The final days of summer are here, and we hope you and your family have enjoyed all the fun activities the City has offered, like concerts and movies in the park, recreation classes, swimming, and more.

Don't miss Whittier's last Concert in the Park of the season on Thursday, August 8, and be sure to mark your calendars for our next Movie in the Park on August 10.

Also in this month's newsletter are details regarding a study session on the Greenleaf Promenade happening on August 20 and the City's new GIS Portal. Review details below for more information on current projects in Whittier, including the Parnell Park Improvement Plan and community survey.

Finally, the Whittier Public Library has plenty to keep you busy with events including a Paint Workshop for adults and another on how to write a romance novel. See below for more details and visit the Library's website for a full list of August events for all ages.

Thank you for celebrating summer with us, and don't forget to shop local for your back-to-school supplies!

Brian Saeki, City Manager

Council Corner: Residents Honored with Whittier Beautification Awards

Greet Officers at National Night Out August 1

The Whittier Police Department, in partnership with the Whittier Parks, Recreation & Community Services staff, will host its annual National Night Out on Thursday, August 1 at Parnell Park (15390 Lambert Rd.) from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The free community event encourages strong partnerships with law enforcement and brings police and neighbors together to enhance local camaraderie and build a safer, more enjoyable community.

Whittier's "Night Out Against Crime" will feature exhibits, demonstrations, and giveaways, as well as a concert in the park featuring the famed "Anything for Salinas" Selena tribute band kicking off at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy inflatable attractions, face painting, and food vendors serving up tasty bites. Contact PRCS at (562) 567-9450 with inquiries and join us

Summer Clean-Up: Toss Toxic Household Waste at Rio Hondo College on August 3

Join Los Angeles County Public Works and the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts for a Household Hazardous and Electronic Waste collection event on Saturday, August 3, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Rio Hondo College, Parking Lot A, located at 3600 Workman Mill Road.

This event provides an excellent opportunity for residents to safely dispose of hazardous and electronic waste items that should not be thrown away with regular trash. Accepted items include motor oil, antifreeze, paint, paint thinner, turpentine, cleaners with acids or dye, pesticides, herbicides, household and car batteries, old electronics and more. Click here for the complete list of items and materials you can toss.

No reservation is needed for this event. For more information, please contact the LA County Sanitation Districts at (800) 238-0173 or email info@lacsd.org. Thank you for contributing to a safer and cleaner community!

The City of Whittier's Parks, Recreation & Community Services team invites you to the final night of its popular Concerts in the Park series on Thursday, August 8 at Parnell Park (15390 Lambert Rd.) beginning at 7:00 p.m. 

Remember to bring a picnic dinner from a Whittier restaurant or visit one of our participating food truck vendors and enjoy Pop Vinyl playing all of your favorite Top 40 hits.

Grab your dancing shoes and join us for one more evening under the stars!

The Whittier Parks, Recreation & Community Services staff continues to host Movies in the Park once a month on select Saturdays through October. Don't miss fan favorite "Jumanji" at Parnell Park (15390 Lambert Rd.) on August 10 starting at 6:00 p.m.

Kids can enjoy free crafting, games, and play activities and $1 concessions will be available for purchase. Don't miss a great night out with the family at a different local park each month and remember your lawn chairs, blankets, and your picnic dinner from a local restaurant. All movie screenings begin at dusk.

For more information call (562) 567-9450 or click here for more details on park events happening this summer.

The City of Whittier is excited to share that online services are getting better! The City has officially launched an enhanced GIS Open Data Portal available to residents and website visitors featuring information on current development projects and other points of interest. This new resource allows residents to access detailed GIS mapping and tables, providing comprehensive insights into various City services, datasets, transportation options, hiking trails, land-use zoning, and local points of interest. With 31 unique maps frequently requested through public records requests, the portal enhances transparency and accessibility without the need for formal inquiries.

New Whittier residents can view their street sweeping services and schedules, and information on current capital improvement projects is also highlighted. This tool is designed to make it easier for everyone to access important information and better understand resources available within the community. Click here to visit the portal and explore these features!

The California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) and Grant Program (CCGP), offered through the California Governor's Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-BIZ), is available each year to businesses that want to locate in California or stay and grow in California. 

Businesses of any industry, size, or location compete for over $180 million available in tax credits by applying during one of three application periods offered each year. Applicants will be analyzed based on twelve different factors of evaluation, including number of full-time jobs being created, amount of investment, and strategic importance to the state or region. 

The deadline to apply for this round is August 12 and pre-recorded informational webinar is available here to help answer FAQs regarding the application process. Find more details on how to apply for the annual tax credit here and get started on growing your business this year.

Fall Recreation Classes: Registration Opens August 12

Adults are invited to join the Whittier Public Library at 6:00 p.m. on August 14 for a delightful evening of canvas painting guided by a professional artist. The workshop will be held at the Whittwood Branch, located at 10537 Santa Gertrudes Ave.

This free event is the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind, and create your own masterpiece to take home. Space is limited, so be sure to sign up at the Whittwood Branch Reference Desk or call (562) 567-9950 to reserve your spot today.

