Whittier City Council holds special session and reviews pending litigation in closed session

The Whittier City Council convened a special meeting on Jan. 8, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Whittier City Hall to consult with legal counsel about existing and anticipated litigation, including Whittier Conservancy v. City of Whittier (Case No. 25STCP04856). Rigoberto Garcia Jr., the city clerk, said after the closed session that “there was nothing to report out of Closed Session.”

Mayor Joseph A. Vinatieri called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. and the roll call showed Mayor Pro Tem Octavio Martinez and council members Fernando Dutra, Mary Ann Pacheco and Cathy Warner present. Mayor Pro Tem Octavio Martinez led the Pledge of Allegiance. The council invited public comment and received none.

The meeting’s closed session agenda listed consultation with legal counsel under Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) and anticipated litigation under Section 54956.9(d)(2). Specific items on the agenda included: Whittier Conservancy v. City of Whittier (Case No. 25STCP04856); multiple cases filed by named Jane Doe plaintiffs (Case Nos. 22NWCV01519 and 23NWCV04037 and two matters described as not yet filed); and a claim by Jim Azpilicueta (Claim No. 607403).

After returning to open session, Rigoberto Garcia Jr., city clerk, stated there was no reportable action to disclose from the closed session. The meeting was adjourned at 6:01 p.m.

The session’s primary public outcome is the council’s notification that no reportable action was announced; no votes or motions were recorded in the public minutes for this special meeting.