HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/20/2005 Minutes - Regular MeetingCITY OF DIAMOND BAR
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
SEPTEMBER 20, 2005
STUDY SESSION: Mayor Chang called the Study Session to order
at 5:00 p.m. in Room CC -8 of the South Coast Air Quality Management
District/Government Center, 21865 Copley Dr., Diamond Bar, CA.
Present: Council Members Herrera, Tanaka, Mayor Pro
Tem O'Connor and Mayor Chang.
Council Member Zirbes arrived at 5:28 p.m.
Also Present: Linda Lowry, City Manager; David Doyle,
Assistant City Manager; Michael Jenkins, City Attorney; David Liu, Public Works
Director; Bob Rose, Community Services Director; Ken Desforges, IS Director;
Linda Magnuson, Finance Director; Nancy Fong, Planning Manager; Ryan
Wright, Senior Administrative Assistant; Fred Alamolhoda, Senior Engineer; Kim
Crews, Human Resources Manager; Ryan McLean, Senior Management
Analyst; Dennis Tarango, Building Official; Sgt. Chris Blasnek and Tommye
Cribbins, Executive Assistant.
► Neighborhood Traffic Management Program
► Sycamore Canyon Park ADA Retrofit
► Council Code of Ethics
► Public Comments on Study Session Items
1. NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM -
PWD/Liu reported that the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program was a
relatively new approach to managing traffic in the City's neighborhoods and
represents the City's commitment to the safety and livability of neighborhoods as
well as a community-based approach to traffic calming. The most persistent and
emotional complaints from residents are vehicular speeding and traffic volumes
on residential streets. The program was designed to educate and give the
residents the tools to evaluate and implement traffic management solutions. Due
to behavioral factors the solution was to determine the best combination of
measures that would result in a real and perceived net improvement for the
quality of life at the most reasonable cost. Staff intends to recommend a pilot
project for each of the five districts for Council's consideration and approval.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2005 PAGE 2 CC STUDY SESSION
Joel Falter, consultant, talked about how the proposed Neighborhood
Traffic Management Program was developed through a collective and
collaborative effort involving the citizens and key staff members. A key
element of the program was a focus on the four E's — Engineering,
Education, Enforcement and Enhancement.
SMA/Gomez detailed the pilot projects for each of the five districts.
(a) AREA 1 - Sunset Crossing Road — problem: cut through traffic;
proposed mitigation: Plans are to install parking lanes along the westerly
curb to narrow the street to one lane each direction; install centerline
striped median; on Prospectors add speed cushions; on the easterly side
of Sunset Crossing and on del Sol install signs to warn drivers that they
are entering a residential area and that they should stay within the posted
speed limit; add centerline striping and parking lanes to narrow the street;
add speed cushions where the grade permits; and near Diamond Point
School install speed cushions, parking lanes and entry signage.
SMA/Gomez responded to MPT/O'Connor's concern about too many
speed cushions in a short span and that speed and volume surveys
suggested that motorists tended to pick up speed even in the short
distance of one block.
AREA 2 - Southerly portion of the City south of Pathfinder Rd — problem:
school related and cut through traffic. Proposed mitigation: Install speed
cushions along Fountain Springs Rd. between Diamond Bar Blvd. and
Castle Rock Rd; narrow the roadway with Texas dots; striping and
appropriate signage and speed cushions near Sunbright. Near Castle
Rock School there are problems with parents making illegal U -Turns near
the middle of the street while children are crossing the street and it is
difficult for the students to cross even with a crossing guard — mitigation:
installation of speed humps and Texas dots.
AREA 3 - North of Grand Avenue, easterly side of Diamond Bar
Boulevard: Residents were concerned with speeding and cut through
traffic. On Rancheria staff proposes installation of traffic mini -circles and
Texas dots at the street entry. On Jubilee, install speed cushions between
Rancheria and Charmingdale and toward Bridle, the addition of speed
cushions subject to grade.
AREA 4 — The center of the City bounded to the south by Grand Ave. and
Pathfinder Rd. — Concerns: Maple Hill Elementary School congestion,
speeding and cut through traffic on Cliffbranch. Proposed mitigation: Place
speed cushions along the front of the school on Maple Hill Rd., install a
raised or textured crosswalk in front of the school and install red curbing
around the devices to enhance visibility. Along Cliffbranch, add parking
SEPTEMBER 20, 2005 PAGE 3 CC STUDY SESSION
lanes to narrow the street and speed cushions subject to the street
grade.
