HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/04/2014 Minutes - Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR
MARCH 4,2014
CALL TO ORDER: -30 p Mayor Carol Herrera called the Regular City
Council meeting to order at 6. m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management
District/Government Center Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Herrera led the Pledge of Allegiance,
INVOCATION: Pastor Randy Lanthripe, Church in the Valley,
gave the invocation.
ROLL CALL: Council Members Lyons, Tanaka, Mayor Pro
Tern Tye, and Mayor Herrera.
Council Member Chang arrived at 6:34 p.m.
Staff Present: James DeStefano, City Manager; David
DeBerry, City Attorney- Ken Desforges, IS Director; David Liu, Public Works
Director; Bob Rose, C�mmunity Services Director, Dianna Honeywell, Finance
Director; Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; Ryan McLean,
Deputy City Manager; Marsha Roa, Public Information Manager; Cecilia Arellano,
Public Information Coordinator, and Tommye Cribbins, City Clerk.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: M/Herrera pulled Consent Calendar Item 6.4
from the agenda upon CM/DeStefano's request to reschedule the item to March
18,2014.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATES, PROCLAMATIONS:
1.1 M/Herrera and City Council Members presented City Tiles to the
outgoing Planning Commissioner Ash Dhingra who thanked the
Council for the opportunity to serve the community.
M/Herrera announced that due to the other outgoing
Commissioners not being able to be present to accept their City
Tile it would be mailed to them.
2. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
CM/DeStefano stated that at the end of last week California faced a major
storm that traveled through all of its communities and praised the efforts of
the City's Public Works Department headed by PWD/LiU and SCE/Young
who were very active, in ensuring that a variety of staff resources were
properly deployed and in position to respond to the storm. Many staff
members that included members of the Community Services Department
and other departments worked very hard, particularly on Friday and as a
result, the City of Diamond Bar fared well during the event.
CM/DeStefano also thanked property owners for cleaning their bench and
down drains to allow for proper water flow. Edison was on hand to assist
MARCH 4,2014 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL
with power outages and the City's signal management contractor worked
on traffic signal outages. Staff did a great job throughout this event and
CM/DeStefano said he was very proud of everyone.
CM/DeStefano announced that Ryan McLean who has been a Diamond
Bar staff member for many years was recently promoted to the position of
Deputy City Manager. Ryan is an outstanding contributor to the City
organization and as one of the City Council Members commented, Ryan is
an untapped resource. Ryan is outstanding and it is CM/DeStefano's
pleasure to appoint him to the position of Deputy City Manager.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Mustafa Barlas, 21400 Pathfinder Road, speaking on behalf of Diamond
Bar High School SAPA Community Foundation, sought Council's help to
support the organization's fundraising efforts for the new Common Corp,
the California standard for California testing which means that every test
must be done using a computer. Because of the significant budget cuts,
Diamond Bar High School is " not able to pay for a sufficient number of
laptops. The goal is $10,000.
M/Herrera asked if the organization had submitted a letter to the City.
Mr. Barlas stated that his parents and the group had submitted a letter
requesting the City Council's support.
M/Herrera said she and CM/DeStefano would discuss the matter and
respond to the request.
Pui-Ching Ho, Acting Diamond Bar Librarian, invited parents with babies
and toddlers to visit the library every Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. for stories,
songs, dancing and activities. On Wednesday, March 12 at 4:00 p.m, the
library will present a Silly Science Show sponsored by Friends of the
Library for children ages 5 to 11 to learn basic science principles. On
Saturday March 15 at 2:00 p.m. a Boys Only Party for children aged 2 to
11 will feature the creation of Samurai warrior outfits.
RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS: None Offered.
4. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: -
5.1 Planning Commission Meeting — March 11, 2014 - 7-00 p.m.,
Windmill Community Room, 21810 Copley Drive (canceled).
5.2 Traffic and Transportation Commission Meeting — March 13, 2014 —
7 :00 p.m., Windmill Community Room, 21810 Copley Drive.
MARCH 4, 2014 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL
5.3 City Council Meeting — March 18, 2014 — 6:30 p.m.,
SCAQMD/Government Center Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive.
