MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2026
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ybarra called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
The Vernon Police Department 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
Vernoica Petrosyan, Health and Environmental Control Director Su Tan, Director of Human Resources
Robert Sousa, Police Chief
Dan Wall, Public Works Director-City Engineer
Todd Dusenberry, Public Utilities General Manager
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Mayor Ybarra asked if there were any changes to the agenda. City Clerk Rocha announced that staff would like to table Item No. 12 to the City Council meeting on August 4th, 2026.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Rivera moved and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to approve the agenda with the exception of Item No. 12, to be tabled to the August 4 th, 2026 City Council meeting. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
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July 21, 2026
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Swearing-In Ceremony for New Police Officer
Recommendation: Administer the Oath of Office to Police Officer Sergio De La Torre Jr.
Police Chief Sousa presented the staff report. City Clerk Rocha swore in new Police Officer Sergio De La Torre Jr.
2. Employee Service Pin Awards
Recommendation: Recognize June 2026 Employee Service Pin Award recipients.
Director of Human Resources Tan presented the staff report, and the City Council recognized the 2026 Employee Service Pin Award recipients: Police Sergeant, Jose Ramos; Information Technology Project Manager, Michael Shehata; Council Members, Crystal Larios and Judith Merlo.
3. Proclamation Recognizing Retiring Employee – Claudia Arellano Recommendation: Acknowledge and present a proclamation to retiring employee Claudia Arellano, Utilities Program Analyst, in recognition of her dedicated service to the City of Vernon.
Director of Public Utilities, Todd Dusenberry presented the staff report. Mayor Ybarra presented the proclamation to Claudia Arellano.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Ybarra invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Ybarra called for a motion to approve the consent calendar.
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Council Member Rodriguez seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
4. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the June 23, 2026 Special and July 7, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
5. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 177, for the period of May 31, 2026 through June 13, 2026, totaling $12,817,253.28 and Docusign Envelope ID: C6F3147E-A0CD-82B8-8349-EB8BF232DB88 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4
July 21, 2026
consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $12,557,691.15 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $259,562.13.
6. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the May 2026 Fire Department Activity Report.
7. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the May 2026 Police Department Activity Report.
8. Services Agreement with EN Engineering, LLC dba ENTRUST Solutions Group
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Services Agreement with EN Engineering LLC, dba ENTRUST Solutions Group (EN Engineering), in substantially the same form as submitted, for Natural Gas Operational and Compliance Support Services for a total amount not-to-exceed $352,000, for a three-year term; and
B. Authorize a contingency amount of five percent (5%) or $17,600 in the event of unforeseen services and expenses related to ongoing compliance support needs, staffing limitations, and the new audit format implemented by the CPUC, and grant authority to the City Administrator to approve and execute contract amendments up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
9. Extending State of Local Emergency
Recommendation: Renew Resolution No. 2026-034, ratifying Emergency Proclamation No. 2026-001, a proclamation of local emergency due to the Palos Warehouse Fire.
10. Report on Contract Renewal with Granicus, Inc. Approved by the City Administrator
Recommendation: Receive and file a report on the second-year renewal of Contract No. 20250416 with Granicus, Inc. for a one-year term for agenda management software for an amount not-to-exceed $26,691.19, as approved by the City Administrator pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Section 3.32.110(B)(2).
11. Report on Emergency Repair of Combustion Turbine Generator Approved by the City Administrator
Recommendation: Receive and file a report on the emergency repair of Combustion Turbine Generator No. 1 performed by Siemens Energy, including ABB Support, and D2 Industrial Services, LLC, as approved by the City Administrator pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Section 3.32.250.
Item No. 12 was tabled to the August 4, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting
NEW BUSINESS
12. Regular Vernon City Council Meeting Times
Recommendation:
Discuss meeting times for regular meetings of the City Council and provide direction to staff regarding potential changes.
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July 21, 2026
ORAL REPORTS
13. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements City Administrator Saeki announced that the LA County Public Health Department has issued a Heat Advisory for parts of the county from July 22nd through July 27th.
He also promoted the upcoming Resident Town Hall Meeting on July 22, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the Vernon Village Park Apartments and on July 28, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. He spoke about the National Night Out on August 4th, 2026 and provided a VPU Credit Rating Upgrade update.
14. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff
None.
CLOSED SESSION
At 9:21 a.m., Mayor Ybarra recessed the meeting to Closed Session
15. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Simon Perez Melchor v. City of Vernon, et al.
Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 24NWCV01639
16. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Significant exposure to litigation (1 potential matter)
RECONVENE
At 9:51 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 9:51 a.m.
_____________________________
MELISSA YBARRA, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
Docusign Envelope ID: C6F3147E-A0CD-82B8-8349-EB8BF232DB88