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20250304 Regular City Council Meeting - PacketRegular City Council Meeting Agenda March 4, 2025 Page 1 of 6 Agenda City of Vernon Regular City Council Meeting Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 9:00 AM City Hall, Council Chamber 4305 Santa Fe Avenue, Vernon, California Judith Merlo, Mayor Melissa Ybarra, Mayor Pro Tem Leticia Lopez, Council Member Jesus Rivera, Council Member Crystal Larios, Council Member The public is encouraged to view the agenda and meeting at CityofVernon.org/publicmeetings. You may address the Council in the Council Chambers, via mail or email to PublicComment@cityofvernonca.gov, include the meeting date and item number in the subject line (mail and/or email must be received at least two hours prior to the start of the meeting). 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. CONSENT CALENDAR All matters listed on the Consent Calendar may 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. 1. Meeting Minutes Recommendation: Approve the February 4, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes. 2. Claims Against the City Regular City Council Meeting Agenda March 4, 2025 Page 2 of 6 Recommendation: Receive and file the claims submitted by Manuel Cortez and Melvin Humphries. 3. Operating Account Warrant Register No.144 Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 144, for the period of January 5, 2025 through January 18, 2025, totaling $7,884,924.77 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $7,455,315.50 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $429,609.27. 4. Operating Account Warrant Register No. 145 Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 145, for the period of January 19, 2025 through February 1, 2025, totaling $10,833,537.33 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $10,189,904.48 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $643,632.85. 5. Fire Department Activity Report Recommendation: Receive and file the December 2024 Fire Department Activity Report. 6. Police Department Activity Report Recommendation: Receive and file the December 2024 Police Department Activity Report. 7. Public Works Department Monthly Report Recommendation: Receive and file the January 2025 Building Report. 8. City of Vernon 2025-2026 Legislative and Regulatory Platform Recommendation: Approve and adopt the City of Vernon 2025-2026 Legislative and Regulatory Platform. 9. Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Legislative Representative Seat Appointment Recommendation: Appoint Sebastian Lozano to serve on the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee to fill one unscheduled vacancy for the Legislative Representative seat with a term ending June 30, 2026. 10. Report on Five Year Agreement Approved by the City Administrator Recommendation: Receive and file the report on award of Five-Year Contract (Spectrum Enterprise Service Agreement) to Charter Communications, LLC (Spectrum) for DOJ PAC-50 Network Connection in an amount not-to-exceed $29,429.40 as approved by the City Administrator pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) Sections 3.32.220(B) and 3.32.110 (B)(3). 11. New and Revised Personnel Policies and Revised Administrative Manual Policy Recommendation: A. Adopt revised Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual Policy I - 8 Employee Regular City Council Meeting Agenda March 4, 2025 Page 3 of 6 Separation Policy (revised); B. Adopt a revised Administrative Policy Manual Policy Section 1.1 Miscellaneous Taxation on City Vehicles Used by City Employees (revised); and C. Authorize the City Administrator and Director of Human Resources to execute and distribute the Policies. 12. Services Agreement with Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc. Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute the Services Agreement with Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc., in substantially the same form as submitted, for the assessment of source water quality and the design of treatment facilities, in an amount not- to-exceed $716,040 for a three-year term; and B. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $71,604 in the event of unforeseen expenses and/or project changes and grant authority to the City Administrator to approve and execute amendments up to the contingency amount, if necessary. 13. Change Order No. 15 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 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. 15, 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 with CNS, extending the agreement for an additional year to December 31, 2025 and authorizing CNS to provide additional support and coordination services required to complete the design phase of the project for the additional cost of $140,579.50, with a Change Order effective date of December 31, 2024. 14. Notice of Completion for Citywide Striping and Pavement Markings, Contract No. 20250017 Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities), part (a) (existing highways and streets), because the project consists of the maintenance, repair or minor alteration of existing streets and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use; B. Accept the work of WGJ Enterprises Inc., dba PCI as related to City Contract No. 20250017; and C. Authorize the Director of Public Works to execute and submit the Notice of Completion for the project to the Los Angeles County Recorder’s Office. 15. Purchase of Electric Vehicle for Police Department Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize issuance of a Purchase Order to Tesla, Inc. for the purchase of a new Model Y vehicle for a total amount not-to-exceed $56,378; and B. Authorize a contingency amount of ten (10%) percent or $5,638, for pricing fluctuations Regular City Council Meeting Agenda March 4, 2025 Page 4 of 6 and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue a Change Order for an amount up to the contingency amount, if necessary. 16. Amendment No. 2 to the License and Software Services Agreement with Power Settlements Consulting and Software, LLC, a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of YES Energy LLC Recommendation: A. Pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Sections 3.32.220 (B) and 3.32.110 (B)(3), find that it is commercially unreasonable to rebid the contract for settlement software due to the substantial financial and operational commitment required from the City, as well as the considerable learning curve associated with frequent changes in selecting licensing and software services from a new vendor; B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute Amendment No. 2 to the License and Software Service Agreement with Power Settlements Consulting and Software, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of YES Energy LLC, in substantially the same form as submitted, for license and software services, for a total amount not-to-exceed $303,440, for a three-year term; and C. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $30,344 for unforeseen fluctuations in the Consumer Price Index, and grant authority to the City Administrator to take such actions, as necessary. 17. Renewable Portfolio Standard Procurement Plan and Enforcement Program Recommendation: A. Approve and adopt the updated Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Procurement Plan and Enforcement Program; and B. Repeal Resolution No. 2012-02. NEW BUSINESS 18. Appointment of Brian Saeki to Serve as City Administrator Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-004 appointing Brian Saeki to serve as the City Administrator of the City of Vernon, with revised effective start date of February 27, 2025, and approving and authorizing the execution of a related at-will employment agreement, and repealing Resolution No. 2025-001. 19. New City of Vernon Logo and Tagline Recommendation: Approve and authorize the use of the proposed City of Vernon Logo and Tagline on City collateral, clothing, vehicles, and signage designed for identification, communication, promotion, and marketing, and to visually represent the City’s unique brand among existing Vernon stakeholders, prospective residents and businesses, policy makers, and surrounding communities. 20. Fiscal Year 2024-25 Mid-Year Financial Update Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-005 authorizing and approving mid-year budget appropriations and amending the Annual Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25. ORAL REPORTS Regular City Council Meeting Agenda March 4, 2025 Page 5 of 6 21. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements 22. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff CLOSED SESSION 23. Public Employment Government Code Section 54957 Title: City Administrator 24. Public Employment Government Code Section 54957 Title: City Clerk 25. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation (3) Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) Jason K. Haugen v. City of Vernon Workers Compensation Claim No. 25-184471 Workers Compensation Appeals Board Case No. ADJ19074308 Todd A. Hewett v. City of Vernon Workers Compensation Claim No. 21019883 Workers Compensation Appeals Board Case No. ADJ14892898 Bradley W. Mack v. City of Vernon Workers Compensation Claim Nos. 22025752 and 22025753 Workers Compensation Appeals Board Case Nos. ADJ15693842 and ADJ15693843 CLOSED SESSION REPORT ADJOURNMENT On February 27, 2025, 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 4, 2025 Page 6 of 6 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. City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:March 4, 2025 From:Deborah Harrington, Interim City Clerk Department:City Clerk Submitted by:Sandra Dolson, City Clerk Specialist Subject Meeting Minutes Recommendation Approve the February 4, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes. Background Staff has prepared and submits the minutes for approval. Fiscal Impact There is no fiscal impact associated with this report. Attachments 1. February 4, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes .  .  Item 1 Page 1 of 1 .  .  Item 1 Page 1 of 5 .  .  Item 1 Page 2 of 5 .  .  Item 1 Page 3 of 5 .  .  Item 1 Page 4 of 5 .  .  Item 1 Page 5 of 5 9 2 8 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:February 18, 2025 From:Deborah Harrington, Interim City Clerk Department:City Clerk Submitted by:Yonnie Parker, Deputy City Clerk Subject Claims Against the City Recommendation Receive and file the claims submitted by Manuel Cortez and Melvin Humphries. Background The City received the following claims and pursuant to Municipal Code Section 2.32.040, the claim is being presented to the City Council as soon after filing of the claim with the City as practical. Name of Claimant Amount Demanded Date Received Manuel Cortez $2,457.24 January 22, 2025 Melvin Humphries $250 January 27, 2025 Fiscal Impact There is no fiscal impact associated with this report. Attachments 1. Manuel Cortez Claim 2. Melvin Humphries Claim .  .  Item 2 Page 1 of 1 .  .  Item 2 Page 1 of 4 .  .  Item 2 Page 2 of 4 .  .  Item 2 Page 3 of 4 .  .  Item 2 Page 4 of 4 .  .  Item 2 Page 1 of 6 .  .  Item 2 Page 2 of 6 .  .  Item 2 Page 3 of 6 .  .  Item 2 Page 4 of 6 .  .  Item 2 Page 5 of 6 .  .  Item 2 Page 6 of 6 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:February 18, 2025 From:Gigi Decavalles-Hughes, Interim Director of Finance Department:Finance Submitted by:Kathryne Magana, Accountant Subject Operating Account Warrant Register Recommendation Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 144, for the period of January 5, 2025 through January 18, 2025, totaling $7,884,924.77 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $7,455,315.50 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $429,609.27. Background Vernon Municipal Code Section 2.32.060 indicates the City Treasurer, or an authorized designee, shall prepare warrants covering claims or demands against the City which are to be presented to City Council for its audit and approval. Pursuant to the aforementioned code section, the Interim City Treasurer has prepared Operating Account Warrant Register No. 144 covering claims and demands presented during the period of January 5 through January 18, 2025, drawn, or to be drawn, from East West Bank for City Council approval. Fiscal Impact The fiscal impact of approving Operating Account Warrant Register No. 144, totals $7,884,924.77. The Finance Department has determined that sufficient funds to pay such claims/demands, are available in the respective accounts referenced on Operating Account Warrant Register No. 144. Attachments 1. Operating Account Warrant Register No. 144 .  .  Item 3 Page 1 of 1 .  .  