AREA 5 — The far westerly area of the City by Brea Canyon — Concerns:
school related traffic. The traffic -counts did not verify the residents' beliefs
that there was cut through traffic in the area. Instead, it appears to be area
residents traveling through the residential neighborhoods to drop off and
pick up students. An additional concern was truck traffic on Lycoming and
Brea Canyon. Proposed mitigation: Speed cushions, raised crosswalk with
speed cushions and Texas dots on Glenwick and the opposite side of the
crosswalk, and a median and speed cushions to slow the traffic as it
approaches the school area and crosswalk.
SMA/Gomez stated that staff and the Traffic and Transportation
Commission are recommending implementation of the NTMP pilot project
and approval of the NTMP Manual.
C/Herrera asked if the cost to implement the pilot project in each of the
five areas was $25,000?
PWD/Liu responded "pretty close." Staff was recently notified that the City
received a $220,000 Caltrans grant for traffic calming measures along
Sunset Crossing and Prospectors and part of the October presentation to
City Council will include the possibility of further enhancing the area.
C/Herrera felt that residents living in the immediate area of the
improvements would be thrilled.
C/Zirbes said that in his opinion it was an amazing program and in spite of
the relatively small number of residents who participated, that staff had
worked long hours to bring it to fruition and that it would be a good tool for
the City to manage the neighborhoods and make them safer.
PWD/Liu said that the entire staff had been very supportive of this
program including the Sheriff's Department and especially PIM/Roa and
her team.
MPT/O'Connor agreed with C/Zirbes that it was disappointing that so few
residents participated in the workshops. However, she felt it was a good
program and that it would be interesting to watch the follow through.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Ron Foster, Sunset Crossing, said he heard no mention of speed humps on the
lower end of his street. He felt that traffic came through the area at a high rate of
speed and there should be speed humps in that area as well.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2005 PAGE 4 CC STUDY SESSION
M/Chang thanked staff for their dedication to this program. He said he was glad
to see that speed humps and other traffic mitigation would be used citywide.
2. SYCAMORE CANYON PARK ADA RETROFIT
CSD/Rose reported that progress had been made toward ADA retrofit of the
park. Following tonight's presentation staff was requesting City Council approval
for the development of the construction documents. Using a Power Point
presentation
CSD/Rose showed Council the completed upgrades: Accessible walkway, eight
(8) new parking stalls, new handicap ramps, a van -accessible parking stall,
athletic field drainage mitigation, three (3) accessible drinking fountains, new
park drainage, reconstruction of the bridge, new picnic shelter with four new
picnic tables, creation of walkway accessibility on the lower pad, new picnic
tables, accessible pads and installation of handrails on the bridge from the picnic
area to the parking lot. Future plans include removal of the entire wood retaining
wall and staircase and replace them with a concrete retaining wall and accessible
ramps; upgrade swing sets; replace upper tot lot with new picnic tables and play
equipment; replace a portion of the grass with a patio in the area immediately
adjacent to the building; replace the existing drinking fountain adjacent to the
lower tot lot with an accessible fountain and replace existing wood benches with
concrete benches. The estimated cost to complete the work including a 20%
contingency is $776,050. The current fiscal year budget includes a line item of
$795,000 in grant funds. The goal is to have the construction completed prior to
next summer. In the future staff will come back to the Council for Phase IV that
would include the retrofit of the restroom building or alternative solution.
Pat Hirsch went over the Phase III Power Point conceptual plan with Council.
MPT/O'Connor asked if the plans included widening the parking lot turn because
the shuttles were unable to make the full turn without backing up to make a
second run.
Mr. Hirsch said he would look to widening the access during construction,
MPT/O'Connor felt it should definitely be considered during the reconstruction
phase.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
There were no public comments offered.
Council concurred to move forward with Phase III and include direction for
widening of the turning radius in the turn area in Sycamore Canyon.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2005 PAGE 5 CC STUDY SESSION
3. COUNCIL CODE OF ETHICS
CM/Lowry stated that staff was seeking direction from the Council on how to
proceed.
