MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2026
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ybarra called the meeting to order at 9:44 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Ybarra led the Flag Salute during the County Sanitation District No. 23 meeting, which was held immediately before the City Council meeting.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Melissa Ybarra, Mayor
Jesus Rivera, Mayor Pro Tem
Crystal Larios, Council Member
Monica Rodriguez, Council Member
ABSENT:
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 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 4-0, Council Member Merlo absent.
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PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Employee Service Pin Awards
Recommendation: Recognize April 2026 Employee Service Pin Award recipients.
Human Resources Director Tan presented the item, and the City Council recognized the April 2026 Employee Service Pin Award recipients: Utilities Operations Manager, Jared Dacey and Management Analyst, John Lau, based on the number of service years with the City of Vernon.
2. National Public Works Week Proclamation
Recommendation: Recognize the week of May 17 - 23, 2026 as National Public Works Week in the City of Vernon.
Public Works Director Wall read the proclamation, and the City Council recognized the week of May 17 - 23, 2026 as National Public Works Week in the City of Vernon. Mayor Ybarra on behalf of the City Council presented the proclamation to Cynthia Cano and Eli Zepeda.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Ybarra inquired whether the City Council wished to pull any items from the Consent Calendar, and Mayor Ybarra noted that she wished to pull item No. 11 for more information.
Mayor Ybarra invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Ybarra, called for a motion.
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Council Member Rodriguez seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar with the exception of agenda Item No. 11. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, with Council Member Merlo absent.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
3. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the May 5, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
4. Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claim submitted by Jennifer De Anda Plascencia.
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5. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 173, for the period of April 5, 2026 through April 18, 2026, totaling $12,038,189.03 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $11,932,922.26 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $105,266.77.
6. Fire Department Activity Reports
Recommendation: Receive and file the February and March 2026 Fire Department Activity Reports.
7. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the March 2026 Police Department Activity Report.
8. Purchase Order with AT&T for VESTA 9-1-1 System Maintenance Recommendation: Approve and authorize issuance of a Purchase Order to AT&T for an amount not-to-exceed $23,776.11, for a one-year term extension of the Support Agreement for the VESTA 9-1-1 system from April 16, 2026 to April 15, 2027.
9. Project Funded by Senate Bill 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 for Fiscal Year 2026-27
Recommendation: A. Find that the approval of the proposed resolution does not constitute a "project" pursuant to sections 15378(b)(2) and (4) of the Guidelines to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), because it constitutes an administrative activity and government funding mechanism that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant impact on the environment; and even if the adoption of the proposed resolution did constitute a project, it would be exempt from CEQA in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3), the general rule that CEQA only applies to projects that may have a significant effect on the environment; and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-022 adopting a project list to be funded by Senate Bill 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27.
10. Contract with R Dependable Const Inc. for Vernon City Hall Third Floor Facilities Renovations
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 the maintenance, repair or minor alteration of existing facilities and equipment and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing or former use; B. Accept the bid proposal from R Dependable Const Inc. as the most responsive and responsible bidder for the Vernon City Hall Third Floor Facilities Renovations project and reject all other bids; C. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute Contract No. 20260210 in the amount of $126,000.00 for the Vernon City Hall Third Floor Facilities Renovations project for a period not to exceed 90 days; and D. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $12,600.00 in the event of an unexpected changed condition in the project and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue a change order(s) for an amount up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
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The following item was pulled from the Consent Calendar for individual consideration:
11. Services Agreement with Hafenfeld Ranch, LLC.
Recommendation: A. Find that it is in the best interests of the City to award a contract directly to Hafenfeld Ranch, LLC without a competitive selection process, based on their existing operational presence in Kern County and unique combination of services offered, pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Section
3.32.110(B)(2); B. Find that the proposed action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), in accordance with the common-sense exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. Further environmental review, if required under CEQA, will be performed prior to approval of any activity that has the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment; C. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute the Services Agreement with Hafenfeld Ranch, LLC (Hafenfeld Ranch), in substantially the same form as submitted, to provide consulting, infrastructure, and construction services in an amount not-toexceed $600,000 for a three-year term; and D. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $60,000 in the event of unforeseen expenses, including surcharges, price volatility, and additional work, and grant authority to the City Administrator to approve and execute amendments up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
Public Utilities General Manager Dusenberry presented the staff report.
Mayor Ybarra asked how long Hafenfeld Ranch has been using the Kern County property.
Public Utilities General Manager Dusenberry clarified that Hafenfeld owns a ranch nearby and grazes their cattle on the City’s property. He mentioned that the City is extending the agreement to cover the grazing rights and will designate Hafenfeld as the caretaker of the property.
City Attorney Moussa-Milward noted that the grazing contract with Hafenfeld Ranch is based on a separate license agreement.
Mayor Ybarra invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Ybarra called for a motion.
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to approve recommendations A, B, C, and D. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Merlo absent.
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NEW BUSINESS
12. Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget Workshop I
Recommendation: Conduct a workshop and provide direction to staff on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 estimated revenues and proposed expenditures in preparation for the FY 2026-27 Citywide Budget.
