2019-01-15 City Council Minutes
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE
CITY OF VERNON HELD TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019, IN COUNCIL CHAMBER OF CITY HALL LOCATED AT 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE, VERNON, CALIFORNIA
CALL TO ORDER & FLAG SALUTE Members Present: Yvette Woodruff-Perez, William Davis, Luz Martinez, Leticia Lopez,
Melissa Ybarra
Members Absent: None
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Mayor Yvette Woodruff-Perez, who also led the
flag salute.
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
City Clerk Maria Ayala announced that staff would be pulling Agenda Item No. 1. PUBLIC COMMENT
No Public Comment provided. PRESENTATION
1. 2019 Used Oil Calendar Awards Presentation Recommendation: No action required by City Council. This is a presentation
only.
Agenda Item no. 1 was PULLED by staff from the agenda.
2. Recognition of Retired Employee - Fernando R. Rodriguez, Police Sergeant
Recommendation: A. Acknowledge and present a proclamation to retired
employee Fernando R. Rodriguez, Police Sergeant in recognition of his dedicated service to the City of Vernon. City Clerk Maria Ayala read the Proclamation.
Mayor Woodruff-Perez presented the Proclamation to Retired Police Sergeant Fernando
Rodriguez, who thanked the City and Vernon City Council for their support.
Police Chief Anthony Miranda said a few word regarding Retired Police Sergeant Rodriguez’s
career with the Police Department.
3. Swear-In Ceremony
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Recommendation: No action required by City Council. This is a presentation
only.
Police Chief Anthony Miranda introduced the new police recruit, Justin Cortez and said a few words about Officer Cortez’s career.
City Clerk Ayala administered the Oath of Allegiance to Justin Cortez
Mrs. Alyssa Cortez pinned the badge on her husband, Officer Justin Cortez
4. Employee Service Pin Awards for November and December 2018
Recommendation: No action required by City Council. This is a presentation
only.
Human Resources Michael Earl announced the Service Pin Award recipients.
Mayor Woodruff-Perez presented the Service Pin awards to Octavien Ngarambe, and Eugenio,
who were in attendance.
5. Presentation of 2018 City of Vernon Exceptional Employee Program (VEEP)
Awards
Recommendation: No action required by City Council. This is a presentation
only.
Human Resources Michael Earl announced the winners of the Vernon Exceptional Employee
Program Awards.
Mayor Woodruff-Perez presented the award for Significant Cost Savings to Rafael Castellanos;
Team Award to Gas Division staff, Dan Cordova, Dan Lopez, Frank Lozano, and Jeff Fraga; Employee of the Year Award, Don Quiroz, who were all present.
CONSENT CALENDAR
6. Agreement with Advanced Utility Systems for CIS Infinity Billing Software
Recommendation: A. Find that approval of the proposed action is exempt
under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") review, because it
is continuing administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute a "project" as defined by CEQA Guidelines section 15378; and
B. Approve the proposed Agreement with Advanced Utility Systems in an
amount not to exceed $28,941 for a custom system configuration; and
C. Authorize the City Administrator to execute Agreement with Advanced
Utility Systems in substantially the same form as submitted herewith.
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7. Report on Emergency Purchase Secured by the City Administrator
Recommendation: A. Find that both the filing of this report and the
emergency purchase of services and repairs that are the subject of the report
are exempt from California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") review because these activities are and were administrative activities that will not and
did not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment and,
therefore, neither activity constitutes a "project" as defined by CEQA
Guidelines section 15378.
B. Receive and file this report as it is being provided for informational
purposes only, pursuant to Section 2.17.36 of the Vernon Municipal Code.
8. Claim for Damages from B. Kim received on December 19, 2018. Recommendation: A. Receive and File 9. Claim for Damages from B. Lunde received January 8, 2019.
Recommendation: A. Receive and File
10. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting held December 18, 2018. Recommendation: A. Receive and File
11. A Resolution Authorizing the City Clerk to Deputize One Staff Member of the
Office of the City Clerk for the Purpose of Signature Attestation Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), in accordance with CEQA
Guidelines § 15061(b)(3), the general rule that CEQA only applies to projects
that may have a significant effect on the environment; and
B. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Clerk to deputize one staff member of the Office of the City Clerk for the purposes of signature attestation for
approved or adopted: resolutions, ordinances, contracts or agreements in the
absence of the City Clerk.
12. Approval of City Payroll Warrant Register No. 751 Covering the Period of December 01 through December 31, 2018
Recommendation: A. Approve City Payroll Warrant Register No. 751 which
totals $2,947,750.23 and consists of the following:
1) Ratification of direct deposits, checks and taxes totaling $2,349,407.91. 2) Checks and electronic fund transfers (EFT) paid through General bank
account totaling $598,342.32.