The Whittier Youth Theater, in partnership with the City of Whittier and Stagelight Family Productions, is bringing you Seussical the Musical this October. Registration for those interested in joining the ensemble cast is now open at www.WhittierRec.com for ages 5 through young adults, and parent meetings and auditions will take place August 16 & 17. The cost to perform is $200 for Whittier residents and $215 for non-residents. Please call (562) 567-9430 with questions and join us for this beloved theatrical community event!

The Whittier Public Library invites you to its monthly REEL Club meet-up for a special screening of "Woman-Ochre" on Monday, August 19 at 6:00 p.m. at the Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.). The films discusses the famed 20th-century painting by Willem de Kooning, including it's disappearance in 1985 from the University of Arizona Museum of Art and where it is today. The event is free to attend and open to all movie and art enthusiasts. Please call (562) 567-9900 with questions.

Greenleaf Promenade: Council to Hold Study Session on August 20

As the heat continues to rise this summer, Whittier's splash amenities are ready for action! Splash pads and fountains are now operating at Lee & Erica Owens Park, Palm Park, Parnell Park, and Michigan Park between the hours of 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily through September 2, 2024. Please remember that on days when the temperature outside is 90 degrees or warmer, the City will be operating cooling stations at facilities including its community centers and senior center for residents needing to take a break from the heat. Please call PRCS for details at (562) 567-9450 and stay cool all summer long!

The Whittier Parks, Recreation & Community Services division will host a Kids' Sports Night Out from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday, August 23 at the Whittier Community Center (7630 Washington Ave.) for kids ages 5 to 12. The evening will feature a variety of sports activities, as well as dinner and a movie for $15 per child. Please register at www.WhittierRec.com or contact City staff at (562) 567-9430 with questions.

Celebrate national "Read a Romance Novel" month on August 29 at the Whittier Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.) with author Teresa Carpenter, who will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the world of traditional publishing and the ins and outs of writing a romance novel from conception to reality.

Teresa Carpenter is the author of twenty romance novels for Harlequin Books and Boroughs Publishing Group. Her books have received five-star review ratings, a Top Pick by Romantic Times, and a nomination for Best Harlequin Romance of the Year. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from an accomplished author. For more information, call the Central Library at (562) 567-9900.

Calling all adult basketball players: join the Whittier Parks, Recreation & Community Services department for a basketball tournament on Saturday, August 31, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Whittier Community Center Gym, located at 7630 Washington Ave.

Get ready to showcase your skills and have a blast at our one-day Adult Basketball Tournament. Gather your friends, family, and co-workers to form a team and join the fun!

• Registration fee: $100 per team
• Team requirements: minimum of 5 team members and maximum of 12
• Tournament requirements: 8 teams needed to hold the tournament

Each team's start time will be determined and staff will contact teams with the game-day schedule ahead of the tournament. Visit WhittierRec.com to register your team today!

California State Senate Bill 1383 aims to reduce harmful emissions from landfills by establishing a target of 75% reduction reduction of statewide disposal of organics waste by the year 2025. Landfills are the third largest source of methane in California and organics waste emits 20% of the state’s methane, a climate super pollutant up to 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide. To achieve this goal, residents and businesses are urged to properly separate trash, recycling, and organics waste by container and help streamline the disposal and repurposing process.

To ensure that residents and businesses are complying with the new rules, the State of California has further required local cities and public agencies to:

·        Adopt enforceable ordinances requiring residents and businesses to comply or be fined.

·        Ensure containers are a certain color and labeled with materials allowed in each.

·        Conduct route reviews on randomly selected containers checking for contaminants (lid flipping).

·        Implement a food recovery program.

·        Purchase recycled products or provide documentation as to why recycled products were not purchased.

·        Implement a compliance monitoring program for multi-family and commercial organic waste generators.

·        Investigate and maintain records of complaints received alleging non-compliance with SB 1383.

·        Take enforcement actions, including issuing notices of violation and assessing penalties for those not complying with SB 1383.

What does this mean for you? Organics waste is a renewable natural resource, deriving mainly from things like food scraps and yard waste, that can sustainably be repurposed as compost and mulch. Here are a few examples of what must now be placed in your green waste bin on trash day:

·        Food scraps: fruit, vegetables, meat, bones, non-liquid dairy, egg shells

·        Food-soiled paper: Napkins, pizza boxes, paper plates, cardboard egg cartons

·        Yard waste: Plants, leaves, branches, and grass - NO PALM FRONDS

The City of Whittier now offers free countertop food waste collection/compost containers available to residents from the Public Works counter at City Hall which make the process more convenient by transporting food waste from the counter to your outside bin. To ensure that you or your business is properly disposing of your organics waste and in compliance with SB 1383, please contact your trash hauler directly with inquiries at Athens Services (888) 336-6100 or Republic Services (800) 29-4898.

Visit the CalRecycle website to learn more about California's Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy and access helpful resources. Together, we can make an impact on the climate crisis and create a more sustainable future for generations of Californians to come!

Survey: Parnell Park Improvement Plan

Students Run Whittier: Register for Fall Season