CRESCENTA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL

August 17, 2006—7:00 p.m.—Sheriff’s Station

 

MINUTES

 

1.  Call to Order - President Hales

Present                                                                                          Absent

Councilmember Andrus                                                        Councilmember Smiley

Councilmember Beatty

Alternate Councilmember Bodell

Councilmember Erickson

Alternate Councilmember Lunt

Councilmember Ostler

Alternate Councilmember Pierce

Councilmember Raghavachary

Councilmember Rawlins

Councilmember Thomas

President Hales

 

2.  Approval of Minutes of CVTC General Meetings – June 15, 2006 and July 20, 2006 [unanimous approval]

 

3.  Guest Speaker 

                Christine McLeod, Public Affairs - Southern California Edison

Recent Heat Storm – Rough month of July, hope to learn from experience.  Many lighting strikes.  Used 950 megawatts more than ever before.  New electronics are using more electricity than before.  System was not cooling down and it took a toll on transformers.  Approximately 1,200,000 customers lost power.  200 La Crescenta customers had major problem.  Currently a temporary fix, and new permanent fix is in the works.      

Rate Increase Postponement.  Rates rose in January 9%.  These were pass-through charges.  In February there was another 6% rate increase.  August 1, 6% rate increase will be postponed until early November due to recent higher bills.  SCE has billing assistance programs for low income assistance. 

Try to conserve usage where possible.  There are many ways to conserve and there are many rebates available for purchase of energy efficient appliances.   Encouraged the community to take home energy surveys on-line or with customer representative.  Claims for food expenses can be made for equipment failure. 

  

4. Comments from Officials

Library Committee soon will be interviewing artists for new library.  Second Montrose Zoning Study meeting will be Sept. 7, 2006 at Rosemont Middle School.  Completion date for construction on Montrose Avenue Street construction is October.  There has been a shortage or rubberized asphalt and there has also been an increase in amount of work which has extended the completion date.  Resident asks about trash cans being left out on the street too long.  Question about parking on Foothill.  Question about dumpsters being out in front of houses too long. 

Report on Crimes in the month July.  There have been 11 arrests for vandalism, many have been for graffiti.  Question asked whether there has been increased patrols in Pinecrest area where there has been increased crime?  Yes, they are working on it.  Question about man caught chopping at trees on Foothill Blvd.  Crime has gone down the first 6 months in the year.  Discussion about gangs.      

Reports 13 traffic collisions for month of July, 8 non-injury and 5 injury.  If you need help you can contact him at (626)296-8100

One of their biggest costs is pumping water to the top of the hill.  CVWD is replacing pipelines in the vicinity of Lincoln Elementary School which should be completed before the start of school.  The sewer recently overflowed where a well got filled with dirt from construction project.  Urged customers to save water and take advantage of rebates available.  Jim Edwards of MWD is going to host another trip of Colorado river water system.  October 27-29, 2007.  Throughout the next year they will continue to replace water mains and infrastructure.  Quality control program will be implemented to comply with EPA.  They do not expect sewer rate increases this year.  MWD is increasing rates.

 

 

Presented upcoming library programs.             

 

 

5.  Public Comments

Irma Strantz – Sept. 1, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. forum entitled “Taking it Personally, Our Health Care Crisis”; Sparr Heights Center.

Steve Le Cheminant – Home has been on the real estate market since October and it will not sell.  Estimates they will have lost $200,000 in the value of their home.  Montrose is quickly becoming blighted due to neglected maintenance and abandoned homes due to potential down-zoning.

Elemar Garcia – lived in Montrose so many years and now they are looking to sell, but there is a problem right now because of possible zoning change.  She does not feel this is right. 

Mina Bates – when Mr. Le Cheminant put his house on the market he got a good offer which fell through.  Feels it was unfair to request study of County after hearing only one side.   Feels this was done in a stealth manner.

Charles Cooper – Jennifer Berry, editor of CV Sun, has taken a new job in San Diego and a new editor will be selected soon. 

Letter from Mike Lawler: History of Bob’s Big Boy on Thurs. Aug. 31, at 7:00 p.m. at Sparr Heights community center.  CV Heritage will be hosting event on Armenian culture and development in Glendale/ La Crescenta area and historical preservation.

 

--Motion by Councilmember Thomas to write letter to Supervisor Antonovich requesting to lift CUP restriction.  Seconded by Councilmember Beatty.  Motion fails 6 to 3.   

Councilmember Andrus - yes

Councilmember Beatty - yes

Councilmember Erickson - no

Councilmember Ostler - no

Alternate Councilmember Pierce - no  [Voting in place of Councilmember Smiley]

Councilmember Raghavachary - no

Councilmember Rawlins - no

Councilmember Thomas - yes

President Hales - no

   

6.  Motion to amend CVTC by-laws appendix A by Councilmember Andrus (see attachment) for all proposed changes .  Seconded.  Passed unanimously.    

 

7.  Motion to amend CVTC by-laws appendix B by Councilmember Andrus (see attachment) for all proposed changes regarding Campaign Code of Conduct with changes.  Seconded.    Passed unanimously.

 

8.  Motion to amend CVTC by-laws to add code of conduct by Councilmember Thomas, Seconded.  Discussion.  Passed  5-3 (Councilmember Rawlins abstained)   

Councilmember Andrus - yes                        

Councilmember Beatty - yes

Councilmember Erickson - yes

Councilmember Ostler - no

Alternate Councilmember Pierce - yes  [Voting in place of Councilmember Smiley]

Councilmember Raghavachary - no

Councilmember Rawlins -  abstain

Councilmember Thomas - yes

President Hales - no

 

Motion to forego Committee Reports except Finance/Fundraising and Library by Councilmember Ostler.  Seconded.  Passed unanimously.

 

9.  CVTC Committee Reports

Report on proposed election changes and election schedule. 

Upcoming fundraising activities: Grandview Palace eating out night; Hometown Fair; Oktoberfest

Met on August 14, 2006 and saw rendition of new library.  Architect not in attendance.  Pictures of renditions shown.  County likes this rendition much better.  Some of the suggestions were incorporating medians on Foothill, and decorative front doors, large doors to upper parking lot, more craftsman, sound system.  Preliminary demolition begins earlier than April 2007, but library will close later.  Library scheduled to open in June 2009.  County will talk to schools regarding using their libraries while new library is under construction.  Photo of renditions and will be on website.  Colors in rendition are not the colors chosen or the final rendition.  Interviews for artists will be in September.  Friends of the Library would like to have something for book sales.  It was suggested by several Councilmembers that they would like to have additional library committee meeting.  President Hales suggested at the executive meeting.

 

 

 

 

9.  Treasurer’s Report - Councilmember Thomas

 

10.  Correspondence - Councilmember Erickson

 

11. Items from Council

E-mail items to Erickson

President Hales announced and distributed proposed by-law change related to defining “notice” for by-law changes.

12.  Announcements

 

13.  Adjournment 10:42 p.m.