Whittier council adopts urgency ordinance to suspend parkway tree manual through June 2026 after heated public comment

The Whittier City Council on Oct. 28 approved an urgency ordinance (No. 3171) to temporarily suspend application of provisions in the city—s Parkway Tree Manual and municipal code section 12.4.100(d) through June 30, 2026, saying staff needs time to review procedures tied to public safety and the city—s liability exposure. The ordinance passed on a 4-1 roll call vote: Councilmember Warner, Councilmember Dutra, Mayor Pro Tem Martinez and Mayor Joe Vinatieri voted yes; Councilmember Pacheco voted no.

City Manager Mr. McNamara told the council the suspension is intended to give staff time to conduct a "comprehensive review of the Parkway Tree Manual and chapter 12.4" and to "promote efficiency by streamlining the processes related to city trees to better protect the city's urban forest and preserve public safety." He also said staff will update standard operating procedures, expand sidewalk inspection work and communicate with long-standing community stakeholders during the review period.

The item drew lengthy public comment, with dozens of residents and local advocates urging the council not to suspend the manual. Helen Raider of the Whittier Conservancy said an urgency ordinance requires a documented emergency and asked the council to define that emergency before changing rules: "In order to have an urgency ordinance, you need an emergency," she told the council. Mary Sullins, president of the Whittier Conservancy, told the council its claim that the action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act was incorrect: "The city is claiming that the ordinance before you tonight are CEQA exempt. That is false," Sullins said, arguing that amending or suspending tree protections may trigger environmental review.

David Dickerson, chair of the Conservancy—s Urban Forest Committee, pressed the council for a clear justification, asking, "What is the emergency that prompts these outrageous ordinances?" Speakers from neighborhood groups and other residents said the manual provides procedural protections, including notice and appeal rights, and warned that suspending it could remove public review and lead to broad tree removals, particularly in Uptown Whittier.

Council members who voted for the urgency ordinance said they reached their decision after a closed-session discussion and legal consultation and emphasized the city—s duty to weigh public safety and fiduciary responsibilities. Councilmember Warner said the vote followed "a lengthy, robust discussion" in closed session that included questions to the city—s legal team. Councilmember Dutra said he expects staff to return with "very robust, very detailed" recommendations and milestones.

The council also completed the first reading of a companion standard ordinance (No. 3172) and scheduled a second reading and possible final adoption for an adjourned regular meeting on Nov. 18, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the Council Chamber.

Votes at a glance

- Urgency Ordinance No. 3171 (temporary suspension through 06/30/2026): Adopted 4-1 (Warner, Dutra, Martinez, Vinatieri yes; Pacheco no). Legal finding: council determined the ordinance is CEQA-exempt; this finding was disputed in public comment.

- Ordinance No. 3172 (first reading; same suspension language): First reading approved 4-1; second reading/adoption scheduled for Nov. 18, 2025.

What happens next

Staff told the council it will perform a comprehensive review of the manual and municipal code language, continue sidewalk inspections, implement additional staff training and communicate with organizations that have historically engaged on tree issues. The council instructed staff to report back with milestones and stakeholder outreach as the review proceeds.

Context and public concern

Speakers opposing the suspension repeatedly cited the Parkway Tree Manual—s existing procedures for inspection, notice, hearing and appeal and urged the council to pursue sidewalk repairs and targeted arborist evaluations instead of a broad suspension. Several speakers linked the pending actions to Uptown projects that commentators fear could lead to widespread ficus removals; city staff and the manager said the suspension is a citywide procedural review and not a direct step to remove trees immediately citywide.

Staff and council emphasized the limited time frame of the suspension and said the city will study alternatives and return with recommended code changes and implementation milestones for council review.