CRESCENTA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL

April 20, 2006 - 7:00 p.m.

 MINUTES

 

1.  Call to Order - 7:05 p.m. - President Hales

Present                                                                  Absent     

Councilmember Andrus                                       Alternate Councilmember Lunt                                  

Councilmember Beatty

Alternate Councilmember Bodell

Councilmember Erickson                                                           

Councilmember Ostler

Alternate Councilmember Pierce                                                    

Councilmember Raghavchary

Councilmember Rawlins                                                 

Councilmember Smiley

Councilmember Thomas

President Hales

2.  Acknowledgement of Officials and Guests

 

3.  Approval of Minutes of CVTC General Meeting, March 16, 2006 [approved unanimously]

 

4.  2006 Candidates Forum (by invitation)

    Ken Massey – L.A. County Sheriff candidate

                Don Merideth – L.A. County Sheriff candidate

                Ray Leyva – L.A. County Sheriff candidate

                Barry Hartz – California 59th Assembly Seat candidate

                Mary Barrientos – California 38th Assembly Seat candidate

                Sid Gold – California 38th Assembly Seat candidate

                Jane Lowenthal – California 38th Assembly Seat candidate

                Cameron Smyth - California 38th Assembly Seat candidate

               

5.  Presentation of Traffic Study on Briggs and Mountain Avenues               

                Los Angeles County Regional Planning Department -

Greg Jaquez – Los Angeles County Traffic

Phone number (626) 300-4854

gjaquez@ladpw.org

Speeding concerns: Traffic Study revealed average speed is 38 mph., and there are 7000 vehicles per day

Recommendation to refer information to CHP for increased enforcement.

Multi-way stop investigation: overall data indicates stop signs not warranted.

County may be willing to install a speed feedback sign.

Questions from Councilmembers: Andrus, Bodell, Erickson, Raghavachary, Thomas, Pierce Beatty, Smiley, Ostler and President Hales: Speed bumps? post more speed limit signs?  re-consider adding stop signs?  What is the criteria we need for a stop sign?  not offering any real solutions, but it is a safety issue. How can we solve the solution?  Multi-way stop signs? Full-Time officer during the school period times? In-road warning lights at Cloud and Foothill? Police campaign to ticket to make others slow down? Can we appeal this decision with residents petition? Can’t there be an exception to the rules?  Can we put a sign that says use lower gears? Could school employ a person to direct traffic?

Audience Questions: Rebecca Mohan – 900 members of Mountain Ave. PTA.  Lots of close calls.  Harold the crossing guard is doing his job, but it is not enough.  PTA will not be encouraged by results.  She has consulted with CHP which say that they cannot control the intersection and would like something done. 

Adrienne Griffin – Daughter who is 6 years old who goes to Mountain Ave.  Safety issue.  Would like to see 3 way stop light at Briggs and Mountain. Ave. with additional painted lines.  Would be nice to have additional enforcement.  There is less speeding on other streets because of stop signs.

Kathy Lombardo – Parent who travels up and down Briggs from upper Briggs area.  People speed and tailgate her down the street.  Putting speeding sign up is not going to help.

Nancy Smith – Does not support putting up sign on Briggs.  Agrees with traffic study.  Thinks CHP should address the issues.  Parents at school should be more careful. 

Paul Dutton – President of CV Chamber of Commerce.  Have worked with City of Glendale to put in lighted cross walks at 4 different areas and they have worked. 

Karen Tyler – Parent at Mountain Ave. who walks kids to school and feels others do not walk because of fear of safety.  Intersection at Los Amigos and Briggs is a problem because above that crosswalk is the steepest part of Briggs and cross-walk is in slight depression and is not seen.

Marge Nicola – Lived 28 years near the intersection and cannot get out of her driveway.  We really need some help.

President Hales - Could you come back and address this issue after being more creative?

 

6.  Public Comments

               

7.  Comments from Officials

Hank Paz from the District deals with traffic issues and has worked with the County.  District does not control traffic.  School Resource officer at Rosemont.  This officer is paid for by grants, typically to address crime, drugs and alcohol.  District will take a look at resources to see if it might be able to work with Sheriff’s department and others to address this situation.  President Hales asks if school schedule can be addressed to synchronize with La Canada schedules and Banking days at Rosemont have been a problem.  

Report on Crimes for last month.  Down 15% from last year.  Briggs and Mountain Ave. issue is a local problem and we will work with CHP to try to address this problem.

Report on Traffic Collisions for March 2006.  Re: Briggs and Mountain. Ave., everyone should tell their neighbor to slow down.  This problem is a community and resident problem.

Announcement about water timer and Water Awareness Day.  Update on trees at water tank.  Working with neighbors and arborist to replace trees.  Also working on a plan for tank security on Encinal Ave.

Councilmember Pierce: Announcement of Senior Day on Sat. 29, 2006

Announcement of upcoming events.  Sorry about no 4th of July Program, but just not possible.

Announcement of upcoming events at the Library.                 

Upcoming events: Paul McCarten will speak on April 29, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.

Upcoming tour on Hitler and Homicide in Crescenta Valley on  Sat. May 13, 2006, 2 p.m. Dunsmore Park

Next meeting, May 15, 2006, Warren Beam on Search and Rescue. 

New owner of building in Montrose which is the old Sheriff’s station might be restoring, but charging higher rents.

Monday night there is a meeting with John Drayman at 6:30 p.m. at  Montrose Library regarding community input for Montrose.                            

Newsletter went out recently.  2 free bulk items pick-up per year.  Problem with litter being left behind.  They are attempting to address this issue with truck drivers and others.

 

8. CVTC Committee Reports

This Saturday at 9:30 a.m. is Arbor Day at 2-Strike Park, please come out.

Buy Ralphs Cards for fundraising.

Dining Out Nights:

Dominicks: May 11, 2006

Los Gringos Rapido: June 2, 2006

Friday Night will be CSD Meeting. 

Foothill Realty/Cranberry house owners will be at upcoming meeting with County Planning.

Scheduled meeting was postponed again until May 8, 2006

Read e-mail from citizen regarding opposition to 9-hole golf course, and development.

22 Applications.  Would like to interview all and break-up into teams.  Asks for volunteers to help interview.  Would like to move for $100 for from Council [approved unanimously]

Situation at Ralphs is better with Rosemont kids.

 

9.  Treasurer’s Report - Councilmember Thomas

[submitted and attached]

10.  Correspondence - Councilmember Erickson

 

11. Items from Council

Councilmember Pierce: May 6, 2006, Sheriff’s Open House

Councilmember Rawlins:  CVTC should get something for Councilmember Lunt when she has her babies.

 

12. Announcements

 

13.  Adjournment 9:55 p.m.