20221220 City Council MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2022
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Lopez led the Flag Salute.
Mayor Lopez announced the retirement of Council Member Davis.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Leticia Lopez, Mayor (via remote access)
Crystal Larios, Mayor Pro Tem
Judith Merlo, Council Member
Melissa Ybarra, Council Member
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
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Mayor Pro Tem Larios seconded a motion to
approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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PRESENTATIONS
1. Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Awards and Grantee
Certificates for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2023 Docket I
City Clerk Pope presented the staff report.
Mayor Pro Tem Larios presented certificates to CA Derby Dolls; Cal State Los
Angeles University Auxiliary Services, Inc.; Chicxs Rockerxs South East Los
Angeles; Girls on the Run of Los Angeles County; Helping Hands Society of Los
Angeles; Human Services Association; Libros Schmibros Lending Library; Los
Angeles Center for Law and Justice; Neighborhood Music School Association;
So'oh-Shin Sister Project; Southeast Churches Service Center; Southeast
Community Foundation; and Woodcraft Rangers.
2. Proclamation Recognizing Retiring Employee - Donald R. Quiroz
City Clerk Pope read the proclamation and the Council recognized Donald R.
Quiroz, Electric Operations Supervisor, for his dedicated service to the City of
Vernon.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. Adoption of California Building Codes by Reference
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
Mayor Lopez opened the public hearing. There being no speakers, Mayor Lopez
closed the public hearing.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to
conduct second reading and adopt 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. The
question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Ybarra pulled Item No. 13.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Mayor Pro Tem Larios seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Calendar, with the exception of Item No. 13. The question
was called and the motion carried unanimously.
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The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
4. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the December 6, 2022 Special and Regular City
Council meeting minutes.
5. 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.
6. City Payroll Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve City Payroll Warrant Register No. 798, for the period
of November 1 through November 30, 2022, totaling $2,927,310.50 and consisting
of ratification of direct deposits, checks and taxes totaling $2,019,894.43 and
ratification of checks and electronic fund transfers (EFT) for payroll related
disbursements totaling $907,416.07 paid through operating bank account.
7. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 100, for the
period of November 13 through December 3, 2022, totaling $13,040,261.67 and
consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $12,577,841.38 and
ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $462,420.29.
8. Ordinance No.1289 Granting Amendment No.1 to the Solid Waste Non-
Exclusive Franchise Agreement
Recommendation: Conduct second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 1289
Granting Amendment No. 1 to the Non-Exclusive Franchise Agreement for
Commercial Solid Waste Collection.
9. Ordinance No. 1291 Amending Fund Allocation, Eligibility, and Criteria for
Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grants
Recommendation: Conduct second reading and adopt 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.
10. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the October 2022 Police Department Activity
Report.
11. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the November 2022 Building Report.
12. New Enterprise License Agreement (ELA) with Microsoft and Purchases
from Insight Public Sector
Recommendation: A. Approve a new Enterprise License Agreement (ELA) with
Microsoft, in substantially the same form as submitted, for a period of three years
and approve purchase of associated Microsoft Licenses from Insight Public Sector
(Insight) for an amount of $426,149.64 for the three year term; B. Approve
additional funds with Insight in the amount of $87,792 for additional Microsoft
volume license purchases; and C. Approve additional funds with Insight in the
amount of $65,000 for additional purchases that may be necessary from this
vendor during the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year.
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14. Change Order No. 13 to the Consulting Services Agreement (CS-0099) with
CNS Engineers, Inc. (CNS) 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. 13, 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, 2022
to December 31, 2023 and authorizing CNS to provide additional support and
coordination services required to complete the design phase of the project for the
additional cost of $99,309.46 (increasing the total contract cost to $2,279,677.94).
15. Purchase Order with ChargePoint, Inc.
Recommendation: Approve the issuance of a Purchase Order with ChargePoint,
Inc., in an amount not-to-exceed $827,758.85, to procure Direct Current Fast
Chargers for electric vehicles.
