CRESCENTA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL

 General Meeting

January 19, 2006 - 7:00 p.m

 Minutes

1.  Call to Order - 7:00 p.m. - President Hales

• Pledge of Allegiance - Cub Scout Troops 390, 391
• Invocation - Councilmember Andrus
• Roll Call - Councilmember Ostler

Present                                                                                 Absent

Councilmember Andrus                                                              None

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: November 17, 2005 and December 15, 2005 [unanimous]

4.  Installation of CVTC Members and Officers for 2006 - Sussy Nemer

Special Award Presentation to Richard Toyon for service as an Alternate Town Council Member

Spot Park – Interested parties have been negotiating an agreement.  They have agreed that Flood Control will remain owner, Department of Parks and Recreation will lease it.  Richard Toyon to tour sign shop

Questions

-Mike Lawler: regarding how to obtain landmark status.

-Steve West: Building on Florencita.  At meeting where plans were supposed to show up.  Parking going to be a problem.  No code for what they can put on banisters.  Has pictures of lot before building.  Meetings when County did not bring Plans.  Have not seen the plans for two weeks.  Sussy Nemer to set up a meeting with inspector’s supervisor.  People from Public Works to be there. 

-Dave Wright: Building on Florencita.  Told there was supposed to be one parking space per bedroom.  Was told owner was doing everything to placate everyone and then going to sue the County for approving and then going back.  Is Montrose zoned street by street or lot by lot?

-Curtis Cleveland: When was Florencita zoned R3?

-Henry Smiley: received notice that property had been re-zoned from R1 to R3, and he believes it was done illegally because he never received the required notice.  He purchased in 1986.

-Councilmember Bodel: Building on Florencita.  Questions about 35 feet height level.

-Michael Morgan: Most people in Montrose think they are R1 but they are not.

-Greg Gharib: Building on Florencita.  Who at the County is going to overrule who?

5.  Comments from Officials 

• Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Department - Captain Tim Peters

Presented crimes stats for December 2005 [verbal]

Presented crime stats for Calendar Year 2005 [handout attached]

Hopes to increase number of officers this year by 5 (currently down 10 people)

• California Highway Patrol - Officer Saul Velasquez

Presented traffic collisions for December 2005: 9 traffic collisions, (3 injury) [handout attached].  Discussion/questions regarding call boxes vs. cell phones.

• Crescenta Valley Water District - Judy Tejeda

-General comments regarding the origin of Town Council.  Current Town Council has become much more known in community. 

-Rate increase has gone into effect as of Jan. 06.  Average resident will have an increase of $3.50 per month

-Tour of MWD facilities in NV and CA with some CVTC members

-Pipeline replacement at 2300 Pontiac, Fairmont and Los Olivos Aves.

-Have low income/senior plan.  Looking it over and are welcoming feedback from community.

-T*mobile has contacted District about having an antenna at Shields Reservoir.  Committee will meet about the issue and would like community input.

-Turf replacement program.  Applications are available.

-Mike Lawler comments that current council has generated good rapport with County which has made a difference.

• Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce - [none]
• Montrose Chamber of Commerce - [none]
• La Crescenta Library - Vickie Guagliardo

-announces upcoming programs and live/online tutoring programs

 [Sharon Hales welcomes Michael Staudenmeir our new cameraman who is a Sr. at CVHS] 

• Historical Society of La Crescenta - Mike Lawler

-Invites Council to Tour of Verdugo Mountains

-Next meeting: Tujunga Women Pioneers 2/20/06

-Bench at triangle park at Mira Vista and Orange Dale Aves. putting in plaque.

-Clark Magnet High plaque on who is Andy Clark and refurbishing old plaques

-Seymour Thomas painting of first teacher in La Crescenta -- trying to get it restored with help from La Crescenta Elementary School Foundation. 

• Crescenta Valley Heritage - Mike Lawler

                                -Upcoming Regular Meeting Monday, Jan. 23, 2006

                                -Selling Old Town Montrose Calendars.                                                                            

• Santa Monica Conservancy - [none]

6.  Public Comments

-Mike Lawler – When library is being built, library will be closed and is wondering if Town Council can look into doing something to keep a library open.

-Sussy Nemer: naming library issue - current County Librarian does not like to name an entire library after someone, possibly a portion of the library.

-Councilmember Erickson: maybe we should work with schools to keep their libraries open during construction of new library.

7. Approval of CVTC Committees for 2006 (Chairpersons are first names listed)

Councilmember Beatty makes a motion to have Councilmember Erickson as committee chair instead of both Councilmembers Raghavachary and Erickson of the Public Relations committee.  President Hales rejects the motion, after discussion, upon the basis that if a councilmember does not approve of the slate of officers he/she may vote against it, but the motion as made was improper.

Vote to approve slate of CVTC Committee fails (4-5):

Votes in favor: Councilmembers - Ostler, Raghavchary, Rawlins, President Hales (4)

Votes opposed: Councilmembers - Andrus, Beatty, Erickson, Smiley, Thomas (5)

-A Vote was then taken by each committee with the following results:

• Arbor Day – Co-chairs Councilmembers Smiley and Lunt, Raghavachary, Pierce: [unanimous approval]
• Election Committee – Councilmember Andrus, Smiley, Thomas, Erickson: [unanimous approval]

∙                Finance/Fundraising – Co-chairs Councilmembers Thomas and Andrus, Erickson, Pierce. 

