Whittier Chamber of Commerce

Mayor Greg Nordbak Welcome To Whittier April 2010 Thank you for visiting the Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce website. I hope that you will find the information you are looking for and, perhaps, be inspired to join the Chamber, if you are not already a member, or be inspired to get more involved with this great organization. For the past 16 years, I have had the privilege of serving the citizens of Whittier as a member of the City Council. In recent years, we have been proud to see improvements in our City that include reductions in crime and graffiti, additions of park space and community facilities, including the addition of a second Senior and Community Center in East Whittier, to meet the needs of seniors and residents of all ages who live in that area. One of the most popular projects completed in years is the Greenway Trail, a new 4.5-mile walking and biking path, which is used by hundreds on a daily basis (purchased, designed and built without General Fund resources). All of this occurred during a period of widespread economic stress being experienced by most, if not all, governments and schools in the nation. I’m proud to report that the City of Whittier has been able to make great strides during this time, while maintaining prudent reserves for the unforeseen contingencies that we all must stand ready to address should we be presented with a crisis. We are preparing our city to make great strides upon the recovery of the economy by recently completing a complete revision to our Uptown Specific Plan. This effort has already paid great dividends as evidenced by the investment in the area by Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital in purchasing real estate in the Uptown and moving over 150 key administrative staff into the area. In addition, sensing the changes in the Uptown, we have seen more than nine new restaurants open in the area to high levels of receptivity and success. Learning from this positive experience, we are also embarking on the renovation of our Whittier Boulevard Specific Plan to allow the area the tools to deal with the new economic realities. Much of the development of Whittier Boulevard had been dependent on the new car dealerships that permeated the area. With many of our dealerships being closed by the manufacturers, we need to prime the area for new uses to maximize the value of our commercial real estate, while generating the economic benefits to the community to continue the provision of our high level of community services. The Council and I are committed to proactive business development. Increasing the City’s sales tax revenue and tax base through the attraction of new business is vital for the City. However, we also recognize the importance of supporting our existing businesses. During the past year, the Council adopted a Local Economic Stimulus and Business Assistance Plan to help businesses, both large and small. The Plan was designed to help stimulate the local economy and help businesses survive during the recession by offering financial assistance in a number of different areas key to their success. I encourage business owners to take advantage of the Plan by contacting our Community Development Department for information at (562) 464-3380. In the coming months, we look forward to beginning the development of the 74-acre Fred C. Nelles site. One of the largest available urban development sites in Southern California, Nelles presents another opportunity that will have a significant, positive impact on the local economy. The City of Whittier is assessing other ways that we can maximize the potential of our assets to the benefit of our residents. During the coming year, we will be embarking on a significant public process to assess the viability of a proposal we have received to use the mineral rights we own in the Whittier Hills to support an oil extraction operation. While this could provide an opportunity to better secure the future of our City, it is critically important to me and the entire City Council that the project is thoroughly evaluated and the impacts to our open space and our residents are appropriately mitigated before we move forward with the project. I encourage the community to stay informed on this major project and actively participate in the evaluation process. The completion of the new Police headquarters building, just west of City Hall, is anticipated for later this summer. Like most of you, public safety is at the top of my list of municipal services we provide. The Whittier City Council funded the construction of the new Police facility ($35,000,000) without increases in taxes. We were able to do that by following a path of fiscal prudence over the last decade that provided us with the resources to make this commitment to our residents and our fine Police department. The City Council is proud to maintain public safety as a top priority and we look forward to the grand opening of the new Police building in the coming months. Fortunately, the City has been and continues to be fiscally prudent. We do face additional challenges as we enter into our deliberations for our upcoming 2010-11 fiscal year budget. We know that we will need to make reductions amounting to about 5% of our expenditure levels and perhaps consider the use of some of our financial reserves to cushion the impacts of these cuts. Even with the potential use of modest levels of our reserves, we still will maintain prudent reserves exceeding 25% of our