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20201103 Regular City Council Meeting - Minutes MINUTES VERNON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3,2020 COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE CALL TO ORDER Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. FLAG SALUTE Mayor Pro Tern Ybarra led the Flag Salute. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Leticia Lopez, Mayor Melissa Ybarra, Mayor Pro Tern William Davis, Council Member Carol Menke, Council Member Diana Gonzales, Council Member STAFF PRESENT: Carlos Fandino, City Administrator Arnold Alvarez-Glasman, Interim City Attorney Lisa Pope, City Clerk Scott Williams, Finance Director Abraham Alemu, Public Utilities General Manager Fredrick Agyin, Health and Environmental Control Director(via remote access) Michael Earl, Human Resources Director Anthony Miranda, Police Chief Dan Wall, Public Works Director APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA MOTION Council Member Davis moved and Mayor Pro Tern Ybarra seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENT Rosemary Vivero, LA County Fire Community Services Liaison, presented Chief Richard Stillwagon who introduced the members of the Fire Prevention Division, Captain Joseph Williams and Firefighter Specialists, Fernandez, Harris, and Ortiz. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5 November 3, 2020 PRESENTATIONS 1. Presentation on City-wide Enterprise Resource Planning System Recommendation: No action required by City Council. This is a presentation only Finance Director Williams presented a PowerPoint. In response to Council questions, Finance Director Williams discussed modifications and improvements to staff processes; internal controls and security measures; and analysis and long term financial planning provided by the system. CONSENT CALENDAR Council Member Gonzales pulled Item No. 10. MOTION Council Member Davis moved and Mayor Lopez seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar, with the exception of Item No. 10. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously. The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items: 2. Approval of Minutes Recommendation: Approve the October 13, 2020 Special and the October 20, 2020 Regular City Council meeting minutes. 3. Operating Account Warrant Register Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 55, for the period of October 4 through October 17,2020,which totals$4,527,001.04 and consists of ratification of electronic payments totaling $4,442,777.83, ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $84,223.21 and voided Check No. 606307 totaling $2,875.32. 4. Public Works Department Monthly Building Report Recommendation: Receive and file the September 2020 Building Report. 5. April 13, 2021 General Municipal Election f Recommendation: A. Adopt Resolution No. 2020-39 calling and giving notice of an all- mail ballot General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 for the election of a City Council Member as required by the provisions of the Charter of the City of Vernon; and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2020-40 requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles to render specified services to the City relating the conduct of the General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. 6. Loan Vehicle Use Agreement with National Insurance Crime Bureau Recommendation: Approve and authorize the Police Chief to execute a vehicle use agreement with the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) for continued participation in the loan vehicle program. 7. Drug Enforcement Administration Agreement Recommendation: Approve and authorize the Police Chief to execute a Surge Program - Funded State and Local Task Force Agreement with the Drug Enforcement Administration Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5 November 3,2020 (DEA), Los Angeles Field Division, for continued participation in the Southwest Border Initiative(SWBI) taskforce with an effective date of October 1,2020. 8. Supplemental Agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No.2020-41 approving and authorizing the execution of a Supplemental Agreement by and between the City of Vernon and Union Pacific Railroad Company to approve the City's intent to rebuild the existing overhead wireline crossing to 16.340kV. 9. Addendum to Professional Auditing Services Agreement with White Nelson Diehl Evans,LLP Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute an addendum, in substantially the same form as submitted, to the current agreement with White Nelson Diehl Evans, LLP for professional audit services to reflect a name change for the firm. The following item was pulled from the Consent Calendar for individual consideration: 10. Services Agreement with BLX Group LLC for Financial Advisory Services Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a services agreement with BLX Group LLC for Financial Advisory Services,in substantially the same form as submitted, in an amount not to exceed $600,000, for a three-year agreement effective November 3, 2020 for financial advisory services. Finance Director Williams presented the staff report. In response to Council questions, City Administrator Fandino discussed the Prepaid Gas Agreement and BLX's involvement, offering the State Auditor's 2010 Report as background. He explained the change to PFM Advisory and return to BLX for bonds and compliance reporting. Finance Director Williams explained that staff made recommendations based on the best assessment of the City and the flow of activity for the recent water bond issuance. Public Utilities General Manager Alemu explained that the financial advisory monitored the market and provided recommendations on how to fund the project. He explained that staff recommends the project and the Council makes the ultimate decision on whether or not to implement the project. Council Member Gonzales requested information on how BLX advised the City on past deals. Council Member Menke requested information on BLX's involvement in the Prepaid Gas. Power Purchase Tolling Agreement (PPTA), and Kern County project. I City Administrator Fandino explained the prior Administration and Council decisions regarding Prepaid Gas,PPTA, and Kern County. MOTION Council Member Menke moved and Council Member Davis seconded a motion to table the matter and direct staff to provide information on BLX's involvement on Prepaid Gas, PPTA, and Kern County projects. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5 November 3, 2020 NEW BUSINESS 11. Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District Annexation No. 2019-07 Recommendation: Adopt a Joint Resolution of the Board of Supervisors, as the Governing Body of the County of Los Angeles, the Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles County Flood Control District, and the Belvedere Garbage Disposal District, and the Board of Directors of the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District,the Los Angeles County Sanitation District No. 1,the Los Angeles County Sanitation District No. 2, the Los Angeles County Sanitation District No. 23, and the Water Replenishment District of Southern California, and the City Council of Vernon, approving and accepting the negotiated exchange of property tax revenue resulting from Annexation No. 2019-07 to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District. Health and Environmental Control Director Agyin presented the staff report. MOTION Council Member Menke moved and Council Member Gonzales seconded a motion to Adopt a Joint Resolution of the Board of Supervisors,as the Governing Body of the County of Los Angeles, the Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles County Flood Control District, and the Belvedere Garbage Disposal District, and the Board of Directors of the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, the Los Angeles County Sanitation District No. 1, the Los Angeles County Sanitation District No. 2, the Los Angeles County Sanitation District No. 23, and the Water Replenishment District of Southern California, and the City Council of Vernon, approving and accepting the negotiated exchange of property tax revenue resulting from Annexation No. 2019-07 to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously. ORAL REPORTS City Administrator Reports on Activities and other Announcements. City Administrator Fandino provided an update on recent Police activities; Public Works renovation of the street island on District Boulevard near Atlantics Blvd; the Vernon Free Little Library Book Drive;where to find information on vote centers and ballot drop boxes; recent Halloween festivities; and the upcoming Business and Industry Commission meeting on November 12, 2020. Public Works Director Wall stated the Arroyo Group would be conducing individual meetings with the Council regarding the West Side Specific Plan. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5 November 3, 2020 City Council Reports on Activities (including AB1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff. None. RECESS Mayor Lopez recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 10:11 a.m. CLOSED SESSION 12. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) A. Bicent (California) Malburg LLC et al. v. City of Vernon et al., 1 Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 19STCV08859 and JAMS Reference No. 1100107175 B. City of Vernon v. Bicent (California) Malburg LLC Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 19STCP02411 and JAMS Reference No. 1220062657 RECONVENE At 10:38 a.m., Mayor Lopez adjourned Closed Session and reconvened the regular meeting. CLOSED SESSION REPORT Interim City Attorney Alvarez-Glasman reported that the Council, with all five members present, met in Closed Session, discussed the items on the agenda, and took no reportable action. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 10:39 a.m. 042 LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor ATTEST: Ytt LI A POPE its erk Y (seal)