CRESCENTA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL

General Meeting Minutes

February 17, 2005

Called to Order at 7:00 PM - Adjourned at 9:51 PM

1.  Call to Order                                                                                                       President Hales

Pledge of Allegiance                                                                                        Councilmember Beatty

Invocation                                                                                                           Councilmember Andrus

Roll Call                                                                                                               Councilmember Andrus

Present                                                                                                        Absent

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

2.  Approval of Minutes of CVTC Meeting, January 20, 2005                              Councilmember Andrus

Motion to approve by Councilmember Lunt, Seconded by Councilmember Raghavachary

No discussion, passed unanimously

3. Report from Treasurer                                                                                                Councilmember Erickson

Copy in Records Book

File for Audit

4.  Correspondence                                                                                                Councilmember Raghavachary

E-mails:

1.     Resident, not named herein for privacy parking on easement which blocks passage down driveway by neighbor.  Referred to Streets and Roadways Committee.

2.        Ron Klint concerned about the lack of a left turn signal on La Crescenta Avenue and Foothill Blvd. Referred to Streets and Roadways Committee.

3.      Edward (Skip) McNevin concerned about parking of unused vehicle on his street.  Referred to Streets and Roadways Committee.

5.  Presentation of Certificate to Soroptimist International of the Verdugos

                Stephanie Mines-President, Nancy Hathaway

                Mission is to advance women and girls.

                Council recognized them for “Go Red for Women” to note the threat of heart disease and stroke among women and encourage them to get heart check ups.

                Proclamation read by President Hales.

6.  Public Comments (except Rim of the Valley Corridor Study Act)

                none

7.  Comments from Officials

• La Crescenta Library                                                     Vickie Guagliardo

March 12^th at 2 PM George Washington will be portrayed by Peter Small at the Library.  

• Crescenta Valley Water District                                              Kathy Ross

Current Stats:

Crescenta Valley has had 2.56 inches of rain water during the last storm, as of Tuesday, February 15^th, 2005 and as of Last October, the start of the “rain” year, 39.64 total inches of rain water.

CVWD ground wells have been supplying 73% of water usage for their district.

CVWD has purchased 4.8% less than last year at this time due to conservation and an increase of rain water. 

In May CVWD should have their conjunctive use study complete. 

Foothill Municipal Water District is not current on their upgrades here to provide supplemental sources of water.  These supplemental sources are now serious sources as CVWD purchases about 70% of their water from FMWD, La Canada purchases about 90%, and another group purchases about 100%.  During the days of March 21^st-23^rd there will be no water available for purchase from FMWD.  Residents are advised to cut off outdoor water use during this time, conserve water inside, and store water as well. 

On Encinal Avenue the reservoir needs lighting to deter possible illegal activities.  There is a petition which needs to be signed by the residents on that street for a street light to be put in to light the facility.  If the petition does not work, there will be motion sensor lights placed on water tank itself. 

Honolulu Avenue water pipe replacement is almost done. 

CVWD meeting is Tuesday, March 1^st at 7 PM. 

• Office of Supervisor Michael Antonovich                       Rita Hadjimanoukian

There will be 23 new trees planted on Foothill Blvd. on or before March 11, 2005. 

The county will have a toxic waste dump site available for items such as oil cans, paint cans, etc.  March 12^th from 9 AM o 3 PM at the Glendale Water and Power, 800 Air Way, Glendale.

FEMA is available with funds to help residents with flood damage at Castaic and Altadena.  Phone number is 800-621-FEMA.  Castaic location is the Castaic Sports Complex, 31230 Castaic Road.  Altadena location is the Altadena Community Center, 730 East Altadena Drive.

 There will be a representative from Supervisor Antonovich's Land  Use Deputy and representatives of the Department of Regional Planning to address zoning questions at the next Council General Meeting. 

• California Highway Patrol                                                        Officer Vince Bell

Accident Report was given to the Council (copy filed in the Records Book).

Discussion of Passenger Safety and National Child Passenger Safety Week.  Wear seatbelts and place children properly in Child Safety Seats.  The driver is responsible for everyone in the vehicle and parents are responsible for all of their children under age 18.

Speeding on Whittier, between Rosemont and Briggs will be controlled using radar.

• Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce                                       Paul Dutton

Paul Dutton is the owner and franchiser of Paul’s Window Washing and also the Vice President of the CV Chamber and the new representative to the Council.

The Chamber is donating microfilm to the Library at 5 PM on February 28^th.  There will be a network breakfast open to all on March 2^nd at VHH, 7 AM.  There is usually 15-25 people present each month.

March 9^th is a Mixer at Bob Smith Toyota where the kick off the Mary Pinola Foundation Fund will begin, 5:30-7:30 PM.  The Smart-a-ton will be March 30^th from 11:30 – 1:30 at Verdugo Hills Hospital. 

• Historical Society                                                                     Mike Lawler

Monday, February 21, 2005, at 7 PM at the Church of Religious Science in La Crescenta, Cecilia Rasmussen, the Los Angeles Times Reporter, will be covering the History of Los Angeles.

