20230117 City Council MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Lopez led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Leticia Lopez, Mayor
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, Public Utilities General Manager
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Larios moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to
approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Gwen Slaughter, Starline Tours, discussed efforts to transition to electric vehicles
and the need to update their property.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Proclamation Recognizing Retired Employee - Eliseo Genera III
City Clerk Pope read the proclamation and the Council recognized Eliseo Genera
III, Civilian Court Officer, for his dedicated service to the City of Vernon.
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2. Employee Service Pin Awards for December 2022
Human Resources Director Earl presented the staff report.
Mayor Lopez recognized Angela P. Kimmey, Deputy City Administrator, for 5 years
of service; George Tolmasoff III, Utilities Dispatcher, for 15 years of service; and
Jason G. Tomlinson, Fleet Supervisor, for 20 years of service.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. Amendments to Vernon Municipal Code Section 17.24.080 Pertaining to
General Industry Site Planning Standards
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
In response to Council questions, Public Works Director Wall stated the ordinance
would promote safety, while ensuring the requirements were not onerous.
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
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”
as defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 15378; B. Introduce and conduct first
reading of Ordinance No. 1292 amending Vernon Municipal Code Section
17.24.080 regulating building setbacks; and C. Direct staff to schedule second
reading and adoption for the February 7, 2023 City Council meeting. The question
was called and the motion carried unanimously.
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
unanimously.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
4. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the December 20, 2022 Regular City Council meeting
minutes.
5. Conduct of Meeting via Teleconference Pursuant to Assembly Bill 361
Recommendation: Ratify the findings in Resolution No. 2021-36 authorizing
continued conduct of City Council and other City legislative body meetings via
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teleconference, in accordance with Assembly Bill 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. 799, for the period
of December 1 through December 31, 2022, totaling $3,900,635.79 and consisting
of ratification of direct deposits, checks and taxes totaling $2,997,606.43 and
ratification of checks and electronic fund transfers (EFT) for payroll related
disbursements totaling $903,029.36 paid through operating bank account.
7. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 101, for the
period of December 4 through December 24, 2022, totaling $16,075,929.49 and
consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $13,857,444.41 and
ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $2,218,485.08.
8. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the October and November 2022 Fire
Department Activity Reports.
9. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the November 2022 Police Department Activity
Report.
10. Quarterly City Housing Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the December 2022 Quarterly City Housing
Report.
11. Authorization to Order Agreements with A T and T Mobility (AT&T) for State
of California CALNET NextGen
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute the
Authorization to Order Agreements with AT&T for various telecommunications and
network services, in substantially the same form as submitted, for a total amount
not-to-exceed $294,000 for a three-year term.
12. Revised Proclamation Recognizing Retired Employee – Jerry R. Chavez, Jr.
Recommendation: Approve revised proclamation.
13. Grant Deed Dedicating in Fee a Portion of the Property Located at 5655 Santa
Fe Avenue
Recommendation: A. Find that accepting the Grant Deed is categorically exempt
from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with
CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c) because if any construction occurs as a result
of accepting and executing the Grant Deed, the project would involve negligible
expansion of an existing street; and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2023-01 accepting
the Grant Deed of a portion of the property located at 5655 Santa Fe Avenue –
Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APN) 6308-017-011, 012 and 013.
NEW BUSINESS
14. Sapphire Solar Power and Battery Storage Project Power Sales Agreement
Public Utilities General Manager Dusenberry presented the staff report.
In response to Council questions, General Manager Dusenberry confirmed that the
project was expected to start in December 2025.
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MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Mayor Pro Tem Larios seconded a motion to:
A. Find that approval of the proposed action is exempt from California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, because it is an administrative and
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. Pursuant to the Power Purchase Agreement between
Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) and EDF Renewables North
America, the lead agencies have obtained, or will reasonably and timely obtain, all
CEQA determinations required for the construction, operation, and maintenance
of the facility; and B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a
Power Sales Agreement (PSA) with Southern California Public Power Authority
(SCPPA), in substantially the same form as submitted, to purchase 39 megawatts
of solar power and up to approximately 19.7 megawatts of battery storage with
associated green attributes through the Sapphire Solar Project for a projected
annual amount of $6,665,000 over a 20-year term. The question was called and
the motion carried unanimously.
15. City Council Appointments to Outside Agencies
City Clerk Pope presented the staff report.
Council Member Larios volunteered to serve as the alternate member on the
Central Basin Water Association.
Council Member Merlo volunteered to serve as the alternate member on County
Sanitation District Nos. 1 and 2.
MOTION
Mayor Lopez moved and Council Member Ybarra seconded a motion to: A.
Appoint Council Member Larios as the City’s alternate representative to the Central
Basin Water Association; B. Appoint Council Member Merlo as the City’s alternate
representative to County Sanitation District No. 1; and C. Appoint Council Member
Merlo as the City’s alternate representative to County Sanitation District No. 2. The
question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
16. City Administrator Reports on Activities and other Announcements.
City Administrator Fandino announced that former Council Member William Davis
would be honored at the February 21, 2023 Council meeting; reported on the
General Municipal Election to be held April 11, 2023; announced the Vernon
CommUNITY Fund scholarship period was open; and provided an update on the
utility pole upgrade project at 49th and 50th Streets to increase the capacity for large
scale loads.
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17. City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff.
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 9:23 a.m.
______________________________
ATTEST: LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
____________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
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