20240319 Regular City Council Meeting - MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2024
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Larios called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Larios led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Crystal Larios, Mayor
Judith Merlo, Mayor Pro Tem
Melissa Ybarra, Council Member
Leticia Lopez, Council Member
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Carlos Fandino, City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa, City Attorney
Yonnie Parker, Deputy City Clerk
Jessica Alcaraz, Financial Services Administrator
Fredrick Agyin, Health and Environmental Control Director
Michael Earl, Human Resources 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 unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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PRESENTATIONS
1. Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Awards and Direct Service
Grantee Certificates for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24
Deputy City Clerk Parker presented the staff report and Council recognized the
scholarship recipients: Chicxs Rocerxs, Dolores Mission School, Girl Scouts of
Greater Los Angeles, Jovenes, Libros Schmibros, Neighborhood Music School,
Proyecto Pastoral, PUENTE Learning Center, and YMCA Southeast Rio Vista.
2. Employee Service Pin Awards
Human Resources Director Earl announced the February 2024 Employee Service
Pin Award Recipient: Deputy Director of Health and Environmental Control
Department, Veronica Petrosyan.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. Warehouse Development Agreement for 5764 Alcoa Avenue
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
Mayor Larios opened the public hearing.
Jose Radillo, LIUNA, spoke in support of the project.
There being no other speakers, Mayor Larios closed the public hearing.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Mayor Pro Tem Merlo seconded a motion to:
A. Find that the ordinance is not subject to CEQA as the adoption of the ordinance
is not a “project” pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15302, because the
proposed development consists of the replacement and reconstruction of existing
facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structures
being replaced and will have substantially the same size, purpose, and capacity
as the structures being replaced; B. Introduce and conduct first reading of
Ordinance No. 1299 approving Warehouse Development Agreement No.WH-001
for Assessor Parcel Numbers 6310-005-003, 6310-005-004, 6310-005-009, and
6310-005-010 between the City of Vernon and; and GPT Vernon Owner, LP; and
C. Direct staff to schedule second reading and adoption for the April 2, 2024 City
Council meeting. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
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CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Calendar. The question was called and the motion carried
unanimously.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
4. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the March 5, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting
Minutes
5. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the January 2024 Police Department Activity
Report
6. Amendments No. 3 and No. 4 to the Services Agreement with Tyler
Technologies
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute
Amendment No. 3 to the Services Agreement with Tyler Technologies, Inc., in
substantially the same form as submitted, for Enterprise Resource Planning
Software as a Service Hosting and Support for a total amount not-to-exceed
$1,271,211.34, for a 3-year term; and B. Approve and authorize the City
Administrator to execute Amendment No. 4 to the Services Agreement with Tyler
Technologies, Inc., in substantially the same form as submitted, to reflect the
addition and removal of various modules from the current Agreement, for a total
amount not-to-exceed $568,770.22, for the 3-year term.
7. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the January 2024 Fire Department Activity
Report.
8. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 126, for the
period of February 4 through February 17, 2024, totaling $8,774,682.53 and
consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $8,123,746.31 and
ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $650,936.22.
9. License Agreement with Southern California Edison Company
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt from
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA
Guidelines Section 15301, because the proposed action involves the leasing of an
existing public utility service facility and involves negligible or no expansion of an
existing use; and B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a
License Agreement with the Southern California Edison Company (SCE), in
substantially the same form as submitted, for the use of land at the Laguna Bell
Substation for a total amount not-to-exceed $2,208.21, for a five-year term.
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NEW BUSINESS
10. Contract with Western Allied Corporation for City Hall HVAC System
Improvements - Contract No. 20240089
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
In response to Council questions, Public Works Director Wall explained the work
timeline and impacts to City Hall operations.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Mayor Larios seconded a motion to: A. Find
that the proposed action is categorically exempt from California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines § 15301,
because the project consists of the maintenance and minor alteration of the
existing City Hall HVAC controls and system and involves negligible or no
expansion of an existing use; B. Accept the bid proposal from Western Allied
Corporation as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and reject all other
bids; C. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a contract with
Western Allied Corporation, in substantially the same form as submitted, for the
City Hall HVAC System Improvements Project in an amount not-to-exceed
$429,245; and D. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or
$42,924.50 in the event of an unexpected changed condition in the project and
grant authority to the City Administrator to issue change orders for an amount up
to the contingency amount, if necessary. The question was called and the motion
carried unanimously.
11. City Council Appointments to Outside Agencies
Deputy City Clerk Parker presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Mayor Pro Tem Merlo seconded a motion to
appoint Mayor Larios as the City’s representative and Council Member Lopez as
the City’s alternate to the Gateway Cities Council of Governments. The question
was called and the motion carried unanimously.
12. Appointment of Deborah A. Harrington as Interim City Clerk
Human Resources Director Earl presented the staff report.
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MOTION
Council Member Ybarra moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution No. 2024-03 appointing Deborah A. Harrington to serve as
Interim City Clerk of the City of Vernon and approving and authorizing the
execution of a related at-will employment agreement. The question was called and
the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
13. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements.
City Administrator Fandino announced the Graffiti Hotline 323-522-2310 is now
active; upcoming Regular Green Vernon Commission Meeting on March 20, 2024;
Spring Egg-Stravaganza on Thursday March 21, 2024 from 5-7 p.m.; and 2024
Vernon CommUNITY Fund Scholarship applications being received through
March 28, 2024.
14. City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff.
None.
CLOSED SESSION
RECESS
Mayor Larios recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:22 a.m.
15. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
City of Whittier, et al. v. Los Angeles Superior Court, et al.
Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 23STCP03579
Orange County Superior Court Case No. 23STVP03579
RECONVENE
At 9:34 a.m., Mayor Larios adjourned the Closed Session and reconvened the
regular meeting.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Moussa reported the Council met in Closed Session, discussed the
item on the agenda, and took no reportable action.
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ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Larios adjourned the meeting at 9:34 a.m.
______________________________
CRYSTAL LARIOS, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
YONNIE PARKER, Deputy City Clerk
(seal)
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