Item 3 Page 1 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 2 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 3 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 4 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 5 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 6 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 7 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 8 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 9 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 10 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 11 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 12 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 13 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 14 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 15 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 16 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 17 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 18 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 19 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 20 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 21 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 22 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 23 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 24 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 25 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 26 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 27 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 28 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 29 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 30 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 31 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 32 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 33 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 34 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 35 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 36 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 37 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 38 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 39 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 40 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 41 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 42 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 43 of 44 .  .  Item 3 Page 44 of 44 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:March 4, 2025 From:Gigi Decavalles-Hughes, Interim Director of Finance Department:Finance Submitted by:Kathryne Magana, Accountant Subject Operating Account Warrant Register No.145 Recommendation Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 145, for the period of January 19, 2025 through February 1, 2025, totaling $10,833,537.33 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $10,189,904.48 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $643,632.85. Background Vernon Municipal Code Section 2.32.060 indicates the City Treasurer, or an authorized designee, shall prepare warrants covering claims or demands against the City which are to be presented to City Council for its audit and approval. Pursuant to the aforementioned code section, the Interim City Treasurer has prepared Operating Account Warrant Register No. 145 covering claims and demands presented during the period of January 19, 2025 through February 1, 2025, drawn, or to be drawn, from East West Bank for City Council approval. Fiscal Impact The fiscal impact of approving Operating Account Warrant Register No. 145, totals $10,833,537.33. The Finance Department has determined that sufficient funds to pay such claims/demands, are available in the respective accounts referenced on Operating Account Warrant Register No. 145. Attachments 1. Operating Account Warrant Register No. 145 .  .  Item 4 Page 1 of 1 .  .  Item 4 Page 1 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 2 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 3 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 4 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 5 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 6 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 7 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 8 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 9 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 10 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 11 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 12 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 13 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 14 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 15 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 16 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 17 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 18 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 19 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 20 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 21 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 22 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 23 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 24 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 25 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 26 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 27 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 28 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 29 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 30 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 31 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 32 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 33 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 34 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 35 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 36 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 37 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 38 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 39 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 40 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 41 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 42 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 43 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 44 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 45 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 46 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 47 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 48 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 49 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 50 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 51 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 52 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 53 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 54 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 55 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 56 of 57 .  .  Item 4 Page 57 of 57 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:March 4, 2025 From:Daniel Calleros, Interim City Administrator Department:City Administration Submitted by:Diana Figueroa, Senior Management Analyst Subject Fire Department Activity Report Recommendation Receive and file the December 2024 Fire Department Activity Report. Background Attached is a copy of a Fire Department Activity Report which covers the period of December 1 through December 31, 2024. The report is provided by Los Angeles County Fire and consists of incident details and a summary for the month. Fiscal Impact There is no fiscal impact associated with this report. Attachments 1. Fire Department Activity Report – December 2024 .  .  Item 5 Page 1 of 1 .  .  Item 5 Page 1 of 12 .  .  Item 5 Page 2 of 12 .  .  Item 5 Page 3 of 12 .  .  Item 5 Page 4 of 12 .  .  Item 5 Page 5 of 12 .  .  Item 5 Page 6 of 12 .  .  Item 5 Page 7 of 12 .  .  Item 5 Page 8 of 12 .  .  Item 5 Page 9 of 12 .  .  Item 5 Page 10 of 12 .  .  Item 5 Page 11 of 12 .  .  Item 5 Page 12 of 12 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:March 4, 2025 From:Robert Sousa, Chief of Police Department:Police Submitted by:Donna Aggers, Records Manager Subject Police Department Activity Report Recommendation Receive and file the December 2024 Police Department Activity Report. Background The Vernon Police Department’s activity report consists of activity during the specified reporting period, including a summary of calls for service, and statistical information regarding arrests, traffic collisions, stored and impounded vehicles, recovered stolen vehicles, the number of citations issued, and the number of reports filed. Fiscal Impact There is no fiscal impact associated with this report. Attachments 1. December 2024 Police Department Activity Report .  .  Item 6 Page 1 of 1 .  .  Item 6 Page 1 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 2 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 3 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 4 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 5 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 6 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 7 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 8 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 9 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 10 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 11 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 12 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 13 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 14 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 15 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 16 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 17 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 18 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 19 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 20 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 21 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 22 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 23 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 24 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 25 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 26 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 27 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 28 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 29 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 30 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 31 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 32 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 33 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 34 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 35 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 36 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 37 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 38 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 39 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 40 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 41 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 42 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 43 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 44 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 45 of 46 .  .  Item 6 Page 46 of 46 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:March 4, 2025 From:Daniel S. Wall, P.E., Director of Public Works Department:Public Works Submitted by:Rosa Garibay, Permit Technician Subject Public Works Department Monthly Report Recommendation Receive and file the January 2025 Building Report. Background The attached building report consists of total issued permits, major projects, demolition permits, new building permits and certificates of occupancy status reports for the month of January 2025. Fiscal Impact There is no fiscal impact associated with this report. Attachments 1. Public Works Department January 2025 Building Report .  .  Item 7 Page 1 of 1 .  .  Item 7 Page 1 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 2 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 3 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 4 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 5 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 6 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 7 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 8 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 9 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 10 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 11 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 12 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 13 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 14 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 15 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 16 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 17 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 18 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 19 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 20 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 21 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 22 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 23 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 24 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 25 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 26 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 27 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 28 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 29 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 30 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 31 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 32 of 33 .  .  Item 7 Page 33 of 33 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:March 4, 2025 From:Daniel Calleros, Interim City Administrator Department:City Administration Submitted by:Angela Kimmey, Deputy City Administrator Subject City of Vernon 2025-2026 Legislative and Regulatory Platform Recommendation Approve and adopt the City of Vernon 2025-2026 Legislative and Regulatory Platform Background A Legislative and Regulatory Platform is a summary of policy statements that provide a framework for a City’s response to state and federal legislation and regulation. The City of Vernon 2025-2026 Legislative and Regulatory Platform (Platform) (Attachment 1) was introduced to the City Council at the February 4, 2025 Regular Council Meeting. As outlined in the February 4 Agenda Report (Attachment 2), the Platform asserts the City’s position on priority issues and matters that impact the City’s ability to operate effectively, while allowing the consideration of additional legislative and budget issues that arise during the legislative session. On February 4, Council also received a presentation from the City’s legislative advocacy consultant, the California Public Policy Group, that included highlights of the proposed Platform statements (Attachment 3). The Council did not indicate any changes were necessary to the Platform as proposed and directed staff to place the Platform on the February 18, 2025 Regular Council Meeting agenda for adoption. Fiscal Impact There is no fiscal impact associated with this report. Attachments 1. City of Vernon 2025-2026 Legislative and Regulatory Platform 2. February 4, 2025 Legislative Platform Agenda Report 3. February 4, 2025 CPPG Presentation on Legislative Platform .  .  Item 8 Page 1 of 1 .  .  Item 8 Page 1 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 2 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 3 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 4 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 5 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 6 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 7 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 8 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 9 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 10 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 11 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 12 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 13 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 14 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 15 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 16 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 17 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 18 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 19 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 20 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 21 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 22 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 23 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 24 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 25 of 25 .  .  Item 8 Page 1 of 2 .  .  Item 8 Page 2 of 2 .  .  Item 8 Page 1 of 14 .  .  Item 8 Page 2 of 14 .  .  Item 8 Page 3 of 14 .  .  Item 8 Page 4 of 14 .  .  Item 8 Page 5 of 14 .  .  Item 8 Page 6 of 14 .  .  Item 8 Page 7 of 14 .  .  Item 8 Page 8 of 14 .  .  Item 8 Page 9 of 14 .  .  Item 8 Page 10 of 14 .  .  Item 8 Page 11 of 14 .  .  Item 8 Page 12 of 14 .  .  Item 8 Page 13 of 14 .  .  Item 8 Page 14 of 14 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:March 4, 2025 From:Daniel Calleros, Interim City Administrator Department:City Administration Submitted by:Diana Figueroa, Senior Management Analyst Subject Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Legislative Representative Seat Appointment Recommendation Appoint Sebastian Lozano to serve on the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee to fill one unscheduled vacancy for the Legislative Representative seat with a term ending June 30, 2026. Background The City of Vernon has several Boards, Commissions and Committees, established by Charter, ordinance or resolution, that advise the Council on policy matters or review specific issues and carry out assignments as requested by the City Council or prescribed by law. The Vernon CommUNITY Fund (VCF) Grant Committee was created as an element of the City's good governance reforms, to provide grants to charitable and governmental entities for projects and programs benefiting those residing and working in Vernon. Pursuant to Section 2.48.040 of the Vernon Municipal Code (VMC), the VCF Grant Committee is comprised of seven members and must include: One person representing Members of the California Legislature with a district that includes at least a portion of the Vernon Area; four persons that reside or work in the Vernon Area; one person who represents the owner or operator of a business located in Vernon; and one current member of the Vernon City Council. Members serve four-year terms, and the VCF Grant Committee meets twice per year on the 3rd Wednesday in May and November at 10:00 a.m. Currently, there is one unexpired/unscheduled vacancy on the VCF Grant Committee, as on December 16, 2024, then-Committee Chair Mark Gonzalez resigned following his election to the position of Assemblymember for the 54th Assembly District for the State of California. Pursuant to VMC Section 2.48.050 and Government Code Section 54974, on December 19, 2024, staff posted a Notice of Unscheduled Vacancy (Attachment 1) on the City’s website and on the City’s official notice board. Additionally, on January 6, 2025, staff informed via email the Offices of Assemblymember Gonzalez and Senator Durazo of the unscheduled vacancy on the VCF Grant Committee, providing the Notice of Unscheduled Vacancy along with a Legislative Representative application for the vacant seat, and indicating an application due date of February 2, 2025. As of the close of the application period, one application was received by the City Clerk’s Office (Attachment 2). Staff reviewed said application from Sebastian Lozano and determined that, as District Director for Assemblymember Gonzalez, whose District includes Vernon, the candidate meets the eligibility criteria to serve on the VCF Grant Committee in the Legislative Representative seat. Staff recommends that the Council appoint Sebastian Lozano, as a Legislative Representative from the Office of Assemblymember Gonzalez, to serve on the VCF Grant Committee, with a term set to expire on June 30, 2026. An appointment at the March 4, 2025 Council Meeting will be timely, as the next Regular VCF Grant Committee meeting is May 21, 2025. Fiscal Impact.  .  Item 9 Page 1 of 2 There is no fiscal impact associated with this report. Attachments 1. Notice of Unscheduled Vacancy 2. Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Legislative Representative Seat Application .  .  Item 9 Page 2 of 2 .  .  Item 9 Page 1 of 1 .  .  Item 9 Page 1 of 2 .  .  Item 9 Page 2 of 2 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:March 4, 2025 From:Daniel Calleros, Interim City Administrator Department:City Administration Submitted by:Sara Sandoval, Senior Administrative Assistant Subject Report on Five Year Agreement Approved by the City Administrator Recommendation Receive and file the report on award of Five-Year Contract (Spectrum Enterprise Service Agreement) to Charter Communications, LLC (Spectrum) for DOJ PAC-50 Network Connection in an amount not-to-exceed $29,429.40 as approved by the City Administrator pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) Sections 3.32.220(B) and 3.32.110 (B)(3). Background Pursuant to the City’s good governance reform contract terms and procedures outlined in VMC Section 3.32.220(B), contracts are required to be rebid every three years unless it is commercially unreasonable to do so. VMC Section 3.32.110(B)(3) grants the City Administrator the authority to make such a finding for contracts up to $100,000 and requires that a report be provided to City Council detailing the reasons. Pursuant to this authority, on February 12, 2025 the City Administrator approved a Spectrum Enterprise Service Agreement between the City and Charter Communications, LLC (Spectrum) for DOJ PAC 50 Network Connection for a term of five years for a total not-to-exceed $29,429.40. In May 2018 a necessary upgrade to the PAC-50 network connections to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) was completed under the Los Angeles County Regional Identification System’s (LACRIS) authorization. This upgrade included the DOJ connection for the Vernon Police Department (VPD), which was necessary to support the bandwidth requirements for booking information. The City recently came to the end of its coverage for the VPD’s Spectrum DOJ connection, and the transition of line fees was implemented effective February 11, 2025. In light of this, the Information Technology (IT) Division requested approval to enter into a 5-year agreement with Spectrum to continue the necessary service for VPD’s DOJ connection. The arrangement allows for continued connectivity and reliable network performance while ensuring that costs are properly managed. The 5-year agreement with Spectrum provides a stable, predictable pricing structure for the Department and Spectrum is intimately familiar with the infrastructure and specific needs of VPD, including its bandwidth requirements and DOJ connection. The remote circuits in the VPD network connect directly to the Los Angeles County Sheriff host network sites, which are also facilitated through Spectrum. Therefore, pursuant to VMC Section 3.32.110(A)(2), the agreement was exempt from competitive bidding and competitive selection, as the PAC-50 network connections to the DOJ can only be provided by Spectrum, making it a sole source. For the reasons set forth above, pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code 3.32.220(B), the City Administrator found it would be commercially unreasonable to limit this contract to 3 years and approved the 5-year term as requested by IT. Fiscal Impact.  .  Item 10 Page 1 of 2 The fiscal impact is not-to-exceed $29,429.40. Sufficient funds are available in the General Fund, Information Technology Department, Utilities - IT Account No. 011-010-110-526010 for the current fiscal year and sufficient funds will be budgeted in the subsequent years. Attachments None. .  .  Item 10 Page 2 of 2 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:February 18, 2025 From:Lisette Grizzelle, Interim Director of Human Resources Department:Human Resources Submitted by:Lisette Grizzelle, Interim Director of Human Resources Subject New and Revised Personnel Policies and Revised Administrative Manual Policy Recommendation A. Adopt revised Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual Policy I - 8 Employee Separation Policy (revised); B. Adopt a revised Administrative Policy Manual Policy Section 1.1 Miscellaneous Taxation on City Vehicles Used by City Employees (revised); and C. Authorize the City Administrator and Director of Human Resources to execute and distribute the Policies. Background The Human Resources (HR) Department is responsible for maintaining and administering the City’s Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual and Administrative Manual which contain a variety of policies affecting City employees. The Employee Separation Policy I – 8 (Attachment 1) has proposed revisions to ensure consistency with existing policies, addition of a definitions section, clarification language, and revisions to a related form. The Taxation on City Vehicles Used by City Employees Administrative Policy 1.1 (Attachment 2) contains IRS updates, revisions and clarification language. Redlines of the policy changes have been provided for reference (Attachment 3). HR staff sought input and collaborated with employee bargaining units, Finance staff, and City Attorney’s Office and is recommending the proposed policy revisions for adoption and implementation. Fiscal Impact There is no fiscal impact associated with this report. Attachments 1. Personnel and Procedures Manual Policy I - 8 Employee Separation Policy 2. Administrative Policy Manual Policy Section 1.1 Miscellaneous Taxation on City Vehicles Used by City Employees. 3. Revised Policies Redlines for Reference .  .  Item 11 Page 1 of 1 .  .  Item 11 Page 1 of 6 .  .  Item 11 Page 2 of 6 .  .  Item 11 Page 3 of 6 .  .  Item 11 Page 4 of 6 .  .  Item 11 Page 5 of 6 .  .  Item 11 Page 6 of 6 .  .  Item 11 Page 1 of 6 .  .  Item 11 Page 2 of 6 .  .  Item 11 Page 3 of 6 .  .  Item 11 Page 4 of 6 .  .  Item 11 Page 5 of 6 .  .  Item 11 Page 6 of 6 .  .  Item 11 Page 1 of 16 .  .  Item 11 Page 2 of 16 .  .  Item 11 Page 3 of 16 .  .  Item 11 Page 4 of 16 .  .  Item 11 Page 5 of 16 .  .  Item 11 Page 6 of 16 .  .  Item 11 Page 7 of 16 .  .  Item 11 Page 8 of 16 .  .  Item 11 Page 9 of 16 .  .  Item 11 Page 10 of 16 .  .  Item 11 Page 11 of 16 .  .  Item 11 Page 12 of 16 .  .  Item 11 Page 13 of 16 .  .  Item 11 Page 14 of 16 .  .  Item 11 Page 15 of 16 .  .  Item 11 Page 16 of 16 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:March 4, 2025 From:Todd Dusenberry, General Manager of Public Utilities Department:Public Utilities Submitted by:Adriana Ramos, Senior Management Analyst Subject Services Agreement with Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc. Recommendation A. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute the Services Agreement with Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc., in substantially the same form as submitted, for the assessment of source water quality and the design of treatment facilities, in an amount not-to-exceed $716,040 for a three-year term; and B. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $71,604 in the event of unforeseen expenses and/or project changes and grant authority to the City Administrator to approve and execute amendments up to the contingency amount, if necessary. Background Vernon Public Utilities (VPU) is required to test its groundwater sources regularly for various contaminants in accordance with VPU’s Water Supply Permit issued by the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water (State Water Board). The State Water Board and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have set standards for various contaminants. The Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) is the highest level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. There are two types of MCLs, primary and secondary. Primary MCLs are set for contaminants that affect health, while secondary MCLs are set for aesthetic purposes regarding odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water. The EPA has a non-enforceable secondary MCL for Manganese; however, the State Water Board is currently working on establishing a primary MCL standard for Manganese. Additionally, the EPA has recently established primary MCLs for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) Substances. In light of these new and anticipated regulations, as well as VPU’s continued efforts to provide a reliable supply of high-quality drinking water, the Water Division is utilizing a three-phase approach for the assessment of source water quality and the subsequent design of treatment facilities at Well Sites 20 and 22. Phase 1 consists of a water quality assessment of all of VPU’s groundwater sources and any corresponding treatment recommendations. Phase 2 consists of the design of treatment facilities for Wells 20 and 22 and the preparation of plans, specifications, and construction estimates. Phase 3 consists of construction management support and the preparation of the as-built drawings. To advance with Phases 1-3 and in compliance with Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) Section 3.32.080, on July 17, 2024, staff issued Request for Proposals (RFP) for Source Water Quality Assessment and Design of Treatment Facilities. Due to an insufficient number of proposals received by the deadline, the RFP was revised and re-issued on October 2, 2024. The RFP was advertised on the City’s Planet Bids platform. The scope of services encompasses a three-step project aimed at assessing manganese levels in the City’s groundwater sources and developing plans, specifications, and cost estimates for the construction of several manganese treatment facilities. The selected firm will be tasked with executing a three-phase project. The initial phase will involve assessing manganese concentrations in the City’s groundwater sources and .  .  Item 12 Page 1 of 2 recommending treatment options. The second phase will focus on designing treatment systems and preparing the necessary plans, specifications, and cost estimates. The final phase will include project and construction management, along with the creation of as-built drawings. The RFP issued focused exclusively on the design of the facilities and the provision of construction management support. Once the design phase is completed, a Request for Bids will be issued to establish a separate contract for the construction portion. Proposal packages were received from two firms by the October 28, 2024 deadline. Pursuant to VMC Section 3.32.090, price could not be a factor in the determination of the most qualified proposal due to the type of professional services sought. Accordingly, a qualified panel thoroughly examined the proposals received based on professional qualifications (45%), overall approach and strategy (45%), and responsiveness to the RFP (10%). Each firm submitted a separate sealed price bid with their proposal for consideration after the selection. Both responsive firms met the minimum criteria outlined in the RFP. Interviews were conducted with each of the two responding firms to gauge each firm’s suitability to meet the City’s needs. Based on the evaluation process, the proposal submitted by Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc. (PACE) demonstrated a combination of expertise, understanding, experience, and a comprehensive approach best suited to fulfill the scope of services detailed in the RFP. The proposal submitted by PACE ranked the highest score across the panel and was, therefore, deemed most qualified. PACE is a specialized water engineering firm with extensive experience collaborating with municipal organizations on diverse engineering projects. Their familiarity with the City’s water system infrastructure and existing water quality issues is evident, as they had a critical role in evaluating and designing the City’s most recent and largest well, Well No. 22. Staff recommends that the City Council approve a Services Agreement with PACE for the assessment of source water quality and the design of treatment facilities for a total amount not- to-exceed $716,040 over a term of three years. Additionally, staff recommends a contingency amount of 10% or $71,604 for any unforeseen expenses and/or project changes. Pursuant to VMC Section 3.32.030(A), City Council approval is required for the proposed agreement, as the total value of the contract exceeds $100,000. The proposed Services Agreement has been reviewed and approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office. Fiscal Impact The fiscal impact is not-to-exceed $787,644. Sufficient funds are available in the Water Fund, Capital Outlay Account No. 058-070-700-660000 for the current fiscal year and funds will be budgeted in subsequent years. Attachments 1. Services Agreement with Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc. .  .  Item 12 Page 2 of 2 .  .  Item 12 Page 1 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 2 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 3 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 4 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 5 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 6 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 7 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 8 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 9 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 10 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 11 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 12 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 13 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 14 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 15 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 16 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 17 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 18 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 19 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 20 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 21 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 22 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 23 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 24 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 25 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 26 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 27 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 28 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 29 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 30 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 31 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 32 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 33 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 34 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 35 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 36 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 37 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 38 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 39 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 40 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 41 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 42 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 43 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 44 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 45 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 46 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 47 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 48 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 49 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 50 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 51 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 52 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 53 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 54 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 55 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 56 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 57 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 58 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 59 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 60 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 61 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 62 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 63 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 64 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 65 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 66 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 67 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 68 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 69 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 70 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 71 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 72 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 73 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 74 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 75 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 76 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 77 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 78 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 79 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 80 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 81 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 82 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 83 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 84 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 85 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 86 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 87 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 88 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 89 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 90 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 91 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 92 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 93 of 94 .  .  Item 12 Page 94 of 94 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:March 4, 2025 From:Daniel S. Wall, P.E., Director of Public Works Department:Public Works Submitted by:Lissette Melendez, Project Engineer Subject Change Order No. 15 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 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. 