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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021.02.12 - Minutes - Regular MeetingCITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 16, 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: Council Member Tye 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; Amy Haug, Human Resources and Risk Manager; Ryan Wright, Parks and Recreation Director; Christy Murphy, Recreation Superintendent, David Liu, Public Works Director; Hal Ghafari, Public Works Manager/Assistant City Engineer; Anthony Jordan, Parks and Maintenance Superintendent; Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; Dianna Honeywell, Director of Finance, Ken Desforges, Director of Information Services; 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: None CC/Santana read the following public comments submitted via email: Allen Wilson felt the City should return to holding public meetings at the AQMD Auditorium. Andrew Zhang asked the City Council to implement a "Hero Pay" ordinance to protect grocery store workers. Adrienne Cotterell understands why the City is holding telephonic meetings but does not understand why it is not using Zoom or other comparable systems to gain wider audience participation. Raphael Plunkett thanked the City Council for recognizing Black History Month, wrote in opposition to consideration of digital bill boards in Diamond Bar and invited residents to participate in the upcoming International Dark Sky week April FEBRUARY 16, 2021 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL 3. 4. 5th through 12th, 2021. Public comments offered telephonically: None offered. CM/Fox stated that in -person gatherings are still not permitted and the City does not have access to the AQMD facility because it is currently closed to the public. Mayor Lyons added that the City has been locked out of the AQMD and though everyone on the Council would prefer to have in person meetings, they would not be able to hold meetings there even if they wanted to. CONSENT CALENDAR: MPT/Low moved, C/Liu seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. 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 FEBRUARY 2, 2021 STUDY 3.1 B FEBRUARY 2, 2021 REGULAR MEETING -UPDATED 3.2 RATIFIED CHECK REGISTER DATED JANUARY 28, 2021 THROUGH FEBRUARY 10, 2021 TOTALING $396,885.74. 3.3 APPROVED FOR THE MONTHS OF AUGUST 2020 AND REVISED JULY 2020 TREASURER'S STATEMENTS. 3.4 ADOPTED THE PROCLAMATION DECLARING FEBRUARY 2021 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH. 3.5 APPROVED EXONERATION OF SURETY BOND NO. 929638539 TO INSTALL MONUMENTATION FOR TRACT MAP 63623 (SOUTH POINTE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT). PUBLIC HEARINGS: None COUNCIL CONSIDERATION: 5.1 DIAMOND BAR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE PLAN AtoCM/Santos provided the staff report and recommended Council adoption. FEBRUARY 16, 2021 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL Public comments offered telephonically: Paul Deibel spoke in favor of adopting the Diamond Bar Homelessness Response Plan and wanted to understand the process for adoption, was concerned about "hidden" homelessness not being addressed, why other community -based organizations did not participate and suggested that through its Housing Element or the Homelessness plan, Diamond Bar offer financial support to Pomona's regionally oriented homeless shelter. Mayor Lyons closed the public comment period. C/Liu asked how the plan would assist at -risk residents. AtoCM/Santos responded that the plan would allow the City to put information on its website, to collaborate with all other jurisdictions and other partners to proactively work together to prevent homelessness. C/Tye asked if funding was available to cities from LA County from the tax revenue generated to address homelessness and AtoCM/Santos explained that staff will need to determine what funding is available through Measure H. C/Chou asked how would the City implement the plan and AtoCM/Santos responded that work has been done to implement the plan and once approved, action items will be implemented upon acquisition of funding. MPT/Low asked if the City would receive funding directly from the County or through SGVCOG and AtoCM/Santos responded that the plan was funded by SGVCOG through Measure H and other funding sources. Some of the community/partnership outreach with private property owners can be done through existing services with SGVCOG and there may be additional direct funding through Measure H from LA County or other grants. MPT/Low asked the scope of Diamond Bar's involvement and AtoCM/Santos responded that Diamond Bar takes a citywide approach looking at individual community needsand how the City can be positioned within the regional to support programs to help further its plan. M/Lyons thought the City had participated in the Homeless Count every year except for January 2021 due to COVID. AtoCM/Santos responded that the last countsDiamond Bar participated in were in 2011 and 2013. Council Member Chou added that LAHSA conducted annual counts within the City each year with the exception of the last year due to COVID-19. MTP/Low moved, C/Chou seconded, to adopt the Diamond Bar Homelessness Response Plan. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: FEBRUARY 16, 2021 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chou, Liu, Tye, MPT/Low, M/Lyons NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None C/Liu recused himself from consideration of Item 5.2 because he lives in District 41, and did not participate in the discussion. 5.2 DISSOLUTION OF LANDSCAPING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 41. PWD/Liu provided the staff presentation and recommended the City Council take the necessary steps to dissolve Landscaping Assessment District No. 41. There were no public comments offered. C/Chou asked if the four HOA's were functioning and able to collect dues. PWD/Liu responded that all four HOA's are active but only received a response to staff outreach from one of the four. CA/DeBerry explained the enforcement procedures. In this case, the City would treat this matter the same as any other private property. During the public outreach process, property owners will learn about the process for getting their HOA's operating to maintain their private properties. C/Tye asked the outcome of the outreach to the HOA's and PWD/Liu said that staff sent mailings and left several voicemails and were advised by one HOA that it is up to the Board whether to make decisions or follow up. CA/DeBerry confirmed to C/Tye that ultimately, the burden of maintaining the property falls on the property owners and he believed that during the outreach process, property owners would begin to communicate and get organized or agree to approve an assessment