20230620 Regular City Council Meeting - MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2023
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Pro Tem Merlo called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Pro Tem Merlo led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Judith Merlo, Mayor Pro Tem
Melissa Ybarra, Council Member
Leticia Lopez, Council Member
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
ABSENT:
Crystal Larios, Mayor
STAFF PRESENT:
Carlos Fandino, City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa, City Attorney
Lisa Pope, City Clerk
Scott Williams, Finance Director
Fredrick Agyin, Health and Environmental Control Director
Robert Sousa, Police Chief
Dan Wall, Public Works Director
Todd Dusenberry, Public Utilities General Manager
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to
approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Mayor
Larios absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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PRESENTATIONS
1. Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 Docket II Scholarship Grants Awarded by Vernon
CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee
City Clerk Pope presented the staff report and the Council recognized the
scholarship recipients.
2. Employee Service Pin Awards
City Clerk Pope indicated Jose Reyna was unable to attend and staff would ensure
he received his pin for 20 years of service.
3. Recognition of Outgoing City Commission and Committee Members
City Clerk Pope presented the staff report and the City Council recognized
outgoing Green Vernon Commissioner Ron Daerr and Vernon Housing
Commissioner Steven Spanks for their dedicated service to the City of Vernon.
4. City Administrator Report
City Administrator Fandino provided information on New Business Welcome,
Sweetener Products’ Centennial Anniversary, Exide Update, Legislative
Engagement, International Council of Shopping Centers Conference, Special
Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run, Residential Mixed-Use Projects on the
Horizon, and Community Events.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Calendar. The question was called and the motion carried 4-
0, Mayor Larios absent.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
5. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the June 6, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting
Minutes.
6. Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claims submitted by Evelin Meza in the
amount of $1,857.15 and Norissa Alberta White-Isaacs in an undetermined
amount.
7. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 111, for the
period of May 21 through June 3, 2023, totaling $5,635,506.35 and consisting of
ratification of electronic payments totaling $5,329,469.88 and ratification of the
issuance of early checks totaling $306,036.47.
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8. City Payroll Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve City Payroll Warrant Register No. 804, for the period
of May 1 through May 31, 2023, totaling $2,694,562.67 and consisting of
ratification of direct deposits, checks and taxes totaling $1,773,782.97 and
ratification of checks and electronic fund transfers (EFT) for payroll related
disbursements totaling $920,779.70 paid through operating bank account.
9. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the April 2023 Fire Department Activity Report.
10. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the April 2023 Police Department Activity
Report.
11. Quarterly City Housing Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the June 2023 Quarterly Housing Report.
12. Blanket Purchase Order with The Home Depot
Recommendation: A. Authorize a Supplemental to Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2023
Blanket Purchase Order with The Home Depot for a total amount not-to-exceed
$30,000; B. Find that the best interests of the City are served by a direct award of
a Blanket Purchase Order to The Home Depot, without a competitive selection
process pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Section 3.32.110 (B)(2); and C.
Approve the issuance of a Blanket Purchase Order with The Home Depot in an
amount not-to-exceed $189,250 to procure supplies for the Public Works
Department and Vernon Public Utilities for operational needs and special projects
for FY 2023-2024.
13. Purchase Order with National Auto Fleet Group
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the issuance of a Purchase Order
with National Auto Fleet Group (NAFG) to purchase a Ford F-150 Lightning XLT
and a Ford F-150 Lightning Pro for a total amount not-to-exceed $135,440.88; and
B. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $13,544 should the
purchase of a comparable vehicle be necessary due to limited vehicle inventory
and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue a Supplemental to the
Purchase Order to NAFG for an amount up to the contingency.
14. Purchase Contract with Merrimac Energy Group to Procure Fuel
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the issuance of a Purchase Contract
with Merrimac Energy Group in an amount not-to-exceed $600,000 to procure fuel
for Citywide fleet for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
15. Services Agreement with EN Engineering, LLC
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a
Services Agreement with EN Engineering, LLC, in substantially the same form as
submitted, for Natural Gas Operational and Compliance Support Services for a
total amount not-to-exceed $185,000, for a one-year term, with an option to extend
the Services Agreement up to a three-year term.
