20210803 City Council MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2021
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ybarra called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Vernon Police Department Honor Guard led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Melissa Ybarra, Mayor
William Davis, Mayor Pro Tem
Leticia Lopez, Council Member
Crystal Larios, Council Member
Judith Merlo, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Carlos Fandino, City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa, Interim City Attorney
Lisa Pope, City Clerk
Scott Williams, Finance Director
Todd Dusenberry, Public Utilities Assistant General Manager
Veronica Petrosyan, Environmental Health Program Administrator
Michael Earl, Human Resources Director
Robert Sousa, Police Chief
Dan Wall, Public Works Director
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Davis moved and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to approve
the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
DocuSign Envelope ID: D5A20755-EF96-4D34-9413-C32CB40E9C03
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5
August 3, 2021
PRESENTATIONS
1. Proclamation Commending and Honoring Tapatío Foods, LLC on its 50th
Anniversary
Recommendation: Acknowledge and present a proclamation in recognition of Tapatío
Foods, LLC for their 50th year in business.
City Clerk Pope read the proclamation. Mayor Ybarra presented the proclamation to Luis
Saavedra and Luis Saavedra Senior, founder of Tapatío Foods, LLC.
2. City Administrator Report:
• New Business Welcome
• Electric Distribution System Optimization
• LED Streetlight Upgrade Project
• American Public Gas Association (APGA) Safety Management Excellence Award
• Graduation/Summer Kick-Off Event Recap
Recommendation: No action is required by City Council. This is a presentation only.
City Administrator Fandino presented the item.
3. Swearing In of Police Chief
Recommendation: Administer the Oath of Office to Police Chief Robert Sousa.
City Clerk Pope administered the Oath of Office to Police Chief Robert Sousa.
Chief Sousa thanked the Council, staff, and his family and expressed excitement about
the opportunity to serve as Police Chief.
RECESS
Mayor Ybarra called a recess. The meeting reconvened at 9:39 a.m. with all Council
Members present.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Susie Ybarra congratulated Chief Sousa and thanked the Council for promoting an inhouse
member.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Davis moved and Council Member Lopez 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:
4. Approval of Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the July 20, 2021 Regular City Council meeting minutes.
5. Operating Account Warrant Register
DocuSign Envelope ID: D5A20755-EF96-4D34-9413-C32CB40E9C03
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5
August 3, 2021
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 71, for the period of
July 4 through July 17, 2021, totaling $5,051,791.97 and consisting of ratification of
electronic payments totaling $4,763,814.29 and ratification of the issuance of early checks
totaling $287,977.68.
6. Public Works Department Monthly Building Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the June 2021 Building Report.
7. Change Order No. 2 to the Construction Contract with Capital Industrial Coatings,
LLC for the Rehabilitation of Reservoirs 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3
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 15301, Existing Facilities, subsection (d), because the project
consists of the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing potable water storage reservoirs
and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use; B. Approve and authorize the
City Administrator to execute Change Order No. 2 to the Construction Contract with
Capital Industrial Coatings, LLC., in substantially the same form as submitted, in an
amount not to exceed $164,000 for the Rehabilitation of Reservoirs 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3,
adding funds in the amount of $102,856.10 to the existing contract; and C. Authorize a
contingency amount of $25,000 in the event of additional 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.
8. Federal Equitable Sharing Agreement and Annual Certification Report
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the Police Chief and City Administrator to
execute the Federal Equitable Sharing Agreement and Annual Certification Report.
9. Report on Emergency Purchases Secured by the City Administrator
Recommendation: Receive and file the report.
10. Agreement for Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Services
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Services
Agreement with CBRE, Inc, in substantially the same form as submitted, for a three (3)
year term for commercial real estate brokerage services.
NEW BUSINESS
11. Attorney Services Agreement with Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer, & Pembroke, P.C.
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute an Attorney
Services Agreement with Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer, & Pembroke, P.C. (DWG&P), in
substantially the same form as submitted, for a three-year term in an amount not-to-exceed
$606,000, effective August 3, 2021, to provide specialized utility-related legal services to
the Public Utilities Department.
Public Utilities General Manager Alemu presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Mayor Pro Tem Davis seconded a motion to approve
and authorize the City Administrator to execute an Attorney Services Agreement with
Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer, & Pembroke, P.C. (DWG&P), in substantially the same form
as submitted, for a three-year term in an amount not-to-exceed $606,000, effective August
DocuSign Envelope ID: D5A20755-EF96-4D34-9413-C32CB40E9C03
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5
August 3, 2021
3, 2021, to provide specialized utility-related legal services to the Public Utilities
Department. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
12. Amendment to the Classification and Compensation Plan
Recommendation: A. Approve new job descriptions for the positions of Assistant to the
City Administrator and Permit Technician, Senior; and revised job description for Deputy
Director of Health and Environmental Control; and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2021-27
amending Exhibits A and C of the Classification and Compensation Plan, adopted by
Resolution No. 2021-16, to add two new classifications and associated salary ranges for
the positions of Assistant to the City Administrator and Permit Technician, Senior
Human Resources Director Earl presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to: A.
Approve new job descriptions for the positions of Assistant to the City Administrator and
Permit Technician, Senior; and revised job description for Deputy Director of Health and
Environmental Control; and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2021-27 amending Exhibits A and
C of the Classification and Compensation Plan, adopted by Resolution No. 2021-16, to add
two new classifications and associated salary ranges for the positions of Assistant to the
City Administrator and Permit Technician, Senior. The question was called and the motion
carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
City Administrator Reports on Activities and other Announcements.
City Administrator Fandino announced a drive-up food distribution event on August 6,
from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Southeast Rio-Vista YMCA, coordinated by LA County
Supervisor Hilda Solis, in partnership with Vernon, the City of Maywood, and the LA
Regional Food Bank; and National Night Out at City Hall at 5:00 p.m.
City Council Reports on Activities (including AB1234), Announcements, or Directives to
Staff.
None.
RECESS
Mayor Ybarra recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:53 a.m.
CLOSED SESSION
13. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Jerry Chavez v. City of Vernon
Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC719460
DocuSign Envelope ID: D5A20755-EF96-4D34-9413-C32CB40E9C03
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5
August 3, 2021
14. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
Initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4)
Number of Potential Cases: 1
15. PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1)
Title: City Attorney
RECONVENE
At 10:55 a.m., Mayor Ybarra adjourned Closed Session and reconvened the regular
meeting.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Interim City Attorney Moussa reported that the Council discussed the items on the agenda
and authorized litigation on Item 14 and continued the Interim City Attorney appointment
with evaluation in five months and preparation of an RFP for general legal services.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ybarra adjourned the meeting at 10:56 a.m.
______________________________
MELISSA YBARRA, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
DocuSign Envelope ID: D5A20755-EF96-4D34-9413-C32CB40E9C03