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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/03/2011 Minutes - Regular MeetingCITY OF DIAMOND BAR CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MAY 3, 2011 STUDY SESSION: MfTye called the Study Session to order at 5:40 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, Ron Everett, Carol Herrera, Jack Tanaka, Mayor Pro Tern Ling -Ling Chang and Mayor Steve Tye. Staff Present: James DeStefano, City Manager; David Doyle, Assistant City Manager; Michael Jenkins, City Attorney; Bob Rose, Community Services Director; David Liu, Public Works Director; Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; Glenn Steinbrink, Interim Finance Director; Ryan McLean, Assistant to the City Manager, Anthony Santos, Management Analyst; Rick Yee, Senior Civil Engineer; Kimberly Molina, Associate Engineer, Ken Desforges, IT Director; Marsha Roa, Public Information Manager, and Tommye Cribbins, City Clerk. 01 REVIEW OF DRAFT BUDGET FOR FY 2011-12 — Discussion and Action CM/DeStefano stated that tonight's Study Session is to provide the Council with an overview of the draft budget for FY 11-12 and that IFD/Steinbrink would be providing the overview. CM/DeStefano stated that he had advised all his Department Heads that the blueprint for the upcoming budget was the mid -year budget and was not all that different than the one approved for 2010. The City is still operating with very tight resources and has tried to keep expenditures as low as possible. Tonight's discussion will be about the General Fund budget and next week will be Special Funds, the Capital Improvement Program and to answer any questions that staff is unable to respond to tonight. If after the next study session, the City Council is ready, staff would then ask the Council to consider adoption of the budget. IFD/Steinbrink then took the Council through the General Fund Budget and talked about revenues and expenditures explaining how those amounts were determined. He indicated that he would also speak about the funds that are associated with the General Fund those funds that either transfer in or transfer out of the General Fund. The total estimated resources for 11-12 are $23 million. He then provided the background as to where the City stood at the beginning of this fiscal year compared as to where we thought it would be. He stated that the General Fund will go down this year and next due to the purchase of the building, economic development, transfers out to the landscaping and lighting districts and to the CIP fund. Those amounts will be coming out of the General Fund Reserves for FY 10-11; however, approximately $630,000 to the General Fund Reserves was contributed. APRIL 19, 2011 �PAGE 2 CC STUDY SESSION For FY 11-12, there is a projection of approximately $4.3 million dollars in General Fund Reserves that will be used for the city hall expansion and move, for professional services, for EIR and zoning changes. The same amount for economic development and additional transfers to the landscape and lighting assessment districts in the amount of $113,000. The City will contribute approximately $80,000 to the General Fund Reserves. IFD/Steinbrink then discussed the revenues which consist of property and sales tax. In 2005 property tax and sales tax contributed 40% of the revenues into the General Fund. In 2011-12 property tax and sales tax contributes very nearly 41%. IFD/Steinbrink then went onto analyze the prior years of property/sales tax and the difference due to the State. Following IFD/Steinbrink's presentation, M/Tye thanked staff for the presentation and for providing him with a better understanding of the process. C/Herrera said she was very grateful for the economic position the City is in as compared to other cities in the San Gabriel Valley. It is a result of prudent spending and prudent decision-making by Council and staff. IFD/Steinbrink thanked staff members for their cooperation and assistance in meeting the budget deadlines. CM/DeStefano explained that the format for the budget retained the same structure that was used in the past although there is a different set of experienced eyes reviewing the budget and providing staff with guidance. IFD/Steinbrink has provided tips based on his experience as to how the City could better utilize its money and protect the General Fund. He found dollars to protect the General Fund and therefore no General Fund monies are used for the Capital Improvement Program. CM/DeStefano reiterated that his department heads and division managers have done a great job keeping the operation moving very effectively and passionately with a bias toward customer service while retaining their innovations and interest in doing things bigger, better, best with new tools and resources. For instance the Public Information Department has been exemplary in the past year with a variety of tools and innovations that do not cost the City a whole lot while providing a higher level of service to the City's customers. Everyone has responded to his mantra of saving every dollar possible. He thanked