By Natalie Kim

DIAMOND BAR– The December 15 Diamond Bar City Council meeting began with a presentation of a City Tile to Lt. Anthony Tachias upon his retirement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The Council thanked him for his hard work and praised his 32 years of dedicated service to the Sheriff’s Department and the citizens of Diamond Bar.

Next, representatives from the Los Angeles County Public Works department discussed El Nino preparedness. They emphasized the importance of spreading awareness of the El Nino season and its dangers, and the importance of the community preparing for potential problems caused by flooding from El Nino storms. More information can be found online at www.lacounty.gov/elnino.

During the public comments, a representative from Donate Life invited the Council to add a dedicated rose to the Donate Life float for the Rose Parade. The float will feature donors as well as those who received a donated organ and the gift of life. Also, a representative from the Diamond Bar Public Library announced a Holiday Music Program on December 19 at 2 p.m., as well as Santa’s arrival at the Diamond Bar Public Library.

The schedule of future events was read, which includes the Holiday Diamond Ride, a free shuttle service to and from Diamond Bar shopping centers, running from November 27 to January 1; and the Holiday Tree Curbside Collection Program, that will run December 26 through January 8. Trees free of decorations and flocking may be left at the curb for free pickup, although trees over six feet must be cut in half.  The Planning Commission meeting on December 22 and the Parks and Recreation meeting on December 24 are both canceled. City offices will be closed December 24 and 25 for the Christmas holiday, and will reopen on Monday, December 28.  City offices will also be closed January 1 in observance of the New Year’s holiday.  They will reopen on January 4, 2016.  The next City Council meeting will be on January 5; and the next Planning Commission meeting will be on January 12.  The next Traffic and Transportation meeting is on January 14. The Winter Snow Fest will be held on January 16 from 9-3 p.m. at Pantera Park, 738 Pantera Drive in Diamond Bar. It will have four snow hills, a snow play area, snowman building, a craft area, and children’s game booths.  Sleds will be provided.

Next, the Council approved all items on the consent calendar, including the minutes from the City Council meeting on December 1; minutes from the planning commission; minutes from October 27; ratification of a check register totaling $421,068.45; adjourning the December 15 City Council meeting to January 19; a resolution approving the application for $267,500 of land and water conservation funds for the development of the Canyon Loop Trail; acceptance of work performed by Valleycrest Landscape Maintenance to remove turf from the medians along Diamond Bar Blvd. and replace it with drought tolerant planting material and mulch, plus retro-fitting the irrigation system as necessary to meet state Water Board requirements; a funding agreement with Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to secure grant funds in the amount of $1,406,860 for the Diamond Bar adaptive traffic control; adoption of a resolution amending the City compensation plan; an amended and restated City Manager employment agreement; a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a five-year administrative services agreement with ICMA-RC for 457 Deferred Compensation Plan Services; and a contract amendment to the consulting services agreement with Tait & Associates for construction administration services for the Ronald Reagan Park and Carlton Peterson Park parking lots rehabilitation projects in the amount of $40,000.

After a brief public hearing, the Council adopted a resolution approving the Community Development Block Grant Program allocation, including $198,757 in Fiscal Year 2016-17 funds and $72,709 from unallocated balance of funds for the total amount of $271,466. A second emergency ordinance was read, and subsequently adopted, which approved the guidelines for implementation of the City of Diamond Bar water efficient landscape ordinance.

Finally, the Council ratified City Council appointments and adopted a resolution confirming the appointment of specific representatives to the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments.  A resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement for other post-employment benefits, trust administration and investment management services with California Public Employees Retirement System was approved, and delegation of authority to request disbursements for qualified expenses was also approved.

The Council adjourned with plans to meet again January 5, at 6:30 p.m. at 21865 Copley Dr.