MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2026
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ybarra called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Ybarra led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Melissa Ybarra, Mayor
Jesus Rivera, Mayor Pro Tem
Crystal Larios, Council Member
Judith Merlo, Council Member
Monica Rodriguez, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Brian Saeki, City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa-Milward, City Attorney
Genoveva Rocha, City Clerk
Alice Hui, Finance Director/City Treasurer
Vernoica Petrosyan, Health and Environmental Control Director Lisette Grizzelle, Human Resources Manager
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 Rivera moved and Council Member Rodriguez seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
Docusign Envelope ID: E6DAC28B-FBEF-81F7-82D8-0B9DD27AB908 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 6
July 7, 2026
PRESENTATIONS
1. Recognition of Outgoing City Commission and Committee Members Recommendation: Present Certificates of Recognition to outgoing Business and Industry Commission Members Thomas Condon, Hector Morfin, and Navdeep (Duncan) Sachdeva; Green Vernon Commission Member Jackelyne (Jacquie) Cabrera; Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Member Sebastian Lozano; and Vernon Housing Commission Member Leticia Lopez.
City Clerk, Genoveva Rocha presented the staff report. Mayor Ybarra presented a Certificate of Recognition to Duncan Sachdeva and Leticia Lopez who were the members that were present.
2. Proclamation Recognizing Retiring Employee - Jose Zermeno Recommendation: Acknowledge and present a proclamation to retiring employee Jose Zermeno, Street Maintenance Worker, in recognition of his dedicated service to the City of Vernon.
Director of Public Works, Dan Wall presented the staff report. Mayor Ybarra presented the proclamation to Jose Zermeno.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Ybarra invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Ybarra, asked if any member wished to pull any item. Council Member Larios indicated that she would be abstaining from voting on Item No. 11 due to personal conflict. Mayor Ybarra called for a motion to approve the consent calendar.
MOTION
Council Member Merlo moved and Mayor Pro Tem Rivera seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar with the exception of Item No. 11. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
3. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the June 16, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
4. Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claim submitted by Giovanna Silvestre.
5. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 176, for the period of May 17, 2026 through May 30, 2026, totaling $8,312,139.04 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $8,187,243.81 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $124,895.23.
6. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the May 2026 Building Report.
Docusign Envelope ID: E6DAC28B-FBEF-81F7-82D8-0B9DD27AB908 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 6
July 7, 2026
7. Report on Contract Award to Arise Incorporated Approved by the City Administrator
Recommendation: Receive and file a report on the award of Amendment No. 1 and Statement of Work No. 2 for the Services Agreement with Arise Incorporated for boiler and pressure vessel inspection services at the Malburg Generating Station for an amount not-to-exceed $4,790, as approved by the City Administrator pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Section 3.32.110(B)(2).
8. Report on Contract Award to Tetra Tech, Inc. Approved by the City Administrator
Recommendation: Receive and file the report on the award of a Professional Services Agreement to Tetra Tech Inc., for a five-year term to conduct vapor monitoring and sampling services of the Former Thermador Site for a not-toexceed cost of $96,429, as approved by the City Administrator pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Sections 3.32.110(B)(2) and 3.32.220(B).
9. Professional Services Agreement with Shuster Advisory Group for Financial Advisory Consulting Services
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Shuster Advisory Group, in substantially the same form as submitted, for Financial Advisory Consulting Services for a total amount not-to-exceed $90,000, for a 3-year term.
10. Appointments to the Los Angeles Gateway Region Integrated Water Management Joint Power Authority (GWMA)
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2026-035 updating the City staff appointments to the GWMA and repealing Resolution No. 2025-002.
12. Notice of Completion for Contract No. 20260102 - West Wing HVAC Replacement
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 a full replacement of the existing HVAC main unit on the West Wing of the City Hall Structure and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use;
B. Accept the work of Western Allied Corporation as related to City Contract No. 20260102; 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.