his team for all of the work each has put into this budget, the tightest and leanest budget during his tenure as City Manager. Still, many initiatives and projects will move forward and it will be an exciting yet tough year because the City is a couple of years away from seeing some of the revenues the City had a APRIL 19, 2011 PAGE 3 CC STUDY SESSION few years ago as the nation climbs out of the recession and as property values continue to rise. It will take a couple of years to see the rise in revenue from property taxes passing through to the City. There are no program cuts and no changes in the service levels other than an ongoing attempt to find ways to do things better and more effectively and efficiently. Public Comments: Allen Wilson stated that based on the figures that he saw that if the City could go without increasing scheduled fees as he suggested in October that in his opinion the City might see some additional revenues come into the City by way of property tax reassessment. He also noticed that under expenditures there is a $25.00 increase for employee benefit allotment which comes to a total of $20,000. In the past, the City has been generous with their employee allotments and wondered if the employees contribute any money. CM/DeStefano responded to Allen Wilson that as the Council Member's stated, the fees are not related to property taxes and was not completely certain what the speaker was expressing. The City Council made a policy decision and a fiduciary decision a few months ago to increase development permit fees and a slight increase on the Community Services/Diamond Bar Center fees and while the Diamond Bar Center fees were relatively current it occurred to him that on the Development Services side a lot more was needed because it had been about 11 years since those fees were increased. The Council took a position that the only increase would be the actual CPI from about 11 years ago which was roughly 30 percent in total. The Council also took the position that those fees would be gradually increased by about 10 percent per year over a three year period. So, all things being equal, it amounts to only about a $70,000 increase coming off of those fees. As the Interim Finance Director pointed out, the largest deficit is the loss of permit fees as a result of the recession. The development community has not had any issue with this year's increase and staff does not anticipate any issue as the increase moves forward next year and again, it is not related to property values at all and is related directly to a fee for service that is being requested and is not an "excess" by any stretch, it was literally CPI and CPI alone. The City still has very, very low fees compared to many other cities and the City is still on the Rose Institute and Kosmont-Rose Institute Cost of Doing Business Survey reports as one of the lowest fee cities for development in Southern California. C/Herrera stated that in addition, the City does not control property taxes. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to discuss, M/Tye recessed the Study Session at 6:20 p.m. to the Regular City Council Meeting. APRIL 19,2011 PAGE 4 CC STUDY SESSION V - ��- - L TOMMYEiCRIBBINS, City Clerk The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 17th day of may 2011. STEVE TY -r, Mayor MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MAY 3, 2011 CLOSED SESSION: 5:15 p.m., Room CC -8 Public Comments on Closed Session Agenda — None Offered. ► Government Code Section 54956.9(c) — Initiation of Litigation — 3 Cases STUDY SESSION: 5:40 p.m., Room CC -8 ► Review of Draft Budget for FY 2011-12 — Discussion and Action Public Comment on Study Session Agenda — One speaker Study Session adjourned at 6:20 p.m_ CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Tye called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in The Government Center/SCAQMD Auditorium, 21865 Copley Dr., Diamond Bar, CA. _ CA/Jenkins stated that tonight's Closed Session began at 5:15 p.m. and that no public comments were offered on the Closed Session agenda. The City Council convened the Closed Session to discuss matters of potential initiation of litigation under Government Code §54956.9(c). The City Council took one reportable action to authorize the City Attorney to initiate litigation for the purpose of "quieting" title in favor of the City in two pieces of property known as Longview Park South and Stardust Park, parcels whose current ownership has always been presumed to be the City's; however, title was apparently never vested to the City. No other reportable actions were taken. CM/DeStefano reported that during this evening's Study Session the City Council received an overview of the Fiscal Year 2011-12 budget by IFD/Steinbrink who gave an overview of the estimated resources and where those dollars are coming from as well as pointing out the slight increases that are anticipated in most of those categories. IFD/Steinbrink also discussed the anticipated appropriations and how and where those dollars will be utilized as well as use of General Fund Reserves this year to complete the City Hall project including the Library component and Landscape Districts. Following discussion CM/DeStefano announced that during the next study session the draft budget will come back to the City Council for further discussion, including Capital Improvement Program Funds and other special funds that need to be discussed. Following discussion if appropriate, during the regular meeting will then be recommending approval that night or the first City Council meeting in June. Allen Wilson was the only speaker who made comments. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Barbara Carrera, Walnut Valley Water District Board Member led the Pledge of Allegiance. MAY 3, 2011 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL INVOCATION: invocation. Cantor Paul Buch, Temple Beth Israel gave the ROLL CALL: Council Members Ron Everett, Carol Herrera, Jack Tanaka, Mayor Pro Tem Ling -Ling Chang and Mayor Steve Tye Staff Present: James DeStefano, City Manager; David Doyle, Assistant City Manager; Michael Jenkins, City Attorney; Ken Desforges, IT Director; David Liu, Public Works Director; Bob Rose, Community Services Director; Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; Ryan McLean, Assistant to the City Manager; Rick Yee, Senior Civil Engineer; Kimberly Molina, Associate Engineer; Patrick Gallegos, Management A nalyst; Lauren Hidalgo, Public Information Specialist; and Tommye Cribbins, City Clerk. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As Presented. 1. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATES, PROCLAMATIONS: 1.1 M/Tye proclaimed May 2011 as Water Awareness Month and presented the proclamation to both Board President Scarlett Kwong and Board Member Barbara Carrera with the Walnut Valley Water District. 2. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: CM/DeStefano reminded residents and business operators that on Wednesday evening, May 25 at 6:30 p.m. the City will host an Emergency Preparedness Workshop at the Diamond Bar Center. 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Allen Wilson thanked the men and women in uniform for their heroic efforts this past week and towards preserving our nation's freedoms. He stated that in reviewing the Treasurer's Report on the agenda tonight that the $1 million five year investments the City made on February 16th, February 25th and March 2, 2011 that the interest rate was only 1 Y2 to 2 percent and asked why the City would invest money at that low interest rate for a five-year period. 4. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS: M/Tye stated that interest rates will not go down any further and they are more likely trending upward. What the City does not know is the timeframe for those increases and when money is invested for a longer term it is to capture more interest versus what the City could get on a short term basis. He then asked CM/DeStefano to respond to the speaker. MAY 3, 2011 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL CM/DeStefano responding to Mr. Wilson stated that each month staff provides Council with a Treasurer's Statement which includes a portfolio report of all investments. Currently, the City has some $28 million invested in a couple of different securities and investment types. Most monies are in the Local Agency Investment Fund and others in various security investment types as listed in the report. The timeframes and yields, simply stated, are the best that the City can receive at this point in time. The yield rates are low and they are low for citizens in general. For individuals investing public dollars the priority is "security first, liquidity second and yield third". Such is the format and reference points that are used by communities like D.B., by finance directors and by those that invest the public dollars. Such investments may result in a yield that is lower than someone might be able to get from some other institution but it results in the most liquid and most secure dollars for the public. The longer period of time the money is invested results in a more positive interest yield. Everyone would like for the yield to be higher and a few years ago it was much higher but the market is what it is at this time in h isto ry. 5. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: 5.1 Planning Commission Meeting — May 10, 2011 — 7:00 p.m., SCAQMD/Government Center Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive. 5.2 Traffic and Transportation Commission Meeting — May 12, 2011 — 7:00 p.m., SCAQMD/Government Center Hearing Board Room, 21865 Copley Drive. 5.3 City Council Meeting — May 17, 2011 — 6:30 p.m., SCAQMD/Government Center Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive. 6. CONSENT CALENDAR: C/Everett moved, MPT/Chang seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented with the exception of Item 6.4 pulled by C/Herrera. Motion on the remaining items carried by the following Roll Call: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Everett, Herrera, Tanaka, M PT/Chang, M/Tye NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None 6.1. