Resolution No. 2025-021RESOLUTION NO. 2025-021
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON
ADOPTING AMENDED ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION AND CIVIL
PENALTIES FEE SCHEDULES PURSUANT TO THE VERNON
MUNICIPAL CODE AND REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 2011-195
SECTION 1. Recitals.
A. On November 15, 2011, the City Council of the City of Vernon adopted Resolution
No. 2011-195 establishing and adopting administrative citation and civil penalties fee
schedules pursuant to the Vernon Municipal Code.
B. The Director of Public Works has recommended that the fees for administrative
citations and civil penalties be amended.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF VERNON AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 2. The City Council of the City of Vernon finds and determines that the
above recitals are true and correct.
SECTION 3. The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby adopts the
administrative citation fees as set forth in the schedule attached hereto as Exhibit A.
SECTION 4. The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby adopts civil penalties
as set forth in the schedule attached hereto as Exhibit B.
SECTION 5. All resolutions or parts of resolutions, specifically Resolution No.
2011-195, not consistent with or in conflict with this resolution are hereby repealed.
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Resolution No. 2025-021
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SECTION 6. The City Clerk, or Deputy City Clerk, shall certify the passage and
adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
SECTION 7. This resolution shall become effective upon the effective date of
Ordinance No. 1308.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED September 2, 2025.
________________________
LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor
ATTEST:
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
(seal)
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ZAYNAH N. MOUSSA, City Attorney
Resolution No. 2025-021
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CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF VERNON )
I do hereby certify that the attached is a true copy of Resolution No. 2025-021 that was
passed and adopted at the Regular Meeting held on September 2, 2025, by the following
vote:
AYES: Larios, Merlo, Rivera, Ybarra, Lopez
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
__________________________
GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk
EXHIBIT A
ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION SCHEDULE
A violation of any provision of any section of the City Code or any California Building Code adopted by the City may be subject to
an administrative citation fine pursuant to the below schedule:
Except as provided in the chart below, and except as provided for violations of local building and safety codes (Municipal Code
Title 15) the administrative citation fine for a Municipal Code violation, whether designated as a misdemeanor or infraction, shall
be $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second violation of the same ordinance within one year, and $500 for a third violation of
the same ordinance within one year.
Except as provided in the chart below, the administrative citation fine for a violation of any provision within Municipal Code Title
15, whether designated as a misdemeanor or infraction, shall be $130 for a first violation, $700 for a second violation of the same
ordinance within one year, $1,300 for a third violation of the same ordinance within one year of the first violation, and $2,500 for
each additional violation of the same ordinance within two years of the first violation if the property is a commercial property that
has an existing building at the time of the violation and the violation is due to failure by the owner to remove visible refuse or
failure to prohibit unauthorized use of the property.
Chapter of Article of City Code containing provision that
was violated Title 1st Offense 2nd Offense
(within one year)
3rd Offense
(within one
year of first
offense)
4th Offense
or More
Chapter 5.12 Permit Enforcement $500 $500 $500 $500
Chapter 5.56 State Video Franchises $500 $1,000 $2,500 $2,500
Chapter 6.04 General Provisions $500 $500 $500 $500
Chapter 8.08 Fireworks $500 $750 $1,000 $1,000
Chapter 8.15
Single-use Foodware
Accessory and Standard
Condiment Reduction
Fine of $25 per
day not to exceed
$300 annually N/A N/A
N/A
Chapter 8.28 Food Protection Program
Fine of $25 per
day not to exceed
$1,000 annually
N/A N/A
N/A
Chapter 9.16 Weapons $500 $500 $500 $500
Chapter 9.36 Living Wages $100 per day N/A N/A N/A
Title 11 Oil and Gas Wells $100 $500 $1,000 $1,000
Title 12 Streets, Sidewalks and
Public Places
$100 $500 $1,000 $1,000
Resolution No. 2025-021
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Chapter of Article of City Code containing provision that
was violated Title 1st Offense 2nd Offense
(within one year)
3rd Offense
(within one
year of first
offense)
4th Offense
or More
Chapter 12.10.060(A) for failure to obtain a permit Sidewalk Vending Written warning $250 $500 $1,000
Chapter 12.10.060(B) Sidewalk Vending Written warning $100 $200 $500
Title 13 Public Services $100 $500 $1,000 $1,000
Late payment charges: Any person who fails to pay to the City on or before the due date of the administrative fine imposed
shall be subject to a late fee of 25% of the administrative fine for each and every thirty (30) day period after the fine is due.
Resolution No. 2025-021
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EXHIBIT B
CIVIL PENALTIES
Any person in violation of any provision of the City Code or any regulation enforced by the city may be subject to the
assessment of civil penalties. The maximum amount of penalties shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000)
annually for every series of violations of the same code section or provision. A violation shall include not only the act or omission,
constituting the violation, but it shall also include causing, allowing, permitting, aiding, abetting, suffering, withholding, or
concealing the fact of such act or omission occurred or destroying or tampering with evidence associated with the act or
omission. Each and every day a violation exists, constitutes a separate and individual offense.
