BY RAYMOND MENDOZA

Walnut City Hall was the site of much celebrating, with council members Bob Pacheco and Mary Su being sworn into office in front of more than 100 City Council attendees, after months of campaigning.

 

“To Walnut residents, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your tireless encouragement,” Su said. “I knew this race was going to be nasty and ugly, but in the end most Walnut residents voted and cared about the important issues.”

 

Pacheco thanked the Walnut residents for their support and thanked his wife, Gayle, and his daughter, Cristina, for all of their help during the election.

 

Both Pacheco and Su said that while the election campaign was an arduous task, they were both ready to serve the residents of Walnut for another four year term on the Walnut City Council.

“I’m going to keep my toes to the fire and do all the things I said I would do during my campaign,” Pacheco said. “Walnut will be the shining star of the San Gabriel Valley.”

 

After a brief recess, the City Council members then approved the minutes of the joint meeting of the City Council and Sheriff on March 5, and a special City Council election on March 10.

 

Council members then approved Item 4 on the agenda, concerning the community development block grant three year cooperation agreement between the City and the County of Los Angeles from 2015-2017.

 

The Council then approved Items 5 and 8 regarding the resolution of the City of Walnut allowing certain claims and demands in the amount of $1,058,090.76 and a ratification of various commission appointments for the City’s parks and recreation and senior commissions.

 

Council member Nancy Tragarz pulled Items 6 and 7 on the consent calendar, concerning a salary adjustment to include a cost of living adjustment retroactive to Jan. 1 and the signing of a contract amendment for the City Manager’s agreement. Tragarz stated that the two items felt “incomplete” and City Council members did not have all the information available to make an accurate decision, and asked to move the items to a different City Council meeting. Following a slew of comments from City Council members, the two items were then moved to be discussed at a later date.

After the Council’s meeting items were completed, the Housing Authority approved a resolution concerning the Walnut Housing Authority allowing certain claims and demands in the amount of $20, 319.25 before entering a closed session concerning a negotiation of real property for Richard and Nancy McDonald.

 

The meeting was adjourned with the next City Council meeting scheduled for Wed., May 7 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 21201 La Puente Road.