HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/17/2015 Minutes - Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 17,2015
CLOSED SESSION: 6:00 p.m., Room CC -8
Public Comments on Closed Session Agenda - None
Government Code Section 54956.8 — Conference
with Real Property Negotiators
Property: APN 8719-005, Parcels 005, 006, 007 and 008
Agency Negotiator: James DeStefano, City Manager;
David DeBerry, City Attorney
Negotiating Parties: City of Diamond Bar, YMCA and Pony League
Under Negotiations: Price and Terms of Payment
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Tye called the Regular City Council meeting to
order at 6:30 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management District/Government
Center Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA.
CM/DeStefano stated that during tonight's Closed Session one item was discussed
pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8 conference with real property
negotiators, CM/DeStefano and CA/DeBerry. No reportable action taken.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council Member Tanaka led the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION: Reverend Dr. Jeanne Favreau-Sorvillo, Diamond Bar
United Church of Christ, gave the invocation.
ROLL CALL: Council Members Herrera, Lin, Tanaka, Mayor Tye.
Absent: Mayor Pro Tern Lyons was excused.
Staff Present: James DeStefano, City Manager; David DeBerry, City
Attorney; Ryan McLean, Deputy City Manager; Ken Desforges, IS Director; David Liu,
Public Works Director; Bob Rose, Community Services Director; Dianna Honeywell,
Finance Director; Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; Cecilia Arellano,
Public Information Coordinator; Anthony Santos, Senior Management Analyst, and
Tommye Cribbins, City Clerk.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As Presented.
1 . SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATES, PROCLAMATIONS: None.
2. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: None.
MARCH 17,2015 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Anna Smith thanked the City Council for supporting Relay for Life and reminded
residents that this year's Diamond Bar Relay for Life would be held on June 6,
2015 at Lorbeer Middle School and will be a one -day event from 3:00 p.m. to
9:00 p.m. The American Cancer Society has something called "Paint the Town
Purple" or "Show Your Hope" where purple ribbons are put up around the City to
promote the relay. In the past the City staff has told the Relay committee that the
City does not allow signs or anything to be posted around the City. The
Committee is somewhat confused by this because during elections the City is
covered with election signs. She asked if the City would reconsider the Relay for
Life request and grant permission to put up ribbons around the City two weeks
prior to the relay. Relay for Life will put them up and take them down and would
be willing to meet with City Officials to determine where the ribbons should be
placed. Surrounding cities allow purple ribbons to promote their relays. In
addition, Relay for Life has been told by the City that it cannot allow partiality to a
group or organization by participating in an event. She asked if this was a
Diamond Bar rule because the city councils of Walnut and Pomona form teams
to participate in the relay. Cancer shows no partiality and does not discriminate.
She is sure that everyone in this room has had a family member, friend or co-
worker diagnosed with cancer. The purpose of the relay is to raise awareness
and funds to help find a cure for cancer. Since this is the loth year in which
Diamond Bar will have had a relay, Relay for Life would like to invite the Mayor
and City Council Members to attend the relay on June 6.
M[Tye asked why the event would be held for only one day.
Ms. Smith said the committee had a choice; however, because it has been so
difficult to find volunteers and a decline in participation the committee hoped if
the relay was shortened there would be greater participation.
Teri Muse, Public Sector Solutions Manager, Waste Management, announced
that even though Carolyn Anderson is transitioning to the eastern side of the
Inland Empire, she still continues to work with her in Diamond Bar. Ms. Muse
went on to present the annual review of the 2014 Waste Management activities
such as conducting a 1200 plus residential trash and recycling cart audit to find
out what the company should do in terms of education outreach. Waste
Management found that most people were not putting out recycling carts, which
helps the company target its recycling outreach for 2015. Waste Management
plans to expand recycling throughout Diamond Bar and include Diamond Bar
High School and Diamond Ranch High School to get students involved in
acquiring community service hours during the summer, During 2014 Waste
Management collected 3,817 tons of recyclables, the bulk of which was paper
(over 3,000 ton). Diamond Bar is a very green community. Waste Management
collected over 7,000 tons of green waste and 3,500 bulky items in 2014.
MARCH 17. 2015 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL
Ms. Muse further reported that MPT/Lyons attended the MRF tour at the new
Azusa facility. She invited Council, staff and residents to attend any of the
tours which are held on the 4ffi Thursday of every month at 10:30 a.m.