The penalty may commence on the date when the City first discovered the violation as evidenced by the issuance of a
compliance order, administrative citation or any other written correspondence.
In determining the amount of the daily civil penalty the enforcement official shall consider some or all of the following
factors:
Duration of the violation:
ii The frequency or recurrence of the violation;
iii The history of the violation;
iv The seriousness of the violation;
v The responsible party’s conduct after the issuance of notice or order;
vi The reasonable party's good faith effort to comply;
vii The economic impact of the penalty on the responsible party; and
viii Impact of violation on the community.
The following table may serve as a guideline for establishing the daily civil penalty:
Resolution No. 2025-021
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1) The
responsible
party is
aggressively
pursuing
correction of
the violation.
2) The
duration of
the violation
is more than
double the
time it could
have
reasonably
been
corrected.
3) Same violation
impacts
neighboring
properties.
4) The
violation
impacts
neighboring
properties.Daily Civil Penalty Violation poses an immediate threat to life, property or
the environment and was caused by an unavoidable
accident or without knowledge that the responsible
parties conduct caused a violation.
X
X $1,000
X $1,250
X $750
Violation does not pose an immediate threat to life,
property or the environment and was caused by the
willful conduct and knowledge of the violation by the
responsible party.
X $200
X $400
X $500
X $400
Violation does not pose an immediate threat to life,
property or the environment and was caused by an
accident or without knowledge that the responsible
parties conduct caused a violation.
X $100
X $200
X $400
X $200
1. The Civil penalty may be reduced by up to 75% if it will cause an unacceptable economic impact to the responsible party.
2. The Civil penalty maybe increased by 25% if more than one of the columns would be checked, maximum civil penalty is
$2,500.00 a day:
Resolution No. 2025-021
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City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date:September 2, 2025
From:Daniel S. Wall, P.E., Director of Public Works
Department:Public Works
Submitted by:Daniel S. Wall, P.E., Director of Public Works
Subject
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.
Background
The Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) dictates the general laws of the City as enacted by
ordinances of the City Council. The VMC contains regulations related to many areas including,
but not limited to, building and safety, zoning, nuisances, and parking. The goal of code
enforcement is compliance with the VMC. In most instances, compliance is achieved through
outreach and education. Generally, property owners and tenants are willing to remedy any
noncompliance after a few interactions with City staff. However, in some instances, additional
tools are required to obtain compliance. Having reviewed the existing enforcement provisions of
the VMC, and in discussions with the Public Works Department, Police Department and code
enforcement personnel, the City Attorney’s office drafted the proposed ordinance to better enable
the City to preserve the Vernon community.
The four primary enforcement tools include:
1.Administrative citations and civil penalties—issued by City Code Enforcement Officers, these
are essentially “tickets” that include fines. An administrative appeal is available to challenge
these citations and civil penalties.
2.Criminal prosecution—this includes criminal cases filed as infractions (potential fines) or
misdemeanors (potential fines and jail).
3. Nuisance Abatement—a civil lawsuit or proceeding, brought to achieve compliance with the
code where there is the potential for recovery of the City’s costs and attorney’s fees through
liens or court orders.
4.Administrative Abatement – an administrative proceeding to declare a property or condition
of a property a public nuisance. If a hearing officer or local appeals board determines that a
public nuisance exists, the owner is required to abate the nuisance. In the event the owner
does not comply, the City may obtain a warrant from the superior court, perform the
abatement itself, and recover its costs.
The proposed ordinance revises the City’s Municipal Code and includes the following revisions
and additions:
1. Amendments to Chapter 1.08 to achieve the following:
A. Update the fine amounts as allowed by State law for violations of local building and
safety codes;
B. Clarify code enforcement personnel’s authority to issue criminal citations for Municipal
Code violations and the City Attorney’s authority to prosecute Municipal Code violations
or file civil actions to abate public nuisance conditions;
C. Strengthen the definition of public nuisance to include any code violation or violation of a
City-issued land use permit, approval, or license, and clarify that property owners are
responsible for Municipal Code violations committed and public nuisance conditions
created by their tenants;
D. Authorize the recovery of attorney’s fees by the prevailing party in nuisance abatement
actions and administrative proceedings. State law authorizes cities to adopt ordinances
providing for the recovery of attorneys’ fees by the prevailing party in public nuisance
actions. The Municipal Code does not currently allow for the recovery of attorneys’ fees.
Violators, therefore, are not required to reimburse the City for legal costs that it incurs
when bringing a property into compliance. The proposed ordinance brings the Municipal
Code in line with state law and allows the prevailing party in any administrative or judicial
action to abate a nuisance to recover its fees. The recovery of such fees is critical; not
only does fee recovery deter violations in the first instance, but it also deters violators
from engaging in unnecessary litigation tactics. Please note that fee recovery under this
proposed ordinance will only be available if the City elects at the outset of the action to
recover its fees and the amount to be recovered cannot exceed the amount of
reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the City in the action or proceeding;
E. Update applicable definitions to be consistent with the proposed amendments and state
law and make grammatical and capitalization revisions where appropriate;
F. Create a Local Appeals Board for administrative appeals related to building code
violations. Under California Building Code section 1.8.8.1, there must be a Local
Appeals Board to hear appeals related to the violation of any of the uniform building
codes that the City adopts and incorporates every three years. In the absence of an
appointed Local Appeals Board, the City Council would serve as the Local Appeals
Board; and
G. Add Section 1.08.090 regarding payment plans for administrative citations and civil
penalties. A payment plan would be available for those responsible parties that abated
the nuisance for which they were cited or have submitted an acceptable plan for
abatement of the nuisance. Payment plans would be subject to approval by the Public
Works Director.
