CRESCENTA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL

General Meeting

February 16, 2006 — 7:00 p.m. — Sheriff's Station

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

• Pledge of Allegiance -Cub Scout Troop 333

• Invocation - Councilmember Beatty

• Roll Call - Councilmember Ostler

Present                             Absent     

Councilmember Andrus             [all present]                       

Councilmember Beatty

Alternate Councilmember Bodell

Councilmember Erickson                                                                      

Alternate Councilmember Lunt

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 Meetings: January 19, 2006 [unanimous]

4. Guest Speaker Sharon Beauchamp one of the founding member.  Est. 1988

5. Neighbor of the Month Award

            - La Crescenta Woman's Club and La Crescenta Woman's Club Juniors

            - Marie Yeseta was recognized for being honored by Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation for work on community garden and other community service.

            - Councilmember Steve Pierce was recognized for being honored by Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation for work and involvement at 2-Strike and CV Parks.

6.  Comments from Officials

• Los Angeles County Regional Planning Department –  Andrew Malakates; Mitch Glaser, Cari Davis, Ron Hoffman, Alex Garcia.

Alex Garcia – Section Head Zoning Enforcement.  Billboard Moratorium expired when County ordinance was passed.  Ordinance allows billboards in M-1 zone, but only with conditional use permit.  Board of Supervisors authorized study to compare other city ordinances for swapping billboards.  Three areas county can regulate: Tobacco, adult content (i.e. 1-900 numbers); Alcohol.

Questions from Community:

- Joanne Thompson – concerned that some of the billboards were put up illegally.  Councilmember Raghavachary responded that CVTC has done a survey of current billboards and concluded that they are all within current law. 

Andrew Malakates – Los Angeles Regional Planning Department: We are primarily here to listen to you.  He showed maps and responded to questions re R-3 zoning. 

Mitch Glaser – Principal County Planner – Gave a brief history of zoning in Montrose: 1936 zoning first established was primarily R-3; 1949 some changes; Pace of multi family development planning housing peaked in 1960s.  Currently 4 projects on-going.  Of the R-3 zones 51% are currently multi family. 

Presentation by Stuart Byles: People know that Montrose is being destroyed.  Development will continue according to developers.  Florencita property is just the start of the problems.  If we build out the R-3 we could have 1171 housing units and 2000 more people.  

Paul Novak: Planning Deputy to Supervisor Antonovich – We can’t commit to outcome, only a process.  Can commit to zoning study.  We owe CVTC a time frame. 

Councilmember Smiley reminded the Council that 100 signatures were obtained prior to Florencita and submitted with letter to County and she would like to submit that again. 

Harriet Hackman: Lives on Orangedale Ave.  Stated that traffic is horrible and she does not dare back out of driveway because of high traffic volume. 

Mike Lawler: schools in area are packed, no park

 Linda Henry: Lives on Orangedale and the Florencita building looks into her backyard.  Wants to maintain character of neighborhood

 Steve West: Lives on Florenciata across the street from the new building.  Not clear on how the building is measured?  Does not make sense. 

 Sara Larkins: Could CVTC show growth trends on websie?  Make sure residents are notified of public notices.  

 Richard Toyon: What federal and/or state mandates are the County under to make more multi family housing?  Response: 2^nd unit ordinance; Density bonus laws;

 Joanne Thompson: Owns newsstand and hears everyday from people who feel like they are losing community.  There are many more people who feel strongly about this issue who are not here.

 Councilmember Raghavachary reads e-mail from Vasken Yardemian: people cannot attend meetings downtown so can you have public meetings on this issue in La Crescenta?

• Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Department - Captain Tim Peters [none]

• California Highway Patrol - Officer Saul Velasquez [none]

• Glendale Unified School District - Asst. Superintendent Greg Franklin

District has started construction on 2 new projects – ground breaking for construction of new synthetic fields at CV and Glendale High Schools.  Both should be done by mid-June. $340,000 shortfall for the CV field which was split by CV Can and District.  Asked whether CVTC could petition County Supervisor to help CV Can to reimburse District.    

• Crescenta Valley Water District - [none]

• Los Angeles County Parks - Lila Thompson-Crenshaw 

Feb. 21, 2008; 7:00 p.m. 2 Strike Park Community Forum

April 29, 2006; Seasoned Generation Park Beautification & Social Event  and introduction of disc golf course.

March 11, 10:00 a.m. Family Fun Fitness Day.

• Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce - [none]

• Montrose Chamber of Commerce - Bea Blessley: Thank you for the forum on multi family housing.  Fundraiser April 10, 2006,  Bowling Alley.  Next mixer at Party Station in Montrose, March 1, 2006.