Pui-Ching Ho, Diamond Bar Library, introduced teen and adult librarian, Cynthia
Yu who said she had worked for the County Library System for eight years as an
Adult and Teen Services Librarian at the El Monte Library. She is a proud
resident of Diamond Bar and is very excited to join the team at the Diamond Bar
Library and serve this great community. She has great patience for teen services
and she is looking for teens with initiative and creativity to join the Teen Advisory
Board and help make the library a better place for teens. This provides a great
opportunity for teens to get involved with library programs, meet other teens,
earn community service hours and gain experience on grading college
applications. The first meeting will take place next Saturday, March 28 at 2:00
p.m. for teens aged 14 and up.
4. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS:
M/Tye asked if CM/DeStefano would discuss the Relay for Life's request to
decorate the City with ribbons.
CM/DeStefano stated that this is not an agenda item; however he will comment
on this matter from the City's standpoint.
CM/DeStefano said that the City was aware of the annual Relay for Life program
and the City has, as the speaker indicated, supported that program over many,
years. The City's support has grown. There are teams that are associated with
Diamond Bar staff and DB 4 -Youth and others that have been very involved in
the program and event over the years. The speaker indicated that some cities
have allowed ribbons and signage to be displayed throughout their communities.
However, it is a very dicey and difficult decision that cities make because cities
cannot discriminate and must be impartial. Once the door is opened, it is opened
for good.
Diamond Bar prides itself on very clean streets and a very pleasant environment
which is why people enjoy living in this City. There are some designated spots
such as golf course fencing, school district fencing, park properties, etc. where
signage is permitted. There are ways to work within the City's regulations and
his recommendation was for the speaker to contact CDD/Gubman so that he can
help guide that process. In terms of allowing purple ribbons to be displayed
throughout the City around trees, on fences, etc., it is not permitted by Code and
it is frankly not a good practice.
C/Lin asked if the City had ever co-sponsored an event like Relay for Life.
CM/DeStefano responded that the City has co-sponsored a variety of events
such as the annual Easter Egg Hunt. He did not recall that the City had ever co-
MARCH 17,2015 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL
sponsored a Relay for Life event. There are cities that do engage in those kinds
of organizations but again, cities need to be careful. For example, the City of
Walnut is very active in the Relay for Life event which has a lot to do with the
unfortunate early passing of Ron Hockwalt, the beloved school superintendent
who passed away from cancer several years ago. Generally speaking, this was
not the only reason but it sparked the community -wide interest in Walnut and
Diamond Bar for the local Relay for Life program.
5. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS:
5.1 Planning Commission Meeting — March 24, 2015 — 7:00 p.m., Windmill
Community Room, 21810 Copley Drive.
5.2 State of the City Address — March 25, 2015 — 6:00 p.m., Diamond Bar
Center, 1600 Grand Avenue. Presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.
5.3 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting — March 26, 2015 — 7:00 p.m.,
Windmill Community Room, 21810 Copley Drive.
5.4 Annual Easter Egg Hunt —April 4, 2015 — 10:00 a.m. — Pantera Park, 738
Pantera Drive. (Pancake Breakfast hosted by Fire Explorers Post 19
begins at 8:30 a.m.)
5.5 City Council Meeting — April 7, 2015 — 6:30 p.m., SCAQMD/Government
Center, 21865 Copley Drive.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR: C/Herrera moved, C/Tanaka seconded, to approve
the Consent Calendar with C/Lin abstaining from consideration of Check No.
111389 written to KOA Corporation in the amount of $1,937.50 on the Check
Register. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Herrera, Lin, Tanaka, M/Tye
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: MPT/Lyons
6.1 APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
6.1.1 Study Session of March 3, 2015—As Presented
6.1.2 Regular Meeting of March 3, 2015 —As Corrected.
6.2 RECEIVED AND FILED PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
MINUTES - Regular Meeting of January 22, 2015.
6.3 RATIFIED CHECK REGISTER — Dated February 26, 2015 through March
11, 2015 totaling $1,229,546.00. C/Lin abstaining from Check No. 111389
in the Amount of $1,937.50 written to KOA.
MARCH 17,2015 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL
6.4 AWARDED CONTRACT TO ICG, INC. IN THE AMOUNT NOT -TO -
EXCEED $20,000 FOR THE DESIGN OF THE LONGVIEW PARK
NORTH SWING SET EXPANSION AND AS -NEEDED CONCEPTUAL
DESIGN WORK; AND, APPROPRIATED $12,000 IN SAVINGS FROM
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTIPROFESSIONAL SERVICES
ACCOUNT.