increase. MPT/Low recalled that Council instructed staff to "live within its means" and asked if the current assessment would allow staff to fulfill its responsibilities to take care of the district without General Fund subsidies. PWD/Liu responded that that necessary base level of service is no longer sustainable. M/Lyons asked if the outreach program would include an invitation to a virtual meeting and PWD/Liu confirmed the outreach process will include one or two virtual meetings. The public will also be given online resources. Staff anticipates receiving feedback and concerns from the property owners to which staff will respond. C/Chou moved, M/Lyons seconded, to direct staff to take the necessary steps to dissolve Landscaping Assessment District No. 41. Motion carried FEBRUARY 16, 2021 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS C/Liu returned to the meeting. Chou, Tye, MPT/Low, M/Lyons None Liu C/Chou and MPT/Low recused themselves from Item 5.3 because they live in District 39, and did not participate in the discussion. 5.3 DISSOLUTION OF LANDSCAPING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 39. PWD/Liu provided the Council take the Assessment District No. staff presentation necessary steps 39. Public comments offered telephonically: and recommended the City to dissolve Landscaping Paul Deibel said he was shocked about the amount of General Fund monies that were going toward maintaining these districts and wondered if homeowners were aware that the maintenance may cost them more if done by their HOA's and that it might result in increases in their HOA/fire insurance premiums. Mayor Lyons closed the public comment period. C/Liu asked how the cost of maintaining these areas has increased over the years and what resources would be put in place to assist in the transition of moving the responsibility from the City to the residents. PWD/Liu responded that staff will work with the property owners to set up online service requests or call in with their questions and concerns to make it as convenient as possible for the property owners. C/Tye clarified that when Councilmembers inquire about "available resources" Diamond Bar is not making funds available for maintenance and residents are being released from the assessment they have been paying. C/Liu stated he did not mean "funds" but resources for assisting homeowners in terms of responding to questions, etc. C/Tye moved, C/Liu seconded, to take the necessary steps to dissolve Landscaping Assessment District No. 39. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Liu, Tye, M/Lyons NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None FEBRUARY 16, 2021 PAGE 6 ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chou, MPT/Low C/Chou and MPT/Low returned to the meeting. 5.4 FISCAL YEAR 2020/2021 MID -YEAR BUDGET REVIEW. FD/Honeywell provided the staff report. There were no public comments offered. CITY COUNCIL C/Chou asked why Prop A revenue and expenditures were less than budgeted. FD/Honeywell explained it was because of less bus passes being sold and less payroll cost being charged to Prop A due to COVID- 19. In addition, contract bus services for senior programming is being reduced because the programs are not taking place during the pandemic. C/Chou asked if this review included the money for the sale of Prop A Funds and FD/Honeywell confirmed and indicated that the sale of Prop A funds will conclude shortly and transfer of funds are scheduled to occur this week. C/Liu asked what challenges the City may encounter given the ongoing pandemic. FD/Honeywell said that it depends on when things begin to open up again. Staff can control expenditures to a certain degree, but there are maintenance levels to maintain which will depend on how revenue flows in to the City such as TOT, sales tax and property tax. C/Tye thanked FD/Honeywell for a very thorough and comprehensive report. MPT/Low echoed C/Tye. M/Lyons agreed that FD/Honeywell provided a very thorough and comprehensive report and in spite of having trouble with TOT, etc. the City is in good shape and very fortunate that the sales tax revenue exceeded expectations. C/Liu moved, MPT/Low seconded, to adopt Resolution No. 2021-05 amending the Fiscal Year 2020/2021 Municipal Budget Revenue Estimates and Appropriations. 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 FEBRUARY 16, 2021 PAGE 7 CITY COUNCIL 6. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND MEETING ATTENDANCE REPORTS/COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS: C/Chou thanked staff for a great meeting and agenda materials. He wished everyone a Happy Lunar New Year, acknowledged the downward trend of COVID-19 on a statewide level and an increase in vaccine sites, and commended the Council for its historic recognition of Black History Month. C/Liu thanked staff for their detailed presentations and the Council for adopting a proclamation declaring February as Black History Month. He thanked residents for reaching out to the City with their issues, reported on his participation with WVUSD and reminded students and parents to reach out to the district with student concerns. He wished everyone a Happy Lunar New Year and good health and happiness. C/Tye thanked CM/Fox for placing the Black History Month proclamation on tonight's agenda and encouraged everyone to read the February issue of The Windmill dedicated to the celebration of Black History Month. He thanked staff for their efforts to provide Council with complete information for Council to make decisions in the best interest of the community. MPT/Low thanked CM/Fox for his leadership and staff for a great job with presentations and reports for tonight's meeting as well as, their stewardship during COVID. She thanked residents for their continued adherence to safety measures while moving forward with life. Take time to enjoy life and share joy with others and Happy Lunar New Year to all who celebrate it. M/Lyons thanked staff for excellent reports and presentations and her colleagues who provided very thoughtful discussions of agenda items. For residents who are having difficulty getting appointments to be vaccinated check on the new vaccination hub at CalPoly Pomona at https://myturn.ca.gov/ or call the number on the City's website. She thanked residents who expressed their thoughts and concerns and willingness to help with aesthetics and function of the local post office and will keep residents apprised of her continuing efforts to pursue possible improvements with postal officials. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, M/Lyons adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 8:26 p.m. Respectfully submitted: /6�-- Kristina Santana, City Clerk FEBRUARY 16, 2021 PAGE 8 CITY COUNCIL The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 2"d day of March, 2021. Nanc Lyons, Ma�pbr �g