HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021.12.21 - Minutes - Regular MeetingCITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING DIAMOND BAR CITY HALL WINDMILL COMMUNITY ROOM 21810 COPLEY DRIVE, DIAMOND BAR, CA 91765 DECEMBER 21, 2021 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Low called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. M/Low stated 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 and public seating was very limited due to distancing requirements on a first -come, first -serve basis. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Low led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Council Members Stan Liu, Nancy Lyons, Steve Tye, Mayor Pro Tern Andrew Chou, Mayor Ruth Low Staff in Attendance: Dan Fox, City Manager; David DeBerry, City Attorney; Ryan McLean, Assistant City Manager; Anthony Santos, Assistant to the City Manager, Jacob Jacobsen, Finance Director; Joan Cruz, Administrative Assistant; April Chew, Accountant; Kristina Santana, City Clerk Staff present telephonically: Hal Ghafari, Public Works Manager/Assistant City Engineer; Ken Desforges, Information Systems Director; Amy Haug, Human Resources and Risk Manager; Ryan Wright, Parks and Recreation Director; Cecilia Arellano, Public Information Coordinator; Marsha Roa, Public Information Manager; Alfa Lopez, Senior Management Analyst; David Liu, Public Works Director; Greg Gubman, Community Development Director Also in Attendance: Diamond Bar/Walnut Station Captain Stephen Tousey, LA County Sheriff's Department APPROVAL OF AGENDA. As presented. 1. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: None. 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS: In person: Pui-Ching Ho spoke about December library events. CC/Santana stated no emails were submitted for public comment. 3. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS. CM/Fox presented the Calendar of Future Events. DECEMBER 21, 2021 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL 4. CONSENT CALENDAR: C/Tye moved, MPT/Chou seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Liu, Lyons Tye, MPT/Chou, M/Low NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None 4.1 APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: 4.1a REGULAR MEETING OF DECEMBER 7, 2021. 4.2 RATIFIED CHECK REGISTER DATED DECEMBER 1, 2021 THROUGH DECEMBER 14, 2021 TOTALING $469,232.22. 4.3 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2021-55, PROVIDING FOR CONTINUED USE OF TELECONFERENCING AND OTHER FORMATS AS DEFINED AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH, ASSEMBLY BILL 361, FOR MEETINGS OF THE DIAMOND BAR CITY COUNCIL, CITY COMMISSIONS AND SUBCOMMITTEES. 4.4 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2021-56 EXTENDING THE DECLARED LOCAL EMERGENCY REGARDING NOVEM CORONAVIRUS (COVID- 19). 4.5 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO, 2021-57, PROVIDING FOR THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR TO "OPT -IN" AND PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL OPIOID SETTLEMENT AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE RELATED ACTIONS TO SIGN ALL NECESSARY AGREEMENTS AND DOCUMENTS. 4.6 ADOPTED A PROCLAMATION DECLARING DECEMBER 21, 2021 AS ARBOR DAY. 4.7 RATIFIED THE MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS, AND ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2021-58 CONFIRMING APPOINTMENTS TO THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS. 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS: NONE. 6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION: 6.1 URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING DEFINITIONS, OBJECTIVE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, AND PROCESSES FOR TWO -UNIT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS AND URBAN LOT SPLITS PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL 9 (SB9). DECEMBER 21, 2021 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL CDD/Gubman presented the staff report. M/Low opened Public Comments. CC/Santana stated that no emails were received for this item. M/Low closed Public Comments. C/Liu asked in what way this poses a threat to health, safety and welfare. CDD/Gubman stated that SB 9 provides limited criteria for development, allowing lots to be split into two and allowing up to four units on what is originally a one single family lot. Without any regulations in place, there would be no height limitations, and no architectural criteria which would lead to potential impacts to the neighborhoods which staff considers a potential threat to the character and quality of the neighborhoods. C/Lyons asked if the City was obligated to notify the neighbors. CDD/Gubman stated that the City is not obligated to notify the neighbors and there is no opportunity for public input so it would be a policy decision. CA/DeBerry stated that notifying neighbors sets up an expectation that they will have some say and therefore the better policy is to not notify. After further discussion regarding notifications, C/Lyons agreed it would be best to move forward without notifications. C/Lyons asked how this bill would increase availability of affordable housing. CDD/Gubman stated that the intent of the legislation was to increase the supply and availability of affordable housing but the legislation itself does not require SB 9 development to be affordable. C/Lyons also asked about the space requirements between buildings. CDD/Gubman stated it depends on the zoning district and provided some figures. C/Lyons asked if the City or cities could or should challenge this new law. CA/DeBerry stated that it would be an uphill battle, especially for a General Law City such as Diamond Bar. APT/Chou asked how SB 9 will affect the City's RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Allocation) numbers. CDD/Gubman stated that they don't know how SB 9 units will be counted towards RHNA units yet, though currently ADU units are counted towards that credit. VI/Low asked if there was an appeal process for these types of units. CDD/Gubman responded that were was not. M/Low asked how the HOA veto works under SB 9. CDD/Gubman responded DECEMBER 21, 2021 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL that the HOA has civil remedies available to them. M/Low asked about the part of the law that says the homeowner must live at the property for at least three years and what happens if there is a corporate owner. up. CDD/Gubman responded that the ordinance's definition excludes corporate ownership. C/Lyons moved, C/Tye seconded, to adopt Urgency Ordinance No. (05) 2021, to be effective January 1, 2022. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Liu, Lyons Tye, MPT/Chou, M/Low NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None 7. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND MEETING ATTENDANCE REPORTS/COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS: C/Liu thanked staff and Council for a great discussion. He wished everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. He wished everyone health and abundance in the new year. C/Tye thanked staff for the SB 9 presentation. He wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a COVID free new year. C/Lyons thanked staff for the SB 9 presentation. She wished everyone a restful and joyful holiday and a mostly healthy new year. MPT/Chou announced a new County Supervisor, Hilda Solis and three new representatives; Congressional District 38 - Linda Sanchez, Senate District 30 - B©b Archuleta, and Assembly District 56 - Lisa Calderon clue to redistricting. He reported on burglaries in the community and asked the City Manager if there is enough budget to step up patrol through the holiday season. CM/Fox stated that there were funds available and the patrol has already been increased. MPT/Chou wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and expressed his hope that 2022 would be better than 2021. M/Low echoed her colleagues for their gratitude towards staff and the SB 9 presentation. She reminded everyone that the January 4, 2022 Council Meeting was cancelled and the next Council Meeting would be on January 18, 2022. She spoke about the Diamond Bar Connected App and encouraged everyone to stay connected with the City through the app. She wished everyone Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, Happy New Year and safe travels. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, M/Low adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:28 p.m. to January 18, 2022. DECEMBER 21, 2021 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL Respectfully submitted: Kristina Santana, City Clerk The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 18t" day of January, 2022. Ruth M. Lhw, Mayo