Docusign Envelope ID: E6DAC28B-FBEF-81F7-82D8-0B9DD27AB908 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 6
July 7, 2026
13. Purchase Order with National Auto Fleet Group
Recommendation:
A. Approve and authorize the issuance of a Purchase Order with National Auto Fleet Group (NAFG) for a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV for a total amount not-toexceed $62,460.85; B. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $6,246.09 for the vehicle purchase from NAFG in case of unforeseen fluctuations in price by inflation or supply chain issues; and
C. Authorize the City Administrator to facilitate the bidding and purchase of a comparable vehicle for an amount not-to-exceed $68,706.94 (NAFG price plus contingency amount) from an alternate source/dealership should NAFG vehicle availability be impacted by inventory shortages.
The following Item was pulled from the Consent Calendar for individual consideration.:
11. Memorandum of Understanding with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Recommendation:
A. Find that the approval of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) proposed in this staff report is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15303, because the project consists of new construction of limited small new facilities;
B. Find that pursuant to California Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 21080.25(a)(11), Transportation Prioritization Projects include, but are not limited to: (E) "transit stop access and safety improvements, including, but not limited to, the installation of bus shelters, lighting, transit bulbs, and the installation of transit boarding landings and islands" and pursuant to PRC Section 21080.25(b)(3), Transit Prioritization Projects are statutorily exempt from CEQA; and C. Authorize the City Administrator to execute the MOU for the Metro Southeast Los Angeles Transit Improvements Projects (SELA TIP) between the City of Vernon (City) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA or Metro), in substantially the same form as submitted herewith. The MOU would authorize the LACMTA to reimburse the City for the installation of new bus shelters and amenities at ten (10) Metro bus stop locations within the City's boundaries.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Rivera moved and Council Member Rodriguez seconded a motion to approve Item No. 11. The question was called and the motion carried with 4 members voting in favor, 0 voting in opposition and Council Member Larios abstaining.
Docusign Envelope ID: E6DAC28B-FBEF-81F7-82D8-0B9DD27AB908 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 6
July 7, 2026
NEW BUSINESS
14. Confirmation Letter with NRG Business Marketing LLC Recommendation:
A. Find the action is not in reference to a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Guidelines Section 15378 because it involves the continuing administrative activity of purchasing power and resource adequacy; and even if it were a “project” subject to CEQA, the approval requested is exempt in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the general rule that CEQA only applies to projects that may have a significant effect on the environment, and any construction that may occur by a private party in the future in reliance on this approval would be subject to CEQA review by another governmental agency at the time when actual details of any physical proposal would be more than speculative; and
B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute the Confirmation Letter with NRG Business Marketing LLC, in substantially the same form as submitted, for the Purchase of Portfolio Content Category Product 1 (PCC1) Energy in the amount-not-to exceed $37,000,000 for a 10-year term.
Public Utilities General Manager Dusenberry presented the staff report.
Mayor Ybarra invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Ybarra called for a motion.
MOTION
Council Member Merlo moved and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to approve recommendations A and B. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
15. City-wide Strategic Plan
Recommendation:
Receive a presentation and adopt the City-wide Strategic Plan.
City Administrator Saeki presented the staff report.
Mayor Ybarra invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Ybarra called for a motion
MOTION
Council Member Merlo moved and Council Member Rodriguez seconded a motion to adopt the city-wide strategic plan. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
Docusign Envelope ID: E6DAC28B-FBEF-81F7-82D8-0B9DD27AB908 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 6
July 7, 2026
ORAL REPORTS
16. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements City Administrator Saeki announced that the city’s business phone lines were experiencing service interruptions, but that all 911 emergency lines remained operational. He provided alternate non-emergency phone numbers for City Hall and the Police Department and informed that the alternate numbers had been posted on the City’s website and social media accounts. He also announced the opening of the enrollment period for Vernon City Elementary beginning July 20, 2026, and promoted National Night Out on August 4, 2026.
17. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff
None.
CLOSED SESSION
At 9:33 a.m., Mayor Ybarra recessed the meeting to Closed Session
18. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Significant exposure to litigation (1 potential matter)
19. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Initiation of Litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4)
Number of potential cases: 1
RECONVENE
At 10:24 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 items on the agenda, and took no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ybarra adjourned the meeting at 10:25 a.m.
_____________________________
MELISSA YBARRA, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
Docusign Envelope ID: E6DAC28B-FBEF-81F7-82D8-0B9DD27AB908