Diamond Bar – Natalie Kim

The September 20 Diamond Bar Council meeting began with several presentations. First, the Council presented David Liu with a certificate plaque in recognition for 25 years of service to the City. Now the Public Works Director, Liu’s dedication and service to the City helped create the beautiful Diamond Bar residents know and love. The Council also proclaimed Sep 23, 2016 as “Vin Scully Day” in honor of Vin Scully’s 67 years of broadcasting for the L.A. Dodgers. Finally, the Council presented Smart and Final Extra at 240 Diamond Bar Blvd with a certificate plaque honoring them as the new business of the month.

Next, the City Manager updated the Council on the Diamond Canyon Park project. Although bureaucracy and paperwork delayed work on the project, the City Manager announced the good news that the project is scheduled to be complete by this coming December. The City Manager also announced Diamond Bar’s Restaurant Week, from October 8 to October 24. Diamond Bar will showcase its wide variety of restaurants and eating establishments, with participating restaurants offering special deals during Restaurant Week, and residents are encouraged to explore the many gastronomical options the City has to offer.

During the public comments, a representative from the Diamond Bar Public Library announced several upcoming events, including a celebration of Mexican culture and the chance to meet a police officer and his canine partner.

Following the public comments, the City Manager then read the schedule of future events, which consisted of the Parks and Recreation meeting on September 22; the Planning Commission meeting on September 27; the next City Council meeting on October 4; and the highly anticipated Diamond Bar Restaurant Week from October 8-14.

The Council then approved all items on the Consent Calendar, including the minutes from the Special General Plan Update Kickoff Joint Meeting with the Planning Commission of August 10 and the minutes from the regular City Council meeting of August 16; minutes from the Traffic and Transportation meeting of July 14; ratification of a check register totalling $2,131,130.81; the Treasurer’s Statement for the month of July, 2016; an ordinance revising the City’s purchasing system, amending the Diamond Bar Municipal Code and rescinding the previous ordinance in its entirety; an agreement with Los Angeles SMSA Limited Partnership, DBA Verizon Wireless, to construct a wireless communications site at Pantera Park; approval of full exoneration of a surety bond to complete in-tract private street improvement, reduction of 75% of a surety bond to complete landscape improvements, reduction of 75% of a surety bond to complete traffic signal improvements and reduction of 90% of a surety bond to complete sewer improvements for Willow Heights located at the Southeast Corner of Diamond Bar Blvd and Brea Canyon Rd; adopting a resolution amending fiscal year 2016-17 budget in the Parks and Recreation department; approval of an amendment to the consulting services agreement for stormwater compliance and environmental engineering services with John L. Hunter & Associates; adopting a resolution approving and ordering the summary vacation of a portion of a 50’ wide easement for a future street and a portion of a 20’-50’ wide easement for slope purposes located westerly of Timbertop Lane and Southerly of Lazy Meadows Drive; and fiscal year 2017 appropriation adjustments for carry forward expenditures, special revenue funds carryovers, capital project carryovers, fiscal year 2015-16 final adjustments and the establishment of a new fiduciary fund.