20240618 Regular City Council Meeting - MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2024
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Merlo called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Merlo led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Judith Merlo, Mayor
Melissa Ybarra, Mayor Pro Tem
Leticia Lopez, Council Member
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
Crystal Larios, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Angela Kimmey, Deputy City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa, City Attorney
Deborah Harrington, Interim City Clerk
Joaquin Leon, Deputy City Treasurer
Veronica Petrosyan, Health and Environmental Control Deputy 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 Lopez moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to
approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Marissa Olguin, Vernon Chamber of Commerce President/CEO, expressed
appreciation for the outgoing Commissioners on the Business and Industry
Commission; complimented Carlos Fandino for his work as City Administrator and
his retirement. She urged the City Council to look at the long term for the City in
selecting a new City Administrator and Directors. Hector De La Torre, Gateway
Cities Council of Governments, provided background information on the Gateway
Cities organization.
Docusign Envelope ID: B328999E-E1C6-46D2-9EA4-F26ADFF67EFD
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 6
June 18, 2024
PRESENTATIONS
1. Recognition of Outgoing City Commission Members
Interim City Clerk Harrington presented the staff report.
City Council recognized outgoing Business and Industry Commissioners Jack
Cline, Crystal Larios, and Douglas Williams and Green Vernon Commissioner
Alfred Mejia for their invaluable service to the City. Certificates of Appreciation
were presented to Jack Cline and Crystal Larios.
2. Employee Service Pin Awards
Human Resources Director Earl announced the May 2024 Employee Service Pin
Award recipient: Police Officer, Miguel A. Hernandez, Jr.
3. Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 Scholarship Grants Awarded by Vernon
CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee
Interim City Clerk Harrington presented the staff report.
City Council recognized the FY 2023-24 Scholarship Grant recipients for their
outstanding academic performance, personal achievement, community
involvement, and leadership.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Rivera 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 June 4, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting
Minutes.
5. Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claim submitted by David Horn.
6. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the April 2024 Fire Department Activity Report.
7. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the April 2024 Police Department Activity
Report.
8. Property and Casualty Insurance Placements for Fiscal Year 2024-25
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute all
related documents to procure necessary annual insurance coverage for the fiscal
Docusign Envelope ID: B328999E-E1C6-46D2-9EA4-F26ADFF67EFD
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 6
June 18, 2024
year 2024-25, effective July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, for a total amount not-to-
exceed $5,336,326.
9. Annual Statement of Investment Policy for Fiscal Year 2024-2025
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2024-11 approving an Annual Statement
of Investment Policy for Fiscal Year 2024-25 and delegating investment authority
to the Director of Finance/City Treasurer.
10. Purchase Contract with D&R Office Works, Inc.
Recommendation: Approve and authorize issuance of a purchase contract with
D&R Office Works, Inc. (D&R) for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the purchase, delivery,
and installation of office furniture for the Department of Health and Environmental
Control and Vernon Public Utilities for a total amount not-to-exceed $210,871.27.
11. Notice of Completion for Contract No. LP-0737 – Pumping Plant Demolition
and Site Improvements
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 project consists of the maintenance, repair
or minor alteration of existing facilities including the demolition and removal of
individual small structures, and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing
use; B. Accept the work by J.D.M.L., Inc. dba Standard Industries regarding City
Contract No. LP-0737; and C. Authorize the General Manager of Public Utilities to
execute and submit the Notice of Completion to the Los Angeles County Registrar-
Recorder/County Clerk.
12. Amendment No. 2 to Services Agreement with Interwest Consulting Group,
Inc., Contract No. CS-1442
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute
Amendment No. 2 to the Services Agreement with Interwest Consulting Group,
Inc., in substantially the same form as submitted, and authorizing Interwest
Consulting Group, Inc. to provide additional support for on-call services for the
additional amount not-to-exceed $250,000 (increasing the total contract cost to
$850,000).
13. Blanket Purchase Order with The Home Depot
Recommendation: Approve the issuance of a blanket Purchase Order with The
Home Depot in an amount not-to-exceed $190,000 to procure supplies for the
Public Works Department and Vernon Public Utilities for operational needs and
special projects for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025.
14. Vernon Public Utilities 2024 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
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 2024 Wildfire Mitigation
Plan.
