HomeMy WebLinkAbout060419 - Minutes - Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR
JUNE 4, 2019
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Herrera called the Regular City Council
meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management
District/Government Center Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA.
Staff Present: Dan Fox, City Manager; Ryan McLean, Assistant City Manager;
David DeBerry, City Attorney; Ken Desforges IS Director; David Liu, Public Works
Director; Ryan Wright, Parks and Recreation Director; Dianna Honeywell, Finance
Director; Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; Marsha Roa, Public
Information Director; Anthony Santos, Assistant to the City Manager; Dannette, Allen,
Senior Management Analyst; Alfa Lopez, Senior Management Analyst; and Tommye
Cribbins, City Clerk.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Herrera led the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION: None provided.
ROLL CALL: Council Members Low, Lyons, Mayor Pro Tem Tye
and Mayor Herrera.
Absent: Council Member Chou was excused.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As presented.
1. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATES, PROCLAMATIONS.
1.1 C/Lyons presented the Council's Certificate Plaque to Tyan Kul and
Thomas Exell owners of Impeccable Pooch, 582 N. Diamond Bar
Boulevard, as New Business of the Month for June 2019.
2. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
CM/Fox reminded residents that it is June and fire season is upon us. Fire
Department inspections will begin soon and citations and fines will be imposed
for non-compliance. In addition, the City's property maintenance standards
require properties to be well maintained and free of weeds and debris. Thank
you to everyone for their efforts toward keeping Diamond Bar safe and beautiful.
CM/Fox updated the City Council on the Landscape Assessment Districts
balloting process, which has commenced to determine if property owners within
Landscape Assessment District's No. 39 and 41 are willing to approve new
assessments for the maintenance services within their districts. The deadline to
cast ballots is Tuesday evening, July 16th at the regularly scheduled City Council
meeting. Ballots may be returned by mail in the postage pre -paid envelopes that
were included in the ballot information packet, ballots may be dropped off at City
JUNE 4, 2019 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL
Hall with the City Clerk or, ballots may be returned anytime between now and
July 16th and may also be turned in at the meeting on July 16th. Assessments in
these districts, which are paid as part of the property taxes, have not increased
since the City's Incorporation 30 years ago. And since that time, the City's
General Fund has subsidized these assessments, which is no longer sustainable
for the City. In general, the proposed assessment increase for District No. 39 is
equivalent to about $10-12 per month and for District No. 41, about $20-23 per
month. Anyone who has questions may contact the Public Works Department or
visit the City's website.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Mr. Harrison believes his 1St Amendment Freedom of Speech rights were violated
at the May 21St City Council meeting.
Pui Ching Ho, Librarian, Diamond Bar Library, spoke about events and programs
available at the library during June.
4. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
5. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS:
5.1 Meet the Mayor -- June 8, 2019 — 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Albertsons'
Shopping Center, 1235 S. Diamond Bar Boulevard.
5.2 "Family Day of Play" -- June 8, 2019 — 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Larkstone
Park, 20668 Larkstone Drive.
5.3 Planning Commission Meeting — June 11, 2019 — 6:30 p.m., Windmill
Community Room, 21810 Copley Drive.
5.4 First in the series of 2019 Concerts in the park — June 12, 2019 — The
Answer (Classic Rock) — 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Movies Under the
Stars showing of Small Foot - Immediately following the Concert —
Sycamore Canyon Park, 22930 Golden Springs Drive.
5.5 City Council Meeting — June 18, 2019 — 6:30 p.m., AQMD/Government
Center Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive.
5.6 State of the City — Thursday, June 27, 2019 -- 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.,
Diamond Bar Center, 1600 Grand Avenue.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR: MPT/Tye moved, C/Lyons seconded, to
approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried by the following
Roll Call vote:
JUNE 4, 2019 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Low, Lyons, MPT/Tye, M/Herrera
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chou
6.1 APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES;
7.
8.
6.1a Study Session of May 21, 2019 —as presented.
6.1b Regular Meeting of May 21, 2019 —as presented.
6.2 RECEIVED AND FILED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 9, 2019.
6.3 RECEIVED AND FILED PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 25,
2019.
6.4 RATIFIED CHECK REGISTER DATED MAY 16, 2019 THROUGH MAY
29, 2019 TOTALING $840,376.45.
6.5 APPROVED TREASURER'S STATEMENT FOR APRIL 2019.
6.6 REJECTED CLAIM FILED BY SAN GABRIEL VALLEY WATER AND
POWER, LLC.
