Jan 21, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting

Vernon, CA · 2026-01-21 · More Vernon, CA meetings · More California meetings

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Agenda

[0:57] CALL TO ORDER

[1:04] FLAG SALUTE

[1:23] ROLL CALL

[1:42] APPROVAL OF AGENDA

[2:08] PUBLIC COMMENT

[2:18] PRESENTATIONS

[2:20] 1. Employee Service Pin Awards

[4:34] PUBLIC HEARINGS

[4:35] 2. Zoning Code Amendments

[8:45] CONSENT CALENDAR

[9:31] NEW BUSINESS

[9:42] 14. Appointment of Health Officer for the City of Vernon

[11:37] 15. Fiscal Year 2024-25 Audited Financial Reports

[18:32] ORAL REPORTS

[18:37] 16. City Administrator Reports on Activities and Other Announcements

[21:17] 17. Council Reports on Activities (including AB 1234), Announcements, or Directives to Staff

[21:21] CLOSED SESSION

[1:02:50] CLOSED SESSION REPORT

[1:03:13] ADJOURNMENT

Transcript

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[0:56] I now call the January 20th, 2026, regular city council meeting to order. If you can all rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

[1:10] You

[1:20] may be seated. City clerk, if you can please call the vote.

[1:25] Mayor Lopez.

[1:26] President.

[1:27] Mayor Pro Tem Ubar.

[1:28] Here.

[1:29] Councilmember Reber.

[1:29] Here.

[1:30] Councilmember Latios.

[1:31] Here.

[1:32] And Councilmember Merlo is not present at the moment, but you have a quorum.

[1:35] Thank you, city clerk. Do we have any changes to the agenda?

[1:40] No, no we do not. May I have a motion to approve the agenda? I'll move Ibarra. I'll second Ibarra.

[1:48] So we have a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Ibarra and he's second by Council Member Rivera to approve

[1:55] the agenda. I'll call the roll. Mayor Lopez. Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Ibarra. Yes. Council Member Rivera.

[2:01] Yes. Council Member Ladios. Yes. And Council Member Merlo. Good morning. Yes. Motion passes.

[2:07] Thank you. We will now take public comments from members of the audience. If you would like

[2:10] to provide public comment, please come to the podium.

[2:13] Do we have any public comments?

[2:15] We do not.

[2:16] Seeing that there are none, we will now

[2:18] go on to presentations.

[2:19] Agenda item number one is the Employee Service Pin Awards.

[2:22] Human Resources Director Tam will present this item.

[2:25] Good morning, Madam Mayor and members of the City Council.

[2:28] Today, we would like to celebrate three employees

[2:30] for reaching their milestones with the city.

[2:33] First, I would like to honor Dominic de Alba for five

[2:36] years of service.

[2:37] Unfortunately, he's not present here today.

[2:39] Dominic was hired as an information technology specialist on December 16th in 2020 and was recently promoted to the senior IT technician position on December 1st, 2025, so we would like to thank him for his service.

[2:58] Next, I would like to honor Lieutenant Gus Herrera for 25 years of service. Lieutenant Herrera, please come forward to the dias, please.

[3:12] Lieutenant Herrera was hired as a police officer on December 4th, 2020 in 2000.

[3:17] He was then promoted to a police sergeant on July 18th of 2018 and was again promoted

[3:23] to a police lieutenant on September 12th, 2021.

[3:27] Thank you so much for your service.

[3:39] Congratulations.

[3:41] Last but not least, one of our favorite police captains, Nick Perez, for 25 years.

[3:47] Oh,

[3:51] you got Captain Gray behind you, too.

[3:58] Captain Perez was hired as a police officer on December 4, 2000, was then promoted to a

[4:09] police sergeant on July 1, 2013, and police lieutenant on July 8, 2018, and most recently

[4:15] promoted to police captain on August 24, 2025.

[4:19] Thank you so much for your servicing. Congratulations.

[4:29] Thank you for the service, guys.

[4:32] We will now go on to public hearings.

[4:35] Agenda item number two is the zoning code amendments.

[4:38] Public Works Director Wall will present this item.

[4:40] Good morning, honorable mayor and members of the city council.

[4:44] Currently, wireless facilities are allowed by right throughout the city,

[4:48] with no zoning standards governing their height, design or placement.

[4:51] As a result, the city recently experienced the construction of a 200 foot tall cell tower with the city's oversight limited to only ensuring building code compliance.

[5:02] The item before you proposes amendments to Title 17 of the Vernon Municipal Code to establish regulations for wireless telecommunications facilities.

[5:12] Key provisions of the proposed ordinance include the following.

[5:15] New wireless facilities would generally be required to obtain an approved conditional use permit.