MPT/O'Connor reminded Council that she had not approved the first draft
because she felt the document included too many restrictions and that there
were inconsistencies within the document. She recalled that when she first joined
the Council it was possible for a Council Member to request that an item be
placed on a future agenda and that after several iterations it had become
necessary for the Council to vote on whether an item would be placed on a future
agenda. She pointed to Page 1, Item 2 C, the last sentence that read: "A member
of the public may utilize this time to request that an item be added to a
subsequent meeting agenda" and pointed out that it did not require the item to be
approved by the Mayor or the entire Council. However, if a Council Member asks
for an item to be placed on the agenda it has to be voted on or approved by the
Mayor. She said she found those statements to be inconsistent.
Following discussion by Council, CA/Jenkins suggested that the code be worded
to allow Council "majority consent" rather than requiring a roll call vote.
C/Herrera said that for example because she wanted to know how her
colleagues felt about an issue raised by citizens she intended to ask for Council
concurrence tonight to place an item on a future study session or agenda and
would not want to violate the Brown Act by discussing the matter with individual
Council Members outside of a scheduled meeting.
M/Chang said that consensus was necessary to establish clear direction to staff
about Council's intention to have an item researched and placed on either a
study session or meeting agenda.
CA/Jenkins reiterated his feeling that the existing language perpetuated the
ambiguity. Rather, he would recommend language to wit: "The item will be
included if a majority of the Council consents to place the item on a future
agenda."
Council concurred to have staff bring the document back to Consent Calendar
with CA/Jenkins' wording.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
There were no public comments offered.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2005 PAGE 6 CC STUDY SESSION
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to come before the City
Council, M/Chang adjourned the Study Session at 6:15 p.m.
O Gt.
Linda C. Lowry, City CI
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 4th day of October ,
2005.
W
WEN CHANG, Mayor
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR
SEPTEMBER 20, 2005
STUDY SESSION: 5:00 p.m., Room CC -8
► Neighborhood Traffic Management Program
► Sycamore Canyon Park ADA Retrofit
► Council Code of Ethics
► Public Comments
M/Chang adjourned the Study Session at 6:15 p.m. to Closed Session
CLOSED SESSION: 6:15 p.m., Room CC -8
Public Comments on Closed Session Agenda
► CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL — POTENTIAL LITIGATION
Receipt of Claims under Government Coe Section 54956.9(b):
(1)
Ayad
(2)
Finkbeiner
(3)
Murray
(4) '
Saglime
(5)
Lopez
M/Chang adjourned the Closed Session at 6:45 to the Regular City Council Meeting.
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Chang called the Regular City Council
Meeting to order at 6:50 p.m. in The Government Center/SCAQMD Auditorium,
21865 Copley Dr., Diamond Bar, CA.
Mayor Chang reported that City Council began the evening with a Study Session
during which Councill received reports on the Neighborhood Traffic Management
Program, the Sycamore Canyon Park ADA Retrofit and discussed the Council Code
of Ethics document. There was no reportable action taken during the Closed
Session.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Chang led the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION: Pastor Ab Kastle, Diamond Canyon Christian
Church gave the Invocation.
M/Chang welcomed C/Zirbes back to the dais and wished him a Happy Birthday.
ROLL CALL: Council Members Herrera, Tanaka, Zirbes,
Mayor Pro Tem O'Connor and Mayor Chang.
SEPTMEBER 20, 2005 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL
Staff Present: Linda Lowry, City Manager; David Doyle,
Assistant City Manager; Michael Jenkins, City Attorney; David Liu, Director of Public
Works; Bob Rose, Community Services Director; and Linda Magnuson, Finance
Director; Ryan McLean, Sr. Management Analyst; Nancy Fong, Planning Manager;
and Tommye Cribbins, Executive Asst..
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: CM/Lowry advised Council Members that the
packet contained a copy of corrected Minutes of the September 6 meeting under
Consent Calendar Item 6.1 on tonight's agenda to indicate the inclusion of Consent
Calendar Item 6.8 that was omitted from the original minutes.
1. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATES, PROCLAMATIONS:
1.1 Mayor Chang presented City Tiles to Outgoing Planning
Commissioner Steve Tye; Outgoing Traffic and Transportation
Commissioner Roland Morris and Outgoing Parks and Recreation
Commissioner Marty Torres.