6.7 APPROVED AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO TRAFFIC SIGNAL MAINTENANCE
SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH SIEMENS MOBILITY, INC. FOR A
TOTAL AUTHORIZATION NOT -TO -EXCEED AMOUNT OF $202,118.80.
6.8 APPROVED ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES FOR SPECIAL LEGAL
SERVICES AND AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO ISSUE A
PURCHASE ORDER IN THE NOT -TO -EXCEED AMOUNT OF $250,000
FOR CONTINUED SPECIAL LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY
SHEPPARD, MULLIN, RICHTER & HAMPTON, LLP
PULIC HEARINGS: NONE.
COUNCIL CONSIDERATION:
8.1 ADOPTION OF THE FY 2019-2020 CITY OPERATING BUDGET AND
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, INCLUDING ESTABLISHMENT
OF THE APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT, EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION
PLAN, AND INVESTMENT POLICY.
A. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2019-21 APPROVING THE FY 2019-2020
CITY OPERATING BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM;
JUNE 4, 2019 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL
B. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO, 2019-22 ESTABLISHING THE
APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT FOR FY 2019.2020 IN THE AMOUNT OF
48,024,685;
C. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2019-23 AMENDING RESOLUTION NO.
2018-21 ESTABLISHING A COMPENSATION PLAN, SALARY
RANGES AND FRINGE BENEFITS FOR ALL EMPLOYEE
CLASSIFICATION; AND,
D. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 201924 APPROVING THE FY 2019-2020
INVESTMENT POLICY.
CM/Fox introduced FD/Honeywell who provided staff's presentation on the
City Manager's recommended FY 2019-2020 budget. General Fund
expenditures will total about $26.5 million; and the Capital Improvement
Program will be about $8.6 million for a total of $39.7 million budget with
Special Revenue Funds of $4.6 million. The anticipated/expected
resources for the General Fund will be $26.7 million while the estimated
appropriations are expected to be $26.5 million including the use of
approximately $897,000 of General Fund Reserves leaving the City with a
surplus of about $173,000 at the end of the Fiscal Year.
Highlights of this year's budget include the Law Enforcement contract
which will increase nearly 5 percent or approximately $300,000 in the
upcoming fiscal year as well as, the Liability Trust Fund, which is
increasing to 11 percent or about $675,000 of the total law enforcement
contract of $6.9 million. In addition, the City is proposing 'to allocate
100,000 from the Law Enforcement Reserve Fund for special
assignments and suppression controls. The Parks and Recreation
Department saw the formation of a Special Events subcommittee this
year, which looked at the existing Special Events schedule and based on
the subcommittee's recommendation for program changes and with
Council's concurrence, the changes have resulted in a savings of about
165,000 during the 2019-20 FY.
Of the $897,000 of General Fund Reserves, about $467,000 is carryover
CIP projects that start this fiscal year but will not be completed by the end
of the current fiscal year meaning the funds will roll into General Fund
Reserves to be re -appropriated in the next Fiscal Year. In addition, the
General Fund continues to subsidize the Lighting and Landscape Districts.
This year's General Fund subsidy for the LLD's is about $429,000. Total
expenditures for the Lighting and Landscape Districts is about $1.1 million
and the assessments of only about $693,000 leaves the City having to
subsidize these Districts with General Fund Reserves in the amount of
429,000, as previously stated.
JUNE 4, 2019 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL
The Capital Improvement Program for next year amounts to about $8.6
million.
The proposed FY 2019-2020 Employee Compensation Plan includes a
2.0% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) and a $50 benefit allotment
increase. The minimum wage will change to $13 per hour on January 1,
2020, a change that has been built into the next budget. The decision was
made to contribute more to the CaIPERS Unfunded Pension Liability to
pay over 15 years rather than over the current 30 -year amortized schedule
which results in an interest savings of approximately $1.9 million.
Personnel changes in the Public Works Department include the addition of
a Public Works Manager/Assistant City Engineer, the addition of an
Engineering Technician and a Public Works Inspector, and the following
positions will be defended and not refilled: 1 Assistant/Associate Engineer
position, 1 Maintenance/Sr. Maintenance Worker, and the Senior Civil
Engineer position (currently vacant).
The Investment Policy for FY 2029-20 has been updated with two minor
changes: 1) change LAIF account to match State of California's permitted
amount of $65 million and Reference Broker/Dealer list as a separate
document.
Also, the New Fund 107 (Measure W Fund) has been established to
account for County voter approved funds related to water quality
improvements.
