HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021.01.19 - Minutes - Regular MeetingCITY OF DIAMOND BAR
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 19, 2021
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Lyons called the Regular City Council meeting
to order at 6:30 p.m.
Mayor Lyons announced that consistent with COVID-19 regulations, all Council
Members and staff participated via teleconference and there was no physical location
for public attendance. The Public was invited to join the meeting online or by phone at
the numbers printed on the agenda.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Lyons led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL: Council Members Andrew Chou, Stan Liu, Steve Tye,
Mayor Pro Tern Ruth Low, Mayor Nancy Lyons
Staff participating telephonically: Dan Fox, City Manager; Dave DeBerry, City
Attorney; Ryan McLean, Assistant City Manager; Anthony Santos, Assistant to the
City Manager; Ryan Wright, Parks and Recreation Director; David Liu, Public Works
Director; Hal Ghafari, Public Works Manager/Assistant City Engineer; Greg
Gubman, Community Development Director; Dianna Honeywell, Director of Finance,
Marsha Roa, Public Information Manager; Cecilia Arellano, Public Information
Coordinator; Kristina Santana, City Clerk
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As submitted.
1.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
CM/Fox provided a COVID-19 vaccination update.
CM/Fox shared information from Terry Muse, Waste Management
Representative. All residents who have provided their current information should
receive a text, email or phone call each week prior to their service to remind them
that their green waste or recycle cart will be scheduled for the following week.
Customers can place extra bags of green waste and recycling for pickup at no
additional charge. A postcard will be sent to communicate the temporary
schedule and alleviate questions. Every Thursday, staff and Waste
Management meet for a status update and report, and work together to
determine when it will be safe to return to normal pickup schedules. Residents
can contact the customer service center at www.cslosangeles(d-)wm.com.
M/Lyons asked if there was a discussion of a fee rebate and CM/Fox said while
the subject has been discussed, there has been no official determination
regarding a fee rebate.
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
CC/Santana read the following public comments submitted via email:
JANUARY 19, 2021 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL
Martin Strudwick requested that Street Sweeping Parking enforcement be
discontinued until the LA County stay-at-home order is removed.
Dave Reynolds, President, Cimarron HOA, suggested that if the Waste
Management Service modification exceeds two months, they should analyze the
difference in cost to the company related to the modification with rebates to
customers, if warranted.
Public comments offered telephonically:
Tammy Peng, Liaison, Office of State Senator Josh Newman, introduced herself
to Council and said she looked forward to working with and for Diamond Bar.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR: MPT/Low moved, C/Liu seconded, to approve the
Consent Calendar as presented, with the exception of Item 3.4 withdrawn from
Consent Calendar by M/Lyons. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chou, Liu, Tye, MPT/Low, M/Lyons
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
3.1 APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES:
3.1a JANUARY 5, 2021 REGULAR MEETING
3.2 CITY COUNCIL RECEIPT AND FILING OF COMMISSION MINUTES:
3.2a PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 24, 2020.
3.3 RATIFIED CHECK REGISTER DATED DECEMBER 31, 2020 THROUGH
JANUARY 13, 2021 TOTALING $422,680.99.
ITEMS WITHDRAWN FROM CONSENT CALENDAR:
3.4 APPROVE THE FREEWAY MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA ACTING BY AND THROUGH THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND, AUTHORIZED THE CITY
MANAGER TO AMEND EXHIBIT A TO THE FREEWAY MAINTENANCE
AGREEMENT ON AN AS -NEEDED BASIS.
M/Lyons felt the contract should more accurately reflect what the City
expects from Caltrans, that Caltrans will maintain the off and onramps,
trash removed frequently (bi-weekly).
PWD/Liu responded to M/Lyons that this agreement is a State of
California template contract the State enters into for all jurisdictions within
the State, the purpose of which is to clearly define the maintenance areas
JANUARY 19, 2021 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL
4.
and does not include performance measurements or standards and must
be fully executed prior to the final design package is approved for the
SR57/60 Confluence project.
PWD/Liu commented that since the meeting that Mayor Lyons set up with
Caltrans and Staff, there has been improvement in Caltrans maintenance
of trash pickup and staff continues to maintain coordination with Caltrans
on a weekly basis regarding maintenance issues.
CA/DeBerry stated that this agreement addresses the City's
responsibilities for maintenance within the Caltrans right-of-way and the
State is not interested in detailing responsibilities with respect to their own
freeways and properties and Caltrans has been clear that they will not
enter into any agreements where the cities dictates how Caltrans will
perform maintenance responsibilities on property they own.
MPT/Low stated that she and many residents have noted that the on and
off ramps are littered and very unsightly and unhealthy and asked how this
contract differs from past contracts. PWD/Liu responded that the most
notable difference is the attached Exhibit A which clearly delineates the
street areas within the Caltrans right-of-way that the City is responsible for
maintaining.
C/Liu echoed M/Lyons and MPT/Low's comments and also asked if there
was anything the City could do to impose some level of influence
regarding maintenance issues. PWD/Liu responded as he did to M/Lyons
and MPT/Low that there was not.
M/Lyons moved, MPT/Low seconded, to approve the Freeway
Maintenance Agreement with the State of California Acting by and through
the Department of Transportation, and authorized the City Manager to
amend Exhibit A to the Freeway Maintenance Agreement on an as -
needed basis. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chou, Liu, Tye, MPT/Low,
M/Lyons
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING:
4.1 CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING A COST REPORT AND
ESTABLISHMENT OF A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AND LIEN TO
RECOVER NUISANCE ABATEMENT COSTS RELATED TO THE
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1223 BRAMFORD COURT (APN: 8701-037-
016).