6.5 APPROVED CONTRACT AMENDMENT NO, 3 WITH FEHR & PEERS IN
THE AMOUNT OF $18,000 FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RELATED
TO THE STATE ROUTE 57/60 FREEWAY CONGESTION RELIEF
STRATEGY.
6.6 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2015-09: GRANTING AN EASEMENT
FOR CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON FACILITIES LOCATED ON LOT 63
OF TRACT 72295 COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS DIAMOND CANYON
PARK.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
8. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION:
8.1 APPROVAL OF THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH AMERICAN CAB
CO., LLC, DBA YELLOW CAB, FOR DIAL -A -RIDE (DIAMOND RIDE)
SERVICES BEGINNING JULY 1, 2015 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2018 WITH
AN OPTION FOR TWO (2) ONE-YEAR EXTENSIONS.
CMIDeStefano stated that this item is consideration for the approval of a
three-year agreement with American Cab Company for the City's Dial -A -
Ride Program (Diamond Ride Program) for services beginning July 2,
2015 through June 30, 2018 with an option for two (2) one-year
extensions.
SMA/Santos reported that the item before the City Council this evening is
a request for approval of a three-year agreement with American Cab
Company for Diamond Ride services commencing Fiscal Year 2015-16
which is July 1, 2015. The Diamond Ride program was initiated in 1995
and is a supplemental transportation program designed for seniors over
60 years of age as well as, disabled adults 18 years of age and older. The
last contract awarded to Yellow Cab which was, at that time, owned by
Diversified Paratransit with the agreement expiring June 30, 2015. Earlier
this year, the City was notified by Diversified that their Yellow Cab
operation would be sold to American Cab.
There are two service areas that went into effect after program
modifications in 2014. 1) Service Area 1 is for in -City trips at 50 cents per
trip. 2) Service Area 2 is for medical trips. Trips outside of Area 1 and 2
MARCH 17,2015 PAGE 6 CITY COUNCIL
costing $1.50 and anything beyond Service Area 2 for medical trips only
would incur a conversion charge of $2.50 flag drop plus $2.50 per mile.
This is the current agreement that has been in effect for the past five
years,
Staff developed a Request for Proposals in late 2014 in consultation with
the City Attorney and the RFP's were distributed to 11 cab companies in
the area. Staff received three proposals in early February. Staff reviewed
the three proposals in line with the City's Purchasing Policy which includes
looking at the overall professional experience of the companies, the
capabilities of the vehicles, etc., ridership and costs, in order to make a
determination of the most responsive bidder. During consideration of the
three proposals, two cab companies had existing Dial -A -Ride programs
and the third proposal was from a company that did not provide that
service and was not capable of meeting the demands of the City, therefore
the company was excluded from consideration. One of the two remaining
proposals were from American Cab and California Yellow. Staff reviewed
the information for these two companies looking at the existing ridership
and costs and performed a cost analysis. Staff determined that American
Cab was charging $2.50 per mile, a flag drop of $2.50 which is the existing
cost of the program. California Yellow proposed to charge a dollar more
for a flag drop and 25 cents more per mile. In addition, California Yellow
charged an eight (8) percent administrative charge on top of all other
charges. When staff factored in existing ridership, existing costs per mile
plus flag drop, staff was able to look at the real cost of the different
proposals. American Cab offered the best cost of the most responsive
bidders, with staff estimating a cost of approximately $25,000 per month
or just over $300,000 per year. California Yellow was proposing what staff
estimated to be a cost of just over $30,000 per month and almost
$400,000 per year. This analysis is based on the existing ridership and
the costs projections that will vary depending on whether ridership
changes or fluctuates.
Utilizing the cost information and cab companies' ability to meet the
demands of the program, staff's recommendation is to move forward with
American Cab because their proposal meets the current service
obligations of the existing agreement, the existing flag drop and per -mile
rate, there is no administrative charge and they acquired Yellow Cab
earlier this year which means they have the dispatch center and dispatch
number. Other strong points of the American Cab proposal include no
changes to the fee structure. American Cab has new technology that the
City has been attempting to integrate over the last five years including
Card One which is a third party vendor system that offers smart mapping
technology in the form of a magnetic strip that would be placed on the
back of a card to implement the City's boundary information into their
dispatch system. In addition, American Cab services many of the
surrounding cities including Pomona, Walnut, and Covina which would
MARCH 17, 2015 PAGE 7 CITY COUNCIL
amplify the ability of American Cab to meet the demands of the Diamond
Bar program.
