MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 S. SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ybarra called the meeting to order at 9:00 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
Rachel H. Richman, Legal Counsel
Fernando N. Muñoz, Deputy City Clerk
Alice Hui, Finance Director/City Treasurer
Veronica 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
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Mayor Pro Tem Rivera seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Martha Alvarez from the Los Angeles Unified School District, Chief of Governmental Relations, provided an update about the school district. She expressed her gratitude for the agenda item supporting one of their schools.
Additionally, she highlighted the Los Angeles Unified Strategic Plan's efforts to enhance engagement and collaboration with governmental partners.
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4
September 1, 2026
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Ybarra inquired if there were any changes to the Consent Calendar. Deputy City Clerk Muñoz announced there were no changes.
Mayor Ybarra invited public comments. There being none, 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. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
1. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the August 18, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
2. Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claim submitted by Jaime Gutierrez in the amount of $3,810.07.
3. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 180, for the period of July 19, 2026 through August 1, 2026, totaling $13,314,244.24 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $12,807,218.90 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $507,025.34.
4. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the July 2026 Building Report.
5. Purchase Contract with Teledyne Monitor Labs
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the issuance of a Purchase Contract with Teledyne Monitor Labs for the upgrade of RegPerfect software and associated equipment for a total amount not-to-exceed $114,159; and B. Authorize a contingency amount of twenty percent (20%) or $22,831.80 for taxes and unforeseen expenses during implementation, and grant authority to the City Administrator to approve and execute change orders up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
6. Amendment No. 3 to the Professional Services Agreement with SDI Presence LLC
Recommendation: A. Pursuant to Sections 3.32.220(B) and 3.32.110(B)(3) of the Vernon Municipal Code (VMC), find that it is commercially unreasonable to rebid the existing services agreement with SDI Presence LLC as necessary project implementations have not yet been completed; and
B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute Amendment No. 3 to the Professional Services Agreement with SDI Presence LLC, in substantially the same form as submitted, extending the agreement for project management services for an additional one (1) year through August 19, 2027, with no increase in compensation.
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4
September 1, 2026
NEW BUSINESS
7. Donation to Vernon City Elementary School for Interventionist Position Recommendation: A. Find that providing financial support to Vernon City Elementary School (VCES) serves a public purpose and benefits Vernon area students;
B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a donation letter, in substantially the same form as submitted, memorializing the City of Vernon’s commitment to funding the Interventionist position at VCES for a total amount notto-exceed $174,349 for the 2026-27 school year; and C. Authorize the City Administrator to make additional donations to VCES in an amount up to $25,651 for the specific purpose of funding the Interventionist position for the 2026-27 school year, should the final compensation amount for the position exceed $174,349. Total donations to VCES for this purpose shall not exceed the $200,000 allocated by City Council in the City’s budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27.
City Administrator Saeki presented the staff report and Leonora Carrillo, the Principal of Vernon City Elementary School, expressed her gratitude to the City of Vernon for its partnership and support of the school.
Mayor Ybarra invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Ybarra called for a motion.
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Mayor Pro Tem Rivera seconded a motion to approve recommendations A, B, and C. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
8. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements City Administrator Saeki announced the Business Breakfast on Thursday, September 10 at 8:30 a.m., to discuss the results of the tax parity study; “Coffee with a Cop” event on Wednesday, September 16 at 7:30 a.m.; and the recent “A” Rating from S&P on the Vernon Public Utility’s Water System.
9. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff
None.
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4
September 1, 2026
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ybarra adjourned the meeting at 9:13 a.m.
_____________________________
MELISSA YBARRA, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk