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Whittier council directs staff to design Bogartas street‑sweeping pilot after years of neighborhood complaints
Summary
The Whittier City Council on Oct. 14 directed staff to develop a pilot street‑sweeping program for Bogartas Avenue and nearby blocks after residents described dozens of privately owned vehicles parked for prolonged periods and trash accumulation that menaced street‑cleaning efforts.
The Whittier City Council on Oct. 14 directed staff to develop a pilot street‑sweeping program covering Bogartas Avenue and adjacent blocks and return with a detailed plan, including boundaries and an evaluation timeline.
Public Works Director Kyle Casen told the council the item arose from a resident petition and a Parking & Transportation Commission hearing that produced extensive public comment. "This was in response to a resident request as is our normal policy," Casen said, summarizing staff options: preferential parking districts, a pilot area with broader street‑sweeping restrictions and enforcement measures.
Casen and parking staff said a conventional preferential‑parking district under current city rules may not solve the problem when multiple vehicles are registered to a single address because the program allows permits for vehicles registered to a property and three guest permits. "The current program for preferential parking districts allows for unlimited parking permits so long as the vehicle is registered to your property," Casen said.
Council members questioned enforcement practices, equity across the city, and how effectiveness would be measured. Parking enforcement staff described existing tools: 72‑hour marking, red‑tag notices and impound for vehicles not moved. Parking enforcement also said courts have limited the city's ability to enforce bans on ‘‘for sale’’ signs placed on parked cars.
Council members asked staff to return with a pilot that could be implemented in a defined area and evaluated on a specific timeline. Council Member Warner said she favored a pilot with a "very definite timeline for the definition and the actual timeline for the evaluation of the pilot." Other members emphasized equity and urged citywide consideration of sweeping policies if restrictions are expanded on one side of town.
The council voted unanimously to direct staff to draft a pilot program and to return with the recommendation; it also adopted a second motion directing staff to bring back a review of the preferential‑parking policy only after the street‑sweeping plan is determined. The motions passed on unanimous voice and roll‑call votes.
Next steps: staff said it would identify pilot boundaries, signage, enforcement needs and an implementation schedule and expects to return with a formal recommendation to council for consideration in coming months.
Votes and formal direction in this item were: motion to return with a pilot program (passed, unanimous); motion to return later with a preferential‑parking policy discussion (passed, unanimous).