Staff's recommendation is to approve a three-year agreement with
American Cab DBA Yellow Cab with an option for two (2) one-year
extensions. The anticipated expenditure would be $350,000 for each
fiscal year and would be funded through Proposition C.
C/Lin asked about the average daily ridership.
SMA/Santos responded that on a monthly basis prior to program
modification the number was slightly over 2000 trips. After modification
the trips are about 1500 per month.
C/Lin asked if the City was subsidizing any of the expense for this
program.
SMA/Santos responded No. Proposition C is a special fund that is gas -tax
funded and there are no General Fund costs to fund the Diamond Ride
program.
C/Herrera said she was pleased that this would offer the City a seamless
transition and that the program would continue to be a relatively simple
process for the residents.
C/Herrera moved, C/Lin seconded, to approve a three-year agreement
with American Cab DBA Yellow Cab with an option for two (2) one-year
extensions beginning July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2018. Motion carried
by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Herrera, Lin, Tanaka, M/Tye
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: MPT/Lyons
9. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND MEETING ATTENDANCE
REPORTSICOUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS:
C/Tanaka wished everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day. Last Tuesday he
participated in Read Across America celebrating Dr. Seuss's Birthday by reading
his books to third graders at Armstrong Elementary School. On Wednesday he
represented the City at the Robert and Beverly Lewis Outpatient Surgery and
Rehabilitation Facility Ribbon Cutting in Pomona. On Saturday he attended the
Inland Valley Regional Spelling Bee at Mt. San Antonio College with 34 finalists
who competed. Nicholas Lee, an 11 year old 5th Grader from Caryn Elementary
School was declared the winner and will move on to the National Spelling Bee in
Washington D.C. in May. On Monday, March 9 he attended Diamond Bar Day at
the LA County Fair Committee meeting to plan for Diamond Bar Day at the Fair
MARCH 17,2015 PAGE 8 CITY COUNCIL
on Thursday, September 24. Last Wednesday he participated in Career Day at
Diamond Bar High School with SMA/Santos. Later that evening he attended the
Miss Diamond Bar Scholarship Pageant Candidate Sponsors Reception and met
13 of 14 candidates. This year's Pageant is scheduled for March 29 at the
Diamond Bar High School Theater at 2:00 p.m. On March 9 and 16 he attended
Neighborhood Watch meetings on Running Branch and on Bent Twig.
C/Lin said that on March 5th he and C/Herrera met with the Mayor of the City of
Industry and the City's Engineer John Ballas to strategize for potential funding for
improvement of the SR57/60. He will travel to Washington, D.C. next week to
visit with various Congressional members and two Senators to advocate the
seriousness and severity of these traffic issues directly in front of the City of
Diamond Bar and to make them aware of the financial needs to mitigate the
issues.
C/Herrera thanked C/Lin for taking time out of his busy schedule to attend the
meetings in Washington, D.C. on behalf of the City of Diamond Bar to advocate
for additional funding to fix the SR57/60 Interchange. She congratulated the
Diamond Bar residents who ran in the Los Angeles Marathon this past Sunday,
particularly Diamond Bar resident Joe Ruzicka who will be 80 years old in June
who had the stamina to finish the race. She congratulated her son Randy who
also ran the race. She wished everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day.
M/Tye stated that both he and MPT/Lyons had the opportunity to represent the
City at the South Asia Parents Association (SAPA) second annual Evening of
Colors at Diamond Bar High School. It was not too long ago that Azan Barlas
was before the Council to invite everyone to this event. Principal Real gets into
supporting these groups and was dressed magnificently in the Pakistani
garments. He wished everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day. It was great to have
Pastor Favreau-Sorvillo begin tonight's meeting with a poem. He said he would
end tonight's meeting with an Irish prayer that says "Lord, may we know our
friends by their smiles. We ask, Lord, that you please turn the hearts of our
enemies to friendship and if you can't turn their hearts, please turn their ankles
so we'll recognize them by their limp."
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, M/Tye adjourned the
City Council Meeting at 7:08 p.m.
TOMMYECRIBBINS, CITY CLERK
The are hereby approved this 7th day0f April 2015.
sT YEf-,mAYOR
