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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/17/2012 Minutes - Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR JANUARY 17, 2012 CALL TO ORDER: . Mayor called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in The Government Center/SCAQMD Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Pro Tern Tanaka led the Pledge of Allegiance. INVOCATION: Cantor Paul Bush, Temple Beth Israel, gave the invocation. ROLL CALL: Council Members Ron Everett, Carol Herrera, Steve Tye, Mayor Pro Tern Jack Tanaka, and Mayor Ling -Ling Chang. Staff Present: James DeStefano, City Manager; David Doyle, Assistant City Manager-, Brad Wohlenberg, Assistant City Attorney; Ken Desforges, IS Director; David Liu, Public Works Director; Bob Rose, Community Services Director; Diane Honeywell, Finance Director; Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; Ryan McLean, Assistant to the City Manager; Grace Lee, Senior Planner; Kimberly Young, Associate Engineer; Rick Yee, Senior Civil Engineer; Marsha Roa, Public Information Manager, and Tommye Cribbins, City Clerk. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As Submitted. 1 SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATES, PROCLAMATIONS: None. 2. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: None 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Krystal Spindler, representing the Relay for Life Campaign and Co -Editor of the Windmill reminded the Council and public that the kickoff of the 7th Annual American Cancer Society's Relay for Life will be held on Monday, January 23, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at D'Antonio's Ristorante, 808 N. Diamond Bar Boulevard followed by the Relay for Life at Lorbeer Middle School on Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to Sunday, May 20, 2012. 9:00 a.m. All funds raised during this event will go to the American Cancer Society to help fight the battle to cure cancer. As a co- editor of The Windmill, she invited residents, businesses, organizations, Council and others to submit quotes or historical photos they may have for 2012 issues as the publication celebrates its 50th Anniversary. The deadline for the March -April issue is February 10 for ads and articles which can be sent to thewindmillmag@qmail.com 3 RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS: None Offered. JANUARY 17,2012 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL 4. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: 5.1 Planning Commission Meeting — January 24, 2012 — 7:00 p.m., SCAQMD Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive. 5.2 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting — January 26, 2012 — 7:00 p.m. (location to be announced). 5.3 City Council Meeting — February 7, 2012 — 6:30 p.m., SCAQMD Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive. 6. CONSENT CALENDAR: C/Everett moved, C/Herrera seconded, to . approve the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by the following Roll Call: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Everett, Herrera, Tye, MPT/Tanaka, M/Chang NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None 6.1. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES — Regular Meeting of December 20, 2011 -Approved as submitted. 6.2 RATIFIED CHECK REGISTER — Dated December 15, 2011 through January 11, 2012 totaling $1,420,789.83. 6.3 APPROVED TREASURER'S STATEMENT — Month of November 2011. 6.4 TRANSMITTED COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2011. 6.5 APPROVED CITY COUNCIL AS SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE DIAMOND BAR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND ADOPTED RESOLUTNION NO. 2012-01; MAKING AN ELECTION TO SERVE AS A SUCCESSOR AGENCY, UNDER PART 1.85 OF DIVISION 24 OF THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE. 7. PUBLIC HEARING: 7.1 RESOLUTION NO. 2012-02: APPROVING TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP NO. 71362 AND PARKING PERMIT NO. - PL2011-260 TO SUBDIVIDE A 4.4 ACRE EXISTING SHOPPING CENTER INTO THREE SEPARATE PARCELS AND A PARKING PERMIT TO SHARE DRIVEWAY ACCESS AND PARKING BETWEEN THE THREE PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 300-324 S. DIAMOND BAR BOULEVARD (ACCESSOR'S PARCEL NOS. 8281-010-057 AND 058). JANUARY 17, 2012 PAGE 3 ClTY COUNCIL SP/Lee reported that the application before Council this evening is a request for a Tentative Parcel Map approval to subdivide an existing 4.4 acre commercial center into three separate parcels and a parking permit to share driveway access and parking between the newly created properties. Subdividing the property allows for each parcel to be sold off and separately owned and financing purposes. The property owner has stated that he does not have intentions at this time to sell each individual parcel but would like the