NOTICE AND CALL OF SPECIAL MEETING BY MAYOR VINATIERI
MINUTES
WHITTIER CITY COUNCIL
WHITTIER REDEVELOPMENT SUCCESSOR AGENCY
WHITTIER UTILITY AUTHORITY
SPECIAL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 13230 PENN STREET
FEBRUARY 14, 2023, 4:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER - CLOSED SESSION
The Whittier City Council met in Closed Session on February 14, 2023. Mayor Pro Tern Martinez called the meeting to order at 4:06 p.m. in the Council Chamber of Whittier City Hall, 13230 Penn Street, Whittier, California.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION
None.
3. CLOSED SESSION
3.A. Approval of Minutes - Closed Session
Approve the January 10, 2023 Closed Session Minutes.
3.B. Conference with Legal Counsel — Anticipated Litigation, initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4): One Case City of Whittier v. Teva, Allergan, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart - RefNum CL-3831 35+
3.C. Conference with Real Property Negotiators pursuant to Government Code Section 549568
Properties: Former Alpha Beta Site:
8139-005-909- 12813 Bailey Ave
8139-005-910, 12802 Hadley St
8139-005-911, 12813 Bailey Ave
8139-005-912, 6557 Comstock Ave
8139-013-901, Milton Ave
8013-013-900, 6703 Comstock
8139-005-904, Comstock Ave
.8139-005-905, Comstock Ave
8139-005-906, Comstock Ave
8139-005-907, Comstock Ave
8139-005-908, Comstock Ave
8139-005-902, Greenleaf Ave
8139-005-903, Greenleaf Ave
8139-004-900, Bright Ave
8139-004-901, Bright Ave
8139-015-900, 6711 Bright
8139-015-902, 6724 Green leaf Ave
8139-015-901, 6726 Greenleaf Ave
Whittier City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency/Utility Authority Minutes February 14, 2023 Special Meeting Page 2 of 5
City Negotiator: Brian Saeki, City Manager
Property Negotiator: Brian Saeki, Executive Director
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms.
3.D. Conference with Legal Counsel — Existing Litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Whittier Conservancy v. City of Whittier - Court Case No. 22STCP03523
3.E. Conference with Labor Negotiators pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Represented and Unrepresented Employee: Whittier City Employees’ Association, Whittier Police Officers’ Association, Whittier Police Management Association, and unrepresented employees
3.F. Conference with Real Property Negotiators pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8
Property: State Route 72, Properties along Whittier Boulevard from Esperanza Avenue to Sorensen Avenue
City Negotiator: Brian Saeki
Property Negotiator: Local Agency Formation Commission, Los Angeles
4. CALL TO ORDER - REGULAR SESSION
Mayor Pro Tern Martinez, consistent with mandates of Assembly Bill 361 and local adopted policies, called the Regular Session to order at 4:06 p.m. in the Council Chamber of Whittier City Hall, 13230 Penn Street, Whittier, CA 90602.
5. ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Jessica Martinez, Mayor Pro Tern
Fernando Dutra, Council Member
Cathy Warner, Council Member [4:08 p.m.]
Octavio Martinez, Council Member
ABSENT:
Joseph A. Vinatieri, Mayor
STAFF PRESENT:
Brian Saeki, City Manager
Richard D. Jones, City Attorney
Shannon DeLong, Assistant City Manager
Rigoberto Garcia, Jr., City Clerk
Kyle Cason, Director of Public Works
City Manager Saeki indicated Mayor Vinatieri recused himself from the item due to a conflict of interest since he owns a business on Greenleaf Avenue.
Whittier City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency/Utility Authority Minutes February 14, 2023 Special Meeting Page 3 of 5
6. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council Member Dutra led the Pledge of Allegiance.
7. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
The closed Session report was delivered at the Regular Meeting.
8. PRESENTATIONS
None.
9. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Dutra moved and Council Member Martinez seconded a motion to approve the Agenda. The motion carried 3-0-1, Council Member Warner absent.
10. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor Pro Tern Martinez indicated that any members of the audience who wish to deliver a public comment should line up by the lectern and any members of the public on Zoom who wish to deliver a public comment should raise their hand. Staff forwarded and provided copies of the email correspondence to City Council Members for review.
There were no public comments.
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.
11. STAFF REPORTS
11 .A. Greenleaf Streetscape — Study Session
Recommendation: Provide direction on design related items for the Greenleaf Streetscape Plan.
Director Cason presented the report. The City Council considered the following discussion points:
Paving
City Manager Saeki and Director Cason answered questions regarding permeability of the payers; maintenance of the seat walls and payers; power washing; American with Disability Act (ADA) compliance; and the flooring of neighboring cities’ outdoor promenades.
Whittier City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency/Utility Authority Minutes February 14, 2023 Special Meeting Page 4 of 5
CONSENSUS
By consensus, the City Council directed Staff to proceed with Option A, which consists of 4 x 4 pre-cast unit payers, a running bond pattern with a gradient color blend, and a pillowed finished for skate deterrence.
Intersection Crosswalk
City Manager Saeki, Director Cason and Steve Rydzon, Principal from SWA Group, answered questions regarding the concrete ribbons and their finishing.
CONSENSUS
By consensus, the City Council directed Staff to proceed with the recommendation for pre-cast concrete unit payers with central concrete panels for the intersection crosswalks.
Mid-Block Crosswalk
Director Cason answered questions regarding truncated domes and additional options for domes that are ADA compliant.
CONSENSUS
By consensus, the City Council directed Staff to proceed with the recommendation for pre-cast concrete unit payers with central concrete panels at the midblock crosswalks.
Gateways
Director Cason answered questions regarding input from the Fire Department and Whittier Police Department; lighting of the structures; and incorporation of public art into the secondary column structures.
CONSENSUS
By consensus, the City Council directed Staff to proceed with the recommendation to have primary overhead structures at Hadley and Wardman reviewed and approved by LA County Fire and secondary column structures at Bailey and Philadelphia.
Modular Street Elements
City Manager Saeki and Director Cason answered questions regarding the potential amount of restaurant pods; options for the modular street elements; the maintenance and durability of the structures; potential impacts of weather on umbrellas.
Whittier City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency/Utility Authority Minutes February 14, 2023 Special Meeting Page 5 of 5
CONSENSUS
By consensus, the City Council directed Staff to proceed with the recommendation to provide either a metal canopy option or a cantilevered umbrella option for businesses along Greenleaf Avenue.
Paseo Plaza
Director Cason answered questions regarding pedestrian access to the Multideck parking structure from the rear and lighting.
CONSENSUS
By consensus, the City Council directed Staff to proceed with the recommendation to have a paseo plaza in front of the Multideck Parking Structure that would be open space and to close the side driveway to the parking structure between the alley and Greenleaf Avenue.
Paseo Pocket Park
Director Cason answered questions regarding dog bag dispenser stations.
CONSENSUS
By consensus, the City Council directed Staff to proceed with the recommendation to create a pocket park with open space at 7018 Greenleaf Avenue.
Tree Plant Palette
City Manager Saeki, Director Cason, and Mr. Rydzon answered questions regarding deciduous trees and the box size recommendations.
Understorv Plant Palette
Mr. Rydzon answered questions regarding the drought tolerance of the new plants.
City Manager Saeki presented on “Greenleaf through History” and discussed the difficulty of preserving Ficus trees in the new design.
12. COUNCIL MEMBER I DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE REPORTS Comments and Conference reports were delivered at the conclusion of the Regular Meeting.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pro Tem Martinez adjourned the Special Meeting at 5:59 p.m. and the City Council went into Closed Session.