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Diamond Bar City Hall
(Photo Courtesy: Google Images)
BY ARIEL CARMONA JR.
Diamond Bar – At this week’s Diamond Bar City Council meeting, as part of their periodic review of its annual city budget, the Diamond Bar City Council approved by unanimous vote a resolution which adjusts the city’s fiscal year 2013-14 general fund budget increasing its resource estimate by more than $950,000 to total $23,100,358 and makes other adjustments to general fund appropriations taking into account increases in economic development costs, lighting and landscape assessments, and the resurfacing of the parking lots of several city parks.
Finance Director Diana Honeywell gave a report at the council meeting, and said improvements in the economy, with unemployment rates beginning to come down, and consumer spending rising, as well as improvements in the housing market, were some of the factors staff examined in preparation for the mid-year budget review.
City officials said nearly all categories of revenues showed growth. Among some of the adjustments approved into the budget are:
- Other taxes- This include sales tax, transient occupancy tax, property tax and franchise tax.
- State Subventions- Property tax in lieu of vehicle license fee is being increased by $94,670 based on actual collections received in Jan. 2014.
- Current service charges- planning, building and engineering fees, as well as recreation fees.
- Investment income re-allocations based in cash balances to those funds.
Some of the highlights of the changes in the General Fund appropriations as made public by the city include engaging the services of a new city attorney late last fiscal year, the re-establishment of a Deputy City Manager position to fill one vacated last month, and an increase to the city’s information systems division’s budget due to “unanticipated increase in computer maintenance costs and professional services related to database work.”
In other matters, the council heard from City Manager James DeStefano, who provided a report on a project at two intersections on Grand Avenue.
The city received about $700,000 in federal funds for the project which has been augmented with about $300,000 of additional resources to improve the public right of way generally in the intersections of Diamond Bar Boulevard at Grand Avenue and Longview Drive at Grand Avenue, according to DeStefano.
“These two intersections were selected because they serve as primary gateways to the city and there is a design process that’s underway right now to set a tone that would result in new street furniture, new landscape in those intersections, a variety of street elements that would lighten, brighten and make those much more inviting landmarks within our community and gateways to other portions of our community,” said DeStefano in his report to the council.
“Part of the project is designed to create an overall palate for use with the rest of the community so when we do intersection improvements in the next few years at Golden Springs, Grand, and other areas, we will have a new palate to utilize to spread throughout our community.”
DeStefano added that even though approximately $1 million worth of resources has been allocated to the project, those resources can only be utilized on Grand Avenue in this general area; particularly the federal dollars are restricted and can’t be utilized in any other way. Local businesses and residents are invited to come to city hall on Wednesday, March 19 at 6:30 p.m. for a public meeting inviting comments, looking at the design concepts, and to participate in the overall process of improving the project leading to design and construction sometime later this year into 2015.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, residents implored the council to help Bob’s Big Boy at Golden Springs Drive get historical landmark designation in order for the restaurant to stay in the area. The fast-food chain’s lease is set to expire in a few years and the landlord is looking to raise the rent. For more information about this, read the story on page 1.
In other city council actions, the council adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 2, 2014, suspending Chapter 8.26 of the city municipal code prohibiting the operation and establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries. The council also approved by a 5-0 vote the first reading of a permanent ordinance prohibiting these establishments, including mobile dispensaries.
The council also voted to appoint new members to its Parks and Recreation, planning, and Traffic and Transportation commissions.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council is set for March 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the AQMD/Government Center Auditorium at 21685 Copley Drive.
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