20201215 City Council MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2020
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Lopez led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Leticia Lopez, Mayor (via remote access)
Melissa Ybarra, Mayor Pro Tern (via remote access)
William Davis, Council Member (via remote access)
Carol Menke, Council Member (via remote access)
Diana Gonzales, Council Member (via remote access)
STAFF PRESENT:
Carlos Fandino, City Administrator (via remote access)
Arnold Alvarez-Glasman, Interim City Attorney (via remote access)
Lisa Pope, City Clerk (via remote access)
Scott Williams, Finance Director (via remote access)
Abraham Alemu, Public Utilities General Manager (via remote access)
Fredrick Agyin, Health and Environmental Control Director (via remote access)
Michael Earl, Human Resources Director (via remote access)
Anthony Miranda, Police Chief (via remote access)
Dan Wall, Public Works Director (via remote access
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Davis moved and Mayor Pro Tern Ybarra seconded a motion to approve
the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4
December 15, 2020
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Council Member Davis moved and Council Member Gonzales 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.
Approval of Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the December 1, 2020 Regular City Council meeting minutes.
2.
Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claim submitted by Christina Cicione on behalf of
State Farm Mutual Insurance a/s/o Leydi Y. Sanchez in the amount of $3,617.68.
3.
City Payroll Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve City Payroll Warrant Register No. 774, for the period of
November 1 through November 30, 2020, which totals $4,014,048.08 and consists of
ratification of direct deposits, checks and taxes totaling $3,061,210.91 and ratification of
checks and electronic fund transfers (EFT) for payroll related disbursements totaling
$952,837.17 paid through operating bank account.
4.
Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 58, for the period of
November 15 through November 28, 2020, which totals $9,099,407.66 and consists of
ratification of electronic payments totaling $8,952,303.19 and ratification of the issuance
of early checks totaling $147,104.47.
5.
Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the September 2020 Report.
6.
Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the October 2020 Report.
7.
Arbor Day Foundation Application for Tree City USA
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is not subject to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as this application is not considered a "project" under
CEQA which is defined as an action directly undertaken by a public agency which has the
potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably
foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, Cal. Pub. Res. Code Section
21065. Under the proposed application, no such activity is being undertaken. Even if the
application were to be considered a "project" under CEQA, which is not the case, CEQA
Guidelines Section 15308 categorically exempts actions taken by regulatory agencies that
assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment. Here,
the request for authorization to submit an application to the Arbor Day Foundation will
have no impact on the environment whatsoever; and
B. Approve and authorize the Public Works Department to submit an application to the
Arbor Day Foundation for Vernon to be Certified a Tree City USA for 2020.
8.
Fiscal Year (FY) 2020/2021 Docket I Grants Awarded by Vernon CommUNITY Fund
Grant Committee
Recommendation: Receive and file the report, as it is being provided for informational
purposes only, pursuant to Section 2.167(e) of the Vernon Municipal Code.
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
December 15, 2020
Page 3 of 4
9. Report on Services Agreement with Engineering Partners, Inc. Consultant Engineers
for the Re -Design and Preparation of Plans for the Atlantic Bridge Widening Project
Recommendation: Receive and file the report, as it is being provided for informational
purposes only pursuant to Section 2.17.12(B)(3) of the Vernon Municipal Code.
NEW BUSINESS
10. Americans with Disabilities (ADA), Title II, Self -Evaluation and Transition Plan
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2020-43 adopting the 2020 City of Vernon
Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act, Title II, Self -Evaluation and Transition Plan.
Public Works Director Wall introduced the item.
Josh Klipp and Nico Sumowiec, Sally Swanson Architects, Inc., provided an overview of
the Self -Evaluation and Transition Plan.
In response to Council questions, Public Works Director Wall discussed potential grants
and efforts to obtain funding.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tern Ybarra moved and Council Member Gonzales seconded a motion to:
Adopt Resolution No. 2020-43 adopting the 2020 City of Vernon Americans with
Disabilities (ADA) Act, Title II, Self -Evaluation and Transition Plan. The question was
called and the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
City Administrator Reports on Activities and other Announcements.
City Administrator Fandino provided an update on recent Police activity and presented a
video of the City of Hope thanking the City of Vernon for its Pink Patch project. He
announced the nomination period for the City's General Municipal Election from
December 21, 2020 to January 25, 2021. He announced the upcoming holiday events and
Green Vernon Commission meeting on December 16, 2020.
City Council Reports on Activities (including AB1234), Announcements, or Directives to
Staff.
None.
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4
December 15, 2020
RECESS
Mayor Lopez recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:28 a.m.
CLOSED SESSION
11. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE EVALUATION
Government Code Section 54957(b)(1)
Position: City Administrator
RECONVENE
At 10:13 a.m., Mayor Lopez adjourned Closed Session and reconvened the regular
meeting.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Interim City Attorney Alvarez-Glasman reported that the Council, with all five members
present, met in Closed Session, discussed the item on the agenda, and took no reportable
action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 10:13 a.m.
z�v
`�- LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
ATTEST:
LISA POPE, City derk
(seal)