[5:22] Facilities would be subject to design and development standards, including the use of stealth or concealment techniques when installed on existing buildings,

[5:30] and a height limit of 60 feet for new freestanding antennas, unless a greater height is required to meet federal standards.

[5:39] Conditional use permits for wireless facilities would expire 10 years and one day from the date of issuance allowing for periodic review.

[5:47] In accordance with state and federal law, eligible facilities request and qualifying co-location projects would not require a conditional use permit and would instead be subject to minor modification review at the staff level.

[6:00] So, co-location and eligible facilities are for existing cell structures, and so this would be the addition of an antenna to those structures.

[6:11] This concludes my report.

[6:14] Do we have any questions of staff?

[6:16] I do. What's the normal height and any rounder?

[6:21] So, 60 feet is the standard that we based our code on. It's kind of the model that has been used

[6:29] throughout Southern California. And what's the maximum? There is no maximum. It's based on FAA

[6:36] requirements for airplanes. Because we're outside of the landing zone. But if federal,

[6:44] you've mentioned something federal government wants for, what would be the reason why they

[6:48] So they would want more height if a cell carrier was unable to provide signal due to radio interference, due to other buildings, that kind of thing.

[6:58] So they may need to exceed the 60 feet of height, but unless they can demonstrate that there's a need to be higher than 60 feet, we would limit new towers to 60 feet height.

[7:09] What about design? Are we allowing for design tree? I know a lot of cities are now adding like tree back.

[7:14] Yeah, no, we're not requiring that what we would like to see is for a location on buildings and to have the either the antenna on the roof set back a distance from the edge of the building where it's not visible to the public or else have it incorporated into a design element on the front of the building or something where it's disguised in that manner.

[7:35] The palm trees generally don't look very good.

[7:40] any other questions I now open the public hearing at 9 0 8 a.m. if any member of

[7:47] the public would like to speak on this matter please come to the podium

[7:50] comments should be limited to three minutes please state your name and

[7:53] business affiliation if any we do not have any questions speak thank you

[7:58] does council have any additional questions of staff is

[8:04] there a motion

[8:08] We have a motion by Councilmember Larios and a second by Councilmember Merlot to approve

[8:16] the recommendations A, B, and C. For that, I'll read the title of the ordinance.

[8:22] It's an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Vernon amending Title 17, Zoning

[8:27] of the Vernon Municipal Code to regulate wireless telecommunication facilities.

[8:33] Council Member Lopez. Yes. Mayor Pro Temibara. Yes. Council Member Rivera. Yes. Council Member

[8:38] Latios. Yes. Council Member Murlop. Yes. Motion passes unanimously. We will now go on to the

[8:45] consent calendar. All matters listed on the consent calendar may be approved with one motion.

[8:49] Items may be removed from the consent calendar by any member of the council.

[8:53] Those items removed will be considered immediately after the consent calendar.

[8:57] Does council wish to pull any items from the consent calendar?

[9:00] No.

[9:01] Are there any public comments on the consent calendar?

[9:04] There are none.

[9:05] Seeing that there are none, please, I'm sorry.

[9:08] May I have a motion for consent calendar item numbers 3 through 13?

[9:12] I'm over, Vera.

[9:14] I'll second Ibarra.

[9:16] Okay, we have a motion by Council Member Rivera and a second by Mayor Pro Tem Ibarra to approve the consent calendar.

[9:21] Mayor Lopez?

[9:22] Yes.

[9:23] Mayor Pro Tem Ibarra?

[9:24] Yes.

[9:24] Council Member Rivera?

[9:25] Yes.

[9:26] Council Member Ladios?

[9:27] Yes.

[9:27] Council Member Murlow.

[9:28] Yes.

[9:29] Motion passed unanimously.

[9:31] We will now go on to new business.

[9:32] Agenda item number 14 is the appointment of Health Officer for the City of Vernon.

[9:37] Health and Environmental Control Director, Asian, will present this item.

[9:42] Good morning, Honorable Mayor and Council Members.

[9:45] The item before you is to find that it is the best interest of the City to award

[9:50] a three-year term service agreement for health officer services to Dr. Steve Floman.

[9:59] Without a comparative selection process based on his qualification, in depth familiarity

[10:05] with the city, public health infrastructure and community, and Adopt Resolution 2026001,

[10:14] appointing Steve Floman as the health officer for the city of Vernon, and also approving

[10:20] and authorizing the execution of services agreement for that, not to exceed $90,000 for a three-year

[10:27] term, and then repealing resolution number 2024-027.

[10:37] The proposed service agreement with

[10:40] Dr. Fulmin has been reviewed and approved by the city attorney's office. And we have budgeted

[10:46] for that for this year and subsequently we'll budget the next week. Thank you for your time and

[10:54] have any questions. Does council have any questions for staff? Are there any public comments?

[11:01] There are none. Seeing that there are none, may I have a motion for item number 14?

