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CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Cajulis called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: C/Freedman led the flag salute.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: M/Cajulis, MPT/Wu, C/Freedman, C/Law, C/Tragarz ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
Also present: City Manager Weiner; City Attorney Leibold; Community Development Director Vasquez, Public Works Director Barcelo; Administrative Services Director Carlson; Finance Director Merkel; Deputy Director of Community Development Guerra; Senior Management Analyst Garcia; Administrative Services Officer Ramos; Senior Management Analyst Markel; and Admin Services Specialist Cortez.
INVOCATION– NON-DENOMINATIONAL: Deacon Steve Hillman of St. Lorenzo Catholic Parish provided the invocation.
PRESENTATIONS:
• Black History Month Proclamation
M/Cajulis read the Proclamation declaring the month of February as Black History Month. • Recognition of the Cal Poly Rose Float Team – 2026 Rose Parade Sweepstakes Award M/Cajulis and the Council presented a Certificate of Recognition to the Cal Poly Rose Float Team and congratulated them for receiving the 2026 Sweepstakes Award.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL:
William Harrison thanked the City Council for recognizing Black History Month and requested that the Council reconsider a plaque for Diversity Plaza.
LV Frazier spoke regarding upcoming events for the month of February, including Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day, and Black History month, and encouraged residents to visit the library’s website for more information.
WALNUT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
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There being no other person wishing to speak, the Mayor closed oral communications.
MINUTES:
1. Approval of the January 28, 2026 Special Meeting
2. Approval of the January 28, 2026 City Council/WHA Meeting MOTION ON ITEMS 1 & 2
C/Law made a motion to approve items 1 and 2 with amendments; seconded by C/Tragarz. Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Cajulis, Wu, Freedman, Law, Tragarz NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS/ ORDINANCE: None.
COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR:
3. Resolution No. 26-07 - A Resolution of the City of Walnut Allowing Certain Claims and Demands in the Amount of $768,532.83 Demand No. 201122 through No. 201204, Both Inclusive Fiscal Year 2025-26
Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 26-07.
4. Resolution No. 26-08 - Approving a List of Projects for Fiscal Year 2026-27 Funded by Senate Bill (SB) 1: Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account Funds (RMRA)
Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 26-08, approving the Fiscal Year 2026-27 SB 1 RMRA Project List.
5. Resolution No. 26-09 – Approving a Fund Exchange Agreement of METRO Proposition A (“Prop A”) Local Return Funds Between the City of Walnut and the City of West Hollywood
Recommendation: That the City Council:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 26-09, approving a Fund Exchange Agreement between the City of Walnut and the City of West Hollywood for Proposition A Local Return Fund Exchange; and
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2. Authorize the City Manager to sign the Agreement on behalf of the City in substantially the form attached and in such final form as approved by the City Attorney; and
3. Appropriate $500,000 of restricted Proposition A Local Return Funds from Prop A Reserves into Account 23-5307-6227.
4. Authorize the exchange of $500,000 of restricted Proposition A Local Return Fundsfor $350,000 in unrestricted fundsfrom the City of West Hollywood; and
5. Appropriate funds in the amount of $350,000 to Account 01-3558 for revenue received from Proposition A Local Return Fund Exchange between the City of Walnut and the City of West Hollywood.
6. Ordinance No. 26-01 – Amending Section 3.32.070 Parking in City-Owned Parking Lot of the Walnut Municipal Code (WMC)
Recommendation: That the City Council adopt by title only and waive further reading of Ordinance No. 26-01, “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Walnut, County of Los Angeles, State of California, amending Section 3.32.070 Parking in City-Owned Parking Lot of the Walnut Municipal Code.”
7. Approval of Bus Stop Enhancement Program Agreement with Foothill Transit Recommendation: That the City Council:
1. Approve the Bus Stop Enhancement Program (BSEP) Agreement with Foothill Transit, in substantially the form attached and authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement in such final form approved by the City Attorney; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary payment requests and amendments for the purpose of securing BSEP grant funding and payments.
8. Approval of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the County of Los Angeles for Administration and Cost Sharing of the Upper San Gabriel River Coordinated Integrated Monitoring Program (CIMP)
Recommendation: That the City Council:
1. Approve the attached Memorandum of Agreement MOA between Los Angeles County and the City of Walnut for cost sharing for monitoring of the Upper San Gabriel River Watershed; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to sign the MOA on behalf of the City in substantially the form attached and in such final form as approved by the City Attorney.
