General Meeting

February 19, 2004—7:00 p.m.—Sheriff’s Station

MINUTES

1. Call to Order Vice-President Adelman

• Pledge of Allegiance Councilmember Beatty
• Invocation Councilmember Smiley
• Roll Call Councilmember Hales

Councilmembers present: Adelman, Beatty, Erickson, Gilden, Hales, Lunt, Ostler, Raghavachary, Smiley

2. Beautification Award Councilmember Erickson

Erik Reppe, 4604 Dyer Avenue, La Crescenta

3. Guest Speaker – Nancy Stone, Member of YMCA After-school Committee

Seeds of Peace was begun to address problems of violence in Crescenta Valley. They presented to YMCA a plan about an after-school program at Rosemont Middle School and Mt. Gleason. They are trying to match $20,000 with donations from the community.

Also visiting were Sally Buckley, Principal of Rosemont Middle School and Dr. McKee, Asst. Superintendent of GUSD. Dr. McKee addressed audience regarding a self-supporting summer school and calendar of 2004-2005. Considerations for calendar: 1) it should be built around instructional needs of students--starting earlier will better prepare students to test in Spring; 2) financial considerations—Armenian Christmas causes up to 1/3 of students to be absent on January 6. Three-week winter holiday proposed. Mrs. Buckley announced that there will be a community meeting with Superintendent Dr. Escalante for parental input (after teacher-union ratification vote). Comments from the audience express frustration, anger and opposition to calendar change. Further comments can be directed to pellis@gusd.net and mmckee@gusd.net.

4. Correspondence Councilmember Lunt

• Letter read from Crescenta Valley Water District
• Certificates from Supervisor Michael Antonovich

5. Comments from Officials

• Los Angeles County Office of CAO

Jan Takata reported that the soils testing of the possible library site has indicated contamination. (The soil testing should be completed by the March CVTC meeting, and they will report back.) Thus, they will be considering a two-story structure. Vice-president Adelman requested that the County seriously consider utilizing the current library site. He also asked for any update of the needs-assessment study that was conducted in August and results promised six weeks later? They will get us that information at a later time.

• Crescenta Valley Water District - Vasken Yardemian, Mike Sovich, Kathy Ross

Overview of new landscaping at CVWD, and packet distributed answering seven specific questions compiled by Councilmember Raghavachary. Los Angeles Metropolitan Water District will be conducting workshops at CVWD to urge reduction of water use in residential landscaping, especially lawns. Water costs are going to increase dramatically in the future. CVWD requested for one member of CVTC to be liason to CVWD.

• Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy - Heinz Ellersieck

Basic work of advising and helping citizens will continue, but organization will suffer due to budget cuts.

• La Crescenta Library - Vicky Guagliardo
• Sheriff’s Department - Lieutenant Hannah, Lieutenant John Nemeth

Introduction of Deputy Cole Spear, replacement of Deputy Dan Connolly.

• California Highway Patrol
• Montrose Chamber of Commerce - Mike Schaar
• Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce
• Historical Society - Mike Lawler

6. Public Comments

Requests that home-school students be considered for CVTC scholarships:

Travis Pattee, age 17, Danny Andrus, Amanda Andrus, LeeAnn Pattee, age 15, Cody Pattee, age 12

Vice-president Adelman encourages community donations to CVTC scholarship fund.

Vicky Guagliardo – State budget cuts will dramatically affect LA County Libraries. Please write to government officials to register opposition to library budget cuts.

Vasken Yardemian – General Plan Update from LA County has been released, and CVTC should concentrate on it. Councilmember Raghavachary was aware of this and will follow up with the Foothill Design Committee, asking a member to attend the upcoming public meeting on 3/23/04.

7. Reading of Proposed By-law Change Councilmember Lunt

First reading for change of Article VI, B which currently reads: "Special Committees will be designated from time to time to address special purposes concerning the Council, and will terminate upon completion of that special purpose. . . ."

Proposed change: "Special Committees will be designated by majority vote of the regular council members from time to time to address special purposes concerning the Council, and will terminate upon completion of that special purpose. . . ."

8. Report from Treasurer Councilmember Erickson

9. Approval of Minutes of General Meeting January 15, 2004 Councilmember Hales

Motion to amend minutes of General Meeting January 15, 2004 to read "2004 Budget accepted, proposed and adopted by the Council."

10. Committee Reports

• Arbor Day - Councilmember Beatty
• Web Page - Councilmember Raghavachary
• Foothill Design/Planning - Councilmember Raghavachary

Property owner of three parcels at Foothill and Sunset has asked to meet with Foothill Design

Committee, but has not returned numerous calls to schedule a meeting.

Councilmember Gilden attended the Arroyo Verdugo Growth Visioning Seminar on February 10^th. The purpose of the meeting was to gain input about Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) "Regional Planning Effort" to develop a "preferred growth" plan for the region through 2030 and beyond. Although the Crescenta Valley is a part of this region, prior to this meeting it was not included in the planning process. The SCAG Steering Committee next meets on March 15^th, and Councilmember Raghavachary said she would arrange to have someone attend for the Town Council.

• Streets, Roads and Parks - Councilmember Ostler

Flag raising and lowering at Two-Strike Park continues every day until light is provided by LA County.

• La Crescenta Freeway Off Ramp - Councilmember Erickson
• Community Outreach - Councilmembers Smiley/Gilden

Presented outline of the Committee’s Charge and Objectives. Motion to make 100 copies of new CVTC pamphlets to be distributed at Arbor Day. Approved.

12. Announcements

• Arbor Day—Saturday, 28 February 2004, 10:00 a.m. at Two-Strike Park
• CV Town Council Executive Meeting—Thursday, 4 March 2004 at 7:00 p.m.
• CV Town Council General Meeting—Thursday, 18 March 2004 at 7:00 p.m.
• Community Prayer Breakfast—Thursday, 13 May 2004 at 7:00 a.m.

13. Other Items from Council

Councilmember Beatty made a motion for CVTC to support Sheriff’s request for .5% raise in sales tax. It will be put on the agenda for vote at next town council meeting. Make note for President Rawlins.

Councilmember Erickson announced Montrose Founder’s Day mixer, Tri-chamber mixer, YMCA Community Prayer Breakfast, Verdugo Hills Hospital Smartathon.

Councilmember Hales reported that the Billboard Committee is meeting and acquiring information.

Councilmember Lunt made two motions: 1) that CVTC write a letter to Governor opposing budget cuts to libraries and 2) that the scholarship committee include home-schooled students in their pool of candidates. Both motions were held over to the next CVTC meeting so they could be agendized.

Councilmember Lunt also recommended that President Rawlins approve a donation from CVTC to Rosemont’s after-school program, and that CVTC set aside $500 of the budget for the study of incorporation—to be discussed at the following CVTC Executive Meeting.

14. Adjournment at 10:47 p.m.