[11:06] I'll move Ibarra. I'll second Merlo. Okay we have a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Ibarra and a second

[11:12] by Council Member Merlot to approve recommendations A, B, and C. Mayor Lopez. Yes. Mayor Rotemi-Vara.

[11:18] Yes. Council Member Rivera. Yes. Council Member Latios. Yes. Council Member Merlot. Yes.

[11:23] Motion passes unanimously. We will now go on to agenda item number 15 as the fiscal year 2024-25

[11:29] audited financial reports. Finance Director Hu will present the item.

[11:36] Good morning,

[11:36] Mayor and members of the council. Our city charter requires an independent certified

[11:40] public accounting firm to conduct an annual audit of all city accounts.

[11:45] The fiscal year 24-25 audit was performed by the city's independent auditors, the Pune

[11:50] Group, and resulted in a unmodified or clean opinion, indicating no material deficiencies

[11:56] in the city's financial reporting or internal controls.

[12:00] I'd like to thank the finance department for their hard work throughout the process,

[12:04] especially as this also marks the first year the city issued an annual comprehensive

[12:09] financial report or ACFERD rather than basic financial statements. The ACFERD has

[12:14] been submitted to the GFOA certificates of achievement for excellence in

[12:19] financial reporting program, the highest recognition awarded in governmental

[12:24] accounting and financial reporting. A representative from the Pune group will

[12:28] now present the results of the fiscal year 24-25 audit. Good morning

[12:34] honorable mayor and member of the city council my name is Francis Kuo I'm

[12:39] the engagement partner for the order of the city of Vernon financial statement for the fiscal year

[12:43] and the June 30 of 2025 if you can avail to the next page.

[12:50] So in today's presentation I will go

[12:52] through the scope of work that we are engaged to perform some of the required communication

[12:58] in accordance with accounting professional standards and the financial order results.

[13:02] Next slide. And one more. So including the scope of work is the financial statement

[13:11] audit for the city's annual comprehensive financial reports and

[13:15] development public utility financial report. We also contact a single audit,

[13:20] which is required when the city have federal expenditure exceeding $750,000.

[13:26] We also engage to prepare the state controls report and also present the communication letter

[13:33] and prepare the city's financial statements.

[13:37] Next slide.

[13:39] So there are a couple of required communication in accordance with the professional standard.

[13:44] Next slide.

[13:47] So first is related to the management's responsibility.

[13:50] So the city's management is responsible to prepare the financial statement in accordance

[13:55] with the U.S. gap that also includes designing, implementing, and maintenance of the internal

[14:01] control related to the financial statement.

[14:05] Also management has to evaluate whether there are any conditions or events that could cause

[14:10] substantial doubt about the city's ability to continue as a going concern.

[14:15] Next slide.

[14:18] So for us as auditors, our responsibility is to express opinion about the financial

[14:23] statement that the financial statement prepared by management with the oversight are fairly

[14:28] presented in all material states. We also need to maintain professional skepticism

[14:34] throughout the audit process. During the audit process, we will identify and assess the risk

[14:40] of material risk statement about the financial statement and also design audit procedure to

[14:45] address those risks identified during the audit. We also consider the internal control

[14:49] maintained by the management over the financial reporting process.

[14:54] In addition to that, we evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policy used by management

[15:00] And also the reasonableness of the accounting estimate used to present a financial statement.

[15:05] And as the management evaluates whether there's any coin concern, we conclude whether there

[15:10] are any condition or event that would raise substantial doubt about the city's ability

[15:15] to continue its coin concern. Next slide.

[15:21] Couple other required communication. So throughout the whole audit, we comply with all the

[15:26] a relevant ethical requirement regarding independence.

[15:30] And we also evaluate financial statement

[15:33] and noted the city disclosed all the significant accounting

[15:35] policy in note one to the financial statement.

[15:38] So several significant accounting estimates

[15:41] include investment fair value,

[15:43] the depreciation and amortization on capital assets,

[15:47] of course pension liability

[15:49] and other post-improvement benefit

[15:51] which is your retiree health benefit.

[15:53] So, these are the couple of significant accounting estimates used by management.

[15:58] Next slide.

[16:01] In couple sensitive disclosure, note one on the summary of significant accounting policy,

[16:07] eight and nine on the city's pension plan and other post-employment benefit plan, and

[16:13] 13 related to the commitment and contingencies.

[16:17] So, during the audit, we did not have any material on correctment statement that's

[16:21] noted during the audit process.

[16:22] Next slide.

[16:26] We are also not aware of any consultation with other accountants used by management related to auditing or other matters.

[16:34] We also encounter no significant difficulty dealing with management and we have no disagreement with management in terms of accounting treatment or the other procedures performed.

[16:46] Next slide.

