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Current Programs and Events
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Enjoy
the Spring Eggxtravaganza and Family Faire |
Celebrate Spring with
fun, food and activities – and, of course,
visits with the Easter Bunny – at the annual
Eggxtravaganza and Family Faire sponsored by the
Community Services Department. The event will be
held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 27 at
Parnell Park, 15390 Lambert Road. In the event of
rain, the event will be rescheduled to Saturday,
April 3.
The event will feature candy egg hunts by age group
throughout the day, carnival rides, crafts, face
painting and entertainment. Special activities will
include pony rides, rock climbing, train rides,
bounce house and an obstacle course.
Egg hunts are broken down by age group so the younger
children can hunt for the candy without having to
compete with older kids – and everyone gets
their fair share of the goodies!
Vendors will be at the event selling food.
The Eggxtravaganza also features a “Family
Faire” event, with many local children’s
agencies providing information on their services,
such as Kidprint, hobby and service clubs, scouts,
private schools, special Los Angeles County programs,
the SKILLS Foundation and the ever-popular McGruff
with the Whittier Police Department.
Children may participate in all the activities
for the purchase of a $3 wristband. For more information,
call Parnell Park at (562) 464-3350 or the Community
Center at (562) 464-3430.
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Gold
Line Phase II Public Input Sought |
Do you want your opinions
heard for the extension of the Gold Line Light Rail
service into Whittier? Become part of a grassroots
movement, and get your comments into Metro no
later than Wednesday, April 14, 2010.
The decision made on the Gold Line extension will
affect public transit service in Whittier for decades.
Comment cards are available at City facilities,
including City Hall, Community Center, Parnell Park,
Uptown Senior Center, Main Library, Whittwood Library
and the Historic Depot. To download a comment card
in English, please click
here. To download a comment card in Spanish,
please click
here.
For more information on the Gold Line project and
to join our Gold Line e-mail database and receive
regular updates, log onto GoldLine@cityofwhittier.org,
or call the Transit office at 562-698-2131. You
may also receive information on the Metro website:
Eastside
Phase 2
Link
1 * Link
2 * Link
3
Link
4 * Link
5 * Link
6
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Board
and Commission Applicants Sought |
The City Council is
seeking applicants for openings on the following
commissions which will occur July 1st: Board of
Library Trustees, Cultural Arts Commission, Historic
Resources Commission, and Personnel Board. Registered
voters of the City are eligible to apply. Applications
must be received by March 31, 2010, to be considered
for the July 1st appointments. Application packets
are available here.
Application packets are also available by calling
or visiting the City Clerk-Treasurer Department
at City Hall, 13230 Penn Street, (562) 464-3330.
Candidates selected for an interview will meet with
the Whittier City Council May 10th or May 24th.
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Residents
& Businesses Urged to Sign Up For Emergency Alerts |
With the renewed threat
of rainstorms, Los Angeles County officials today
urged residents and businesses to sign up for emergency
alerts by registering their cell phone numbers and
e-mail addresses on the Alert.lacounty.gov website.
The County’s
emergency mass notification system, called Alert
LA County, has the capability to use phone, text
and e-mail messages to alert residents and businesses
when there is an emergency situation in their area
and advises of needed actions, like evacuations.
The system was activated
25 times between Jan. 18 – Jan. 22 due to
rain, flooding and mudslides, with some warnings
going to as few as 34 people and some to as many
as 513.
All landlines are
already included in the system, but people must
register their cell phone numbers, Voice over IP
phone numbers, and e-mail addresses. This information
can be added on the Alert.lacounty.gov website.
Because the Alert
LA County system uses geomapping, each telephone
number and/or e-mail address can only be associated
with one street address in the system.
The Sheriff’s
Emergency Communications Center uses the system
to issue local and regional alerts, drawing the
boundaries of the area to be notified on a computer
map. Recorded alerts provide information on the
nature of the emergency and necessary actions.
If calls are picked
up by an answering machine, the system will leave
a recorded message. If the number called is busy
or does not answer, the system will redial the number
in an attempt to deliver the message. The system
is TTY/TDD compatible.
Until implementation
of Alert LA County in May 2009, the County had no
consistent way to contact residents and businesses
in case of regional or local emergencies.
The notification system
improves the County’s ability to communicate
faster, better and more reliably, providing the
ability to target messages and follow-up information
to residents in affected areas, and reduce the potential
for miscommunication by distributing accurate and
consistent messages.
