Hearing on Diamond Bar Cityhood Set

The county Board of Supervisors voted this week to hold a public hearing Aug. 9 on Diamond Bar cityhood, the last step in the process to place an incorporation measure on the November ballot by the Aug. 11 deadline.

Unless more than 50% of the community’s 20,111 registered voters submit written opposition to cityhood, the board will vote to place the matter on the November ballot, said Michi Takahashi, administrative assistant with the county Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).

LAFCO approved the Diamond Bar cityhood application July 13. Residents may still request that the commission reconsider its action, but they must present evidence that has not been considered by LAFCO previously, Takahashi said. Even if they were based on new information, the requests would likely be rejected by LAFCO, she said.

The only potential obstacle remaining on Diamond Bar’s road to cityhood would occur if a request for reconsideration were received after LAFCO’s July 27 meeting, Takahashi said. Such a request would be considered at the commission’s Aug. 10 meeting, forcing a delay in the public hearing.

However, Phyllis Papen, president of the Diamond Bar Improvement Assn., said she would be “very surprised” if a letter of reconsideration were filed.

If the board votes to place the measure on the ballot, those interested in running for the Diamond Bar City Council would have about 36 hours to file papers.