HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/17/2011 Minutes - Regular MeetingCITY OF DIAMOND BAR
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
MAY 17, 2011
STUDY SESSION: MPT/Chang called the Study Session to order
at 5:46 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, and Mayor Pro Tern Ling -Ling Chang.
Absent:
M/Tye was excused.
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 Young, Associate Engineer; Ken Desforges, IS
Director; Cecilia Arellano, Public Information Coordinator, and Tommye Cribbins,
City Clerk.
00- REVIEW OF DRAFT BUDGET FOR FY 2011-12 — Discussion and
Action
CM/DeStefano recapped the previous study session and stated that with
continued refinements made to the 2011-12 FY Budget, staff projects that
about $195,000 will go into reserves at the end of the year. He stated that
employee salaries are about $6.5 million per year with the next biggest
accounting expenditure for the Sheriff's Department. He stated that he
had asked the department heads to further refine their budgets and find
more creative ways of maintaining service levels, Everyone helped
achieve the numbers staff is presenting to the City Council for
consideration this evening. If Council is satisfied, Staff will be
recommending that the City Council consider adoption of the budget at its
June 7 meeting.
IFD/Steinbrink went on to go through General and Special Funds
explaining that on Page 11 it shows a correction of $85,000 transfer in
from the Integrated Waste Management Fund. The Council approved the
street sweeping contract at the last meeting which saved the City $25,000.
The $160,000 that it costs for street sweeping in the City minus the
$25,000 contract savings, minus the $85,000 the City receives directly
from the waste hauler, nets the difference shown in the budget.
IFD/Steinbrink explained
resulted in an increase to
2011-12 FY Budget.
Department reductions and increases that
the General Fund reserves at the end of the
C/Herrera suggested that Commission stipends be increased by $10 per
meeting because she has never seen an increase in the 15 years she has
MAY 17, 2011 PAGE 2 CC STUDY SESSION
served on the City Council. Commissions review a lot of issues on behalf
of the City Council and deserve to be compensated.
CM/DeStefano advised that if both the Traffic and Transportation
Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission were to meet all
12 months it would amount to an increase of $600 per commission; and, if
the Planning Commission met all 24 times during the year it would amount
to an increase of $1200 for a total of $2,400 for all three commissions.
MPT/Chang stated that she wasn't comfortable with an increase at this
time and that she has heard that some commissioners feel uncomfortable
about receiving any stipend.
C/Everett said he agreed with MPT/Chang due to these economic times,
perhaps the time is not right. He went on to say that he agreed with
C/Herrera as well that the Commissioners do deserve more recognition
and money but he would be cautious not to make any increases at this
time. As soon as the City sees daylight he would favor increasing the
compensation.
C/Herrera said she would like the matter revisited at the appropriate time.
C/Everett said that the Lighting and Landscape Districts (Item 6.a) on
tonight's agenda have troubled him for years on what to do. Specifically,
there are three districts. One district has all residential parcels (almost
18,000) and for that one he is less concerned spending General Fund
monies to subsidize it. However, he is extremely troubled about the other
two districts — 39 has 1250 and 41 has 550 parcels and they run bigger
deficits from the General Fund. He asked the Council's support in
directing staff to review ways to hold the budget for Districts 39 and 41
because of the disparity of the impact on the FY 2010-11 budget rolling
into the FY 2011-12 budget. He feels personally responsible to the
residents to find a more equitable way of continuing to take more funds
from the General Fund every year to subsidize those two districts.
C/Herrera asked if staff could bring the matter back to the next meeting
before adoption of the budget.
MPT/Chang asked if that would have an impact on tonight's agenda item.
CIVI/DeStefano said that it would not impact tonight's agenda item
because it is one of the many steps to levy the rate and the rate is already
being added back at its current level so there is no discussion about
lowering that rate. What C/Everett is talking about is the fact that every
district has eliminated any reserves that it might have had and is using
General Fund dollars to support it. What this means is that CSD/Rose
and PWD/Liu need to take a hard look at each of the districts and basically
MAY 17, 2011 PAGE 3 CC STUDY SESSION
come up with about $24,000 in cuts and what impacts that may create.
