20211102 City Council MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ybarra called the meeting to order at 9:02 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
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Mayor Pro Tem Davis seconded a motion to approve
the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PRESENTATIONS
1. California Highway Patrol (CHP) “10851” Grand Theft Auto Recovery Award
Recommendation: No action required by City Council. This is a presentation only.
Captain Sousa presented the California Highway Patrol (CHP) “10851” Grand Theft Auto
Recovery Award to Officer Alfonso Madrigal and Officer Patrick Cam.
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Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5
November 2, 2021
PUBLIC COMMENT
Leonard Barrales, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, presented the City
with a Certificate of Gold honoring the City as a Finalist in the Small Cities Category for the 2021
Most Business-Friendly City Award during and in response to COVID-19.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Ybarra pulled Item Nos. 6 and 7.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Davis moved and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to approve
the Consent Calendar, with the exception of Item Nos. 6 and 7. The question was called
and the motion carried unanimously.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
2. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the October 19, 2021 Regular and October 21, 2021 Special
City Council meeting minutes.
3. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 76, for the period of
October 3 through October 16, 2021, totaling $8,126,996.87 and consisting of ratification
of electronic payments totaling $7,989,360.75 and ratification of the issuance of early
checks totaling $137,636.12.
4. Redevelopment Agency Obligation Retirement Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Redevelopment Agency Obligation Retirement Account
Warrant Register No. 61, for the period of September 19 through October 16, 2021 and
consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $2,250.00.
5. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the September 2021 Building Report.
8. Amendment No. 1 to the Services Agreement with BLX Group LLC for Financial
Advisory Services
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute Amendment
No. 1 to Services Agreement with BLX Group LLC, in substantially the same form as
submitted, for financial advisory services, increasing the total not-to-exceed amount by an
additional $600,000.
9. Amendment No. 1 to Attorney Services Agreement (Transactional) (LP-0670) with
Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth for Acquisition Counsel Services and Bond and
Disclosure Counsel Services Related to the Potential Acquisition of Malburg
Generating Station (MGS)
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute Amendment
No. 1 to Attorney Services Agreement (Transactional) with Stradling Yocca Carlson &
Rauth, in substantially the same form as submitted, for acquisition counsel and bond and
disclosure counsel services related to MGS, increasing the total not-to-exceed amount by
an additional $175,000.
10. Amendment No. 2 to the Attorney Services Agreement (Transactional) (LP-0517)
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Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5
November 2, 2021
with Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, P.C. for Bond and Disclosure Counsel
Services
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute Amendment
No. 2 to Attorney Services Agreement (Transactional) with Stradling Yocca Carlson &
Rauth, P.C., in substantially the same form as submitted, for bond and disclosure counsel
services, increasing the total not-to-exceed amount by an additional $410,000.
The following items were pulled from the Consent Calendar for individual consideration:
7. Change Order No. 12 to the Consulting Services Agreement (CS-0099) with CNS
Engineers, Inc. for the Atlantic Boulevard Bridge Rehabilitation and Widening
Project
Recommendation: A. Find that the approval of the proposed change order is within the
Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared for this project pursuant to the
provisions under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with
Section 15063 of the CEQA Guidelines; and B. Approve and authorize the City
Administrator to execute Agreement Change Order No. 12, in substantially the same form
as submitted, for the Atlantic Boulevard Bridge Rehabilitation and Widening Project,
Federal Project No. DBPL02-5139(010), Contract No. CS-0099, extending the project
schedule from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022 and authorizing CNS Engineers,
Inc. to provide additional right-of-way acquisition support and coordination services
required to complete Caltrans Right of Way Certification for the additional cost of
$166,028.03, increasing the total contract cost to $2,180,368.48.
In response to Mayor Ybarra, Public Works Director Wall explained issues with designing
the bridge and indicated he did not anticipate future change orders.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to: A. Find
that the approval of the proposed change order is within the Initial Study/Mitigated
Negative Declaration prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions under the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with Section 15063 of the
CEQA Guidelines; and B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute
Agreement Change Order No. 12, in substantially the same form as submitted, for the
Atlantic Boulevard Bridge Rehabilitation and Widening Project, Federal Project No.
DBPL02-5139(010), Contract No. CS-0099, extending the project schedule from
December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022 and authorizing CNS Engineers, Inc. to provide
additional right-of-way acquisition support and coordination services required to complete
Caltrans Right of Way Certification for the additional cost of $166,028.03, increasing the
total contract cost to $2,180,368.48.. The question was called and the motion carried
unanimously.
6. Amendment to the Classification and Compensation Plan
Recommendation: A. Approve a new job description for Administrative Intern; and B.
Adopt Resolution No. 2021-37 amending Exhibit A of the Classification and
Compensation Plan adopted by Resolution No. 2021-16 to add a new classification and
associated salary range for the position of Administrative Intern.
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November 2, 2021
Human Resources Director Earl presented the staff report.
In response to Council questions, Human Resources Director Earl discussed outreach to
colleges and targeting local and or specialized programs.
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to: A.
Approve a new job description for Administrative Intern; and B. Adopt Resolution No.
2021-37 amending Exhibit A of the Classification and Compensation Plan adopted by
Resolution No. 2021-16 to add a new classification and associated salary range for the
position of Administrative Intern. The question was called and the motion carried
unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
11. Sidewalk Vendor Regulations
Recommendation: Direct staff to bring back an ordinance adding Articl e X to Chapter 22
of the Municipal Code regulating sidewalk vending.
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
The Council discussed insurance, fingerprinting/background checks. Time of day and
locations restrictions and penalties and determined to proceed with staff recommendations,
adding assurance that fingerprinting would not trigger notification to any other agencies
and adding written warning as the penalty for first violation.
CONSENSUS
By consensus, the Council directed staff to bring back an ordinance adding Article X to
Chapter 22 of the Municipal Code regulating sidewalk vending.
ORAL REPORTS
City Administrator Reports on Activities and other Announcements.
City Administrator Fandino reported on the recent Halloween Spooktacular community
outreach event and City Clean-Up Efforts at the rail spurs located off of Malburg Way. He
announced the Vernon Tree Lighting on December 2, Huntington Park Holiday Parade on
December 11, Operation Santa on December 15, and Holiday event on December 16. He
noted the upcoming Council meeting schedule.
Public Works Director Wall explained the air quality monitoring pilot project in the
Council Chambers.
City Council Reports on Activities (including AB1234), Announcements, or Directives to
Staff.
None.
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Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5
November 2, 2021
RECESS
Mayor Ybarra recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:41 a.m.
CLOSED SESSION
12. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Government Code Section 54956.8
Property: Malburg Generating Station, 2715 East 50th Street, Vernon, California
Agency negotiator: Carlos Fandino, City Administrator
Negotiating parties: Bicent (California) Malburg LLC
Under negotiation: Consideration of Price and Terms of Payment
13. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
Significant exposure to litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Number of potential cases: 1
RECONVENE
At 10:42 a.m., Mayor Ybarra adjourned Closed Session and reconvened the regular
meeting.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Interim City Attorney Moussa reported that the Council met in Closed Session, discussed
the items on the agenda and took no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ybarra adjourned the meeting at 10:42 a.m.
______________________________
MELISSA YBARRA, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
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