Docusign Envelope ID: B328999E-E1C6-46D2-9EA4-F26ADFF67EFD
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 6
June 18, 2024
15. Amendment No. 1 to Services Agreement with EN Engineering, LLC
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute
Amendment No. 1 to the Services Agreement with EN Engineering, LLC, in
substantially the same form as submitted, to extend the term of the Agreement for
an additional one-year period effective July 1, 2024, for a total amount not-to-
exceed $150,000, with an option to further extend the Services Agreement for a
third and final one-year period effective July 1, 2025.
16. Services Agreement with Cintas Corporation
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a
Services Agreement with Cintas Corporation (Cintas), in substantially the same
form as submitted, to provide uniform rental services in an amount not-to-exceed
$183,805 for a three-year term for the Public Works Department and Vernon Public
Utilities; and B. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $18,380
for unforeseen fluctuations in price, lost garments, or staffing changes not included
in the proposal, and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue Change
Orders for an amount up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
17. Licensing Agreement with Ascend Analytics LLC
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute the
SmartBidder Licensing Agreement with Ascend Analytics LLC (Ascend), in
substantially the same form as submitted, to provide the licensing battery
optimization software in an amount not-to-exceed $186,396 for a three-year term.
18. VPU Capacity Reservation Agreement Template
Recommendation: A. Approve the VPU Capacity Reservation Agreement
template, in substantially the same form as submitted, for use with eligible Vernon
Public Utilities customers; B. Authorize the City Administrator or the City
Administrator’s designee, to execute the VPU Capacity Reservation Agreements;
and C. Approve and authorize the General Manager of Public Utilities or the
General Manager of Public Utilities’ designee to make project-specific
modifications to the VPU Capacity Reservation Agreement template and/or the
Capacity Reservation Charge, if such modifications are needed in response to
unforeseen business or economic conditions.
NEW BUSINESS
19. Amendment to Classification and Compensation Plan
Human Resources Director Earl presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to:
A. Approve new and revised job descriptions and reclassifications; and B. Adopt
Resolution No. 2024-12 adopting the Classification and Compensation Plan in
accordance with Government Code Section 20636(b)(1) and repealing Resolution
No. 2023-23, effective July 14, 2024. The question was called and the motion
carried unanimously.
Docusign Envelope ID: B328999E-E1C6-46D2-9EA4-F26ADFF67EFD
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 6
June 18, 2024
20. Public Safety Special Parcel Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2024-25
Deputy City Treasurer Leon presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to:
A. Adopt Resolution No. 2024-13 determining the Public Safety Special Parcel Tax
levied for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25, pursuant to Municipal Code Section 3.20.020;
and B. Approve and authorize the Financial Services Administrator 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 2024-25. The
question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
21. Warehouse Special Parcel Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2024-25
Deputy City Treasurer Leon presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to:
A. Adopt Resolution No. 2024-14 determining the Warehouse Special Parcel Tax
levied for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 pursuant to Municipal Code Section 3.20.010;
and B. Approve and authorize the Financial Services Administrator 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 2024-25. The question was called and the motion carried
unanimously.
22. 2024 Military Equipment Use Policy Ordinance and Annual Report
Police Chief Sousa presented the staff report.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Mayor Merlo seconded a motion to: A. approve
the 2024 Military Equipment Report; and B. Renew Ordinance No. 1282, approving
the Police Department’s military equipment funding, acquisition, and use policy.
The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
23. Contract with Golden Gate Steel, Inc. for North Parking Security Fencing -
Contract No. 20240259
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
Docusign Envelope ID: B328999E-E1C6-46D2-9EA4-F26ADFF67EFD
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 6
June 18, 2024
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member 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 installation of security fencing on the
first floor of the City Hall Parking Structure and involves negligible or no expansion
of an existing use; B. Accept the bid proposal from Golden Gate Steel, Inc. (dba
Golden Gate Construction) as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and
reject all other bids; C. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a
contract with Golden Gate Construction, in substantially the same form as
submitted, for the North Parking Security Fencing Project in an amount not-to-
exceed $283,480; and D. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or
$28,348 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.
ORAL REPORTS
24. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements.
None.
25. City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff.
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Merlo adjourned the meeting at 9:36 a.m.
_____________________________
JUDITH MERLO, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
YONNIE PARKER, Deputy City Clerk
(seal)
Docusign Envelope ID: B328999E-E1C6-46D2-9EA4-F26ADFF67EFD