HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/21/2000 Minutes - Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR
NOVEMBER 21, 2000
1. CLOSED SESSION: None
2. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor O'Connor called the Regular City
Council Meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality
Management District Auditorium, 21865 E. Copley Drive, Diamond Bar,
California.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by
Council Member Huff.
INVOCATION: The invocation was given by Sr. Pastor
Paul Lehman-Schletewitz, Walnut Valley Brethren in Christ Church.
ROLL CALL: Mayor O'Connor, Mayor Pro Tem Ansari,
and Council Members Chang, Herrera, Huff.
Also present were: James DeStefano, Interim City Manager;
Mike Jenkins, City Attorney; David Doyle, Deputy City Manager; David Liu,
Director of Public Works; Bob Rose, Community Services Director; Linda
Magnuson, Finance Director; Mike Nelson, Communications & Marketing
Director and Lynda Burgess, City Clerk.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As submitted.
3. A. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATES, PROCLAMATIONS:
3.A.1 Proclaimed December 1, 2000 as "World AIDS Day."
3.A.2 Introduced Rita Torres, Sr. Account Clerk.
3.A.3 Presentation by EI Segundo Mayor Mike Gordon regarding Regional
Airports.
3.A.4 Presentation by Mike Nelson, Communications & Marketing Director,
regarding "Info -to -Go."
3. B. INTERIM CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
ICM/DeStefano announced that "Market World," a retail grocer, established
a lease for the former Albertson's store on Golden Springs Dr. at Brea
Canyon Road and is currently beginning work on tenant improvements.
Market World intends to begin its operation in about 45 days.
ICM/DeStefano presented an update on the status of the SCAG study for
exclusive truck lanes on the SR 60.
NOVEMBER 21, 2000 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL
4.A. PUBIC COMMENTS: Mrs. Luber, Castle Rock Elementary School,
presented students from her former third grade class who participated in a
study about D.B. last year. The students presented a paper quilt for display
at City Hall.
Martha Bruske reiterated her concern about the lack of slope maintenance.
She requested that the matter be agendized for discussion.
Lydia Plunk thanked the Council for their time and energy on behalf of the
community. She expressed concern that one Council Member had fallen
behind in filing campaign statements. She suggested that Council adopt a
policy that the individual be restricted from serving on committees or other
activities which may interfere with completion of the filing.
Darla Farrell appreciated information received tonight regarding the regional
airports and the SR 60 freeway truck lanes. She asked that the Council
continue providing updates on the committee meetings, at which staff and/or
Council Members are present.
Sue Sisk thanked Council Members Herrera and Huff for their time and effort
on the Lanterman issue. She suggested that members of the public attend
the December 4 meeting at Lanterman to hear the Sheriff's report on security
issues. She thanked ICM/DeStefano for his very informative SR 60 -issue
overview.
5.6. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENT:
ICM/DeStefano responded to Martha Bruske that slopes and slope
maintenance is an ongoing problem for the City. Almost exclusively, those
slopes and the drainage devices are privately owned and require regular
maintenance in order to remain clear of debris. On a regular basis, the City
and the fire department notifies the owners of those properties that their
slopes need to be maintained. Code Enforcement is used for specific
circumstances such as slope failure, the need for debris removal, etc. Some
properties and drainage swales are publicly owned and maintained. These
types of issues are also addressed in community newsletters. The City
spoke to this particular in the past issues of its newsletter.
M/O'Connor suggested that homeowner associations advise their residents
about this matter.
ICM/DeStefano said that, with reference to Council Members filing campaign
statements, he is not aware of a specific City policy regarding that issue.
CC/Burgess concurred. However, Council Members will be fined when the
reports are turned in.
NOVEMBER 21, 2000 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL
M/O'Connor explained that at the end of every Council Meeting with few
exceptions, each Council Member presents his/her committee reports.
5. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS:
5.1 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY - City Offices will be closed on Thursday,
November 23 and Friday, November 24, 2000 for the Thanksgiving
Holiday. City Offices will reopen on Monday, November 27, 2000 at
8:00 a.m.
5.2 HOLIDAY DIAMOND RIDE - November 24 through January 2, 2001
- Free door-to-door taxicab service to and from any commercial/retail
center in the City to all residents (must be at least 18 years old or
accompanied by an adult.)
5.3 PLANNING COMMISSION - November 28, 2000 - 7:00 p.m.,
SCAQMD Auditorium, 21865 E. Copley Dr.
