The Whittier City Council, April 2013

I am proud to welcome you to the City of Whittier via our website.  Having first been elected to the City Council in 1976, I reflect back on the characteristics that define Whittier and see that over the years, we have clearly focused on two top priorities—quality of life for our residents and preservation of our history. Our past careful planning and fiscal prudence will serve as a strong foundation for our continued economic recovery and growth.

Whittier has had many accomplishments over the years.  One example is the conversion of 4.5 miles of abandoned railroad tracks into the Whittier Greenway Trail—a hiking, jogging, and biking trail—which is a great source of pride for the community.  The city is in the process of obtaining additional property so we can extend the Trail all the way to our easterly city limits where we border Orange County.

We are proud of the improvements to facilities that serve our residents well such as the Police Headquarters building (2010) and the Whittwood Branch Library expansion (2012).  As we continue the enhancement of our community, we must continue to be ever diligent to remember our past and preserve it as we move forward.  As families value and improve the beautiful historic homes in town, we want to balance progress and preservation to keep our neighborhoods beautiful and desirable. 

Our hills are an important resource that we are committed to protecting. The peace, tranquility and recreational opportunity provided by the abundance of open space certainly make us unique in the Los Angeles Basin and add immeasurably to our quality of life.  The City Council’s 2011 approval of a Conditional Use Permit for mineral extraction includes over 200 conditions of approval and mitigation measures which will help ensure our hills and habitat continue to be protected.  It is important to recognize that only a very small fraction of the hills will be used for the mineral extraction project which will benefit our community, our region, the habitat preserve, and future generations of residents.

Finally, you are invited to explore our website to access City information and services. We welcome your comments and suggestions on how to improve the website to meet your needs.

Bob Henderson
Mayor