[16:49] So with that, I will go through the financial audit results.

[16:51] Next slide.

[16:56] So as we perform the audit procedure and concluding the audit opinion, we issue a modified opinion

[17:02] as the director mentioned that the highest opinion you can get for your financial statement.

[17:06] So what that means is the financial statements are fairly presented in all manner of respect

[17:11] to the significant accounting policy having consistently applied.

[17:17] The estimates are reasonable and the disclosures are properly reflected in the financial

[17:22] statements. And I mentioned earlier there's no disagreement with management. We also did

[17:29] not report material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting. And also

[17:34] as part of the audit, a single audit would not report any compliance issue for the city's

[17:39] federal program. Okay, next slide. With that conclude my presentation, I'm more than happy

[17:47] to answer any questions you may have.

[17:53] Thank you for the presentation. Does council have

[17:55] have any questions?

[18:00] No questions.

[18:03] Thank you. Are there any public comments?

[18:07] There are none.

[18:10] May I have a motion?

[18:12] I'll move Lario. I'll second Ibarra.

[18:15] I have a motion by Council Member Ladios and a second by Mayor Potemi-Bara to approve recommendations A-B.

[18:23] Mayor Lopez. Yes. Mayor Potemi-Bara. Yes. Council Member Rivera. Yes.

[18:27] Yes.

[18:27] Council member Latios?

[18:28] Yes.

[18:28] Council member Myrtle?

[18:29] Yes.

[18:30] Motion passes unanimously.

[18:32] We will now go on to oral reports.

[18:34] City Administrator Psyche, do you have a report?

[18:36] I do, yes, Madam Mayor.

[18:37] Members of the council, a few things today.

[18:41] LA Metro has released its draft environmental impact report

[18:44] for the Los Angeles River Path Project.

[18:47] It's currently taking public comments from the community.

[18:51] Project aims to complete an eight mile active

[18:53] transportation corridor between the Legion Valley

[18:55] in the city of Maywood,

[18:57] closing the largest remaining gap

[18:58] on the LA River Path Network.

[19:02] We will be attending one,

[19:04] at least one of these two public hearings

[19:06] versus scheduled for tomorrow

[19:09] from 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

[19:11] at Lincoln Heights Senior Center,

[19:13] the second on January 27th

[19:15] from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

[19:17] at the Maywood Center for Enriched Studies.

[19:21] The public is welcome.

[19:22] For more information visit metro.net forward slash la river path second on

[19:29] December 5th 2025 the California high-speed rail authority released for

[19:34] public review and comment under Sequa and NEPA a draft EAR EIS many more

[19:40] acronyms right for the Los Angeles to Anaheim project section of the

[19:45] California high-speed rail system public review and comment period ends

[19:49] February 3, 2026. Again, we're going to have several staff members attending these informational

[19:57] get-togethers along with the Chamber of Commerce and hopefully with several businesses because

[20:01] the impact on 2026 will be significant. And so the third open house, which would be closest to

[20:10] us, will be held in commerce. And that is this Thursday, January 22, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

[20:16] The public comment period is from 6.30pm to 8pm and the location is at the Double Tree Hotel in Commerce.

[20:26] The Vernon Community Fund is now accepting scholarship applications for 2026.

[20:30] 12th grade high school students residing or attending school in the Vernon area may submit their applications through March 26,

[20:37] 2026 for this year the VCF grant

[20:41] committed to allocated $150,000 for

[20:44] scholarships more information is

[20:45] available the city of our nca.gov

[20:47] Forge less community fund and then

[20:51] last but certain at least the

[20:52] nomination period for the seat on city

[20:54] council ends today in January 20th

[20:56] persons interested in running for

[20:57] office may schedule an appointment

[20:59] to obtain and submit material in the

[21:01] city clerk's by calling the city

[21:03] clerk department at 323

[21:05] area code 583-8811 extension 546 or emailing cityclerk at cityofvernca.gov.

[21:14] That's all I have. Thank you. Thank you. Are there any reports from council? We

[21:20] will now go to recess to close session for agenda items number 18 through 19.

[21:26] I'll

[21:30] do a closed session.

[22:13] Oh, yeah,

[23:01] I'll do a closed session right now.

[1:02:44] We are back from closed session at 1003. City Attorney, please provide the closed session report.

[1:02:50] On item 18, city council received an update from legal council. Mayor Pro Temi-Bara and council member Laudios recused on this item due to a conflict of interest.

[1:02:59] And on item 19, council received updates and provided directions of staff regarding two potential litigation items.

[1:03:06] Council member Laudios recused on one item due to a potential conflict of interest and no reportable action was taken.

[1:03:11] With no further business, I adjourn the City Council meeting at 10.04.

[1:03:16] Thank you.

[1:03:17] Thank you.

[1:03:19] Bye.