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20091123 Regular City Council Meeting - MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF VERNON HELD MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009, AT 9:00 A.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE CITY HALL LOCATED AT 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE, VERNON, CALIFORNIA MEMBERS PRESENT: Gonzales, McCormick, Davis, Maisano, Newmire MEMBERS ABSENT: None The meeting was called to order by Mayor Gonzales. The Chief Deputy City Attorney advised that there were no changes to the agenda. The Deputy Chief City Attorney announced that this was the time for public comments. Mayor Gonzales asked if there was anyone in the audience who wished to address the City Council. There was no one in the audience who wished to address the City Council at this time. The Chief Deputy City Attorney announced that now was the time to open the Public Hearing - to establish fees for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) classes, First Aid Training classes, or a combination of both, that the Fire Department may provide to the general public and to businesses in the City of Vernon. The fees will pay for the cost of instructors and materials under a CPR and First Aid Training Program (continued from meeting held November 9, 2009). It was moved by Davis, seconded by McCormick to open the public hearing, the time being 9:01 a.m. Motion carried. Assistant Fire Chief Wilson summarized the details related to the proposed fee based CPR/First Aid Program and stressed the right bestowed to the Fire Chief to waive any fees, if the program were to be approved by the City Council. The City Administrator advised that the proposed fee based CPR/First Aid Program would benefit businesses in the City with insurance costs and that there would not be a financial impact on non-profit organizations for the training. Councilman Davis asked how many instructors would be available to provide training. Assistant Fire Chief Wilson responded that four fire staff members would be available for training. Councilman Davis asked what would be the fire department's protocol to follow if a call regarding a fire response was received. The City Administrator replied that the priority of fire personnel would remain to respond to calls immediately. The CPR/First Aid Training Program would be secondary. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes November 23, 2009 Mayor Gonzales asked if there was anyone in the audience who wished to address the Council on this matter. There was no one in the audience who wished to address the Council on this matter. It was moved by McCormick, seconded by Newmire, to close the public hearing, the time being 9:04 a.m. Motion carried. Resolution 10,103 of the City Council of the City of Vernon Authorizing the Vernon Fire Department to Conduct a Fee - Based CPR and First Aid Training Program for Vernon Residents and Businesses and Approval of Related Waiver, Release, and Hold Harmless Agreement, was read by title. It was moved by McCormick, seconded by Newmire, that Resolution No. 10,103 be approved and adopted. Motion carried. 5-0 The Consent Calendar was presented. Fire 1. Activity Report for the period of November 1 through November 15, 2009. Health & Environmental Control Request to participate in the Los Angeles County Public Works "Brag About Your Bag" Reusable Bag Campaign - November 15 through December 17, 2009. Police 1. Activity Log and Statistical Summary of Arrests Report for the period of November 1 through November 15, 2009. Treasury Warrant Registers - November 10 through November 16, 2009: 1. No Wire Transfer for Warrant Register No. 1292. 2. Ratification of the issuance of early checks for Warrant Register No. 1292, totaling $2,393.02. 3. Warrant Register No. 1292, totaling $570,077.01. 4. Ratification of wire transfers for Light & Power Warrant Register No. 257, totaling $98,045.29. 5. Ratification of the issuance of early checks for Light & Power Warrant Register No. 257, totaling $75,279.77. 6. Light & Power Warrant Register No. 257, totaling $862,525.36. 7. No Wire Transfers for Gas Warrant Register No. 47. Page 2 of 6 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes November 23, 2009 8. Ratification of the issuance of early checks for Gas Warrant Register No. 47, totaling $6,067.34. 9. Gas Warrant Register No. 47, totaling $39,533.63. End of Consent Calendar Councilman Davis inquired about the 171 alarm responses as indicated on the Police Activity Report listed in the Consent Calendar. Police Captain Rodino went over the response and billing processes and agreed that the total number of alarm responses for this 15-day period was out of the ordinary. There being no further questions, it was moved by McCormick, seconded by Maisano, that the items listed on the Consent Calendar be approved as recommended. Motion carried. 5-0 RESOLUTION 10,106 of the City Council of the City of Vernon Approving and Authorizing the City's Participation in the Sobriety Checkpoint Mini -Grant Program and Approving and Authorizing the Execution of Grant Agreement No. SC10446 By and Between the City of Vernon and the University of California, Berkeley Traffic Safety Center, was read by title. It was moved by Maisano, seconded by McCormick, that Resolution No. 10,106 be approved and adopted. Motion carried. 5-0 RESOLUTION 10,104 of the City Council of the City of Vernon Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement With Advanced Electronics, Inc. for the Maintenance of Radio Equipment, was read by title. It was moved by Davis, seconded by Maisano, that Resolution No. 10,104 be approved and adopted. Motion carried. 5-0 Resolution 10,102 of the City Council of the City of Vernon Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Fourth Supplemental Agreement to Agreement No. C-113101 By and Between the City of Vernon and the City of Los Angeles Regarding the 2006 Urban Areas Security Initiative Grant Program, was read by title. It was moved by McCormick, seconded by Maisano, that Resolution No. 10,102 be approved and adopted. Motion carried. 5-0 Resolution 10,107 of the City Council of the City of Vernon Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement With Northtronics PTY LTD (Titley Scientific) for the Purchase of Bat Detection Equipment in Connection With the Wind Project and Allocating Related Funds to the Capital Budget, was read by title. It was moved by Maisano, seconded by Newmire, that Resolution No. 10,107 be approved and adopted. Motion carried. 5-0 Page 3 of 6 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes November 23, 2009 Resolution 10,101 of the City Council of the City of Vernon Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement with N R G Systems, Inc. for the Purchase of MET Towers Equipment in Connection With the Wind Project and Allocating Related Funds to the Capital Budget, was read by title. It was moved by Maisano, seconded by Davis, that Resolution No. 10,101 be approved and adopted. Motion carried. 