Staff would need to make its recommendation to the City Council about
whether the districts could withstand that resource reduction to keep the
same expenditure level as the current budget.
C/Evereft said he respects the work staff does and wonders if residents
would be agreeable to voting for an increase once they see what it takes
for the Districts to be maintained at the same level.
There were no further questions or comments from Council Members
Public Comments: None Offered.
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to discussion, MPT/Chang
adjourned the Study Session at 6:35 p.m. to the Regular City Council Meeting.
�- L'2�3 � 0i, Ili, - I -
TOMMYEICRIBBINS, City Clerk
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 7th day of ju ne
2011.
MPTI NG �FoTe�m����
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR
MAY 17, 2011
STUDY SESSION: 5:45 p.m., Room CC -8
100- Review of Draft Budget for FY 2011-12 — Discussion and Action
Public Comment on Study Session Agenda — None offered.
Study Session adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Pro Tem Chang called the Regular City
Council meeting to order at 6:38 p.m. in The Government Center/SCAQMD
Auditorium, 21865 Copley Dr., Diamond Bar, CA.
CM/DeStefano reported th at the City Council spent a second study session
discussing the City's budget for Fiscal Year 2011-12. Tonight's focus was on
changes to General Fund accounts, revenue and expenditures anticipated for the
upcoming budget year and the differences between the current proposed budget
and the proposed budget discussed two weeks ago. The changes have resulted
into an additional surplus coming into General Fund reserves at the end of the
2011-12 budget year. The Council also looked further into Special Funds that
the City receives and utilizes for a variety of programs and projects and the
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for next year which includes streets and
parks and improvements in those areas and elsewhere. Council gave staff a
couple of points of change and staff looks forward to bringing the budget to the
City Council for adoption on June 7.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council Member Herrera led the Pledge of
Allegiance.
INVOCATION: Reverend Pat Williams, Parrish Associate,
Northminster Presbyterian Church, gave the invocation.
ROLL CALL: Council Members Ron Everett, Carol Herrera,
Jack Tanaka, and Mayor Pro Tem Ling -Ling Chang
Absent: Mayor Steve Tye was excused.
Staff Present: James DeStefano, City Manager; David Doyle,
Assistant City Manager; Michael Jenkins, City Attorney; Ken Desforges, IS
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 Young,
Associate Engineer; Lauren Hidalgo, Public Information Specialist; Patrick
Gallegos, Management Analyst; Anthony Santos, Management Analyst; and
Tommye Cribbins, City Clerk.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As Presented.
MAY 17, 2011 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATES, PROCLAMATIONS:
1.1 MPT/Chang presented a City Tile to Shea Properties, 667 Brea
Canyon Road, Suite 25, as Business of the Month for May 2011.
Gilbert Neilson, Senior Vice President of Commercial Properties
accepted the Tile and introduced Irma Diaz.
2. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: None
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Resident Allen Wilson said he was very concerned about the Ralph's
Market closing because it comes at a time when the City faces economic
challenges and the Council has placed a moratorium on the Honda site.
On May 3 he raised a concern about the $3 million investment in FNMA
(Federal National Mortgage Association aka Fannie Mae). On May 7 the
Wall Street Journal stated that FNMA had fallen back into the loss column
with a net loss of $6.5 billion. He hoped that the City's investment of
taxpayer funds were secure and felt that the City Treasurer should be an
election position.
Jessee Lanz, D.B. Library announced the Summer Programs that will be
offered through the Library and reminded everyone that they could receive
updates on Library activities throughout the County on Facebook and
Twitter. Individuals who have iPhones, Droid phones and Blackberries
can download the County Library's new app through the "app store".
Grace Lin Hays, 21323 Cottonwood Lane, President, Hampton Court
Homeowners Association, said her neighbors are squabbling over street
parking and some residents have been ticketed for parking on the
cobblestones. She asked if the City could consider diagonal parking on
the four -lane Washington Street facing the homes.
4. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS:
CM/DeStefano stated that with respect to closure of the Ralph's
Supermarket, staff received information a few weeks ago that Ralph's had
decided to close down approximately 6-10 stores in southern California
and unfortunately, the D.B. store is one of them. Ralph's has been a
partner in this business community for many decades. They were one of
the original tenants within the center. The lease is expiring in August 2011
and they have informed the property owners that they do not intend to
renew the lease, which will leave that shopping center with a 40,000
square foot anchor space that becomes available the middle of August.
Upon learning of this impending closure, staff immediately put together an _
information sheet of the site characteristics, benefits of having a business
in D.B. and, has begun a distribution to key national credit supermarket or
grocery tenants in order to incite their interest in that location. Staff has
MAY 17, 2011 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL
received some feedback. It is a tough arena these days. There are not a
lot of operators of retail businesses and more particularly, grocery stores
that are expanding in the nation let alone in southern California. A 40,000
square foot space is larger than many of those typically utilized that are on
a somewhat expansive mode, such as a Fresh & Easy Neighborhood
Market. So the current market is a bit limited. D.B. already has
successful players in the grocery/supermarket business and so the
likelihood of additional stores by any of those original successful operators
is slim but there are grocers and markets that are growing in southern
California and have an interest in D.B. and the City is talking with them.
Staff has had a series of very good conversations with the property owner,
Barco Real Estate, which is working very aggressively with the City in
order to try and generate the type of anchor that Ralph's is, ideally an
anchor that brings weekly traffic into that center. That center is blessed
with a variety of institutions and those bring in weekly customers so having
an anchor that does so as well is the best that the City can hope for.
Having a national credit tenant anchor is an additional source of
investment by the property owner as well as by the operator that brings in
customers into the center on a frequent basis. He and MPTIChang will be
attending an international developer's conference and this is the number
one goal. This will take time and many months before any sort of
announcement is ready. The City is working in a free-market society and
dealing with a property owner that will have a loss of significant rent
starting in August. The zone allows for a variety of uses.
CM/DeStefano stated that with respect to the Honda property and
reference to'the City Council establishing a moratorium on that property,
the Honda property unfortunately, is a great loss to the City in that Honda
chose to move the operator of that dealership to the City of Industry where
there are many other auto dealerships creating a synergy for that
business. This departure created a significant loss in sales tax revenues
to the City and the City wants to be sure that the property has the highest
performing land uses possible on such a small site (5 -acres). D.B. wants
to be sure that the free market does not result in self -storage facilities
which have had an interest in the property and other land uses of the
same ilk that produce little or no benefit to the community of D.B., produce
little or no jobs, and produce little or no image enhancement to D.B. at
such a key location within the community. The City Council has every
right to establish restrictions on the land use of any piece of property in the
community and chose wisely to establish a moratorium on development of
that property so that there could be time devoted to establishing the
proper palate of land uses that would compliment an NFL stadium, for
example should that occur, or a use that would complement the property
and the City of D.B. should an NFL stadium NOT be developed
immediately adjacent. The City has engaged consultants that are
studying the property, the property owners have met with City staff and
there has been a dialogue about the future of that property and the City is
MAY 17,2011 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL
hopeful that it will be able to generate high sales tax or transient
occupancy tax (hotel type use) and hopeful that it will be complimentary to
an NFL stadium next door. Staff is working hard to accomplish these
goals for the betterment of the community.
CM/DeStefano responded to the speaker regarding a possible solution for
the parking shortage on Washington Street that parking is provided within
the residential condominium community with parking spaces in garage
locations for the residents of the complex and it is unfortunate that some
of those tenants may have started to utilize their garage space for storage
because garages are meant to house automobiles, not storage. That may
or may not have pushed some of the cars out on to the public street.
There may or may not be more occupants per dwelling unit who drive
vehicles that may have pushed vehicles out onto the public street. The
reason the end of the cul-de-sac may result in parked vehicles receiving
tickets is because that is an emergency access point in and out of
Washington Street as well as, the industrial park on the other side of the
street. The residents are welcome to apply for relief in the creation of
additional parking spaces. However, he would caution the approach of
diagonal parking, Diagonal parking on a dead-end cul-de-sac such as
Washington Street is and according to the City's General Plan will remain
such, is generally speaking not a good idea. That stated, residents have a
right to apply for possible remedy and again stated, the residents may
want to look inward to see what is in the garages and whether there is an
opportunity to create additional spaces for parking.
5. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS:
5.1 Planning Commission Meeting — May 24, 2011 — 7:00 p.m.,
SCAQMD/Government Center Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive.
5.2 Emergency Preparedness Workshop — May 25, 2011 — 6:30 p.m.
Diamond Bar Center, 1600 Grand Avenue.
5.3 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting — May 26, 2011 — 7:00
p.m., SCAQMD/Government Center Hearing Board Room, 21865
Copley Drive.
5.4 Memorial Day — Monday, May 30, 2011 — City Offices closed in
observance of Memorial Day. City Offices reopen Tuesday, May
31, 2011 at 7:30 a.m.
5.5 City Council Meeting — June 7, 2011 — 6:3 0 p. m.,
SCAQMD/Government Center Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR: C/Herrera moved, C/Everett seconded, to
approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried by the
following Roll Call vote:
MAY 17, 2 011 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Everett, Herrera, Tanaka, M/Chang,
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: M/Tye
6.1. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
(a) Study Session Minutes of May 3, 2011 — Approved as s
surnitted.
(b) Regular Meeting of May 3, 2011 —Approved as submitted.
6.2 RECEIVED AND FILED PARKS AND RECREATION
COMMISSION MINUTES — Regular Meeting of March 24, 2011
6.3 RECEIVED AND FILED TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSION MINUTES — Regular Meeting of February 10, 2011.
6.4 RATIFIED CHECK REGISTER — Dated April 28, 2011 through May
11, 2011 totaling $787,453.66.
6.5 a) APPROPRIATED MTA LOCAL TRANSPORTATION FUND
RESERVES IN THE AMOUNT OF $93,174 TO THE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET FOR FY 2010-11;
APPROVED PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS; AWARDED
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE RESIDENTIAL AREA 7
AND ARTERIAL ZONE 5 ROAD MAINTENANCE PROJECT TO
SULLY -MILLER CONTRACTING COMPANY IN THE AMOUNT OF
$1,819,990; AND AUTHORIZED A CONTINGENCY AMOUNT OF
$106,539.88 FOR CONTRACT CHANGE ORDERS TO BE
APPROVED BY THE CITY MANAGER, FOR A TOTAL
AUTHORIZATION AMOUNT OF $1,926,529.88.
b) APPROVED DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH ONWARD
ENGINEERING FOR THE RESIDENTIAL AREA 7 AND ARTERIAL
ZONE 5 ROAD MAINTENANCE PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF
$16,625 PLUS A CONTINGENCY OF $1,547 FOR CHANGE
ORDERS TO BE APPROVED BY THE CITY MANAGER, FOR A
TOTAL AUTHORIZATION OF $18,172.
6.6 APPROPRIATED $13,386 OF PARK DEVELOPMENT FUNDS
AND $13,386 OF QUIMBY FUNDS AS ADDITIONAL FUNDING
SOURCES FOR THE NATURE EDUCATION FACILITY
PROGRAM FUNDS SAFE DRINKING WATER, WATER QUALITY
AND SUPPLY, FLOOD CONTROL, RIVER AND COASTAL
PROTECTION BOND ACT OF 2006, FOR THE SYCAMORE
CANYON PARK TRAIL OUTDOOR FREESTANDING
INTERPRETIVE EXHIBITS.
MAY 17, 2011 PAGE 6 CITY COUNCIL
6.7 AWARDED CONTRACT TO PANELIZED STRUCTURES DBA
PANELIZED SOLAR IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $260,500
FOR CITY HALL SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM LOCATED
AT 21810 COPLEY DRIVE.
