Employee Newsletter May 2018

CITY OF VERNON
EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER

MAY 2018

Memorial Day: Never Forget Their Service

This U.S. federal holiday is celebrated on the last
Monday of May to honor the men and women
of the military who have died in the line of duty
while serving their country.

MEMORIAL DAY HISTORY
The specific origin of Memorial Day, or Decora-
tion Day as it was first known, is unclear. After the
Civil War, America’s need for a secular, patriot-
ic ceremony to honor its fallen soldiers became
prominent, as monuments were erected and
dedicated, and ceremonies were held in towns
and cities throughout the nation. After World
War I, the day’s honors were expanded to rec-
ognize those who perished in all American wars.

In 1971, Memorial Day became a national holi-
day by an act of Congress; it is now celebrated
on the last Monday in May.

THE POPPY, A SYMBOL OF MEMORIAL DAY
The wearing of poppies in honor of America’s
fallen soldiers is traditionally done on Memorial
Day.

In war-torn battlefields, the red field poppy was
one of the first plants to bloom, and appeared
only when the ground was disturbed. Today,
poppies symbolize the loss of life, recovery, and
new life. (Source: The Old Farmer’s Almanac.)

We honor all who have served and thank you for
your sacrifice.

Up-to-the-Minute News

Remember to follow our Facebook, Instagram, and Twit-
ter accounts for all of the latest City related news and
events! We can be found on:

@CityofVernonCA

@City_of_Vernon

@city_of_vernon

The Latest...

Celebrated the first week of May since 1985 (beginning on the first Sunday of the month), Public Service Recog-
nition Week honors the men and women who serve our nation as federal, state, county and local government
employees.
President Donald J. Trump Proclaimed May 6 through May 12, 2018, as Public Service Recognition Week. Read
in part, the proclamation states: “During Public Service Recognition Week, we acknowledge our Nation’s civil
servants for their hard work and willingness to serve their fellow citizens. The contributions of these dedicated
men and women strengthen our country and make a profound difference in the lives of all Americans...Every
day, our Nation’s civil servants help make America better, safer, and stronger. This week, we honor their efforts
and extend our gratitude for their exceptionalism and steadfast commitment to serving the American people.”

Join us for “Open Streets” on August 19th!

Sunday, August 19, 2018!

Get ready for Open Streets! On August 19, 2018, Vernon (in partnership with Huntington Park) will be a host
to this unique event. Preparations are moving along seamlessly and we invite all employees, their families
and friends to join in on the fun. Pedestrians and bicyclists will have an opportunity to journey through streets
normally reserved for large trucks and commuters. The event is the first of its kind for Vernon who continues to
actively engage its residents and those living in its surrounding communities to convey a friendly, welcoming
environment.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Anniversaries

20 Years

Paul Cerda, Jr, Police Officer; Phillip M. Swinford, Police Officer

15 Years

Gabriel Aldrete, Senior Water Maintenance Worker

10 Years

Masami Higa, Assistant Finance Director; Alexy Escobedo, Police Officer (pictured bottom left); Ra-
fael Landa, Police Officer; Adriana Ramos, Fire Administrative Analyst (pictured bottom right)

5 Years

Cindy Gaytan, Risk Management Assistant; Zaynah N. Moussa, Senior Deputy City Attorney

New Hires, Promotions, and Recruitments

New Hires

Mark Aumentado - Assistant Engineer, Public Works Department
Jean-Marie (Jem) Fanvu - Part-Time Administrative Assistant, Public Works Department
Martin Gutierrez - Street Maintenance Worker, Public Works Department
Cesar Avila - Street Maintenance Worker, Public Works Department

Promotions

Brian Montoya - Metering Technician, Senior, Public Utilities Department

Interns

Dominique Alvarez - Human Resources Department

Recruitments

Police Officer Lateral
Police Officer Trainee

EVENTS Employees enjoyed hot dogs, peanuts, cracker jacks, nachos
and sodas on March 29th for MLB Opening Day festivities at
City Hall! It was a great opportunity for employees to get to-
gether during their lunch time and watch a live baseball game.

Department Highlights

Each day, employees are hard at work making a difference in their re-
spective departments. In this section, we will highlight a few of the ac-
complishments, happenings, and newsworthy events that have taken
place over the last several months.

VPU Elevates Customer Outreach for
Integrated Resource Planning

Vernon Public Utilities is currently involved in a rigorous process
to develop an Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) and undertake a
Cost of Service study. These instruments will set the course, serv-
ing as a roadmap for utility’s operations, planning, procurement
and strategies over the next 12 years.

To ensure customer engagement, VPU held three well-attend-
ed outreach meetings (on February 14th, March 29th, and May
2nd) – with 61 attendees representing 40 different Vernon com-
panies. Customer input is extremely important for staff to ac-
curately forecast demand for electricity, especially when con-
sidering changing technology, the climate of environmental
concerns, and financial challenges.

VPU staff received positive feedback from appreciative cus-
tomers regarding the effort to be transparent and to include
their needs and ideas into the plan. Many customers learned
about the changing energy landscape and showed an interest
regarding new technologies. Staff was able to gauge customer
expectations for the utility through surveys that were submitted
in an effort to identify customer priorities including reliability,
rates, finances, technology, and impact to the environment.

For more information, please visit the city’s IRP website at city-
ofvernon.org/IRP.