5.4 LANTERMAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE -December 4, 2000 - 7:00
p.m., Research Meeting Room, 3530 W. Pomona Boulevard,
Pomona.
5.5 CITY COUNCIL MEETING - Deoember 5, 2000 - 6:30 p.m., SCAQMD
Auditorium, 21865 E. Copley Dr.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR: C/Chang moved, MPT/Ansari seconded,
to approve the Consent Calendar, with the exception of Item No. 6.6 and
Item No. 6.8. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS - Chang, Herrera, Huff, MPT/Ansari
M/O'Connor
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS - None
ABSENT: COUNCIL, MEMBERS - None
6.1 APPROVED MINUTES - Regular City Council Meeting of November
7, 2000 - as submitted.
6.2 RECEIVED AND FILED PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES -
Regular Meeting of October 10, 2000.
6.3 APPROVED VOUCHER REGISTER - dated November 21, 2000 in
the amount of $986,573.44. M/O'Connor abstained from approval of
a payment in the amount of $363.26 relating to a potential conflict of
interest regarding the Lanterman Forensic Expansion Project.
6.4 DENIED CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES:
NOVEMBER 21, 2000 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL
6.4.1 Filed by Mike Stickney, November 2, 2000 and referred the
matter to the Claims Manager for further action.
6.4.2 Filed by State Farm Insurance, November 2, 2000 and referred
the matter to Claims Manager for further action.
6.5 EXONERATED SUBDIVISION IMPROVEMENT BONDS FOR
LANDSCAPE & IRRIGATION, GRADING, DOMESTIC WATER
SYSTEM, SEWER, STORM DRAINS & STREETS, AND
MONUMENTATION IMPROVEMENTS FOR TRACT 48487 - for
Landscape & Irrigation, Grading, Domestic Water System, Sewer,
Storm Drains & Streets, and Monumentation Improvements for Tract
48487.
6.7 AWARDED CONTRACT TO DMG-MAXIMUS, INC. TO PROVIDE
EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT SERVICES FOR THE POSITION OF
CITY MANAGER - in the amount of $23,5000, authorized a
contingency amount of $1,500 and allocated the necessary resources
($25,000) from General Fund reserves.
6.9 APPROVED NOTICE OF COMPLETION FOR THE BREA CANYON
ROAD (BETWEEN PATHFINDER ROAD AND GOLDEN SPRINGS
DRIVE) STREET REHABILITATION PROJECT - (1) authorized the
Interim City Manager to approve a contract amendment with Sully -
Miller Contracting Co. in an amount not -to -exceed $62,516.75 (2)
accepted the work performed by Sully -Miller Contracting Co. and
authorized the City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion and release
any retention amounts thirty-five days after the recordation date.
MATTERS WITHDRAWN FROM CONSENT CALENDAR:
6.6 (a) AWARD CONTRACT FOR INSTALLATION OF PLAY
EQUIPMENT AT LONGVIEW NORTH MINI -PARK - to Creative
Contractors in the amount of $53,312.43, plus a 10% contingency of
$5,330 for a total authorization of $58,642.43 and appropriated an
additional $13,300 from LLMD #39 reserves, for a total authorization
of $63,300 in the 2000/01 FY Budget.
(b) AWARD CONTRACT FOR INSPECTION SERVICES FOR _
THE INSTALLATION OF PLAY EQUIPMENT AT LONGVIEW
NORTH MINI -PARK - to D & J Engineering in the amount of $4,225,
plus a contingency amount of $425 (1096), for a total authorization of
$4,650 and authorized the Interim City Manager to execute the
purchase order for said amount.
NOVEMBER 21, 2000 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL
MPT/Ansari moved, C/Huff seconded, to approve 6.6(a) and 6.6(b).
Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS - Chang, Herrera,
Huff, MPT/Ansari,
M/O'Connor
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS - None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS - None
6.8 APPROVE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR THE NEW CITY HALL
FACILITY AT THE SCAQMD CAMPUS - authorized staff to develop
final detailed construction documents and directed the City Clerk to
advertise for bids.
C/Huff asked if a sliding door could be placed between the contiguous
larger and smaller conference rooms to provide flexibility.
