20210302 City Council MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:04 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)
Mark Aumentado, Assistant Civil Engineer (via remote access)
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Interim City Attorney Alvarez-Glasman indicated consideration of a Space Use Agreement
with the County of Los Angeles and the City of Vernon for COVID 19-Testing and related
services and supporting tasks came up after the posting of the agenda and there was an
immediate need for the City Council to take action.
MOTION
Mayor Lopez moved and Council Member Gonzales seconded a motion to add Item 8B,
Space Use Agreement with the County of Los Angeles and the City of Vernon for COVID
19-Testing and related services and supporting tasks with the finding that it came up after
the posting of the agenda and there is an immediate need for the City Council to take action.
The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
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MOTION
Council Member Menke moved and Council Member Davis seconded a motion to approve
the agenda as amended. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
City Clerk Pope read an email from Frances Ramirez regarding comments at the February
16, 2021 Council meeting and the recall of Council Members Gonzales and Menke.
Marisa Olguin, Vernon Chamber of Commerce, expressed appreciation for the voter
registration list being purged and indicated no businessperson had cast a vote in a Vernon
election. She stated the Chamber would continue to fight for clean government. She
indicated support for the resolution calling the election to recall Council Members Menke
and Gonzales.
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra stated she was disappointed and disheartened with impropriety,
misconduct and unethical activities and indicated support for the recall.
Mayor Lopez expressed disappointment with the accusations contained in Ms. Ramirez’s
letter. She encouraged the community to pay attention to the actions of Council Members
Menke and Gonzales.
Council Member Davis provided his answer to the Notice of Intent of his recall.
PRESENTATIONS
1. City Administrator Report
• Cannabis Town Hall Meetings
• COVID-19 Vaccinations in Vernon
• City Hall Beautification
• Energy Markets
Recommendation: No action required by City Council. This is a presentation only.
City Administrator Fandino provided an update on the Cannabis Town Hall meetings, elections,
Covid-19 vaccine distribution, City Hall beautification, and Energy Market.
In response to Council questions, Health and Environmental Control Director Agyin discussed the
vaccination process.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Menke pulled Item No. 7 for individual consideration.
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MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Mayor Lopez seconded a motion to approve the
Consent Calendar with the exception of Item No. 7. The question was called and the motion
carried unanimously.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
2. Approval of Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the January 19, 2021 and February 16, 2021 Regular City
Council meeting minutes.
3. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 62, for the period of
January 31 through January 13, 2021, which totals $4,554,490.71 and consists of
ratification of electronic payments totaling $4,214,661.51, ratification of the issuance of
early checks totaling $339,829.20 and voided Check Nos. 606848, 606873 totaling
$78426.70.
4. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the January 2021 Building Report.
5. Regulatory Mandate to Increase Procurement of Energy from Renewable Sources
Recommendation: Receive and file the annual Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Report
for Calendar Year 2020 and Summary Report for Compliance Period 3.
6. Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual – Secondary Employment or Business
Activity
Recommendation: Adopt Revised Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual- Secondary
Employment or Business Activity, No. 1-7.
8. Services Agreement with Harper & Associates Engineering, Inc.
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt from California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines
§15061(b)(3), because the activity is not one where there is a potential for causing a
significant effect on the environment; and B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator
to execute the Services Agreement between the City of Vernon and Harper & Associates
Engineering, Inc., a California corporation, for Coating Inspection Services for six above
ground steel reservoirs, in substantially the same form as submitted, for an amount not to
exceed $200,000, with an effective date of March 1, 2021.
8B. Services Agreement with the County of Los Angeles for Space Use located at Vernon
City Hall, for COVID-19 related services, including testing effective March 2, 2021
through June 30, 2021
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute the Services
Agreement between the City of Vernon and County of Los Angeles for Space Use,
COVID-19 related services including testing, effective March 2, 2021 through June 30,
2021.
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The following Item was pulled from the Consent Calendar for individual consideration:
7. Recall Petition Acceptance and Call of Special Election
Recommendation: A. Receive Certificates of Sufficiency on the petitions to recall Council
Member Diana Gonzales and Council Member Carol Menke; B. Adopt Resolution No.
2021-02 calling and giving notice of an all-mail ballot Special Municipal Election to be
held on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, for the submission of the question of the recall of Diana
Gonzales and Carol Menke and the election of two City Council Members to fill the
vacancy if the recall prevails; and C. Adopt Resolution No. 2021-03 requesting the Board
of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles to render specified services to the City relating
the conduct of a Special Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, June 1, 2021.
In response to Council Member Menke, City Clerk Pope stated June 1, 2021 was an
allowable election date pursuant to Municipal Code Section 2.118(b). She explained use of
the correct Los Angeles County Report of Voter Registration in determining the required
number of signatures for the recall petition.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Davis seconded a motion to: A.
Receive Certificates of Sufficiency on the petitions to recall Council Member Diana
Gonzales and Council Member Carol Menke; B. Adopt Resolution No. 2021-02 calling
and giving notice of an all-mail ballot Special Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday,
June 1, 2021, for the submission of the question of the recall of Diana Gonzales and Carol
Menke and the election of two City Council Members to fill the vacancy if the recall
prevails; and C. Adopt Resolution No. 2021-03 requesting the Board of Supervisors of the
County of Los Angeles to render specified services to the City relating the conduct of a
Special Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. The question was called
and the motion carried 3-2, Council Members Gonzales and Menke dissenting.
NEW BUSINESS
9. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Recommendation: A. Waive full reading and introduce and conduct first reading of
Ordinance No. 1275 amending Chapter 26 of the Municipal Code to include electric
vehicle charging; and B. Direct staff to schedule second reading and adoption for the March
16, 2021 City Council meeting.
