20210817 City Council MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ybarra called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Ybarra 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
Abraham Alemu, Public Utilities General Manager
Michael Earl, Human Resources Director
Fredrick Agyin, Health and Environmental Control Director
Robert Sousa, Police Chief
Dan Wall, Public Works Director
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
City Clerk Pope announced that Item 4 was being tabled.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to approve
the agenda with Item 4 tabled. The question was called and the motion carried
unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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PRESENTATIONS
1. Proclamation Recognizing the Grand Opening of the Southern California Curling
Center in Vernon
Recommendation: Acknowledge and present a proclamation in recognition of the Grand
Opening of the Southern California Curling Center.
City Clerk Pope read the proclamation.
2. Human Resources
Recognition of Retired Employee - Adam A. Alvarez, Street Maintenance Worker, Lead
Recommendation: Acknowledge and present a proclamation to retired employee Adam
A. Alvarez, Street Maintenance Worker, Lead, in recognition of his dedicated service to
the City of Vernon.
City Clerk Pope read the proclamation.
3. Employee Service Pin Awards for July 2021
Recommendation: No action required by City Council. This is a presentation only.
Human Resources Director Earl acknowledged Ernesto A. Smith, Information Technology
Manager and Rodolfo J. Perez, Meter Reader as recipients of the Employee Service Pin
Awards for July 2021.
4. Presentation on Pension Obligation Bonds
Recommendation: No action required by City Council. This is a presentation only.
This item was tabled upon approval of the agenda.
5. Presentation on the Temporary Shutdown of Closure Work at the Former Exide
Facility
Recommendation: No action required by City Council. This is a presentation only.
Health and Environmental Control Director Agyin introduced the item and Roberto Puga,
presented a PowerPoint on the temporary shutdown of closure work at the former Exide
Facility.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Mayor Pro Tem Davis 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:
6. Approval of Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the August 3, 2021 Regular City Council meeting minutes.
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7. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 72, for the period
of July 18 through July 31, 2021, totaling $10,502,986.03 and consisting of ratification of
electronic payments totaling $10,292,563.14 and ratification of the issuance of early
checks totaling $210,422.89.
8. City Payroll Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve City Payroll Warrant Register No. 782, for the period of July
1 through July 31, 2021, totaling $3,479,026.87 and consisting of ratification of direct
deposits, checks and taxes totaling $2,455,263.52 and ratification of checks and
electronic fund transfers (EFT) for payroll related disbursements totaling $1,023,763.35
paid through operating bank account.
9. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the June 2021 Fire Department Activity Report.
10. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the June 2021 Police Department Activity Report.
11. Amendment No. 2 to the Services Agreement with Southeast Area Animal Control
Authority (SEAACA)
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 2 to the
Services Agreement with SEAACA for animal control services to update the schedule of
fees effective July 1, 2021.
12. Public Works Department Vehicle Purchase
Recommendation: Approve the purchase of two (2) new 2022 Chevrolet Silverado
2500HD 4WD Crew Cab Work Trucks through National Auto Fleet Group, for a total
cost of $91,334.02.
13. Blanket Purchase Contract with The Home Depot
Recommendation: A. Find that the best interests of the City are served by a direct award
of a blanket Purchase Oder to The Home Depot without a competitive selection process
pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) Section 2.17.12 (b)(2); and B. Approve the
issuance of a blanket Purchase Order with The Home Depot in an amount not-to-exceed
$150,000 to procure supplies for Public Works and VPU for operational needs and
special projects for Fiscal Year 2021-22.
NEW BUSINESS
14. 2021 League of California Cities Annual Conference Representatives
Recommendation: Designate the City's voting delegate and alternate voting delegate(s) for
the League of California Cities 2021 Annual Conference and Expo scheduled for
September 22-24, 2021.
City Clerk Pope presented the staff report.
No action was taken. The matter will be brought back to Council if a Council Member
plans to attend.
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15. City Council Appointments to Outside Agencies
Recommendation: Appoint a member to the Los Angeles County Vector Control District
Board of Trustees for the term ending January 5, 2023.
City Clerk Pope presented the staff report.
MOTION
Mayor Ybarra moved and Mayor Pro Tem Davis seconded a motion to appoint Council
Member Lopez as a member to the Los Angeles County Vector Control District Board of
Trustees for the term ending January 5, 2023. The question was called and the motion
carried unanimously.
16. Purchase of Electric and/or Hybrid Vehicles for City Departments
Recommendation: A. Approve the purchase of three (3) electric vehicles to replace the
existing Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) fleet vehicles, and
approve the purchase of one (1) additional electric vehicle to serve as the City designated
vehicle for the Director of DHEC for a total cost not to exceed $153,571; B. Authorize a
10% contingency amount of $15,357 in the event that it is necessary for the DHEC to
secure similar vehicles from alternate dealers should the vehicles quoted no longer be
available for sale; and C. Authorize the purchase of one (1) plug -in hybrid vehicle to
replace the existing vehicle designated for City Council use at a not -to-exceed amount of
$45,000 from a dealer offering a competitive price.
Health and Environmental Control Director Agyin presented the staff report.
In response to Council questions, Health and Environmental Control Director Agyin
discussed the need to replace existing vehicles and total proposed for purchase. City
Administrator Fandino stated the Council vehicle purchase could be deferred.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Mayor Pro Tem Davis seconded a motion to: A.
Approve the purchase of three (3) electric vehicles to replace the existing Department of
Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) fleet vehicles, and approve the purchase of one
(1) additional electric vehicle to serve as the City designated vehicle for the Director of
DHEC for a total cost not to exceed $153,571; and B. Authorize a 10% contingency amount
of $15,357 in the event that it is necessary for the DHEC to secure similar vehicles from
alternate dealers should the vehicles quoted no longer be available for sale. The question
was called and the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
City Administrator Reports on Activities and other Announcements.
City Administrator Fandino announced the Southern California Curling Center Grand
opening; City’s application for the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation
(LAEDC) “2021 Most Business-Friendly City in LA County During and In Response to
COVID-19 Award”; and Vernon Elementary start of school year on August 16, 2021.
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City Council Reports on Activities (including AB1234), Announcements, or Directives to
Staff.
None.
RECESS
Mayor Ybarra recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:42 a.m.
CLOSED SESSION
17. 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
18. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1)
Title: City Administrator
RECONVENE
At 11:40 a.m., Mayor Ybarra adjourned Closed Session and reconvened the regular
meeting.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Interim City Attorney Moussa reported that the Council, with all five members present,
met in Closed Session, and discussed the items on the agenda, and took no reportable
action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ybarra adjourned the meeting at 11:41 a.m.
______________________________
MELISSA YBARRA, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
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