MINUTES
WHITTIER CITY COUNCIL
WHITTIER REDEVELOPMENT SUCCESSOR AGENCY
WHITTIER UTILITY AUTHORITY
REGULAR JOINT MEETING
WHITTIER COMMUNITY THEATRE, 7630 WASHINGTON AVENUE
JUNE 24, 2025, 6:00 PM
**MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 6:30 P.M.**
1. CALL TO ORDER - CLOSED SESSION
The Whittier City Council met in Closed Session on June 24, 2025. Mayor Vinatieri called the meeting to order at 8:07 p.m. in the Whittier Community Theater, 7630 Washington Ave, Whittier, California.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION
3. CLOSED SESSION
3.A. Closed Session Minutes
Approve the closed session minutes of May 13 and May 27, 2025.
3.B. Conference with Labor Negotiators pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Negotiator: Conal McNamara
Represented and Unrepresented Employee: Whittier City Employees’ Association, Whittier Police Officers’ Association, Whittier Police Management Association, and unrepresented employees
3.C. Conference with Real Property Negotiators pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8
Property: APN 8139-034-010, 7247 Washington Ave
City Negotiator: Conal McNamara, City Manager
Property Negotiator: Whittier Penn Partners Limited
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms.
3.D. Conference with Real Property Negotiators pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8
Property: APN 8141-001-900 and 8141-001-901
City Negotiator: Conal McNamara, City Manager
Property Negotiator: Atkins OZ Rental LLC
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms.
3.E. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Nora Phelps v City of Whittier, Claim No. 629753
Whittier City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency/Utility Authority June 24, 2025
Minutes
3.F. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Jenise Johandes and Jon A. Daley v City of Whittier, Claim No. 24-591230- 072
3.G. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation, significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(e)(1):
Two Cases
4. CALL TO ORDER - REGULAR SESSION
Mayor Vinatieri called the Regular Session to order at 6:34 p.m. in the Whittier Community Theatre, 7630 Washington Avenue, Whittier, CA 90602.
5. ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
Joseph A. Vinatieri, Mayor
Octavio Martinez, Mayor Pro Tem
Fernando Dutra, Council Member
Mary Ann Pacheco, Council Member
Cathy Warner, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Conal McNamara, City Manager
Shannon DeLong, Assistant City Manager
Keith Collins, City Attorney
Rigoberto Garcia, Jr., City Clerk
David Montgomery-Scott, Interim Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services
6. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council Member Dutra led the Pledge of Allegiance.
8. PRESENTATIONS
None.
9. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Dutra moved and Mayor Pro Tem Martinez moved seconded a motion to approve the Agenda. The motion carried unanimously.
10. 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 Whittier City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency/Utility Authority June 24, 2025
Minutes
and provided copies of the email correspondence to City Council Members for review.
City Attorney Collins indicated that the public comment section would be for both Closed and Open Session items and answered questions about public comment procedures and allotted time.
The following individuals provided live public comments:
Tom Hall; Brandon Arcega; Anonymous; Nicole Ortiz; James Becerra; Conny McCormack; Efrain Costello; Natalie; Gabe Montoya; Wendy; Samantha Garcia; David Cortez; Anonymous; Anonymous; Javier Garcia; Anonymous; Brian Ahern; Jenny Martin; Rolando Cano; Anonymous; Anonymous; Anonymous; Patrick Campbell; Betty; Claudia; Mike Garcia; Magdalena Barragñon Moe; John Baker; Alex Rocha; Michael Miramontes; Samantha Sandoval; Anonymous; Anonymous; Anonymous; Joseph Mata; and Stella Concepcion.
The following individuals provided teleconference public comments:
Catherine Lermon; Pancho; and Freddy Moncada.
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.
RECESS
Mayor Vinatieri called a recess to go into Closed Session. The meeting reconvened with all Council Members present.
7. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Collins indicated there was nothing to report out of Closed Session.
11. CITY MANAGER REPORT
None.
