HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021.05.18 - Minutes - Study SessionCITY OF DIAMOND BAR
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
DIAMOND BAR CITY HALL WINDMILL COMMUNITY ROOM
21810 COPLEY DRIVE, DIAMOND BAR, CA 91765
MAY 18, 2021
STUDY SESSION:
M/Lyons called the Study Session to order at 5:03 p.m.
Mayor Lyons announced that consistent with COVID-19 regulations, members of the
public were encouraged to participate and address the City Council during the public
comment portion of the meeting via teleconference. Members of the City Council and
limited staff were physically present for the meeting. Public seating was very limited due
to distancing requirements and was on a first -come, first -serve basis.
ROLL CALL: Council Members Andrew Chou, Stan Liu, Steve Tye
Mayor Pro Tern Ruth Low, Mayor Nancy Lyons
Staff in Attendance: Dan Fox, City Manager; Brent Mason, Interim Finance
Director; Dannette Allen, Senior Management Analyst.
Staff participating telephonically: 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; Amy Haug, Human Resources and
Risk Manager; Ken Desforges, Director of Information Services; Marsha Roa, Public
Information Manager; Cecilia Arellano, Public Information Coordinator; Kristina Santana,
City Clerk.
► FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022 OPERATING BUDGET:
CM/Fox reported
approximately %P
with an estimated
American Rescue
hat the draft budget currently reflects estimated revenues at
45 million and estimated appropriations at about %P million
surplus of approximately $160,000. With the assumption of
Plan funds as revised, there is no anticipated use of General
Fund Reserves or Emergency Contingency Reserves proposed to provide a
balanced budget this year.
IFD/Mason and CM/Fox provided the budget presentation and responded to
Council questions.
M/Lyons asked where the decrease in the American Rescue Plan funding was
reflected in tonight's budget presentation and IFD/Mason explained that the budget
presented to the Council this evening was put together prior to staff receiving word
of the reduction. Half of the $10.5 million ($5.25 million) was programmed into
the COVID fund (Pages 139 and 140, Special Fund). When the budget is
presented for adoption at the next City Council meeting, the adjustment of $3.4
million will be made in the COVID account. There are no changes to the General
Fund.CM/Fox further stated that staff will come back to the Council for a plan to
utilize the funds.
M/Lyons asked for Public Comments:
MAY 18, 2021 PAGE 2 CC STUDY SESSION
Allen Wilson commented on expenditures exceeding revenues, questioned why
the bus shelter program was not included in the budget and asked whether a cost
benefit analysis had been done for Restaurant Week and for the $12,000
expenditure for the Chamber of Commerce.
M/Lyons closed Public Comments.
CM/Fox stated that regarding the deficit spending, in order to balance the budget,
the City is using recognition of lost revenue from the American Rescue Plan funds
to be able to pay for expenditures as if the City were fully operational. The bus
shelter replacement program was discussed at the last Study Session and is
included in the Capital Improvement budget and will be included in the final version
of the budget that will be placed before the City Council for adoption at its next
meeting. There are no quantifiable cost -benefit analysis for Restaurant Week and
the Chamber of Commerce. These items are more qualitative with respect to
Economic Development and community participation.
M/Lyons said that she and her colleagues personally attended the Grand Opening
of Nectar on Saturday and the Chamber continues to provide these kinds of events
and participate actively with the Diamond Bar business community members.
CM/Fox explained to C/Liu that for the amount of American Rescue Plan funds
that the City can recognize this fiscal year, it will not be necessary to use $850,000
in contingency reserves. Once the money is received, the balance will be put into
the General Fund and reprogrammed for future programs or projects. For Fiscal
Year 2021-2022 the lost revenue portion of $1.68 million is being used to balance
the budget.
C/Liu suggested that the SB939 reserves be used to better educate the community
on efforts on recycling. CM/Fox explained that this and other programs are
currently provided to the community.
C/Chou complimented staff on the budget presentation and said that every year
he is increasingly impressed by the work the City does based on the limited
resources available.
MPT/Low thanked CM/Fox and IFD/Mason for their exemplary work on the budget
and offered special appreciation to CM/Fox for his leadership during COVID.
APT/Low
asked how much of the $953,863 for recreational programming (Page
117) was recoverable and IFD/Mason responded that as indicated on Page 62)
the Special Events revenue is $13,000, Contract Classes $257,000 and Youth
Program $234,000 for a total of about $600,000 in estimated revenues.
MPT/Low said she noticed the budgeted amount for the Diamond Bar Center
Contract Services is $147,000 compared to two years ago (pre-COVID) when it
was $64,800 (Page 115). PRD/Wright responded that the janitorial costs through
the Public Works Department previously decreased substantially due to lack of
rentals during COVID.
MAY 187 2021 PAGE 3 CC STUDY SESSION
C/Tye voiced his gratitude to staff and thanked IFD/Mason for stepping in to help
through the transition and this exercise helped him appreciate that the City has the
resources to continue to provide services the residents appreciate and have come
to expect including Concerts in the Park, City Birthday Parties, etc.
M/Lyons agreed with her colleagues that the budget was well -constructed and
easy to understand. She asked if the Council would hear about the survey prior to
moving forward because the last survey about parks was not that valuable.
CM/Fox responded that staff anticipates retaining services of a professional public
relations firm experienced in statistically -valid surveys and that part of the exercise
will include Council and staff previewing survey questions.
M/Lyons felt there was not enough money set aside for Restaurant Week and small
businesses that are struggling. CM/Fox explained that the American Rescue Plan
has a large portion of funding available for private businesses that include a variety
of programs and potential grants. The City continues to relax its temporary sign
and outdoor activity provisions and anticipates that it will continue to do so for some
time going forward. M/Lyons suggested a joint program with the Chamber on the
"shop local — shop small business Saturday" to promote businesses prior to the
holidays.
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to come before the City Council,
M/Lyons recessed the Study Session at 6:17 p.m. to the Regular Meeting.
Respectfully submitted:
Kristina Santana, City Clerk
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 1St day of June, 2021.
�ry
Nancy Lyon ,Mayor