HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022.03.01 - Minutes - Regular Meeting.pdfCITY OF DIAMOND BAR
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
DIAMOND BAR CITY HALL WINDMILL COMMUNITY ROOM
21810 COPLEY DRIVE, DIAMOND BAR, CA 91765
MARCH 1, 2022
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Low called the Regular City Council meeting to
order at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Windmill Room, 21810 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar,
CA 91765.
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. City Council Members and staff participated
in person and telephonically.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Low led the Pledge of Allegiance
INVOCATION: Ab Kastl, Associate Pastor, Landmark Christian
Church provided the invocation.
ROLL CALL: Council Members Stan Liu, Nancy Lyons, Steve Tye,
Mayor Pro Tern Andrew Chou, and Mayor Ruth Low
Staff in Attendance: Dan Fox, City Manager; David DeBerry, City Attorney;
Ryan McLean, Assistant City Manager; Alfa Lopez, Senior Management Analyst;
Kristina Santana, City Clerk
Staff Present Telephonically: Anthony Santos, Assistant to the City Manager;
Marsha Roa, Public Information Manager; Cecilia Arellano, Public Information
Coordinator; David Liu, Public Works Director; Hal Ghafari, Public Works
Manager/Assistant City Engineer; Jason Jacobsen, Finance Director; Ryan Wright,
Parks and Recreation Director; Alfredo Estevez, Information Systems Analyst
Also Present:
Department.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Captain Stephen Tousey, LA County Sheriff's
As presented.
1. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: NONE
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Raphael Plunkett indicated that she would like to speak on Item 5.1.
Pui-Ching Ho, Diamond Bar Librarian announced the library would be open on
weekends and spoke about library programs and events scheduled for the month
of March.
3. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: CM/Fox presented the Calendar of
Future Events.
MARCH 1, 2022 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL
4. CONSENT CALENDAR: C/Lyons moved,
the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion
vote:
6.
MPT/Chou seconded, to approve
carried by the following Roll Call
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 FEBRUARY 15, 2022.
4.2 RATIFIED CHECK REGISTER DATED FEBRUARY 9, 2022 THROUGH
FEBRUARY 22, 2022 TOTALING $1,516,058,60,
4.3 APPROVED TREASURER'S STATEMENT FOR THE MONTH OF
JANUARY 2022.
4.4 APPROVED SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE CONSULTING SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH MV CHENG & ASSOCIATES, INC. FOR
TEMPORARY ACCOUNTING STAFFING SERVICES.
4.5 ADOPTED THE PROCLAMATION DECLARING MARCH AS AMERICAN
RED CROSS MONTH.
4.6 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2022-11, APPROVING AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A NOTIFICATION OF
INTENT TO COMPLY WITH CALRECYCLE SB1383 REGULATION
REQUIREMENTS, AND DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS
DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE ANY RELATED DOCUMENTS.
COUNCIL CONSIDERATION:
6.1 CONSIDERATION TO ESTABLISH A CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE
TO COORDINATE WITH THE INLAND VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY.
CM/Fox presented the staff report.
MPT/Chou recommended this item be referred to the Public Safety
Committee.
C/Lyons said she would agree to refer this item to the Public Safety
Subcommittee if the issues could be addressed immediately.
CM/Fox confirmed that Public Safety can meet as -needed.
C/Tye and C/Liu agreed that C/Lyons should be involved in negotiations
MARCH 1, 2022 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL
due to her familiarity with the matter. C/Lyons said that while she has
been involved, she feels comfortable that members of the Public Safety
Committee are capable of handling the matter.
M/Low believes that while Public Safety and Liaison Committees serve
valuable functions she views animal control as a separate issue and
C/Lyons has an interest in getting answers to Council's questions.
M/Low asked for public comments.
Nikole Bresciani, President/CEO, Inland Valley Humane Society &SPCA
stated that IVHS never requested an allocation and the IVHS contract is
only subject to a CPI index escalator would take effect July 1, 2022.
M/Low closed public comments.
Responding to C/Tye, CM/Fox explained that the $110,000 appropriation
at mid -year budget was based upon staff calculation for what would be
needed for the balance of the fiscal year based on current revenue
estimates which are credits to the overall contract amount.
Following discussion, M/Low moved, C/Lyons seconded, to establish a
subcommittee to coordinate with the Inland Valley Humane Society and
appoint C/Lyons and M/Low to serve on the subcommittee. 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
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS: (7:00 P.M.)
5.1 PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE TESTIMONY ABOUT COMMUNITIES
OF INTEREST AND OTHER LOCAL FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED WHEN DRAWING DISTRICT MAPS.
ACM/McLean presented the initial staff report and announced scheduled
Public Hearing dates for the purpose of obtaining public testimony on
factors that impact the drawing of district boundaries before the district
maps are prepared for consideration and a series of four Public
Workshops are scheduled to collect additional public input and
engagement.
Joe Armenta, Redistricting Partners, provided a detailed presentation on
the California Voting Rights Act, Districting process, communities of
interest, how maps are drawn in compliance with State and Federal Laws,
and how the public can participate in the process at public hearings and
MARCH 1, 2022 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL
via online tools that will be launched on the City's website and at public
workshops as detailed by ACM/McLean.