Released prepared
by: County of Los Angeles Public Affairs Office
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Winter
2010 Recreation Class Schedule is now Available!
Winter Registration begins
December 14, 2009 |
Click
here to view or download the Winter 2010 Class
Brochure. Classes include programs in Theraputic Recreation,
Sports, Social Services, Youth Services and Senior
Services. Acrobat
Reader is required to view/print the Brochure
and Cultural Arts Event Schedule. |
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Proposed
Draft Alcohol Entertainment Ordinance (Zoning Code
Amendment 08-005) |
The City of Whittier has initiated
Zoning Code Amendment 08-005 to add Chapter 18.43
(Businesses offering or selling alcoholic beverages
in conjunction with any on-site dancing, live entertainment,
musical performances, amplified music, billiard/pool
hall, arcade, internet café, smoking lounge,
restaurant, bar, banquet hall, club, or similar
uses) to the Whittier Zoning Code. The City of Whittier
is also proposing to amend various sections of the
Whittier Zoning Code, Whittwood Town Center Specific
Plan and the Uptown Whittier Specific Plan to be
consistent with the proposed language contained
within the draft ordinance for Zoning Code Amendment
08-005. If you have any questions or comments regarding
Zoning Code Amendment 08-005, please contact the
Community Development Department at (562) 464-3380.
Click
here to view the draft ordinance and associated
documents.
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Planning
Commission Applicants Sought |
The Whittier City Council is seeking
applicants to fill a seat on the Planning Commission.
The Commission advises the City Council on subdivisions,
zoning, and land use matters; and hears requests
for zone changes, variances, conditional use permits
and development review applications. Registered
voters of the City are eligible to apply. Click
here to view the application packet, or call
or visit the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall,
13230 Penn Street, (562) 464-3330.
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Tax
Exemption for Low Income Residents
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The City Council increased
the Utility User Tax exemption income limit to $26,550
last year. This exemption will save qualified residents
5% on utility bills.
Qualifications
are as follows:
For more information,
call (562) 464-3322, visit City Hall or Click Here
for an application.
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United
States Census 2010 |
On April 1, 2010,
the U.S. Census will be conducting their decadal
population count to determine the number of people
residing in the United States. It is essential that
a complete count is obtained as important political,
social and economic decisions will be made off this
data. For more information and to ensure you will
be included in the upcoming census, please click
here.
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Earthquake
Preparedness |
| Click
here for tips on earthquake preparedness in English.
Click
here for Spanish. |
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Emergency
Preparedness Classes |
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The City of Whittier and Whittier Police Department,
assisted by the Los Angeles County Fire Department,
offers a free program to assist Whittier residents and
neighborhoods in preparing for emergencies. The A.L.E.R.T.
(Area Leaders Emergency Response Training) Program’s
emphasis is on neighborhood preparedness and teamwork.
The topics covered include:
- Home
and Neighborhood Preparedness
- Neighborhood
Self-reliance and Security
- Fire
Prevention and Safety (includes a hands-on fire
extinguisher exercise)
- Utilities
Management
- Damage
Assessment
- Building
Permits and Terms Used
The
program is FREE and all residents are welcome. Whittier
residents are urged to come with their neighbors.
Participants receive information booklets, checklists,
and other helpful handouts. Graduates are eligible
for a free First Aid Class to be offered by the American
Red Cross. For more information, or to find out when
the next classes will be held, call (562) 464-3390.
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Help
the City honor your family member serving in the military
- Blue Star Program |
| The
City Council recently implemented a Blue Star Program
to honor City of Whittier residents currently serving
in the military. The Blue Star Program originated during
World War I with families displaying a flag in the front
window of their homes to indicating that a child was
serving in the military. The program continues today
to honor those serving in the armed forces. City residents
with members of their immediate family serving may complete
an application to receive a Blue Star Service kit including
Blue Star Service Flag, lapel pin and window decal from
the City for each immediate family member currently
serving in the military. Information on those family
members serving would appear on the City's website for
public viewing and will be put on display in the City
Hall lobby for one week leading up to the 4th of July
holiday. Please click
here to download the application. For more information,
please contact the Community Services Department at
(562) 464-3360. Click here
to view recipients list. |
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Trash
and Water Service
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Reminder!
Please call Consolidated Disposal Service at (562) 347-2100
to have damaged or broken blue and green recycling containers
replaced. Please call your refuse hauler to have damaged
or broken black trash containers replaced. |
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More Information and Links
Disaster Communications
Service (DCS Amateur Radio Operators)
The City is always looking for amateur radio operators
that are interested in participating with the Disaster
Communications Service (DCS). DCS volunteers use their
amateur radio skills to assist the City of Whittier,
the Whittier school districts, both Whittier hospitals,
and nearby cities in the event of a disaster.
