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
MAY 28, 2024, 4:00 PM
4. CALL TO ORDER - REGULAR SESSION
Mayor Vinatieri called the Regular Session to order at 4:05 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
STAFF PRESENT:
Brian Saeki, City Manager
Keith Collins, Assistant City Attorney
Shannon DeLong, Assistant City Manager
Rigoberto Garcia, Jr., City Clerk
Kyle Cason, Director of Public Works
Council Member Pacheco led the Pledge of Allegiance.
6. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
None.
7. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
None.
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.
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.
Whittier City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency/Utility Authority Minutes May 28, 2024 Page 2 of 3
9. STAFF REPORTS
9.A. Water and Sewer Rates Study Session
Recommendation: Discuss proposed rates for Fiscal Years 2024 through 2029, and direct staff to proceed with the Proposition 218 rate-setting process.
Director Cason presented the report. City Manager Saeki, Director Cason, and John Wright from Raftelis answered questions regarding infrastructure replacements; appointments to State regulatory water boards; emerging contaminants; optional drought rates set by the State; funds for capital improvement projects; retailers and wholesaler of water; the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR); major contributors increasing the amount of PFAs in water; cost of fire connections; percentage of water pipes replaced; the Water Master Plan; days of operation and maintenance (O&M); industry best practices for reserves and O&M; priority list for infrastructure projects; the storage and transmission of water; projected operating expenses increases; the Capital expenses and appropriation of emergency reserves increases between fiscal years 27/28 and 28/29; action taken by other cities with similar issues; percentage increases in water and sewer for other cities; potential refunds or rebates; frequency of water testing; cost effective technological alternatives for water treatment; compounding interest rates; sewer main replacements; how sewer charges are collected; the steps in the Proposition 218 rate setting process.
The City Council deliberated.
Motion
Council Member Dutra moved and Council Member Pacheco seconded a motion to direct Staff to proceed with the Proposition 218 rate-setting process. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
City Council went into Closed Session.
CALL TO ORDER - CLOSED SESSION
The Whittier City Council met in Closed Session on June 4, 2024. Mayor Vinatieri called the meeting to order at 5:40 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 April 30, 2024 Closed Session Minutes
Whittier City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency/Utility Authority Minutes May 28, 2024 Page 3 of 3
3.B. Conference with Legal Counsel — Existing Litigation. pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Heather Dominguez v City of Whittier, Case No 20STCV05463
3.C. Conference with Legal Counsel — Existing Litigation. pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Jason Zuhlke v. City of Whittier, Case No 23NWCV00999
3.D. Conference with Legal Counsel — Anticipated Litigation. Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9
One Case.
3.E. Conference with Real Property Negotiators pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8
Property: State Route 72, Properties along Whittier Boulevard from Esparanza Avenue to Sorensen Avenue
City Negotiator: Brian Saeki
Property Negotiator: Local Agency Formation Commission, Los Angeles Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
3.F. Conference with Real Property Negotiators pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8
Property: APN 81 39-023-01 4, 81 39-023-01 5,
8139-023-022
City Negotiator: Brian Saeki
Property Negotiator: Skyline Holdings LLC
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Vinatieri adjourned the meeting at 5:59 p.m.