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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10_03_17 Minutes - Regular MeetingCITY OF DIAMOND BAR CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION OCTOBER 3, 2017 STUDY SESSION: M/Lin called the Study Session to order at 5:57 p.m. in Room CC -8 of the South Coast Air Quality Management District/Government Center, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765. ROLL CALL: Council Members Herrera, Lyons, Tye, Mayor Pro Tem Low and Mayor Lin Staff Present: Dan Fox, City Manager; David DeBerry, City Attorney; Ryan McLean, Assistant City Manager; David Liu, Public Works Director; Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; Dianna Honeywell, Finance Director; Kimberly Young, Senior Civil Engineer; Anthony Santos, Assistant to the City Manager; Anthony Jordan, Parks Maintenance Superintendent; John Beshay, Associate Engineer; Cecilia Arellano, Public Information Coordinator; Amy Haug, Human Resources/Risk Manager, and Tommye Cribbins, City Clerk. CITY ENTRY MONUMENT SIGN PROJECT: CM/Fox explained that this City Entry Monument Sign project is in its conceptual stage and is being presented to the City Council at this time for their feedback. This is part of this year's CIP project and City's strategic plan. PW/Liu introduced AE/Beshay who provided a report along with PowerPoint presentation of the City Entry Monument Sign project. The presentation highlighted the proposed locations, the monument sign design, the existing medians at the proposed locations (Diamond Bar Boulevard south of Temple Avenue and the westerly entrance of the City along Golden Springs Drive west of Calbourne Drive) and the two project alternatives and cost comparisons. AE/Beshay described the new monument sign design that was constructed in 2015 as part of the Grand Avenue Beautification project along Grand Avenue west of Longview Drive. AE/Beshay showed a rendering of the monument sign post construction at Diamond Bar Boulevard south of Temple Avenue. C/Lyons asked if the existing median would be bigger than it is now and if the proposed monument sign would be a bit smaller than the one on Grand Avenue. AE/Beshay responded that both the median and monument sign would remain the same size. MPT/Low asked if the trees would be removed. OCTOBER 3, 2017 PAGE 2 CC STUDY SESSION AE/Beshay stated that one tree may be removed due to the location of the monument sign. C/Lyons asked if the proposed monument would have the lights and everything behind it as well. AE/Beshay responded affirmatively. The second proposed location is the existing median at Golden Springs Drive west of Calbourne Drive which also has the old monument sign. The old sign would be removed during construction. This median has one tree and mostly turf. C/Lyons asked if it was the same size. AE/Beshay said that it is and that it is 10 feet wide and 10 feet high. MPT/Low asked how long the old sign had been at that location. PWD/Liu responded at least 20 years if not longer. CM/Fox said there are four or five locations throughout the City that could be candidates for the new signs as well. PWD/Liu said that other proposed locations include Lemon Avenue at the City of Industry and Brea Canyon Road City limits. Currently programmed into the CIP are the two proposed locations. AE/Beshay continued by showing Alternative 1 at Diamond Bar Boulevard south of Temple Avenue which consists of three elements: The monument sign in the center median, the two parkway columns on each side of the street and landscape around the monument sign and in front of the parkway columns. Similar to the first location, Alternative 1 for Golden Springs Drive west of Calbourne Drive will consist of the same three elements. C/Lyons asked if staff was proposing drought tolerant plantings. PWD/Liu responded affirmatively. Alternative 2 concentrates on just the median which would consist of the entry monument sign and full median improvements similar to what was done at Grand Avenue at Diamond Bar Boulevard and at Longview Drive with post and rail and decorative skip panels, as well as, full landscape improvement including the accent border. OCTOBER 3, 2017 PAGE 3 CC STUDY SESSION AE/Beshay explained in detail what is intended to be included in Alternative 1 and Alternative 2 explaining the cost comparison and reason for the extra cost for Alternative 2. M/Lin asked how much the original beautification project cost for all four legs. SCE/Young responded that the cost was $2.5 million including both intersections along Grand Avenue as well as the traffic signal improvements. C/Lyons asked if Council liked Alternative 2, would it go out for bid. PWD/Liu explained that when public works projects are put together it depends on supply and demand. Something with this complexity and especially the electrical complexity, there are several disciplines involved, from electrical to irrigation and landscape improvements as well as, the hardscape. There is concrete and asphalt work involved in hardscapes and since it is not that big of a project the profit margins are low. These costs include 10% contingencies and construction management costs that will be contracted out. Before this is funded as a package, staff will make sure to be comfortable