20230815 City Council MeetingMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2023
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Larios called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Larios led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Crystal Larios, Mayor
Judith Merlo, Mayor Pro Tem
Melissa Ybarra, Council Member
Leticia Lopez, Council Member
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Angela Kimmey, Deputy City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa, City Attorney
Lisa Pope, City Clerk
Fredrick Agyin, Health and Environmental Control Director
Michael Earl, Human Resources Director
Roberto Sousa, Police Chief
Dan Wall, Public Works Director
Todd Dusenberry, Public Utilities General Manager
Margie Otto, Public Utilities Assistant General Manager
Richard Corbi, Public Utilities Planning and Analysis Manager
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to
approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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August 15, 2023
PRESENTATIONS
1. Proclamation Recognizing Oscar E. Zozaya
City Clerk Pope read the proclamation recognizing retired Police Officer Oscar E.
Zozaya.
2. Employee Service Pin Awards
Human Resources Director Earl announced the recipients of the July 2023
Employee Service Pin Awards.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Mayor Pro Tem 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:
3. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the August 1, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting
Minutes.
4. Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claims submitted by Joel Aguilar in the
amount of $756.01; and Aiman-Smith & Marcy on behalf of Cari McCormick, for
an undetermined amount.
5. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 114, for the
period of July 9 through July 22, 2023, totaling $10,676,759.21 and consisting of
ratification of electronic payments totaling $9,803,961.15 and ratification of the
issuance of early checks totaling $872,798.06.
6. City Payroll Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve City Payroll Warrant Register No. 806, for the period
of July 1 through July 31, 2023, totaling $2,806,436 and consisting of ratification
of direct deposits, checks and taxes totaling $1,817,583.16 and ratification of
checks and electronic fund transfers (EFT) for payroll related disbursements
totaling $988,852.84 paid through operating bank account.
7. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the June 2023 Fire Department Activity Report.
8. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the June 2023 Police Department Activity
Report.
9. Federal Equitable Sharing Agreement and Annual Certification Report
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the Police Chief and City Administrator
to execute the Federal Equitable Sharing Agreement and Annual Certification
Report.
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August 15, 2023
10. Grant Deed Dedication in Fee a Portion of the Property Located at 3165
Slauson 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. 2023-17 accepting
the Grant Deed of a portion of the property located at 3165 Slauson Avenue –
Assessor’s Parcel Number 6310-007-012.
11. Quitclaim Deed for Property Located at 5122 S. Atlantic Boulevard from Clear
Channel Outdoor, LLC
Recommendation: A. Find that accepting the Quitclaim 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 Quitclaim Deed, the project would involve
negligible expansion of an existing street; and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2023-18
accepting the Quitclaim Deed for the property located at 5122 S. Atlantic Boulevard
– Assessor’s Parcel Number 6314-003-001.
12. Services Agreements with A.M. Ortega Construction, Inc. and Energy
Experts International, Inc. for Natural Gas Project Design, Construction and
Repair Services
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 contracted services consist of the
maintenance, repair or minor alteration of existing facilities and equipment and
involve negligible or no expansion of an existing use; and B. Approve and authorize
the City Administrator to execute two separate three-year Services Agreements
for Natural Gas Project Design, Construction and Repair Services for which a
combined amount of costs incurred shall not-to-exceed $690,000 over the term of
the agreements, with: 1). A.M. Ortega Construction, Inc., in substantially the same
form as submitted for a total amount not-to-exceed $690,000, for a three-year term;
and 2). Energy Experts International, Inc., in substantially the same form as
submitted, for a total amount not-to-exceed $690,000, for a three-year term.
13. Itron, Inc. Master Sales Agreement for Utility Meter Services
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a
Master Sales Agreement with Itron Inc., in substantially the same form as
submitted, for hardware, software, and maintenance services for utility service
meters for a total amount not-to-exceed $148,770 for a three-year term.
14. Services Agreement with Jemmott Rollins Group, Inc for Vernon
CommUNITY Fund Administrative Support
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a
Professional Services Agreement with Jemmott Rollins Group, Inc., in substantially
the same form as submitted, for administrative support services for Vernon
CommUNITY Fund grantmaking activities for a total amount not-to-exceed
$198,000, for a three-year term ($66,000 annually).
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August 15, 2023
15. Master Affiliation Services Agreement with Wellness and Equity Alliance
(WEA) for Public Health Services
Recommendation: A. Pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) Sections
3.32.110 (B)(2) and (B)(3), find that it is in the best interest of the City to award a
services agreement directly to WEA without a competitive process; and B.
Authorize the City Administrator to execute the Master Affiliation Services
Agreement with WEA, in substantially the same form as submitted, for public
health services for a total amount not-to-exceed $567,000, for a one-year term.
NEW BUSINESS
16. Vernon Public Utilities Electric Cost of Service Analysis and Updated Energy
Cost Adjustment Billing Factor
Public Utilities General Manager Dusenberry, Public Utilities Planning and
Analysis Manager Corbi; and Tony Georgis, New Gen Strategies and Solutions,
presented the staff report.
In response to Council questions, staff explained increased costs and the need to
meet the coverage ratios requiring use of $18 million of the Expense Stabilization
Fund.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Ybarra seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution No. 2023-19 to update and implement an Energy Cost
Adjustment Billing Factor procedure and computation method which establishes
an Energy Cost Adjustment to be billed under all electrical rate schedules for
energy transmitted, distributed, and supplied to the City of Vernon electric
customers. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
17. City Administrator Reports on Activities and other Announcements.
Deputy City Administrator Kimmey announced the start of school for Vernon
Elementary; new Principal, Ken Urbina; and Department of Toxic Substances
Control Exide Technical Advisory Group meeting on August 16, from 5:30 p.m. –
7:30 p.m.
18. City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff.
Council Member Lopez reported on her attendance at the Independent Cities
Association Summer Seminar, from July 27-30, 2023, with a fiscal impact of
approximately $1,670.
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August 15, 2023
RECESS
Mayor Larios recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:40 a.m.
Mayor Larios left the meeting at 9:40 a.m.
CLOSED SESSION
19. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Government Code Section 54957(b)(1)
Title: City Attorney
RECONVENE
At 10:51 a.m., Mayor Pro Tem Merlo adjourned Closed Session and reconvened
the regular meeting, with all Council Members present except Mayor Larios.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Moussa reported that the Council met in Closed Session, discussed
the item on the agenda, and took no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pro Tem Merlo adjourned the meeting at 10:51 a.m.
______________________________
CRYSTAL LARIOS, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
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