NOTICE AND CALL OF A SPECIAL MEETING BY MAYOR VINATIERI
MINUTES
WHITTIER CITY COUNCIL
WHITTIER REDEVELOPMENT SUCCESSOR AGENCY
WHITTIER UTILITY AUTHORITY
SPECIAL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 13230 PENN STREET
AUGUST 20, 2024, 6:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER - CLOSED SESSION
The Whittier City Council met in Closed Session on August 20, 2024. Mayor Pro Tern Warner called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber of Whittier City HaIl, 13230 Penn Street, Whittier, California.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION
3. CLOSED SESSION
3.A. Conference with Legal Counsel — Anticipated Litigation, significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(e)(1):
Once Case.
4. CALL TO ORDER - REGULAR SESSION
Mayor Pro Tern Warner called the Regular Session to order at 6:32 p.m. in the Council Chamber of Whittier City Hall, 13230 Penn Street, Whittier, CA 90602.
5. ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Cathy Warner, Mayor Pro Tern
Octavio Martinez, Council Member
Fernando Dutra, Council Member
Mary Ann Pacheco, Council Member
ABSENT:
Joseph A. Vinatieri, Mayor
STAFF PRESENT:
Brian Saeki, City Manager
Keith Collins, City Attorney
Shannon DeLong, Assistant City Manager
Rigoberto Garcia, Jr., City Clerk
Kyle Cason, Director of Public Works
Whittier City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency/Utility Authority Minutes August 20, 2024 Page 2 of 4
6. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
City Manager Saeki 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
Council Member Dutra requested that the staff presentation for Item 11 .A. be moved before Item 9.
MOTION
Council Member Dutra moved and Council Member Martinez seconded a motion to move the staff presentation for Item 11 .A. before Item 9 and approve the Agenda. The motion carried unanimously.
11. STAFF REPORTS
11 .A. Green leaf Promenade
Recommendation: Receive and file the report and provide direction as necessary.
City Manager Saeki presented on the Greenleaf Promenade approval process timeline and answered questions regarding the approved actions at the May 26, 2020 and the August 10, 2021 meetings and the increase to the contract with SWA Group.
Steve Rydzon (SWA Group) presented on material thickness and base depths for pre-cast concrete payers, concrete walkways, asphalt pavements, and grasspave2 systems; existing grading; an analysis of the Pedestrian Promenade option; and the site plan for the Greenleaf Promenade Water Main.
City Manager Saeki, Director Cason, and Mr. Rydzon answered questions regarding standards for sidewalk paving; the conditions of sidewalk and soil specific to the project; the geotechnical analysis conducted in the project area; the depths of tree protection zones; existing street elevations; the viability of potential mitigating factors, such as tree wells and retaining walls; fire department requirements for loading; the initial concept design plans for the Greenleaf Promenade project; the scope of the water main replacement project; the depth of the existing water main; the condition of the existing water main; consequences of not undertaking the water main project; whether the Greenleaf Promenade project and the water main replacement project are contingent on one another; and funding sources for the Water Main project.
Whittier City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency/Utility Authority Minutes August 20, 2024 Page 3 of 4
Jeff Cram (West Coast Arborists) presented on how the tree protection zone was calculated and activities to avoid within tree protection zones. Mr. Cram answered questions regarding the accreditation of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA); the American National Standards Institute (ANSI); the calculations used to determine tree protection zones for Ficus trees; and the age and overall health of the trees in the project area.
RECESS
Mayor Pro Tern Warner called a recess. The meeting reconvened with all members present.
Mr. Cram answered questions regarding critical root zones; overlapping tree protection zones; and case studies about how construction impacts trees.
9. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor Pro Tern Warner indicated that any members of the audience who wish to deliver a public comment should submit a Public Comment Speaker Card 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:
Ivan Sulic; Torn Hall; Veronica G.; Javier Garcia; Jill Frieze-Prado; Mary Gorman Sullen; Gail Coffer; James Becerra; Torn Bihr; Helen Rahder; Monica Sena; Marilyn Avila; Nick Perez; Hades; Anonymous; Anonymous; Rolando Cano; Joanna; Eva Rodriguez; Noa Larios; Anonymous; Anonymous; Bill Corey; Anonymous; Shalom J; Teresa Espinoza; Gabriel Espinoza; Summer Jones; Anonymous; Alex; Patti McCarthy; Isaiah Leslie Leon Savage; Evan; Maggie Moe; and Jessica Jewell.
The following individuals provided teleconference public comments:
Conny McCormack; Susan Cameron; and Ivy Cameron.
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.
In response to public comments, City Manager Saeki indicated that the project costs for the Greenleaf Promenade increased due to an expansion of the project’s scope to the streets east and west of Greenleaf Avenue; a 6” inch depth design for any pavement service on the project is not possible; the water main on Greenleaf Avenue is approximately 100 years old, and needs to be replaced; the Santa Monica project referenced was part of a private development; and the total number of trees being replaced is greater than the number of trees being removed.
In response to public comments, Director Cason indicated that parking stalls will be reduced from 135 to 31 in the proposed project area.
Whittier City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency/Utility Authority Minutes August 20, 2024 Page 4 of 4
RECESS
Mayor Pro Tem Warner called a recess. The meeting reconvened with Council Member Pacheco absent.
City Manager Saeki, Director Cason, and Mr. Rydzon answered questions regarding a phasing approach; impacts to the Water Main Replacement project if the Greenleaf promenade project is phased; the potential to save Ficus trees with the approved plan; best practices for water main projects; impacts to trees as a result of the Water Main Replacement project; the number of water main breaks in the project area; changes to the tree protection zones; viability of alternate design plans to save the trees; pocket park trees; the environmental impact report (EIR) for the project; and financial assistance for businesses in the project area.
Council Member Pacheco entered the meeting.
The City Council deliberated, and no action was taken.
10. CITY MANAGER REPORT
None.
12. COUNCIL MEMBER / DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE REPORTS None.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pro Tern Warner adjourned the meeting at 9:55 p.m.
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