CRESCENTA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL

General Meeting Minutes

April 21, 2005

Called to Order:  7:00 PM - Adjourned:  10:27 PM

 

1.  Call to Order                                                                 President Hales

  Present                                                                    Absent

Councilmember Andrus                                                    Councilmember Ostler
Councilmember Beatty                                                     Councilmember Williams
Councilmember Erickson 
Councilmember Lunt
Councilmember Raghavchary
Councilmember Rawlins
Councilmember Smiley
Councilmember Thomas
Councilmember Toyon
President Hales

2.  Acknowledgement of Officials and Guests  

3.  Approval of Minutes of CVTC Meeting, March 17, 2005 – Motioned to pass by Councilmember Lunt, Seconded by Councilmember Raghavachary.  Unanimously approved. 

4.  Neighbor of the Month, St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church - Reverend Andrew Ray

The church helps with the Thursday morning care of Middle School students.

 5.  Guest Speaker                                    Sally Buckley, Principal of Rosemont Middle School

Principal has just returned from trip to Washington, DC with 8th graders.  School stats: 26 classrooms remodeled, new building with six new classrooms, 1700 student capacity, 1440 students enrolled, has a teacher’s lounge again, classrooms with T-1 lines with internet access,  a new PC in each classroom, online bulletin to parents, parents can e-mail teachers thus there is better communications with parents, homework hosted online, teachers also have their own websites, automated phone system which calls parents if there are absent children.  Workshops given this year:  Internet and phone misuses, bullying, drugs.  Program called HOMEROOM discussing conflict resolution.  They have rewritten homework policy – too much homework for “gifted” kids.  120 minutes per night is the homework goal.  Currently working with St. Luke’s Church, YMCA Classes (club and art), Library (tutoring).  School wrote a grant with Sheriff’s Office to get additional resource officers.  Principal believes that enrollment is dropping.  Considers the school full and doesn’t look at issuing permits, but does have open enrollment.  150 students less would give everyone locker space.  Accommodations can be made to fit 1700 capacity.

6.  Comments from Greg Franklin, Assistant Superintendent of Glendale Unified School District

The District loses $5000 per student if they don’t attend public school.  Interdistrict – means between districts.  Current policy is not to allow interdistrict permits except for employee’s children, but the Board was thinking about looking at widening this policy.  Board decided not to do this.  No modular classrooms, no year round school.  There have been 38 cuts in non-teacher related jobs.  Lowering enrollment is due to rise in prices of rent and home prices.  Said there is about 6% of the total student population in private schools.  Current permits:  only Clark and Airforce ROTC.  0.5% outside the district. CAPING OUT is when a classroom is filled to capacity including a student from outside the school’s district then a student from the school’s district enrolls and needs to go into that full classroom.  The student from the school’s district will be added and the permitted school will have to go back to their own school district. 

7.  Comments from Officials 

Veterans Day Event – May 28th                                                            May 15th – trail ride – BBQ 

Elaine Silvestro – Friends of the Library – All paperwork filed for their 501(c)3.  Purpose of Friends is to support the library and community.  The money Friends uses is from book sales, rentals, and donations.  Friends spend about 50% for magazines, comics, books, supplies, foreign films. 

Still conserve water even though we are buying less.  Building permits –2004, 2307 Mira Vista Avenue, 1 to 10 units; 5 in Glendale, commercial to 20 units, lot to 2 SFR, 1 to 10 units, lot to 2 SFR, lot to 1 SFR.   $5000 has been donated to CVCAN. Rate has been adjusted to 12%. If individuals want rebates on their 0.9% overcharge, they can request it.  They will have to adjust their wording regarding the dates. 

Parking lot wall should be fixed soon. The delay has been due to complications for how to re-compact the dirt.  Crime was down 13% this past month.  Spike on Larceny Theft last month, but criminals caught.  Burglars were distracting the homeowner by looking for dog.  Violent crime – none in March, three in the area for the year thus far.  Vandalism – tagging, caught.  One juvenile wrote “Armenia Mafia”.  Moved here from the gang area in Glendale.  Regarding the “new” drug, TWEEK, there is no connection at CVHS.  Volunteers are found by word of mouth. 

Eleven collisions, with six injuries.  Left turn signal at La Crescenta and Foothill will be installed in September.  CHP has a volunteer program too.  NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) report said 56% of people in accidents who are killed are found not wearing seatbelts.  Parking issue on Freemont Avenue will be looked into.  

May 4th – Network Breakfast, 7 AM, 2 year anniversary

Relay for life, at CVHS, May 14th and 15th.

May 21st CVCAN Jog a thon

June 4th Golf Tournament – free car for a hole in one 

Mr. Charles Bausbeck will be speaking at the next meeting. 

Won an award.  Purchasing Soka University property with 500 acres located at the intersection of Mulholland Highway and Las Virgenes Road.  30 acres on border of Pasadena and La Canada.  No deal set.    Seeking a ban on Decon rat poisoning because two large cats died from ingestion.  LA River and Arroyo Secco, urban earth.  Remove concrete area to have a wild river there.  Introduction of wild animals.  

(Reporter Charles Cooper disagreed with the Pasadena and La Canada border issue.  Said it was resolved.) 

8.  Presentation of Plans for La Crescenta Motel Property                        Councilmember Toyon

3-4 years ago sold from the Maylane to La Crescenta Motel.  At that time the Town Council stated that fast food, automotive shops, strip malls, not desired.  Dr. Ha is in escrow to purchase it.

