NOTICE AND CALL OF SPECIAL MEETING BY MAYOR VINATIERI
AGENDA
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 16, 2023, 5:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER - CLOSED SESSION
The Whittier City Council met in Closed Session on May 16, 2023. Mayor Vinatieri called the meeting to order at 5:00 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
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 called the Regular Session to order at 5:36 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
Octavio Martinez, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Brian Saeki, City Manager
Keith Collins, Assistant City Attorney
Shannon DeLong, Assistant City Manager
Rigoberto Garcia, Jr., City Clerk
Alice Hui, Director of Finance
Whittier City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency/Utility Authority Agenda /Housing Authority/Public Financing Authority Page 2 of 3 May 16, 2023
Kyle Cason, Director of Public Works
Ben Pongetti, Director of Community Development
Aviv Bar, Chief of Police
Paymaneh Maghsoudi, Director of Library Services
Virginia Santana, Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services
6. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Assistant City Attorney Collins led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Vinatieri read a proclamation in honor of National Police Week.
Chief Bar thanked the City Council, City Staff and the residents for their support.
The City Council thanked Chief Bar and his staff for their hard work.
7. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tern Dutra moved and Council Member 0. Martinez seconded a motion to approve the Agenda. The motion carried unanimously.
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor Vinatieri 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.
The following individuals provided live public comments:
Susan Cameron; Christian lsraelian; and Alexis Covarrubias.
There were no teleconference 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.
El
9. STAFF REPORTS
Whittier City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency/Utility Authority Agenda /Housing Authority/Public Financing Authority Page 3 of 3 May 16, 2023
9.A. Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget Proposal
Recommendation: Conduct a workshop and provide direction to staff on Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 estimated revenues and proposed expenditures in preparation for the FY 2023-24 City Budget.
City Manager Saeki and Director Hui presented the report and answered questions regarding increases in franchise fees; revenue generated by the Groves project; the community facilities district (CFD) at the Groves; increases in professional service contract costs; and sales and tax revenues.
City Clerk Garcia answered a question regarding an increase in public records requests and permit costs.
Directors from each department presented on their department’s accomplishments, new projects/programs, and performance measures.
City Staff answered questions regarding Voting Rights Act (VRA) advisory groups; GIS inter-department integration; online public records requests; changes State election laws regarding vote centers; voting locations for the 2024 election; transparency measures; cost-savings of conducting a municipal election inhouse; plan submittal approval process; electronic plan submittals; the number of Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) built; pre-approved ADU building plans; the Housing Element; affordable housing; the Whittier Navigation Center; State Park passes; revenue generated from passport fees; Whittier library usage from nonWhittier residents; current tree maintenance contract; increases in professional service contract costs; Whittier Youth Network (WYN) Club; water lease revenue; tipping fees; the use of rubberized asphalt; Class 1 bike lanes; graffiti abatement; funding options for residential streetlight projects; broadband improvements along Greenleaf Avenue; new painting crew; restriping bike lanes; new trends in drug use; and police department hiring practices and shortages.
CONSENSUS
By consensus, the City Council directed staff to assess areas for lighting issues across the City and bring back a report.
ACCLAMATION
By acclamation, the City Council directed Staff to move forward with the budget as proposed for the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget public hearing.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Vinatieri adjourned the meeting at 8:18 p.m.
LI
LI