Vernon Rotary Honors Police
Officer and Firefighter of the Year!

The Vernon Rotary hosted their annual luncheon on May 3rd to honor Vernon’s Police Officer and Firefighter
of the Year. Mayor Woodruff-Perez, Council Member Ybarra, and City staff were on hand to celebrate this
year’s honorees.
2017 Police Officer of the Year - Maria Madrigal
Maria Madrigal, a 23 year law enforcement veteran, began her career with Vernon in 1999 as a Dispatcher
and was sworn in as a Police Officer the following year. Since, she has served as a DARE Officer, as a member
of the Honor Guard, and received the Lifesaving Award in 2018. Maria received more nominations than any
other candidate, and is the first female Vernon Police Officer to receive this significant honor.
2017 Firefighter of the Year - Aaron Cass
Aaron Cass is a Military Veteran who served five years in the United States Marine Corp as a Rifleman. He holds
the certifications of Paramedic, CPR instructor, Haz Mat Specialist, and US&R Technician. He has been an in-
tegral leader in the development of the Fire Line EMT and Active Shooter Programs, among others. Aaron’s
selfless service to the community can be seen through his work ethic and achievements.
Each year, this event marks a special occasion for those that dedicate their lives to serving the public and
ensuring their safety. Thank you to all Public Safety Officers for the work that you do!

Vernon Means Business

Business and industry is what we’re all about here in Vernon! This section is designed to single
out a business in Vernon and highlight their unique operation. In this edition, we are featur-
ing Romeo Power Technology - they recently opened their new facility in Vernon!

Romeo Power Technology

Innovative Tech Firm Finds a New Home in Vernon

On November 14, 2017, Romeo Power Technology, the innovative 190-person company, hosted a Grand
Opening ceremony at their new Vernon facility. In attendance for the special event were Council Members
Davis and Ybarra along with City staff members from various departments.
The Romeo Power story began in 2014 when a handful of innovators from Tesla, SpaceX, Amazon, and Sam-
sung set out to end energy poverty around the world. With deep tribal knowledge from the design, develop-
ment, and deployment of the most powerful and sophisticated battery packs on the planet, a team of leading
engineers and industrial designers was assembled to advance energy technology - And Romeo Power was
born! (Source: Romeo Power Technology website.)
The results of their efforts equate to safe, high-performance, user-friendly battery packs made to power every-
thing from electric vehicles, to entire businesses, to personal devices.
Welcome to the Vernon family, Romeo Power!

VERNON GIVES BACK

Vernon Volunteers Assist at
Supervisor Solis’ Cesar Chavez
Day of Service Event

City staff joined Supervisor Hilda L. Solis and The Salvation Army Bell Shelter on Saturday, March 24th, to aid
the homeless. Generous staff members volunteered their time to sew blankets, assist with beautification of
landscaping, and to assemble hygiene kits for those in need.

Supervisor Solis presented those employees in attendance with a commendation to City of Vernon for its sup-
port of this important community effort. As we all know, homelessness is a prominent issue and doing our part
as individuals - in any way possible - can make a difference in the lives of those affected.

We give thanks to Solis, the Salvation Army, and to our City of Vernon employees for their time and compas-
sion.

VERNON GIVES BACK

Vernon Fire Partners with
Vernon Elementary for
Physical Education

Our Vernon Fire Department visits Vernon Elementary two
times each month for very special routine engagements
with the students.
During their first montly visit, firefighters provide physical fit-
ness training to the students. The kids have become accus-
tomed to seeing their firefighter friends and enjoy the regular
workouts!
In addition to the PE classes, Fire has continued its reading
program with the students. Staff visit classrooms each month
to tell stories, and to discuss fire service and mentoring.
Great job, Vernon Fire, for supporting the community’s youth
and contributing to great programs at our local school!

COMMUNITY EVENTS

The City is focused upon building community relationships. On March 22nd, Ver-
non hosted its Spring Egg-stravaganza! Rain did not dampen the festivities. Fami-
lies from Vernon and the surrounding areas came out for a springtime celebration!

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Vernon Fire Hosts
Regional Training
Center Open House!

On April 17th, Vernon Fire hosted an Open House for
the Vernon Fire Regional Training Center! The four-sto-
ry facility was designed to provide comprehensive
training in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.
Built with 14 re-purposed cargo containers, the center
is equipped to accommodate live fire training, urban
search and rescue exercises, hazardous materials train-
ing, high rise firefighting and vertical roof ventilation.
Guests were treated to demonstrations in active fire
suppression, rappelling, and roof ventilation tactics ex-
ecuted by Vernon Fire.
The Vernon Fire Regional Training Center is an example
of the City’s committment to the overall protection,
well-being, and public safety needs of the southeast
region.

CITY CALENDAR

May

May 28

City Hall Closed - Memorial Day Holiday

June

June TBD

2018 Health & Wellness Fair (stay tuned for announcements from HR)

July

July 4

City Hall Closed - Fourth of July Holiday

July 12

Employee Appreciation Luncheon - Catered by The Habit Burger Grill & Mustache Mike’s

Let’s make the next edition great!
Offer your interesting news and events for the employee newsletter. We want to hear your

stories!
Please submit inquiries, stories, or photos to Diana Figueroa.
The next publication is due to be released in or around August 2018.