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Whittier council authorizes EIR and related legal, PR contracts to remake parkway tree policy after heated public comment
Summary
The City Council voted to fund an environmental impact report and to authorize outside legal and public-relations contracts to replace the Parkway Tree Manual, drawing sustained public opposition and questions about insurance-driven motives.
The Whittier City Council on Jan. 27 authorized the city manager to hire consultants to prepare an environmental impact report (EIR) and to retain outside legal and public‑relations help as part of a planned replacement of the Parkway Tree Manual.
City staff said the work is meant to respond to a sharp increase in the city's liability exposure tied to tree-related claims and to produce a new, publicly reviewed policy. The council adopted a resolution (2026-11) to amend the FY2025–26 budget for the professional services needed to prepare the EIR and related support, and approved authorizations for special legal services (Richards, Watson & Grishon, not to exceed $200,000) and public-relations services (Tripepi Smith, not to exceed $50,000). The contract with Michael Baker Inc. for preparation of the EIR was also authorized; the staff…
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