annual General Fund budget. While our sole purpose is to serve you, the citizens of Whittier, we must remain financially responsible to continue to provide for your future needs. We are hopeful we will not have to significantly decrease programs or services and that we will be successful in adopting another balanced budget. The City Council feels it is responsible to reduce our spending as an additional means to balance the budget. With the Council and the business community working together, we will continue to preserve our historic community, create opportunities for growth and secure a better future for our children, grandchildren and the generations to come. Thank you for visiting the Chamber’s website, and, please, do not hesitate to contact me or any of our City staff with any questions, concerns or suggestions. Greg Nordbak Mayor
History of Whittier The following information was contributed by the Whittier Historical Society. Quaker Family The eye-catching Quaker family symbolizes the importance of Whittier’s ancestry. Today the residence of the original Quaker family, Jonathan and Rebecca Bailey, can still be seen at 12501 Camilla St Unlike most towns, which are named after their founder, Whittier honors the American Quaker poet, John Greenleaf Whittier. When he was asked for the gift of his name, he penned a dedication poem. Friends Church The Friends Church embodies the dynamic role of religion in the daily lives of the Quakers. As soon as the land for Whittier was purchased in 1887, the Quakers, led by Jonathan Bailey and Aquilla Pickering built their church. Completed in August, 1887, it stood at Wardman St and Comstock Ave Today a new Friends Church, the largest in America, thrives at Philadelphia St and Washington Ave. Pio Pico Hacienda The Pio Pico Hacienda remains an historical tribute to the beloved last Mexican governor of California. You can visit the hacienda at the intersection of Whittier Boulevard and 605 Freeway between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Farmlands and Oil Wells Initially the Quakers depended upon agriculture to support them. In 1897, just 10 years after Whittier’s founding, a group of its enterprising citizens developed oil wells, which greatly expanded the local economy. Whittier College The early beginnings of Whittier College developed from the Quakers’ emphasis on education. Established as a private liberal arts college, it was the town’s first school of higher learning. Originally it stood on the land now functioning as American Savings’ parking lot. Its new location is at the corner of Painter Ave and Philadelphia St Today Whittier College proudly salutes its illustrious alumnus, Richard Milhous Nixon. First Schoolhouse In 1885, Evergreen School was built along El Camino Real by neighboring ranchers. When the Quakers founded Whittier, Evergreen School was outside the new town’s city limits. Thus in 1889, the industrious Quakers built a new school and respectfully. Other Facts of Whittier Quaker Town was originally suggested for Whittier's city name. On December 24, 1887, Whittier's first newspaper, The Whittier Graphic, was first published. First bank opened in Whittier on January 2, 1895, with $ 2,445.00 in capital and $ 5,012.75 in deposits. First bank robbery in Whittier occurred in 1955. First telephone was installed in 1904. Biggest department store " Meyers " was founded in 1905. The City of Whittier's official flower is the" Friendship Rose." Founders Day was celebrated for the first time on May 11, 1894.	top
Whittier City Council Mayor Greg Nordbak Greg has served on the Whittier City Council since his election in 1994. He was re-elected in 1998, 2002, and 2006 and served as Mayor Pro Tem in 1996-98, and Mayor, 1998-2000, 2005-2006, and 2010-2011. Greg serves as Chairman of the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority (www.WQA.com) and serves on the Advisory Boards of Rancho Los Amigos Hospital, and Arts for Education at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center. He is a former Board Member of the Whittier Rio Hondo Aids Project (WRHAP), the Whittier Boys and Girls Club, Skills Foundation and the American Red Cross, Greg is also active in youth sports. He has served as President of the Friends of La Serna as well as a past member and President of the La Serna High School Touchdown Club. He is a past Board member of Whittier Girls Softball, Whittier Area Youth Soccer and Murphy Ranch Little League. Greg is also a member of the Whittier Rotary Club. Greg and his wife, Donna, have made Whittier their home for the past 28 years. They have two children, Tom (28), a police officer, and Amanda (23), a student at California State University, Fullerton. City Council Appointed Organizations: San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority, Chairman Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities, Alternate Independent Cities Association, Alternate Independent Cities Risk Management Authority, Delegate Southeast Water Coalition, Alternate Gateway Cities Council of Governments, Delegate, SR91/I-605 Corridor Cities Committee City Selection Committee, Alternate Wildlife Corridor Conservation Authority, Alternate Whittier/Puente Hills Conservation Authority, Alternate Gateway Cities Council of Governments, Past President of the Board of Directors LA County Sanitation District, Alternate LA County Sanitation District, Chairperson, District 18, also on Personnel Committee Legislative/Public Information (San Gabriel Valley Water Quality