1.2 Council Member Herrera proclaimed September 2005 "Hispanic
Heritage Month."
1.3 Mayor Pro Tem O'Connor presented a Certificate of Recognition to
George Fullerton, Associate Principal of Diamond Ranch High School
for two first places at the U.S.A. World Martial Arts Championships in
Las Vegas, Nevada, and presented a video.
2. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Deputy
Mark St. Amant gave a brief presentation on the City's Disaster
Preparedness Plan. He recommended that everyone have an Earthquake
Survival Kit on hand and that it be updated on a regular basis. In addition,
everyone should have an adequate (two weeks to one month) and fresh
supply of food and water on hand in case of emergency.
Deputy St. Amant agreed with C/Zirbes that in the event of a major
earthquake, the emergency services departments would be over -taxed and
people should be prepared for a several day delay in emergency service
response.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Marsha Hawkins, Friends of the Library,
presented C/Zirbes with Cotton Longfellow in honor of his birthday as well as
one to each of the other Council Members in conjunction with the Book "Wish
you Well" that is the Read Together Diamond Bar Event. She announced that
three quilts would be given away during the Read Together Diamond Bar
month-long October celebration kick-off event at Pantera Park.
Joe McManus, Chairman of the Planning Commission wished C/Zirbes a
Happy Birthday and said the residents hoped to celebrate many more
birthdays with him. The Planning Commission and members of staff attended
SEPTMEBER 20, 2005 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL
the League of California Cities conference. During the sessions, the
presentations included statements that cities were taking better and greater
control with respect to development and redevelopment through mixed-use
development and form -based codes. He requested that Council schedule a
joint meeting with the Planning Commission to discuss these programs and
their possible application and implementation in D.B.
Lydia Plunk wished C/Zirbes a Happy Birthday. She said that residences
would be receiving the Happiness edition of The Windmill, the best edition
ever. She said it was a very moving experience to visit D.B.H.S. and witness
their fundraising efforts and other schools' to the tune of over $68,000. In
November the publication will ' move on to Gratitude. The cutoff date is
October 12.
Clyde Hennessee welcomed C/Zirbes back and wished him a Happy
Birthday. Recently he was told this City was strapped for dollars and that he
would no longer receive a copy of the agenda in the mail. He asked the City
to reconsider. He wondered how the City could afford to give the City
Manager the authority to exceed her purchasing authority for vendor services
for senior and adult excursions in the amount of $48,000 and how the City
could approve a contract for $26,800 to conduct a survey to see if people
wanted a new library when the City could not afford 37 cents to provide him
with a copy of the meeting agenda. He said that certain candidates ran on
the premise that they would not promote taxes and then sent out literature
that said they would promote taxes. He felt that the City could build a library
without taxing the residents. Cost of goods and services continue to increase
and as everyone knows, the Federal tax will also increase.
4. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS: M/Chang responded that the
residents were being asked to make the decision regarding whether or not
they would be willing to contribute toward the cost to construct and operate a
new library and that premise was unanimously supported by the Council. A
final decision has not been made about this matter and Council continues to
receive input on the subject and all meetings regarding the library issue are
held in the public eye.
CM/Lowry explained that the City is fully reimbursed for senior and adult
excursions.
SCHEULE OF FUTURE EVENTS:
5.1 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING — September
22, 2005 — 7:00 p.m., AQMD/Government Center Hearing Board
Room, 21865 Copley Dr.
5.2 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING —September 27, 2005 — 7:00
p.m., Auditorium, AQMD/Government Center, 21865 Copley Dr.
SEPTMEBER 20, 2005 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL
5.3 DIAMOND BAR DAY AT THE L.A. COUNTY FAIR —September 29,
2005 — Pomona Fairgrounds.
5.4 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING — October 3, 2005 — 7:00
p.m., Diamond Bar/Walnut Sheriff Station, 21695 E. Valley Blvd.,
Walnut
5.5 CITY COUNCIL MEETING — October 4, 2005 — 6:30 p.m., Auditorium,
AQMD/Government Center, 21865 Copley Dr.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR: C/Zirbes moved, C/Tanaka seconded to approve
the Consent Calendar as presented with C/Zirbes abstaining from approval of
Item 6.1. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
6.1 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Herrera, Tanaka, Zirbes,
MPT/O'Connor,
M/Chang
None
None
6.1.1 Study Session —September 6, 2005— approved as submitted.
6.1.2 Regular Meeting — September 6, 2005 — approved as
corrected.