13. Approval of Federal Funds for Street Improvements Account Warrant Register No. 25 Covering the Period of December 11 through January 07, 2019
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Recommendation: A. Approve Federal Funds for Street Improvements
Account Warrant Register No. 25 which totals $5,611.52 and consists of the
following:
1) Ratification of electronic payments totaling $5,611.52.
14. Approval of Operating Account Warrant Register No. 14 Covering the Period
of December 11 through January 07, 2019 Recommendation: A. Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 14 which totals $16,645,865.62 and consists of the following:
1) Ratification of electronic payments totaling $16,157,632.61.
2) Ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $464,562.54.
3) Authorization to issue pending checks totaling $23,670.47.
15. Approval of RDA Obligation Retirement Account Warrant Register No. 49
Covering the Period of November 27 through January 07, 2019
Recommendation: A. Approve RDA Obligation Retirement Account
Warrant Register No. 49 which totals $9,431.56 and consists of the following:
1) Ratification of electronic payments totaling $9,431.56.
16. Ratification of Warrant Registers to Record Voided Checks Recommendation: A. Ratify the following warrant registers to record voided checks:
1) Operating Account Warrant Register No. 3 to record voided Check No.
600328 in the amount of $113.00 issued 07/17/18 to Cardozo, Angelica.
17. Fire Department Activity Report for the Period of October 16 through October
31, 2018
Recommendation: A. Receive and file.
18. Fire Department Activity Report for the Period of November 1 through
November 15, 2018
Recommendation: A. Receive and file.
19. Vernon Police Department Activity Log and Statistical Summary for the
period of December 1 through December 15, 2018
Recommendation: A. Receive and file.
20. Vernon Police Department Activity Log and Statistical Summary for the
period of December 16 through December 31, 2018
Recommendation: A. Receive and file.
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21. Amendment No. 2 to the Economic Development Incentive on Electric
Service Agreement between the City of Vernon and Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc.
Recommendation: A. Find that approval of the proposed action is exempt
from California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") review, because it is an administrative and governmental fiscal activity which does not involve any
commitment to any specific project and that will not result in direct or indirect
physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute a
"project" as defined by CEQA Guidelines section 15378; and
B. Approve Amendment No. 2 to the Economic Development Incentive on
Electric Service Agreement between the City of Vernon and Matheson Tri-
Gas, Inc., for the purpose of extending the commercial operation
Commencement Date for the New Facility; and
C. Authorize the City Administrator to execute Amendment No.2 to the
Economic Development Incentive Agreement with Matheson Trigas, Inc., in
substantially the same form as attached herewith.
22. License Agreement between Southern California Edison Company and the
City of Vernon for the Use of Land at the Laguna Bell Substation
Recommendation: A. Find that the approval requested in this staff report is
exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in
accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, because the proposed action involves the leasing of an existing public utility service facility and
involves negligible or no expansion of the existing use; and
B. Approve the proposed License Agreement with Southern California Edison
Company ("SCE") for a five-year term in an amount not to exceed $1,903.01; and
C. Authorize the City Administrator to execute the License Agreement with
SCE, in substantially the same form as submitted herewith, with an effective
date of April 1, 2019.
23. Award of a Services Agreement with Webco LB, LLC for Street Sweeping
Services
Recommendation: A. Find that the approval of the proposed services
agreement with Webco LB, LLC is categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with Section 15301,
Existing Facilities, part (c), existing highways and streets, because the project
is merely to sweep existing streets and involves negligible or no expansion of
existing use; and
B. Approve the Services Agreement with Webco LB, LLC for street
sweeping services for a three (3) year term and an amount not to exceed
$378,000; and
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C. Authorize the City Administrator to execute the Services Agreement with
Webco LB, LLC, in substantially the same form as submitted herewith, with
an effective date of March 2, 2019.
24. Award of Services Agreement to Willdan Engineering for Structural Plan
Check Services
Recommendation: A. Find that awarding the contract to Willdan
Engineering is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
review, because it is an administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore is not a “project’
as defined by CEQA Guidelines, Section 15378; and
B. Approve a Services Agreement with Willdan Engineering, in substantially
the same form as submitted herewith, for a one (1) year term in an amount not-to-exceed $65,000 for structural plan check services; and
C. Authorize the City Administrator to execute the Services Agreement with
Willdan Engineering with an effective date of January 1, 2019.
25. Public Works Department November 2018 Monthly Building Report
Recommendation: A. Receive and File.
No public comment provided.
It was moved by William Davis and seconded by Melissa Ybarra to approve Consent Calendar
items 6 through 25. Motion carried, 5 - 0.