Authority) Contact Information: E-Mail: greg@nordbaks.com Mayor Pro Tem Cathy Warner Cathy Warner was first elected to the City Council in 2004 and was reelected to the City Council in 2008. She has lived in Whittier since 1948, her family has been here since 1920. She and her husband Dave have seven children and 21 grandchildren. Cathy attended John Greenleaf Whittier & Longfellow Elementary Schools, Dexter & East Whittier Junior High Schools and graduated from California High School. She received an A.A. Degree from Fullerton Junior College and a B.S. in Dental Hygiene from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. She and her husband practice periodontics in their Whittier-based office. She has previously served on the City's Cultural Arts Commission for 2 years, the East Whittier City School District Governing Board for 2 years, the Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees for 12 years, and the Tri-Cities ROP Governing Board for 6 years. She has also been a member of the Project Area Committee for the Whittier Blvd. Commercial Corridor Redevelopment Project Area. City Council Appointed Organizations: Gateway Cities Council of Governments, Alternate Southeast Area Social Services Funding Authority, Alternate Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), Delegate Community, Economic and Human Development Committee (SCAG Policy Committee) LA County Sanitation District, Alternate City Council Committees: Nelles Property Acquisition Library Pio Pico State Park Contact Information: E-Mail: cathywarner@earthlink.net Council Member Joe Vinatieri Joe Vinatieri was reelected by the voters of Whittier to serve a four-year term in April 2008 after having been elected to a two-year term in 2006. Joe was born and raised in Whittier, attended Whittier schools and is employed in Whittier as an attorney at Bewley, Lassleben and Miller. Joe and his wife, Sandy, are proud parents of three children, Sarah, Joe and Susie, who attended Whittier schools. Joe’s local community involvement includes Member of the Board, Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce; Member, Whittier Union High School District Bond Oversight Committee; Member of the Board and Incorporator of Foundation, Whittier High School Alumni Association and Educational Foundation; Institutional Representative, Boy Scouts of America – Pack and Troop 219; and Member of the Board and past Vice-President, YMCA of Greater Whittier. Joe was on the Social Services Commission for the City of Whittier from 1984-1988 and was a Volunteer counseling youth offenders at Fred C. Nelles School for Boys for 10 years. Joe is a member of Plymouth Congregational Church. City Council Appointed Organizations: Southeast Area Social Services Funding Authority, Delegate Southeast Water Coalition, Delegate LA County Sanitation Districts, Delegate Gateway Cities Council of Governments, Alternate, SR91/I-605 Corridor Cities Committee Contact Information: E-Mail: jvcc@bewleylaw.com Council Member Bob Henderson Bob was elected to the City Council in 1976 and served until 1984. He served as Mayor Pro Tem from 1980-82. He was then re-elected in 1990, 1994, 2002, and 2006. Bob served as Mayor from 1992-94. An Uptown Whittier business owner, Bob owns Hendersons Insurance. He is also an active member in the Joint Powers Authorities relative to the hills. City Council Appointed Organizations: Independent Cities Risk Management Authority, Alternate Puente Hills Landfill Native Habitat Preservation Authority, Chairman Whittier/ Puente Hills Conservation Authority, Chairman Wildlife Corridor Conservation Authority(WCCA), Chairman Independent Cities Association, Delegate Hillside Open Space Education Committee (HOSEC), Chairman City Council Committees Greenway Trail Construction Contact Information: E-Mail: bob@hendersonsinsure.com Council Member Owen Newcomer Owen was reelected for a third term on the Whittier City Council in April 2008. He previously served as a trustee to the Whittier City School District for eleven years. Owen retired in June 2005 as a Political Science Professor at Rio Hondo College where he had been teaching since 1975. Owen now teaches part-time at Rio Hondo College. He earned his undergraduate and Master's Degree from California State University, Northridge in Political Science, and his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Southern California. He is the author of Governing California and Los Angeles. Owen is the Secretary for the Los Angeles Division of the League of California Cities. Supervisor Don Knabe appointed Owen to the Los Angeles County Homeless Services Authority Commission. City Council Appointed Organizations: • Puente Hills Landfill Native Habitat Preservation Authority, Alternate • LA County Division of the League of California Cities, Secretary • City Selection Committee, Delegate • Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Commission, Delegate • Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, Delegate • Gateway Cities MTA Service Sector, Council Member • Southeast Area Social Services Funding Authority, Alternate • Hillside Open Space Education Committee, Alternate City Council Committees: • Greenway Trail Construction • Nelles Property Acquisition Contact Information: E-Mail: newcomer_cityhall@charter.net Telephone: 562-693-0123	top
Chamber's Important Links Whittier City Hall Whittier Uptown Association Whittier Police Department	top

8158 Painter Ave. • Whittier, CA 90602 • Ph: (562) 698-9554 • Fx: (562) 693-2700