6.2 RECEIVED AND FILED PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES —
Regular Meeting of August 23, 2005,
6.3 RECEIVED AND FILED TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSION MINUTES:
6.3.1 Regular Meeting of June 9, 2005.
6.3.2 Special Meeting of August 4, 2005.
6.3.3 Regular Meeting of August 11, 2005.
6.4 RATIFIED CHECK REGISTER dated September 2, 2005 through
September 15, 2005 totaling $1,331,796.07.
6.5 AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO EXCEED $25,000
PURCHASING AUTHORITY TO EXTEND VENDOR SERVICES FOR
SENIOR AND ADULT EXCURSIONS PROVIDED BY INLAND
EMPIRE STAGES LIMITED IN AN AMOUNT NOT -TO -EXCEED
$48,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005/06.
SEPTMEBER 20, 2005 PAGE 5
CITY COUNCIL
6.7 (a) APPROVED PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARDED
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $388,000 TO
SULLY -MILLER CONTRACTING COMPANY; AND AUTHORIZED A
CONTINGENCY AMOUNT OF $38,800 FOR CONTRACT CHANGE
ORDERS TO BE APPROVED BY THE CITY MANAGER, FOR A
TOTAL AUTHORIZATION OF $426,800 FOR CONSTRUCTION OF
NORTH WALNUT DRIVE STREET REHABILITATION PROJECT.
(b) APPROVED CONTRACT AMENDMENT NO. 2 WITH GFB-
FRIEDRICH & ASSOCIATES, INC. FOR CONSTRUCTION
MANAGEMENT/INSPECTION SERVICES IN AN AMOUNT NOTTO
EXCEED $23,200.
6.8 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2005-51: APPROVING THE
APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE CALIFORNIA
RIVER PARKWAYS GRANT PROGRAM, PROPOSITION 50 STATE
GRANT FUNDS FOR THE SYCAMORE CANYON PARK TRAILS
PROJECT.
6.9 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2005-52: APPROVING THE
APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE RECREATIONAL
TRAILS PROGRAM FOR THE SYCAMORE CANYON PARK TRIALS
PROJECT.
6.10 AWARDED CONTRACT TO PURKISS ROSE -RSI FOR PAUL C.
GROW PARK AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT (ADA) DESIGN
IN THE AMOUNT OF $34,055, PLUS A CONTINGENCY AMOUNT
OF $945 FOR A TOTAL AUTHORIZATION OF $35,000.
6.11 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2005-53: AUTHORIZING
CONTINUED PAYMENT OF SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR
CERTAIN EMPLOYEES THAT VOLUNTEER WITH THE RED
CROSS TO ASSIST WITH HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF
EFFORTS.
6.12 AWARDED CONTRACT TO GROUP DELTA CONSULTANTS IN
THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $69,910 FOR CIVIL
ENGINEERING AND GEOTECHNICAL SERVICES FOR THREE
PROJECTS: 1) DESIGN OF REPAIRS FOR STORM DAMAGED
SLOPES AT THE DIAMOND BAR CENTER; 2) DESIGN OF
REPAIRS FOR STORM DAMAGED SLOPES AT GOLD RUSH EAST
OF DIAMOND BAR BOULEVARD; 3) DESIGN OF TRAIL ACCESS
POINTS AT STEEP CANYON/CLEAR CREEK CANYON AND
DIAMOND BAR CENTER/SUMMITRIDGE MINI PARK; AND
APPROPRIATED $69,910 FROM GENERAL FUND RESERVES TO
FUND THIS PROJECT.
SEPTMEBER 20, 2005 PAGE 6 CITY COUNCIL
ITEMS WITHDRAWN FROM CONSENT CALENDAR:
6.6 APPROVE CONTRACT WITH FAIRBANK, MAKIN, MAULLIN AND
ASSOCIATES FOR A COST NOT -TO -EXCEED $26,800 TO
CONDUCT A SURVEY DETERMINING COMMUNITY SUPPORTTO
PAY FOR A NEW LIBRARY AND APPROPRIATE THE FUNDS
FROM GENERAL FUND RESERVES FOR SAID CONTRACT.
