December 2009 Archives

Next year when the Whittier City Council considers the plea by Richard Gill, owner of Uptown Gym, 12912 Philadelphia St.,  to move a bus stop in front of his business, at least one bus rider wants to have her say too.

Linda Pvieg, 68, of Whittier, who is legally blind, called the Daily News this week to say that stop is important to her.

"I catch the bus at Philadelphia and Milton," she said. "Once they start removing bus stops to suit everyone else, there won't be a bus stop." "It makes it very hard on people who like myself who have no access but by bus."

The council is expected to consider the issue at its Jan. 12 meeting. Gill requested the moving of the stop, saying it costs him parking, there are bus fumes, dust, cigarette smoke and loitering in front of his business.

Look for a long but interesting Whittier City Council meeting on Tuesday to those who care about the issues in this city. Just to give you an idea, there are seven staff reports and some are pretty newsworthy.

The council is expected to adopt a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries, provide guidance on how to deal with the Ficus trees on Maybrook Avenue, discuss the city's historic resources ordinance, and receive a park needs study. The latter appears to propose millions of dollars in projects. So far there's no way to pay for it. You've also got Councilman Owen Newcomer's proposal on campaign finance. Go to the It's Politics column for more information on this one. And just where should the Centennial Clock go since it had to be removed to make way for the new police station?

This isn't one of the staff reports, but a proposal to change the way the noise ordinance is enforced is on the consent calendar. Don't be surprised if that gets some discussion.
The council also will be approving plans and authorizing staff to seek bids for a number of the street projects being paid for the federal economic stimulus money. That includes adding a bicycle lane to Greenleaf Avenue from the southern city limit to Whittier Boulevard, repaving of Mulberry Drive and Slauson Avenue and adding embedded lights at the Greenway Trail crossing on Greenleaf Avenue.

Also, Assemblyman Curt Hagman, R-Chino Hills, and Miss Whittier and her court will be there at the beginning for presentations. They get to go first before oral communications.