State of the City: The Full Remarks

Below is the full text of Mayor Steve Tye's , delivered March 31, 2011 at the Diamond Bar Center.

[Greetings, acknowledgements]

Let's begin by acknowledging the financial difficulties so apparent at the regional, state, and national levels. With so many governmental agencies struggling to remain above water, it is reassuring to know Diamond Bar continues to be fiscally sound. 

Hardly a day goes by where I don't hear a story of a Califomia city cutting personnel, reducing public safety resources, or eliminating programs. 

And each year, it seems cities must prepare for the inevitable state raids on local funds. But despite this, Diamond Bar has not found it necessary to cut programs, personnel, or public safety, continuing to provide outstanding services to the public without interruption. 

It takes a team effort between council and city staff to responsibly augment general fund dollars with the use of grants and special state and federal funds for street improvements, ADA retrohts for disabled residents, park improvements, sustainable energy projects, and specialized public safety programs. 

Let me assure you that the constant flow of sobering economic news from around the area only reinforces the Council's devotion to careful fiscal management of your tax dollars. We will not waiver from maintaining a balanced budget or from making every attempt to contribute to the general fund reserve each year, no matter how difficult the state's budget woes may be. 

Each member of the City Council, past and present, should be proud of this commitment. Diamond Bar's ability to remain stable in the face of one of the most painful recessions in our nation's history is evidence enough. and it provides the motivation we need to continue.

Going hand in hand with careful liscal management is a commitment to economic development. Given the state of the economy today, it's no secret that viable projects are in short supply. 

Further complicating matters are the challenges of developing a project that can not only address Diamond Bar's need for new shopping and dining alternatives, but balance the area's rural past with the realities of today. It's a fact that cities are more reliant than ever on the local sales tax revenues generated by local businesses. 

Today's City Council must not only do what is right for today's residents, but those that are yet to come. We have no choice but to recognize changing demographics and the impacts of suburban growth and plan accordingly. 

As we approach 25 years of age, Diamond Bar must begin to develop new plans to attract the kinds of businesses that will help to ensure the long-term stability of the local economy. With no end to the state's ongoing budget woes in sight, it really will be up to us. So tonight, I ask my fellow residents to think critically about the future of our community. 

While in the minds of some, it may be ideal to shun development entirely, it is simply not feasible or appropriate in today's economy. I truly believe that smart development that enhances the local shopping experience can be accomplished without losing the character of Diamond Bar, but it will require all of us to venture beyond the norm and truly consider many alternatives. 

Maintaining a careful fiscal approach each and every year since incorporation has allowed for us to make one of our most significant steps yet. 

This year, capitalizing on record low real estate prices, the City purchased a 57,000 square foot building on Copley Drive for use as a permanent City Hall and new and improved Library. 

We've now graduated from a cramped rented apartment to a home of our own; where we will be able provide even more efficient and convenient service to those we serve. The City Hall portion of the building, which will be located on the second floor, has been designed and we expect to enter the construction and renovation phase in early summer. We anticipate a move-in date sometime late this year. 

While we are certainly looking forward to a new City Hall it is the prospect of a new Library that excites us most. The current County Library facility has served the community admirably, but with many significant drawbacks. At only 9,000 square feet, the Lbirayr does not have space for the collection and materials that a communty that places such a high value on education truly requires. 

And we're all aware of the parking challenges that the current location faces!

For years, the City Council has pursued a variety of avenues to better the existing facility, from providing City contributions to building technology improvements, to submitting a very detailed state Library Bond Act application, to placing financing measure on the ballot for voters. 

In the end, these efforts, no matter how inspired, did not result in the improved Library the community deserves. 

The newly purchased building provides just the opportunity we've been seking, and at a fraction of the cost of other alternatives. Upon relocation to the new building, the new Library wil occupy nearly 23,000 square feet, more than double the current location. 

This additional square footage will allow for a larger collection materials, computers, community meeting rooms, and ample parking space that is desperately needed. The City Council and staff are hard at work with County Supervisor Don Knabe and the office of the County Librarian to make this project a reality and I am confident that we will soon be cutting the ribbon on a state-of-the-art Library that will serve Diamond Bar for generations. 

Along with strong public facilities and infrastructure, the Council's focus on public safety is a constant. I've already spoken about how the City's crime rate decreased yet again in 2010 from an already low figure. This speaks volumes about the dedication of our men and women in uniform. 

Rather than resting on their impressive laurels, they chose to conduct specialized patrols to target home and car burglaries, improve school zone safety, and remove drunk drivers from the streets. The visible presence of our Sheriff's deputies on streets and in neighborhoods across Diamond Bar makes it well known that criminal activity is simply not welcome in Diamond Bar.

And not to be outdone, the Fire Department continues to save lives every day, responding rapidly to fires, emdical emergencies, and other first responder situations. While it may be easy to occasionally take the service of the Fire Department for granted after years of excellence we must always remember the quiet bravery of those that wear the uniform. 