M/Low opened the Public Hearing.
Raphael Plunkett said she and her husband appreciated the efforts of
ACM/McLean and staff to provide clarity regarding this very confusing
issue. She asked several specific questions regarding the districting
process.
Allen Wilson said he believes the Council should be kept at five members
with rotation of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tern positions. He believes the City
should hold a primary as well as, general election. Also, there should not
be too many seniors in one district because seniors tend to be high
propensity voters. He reiterated his concern about virtual meetings for
individuals like him who have hearing disabilities and due to time
constraints, this issue should be put off until 2024.
Bruce Chaike said he did not hear anything about how to handle changes
over time should the demographics and/or other criteria change.
CC/Santana acknowledged receipt of an email from Hanna Kang which
was forwarded to the City Council and made available to the public upon
entering tonight's meeting.
M/Low closed the Public Hearing.
MPT/Chou asked Mr. Armenta how he planned to reach out to non-
English speaking community members. Mr. AIenta explained that staff is
looking to provide multi -language materials and translation services for public
meetings and ACM/McLean added that staff is looking at providing translation
services to the print and digital media comparable to that provided
during ballot season. MPT/
Chou asked if after adopting the maps the City had the option of postponing
the first district -based election to a later election year. ACM/
McLean and CA/DeBerry confirmed that the City would need to proceed
with the next election in November 2022 and that the process could
not be put off until 2024 if the Council wished to reap the benefits of the
Safe Harbor provision to cap the exposure to the $30,000. CA/
DeBerry responded to MPT/Chou that with respect to sequencing, it cannot
be developed so that it terminates any Council Member's term short.
CA/DeBerry advised the Council not to discuss sequencing during this
meeting because it is scheduled to be discussed during the third meeting.
C/
Lyons asked if the form was online and printed and Mr. Armenta responded
that it was planned to be made available both online and at in - person
events. Individuals may submit as many forms as they would We
MARCH 1, 2022 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL
and would not be asked to provide an address. C/Lyons asked now the
forms would be monitored and ACM/McLean responded that rather than
the form being a ballot, it is an opportunity for people to provide comments
to the Council to determine what they believe to be of importance and
valid and base their decisions accordingly. CA/DeBerry said there is no
prohibition on people from outside of the community participating in this
process
u asked how the information is weighted and Mr. Armenta explained
that the maps will initially be drawn based on public input and Council
input. His firm will provide three versions for consideration using the
public mapping tool and that information will be used in making the
mapping decisions.
MPT/Chou asked how the Council will know that the maps they are
presented are a result of the comments from the people if the comments
are not available to the Council. ACM/McLean responded that as Mr.
Armenta stated, there will be a presentation that outlines all of the factors
that resulted in each of the proposed maps.
CA/DeBerry responded to M/Low that race cannot be the predominate
factor in drawing a map but it can be a factor under the Federal Voting
Act. M/Low asked if when the maps are drawn there will be a list of
characteristics that would be considered and CA/DeBerry responded yes.
Redistricting Partners will create maps based on public input and the
Council will likely be presented with maps drawn by the public, and
Redistricting Partners will let the City Council know whether those maps
are in compliance with the California Voting Rights Act.
M/Low asked for a review of the time that the City Council has to complete
this process and CA/DeBerry explained that the timeframe is extremely short
and the hearing dates have been pushed out as far as possible while remaining
in compliance within the Safe Harbor provisions. 7.
COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND MEETING ATTENDANCE REPORTS/
COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS: C/
Tye thanked first responders and the Red Cross for all they do and did for residents
and the community in their response to the recent Prospectors fire. C/
Lyons reported that she and MPT/Chou attended the groundbreaking for the Diamond
Bar Walnut Elementary School's multi -purpose room and three new classrooms.
On Thursday she attended a safety recognition event regarding the Durfee
Avenue Grade Separation project in Pico Rivera. She noted Caltrans will close
the northbound 57 from Diamond Bar Boulevard to Pathfinder Road for pavement
replacement on this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday She asked everyone
to keep the citizens of Ukraine in their thoughts and prayers.
MARCH 1, 2022 PAGE 6 CITY COUNCIL
C/Liu thanked staff for their presentations and the public for their input and
feedback, appreciates the Diamond Bar Library being open on weekends, parks
reopening and prays for peace in Ukraine.
MPT/Chou thanked staff for tonight's presentation and agreed with M/Low that
Council will do its job in a timely fashion and see redistricting through with all
voices being heard. March is Women's History Month and as a father of a young
daughter, he hopes everyone commits to raising daughters to be fierce leaders.
M/Low thanked ACM/McLean and staff for the excellent presentation.
Redistricting is a very complex and compacted process and she appreciates staff
efforts. In honor of Women's History Month she celebrates her heroine, Madam
Currie, and asked that everyone keep the people of Ukraine in their hearts and
prayers. Beginning tomorrow, she, C/Tye and MPT Chou will travel to
Sacramento to join in the Contract Cities Legislative Tour and ask legislators to
advocate for Diamond Bar issues.
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, Mayor Low adjourned
the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:49 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Kristina Santana, City Clerk
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 15t" day of March, 2021.
i ,P
Ruth M. Low, Mayor