C11-yons felt it was an excellent budget process and said that the two
Study Sessions were very helpful. She asked that FD/Honeywell clarify
the increase in Public Safety costs in the amount of 4.91 percent and
whether or not that is an increase in person hours or an increase in the
contract price.
FD/Honeywell replied that it is an increase in the contract price while
keeping the service levels the same as they are in the current fiscal year.
ClLyons said she wanted residents to understand that the 5 percent
increase is big for Diamond Bar.
FD/Honeywell agreed and further pointed out that the Public Safety
budget is 26 percent of the total budget.
C/Low said that this is her fourth budget and every year the City has an
increase in the amount it is charged for Public Safety services. While
these prices keep going up, what has the Sheriff shared with the City that
they are doing to contain costs, particularly with respect to the Liability
Trust Fund.
JUNE 4, 2019 PAGE 6 CITY COUNCIL
ACM/McLean responded that recent meetings with the Contract Cities
Association and the Sheriff is that the department is looking. to various
opportunities to reduce incidents that would result in high payout events
and are working on implementing a body camera program for their
officers. They are also working on training programs for various situations
in an attempt to keep costs down and make sure that any incidents that
may lead to high payouts are reduced which would, in turn, lead to a lower
Trust Fund payment, in theory.
MlHerrera asked if anyone wished to make public comment on the budget
item.
Seeing no one who wished to speak, MlHerrera asked for City Council
direction.
MPT/Tye felt it was impressive that in a city of 60,000 people nobody is
here to speak about the budget. In his view, it is a well thought out and
transparent process. Staff has done an excellent job with the budget and
this Council and residents really appreciate their diligence. Every
department in the City is involved in this process and held to account for
what they are asking and what they will see in the next Fiscal Year.
MPT/Tye moved, C/Low seconded, to adopt Resolution No. 201921
approving the FY 20192020 City Operating Budget and Capital
Improvement Program. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Low, Lyons, MPT/Tye, M/Herrera
None
Chou
C/Low Moved, C/Lyons Seconded, to adopt Resolution No. 2019-22
establishing the Appropriations Limit for FY 2019-2020 In the amount of
48,024,685. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Low, Lyons, MPT/Tye, MlHerrera
None
Chou
C/Lyons moved, MPT/Tye seconded, to adopt Resolution No. 2019-23
Amending Resolution No. 2018-21 establishing a Compensation Plan,
Salary Ranges and Fringe Benefits for all Employee Classification. Motion
carried by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Low, Lyons, MPT/Tye, MlHerrera
None
Chou
JUNE 4, 2019 PAGE 7 CITY COUNCIL
MPT/Tye moved, CILow seconded, to adopt Resolution No. 2019-24
approving the FY 201.9.2020 Investment Policy. Motion carried by the
following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Low, Lyons, MPT/Tye, MlHerrera
None
Chou
MlHerrera congratulated staff and thanked them for their hard work over
the past months to prepare Council Members to take action on the
upcoming budget this evening. Staff and Council worked together. and
people should be very proud of this City for its fiscal prudence.
9. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND MEETING ATTENDANCE
REPORTS/COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS:
CILow echoed M/Herrera's comments regarding the budget. Thank you to staff
for their hard work and ongoing efforts toward a balanced budget and thank you
for working with City Council and residents in a very open and collaborative way
and answering all of Council's questions and being available for study sessions.
Besides being balanced, the budget reflects this Council's priorities, which are
driven by the community members with staff responding to the community. As its
goal, Diamond Bar should strive to live below its means. The City has had some
big expenses in the past three years and CILow would like to see the General
Fund Reserve built up again because one never knows what is to come. There
are lots of fun activities this summer including Concerts in the Park/Movies under
the Stars beginning on June 12th with The Answer playing and she hopes the
community comes out to join in the fun. Also, there are lots of events at the City
Library for kids. She offered her congratulations to the class of 2019. She
wished all of the fathers in the community a Happy Father's Day and thanked
them for their devotion, diligence and sacrifices on behalf of all they care for. On
a personal note, she wished her husband, Rick Rogers, a Happy Father's Day
and thanked him for all he does.
C/Lyons said there are not many people present this evening to talk about the
budget but like her colleagues, she made a couple of phone calls and had quite a
few conversations with residents at Albertsons about what the City is spending
money on. She completely agrees that the City needs to be very fiscally prudent
and watch the City's Reserves. Had this and other Council's and staff not been
mindful of the City's Reserves, Diamond Bar would not have the money to move
forward with Tres Hermanos, either legally or through a purchase option as well
as, provide for ongoing maintenance. It is very important the City keep those
reserves very healthy. She was privileged to attend the 5th Grade Exhibition at
Castle Rock Elementary School where there were four classrooms of 51h graders
who gave presentations on various topics such as technology addition,
deforestation, sports industries, and so on. Everyone did a great job.
