20250902 Regular City Council Meeting - MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2025
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Lopez led the Flag Salute.
PRESENT:
Leticia Lopez, Mayor
Melissa Ybarra, Mayor Pro Tem
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
Judith Merlo, 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
Su Tan, Human Resources Director
Robert Sousa, Police Chief
Dan Wall, Public Works Director
Todd Dusenberry, Public Utilities General Manager
Mayor Lopez requested a consensus from the City Council to reorder the agenda and
consider Item No. 12 - Closed Session prior to the regular meeting items.
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to
convene into Closed Session to consider Item No. 12 prior to the regular meeting. The
question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
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RECESS
At 9:03 a.m., Mayor Lopez recessed the meeting to Closed Session.
CLOSED SESSION
12. 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 9:12 a.m., Mayor Lopez adjourned the Closed Session and reconvened the regular
meeting with all Council Members present.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Moussa reported that the City Council met in Closed Session, provided
direction on the item on the agenda, and took no reportable action.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to
approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
Item No. 2 Public Hearing on Zoning Code Amendments was taken out of order
and considered prior to Item No. 1 Presentations.
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PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. Zoning Code Amendments
Recommendation:
A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) because the adoption of this ordinance is not a “project” pursuant to
CEQA Guidelines Section 15378;
B. Introduce, read by title only, and waive further reading of Ordinance No. 1307
Amending Zoning Code to meet California Department of Housing and Community
Development (HCD) Requirements; and
C. Direct staff to schedule the adoption for the September 16, 2025, Regular City
Council Meeting.
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra inquired about the Regional Housing Needs Allocation
(RHNA) impacts and enforcement requirements. Public Works Director Wall
responded that RHNA applies to the City to implement policies and make code
amendments to encourage the development. The requirement that impacts
property owners is that there is a minimum density of 20 units per acre.
Mayor Lopez opened the public hearing at 9:15 a.m. There being no speakers,
Mayor Lopez closed the public hearing at 9:15 a.m.
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to
approve recommendations A, B, and C. The question was called and the motion
carried unanimously.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Los Angeles Unified School District Resources
Recommendation:
No Action required by the City Council. This is a presentation only.
City Administrator Saeki introduced Karla Griego.
Karla Griego, Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member for District 5,
shared immigration information and additional resources available to students and
their families. She provided a “We Are One” pamphlet and stated their 24-hour
hotline number is (323) 443-1300.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for
a motion.
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MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra 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 August 19, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
4. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 156, for the
period of July 20, 2025 through August 2, 2025, totaling $14,946,772.11 and
consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $14,408,067.06 and
ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $538,705.05.
5. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the July 2025 Building Report.
NEW BUSINESS
6. Code Enforcement Update
Recommendation:
A. Find that the proposed action is not a project within the meaning of Section
15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guidelines because it
has no potential for resulting in physical change in the environment, either directly
or ultimately. In the event that the proposed Ordinance is found to be a project
under CEQA, it is subject to the CEQA exemption contained in CEQA Guidelines
Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty to have no possibility of
a significant effect on the environment;
B. Introduce, read by title only, and waive further reading of Ordinance No. 1308
Amending Certain Sections of Chapters 1.08 (Administrative Citations), 8.20
(Nuisances), and 10.16 (Parking Regulations) of the Vernon Municipal Code
regarding Public Nuisances, Administrative Citations, and Enforcement of Code
Violations;
C. Direct staff to schedule the adoption for the September 16, 2025, Regular City
Council Meeting; and
D. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-021 adopting amended Administrative Citation and
Civil Penalties Fee Schedules pursuant to the Vernon Municipal Code and
repealing Resolution No. 2011-195.
Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
In response to a question from Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra about whether any feedback
has been received from residents or businesses, Public Works Director Wall stated
no feedback had been received.
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Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for
a motion.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to
approve recommendations A, B, C, and D. The question was called and the motion
carried unanimously.
7. Classification and Compensation Plan
Recommendation:
A. Approve new, retitled and revised job descriptions; and
B. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-022 adopting the Classification and Compensation
Plan in accordance with Government Code Section 20636(b)(1) and repealing
Resolution No. 2024-12.
City Administrator Saeki presented the staff report.
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for
a motion.
MOTION
Council Member Merlo moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to:
A. Approve new, retitled and revised job descriptions; and B. Adopt Resolution No.
2025-022 adopting the Classification and Compensation Plan in accordance with
Government Code Section 20636(b)(1) and repealing Resolution No. 2024-12.
The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
8. Memoranda of Understanding – Labor Negotiations
Recommendation:
A. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-023 approving the 2025-2028 Memorandum of
Understanding by and between the City of Vernon and the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 47 (IBEW);
B. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-024 to recognize Teamsters, Local 986 as an
employee organization; and approve the 2025-2028 Memorandum of
Understanding by and between the City of Vernon and Teamsters Local Union 986
(Teamsters);
C. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-025 approving the 2025-2028 Memorandum of
Understanding by and between the City of Vernon and the Vernon Police
Management Association (VPMA); and
D. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-026 approving the 2025-2028 Memorandum of
Understanding by and between the City of Vernon and the Vernon Police Officers’
Benefit Association (VPOBA).
Human Resources Director Tan presented the staff report.
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Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for
a motion.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Merlo seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution No. 2025-023 approving the MOU with IBEW, Resolution No.
2025-024 recognizing Teamsters, Local 986 as an employee organization and
approving the MOU with Teamsters, Resolution No. 2025-025 approving the MOU
with the VPMA, and Resolution No. 2025-026 approving the MOU with the VPOBA.
The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
9. Citywide Fringe Benefits Policy
Recommendation:
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-027 adopting the Citywide Fringe Benefits Policy and
repealing Resolution No. 2024-026.
Human Resources Director Tan presented the staff report.
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for
a motion.
MOTION
Council Member Rivera moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution No. 2025-027 adopting the Citywide Fringe Benefits Policy and
repealing Resolution No. 2024-026. The question was called and the motion
carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORT
10. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements
City Administrator Saeki thanked and congratulated the City Council on another
successful round of negotiations. He noted that City Council has held
approximately 10-15 meetings over the past year discussing the Memorandums of
Understanding that were memorialized and approved at today’s meeting. He
invited the community to attend the Vernon Housing Commission Meeting which
will convene to discuss housing needs on September 10, 2025, at 6 p.m.
11. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff
None.
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ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 9:58 a.m.
_____________________________
LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
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