BY RAYMOND MENDOZA
Walnut — The Walnut City Council meeting held its final regular meeting for February, which bid farewell to the outgoing Philippine Consulate General.
The City Council’s first action of the evening was to honor Maria Hel Barber de la Vega, the outgoing Philippine Consulate General of Los Angeles, and welcome Imelda Panalong, the Deputy Consul General of Los Angeles.
The Philippine Consulate General of Los Angeles strives to protect Filipino nationals as well as perform community outreach and perform passport and visa services.
Mayor Tony Cartagena congratulated Hel Barber de la Vega for her years of work, including sending disaster relief to the Philippines following Typhoon Yolanda last November.
Following the recognitions, Adrian Flores, Project Manager for Southern California Edison, gave a presentation regarding the Gridlock 12 KV Project that would help support the energy needs of Walnut and surrounding cities.
The project, according to Flores, would have a major affect on Grand Avenue since Southern California Edison would have conduit construction stretching from La Puente North to San Jose Hills, which would result in lane closures for several weeks. Flores said that Edison is hoping to start construction in April and finish construction before summer due to the increased energy needs of the season.
During public comment, a large community outcry for increased police protection was asked by citizens. For more information, read the story on page 1.
City Council members then approved the minutes for the Feb. 12 City Council meeting; study session minutes; and items on the consent calendar for Resolution No. 14-09, allowing certain claims and demands in the amount of $790,637.33; Resolution No. 14-11, supporting the state route 57/60 mixed flow interchange improvements; and Resolution No. 14-10, allowing certain claims and demands in the amount of $284,114.00.
City Council also added and approved an action that would allowed the Walnut successor agency and housing agencies to recover a minimum of $150,000 each year, which was signed by Governor Jerry Brown on Feb. 18. Since the state deadline is March 3, the council added the item and voted for approval.
The council approved Amended Item 7 on the consent calendar, which was resolution for the City of Walnut acting as successor agency for the Walnut Improvement Agency, approving and adopting the recognized obligation payment schedule pursuant to ABX126 and Health and Safety Code 34177, for the period of July 1 through Dec. 31.
After the final item of City Council was approved, the Walnut Housing Authority approved its only consent calendar item, which was Resolution No. 14-02 for the Walnut Housing Authority, allowing certain claims and demands in the amount of $25,501.01.
Mayor Cartagena then officially adjourned the City Council and Housing Authority Meeting at 9 p.m., with the next regular meeting scheduled for 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 12.