flexibility of having separate parcels for'the purpose of refinancing portions of the property without encumbering the entire parcel. The property known as Diamond Bar Shopping Center is anchored by the CVS Pharmacy and Chase Bank and is located at the intersection of Diamond Bar Boulevard and Golden Springs Drive. The property is currently zoned C-2 with a consistent underlying General Plan Land Use Designation of General Commercial (GC). The center consists of a 51,000 square foot CVS Pharmacy, a Chase Bank and three inline shops including a restaurant, dry cleaner and mail services for a total of 62,400 square feet. There is also a Vons Shopping Center in the area which is under separate owner from the project site and is not part of the proposed subdivision application. According to the City's Municipal Code, all subdivision applications are to be reviewed for approval by the City Council. In its advisory role to the City Council, the Planning Commission reviewed and unanimously recommended that the City Council approve the application. The proposed subdivision will result in three separate parcels. The existing buildings meet all required setbacks and Development Code regulations and the new parcels will meet the minimum lot size requirements. All existing uses and buildings within the center will remain and no new construction will take place. The three properties will be governed by a Property Maintenance Agreement, a draft copy of which is included in staffs report and will be subject to review and approval by the City Attorney's office prior to Final Map Approval. The center is required to provide 208 parking spaces but currently has 242 parking spaces on site which exceeds the requirement by providing a surplus of parking spaces. There is also an existing agreement with the Vons Shopping Center to share additional parking and all driveway access. Prior to recording the Final Map the agreement will need to be amended to ensure that the reciprocal access and parking rights and privileges are maintained among the newly created parcels. Staff has not received any comments from the public regarding the request and there were no issues or objections from the public at the Planning Commission meeting. The project was reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality and the project was determined to be categorically exempt. JANUARY 17,2012 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL C/Everett asked how many mailers were sent out to residences within 700 feet of the project notifying them of this project. SP/Lee responded that 307 properties were notified. Chair/Chang opened the Public Hearing. Stephen Hager, Joseph C. Truxaw and Associates, Inc., civil engineers and land surveyors, spoke on behalf the firm which is preparing the map and intends to follow the process through to recordation. On behalf of Black Equities Group, he stated that he supports the project and approval of the Parcel Map. With no further testimony being officer M/Chang closed the Public Hearing. C/Herrera moved, C/Everett seconded, to Adopt Resolution No, 2012-02 as recommended by staff. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Everett, Herrera, Tye, MPT/Tanaka, MIChang NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None 8. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION: None 9. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS: C/Tye wished everyone a Happy New Year and echoed the words of Rabbi Bush. Last week he traveled to Sacramento as the City's representative of Contract Cities to meet with legislators to make them aware of the City's concerns about what is going on at the State level and what the City would like to see happen as well as, promote working harmony through Contract Cities. He said he was not necessarily encouraged by what the State was doing. On one day several legislators addressed the Contract Cities attendees and one said "be afraid, be very afraid; the legislature is back in session". Contract Cities needs to work with Governor Brown and make him aware of concerns. CITye said he is very confident that the Contract Cities will be able to accomplish that goal. Last Saturday he enjoyed the Snowfest. The weather was great and it was wonderful to see all of the non -profits' participation. Lastly, he congratulated CSD/Ragem a'nd'his staff for always doing such a great job in putting together and �'Managing the winter wonderland event. JANUARY 17, 2012 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL C/Herrera hoped everyone had a Happy and Safe New Year. She is so proud that on January 3 the new City Hall offices opened. Staff has been very busy unpacking and getting organized in the new great spaces. She was very pleased to attend the LA County Sheriffs Press Conference on January 11 during which Sheriff Lee Baca announced a significant reduction in crime throughout Los Angeles County