Meeting
Agenda
City of Vernon
Regular City Council Meeting
Tuesday, September 5, 2023, 9:00 AM
City Hall, Council Chamber
4305 Santa Fe Avenue, Vernon, California
 
Crystal Larios, Mayor
Judith Merlo, Mayor Pro Tem
Melissa Ybarra, Council Member
Leticia Lopez, Council Member
Jesus Rivera, Council Member
 
The public is encouraged to view the meeting at https://www.cityofvernon.org/webinar-cc or by calling (408) 638-0968, Meeting ID #. You may address the Council via Zoom or submit comments to [email protected] with the meeting date and item number in the subject line.
  
CALL TO ORDER
FLAG SALUTE
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
PUBLIC COMMENT
At this time the public is encouraged to address the City Council on any matter that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council. The public will also be given a chance to comment on matters which are on the posted agenda during City Council deliberation on those specific matters.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1.
2021-2029 Housing Element Update
Recommendation: 
A. Find that the proposed adoption of a Housing Element Update complies with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because a Final Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) was prepared for the Westside Zoning Code Amendments and on July 18, 2023, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-16 certifying the Final PEIR State Clearinghouse No. 2022040458; and
B. Adopt Resolution No. 2023-20 approving and adopting an amended General Plan (2021-2029 Housing Element Update).
CONSENT CALENDAR
All matters listed on the Consent Calendar are to be approved with one motion. Items may be removed from the Consent Calendar for individual consideration. Removed items will be considered immediately following the Consent Calendar.
2.
Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: 
Approve the August 15, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
3.
Claims Against the City
Recommendation: 
Receive and file the claims submitted by Cesar Sanchez Sanchez in the amount of $1,137.91; Levin & Nalbandyan Trial Lawyers on behalf of Raul Mojarro, for an undetermined amount; and Square-H Brands, Inc., for $14,120.
4.
League of California Cities 2023 Annual Conference Voting Delegate and Alternate
Recommendation: 
Appoint City Administrator Carlos Fandino as the voting delegate and Deputy City Administrator Angela Kimmey as the alternate to represent the City of Vernon at the General Assembly, scheduled for September 22, 2023 during the League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo.
5.
Operating Account Warrant Register
Recommendation: 
Approve Operating Account Warrant Register No. 115, for the period of July 23 through August 5, 2023, totaling $15,864,754.59 and consisting of ratification of electronic payments totaling $15,380,249.02 and ratification of the issuance of early checks totaling $484,505.57.
6.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Anti-Drug and Alcohol Policies
Recommendation: 
A. Adopt Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual Policy III-8 and III-9 – FMCSA and PHMSA Anti-Drug and Alcohol Policies; and
B. Authorize the City Administrator to make minor revisions as necessary, execute and distribute the policies to affected City Employees.
7.
Community Development Block Grant Program Closeout for Coronavirus Response Rounds 2 and 3
Recommendation: 
Receive and file the report summarizing the accomplishments performed under the Community Development Block Grant Agreement 20-CDBG-CV-2-3-00153 and authorize staff to proceed with submitting required documents for closeout to the State.
8.
Amendment No. 1 to the Attorney Services Agreement between the City of Vernon and Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP for specialized outside legal services
Recommendation: 
Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Attorney Services Agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP (Burke Williams), in substantially the same form as submitted, to increase the total not-to-exceed amount by an additional $125,000. 
ORAL REPORTS
9.
City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements
10.
Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff
CLOSED SESSION
11.

Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Marisol Trujillo v. City of Vernon
Workers Compensation Appeals Board Case No.: ADJ11853451

12.

Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation (Two cases)
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Workers Compensation Claim of Daniel Onopa: Claim No. 21006990
Workers Compensation Claim of Patrick Cam: Claim No. 22003129

CLOSED SESSION REPORT
ADJOURNMENT
On September 13, 2023, the foregoing agenda was posted in accordance with the applicable legal requirements. Regular and Adjourned Regular meeting agendas may be amended up to 72 hours and Special meeting agendas may be amended up to 24 hours in advance of the meeting.
 
 
Guide to City Council Proceedings
 
Meetings of the City Council are held the first and third Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. and are conducted in accordance with Rosenberg's Rules of Order (Vernon Municipal Code Section 2.04.020).

Copies of all agenda items and back-up materials are available for review in the City Clerk Department, Vernon City Hall, 4305 Santa Fe Avenue, Vernon, California, and are available for public inspection during regular business hours, Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Agenda reports may be reviewed on the City's website at www.cityofvernon.org or copies may be purchased for $0.10 per page.

Disability-related services are available to enable persons with a disability to participate in this meeting, consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In compliance with ADA, if you need special assistance, please contact the City Clerk department at [email protected] or (323) 583-8811 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to assure arrangements can be made.

The Public Comment portion of the agenda is for members of the public to present items, which are not listed on the agenda but are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council. The City Council cannot take action on any item that is not on the agenda but matters raised under Public Comment may be referred to staff or scheduled on a future agenda. Comments are limited to three minutes per speaker unless a different time limit is announced. Speaker slips are available at the entrance to the Council Chamber.

Public Hearings are legally noticed hearings. For hearings involving zoning matters, the applicant and appellant will be given 15 minutes to present their position to the City Council. Time may be set aside for rebuttal. All other testimony shall follow the rules as set for under Public Comment. If you challenge any City action in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised during the public hearing, or in written correspondence delivered to the City Clerk at or prior to the public hearing.

Consent Calendar items may be approved by a single motion. If a Council Member or the public wishes to discuss an item, it may be removed from the calendar for individual consideration. Council Members may indicate a negative or abstaining vote on any individual item by so declaring prior to the vote on the motion to adopt the Consent Calendar. Items excluded from the Consent Calendar will be taken up following action on the Consent Calendar. Public speakers shall follow the guidelines as set forth under Public Comment.

New Business items are matters appearing before the Council for the first time for formal action. Those wishing to address the Council on New Business items shall follow the guidelines for Public Comment.

Closed Session allows the Council to discuss specific matters pursuant to the Brown Act, Government Code Section 54956.9. Based on the advice of the City Attorney, discussion of these matters in open session would prejudice the position of the City. Following Closed Session, the City Attorney will provide an oral report on any reportable matters discussed and actions taken. At the conclusion of Closed Session, the Council may continue any item listed on the Closed Session agenda to the Open Session agenda for discussion or to take formal action as it deems appropriate.