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
MARCH 19, 2024
STUDY SESSION: 5:30 p.m., Room CC-08
RECOGNITION POLICY
Public Comments: None Offered
Adjourned to Regular Meeting: 6:29 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Liu called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management District Main Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Paul Wright led the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION: Cantor Paul A. Buch, Temple Beth Israel, provided the invocation.
ROLL CALL: Council Members Andrew Chou, Ruth Low and 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; Ken Desforges, Information Systems Director; Marsha Roa, Community Relations Manager; Cecilia Arellano, Senior Community Relations Coordinator; Joan Cruz, Administrative Coordinator; Kristina Santana, City Clerk
Staff present telephonically: Amy Haug, Human Resources and Risk Manager; Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; Grace Lee, Planning Manager; Mayuko Nakajima, Senior Planner; David Liu, Public Works Director; Jason Williams, Maintenance Supervisor
Others present: Aaron Scheller, Deputy, Diamond Bar/Walnut Sheriff’s Station; Daniel Dail, Lieutenant, 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 and Council Members presented a City Tile to Paul Wright upon the occasion of his retirement as AQMD Production Administrator, in recognition of his 32 years of service to the City of Diamond Bar.
2. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: NONE
MARCH 19, 2024 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Cynthia Yu, Diamond Bar Library, spoke about March workshops for adults and children, advised the public that all LA County Libraries would be closed on Monday, March 25th in service of Cesar Chavez Day. For additional information on these and other programs and services including 24-hour online services, visit the library website at www.lacountylibrary.org
Aziz Amiri, Regional Chamber of Commerce San Gabriel Valley, announced that in honor of the National Day of Prayer, a Mayor’s prayer breakfast is being planner at the newly renovated Diamond Bar Golf Course on May 2, 2024.
Daksha Mehta requested that the City consider extending Diamond Ride services to Baldwin Kaiser Hospital when the contract renews in June.
Johnny Wang felt Diamond Bar and Walnut residents should have been notified about the City of Industry’s Public Hearing on zoning changes and homeless shelter issues.
Mari Sarabia submitted a letter asking for help in working with the City of Industry regarding proposed zoning changes in her neighborhood.
Diana Shorafa asked for the truth about the possibility of a homeless shelter being built on Walnut Drive and Calbourne.
Miltinnie Yih wanted to know what residents can do about the City of Industry’s amendment to rezone the area that abuts her neighborhood on Flintgate Drive.
Shelley Gentry felt the property owned by the City of Industry and the proposed zoning change was an inappropriate environment for an emergency homeless shelter/low barrier navigation shelter and asked if the City could help with the issue.
Judy thanked Paul Wright for his service to the community and spoke about the proposed zone changes in her neighborhood.
CC/Santana reported that public comment emails were submitted by Amy Wu and Debbie Bell, both of which were forwarded to the City Council and printed for placement at the entrance of tonight’s meeting for public viewing, and that there were no online callers requesting to speak under Public Comments.
RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS:
CM/Fox said that the City became aware of the City of Industry zone change proposals and upon contacting his colleague at the City of Industry was assured that no homeless shelter is being proposed on the site and that Industry is processing zoning code amendments that are mandated by state law.
MARCH 19, 2024 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL
4. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: CM/Fox presented the Schedule of Future Events.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR: C/Chou moved, MPT/Teng seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried 5-0 by the following Roll Call vote with C/Low abstaining from approval of Consent Calendar Item 5.1.
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 MARCH 5, 2024 REGULAR MEETING.
5.2 RATIFIED CHECK REGISTER DATED FEBRUARY 28, 2024 THROUGH MARCH 12, 2024 TOTALING $767,065.72.
5.3 APPROVED THE FEBRUARY 2024 TREASURER’S STATEMENT.
5.4 APPROVED THE 2023 HOUSING ELEMENT ANNUAL PROGRESS
REPORT FOR FILING WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (HCD) AND THE GOVERNOR’S
OFFICE OF PLANNING AND RESEARCH (OPR)
5.5 APPROVED THE 2023 GENERAL PLAN STATUS REPORT FOR FILING
WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT (HCD) AND THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF
PLANNING AND RESEARCH (OPR).
