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 20, 2024
STUDY SESSION: 5:30 p.m., Room CC-08
Heritage Park and Community Center
Renovation Project Design Concepts, CIP# FP24502
Adjourned to Regular Meeting: 6:43 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Liu called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:51 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management District Main Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council Member Low led the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION: Reverend Florentine Cordova, Diamond Bar United Church of Christ 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; David Liu, Public Works Director; Hal Ghafari, Public Works Manager/Assistant City Engineer; Nicholas Delgado, Management Analyst; Ryan Wright, Parks and Recreation Director; Jason Jacobsen, Finance Director; Marsha Roa, Community Relations Manager; Cecilia Arellano, Senior Community Relations Coordinator; Joan Cruz, Administrative Coordinator; Kristina Santana, City Clerk Staff present Telephonically: Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; Grace Lee, Planning Manager; Mayuko Nakajima, Senior Planner; Amy Haug, Human Resources and Risk Manager; Ken Desforges, Information Systems Director; Dannette Allen, Senior Management Analyst
Others Present: Lieutenant Daniel Dail, Diamond Bar/Walnut Station; Captain Stephen Tousey, Diamond Bar/Walnut Station; Leticia Pacillas, LACFD Community Services Liaison (telephonically)
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mayor Liu approved the agenda as presented.
1. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATES, PROCLAMATIONS: NONE
2. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
CM/Fox reported that prior to tonight’s regular City Council meeting, the City Council held a Study Session and was provided direction on proposed FEBRUARY 20, 2024 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL
improvements for the Heritage Park Community building and playground design concepts.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Shelley Gentry has been unable to gather information about what is proposed to secure the Royal Vista Golf Course property upon its closing March 1 or how the property will be developed, which has not been revealed to the neighboring residents and, she is very concerned about the possibility of damage to her property as well as, that of her neighbors living next to the golf course.
Cynthia Yu, Diamond Bar Library, introduced Jennifer Gutierrez, the new Children’s Librarian who spoke about her service to various communities since 2008 and said she looked forward to introducing exciting innovative programs and services to the community including upcoming programs during February and March. For additional information on these and other programs, visit the library website at www.lacountylibrary.org
CC/Santana reported that one public comment email was received from Adam Angulo 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:
CM/Fox stated that Diamond Bar has not received a response to written comments to the Draft EIR for the Royal Vista Golf Course property that were submitted at the end of 2023. If it is the pleasure of the Council, staff can pursue the matter further and coordinate with the Diamond Bar/ Walnut Sheriff’s team which serves the area and would respond to calls for service.
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 FEBRUARY 6, 2024 REGULAR MEETING.
5.2 RATIFIED CHECK REGISTER DATED JANUARY 31, 2024 THROUGH FEBRUARY 13, 2024 TOTALING $910,652.56.
FEBRUARY 20, 2024 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL
5.3 APPROVED FOR SECOND READING BY TITLE ONLY, WAIVED FULL READING, AND ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 01 (2024) ENTITLED “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.”
5.4 APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN AND
SUBMIT A LETTER OF OBJECTION AND APPLICATION TO
PURCHASE TAX-DEFAULTED PROPERTY.
5.5 APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC
WORKS/CITY ENGINEER TO FILE THE NOTICE OF COMPLETION
FOR THE INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED STREET NAME SIGN AND
TRAFFIC SIGNAL SAFETY LIGHT REPLACEMENT PROJECT NO.
TM23201.
5.6 APPROVED PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE AREA 3
RESIDENTIAL & COLLECTOR STREETS REHABILITATION AND
ARTERIAL STREET REHABILITATION (GOLDEN SPRINGS DRIVE
FROM GRAND AVENUE TO AVENIDA RANCHEROS; AND GRAND
AVENUE FROM DIAMOND BAR BOULEVARD TO EAST CITY LIMITS - GATEWAY CORPORATE CENTER) PROJECT NO. Si24101 & Si24103;
THE GRAND AVENUE AT DIAMOND BAR BOULEVARD DRAINAGE
IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT NO. PW 23402; AND, THE COLD SPRING LAND GROUNDWATER DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT NO.
