MAY 14, 2025 – CC/WHA
May 14, 2025 – Minutes Page 1
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Freedman called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: M/Freedman led the flag salute.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: M/Freedman, MPT/Cajulis, C/Law, C/Tragarz, C/Wu ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
Also present: City Manager Weiner; Acting City Attorney Mann; Community Development Director Vasquez, Public Works Director Barcelo, Administrative Services Director Carlson; Community Services Director Bumia; Finance Manager Meza; Deputy Director of Community Development Guerra; Senior Management Analyst Munoz; Community Relations Officer Maio; Administrative Services/Human Resources Officer Ramos; Senior Management Analyst Markel; Admin Services Specialist Cortez and City Clerk De Dios.
INVOCATION– NON-DENOMINATIONAL: Pastor Dion Kurniadi of City Blessings Church provided the invocation.
PRESENTATIONS:
• Walnut High School Dance Team
The City Council presented certificates of recognition to the Walnut High School Dance Team for their National Title win. Field Representative Stephen Coronel from the office of Assemblymember Calderon also presented certificates to the team. The City Council, Field Representative Stephen Coronel, and Coach Audrey Wang congratulated the team and thanked them for their hard work.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL:
William Harrison thanked City Staff for their hard work.
Muoy Li, Library Manager reported that the Walnut Library is celebrating National Library month and encouraged residents to visit the Library’s website for more information.
WALNUT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 14, 2025 – CC/WHA
May 14, 2025 – Minutes Page 2
MINUTES:
1. Approval of the April 23, 2025 City Council meeting
MOTION ON ITEM 1
C/Wu made a motion to approve item 1; seconded by C/Law. Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Cajulis, Freedman, Law, Tragarz, Wu NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS/ ORDINANCE:
2. Resolution No. 25-17 - Public Hearing Regarding Setting 2025-26 Lighting and Open Space Maintenance District No. 1 (LOSMD) Assessments Recommendation: That the City Council:
1. Open the Public Hearing;
2. Hear the Staff Report;
3. Solicit Input on the Item;
4. Close the Public Hearing;
5. Approve the Engineer’s Report for Fiscal Year 2025-26; and Adopt Resolution No. 25-17 Ordering the Maintenance Work, Confirming the Diagram, Assessments, and All Other Matters Set Forth in the Engineer’s Report, Setting the Lighting and Open Space Maintenance District No. 1 Assessments for Fiscal Year 2025-26 for Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12.
Mayor Freedman opened the public hearing at 7:25pm.
Cody Howing, Assessment Engineer, provided a brief staff report on the item.
In response to an inquiry from MPT/Cajulis, DPW/Barcelo stated that no residents formally reached out to City Staff. She further stated there are about 25 residents that City Staff informally reach out to provide staff reports, updates, and meeting invitations, however these residents have not been actively responding in some time.
There being no further discussion, Mayor Freedman closed the public hearing at 7:28pm.
MAY 14, 2025 – CC/WHA
May 14, 2025 – Minutes Page 3
MOTION ON ITEM 2
C/Law made a motion to approve item 2; seconded by MPT/Cajulis. Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Cajulis, Freedman, Law, Tragarz, Wu NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR:
3. Agreement for Vendor Services between the City of Walnut and City of Brea (BreaIT)
Recommendation: The City Council:
1. Approve an Agreement for Vendor Services between the City of Walnut and the City of Brea (BreaIT);
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute and administer the agreement for vendor services on behalf of the City in such final form as approved by the City Attorney.
MOTION ON ITEM 3
C/Wu made a motion to approve item 4; seconded by C/Law. Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Cajulis, Freedman, Law, Tragarz, Wu NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ITEM PULLED FOR DISCUSSION:
4. Resolution No. 25-18 - A Resolution of the City of Walnut Allowing Certain Claims and Demands in the Amount of $1,315,780.19 Demand No. 170121 through No. 170216, Both Inclusive, Fiscal Year 2024-25 Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 25-18 In response to an inquiry from C/Law regarding one of the warrants, Director of Finance Alex Merkel Medina stated that the “steak” charge was for a senior excursion.
MAY 14, 2025 – CC/WHA
May 14, 2025 – Minutes Page 4
MOTION ON ITEM 4
MPT/Cajulis made a motion to approve item 4; seconded by C/Tragarz. Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Cajulis, Freedman, Law, Tragarz, Wu NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
COUNCIL DISCUSSION/TRANSACTION ITEMS:
5. Assembly Bill 2561 – City of Walnut Recruitment and Retention Status Update
Recommendation: The City Council approve the implementation of Assembly Bill 2561 (AB 2561) and accept this report of the City’s recruitment and retention status
Administrative Services / Human Resources Officer Alyssa Ramos provided a brief staff report on the item. In response to an inquiry from C/Wu regarding the advertisement of job postings, Administrative Services / Human Resources Officer Ramos stated that NeoGov would centralize the application and recruitment process.
MOTION ON ITEM 5
C/Wu made a motion to approve item 5; seconded by C/Law. Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Cajulis, Freedman, Law, Tragarz, Wu NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ANNOUNCEMENTS (COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF):
A. Councilmembers’ report on meetings attended at the expense of the local agency
MAY 14, 2025 – CC/WHA
May 14, 2025 – Minutes Page 5
MPT/Cajulis stated that he attended the following events: the April SGV Board Meeting, the Diamond Bar Chinese American Association Annual Gala, the Animal Hospital of Walnut Ribbon Ceremony, the Diamond Bar Mayor’s Luncheon, and the City of Walnut’s Mayor’s Breakfast.
C/Wu stated that he attended the following: the Southern California Association of Governments Regional Conference event, the Animal Hospital of Walnut Ribbon Ceremony, the Walnut Valley Water District Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon, and the Sheriff’s Booster Club event at Diamond Bar, and the Mosquito and Vector Control District.
C/Tragarz stated that she attended the following events: Water District Luncheon, Sheriff’s Department Volunteer Dinner, Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, and City Leaders Summit.
C/Law stated that she attended the following events: Sacramento City Leaders Summit, Mayor Prayer’s Breakfast, Fire Department Open House, Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon, and Sheriff’s Booster Club Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.
M/Freedman thanked City Staff for their hard work. She encouraged residents to attend the next Pizza with a Peace Officer event, which will be taking place on May 22, 2025.
M/Freedman further stated that the City is accepting applications for all Commissions with an application deadline of May 28th at 5 p.m.
B. Individual Members’ comments and updates
COUNCIL LATE BUSINESS: None scheduled.
CLOSED SESSION: The City Attorney announced the closed session and recessed the meeting at 7:43 p.m.
A. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
(Gov’t Code Section 54957.6)
City Negotiator: City Manager Tom Weiner
Employee organization: Walnut City Employees Association (WCEA) and Unrepresented Employees
RECONVENE COUNCIL MEETING AND ANNOUNCE CLOSED SESSION ACTION:
The meeting was reconvened at 8:15 p.m. The City Attorney announced an agreement was reached with the WCEA and Unrepresented Employees and staff report will be brought back at the next City Council meeting as a consent calendar.
MAY 14, 2025 – CC/WHA
May 14, 2025 – Minutes Page 6
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the City Council adjourned the regular meeting at 8:16 p.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 28th day of May 2025.
_______________________________
Linda Freedman, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Teresa De Dios, City Clerk
PREPARED BY:
_______________________________________
Jackie Cortez, Administrative Services Specialist