20251118 Regular City Council Meeting - MinutesMINUTES
VERNON CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2025
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Lopez led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Leticia Lopez, Mayor
Melissa Ybarra, Mayor Pro Tem
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
Crystal Larios, Council Member
Judith Merlo, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Brian Saeki, City Administrator
Zaynah Moussa-Milward, 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-City Engineer
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. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
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PRESENTATIONS
1. Employee Service Pin Awards
Recommendation: Recognize October 2025 Employee Service Pin Award
recipient.
Human Resources Director Tan presented the staff report.
The City Council recognized the October 2025 Employee Service Pin Award
recipient: Electrical Engineer, Charles B. Palencia, hired on October 19, 2020.
CONSENT CALENDAR
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
approve the Consent Calendar. The question was called and the motion carried
unanimously.
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
2. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the November 4, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting
Minutes.
3. Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 161, for the
period of October 5, 2025 through October 18, 2025, totaling $9,718,866.50 and
consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $9,507,344.44 and
ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $211,522.06.
4. Redevelopment Agency Obligation Retirement Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: Approve Redevelopment Agency Obligation Retirement
Account Warrant Register No. 73, for the period of August 17, 2025 through
October 18, 2025 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling
$1,000.
5. Fire Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the September 2025 Fire Department Activity
Report.
6. Police Department Activity Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the September 2025 Police Department
Activity Report.
7. Public Works Department Monthly Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the September 2025 Building Report.
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8. 2026 Calendar Year Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Flexible Spending
Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, and Pet Insurance/Savings Plan
Benefit Proposals for City Employees and Retirees
Recommendation: Ratify the acceptance of the 2026 Calendar Year Medical,
Dental, Vision, Life, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program
and Pet Insurance/Savings Plan benefit proposals and authorize the City
Administrator to execute 2026 calendar year carrier agreements and related
implementation documents with Blue Shield of California, Retiree First/Alignment
Health Medicare, MetLife, Ameritas Vision, Lincoln Financial, Igoe Flexible
Spending Accounts, Nationwide Pet Insurance, and United Pet Care Savings Plan.
9. Purchases from CentralSquare Technologies LLC
Recommendation: A. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute
CentralSquare Technologies Quote No. Q-231025 for upgraded warrant services
and data conversion for a total amount not-to-exceed $7,656.71, for the term
December 1, 2025 - September 18, 2026; and B. Approve and authorize the City
Administrator to execute CentralSquare Technologies Quote No. Q-228974 for the
purchase of the Centerline AI Software for a total amount not-to-exceed
$19,544.33, for the term December 1, 2025 - September 18, 2026.
10. Services Agreement with D2 (Squared) Industrial Services, LLC
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 of the
existing cooling tower and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use;
B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute the Services
Agreement with D2 (Squared) Industrial Services, LLC, in substantially the same
form as submitted, for scaffolding services, in an amount not-to-exceed $210,642;
and C. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $21,064.20 in the
event of unforeseen services or related project expenses and grant authority to the
City Administrator to issue amendments for an amount up to the contingency
amount, if necessary.
NEW BUSINESS
11. April 14, 2026, General Municipal Election
Recommendation: A. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-031 calling and giving notice of
an all-mail ballot General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026,
for the election of one City Council Member as required by the provisions of the
Charter of the City of Vernon; B. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-032 adopting
regulations regarding candidate statements and repealing Resolution No. 2024-
024 and establishing Candidate Statement regulations; and C. Adopt Resolution
No. 2025-033 requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles
render specified services to the City relating to the conduct of a General Municipal
Election to be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
City Clerk Rocha presented the staff report.
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Staff clarified that the candidates’ statement word count may be increased at the
Council’s direction. The Council expressed interest in continuing with the 200-word
count for the candidates’ statement.
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for
a motion.
MOTION
Council Member Merlo moved and Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra seconded a motion to:
A. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-031 calling and giving notice of an all-mail ballot
General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, for the election
of one City Council Member as required by the provisions of the Charter of the City
of Vernon; B. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-032 adopting regulations regarding
candidate statements and repealing Resolution No. 2024-024 and establishing
Candidate Statement regulations; and C. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-033
requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles render specified
services to the City relating to the conduct of a General Municipal Election to be
held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. The question was called and the motion carried
unanimously.
12. Conflict of Interest Code (Statement of Economic Interests)
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-034 approving and adopting the
amended Conflict of Interest Code pursuant to the Political Reform Act of 1974 and
repealing Resolution No. 2024-019.
City Clerk Rocha presented the staff report.
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for
a motion.
MOTION
Council Member Larios moved and Council Member Rivera seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution No. 2025-034 approving and adopting the amended Conflict of
Interest Code pursuant to the Political Reform Act of 1974 and repealing
Resolution No. 2024-019. The question was called and the motion carried
unanimously.
13. Revocable Encroachment License Agreement No. 441 with BP Products
North America, Inc.
Recommendation: A. Find that approval of the proposed action is categorically
exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), in accordance with
CEQA guidelines 15061(b)(3), the general rule that CEQA only applies to projects
which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment; and
B. Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute the Revocable Encroachment
License Agreement No. 441 (Agreement) between the City of Vernon and BP
Products North America, Inc. (BPPNA).
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Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
Staff clarified that the site is not currently vacant; it has been occupied by a different
operator. The well monitoring timing will depend on the due diligence that will need
to be conducted.
Mayor Lopez invited public comments. There being none, Mayor Lopez called for
a motion.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Ybarra moved and Council Member Larios seconded a motion to:
A. Find that approval of the proposed action is categorically exempt under the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), in accordance with CEQA guidelines
15061(b)(3), the general rule that CEQA only applies to projects which have the
potential for causing a significant effect on the environment; and B. Approve and
authorize the Mayor to execute the Revocable Encroachment License Agreement
No. 441 (Agreement) between the City of Vernon and BP Products North America,
Inc. (BPPNA). The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
14. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements
City Administrator Saeki acknowledged the City Council and staff on the successful
annual holiday gift card distribution delivered to residents and announced the Fall
Harvest turkey and gift-card drive-thru give-away would take place later that night,
beginning at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
He also announced the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee would hold a
regular meeting on November 19, 2025, to award Fiscal Year 2025-26 Direct
Service Grants to local non-profit organizations.
Thirdly, he announced on December 4, 2025, at 8:30 a.m., the City would host a
Business Breakfast for networking and to discuss the potential Utility Users Tax
Ballot Measure in an open forum at the City Hall Council Chamber and later in the
evening, the City would be hosting a Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5 p.m. at the City
Hall lawn. Lastly, he wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving holiday.
15. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or
Directives to Staff
None.
RECESS
At 9:13 a.m., Mayor Lopez recessed the meeting to Closed Session.
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CLOSED SESSION
16. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Significant exposure to litigation (1 potential matter)
17. 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 9:55 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,
received updates and provided direction to staff on Item Nos. 16 and 17, and took
no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 9:56 a.m.
_____________________________
LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
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