By Raymond Mendoza

Diamond Bar – The Diamond Bar City Council met for their first meeting of the month on Tues., Apr. 7, beginning with two proclamations:  one for designating April 2015 as DMV/Donate Life California; and the other naming April 24 as Arbor Day.

Mayor Steve Tye said becoming a donor of organ, tissue, marrow and blood is a life saving act and he encourages all Diamond Bar residents to become donors due to the shortage of donated organs and blood that leads to thousands of deaths each year.

Following the first proclamation, Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Lyons stated that this year’s Arbor Day would be on April 24. Lyons noted that the proud tradition of Arbor Day not only helps save the planet, but also provides countless resources and continues Diamond Bar’s tradition of being a “Tree City USA” designee.   The day will be marked with an event at Pantera Elementary Park at 9:15 a.m., with school children giving presentations about the history of Arbor Day, the planting of several new trees, and each child being given a seedling to plant their own tree.

After the proclamations, the schedule of future events was listed to include the Traffic and Transportation Commission meeting on Apr. 9, the City’s birthday celebration on Apr. 11 at Pantera Park, the Planning Commission meeting on Apr. 14, the Pop-up City Hall on Apr. 18 at the Towne Center, and the next City Council meeting on Apr. 21.

The Council then approved all items on its consent calendar including the City Council minutes for Mar. 17; the Planning Commission minutes for Jan. 27, Feb. 24 and Mar. 10; the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting of Feb. 26; the Traffic and Transportation Commission meeting on Jan. 8 and Feb. 12; the ratification of check register dated Mar. 12 through Apr. 1 totaling $1,005,308.73; the Treasurer’s Statement for Feb. 2015; the approval of a contract amendment with Tait and Associates, Inc. for a Comprehensive Groundwater Drainage Study in the amount of $9,070; the approval of a contract amendment for storm water compliance and environmental engineering services with John L. Hunter and Associates for a total amount of $67,133, plus a contingency amount of $6,000; the approval of fiscal year 2015-16 City Council Goals and Objectives; a resolution accepting the easement for public street and slope purposes over the Brea Canyon Flood Control Channel;  authorization for the City Manager to enter into a contract for annual independent audit services with Lance, Soll and Lunghard, LLP, for fiscal years 2015-16 through 2016-17, with an option for two one-year extensions; the adoption of a resolution declaring the City’s intention to levy and collect assessments for Landscape District No. 38; and direction for the City Clerk to advertise the Public Hearing before the Council at the May 19 regular meeting.

Following the consent calendar approval, the City Council adjourned with plans to meet on Apr. 21 at 6:30 p.m., at the AQMD/Government Center Auditorium at 21865 Copley Drive.