JULY 9, 2025 – CC
July 9, 2025 – Minutes Page 1
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Freedman called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: C/Tragarz led the flag salute.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: M/Freedman, MPT/Cajulis, C/Law, C/Tragarz, C/Wu ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
Also present: Acting City Attorney Mann; Community Development Director Vasquez, Public Works Director Barcelo, Administrative Services Director Carlson; Community Services Director Bumia; Finance Director Merkel; Deputy Director of Community Development Guerra; City Engineer Gilbertson; Senior Management Analyst Munoz; Administrative Services/Human Resources Officer Ramos; Senior Management Analyst Markel; Admin Services Specialist Cortez and City Clerk De Dios.
INVOCATION– NON-DENOMINATIONAL: Pastor Taylor from Vineyard of Hope provided the invocation.
PRESENTATIONS:
• Tzu Chi - Our Future, Our Responsibility: Green Pledge in Action! (Presentation by Tzu Chi Senior High School – Taiwan)
Students from the Tzu Chi High School provided a presentation to the City Council. The Council thanked the students for their informative presentation and presented certificates of recognition to the presenters.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL:
William Harrison stated that Creekside Park and Brookside property are looking nice, and thanked PWD/Barcelo and CSD/Bumia for their hard work.
Marlyn Caldwell stated that the Brookside property was looking much better, and thanked City Staff for their work.
WALNUT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 9, 2025 – CC
July 9, 2025 – Minutes Page 2
MINUTES:
1. Approval of the June 25, 2025 Study Session Meeting
2. Approval of the June 25, 2025 Council Meeting
MOTION ON ITEMS 1-2
C/Law made a motion to approve items 1 and 2; seconded by C/Wu. 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: None.
COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR:
4. Award of Bid – Snow Creek Park Improvement Project – Phase 2 Recommendation: That the City Council:
1. Reject the bid from RG General Engineering as being unresponsive;
2. Award a Construction Contract for the Snow Creek Park Improvements Project to Green Giant Landscape, Inc. in the amount of $530,000.00;
3. Reject all other bids;
4. Authorize staff to issue a Purchase Order to Green Giant Landscape, Inc. in the amount of $530,000.00;
5. Authorize staff to issue change orders not to exceed 10% of the contract award amount ($53,000.00) to Green Giant Landscape, Inc.; and
6. Approve a Purchase Order to RKA Consulting Group in the amount of $98,043.00
5. Bi-Annual Sport Group and Tournament Field Use Request – Fall 2025 Recommendation: That the City Council:
1. Approve the Bi-Annual Use Agreements for August 2025 through December 2025 for American Youth Soccer Organization, Walnut Youth Softball, Walnut Pony Baseball, and DBWV-FC Man United;
2. Approve Sunday Use and Tournament(s) as requested; and
3. Authorize the Public Works Director to execute and administer said agreements in substantially the form attached and in such final form as approved by the City Attorney.
JULY 9, 2025 – CC
July 9, 2025 – Minutes Page 3
MOTION ON ITEMS 4-5
MPT/Cajulis made a motion to approve items 4-5; 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
ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION:
3. Valley Boulevard Cooperative Agreement
Recommendation: That the City Council approve the Cooperative Agreement for the improvement of Valley Boulevard from Suzanne Road to 970 feet north of Somerset Drive and authorize the Mayor to execute the same.
CE/Gilbertson provided a brief staff report on the item.
In response to an inquiry from C/Wu regarding the timeframe for the project, CE/Gilbertson stated that the project may begin in the middle of 2026.
In response to an inquiry from MPT/Cajulis regarding whether the project would be staggered, CE/Gilbertson stated that the project would be completed in phases.
In response to an inquiry from M/Freedman regarding the possibility of a bike lane on Valley Boulevard, CE/Gilbertson stated that it would not be possible with the present configuration.
M/Freedman stated her interest in increasing bike accessibility in the City.
PWD/Barcelo stated that the City was working on a formal bike plan.
MOTION ON ITEM 3
C/Wu made a motion to approve item 3; 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
COUNCIL DISCUSSION/TRANSACTION ITEMS: None.
JULY 9, 2025 – CC
July 9, 2025 – Minutes Page 4
ANNOUNCEMENTS (COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF):
A. Councilmembers’ report on meetings attended at the expense of the local agency
C/Law stated that she attended SGVCOG meeting, the La Puente Fourth of July Celebration as well as the City of Walnut’s Fourth of July Celebration, and St.
Lorenzo Church luncheon.
B. Individual Members’ comments and updates
MPT/Cajulis stated he attended the Fourth of July Celebration as well as the first event in the Concerts in the Park series and thanked City Staff and volunteers for their hard work. He further stated that he attended the St. Lorenzo Church luncheon.
C/Wu stated that he attended the Cross School Graduation and the Fourth of July Celebration at Suzanne Park, as well as the St. Lorenzo Church luncheon.
C/Tragarz congratulated staff for the Fourth of July Celebration.
M/Freedman thanked St. Lorenzo Church for hosting the luncheon. She attended the Local Governmental Services Commission meeting regarding the upcoming Olympics.
Council encouraged residents to attend the Music and Movies in the Park series.
COUNCIL LATE BUSINESS: None scheduled.
CLOSED SESSION: None scheduled.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the City Council adjourned the regular meeting at 7:50 p.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 23rd day of July 2025.
_______________________________
Linda Freedman, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Teresa De Dios, City Clerk
PREPARED BY:
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Jackie Cortez, Administrative Services Specialist