Yes: Yvette Woodruff-Perez, William Davis, Luz Martinez, Leticia Lopez, Melissa
Ybarra No: None
NEW BUSINESS
26. Appointment of Eligible Individuals to Serve on the Vernon Business & Industry Commission
Recommendation: A. Find that the appointment of an eligible individual to
serve on the Vernon Business & Industry Commission is exempt from
California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) review, because they are administrative actions that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore do not constitute a “project” as defined by
CEQA Guidelines section 15378; and
B. Appoint one eligible individual to serve on the Vernon Business & Industry Commission, in a Vernon Employee/Labor Representative Seat, with
a term beginning January 15, 2019 and expiring on June 30, 2022; and
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C. Appoint one eligible individual to serve on the Vernon Business &
Industry Commission, in a Vernon Real Estate Representative Seat, with a
term beginning January 15, 2019 and expiring on June 30, 2022.
Administrative Analyst Diana Figueroa reported on the proposed.
No public comment provided.
It was moved by Melissa Ybarra and seconded by Leticia Lopez to A. Find that the appointment
of an eligible individual to serve on the Vernon Business & Industry Commission is exempt from
California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) review, because they are administrative actions
that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore do not
constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA Guidelines section 15378; and B. Appoint one eligible individual to serve on the Vernon Business & Industry Commission, in a Vernon Employee/Labor
Representative Seat, with a term beginning January 15, 2019 and expiring on June 30, 2022; and
C. Appoint one eligible individual to serve on the Vernon Business & Industry Commission, in a
Vernon Real Estate Representative Seat, with a term beginning January 15, 2019 and expiring on
June 30, 2022. Motion carried, 5-0.
Yes: Yvette Woodruff-Perez, William Davis, Luz Martinez, Leticia Lopez, Melissa
Ybarra
No: None
27. Appointment of Eligible Individual to Serve on the Vernon CommUNITY
Fund Grant Committee
Recommendation: A. Find that the appointment of eligible individuals to
serve on the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee is exempt from
California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) review, because it is an administrative action that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes
in the environment, and therefore does not constitute a “project” as defined by
CEQA Guidelines section 15378; and
B. Appoint an eligible individual to serve on the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee in a Vernon Area Representative Seat with a term of
January 15, 2019 to June 30, 2020.
Administrative Analyst Diana Figueroa reported on the proposed item.
No public comment provided.
Mayor Woodruff-Perez requested to bring out the Candidates’ application on the Council monitors.
City Clerk Maria Ayala read the Candidates’ qualifications page.
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It was moved by Yvette Woodruff-Perez and seconded by Luz Martinez to appoint James Chang
to serve on the Committee, and to A. Find that the appointment of eligible individuals to serve on
the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee is exempt from California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”) review, because it is an administrative action that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute a “project” as
defined by CEQA Guidelines section 15378; and B. Appoint an eligible individual to serve on the
Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee in a Vernon Area Representative Seat with a term
of January 15, 2019 to June 30, 2020. Motion carried, 4 - 0.
Yes: Yvette Woodruff-Perez, William Davis, Luz Martinez, Leticia Lopez
No: None
Abstain: Melissa Ybarra
28. Approval of the 2019 Calendar Year Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life
Insurance Proposals for City Employee and Retiree Benefits
Recommendation: A.. Find that approval of the proposed action is exempt
from California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) review, because it is an
administrative activity that will not result in direct physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute a “project” as defined by
CEQA Guidelines section 15378; and
B. Approve the 2019 Calendar Year Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life
Insurance Benefits as proposed; and
C. Authorize the City Administrator to execute final agreements with the
insurance providers based on the proposals submitted herewith.
Human Resources Michael Earl reported on the proposed.
No public comment provided.
It was moved by Luz Martinez and seconded by William Davis to A. Find that approval of the
proposed action is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) review, because
it is an administrative activity that will not result in direct physical changes in the environment,
and therefore does not constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA Guidelines section 15378; and B. Approve the 2019 Calendar Year Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance Benefits as proposed; and C. Authorize the City Administrator to execute final agreements with the insurance
providers based on the proposals submitted herewith. Motion carried, 5 - 0.
Yes: Yvette Woodruff-Perez, William Davis, Luz Martinez, Leticia Lopez, Melissa Ybarra No: None 29. A Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Service Level
Agreement for Upstream Internet Access Services with Broadband, LLC Recommendation: A. Find that approval of the proposed action in this staff
report is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"),
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because it is a governmental administrative activity that will not have any
effect on the environment and is therefore not a “project” as that term is
defined by CEQA Guidelines section 15378; and
B. Adopt a Resolution approving and authorizing the execution of a Service
Level Agreement for Upstream Internet Access Services with Broadband,
LLC, in the not to exceed amount of $130,000; and
C. Approve additional funds in the amount of $22,000 to cover the month to month charges due between the period of October 2018 through February
2019.
