20100721 Regular City Council Meeting - MinutesMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF VERNON HELD WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2010,
IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER 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 at 5:00 p.m. by Mayor Gonzales.
The City Clerk announced that there were no changes to the
agenda.
The City Clerk announced that this was the time allotted for
public comments.
The Mayor asked if there was anyone in the audience who wished
to address the City Council. No one responded.
DISCUSSIONS
1. Report of the City Administrator on his intention to
restrict his employment duties.
City Administrator Donal O'Callaghan` read a memo addressed
to the City Councilmembers, dated July 20, 2010, in which
he announced his resignation from the position of City
Administrator, effective the close of business July 21,
2010, in order to fully focus on his duties as the Director
of Light & Power. He stated his pleasure in having served
as the City Administrator for the past thirteen months in
addition to his duties as the Director of Light & Power.
He expressed his pride in the City's achievements during
that time, which included the following:
a. Ensuring a balanced budget for fiscal year 2010-2011;
b. Positioning the City to move forward toward
sustainable general and governmental services;
c. Creating financial management controls and tracking
mechanisms for department managers to help ensure the
City stays within its budget;
d. Streamlining City departments and establishing new
cost reductions, enabling the City to do more with
less while still providing top-quality services to its
businesses;
e. Managing the sale of Vernon's wind farm property in
Kern County, which amounted to significant revenue for
the City; and
f. Hiring one of the pre-eminent law firms specializing
in public agency law to serve as City Attorney,
bringing a modern and cutting -edge legal team to the
City.
O'Callaghan advised that it will be critical in the coming
months and years that Vernon and, in particular, its Light
Special City Council Meeting Minutes
July 21, 2010
& Power and Gas Departments, are well positioned as the
state and country move forward with many new requirements
and challenges in the energy sector, and that the City
continues to provide low-cost electricity rates for its
nearly 1,800 businesses.
O'Callaghan thanked the City Council for the opportunity to
serve Vernon as City Administrator, and looked forward to
continuing to work with the City Council in tackling new
challenges.
The Mayor thanked O'Callaghan for his services and
expressed his appreciation for the time O'Callaghan spent
performing the duties of City Administrator, which were
somewhat thrust upon him in a rather sudden fashion. He
acknowledged the challenging times during which O'Callaghan
served, particularly with regard to trying to balance the
budget.
The Mayor stated that the City Council feels O'Callaghan
will benefit the City more by serving exclusively in the
capacity of the Director of Light & Power.
Mayor Pro Tem McCormick concurred with the Mayor's
statements.
Councilman Davis thanked O'Callaghan for all his work,
especially with regard to the budget.
Councilman Newmire offered his blessings to O'Callaghan
with respect to his future Light & Power endeavors and
wished him well. He thanked O'Callaghan for his services.
Councilman Maisano concurred with the Mayor's statements
and agreed with O'Callaghan that the challenging times
Vernon's Light & Power Department and other utilities are
facing require extreme attention. Maisano expressed his
hope for O'Callaghan's future accomplishments with the
City, and wished him all the luck in that direction.
O'Callaghan thanked the Councilmembers for their words. He
thanked and acknowledged the Department Heads for all their
hard work in facilitating and implementing all the goals he
set forth, enabling the City to achieve what it did in a
very short period. He acknowledged what great people they
are.
At 5:09 p.m., the City Council entered into closed session to
discuss the item listed on the closed session agenda.
At 5:30 p.m., the City Council resumed open session.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT OUT
The City Attorney reported that the City Council unanimously
voted to appoint Mark Whitworth as the Interim City
Administrator, effective July 21, 2010.
The City Clerk announced that there were no further items on the
agenda.
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Special City Council Meeting Minutes
July 21, 2010
At 5:37 p.m., it was moved by McCormick and seconded by Maisano,
that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried.
ATTEST:
.may: 011 �i°
Hilario Gonza es
Mayor
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