CM/Fox asked Council to withdraw this item from consideration. The
JANUARY 19, 2021 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL
5.
property owner and CDD/Gubman reached an agreement that the
property owner would reimburse the City in multiple installments for
identified costs to abate the nuisance and, CDD/Gubman continues to
work with the property owner to abate the ongoing landscape
maintenance concerns at the property.
C/Tye thanked the property owner for working with staff to resolve this
matter.
C/Chou moved, C/Tye seconded, to withdraw consideration to impose a
special assessment in light of the property owners' agreement to directly
reimburse the City for costs incurred in the performance of a nuisance
abatement at 1223 Bramford Court (APN: 8701-037-016). Motion carried
by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS
COUNCIL CONSIDERATION:
Chou, Liu, Tye, MPT/Low,
M/Lyons
None
None
5.1 TRANSMITTAL OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020 COMPREHENSIVE
ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT.
Debbie Harper, CPA, Lance, Soll and Lunghard, LLP, stated her firm
conducted an analysis of the financial report and found no mistakes,
material weaknesses or significant deficiencies, stated that the
financial report could be relied upon for budgetary determinations, and
responded to Council questions and concerns.
FD/Honeywell thanked her staff for their hard work in receiving an
unmodified opinion, provided Council with a report on the FY2020 year-
end financial results and responded to Council questions.
MPT/Tye moved, MPT/Low seconded, to Receive and File the FY 2019-
2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report; approve an appropriation
of General Fund Reserves in the amount of $41,835 to the Park
Development Fund; and, approve an appropriation of General Fund
Reserves in the amount of $41,835 to the Building Facility & Maintenance
Fund. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chou, Liu Tye, MPT/Low,
M/Lyons
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
5.2 APPOINTMENTS TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION,
JANUARY 19, 2021 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL
PLANNING COMMMISSION, AND TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSION TO FILL UNEXPIRED TERMS.
C/Chou appointed Raphael Plunkett to the Parks and Recreation
Commission.
C/Liu appointed Stephen Qiu to the Parks and Recreation Commission,
Mahendra Garg to the Planning Commission, and Gary Busteed to the
Traffic and Transportation Commission.
C/Tye moved, MPT/Low seconded, to ratify the aforementioned
appointments to Commissions to fill unexpired terms. Motion carried by
the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chou, Liu Tye, MPT/Low,
M/Lyons
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
6. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND MEETING ATTENDANCE
REPORTS/COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS:
C/Chou thanked staff for their great work and knowledge reflected in their
reports, reported on the Cal Cities Public Safety Committee meeting,
congratulated the local winner of the Youth Social Justice Award, thanked
Supervisor Hahn for initiating a $330,000 grant designed to help struggling
restaurants and families in need, $12,500 of which was brought to Diamond Bar,
and invited residents to a COVID-friendly drive up free box luncheon mass
distribution on Saturday, January 231d beginning at about 10:00 a.m. at the
Diamond Bar United Church of Christ.
C/Liu spoke about his meeting with the school district and school's offering
mental health help for students, thanked staff for their support during the
pandemic and congratulated ISD/Desforges and his staff for receiving the 2020
Municipal Information Systems Association of California's Excellence in
Technology Practice award; thanked staff and his colleagues for their swift
actions to create cost savings during the Pandemic, thanked Commission
applicants who expressed their desire to serve the community, and thanked
Supervisor Hilda Solis for signing an Executive Order offering vaccines for
residents aged 65 and over. He also thanked residents for their support of one
another and their efforts toward keeping the community safe.
C/Tye reiterated his gratitude to FD/Honeywell and her team as well as, Diamond
Bar staff for their transparency and work on the budget and obtaining an
excellent CAFR report, encouraged residents to register and participate in the
Walnut Valley Water workshop for drought tolerant plants beginning January 23rd
as well as, the Water is Life virtual poster art contest for grades 3 through 12tn
JANUARY 19, 2021 PAGE 6 CITY COUNCIL
and the High School Broadcast Media and Digital Art virtual contest.
MPT/Low thanked staff for a great CAFR report and the transparency and trust it
provides residents assuring them of the excellent stewardship and protection of
the City's limited resources during the Pandemic, and thanked PWD/Liu and his
staff for their diligence and ongoing dialogue with Caltrans. MPT/Low
welcomed Ms. Peng to Diamond Bar and said she looked forward to
working with her and Senator Newman. She cautioned everyone that
scammers are hard at work in the COVID arena and everyone should be very
cautious about responding to requests for money and personal information
to "enhance vaccine eligibility". As a reminder, government agencies do not
solicit information and money in order for individuals to receive the vaccine.
M/Lyons revealed that she was the individual who supposedly sent the email to
MPT/Low asking her for five $100 Apple gift cards which she absolutely did not
do. M/Lyons thanked FD/Honeywell for a clear and concise presentation of the
annual financial report and receipt of the unmodified opinion, congratulated the
Information Technology Department led by Ken Desforges for receipt of the 2020
Municipal Information Systems Association of California's Excellence in
Technology Practice award, and said she was thankful for the Sheriffs Deputies
serving on the Special Assessment Team who do great work on behalf of
Diamond Bar. She spoke about Arthur Coleman who lived in Diamond Bar for 46
years until his recent passing.
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, M/Lyons adjourned the
Regular City Council Meeting at 7:53 p.m. in memory of Arthur Coleman, longtime
Diamond Bar resident.
Respectfully submitted:
- '1�
Kristina Santana, City Clerk
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 2"d day of February, 2021.
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Nancy Lyons- ayor