20241119 Regular City Council Meeting - Minutes
MINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2024
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Merlo 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:
Judith Merlo, Mayor
Melissa Ybarra, Mayor Pro Tem
Leticia Lopez, Council Member
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
Crystal Larios, Council Member
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, Interim Human Resources Director
Robert Sousa, Police Chief
Dan Wall, Public Works Director
Todd Dusenberry, Public Utilities General Manager
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Interim City Clerk Harrington announced that agenda item 9 has been revised to
clarify that the agreement is with AdminSure, Inc. instead of Athens Administrators.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Larios 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. 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 Genevieve Lastra.
2. Employee Service Pin Awards
Interim Human Resources Director Grizzelle announced the October 2024
Employee Service Pin Award recipients and Council recognized Utilities
Dispatcher, Armando Hinojos and Facilities Maintenance Worker, Lead, Dwight
Pierce
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
unanimously.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
3. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the November 5, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting
Minutes.
4. Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claim submitted by Crown Poly, Inc.
5. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 139, for the
period of September 29, 2024 through October 19, 2024, totaling $9,226,534.10
and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $8,219,682.49 and
ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $1,006,851.61.
6. Vernon Reads! Virtual Library Program
Recommendation: Allocate $25,000 in funding for the Vernon Reads! Virtual
Library Program to establish a budget for the purchase of e-readers, e-book
subscriptions, and online resources in support of literacy in Fiscal Year 2024-25
and subsequent fiscal years.
7. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the September 2024 Fire Department Activity
Report.
8. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the September 2024 Police Department
Activity Report.
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9. Services Agreement with AdminSure Inc. for Worker's Compensation Third
Party Claims Administration
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute the
proposed Worker’s Compensation Third Party Claims Administration Services
Agreement with AdminSure, Inc., in substantially the same form as submitted, in
an amount not to exceed $257,415 for a three-year term.
10. Amendment No. 1 to Services Agreement with Alliant Insurance Services,
Inc.
Recommendation: A. Find that it is currently commercially unreasonable to rebid
the contract for health benefits brokerage and consulting services in light of the
ongoing open enrollment period and health benefits implementation period,
pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) Section 3.32.220 (B); and B. Approve
and authorize the City Administrator to execute Amendment No. 1 to the services
agreement with Alliant Insurance Services, Inc., in substantially the same form as
submitted, extending the term of the agreement for a period of six months from
October 1, 2024 or until a new agreement is awarded, for a total amount not-to-
exceed $40,000.
11. Contract with Oppenheimer National for Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) Improvements and Street Tree Planting Along Santa Fe Avenue and
Vernon Avenue
Recommendation: A. Find that award of the proposed contract is categorically
exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with
CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities), part (c) (existing highways
and streets), because the Project is merely to repair existing streets and involves
no expansion of existing use; B. Accept the bid proposal from Oppenheimer
National as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and reject all other bids;
C. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a contract with
Oppenheimer National for ADA Improvements and Street Tree Planting, in
substantially the same form as submitted, in an amount not-to-exceed $657,000;
and D. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $65,700 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.
NEW BUSINESS
12. Citywide Fringe Benefits Policy
Interim Human Resources Director Grizzelle presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Riveria seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution No. 2024-026 approving the revised Citywide Fringe Benefits
Policy and repealing Resolution No. 2023-24. The question was called and the
motion carried unanimously.
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13. Appointment of Health Officer for the City of Vernon
Health and Environmental Control Director Agyin presented the staff report and
answered Council questions related to term and budget.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to:
A. Pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) Section 3.32.110 (B)(2), find that it
is in the best interests of the City to award a service agreement for health officer
services to Steven H. Florman, M.D. without a competitive selection process, for a
one-year term, in light of the immediate and indispensable needs for health officer
services; and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2024-027 appointing Steven H. Florman,
M.D. as the Health Officer for the City of Vernon, approving and authorizing the
execution of a services agreement for health officer services, and repealing
Resolution No. 2022-37. The question was called and the motion carried
unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
14. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements.
Interim City Administrator Calleros announced the following:
• Fall Harvest will be held on November 19th starting at 6:00 p.m. Individuals
may start lining up at 5:30 p.m.
• Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting will be held on
November 20th to deliberate and award local non-profit grants for fiscal year
2024-2025
• Bulky Item Pickup will be held on November 25th
• Holiday Tree Lighting will be held on December 5th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in
the Vernon Winter Wonderland (City Hall Lawn)
• Next week is Thanksgiving and wished everyone and their families a
wonderful holiday
15. City Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff.
None.
CLOSED SESSION RECESS
Mayor Merlo recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:21 a.m.
16. Public Employment
Government Code Section 54957
Title: City Administrator
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RECONVENE
At 11:44 a.m., Mayor Merlo 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 Merlo adjourned the meeting at 11:44 a.m.
_____________________________
JUDITH MERLO, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
YONNIE PARKER, Deputy City Clerk
(seal)
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