20241001 Regular City Council Meeting - Minutes
MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 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
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Melissa Ybarra, Mayor Pro Tem
Leticia Lopez, Council Member
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
Crystal Larios, Council Member
ABSENT:
Judith Merlo, Mayor
STAFF PRESENT:
Daniel Calleros, Interim City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa, City Attorney
Deborah Harrington, Interim City Clerk
Gigi Decavalles-Hughes, Interim Finance Director
Fredrick Agyin, Health and Environmental Control Director
Lisette M. Grizzelle, Human Resources Program Manager
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 Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to
approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Mayor
Merlo absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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October 1, 2024
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Calendar. The question was called and the motion carried 4-
0, Mayor Merlo absent.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
1. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the September 17, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting
Minutes.
2. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 136, for the
period of August 18, 2024 through August 31, 2024, totaling $8,212,535.80 and
consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $7,461,720.76 and
ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $750,815.04.
3. Report on Emergency Sewer Repairs Approved by the City Administrator
Recommendation: Receive and file the report on direct award of emergency sewer
repair work to Faze 1 Corporation (doing business as Premier Pipe, Inc.) as
approved by the City Administrator pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Section
3.32.250 for a total amount of $258,150.
4. Additional Funds for Contract No. 20230086 with Insight Public Sector
(Insight)
Recommendation: A. Approve $27,000 in additional funds for Contract No.
20230086 with Insight for the purchase of additional Microsoft Office 365 cloud-
based software application licenses; and
B. Approve additional funds with Insight in the amount of $73,000 for additional
purchases of software and equipment as may be necessary from this vendor
through September 30, 2025.
5. Notice of Completion for Contract No. 20240038 – City Hall Roof
Replacement
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt from
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA
Guidelines Section 15302, because the project consists of the replacement or
reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be
located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the
same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced; B. Accept the work of
Southland Roofing Inc. as related to City Contract No. 20240038; and C. Authorize
the Director of Public Works to execute and submit the Notice of Completion for
the project to the Los Angeles County Recorder’s Office.
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October 1, 2024
6. Notice of Completion for Contract No. LP-0654 – Well No. 22 Equipment &
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 and equipment and involves negligible or no
expansion of an existing use; B. Accept the work by Cedro Construction, Inc.
regarding City Contract No. LP-0654; and C. Authorize the General Manager of
Public Utilities to execute and submit the Notice of Completion to the Los Angeles
County Recorder’s Office.
NEW BUSINESS
7. Appointment of Lisette M. Grizzelle to Serve as Interim Director of Human
Resources
Interim City Administrator Calleros presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to
Adopt Resolution No. 2024-021 Appointing Lisette M. Grizzelle to serve as the
Interim Director of Human Resources of the City of Vernon. The question was
called and the motion carried 4-0, Mayor Merlo absent.
ORAL REPORTS
8. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements.
Interim City Administrator Calleros announced the following:
• Career Day is October 2, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. Staff is hosting an informational
workshop for students to learn about careers in the public sector.
• Coffee with a Cop will be held on October 8, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. at
Starbucks on Soto for an informal meet and greet with our Police
Department members.
• Rose & Shore, Inc. Groundbreaking has extended an invitation to the City
Council for a groundbreaking ceremony for their new Regent Cold Storage
facility on October 8, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
• Vernon CommUNITY Fund Applications are due by October 11, 2024 for
direct service grants. Awards will be determined at the Grant Committee’s
meeting scheduled on November 20, 2024.
9. City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff.
None.
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October 1, 2024
CLOSED SESSION
RECESS
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:06 a.m.
10. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Initiation of Litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4)
Number of potential cases: 2
RECONVENE
At 9:28 a.m., Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra adjourned the Closed Session and
reconvened the regular meeting.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Moussa reported that Council met in Closed Session, discussed the
item on the agenda, and took no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra adjourned the meeting at 9:28 a.m.
_____________________________
JUDITH MERLO, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
YONNIE PARKER, Deputy City Clerk
(seal)
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