20211207 City Council MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2021
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Ybarra called the meeting to order at 9:01 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
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.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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December 7, 2021
PRESENTATIONS
1. Swearing-In Ceremony for Various Personnel in the Police Department
Recommendation: Administer the Oath of Office to Police Officers Andre Arana, Teresa
Flores, Cynthia Maciel, and Carlos Saldana; Sergeants Anthony Encinas and Lorenzo
Gaytan; Lieutenant Gustavo Herrera; and Captain Brandon Gray.
Chief Sousa presented the staff report and introduced the Police Department personnel.
City Clerk Pope administered the Oath of Office to Police Officers Andre Arana, Teresa
Flores, Cynthia Maciel, and Carlos Saldana; Sergeants Anthony Encinas and Lorenzo
Gaytan; Lieutenant Gustavo Herrera; and Captain Brandon Gray.
2. Report on Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Awards and Grantee
Certificates for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-2022 Docket I
Recommendation: A. Receive and file the report; and B. Present Certificates to FY 2021-
2022 Docket I Grant Recipients.
City Clerk Pope announced the FY 2021-2022 Docket I Grant Recipients.
Mayor Ybarra presented the certificates to: 1) Alzheimer's Greater Los Angeles (Returning
Grantee) - $20,000; 2) CA Derby Dolls (Returning Grantee) - $15,000; 3) Centinela Youth
Services - $15,000; 4) Chicas Rockeras Southeast Los Angeles (Returning Grantee) -
$25,000; 5) East Los Angeles Women's Center (Returning Grantee) - $50,000; 6) Girl
Scouts Greater of Los Angeles (Returning Grantee) - $20,000; 7) Helping Hands Society
of Los Angeles - $15,000; 8) LA Family Housing (Returning Grantee) - $50,000; 9) Las
Fotos Project (Returning Grantee) - $20,000; 10) Southeast Churches Service Center
(Returning Grantee) - $50,000; 11) Southeast Community Development Corporation
(Returning Grantee) - $23,325; 12) Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Collaborative -
$40,000; and 13) Woodcraft Rangers (Returning Grantee) - $30,000.
3. City Administrator Report
Recommendation: Receive presentation on:
New Business Welcome
Citywide Property Maintenance/Code Enforcement Efforts
Pink Patch Project
Sanitation Districts Facility of the Year Award Nomination
Blood Drive
COVID-19 Mobile Vaccination Efforts
Community Outreach
City Administrator Fandino presented the report.
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PUBLIC HEARINGS
4. Permanent Local Housing Allocation Application to the Department of Housing and
Community Development
Recommendation: Continue the public hearing to the Special Meeting of the City Council
at 8:45 a.m. on December 15, 2021.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Mayor Pro Tem Davis seconded a motion to continue
the public hearing to the December 15, 2021 Special City Council meeting at 8:45 a.m.
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:
5. Approval of the Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the November 8, 2021 Special and the November 16, 2021
Regular City Council meeting minutes.
6. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 78, for the period of
October 31 through November 20, 2021, totaling $11,220,214.74 and consisting of
ratification of electronic payments totaling $10,921,984.56 and ratification of the issuance
of early checks totaling $298,230.18.
7. Redevelopment Agency Obligation Retirement Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Redevelopment Agency Obligation Retirement Account
Warrant Register No. 62, for the period of October 17 through November 20, 2021 and
consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $2,602.30.
8. Conduct of Meetings via Teleconference Pursuant to Assembly Bill 361
Recommendation: Ratify the findings in Resolution No. 2021-36 authorizing continued
conduct of City Council and all other City legislative body meetings via teleconference, in
accordance with Assembly Bill 361 (AB 361), due to continued public health and safety
concerns caused by COVID-19.
9. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the October 2021 Fire Department Activity Report.
10. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the October 2021 Report.
11. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the October 2021 Building Report.
12. Amendment No. 1 to the Services Agreement with Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute Amendment
No. 1 to the Services Agreement with Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Jacobs), in
substantially the same form as submitted, to amend the scope of work for as-needed
environmental compliance support to facilitate the purchase of MGS.
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13. Terms of Employment Policy
Recommendation: Adopt revised Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual Policy No. I-
01,Terms of Employment.
14. Services Agreement with Allied Universal, Contract No. CS-1414
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Services
Agreement with Universal Building Maintenance, LLC dba Allied Universal Janitorial
Services (Allied), in substantially the same form as submitted, for a one (1) year term in an
amount not-to-exceed $128,000.
