20210406 City Council MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:02 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
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Gonzales seconded a motion to
approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9C9F5741-44F1-42FF-9A6A-FC05021CAB4F
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 7
April 6, 2021
PRESENTATIONS
1. Proclamation in Recognition of April 2021 as National Autism Awareness Month in
the City of Vernon
Recommendation: Acknowledge and present a proclamation by the Vernon City Council
recognizing the month of April 2021 as Autism Awareness Month in the City of Vernon.
City Clerk Pope read the proclamation.
2. City Administrator Report:
• Spring Eggstravaganza
• COVID-19 Efforts (Testing and Vaccines)
• Election Update
• Tree City Designation
• LABJ Commercial Real Estate Award – Prologis
• Elected Officials participation in Project Westside Stakeholder Advisory Interview
• Leonis Substation Bank #3 Upgrade Project
• Gas Division Public Awareness with LACFD
Recommendation: No action is required by City Council. This is a presentation only.
City Administrator Fandino presented the City Administrator Report.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. General Fee Schedule for Fiscal Year 2021-2022
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2021-05 approving and adopting a General Fee
Schedule for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.
Finance Director Williams presented the staff report.
In response to Council questions, City Clerk Pope provided the fees based on State law.
Mayor Lopez opened the public hearing. There being no speakers, Mayor Lopez closed
the public hearing.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Mayor Lopez seconded a motion to adopt Resolution
No. 2021-05 approving and adopting a General Fee Schedule for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.
The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
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:
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9C9F5741-44F1-42FF-9A6A-FC05021CAB4F
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 7
April 6, 2021
4. Approval of Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the March 2 and March 16, 2021 Regular City Council meeting
minutes.
5. Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claim submitted by Silvia Gonzales in the amount
of $614.
6. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 64, for the period of
February 28 through March 20, 2021, totaling $12,673,549.85 and consisting of ratification
of electronic payments totaling $12,415,381.73 and ratification of the issuance of early
checks totaling $258,168.12.
7. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the February 2021 Building Report.
8. Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual - COVID-19 Prevention Program (CPP)
Recommendation: Adopt Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual - COVID-19
Prevention Program (CPP), No. VI-3.
9. Amendment No. 1 to the Services Agreement between the City of Vernon and The
Arroyo Group
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is exempt under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, because it is a continuing administrative
activity that will not result in any direct or indirect physical changes in the environment,
and therefore does not constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA Guidelines section
15378. As indicated in the Staff Report, one of the outcomes of the proposed action is to
develop a Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for potential project(s), and any
required environmental impact analysis will be conducted at the appropriate project phase;
and B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute Amendment No. 1 to the
Services Agreement between the City of Vernon and The Arroyo Group, in substantially
the same form as submitted, for the preparation of the Mixed-Use Specific Plan and
Program EIR and the preparation of the General Plan and Housing Element Updates for a
not-to-exceed amount of $65,830.
10. Authorized Agents for California Governor's Office of Emergency Services Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2021-06 designating the City's Authorized
Agents for the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program for the City's Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update.
NEW BUSINESS
11. General Services Agreement with the County of Los Angeles
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2021-07 approving and authorizing the execution
of a General Services Agreement by and between the City of Vernon and the County of
Los Angeles for a five (5) year period from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2026.
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9C9F5741-44F1-42FF-9A6A-FC05021CAB4F
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 7
April 6, 2021
MOTION
Council Member Menke moved and Mayor Lopez seconded a motion to adopt Resolution
No. 2021-07 approving and authorizing the execution of a General Services Agreement by
and between the City of Vernon and the County of Los Angeles for a five (5) year period
from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2026. The question was called and the motion carried
unanimously.
