City Clerk's Corner
Congratulations to Cynthia Ayala, CMC on her Appointment as City Clerk!
- Join us in Congratulating Cynthia Ayala, CMC on her appointment to City Clerk. Upon the retirement of prior City Clerk Anna Jerome in March of this year, the position of City Clerk had remained vacant.
- Cynthia has assisted with leading the City Clerk’s office in the interim and on September 12, 2023 was officially appointed by the City Council to serve as the City Clerk of Pico Rivera.
- A big congratulations to Cynthia!
National Voter Registration Day!
- September 19th was National Voter Registration Day and we want to make sure your voice and the voices of all eligible citizens are heard loud and clear at the ballot box. As a registered voter, you understand the first and most crucial step is registering to vote.
- Have you moved to Pico Rivera recently? It is important to keep your voter registration up-to-date, especially if you recently moved. Checking your voter registration status ensures you are eligible to vote in the upcoming elections in the upcoming primary elections and you receive the correct election-related materials.
- To check your voter registration status or get more information, please contact the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk at (800) 815-2666 option 2 or visit their website at lavote.gov.
- Thank you for being a voter!
Departmental Updates
Office of the City Manager
Historic Whittier Boulevard Revitalization Program - Community Survey #2 is Now Live!
- Phase 2 of the Historic Whittier Boulevard Revitalization Program is now underway and will take place between August 2023 and Winter of 2024.
- During this phase, the Project team will host a new round of community engagement activities, booth at city events, and collect feedback with community survey #2, which is now live on our city website and accessible via the QR code on the flyer above.
- Everyone is encouraged to provide your valuable feedback visiting the project booth; completing Community Survey #2; or by joining us during the planning charrette week at the Pico Rivera IDEA Lab from October 6th to 12th.
- Together, we can design the future of Historic Whittier Boulevard!
Pico Rivera Youth Ambassadors Provide City Council with an Update on the Historic Whittier Boulevard Program
- At the September 12 City Council Meeting, Pico Rivera Youth Ambassadors Ricardo Cano and Ellie Mejia provided the Council with an update on the Historic Whittier Boulevard Revitalization Program and their role in designing and shaping the future of their community.
- Ricardo and Ellie highlighted their involvement within the community and their active roles in community outreach raising awareness of the Program, educating residents, and inspiring members of the community to provide feedback and share their ideas.
- Ricardo and Ellie demonstrated their exceptional professionalism while sharing insights from their experiences within the program.
City Submits Request Under the 2024 Federal Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) to Preserve Avenida Vicente Fernandez to the Sports Arena
- WRDA is federal legislation that provides a framework for water resources and activities implemented by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
- The Whittier Narrows Dam Safety Modification Project (WND) is a project led by the USACE, which when complete, will result in the permanent loss of park space and access to the Pico Rivera Sports Arena.
- As part of the WRDA development process, the City has submitted a request through the Office of Senator Padilla and the late Senator Dianne Feinstein to build a new public road that maintains access to the Sports Arena. The City also requested $125M in resources to address the impacts resulting from the WND project, including the loss of parks, open space and economic activity.
City of Pico Rivera joins US Army Corps of Engineers to Present Communications Plan at the 2023 Dam Safety Conference
- The City of Pico Rivera was invited to join the US Army Corps of Engineers for a joint presentation highlighting their partnership and successful communications plan that incorporated innovative engagement, proactive community outreach, and crisis communication as a result of the Whittier Narrows Dam Safety Modification Project.
- The City and USACE presented at the 2023 Dam Safety Conference hosted by the Association of State Dam Safety Officials in Palm Springs.
- The City and the USACE continue its strong partnership as the WND project is ongoing.
Mazatlan Sister City Visit
- On September 7th, a delegation of officials and leaders from the Mexican city of Mazatlan visited Pico Rivera for a tour of the city, discussions, and exchange of ideas and strategies.
- Pico Rivera and Mazatlan are sister cities.
Community and Economic Development
Housing Rights Workshop
- On Wednesday, October 18, 2023, the Housing Rights Center will be hosting a Fair Housing Workshop at the Senior Center at 6 p.m.
- The Workshop is open to the general public and meant to assist landowners and renters learn about the remaining Covid-19 eviction protections, rent increases, disability accommodations and fair housing in general.
- Residents are asked to RSVP using the button below. Spanish interpretation will also be provided.
Housing Element Zone Reclassification
- On September 12, 2023, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1173, which applies an R-40 overlay zone to properties identified in the City’s Housing Element.