12. JOINT CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Vinatieri pulled Item 12.E. for individual consideration.
MOTION
Council Member Dutra moved and Council Member Warner seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar, with the exception of Item 12.E. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
12.A. Waive Further Reading
Recommendation: After the City Clerk has read the title, waive full reading of all resolutions and ordinances on this agenda for adoption.
Whittier City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency/Utility Authority June 24, 2025
Minutes
12.B. Approval of Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the May 27, 2025 Special and Regular Meeting Minutes.
12.C. Claims Against the City
Recommendation: Deny claims filed by Lydia Avila, Maggie Alvarez, Geico ASO Adilene Torressalgado, Kayla Ann Davis, Adam Roberts and Blanca Saldana.
12.D. Michael Baker International, Inc. – Professional Services Agreement Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with Michael Baker International, Inc. (MBI) for an additional three years to July 1, 2028, to perform the technical and professional on-call planning and environmental services for a not to exceed amount of $225,000 annually.
12.F. FY 24-25 Sewer Main Spot Repairs - Award of Contract Recommendation:
1) Award the construction contract to Carter Sanitation in the amount not to exceed $600,000 for the FY 24-25 Sewer Main Spot Repair; 2) Reject all other bids; and
3) Authorize the Executive Director to execute a construction contract on behalf of the Whittier Utility Authority.
12.G. Out-of-State Travel - Police Fleet Expo
Recommendation: Approve out-of-state travel for the Public Works Facilities Maintenance and Fleet Division Manager to attend the 2025 Police Fleet Expo in Birmingham, Alabama, from August 18-21, 2025.
The following item was pulled for individual consideration:
12.E. Maintenance of Landscape and Irrigation
Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to execute the Professional Services Agreement for the Maintenance of Landscape and Irrigation Systems on behalf of the City with Azteca Landscape, Inc. for a not to exceed amount of $675,624.
Interim Director Montogomery-Scott presented the report. City Manager McNamara, City Attorney Collins, and Interim Director Montogomery-Scott answered questions regarding the expansion of scope of services; the quality of work; evaluation of ongoing services; clarification on the address of a service area; the reasons for terminating the Southbay Landscape contract; bidding requirements; hourly scope of work items; irrigation repair; medians on Santa Fe Springs Road; the number of service areas; and service on the Greenway Trail.
Whittier City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency/Utility Authority June 24, 2025
Minutes
MOTION
Council Member Pacheco moved and Council Member Dutra seconded a motion to authorize the City Manager to execute the Professional Services Agreement for the Maintenance of Landscape and Irrigation Systems on behalf of the City with Azteca Landscape, Inc. for a not to exceed amount of $675,624. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
13. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
14. STAFF REPORTS
None.
15. COUNCIL MEMBER / DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE REPORTS Council Member Warner indicated she and Mayor Vinatieri attended a neighborhood meeting in East Whittier; thanked Assistant City Manager DeLong and her team for hosting the Fire Hazard Maps Workshop; attended the Elk’s Taste of Whittier event; and indicated that Staff prepared joint statements on behalf of the City Council regarding recent issues.
Council Member Dutra indicated he attended the Fire Hazard Maps Workshop; thanked City Council Members who attended his father’s services; discussed unclaimed funds on the State Controller’s website; and discussed the services offered by Metro.
Council Member Pacheco indicated she attended the Fire Hazard Maps Workshop; attended the Taste of Rio event at Rio Hondo College; attended a prayer event and a protest in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity; requested a statement from the City Manager’s office in response to residents’ concerns about recent ICE activity; and discussed sanctuary status.
Mayor Pro Tem Martinez indicated he attended the Water Resiliency Summit.
Mayor Vinatieri indicated he appreciates the residents who have provided public comments; requested that City Manager McNamara contact Nicole Ortiz about the services she offers in response to recent ICE activity; and indicated Council Member Dutra will be sworn in as the Chair of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority on Thursday June 26, 2025.
16. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Vinatieri adjourned the meeting at 10:18 p.m.