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CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Freedman called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: C/Wu led the flag salute.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: M/Freedman, MPT/Cajulis, C/Law, C/Tragarz, C/Wu ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
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 Director Merkel; Deputy Director of Community Development Guerra; Senior Management Analyst Munoz; Community Relations Officer Maio; Senior Management Analyst Markel; Planning and Code Enforcement Specialist Morales; Admin Services Specialist Cortez and City Clerk De Dios.
INVOCATION– NON-DENOMINATIONAL: Pastor Terrence Shay from First Chinese Baptist Church in Walnut led the invocation.
PRESENTATIONS:
• Pets of the Month – “Stacey” - 17-week-old female terrier mix and “Prince” - 7-weekold male domestic shorthair cat City Staff presented a video on the Pets of the Month, Stacey and Prince. • Public Safety Update – Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Captain Tousey Captain Tousey provided a public safety update for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Council thanked Captain Tousey for the presentation. • Public Safety Update - Fire Department Quarterly Report Chief Gamble from the LA County Fire Department provided a public safety update including the Fire Department statistics. Council thanked Chief Gamble for his presentation.
WALNUT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
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ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL:
Muoy Li, Library Manager reported that the Walnut Library is participating in the Discovery Summer Program which will be taking place until August 10. She further encouraged residents to visit the Library’s website for more information on summer programming.
William Harrison spoke regarding the Brookside property, ASCE awards, and Diversity Plaza.
MINUTES:
1. Approval of the July 9, 2025 Council meeting
MOTION ON ITEM 1
C/Law made a motion to approve Item 1; 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
PUBLIC HEARINGS/ ORDINANCE:
2. Public Nuisance Abatement – Declaration of Public Nuisance for Substandard Property located at 18989 Gold Hill Drive (APN: 8735-030-003) Recommendation: That the City Council:
1. Open the Public Hearing;
2. Hear the Staff Report;
3. Solicit public input on this item;
4. City Council Discussion;
5. Close the Public Hearing;
6. Adopt Resolution No. 25-32 and declare the following Property as a Public Nuisance: 18989 Gold Hill Drive (APN: 8735-030-003); and
7. Authorize Staff to begin the “Public Nuisance Abatement” process, as prescribed in Walnut Municipal Code (WMC) Chapter 3.36 (Nuisance)
M/Freedman opened the public hearing at 7:40 pm.
PCES/Morales provided a brief staff report on the item.
M/Freedman opened public comment.
Laura Mejia expressed concerns regarding the subject property.
William Harrison expressed health and safety concerns.
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Mr. Liu provided a public comment regarding his property.
Ms. Mejia expressed concerns regarding the neighbor and subject property.
In response to an inquiry from MPT/Cajulis regarding a previous abatement, CDD/Vasquez confirmed although that the property owner stated the property would be ready by September 1st, no plan was provided to City Staff.
CM/Weiner provided background information from 2019, which included a previous attempt at abatement in which City Staff and Valley Vista coordinated a clean-up of the same property.
In response to an inquiry from C/Wu, CDD/Vasquez confirmed that this time the property owner did not allow City Staff to access the property. C/Wu stated his concerns with the subject property.
In response to an inquiry from C/Law regarding the inoperable vehicle, CDD/Vasquez stated that the tags and condition of the vehicle indicate its current state.
C/Tragarz stated her concern with safety hazards, including fire and health safety.
In response to an inquiry from M/Freedman regarding permits, CDD/Vasquez provided information on permit requirements.
CDD/Vasquez stated that the property owner needs to communicate a plan and show proof of contracted work and stated that a meeting should be held within the week.
There being no further input, M/Freedman closed the public hearing at 8:12 pm.
MOTION ON ITEM 2
C/Tragarz made a motion to approve Item 2; 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 CONSENT CALENDAR:
3. Resolution No. 25-33 - A Resolution of the City of Walnut Allowing Certain Claims and Demands in the Amount of $428,885.87 Demand No. 170437 through No. 170477, Both Inclusive Fiscal Year 2024-25
Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 25-33.
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4. Resolution No. 25-34 - A Resolution of the City of Walnut Allowing Certain Claims and Demands in the Amount of $996,167.16 Demand No. 200000 through No. 200052, Both Inclusive Fiscal Year 2024-25
Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 25-34.
5. Resolution No. 25-35 - A Resolution of the City of Walnut Allowing Certain Claims and Demands in the Amount of $1,912,944.26 Demand No. 200053 through No. 200057, Both Inclusive Fiscal Year 2025-26
Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 25-35.
6. Resolution No. 25-36 - A Resolution of the City of Walnut Allowing Certain Claims and Demands in the Amount of $1,393,382.22 Demand No. 200058 through No. 200118, Both Inclusive Fiscal Year 2024-25
Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 25-36.