16. Services Agreement with Sespe Consulting, Inc. (Sespe)
Recommendation: A. Find it in the best interest of the City to award a Services
Agreement directly to Sespe without a competitive selection process pursuant to
Vernon Municipal Code Section 3.32.110 (B)(2) and (B3); and B. Approve and
authorize the City Administrator to execute a Professional Services Agreement
with Sespe Consulting, Inc., in substantially the same form as submitted, for the
purpose of conducting an odor study, for a total not-to-exceed $180,000 for a
three-year term.
17. Amendment No. 1 to the Services Agreement with World Equity Alliance
(WEA)
Recommendation: A. Pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) Sections
3.32.110 (B)(3) and 3.32.220 (B), find that it is in the best interest of the City to
award a services agreement directly to WEA without a competitive process and
find that it is commercially unreasonable to re-bid the contract for health officer
services in three years; and B. Authorize the City Administrator to execute
Amendment No. 1 to the Master Services Agreement with WEA, in substantially
the same form as submitted, for health officer services and community health
needs assessment, increasing the contract amount by $271,200, bringing the total
amount not-to-exceed to $369,000, for a 5-year term.
The following item was pulled from the Consent Calendar for individual consideration:
13. Amendment No. 3 to the Services Agreement with the Arroyo Group
In response to Council questions, Public Works Director Wall explained the change
in scope of work from a specific plan to zoning code amendment.
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MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to:
A. Find that the proposed action is exempt under the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) review, because it is a continuing fiscal and administrative
activity that will not result in any direct or indirect physical changes in the
environment, and therefore does not constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA
Guidelines section 15378. One of the outcomes of the proposed action is to
develop a Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for potential project(s),
and any required environmental impact analysis will be conducted at the
appropriate project phase; and B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to
execute Amendment No. 3 to the Services Agreement between the City of Vernon
and The Arroyo Group, in substantially the same form as submitted, for the
preparation of: proposed changes to Chapter 17 of the Vernon Municipal Code
allowing mixed-use development along Santa Fe Avenue, Design Guidelines to
facilitate the orderly development of Mixed-Uses along Santa Fe Avenue, an
Environmental Impact Report, and revisions to the General Plan and Housing
Element Updates for a not-to-exceed amount of $70,000 and a six-month
extension of the agreement. The question was called and the motion carried
unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
18. Letter Agreement with Southern California Edison Company
Acting Public Utilities General Manager Dusenberry presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Mayor Pro Tem Larios seconded a motion to:
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 existing facilities and equipment and involves negligible or no
expansion of an existing use; and B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator
to execute a Letter Agreement with Southern California Edison Company (SCE),
in substantially the same form as submitted, to agree upon an interim arrangement
pursuant to which SCE will perform required work related to Interconnection
Facilities, Distribution Upgrades, and Network Upgrades, in an amount not-to-
exceed $132,328. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
19. Appointment of Todd W. Dusenberry as General Manager of Public Utilities
Human Resources Director Earl presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Mayor Pro Tem Larios seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution No. 2022-45 appointing Todd W. Dusenberry to serve as General
Manager of Public Utilities of the City of Vernon and approving and authorizing the
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execution of a related at-will employment agreement. The question was called and
the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
City Administrator Reports on Activities and other Announcements.
City Administrator Fandino congratulated Council Member Davis and Don Quiroz
on their retirements and General Manager Dusenberry on his appointment;
announced the VCF Scholarships application period beginning January 3; wished
happy holidays; and noted the next Regular City Council meeting on January 17,
2023.
Public Works Director Wall provided an update on the monument sign installation
on Santa Fe Avenue at 25th Street.
City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff.
None.
RECESS
Mayor Lopez recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:42 a.m.
CLOSED SESSION
20. 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
RECONVENE
At 10:01 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 10:01 a.m.
______________________________
ATTEST: LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
____________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
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