6.8 a) ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2011-13: DECLARING THE
CITY'S INTENTION TO LEVY AND COLLECT ASSESSMENTS
FOR LANDSCAPE DISTRICT NO. 38 AND DIRECT THE CITY
CLERK TO ADVERTISE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO BE SET FOR
THE JUNE 21, 2011 REGULAR MEETING.
b) ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2011-14: DECLARING THE
CITY'S INTENTION TO LEVY AND COLLECT ASSESSMENTS
FOR LANDSCAPE DISTRICT NO. 39 AND DIRECT THE CITY
CLERK TO ADVERTISE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO BE SET FOR
THE JUNE 21, 2011 REGULAR MEETING,
c) ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2011-15: DECLARING THE
CITY'S INTENTION TO LEVY AND COLLECT ASSESSMENTS
FOR LANDSCAPE DISTRICT NO. 41 AND DIRECT THE CITY
CLERK TO ADVERTISE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO BE SET FOR
THE JUNE 21, 2011 REGULAR MEETING.
d) ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2011-16: DECLARING THE
CITY'S INTENTION TO DETACH SPECIFIED PARCELS FROM
ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 39 AND DIRECT THE CITY
CLERK TO ADVERTISE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO BE SET FOR
THE JUNE 21, 2011 REGULAR MEETING.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
8. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION: None
9. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTSICOUNCIL MEMBER
COMMENTS:
C/Everett showed a copy of The Windmill and commented on its articles
and asked residents to honor graduating students. Last Tuesday night he
joined C/Tanaka at a Neighborhood Watch meeting and encouraged
residents to participate in the program.
C/Tanaka said that two weeks ago he attended WCCA's regular meeting
for the reorganization. WCCA received a report from its Advisory
Committee and a presentation from Tom Scoff regarding the Goldspotted
Oak Borer, a pest that is presently in the San Diego County area where
the larvae is decimating oak woodlands. Members also received an
update on the Whittier Main Oilfield development project. On May 5 the
MAY 17, 2011 PAGE 7 CITY COUNCIL
DB Seniors celebrated Cinco de Mayo with a dinner/dance. Last Monday
the Walnut/D.B. Station Sheriff's Boosters and Kiwanis Club held a golf
tournament and benefit dinner for the Explorers. Last Tuesday he
attended the Neighborhood Watch meeting with Deputy Mark St. Amant
making another great presentation on public safety and emergency
preparedness. He wished everyone a great Memorial Holiday and a safe
graduation to the class of 2011.
C/Herrera stated that last week Foothill Transit had its general
membership meeting and new officers were elected by the participating
cities including herself as Chair, elected to serve as Vice Chair was
Patricia Wallach from El Monte and Elected to serve as Treasurer was
Paul Lentz from Pomona. She expects a great year for Foothill Transit.
Yesterday the Four Corners Coalition, of which D.B. was a founding
member, met to discuss issues of concerns including the closure of the
post office in City of Industry where apparently all of the mail in 917 and
918 zip codes are sorted. The mail will now be sorted in Santa Ana and
she was not sure if the City of Industry office would close completely or be
scaled back. There is a lot of information to be shared with the residents.
Yesterday Richard Maher who represents the US Postal Service gave a
presentation and she would like for this matter to be placed on a future
agenda for a more in depth discussion because D.B. has had other postal
issues regarding zip codes and perhaps staff could update the residents
on that information as well.
AM/Chang asked residents to follow her on Facebook and Twitter and she
will be following the library activities as well. She and C/Herrera attended
the SCAG Regional Conference and General Assembly. C/Herrera has
represented D.B. very well as part of the 37 th District. Much of the
conversation included jobs, transportation and sustainability in southern
California with an unveiling of the Southern California Economic Recovery
and Job Creations Strategy. CM/DeStefano, M/Tye and she attended the
Contract Cities seminar last weekend. M/Tye was installed as Treasurer
and she congratulated him on his appointment. Yesterday she attended
the Diamond Bar Foundation and Walnut Valley Rotary Golf Tournament
which raises money for youth in D.B. She understands that the event
raised a large amount of money to be split between the Diamond Bar
Foundation and the Walnut Valley Rotary. She congratulated Tina Javid,
Chair of the tournament and Diamond Bar Community Foundation Chair
Jody Roberto.
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, AM/Chang
adjourned the Regular City Council meeting at 7:18 p.m.. ,
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TOMMYEYCRIBBINS, CITY CLERK
MAY 17,2011 PAGE 8 CITY COUNCIL
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 7th day of June
2011.
CHA , Mayor ern