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Home My WebLink About1/15/2002 Minutes - Study SessionCITY OF DIAMOND BAR SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION JANUARY 15, 2002 1. CALL TO ORDER: M/Chang called the meeting to order at 5:42 p.m. in Room CC -8 of the South Coast Air Quality Management District/Government Center Building, 21865 E. Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Chang. ROLL CALL: -- Council Members Herrera, Huff, Zirbes, MPT/O'Connor, M/Chang Also present were: Linda Lowry, City Manager; Mike Jenkins, City Attorney; James DeStefano, Deputy City Manager; David Doyle, Deputy City Manager; David Liu, Public Works Director; Bob Rose, Community Services Director; Linda Magnuson, Finance Director; Lynda Burgess, City Clerk; Dennis Tarango, Building & Safety Director; Todd Strojny, Senior Administrative Assistant and Gina Tharani, Senior Accountant. 2. OLD BUSINESS: - ' 2.1 DISCUSSION OF ISSUES AND DIRECTIONS TO STAFF REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMUNITY/SENIOR CENTER AT SUMMITRIDGE PARK — Report by DCM/Doyle. David Goodale, Gonzalez Goodale Architects, presented a computer- generated animation of the proposed facility. MPT/O'Connor asked Mr. Goodale to superimpose the ballfield into the video presentation. C/Herrera asked if the video will have narration, to which DCM/Doyle replied that staff is currently looking into providing written notice or narration for the video. MPT/O'Connor and C/Huff expressed concern about the temperature in the senior center portion of the facility because of all the windows. C/Huff asked if a passenger drop-off zone could be created to mitigate traffic flow in the circle drive area. DCM/Doyle said that creating such an area would be costly because of the need for retaining walls, etc. Staff will explore this issue once again. As recommended by staff, the City Council agreed to the following actions: JANUARY 15, 2002 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION (1) Accepted presentation of computer-generated animation of the new facility by Gonzalez Goodale Architects with modifications as stated above. (2) Selected the appropriate finish materials for the facility (stone/carpet). Audrey Hamilton spoke regarding carpeting color and durability. (3) Accepted a presentation by Calvin Abe Associates regarding the landscape plan. Audrey Hamilton thought the landscape materials should be rabbit and deer proof. Mr. Abe indicated to Jerry Hamilton that this site would connect to the trails system. Council Members were troubled by the straightness of the water feature. They felt that a curving stream would be more natural. CM/Lowry felt that the geometric nature of the water element fit in with the geometrical design element of the center. The plant material is the softening feature. C/Herrera was disappointed that the water element was so straight and not in keeping with natural flow. C/Zirbes liked the design concept presented by the landscape architect. C/Herrera said Mr. Abe was hired to design what they perceive for a design. M/Chang felt the eye would travel over the water element and settle on the beautiful canyon view below. If the engineer could soften the element, he would be satisfied with the straight flow. C/Huff said he preferred the natural look but that he could live with the architect's design concept. M/Chang asked the architect to provide a meandering JANUARY 15, 2002 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ' rendering of the water element. In response to M/Chang, Mr. Abe indicated that the more water you add to the element, the greater the cost of the feature. (4) Accepted presentation of the updated project costs from Jay Losak of Analytical Planning Services, Inc. CM/Lowry explained that the current year budget document indicates a balance of $7.5 million with $1.6 million obligated and a balance of $5.8 million. - In order to finish the $10.3 million job estimate, the City _ would still require $2.8 million. However, the estimate falls short and the additional needed is $2.3 million or $4.2 million. that is not currently set-aside in the budget document. A big missing piece is that the City never appropriated the Section 108 loan from CDBG funds. DCM/DeStefano stated that the City has the ability to leverage annual CDBG funding by receiving a loan from the federal ' government. Either CDBG and/or City funds would be used in future years to repay that loan. About a $250,000 has been set aside from the last two CDBG funding cycles. CM/Lowry said that the City's budget is expected to have about a $19 million reserve with the operating budget expected to be about $10-12 million. M/Chang asked staff to provide a written memo to the Council listing the total funds available and possible additional funding sources for this project. C/Herrera said she remembered that Supervisor Knabe told the City that it could lobby his office for additional monies for this project. - DCM/Doyle indicated that staff would follow up with Supervisor Knabe's office. He further stated that there are ancillary costs for off -sight modifications such as traffic signal improvements for access to the ingress/egress road to the Center, possible ' relocation of the current restroom/storage facility and the playground equipment that are not currently included in the budget. The cost of this transit -related item would likely be in the area of $150,000. JANUARY 15, 2002 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION (5) Accepted presentation and provided direction regarding the inclusion of a donor wall in the project by DCM/Doyle and Andrew Wong, DBCF. Mr. Hamilton thought that having stones etched with individual names would detract from the high scale building. C/Herrera wanted names etched in tiles and names listed on a donor board. C/Zirbes preferred something on the wall inside the building. C/Huff preferred a donor wall inside the building. M/Chang wanted a bronze casting wall inside the building. MPT/O'Connor disliked both options. (6) Authorized the architect to proceed with development of construction documents. C/Herrera moved, C/Huff seconded, to authorize the architects to proceed with development of construction documents. Motion carried unanimously. M/Chang asked Council to make firm decisions based on thoughtful consideration in order to meet construction deadlines and for the project to come in on budget. Council Members felt the Foundation should specify certain monies for specific projects when donating to the City. 2.2 BUSINESS EXPANSION AGREEMENT WITH SIGMAnet. C/Huff stated that he was comfortable with the Council's original offer. if it is unacceptable to Mr. Al Khatib, he should move on. C/Zirbes moved, C/Huff seconded to stay with the most recent Offer and deny Mr. Al Khatib's response offer. Motion carried unanimously. 3. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to conduct, M/Chang adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m. JANUARY 15, 2002 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION 1 6L�tr LYNDA BURGESS, City Clerk ATTEST: Wen Chang, May