with the numbers prior to releasing the bid. These numbers are conservative but staff wants to consider all of the other variables. M/Lin asked if staff could request Alternative 1 as the main bid and Alternative 2 as the optional bid so the Council and staff can determine which is better. PWD/Liu said that is one of the options under consideration. That while staff wants to look at both opportunities it must be careful because the optional bid items cannot be more than 25% of the main bid. M/Lin said he was asking for two different bids. PWD/Liu acknowledged that two different bids could be prepared to give the Council an opportunity to compare each alternative. PWD/Liu said that only about $425,000 was budgeted in the CIP. MPT/Low said she was fine with Alternative 1. C/Lyons said she was fine with it too but thought it would be a good idea to get bids before making a final decision. MPT/Low said at those prices she cannot see Alternative 2 for twice the price of Alternative 1. AE/Beshay reiterated that the cost comparison includes the $215,000 per location No.1 that includes construction cost, contingency, construction OCTOBER 3, 2017 PAGE 4 CC STUDY SESSION management and construction management contingency so it might be less when bids are received. C/Lyons agreed with M/Lin that staff should obtain separate bids for each alternative and from that point make a choice. The proposed designs are beautiful and would be quite acceptable. PWD/Liu said that when the Council included this in the strategic plan, they wanted more of these elements at entry points or at arterial intersections. While the Council might want to see more features, the reality is that as a standalone project it does not get less expensive but in fact, gets more expensive. AE/Beshay responded to M/Lin that Alternative 1 has been designed and is ready to go out to bid. Additional plans and specs would need to be prepared for Alternative 2. C/Tye asked if Alternative 1 would be backlit. PWD/Liu said yes. C/Tye said there would be no landscaping. PWD/Liu said there would be at the entry monument surrounding the two columns. C/Lyons talked about an accident last year when a young man ran into the wall on Grand Avenue and asked if staff had replanted the tree that was taken out. PMS/Jordan explained that West Coast Arborist is doing all of the arterials, some of which have been done. That area should be on the list for replacement. C/Lyons said that every time she drives by it she is reminded about the fatality and wondered if it could be done this year. PWD/Liu said that it should be done this year. M/Lin asked if Council concurred to go out to bid for both Alternatives and bring the results back to the Council for a final decision. C/Tye asked what the cost would be if the post and rail was eliminated. AE/Beshay stated that the cost for the post and rail is about $20,000. OCTOBER 3, 2017 PAGE 5 CC STUDY SESSION M/Lin said the electrical could be bored under the street which would save time and money. AE/Beshay said that over the past two years construction costs have been increasing and staff has been surprised that some of the engineering estimates have been under the actual bid amount. Council concurred to get bids for each Alternative and come back to the Council for a final decision. MPT/Low felt it was overkill to have monument signs everywhere when the City is not that big. C/Lyons felt it was good to have them at these proposed areas. PWD/Liu confirmed that both Alternatives would go out for bid and the numbers would come back to Council for a final decision. Public Comments: None. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to come before the City Council, M/Lin recessed the Study Session at 6:22 p.m. to the Regular Meeting. Tommye Itribbins, City Clerk The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 17th day of oct_nbPr 2017. Jimmy -t4, Mayo MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR OCTOBER 3, 2017 CLOSED SESSION Public Comments: STUDY SESSION: Public Comments: 5:30 p.m., Room CC -8 Conference with Legal Counsel — Anticipated Litigation Government Code Section 54956.9 One (1) Potential Case None Offered 5:57 p.m., Room CC -8 City Entry Monument Sign Project None Offered. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Lin called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management District/Government Center Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA. CM/Fox stated there was no reportable action taken during Closed Session. CM/Fox reported that during tonight's Study Session, Council received a report on the City Entry Monument Sign Project. The City's CIP Project and Strategic Plan calls for landscape improvements and community identity elements throughout the City. The Council received a report on the potential for two new entry monument signs to be located on Diamond Bar Boulevard near Temple Avenue and Golden Springs Drive near Calbourne Drive. Council reviewed alternative landscaping options and staff will be preparing plans to go out to bid for two alternatives at each location to allow Council to consider cost at a future date. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Councilmember Lyons led the Pledge of Allegiance. INVOCATION: Mayor Lin asked for a moment of silence for the individuals and family members involved in the Las Vegas Route 91 Harvest Festival tragedy. ROLL CALL: Council Members Herrera, C/Lyons, Tye, and Mayor Pro Tem Low and Mayor Lin Staff Present: Dan Fox, City Manager; David DeBerry, City Attorney; Ryan McLean, Assistant City Manager; Ken Desforges, IS Director; David Liu, Public Works Director; Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; Dianna Honeywell, Finance Director; Amy Haug, Human Resources/Risk Manager; Anthony Santos, Assistant to the City Manager; Cecilia Arellano, Public Information Coordinator; and Tommye Cribbins, City Clerk. OCTOBER 3, 2017 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As Presented. 1. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATES, PROCLAMATIONS: None. 2. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: CM/Fox reminded Council and the public that Sprouts Farmers Market, 239 S. Diamond Bar Boulevard, is scheduled to celebrate its Grand Opening next Wednesday, October 11that7:00 a.m. 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Eileen Ansari, representing Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity invited the Council to attend the Gala on Friday, November 3rd at the Doubletree in Claremont. She stated that Diamond Bar has been a p ffl- of the organization which has been in existence since 1976. During that time, the Pomona Valley Habitat has built 47 new homes as well as, refurbished homes. Currently, the organization is working to acquire land in Chino Hills to build two homes. There are vacant lots in Diamond Bar which have become vacant due to fire and tear downs and she would like to know who owns these properties so they can be approached to see if they would like to have a Habitat home built on the lot. Teresa Wang spoke against the possibility of the City of Industry using the Tres Hermanos property as a solar farm and felt that both the cities of Diamond Bar and Chino Hills have the ultimate say in in the development in Tres Hermanos. She would like to see a regional park on the property. Ms. Wang then went on to ask Council to respond to the following questions via email by the end of Friday, October 13th: 1) Why wasn't the Former Site D (Willow Heights) with its relatively flat terrain designated as a park and 2) While attending the last Tres Hermanos Conservation Authority meeting, Chino Hills City Councilmember Peter Rogers asked why the Conservation Authority exists and she wanted to know if the Board Members had any intention of preserving the Tres Hermanos Ranch; 3) Chino Hills has Measure U to protect against increased density regarding open space development and can Diamond Bar initiate a similar measure and what tangible legislation has Diamond Bar enacted to prevent over -densification of the City's portion of Tres Hermanos. Daniel Luevanos, One Legacy city ambassador from Donate Life, stated that One Legacy is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ, eye and tissue donation serving seven southern California counties. He then showed a picture of the Donate -Life's 15th annual Rose Parade float entitled "The Gift of Time." This year's theme is "Making a Difference. The Rose Dedication ceremony is scheduled for December 29, 2017 and invited a City official to place a rose on the Gift of Time float. OCTOBER 3, 2017 PAGE 3 1 CITY COUNCIL Robin Smith asked if the City Council had seen the flyer/press release from the City of Industry regarding exploring management of open space and recreation for the Tres Hermanos Ranch indicating they were seeking counsel from the LA County Parks and Recreation Department for the handling of land and learning about different uses for public and recreation use. She stated that while attending the Conservation Authority meeting she heard the Chino Hills City Manager talk about how they are protecting their interests and she was very encouraged by his confidence and the plan Chino Hills has in place. She wants to know what Diamond Bar has in place to protect its interests and way of life. What kind of laws are in place and if there are none, why not? She also wants to know if the Conservation Authority that MPT/Low said would continue especially in light of Councilmember Roger's comments about the purpose of the Conservation Authority. And is it a conservation group and do they have any true authority? Pui-Ching Ho, Diamond Bar Library Manager, invited everyone to attend the Library's Birthday Party on October 7th at 2:00 p.m. and announced the many events scheduled for the month of October 4. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS: CM/Fox thanked former Mayor Eileen Ansari for speaking tonight about the Habitat for Humanity. Staff will be available to work with her. If there are properties the group is interested in staff will provide whatever information is available to point them in the right direction. CM/Fox responded to Ms. Wang that staff will do its best to respond to her three questions by Friday. As to Ms. Smith comments about Tres Hermanos, he believes the Council has been doing an incredible amount of work to try to figure out what is happening with the Tres Hermanos property and what the City of Industry is doing. The City has retained special legal counsel to advise the City on those items. Information coming out of Industry is relatively non-existence. Diamond Bar continues to request information in an attempt to figure out what their plan is which has been very frustrating to everyone. The City and City Council is prepared to protect its residents and as more information becomes available it will be made available to the public. 5. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: 5.1 Diamond Bar Restaurant Week — October 6, 2017 through October 20, 2017. For a list of participating restaurants, visit www.dbrestaurantweek.com or check the link on the City's homepage. 5.2 Planning Commission Meeting — October 10, 2017 — 7:00 p.m., Windmill Community Room, 21810 Copley Drive. OCTOBER 3, 2017 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL 5.3 Traffic and Transportation Commission Meeting — October 12, 2017 — 7:00 p.m., Windmill Community Room, 21810 Copley Drive. 5.4 Barktoberfest — October 14, 2017 — 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Pantera Bark Park, 738 Pantera Drive. 5.5 City Council Meeting — October 17, 2017 — 6:30 p.m., AQMD/Government Center Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive. 5.6 General Plan Update Community Workshop (Land Use Alternatives) — October 19, 2017 — 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Grand View Ballroom, Diamond Bar Center, 1600 Grand Avenue. 5.7 America Recycles Day — November 4, 2017 — 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., AQMD Parking Lot, 21865 Copley Drive. 6. CONSENT CALENDAR: C/Lyons moved, MPT/Low seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Herrera, Lyons, Tye, MPT/Low, M/Lin NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None 6.1 APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 6.1a Study Session of September 19, 2017 —as presented. 6.1b Regular Meeting of September 19, 2017— as amended. 6.2 RATIFICATION OF CHECK REGISTER DATED September 8, 2017 through September 27, 2017 totaling $1,958,362.65. 6.3 APPROVED TREASURER'S STATEMENT FOR AUGUST 2017. 6.4 APPROVED FOR FULL EXONERATIONS SURETY BOND NO. 929598541 TO COMPLETE LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION IMPROVEMENTS AND, SURETY BOND NO. 929598538 FOR MONUMENTATION RELATED TO TRACT MAP 72295 (WILLOW HEIGHTS DEVELOPMENT) LOCATED AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF DIAMOND BAR BOULEVARD AND BREA CANYON ROAD. 6.5 APPROVED CONTRACT AMENDMENTS FOR ONE (1) YEAR ON-CALL CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH DAVID EVANS AND ASSOCIATES, INC., DMS CONSULTANTS, INC., ONWARD ENGINEERING, AND PENCO ENGINEERING, INC., IN A NOT -TO - EXCEED AMOUNT OF $50,000 FOR EACH CONTRACT. OCTOBER 3, 2017 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL 6.6 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2017-31: AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF THE LIST OF PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED BY SB 1: THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017, ESTABLISH A SEPARATE GENERAL LEDGER FUND ACCOUNT FOR ROAD MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION (RMRA) FUNDS AND TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM THE GAS TAX FUND TO THE NEWLY CREATED RMRA FUND. 6.7 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2017-32: AUTHORIZING CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL PURCHASING ALLIANCE TO PURCHASE JANITORIAL SUPPLIES FOR CITY FACILITIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017-18. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None. 8. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION: None. 9. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND MEETING ATTENDANCE REPORTSICOUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS: C/Lyons reported that fall has arrived and Council's calendar continues to get increasingly busier. She and MPT/Low continue to work with staff regarding City Fees with the hope that this matter can be brought back to the entire City Council prior to the end of this calendar year. Last week she attended the Diamond Bar Evergreen Club's Quarterly Birthday Celebration. There were many birthday cakes and a lot of fabulous entertainment by the senior groups that performed. Last Thursday she attended the Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening of the NextGen Wealth Management, a new financial services business that just opened in Diamond Bar. On a serious note, she is the City's representative to the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments which meets the third Thursday of every month. At the last meeting there was discussion about some of the San Gabriel Valley cities banding together along with law enforcement agencies to form a group called "Taking Back our Community Coalition" whose purpose is to communicate the effects of some legislation that is causing crime to increase in all communities and work together to pressure state legislators to get the legislation modified so that repeat offenders are dealt with more seriously as opposed to what is happening now which is termed "catch and release would like Diamond Bar to consider joining with the other cities and this coalition and would like to have this item placed on the next Council agenda. C/Lyons then displayed a