C/Herrera asked what this firm charged for the 2002 survey and
whether staff had made any effort to lower the cost of the current
survey.
ACM/Doyle responded that he could not recall the amount of the 2002
survey but he thought that it was about $25,000. In this instance, staff
asked for two cost estimates: The $26,800 is for a more lengthy
survey and it is staff's intent to do a shorter survey if possible and still
obtain the necessary information. The $26,800 is for a 20 -minute
survey and staff hopes to get the survey down to a maximum of 10
minutes to 12 minutes.
C/Herrera said she found no urgency in approving this contract at this
time since the information was incomplete and she asked that the
matter be put back on the agenda when the information was
complete. In addition, she was concerned that Catherine Lew
conducted the failed election for the Parcel Tax for the Walnut Valley
Unified School District. One reason for the failure as stated by the
consultant was that WVUSD did not follow her advice - the School
District Superintendent disputes that statement. As a result of these
conflicting statements, she does not have a lot of confidence in the
consultant.
ACM/Doyle responded that in the information provided to Council
during the September 6 Study Session Catherine Lew stated she had
been successful in the majority of her campaigns.
M/Chang wanted to move forward and trust the consultant to do the
job.
C/Herrera said her concern was that this was the same area as the
failed school district election and that WVUSD covers half of D.B.
ClHerrera said that when she asked Catherine Lew "what were the
lessons learned" from the failure her response was that the school
district did not follow her advise. ClHerrera said it was not her job to
attempt to be fair to a consultant, it was her job to make a decision
about spending the people's money in the best manner possible and
to make the best choices possible with the information she had
available to her and under the circumstances she had serious
concerns about this consultant.
SEPTMEBER 20, 2005 PAGE 7 CITY COUNCIL
MPT/O'Connor felt it was important for Council to note that it was
attempting to get the community's input on how it feels about having a
library built. A library has been one of the top goals of this Council for
years and the City did its best to acquire State funding was well as
look for other ways to pay for a new library. Unfortunately, D.B. was
not successful in obtaining the funds and she felt it was wise for the
Council to get input from the community to find out if the people were
interested in funding construction and ongoing expenses and in her
opinion, spending $25,000 now to find out whether an election would
be successful would be money well spent. She agreed that she did
not want to spend $26,000 and agreed that 20 minutes was a long
survey. However, she felt that the Council would have to rely on the
experts to indicate what had to be done to get a satisfactory response
and she had full confidence in staff that the questions would be
narrowed down to obtain a satisfactory response.
C/Tanaka felt it was important to move forward with a timely survey to
determine whether the residents were still as interested in having a
library and if it takes 20 minutes to get an accurate and valuable
survey it would be worth the expenditure.
C/Zirbes said he was quite unimpressed with the 2002 survey. He felt
there were too many questions that were too removed from the library
issue and
that the survey should have focused on whether or not the individual
being surveyed wanted a new library. In his opinion, a 20 -minute
survey was unnecessarily long.
C/Zirbes moved that the survey should be no longer than 15 minutes,
that the survey should focus on the library so that at its conclusion the
Council would know whether people were going to vote "yes" or "no"
and that under those conditions Council approve a maximum
expenditure of $22,750 for the contract services.
M/Chang second the motion.
MPT/O'Connor asked staff to make certain that the individuals
conducting the survey could be easily understood and that they had a
clear grasp of the English language.
Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Herrera, Tanaka, Zirbes,
MPT/O'Connor, M/Chang
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
SEPTMEBER 20, 2005 PAGE 8 CITY COUNCIL
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
8. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION: None
9. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS:
C/Zirbes said that during the past two weeks he had been attending to
himself and had not attended any subcommittee meetings. He did however
respond to emalis and focus on what could be done to stimulate the City's
economy. He thanked Marsha Hawkins and Kathleen Newe for the bear and
thanked Council and staff for the cake and for recognizing his birthday. His
sister Kelly put a Web site together and he thanked the thousands who
visited the site, the hundreds who sent their wishes, the dozens who sent
cards and flowers to his home and those who gave blood in his name. He
thanked the many who visited him at the hospital. He said he sincerely
appreciated all of the thoughts, prayers and good wishes and his family
appreciated the kindnesses as well. Although he has a somewhat bumpy
road ahead of him he sees his destination clearly and knows that he will
complete the journey. He said he enjoys his service to the community as a
Council Member.