Congratulations to the four 55th grade teachers as well as, the International
JUNE 4, 2019 PAGE 8 , CITY COUNCIL
baccalaureate coordinator and their principal. On May 20 she attended a
product launch for a startup in Diamond Bar called the Collapsible Courier Box, a
very interesting and creative product which she is certain will be a tremendous
success. She continues to work on the Big Fix for the SR57/60. Yesterday at
the San Gabriel Valley Capital Project and Construction meeting, she found out
that the national infra grant Diamond Bar applied for was part of the nine -billion -
dollar total of infra grants requested. Currently, there is $858 million in the pot
which is a big number, but all of the grants together add up to nine billion which
means there is less than 10 percent of the money needed for grants across the
country, which is very disappointing. She thinks, however, that Diamond Bar has
a chance this time because the Big Fix is a very compelling project and she
remains hopeful. As C/Low said, it is summer and it is time for Concerts in the
Park and she hopes to see everyone there next Wednesday for the first in the
summer series.
MPT/Tye quoted a friend, former Councilman, former Assemblyman and State
Senator that always referred to elections as "Silly Season" and this is truly the
season. Ballots went out last Friday for Landscape and Lighting Districts No. 39
and 41 and it did not take long for people to go out and knock on doors to
express their opinions. Unfortunately, they are telling lies door to door and telling
lies about the process. He urged anyone who has a question to please call the
City's Public Works Department at 839.7000 to get the straight information. And,
accurate information is available on the City's website. This individual in the
Longview area is telling people that it will increase 3 percent a year which is
actually the cap and, it may not increase at all. This person is saying that this
ballot, makes it possible to raise taxes throughout the City at any time and
nothing could be further from the truth. This ballot has specifically to do with
Lighting and Landscape District No's 39 and 41 only, Please get the facts. If you
don't trust the information you're hearing because it just doesn't sound right,
please call 839-7000 and ask for the Public Works Department or call MPT/Tye
at 909-319-5426 and if he doesn't know the answer, he will get back with you
with an answer from Public Works. MPT/Tye said it was his privilege last Friday
to represent the City Council at Diamond Ranch High School's graduation for the
Class of 2019 graduates, and Principal, Suzanne Steinseifer-Ripley who
encouraged them to think outside the box. Free Solo is a documentary Principal
Ripley referenced to encourage kids to think like him. She did a great job and
congratulations to kids who are on their way to college, trade school and/or work.
We are proud of them all. Last week he and M/Herrera attended the dedication
of LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn's Open House in Hacienda Heights.
Concerts begin a week from tomorrow. The Answer is a great group that has
performed several times over the past years and will put on a great show. He
congratulated Dr. Ryan Wei. Happy Father's Day to all of the fathers and he
looks forward to seeing everyone at the next City Council meeting in two weeks.
M/Herrera congratulated C/Lyons for being reelected to the Capital Project's
Committee, the new ACE under the auspices of COG. It is important for Diamond
Bar for C/Lyons to be present on that committee because hopefully, when
JUNE 4, 2019 PAGE 9 CITY COUNCIL.
Diamond Bar gets all of the money for the SR57/60 it will be this ACE special
projects committee that will actually do the project on time and under budget,
which is not the case with other statewide entities. June 8th is a Pop-up City Hall
which has been renamed "Meet the Mayor". She invited her fellow
Councilmembers to participate in this monthly event in the parking lot at City Hall
between 10 a.m. and noon on June 8th. She reported that Foothill Transit
approved their very large budget during its recent meeting and they have a
balanced budget as well. Meeting attendees celebrated with Doran Barnes who
has been a Foothill Transit employee for 20 years. Foothill Transit elected a new
Chair and Vice Chair. Carol Herrera was elected as Chair and Cynthia
Sternquist from Temple City was elected Vice Chair. Doran announced to the 22
represented cities that Foothill was purchasing excess Prop A Funds from the
City of West Covina, and he invited any of the other cities who have excess Prop
A Funds that Foothill Transit would be interested in purchasing them. Happy
Father's Day to all of the fathers.
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, M/Herrera adjourned
the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:20 p.m.
VIA'. oljj , .
TOMMY -CRIB -BINS, CITY CLERK
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 18th day of June 2019.
CAROL HERRERA, MAYOR