; however, there was no guarantee that it would be less expensive than the business's current waste haulers.
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There was a consensus from the City Council to leave task 5.2 - Discuss the Regular Council Meeting Time for Engagement and Efficiency on the workplan.
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for a motion.
ORAL REPORTS
13. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements City Administrator Saeki announced the following reminders to the City Council:
On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the second canvass for the General Municipal Election would be conducted at 2:00p.m.;
The Arbor Day event would be held the following day at Vernon City Elementary; A Special Vernon Housing Commission meeting would be held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the possibility of retaining residential property management services;
The Big 4 summit would take place on April 30, 2026; and Recruitment for upcoming vacancies on the Business Industry Commission, the Vernon Community Fund Grant Committee, and the Green Vernon Commission is underway with applications being accepted through May 13, 2026.
14. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff
None.
RECESS
At 9:51 a.m., Mayor Lopez recessed the meeting to Closed Session.
CLOSED SESSION
15. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Jason T. McEachran v. City of Vernon
Workers Compensation Claim Nos. 15002119 and 17013422
Workers Compensation Appeals Board Case Nos. ADJ19690535 and ADJ19687999
16. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
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17. Public Employment
Government Code Section 54957
Title: Deputy City Administrator
18. Public Employment
Government Code Section 54957
Title: Director of Health & Environmental Control
RECONVENE
At 10:16 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 items on the agenda, provided direction, and took no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 10:16 a.m.
_____________________________
MELISSA YBARRA, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
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