5.6 APPROVED CREATION OF A NEW SPECIAL REVENUE FUND TO
MANAGE TRANSACTIONS USING THE CITY’S PERMANENT LOCAL
HOUSING ALLOCATION (“PLHA”) GRANT FUNDS, AS FOLLOWS:
A. APPROVED A NEW SPECIAL REVENUE FUND NO. 224 (“PLHA
HOUSING FUND”) TO MANAGE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES WITH
PERMANENT LOCAL HOUSING ALLOCATION (“PLHA”) GRANT
FUNDS;
B. ESTABLISHED A REVENUE BUDGET OF $358,416 AND AN
EXPENSE BUDGET OF $358,416 IN FUND 224 FOR THE
ISSUANCE OF HIP/CHIP LOANS WITH PLHA FUNDS
ADMINISTERED BY THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY; AND,
MARCH 19, 2024 PAGE 4 CITY COUNCIL
C. DETERMINED THAT THE PROPOSED ACTION DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE A PROJECT AND IS THEREFORE EXEMPT FROM
THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (“CEQA”).
5.7 APPROVED PURCHASE OF A NEW RICOH IM C8000 COLOR COPIER AND A RICOH IM 8000 BLACK AND WHITE COPIER AS FOLLOWS:
A. APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO ISSUE A
PURCHASE ORDER TO ADVANCED OFFICE (INTEGRUS), INC.
FOR THE PURCHASE OF A NEW RICOH IM c8000 COLOR COPIER
AND A RICOH IM 8000 BLACK AND WHITE COPIER WITH
PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION SERVICES IN THE NOT-TOEXCEED AMOUNT OF $36,889.46 AND, B. APPROPRIATED $36,890 FROM THE TECHNOLOGY RESERVE
FUND (104) FUND BALANCE TO THE EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE
AND REPLACEMENT FUND (503) FOR THE PURCHASE OF TWO
COPIERS.
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS: NONE
7. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION: NONE
8, COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND MEETING ATTENDANCE
REPORTS/COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS:
C/Chou congratulated Paul Wright on distinguished service to the City of Diamond Bar and invited everyone to attend the Woman of the Year Award hosted by Senator Archuleta on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at the Diamond Bar Center.
C/Low congratulated Paul Wright on his retirement and congratulated staff for receiving the coveted Government Finance Officers Association Budget Award, .
She thanked M/Liu for his leadership in requesting last night’s Town Hall Meeting about the SR57/60 Confluence project, was pleased for Cantor Buch’s announcement of such a festive season, and reminded everyone that the City’s 35th Birthday Party will take place on April 6th.
C/Tye congratulated Paul Wright on 32 years of service, reminded residents that Breakfast with the Bunny is March 30th from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Grandview Ballroom at the Diamond Bar Center, and wished everyone a very happy and celebratory Easter.
MPT/Teng found that tonight’s speakers and residents who attended last night’s Town Hall meeting shared their frustration that they are outside the very limited area of notification of projects.
MARCH 19, 2024 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL
M/Liu thanked staff for tonight’s meeting, said Paul Wright would be missed, and congratulated the Miss Diamond Bar Court and thanked them for their ambassadorship and thanked all who participated in their scholarship pageant.
He encouraged everyone to check up on their neighbors and friends and be safe during erratic weather episodes such as those recently experienced in Diamond Bar.
C/Low spoke about the passing of former Diamond Bar Mayor Eileen Ansari who stood for many causes including women’s rights who was a member of numerous civic organization and charity groups and was especially noted for her generosity and her service to Diamond Bar which is very much appreciated and remembered by her colleagues and friends.
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, M/Liu adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:37 p.m. in memory of former Diamond Bar Mayor Eileen Ansari.
Respectfully Submitted,
__________________________
Kristina Santana, City Clerk
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 2
nd day of April, 2024.
__________________________
Stan Liu, Mayor