20231121 City Council MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Larios called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Larios led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Crystal Larios, Mayor
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
Melissa Ybarra, Council Member
ABSENT:
Leticia Lopez, Council Member
Judith Merlo, 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, Public Utilities General Manager
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to
approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried 3-0, Mayor
Pro Tem Merlo and Council Member Lopez absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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November 21, 2023
PRESENTATIONS
1. Employee Service Pin Awards
Human Resources Director Earl presented the staff report.
The City Council recognized the following October 2023 Employee Service Pin
Award recipients: Director of Health and Environmental Control Fredrick Agyin;
Police Officer Marcus Fino; Police Officer Todd Newton; and Water Maintenance
Worker, Senior Rafael Castellanos.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. Regulation of fueling stations in the Truck and Freight Terminal (T) Overlay
Zone
Recommendation:
A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) review because it is a 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. 1295 amending Vernon Municipal Code Section
17.16.020 and adding Sections 17.48.035 and 17.48.040.D regarding fueling
stations in the Truck and Freight Terminal (T) Overlay Zone; and C. Direct staff to
schedule second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 1295 for the December
5, 2023 City Council meeting.
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
Mayor Larios opened the public hearing. There being no speakers, Mayor Larios
closed the public hearing.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion
to: A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) review because it is a 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. 1295 amending Vernon Municipal Code
Section 17.16.020 and adding Sections 17.48.035 and 17.48.040.D regarding
fueling stations in the Truck and Freight Terminal (T) Overlay Zone; and C. Direct
staff to schedule second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 1295 for the
December 5, 2023 City Council meeting. The question was called and the motion
carried 3-0, Mayor Pro Tem Larios Council Member Lopez absent.
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November 21, 2023
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Council Member Ybarra seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Calendar. The question was called and the motion carried 3-
0, Mayor Pro Tem Merlo and Council Member Lopez absent.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
3. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the November 7, 2023 Special City Council,
November 7, 2023 Regular City Council, and November 7, 2023 Joint Special
Council/Commission/Committee (Ethics Training) Meeting Minutes.
4. Claims Against City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claim submitted by Progressive West
Insurance Company on behalf of Gvantsa Giorgadze.
5. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 120, for the
period of October 1 through October 21, 2023, totaling $8,283,851.32 and
consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $7,813,179.03 and
ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $470,672.29.
6. City Payroll Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve City Payroll Warrant Register No. 809, for the period
of October 1 through October 31, 2023, totaling $2,918,092.54 and consisting of
ratification of direct deposits, checks and taxes totaling $1,928,570.65 and
ratification of checks and electronic fund transfers (EFT) for payroll related
disbursements totaling $989,521.89 paid through operating bank account.
7. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the September 2023 Fire Department Activity
Report.
8. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the September 2023 Police Department
Activity Report.
9. Vernon Police Department Body-Worn Camera and In-Car Mobile Auto Video
Recording
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a
Subaward (“Micro-grant”) Agreement with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, in
substantially the same form as submitted, for participation in the Small, Rural, and
Tribal Law Enforcement Agency Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation
Program for a 3-year term, with an effective date of January 1, 2023; B. Approve
and authorize the City Administrator to execute the Participating Agency
Endorsement and Authorization to the Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchasing
Agreement; and C. Approve and authorize the issuance of a Purchase Contract
with LensLock, Inc., for the lease of body-worn camera equipment in the amount
not to exceed $277,998.02 for a three-year term, and authorize the City
Administrator to execute the related proposal from LensLock.
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November 21, 2023
10. Change Order No. 19 to the 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 Purchase Contracts 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; and B. Approve and authorize the City
Administrator to execute Change Order No. 19 to the Amended and Restated
Services Agreement with Siemens Energy Inc. (Siemens Energy), in substantially
the same form as submitted, to perform a Feedwater Pump Motor Life Expectancy
Analysis Program Test and add contingency funds for extra work authorizations
executed during the December 2023 outage.
ORAL REPORTS
11. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements.
City Administrator Fandino announced upcoming events including Holiday Tree
Lighting on December 7, at 5:00 p.m.; Huntington Park Holiday Parade on
December 9, at 5:00 p.m.; and Soccer Ball Delivery and Adopt-a-Family/Operation
Santa on December 13. He reminded the Council of the remaining meetings and
cancellations in December and wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving.
12. City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff.
None.
RECESS
Mayor Larios recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:07 a.m.
CLOSED SESSION
13. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
City of Vernon v. 3M Company (f/k/a Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.), et
al.
Master Docket No.: 2:18-mn-2873-RMG
RECONVENE
At 9:28 a.m., Mayor Larios adjourned Closed Session and reconvened the regular
meeting.
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November 21, 2023
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 Larios adjourned the meeting at 9:29 a.m.
______________________________
CRYSTAL LARIOS, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
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