Photo Courtesy: Natalie Kim
Joelle Julve (shown with fiance, Danny), Assistant Planner, is recognized by the Walnut City Council.

By Natalie Kim

Walnut – The Aug. 26 Walnut City Council meeting began with two presentations. The first was for Joelle Julve, in recognition of her outstanding work as Assistant Planner. The second was for the Chinese American Association of Walnut, in recognition of 26 years of sharing and celebrating Chinese traditions and culture with the residents of Walnut.

Following the Communications, the Council approved the minutes of the July 22 meeting, and performed the first reading of an ordinance to amend the City’s current regulation on antennas and communication facilities, requiring a greater distance from schools and residential areas. The ordinance is set for a second reading and public hearing on Sept. 9.

The Council then approved all items on the Consent Calendar, including an allowance of $884,330.06 in claims and demands; authorization to destroy certain records pursuant to Resolution No. 01-18; the award of a bid to All City Management for school crossing guard services; and appointed Jackie Chan, Codie Chang, Renee Hua, Sarah Kim, Robert Lee, Candice Ma, and Paula Yang to the Youth Advisory Commision. The Council also waived parking restrictions on La Puente Road for the evening of Sept. 5 in light of Mt. Sac’s football game hosted at the Walnut High School football field, to prevent overflow parking from clogging residential streets. The Council will discuss waiving parking restrictions on same such evenings for the rest of the season on Sept. 9, after observing traffic and overflow parking on Sept. 5.

Next, the Council moved to discussion and transaction items. Term limits, which Walnut residents have been claiming are long overdue for the City, was the first item discussed. Although all members of the Council agreed that new blood and new ideas led to a better City and a better City government, some also expressed concern over possible drawbacks of term limits, such as a City Council that was unable to effectively run due to lack of expertise. The Council will vote to put term limits on the April 2016 ballot during its next meeting on Sept. 9. The Council also approved a utilization of $6,000 from the General Fund reserve to print and distribute a City-wide mailer notifying Walnut residents of the current state of the Mt. Sac parking structure, and Mt. Sac’s future plans concerning the structure. The Council also allowed the Planning Commission additional time to approve a tentative tract map for the development of a two lot subdivision of undeveloped land.

After reports and comments, the Council adjourned.  The next meeting will be held on Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., in the Council Chambers located at 21202 La Puente Road.