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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/20/2012 Minutes - Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MARCH 20, 2012 -Ling Chang called the Regular City CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Ling Council meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management District Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: of Allegiance. INVOCATION: gave the invocation. Council Member Carol Herrera led the Pledge Pastor Randy Lanthripe, Church in the Valley, 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; Michael Jenkins, City Attorney; Ken Desforges, IS Director; David Liu, Public Works Director; Dianna Honeywell, Finance Director; Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; Ryan McLean, Assistant to the City Manager- Rick Yee,- Senior Civil Engineer; Kimberly Young, Associate Engineer; Christy Murphey, Recreation Superintendent; Natalie Tobon, Planning Technician; Anthony Santos, Senior Management Analyst; Lauren Hidalgo, Public Information Specialist, and Tommye Cribbins, City Clerk. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As Submitted. 1 SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATES, PROCLAMATIONS: 1.1 Mayor Chang and the City Council presented Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Mark St. Amant with a City Tile upon his retirement from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department after 31 years of service. Capt. Dave Haim and Lt. Chris Blasnek with the Diamond Bar/Walnut Station said a few words. Presentations were also made by Jody Roberto representing Senator Huffs office; Pat Fabio representing Congressman Miller's office; and a Certificate from Assemblyman Hagman's office. BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: 1.2 Chang presented on behalf of the City Council a City Plaque to Shawn Thonen, owner of Boba ni Taco, 1220 S. Diamond Bar Boulevard #C as New Business of the Month for March 2012. 2. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: None 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Vinod Kashyap again stated that the City spent public monies to provide an EIR for Site D for the purchase of public land which was given to the school district. He asked why this was allowed to happen. He felt that it MARCH 20, 2012 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL was wrong for the City to use public funds for the preparation of an EIR; even though-, after it is sold DB gets its land and its money back. He does not think this is right. In his opinion, it raises ethical, moral and integrity issues. He stated that he intends to speak with his Congressman, State Senator, Assemblyman and County Supervisor about this issue. Seven schools in DB are being funded by all of the citizens of DB including those who attend schools in the PUSD. 4. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS: CIVI/DeStefano stated that this matter had been brought up at the last Council meeting and at that time he had responded to those comments; however, it should not go without saying that the School District is the owner of this property and that the decision to sell the property is based on the best interests of the School District and the citizens of DB who are served by the School District. The District went through a public process with a public committee comprised of members of the DB community taking a look at the property and determining whether it was necessary for ongoing school district operations. Those things took place a few years ago and again about a year ago. The School District's committee determined that the property should be declared surplus, the WVUSD Board of Directors took action to declare the property surplus and began a process to dispose of the property. In an effort to enhance the value of the property the School District pursued an entitlement of land that would allow for 200 dwelling units to be constructed on the property — that greatly enhances the value that will then be received by the School District for betterment of the District and the residents of DB who are served by the School District. WVUSID went through a process with the City of DB. The City and the School District entered into an agreement whereby the City agreed to front the cost of the development, particularly the development component identified through the Environmental Impact Report, When that agreement was approved by both the School District and the City Council in public meetings, the idea at the time was a project comprised of 50 percent commercial and 50 percent residential land uses. That decision was ultimately modified to a project that was comprised of 200 dwelling units and a public park of least 2 -acres in size. It was that project that was approved by the City Council and that project has been adopted as the new land use plan by the City Council. The School District's next steps are to. complete the process of disposal and are now undergoing those efforts by putting the property out to a competitive bid. They have a minimum sales price that is well over $20 million. If the School District is able to achieve that sales price it will provide significant benefit back to the School District and back to the residents of D13. The City is receiving 100 percent of those costs when the sale of the property concludes which the City would expect the School District to enter into escrow later this year and likely close escrow possibly by the end of the year but more likely about this time next year. At the close of escrow, the City will receive 100 MARCH 20, 2012 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL percent of its contributions to this effort to better the community of DB. This project has been underway for more than three years with a dozen or more, -public meet i ngs1wo rksh ops and the like by both the City and the School District. As previously indicated, the City Council has taken action and the project. Project is now concluded but for the sale and a future entitlement by a developer for a specific type of house which will include future public meetings for the components that would comprise the two - acre public park. 5. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: 5.1 State of the City — March 22, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Diamond Bar Center, 1600 Grand Avenue. 5.2 Planning Commission Meeting — March 27, 2012 — 7:00 p.m., Diamond Bar City Hall Windmill Room, 21810 Copley Drive. 5.3 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting — March 29, 2012 — 7:00 p.m. — Diamond Bar City Hall Windmill Room, 21810 Copley Drive. 5A City Council Meeting — April 3, 2012 — 6:30 p.m., South Coast Air Quality Management District Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive. 6. CONSENT CALENDAR: CITye moved, C/Herrera seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call: Everett, Herrera, Tye, MPT/Tanaka, AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS. M/Chang NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None T COUNCIL MEMBERS: None ABSEN 6.1 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES — Regular Meeting of March 6, 2012 - Approved as submitted. 6.2 RATIFIED CHECK REGISTER - Dated March 1, 2012 through March 14, 2012 totaling $1,084,262.57. ESTABLISHING AN 6.3 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2012-13 APPROVED VENDOR LIST AS DEFINED BY ORDINANCE NO. 05(2006) EFFECTIVE FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2012 THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2013. 6.4 AUTHORIZED PURCHASE OF ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AND OTHER DEVICES FOR THE DIAMOND BAR LIBRARY IN AN AMOUNT NOT -TO -EXCEED $150,000 AND APPROPRIATE THE NECESSARY FUNDS FROM GENERAL FUND RESERVES. MARCH 20, 2012 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL 6.5 AUTHORIZED INCREASE TO CONTRACT WITH WOODCLIFF CONSTRUCTION IN AN AMOUNT NOT -TO -EXCEED $150,000 FOR A TOTAL AUTHORIZATION OF $6,218,616 FOR CONSTRUCTION OF CITY HALL AND DIAMOND BAR LIBRARY. PUBLIC HEARING.: None COUNCIL CONSIDERATION: 8.1 ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2012-14: ADOPTING NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO. PL2012-087 FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A DOG PARK ON 1.35 ACRES OF UNIMPROVED LAND WITHIN PANTERA PARK, 738 PANTERA DRIVE. CDD/Gubman reported that over the past several months since April 2011 when the City Council authorized the planning effort to commence, staff has been working on plans to construct a dog park at Pantera Park. As with any development project, staff was required to determine if the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed dog park warranted further analysis in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Staff chose to deem this project "subject to CEQX in order to disclose to the public potential noise, traffic and air quality impacts that Might be created by the dog park. The formal process by which this is done is through the preparation of a document that is called an Initial Study. The format of the Initial Study is established by CEQA guidelines and requires an evaluation of the project's potential impacts in 17 environmental categories, each of which must be analyzed even if most of them are not necessarily relevant to a -particular project. Staff completed the Initial Study and released it for public review in early February. The initial study concluded that the construction and continued operation of the dog park as planned and programmed, will not have a significant effect on the environment. When such a conclusion is reached CEQA requires the City to publish its findings by filing a document known as a Negative Declaration. Based on the conclusions set forth in the Initial Study, staff is recommending that the Council approve the Resolution provided in the agenda packet adopting the Negative Declaration for the Pantera Park Dog Park. M/Chang said she was very pleased to see this item on tonight's agenda. She has received only praise for the City Council for its pursuit of a Dog Park. Typically, council members receive emails. from eople who might not appreciate a certain project. In this p instance she has received only emails of praise. There was no one present who wished to speak on this matter. MARCH 20,20112 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL C/Herrera said she had received dozens of emalls from DB residents urging a "Yes" vote on this agenda item. ClHerrera moved, C/Tye seconded, to approve the resolution adopting the Negative Declaration No. PL 2012-087 for construction of a Dog Park on 1.35 Acres of unimproved land within Pantera Park at 738 Pantera Drive, 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 9. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTSICOUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS: C/Everett congratulated the new Miss Diamond Bar 2012'Alexandra Miller and [ter court and thanked 2011 Miss Diamond Bar Stephanie Turner and her court for the support to the City this past year. He also thanked Deputy Mark St. Amant for his service to DB. He congratulated the Girl Scouts on their :100th Anniversary and thanked their families and girls for their support to the community. He and MPT/Tanakaas members of the Neighborhood Improvement Sub -Committee met with CDD/Gubman and the City's Building Official for an update. Staff has continued to work with Shell Station on its project. March 29 is the deadline for completing the insulation, drywall and exterior approvals. The subcommittee also continues to work on the matter of inoperable vehicles and a new InopeTable Vehicle Abatement Ordinance that is being developed and will come to the Council soon. With respect to the Lighting Landscape Assessment Districts, the subcommittee met with CSD/Rose and PWD/Liu and staff members to