MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2026
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ybarra called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Ybarra led the Flag Salute.
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
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Rivera moved and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Merlo was absent.
Docusign Envelope ID: 20951867-5C3C-84B3-827E-2B43EE448D33 Special City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 2
June 23, 2026
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Ratification of Proclamation of Local Emergency
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2026-034 ratifying the Chief Executive Officer’s proclamation of local emergency as a result of the threat to public health from the Palos Warehouse Fire.
City Administrator Saeki presented the staff report.
Mayor Ybarra inquired what the City has learned and done to avoid similar incidents happening in the City.
City Administrator Saeki stated that the lessons learned will continue to evolve as staff finds how these fires are efficiently extinguished and the smoke is mitigated, which could lead to code and design changes for future developments. City Administrator Saeki informed the City Council that staff had met to discuss how credible information will be communicated to community via several tools.
Mayor Ybarra invited public comment, there being none, Mayor Ybarra called for a motion.
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Council Member Rodriguez seconded a motion to Adopt Resolution No. 2026-034 ratifying the Chief Executive Officer’s proclamation of local emergency as a result of the threat to public health from the Palos Warehouse Fire. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Merlo was absent.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ybarra adjourned the meeting at 4:14 p.m.
_____________________________
MELISSA YBARRA, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
Docusign Envelope ID: 20951867-5C3C-84B3-827E-2B43EE448D33