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 6.1.1 Study Session Minutes of April 19, 2011 —Approved as submitted. 6.1.2 Regular Meeting of April 19, 2011 —Approved as submitted. MAY 3, 2011 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL 6.2 RATIFIED CHECK REGISTER — Dated April 14, 2011 through April 27, 2011 totaling $1,217,685.46. 6.3 APPROVED TREASURER'S STATEMENT for the month of March 2011. 6.5 APPROVED EXTENSION OF CONTRACT AGREEMENT WITH MCE CORP FOR THREE YEARS (FY 2011-12; FY 2012-13; FY 2013-14) FOR STREET MAINTENANCE SERVICES. 6.6 AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH PROTECTION DESIGN AND CONSULTING (PDC) FOR FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM DESIGN WORK ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEW CITY HALL IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $30,000; AND RESCINDED AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH LPA CONSULTANTS. 6.7 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2011-12: APPROVING A LOAN PROGRAM WITHIN THE SECTION 457 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN ADMINISTERED BY ICMA-RC. ITEMS WITHDRAWN FROM CONSENT CALENDAR: 6.4 AWARDED CONTRACT WITH R.F. DICKSON COMPANY, INC. FOR STREET SWEEPING SERVICES C/Herrera stated that she was concerned about the figures presented because of the ability of the contractor to do business at a lesser cost than the current contract. She recommended tabling this item to allow staff time to look into the potential conflict between street sweeping and trash pickup. MPT/Chang said it was the City's obligation to accept the lowest and most responsible bid and given the fact that Dickson has been sweeping the City's streets since 2000 it seems that the rates they have proposed is 18 percent lower than any of the other rates in the San Gabriel Valley. She would understand the concern if it were a new organization that proposed this rate but given that Dickson has had 11 years of experience in and with the City it would be difficult not to consider the proposed rates. She knows the other vendors and knows they would do a great job but the bottom line is, how do you justify not accepting a rate that is 18 percent lower than the next bid. M/Tye felt MPT/Chang's point was well -taken but it sounded to him like the Council was being asked to approve Dickson at $11.85 versus the highest bidder at $22.00. His real concern is how, after MAY 3, 2011 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL this period of time, Dickson could come in almost 13 percent lower than what the City is currently paying. He asked if staff was comfortable that the City would continue to get the same level of service for almost 13 percent less than the City is currently paying or, has the City been paying 13 percent more than it should have been paying? CM/DeStefano responded that this is consideration of a renewal with RF Dickson for street sweeping services. Street sweeping services are charged to the City on a per mile basis. The current rate the City is paying to Dickson for the service they provide for multiple street sweeping efforts throughout the month and sometimes heavier during certain months is $13.55 per curb mile. The contract is coming up for conclusion the end of June 2011 and staff put the project out to bid and looked at a variety of different submittals (6) and as the Mayor referenced, the bid proposals were from a high of about $22 per curb mile to a low which was RF Dickson, the current provider who proposed that the rate be at $11.85 per curb mile which is, in fact, almost 13 percent lower than today's rate. RF Dickson is a company that has been providing these kinds of services to the community and many others in the Southern California area for many, many years. Staff is very confident that RF Dickson can continue to provide a very high level of service to the community. Staff looked at the proposals very carefully and believes there are sufficient considerations within the contract that gives the City the same high-level of service that Dickson has provided in the past. There are safeguards in the contract that should the contractor not provide the service levels as contracted for, the City can terminate the contract with a 30 -day notice as with other service contracts the City has. The specific of the proposal would best be left for RF Dickson to respond to and who has a representative present this evening who could address Council's concerns. Staff is satisfied that the company that has provided the City with strong service levels during the past few years will be able to continue to do so, based on the proposal they provided. MPT/Chang asked how much the City would be saving annually based on the new proposal. CM/DeStefano explained that the difference between the current price and proposed price would save the City about $25,000 annually. C/Everett moved, MPT/Chang seconded, to approve Item 6.4 as presented. Motion carried 3-2 by the following Roll Call vote: MAY 3, 2011 PAGE 6 CITY COUNCIL AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Everett, Tanaka, -_ MPT/Chang, NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Herrera, M/Tye ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None 8. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION: 8.1 APPROVAL OF FY 2011-12 CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. CM/DeStefano reported that during last week's study session Council directed staff to make certain revisions to the 2011-12 City Council Goals and Objectives. In accordance with Council's direction, staff presents the final version of the Goals and Objectives for consideration and approval. CM/DeStefano introduced ATCM McLean who went through the FY 2011-12 Goals and Objectives. ATCM/McLean presented staffs report stating that each year, concurrent with the budget review, the City Council reviews, amends and adopts its goals and objectives for the upcoming fiscal year. These specific items identify the Council's highest priority projects, policies and legislative matters ranging from traffic and transportation to economic development and community communications. At the April 19 Study Session Council reviewed staffs recommendation, made its own amendments and directed staff to bring the updated list back to Council for consideration at tonight's meeting. The updated goals and objectives list brought forth by staff tonight reflects the completion of two items that were on last year's goals list: 1) Update to the City's Solid Waste Ordinance which was completed in 2010 and 2) Completion of the Traffic Signal Interconnect Project. This item in particular is only one component of the City's Traffic Management System which remains on the recommended goals and objectives list. In addition to recognizing those completed items, the recommendations include the following new goals: 1) Monitor the State's high speed and light rail proposals to ensure they do not adversely impact D.B. 2) Begin implementation of the approved Housing Element by completing necessary Development Code and General Plan Amendments. MAY 3, 2011 PAGE 7 CITY COUNCIL These two items were discussed during the April 19 Study Session. Between that meeting and tonight's meeting, C/Everett requested staff add a third item to the list for consideration that reads as follows: 3) Create a long-term economic development plan that markets Diamond Bar for new and stable development opportunities and generates new ideas for the health and continued preservation of existing businesses in the community. Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the recommended goals and objectives list for Fiscal Year 2011-12 and upon approval, staff will continue to work to implement each item and update the Council throughout the process. The final list as approved by the Council will be posted on the City's website for public reference. C/Everett thanked staff for providing the verbiage to him for the additional item that he is suggesting be added regarding economic development. In his view this allows the City to play a more pro -active role in business and economic development to develop desired City sales tax revenues addressed in an "economic development strategic plan" and felt that those words offered would really give the City a focus on that starting today and continuing not just for a year but for the next few years with those two specific elements that were included and reviewed two weeks ago. C/Herrera asked staff about the process stating that during the Study Session Council discussed each of the goals and at that time there was an opportunity to add goals which some Council Members did. This new goal that has been suggested the Council hasn't had an opportunity to discuss it. She would like staffs input on how these three points would differ from what is already contained in the Council's list of goals. Years ago the City hired and commissioned a professional study which is probably still available that speaks about a plan of action for the City. Before the Council adds a new goal she would like the Council to have an opportunity to discuss with staff the ramifications of that addition as it relates to a new expanded economic development goal. CM/DeStefano stated that City staff is asking that the City Council consider approval of the final set of Goals and Objectives as presented to Council for its consideration. He then stated that he had spoken to C/Everett earlier today and MAY 3, 2011 PAGE 8 CITY COUNCIL that time C/Everett had an interest in adding an economic _ development oriented goal. Staff prepared a couple of different options for consideration, passed them to C/Everett for his review and those are brought to the City Council for its consideration. C/Everett has a particular interest in the goal that he referenced and is for the Council's consideration to add to the list. Staff would recommend that the City Council consider the item but speaking for C/Everett indirectly, the idea is that the City needs to revisit some of the economic development strategic planning efforts that the City had a few years ago and look at something that might reflect more contemporary needs and be more reflective