20230321 City Council Agenda PacketRegular City Council Meeting Agenda March 21, 2023
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Agenda
City of Vernon
Regular City Council Meeting
Tuesday March 21, 2023, 9:00 AM
City Hall, Council Chamber
4305 Santa Fe Avenue, Vernon, California
Leticia Lopez, Mayor
Crystal Larios, Mayor Pro Tem
Judith Merlo, Council Member
Melissa Ybarra, Council Member
The public is encouraged to view the meeting at https://www.cityofvernon.org/webinar-cc or by
calling (408) 638-0968, Meeting ID 850-4899-3145#. You may address the Council via Zoom or
submit comments to PublicComment@cityofvernon.org with the meeting date and item number in
the subject line.
CALL TO ORDER
FLAG SALUTE
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
PUBLIC COMMENT
At this time the public is encouraged to address the City Council on any matter that is within the
subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council. The public will also be given a chance to comment on
matters which are on the posted agenda during City Council deliberation on those specific matters.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Sales and Property Tax Revenue Update
Recommendation:
No action required by City Council. This is a presentation only.
Regular City Council Meeting Agenda March 21, 2023
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CONSENT CALENDAR
All matters listed on the Consent Calendar are to be approved with one motion. Items may be removed
from the Consent Calendar for individual consideration. Removed items will be considered
immediately following the Consent Calendar.
2. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation:
Approve the March 7, 2023 Regular City Council meeting minutes.
3. Claims Against the City
Recommendation:
Receive and file the claims submitted by Alexandra Alvarado in the amount of $1,032.92; and
Juan Negrete in the amount of $1,500.
4. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation:
Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 105, for the period of February 19 through
March 4, 2023, totaling $8,371,570.19 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments
totaling $6,748,338.11 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $1,623,232.08.
5. City Payroll Warrant Register
Recommendation:
Approve City Payroll Warrant Register No. 801, for the period of February 1 through February
28, 2023, totaling $3,225,137.42 and consisting of ratification of direct deposits, checks and
taxes totaling $2,218,722.97 and ratification of checks and electronic fund transfers (EFT) for
payroll related disbursements totaling $1,006,414.45 paid through operating bank account.
6. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation:
Receive and file the January 2023 Fire Department Activity Report.
7. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation:
Receive and file the January 2023 Police Department Activity Report.
8. Quarterly City Housing Report
Recommendation:
Receive and file the March 2023 Quarterly City Housing Report.
9. Agreement with the State of California High Speed Rail Authority for the High Speed
Rail Project
Recommendation:
A. Find that approving the Standard Agreement is categorically exempt from California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section
15262 because the project only involves feasibility or planning studies for possible future
actions which the City has not approved, adopted, or funded; and
B. Adopt Resolution No. 2023-02 approving and authorizing the execution of Standard
Agreement No. HSR22-34 by and between the City of Vernon and the State of California High
Speed Rail Authority for the High Speed Rail Project.
Regular City Council Meeting Agenda March 21, 2023
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10. Change Order No. 18 to 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. 18 to the
Amended and Restated Services Agreement with Siemens Energy, Inc. (Siemens Energy), in
substantially the same form as submitted, to perform an L4 generator inspection and
maintenance overhaul on the combustion turbine generators and post outage Life Expectancy
Analysis Program testing; and
C. Authorize a contingency amount of $45,000 in the event of unforeseen changes in the
project and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue Change Orders for an amount up
to the contingency amount, if necessary.
11. Labor and Materials Contract with Fujitsu Network Communication, Inc.
Recommendation:
A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines § 15301, because the project
consists of the maintenance, repair or minor alteration of existing equipment and involves
negligible or no expansion of an existing use;
B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Labor and Materials Contract
with Fujitsu Network Communication, Inc. (Fujitsu), in substantially the same form as
submitted, in an amount not-to-exceed $652,765.97, to upgrade the existing fiber optic network
system and perform network migration services; and
C. Authorize a contingency amount of $65,000 for estimated taxes and freight costs and grant
authority to the City Administrator to issue Change Orders for an amount up to the contingency
amount, if necessary.
Regular City Council Meeting Agenda March 21, 2023
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12. Professional Services Agreement with RAMCO General Engineering Contractors and
Mega Renovation, Inc. for On-Call General Contractor and Minor Construction
Services
Recommendation:
A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt under the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, because the
project consists of the maintenance, repair and minor alteration of existing facilities and
involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use;
B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Professional Services Agreement
with RAMCO General Engineering Contractors, in substantially the same form as submitted,
for a three-year term in an amount not-to-exceed $350,000 for on-call general contractor and
minor construction services; and
C. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Professional Services Agreement
with Mega Renovation, Inc., in substantially the same form as submitted, for a three-year term
in an amount not-to-exceed $350,000 for on-call general contractor and minor construction
services.