5.4 Grand Avenue Beautification Open House — March 19, 2014 — 630
p.m. — 8:00 p.m., City Hall Windmill Community Room, 21810
Copley Drive.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR., MPT/Tye moved, C/Tanaka seconded, to
approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried by the
following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chang, Lyons, Tanaka, MPT/Tye,
M/Herrera
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
6.1 APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES — Regular Meeting of
February 18, 2014 —As submitted.
6.2 RATIFIED CHECK REGISTER — Dated February 13, 2014 through
February"26, 2014 totaling $931,877.44.
6.3 APPROVED TREASURER'S STATEMENT — for the month of
January 2014.
6.5 ACCEPTED WORK PERFORMED BY HOFFMAN MANAGEMENT
& CONSTRUCTION CORP. FOR CONSTRUCTION OF
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DIAMOND BAR CENTER DIRECTED
THE CITY CLERK TO FILE THE NOTICE OF COMPLETION AND
RELEASE THE RETENTION THIRTY-FIVE DAYS AFTER THE
RECORDATION DATE.
6.6 APPROVED CONTRACT AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT SCIENCES (EIS) TO INCREASE THE
CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $7,000 FOR ADDITIONAL WORK TO
PREPARE RESPONSE TO COMMENTS TO THE ADDENDUM
TO THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE
SITE D SPECIFIC PLAN (AKA "WILLOW HEIGHTS") FOR A NOT -
TO -EXCEED TOTAL COST OF $30,210.
6.7 RELIEVED LOW BIDDER OCEANSTATE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS
BID; AWARDED CONTRACT TO SECOND LOW BIDDER GREEN
BUILDING CORPORATION, FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE
GRANDVIEW TRAIL AND GRANDVIEW TRAIL LINK IN THE
AMOUNT OF $559,583.25; PLUS A CONTINGENCY OF $55,958
(10%) FOR A TOTAL AUTHORIZATION OF $615,541.25; AND,
MARCH 4, 2014 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL
APPROPRIATED $300,000 IN PROPOSITION "A" SAFE PARKS
ACT GRANT FUNDS AND $89,640 IN HABITAT CONSERVATION
GRANT FUNDS AWARDED TO THE CITY SPECIFICALLY FOR
THIS PROJECT; AND, APPROPRIATED $64,235 IN PARK
DEVELOPMENT FUNDS; PLUS ELIMINATED APPROPRIATION
OF GENERAL FUND RESERVES IN THE AMOUNT OF $177,898.
WITHDRAWN FROM CONSENT CALENDAR:
6A SECOND READING AND ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 04 (2014):
REPEALING AND REPLACING CHAPTER' 8.26 OF THE
DIAMOND BAR MUNICIPAL CODE PROHIBITING THE
OPERATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA
DISPENSARIES. (Rescheduled to March 18,2014).
7. PUBLIC HEARING(S):. NONE
8. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION: NONE
9. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND MEETING ATTENDANCE,
REPORTSICOUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS:
C/Chang reminded everyone they could follow her activities on Facebook
and Twitter. She congratulated DCM/McLean who has been doing a great
job for Diamond Bar and thanked the outgoing commissioners for their
service to the City.
C/Chang reported that recently she was asked to speak at the Immaculate
Heart High School, a Catholic school for girls. Both she and the Mayor of
Sierra Madre were talking with young women about politics in government
and that she believes everyone plays a huge role in mentoring the next
generation and was happy to be able to help. She knows her colleagues
are doing the same.
C/Tanaka congratulated new DCMIRyan McLean. On Friday, February 21
he attended the Black History Living Museum at Armstrong Elementary
School. That night he also attended the Golden Eagle District's San
Gabriel Valley Council Dinner and Awards Banquet during which adult
leaders were recognized. He congratulated the 18 Baden-Powell Award
recipients from Boy Scout Troops 730, 737 and 777 as well as, Cub Scout
Packs 737 and 788 who were recognized for their character and
distinguished service within the scouting units. Theodore Wong from
Troop 777 was presented the District Award of Merit for exceptional
character and distinguished service within the Golden Eagle District.
That Saturday he and M/Herrera attended the Cub Scout Pack 737 Blue
and Gold Award's Dinner and presented a Certificate to the organization
MARCH 4, 2014 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL
to commemorate its anniversary. Sunday he attended the Miss Diamond
Bar Pageant's Annual Fashion Show. On the following Tuesday he
attended the DB4Youth "in Action" meeting. Thursday he attended the
San Gabriel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce Heroes Prayer
Breakfast and on Friday he attended the Cub Scout Pack 788 Blue and
Gold Awards Dinner. Saturday he attended the Inland Valley Regional
Spelling Bee at Mt SAC in the new Design Tech Building and
congratulated all students who participated, the finalists and
the winner and wished them good luck in Washington, D.C.
On Monday at the Armstrong Elementary School he read to first graders
as part of the "Read Across America" celebration of Dr. Seuss's Birthday.
That afternoon he attended the library's Dr. Seuss's Birthday party and
thanked the Diamond Bar High School Leo's Club members who helped
the children's librarian, Miss Julie, during the reading of Dr. Seuss's
books. Children also participated in crafts and enjoyed birthday cake.
C/Lyons said she attended many of the same events her colleagues
attended. Being with 60 Cub Scouts was the highlight of the past two
weeks due to the high energy in the room. She was very pleased to know
that the planning for the City's 25 th Birthday Party was well underway. The
banners and pins look great. She asked if the choice of bands for this
year's Concerts in the Park series had been finalized and whether there
would be a special concert for the 25 th b,irthday.
CSD/Rose explained that a special concert has been added to this year's
summer lineup and the series will begin in June this year.
C/Lyons attended a meeting with the Friends of the Library and the
program "Read Together Diamond Bar" is coming back in October. True
Notebooks by Mark Salzman has been chosen as the book to read this
year,
C/Lyons stated that residents appreciated stafFs efforts in keeping the City
and homes safe during last weekends' heavy rains.
MPT/Tye praised Mustafa Barlas for his great presentation and wished Mr.
McLean Good Luck in his new position as Deputy City Manager. He
reported that he had attended the Miss Diamond Bar Fashion Show and
that it was a treat to witness. Linda Headley and her group do a
tremendous job with the organization and involves' everyone including the
moms who also modeled clothes. Relative to the emergency operations
he stated that he had been out early and witnessed a traffic signal stuck
on green left turn on Grand Avenue and apologized to PWD/Liu for calling
him at 6,15 a.m. to let him know there was a problem. In spite of that,
PWD/Liu was right on the issue and kept MPT/Tye posted about the
problem and when it would be remediated. There was a lot of rain in a
MARCH 4, 2014 PAGE 6 CITY COUNCIL
brief period of time and he is so impressed with the system that the City
has in place. He was notified at home, work, cell phone and by email. If
anyone is not getting notification, contact the City and he guarantees staff
will let homeowners know what needs to be done.
MPT/Tye went on to state that the Hero's Prayer Breakfast was a terrific
program put on by the Chamber of Commerce. Mike Gregorich and his
group put on a terrific presentation and the City is grateful the Chamber
chose the Diamond Bar Center for the event. The Council of African
American Parents Casino Night on Saturday was a terrific gathering. He
appreciates what Ingrid Johnson and the Board does in support of that
group. The South Asian Parent Association (SAPA) is terrific and as
Mustafa Barlas said, it is getting harder and harder to get things done, so
parents are stepping up and filling the grand ballroom at the Diamond Bar
Center or having dinner at the Diamond Palace to raise funds is
admirable.
M/Herrera said that she and her colleagues have attended many events
during the past couple of weeks, many of which were Cub Scout/Boy
Scout events. She thanked parents who are involved with their kids in
scouting and spend countless hours helping to develop and form these
outstanding individuals. Diamond Bar is grateful for the young people who
emerge from scouting groups, particularly the Eagle Scouts.
M/Herrera announced that the Miss Diamond Bar Scholarship Pageant will
take place on March 23 and commended and applauded the 18 young
women who put themselves out in front to be judged; because it takes a
lot of courage and effort on their part. Each and every one of these young
women is a winner. She congratulated Ryan McLean on his appointment
as Deputy City Manager and knew that he would do great things and bring
a lot of energy to his new position.
ADJOURNMENT: With' no further business to conduct, M/Herrera
adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:01 p.m.
TOMMYE CAIBBINS, CITY CLERK
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 18th day of March
2014.
. 6AW llelilu—1
CAROL HERRERA, MAYOR