CITY OF DIAMOND BAR
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT/MAIN AUDITORIUM 21865 COPLEY DRIVE, DIAMOND BAR, CA 91765
FEBRUARY 6, 2024
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Liu called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management District Main Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Pro Tem Teng led the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION: Cantor Paul A. Buch, Temple Beth Israel, provided the Invocation.
ROLL CALL: Council Members Andrew Chou, Ruth Low, Steve Tye, Mayor Pro Tem Chia Yu Teng, Mayor Stan Liu
Staff Present In Person: Dan Fox, City Manager; Ryan McLean, Assistant City Manager; Omar Sandoval, City Attorney; Anthony Santos, Assistant to the City Manager; Grace Lee, Planning Manager; Mayuko “May” Nakajima, Senior Planner; David Liu, Public Works Director; Cecilia Arellano, Senior Community Relations Coordinator; Joan Cruz, Administrative Coordinator; Kristina Santana, City Clerk Staff Present Telephonically: Amy Haug, Human Resources and Risk Manager; Hal Ghafari, Public Works Manager/Assistant City Engineer; Ken Desforges, Information Systems Director; Ryan Wright, Parks and Recreation Director; Marsha Roa, Community Relations Manager; Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; Jason Jacobsen, Finance Director; Nicholas Delgado, Management Analyst Others Present: Lieutenant Daniel Dail, Diamond Bar/Walnut Sheriff’s Station; Captain Stephen Tousey, Diamond Bar/Walnut Sheriff’s Station; Leticia Pacillas, LACFD Community Services Liaison (telephonically) APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mayor Liu approved the agenda as presented.
1. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATES, PROCLAMATIONS:
1.1 Mayor Liu proclaimed February as Black History Month and read the Proclamation which Council presented to Board President Marie Paula Thermidor and Board Members of the San Gabriel Valley Sector National Council of Negro Women (NCNW).
2. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
M/Fox was happy to report that in spite of the significant rainfall, the City fared well with no major reportable incidents, and thanked staff and contractors for their constant field monitoring of the streets and clearing of vegetation to make FEBRUARY 6, 2024 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL
certain the storm drains were properly functioning as well as the community for their vigilance.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Allen Wilson said he appreciated the admirable service of City staff and asked if Council Members who receive campaign contributions from City contractors are obliged to recuse themselves from voting on contracts involving financial matters.
Cynthia Yu, Diamond Bar Library, announced that February is “National Library Lovers Month” and hoped everyone would dive into a sea of stories and exciting programs during the month. For additional information on this and other programs, visit the library website at www.lacountylibrary.org Veena Sheth, Kailasa USA, spoke about her Guru who taught her, uplifted her and enriched her spirit, and thanked the City for supporting their Yoga classes.
CC/Santana reported that one public comment email was received from Andres Martinez which was forwarded to the City Council and placed at the entrance to tonight’s meeting for public viewing, and there were no online callers requesting to speak under Public Comments.
RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS:
At the request of C/Low and the City Council, CA/Sandoval provided information on recently updated Campaign Finance Laws that went into effect January 1, 2023.
4. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: CM/Fox presented the Schedule of Future Events.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR: C/Low moved, C/Chou seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried 5-0 by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chou, Low, Tye, MPT/Teng, M/Liu
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
5.1 APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES:
5.1.1 JANUARY 16, 2024 REGULAR MEETING.
5.2 RATIFIED CHECK REGISTER DATED JANUARY 10, 2024 THROUGH JANUARY 30, 2024 TOTALING $1,730,423.81.
FEBRUARY 6, 2024 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL
5.3 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2024-03 GRANTING CONSENT AND
JURISDICTION TO THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO ANNEX
EXISTING STREETLIGHTS TO THE COUNTY LIGHTING
MAINTENANCE DISTRICT 10006 AND COUNTY LIGHTING DISTRICT LLA-1, DIAMOND BAR ZONE.
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS: NONE
7. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION:
7.1 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR AMENDING CHAPTER 8.26 OF THE DIAMOND BAR CITY CODE
IN ITS ENTIRETY TO PROHIBIT AND REGULATE
MARIJUANA/CANNABIS BUSINESSES AND CULTIVATION IN
COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW AS LAST AMENDED BY SB 1186.
SP/Nakajima provided the staff report and CM/Fox read the Ordinance Title into the record.
There were no public comments offered on this item.
C/Chou moved, C/Tye seconded, to find that the adoption of the Ordinance is exempt from CEQA; and, approved for first reading by title only, waived full reading of Ordinance No. 01(2024), and scheduled the second reading and adoption at the next regularly scheduled city council meeting on February 20, 2024. Motion carried 5-0 by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chou, Low, Tye, MPT/Teng,
M/Liu
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
7.2 AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DIAMOND BAR PROHIBITING AND REGULATING MARIJUANA/
CANNABIS BUSINESSES AND CULTIVATION IN COMPLIANCE WITH
STATE LAW AS LAST AMENDED BY SB 1186.
SP/Nakajima provided the staff report and CM/Fox read the Ordinance Title into the record.
There were no public comments on this item.
C/Low moved, C/Chou seconded, to find that adoption of the Ordinance is exempt from CEQA; and, adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 02 (2024).
Motion carried 5-0 by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chou, Low, Tye, MPT/Teng,
FEBRUARY 6, 2024 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL
M/Liu
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
8. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND MEETING ATTENDANCE
REPORTS/COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS:
C/Chou thanked staff for another well-prepared meeting and wished everyone a very Happy Lunar New Year, the year of the dragon.
C/Low thanked staff for their work on behalf of the Council and City and for keeping the City safe during the recent storm, shared photos of the SR57/60 Confluence project and updated residents on the work in progress for this and the Golf Course project, and wished everyone a Happy Lunar New Year.
C/Tye said it was a privilege to have the Black History Month Proclamation read this evening for those present and wonderful to hear about their contributions to the community. He hoped everyone would be careful driving during the rainstorms and not go out unless necessary.
MPT/Teng appreciated staff’s diligence on countering what he felt was the State Legislatures promotion of Marijuana/Cannabis businesses and wished all Asian cultures a Happy Lunar New Year.
M/Liu thanked staff for the presentations and thanked C/Low for the construction updates. He talked about residents’ concerns regarding lack of street closure advisement during construction and atmospheric rain events and asked if a Town Hall could be scheduled with the proper agencies to discuss these matters with residents.
CM/Fox stated that if it is the consensus of the Council, staff will work with SGVCOG to determine the feasibility of a community meeting in the near future.
C/Chou concurred. C/Low suggested agency representatives be invited to provide a short presentation at a future Council meeting to allow for greater participation. MPT/Teng preferred a Town Hall meeting to allow for unlimited time and freedom to speak.
CM/Fox said that staff would speak with SGVCOG about hosting a community workshop as well as, providing regular City Council presentations on the progress of the project.
M/Liu wanted to recognize these individuals and organizations who contribute to the City on a regular basis during Council Meetings.
CA/Sandoval suggest that in order to be complaint with the Brown Act, this matter be placed on a future City Council agenda for discussion. There was Council consensus to place an item on a future agenda for further discussion.
FEBRUARY 6, 2024 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL
M/Liu thanked staff, contractors and community members for taking care of the City streets and for looking out for one another during the storms and wished everyone a Happy Lunar New Year.
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, M/Liu adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting was adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted:
__________________________
Kristina Santana, City Clerk
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 20th day of February, 2024. __________________________
Stan Liu, Mayor