13. Rejection of Bids Received for North Parking Security Fencing Project
Recommendation:
Reject all bids for “North Parking Security Fencing,” a Notice Inviting Bids to furnish and install
security fencing for the North City Hall parking structure, due to costs of bids received
exceeding the Engineer’s Estimate by a significant amount.
14. Contracts Approved by City Administrator
Recommendation:
Receive and file the report on contracts approved by the City Administrator pursuant to Vernon
Municipal Code Section 3.32.110(B)(3).
15. Shared Services Agreement with Northern California Power Agency, Southern
California Public Power Authority, and Ascend Analytics, LLC
Recommendation:
Approve and authorize the General Manager of Public Utilities to execute the Northern
California Power Agency (NCPA) Confirmation No. 0282 (Agreement) among the City of
Vernon, Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA), and Ascend Analytics, LLC
(Ascend), for services related to the development of an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for a
total amount not-to-exceed $374,245 through June 14, 2024.
NEW BUSINESS
16. Gateway Cities Affordable Housing Trust
Recommendation:
Adopt Resolution No. 2023-03 approving, authorizing and directing the execution of the Joint
Exercise of Powers Agreement relating to membership in the Gateway Cities Affordable
Housing Trust (GCAHT).
Regular City Council Meeting Agenda March 21, 2023
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ORAL REPORTS
17. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements
18. City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives
to Staff
ADJOURNMENT
On March 16, 2023, the foregoing agenda was posted in accordance with the applicable legal
requirements. Regular and Adjourned Regular meeting agendas may be amended up to 72 hours
and Special meeting agendas may be amended up to 24 hours in advance of the meeting.
Regular City Council Meeting Agenda March 21, 2023
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Guide to City Council Proceedings
Meetings of the City Council are held the first and third Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. and are
conducted in accordance with Rosenberg's Rules of Order (Vernon Municipal Code Section
2.04.020).
Copies of all agenda items and back-up materials are available for review in the City Clerk
Department, Vernon City Hall, 4305 Santa Fe Avenue, Vernon, California, and are available for public
inspection during regular business hours, Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Agenda
reports may be reviewed on the City's website at www.cityofvernon.org or copies may be purchased
for $0.10 per page.
Disability-related services are available to enable persons with a disability to participate in this
meeting, consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In compliance with ADA, if you
need special assistance, please contact the City Clerk department at CityClerk@cityofvernon.org or
(323) 583-8811 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to assure arrangements can be made.
The Public Comment portion of the agenda is for members of the public to present items, which are
not listed on the agenda but are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council. The City
Council cannot take action on any item that is not on the agenda but matters raised under Public
Comment may be referred to staff or scheduled on a future agenda. Comments are limited to three
minutes per speaker unless a different time limit is announced. Speaker slips are available at the
entrance to the Council Chamber.
Public Hearings are legally noticed hearings. For hearings involving zoning matters, the applicant
and appellant will be given 15 minutes to present their position to the City Council. Time may be set
aside for rebuttal. All other testimony shall follow the rules as set for under Public Comment. If you
challenge any City action in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone
else raised during the public hearing, or in written correspondence delivered to the City Clerk at or
prior to the public hearing.
Consent Calendar items may be approved by a single motion. If a Council Member or the public
wishes to discuss an item, it may be removed from the calendar for individual consideration. Council
Members may indicate a negative or abstaining vote on any individual item by so declaring prior to
the vote on the motion to adopt the Consent Calendar. Items excluded from the Consent Calendar
will be taken up following action on the Consent Calendar. Public speakers shall follow the guidelines
as set forth under Public Comment.
New Business items are matters appearing before the Council for the first time for formal action.
Those wishing to address the Council on New Business items shall follow the guidelines for Public
Comment.
Closed Session allows the Council to discuss specific matters pursuant to the Brown Act,
Government Code Section 54956.9. Based on the advice of the City Attorney, discussion of these
matters in open session would prejudice the position of the City. Following Closed Session, the City
Attorney will provide an oral report on any reportable matters discussed and actions taken. At the
conclusion of Closed Session, the Council may continue any item listed on the Closed Session
agenda to the Open Session agenda for discussion or to take formal action as it deems appropriate.