flyer and asked residents to support the current Miss Diamond Bar, Natalie Swartout, in her effort to become Miss Teen California by eating at Chili's on Wednesday, October 11th. Natalie is also taking private contributions to help offset the costs. Diamond Bar Restaurant Week starts this Friday, October 6th with 19 restaurants having signed up to participate to date. She plans on eating at every participating restaurant! OCTOBER 3, 2017 PAGE 6 CITY COUNCIL M/Lin asked that staff place the matter of whether it would like to participate in the "Taking Back our Community Coalition" on the next City Council agenda for discussion. C/Herrera went to Sacramento with City staff in August. State Senator Josh Newman invited various individuals from the San Gabriel Valley to come and talk to him about the different issues in the San Gabriel Valley regarding water and transportation. C/Herrera spoke on Transportation and specifically the SR57/60. She thanked PWD/Liu for all of his work in putting together all of the information as well as, PIM/Roa and her staff for the brochures with candy bars stapled to them which were handed out. Everyone was very impressed with the City of Diamond Bar and its "swag." This City has outstanding staff and C/Herrera thanked them for helping the City shine very brightly that day. Senator Newman intends to champion the SR57160 project to see that it gets funding through the State's new gas tax if possible. C/Tye reported that on September 27 he attended the Open House at Lorbeer for the Streetscape program which was attended by 30-40 people who weighed in on the subject and talked about the different design treatments. It is very exciting to see what is going to happen on Diamond Bar Boulevard at the "center of town" as it gets a makeover with Sprouts, Smart & Final, etc. He appreciates everyone who took time to participate. He thanked M/Lin for having a moment of silence regarding the tragedy in Las Vegas that was perpetrated by a madman. It was eerily silent in this auditorium and he does not know if it struck anyone else as to how quiet it was in what was a marked contrast to what was experienced in Las Vegas. Daniel Luevanos spoke tonight about Donating Life and giving life to somebody else as a recipient of a liver transplant. It makes one realize that when something like this happens how precious life really is and how it should never be taken for granted. Life is so precious, as 59 families found out two days ago. The victims and folks that are still in the hospital are in everyone's thoughts and prayers. MPT/Low said that September was a very busy month. Last Friday she attended the Brahma Foundation Casino Night which was a fundraising opportunity for raising funds for a large electronic video piece of equipment for the football field. To donate to this project fundraising, individuals can contact the Brahma Foundation at the Diamond Bar High School. On Saturday, September 23rd she attended the Chinese Institute of Engineers, Southern California Chapter to join in the celebration of their 100th anniversary. Something she witnessed that she felt was very creative was a solar car that was built by Diamond Bar High School and Walnut Valley High School students which won first prize. The car is drivable and they plan to drive it from Texas to California next summer. Hopefully the students can be invited to attend a City Council meeting to show a video of what they are able to do. She also attended the Evergreen Seniors Group Birthday Party and Harvest Moon Festival which was a lot of fun and was an opportunity for her to speak with local representatives from Congressman Royce's office, Supervisor Hahn's office as well as, Senator Josh Newman an OCTOBER 3, 2017 PAGE 7 CITY COUNCIL advocate for Diamond Bar by discussing projects that are in the works related to transportation, signage and Tres Hermanos. The City is sponsoring Barktoberfest on October 14th at Pantera Bark Park from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and is thrilled to be able to be there for the Halloween themed event for dogs and their owners which will include a costume, contest, dog games, music, a photo station and various vendors offering goods and services. She thanked M/Lin for the moment of silence tonight. In the wake of that horrible shooting in Las Vegas deepest sympathies of the entire community go out to those who have lost loved ones and suffered injuries. One of her colleagues lost his daughter who was a recent college graduate and they are heartbroken and sympathies go out to them. The community is heartbroken and everyone holds them in their thoughts and prayers. If you know anyone who has been a victim, please have them reach out for help. M/Lin attended the same events MPT/Low attended. In addition, he was at the three separate Mid -Autumn Festivals (Moon Festival). He was invited to Walnut's Chinese Club's Moon Festival. He also attended the Diamond Bar Chinese-American Association's Moon Festival Celebration at Pantera Park on Sunday. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, M/Lin adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:28 p.m. Tommy Cribbins, City Clerk The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 11thday of October , 2017. r— — 7!rA iJimmyLayor