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
In response to Council questions, Public Works Director Wall discussed use of electric
vehicle charging parking spaces, Green Building Standards, and cost of implementation.
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MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Gonzales seconded a motion to waive
full reading and introduce and conduct first reading of Ordinance No. 1275 amending
Chapter 26 of the Municipal Code to include electric vehicle charging; and directed staff
to schedule the second reading and adoption for the March 16, 2021 City Council meeting.
The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
10. Construction Contract to Capital Industrial Coatings, LLC for the Rehabilitation of
Reservoirs 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3 Project
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt from California
Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines §
15301(d), because the project consists of the maintenance and repair of existing potable
water storage reservoirs to meet current public health and safety standards, and involves
negligible or no expansion of an existing use; B. Accept the bid from Capital Industrial
Coatings, LLC as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and reject all other bids;
C. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Construction Contract with
Capital Industrial Coatings, LLC in substantially the same form as attached herewith, in an
amount not to exceed $1,747,100.00 for the Rehabilitation of Reservoirs 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3;
and D. Authorize a contingency amount of $175,000.00 in the event of unforeseen changes
in the project and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue Change Orders for an
amount up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
Public Utilities General Manager Alemu presented the staff report.
In response to Council questions, Assistant Civil Engineer Aumentado explained the need
to replace the coating of the reservoirs.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Mayor Lopez seconded a motion to find that the
proposed action is categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act
(“CEQA”) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines § 15301(d), because the project
consists of the maintenance and repair of existing potable water storage reservoirs to meet
current public health and safety standards, and involves negligible or no expansion of an
existing use; Accept the bid from Capital Industrial Coatings, LLC as the lowest responsive
and responsible bidder and reject all other bids; Approved and authorized the City
Administrator to execute a Construction Contract with Capital Industrial Coatings, LLC in
substantially the same form as attached herewith, in an amount not to exceed $1,747,100.00
for the Rehabilitation of Reservoirs 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3; and Authorized a contingency
amount of $175,000.00 in the event of unforeseen changes in the project and grant authority
to the City Administrator to issue Change Orders for an amount up to the contingency
amount, if necessary. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
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11. Vernon Resident COVID-19 Grant Assistance Program
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the administration of the Vernon Resident
COVID-19 Grant Assistance Program, with a maximum allocation of $50,000, to aid
Vernon households who are experiencing COVID-19 related economic hardship.
City Administrator Fandino presented the staff report.
In response to Council questions, City Administrator Fandino explained that the proposed
program was a grant and would not have to be paid back. He indicated the program was
structured to provide a maximum of $3,000 per household with evidence of COVID-19
impacts. Senior Deputy City Attorney Moussa stated State and Federal stimulus grants
were still pending. She explained the self-attestation process in order for the City to justify
the use of public funds. Interim City Attorney Alvarez-Glasman discussed the self-
attestation process, confirming it did not require registration or immigration status. City
Administrator Fandino stated he would return to Council if additional funds were
necessary.
City Clerk Pope read the email from Susana Ybarra asking questions about the proposed
program.
City Administrator Fandino confirmed that Council Members, spouses, and their legal
dependents were not eligible but other residents could apply; the materials would also be
printed in Spanish; and the usual course of information dissemination would be utilized via
Everbridge, email and text, hand delivered and posted on the City’s website. He anticipated
the process to take approximately three weeks and the applications would be reviewed by
Finance, with a recommendation to City Administration. He stated he would return to
Council if additional allocation of funds was necessary. He stated staff would gauge
interest by calling every resident. Finance Director Williams discussed tax ramifications
and recommended individuals obtain tax advice. He explained the proposed requirement
that back rent be paid first.
The Council discussed the terms of the proposed grant program including use of funds and
providing a stimulus to all residents.
MOTION
Council Member Menke moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to approve
and authorize the Administration of the Vernon Resident COVID-19 Grant Assistance
Program, with a maximum allocation of $50,000 to aid Vernon households who are
experiencing COVID-19 related economic hardship, striking the section regarding the use
of GAP funds towards outstanding/unpaid rent amounts owed, and directed staff to return
to Council with an update on March 16, 2021. The question was called and the motion
carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
City Administrator Reports on Activities and other Announcements.
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City Administrator Fandino provided an update on COVID-19 vaccinations; recent Police
activities; Public Utility outages; and COVID-19 relief restaurant food delivery challenges.
CONSENSUS
By consensus, the Council directed staff to continue to look into a restaurant food delivery
program.
City Administrator Fandino announced the next Vernon Housing Commission meeting on
March 10, 2021; Little Library Ribbon Cutting; and COVID -19 Safe Spring Event. He
commended the Health Department on the vaccination program.
Council Member Menke suggested the City participate in the County’s Great Plates
program.
City Council Reports on Activities (including AB1234), Announcements, or Directives to
Staff.
Mayor Lopez announced that she, Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra, and Council Member Menke
attended the Independent Cities Association Annual Winter Seminar at a cost of $25 per
Council Member.
Mayor Lopez discussed the mailers sent to Vernon residents using the City’s address and
asked if a clarifying letter could be sent out from the City. Interim City Attorney Alvarez-
Glasman stated the Council could provide that direction to staff.
CONSENSUS
By consensus, the Council agreed for the City to send out a letter advising residents about
City correspondence.
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra requested a 2021 Graduation Event, with better City Hall lawn
decorations.
CONSENSUS
By consensus, the Council directed staff to coordinate a 2021 Graduation Event in June.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 10:48 a.m.
______________________________
LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
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