ICM/DeStefano explained that staff has asked prospective bidders to
consider installation of a flexible folding partition wall to combine the
two rooms into one. It is staff s intent to insure that the larger
conference room facility is no smaller than the City's current large
conference room. Staff will attempt to make the conference rooms
even larger, if feasible.
In response to M/O'Connor, DCM/Doyle stated that it is staff s
expectation to move into the new facility the first of March 2001. To
maintain this schedule, the bidding contract needs to be awarded by
January 2, 2001.
MPT/Ansari moved, C/Huff seconded, to approve conceptual design
for the new City Hall facility at the SCAQMD Campus. Motion carried
by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS - Chang, Herrera, Huff
MPT/Ansari, M/O'Connor
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS - None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS - None
7. PUBLIC HEARING: None
8. OLD BUSINESS:
8.1 CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED 4T" OF JULY CONCERT AND
FIREWORKS SHOW - The 0 of July is on a Wednesday in 2001.
Summer Concerts in the Park have been conducted on Wednesday
evenings for the past 10 years. The concert before Independence
NOVEMBER 21, 2000 PAGE 6 CITY COUNCIL
Day has always been billed as the "Patriotic" concert. Because of
these circumstances, staff has developed three options for the
"Patriotic" concert for the summer of 2001. Option 1 is for an evening
concert on July 4"' from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., followed with a
fireworks show. Cost for Option I is about $20,000. Option II is for an
afternoon concert on July 0 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with no
fireworks show. Cost for Option II is about $10,000. Option III is to
have the Patriotic Concert on June 2r instead of July 0 with no
fireworks show. Cost for Option III is about $2,000, the regular cost
for a single summer concert. Option III also saves about $2,000 in
the FY 2001-02 budget because there would be only nine concerts
instead of the usual 10. This item was continued from the October
17, 2000 City Council meeting. At that meeting, Council directed staff
to obtain additional information related to this event, which is
proposed for Sycamore Canyon Park. Report by CSD/Rose.
There was no one present who wished to comment on this matter.
In response to MPT/Ansari, Jean Starr, Pyro Spectaculars, explained
that the proposed fireworks show would be very much the same as
what was done at the City's Millennium show. The show is controlled
from the ground. She stated that her company has the best safety
record in the industry. She conducts fireworks shows of this type on
a regular basis.
C/Huff reiterated his concern that a City -sponsored fireworks show
sends a mixed message to young people. His preference is Option
III in order to allow for July a family events.
M/O'Connor stated that she received positive feedback from residents
who indicated that it is nice that the City would prepare for such an
event. She understood C/Huffs comments but believed that the right
message is that this is a controlled and well-maintained event.
MPT/Ansari believed the City should take advantage of this rare
opportunity to have a scheduled event on the actual 0 of July.
Responding to C/Chang, Inspector Joe Alvarado, L. A. County Fire
Department, stated that he and another fire inspector previewed the
site and determined that there is reasonable fire safety for this event.
If the City makes a request, a fire inspector or fire safety officer will
be on hand to inspect the display on the morning and during the
afternoon setup.
In response to M/O'Connor, CSD/Rose explained that the area
behind the backstop and the first street lane would be closed to the
NOVEMBER 21, 2000 PAGE 7 CITY COUNCIL
public in order to insure the 100 -foot requirement.
M/O'Connor thanked Calvary Chapel for their letter providing full use
of their parking facilities to the City for this event. She expressed
concern about the invasion of vehicles in the vicinity of the Golden
Prados homeowners.
C/Herrera suggested placing "No Parking" barriers on residential
street entrances.
C/Chang indicated he received positive feedback from residents as
long as the City can provide assistance with respect to traffic safety
and parking concerns.
C/Chang moved, C/Herrera seconded, to approve Option I. Motion
carried by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS - Chang, Herrera, MPT/Ansari,
M/O'Connor
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS - Huff
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS - None
WO'Connor recused herself from discussion of Item 8.2, passed the gavel
to MPT/Ansari and left the dais.
8.2 APPOINTMENT OF TWO COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SERVE AS
ALTERNATES TO THE LANTERMAN DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER
COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE - At its meeting of November
7, 2000, Council appointed D.B. community members Sue Sisk and
Darla Farrell, along with Council Member Carol Herrera to serve on
the State of California Lanterman Developmental Center Advisory
Committee. At that time, Council also appointed Council Member Bob
Huff to serve as the alternate City Council representative to the
Committee. Also at that meeting, Council directed that the City's
Lanterman Developmental Center Advisory Committee members
should nominate two alternates for each of the at -large, community
representative seats. The City's advisory committee will met on
November 20 and nominated two community members, Ruth Purpero
and Lydia Figueroa, to serve on the committee.