Please join me in again saluting Diamond Bar's public safety personnel for their priceless contributions to our safety and security. 

In addition to one for the lowest crime rates in the area, Diamond Bar is well known for its variety of recreation programs, classes. and special events. 

There is no better to way to experience the community than by attending our largest celebration, so please plan on joining us at Pantera Park on April 16 for the City's 22nd annual Birthday Party event or perhaps spend a warm summer evening outdoors with family and friends at one of the 21 annual Concerts in the Park series at Sycamore Canyon. 

This is where you'll see what Diamond Bar is all about - a friendly and diverse place with opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. 

Another great way to experience the beauty of our community is through the many parks, trails, and facilities. On any given day you can enjoy a slice of unspoiled California wildemess along the Summitridge Trail, picnic at Sycamore Canyon Park, or attend an event at the Diamond Bar Center, which offers everything from senior programming and enrichment classes to private weddings and business seminars. 

Speaking of parks, we're hard at work designing the newest neighborhood park, to be located on Washington Street near the City's border with Industry. The park will address the lack of park space in an area that has been in great need. 

Also in the works in a Parks Master Plan update, a collaborative effort between the City and residents that aims to determine the community's recreation facility and program needs for the next decade. The implementation of the Plan will require careful consideration, as any newly recommended facilities will generate not only construction costs. but ongoing maintenance costs that may require further support from the community to accomplish. 

In this age of economic uncertainty, we must be sure that the City can carry the cost of such projects not only today, but years into the future. When the Plan is brought forward for adoption in the coming months, I encourage everyone to keep this fact in mind as we determine the best ways to implement the recommendations. 

So, as always, I encourage you to take part in all the community has to offer by participating in one of our many programs, and I'm very thankful our continued financial strength has allowed them to remain fully available. 

By now, we're all aware of the traffic problems we face as a result of our A unique location at one of the busiest freeway interchanges in the United States. In fact. a recent study found the 57/60 interchange to be the seventh most congested in the country, telling those in Washington what we've known all along — our traffic problem isn't just a local problem of cut-through traffic and inconvenience, but one of national significance. 

Along with our partners from MTA and the City of Industry, we've made significant progress in the design altematives, but must now secure the hundreds of millions of dollars needed to construct the necessary improvements. 

As we continue our fight for state and federal funding, we've taken matters into our own hands. By embracing methods ranging from the latest in signal technology to the grass- roots success of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program, we're fighting the traffic problem from multiple fronts. 

And at the same time, even in this age of limited state transportation improvement dollars. our City's streets continue to be kept in great condition thanks to our Street Maintenance Program. 

The combination of forward-thinking improvement techniques and regular maintenance has made a difference while we chip away on the ultimate goal of fixing the freeway. 

For years, Diamond bar has been a quiet leader in green programs, offering a number of recycling opportunities, education programs, and events, and energy efficiency projects. The Council's 2008 Sustainability Report, advocates for cost-effective environmental solutions wher applicable in the City's operations. 

We've moved forward with a number of these thanks to federal grant monies that have funded energy efficient lighting, an HVAC retrofit at Heritage Park Community Center, and a solar energy project at the new City Hall and Library building. 

By using grant funds to complete these projects, we can build a greener infrastructure without using precious General Fund dollars while doing our part to set a positive example for the community. The overview of Diamond Bar that I've just completed is only a brief snapshot of all that has been accomplished and a fraction of what is to come. 

2011 promises to be an exciting time, with a permanent home for City offices and brand new community Library on the way. When the people of Diamond Bar chose to incorporate nearly 22 years ago, they sought to maintain local control and representation. Our success in the face of a severe recession is a reflection of an engaged community and careful management. 

Where other communities have slipped into an abyss of questionable management and in some cases, outright fraud, Diamond Bar remains as transparent as ever, greatly valuing the lines of communication between residents and businesses. 

The City Council strongly encourages your continued participation in the future of Diamond Bar by attending public meetings, visiting the City website, which contains all agenda materials and reports, or watching archived or live meeting broadcasts on the web. 

To make customer service and communication even easier, we will be rolling out a new Smartphone application, my Diamond Bar, which allows you to photograph and map the locations of any problems you may encounter around town and send them directly to staff for correction. The application also provides access to City calendars, documents, and infomation. all at your fingertips. 

And of course, you may also contact our oflices by phone or e-mail at any time with questions or concerns you may have. We are here to serve you. Before we conclude tonight's presentation, I would like to take this opportunity to discuss a few items in more detail. 

For the first time ever, residents were asked to submit questions and many were already answered during the evening's presentation but there are several I felt needed to be addressed in more detail. The first has to do with a topic that has angered me tremendously and I am sure you as well… 

"In light of city of Bell's salary scandal… What are the current salaries of our City Council Members? Is Diamond Bar in line with other local area cities? Are those salary conditions and amounts available to the public?"