9. Out of State Travel Authorization
Recommendation: That the City Council approve the travel request for City Councilmember Freedman and City Representative(s) to attend the annual RECon 2026 event, hosted by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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MOTION ON ITEMS 3-9
C/Freedman made a motion to approve items 3-9; seconded by C/Law. Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Cajulis, Wu, Freedman, Law, Tragarz NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
COUNCIL DISCUSSION/TRANSACTION ITEMS:
10. Resolution No. 26-10 - FY 2025/26 Mid-Year Budget Review & Additional Appropriations
Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 26-10, amending the adopted Fiscal Year 2025-26 Annual Budget.
Director of Finance Merkel provided a staff report.
In response to an inquiry from MPT/Wu regarding property taxes, DF/Merkel stated that property taxes are collected by the County of Los Angeles before being returned to the City of Walnut, and the process takes some time.
In response to an inquiry from C/Tragarz, DF/Merkel confirmed this would be on an accrual basis.
Council thanked DF/Merkel and City Staff for their hard work.
MOTION ON ITEM 10
C/Law made a motion to approve item 10; seconded by C/Freedman. Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Cajulis, Wu, Freedman, Law, Tragarz NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
11. 2026 Fourth of July Celebration
Recommendation: That the City Council:
1. Discuss the potential inclusion of a drone show component in the program; and
2. Provide direction to staff regarding which 2026 proposal option Council approves (fireworks only, or a combined fireworks and drone show); and
3. Direct staff to return with the agreement for the approval option(s) for consideration under the Council Consent Calendar at a subsequent Council meeting.
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Director of Community Services Bumia provided a staff report. She stated that the cost of fireworks for the 4th of July celebration of 2026 would be $46,500 and the drone show would cost an additional $62,500 for a combined cost of $109,000 for both options.
William Harrison commented on the total amount for the cost of the fireworks and drone show.
In response to an inquiry from C/Tragarz regarding total cost, including DCS/Bumia stated that the contractual services line item for this year’s event would be $77,000. This includes the custodial services, public safety services, road closures, cleaning services, audio services, canopies, chairs, lighting, entertainment, and fireworks.
C/Tragarz stated her opposition to a drone show.
MPT/Wu stated his support for the firework show.
C/Law stated her support for the firework show.
C/Freedman stated her concerns regarding the drones and stated her support for the fireworks.
M/Cajulis shared his concerns regarding the cost of the drone show.
In response to an inquiry from C/Freedman regarding music at Walnut High School, DCS/Bumia stated that she would inquire into the possibility and potential cost.
MOTION ON ITEM 11
C/Tragarz made a motion to not move forward with the drone show and approve the fireworks show; seconded by C/Law. Motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Cajulis, Wu, Freedman, Law, Tragarz 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
MPT/Wu stated that on January 31, 2026 he attended the Lunar New Year Celebration at Rowland High School.
C/Tragarz stated that she attended the Coffee with a Cop event.
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C/Freedman thanked Aroma Café for hosting the Coffee with a Cop event. She also thanked the office of Congresswoman Sanchez for $1.2 million for the Suzanne Park Project. She recognized and thanked DPW/Barcelo for her hard work. She finally wished everyone a happy Lunar New Year.
C/Law thanked the Library Manager for attending Council meetings and stated that she attended the Coffee with a Cop event. She thanked Congresswoman Sanchez for the funding. Finally, she wished everyone a happy Lunar New Year.
M/Cajulis stated that on January 26, 2026 he attended Congresswoman Sanchez’s Mayor’s Roundtable. He further stated that he also attended the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C. and met Senators Schiff and Padilla. He further attended the Coffee with a Cop event and thanked law enforcement and City Staff for their work. He wished everyone a happy Lunar New Year.
B. Individual Members’ comments and updates
COUNCIL LATE BUSINESS: None scheduled.
CLOSED SESSION: The City Attorney announced the closed session and recessed at 6:00 p.m.
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION (Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Gov’t Code Section 54956.9) Name of cases: Alex Ren v. City of Walnut et al (Case No. 2:25-CV-25-10718-JLS Alex Ren v. David Gilbertson et al (Case No. 26STCV03307) and FPPC Complaint No. COM-10092025-03383) RECONVENE COUNCIL MEETING AND ANNOUNCE CLOSED SESSION ACTION:
The meeting was reconvened at 7:03 with no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the City Council adjourned the regular meeting at 7:57 p.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 25th day of February 2026.
Ritchie Cajulis, Mayor
ATTEST:
Teresa De Dios, City Clerk
PREPARED BY:
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Jackie Cortez, Administrative Services Specialist