20220920 City Council MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2022
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Lopez led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Leticia Lopez, Mayor (via remote access)
William Davis, Council Member (via remote access)
Judith Merlo, Council Member
Melissa Ybarra, Council Member
ABSENT:
Crystal Larios, Mayor Pro Tem
STAFF PRESENT:
Carlos Fandino, City Administrator
Angela Kimmey, Deputy City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa, City Attorney
Lisa Pope, City Clerk
Scott Williams, Finance Director
Fredrick Agyin, Health and Environmental Control Director
Michael Earl, Human Resources Director
Robert Sousa, Police Chief
Dan Wall, Public Works Director
Todd Dusenberry, Acting Public Utilities General Manager
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Merlo moved and Council Member Ybarra seconded a motion to
approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Mayor
Pro Tem Larios absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 3F9DF3A4-1822-4400-B58C-5AC0B3ADC54D
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5
September 20, 2022
PRESENTATIONS
1. Proclamation Recognizing Retired Employee - James D. Moore
Recommendation: Acknowledge and present a proclamation to retired employee
James D. Moore, Electric Inspector, Senior, in recognition of his dedicated service
to the City of Vernon.
City Clerk Pope read the proclamation. Council Member Merlo presented the
proclamation to James D. Moore for his dedicated service to the City of Vernon.
CONSENT CALENDAR
City Clerk Pope noted that Council Member Davis would be abstaining from Item No. 11.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Calendar. The question was called and the motion carried 4-
0, Mayor Pro Tem Larios absent and Council Member Davis abstaining from Item
No. 11.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
2. Approval of Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the September 6, 2022 Regular City Council meeting
minutes.
3. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 94, for the
period of August 14 through September 3, 2022, totaling $17,816,079.22 and
consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $16,345,549.48 and
ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $1,470,529.74.
4. City Payroll Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve City Payroll Warrant Register No. 795, for the period
of August 1 through August 31, 2022, totaling $2,801,085.24 and consisting of
ratification of direct deposits, checks and taxes totaling $1,875,211.35 and
ratification of checks and electronic fund transfers (EFT) for payroll related
disbursements totaling $925,873.89 paid through operating bank account.
5. Conflict of Interest Code (Statement of Economic Interests)
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2022-34 establishing a Conflict of Interest
Code for all agencies, boards, commission, committees, designated City
personnel and officials, and repealing Resolution No. 2022-01.
6. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the July 2022 Fire Department Activity Report.
7. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the July 2022 Police Department Activity
Report.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 3F9DF3A4-1822-4400-B58C-5AC0B3ADC54D
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5
September 20, 2022
8. Quarterly City Housing Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the September 2022 Quarterly City Housing
Report.
9. Change Order No. 17 to the Amended and Restated Services Agreement with
Siemens Energy, Inc.
Recommendation: A. Find that approval of the proposed action is exempt from
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, because it is a government
fiscal activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the
environment, and therefore does not constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA
Guidelines Section 15378; to the extent the Services Agreement with Siemens
Energy provides for facility and equipment maintenance or repairs, such work is
categorically exempt from CEQA review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines
Section 15301, because the project consists of the maintenance, repair or minor
alteration of existing structures, facilities, or equipment, and involves negligible or
no expansion of an existing use; B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator
to execute Change Order No. 17 to the Amended and Restated Services
Agreement with Siemens Energy, Inc. (Siemens Energy), in substantially the same
form as submitted, to revise the Escalation Factor; and C. Approve the issuance
of a blanket Purchase Contract in an amount not to exceed $250,000 for
maintenance services and parts with Siemens Energy for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-
23.
10. 2021 Power Source Disclosure Program Annual Report and Power Content
Label
Recommendation: A. Ratify the submission to the California Energy Commission
(CEC) of the attestation signed by Vernon Public Utilities’ General Manager, of the
veracity of the 2021 Power Source Disclosure Program Annual Report; and B.
Approve the 2021 Power Content Label and authorize its submission to the CEC.
11. Permission for Absence
Recommendation: Excuse Council Member William Davis from attending meetings
of the City Council and City Boards effective September 6, 2022 through October
31, 2022.
12. Supplemental to Blanket Purchase Contract LP-0725 with WCR Incorporated
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt from
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA
Guidelines Section 15301, because the project consists of the maintenance,
repair, or minor alteration of an existing facility and involves negligible or no
expansion of an existing use; and B. Authorize a supplemental to Purchase
Contract LP-0725 with WCR Incorporated in an amount not to exceed $19,126.41
to cover full payment on the purchase contract for the repair, maintenance, and
replacement of lube oil coolers and plate stacks at Malburg Generating Station
during the scheduled Spring 2022 Outage.
13. Additional Funds for Interwest Consulting Group
Recommendation: Authorize staff to pay invoices totaling $44,870.59 from
Interwest Consulting Group for plan check services conducted prior to the term of
the existing agreement.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 3F9DF3A4-1822-4400-B58C-5AC0B3ADC54D
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5
September 20, 2022
NEW BUSINESS
14. West Santa Ana Branch Master Cooperative Agreement
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
Meghna Khanna, AICP, LA Metro Senior Director, Countywide Planning and
Development Mobility Corridors, provided an overview of the West Santa Ana
Branch Project, including alignment within Vernon.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to:
A. Find that approval of the proposed action is categorically exempt from California
Environmental Quality Act because this administrative action is not a project; and
B. Receive a presentation on the West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor Project
(WSAB Project) by Metro Staff; and C. Approve and authorize the City
Administrator, to execute the Master Cooperative Agreement between the City of
Vernon and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(LACMTA or Metro), in substantially the same form as submitted, for the design,
construction, and operation and maintenance of a portion of the WSAB Project.
The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Mayor Pro Tem Larios absent.
ORAL REPORTS
City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff.
Council Member Ybarra reported on her attendance at the League of California
Cities Annual Conference at a cost to the City of $720.
City Administrator Reports on Activities and other Announcements.
City Administrator Fandino announced Career Day on October 5, 2022, and
Halloween Spooktacular on October 27, 2022. He read a message received from
a Vernon Community Fund Scholarship Recipient expressing gratitude to the
Council.
RECESS
Mayor Lopez recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:21 a.m.
CLOSED SESSION
15. 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: 3F9DF3A4-1822-4400-B58C-5AC0B3ADC54D
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5
September 20, 2022
RECONVENE
At 9:49 a.m., Mayor Lopez adjourned Closed Session and reconvened the regular
meeting.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Moussa reported the Council met in Closed Session, discussed the
item on the agenda, and took no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 9:50 a.m.
______________________________
LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
DocuSign Envelope ID: 3F9DF3A4-1822-4400-B58C-5AC0B3ADC54D