Interested in volunteering? Please contact the City's
Emergency Preparedness Program for information:
(562) 464-3390. |
Tips
for Living with Coyotes
Puente Hills Landfill Native Habitat Preservation
Authority Ecologist, Dan Cooper, has provided some
tips on Living with Coyotes. Click here
for more information. |
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You can help make a difference Make
energy-efficiency a priority at home and work. By
participating in The Gas Company’s rebate, incentive
and training programs you can save energy,
save money and help the environment. Visit The Gas
Company online today at: www.socalgas.com/energyefficiency
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What
cable company serves Whittier and what are the service
parameters? Cable services are provided by
Charter Communications. Charter Communications must
provide customers with:
- Response
to service outages within 24 hours
- 2-hour
or 4-hour service windows
- 90%
of all customer calls connected to a live operator
within 30 seconds.
Please call the City at 698-2131 if Charter does not
meet these standards.
Verizon FIOS is being offered in certain parts of
the City. As the fiber optics are being installed
in different parts of Whittier, it will eventually
cover the entire city. For more information or to
reach customer service, please call 1-888-553-1555
or visit their website at www.verizon.com/fiostv |
Property
Tax Internet Portal Opens
Los Angeles County Assessor Rick Auerbach
today announced the establishment of a multi-jurisdictional
Los Angeles Property Tax Website to provide one-stop
internet answers to basic questions about assessment,
taxation and appeals matters. The
new website can be accessed at http://www.lacountypropertytax.com |
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| Abandoned
Shopping Cart
To Report abandoned shopping carts in the City of
Whittier, call 800-252-4613, California
Shopping Cart Retrieval Group, and give location of
the cart and the name of the store that the cart is
from. |
Attention
Landlords and Property Managers Information
on crime statistics at or around your property is
available at the Whittier Police Department. For more
information, please call the Problem-Oriented Policing
Sargeant at 945-8200 extension 299. |
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You Know Who to Call?
Our City staff and volunteers are available
to provide information on a variety of services and
resources in the Whittier Community. If you have questions
on:
- City
Services
-
Legal Assistance
-
State & Federal Services
-
Health Services
-
Housing
-
Transportation
-
Local Organizations
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Social Services
Call
the City of Whittier Information & Referral Office
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at
(562)464-3368 |
Graffiti
Abatement Program
To report graffiti in the City of Whittier please
call the Public Works Department at the City Yard,
464-3540 or City Hall, 464-3340. You
can also e-mail your request by clicking here. 
Be prepared give the specific location of the graffiti,
whether it is on public or private property and as
much as possible, describe the graffiti.
Click here for more information.
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Get
your new or renewed passport at the Whittier Public
Library! The Whittier Public Library is an official
Passport Acceptance Facility of the
U.S. Department of State. Located at in the Main Library
at 7344 S. Washington Avenue, the office is open Weekdays
between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Evenings Monday
through Wednesday 5:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays
(by appointment only) between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00
p.m. Expert assistance and free informational brochures
in a comfortable private office all in a great Whittier
location. Click
here for more information or call (562)464-4450.
The
passport fee for age 16 and over is $67 plus an execution
fee of $30 and a security surcharge of $12. |
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City of Whittier provides its residents with street
sweeping service as an effort to beautify and enhance
the aesthetics of our 200-mile City street system.
To deliver effective street sweeping services on your
street, the City has developed a procedure for you
to establish a “NO PARKING ” zone on street
sweeping days. The goal of the Citizen Initiative
Street Sweeping Program is to service you
by maintaining a healthy, safe and clean environment
for our community. For more
information on the Street Sweeping Initiative program,
please click here. |
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The
City of Whittier is seeking donations of memorabilia
for the proposed Surface Transportation Museum
at the newly restored Whittier Historic Depot, 7333
Greenleaf Ave. Call 698-2131 for more information.
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See
the latest Census 2000 profile
data for the City of Whittier, click
here. |
Residential
Walls and Fences The City has amended the
residential walls and fences provisions of the Municipal
Code to establish a streamlined review process for
front yard and street yard fences and walls, that
includes over the counter approvals, when proposals
are consistent with the pre-approved fence palette
for front yards and street side yards. Please
click here to read more about the new guidelines.
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