5-0 ' Resolution 10,105 of the City Council of the City of Vernon Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Vehicle Purchase Agreement By and Between the City of Vernon and Petrelli Electric, Inc. for the Purchase of a 2008 Ford E350 Super D Van Conversion for the Light and Power Department, was read by title. It was moved by McCormick, seconded by Newmire, that Resolution No. 10,105 be approved and adopted. Motion carried. 5-0 The Chief Deputy City Attorney announced that now was the time for elected officials to report on conference/seminars for the period of November 9, 2009, through November 22, 2009. Mayor Gonzales advised that four members of the council attended the National League of Cities on November 10 through November 14, 2009, in San Antonio Texas. A well attended conference represented by approximately 2,000 cities. He further reported on the session regarding city -paid pension programs that are being affected by the weak economy and the effort of certain cities looking for options that might be leading cities to share pension costs with employees in order to continue with the already established pension programs. Councilman Maisano reported on the opening -session of the conference conducted by the Mayor of San Antonio Texas, Julian Castro. He also reported on the humorous session addressing the issues relating to the current economy and the new perspective of focusing in how to survive today's economy and to stop focusing on what the economy had been in the past. Councilman Davis also reported on the energetic, opening -session of the conference conducted by the Mayor of San Antonio Texas. He also reported on the sessions addressing the impact of the weak economy on alternative transportation and healthcare and their cost effect on cities. He also reported on the conference attendee turnout decreasing by approximately 50% attributed to the current economy. Mayor Pro Tem McCormick reported on the session regarding the unemployment rate being higher than what has been reported by the Employment Development Department. He also reported on the session on education and the programs other States are implementing to help students obtain education through online courses. He further reported on the session regarding intelligent policing and addressed the example given at the conference involving an intelligence policing situation that occurred in San Diego, California. The Chief Deputy City Attorney announced that now was the time for the City Administrator to report on activities and other brief announcements. Page 4 of 6 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes November 23, 2009 in detail. The City Administrator addressed the following matters • The non -significant couple of outages that occurred recently and advised that these outages did not affect the availability/reliability of the Malburg Generating Station (MGS). • The city's attempt to reduce costs related to transmission and distribution by 15 to 20 percent and not affecting the current availability and reliability grids. • The recent meeting with the Vernon Chamber of Commerce and business representatives of the city to discuss and obtain their comments on the proposed gas rate increase of approximately 6.6 or 6.7 percent, which proposed rate increase, would come forth to the City Council in early December. • The options taken by businesses and other agencies in order to survive the current economic hardship. • The competitive energy rates offered by the city and his attempt, on behalf of the city, to assist the business community of the city. He also provided an example of an energy pricing provided to a company in the city and the comparison made by said company to the pricing offered by Southern California Edison (SCE) revealing Vernon's energy rates to be competitive. • An update of the Monthly Management Report, a tool that was established with the purpose to assist department heads to monitor their expenditures on a monthly basis and his intent to come before the City Council in two or three weeks with recommendations as an attempt to financially position the City for the next two to three years. • The financial survival struggle, not just affecting the city, but affecting the entire State of California • The increased cost of the city -paid pension program by approximately 3% for miscellaneous employees and between 7% and 9% for safety personnel that possibly might have to be shared with city employees until the market goes back to normal. The Chief Deputy City Attorney announced that now was the time for reports from the City Council. Councilman Maisano commended the City Administrator for keeping an ear open to the comments and needs of the business community during these weak economic times and the drastic changes that some businesses are making on a weekly basis in order to financially survive. Page 5 of 6 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes November 23, 2009 Councilman Davis wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Mayor Gonzales wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving on behalf of the entire City Council. He also asked for the status of the activity going on at the AKZO facility on Bandini Boulevard. The Director/Health Officer of the Health & Environmental Control Department advised that the renovation of the site has taken more time than expected because of the multiple owners involved in the approval of the remediation plans. Once the clean-up phase is completed the chemical elimination will begin. Mayor Pro Tem McCormick wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Councilmember Newmire commended the City Administrator for the new format of Council Meetings allowing for informational sessions. He proceeded and asked that thanks be given to our Creator for all He has given us and to reflect on His Blessings during this time of thanksgiving. There were no additional reports from the City Council at this time. Mayor Gonzales called a short recess at 9:47 a.m. The City Council reconvened in regular session at 9:52 a.m., all members present before the recess again being present. The Chief Deputy City Attorney announced that this was the time to go into closed session. It was moved by McCormick, seconded by Newmire, to go into Closed Session, the time being 9:52 a.m. Motion carried. 5-0 It was moved by McCormick, seconded by Newmire, that the City Council go out of closed session and resume open session, the time being 10:00 a.m. Motion carried. 5-0 OPEN SESSION Closed Session Reports: The City Attorney reported that there were no reportable actions. There being no further business to come before the City Council at this time, it was moved by Davis, seconded by Newmire, that the meeting be adjourned, the time being 10:00 a.m. Motion carried. 5-0 ATTEST: Manuela Giron City Clerk Hilario Gonzales Mayor Page 6 of 6