NOTICE AND CALL OF SPECIAL MEETING BY MAYOR BECERRA
MINUTES
WHITTIER CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 13230 PENN STREET
AUGUST 19, 2026, 6:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER - REGULAR SESSION
Mayor Becerra called the Regular Session to order at 6:04 p.m. in the Council Chamber of Whittier City Hall, 13230 Penn Street, Whittier, CA 90602.
2. ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
James Becerra, Mayor
Mary Ann Pacheco, Mayor Pro Tem
Cathy Warner, Council Member
Aida Macedo, Council Member
Vicky Santana, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT:
Conal McNamara, City Manager
Keith Collins, City Attorney
Rigoberto Garcia, Jr., City Clerk
Kyle Cason, Deputy City Manager – Operations
Ben Pongetti, Director of Community Development
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tem Pacheco led the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION
Council Member Warner moved and Mayor Pro Tem Pacheco seconded a motion to approve the Agenda. The motion carried unanimously.
5. PRESENTATIONS
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor Becerra 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.
Whittier City Council
August 19, 2026
Minutes
The following individuals provided live public comments:
Mary Gorman-Sullens; Lou Grimaldi; Ralph Mendez; Jason Moberly Carruso; Yasmin Gomez; Maggie Moe; Emily Pierry; Jenny Martin; Michelle Alvarado; and Lolita Barrett.
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 recording of the oral communications is available through the City’s website.
7. CITY MANAGER REPORT
None.
8. STAFF REPORTS
8.A. Housing and State Legislative Study Session
Recommendation: Receive and file a report and presentation regarding Housing and State Legislative updates.
Elisa Arcidiacono of Townsend Public Affairs presented a report on the legislative calendar, a history of housing policy, homelessness, massage parlors and thrift stores, and data centers.
City Manager McNamara, Deputy City Manager Cason, Director Pongetti, and Ms. Arcidiacono answered questions regarding Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) numbers and current cycle; the annexation of Whittier Boulevard; the Housing Accountability Act; major transit spots in Whittier; the definition of a “project” under Assembly Bill 2097; Senate Bill 4 applications; current reporting on homelessness; Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) funding allocations; data on the efficiency of the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act; additional tools for the service-resistant homeless population; cities’ abilities to set standards regarding the permitting of massage parlors; California Massage Therapy Council certification requirements; cities’ abilities to regulate the land use for donation cites; differential fee schedules for massage parlors; unsupervised thrift store drop offs; data center bans; pending legislation bills; trailer bills; the General Plan; ability to require community benefits with new developments; traffic impact fees; ministerial streamlining approvals; bills related to updates/changes to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemptions; qualified units; a housing bond on the November 2026 ballot; the likelihood of data centers in Whittier; potential risks of an ordinance banning data centers; housing affordability and affordable units; consequences of not having a compliant Housing Element; cities’ lawsuits against State; potential impacts of housing developments to municipal services; Weingardt permanent housing project; and funding sources and allocations.
MOTION
Whittier City Council
August 19, 2026
Minutes
Council Member Pacheco moved and Mayor Pro Tem Pacheco seconded a motion to agendize an item at the August 25, 2026 City Council meeting directing Staff and the City Attorney to review the City's General Plan and relevant codes and return to the City Council with recommendations regarding land uses and potential development projects that may create significant demands on municipal infrastructure, public services such as law enforcement, environmental resources as well as potential uses that might be incompatible with Whittier and what residents want in our community. The review should include, but not be limited to, data centers, detention or processing facilities, temporary or workforce Lodging, congregate residential or institutional facilities, car washes, massage parlors and other intensive land uses that may involve substantial water or energy consumption, significant residential or congregate occupancy, heightened public safety considerations, or increased demands on municipal infrastructure and services. Staff should also report back on whether an Urgency Ordinance is an appropriate tool while staff conducts an analysis.
City Attorney Collins answered a question regarding procedures for agendizing items.
The City Council deliberated.
The motion carried 4-1, Council Member Macedo dissenting.
9. COUNCIL MEMBER / DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE REPORTS
CONSENSUS
By consensus, the City Council directed Staff to agendize a discussion regarding Flock cameras and potential recommendations to address residents’ concerns.
RECESS
Mayor Becerra called a recess to go into Closed Session.
10. CLOSED SESSION
10.A. Conference with Legal Counsel—Existing Litigation pursuant to Government Code 54956.9(d)(1):
Whittier Conservancy v. City of Whittier – Case No. 26STCP01883
10.B. Conference With Legal Counsel—Existing Litigation pursuant to Government Code 54956.9(d)(1):
Whittier Conservancy v. City of Whittier – Case No. 25STCP04856
10.C. Conference with Legal Counsel—Existing Litigation pursuant to Government Code 54956.9(d)(1):
Whittier Conservancy v. City of Whittier – Case No. 24STCP03966
10.D. Conference with Real Property Negotiators pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8
Whittier City Council
August 19, 2026
Minutes
Property: 12600 Shreve Road, Whittier, CA 90602
City Negotiator: Conal McNamara, City Manager
Negotiating parties: Treantafelles Andrea G Cotrustee Family Trust Under negotiation: Price & Terms
10.E. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation. Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov 54956.9(d)(2):
Two Cases.
10.F. Conference with Labor Negotiators pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Negotiator: Conal McNamara, City Manager
Represented and Unrepresented Employee: Whittier City Employees’ Association, Whittier Police Officers’ Association, Whittier Police Management Association, and unrepresented employees
11. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
12. ADJOURNMENT
City Clerk Garcia indicated there was nothing to report out of Closed Session and adjourned the meeting at 10:19 p.m.