C/Herrera moved, C/Huff seconded, to appoint Ruth Purpero and
Lydia Figueroa as alternates to the Lanterman Developmental Center
Community Advisory Committee. Motion carried by the following Roll
Call vote:
NOVEMBER 21, 2000
AYES:
PAGE 8 CITY COUNCIL
COUNCIL MEMBERS - Chang, Herrera, Huff,
MPT/Ansari
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS - None
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS - M/O'Connor
M/O'Connor returned to the dais.
9. NEW BUSINESS: None
RECESS TO REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY: M/O'Connor recessed the
City Council Meeting at 8:34 p.m.
RECONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING: WO'Connor reconvened the
City Council Meeting at 8:39 p.m.
10. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS:
C/Huff stated that he appreciated the report on regional airports and he
would like to have the Council at its next meeting discuss the matter and
adopt a resolution to embrace the regional concept that freezes LAX at its
current size. He thanked ICM/DeStefano for his letter to SCAG regarding
the truck lane study. He believed that the monies should be used to address
key bottleneck areas such as the 57/60 interchange and the 710 -freeway
gap, which will allow all of the traffic to move more freely. With respect to
slope maintenance, he would like to see a detailed response as to the
number of complaints, responses and follow-up by Code Enforcement and
the fire department. With respect to the campaign filing issue, he
understood that the FPPC is the agency that oversees this matter. Council
needs to maintain integrity in this process. He asked staff to determine what
policies other cities have adopted. On November 8, he attended a
demonstration in Pomona on the wayside horn, which is a new technology
promoted by the Alameda Corridor East, the concept of which is a train horn -
blowing protocol. He asked staff to register D.B. as a City that would like to
be a part of this demonstration. City -On -Line is retooling using more web -
based technology, which will allow different organizations to have discussion
areas. The Community/Senior Center architectural committee held several
meetings including a community meeting which was televised several times.
The Community Coordinating Council has proceeded in its efforts over the
past year. He encouraged physical participation by all community
organizations in order to foster a better understanding among the diverse
organizations in D.B.
C/Herrera reported that, two years ago, she chaired the San Gabriel Valley
Council of Governments truck study, which was an 18 -month process. She
also participated in the SCAG truck study. The last meeting she attended
was in February 2000 and discussion included consideration of elevated
lanes on the SR60, the most costly solution, versus widening the freeway.
NOVEMBER 21, 2000 PAGE 9 CITY COUNCIL
Truck study meetings have been very erratic this year. The SCAG study
talks about truck lanes that are feasible under certain conditions, some
community feasibility and some financial feasibility. Funding is inadequate
and will require an infusion of capital from local, state and federal sources
as well as from toll roads. The recommendation is that SCAG should use
the information produced by the feasibility study to update the SCAG
regional transportation plan. Residents who are opposed to the San Jose
Creek alternative alignment should write to Narish Amatia Go SCAG, 18
West 7"' Street, 12th Floor, L.A., CA or telephone him at (213) 236-1885.
On Wednesday, November 29, SCAG will meet to discuss the Draft 2001
Regional Transportation Plan update, which she and ICM/DeStefano plan
to attend to voice their objections to current recommendations. The final
draft of the feasibility study was released on October 26. She stated that the
Department of Developmental Services is looking at restructuring their
developmental centers. She will attend the November 27 restructuring
committee meeting in Sacramento, the purpose of which is to share
information collected over the past few months from consultants' meetings
with a variety of focus groups and a broad range of stakeholders. She
congratulated CMD/Nelson and his assistants, Teresa Montgomery and April
Blakey, for being very innovative and constantly seeking new and different
ways to communicate with the public. She asked if the January 2, 2001
Council meeting would be canceled or rescheduled.
M/O'Connor proposed a daytime meeting to approve the warrant register
and other urgent items.