15. Additional Funds for Contract IT-0123 with Insight Public Sector (Insight)
Recommendation: A. Approve $26,237.30 in additional funds for Contract IT-0123 with
Insight for the purchase of Citywide Office 365 cloud-based software application; and B.
Approve additional funds with Insight in the amount of $30,000 for necessary volume
licenses for MGS personnel.
16. 2022 Calendar Year Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance Proposals for City
Employee and Retiree Benefit Plans
Recommendation: Approve the Acceptance of the 2022 Calendar Year Medical, Dental,
Vision, and Life Insurance Benefit Proposals and authorize the City Administrator to
execute 2022 calendar year carrier agreements with Blue Shield of California, Anthem,
MetLife, MES Vision, and Mutual of Omaha.
17. Amendment No. 2 to Attorney Services Agreement with Stradling Yocca Carlson &
Rauth
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute Amendment
No. 2 to Attorney Services Agreement (Transactional) (LP-0670) with Stradling Yocca
Carlson & Rauth (Stradling), in substantially the same form as submitted, for acquisition
counsel and bond and disclosure counsel services related to the acquisition of the Malburg
Generating Station (MGS), increasing the agreement value by an additional $50,000, for a
grand total not-to-exceed amount of $275,000.
NEW BUSINESS
18. Amendment to Vernon Municipal Code Chapter 22 to Regulate Sidewalk Vendors
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), in accordance with CEQA Guidelines § 15061(b)(3),
the general rule that CEQA only applies to projects that may have a significant effect on
the environment; B. Waive full reading and introduce and conduct first reading of
Ordinance No. 1276 adding Article X to Chapter 22 of the Municipal Code regulating
sidewalk vending; and C. Direct staff to schedule second reading and adoption for the
January 18, 2022 City Council meeting.
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report and outlined proposed amendments
to the proposed ordinance.
In response to Council questions, Public Works Director Wall, Interim City Attorney
Moussa and Health and Environmental Control Director Agyin explained restrictions on
sex offenders, background checks, prohibitions around schools, and health permit
requirements.
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Susie Ybarra expressed concern with vendors near schools and impacts on residents. She
requested the information be prominent on the City’s website, including how to report a
violation.
The Council discussed prior consideration of the ordinance and requested staff provide a
radius map when the ordinance came back to Council. The Council requested staff meet
with Ms. Ybarra to further explain the proposed ordinance.
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to direct
staff to bring back amendments to Ordinance No. 1276 adding Article X to Chapter 22 of
the Municipal Code regulating sidewalk vending. The question was called and the motion
carried unanimously.
19. At-Will Agreements for Assistant General Manager of Generation and Operations
and Utilities Operations Manager
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute At-Will
Employment Agreements for the Appointment of the Assistant General Manager of
Generation and Operations and the Utilities Operations Manager in substantially the same
form as submitted.
Human Resources Director Earl presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to approve
and authorize the City Administrator to execute At-Will Employment Agreements for the
appointment of the Assistant General Manager of Generation and Operations and the
Utilities Operations Manager in substantially the same form as submitted. The question
was called and the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
City Administrator Reports on Activities and other Announcements.
City Administrator Fandino announced the City’s opportunity to sponsor the Dodgers
Foundation Greenfield project at Maywood Park and upcoming Holiday events.
City Council Reports on Activities (including AB1234), Announcements, or Directives to
Staff.
Council Member Merlo requested follow-up information on the business owner who
addressed the Council regarding the City cleaning up the railroad easement. City
Administrator Fandino stated he would provide information in the weekly update.
Mayor Ybarra forwarded thanks from Huntington Park businesses for the City cleaning up
railroad easements.
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December 7, 2021
RECESS
Mayor Ybarra recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 10:29 a.m.
CLOSED SESSION
20. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION –
Significant exposure to litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) Number of potential cases: 1
21. 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
22. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION (2)
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Jerry Chavez v. City of Vernon
Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC719460
Ismael Martines v. City of Vernon, et al.
Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 19STCV21341
RECONVENE
At 11:12 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 and
discussed the items on the agenda. She stated the Council unanimously approved and
authorized the execution of Amendment No. 3 to the Attorney Services Agreement
(Litigation) with Stream Kim Hicks Wrage & Alfaro, P.C. regarding Jerry Chavez v. City
of Vernon, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC719460 and unanimously approved
and authorized the execution of a settlement and release agreement in the case of Ismael
Martines v. City of Vernon, et al. Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 19STCV21341.
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December 7, 2021
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ybarra adjourned the meeting at 11:13 a.m.
______________________________
MELISSA YBARRA, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
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