and particularly in the DB/Walnut Station's jurisdiction which saw a 43 percent reduction in the most serious Part 1 Crimes in the last six years. Crime will still occur and DB and Walnut will continue to be targets. Thanks to the ever vigilant services the Sheriff's Department apprehended burglars who had burglarized several homes in the City of DB. DB is fortunate to have such outstanding police services to keep residents safe. She thanked staff for their wonderful efforts toward producing the Snowfest, an event the community very much appreciates in these difficult economic times. C/Herrera stated that she had spoken to an elderly, disabled resident who depends on Dial -a -Ride. She had stated that she has difficulty scheduling the service for herself and is concerned that when she is sick she is unable to order the cab for that day and can only order the cab for the next day. C/Herrera said she realized that the Council had opposed new regulations some time ago due to abuses, but for some of the elderly, it creates a significant hardship for those who depend on Dial -a -Ride. She asked staff to bring this item back to the Council and revisit the cost of the program hoping that costs would now be more in line with the budget. C/Everett extended thanks to staff under the leadership of ACM/Doyle in opening the new City Hall on time and on budget January 3, 2012, Many have visited and stopped in to conduct business and things appear to be running sm ' oothly. The library is scheduled to open in July. He congratulated Captain David Haim and his Sheriffs Department teams for their outstanding performance day in and day out. There was a Neighborhood Watch meeting on Deer -foot Drive last Wednesday. It was an enthusiastic and concerned group who wished to take responsibility for homes, vehicles, belongings and personal safety. . He encouraged residents to call Sandy Clarke at City Hall, 839-7077 to consider scheduling a -neighborhood watch for their neighborhoods. He spoke about the Gnowfest which was a family treat. He asked residents to look at. the information contained in the annual report they received from the Sewer Maintenance District, Public Works Department, LA County to remind them about how to take care of their sewer systems. He congratulated WVSD Trustee Phillip Chin who was sworn in December 201 He acknowledged PUSD for taking their board meetings to the community. The matter of a Pomona Valley Waste Transfer Station was on the agenda and there is a lot of concern and emotion about this subject; however, done with new technology and LEEDS features and other design aspects things can be made better than they are. Two DB residents who sit on the Board of Trustees, Andrew Wong and Frank Guzman are investigating the matter to get the facts. He challenged his JANUARY 17,2012 . PAGE 6 CITY COUNCIL colleagues to look at these matters including the open matter of the NFL Stadium and stay on top of these and doing the best with what the City needs to work with. Best wishes for 2012. MPT/Tanaka wished everyone a Happy 2012. He reported on his attendance at the DB Seniors Christmas Dinner Dance; helped decorate the Lions International Rose Parade float with help from DBHS and Chaparral Middle School Leos; participated in the new City Hall opening on January 3; attended the San Gabriel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce State of the Chamber Address; attended the Snowfest and thanked CSD/Rose and his staff as well as all of the families who attended the event. M/Chang invited residents to follow her on Twitter and Facebook. She congratulated and thanked staff for the on-time opening of the new City Hall, a fabulous space. She attended Contract Cities Legislative Tour with C/Tye and CM/DeStefano. The City will keep a close eye on the legislature and their actions pertaining to local governance. She provided some comments at the Sheriffs Press Conference along with Supervisors Knabe, Ridley-Thomas and Zaroslaysky. She congratulated the DB/Walnut Sheriffs Station for being singled out for having a distinguished record of excellence in public safety and Captain Halm. Chair/Chang reminded residents that even though many cities are facing difficult economic circumstances, D13 has remained steadfast in providing and maintaining quality parks and family programs for residents like the recent Snowfest which was enjoyed by many families in the area. She thanked staff for remaining vigilant and keeping a close eye on resources and for doing such a fabulous job. Her sister-in-law who has a friend who regularly attends DB events was amazed at how much the City is able to do for its residents. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, M/Chang adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:03 p.m. A TOMMYE dRIBBINS, CITY GLERK The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 7 th day of Eebt' u 'ry 2012.