SI24101 AS FOLLOWS:
A. DETERMINED THAT APPROVING THE DESIGN AND PLANS FOR
THE PROPOSED PROJECTS IS EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO SECTION
15301(C) OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES; AND,
B. ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2024-04 APPROVING THE DESIGN
AND PLANS FOR AREA 3 RESIDENTIAL & COLLECTOR STREETS
REHABILITATION AND ARTERIAL STREET REHABILITATION
(GOLDEN SPRINGS DRIVE FROM GRAND AVENUE TO AVENIDA
RANCHEROS, GRAND AVENUE FROM DIAMOND BAR
BOULEVARD TO EAST CITY LIMITS, COLLECTOR STREETS
WITHIN THE GATEWAY CORPORATE CENTER PROJECT, THE
GRAND AVENUE MEDIAN DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT,
AND THE COLD SPRING LANE GROUND WATER DRAINAGE
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
FEBRUARY 20, 2024 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS: NONE
7. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION:
7.1 FISCALYEAR 2023-2024 MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEW.
FD/Jacobsen provided the staff report.
CC/Santana stated that there were no emails received and no public comments offered on this item.
C/Chou moved, C/Low seconded, to adopt Resolution No. 2024-05 amending the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Municipal Budget Revenue Estimates and Appropriations; and, Adopt Resolution No. 2024-06 amending the City’s Fiscal Year 2023-24 Compensation Plan. 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 ADDITIONAL CITY COUNCIL RECOGNITION OPTIONS:
CM/Fox provided a brief staff report and asked for Council direction.
M/Liu provided additional discussion.
C/Chou suggested the City Council consider the option of allowing individual Council Members to issue Certificates.
Following discussion, CM/Fox asked if the Council wished to have a discussion about deviating from the current Policy to permit an individual Council Member to issue Certificates. Currently, the process is that a Council Member coordinates with the Mayor to approve a request and if approved, the Certificate is delivered with all five Council Member signatures as a “City” issued Certificate.
With respect to Mayor Liu’s initial discussion item, there was Council consensus to continue to work within Recognition Policy 2019-02 and encouraged more Certificates, Certificate Plaques, and Proclamations to be presented at Council meetings.
MPT/Teng moved, C/Tye seconded, to schedule a City Council Study Session to consider the feasibility of amending the current policy to allow individual Council Members to issue certificates or other forms of recognition. Motion by the following Roll Call vote:
FEBRUARY 20, 2024 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chou, Tye, MPT/Teng, M/Liu
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Low
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
8. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND MEETING ATTENDANCE
REPORTS/COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS:
C/Chou thanked staff and his colleagues for the robust discussion and the midyear budget review.
C/Low thanked staff for the mid-year review and keeping the City on track, encouraged everyone to vote, and spoke about attending, along with her colleagues MPT/Teng and C/Tye, the Girls’ Softball opening day and congratulated the participants including the daughter of HR&RM/Haug and wished the teams a good season, attended the Miss Diamond Bar Fashion Show fundraiser and wished everyone a happy Lunar New Year.
C/Tye said it was exciting to be with the Diamond Girls’ Softball group on a very foggy cold morning where Pink Stars won the banner and asked CM/Fox to contact LA County in an attempt to gather information about the Royal Vista Golf Course closure and what they proposed for securing the site.
MPT/Teng offered no comments.
M/Liu thanked staff for their presentations and audience members for their participation, asked if the Public Safety Committee could participate in outreach to help residents stay safe, attended the groundbreaking for the children’s center at the EFree Church of Diamond Bar and thanked neighbors for keeping each other safe.
.
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, M/Liu adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 8:13 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
__________________________
Kristina Santana, City Clerk
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 5
th day of March, 2024.
__________________________
Stan Liu, Mayor