City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: May 5, 2026
From: Genoveva Rocha, City Clerk
Department: City Clerk
Submitted by: Sandra Dolson, Deputy City Clerk
Subject
Results of the City of Vernon April 14, 2026, General Municipal Election and City Council Reorganization
Recommendation
A. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-021 reciting the facts and declaring the results of the General Municipal Election held on April 14, 2026;
B. Acknowledge and present a proclamation and ten-year service pin to retiring Mayor Leticia Lopez;
C. Administer the Oath of Office to Council-Elect Monica Rodriguez and present Certificate of Election; and
D. Conduct the City Council reorganization.
Background
On November 18, 2025, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-031 calling the General Municipal Election on April 14, 2026, to fill one Council seat. On April 14, 2026, the General Municipal Election was held in conformance with the City Charter, Vernon Municipal Code, California Elections Code, and the Federal Voting Rights Act.
A semi-official count of the returned All-Mail Ballots was conducted on April 14, 2026, immediately following the close of voting at 8:00 p.m. A second count was conducted on April 22, 2026, following the signature verification process of ballots not counted on election night and those received by April 21, 2026, the deadline to receive postmarked ballots.
Pursuant to Elections Code Section 10263, the City Council must adopt a resolution reciting the facts of the election. Attached to the resolution are the Official Results, which detail the total votes cast for each candidate. The final ballot count was as follows:
Candidate Votes
Monica Rodriguez 38
Carol Menke 16
Based on the results, candidate Monica Rodriguez was elected to the City Council for a full fiveyear term that will expire in April 2031.
Following adoption of the resolution reciting the election results, and the recognition of outgoing Mayor Lopez, the Oath of Office will be administered to Council-Elect Rodriguez, and City Council will reorganize.
Retirement Proclamation and Ten-Year Service Pin
Historically, the City Council has issued proclamations in honor of retired City Council Members.
The Honorable Mayor Leticia Lopez has reached her term limit on the City Council and is retiring effective May 5, 2026, after ten years of service to the City.
Mayor Lopez was elected to serve on the City Council as a write-in candidate in April of 2016 and was re-elected to serve a second term in April 2021. While on Council, Council Member Lopez was appointed to serve as Mayor in April 2020, April 2022, and June 2025, each time serving as Mayor for a yearlong term. Council Member Lopez served as Mayor Pro Tempore from April 2019 to April 2020.
While on the City Council, Mayor Lopez represented the City as an appointed member on various external boards, including the Board of Directors of the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, the Independent Cities Finance Authority, and the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District. Mayor Lopez also served on City boards including the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency, the Board of Library Trustees, and served as the City Council representative on the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee (Grant Committee) and the Vernon Housing Commission.
Mayor Lopez’s leadership on the City Council has been instrumental in guiding the City towards fiscal stability, continued commitment to good governance, increased public engagement and increased services for residents, and making investments in public infrastructure to better serve the business community, including the purchase of the Malburg Generating Station. Mayor Lopez consistently demonstrated an unwavering dedication to enhancing the quality of life for Vernon residents and the surrounding community. Her service on the Grant Committee supported the creation of the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Scholarship Program, providing scholarships to high school students pursuing post-secondary education opportunities. As a member on the Library Board of Trustees Ad Hoc Committee, Mayor Lopez aided in the development of the Little Free Libraries and the Vernon Reads! Programs to encourage literacy in the community. Also, during her tenure, the City Council established the Sports Access Community Alliance (SACA) Program, ensuring fair and equitable access to sports programming for youth in the Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) area.
During her distinguished public service career on the Vernon City Council, Mayor Lopez earned the deepest respect of her colleagues, employees, residents, and the business community through her dedication, commitment, and leadership.
Mayor Lopez holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development from California State University Long Beach and a Master of Arts in Human Development: Leadership in Education from Pacific Oaks College.
Mayor Lopez was sworn in to office as a Council Member on May 26, 2016, and will retire from the City Council effective May 5, 2026.
In addition to receiving a proclamation, Mayor Lopez is eligible to receive a ten-year service pin based on the number of service years with the City of Vernon.
City Council Reorganization
In accordance with the City of Vernon Charter Article III, Chapter 3.4, the City Council will reorganize.
Pursuant to the City of Vernon Charter Article III, Chapter 3.5, Council Member Melissa Ybarra, entering her fifth year on the City Council, will be seated as the Mayor. In the event any Council Member scheduled to be Mayor is unable or desires not to be the Mayor, the position of Mayor shall be filled by Council Members in descending order if necessary.
Pursuant to the City of Vernon Charter Article III, Chapter 3.6, Council Member Rivera, entering his fourth year on the City Council, will be seated as the Mayor Pro Tempore. In the event any Council Member scheduled to be Mayor Pro Tempore is unable or desires not to be the Mayor Pro Tempore, the position shall be filled by the Council Members in descending order if necessary.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Attachments
1. Resolution No. 2026-021
2. Proclamation – Leticia Lopez