20240820 Regular City Council Meeting - MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2024
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
The Vernon Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors and led the Flag
Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Melissa Ybarra, Mayor Pro Tem
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
Crystal Larios, Council Member
ABSENT:
Judith Merlo, Mayor
Leticia Lopez, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Daniel Calleros, Interim City Administrator
Mark Austin, Legal Counsel
Deborah Harrington, Interim 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
Richard Corbi, Public Utilities, Planning and Analysis Manager
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to
approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried 3-0, Mayor
Merlo and Council Member Lopez absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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August 20, 2024
PRESENTATIONS
1. Swearing-In Ceremony for New Police Officer in the Police Department
Police Chief Sousa presented the staff report and Interim City Clerk Harrington
administered the Oath of Office to Police Officer Bonnie Lee.
2. Employee Service Pin Awards
Human Resources Director Earl announced the July 2024 Employee Service Pin
Award recipients and Council recognized Police Dispatcher, Stephanie D. Aceves;
and Police Officer Cynthia G. Maciel for their service years with the City of Vernon.
3. City Administrator Report
Interim City Administrator Calleros presented the staff report and accompanying
PowerPoint on various topics including New Business Welcome, City Rebranding,
Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Applications, Gas Division Safety Award,
Development Projects, Community Partnerships, and Outreach Events.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Calendar. The question was called and the motion carried 3-
0, Mayor Merlo and Council Member Lopez absent.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
4. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the August 6, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting
Minutes.
5. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 134, for the
period of June 30 through July 20, 2024, totaling $11,721,582.88 and consisting
of ratification of electronic payments totaling $11,477,736.45 and ratification of the
issuance of early checks totaling $243,846.43.
6. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the June 2024 Fire Department Activity Report.
7. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the June 2024 Police Department Activity
Report.
8. Authorize the Issuance of a Purchase Order for Motorola Public Safety
Radios and Accessories
Recommendation: Approve and authorize issuance of a purchase order to
Motorola Solutions Inc. for the purchase of Motorola public safety radios and
accessories for a total amount not-to-exceed $89,428.
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9. Resolution Approving Authority to File Applications for Grant Funds from
the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District for Measure
A Funding.
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2024-018 to apply for and accept
Measure A Funds.
10. Services Agreement With Bob Murray & Associates for Executive
Recruitment Services
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a
Professional Services Agreement with Bob Murray & Associates, in substantially
the same form as submitted, for Executive Recruitment Services for a total amount
not-to-exceed $113,000, for a one-year term.
11. Haaker Equipment Company 2025 Vactor Truck Purchase
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize issuance of a Purchase Order (PO)
for the purchase of one new 2025 CNG Vactor Truck from Haaker Equipment
Company for a total amount not-to-exceed $757,716.28; and B. Authorize a
contingency amount of $22,283.72 should the purchase of a comparable Vactor
Truck be necessary due to limited inventory, and grant authority to the City
Administrator to issue a Change Order to the PO to Haaker Equipment Company
for an amount up to the contingency amount if necessary.
12. Extension of Franchise Granted to Pacific Pipeline System, Inc.
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section
15301, because it consists of the maintenance, repair or minor alteration of existing
facilities and equipment and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use;
and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2024-017 finding and determining that the public
interest and necessity require the time extension of Ordinance No. 1046 Granting
a Franchise to Pacific Pipeline System, Inc. to maintain and operate a pressurized
steel pipeline and appurtenances in and under Alameda Street.
13. Change Order No. 20 to Amended and Restated Services Agreement with
Siemens Energy Inc.
Recommendation: A. Find that approval of the proposed action is exempt from
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, because it is a government
fiscal activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the
environment, and therefore does not constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA
Guidelines section 15378; to the extent the Purchase Contracts with Siemens
Energy, Inc. provides for facility and equipment maintenance or repairs, such work
is categorically exempt from CEQA review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines
section 15301, because the project consists of the maintenance, repair or minor
alteration of existing structures, facilities, or equipment, and involves negligible or
no expansion of an existing use; and B. Approve and authorize the City
Administrator to execute Change Order No. 20 to the Amended and Restated
Services Agreement with Siemens Energy, Inc. (Siemens Energy), in substantially
the same form as submitted, to revise the Projected Schedule Outage Plan,
Payment Schedule, Cancellation Schedule, Upgrade Schedule, Dehumidifier
Upgrade, Burner 26 Upgrade, Gearset Upgrade, Starter Motor Upgrade, amend
the termination date of the agreement, and add a blanket Purchase Contracts
schedule.
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August 20, 2024
NEW BUSINESS
14. Vernon Public Utilities Financial Reserves Policy
Public Utilities General Manager Dusenberry presented the staff report and Public
Utilities Planning and Analysis Manager Richard Corbi along with Tony Georgis of
NewGen Strategies presented a PowerPoint presentation.
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to
approve and adopt the Vernon Public Utilities Financial Reserves Policy. The
question was called and the motion carried 3-0, Mayor Merlo and Council Member
Lopez absent.
ORAL REPORTS
20. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements.
Interim City Administrator Calleros announced Council has received an invitation
from the Maywood City Council to attend their Centennial Celebration. City Hall
will be closed on Labor Day, September 2, 2024. The next City Council meeting
will be held on September 17, 2024.
21. City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff.
None.
CLOSED SESSION
RECESS
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:33 a.m.
17. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Significant exposure to litigation (1 potential matter)
18. Conference with Real Property Negotiators
Government Code Section 54956.8
Property: 4528 Bandini Boulevard, Vernon, CA 90058
Agency Negotiation: Daniel Calleros, Interim City Administrator
Negotiating Party: Zeem Solutions, LLC
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
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August 20, 2024
RECONVENE
At 9:54 a.m., Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra adjourned the Closed Session and
reconvened the regular meeting.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Legal Counsel Austin reported that Council took no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra adjourned the meeting at 9:54 a.m.
_____________________________
JUDITH MERLO, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
YONNIE PARKER, Deputy City Clerk
(seal)
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