16. Vernon Public Utilities 2023 Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section
15061(B)(3), the general rule that CEQA only applies to projects that may have a
significant effect on the environment. This action receives and files an update to
the City’s plan for the implementation of preventative strategies and mitigation
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measures to minimize the risk of wildfires caused by electrical lines and equipment;
this action does not authorize any construction activity or any disturbance of an
environmental resource and has no potential for causing a significant effect on the
environment; and B. Approve the Vernon Public Utilities 2023 Wildfire Mitigation
Plan.
17. Property and Casualty Insurance Placements for Fiscal Year 2023-24
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute all
related documents for the procurement of necessary annual insurance coverage
for Fiscal Year 2023-24, effective July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, for a total amount
not-to-exceed $4,965,500.
18. Utility Vehicle Purchase
Recommendation: A. Find that the purchase of a utility vehicle for the Health
Department is exempt from competitive bidding requirements pursuant to Vernon
Municipal Code Section 3.32.070; and B. Approve and authorize the City
Administrator to execute a purchase contract directly with an auto dealership that
offers the lowest price for a 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning model and has the vehicle
currently available in its inventory at a price not-to-exceed $71,000.
NEW BUSINESS
19. 2022 Military Equipment Use Policy Ordinance and Annual Report
Police Chief Sousa presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to:
A. Review and approve the 2022 Military Equipment Annual Report; and B. Renew
Ordinance No. 1282 approving the Police Department’s updated military
equipment funding, acquisition, and use policy. The question was called and the
motion carried 4-0, Mayor Larios absent.
20. Warehouse Special Parcel Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2023-24
Finance Director Williams presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to:
A. Adopt Resolution No. 2023-14 determining the Warehouse Special Parcel Tax
levied for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 pursuant to Municipal Code Section 3.20.010;
and B. Approve and authorize the Director of Finance to execute an Agreement
for Billing of Direct Assessments (Warehouse Special Parcel Tax) with the County
of Los Angeles Auditor-Controller’s Office, in substantially the same form as
submitted, for the collection and distribution of the Warehouse Special Parcel Tax
for FY 2023-24. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Mayor Larios
absent.
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21. Public Safety Special Parcel Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2023-24
Finance Director Williams presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Ybarra seconded a motion to:
A. Adopt Resolution No. 2023-15 determining the Public Safety Special Parcel Tax
levied for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24, pursuant to Municipal Code Section 3.20.020;
and B. Approve and authorize the Director of Finance to execute an Agreement
for Billing Direct Assessments with the County of Los Angeles Auditor-Controller’s
Office, in substantially the same form as submitted, for the collection and
distribution of the Public Safety Special Parcel Tax for FY 2023-24. The question
was called and the motion carried 4-0, Mayor Larios absent.
22. Commission and Committee Appointments (Continued from June 6, 2023)
City Clerk Pope presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Ybarra seconded a motion to
appoint Alfred Mejia as the environmental representative to the Green Vernon
Commission (partial term June 20, 2023 to June 30, 2024). The question was
called and the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
23. City Administrator Reports on Activities and other Announcements.
City Administrator Fandino reported that staff was reviewing the requirements for
officers at filming locations and would provide an update to Council and the
business owners once available. He reminded the Council of the invitation to
Congressman Robert Garcia’s Open House on June 29, 2023, 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.;
Vernon Summer Swim Community Outreach Event on July 9, 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.;
and cancellation of the July 4, 2023 City Council meeting.
24. City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff.
None.
RECESS
Mayor Pro Tem Merlo recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:30 a.m.
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CLOSED SESSION
25. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Significant Exposure to Litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Number of potential cases: 1
26. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Initiation of Litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4)
Number of potential cases: 1
RECONVENE
At 10:05 a.m., Mayor Pro Tem Merlo adjourned Closed Session and reconvened
the regular meeting.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Moussa reported the Council met in Closed Session, discussed the
items on the agenda, and took no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pro Tem Merlo adjourned the meeting in memory of Lewis R. Adams at
10:07 a.m.
______________________________
CRYSTAL LARIOS, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
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