HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026.09.01 - Minutes - Regular MeetingCITY OF DIAMOND BAR
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CLOSED SESSION AND REGULAR MEETING
SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT/MAIN AUDITORIUM
21865 COPLEY DRIVE, DIAMOND BAR, CA 91765
SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
1. CLOSED SESSION: Mayor Tye opened the Closed Session at
All Council Members were present.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL -EXISTING LITIGATION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1): Yan v. City of Diamond
Bar, LASC Case No. 19STCV18770; Cal. Ct. App. Case No. B339583.
No public comments were made.
Mayor Tye adjourned the Closed Session at 6:35 p.m.
2. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Tye called the Regular City Council
meeting to order at 6:48 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management District
Main Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Tye led the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION: Deacon Alfred Guerrero, St. Denis Catholic Church
ROLL CALL: Council Members Andrew Chou, Stan Liu, Chia Yu
Teng, Mayor Pro Tern Ruth M. Low, Mayor Steve Tye
Absent:
None.
Staff present in person: Ryan McLean, City Manager; Omar Sandoval,
City Attorney; Alex Batres, Management Analyst; Amy Haug, Human
Resources/Risk Management Director; Greg Gubman, Community Development
Director; Grace Lee, Planning Manager; Rudy Lopez, Assistant Planner; Jason
Jacobsen, Finance Director; Ken Desforges, Information Systems Director; David
Liu, Public Works Director/City Engineer; Vivian Chen, Associate Engineer;
Cecilia Arellano, Community Relations Manager; Kristina Santana, City Clerk.
Staff present via teleconference: Anthony Santos, Assistant to the City
Manager.
Others present: Jason Sotelo, Deputy, Diamond Bar/Walnut Sheriff's Station;
Stephen Tousey, Captain, Diamond Bar/Walnut Sheriff's Station; William Gamble,
Assistant Fire Chief, Los Angeles County Fire Department.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: City Attorney Sandoval reported that the City
Council met in Closed Session and there was no reportable action taken.
CM/McLean confirmed there were no changes made to the agenda. Mayor Tye
approved the agenda as presented.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL
3. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATES, PROCLAMATIONS:
3.1 World Taekwondo Day Proclamation.
The Diamond Bar High School Taekwondo Club provided a demonstration and
the City Council presented Certificates of Recognition to the students.
4. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: None.
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
The following provided public comments:
Cynthia Yu, Diamond Bar Library Manager
Lee Mao, resident
Robin Smith, resident
CC/Santana reported that one email was submitted by Robin Smith and the
following provided a public comment via teleconference:
David Reynolds, resident
6. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: CM/McLean presented the Schedule of
Future Events.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR: C/Liu moved, C/Chou seconded, to approve the
Consent Calendar. Motion carried 5-0 by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chou, Liu, Teng, MPT/Low, M/Tye
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
7.1 Approved August 18, 2026 Regular Council Meeting Minutes.
7.2 Ratified Check Register Dated August 12, 2026 through August 25, 2026
Totaling $9401376.16.
7.3 Approved the Consultant Services Agreement with the Regional Chamber
of Commerce —San Gabriel Valley through June 30, 2027.
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
8.1 State Density Bonus Law Application, Vesting Tentative Tract Map No.
83259 and Development Review for Tranquil Garden 36-Unit Residential
Condominium Project Planning Case No. PL2025-77.
PM/Lee provided the staff presentation.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Tye opened the public hearing at 7:36 p.m.
Robin Smith expressed concerns about monitoring the low-income units
and fire risk and evacuation.
Douglas Barcan expressed concerns about use of Gentle Springs Rd. and
traffic pollution from the freeway.
Eric Chen, CDA + PDG, Inc, project architect, made himself available to
answer any questions that may come up.
One email was submitted for public comment from James Lloyd, Director
of Planning and Investigations, California Housing Defense Fund, in
support of the project.
Mayor Tye closed the public hearing at 7:51 p.m.
CA/Sandoval, CD/Gubman, PM/Lee and CM/McLean responded to
Council Member questions.
C/Chou moved, C/Liu seconded, to adopt Resolution No. 2026-30:
Approving a State Density Bonus Law application, Vesting Tentative Tract
Map No. 83259 and Development Review, based on the Findings of Fact,
and subject to the Conditions of Approval contained therein; and find that
the Project is statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality
Act pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.66.
Motion carried 5-0 by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chou, Liu, Teng, MPT/Low, M/Tye
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
9. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION:
9.1 League of California Cities Resolution at the 2026 Annual General
Assembly.
CM/McLean provided an oral report.
There were no public comments submitted by email, in person or through
the online teleconference.
C/Chou asked the Council for support of the resolution proposed by the
City of Murrieta.
C/Liu moved, C/Teng seconded, to support the League of California Cities
SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL
Resolution at the 2026 Annual General Assembly.
Motion carried 5-0 by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chou, Liu, Teng, MPT/Low, M/Tye
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
10. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND MEETING ATTENDANCE
REPORTS.
There were no Council Members reports on meetings attended at the expense of
the local agency per Government Code 53232.3(d).
11. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, M/Tye adjourned the
Regular City Council Meeting at 8:49 p.m. in memory of Mrs. Wanda Tanaka.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kristina Santana, City Clerk
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 15th day of September, 2026.
Steve Tye, Maybr