20221206 City Council MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2022
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Vernon Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors and led the Flag
Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Leticia Lopez, Mayor
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
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
Lily Hernandez, Assistant to the City Administrator
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Merlo 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.
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PRESENTATIONS
1. Swearing-In Ceremony for Police Sergeant
Recommendation: Administer the Oath of Office to Sergeant Jose Ramos.
City Administrator Fandino presented the staff report.
Police Chief Sousa presented the staff report and introduced Sergeant Jose
Ramos.
City Clerk Pope administered the Oath of Office.
2. City Administrator Report
Recommendation: Receive presentation on various topics including: New
Business Welcome; Business Community Events; Vernon Development Activity;
Tree Canopy Improvement Efforts; Partners in Homelessness Outreach; Program
and Service Announcements; and Community Engagement
Assistant to the City Administrator Hernandez presented the report.
CONSENT CALENDAR
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.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
3. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the November 15, 2022 Regular City Council meeting
minutes.
4. 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.
5. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 99, for the
period of October 30 through November 12, 2022, totaling $6,647,316.29 and
consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $6,396,087.46 and
ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $251,228.83.
6. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the October 2022 Building Report.
7. Professional Services Agreement with Sespe Consulting, Inc.
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a
Professional Services Agreement with Sespe Consulting, Inc., in substantially the
same form as submitted, for environmental compliance and remediation technical
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consulting services for a total not-to-exceed amount of $300,000 over a three-year
term.
8. Verizon Communications Service Connection Type Change
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute
Verizon’s Scope of Work for the transition to its 10 Mbps service for an amount
not-to-exceed $26,501.40 for a three-year period.
9. Purchase Order with D&R Office Works, Inc.
Recommendation: Approve the issuance of a Purchase Order to D&R Office
Works, Inc. for the purchase, delivery and installation of office furniture for the
Vernon Police Department report writing room and Records Division, in an amount
not-to-exceed $78,238.75.
10. On-Call Graffiti Abatement Services
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a
Services Agreement with Apply the Pressure Group, in substantially the same form
as submitted, for a three year term in an amount not-to-exceed $600,000 for on-
call graffiti abatement services; and B. Approve and authorize the City
Administrator to execute a Services Agreement with Graffiti Protective Coatings,
Inc., in substantially the same form as submitted, for a three year term in an amount
not-to-exceed $600,000 for on-call graffiti abatement services.
11. Arbor Day Proclamation and Application for Tree City USA 2022
Recommendation: A. Proclaim December 6, 2022 as Arbor Day in the City of
Vernon; and B. Authorize the Public Works Department to submit an application
to the Arbor Day Foundation for Vernon to be certified a Tree City USA for 2022.
12. Amendment No. 1 to the Services Agreement with Harper & Associates
Engineering, Inc.
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute
Amendment No. 1 to the Services Agreement with Harper & Associates
Engineering, Inc., in substantially the same form as submitted, in an amount not-
to-exceed $50,000 for Coating Inspection Services for Six Above Ground Steel
Reservoirs; and B. Authorize a contingency amount of $15,000 in the event of
unforeseen changes or delays in the project and grant authority to the City
Administrator to issue amendments for an amount up to the contingency amount,
if necessary.
13. Final Parcel Map No. 83466 for Torrance Logistics Company, LLC
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines
Section 15315, because the project consists of the division of property in urbanized
areas zoned for residential, commercial, or industrial use into four or fewer parcels,
the division is in conformance with the General Plan and zoning, no variances or
exceptions are required, all services and access to the proposed parcels to local
standards are available, the parcel was not involved in a division of a larger parcel
within the previous two years, and the parcel does not have an average slope
greater than 20 percent; B. Find that Final Parcel Map No. 83466 is in substantial
conformance with Tentative Parcel Map No. 83466; and C. Direct staff to submit
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Final Parcel Map No. 83466 for Torrance Logistics Company, LLC, located at 2709
37th Street, to the Los Angeles County Recorder for recordation.
14. Grant Deed Dedicating in Fee a Portion of the Property Located at 4201
Fruitland Avenue
Recommendation: A. Find that accepting the Grant Deed is exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines
Section 15301(c) because acceptance of the grant deed for public right-of -way
purposes is not a “project” that may have a significant effect on the environment;
and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2022-44 accepting the Grant Deed of a portion of the
property located at 4201 Fruitland Avenue (APN 6304-027-025).
NEW BUSINESS
15. Amendment No. 1 to the Solid Waste Nonexclusive Franchise Agreement
Health and Environmental Control Director Agyin presented the staff report.
Randy Terrell, Athens Services, commended the Environmental Health
Department for its proposal and indicated support for the ordinance.
Gary Clifford, Executive Vice President of Athens Services, indicated support for
the proposed ordinance.
City Attorney Moussa indicated an amendment on Page 18 of Amendment No. 1
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Davis seconded a motion to:
A. Introduce and conduct the first reading of Ordinance No. 1289 to Grant
Amendment No. 1 to the Nonexclusive Franchise Agreement for Commercial Solid
Waste Collection; and B. Direct staff to schedule second reading and adoption for
the December 20, 2022 City Council meeting. The question was called and the
motion carried 4-0, Mayor Pro Tem Larios absent.
16. Adoption of California Building Codes by Reference
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
In response to Council questions, Public Works Director Wall stated the proposed
ordinance does not affect previous builds.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to:
A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) review, because it is general policy and procedure-making activity that
is unrelated to any specific project, which must undergo separate CEQA review,
and that will not result in direct physical changes or reasonably foreseeable indirect
physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute a “project”
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as defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 15378; B. Conduct first reading and
introduce Ordinance No. 1290 amending Title 15, Building and Construction, to
adopt the 2022 California Building Standards Code and 1997 Uniform Code for
Abatement of Dangerous Buildings by reference; and C. Direct staff to schedule a
public hearing on December 20, 2022, for the second reading and adoption of
Ordinance No. 1290. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Mayor
Pro Tem Larios absent.
17. Fund Allocation, Eligibility, and Criteria for Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grants
Assistant to the City Administrator Hernandez presented the staff report.
In response to Council questions, Assistant to the City Administrator Hernandez
explained the proposal to allow outside entities to contribute to the scholarship
program.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Mayor Lopez seconded a motion to: A.
Introduce and conduct first reading of Ordinance No. 1291 amending Vernon
Municipal Code Sections 2.48.090, 2.48.100 2.48.110 and 2.48.130 relating to the
Vernon CommUNITY Fund; and B. Direct staff to schedule second reading and
adoption for the December 20, 2022 City Council meeting. The question was
called and the motion carried 4-0, Mayor Pro Tem Larios absent.
18. City Council Appointments to Outside Agencies
City Clerk Pope presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to
appoint Leticia Lopez to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District
Board of Trustees for a two-year term. The question was called and the motion
carried 4-0, Mayor Pro Tem Larios absent.
ORAL REPORTS
City Administrator Reports on Activities and other Announcements.
City Administrator Fandino announced the Holiday Tree Delivery to Vernon
Elementary; the City’s Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 8, from
5:00pm – 7:00pm on the City Hall Lawn; Huntington Park’s Annual Holiday Parade
on December 10; Soccer Ball Giveaway and Operation Santa on December 14;
and Employee Recognition and Holiday Celebration on December 15.
City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff.
None.
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RECESS
Mayor Lopez recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:48 a.m.
CLOSED SESSION
19. 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
20. PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
Government Code Section 54957(b)(1)
Title: General Manager of Public Utilities
RECONVENE
At 12:09 p.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 12:09 p.m.
______________________________
LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
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