20210316 City Council MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Lopez led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Leticia Lopez, Mayor (via remote access)
Melissa Ybarra, Mayor Pro Tem (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
Arnold Alvarez-Glasman, Interim City Attorney (via remote access)
Lisa Pope, City Clerk
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 Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to approve
the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
City Clerk Pope read an email from Nelson Macias clarifying his relationship with other
Macias residents in the city.
Marisa Olguin thanked the City for dissemination of the COVID-19 vaccines. She
commented on residents indicating they had received or witnessed cash being distributed.
She publicly warned that Vernon elections would not be hijacked and the District Attorney
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Public Integrity Office had been alerted. She stated the Vernon Chamber will fight for clean
and democratic elections.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Employee Service Pin Awards for February 2021
Recommendation: No action required by City Council. This is a presentation only.
Human Resources Director Earl acknowledged Richard Cimarusti, Electric Operator, for
five years of service to the City.
2. Proclamation Declaring March 2021 as Red Cross Month
Recommendation: Proclaim the month of March 2021 as Red Cross Month in the City of
Vernon.
City Clerk Pope presented the proclamation declaring March 2021 as Red Cross Month to
Janette Kim, Board of Directors of the American Red Cross.
Ms. Kim discussed the services of the Red Cross and thanked the Council for the
proclamation.
3. Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Audited Financial Results
Recommendation: No action required by City Council. This is a presentation only.
Finance Director Williams presented the report and introduced Robert Callanan,
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP.
Mr. Callanan presented the FY 2019-2020 Audited Financial Results.
4. Update on City Council Goals
Recommendation: No action required by the City Council. This is a presentation only.
City Administrator Fandino provided an update on the City Council Goals.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Council Member Davis moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra 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:
5. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 1275 - Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Recommendation: Waive full reading and conduct second reading and adopt Ordinance
No. 1275 amending Chapter 26 of the Municipal Code to include electric vehicle charging.
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6. City Payroll Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve City Payroll Warrant Register No. 777, for the period of
February 1 through February 28, 2021, totaling $2,798,059.82 and consisting of ratification
of direct deposits, checks and taxes totaling $1,926,292.32 and ratification of checks and
electronic fund transfers (EFT) for payroll related disbursements totaling $871,767.50 paid
through operating bank account.
7. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 63, for the period of
February 14 through February 27, 2021, totaling $11,255,072.34 and consisting of
ratification of electronic payments totaling $11,097,583.93 and ratification of the issuance
of early checks totaling $157,488.41.
8. City Housing Quarterly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the March 2021 City Housing Quarterly Report
9. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the December 2020 Report.
10. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the January 2021 Report.
11. Operational Agreement between the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
and the City of Vernon for the Implementation and Use of the Electronic Charge
Evaluation Request portal (eCER)
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator and Chief of Police to
execute an operational agreement between the Los Angeles County District Attorney's
Office and the City of Vernon for the implementation and use of the Electronic Charge
Evaluation Request portal (eCER), effective as of December 1, 2020 through November
30, 2025.
12. Report on Emergency Purchases Secured by the City Administrator
Recommendation: Receive and file the report.
13. COVID-19 Resident Grant Assistance Program Update
Recommendation: Receive and file the report.
14. State Rental Assistance Program
Recommendation: Approve the recommendation from the Vernon Housing Commission
to authorize the City, as a landlord, to apply for funding directly from the California State
Rental Assistance Program administered by the California Department of Housing and
Community Development (HCD) which is available to tenants in City-owned housing that
are experiencing COVID-19 related financial hardship and who owe rental arrears.
15. Agreement for Police Services between the City of Vernon and California State
University Los Angeles
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to enter into an
agreement with California State University Los Angeles (University), in substantially the
same form as submitted, to provide the University with temporary law enforcement
services during events related to administering the COVID-19 vaccine.
16. Los Angeles County Possessory Interest Tax for City-owned Housing
Recommendation: Approve the recommendation from the Vernon Housing Commission
to pay tenants' Possessory Interest Tax directly to the County Assessor on behalf of
residents in City-owned housing units.
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PUBLIC COMMENT (Continued)
Susie Ybarra discussed the 2011 disincorporation process and expressed concern about the
possibility of losing the City due to ongoing illegal activities. She referenced the solar
project on the City’s Kern County property.
Council Member Menke discussed the Ybarra’s involvement in local government prior to
2011. She stated the proposed development agreement was brought before the Council
and denied.
NEW BUSINESS
17. Contract Award for City Contract No. CS-1303: Citywide Traffic Signal
Maintenance and Repair FY 2021
Recommendation: A. Find that approval of the proposed action is categorically exempt
under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA
Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities, Class 1, maintenance, because this project
only consists of maintenance and repair of the City’s traffic signals and involves negligible
or no expansion of an existing use; B. Accept the bid from Bear Electrical Solutions, Inc.
as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder; C. Approve and authorize the City
Administrator to execute a contract, in substantially the same form as submitted, in an
amount not to exceed $116,000.00 per year for a three-year term (a total of $348,000) for
the Citywide Traffic Signal Maintenance and Repair FY 2021 Project (CS-1303); and D.
Authorize a contingency of $50,000 in the event of an unexpected changed condition or
additional extraordinary maintenance and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue
a change order for an amount up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
In response to Council questions, Public Works Director Wall stated staff would work on
signal synchronization.
MOTION
Council Member Davis moved and Council Member Gonzales seconded a motion to: A.
Find that approval of the proposed action is categorically exempt under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301,
Existing Facilities, Class 1, maintenance, because this project only consists of maintenance
and repair of the City’s traffic signals and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing
use; B. Accept the bid from Bear Electrical Solutions, Inc. as the lowest responsive and
responsible bidder; C. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a contract,
in substantially the same form as submitted, in an amount not to exceed $116,000.00 per
year for a three-year term (a total of $348,000) for the Citywide Traffic Signal Maintenance
and Repair FY 2021 Project (CS-1303); and D. Authorize a contingency of $50,000 in the
event of an unexpected changed condition or additional extraordinary maintenance and
grant authority to the City Administrator to issue a change order for an amount up to the
contingency amount, if necessary. The question was called and the motion carried
unanimously.
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18. Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Mid-Year Financial Update
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2021-04 approving Mid-Year Budget
Appropriations and amending the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Budget.
Finance Director Williams presented the staff report.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Mayor Lopez seconded a motion to adopt Resolution
No. 2021-04 approving Mid-Year Budget Appropriations and amending the Fiscal Year
2020-2021 Budget. 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 COVID-19 vaccinations and grant
assistance program. He provided an update on the potential restaurant food delivery
program. He announced the Spring Eggstravaganza on March 25, 2021.
City Council Reports on Activities (including AB1234), Announcements, or Directives to
Staff.
Council Member Menke discussed her attendance at the National League of Cities
Congressional City Conference from March 7-10, 2021 and the cost of attending at $99.
Mayor Lopez addressed comments made by Carol Menke and Diana Gonzales about her
relationship with other Macias residents in the City.
Council Member Menke stated Mayor Lopez could not campaign from the dais.
Council Member Gonzales discussed Mayor Lopez’s sister and uncle and various last
names in her family.
Interim City Attorney Alvarez-Glasman reminded the Council that comments must be
relative to the City Council’s activities, rather than personal or campaign related.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 10:07 a.m.
______________________________
LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
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