February 26^th there will be a Glendale/Montrose Rail Way Tour of the 1914-1930 Trolley Cars.  A bus was donated for the tour from Supervisor Michael Antonovich.  March 5^th will be a tour of the Ashram on the top of Pennsylvania. 

• Santa Monica Conservancy                                           Heinz Ellersieck

Not much news to report.  Significant leadership position changes at the Conservancy.  Farewell speech.  Third Tuesday of every month at 7 PM at the Community Center is the Town Council Meeting for Altadena.

8.  Committee Reports

• Arbor Day                                                                       Councilmembers Lunt, Smiley

Saturday, March 26^th, 9:30 AM, at Two Strike Park.  There will be poetry read the elementary aged children who are winners of the poetry contest.   Art will be on displayed by the art contest winners.  Awards will be granted for the oldest tree and most trees on one property in the unincorporated areas.  There will also be an award for winner who guesses the most trees newly planted on Foothill Blvd.

•  Finance/Fundraising Committee                                                Councilmember Erickson

No report. 

• Foothill Design Committee                                                Councilmember Raghavachary

Meeting with the property owners on Foothill Blvd. is scheduled for February 23^rd at 7 PM at the Sheriff’s station.  No date has been selected for the public meeting scheduled at this time.

•  Library                                                                             President Hales

Phase II of the soil test will be completed next month.  In 2006 there will be a statewide bond measure and La Crescenta Library will be the 5^th District choice for the funds, which could supply 65% of the building funds for the library.

•  Public Relations/Outreach                                                  Councilmember Raghavachary

Nothing on Public Relations.

Councilmember Smiley said the Outreach Committee will be meeting Thursday, February 24^th at the Water District to firm up plans to help with Arbor Day. 

• Scholarships                                                                    Councilmember Rawlins

First meeting will be the beginning of March.  Request was made by the President for development of a timeline and the recruiting efforts for funds.

• Streets, Roadways, Parks and Public Safety                                    Councilmember Ostler

Thanks to community member Steve Pierce for doing Flag Duty at Two Strike Park.

The County has completed their speed counts.  There was not enough traffic to warrant speed bumps on Evelyn, Altura, and Prospect.

There will be a study on Prospect and La Crescenta Avenues.

On Whittier there will be speed limit markings on the road and additional enforcement.

There will be a crosswalk on Community and Cloud. 

• Urban Planning and Review                                                    President Hales

Billboards has had a setback as the former county employee working with this committee is no longer there.  President Hales is working on this issue.

Councilmember Raghavachary said that Glendale is proposing zoning changes in La Crescenta -Montrose areas to lessen the density and protect single family neighborhoods.  Meeting to be held March 8^th.

Motion to send Council representatives to the meeting was made by Councilmember Raghavachary.  Seconded Councilmember Lunt.  Passed unanimously.  Attending will be Councilmembers Raghavachary, Smiley, and Erickson.  More maybe attending pending schedule checks. 

• Youths and Seniors                                                                    Councilmember Erickson

Councilmember Smiley informed the Council that there will be a school writing project on the Council and it would be good to have the children send copies of their projects to the Council.

Councilmember Erickson has visited the Boy Scouts with a discussion of the Council.

Councilmember Ostler spoke about the Council at Lincoln Elementary School.

President Hales spoke at CVHS in a World Affairs class about the Council and the importance of Community Service.

9. Items from Council 

• President Hales still looking into televising the Council meetings and the Water District Tour for the Council.

Presentation on Redistricting                                                                            Councilmember Raghavachary

• History of Redistricting in 2001

Councilmember Raghavachary made a motion to send a letter to our state representatives to support Assembly Bill AB25 to redistrict.  Seconded by Councilmember Ostler.

Discussion followed and the decision was made for Councilmember Raghavachary to write the letter and bring it back to the Council for approval of the wording before voting on it.

• Fax number on business cards is incorrect.  New cards will be printed.

• Rim of the Valley Corridor Study Act presented by Councilmember Raghavachary:  History of this bill and the Council’s previous support.  Motion made by Councilmember Raghavachary to write a letter of support for this bill to Drier and Schiff.  Seconded by Councilmember Beatty. 

Discussion followed.  There was a short presentation by Marc Sturdivant, Chairman of the Board of VOICE.

President Hales motioned to defer voting on support of this bill until next month when we have had an opportunity to study the issue and inform the public that we will be voting on it.

Seconded by Councilmember Andrus.

Vote was 5 to 4 to defer to next month. 

• Spot Park at Briggs and Foothill is in progress.

• Glendale Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast March 3^rd will be attended by Councilmembers Rawlins, Beatty, Erickson, Ostler, and Andrus.  Mrs. Beatty will also attend.  Council will only pay for four.  Councilmember Beatty offered to pay for himself and his wife.

• Founder’s Day at CVHS will have Councilmembers Erickson, Smiley, and President Hales attending with them paying for themselves.

• Smart-a-thon will be attended by Councilmembers Ostler, Erickson, Toyon, Raghavachary, and President Hales.  Mr. Raghavachary will also attend. The Council will pay for four Councilmember tickets. Council discussed sending only two members to every other event.