7. Resolution No. 25-37 - A Resolution of the City of Walnut Allowing Certain Claims and Demands in the Amount of $84,782.80 Demand No. 200019 through No. 200144, Both Inclusive Fiscal Year 2025-26
Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 25-37.
8. Notice of Decision – July 16, 2025 Planning Commission Meeting Recommendation: That the City Council:
1. Receive and File the “Notice of Decision” by the Planning Commission at its July 16, 2025 Meeting for the following Item(s)/Project(s):
a) Reorganization of the Planning Commission (PC) 2025-2026.
MOTION ON ITEMS 3-8
C/Tragarz made a motion to approve Items 3-8; 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 scheduled.
ANNOUNCEMENTS (COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF):
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A. Councilmembers’ report on meetings attended at the expense of the local agency
MPT/Cajulis stated that he attended Music and Movies in the Park and thanked Staff for their hard work. He further stated that he also attended the Inaugural event for the Filipino Catholic Center in Anaheim, the American Society of Civil Engineers event.
C/Wu stated that he also attended the ASCE event, as well as Music and Movies in the Park and the FitMotion grand opening.
C/Law stated that on July 10 she spoke at a Tzu Chi event and attended the anniversary event for Fong Printing. She also attended the FitMotion grand opening, the ASCME awards, and Music and Movies in the Park.
C/Tragarz stated that she attended the FitMotion grand opening, the ASCE awards, and Music and Movies in the Park.
B. Individual Members’ comments and updates
M/Freedman thanked City Staff for their hard work, and thanked County Library, County Fire, and County Sheriffs Staff for attending and presenting.
COUNCIL LATE BUSINESS: None scheduled.
COUNCIL ADJOURNS TO WALNUT PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY
9. Convene Annual Meeting of Walnut Public Financing Authority - The Walnut Improvement Agency established the Walnut Public Financing Authority for the purpose of issuing bonds, and the Authority is required to hold an annual meeting.
The officers of the Authority are the same as the officers of the City Council.
A. Notice of Meeting – Walnut Public Financing Authority – “As properly posted, this is now the time and place for the annual meeting of the Walnut Public Financing Authority.”
B. Call to order
C/Freedman called the meeting to order at 8:22 pm.
WALNUT PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY
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C. Roll call
Authority Members Present: Cajulis, Freedman, Law, Tragarz, Wu D. Oral Communications
Captain Tousey requested to adjourn the City Council meeting in memory of the three fallen Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies.
E. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of July 24, 2024.
MOTION ON ITEM 9E
AM/Tragarz made a motion to adopt staff recommendations; seconded by AM/Wu. Motion carried by the following voice vote:
AYES: Authority Members: Cajulis, Freedman, Tragarz, Wu NOES: Authority Members: None
ABSTAIN: Authority Members: Law
ABSENT: Authority Members: None
F. Discussion/Transaction Items – None scheduled.
G. Adjournment
WPFA ADJOURNS TO THE WALNUT HOUSING AUTHORITY
CITY COUNCIL ADJOURNS TO THE WALNUT HOUSING AUTHORITY
CALL TO ORDER: Authority Chair Freedman called the meeting to order at 8:24 p.m.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR HOUSING AUTHORITY:
There being no one present wishing to speak, it was unanimously moved by the Authority to close oral communications; motion carried.
AUTHORITY PUBLIC HEARINGS: None scheduled.
WALNUT HOUSING AUTHORITY MEETING
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AUTHORITY CONSENT CALENDAR:
10. Resolution No. 25-07 WHA - A Resolution of the Walnut Housing Authority Allowing Certain Claims and Demands in the Amount of $42,384.97 Demand No. 100500 Through No. 100501, Both Inclusive Fiscal Year 2024-25 Recommendation: That the Authority adopt Resolution No. 25-07 WHA MOTION ON ITEM 10
AM/Law made a motion to approve Item 10; second by AM/Wu. Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Cajulis, Freedman, Law, Tragarz, Wu NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
M/Freedman asked everyone to take a moment of silence for the fallen LA County Deputies.
AUTHORITY DISCUSSION/TRANSACTION ITEMS: None scheduled.
AUTHORITY LATE BUSINESS: None scheduled.
AUTHORITY ADJOURNS TO CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CLOSED SESSION:
The City Attorney announced the closed session and recessed at 8:26 p.m.
A. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Gov’t Code §§ 54957(B)):
City Manager
RECONVENE COUNCIL MEETING AND ANNOUNCE CLOSED SESSION ACTION:
The meeting was reconvened at 9:00 p.m. with no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the City Council adjourned the regular meeting at 9:00 p.m in honor of the fallen Deputies.
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PASSED AND APPROVED this 13th day of August 2025.
_______________________________
Linda Freedman, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Teresa De Dios, City Clerk
PREPARED BY:
_______________________________________
Jackie Cortez, Administrative Services Specialist