15, 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 with CNS, extending the agreement for an additional year to December 31, 2025 and authorizing CNS to provide additional support and coordination services required to complete the design phase of the project for the additional cost of $140,579.50, with a Change Order effective date of December 31, 2024. Background The Atlantic Boulevard Bridge over the Los Angeles River was constructed in 1931 and consists of concrete barrel arches with an earth-filled roadway and asphalt concrete pavement. The average daily vehicle count traversing the bridge is over 50,000 per day. Atlantic Boulevard is a vital artery serving not only the City of Vernon, but also the larger southeast community, as it is a gateway for travel within the region. Due to the narrow pedestrian walkway and traffic lanes, the bridge will be inadequate for the projected traffic volume of vehicles and trucks. The Atlantic Boulevard Bridge over the Los Angeles River Agreement (Agreement) was awarded in November 2009 to CNS via Resolution No. 10,112 for the design of the bridge rehabilitation and right-of-way acquisition support. The Agreement was purposed to develop the plans for the proposed widening and rehabilitation of the bridge, which will include widening of the roadway bridge approaches, modifications of traffic signals, installation of California Public Utilities Commission-approved railroad grade crossings devices, and flood control channel modifications. Right-of-way activities along Atlantic Boulevard consist of either Temporary Construction Easements (TCE) or permanent Street Easements (SE) to accommodate the widening of the bridge and roadway and construction activities. The project also requires the relocation of conflicting utilities, including power poles from the City’s Public Utilities Department, which is concurrently developing relocation plans. Pursuant to the Agreement, the City is reimbursed 88.53% of the project cost through State and Federal funding. The Agreement has been extended multiple times due to design delays caused by railroad issues, proposed utility relocations, and right-of-way acquisition requirements which, in each instance, have involved various agencies and subcontractors. Projects of this magnitude are complex, and there are often unanticipated challenges that impact initial plans. Each Agreement Change Order has addressed such issues and has modified the project schedule timeline and adjusted the project budget as necessary. .  .  Item 13 Page 1 of 2 The proposed Agreement Change Order No. 15 is required to finalize the intricate and lengthy Construction and Management Agreements with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF); the acquisition of easements; to finalize permits from BNSF, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Los Angeles County Flood Control District (LACFCD), and private properties; complete utility relocation coordination; and complete the Caltrans Right of Way Certification for the Project. Due to the number of parties involved with this project, each with their own requirements and schedules, the timeline for this phase of the project has exceeded expectations. Per Caltrans Local Assistance requirements, Change Orders extending a consultant’s contract should be approved before the contract expires. City staff requested the necessary change order estimate and related documents from the consultant prior to the contract expiration date and is processing the change order at the earliest opportunity. In order to comply with Caltrans Local Assistance requirements, Public Works is requesting that the proposed Change Order No. 15 have an effective date of December 31, 2024. Pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) Section 3.32.030(A), all contracts shall be approved only by the City Council with a total value over the lifetime of the contract above $100,000. Approval of the proposed Change Order No. 15 would increase the total contract cost to $2,597,327.71. The proposed Agreement Change Order No. 15 has been reviewed and approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office. Fiscal Impact The fiscal impact is estimated at $140,579.50. Sufficient funds are available in General Fund, Federal Grants, Street Operations Division, Capital Outlay Account No. 011-595-430-660000 for the current fiscal year. Attachments 1. Change Order No. 15 .  .  Item 13 Page 2 of 2 .  .  Item 13 Page 1 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 2 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 3 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 4 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 5 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 6 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 7 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 8 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 9 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 10 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 11 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 12 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 13 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 14 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 15 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 16 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 17 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 18 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 19 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 20 of 21 .  .  Item 13 Page 21 of 21 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:March 4, 2025 From:Daniel S. Wall, P.E., Director of Public Works Department:Public Works Submitted by:Gerard Garcia, Assistant Engineer Subject Notice of Completion for Citywide Striping and Pavement Markings, Contract No. 20250017 Recommendation A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities), part (a) (existing highways and streets), because the project consists of the maintenance, repair or minor alteration of existing streets and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use; B. Accept the work of WGJ Enterprises Inc., dba PCI as related to City Contract No. 20250017; and C. Authorize the Director of Public Works to execute and submit the Notice of Completion for the project to the Los Angeles County Recorder’s Office. Background On August 6, 2024, the City Council awarded City Contract No. 20250017 Citywide Striping and Pavement Markings in the amount of $265,900, including a 10% contingency. The final construction cost was $198,442.88. This project involved re-striping the City street lane lines and pavement markings in accordance with the latest Caltrans Standards. City Contract No. 20250017 was completed and accepted on December 26, 2024, in accordance with the project specifications and City Staff expectations. The Notice of Completion was approved as to form by the City Attorney’s office. Fiscal Impact There is no fiscal impact associated with this report. Attachments 1. Notice of Completion - Contract No. 20250017 .  .  Item 14 Page 1 of 1 .  .  Item 14 Page 1 of 1 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:March 4, 2025 From:Robert Sousa, Chief of Police Department:Police Submitted by:Gustavo Herrera, Lieutenant - Services Division Subject Purchase of Electric Vehicle for Police Department Recommendation A. Approve and authorize issuance of a Purchase Order to Tesla, Inc. for the purchase of a new Model Y vehicle for a total amount not-to-exceed $56,378; and B. Authorize a contingency amount of ten (10%) percent or $5,638, for pricing fluctuations and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue a Change Order for an amount up to the contingency amount, if necessary. Background The Vernon Police Department (VPD) budgeted the purchase of a new patrol vehicle within Fiscal year 2024-25 to address a need in the Department as national supply issues and an aging patrol fleet have caused a vehicle shortage within the VPD. Due to the shortage of standard internal combustion engine police vehicles over the last few years, in 2024, the VPD elected to explore available electric police vehicle options. After reviewing research conducted by police agencies throughout the nation, including the Anaheim and South Pasadena Police Departments, the VPD determined the Tesla Model Y was the best option to meet the Department’s needs. On May 7, 2024 the City Council approved the purchase of two new Tesla Model Y vehicles enabling the VPD to pilot the use of these vehicles. Thus far, the VPD is satisfied with the performance of its current Model Y vehicles and is opting to add to its pilot program of Model Y vehicles through the proposed purchase of a new Model Y vehicle to be utilized as a patrol vehicle. The Tesla Model Y proposed for patrol operations outperforms existing vehicle options, both electric and gas-powered, in all relevant metrics. In addition, the Tesla Model Y is the only pursuit-rated electric vehicle and is the safest vehicle ever crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It received a 5-star rating in all categories and sub- categories by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA). Several factors were considered by the VPD when evaluating EV options in 2024 including safety, reliability, performance and technology. As part of this process VPD and City staff inspected Tesla vehicles enroute to the South Pasadena Police Department. The Tesla Model Y vehicles have advanced features, including rapid acceleration, ample storage capacity, affordability, and low maintenance requirements, all of which are integral to police operations. With state-of-the-art technology and safety features, in addition to the supercharging network plans throughout the City, the Tesla EV’s are the best option to meet the Department’s needs. Furthermore, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Fleet Rule 1191 mandates public fleet operators to procure low-emitting gasoline or alternative-fuel vehicles when adding or replacing vehicles to their vehicle fleet. Vehicles must be replaced with newer lower or zero-emission vehicles such as electric, compressed natural gas (CNG), hybrid, or gasoline vehicles rated LEV or better. In addition to SCAQMD’s Rule 1191, the California Air .  .  Item 15 Page 1 of 2 Resources Board (CARB) is developing an Advanced Clean Fleet regulation which mandates public fleet operators to procure electric vehicles when adding or replacing vehicles in their vehicle fleet beginning in 2024. Fleet electrification is also in alignment with the City’s goal to reduce greenhouse gases and demonstrates the feasibility of newer technology in work settings to the public. As such, VPD is proposing to replace a patrol vehicle that is an internal combustion engine to an electric vehicle. If approved, this vehicle will be added to the VPD‘s electric vehicle pilot program which will test the Tesla Model Y’s effectiveness as a patrol vehicle. Throughout the pilot program, VPD officers will closely monitor the performance, reliability, and cost- effectiveness of the Model Y in various operational settings. Data collected during this period will help guide future decisions regarding the integration of electric vehicles into the Department’s fleet. To ensure the City obtains competitive pricing, typically, purchases of City fleet vehicles are facilitated through cooperative buying contracts, pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) Section 3.32.110(A)(5). Accordingly, staff sought a quote for the desired vehicle through Tesla’s purchasing contract with the North Carolina Sheriff Association (NCSA) (Attachment 1) and from Tesla directly (Attachment 2). Based on the quotes received, it is most cost-effective to purchase the vehicle directly from Tesla as there is a 0.75% NCSA usage fee to purchase via the NCSA contract. Pursuant to VMC Section 3.32.110(A)(2), the proposed vehicle purchase is exempt from competitive bidding as Tesla, Inc. is the manufacturer and sells cars directly to end-consumers. The vehicle would be purchased directly from Tesla, Inc. as Tesla has a “No Reseller Policy”. Upon approval, VPD will engage with Tesla to proceed with the purchase of available vehicles. If approved, VPD will return to Council with a vendor recommendation to outfit the vehicle with necessary equipment. Per VMC 3.32.030(B), City Council approval is required if, in the twelve (12) months preceding the effective date of a proposed new, renewed, or otherwise amended contract, the City has paid or awarded the vendor more than $100,000. Within the past twelve (12) months, the City has paid or awarded Tesla, Inc. a total of approximately $222,236 in contracts. Fiscal Impact The fiscal impact is not-to-exceed $62,016 including a 10% contingency if needed. Sufficient funds are available in General Fund, Police Department, Capital Equipment - Auto Account No. 011-030-300-660010. Attachments 1. Tesla Quote Vernon PD – NCSA 2. Tesla Quote Vernon PD .  .  Item 15 Page 2 of 2 .  .  Item 15 Page 1 of 4 .  .  Item 15 Page 2 of 4 .  .  Item 15 Page 3 of 4 .  .  Item 15 Page 4 of 4 .  .  Item 15 Page 1 of 4 .  .  Item 15 Page 2 of 4 .  .  Item 15 Page 3 of 4 .  .  Item 15 Page 4 of 4 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:March 4, 2025 From:Todd Dusenberry, General Manager of Public Utilities Department:Public Utilities Submitted by:Adriana Ramos, Senior Management Analyst Subject Amendment No. 2 to the License and Software Services Agreement with Power Settlements Consulting and Software, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of YES Energy LLC Recommendation A. Pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Sections 3.32.220 (B) and 3.32.110 (B)(3), find that it is commercially unreasonable to rebid the contract for settlement software due to the substantial financial and operational commitment required from the City, as well as the considerable learning curve associated with frequent changes in selecting licensing and software services from a new vendor; B. Approve and Authorize the City Administrator to execute Amendment No. 2 to the License and Software Service Agreement with Power Settlements Consulting and Software, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of YES Energy LLC, in substantially the same form as submitted, for license and software services, for a total amount not-to-exceed $303,440, for a three-year term; and C. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $30,344 for unforeseen fluctuations in the Consumer Price Index, and grant authority to the City Administrator to take such actions, as necessary. Background The Vernon Public Utilities (VPU) Finance Division is responsible for the settlement process between Vernon and the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). Settlements are the calculation, validation, and invoicing of charges and payments for market and transmission related activities between market participants and the CAISO. The settlement cycle follows a specific timeline with deadlines and processes for the publication of statements, payments for invoices, and dispute submittals. On January 30, 2019, following a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process, City Council approved a License and Software Services Agreement (Agreement) with Power Settlements Consulting and Software, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of YES Energy, LLC (Power Settlements) for the use of the SettleCore System Software to manage CAISO data in the amount of $326,818 for a three-year term. As part of the Agreement, the City purchased a perpetual license for the SettleCore Software system in the amount of $95,000 and established annual support and maintenance services for a three-year term. On February 15, 2022, Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement with Power Settlements was approved to remove automatic renewal language and extend the Agreement for three years through January 31, 2025 at a cost of $262,542. Power Settlements initiated discussions regarding the continuation of license and software services for the City, leading to their request for a new amendment. In response, VPU staff is requesting approval for Amendment No. 2 to the License and Software Services Agreement (LP- 0463) to extend the contract for an additional three years, through January 31, 2028, with a total amount not-to-exceed $303,440. Additionally, staff recommends a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $30,344, for unforeseen fluctuations in the Consumer Price Index. Pursuant to .  .  Item 16 Page 1 of 2 Section 5.3 of the Agreement, during the renewal term of Amendment No. 2, the annual fee of $91,670 for 2024 will increase on the anniversary of the term by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Based on a CPI forecast of 5% annually, the estimated cost for the next three-year period is summarized below: Year Amount 2025 $ 96,253.50 2026 $101,066.18 2027 $106,119.48 Total: $303,439.16 Pursuant to Sections 3.32.220(B) and 3.32.110(B)(3) of the VMC, staff recommends the City Council find that it is commercially unreasonable to rebid a contract for settlement software every three years due to the substantial financial and operational commitment required from the City, as well as the considerable learning curve associated with frequent changes in selecting licensing and software services from a new vendor. The resources allocated to automating, processing, validating, and creating custom reports for VPU’s compliance with CAISO and SCPPA requirements, along with the necessary updates to adapt to evolving rules and policies, represent a significant investment in time, personnel, equipment, and vendor commitment to provide these essential services to Vernon. Given this considerable financial and workload investment, VPU anticipates continuing to utilize the SettleCore System Software for managing CAISO data, State, SCPPA, and internal reporting requirements for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, the proposed amendment for continued service and maintenance is exempt from competitive bidding and competitive selection pursuant to VMC 3.32.110(A)(2) and 3.32.110(B)(1), respectively, as the SettleCore system software, including its software license, and support and maintenance services for the settlement software is only available through Power Settlements. Power Settlements is the original software manufacturer and, as such, the unique proprietary software design and licensing agent. Extending the annual support and maintenance services will ensure that the software’s functionality remains aligned with the CAISO’s and VPU’s settlement process, future CAISO system updates, and custom reports that were developed exclusively for VPU. Furthermore, this extension will maintain the continuity of service, ensure that the settlement process, including invoicing, will be completed timely to avoid CAISO penalties, meet SCPPA invoicing deadlines, and guarantee that the maintenance and software support continues without interruption. Pursuant to VMC Section 3.32.030(A), City Council approval is required as the total value of the proposed amendment requested exceeds $100,000. The proposed Amendment No. 2 has been reviewed and approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office. Fiscal Impact The fiscal impact of Amendment No. 2 is not-to-exceed $333,784. Sufficient funds are available in the Electric Fund, Resource Management, Professional Services-Other Account No. 055-050- 590-529215 for the current fiscal year and sufficient funds will be budgeted in the subsequent years. Attachments 1. Amendment No. 2 with Power Settlements Consulting and Software, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of YES Energy, LLC.  .  Item 16 Page 2 of 2 .  .  Item 16 Page 1 of 3 .  .  Item 16 Page 2 of 3 .  .  Item 16 Page 3 of 3 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:March 4, 2025 From:Todd Dusenberry, General Manager of Public Utilities Department:Public Utilities Submitted by:Adriana Ramos, Senior Management Analyst Subject Renewable Portfolio Standard Procurement Plan and Enforcement Program Recommendation A. Approve and adopt the updated Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Procurement Plan and Enforcement Program; and B. Repeal Resolution No. 2012-02. Background Vernon Public Utilities (VPU) is tasked with implementing and enforcing the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), a regulatory mandate aimed at increasing energy production from renewable sources. This initiative aligns with the Legislature's intention to promote the use of renewable resources while considering the impacts on rates, reliability, financial resources, and environmental improvement. On April 12, 2011, Governor Brown signed the California Renewable Energy Resources Act (Senate Bill 2 of the First Extraordinary Session, also known as SBX1 2) into law. This legislation required all load-serving entities in California to achieve a 33% Renewable Portfolio Standard by 2020, with interim targets of 20% on average for 2011-2013, 25% by 2016, and 33% by 2020. Furthermore, SBX1 2 mandates that Publicly Owned Utilities (POUs) develop a procurement plan and establish an enforcement program. In 2015, Senate Bill 350 (SB 350) introduced specific greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets, aiming for a 40% decrease from 1990 levels by 2030 and an 80% reduction by 2050. SB 350 also raised RPS compliance requirements to 50% by 2030, with interim targets of 40% by 2024 and 45% by 2027. Starting with Compliance Period 4, January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2024, the California Energy Commission (CEC) implemented a new requirement for POUs, stipulating that at least 65% of renewable procurement must come from contracts lasting ten years or more. In 2018, Senate Bill 100 (SB 100) accelerated the RPS targets established by SB 350. It ensures that at least 60% of California's electricity comes from renewable sources by 2030 and that this 60% renewable generation level must be maintained at or above that threshold from 2030 onward. SB 100 also mandates that renewable energy and zero-carbon resources will provide 100% of the retail electricity sold in California by 2045. In 2022, Senate Bill 1020 (SB 1020) further revised state energy policy by requiring eligible renewable and zero-carbon resources supply: - 90% of all retail electricity sales to California end-use customers by December 31, 2035, - 95% by December 31, 2040, and - 100% by December 31, 2045. The City of Vernon has been actively working to meet legislative requirements regarding .  .  Item 17 Page 1 of 2 renewable resources. On January 3, 2012, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2012-02, which established a Renewable Resources Procurement Plan and Enforcement Program in compliance with SBX1 2. The 2012 plan addressed Compliance Periods 1, 2, and 3, all of which Vernon successfully completed. On October 17, 2023, the City Council adopted the 2023 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The IRP is a 20-year strategy for delivering reliable and cost-effective electricity. The plan ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, focuses on clean energy generation, and addresses distribution system infrastructure and constraints, as updated by SB 350 and SB 100. VPU has procured eligible renewable resources to achieve the mandated 40% RPS target for 2024, as required by SB 350. The City has secured enough renewable resources to meet its compliance targets for Period 4. Additionally, the City is pursuing more renewable energy contracts for the period from 2025 to 2030 to comply with the goals set forth in SB 100. Staff is confident that they will secure sufficient renewable resources to meet all future targets. The updated RPS Procurement Plan and Enforcement Program outlines VPU’s renewable resource activities from the past year and includes planned and potential procurement activities for the future to ensure compliance with the RPS Program. Staff recommends adopting the updated RPS Procurement Plan and Enforcement Program to align with California State law renewable mandates and repealing Resolution No. 2012-02. The proposed RPS Procurement Plan and Enforcement Program has been reviewed and approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office. Fiscal Impact There is no fiscal impact by adopting the RPS Procurement Plan and Enforcement Program. Sufficient funds to implement the RPS Procurement Plan and Enforcement Program are budgeted in the FY 2024-2025 Electric Fund, Resource Management Division and will be budgeted in subsequent years. Attachments 1. Renewable Portfolio Standard Procurement Plan and Enforcement Program .  .  Item 17 Page 2 of 2 .  .  Item 17 Page 1 of 7 .  .  Item 17 Page 2 of 7 .  .  Item 17 Page 3 of 7 .  .  Item 17 Page 4 of 7 .  .  Item 17 Page 5 of 7 .  .  Item 17 Page 6 of 7 .  .  Item 17 Page 7 of 7 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:March 4, 2025 From:Lisette Grizzelle, Interim Director of Human Resources Department:Human Resources Submitted by:Lisette Grizzelle, Interim Director of Human Resources Subject Appointment of Brian Saeki to Serve as City Administrator Recommendation Adopt Resolution No. 2025-004 appointing Brian Saeki to serve as the City Administrator of the City of Vernon, with revised effective start date of February 27, 2025, and approving and authorizing the execution of a related at-will employment agreement, and repealing Resolution No. 2025-001. Background On January 7, 2025, following an extensive recruitment process, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-001 appointing Brian Saeki to serve as the City Administrator of the City of Vernon and approving a related at-will employment agreement with an effective start date of February 24, 2025. Since then, two revisions were made to the at-will employment agreement to change the start date to February 27, 2025 and to update retiree health benefits language in Section 5B of the agreement to match the City’s current Fringe Benefits Policy. Resolution No. 2025-004 appoints Brian Saeki to serve as the City Administrator of the City of Vernon effective February 27, 2025, approves and authorizes the execution of the related at-will employment reflecting the changes noted above and repeals the previously adopted resolution. Recruitment Summary Following the retirement of the former City Administrator in July 2024, the City Council appointed Daniel E. Calleros, a retired annuitant, to serve as Interim City Administrator on a temporary basis while a recruitment process could be conducted to fill the vacancy on a permanent basis. Subsequently, a request for proposals (RFP) for executive recruitment services was issued and on August 21, 2024, the City contracted with the recruitment firm, Bob Murray & Associates, to conduct several executive recruitments including a recruitment for the position of City Administrator. Bob Murray & Associates conducted a broad and extensive recruitment of candidates with the necessary skills and public sector experience appropriate for the position of City Administrator. A total of 85 applications were received and screened by the firm. On November 19, 2025, twelve (12) qualified candidates were presented to the City Council for evaluation and subsequently, six (6) candidates were invited to participate in a first-round interview conducted by the City Council on December 3, 2024. Following the first-round interviews, two (2) highly qualified candidates were invited for a second-round interview conducted by a combined internal/external panel and a final interview with City Council on December 17, 2024. The combined interview panel consisted of Vernon’s Interim City Administrator, Vernon’s City Attorney, two board members from the Vernon Chamber of Commerce, one retired external City Manager and one current external City Manager. After consideration of the feedback received from the second-round interview panel and deliberation, the City Council unanimously determined Brian Saeki to be the best-qualified candidate to meet the needs of the City and serve as the next City Administrator..  .  Item 18 Page 1 of 3 At-Will Employment Agreement The At-Will Employment Agreement for City Administrator with a revised start date of February 27, 2025, has been presented to Mr. Saeki and is included as Exhibit B to Resolution No. 2025- 004 for City Council’s approval. The agreement establishes an effective date of February 27, 2025, and a starting salary of $357,486 per year, plus all benefits provided to executive personnel. The proposed agreement is consistent with other City of Vernon executive employment agreements, with the exception of the following: Added language to Section 4 indicating Employee shall receive cost of living adjustments that are received by executive staff. Added language to Section 5B indicating the benefits set forth in the Citywide Fringe Benefits Policy, adopted November 19, 2024, shall be the minimum benefits provided to the Employee, subject to any future enhancement or increase as may be approved and adopted by the City Council. Added language to Section 5B regarding credit for all previous full-time years of service in other CalPERS public agencies being used for purposes of determining Employee’s eligibility for Retiree Health benefits and accrual rate and eligibility for Sick Leave and Vacation time. Added language to Section 5B indicating Employee shall receive an initial balance of 100 hours of Vacation time and 100 hours of Sick Leave during his first year of City employment, which cannot be cashed out and shall not carry over to the next calendar year. Revision to Section 6B indicating the City agrees to pay the Employee a severance amount equal to six (6) months of base salary. Starting in Employee’s third year of City Employment, such severance pay amount shall be increase by one (1) month of base salary for each year Employee is employed by the City, up to a combined maximum of twelve (12) months. Adding Conflict of Interest Prohibition (Section 8) to prohibit Employee investment or financial interest in business or projects within City limits or on any property owned by the City. Candidate Summary Brian Saeki served as the City Manager of the City of Whittier until February 26, 2025. In this role, his responsibilities included implementing council policies, supervising and coordinating city department activities, and focusing on identifying and addressing key problems and areas of interest within the community. Mr. Saeki’s career in the public sector spans over 28 years as he has worked for several cities across California, including Arcadia, Downey, and Rosemead. In addition to Whittier, Mr. Saeki has also served as the City Manager in the cities of Covina, and San Fernando. Mr. Saeki has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Northridge. Given Mr. Saeki’s qualifications and extensive experience in public administration, he is well suited to meet the needs of the City and lead the City’s executive team. At its regular City Council meeting on January 7, 2025, prior to taking final action to approve the previous resolution No. 2025-001, the City Council received an oral report summarizing the .  .  Item 18 Page 2 of 3 recommended appointment and compensation, in accordance with Government Code Section 54953(c)(3). Fiscal Impact The estimated annual cost for City Administrator is approximately $440,525 including salary, taxes and benefits ($357,489 base salary and $83,036 in taxes and benefit costs). Sufficient funds are available in the General Fund, City Administration Department, Salaries, Taxes and Benefit Accounts for the current fiscal year and will be budgeted in subsequent fiscal years. Attachments 1. Resolution No. 2025-004 .  .  Item 18 Page 3 of 3 .  .  Item 18 Page 1 of 17 .  .  Item 18 Page 2 of 17 .  .  Item 18 Page 3 of 17 .  .  Item 18 Page 4 of 17 .  .  Item 18 Page 5 of 17 .  .  Item 18 Page 6 of 17 .  .  Item 18 Page 7 of 17 .  .  Item 18 Page 8 of 17 .  .  Item 18 Page 9 of 17 .  .  Item 18 Page 10 of 17 .  .  Item 18 Page 11 of 17 .  .  Item 18 Page 12 of 17 .  .  Item 18 Page 13 of 17 .  .  Item 18 Page 14 of 17 .  .  Item 18 Page 15 of 17 .  .  Item 18 Page 16 of 17 .  .  Item 18 Page 17 of 17 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:March 4, 2025 From:Daniel Calleros, Interim City Administrator Department:City Administration Submitted by:Diana Figueroa, Senior Management Analyst Subject New City of Vernon Logo and Tagline Recommendation Approve and authorize the use of the proposed City of Vernon Logo and Tagline on City collateral, clothing, vehicles, and signage designed for identification, communication, promotion, and marketing, and to visually represent the City’s unique brand among existing Vernon stakeholders, prospective residents and businesses, policy makers, and surrounding communities. Background On May 7, 2024, Council approved a Services Agreement with MIG, Inc. (MIG) for City rebranding and strategic communication services to enable the development of a new Vernon brand platform, and the provision of strategic marketing and communications support (including media/Public Information Officer services) for the City. Upon agreement approval, MIG and City staff partnered to initiate the Vernon Rebranding project (a Year 1 target deliverable identified in MIG’s scope of services). The City Rebranding project consists of stakeholder outreach, logo and tagline development, brand strategy, and asset production. The purpose of the Rebranding project is to create a refreshed and modernized visual identity for the City, with a new logo and branding to serve as a vibrant representation of the Vernon community's unique character, heritage, and aspirations for the future. The project goal is to create a brand that clearly represents the City’s value proposition to effectively communicate and enhance Vernon’s image among existing Vernon stakeholders, prospective residents and businesses, policy makers, and surrounding communities. Stakeholder engagement has been integral to the development of the proposed City logo and tagline. In July of 2024, City staff invited members of both the residential and business communities, and City staff to form a Rebranding Steering Committee (Committee) that would offer feedback and direction to facilitate the design of a modern visual identity for the City. The Committee was comprised of the Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem, three residents, three business representatives, and eight members of City staff (16 total participants). Using their extensive experience, MIG led discussions among the Committee that targeted the collective sentiments of stakeholders to understand varying perspectives and experiences, visions for Vernon’s future, and to gain a practical understanding of the types of logo colors, styles, and design elements that resonated with Committee members. All Committee conversations were instrumental in directing MIG in their creation of a logo and tagline that accurately represent present-day Vernon while simultaneously acknowledging the City’s origins and history. The initial Rebranding Steering Committee meeting was held on July 19, 2024, and subsequent meetings were held on October 28 and December 16 of 2024. Ultimately, to finalize the logo design and tagline that were to be presented to City Council, a survey was disseminated to the Committee on February 5, 2025. Survey results were assessed, and staff prepared the final logo and tagline selections accordingly. It is recommended that Council review the proposed assets .  .  Item 19 Page 1 of 2 and deliberate on the final results of the City Rebranding project at its March 4, 2025 meeting. Upon Council’s approval of the proposed logo design and tagline, staff will proceed with applications on City collateral, clothing, vehicles, and signage designed for identification, communication, promotion, and marketing to visually represent the City’s unique brand. It is important to note that the City of Vernon official seal will remain intact and unchanged and will continue to be used when and where appropriate. Fiscal Impact There is no fiscal impact associated with this report. Attachments 1. Proposed City of Vernon Logo and Tagline .  .  Item 19 Page 2 of 2 .  .  Item 19 Page 1 of 1 .  .  Item 19 Page 1 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 2 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 3 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 4 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 5 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 6 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 7 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 8 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 9 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 10 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 11 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 12 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 13 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 14 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 15 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 16 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 17 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 18 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 19 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 20 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 21 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 22 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 23 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 24 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 25 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 26 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 27 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 28 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 29 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 30 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 31 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 32 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 33 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 34 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 35 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 36 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 37 of 38 .  .  Item 19 Page 38 of 38 City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:March 4, 2025 From:Gigi Decavalles-Hughes, Interim Director of Finance Department:Finance Submitted by:Angela Melgar, Finance Manager Subject Fiscal Year 2024-25 Mid-Year Financial Update Recommendation Adopt Resolution No. 2025-005 authorizing and approving mid-year budget appropriations and amending the Annual Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25. Background The Mid-Year Financial Update reflects continued efforts to provide timely and accurate financial information to assist the City Council with decision-making and achievement of the City’s goals. As of December 31, 2024, the midpoint of the current fiscal year, one would expect to be at the 50% mark for revenues and expenditures. However, certain factors may influence the timing, rate, or recognition of such. At mid-year, actual Citywide expenses, including non-operating, for General Fund and Vernon Public Utilities (VPU) combined were at 32% and revenues were at 46.5% of budgeted amounts. Viewing the General Fund as a whole, approximately 52% of budgeted revenues were received as opposed to approximately 41% of budgeted expenditures. VPU revenues were at 45% and expenses measured at 28.5% at the mid-year mark. Staff evaluated the trajectory of actual versus budgeted results and are providing recommendations to appropriate additional funds for unforeseen circumstances that have arisen since the normal course of budget setting during the prior fiscal year. Pursuant to City Charter Chapter 8.5, Council may amend or supplement the budget by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Council. Proposed Changes to General Fund Committed Reserves A year-end surplus occurs when there is an excess of revenues over expenditures in a particular year, generally a result of higher than budgeted revenues, and/or lower than budgeted expenditures. Surpluses build a fund’s reserves, bolstering its fiscal resilience and health. The General Fund concluded FY 2023-24 with an operating surplus of approximately $7.3 million. This surplus elevated the General Fund’s fund balance by 17% to $49.3 million. However, $19.8 million of this amount is classified as nonspendable, restricted, or committed, leaving $29.5 in unassigned reserves. In previous years, the Council has approved the allocation of unassigned General Fund reserves, including year-end surplus, to committed reserve fund balances as shown in the table below under Current Amount. This year, in keeping with the City’s Budget Policies related to Use of Financial Reserves and Surplus, staff recommends that the $7.3 million surplus be added to the Economic Uncertainty committed reserve. Raising the reserve amount to $13.3 million brings the Economic Uncertainty fund closer to the 60 days of operating costs that is a best practice for organizations. Committed reserves may be accessed as necessary but require Council action to be made available for programming. Committed Reserve Funds .  .  Item 20 Page 1 of 5 Commitment Current Amount Proposed Amount Economic Uncertainty $6M $13.3M Capital $2M $2M Post-Retirement $2M $2M Technology Replacement $1M $1M Fleet Replacement $1M $1M Paving $1M $1M Total $13M $20.3M Once this amount is committed, the General Fund balance will still have approximately $22 million in unassigned reserves. However, the discussion of the General Fund five-year forecast below demonstrates the possibility that, if current conditions persist, the available fund balance and potentially a large portion of the Economic Uncertainly balance would be drawn down within the next 4 years. Proposed Budget Adjustments Department staff has analyzed their line-item budgets and identified amendments needed for additional expenditures through the end of FY 2024-25 in addition to the recommendation to allocate additional funds to committed reserve fund balances from the General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance. Due to the rising costs of materials, supply chain constraints, and expenditures not known or expected at the adoption of the FY 2024-25 Budget, adjustments are being presented to Council to appropriate and reallocate funds in the General and VPU Funds that are in line with strategic goals and objectives of the City. The proposed adjustments are included in the attached Resolution. General Fund proposed adjustments are included in the Five-Year Forecast amounts below. General Fund Five-Year Forecast It is a best practice to project revenues and expenditures over a period of at least five years to inform staff, the Council, and the community of the City’s current and projected fiscal status as the City enters its annual budget preparation process. The five-year forecast reflects known and potential economic and operational factors that will have an impact on the City’s financial position. Projections, which are developed alongside tax consultants and staff with expert knowledge of the local market and community needs, take into consideration the condition of the national, state, and local economies. This tool allows Council to understand the level to which revenues can adequately cover new ongoing initiatives, or, more critically, to make course corrections if necessary to avoid shortfalls. Staff has included both the Adopted Budget amounts for FY 2024- 25, as well as an updated mid-year projection of the year’s revenues and expenditures. National economic growth as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 2.4% over 2024. Inflation increased to 3% in January. As the rate is still higher than the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, the Fed is expected to hold interest rates steady for at least the upcoming quarter. There is a strong sense of uncertainty given unprecedented policy shifts in regulation, immigration and trade (tariffs) already being implemented by the new presidential administration, and many of these shifts could impact both the City and the businesses located here. Economists project that, while economic momentum entering 2025 was strong, GDP growth will ease to 2.2% in 2025 and 1.7% in 2026. California’s economy continues to expand but challenges persist. Based on the most recent available data, third quarter GDP growth for the State, at 3.1%, was at the same level as the national third quarter growth. This shows improvement over 2nd quarter data, where California’s .  .  Item 20 Page 2 of 5 GDP growth rate was two percentage points lower than the national growth rate. As of December 2024, the State’s unemployment rate was 5.5%, which is the third highest of any state and higher than the national average of 4.1% for the same period. Job growth within California also appears to be slowing, partly due to the State’s labor shortage, negative population growth, and high housing costs. If these conditions continue to persist, this may further impede the State’s long- term economic growth by causing consumers to make tradeoffs in household spending budgets. While Governor Newsom recently proposed the first State budget in two years that will not have a deficit, the recent natural disasters in Los Angeles County, threat of funding cuts from the new presidential administration, and changes in trade policy could erase these positive estimates and would likely continue economic uncertainty for local governments where they must continue to implement unfunded State mandates. Economists are forecasting stronger but still limited growth at the State level in 2025 and 2026. The City’s General Fund revenue forecast is a reflection of the local economy and is informed by projections provided by the City’s tax revenue consultants as well as prudent projections of future electric and water usage, which impacts the amount of Utility Users Tax (UUT) and, in the case of the Electric utility, the In-Lieu Tax revenue the General Fund receives. Where appropriate, staff applied a growth rate equal to the projected Consumer Price Index (CPI). CPI is estimated within a range 2.0%-2.7% over the term of the forecast. Forecasted operating expenditures reflect the impact of CPI and labor cost increases based on existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) with the City’s collective bargaining units and other contracted services. Forecasted non-grant-funded capital improvements include the bare minimum in expenditures given the limited funding available. Over the past two years, the City’s revenues have been significantly impacted by the loss of several large businesses. Sales tax and UUT revenue growth is slow while new businesses go through the process to construct space and prepare to begin operations or while spaces remain unutilized. Staff continues to focus on economic development to ensure that available sites attain their highest and best use. Included in the projections are the results of a recently completed comprehensive analysis of user fees to ensure full cost recovery for services benefitting individuals. Due to these challenges, revenue growth through FY 2027-28 averages approximately 2.4%. During this time, non-capital expenditures are growing at an average rate of 5.7% (more than double the revenue growth amount). Expenditure growth reflects common cost drivers for California cities - pension contributions, particularly funding the unfunded liability, healthcare, rising worker’s compensation costs for an aging workforce, and property insurance. Expenditures do not currently include any increases resulting from this year’s ongoing labor negotiations. They also do not include potential increases in contracted services beyond currently ratified contracts. It is important to note the City’s extraordinary challenge in FY 2028-29, when revenues reflect a loss of approximately $16 million due to the expiration of the Special Safety Parcel Tax and the UUT, measures approved by voters in 2018 for a ten-year extension that ends on June 20, 2028. The decrease is slightly offset by an increase in annual Property Tax revenues once the Redevelopment Successor Agency expires in 2028. The Special Safety Parcel Tax and the UUT generate revenues that support general services, including public safety, health services, street maintenance and community services. Extension of these two measures is imperative for the City’s future financial well-being. City staff will be working to present a ballot measure in 2026 to address this need. The forecast summary shown below is structured to first show whether the City’s annual revenues are sufficient to cover annual ongoing expenditures. The result is shown in the Net .  .  Item 20 Page 3 of 5 Operating Surplus or Deficit line (Line A). Line A reflects the effects of a prolonged period of expenditure growth that is more than double the revenue growth amount by shifting to a deficit in FY 2026-27. Capital projects funded by the General Fund are then added to this balance. The resulting new balance is the City’s projected Budget Surplus or Deficit (Line B). Line B shows a continuous deficit throughout the forecast term. While this is a concern, capital projects are one-time costs and often experience delays, so the actual expenditures may be lower. For example, in FY 2024- 25, projected operating budget savings will cover a good portion of the capital project costs, thereby decreasing the deficit from $7.2 million to $2.8 million. Because the City’s operating and capital needs exceed revenue growth, the current and future budget may rely on available fund balance to cover urgent projects. Within the General Fund reserves, there are two account balances that would cover these overages if necessary: the Unassigned Fund Balance, and the Economic Uncertainty Reserve. Section C shows how projected budget deficits would first draw down the Unassigned Fund Balance and then, in the event that the Special Safety Parcel Tax and the UUT measures are not extended, all but $1 million of the Economic Uncertainty fund would be drawn down. This is clearly unsustainable. Section D, on the other hand, shows an alternative scenario where the two revenue measures would be extended. This would maintain a small Unassigned Fund Balance and preserve the Economic Uncertainty reserve. FY 24-25 Adopted Budget FY 24-25 Proj FY 25-26 Proj FY 26-27 Proj FY 27-28 Proj FY 28-29 Proj Revenue 74.7 75.6 76.8 77.9 80.3 69.5* Labor Costs 40.8 35.5 40.8 42.6 44.2 45.9 Maintenance & Ops 32.9 34.3 34.9 35.9 37.4 39.3 A Operating Surplus (Deficit)$1.0 $5.8 $1.2 $(0.6)$(1.2)$(15.7) Capital Improvements (non-grant- funded)8.2 8.5 2.9 3.8 4.3 4.3 B Budget Surplus (Deficit)$(7.2)$(2.8)$(1.8)$(4.4)$(5.5)$(20.0) C GF Unassigned Balance After Covering Deficit $19.4 $17.6 $13.2 $7.7 $0 Balance of Economic Uncertainty Reserve $13.3 $13.3 $13.3 $13.3 $1.0 Assuming Utility Users Tax and Special Safety Parcel Tax are extended in 2028: Net Budget Surplus (Deficit)$(3.1) D GF Unassigned Fund Balance After Covering Deficit Same as balances above $4.5 Balance of Economic Uncertainty Reserve $13.3 * Reflects end of UUT and Safety Parcel Tax term June 2028 Adopting budgets that continuously rely on the use of fund balance is fiscally unsustainable and should be avoided at all costs. Reserves exist and should be used for one-time needs and only as a last resort. This forecast projects a status quo view and serves to inform staff, the Council .  .  Item 20 Page 4 of 5 and the community that efforts to increase and diversify revenues must take priority in the next year. Vernon Public Utilities Forecast Vernon Public Utilities (VPU) is committed to dependable, high-quality electric, water, natural gas, and fiber services at competitive rates and the highest standards for reliability, while also achieving California's clean energy goals. As a publicly owned utility, VPU is focused on its customers, responsible operations, and a sustainable future. VPU regularly updates its forecast to plan for customer demands, revenues, operating expenses, and capital expenditures. To that end, in Fiscal Year 2024-25, VPU continues to manage its operating expenses and its capital investment to ensure a reliable system infrastructure. Moreover, VPU continues to focus on revenue growth in its transition to clean commerce, including data centers, green hydrogen, and electrification to ensure that VPU is able to maintain utility services and infrastructure into the future as well as being self-sufficient. VPU is initiating a Water Cost of Service and Rate Design study in March 2025 with an expected completion date in July 2025. An Electric Cost of Service and Rate Design Study will begin in August 2025 with an expectation that it will be presented to City Council during the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget process. Fiscal Impact Approval of this action would require a commitment of $7,300,000 from Unassigned Fund Balance to the Economic Uncertainty Reserves and an appropriation of $450,000 in the General Fund, $592,500 in the Electric Fund, $735,000 in the Water Fund and $82,000 in the Fiber Fund from their respective Fund Balances as detailed in Resolution 2025-005. Attachments 1. Resolution No. 2025-005 .  .  Item 20 Page 5 of 5 .  .  Item 20 Page 1 of 3 .  .  Item 20 Page 2 of 3 .  .  Item 20 Page 3 of 3 .  .  Item 20 Page 1 of 10 .  .  Item 20 Page 2 of 10 .  .  Item 20 Page 3 of 10 .  .  Item 20 Page 4 of 10 .  .  Item 20 Page 5 of 10 .  .  Item 20 Page 6 of 10 .  .  Item 20 Page 7 of 10 .  .  Item 20 Page 8 of 10 .  .  Item 20 Page 9 of 10 .  .  Item 20 Page 10 of 10