20250204 Regular City Council Meeting - MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025
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
ABSENT:
Judith Merlo, Mayor
Crystal Larios, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Daniel Calleros, Interim City Administrator
Angela Kimmey, Deputy 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
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to
approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried 3-0, Mayor
Merlo and Council Member Larios absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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RECESS
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra recessed the City Council Meeting at 9:02 a.m. to consider
the Successor Agency items.
RECONVENE
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra reconvened the City Council Meeting at 9:04 a.m.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to
approve the Consent Calendar. The question was called and the motion carried 3-
0, Mayor Merlo and Council Member Larios absent.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
1. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the January 21, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting
Minutes.
2. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 143, for the
period of December 22, 2024 through January 4, 2025, totaling $4,232,814.29 and
consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $3,835,250.14 and
ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $397,564.15.
3. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the November 2024 and December 2024
Building Reports.
4. Quarterly Report of Cash and Investments
Recommendation: Receive and file the Fourth Quarter Cash and Investments
Report.
5. Amendment to Section 13.24.050 (Definitions) of Vernon Municipal Code
Chapter 13.24 (Sewer System) and Adding Section 13.24.101 Regarding
Responsibility for the Sewer System Pipes
Recommendation: Conduct second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 1305
amending Vernon Municipal Code Section 13.24.050 and adding Section
13.24.101 pertaining to sewer definitions and responsibility.
6. Remedial Action Agreements with Responsible Parties
Recommendation: A. Approve the Remedial Action Agreement template, in
substantially the same form as submitted, for local regulatory oversight of
contaminated sites within the City; and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-003
authorizing the Director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control to
enter into Remedial Action Agreements with responsible parties and oversee
remedial investigations and actions to ensure the safe and effective
implementation of remediation and contaminated site cleanup efforts.
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7. Notice of Completion for Contract No. 20240089, City Hall HVAC System
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 alternation of existing structures and involves negligible or no expansion
of an existing use; B. Accept the work of Western Allied Corporation as related to
City Contract No. 20240089; 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.
8. Purchase Order with National Auto Fleet Group
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the issuance of a Purchase Order
with National Auto Fleet Group (NAFG) for a 2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 Crew
Cab, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $78,923.25; B. Authorize a contingency
amount of twenty percent (20%) or $15,785 for the vehicle purchase from NAFG
in case of unforeseen fluctuations in price caused by inflation or supply chain
issues; and C. Authorize the City Administrator to facilitate the bidding and
purchase of a comparable vehicle for an amount not-to-exceed $94,708 (NAFG
price plus contingency amount) from an alternate source/dealership should NAFG
vehicle availability be impacted by inventory shortages.
9. Payment to California Municipal Utilities Association
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the issuance of a payment to the
California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA) for Vernon Public Utilities’
participation in a Bill Comparison and Rate Forecasting Project for a total amount
not-to-exceed $10,000.
10. Services Agreement with NewGen Strategies & Solutions, LLC.
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a
Services Agreement with NewGen Strategies & Solutions, LLC, in substantially the
same form as submitted, to provide Utility Cost of Service, Rate Design, and
Financial Planning Services in an amount not-to-exceed $399,400 for a three-year
term; and B. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $39,940 for
unforeseen expenses not included in the proposal, and grant authority to the City
Administrator to approve and execute necessary amendments up to the
contingency amount.
11. Change Order No. 21 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
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Administrator to execute Change Order No. 21 to the Amended and Restated
Services Agreement with Siemens Energy, Inc. (Siemens Energy), in substantially
the same form as submitted, to revise the Payment Schedule. 12. Services Agreement with Allied Universal for Janitorial Services 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 work consists of the maintenance of existing structures and involves no expansion of an existing use; and B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Services Agreement with Allied Universal, in substantially the same form as submitted, for a three (3) year term in an amount not-to-exceed $375,570.
NEW BUSINESS
13. City of Vernon 2025-2026 Legislative and Regulatory Platform
Deputy City Administrator Kimmey presented the staff report. Dane Hutchings,
Managing Director of California Public Policy Group, presented a PowerPoint
presentation.
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to
receive and file the report and direct staff to place the proposed City of Vernon
2025-2026 Legislative and Regulatory Platform (Platform) on the February 18,
2025 agenda for adoption. The question was called and the motion carried 3-0,
Mayor Merlo and Council Member Larios absent.
ORAL REPORTS
14. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements
Interim City Administrator Calleros announced:
Election Information: The Clerk’s Office updated the City’s elections webpage with
information on the City Council Candidates, Measure Y and Measure Z slated for
the April 8, 2025 General Municipal Election. A mailer is scheduled for distribution
to voters in the coming weeks that will announce “What’s on the Vernon Ballot” for
April 8, 2025.
California Contract Cities Association Municipal Seminar: Contract Cities will host
their Annual Municipal Seminar from May 15-18, 2025, in Indian Wells. The
seminar will include several educational sessions on emerging and urgent policy
topics. Council Members interested in attending should inform City Administration
staff.
15. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff
None.
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CLOSED SESSION
RECESS
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra recessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:19 a.m.
16. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Significant exposure to Litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(b)
Number of potential cases: 2
17. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Initiation of Litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4)
Number of potential cases: 1
RECONVENE
At 10:41 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
items on the agenda, and took no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra adjourned the meeting at 10:41 a.m.
_____________________________
JUDITH MERLO, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
YONNIE PARKER, Deputy City Clerk
(seal)
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