12. Construction Contract to Cedro Construction, Inc. for the 50th Street Water Main
Replacement
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed Capital Improvement Project is categorically
exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with
CEQA Guidelines Section 15302, because the proposed project consists of the replacement
or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located
on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and
capacity as the structure replaced; B. Accept the bid from Cedro Construction, Inc. 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 Cedro
Construction, Inc. in substantially the same form as submitted, in an amount not to exceed
$964,976 for the 50th Street Water Main Replacement; and D. Authorize a contingency
amount of $96,000 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.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Davis seconded a motion to: A. Find
that the proposed Capital Improvement Project is categorically exempt under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15302,
because the proposed project consists of the replacement or reconstruction of existing
structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the
structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the
structure replaced; B. Accept the bid from Cedro Construction, Inc. 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 Cedro Construction, Inc. in
substantially the same form as submitted, in an amount not to exceed $964,976 for the 50th
Street Water Main Replacement; and D. Authorize a contingency amount of $96,000 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.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9C9F5741-44F1-42FF-9A6A-FC05021CAB4F
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 7
April 6, 2021
13. Amendment to the Classification and Compensation Plan
Recommendation: A. Approve revised job description for the position of Deputy City
Clerk; and B. Approve new job description for the position of Administrative Aide; and
C. Adopt Resolution No. 2021-08 amending Exhibit A of the Classification and
Compensation Plan, adopted by Resolution No. 2020-19 and as amended by Resolution
Nos. 2020-28, 2020-29, 2020-32 and 2020-42 to approve the new and revised salary
ranges.
Human Resources Director Earl presented the staff report.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Mayor Lopez seconded a motion to: A. Approve
revised job description for the position of Deputy City Clerk; and B. Approve new job
description for the position of Administrative Aide; and C. Adopt Resolution No. 2021-08
amending Exhibit A of the Classification and Compensation Plan, adopted by Resolution
No. 2020-19 and as amended by Resolution Nos. 2020-28, 2020-29, 2020-32 and 2020-42
to approve the new and revised salary ranges. 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. Health and
Environmental Control Director Agyin discussed vaccination for residents on April 14,
2021.
City Administrator Fandino discussed the Department of Toxic Substances Control
(DTSC) soil sampling from the yards of the homes on Fruitland and announced the meeting
with residents scheduled for April 6, at 6 p.m. He discussed the ADA compliance
improvements at the Vernon and Santa Fe intersection; COVID-19 Orange Tier; and
commencement of in person Council meetings on April 20, 2021.
City Council Reports on Activities (including AB1234), Announcements, or Directives to
Staff.
Council Member Gonzales expressed concern regarding the COVID-19 grant program.
Finance Director Williams stated there were 25 applications under review and explained
the evaluation and decision process.
City Administrator Fandino stated applications were sent to all residents, and they were
called and explained the process.
Council Member Gonzales asked if the Council could look at the applications.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9C9F5741-44F1-42FF-9A6A-FC05021CAB4F
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 7
April 6, 2021
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra requested an update at the next meeting on applications and
whether additional funds were necessary. She asked staff to reach out to those that had not
yet applied and offer assistance.
Council Member Menke concurred with Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra and requested the
committee members, criteria and decision-making process be provided to the Council. She
suggested the self-attestation requirement be changed if more applications were not
received.
City Administrator Fandino stated the update would include how many applications had
been received and if additional funds were necessary. He stated staff would reach out to
individual residents explaining the deadline and offering assistance and the criteria/rating
process would be provided to the Council.
RECESS
Mayor Lopez recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:48 a.m.
CLOSED SESSION
14. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
A. Bicent (California) Malburg LLC et al. v. City of Vernon et al.,
Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 19STCV08859 and JAMS Reference No.
100107175
B. City of Vernon v. Bicent (California) Malburg LLC
Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 19STCP02411 and JAMS Reference No.
1220062657
15. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Government Code Section 54956.8
Property: 2799 E 50th St, Vernon CA
Agency negotiator: Carlos Fandino, City Administrator
Negotiating parties: Bicent (California) Malburg LLC
Under negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
RECONVENE
At 10:52 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 items on the agenda, and took no reportable
action.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9C9F5741-44F1-42FF-9A6A-FC05021CAB4F
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 7 of 7
April 6, 2021
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 10:54 a.m.
______________________________
MELISSA YBARRA, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9C9F5741-44F1-42FF-9A6A-FC05021CAB4F