20250304 Regular City Council Meeting - MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2025
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Merlo called the meeting to order at 9:00 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 (arrived at 9:20 a.m.)
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
Crystal Larios, Council Member (left at 10:03 a.m.)
STAFF PRESENT:
Brian Saeki, 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
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to
approve the agenda as revised to consider Closed Session after Public Comment.
The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Lopez
absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Aisha Reyes with the South Coast AQMD provided public comment on proposed
changes to Rule 1111 and 1121 related to space and water heater emissions.
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RECESS
At 9:03 a.m., Mayor Merlo recessed the meeting to Closed Session.
Council Member Lopez arrived at 9:20 a.m.
CLOSED SESSION
23. Public Employment
Government Code Section 54957
Title: City Administrator
24. Public Employment
Government Code Section 54957
Title: City Clerk
25. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation (3)
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Jason K. Haugen v. City of Vernon
Workers Compensation Claim No. 25-184471
Workers Compensation Appeals Board Case No. ADJ19074308
Todd A. Hewett v. City of Vernon
Workers Compensation Claim No. 21019883
Workers Compensation Appeals Board Case No. ADJ14892898
Bradley W. Mack v. City of Vernon
Workers Compensation Nos. 22025752 and 22025753
Workers Compensation Appeals Board Case Nos. ADJ15693842 and
ADJ15693843
RECONVENE
At 9:33 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
items on the agenda, and took no reportable action.
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CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved, and Council Member Lopez 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:
1. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the February 4, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting
Minutes.
2. Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Receive and file the claims submitted by Manuel Cortez and
Melvin Humphries.
3. Operating Account Warrant Register No.144
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 144, for the
period of January 5, 2025 through January 18, 2025, totaling $7,884,924.77 and
consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $7,455,315.50 and
ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $429,609.27.
4. Operating Account Warrant Register No. 145
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 145, for the
period of January 19, 2025 through February 1, 2025, totaling $10,833,537.33 and
consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $10,189,904.48 and
ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $643,632.85.
5. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the December 2024 Fire Department Activity
Report.
6. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the December 2024 Police Department Activity
Report.
7. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the January 2025 Building Report.
8. City of Vernon 2025-2026 Legislative and Regulatory Platform
Recommendation: Approve and adopt the City of Vernon 2025-2026 Legislative
and Regulatory Platform.
9. Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Legislative Representative Seat
Appointment
Recommendation: Appoint Sebastian Lozano to serve on the Vernon
CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee to fill one unscheduled vacancy for the
Legislative Representative seat with a term ending June 30, 2026.
10. Report on Five Year Agreement Approved by the City Administrator
Recommendation: Receive and file the report on award of Five-Year Contract
(Spectrum Enterprise Service Agreement) to Charter Communications, LLC
(Spectrum) for DOJ PAC-50 Network Connection in an amount not-to-exceed
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$29,429.40 as approved by the City Administrator pursuant to Vernon Municipal
Code (VMC) Sections 3.32.220(B) and 3.32.110 (B)(3).
11. New and Revised Personnel Policies and Revised Administrative Manual
Policy
Recommendation: A. Adopt revised Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual
Policy I - 8 Employee Separation Policy (revised); B. Adopt a revised Administrative
Policy Manual Policy Section 1.1 Miscellaneous Taxation on City Vehicles Used by
City Employees (revised); and C. Authorize the City Administrator and Director of
Human Resources to execute and distribute the Policies.
12. Services Agreement with Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc.
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute the
Services Agreement with Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc., in substantially
the same form as submitted, for the assessment of source water quality and the
design of treatment facilities, in an amount not-to-exceed $716,040 for a three-
year term; and B. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $71,604
in the event of unforeseen expenses and/or project changes and grant authority to
the City Administrator to approve and execute amendments up to the contingency
amount, if necessary.
13. Change Order No. 15 to the Consulting Services Agreement (CS-0099) with
CNS Engineers, Inc. (CNS) for the Atlantic Boulevard Bridge Rehabilitation
and Widening Project
Recommendation: A. Find that approval of the proposed change order is within the
Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared for this project pursuant to
the provisions under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in
accordance with Section 15063 of the CEQA Guidelines; and B. Approve and
authorize the City Administrator to execute Agreement Change Order No. 15, in
substantially the same form as submitted, for the Atlantic Boulevard Bridge
Rehabilitation and Widening Project, Federal Project No. DBPL02-5139(010),
Contract No. CS-0099 with CNS, extending the agreement for an additional year
to December 31, 2025 and authorizing CNS to provide additional support and
coordination services required to complete the design phase of the project for the
additional cost of $140,579.50, with a Change Order effective date of December
31, 2024.
14. Notice of Completion for Citywide Striping and Pavement Markings, Contract
No. 20250017
Recommendation: A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt from
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA
Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities), part (a) (existing highways and
streets), because the project consists of the maintenance, repair or minor alteration
of existing streets and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use; B.
Accept the work of WGJ Enterprises Inc., dba PCI as related to City Contract No.
20250017; 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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15. Purchase of Electric Vehicle for Police Department
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize issuance of a Purchase Order
to Tesla, Inc. for the purchase of a new Model Y vehicle for a total amount not-to-
exceed $56,378; and B. Authorize a contingency amount of ten (10%) percent or
$5,638, for pricing fluctuations and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue
a Change Order for an amount up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
16. Amendment No. 2 to the License and Software Services Agreement with
Power Settlements Consulting and Software, LLC, a Wholly Owned
Subsidiary of YES Energy LLC
Recommendation: A. Pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Sections 3.32.220 (B)
and 3.32.110 (B)(3), find that it is commercially unreasonable to rebid the contract
for settlement software due to the substantial financial and operational
commitment required from the City, as well as the considerable learning curve
associated with frequent changes in selecting licensing and software services from
a new vendor; B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute
Amendment No. 2 to the License and Software Service Agreement with Power
Settlements Consulting and Software, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of YES
Energy LLC, in substantially the same form as submitted, for license and software
services, for a total amount not-to-exceed $303,440, for a three-year term; and C.
Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $30,344 for unforeseen
fluctuations in the Consumer Price Index, and grant authority to the City
Administrator to take such actions, as necessary.
17. Renewable Portfolio Standard Procurement Plan and Enforcement Program
Recommendation: A. Approve and adopt the updated Renewable Portfolio
Standard (RPS) Procurement Plan and Enforcement Program; and B. Repeal
Resolution No. 2012-02.
NEW BUSINESS
18. Appointment of Brian Saeki to Serve as City Administrator
Interim Human Resources Director Grizzelle presented the staff report.
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved, and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-004 appointing Brian Saeki to serve as the City
Administrator of the City of Vernon, with revised effective start date of February 27,
2025, and approving and authorizing the execution of a related at-will employment
agreement, and repealing Resolution No. 2025-001. The question was called and
the motion carried unanimously.
19. New City of Vernon Logo and Tagline
Deputy City Administrator Kimmey presented the staff report, and consultant
Jaclyn Walian, Project Manager from MIG, Inc., provided a PowerPoint
presentation.
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MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved, and Mayor Merlo seconded a motion to approve
and authorize the use of the proposed City of Vernon Logo and Tagline on City
collateral, clothing, vehicles, and signage designed for identification,
communication, promotion, and marketing, and to visually represent the City’s
unique brand among existing Vernon stakeholders, prospective residents and
businesses, policy makers, and surrounding communities. The question was called
and the motion carried unanimously.
20. Fiscal Year 2024-25 Mid-Year Financial Update
Interim Finance Director Decavalles-Hughes presented the staff report and
consultant Tony Thrasher from Willdan provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Council Member Larios left the meeting at 10:03 a.m.
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved, and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution No. 2025-005 authorizing and approving mid-year budget
appropriations and amending the Annual Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal
Year 2024-25. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council
Member Larios absent.
ORAL REPORT
14. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements
City Administrator Saeki thanked the City Council for the opportunity to move the
City’s projects forward. He recognized Daniel Calleros for being an incredible
resource and recognized Gigi Decavalles-Hughes for doing an outstanding job with
the City’s finances. He noted that March 4, 2025 would be the last day at the City
for both Daniel Calleros and Gigi Decavalles-Hughes.
City Administrator Saeki announced that the February 2025 Resident Newsletter
was distributed to Vernon households the previous Thursday and noted that the
recent edition covered Vernon’s upcoming municipal election, Vernon’s assistance
during the recent wildfires, LAUSD resources for students and families, and the
Vernon CommUNITY Fund Scholarship application period. He stated that an
electronic copy of the February newsletter was available online (along with past
editions).
City Administrator Saeki invited Council to save the date for the City’s annual
spring outreach event scheduled for Thursday, April 3, at 5:00pm. He
acknowledged that planning was underway – and that more detailed information
would be shared with the community soon.
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15. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff
Mayor Merlo read and presented a Certificate of Appreciation to outgoing Interim
City Administrator Daniel Calleros in recognition for his service to the City and
community.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Merlo adjourned the meeting at 10:21 a.m.
_____________________________
JUDITH MERLO, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
YONNIE PARKER, Deputy City Clerk
(seal)
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