• La Crescenta Library - Vickie Guagliardo,  Announcements of upcoming programs                     

• Historical Society of La Crescenta - Mike Lawler – Saturday public tour of Holy Redeemer church.  1:00 p.m.  Monday’s regular meeting will feature Karen Judson of Judson Studios.  Topic: Women Pioneers of Tujunga

• Crescenta Valley Heritage - Mike Lawler, Next Meeting: Monday Feb. 27, 2006. Tim Gregory building biographer.  6:00 p.m. at Montrose Library.                                   

• Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy - Richard Toyon.  At the January meeting Park funding was discussed.  Federal Funding has been reduced.  Park funding is topic of current legislature.  Watershed is a concern as more development happens.  Conservancy will donate 1 million to City of Glendale for renovation of Barn at Dukmejian Park. 

• BFI/Allied Waste - Suzanne Passantino – New laws regarding universal waste.  Not allowed in regular trash.  Need to dispose of batteries and fluorescent bulbs at certain locations.  BFI provides e-waste every Tuesday by appointment.  Excellent recycling figures for this area.

Community letter read by Councilmember Steve Pierce regarding trash collection on multiple days instead of just one. Councilmember Grace Andrus stated that there have been problems with failure of BFI not picking up extra trash, and failing to pick up spilled trash dropped as a result of the mechanical arm, and problems contacting company. 

Customer Service (888) 742-5234; Suzanne’s direct number (818) 504-3007;

 7. Public Comments

George Anderson – Glendale Annex.  Glendale has done a sound study along 210 freeway and he wants to set up a neighborhood association to address these issues and invite CVTC.  (818) 224.0851 Cell phone: (818)235-6914.

Vicki Guagliardo -  Invites CVTC members to read books to kids for reading program at La Crescenta Library.

Simon Clarke: My website is foothillsforum.com

8. Approval of CVTC Public Relations Committee

Pres. Hales makes motion to approve CVTC Public Relations Committee. [approved unanimously]

9. CVTC Committee Reports

• Arbor Day - Councilmembers Smiley/Lunt – working on selecting a date.

• Finance/Fundraising - Councilmember Thomas – new fundraiser to kick off year at Baja Fresh.  15% of receipts goes toward CVTC.  Feb. 23^rd  Motion by President Hales to approve fundraiser and establish approval for continuing fundraisers.  [approved unanimously]

Motion by Councilmember Andrus to increase funding for election flyers.  $1,305 if we raise over $2,500

Vote:

Councilmember Andrus [y]                   

Councilmember Beatty [y]

Councilmember Erickson [n]                                                                 

Councilmember Ostler [y]                                 

Councilmember Raghavchary [n]

Councilmember Rawlins [n]                                          

Councilmember Smiley [y]

Councilmember Thomas [y]

President Hales [n]

Passes 5 to 4.

• Foothill Design Committee - Councilmember Raghavachary

Meeting tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.  Owners of the cranberry house will be addressing group regarding foothill property for final time.

• Library Committee - President Hales,  no meeting this last month because architect is redesigning.  Ongoing solicitation of funds for donations for art.  Contact President Hales if know of artist.

• Public Relations - Councilmember Erickson – sent out letters regarding sound walls.

• Scholarships - Councilmember Rawlins – setting up meeting to establish dates.  Call if wish to donate.

• Streets, Roadways, Parks and Public Safety - Councilmembers Ostler and Pierce

Met with County regarding Briggs and Rosemont/Foothill.  Studies to continue on Briggs/Mountain issue.  Request was made for study for corner of Montrose Ave. and Briggs because of numerous accidents.  Possible 4 way stop sign?  Councilmember Steve Pierce announces numbers for graffiti removal.

Councilmember Bodell supports cross-walk at Briggs and Mountain.

• Youths and Seniors - Councilmember Erickson suggests meeting with Supervisor regarding District’s request to solicit County to help with new track/field funds.  President Hales suggests possible letter or President Hales to mention at upcoming lunch with Supervisor.  Councilmember Lunt disagrees with asking Supervisor to help with field.  Extended discussion. 

CV pursuing trash problem.

10.  Treasurer's Report - Councilmember Thomas [submitted and attached] and filed for audit.

 11.  Correspondence - Councilmember Erickson

 12. Items from Council

• · Items for Press Release: Councilmember Erickson to circulate via e-mail

• · President Hales to meet on Spot Park with County

• · Councilmember Pierce makes motion to have a CVTC booth at Harvest Market first Sunday of each month. [approved unanimously]

• CERT Training coming up.

• Costs expended by Councilmember Pierce for Pictures of CVTC on wall: $276.00. Motion made to reimburse Steve. [approved unanimously].

• · Richard Toyon - $165 for badges. Will discuss at Executive Meeting.

• · First reading and Motion to propose a Bylaw change regarding candidates by Councilmember Andrus.

13.  Announcements

• ·           March 2, 2006, 7:00 pm – CVTC Executive Meeting

• ·           March 16, 2006, 7:00 pm – CVTC General Meeting

• ·           March 16 Glendale Prayer Breakfast – Danette to coordinate.

14.  Adjournment at 10:42 p.m.