Happy New Year, Whittier!

I hope you had a chance to enjoy one of the many holiday festivities hosted in town last month, and a special thanks to the Whittier Uptown Association and City staff for putting on yet another wonderful Whittier Christmas Parade. Thank you for making this one of the community's most celebrated traditions each year!

January is off to a busy start with fun events planned for everyone including kids, parents, and seniors, and you'll find information below on how to recycle your Christmas trees, exploring new hobbies in 2024, and resources for small business owners. Watch for an official announcement of the Whittier Senior Center ribbon cutting later this month, park improvements throughout town, and more exciting projects in the pipeline by following @whittiercitygov on social media.

As a reminder, City Council meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month and streamed live online and cable channel 3 for those who cannot attend in person. On behalf of the City Council and staff, we appreciate the opportunity to serve the Whittier community for another year and hope you find joy in the diverse offerings the City has planned for you in 2024.

Brian Saeki, City Manager

The City of Whittier is proud to announce its recent recognition by the American Public Works Association (APWA) with the BEST Award in the "Project of the Year" category under "Traffic, Mobility, and Beautification" for the successful completion of the 2.8-mile extension of the Greenway Trail. The award was presented to Whittier City staff during a special luncheon held on December 14, 2023. The APWA BEST Award acknowledges outstanding public works projects and programs, honoring public agencies and private sector leaders for their exceptional contributions. Whittier competed in the 50,000-100,000 population category and was evaluated based on project guidelines that included Project Performance, Unique Aspects, and Quality of Life. Read the full press release here and be sure to check out the Greenway Trail east extension in 2024!

The City of Whittier will be holding a General Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. The nomination period for candidates of Mayor, Council District Member 1, and Council District Member 3 will close on Friday, January 12, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Eligible persons interested in serving on the Whittier City Council are encouraged to make an appointment with the City Clerk by calling (562) 567-9850 or emailing rgarcia@cityofwhittier.org. Important dates, reminders, and other election information can be found at www.cityofwhittier.org/election.

Access to running water is essential to keep California’s families safe and healthy, but paying water and sewer bills can be challenging for many. Through California's Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), eligible low-income households can receive one-time financial help to pay current or past due water or sewer bills and keep their water on. Households that participate in CalFresh, CalWORKs, or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) are already income-qualified to get support through LIHWAP. If your water bill is part of your rental payment, qualifying for LIHWAP is still possible. To find out if you qualify for help paying your current or past due water or sewer bill, go to csd.ca.gov/WaterBill to learn more.

Whittier and Los Angeles County residents can safely dispose of their household hazardous and electronic waste on Saturday, February 3 between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Dibble Adult School (1600 Pontenova Ave.) in Hacienda Heights. Participants are reminded to carefully secure items for drop-off in their trunk or truck bed and preferably in boxes that are easy to remove from vehicles. No explosives, ammunition, radioactive materials, controlled substances, or large appliances will be accepted and sharps disposal (including needles or medical equipment) will require exiting your vehicle to deposit into a specified biohazard waste bin. The event is co-sponsored by the LA Sanitation Districts and the County of Los Angeles Public Works Department in partnership with the City. To inquire about accepted materials, please call (800) 238-0173 or visit www.CleanLA.com for more details.

The Whittier Public Library will host its Crafty Tales afternoon event on Thursday, January 18 at the Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.) beginning at 3:30 p.m. for local students ages 6 to 10. Participants will enjoy hands-on fun making crafts while listening to magical stories read aloud. Registration is required and space is limited; call the Central Library at (562) 567-9900 or visit the Reference Desk to RSVP.

The Whittier Parks, Recreation & Community Services team invites you explore a new hobby, learn a special skill, or join a team in 2024! Browse the 2024 Winter/Spring Recreation Brochure and upcoming classes for residents of all age groups now online at www.whittierrec.com. Try everything from toddler dance and gymnastics to adult aquatics and tai chi for seniors, as well as music lessons, photography, and painting with watercolor. View the virtual flipbook here or call (562) 567-9430 with questions.

The Whittier Public Library invites adults to discover the art of needlepoint at a beginner's workshop on Saturday, January 20. Two sessions will be offered at the Central Library (7344 Washington Ave.) at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Space is limited; please visit the Adult Reference Desk to register or call (562) 567-9900 to save your spot.

Applications are being sought for the 2023-24 fiscal year California Competes Tax Credit. The program, sponsored by the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), is an income tax credit available to businesses who want to come, stay, or grow in California. The application period began January 2, 2024, and closes on January 22, 2024. Visit the website for regulations and FAQs or apply online here. Webinars providing detailed instruction on how to apply for the tax credit will take place on January 3 (register here) and January 11 (register here) with webinar recordings made available for those who cannot attend a live workshop. Visit the California Business Portal for additional information on other tax incentives and to help you get your business up and running in the New Year.

Do you know someone extraordinary whose dedication deserves recognition? The Whittier Social Services Commission is requesting nominations for standout volunteers that went above and beyond to serve the Whittier community during 2023. Applications are due by Monday, February 5 at 3:00 p.m. Please visit www.cityofwhittier.org to submit your nomination or call (562) 567-9400 with questions.

Are you looking to start your own business in the New Year? The Small Business Development Center of Long Beach (SBDC), one of the City's leading economic development partners, offers free webinars for small business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the year. January courses will feature 10 popular topics including "Business Finance Literacy" and "What You Need to Know About Insurance for Your Small Business" to "Developing an Actionable Business Plan" and "Canva A.I. Magic" as well as other social media resources.

For those not yet familiar with the Long Beach Small Business Development Center (SBDC), business owners in need of assistance are able to receive no-cost business advising and consulting offered by paid experts in their respective fields. Contact the Long Beach SBDC at (562) 938-5100 or set up an appointment online by visiting www.longbeachsbdc.org/callme.

The Whittier Parks, Recreation & Community Services department invites you to sign up for its popular Spring Day Camp scheduled to take place March 25 through March 29 at the Whittier Community Center (7630 Washington Ave.). The cost is $125 per child and will cover snacks and activities throughout the duration of the camp. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and opens at www.whittierrec.com starting at 9:00 a.m. on February 5. Please contact PRCS at (562) 567-9400 with inquiries.

Did you know that the City of Whittier offers assistance for qualifying homeowners on housing rehabilitation and repairs? Whittier's Housing Rehabilitation program is intended to assist with maintenance, improvement, and rehabilitation and/or preservation of low and moderate income housing. The City's financing assistance to homeowners is for improvements such as roofing, plumbing, electrical, windows, stucco, painting, flooring, and other repairs to eliminate code violations, incipient code violations, and slum/blight conditions. The Housing Rehabilitation program is funded by Community Development Block Grant Funds (CDBG) and HOME Funds. To learn more about how to apply for assistance and inquire on eligibility, please call (562) 567-9320 or click here for more details.