of the recent economic downturn and the vacancies the City has today versus those vacancies and conditions the City might have had a few years ago. To some extent it correlates well with the study that is underway now for the Honda property where the City is looking at a land use palate with and without an adjacent NFL Stadium. D.B. is going to be affected with or without a stadium nearby and there might be different opportunities with a stadium than without. The City ought to conduct some contemporary research and gain expert advice and input. C/Everett spoke with him about creating a committee of interested parties that might be able to advise the City/City Council on economic development. A number of different ideas were discussed and this is the starting point for a new economic development strategy. With that said, it can be added to the list of goals and objectives this evening and worked on; the matter can be brought back for a broader study session discussion, or some other action could be taken. It has a budgetary impact and depending on what the City Council wishes to do it will then determine the budget sources that will be needed. It does not have to be done at this moment in time. The matter was raised by C/Everett and staff brought the matter to Council for its consideration. C/Herrera asked CM/DeStefano for clarification as to what he was referring to; was he talking about the monetary expenditures associated with it when he stated it could be done at this time or the cost of the studies? Or, can this goal be done at this time or sometime in the future. CM/DeStefano said he was referring to adding the goal to the list because in that event staff would need to come back to the City Council with thoughts and recommendations and with related budgetary implications to have the Council consider and approve a "game plan" going forward. That game plan may include the hiring of expert consultants and it may include a MAY 3, 2011 PAGE 9 CITY COUNCIL variety of studies and needs, none of which can be figured out this evening. This is more a question of whether the Council is interested in adding this type of goal that is focused more on an economic development strategy to the list this evening. C/Herrera said that years ago the City put $10 million into an Economic Development category and asked if that money was still available? CM/DeStefano said that the resources have been utilized over time and there is about $6.5-$7 million left. The monies have been used for economic development efforts over the years for staffing associated with economic development programs and for a number of different things. In this year's proposed budget there is an allocation of another $1154120,000 in economic development. Depending on what the City does that number will likely go up which will utilize more of the set-aside reserves. C/Everett said his intent was to make this a viable document of goals and objectives. In his experience the input he is getting economic development is very critical to the City and the City needs to focus on that earlier rather than later so it is just to put it in place. As he thinks about that he realizes there is another master plan in which the City has already invested a lot of money and that is the Parks Master Plan which is not on the goals and objectives and that troubles him; however he does think that the Council needs to add the focused bullets, and then work on the funds because that's another one that is going to take significant funding based on the Master Plan that was pretty well in place in the year 2009. Again he thinks it is important to look at that so that is his interest. If the Council waits a week or two to the next meeting to digest it he does not believe it is realistic to do that if there is an expectation of putting budgets with it. It would maybe give the City something to do in the budget cycle. He appreciates the reference to the money that was set aside and there may still be some there in the budgeting tools. But his interest is to make this a working document that in fact as things change and priorities change he suspects in this next year he hopes it will have a lot of significant changes that will impact a number of these items and the Council can adjust those as needed and timely. C/Everett stated that he does not need to have it done tonight and was not expecting that necessarily, but he is putting the item that he thinks is important to bring it up before the Council adopts. MAY 3, 2011 PAGE 10 CITY COUNCIL 8.2 N MPT/Chang said she agreed with C/Everett that the City needs to focus on economic development and is prepared to move with the proposed items tonight and reconsider or even direct the economic development item to a study session and amend the goals and objectives, if necessary. C/Herrera seconded MPT/Chang's motion. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Everett, Herrera, Tanaka, MPT/Chang, M/Tye NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None APPROVE APPOINTMENT TO THE WILDLIFE CORRIDOR CONSERVATION AUTHORITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. CM/DeStefano stated that there is a vacancy on the WCCA Advisory Committee and the City has received one application for consideration of appointment from Mangal Gulshan. C/Herrera stated that the City has been a member of the Wildlife Corridor Conservation Authority since 1995 and at one point served as a Board Member and believed that C/Tanaka now serves as the current Board Member. Important to that organization are the advisory committees. C/Herrera nominated Mangal Gulshan to be appointed to the Wildlife Corridor Conservation Authority Advisory Committee effective today. MPT/Chang seconded the nomination. Appointment confirmed by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Everett, Herrera, Tanaka, MPT/Chang, M/Tye NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None C/Herrera asked that staff provide Mr. Gulshan with an official document confirming his appointment that he can take with him to tomorrow's Advisory Board meeting. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS: C/Tanaka reported that last week he attended the first D.B. Senior softball game where unfortunately they lost to Duarte 11-10. Later MAY 3, 2011 PAGE 11 CITY COUNCIL that evening the D.B. Seniors held their Mardi Gras Dinner and Dance. On Saturday April 23 he attended the Annual Easter Egg Hunt hosted by the D.B. Lions Club. Friday April 22 he joined in the Arbor Day celebration at Pantera Elementary School. C/Tanaka congratulated Boy Scout Joshua Lumbley for attaining the Eagle Scout rank, the highest rank in scouting. Congratulations to Troop 730. C/Everett acknowledged Sheriff's Volunteers and congratulated the Explorer of the year. He thanked C/Tanaka, the Lions Club and Miss Diamond Bar and her Court for their participation in the Easter Egg Hunt. He encouraged everyone to acknowledge their mothers' contributions during this Mother's Day weekend. C/Herrera stated that everyone in D.B. is fortunate to have a fiscally sound budget. D.B. is in a much better financial position than many neighboring cities. Some are going bankrupt and some are finding it necessary to make millions of dollars of cuts. Because D.B. spends less money annually than what it takes in the City is in very sound shape and expressed her thanks to the City's staff for their good and prudent decision-making as well as the City Council. She is very grateful to live in D.B. She is the City's representative for Foothill Transit and is pleased to report that Foothill Transit is also fiscally sound and will not face cuts in services or in the budget. Last year Foothill Transit had to make up $6 million in cuts but that is not the position this year which is good news for all who avail themselves of public transportation. She wished a Happy Mother's Day to all mothers and grandmothers. MPT/Chang encouraged residents to follow her on Facebook and Twitter and thanked all who had contacted her through that media. She updated the D.B. Women's Club on community activities and the women expressed that they were very pleased with how the City was moving forward with its goals and objectives. She attended Sheriff Baca's Salute to the Youth Gala which was a very well attended event in Beverly Hills. President Obama was staying at the hotel that same evening and security was tight and there was a lot of traffic but it was a good night for the kids. She attended Earth/Arbor Day at Pantera Elementary and the San Gabriel Valley Economic Outlook Breakfast. What she found to be very interesting is that there is essentially no population growth in LA -- County and in the San Gabriel Valley. She attended the Walnut Valley Educational Foundation's Teddy Bear Tea, a fundraiser to benefit the School District. She congratulated the Lions Club and Jack and Wanda Tanaka on a successful Easter Egg Hunt and wished everyone a Happy Mother's Day. MAY 3, 2011 PAGE 12 CITY COUNCIL M/Tye said he was impressed that C/Tanaka and his colleagues are able to lay out so many eggs segregated by age and no one gets piled on and no one gets hurt. He also congratulated the Fire Explorers on doing such a great job with the Pancake Breakfast. He and two of his colleagues attended the Teddy Bear Tea last Saturday and felt certain that the community had gathered to raise $70,000 or $80,000 or maybe even $100,000 for the library and for the Walnut Valley Educational Association that provides teachers with classroom grants. It was his privilege as he accompanied C/Herrera to speak on behalf of the City of D.B. at the Redistricting Commission held last Friday night and speak on behalf of communities that need to have good representation. He recommended that everyone give their Mom a special treat and take her to the E -Waste recycling event on May 7 and 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the parking lot of the AQMD. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, M/Tye adjourned the City Council Meeting at 7:28 p.m. in honor of the troops. J)ln�. djL. TOMMYE CRIBBINS, CITY CLERK The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 17th day of _ May , 2011. STEVE TYE, MAYPR