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 MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 13230 PENN STREET
MAY 7, 2024, 6:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER - CLOSED SESSION
The Whittier City Council met in Closed Session on May 7, 2024. Mayor Vinatieri called the meeting to order at 6:03 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
3.B. Conference with Real Property Negotiators pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8
Property: APN 81 40-025-005, 12102 Hadley St
City Negotiator: Brian Saeki
Property Negotiator: JLC Transportation Inc.
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms.
4. CALL TO ORDER - REGULAR SESSION
Mayor Vinatieri called the Regular Session to order at 6:31 p.m. in the Council Chamber of Whittier City Hall, 13230 Penn Street, Whittier, CA 90602.
5. ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Joseph A. Vinatieri, Mayor
Cathy Warner, Mayor Pro Tern
Octavio Martinez, Council Member
Fernando Dutra, Council Member
Mary Ann Pacheco, Council Member
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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
Ben Pongetti, Director of Community Development
Virginia Santana, Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Paymaneh Maghsoudi, Director of Library Services
Kyle Cason, Director of Public Works
Aviv Bar, Chief of Police
Katie Galvin-Su rbatovic, Public Information Officer
6. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tem Warner led the Pledge of Allegiance.
7. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Collins indicated there was nothing to report out of Closed Session. []
8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Dutra moved and Council Member Martinez seconded a motion to approve the Agenda. The motion carried unanimously.
9. 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:
Shannon Hammer; Dominic Zamora; Noah Caldera; Miranda Diaz; Veronica Islas; David dickerson, Mary Sullens; Helen Rahder; Shawn Thomsen; Tracy Wittman; Ana Mejia; John Marsey; David Williamson; Veronica Garcia; Magdalena Barragnon Moe; Ginny Ball; Isaiah Leslie Leon Savage; and Javier Garcia.
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.
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10. CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Saeki clarified that the City Council has never taken action or discussed becoming a sanctuary city.
11. STAFF REPORTS
11 .A. Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget Proposal
Recommendation: Receive and file a report on Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 estimated revenues and proposed expenditures in preparation for the FY 2024-25 City Budget and provide direction to staff.
City Manager Saeki and Director Hui presented the report and answered questions regarding the General Fund balance amount for the end of FY 2024- 25; the surplus at the end of FY 2023-24; emergency contingency reserves; unfunded accrued liability (UAL) before and after issuance of pension obligation bonds; projection of UAL by year without pension obligation bonds; interest rates of current yearly payments to UAL; audits and expenditures associated with bonds; reasons for decrease in sales tax revenue; revenue generated by the Community Development Department; policing expenditures; and expenditures for fire department services.
Directors from each department presented their department’s accomplishments, new projects/programs, and performance measures.
City Staff answered questions regarding affordable housing programs; Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU5); fee assessments; Community Facilities District (CFD) revenue and allowable uses; the global entry program; iFixit Kits; Book mobile hours of operation; Library visitors and card holders; the Central Library and Museum partnership; priorities for the Parks Master Plan; renovations to the Michigan Park modular building; tree planting; transportation fair collaboration with Metro; and the City budget for tree maintenance.
CONSENSUS
By consensus, the City Council directed Staff to create outreach material for the affordable housing programs available.
RECESS
Mayor Vinatieri called a recess. The meeting reconvened with all Council Members present.
After the recess, Directors from the each department continued to present and City Staff answered questions regarding the protocol for requesting pothole repairs; priority areas in the paving plan; the timeline for replacing a removed tree; a project on Mills Avenue and Whittier Boulevard; replacement of street signs and streetlights; lighting maintenance districts; bike racks at bus stops; water replacement projects; the sidewalk and curb installation process; Parnell Park Whittier City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency/Utility Authority Minutes /Housing Authority/Public Financing Authority Page 4 of 5 May 7, 2024
project; the heli-hydrant project; fentanyl usage; school outreach regarding drug safety; the police department complement for officers; drone usage; State requirements regarding military equipment; Mental Evaluation Team (MET); prosecution of crimes; road and rehabilitation revenue and expenditures; contingencies; and the Central Park Historic District list of contributors.
Special Event Permits, Fee Waivers & Banners Budget Memo
CONSENSUS
By consensus, the City Council directed Staff to include $154,190 for special event permits, fee waivers, and banners in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget.
Tree Maintenance Services Budget Memo
CONSENSUS
By consensus, the City Council directed Staff to include $400,000 for the West Coast Arborists agreement in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget.
Whittier Chamber of Commerce Request for $80,000
City Manager Saeki and Public Information Officer Galvin-Surbatovic answered questions regarding previous requests from the Chamber, economic development services, and reports submitted by the Chamber.
CONSENSUS
The City Council indicated that they want the Chamber of Commerce to provide their biannual reports prior to the annual Budget Study session.
Mayor Vinatieri requested additional information on the cost of attending the United States Conference of Mayors, sponsorship opportunities for the Special Olympics Los Angeles (SOLA) Lions Club, and funding opportunities for the Whittier Regional Symphony.
City Manager Saeki answered a question regarding the Mpact Transit + Community Conferences.
Council Member Dutra recused himself from the next discussion since his wife is on the Whittier Historical Society Board. Council Member Dutra exited the Council Chamber.
Whittier Historical Society and Museum Budget Request
City Manager Saeki answered questions regarding providing funds for operating costs; the Whittier Historical Society fundraising efforts and other funding sources; services provided; and current uses of the annual funding.
The City Council deliberated.
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MOTION
Council Member Martinez moved and Council Member Pacheco seconded a motion to approve an increase the annual stipend for Whittier Historical Society and Museum to $40,000, and to bring back information on a specific project that the Whittier Historical Society would like funding for. The question was called and the motion carried 3-0-2, Council Member Dutra absent and Mayor Pro Tern Warner abstaining.
12. COUNCIL MEMBER I DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE REPORTS Council Member Martinez indicated he hosted a neighborhood meeting regarding crime prevention and neighborhood watch programs with the District 1 area police lieutenant.
Council Member Pacheco thanked Staff for the May the 4th event and indicated she attended the anniversary event at the Whittier Art Museum.
Mayor Pro Tern Warner thanked Staff for their hard work on preparing the budget and indicated she attended the May the 4t~~ event and the anniversary event at the Whittier Art Museum.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Vinatieri adjourned the meeting at 10:59 p.m.