Whittier Can Pass Millions Without Public Discussion, Unless Pulled
A review of City Council meetings since April 28 found $19.1 million in items on the consent calendar, including a $6.2 million landfill contract that passed without discussion.
More than $19.1 million in contracts, purchases, and construction projects was placed on the consent calendar section of Whittier City Council agendas for meetings between April 28 and Oct. 13. Unlike items under staff reports or public hearings, they get no individual discussion that brings awareness to the community unless a council member pulls them off the list.
According to a Whittier Informed review, most were requests to approve contracts, purchases, or budget changes. The total is not necessarily what the city spent.
The largest item, a $6.2 million Savage Canyon Landfill construction contract, was approved as part of the consent calendar on July 14. It passed without discussion.
Now two council members are recommending a different approach to how the agenda is put together. On Oct. 13, during a separate item about replacing a water reservoir, Councilmember Aida Macedo said expensive projects should get their own agenda item.
“For projects that are this important, I think this expensive, I don’t think they should be on the consent agenda,” she said.
