At-a-glance: Whittier council votes on housing, parks, sidewalks and transportation funding

The Whittier City Council on Jan. 27 approved multiple consent and action items affecting housing, parks, sidewalks and transportation. Key outcomes:

- Affordable Homeownership Program (resolution 2026-05): Council approved an agreement with Olsen Company to designate one unit in a 40‑unit townhome project as an affordable-homeownership unit backed by a city second‑loan structure (PLHA funding). Vote: aye by the four members present.

- Greenway Trail landscape/visibility improvement (resolution 2026-06): Council approved an appropriation to fund work with West Coast Arbors to thin and replant portions of the Greenway Trail for improved visibility and safety; staff explained mulch/recycling arrangements under the Athens contract. Vote: aye by the four members present.

- Beverly Boulevard at Norwalk realignment project (resolution 2026-07): Council approved a supplemental appropriation of $1,800,000 to advance design from 60% to full design with Metro Hotspots funding and to prepare for future bidding. Vote: aye by the four members present.

- Sidewalk maintenance program (resolution 2026-10): Council approved $536,818 for targeted sidewalk repairs in a roughly rectangular area bounded by Whittier Boulevard, Wardman, Painter and Pickering/Comstock, with efforts to preserve trees where feasible. Vote: aye by the four members present.

Several consent items were pulled for discussion; Mayor Vinatieri recused himself on item 8f (Uptown Association) due to a district conflict, which was noted before the roll call for that item.

All votes listed above were recorded by roll call with a 4–0 tally where a council member was absent. Where noted, staff will return with additional details (e.g., specific staffing and enforcement language for the STR ordinance and more detailed maps and schedules for sidewalk work).

The council adjourned the meeting and set its next session for Feb. 10, 2026.