While my colleageus on the Council and I may have different opinions on policy decisions, we all agree on the importance of maintaining the public's trust. We have an unwavering understanding that we are elected to serve you, not our own self-interests. The outrageous actions of a few in the City of Bell cannot taint the nearly 22 year record of fiscal prudence displayed in Diamond Bar, which continues to shine despite these troubled economic times. 

Diamond Bar is a General Law city, which means that Council Member compensation is set by the state and based on population levels rather than the action of the Council or staff as in a charter city like Bell. The Council also carefully considers the compensation and benefits of the City Manager and staff, ensuring that Diamond Bar attracts and maintains a top-notch professional staff to serve you while maintaining the City's budgetary health. 

The City's conscious decision to maintain a contract services model also ensures City stalling levels are lean and efficient, avoiding the significant long-term obligations that are bankrupting many other govemment agencies. 

In keeping with the City Council's ongoing transparency, compensation packages for all employment levels are available publicly on the City's website for review and download. 

The next question has been a contentious topic since it was first proposed in 2008… 

"Recent news coverage has focused on the proposed NFL stadium project in Los Angeles competing with the proposed Industry stadium… what is the real story? If it is built in Industry, what is the City planning to do about the impacts to our community, including traffic and the local economy?"

With the recent announcement of a competing downtown Los Angeles stadium proposal and NFL labor negotiations ongoing, there is some uncertainty about the status of the stadium in the City of Industry. Unfortunately, this leaves much of Diamond Bar's development potential in limbo as well. 

With the economic engine of a stadium, the potential for Diamond Bar's few remaining commercial properties to become highly coveted developable acreage for hotel or retail uses skyrockets. 

In this case, patience is key. as a small number of stadium-related economic development projects could provide significant General Fund dollars for decades to come. 

We have long stressed that any project must meet the characteristics of Diamond Bar, but a neighboring stadium means that we must be ready to take advantage of such a unique economic opportunity. 

In the event the stadium project is no longer a reality, we will develop contingency plans for other development options. But for now, I urge you to take a long-term view of Diamond Bar and consider the enormous economic opportunities that will arise with the construction of the stadium. 

But we can't forget that along with these opportunities comes the consequence of additional traftic. Back in 2008 when Majestic Realty and the City of lndustry first proposed the stadium project, Diamond Bar was the first city to respond and negotiate the mitigation of impacts to our community. 

While these may not prevent the impact that will undoubtedly accompany the venue, they will help to lessen them. A few include funds for roadway improvements, traffic impact studies, public safety enhancements ensuring traffic on Grand Avenue is not impeded, additional deputies on duty on event days, and annual financial stipends. 

The final question for the evening is very relevant to recent occurrences around the globe… 

"Is the City prepared for a major catastrophe?" 

It's impossible to escape the tragic and devastating images of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Living in earthquake country ourselves, every one of us must take appropriate steps to prepare for the inevitable "big one" that will strike Southern California. 

The City of Diamond Bar has an active emergency preparedness program, meeting state and federal guidelines, while taking further measures to ensure continuity of government operations. In addition to mobile command centers and supplies, the City's new home will also feature a state?of-the art Emergency Operations Center, which will function as a command center for City officials and public safety personnel to direct response to any local emergency, no matter the size and scope. 

A good example ofthe City's preparedness efforts can be measured by the successful response to the Freeway Complex Fires of 2008. With the help of our public safety team, mutual aid from surrounding police and fire agencies, and local agencies like the school districts, and Red Cross, the City was able to react almost immediately to manage local EOC operations, coordinate organized evacuations, open, staff, and supply local shelters for hundreds of families, and prevent the loss of any property. 

While a large-scale earthquake will present much different challenges, the successful response to this very serious event is reassuring. 

As the City continues its efforts to remain prepared for emergencies, cannot encourage you enough to develop plans of your own. The City's website features an emergency preparedness section, complete with videos that will demonstrate how to create disaster supply kits and preparedness plans for your home, family, and even pets. 

If we are indeed struck by a major regional emergency, resources will be limited, and some simple preparation will be invaluable in keeping you and yours safe and comfortable during the recovery efforts. 

To further assist you in preparing for a disaster, the City will hold a special Emergency Preparedness event on Wednesday evening, May 25, at the Diamond Bar Center that will feature experts from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs and Fire Departments. 

Be on the lookout for more event information soon on the City's website. 

Well it looks like we are just about out of time and I wish we could have answered all the great questions submitted but know everyone would like to get home to their families sometime this evening! Again, thank you for your time and kind attention. Remember, we are YOUR City Council and we are here to serve you. 

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us. 

I look forward to working with my fellow Council members toward accomplishing many new goals for the benefit of our community. I wish you a good evening. Good night and God bless.