General Manager Kelly Nguyen reported on the proposed. No public comment provided.
It was moved by William Davis and seconded by Luz Martinez to A. Find that approval of the proposed action in this staff report is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act
("CEQA"), because it is a governmental administrative activity that will not have any effect on the
environment and is therefore not a “project” as that term is defined by CEQA Guidelines section
15378; and B. Adopt a Resolution approving and authorizing the execution of a Service Level Agreement for Upstream Internet Access Services with Broadband, LLC, in the not to exceed amount of $130,000; and C. Approve additional funds in the amount of $22,000 to cover the month
to month charges due between the period of October 2018 through February 2019. Motion carried,
5 - 0.
Yes: Yvette Woodruff-Perez, William Davis, Luz Martinez, Leticia Lopez, Melissa Ybarra
No: None 30. License and Software Services Agreement with Power Settlements Consulting and Software, LLC for Settlement Software Services
Recommendation: A. Find that (a) settlement software services agreement
between the City of Vernon and Power Settlements Consulting and Software,
LLC 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 procurement of LICENSE AND
SOFTWARE Services; and (b) even if this approval 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 that time when actual details of any physical proposal would be more than
speculative; and
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B. Approve the License and Software Services Agreement with Power
Settlements Consulting and Software, LLC for Settlement Software Services
for a perpetual software license with support and maintenance fees in the total
amount of $326,818 for a three (3) year term; and
C. Authorize the City Administrator to execute the License and Software
Services Agreement, in substantially the same form as submitted herewith,
with an effective date of February 1, 2019.
General Manager Kelly Nguyen reported on the proposed.
No public comment provided.
It was moved by Luz Martinez and seconded by Leticia Lopez to A. Find that (a) settlement
software services agreement between the City of Vernon and Power Settlements Consulting and
Software, LLC 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 procurement of LICENSE AND SOFTWARE Services; and (b) even if this approval
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 that time when actual details of any physical proposal would be more than speculative;
and B. Approve the License and Software Services Agreement with Power Settlements Consulting
and Software, LLC for Settlement Software Services for a perpetual software license with support
and maintenance fees in the total amount of $326,818 for a three (3) year term; and C. Authorize the City Administrator to execute the License and Software Services Agreement, in substantially the same form as submitted herewith, with an effective date of February 1, 2019. Motion carried,
5 - 0.
Yes: Yvette Woodruff-Perez, William Davis, Luz Martinez, Leticia Lopez, Melissa Ybarra No: None ORAL REPORTS
Police Chief Anthony Miranda reported on the following: December 19th VPD hosted the
Southeast Regional Mental Health Team; on December 21st VPD conducted DUI check point; and
reported on several incidents throughout the City.
Fire Chief Bruce English reported on the following: new Fire Department Inspection Program that is completely paperless and utilizes Ipads; winter storm updates; and January 25th, Fire Station No.
76 will host a Drone Pilot meeting.
Public Works Director Daniel Wall reported that Public Works staff has been conducting weather patrol, engineering staff is currently designing street projects and working on designs for house renovations.
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Public Utilities Director Kelly Nguyen reported on the following: several power outages
throughout the City; staff is continuously conducting bi-directional flushing programs with memos
sent to the customers that would be affected; and Vernon Public Utilities is ranked as a top diamond Reliable Public Power Provider.
Finance Director William Fox reported on the following: the annual audit; Insurance Program
Renewal process; Business License Program and the collection of the fees.
Director of Health Frederick Agyin provided an update on the Health Department’s recruitment of
Environmental Health Technicians.
Director of Human Resources Michael Earl reported on the following: Annual Employee
Recognition and Holiday Event; Annual Health Insurance Open Enrollment process; and announced that Human Resources is currently assisting various departments with recruitment of
new personnel to fill in the vacant positions within their departments.
City Clerk Maria Ayala provided an update on the upcoming April 9, 2019, General Municipal
Election.
CLOSED SESSION
The City Council entered closed session at 9:54 a.m. 31. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
Significant exposure to litigation. Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Number of potential cases: 3
32. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL--EXISTING LITIGATION
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Jimenez v. City of Vernon, et al. Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. BC717856
At 10:31 a.m. the City Council exited closed session. Senior Deputy City Attorney Zaynah
Moussa reported that two items were discussed with no reportable action taken.
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ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, at 10:24 Mayor Yvette Woodruff-Perez adjourned the meeting.
________________________
Yvette Woodruff-Perez
Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________
Maria E. Ayala
City Clerk