NOTICE AND CALL OF SPECIAL MEETING CALLED BY MAYOR VINATIERI
MINUTES
WHITTIER CITY COUNCIL
WHITTIER REDEVELOPMENT SUCCESSOR AGENCY
WHITTIER UTILITY AUTHORITY
WHITTIER HOUSING AUTHORITY
WHITTIER PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 13230 PENN STREET
MAY 17, 2022, 4:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER - CLOSED SESSION
The Whittier City Council met in Closed Session on May 17, 2022. Mayor Vinatieri called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. in the Council Chamber of Whittier City Hall, 13230 Penn Street, Whittier, California.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION
3. CLOSED SESSION
3.A. Conference with Labor Negotiators pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Negotiator: Brian Saeki
Represented and Unrepresented Employee: Whittier City Employees’ Association, Whittier Police Officers’ Association, Whittier Police Management Association, and unrepresented employees
4. CALL TO ORDER - REGULAR SESSION
Mayor Vinatieri, consistent with mandates of Assembly Bill 361 and local adopted policies, called the Regular Session to order at 4:54 p.m. in the Council Chamber of Whittier City Hall, 13230 Penn Street, Whittier, CA 90602.
5. ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Joseph A. Vinatieri, Mayor
Jessica Martinez, Mayor Pro Tem
Fernando Dutra, Council Member
Cathy Warner, Council Member [5:12 p.m.]
Octavio Martinez, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Brian Saeki, City Manager
Richard Jones, City Attorney
Shannon DeLong, Assistant City Manager
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Rigoberto Garcia, Jr., City Clerk
Alice Hui, Director of Finance
Yolanda Martinez, Director of Human Resources/Risk Management Kyle Cason, Director of Public Works
Ben Pongetti, Director of Community Development
Paymaneh Maghsoudi, Director of Library Services
Virginia Santana, Director of Park, Recreation and Community Services
Aviv Bar, Chief of Police
6. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tern Martinez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
7. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Dutra moved and Mayor Pro Tern Martinez seconded a motion to approve the Agenda. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Council Member Warner absent.
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor Vinatieri stated that pursuant to California State law, public comment topics are to be limited to the only issue on the agenda. General public comments can be given at the next regularly scheduled meeting, which is May 24, 2022.
The following individuals provided live public comments:
Stephanie Cuevas and Carol Crosby.
The following individuals provided teleconference public comments:
Stephanie Vallejo and D.K.
All public comments and documents submitted are part of the record and are on file with the City Clerk Department. A video of the oral communications is available through the City’s website.
9. STAFF REPORTS
9.A. Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget Proposal
Recommendation: Conduct a workshop and provide direction to staff on Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 estimated revenues and proposed expenditures in preparation for the FY 2022-23 City Budget.
Council Member Warner entered the meeting at 5:12 p.m.
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City Manager Saeki and Director Hui presented the report. City Manager Saeki, Director Hui, and Director Martinez answered questions regarding the projected surplus; Measure W sales tax forecasts; reserve adjustments; increasing internal services costs; industry-related increases; the City’s pooled insurance authority, claims payouts and settlements; Public Works General Fund uses; best practices for General Fund Reserves; effects of inflation on the budget; impacts of a potential recession on revenue; issues with infrastructure; and increases in liability costs.
Directors from each department presented on their department’s accomplishments, new projects/programs, and performance measures.
City Staff answered questions regarding Measure W ballot language as approved by voters; potential decreases in Measure W funding; staff recommendations for projects; the last update for the Community Development office layout and furnishings; the lunch buddy program offered by the Central Library; the number of cities that operate their own libraries; the number of trees planted in the last year and the number of overall trees; improving broadband infrastructure in the hills; building permits pulled from the Groves; Accela; the Museum Collection project; concrete workers’ equipment needs; transmission mains; response times for non-emergency calls; police staffing levels; sanitary sewer overflows; emergency preparedness; and groundwater treatments systems and PFAs.
MOTION:
Council Member Warner moved and Council Member Dutra seconded a motion to add the following budget item requests to the budget for discussion and to approve fee waivers for annual community events and street banners for FY 2022-23. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
Budget Item Request Amount
Update Network Security Policies $50,000
Redundant Internet Services—Microwaves $50,000
Fiber Master Plan $125,000
One-time Document Digitization $400,000
Office Layout Updates and Furnishing for Efficiency $100,000 Library Fine Free Loss of Revenue $100,000
Increase in Collection Development $275,000
Computer Lab for Public $32,500
Automated External Defibrillators Replaced $23,420
Aquatic Lift $9,000
Wooden Shade Structure Replacement $48,000
Gazebo Roof Replacement $15,590
Michigan Parking Lot Repaving and Striping $68,000
Community Center Gymnasium Door Replacements $15,000
Community Center Kitchen Range Replacements $25,000
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Body-Worn Cameras $1,500,000
Added Officer Positions $1 ,000,000*
Less Lethal Systems $30,000
Drone Support $52,000
Professional Standards Software $26,000
APEX Mobile Application for RIPA Entries $11 ,000*
ICI Dispatch Radio Service Agreement $36,406
Technology Team Operational Budget $1 0,000*
*lndicates a recurring cost
10. ADJOURNMENT
Council Member Warner discussed attending a Sanitation District meeting in Carson, CA with the Governor that included a demonstration project between the Sanitation District and Metropolitan Water District.
Council Member Martinez thanked all the departments, especially Public Works and the Police Departments, for their hard work.
Council Member Dutra thanked her Council Member Warner for her service as a board member on the Sanitation District on behalf of the City of Whittier; discussed attending the Boys & Girls Club Golf Tournament; and wished his wife, Mary, and City Manager Saeki a happy birthday.
Mayor Pro Tern Martinez thanked City Staff for all their hard work.
Mayor Vinatieri directed staff to look at branding and signage for the City of Whittier and thanked Staff for their conciseness on budget workshop presentations.
Mayor Vinatieri adjourned the meeting at 6:57 p.m.