Guest, Rodney Kahn Consulting Firm on Brand Blvd. in Glendale.  Ground floor retail, with a restaurant.  2nd floor of professional offices.  Hearing May 4th at 9 AM, 320 West Temple Street.  On corner, fountains and monument.  Reviewed plans.  Country requested removal of about 2500 square feet for visibility on Briggs Avenue.  Signage…requested Korean and English signs if tenants are Korean Businesses.

Questions asked by those in attendance and answers by Mr. Kahn:
Daryl Gant- Neighbors affected?  No- side lots of flag lots.

Alex Rojec- Cost? $160 per square foot @ 37,500 feet.

Mike Lawler – Stated the motel was built in late 40’s by Glenn Hines who did a lot of traveling.  Did all kinds of things including an earning a living as an artist.  Foothill was Highway 118 at that time.  Motel was a family run business.  In 1964 Mr. Hines died. He had always wanted restaurant on the vacant lot.  Maynard and Elaine were the children of Mr. Hines, thus the name: MAYLANE.  Mr. Erickson – Wall facing neighbors? There will be trees along the wall, 36 inch box trees – 15 of them.  A story and a half in the back.

Gary Clark – Attribute is the feeling of the Foothills and mountains, viewing them from the Blvd.  What will the finished project look like?  View of mountains, looking at river rock and CA Live Oak and other native plants.

Steve Pierce – Mentioned a fountain?  Not La Crescenta really?

Richard Gilden – Thanks for working with design committee.  Likes water features.

Eleanor Wacker – Traffic view blocked from driveway on Briggs?  Upper and lower 2200 first floor, 12-1300 on the top floor are scales back at the request of the county for sight lines to the street.  Better than Rosemont and Foothill building.  North and east elevation, wall facing the neighbors with trees in front should be pleasing to the neighbors.

 

Councilmember Toyon – letter to regional planning commission - Motion to mail a letter.  Councilmember Raghavachary – seconded. 

Councilmember Beatty- designer and owner aware of this?  Most is already discussed.  Client – okay.  Satisfied with the letter.

Unanimous (minus Councilmember Smiley who left early).

 9.  Public Comments

None

10.  Committee Reports

Wonderful Arbor Day.  Adding kids. 

Moving ahead with the 4th of July, need funds for letters.  Motion by Councilmember Erickson, seconded by Andrus.  Passed Unanimously.

Councilmember Andrus: Baskets needed, Donations needed.  Last year received 79 gifts, many individuals or companies gave more than one item, so the actual number of donors was 57.  This year we have sent 150 separate donation requests out, including letters to those who donated last year.  We hope to have many donations this year.  Our earnings last year were about $3350.  We hope to do better this year.  We voted for the set up to be handled by Councilmember Lunt and President Hales.  There will be a sign up sheet available next month for shifts, one hour long, with a minimum of three people in each booth.  Hales – to set up. 

Coverage here by Leader is becoming thinner. 

Outreach plans invite people.  Guest log book. 

Scott Solis – Thank you for supporting the Rim of the Valley and the off ramp.- Donation for student who wants to become an attorney.

Date:  Monday 8:30 AM interview students

18 applicants  10 minutes each, accepting more applications

Councilmember Rawlins motioned for the Council to donate $150 for a scholarship.  Seconded by Councilmember Beatty.  Passed unanimously.  May the 1st is the cut off date to contribute. 

Left turn signal at Foothill and La Crescenta should be installed in September.

Wants a lighted crosswalk on Briggs by Mountain Avenue.

Traffic committee study the Rosemont issues. 

Multi family housing – wait until community standards district project is completed. 

Councilmember Erickson visited Valley View Elementary School. 

11.  Correspondence                                                 Councilmember Raghavachary

Councilmember Beatty reminds Council that the point is to get rid of the FOR SALE cars – one hour restriction or two hour restriction – only in front of Ralphs and Office Depot.

Motion made by Councilmember Lunt to keep the 2-6 AM restriction – pressure off of Law Enforcement with no burden to businesses.  Seconded by President Hales.

Councilmember Erickson asked about parking permits – what happens to the residents? 

Councilmember Beatty states that FOR SALE vehicles won’t park from 2-6 AM.

Councilmember Erickson states concern that the vehicles will move off of Foothill.

Councilmember Beatty motions to add a 3 hour parking restriction 9 AM – 6 PM.

Seconded by Rawlins.

Second motion not carried.

First Motion - Write letter again stating that Council wants first letter request to be enacted.  Passed 8 to 1  

President Hales asks to make it less aggressive tone and remove some issues answered.

Seconded by Councilmember Lunt

Councilmember Beatty reminds Council that we currently have a good relationship with the School Board and should not inflame it.

“We join you in your endeavor… thank you for your consideration.”  Concise.

Review at Executive Meeting…can send then.

Councilmember Lunt moves to rewrite, review, and send.

Seconded by Councilmember Andrus

Passes unanimously.

 12.  Treasurer’s Report                                                   Councilmember Erickson

Approved

13.  Items from Council

President Hales: Will be carried by Charter 8 – 11 PM on Wednesdays, within 75 days.

High school are allowed to film

Supervisor and Charter- have agreed

$7 6:30 AM. Attended by Beatty, Hales, Rawlins, Erickson