- The overlay zone will allow for exciting mixed-use development opportunities on sites where these types of projects were previously prohibited.
- The overlay zone covers over 90 acres and is primarily focused on spurring development along the City’s primary commercial corridors including Washington, Whittier, Rosemead and Beverly Boulevards.
Grand Opening - Topline Nails
- Topline Nails & Lashes celebrated the grand opening ceremony of their new location at 8562 Whittier Blvd. (next to Target).
- Owner Jennifer Ta has been a longtime resident of Pico Rivera and opened her first Topline Nails establishment almost 25 years ago. Since then, she chose to continue her business in the City and decided to open a new and improved location that has the feel of an elegant, luxury salon.
- This new nearly 7,000 sq. ft. location features spa-like services such as facials, skin care, nail care, and eyelash extensions. Welcome back to Pico Rivera!
Grand Opening - Los Amores de Julia
- Los Amores de Julia celebrated its much-awaited grand opening last month at 8800 Washington Blvd.
- The owner and CEO of Los Amores de Julia is Misael Guerrero who hails from Sinaloa, Mexico and owns over 25 restaurants located in 6 states throughout the United States. Previously, Guerrero had opened Culichitown here in the City of Pico Rivera on Slauson Ave.
- Inspired by traditional flavors, he decided to open Los Amores de Julia to bring a fresh, creative and respectful interpretation of Mexican Bistro cuisine. The restaurant is a tribute to culinary artistry and the timeless traditions passed down through generations. With meticulous attention to detail, they curated a menu that reflects the rich tapestry of Mexican flavors.
- The restaurant boasts of gorgeously eclectic and rustic décor and adds another great location for Pico Rivera residents and neighbors from other areas to dine and enjoy.
Public Works and Citywide Project Updates
Pico Rivera Regional Bikeway Project
- The project limits are along Mines Avenue from Paramount Boulevard to east of Rimbank Avenue.
- The Project will construct a 1.1-mile protected bicycle lane along the south side of Mines Avenue that will connect to regional trails along the Rio Hondo Channel and San Gabriel River.
- In addition to the bicycle lanes, improvements within the project limits include pavement reconstruction, construction of bio-swales for stormwater capture, ADA improvements, traffic signal modifications at the intersections of Paramount Boulevard at Mines Avenue and Rosemead Boulevard at Mines Avenue, landscaping improvements, and signage.
- The Project will utilize sustainable native and drought-tolerant plants, shrubs, and trees to limit water usage.
- The project is anticipated to be completed in Summer 2024. Construction will be completed in phases along Mines Avenue to limit impacts to the residents and businesses. Motorists are to expect delays and are encouraged to take alternate routes during construction.
- The project's overall goal is to provide a safe regional bicycle connection to existing trails, promote active transportation, promote stormwater quality, and beautify the community.
City Hall ADA Upgrade Project
- In April of 2023, the ADA improvement project kicked off. The ADA improvement project sought to address ADA accessibility deficiencies at the entrances of City Hall as well as accessibility issues in the main lobby.
- We are excited to announce the project is now complete!
- Residents can now enjoy the newly renovated main lobby flooring, restrooms, ADA-compliant countertops, and main entrance.
- Please note that the west entrance is currently closed, and the only way to access City Hall is through the east entrance.
Community Events & Programming Recap
Summer Street Fest - August 11, 18 and 25, 2023
Pico Rivera ended summer with a bang! The Summer Street Fest concert series attracted over 8,000 patrons every night, with headliner Ozomatli closing out the festivities on August 25th.
Fiestas Patrias - September 15, 2023
- “El Grito de Independencia Pico Rivera” (Fiestas Patrias) took place on Mines Avenue, in partnership with AJUA (Association of Jaliscienses en Accion), on Friday, September 15th.
- An attendance of about 8,000 patrons gathered and celebrated Mexican Independence Day with live musical performances, ballet folklórico, food vendors, artisans and more.
Certified Farmers Market Concludes - September 27, 2023
• The City’s Certified Farmers Market concluded on Wednesday, September 27th with weekly Farmers Market attendance between 1,000 – 1,200 patrons.
Upcoming Events & Programs
Halloween Spooktacular - October 28, 2023
- The annual Halloween Spooktacular will take place on Saturday, October 28th at Smith Park from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Average attendance is over 7,500 patrons.
- Judges will be needed for the Costume Contest, please contact Parks and Recreation to sign up!