City Administrator Saeki represented the staff report, Finance Director Hui presented an overview of the general budget, and the executive team provided departmental updates.
Mayor Ybarra asked why the City was in a deficit and not breaking even in relation to utility use if Prime Data had replaced Farmer John’s usage when they left and additional companies had come on board.
Todd Dusenberry, Public Utilities General Manager, explained that the City had lost legacy load in addition to Farmer John, costs have gone up, inflation, costs of goods, and the City has not raised rates in the last two years.
Mayor Ybarra inquired what percentage of the FY26/27 budget was related to the Strategic Plan Goals approved by the City Council, and City Administrator Saeki responded that staff would need to return with that information.
City Administrator Saeki reminded the City Council of Vernon City Elementary's request for the School Interventionist position and requested feedback on whether the City Council wanted to fund it.
Mayor Ybarra asked that staff bring back the percentage of funding the Strategic Goals have added to the budget before considering funding the position for Vernon City Elementary.
Council Member Larios opined that the City Council could consider a compromise and provide partial funding for the requested position; she asked that the principal provide a presentation so the City Council could have more details on the position under consideration, and City Administrator Saeki agreed.
Council Member Larios thanked staff for their hard work and well-balanced budget.
Mayor Ybarra invited public comments and there were none.
There was no further direction provided by the City Council.
13. Services Agreement with Superior Management and Realty Services, Inc. for Residential Property Management Services
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator, as Housing Commission Director, to execute a Services Agreement with Superior Docusign Envelope ID: 08953490-36F7-8565-831E-C9ECE71C2789 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 8
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Management and Realty Services, Inc. (Superior), in substantially the same form as submitted, for Residential Property Management Services for a total amount not-to-exceed $96,000.00, for a one (1) year term.
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
Mayor Ybarra inquired about the housing budget, which increased to $300,000, as well as the management costs and the expenses for rehabilitating housing units.
Director Wall explained that the budget covered the costs associated with rehabilitating vacant units. This included the anticipated rehabilitation of a housing unit on Fruitland, which had not been updated for a considerable time and would require extensive work to meet current standards. In addition, an apartment unit required rehabilitation.
Finance Director Hui added that the City housing budget included a $200,000 expenditure for two new vehicles that should have been included in the street maintenance division and acknowledged the budget would be updated.
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to approve and authorize the City Administrator, as Housing Commission Director, to execute a Services Agreement with Superior Management and Realty Services, Inc. (Superior), in substantially the same form as submitted, for Residential Property Management Services for a total amount not-to-exceed $96,000.00, for a one (1) year term. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Merlo absent.
14. City Council Appointments to Outside Agencies
Recommendation: Affirm or modify appointments of representatives and/or alternates to various outside agencies.
City Clerk Rocha presented the staff report.
City Council made the following appointments:
Board/Agency Delegate/Alternate
California Contract Cities Association Merlo/Rivera
Central Basin Water Association
Merlo/Larios
City Selection Committee (Mayor) Ybarra/
Entire Council
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County Sanitation District No. 1 (Mayor) Ybarra/Rodriguez County Sanitation District No. 2 (Mayor) Ybarra/Rodriguez County Sanitation District No. 23 Entire Council
Gateway Cities Council of Governments Rodriguez/Merlo
Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District
Health and Safety Code Section 2024
Ybarra
(term ends 1/5/27)
Independent Cities Finance Authority Merlo/Rodriguez
Southern California Association of Governments To Be Determined League of California Cities To Be Determined
Southeast Community Development Corporation
(Not a City Council appointment) Ybarra
Southeast Water Coalition Ybarra/Rivera
Vernon Solid Waste Hearing Panel
(up to 3 Council Members)
Ybarra/Rivera/Larios
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Council Member Rodriguez seconded a motion to affirm or modify appointments of representatives and/or alternates to various outside agencies. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Merlo absent.
Mayor Ybarra noted for the record that the Mayor serves in the City Selection Committee as the representative and the City Council serves as the alternates.
ORAL REPORTS
15. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements City Administrator Saeki announced the Health Department and Arion Global ewaste drop-off event, the Special Business and Industry Commission Meeting to Docusign Envelope ID: 08953490-36F7-8565-831E-C9ECE71C2789 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 8 of 8
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be held on May 28th at 9 a.m., and the Business Breakfast informational session event to be held on Wednesday, June 3rd, in the Council Chambers.
16. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff
Council Member Rivera announced that he attended the Southern California Association of Governments Annual Regional Conference in Palm Desert, and the total cost was $650.
RECESS
At 11:05 a.m., Mayor Ybarra recessed the meeting to Closed Session.
CLOSED SESSION
17. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Claim for Damages
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Claimant: Larry Harrow
RECONVENE
At 11:25 a.m., Mayor Ybarra 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, provided direction, and took no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ybarra adjourned the meeting at 11:25 a.m.
_____________________________
MELISSA YBARRA, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
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