C/Tanaka welcomed C/Zirbes back to the dais. He listed the many meetings
and events he attended during the past two weeks including the Public Safety
meeting, the Chamber Mixer, ACM/DeStefano's farewell luncheon, the
Chinese-American Moon Festival and the Pacific Crest Awards luncheon. He
asked that tonight's meeting be adjourned in memory of Pomona Mayor
Eddie Cortez.
C/Herrera said she was very proud that the San Gabriel Valley COG (Council
of Governments) began its Leadership 21 Training Program. She is
President of the organization and there are 30 cities within the SGV COG.
The training program boasts 125 participants and is being held in conjunction
with USC and their trainers. The program is for two days once a month with
graduation in January. The enthusiasm is extremely high and the caliber of
the instructors is even higher. The premise is that as people move on and the
torch of leadership is passed there needs to be a greater effort to train those
coming along and assuming leadership to better understand the San Gabriel
Valley with respect to housing, water, transportation and a host of information
about all of the cities in the valley. She asked her fellow Council Members to
place a matter dealing with LAFCO and the incorporation process on the
Council's October 4 study session agenda so that the Council could discuss
the feasibility of D.B. annexing Rowland Heights. She said she needed
direction from the Council and staff in order to speak on the subject on
October 13 in Rowland Heights. It is a complicated issue and if accomplished
D.B. would go from being a City of a 60,000 population to a City of 120,000.
Rowland Heights would want Council Members from their area, etc. As a
General Law City, D.B. cannot have more than five Council Members and it
SEPTMEBER 20, 2005 PAGE 9
10.
CITY COUNCIL
would entail converting to a Charter City were additional Council Members to
be seated — another ballot issue, and so on and so forth.
Council concurred to have staff place the matter on the October 4 Study
Session agenda.
MPT/O'Connor attended the same meetings as C/Tanaka including the
Senior Italiano Dinner and Show. She echoed C/Herrera's positive comments
about the Leadership 21 conference. She too is attending the training and it
has been very informative and eye opening for her. She felt one of the most
important questions for consideration was "who had the biggest effect on you
and where you are today." When one contemplates this question the answer
can be very surprising and enlightening. In her case she came up with two
names — one was her male college accounting professor and one was a
female instructor who challenged her to work twice as hard to achieve good
grades. This challenge led her into the accounting field during a time when
there was a lot of discrimination against women. And, it is because of
Assemblyman Bob Huff that she sits on the Council today. Through the
conference she has had an opportunity to resolve conflicts with previous
colleagues and realized the benefit of people working together and working
through their conflicts for the ultimate good of the City. She thanked
C/Herrera, COG and the Economic Partnership for putting the conference
together and encouraged her fellow Council Members, staff and other
Commissioners to participate in future conferences.
M/Chang stated that in addition to the usual events and meetings he and
C/Herrera met with the WVUSD Board and School Superintendent to discuss
how the District and the City could better work together to improve the City
and its service and income. The Chamber mixer was held at Decor, a
company that D.B. is proud to have in its community. He thanked the Parks
and Recreation Department for sponsoring a wonderful dinner and show for
the seniors. He, MPT/O'Connor and C/Tanaka attended the Chinese-
American Association's Autumn Festival last Saturday evening. Close to 400
individuals participated in the Moon Festival, a very important event in the
Chinese culture. He spoke with great caring and pride about the Pacific Crest
Drum & Bugle Corp's dedication to their craft and their representing the City
at many events. He said he heard many comments from residents about the
departure of Jim DeStefano and assured residents that Mr. DeStefano did a
wonderful job for the City and his departure was of his own choosing.
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, M/Chang adjourned
the meeting at 8:18 p.m. in memory of Pomona Mayor Edward "Eddie"
Cortez.
LINDA C. LOWRY, &TY CLERK
SEPTMEBER 20, 2005 PAGE 10 CITY COUNCIL
461114
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this , day of October ,
A��- � C�'-
WEN CHANG, MAYOR