address concerns about ongoing General Fund subsidies for Districts 39 and 41. He and MPT/Tanaka are liaisons to PUSD and applaud their work in dealing with a significant budget. He invited residents to attend a Town Hall Meeting in Room CC -6, of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, with Assemblyman Curt Hagman on Saturday, March 24 -from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and to attend a wreath making demonstration at the library on Grand Avenue on March 31 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. C/Tye congratulated Eagle Scouts Timothy Peterson and Brandon Reynoso who on Sunday were honored by friends and proud families. Tim's project was done at Pantera Park and Brandon's project was done at Schubarum Park in Rowland Heights. People often talk about the cost of thirigs and he wondered if a value could be assigned to volunteer hours and what those hours mean to this community and what a better community residents enjoy because of the efforts of the Boy Scouts, Eagle MARCH 20, 2012 PAGE 6 CITY COUNCIL Scouts, Girl Scouts, Friends of the Library, Diamond Bar Community Foundation and others and the number of hours these individuals put forth and what is accomplished and given back to the community. He hoped everyone would join M/Chang and the City Council at the Diamond Bar Community Center for the Mayor's State of the City address. This Saturday at 12:30 he hoped everyone would join together at Mt. SAC for the Inland Valley Spelling Bee sponsored by the Diamond Bar Friends of the Library. ClHerrera said she, M/Chang and staff members just returned from a D.C. � where she spoke with many lobbying trip to Washington representatives including the offices of Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Barbara Boxer, Congressman Gary Miller, Congresswoman Judy Chu and Congressman Ed Royce to talk about the SR57/60 Confluence project and how this project was one of national significance and "Goods Movement" corridor ' which should receive funding from the next Federal Reauthorization Bill. All comments were well received and the point of the discussion was readily accepted. She attended the Miss Diamond Bar Pageant and was very impressed with all nine young women who courageously put themselves on the line to be judged. She congratulated the new Miss Diamond Bar, Alexandra Miller. She also thanked Congressman Ed Royce for putting in an appearance at the Miss Diamond Bar Pageant and appreciated his support of DB by attending many of its different events. ClHerrera stated that she is greatly concerned about San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) for which the City pays annual dues of $23,000 because the organization has been going through some very serious issues including a recent Caltrans audit where conflict of interest was found in the way the executive director is doing business. The Board ordered a management study and one of the items in the study was to make a recommendation that the executive director and the employees become employees of the SGVCOG. This subcommittee was commissioned to study how"this would take place, determine what the costs would. be and what the implication to the 31 member cities, 3 LA District's and water districts would be. For the member cities to take on an additional obligation of employees, PERS, etc. will mean a significant expense to all of the cities. As details are revealed in the study she will bring those forward to the Council and residents. MPT/Tanak6 reported that he and C/Everett attended the Lighting and Landscape Assessment District Subcommittee meeting and the Neighborhood Improvement Program's Standing Committee meeting. Thursday he attended the PUSD School Board meeting during which the Board continued discussions regarding budget cuts and the possible closing of Pueblo Elementary School. Today he visited Armstrong Elementary 'School which has been invited to be recognized as a California Distinguished School. The accreditation staff was onsite and congratulated Principal Sanchez for doing such a wonderful job. MARCH 20, 2012 PAGE 7 CITY COUNCIL Wednesday he attended the Grand Opening of the Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center adjacent to the LA County Fair Grounds and Sheraton Fairplex Hotel. On Saturday, March 17 he attended the Diamond Bar Library Boy's Only party. Last Monday he attended the first meeting of the year at the LA County Fair. DB Day will be on Thursday, September 6 and will include a parade, a hero's program and entertainment for the evening. Thursday was the SGCOG meeting. Last week he visited businesses in DB including Massage Envy Spa and Boba ni Taco's where rt he and Wanda had lunch, Construction on the Eden Garden prope y includes plans for a Farmer's Market. There is a business banner at the Acapulco property proposing a buffet and banquet business. Last Sunday was the 45th Miss Diamond Bar Pageant. He congratulated 2012 Miss Diamond Bar Alexandra Miller and her princesses and thanked all the candidates for participating. He thanked last year's Miss Diamond Bar Stephanie Turner and her Court. He congratulated and thanked Deputy Mark St. Amant for his service to the department and the City of DB. M/Chang reminded residents her activities can be followed on Facebook and Twitter and Foursquare as well as, the City's Facebook and Twitter. Residents can download a mobile phone app via the City's website. She thanked C/Herrera for updating everyone on the lobbying trip to D.C. She congratulated all of the participants of the Miss Diamond Bar Pageant. She reminded everyone to attend the State of the City presentation on Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Diamond Bar Center. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, M/Chang adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:29 p.m. L TbMM�(E CRIBSINS, CITY CLERK The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 3rd day of April 2012.