C/Chang reported that last Saturday evening, he attended a "Focus on
Families' dinner and spoke with its founder, Dr. James Dobson. More than
1000 attended the event. Last night, he attended the "Friends of the
Library" advisory committee meeting during which the committee approved
a $25,000 donation to the library to support 20 plus requested items such as
replacement of paperback books with hard bound books, juvenile books,
craft paper for juvenile programs, children's books and audio/video
cassettes, supplemental adult books and monthly bestsellers. He invited
residents to join in the library's one-year anniversary celebration of its
bookstore on December 2. He is a strong advocate of the original airport
expansion program and did not believe that a $12,000,000,000 expansion
of LAX will benefit outlying communities. He stated that on Monday
morning, when his staff arrived for work they noticed that some 60 -courtyard
plants were missing. Later that week his landscape architect, in researching
the cost of replacement plants, found Mr. Chang's actual plants, which
included Sego Palms and Bird of Paradise, at a neighborhood nursery. The
cost to replace the mature plants would have been about $5,000 to $6,000.
MPT/Ansari thanked ICM/DeStefano for his SR 60 truck lane report. She is
pleased with the good job that Mr. DeStefano is doing as the City's Interim
NOVEMBER 21, 2000 PAGE 10 CITY COUNCIL
City Manager. She explained SCAG and its objectives. The City will
continue to monitor the truck lane situation. Last night, she attended the
"Friends of the Library" board meeting. In 1994. a study determined that D.B.
needs a library that is four times the size of the current facility and no study
has been conducted since that time. She would like to know the amount of
money that the City has contributed toward funding the library since 1994
and how many dollars worth of service has been given back to the
community. She attended a Chamber of Commerce meeting last week
during which a City business license fee was recommended. The Chamber
will hold its golf tournament on December 11. She reported on her
attendance at last week's Industry Hills Solid Waste Forum. On the same
day, she attended an MWD watershed meeting. She invited Council
Members to attend the November 29 and 30 meeting. On November 15, she
attended the Chamber mixer at Togo's and Starbucks. That evening, she
attended the Diamond Bar Rotary Club's new member greeting reception.
Since the last Council meeting, she attended the League of California City
meeting and the Inland Valley Economic Development Corporation meeting.
She asked that the matter of joining the Capital Corporation be placed on
a future Council meeting agenda. She attended a Coalition for Practical
Regulations, which has been fighting storm water runoff. She thanked
C/Herrera and residents who have participated in the Lanterman matter.
M/O'Connor stated that residents have received their new trash containers.
She reminded everyone that D.B. is required to meet a 50% recycling
diversion rate. On November 9, the subcommittee met with the architects to
receive an update on the community center progress. On November 15, the
City held a community meeting to discuss the community center. In excess
of 1100 letters were sent to residents who live within a mile radius of the
proposed project Summitridge Park site. Less than 20 people attended the
meeting, half of whom were interested in the future library. Groundbreaking
is anticipated for January, 2002. She attended the Greater L.A. County
Vector Control District's annual dinner. Dexter MacBride is the D.B.
representative and has been involved for about eight years. On November
10, she participated in the Adelphia blood drive. On November 13, she
attended the Chaparral Middle School Frankenstein laboratory opening.
Students tear apart donated computers and rebuild them for use with the
school's programs. On November 14, Council interviewed three
recommended search firms to recruit the new city manager. On November
16, she and MPT/Ansari attended the Solid Waste
and Storm Water Forum. D. B. H. S. Pathways Academy has a mentor
program in which she and C/Huff are participating. The D.B. Community
Foundation has established a subcommittee to meet with the City Attorney
to discuss the ties with the City. On November 17, the finance committee
met to peruse the warrant register. On November 18, she attended the
Three Valleys Water District's 51P Anniversary celebration, during which she
NOVEMBER 21, 2000 PAGE 11 CITY COUNCIL
presented a City Tile on behalf of D.B. On Monday, she attended the
Korean -American Coalition Luncheon, which was held in Korea Town in
downtown L.A., which was sponsored by the Gas Company. She was
concerned that the organizations do not participate in the Community
Coordinating Committee. Today, she attended several classes at Lorbeer
Middle School's Career Day and spoke about City Council and City
government. During the last Council meeting, the Sheriffs Department
representative spoke about openings on the Public Safety Committee. She
asked interested residents to contact City Hall. She asked that this
information be made available on the City's Web site. The committee needs
to select three residents to serve. She wished everyone a very happy
Thanksgiving.
11. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to conduct, WO'Connor
adjourned the meeting at 9:38 p.m.
LYNDA BURGESS, City Clerk
ATTEST:
-A&0)aA lT" 6F "41,
DEBBY O'CONNOR, Mayor