2. Amendments to Chapter 8.20 to achieve the following:
A. Revisions to administrative appeal procedures to include references to the Local
Appeals Board where appropriate;
B. Updates to the provisions regarding administrative abatement and cost recovery to
ensure consistency with the overall code update, including authority and procedures to
recover attorney’s fees as appropriate;
C. Revise the provisions relating to the procedures for imposing special assessments and
liens for the recovery of administrative abatement costs to ensure consistency with state
nuisance abatement law, as set forth in Government Code sections 38773.1 and
38773.5; and
D. Update the City’s procedures for those rare instances in which City personnel must act
immediately to abate a public nuisance that poses an immediate threat to public health
and safety. These updates are necessary to ensure that any emergency abatement
action will comply with a responsible party’s due process rights and preserve the City’s
ability to recover its abatement costs.
3. Amendments to Chapter 10.16.060 to authorize the application of the Vehicle Code to Furlong
Place and to authorize parking enforcement by City personnel on this City-owned, private
residential street. This would allow the ability to issue citations as a means of parking
enforcement instead of towing vehicles as is currently the only option.
Resolution No. 2025-021 amends the fees for administrative citations and civil penalties as
updated by Ordinance No. 1308. As such, Resolution No. 2025-021 would become effective
upon the effective date of Ordinance No. 1308.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Attachments
1. Ordinance No. 1308
2. Resolution No. 2025-021
3. Notice to Furlong Place Tenants (English)
4.Notice to Furlong Place Tenants (Spanish)
August 11, 2025
Subject: Proposed Changes to Parking Enforcement on Furlong Place
Dear resident:
The Vernon City Council will be discussing possible changes to parking regulations on Furlong Place at
their meeting on:
Date: September 2, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Vernon City Hall – Council Chamber (4305 S. Santa Fe Ave., Vernon CA 90058)
Currently, parking on Furlong Place is by permit only, and each vehicle must park in its assigned space.
If Furlong Place tenants have guests, they may park in designated guest parking spaces, but must display
a valid guest parking permit, and may only park for up to 24 hours.
At this time, the Vernon Police Department can only enforce these rules by towing vehicles that are parked
illegally. The proposed changes to certain sections of Chapters 1.08 (Administrative Citations), 8.20
(Nuisances), and 10.16 (Parking Citations) of the Vernon Municipal Code, would give the Police
Department the additional option of issuing parking tickets for violations, instead of towing as a sole
measure of regulation enforcement.
We encourage you to share your thoughts about this proposed change at the upcoming City Council
meeting noted above or by submitting written comments to PublicComment@CityofVernonCA.gov with
the meeting date and item title in the subject line (email must be received at least two hours prior to the
start of the meeting).
Sincerely,
Daniel S. Wall, P.E.
Director of Public Works
City of Vernon
11 de agosto de 2025
Asunto: Cambios propuestos para el control del estacionamiento sobre Furlong Place
Estimado/a residente:
El Consejo Municipal de la ciudad de Vernon discutirá posibles cambios en el reglamento de
estacionamiento sobre Furlong Place durante su reunión el:
Fecha y Hora: 2 de septiembre de 2025 a las 9:00 a.m.
Ubicación: Ayuntamiento – Cámara del Consejo (4305 S. Santa Fe Ave., Vernon CA 90058)
Actualmente, el estacionamiento sobre Furlong Place es solo con permiso, y cada vehículo debe
estacionarse en su espacio asignado. Si los inquilinos de Furlong Place tienen invitados, pueden
estacionarse en los espacios designados para invitados, pero deben mostrar un permiso válido y solo
pueden estacionarse por un máximo de 24 horas.
Por el momento, el Departamento de Policía de Vernon solo puede hacer cumplir estas normas
remolcando vehículos estacionados ilegalmente. Las modificaciones propuestas a ciertas secciones de
los Capítulos 1.08 (Citaciones Administrativas), 8.20 (Molestias) y 10.16 (Multas de Estacionamiento) del
Código Municipal de Vernon otorgarían al Departamento de Policía la opción adicional de emitir multas
de estacionamiento por infracciones, en lugar de remolcar como única medida para hacer cumplir la
normativa.
Lo invitamos a compartir sus ideas sobre este cambio propuesto en la próxima reunión del Concejo
Municipal indicada anteriormente o enviando comentarios por escrito a
PublicComment@CityofVernonCA.gov con la fecha de la reunión y el título del tema en el asunto (el
correo electrónico debe recibirse al menos dos horas antes del inicio de la reunión).
Atentamente,
Daniel S. Wall, P.E.
Director de Obras Públicas
Ciudad de Vernon