20250603 Regular City Council Meeting - MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 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 Pledge of Allegiance.
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:
Brian Saeki, City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa, City Attorney
Genoveva Rocha, City Clerk
Alice Hui, Finance Director/City Treasurer
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
City Clerk Rocha informed the City Council that Staff requested Item No. 1, Designation
of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore, be removed from the City Council agenda due to
a delay in receiving confirmation of receipt of the charter amendment filings from the
Secretary of State.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to approve
the agenda as revised. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
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PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
Mayor Merlo and the City Council considered the Board of Library Trustee Meeting agenda items
at 9:04 a.m. and continued the City Council Meeting at 9:09 a.m.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Designation of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore
This item was removed from the agenda
2. Certificates of Recognition to Vernon City Elementary School
City Administrator Saeki presented the staff report.
The City Council presented certificates of recognition to the following students from
Vernon City Elementary School: Spelling Bee: Jonathan Flores, Antonio Rivera, and
Anthony Perez; Math Competition: Samantha Guerrero, Luis Mitchel, Armando Ybarra-
Carbajal III, and Jeny Juan-Cano; and to the Vernon City Elementary Teacher of the Year,
Alisa Quon.
3. Arbor Day Proclamation
City Clerk Rocha read the proclamation, and the City Council proclaimed June 5, 2025,
as Arbor Day in the City of Vernon. Mayor Merlo presented the proclamation to Public
Works Assistant Engineer Gerard Garcia.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
4. Fiscal Year 2025-26 Citywide Annual Operating Budget, Capital Improvement Plan,
and Appropriations Limit (Gann)
Finance Director/City Treasurer Hui presented the staff report.
Mayor Merlo opened the public hearing at 9:22 a.m. There being no speakers, Mayor
Merlo closed the public hearing at 9:23 a.m.
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to: A.
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-013 approving and adopting the Annual Operating Budget
and the Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Year 2025-26; and B. Adopt Resolution No.
2025-014 adopting the Appropriations Limit for Fiscal Year 2025-26 pursuant to
Government Code Section 7910. The question was called and the motion carried
unanimously.
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CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to approve
the Consent Calendar Item Nos. 5 - 12. The question was called and the motion carried
unanimously.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
5. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the May 20, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting
Minutes.
6. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 151, for the
period of April 20, 2025 through May 3, 2025, totaling $13,165,560.89 and
consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $12,706,119.74 and
ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $459,441.15.
7. AT&T Connected Entity Access Services 5-year Master Agreement and
CAISO Connected Entity Order Form
Recommendation: A. Pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Section 3.32.220(B), find
that it is commercially unreasonable to rebid the proposed Master Agreement with
AT&T in three years as AT&T is the only provider of the desired service; and B.
Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Master Agreement with
AT&T and related CAISO Connected Entity Order Form, in substantially the same
form as submitted, for an upgraded fiber network connection to the California
Independent System Operator (CAISO) network for a total amount not-to-exceed
$28,651.88, for a 5-year term.
8. The Los Angeles Gateway Region Integrated Regional Water Management
Authority (GWMA) Amended and Restated Joint Exercise of Power Authority
Agreement (JPA Agreement)
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-015 approving and authorizing the
execution of the Amended and Restated JPA Agreement by and between the
Southeast Water Coalition and various cities regarding the GWMA.
9. Job Description Revisions
Recommendation: Approve recommended revisions to the Management Intern job
description.
10. Application for 2025 Tree City USA
Recommendation: Authorize the Mayor to sign and the Public Works Department
to submit a 2025 Tree City USA Application to the Arbor Day Foundation for Vernon
to be Certified as a 2025 Tree City USA.
11. Additional Funds for Contract No. 20230172 With RAMCO General
Engineering Contractors (RAMCO) and Mega Renovation, Inc. (Mega)
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 structures and involves negligible or no expansion of
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an existing use; and B. Approve $100,000 in additional funds for Contract No.
20230172 with RAMCO and Mega for on-call general contractor and minor
construction services provided.
12. Amendment No. 2 to the Services Agreement with EN Engineering, LLC
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute
Amendment No. 2 to the Services Agreement with EN Engineering, LLC, in
substantially the same form as submitted, to extend the term of the Agreement for
the final one-year period effective July 1, 2025, for a total amount not-to-exceed
$110,900.
NEW BUSINESS
13. Public Safety Special Parcel Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2025-26
Finance Director/City Treasurer Hui presented the staff report and answered
questions from Council related to CPI.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved, and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to:
A. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-016 determining the Public Safety Special Parcel
Tax levied for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26, pursuant to Municipal Code Section
3.20.020; and B. Approve and authorize the Director of Finance to execute an
Agreement for Billing Direct Assessments with the County of Los Angeles Auditor-
Controller’s Office, in substantially the same form as submitted, for the collection
and distribution of the Public Safety Special Parcel Tax for FY 2025-26. The
question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
14. Warehouse Special Parcel Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2025-26
Finance Director/City Treasurer Hui presented the staff report.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Ybarra moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to: A.
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-017 determining the Warehouse Special Parcel Tax
levied for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 pursuant to Municipal Code Section 3.20.010;
and B. Approve and authorize the Director of Finance to execute an Agreement for
Billing of Direct Assessments (Warehouse Special Parcel Tax) with the County of
Los Angeles Auditor-Controller’s Office, in substantially the same form as
submitted, for the collection and distribution of the Warehouse Special Parcel Tax
for FY 2025-26. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
15. Appointment of Su W. Tan as Director of Human Resources
City Administrator Saeki presented the staff report
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MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Lopez seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution No. 2025-018 appointing Su W. Tan to serve as the Director of
Human Resources of the City of Vernon effective June 30, 2025, and approving
and authorizing the execution of a related at-will employment agreement. The
question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
16. 2025 Military Equipment Use Policy Ordinance and Annual Report
Police Chief Sousa presented the staff report and answered Mayor Pro Tem
Ybarra’s question related to an example and the outcome of the police
department’s use of non-compliant equipment.
MOTION
Council Member Lopez moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to:
A. Review and approve the 2025 Military Equipment Report; and B. Renew
Ordinance No. 1282, approving the Police Department’s military equipment
funding, acquisition, and use policy. The question was called and the motion
carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORT
17. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements
City Administrator Saeki congratulated the 2025 graduating students and
announced that the Law Enforcement Special Olympics Torch Run would occur
shortly after the meeting. He informed the City Council that the Community
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety workshop would be held later in the afternoon. He
reminded the City Council to RSVP to the brand launch event that would be taking
place on Tuesday, June 17th, at the City’s Power Plant.
18. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff
None.
RECESS
At 9:39 a.m., Mayor Merlo recessed the meeting to Closed Session.
CLOSED SESSION
19. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Initiation of Litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4)
Number of potential cases: 1
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20. Conference with Labor Negotiators
Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Designated Representative: Brian Saeki, City Administrator
Employee Organizations:
Teamsters Local 911,
IBEW Local 47,
Vernon Police Management Association, and
Vernon Police Officers’ Benefit Association
Unrepresented Employees:
Confidential, Temporary, Unclassified, Mid- Management, Management, and Executive
classifications
RECONVENE
At 10:19 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.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Merlo adjourned the meeting at 10:19 a.m.
_____________________________
LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
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