Sub-Committee: Budget: Councilmembers Erickson, Thomas, Rawlins, President Hales [unanimous approval]

• Foothill Design Committee – Councilmember Raghavachary and Richard Toyon, Councilmembers Thomas, Erickson and Stuart Byles: [unanimous approval]
• Land Use Committee – Councilmember Raghavachary, all other Councilmembers: [unanimous approval]
• Library Committee – no chair.  Committee comprised of President Hales, Councilmember Raghavachary, FDC member Richard Toyon (as directed by Supervisor Antonovich’s office) : [unanimous approval]
• Montrose Christmas Parade – Co-chairs President Hales and Councilmember Pierce, Bodell: [unanimous approval]
• Nominating Committee – Councilmember Ostler, Andrus: [unanimous approval]
• Oktoberfest and Memorial Day – Councilmember Erickson, Smiley: [unanimous approval]
• Public Relations – Co-chairs Councilmembers Erickson and Raghavachary
• Internet – Councilmember Raghavachary
• Press Releases – Councilmember Erickson
• Telecasts – President Hales

Vote to approve Public Relations Committee fails (4-5):

Votes in favor: Councilmembers - Ostler, Raghavchary, Rawlins, President Hales (4)

Votes opposed: Councilmembers - Andrus, Beatty, Erickson, Smiley, Thomas (5)

• Scholarships – Councilmember Rawlins, Bodell, Beatty, Raghavachary: [unanimous approval]

• Streets, Roadways, Parks and Public Safety – Co-chairs Ostler and Pierce, Beatty: [unanimous approval]
• Youths and Seniors – Councilmember Erickson, Andrus and Smiley: [unanimous approval]

Motion to table discussion of reorganization of public relations committee was made by President Hales:

Vote to table further discussion passes (5-4):

Votes in favor: Councilmembers - Erickson, Ostler, Raghavchary, Rawlins, President Hales (5)

Votes opposed: Councilmembers - Andrus, Beatty, Erickson, Smiley, Thomas (4)

8.  CVTC Committee Reports 

• Arbor Day - Councilmembers Smiley / Lunt

Did not meet -- meeting was postponed.

• Finance/Fundraising - Councilmember Thomas

-Submitted Annual Treasurer Report [copy attached]

-2005 Audit performed Jan 16, 2006, submitted and approved by a unanimous vote [copy attached]

-Motion for $100 budget item for Arbor Day committee.  Approved by unanimous vote.

-Motion to raise budget for name badges: $350.00  Approved by unanimous vote.

-Budget issue raised by Councilmember Andrus that Election Committee needs more money to advertise election.  President Hales suggested that Election Committee meet and discuss this issue.

-2006 Budget approved by unanimous vote.

• Foothill Design Committee - Councilmember Raghavachary

Next Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. there is a meeting to discuss 2 issues: changes for CSD design guidelines; and Cranberry House to re-design their building and will be bringing their plans to the committee.

• Library Committee - President Hales

Met with Antonovich office representatives and architect.  Looked at rough 3D model of proposed library.  Preliminary rough draft.  Not available to public yet.  Beginning to gather suggestions for the art at the library.  There is a list of artists which will receive RFPs from Arts Commission.  Need to make sure any interested local artists’ names are on the list.  Art is 1% of budget.  Asking for monetary donations for art in the press release.        

• Public Relations - Councilmembers Erickson / Raghavachary

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

-Received some positive feedback from community on stop light at La Crescenta and Foothill Aves.

• Youths and Seniors - Councilmembers Andrus / Erickson

President Hales spoke with Principal Evans and she said they are actively looking at the problem of street garbage around CV and have addressed it with the students, and are going to continue trying to investigate how widespread the problem is.  Decision was made to hold-off on writing letter for now.

9.  Treasurer’s Report - Councilmember Thomas

[See above]

10.  Correspondence - Councilmember Erickson

-2 phone calls:  #1 regarding Forencita apartments who wants them to just finish the project , #2 from a “Diana” concerned about noise at CV as they are working on new track/field.

-2 e-mails: #1 thank you about La Crescenta turn lane, #2 increasing noise of 210 freeway is disturbing.  Motion for letter to Supervisor Antonovich, Representatives Mountjoy and Margett asking for soundwall study.  Passed by unanimous approval.

11. Items from Council

• Report of Colorado Aqueduct Tour, and thank you notes
• Items for Press Release

New members and committee approved, budget and art.

- E-mail correspondence is somewhat a problem.  All Town Council members should receive all e-mails including a hard-copy or message to Councilmember Rawlins.

-name badges discussion with samples distributed.

-Johnny Johnson, longtime manager of local Ralphs Supermarket died.

-Councilmember Rawlins mentioned that ball is rolling for college scholarships

- Councilmember Rawlins mentions that we have only been using one signature on checks and we need to use two according to bylaws.

- Councilmember Rawlins mentions that resident has been complaining about tree at CV

12.  Announcements

• February 2, 2006, 7:00 pm – CVTC Executive Meeting
• February 16, 2006, 7:00 pm – CVTC General Meeting

-Councilmember Erickson: Foothill Music presents My Fair Lady 2/3,4,5,10,11

Founders Day 2/15/06; Rosemont 2/9/06; Monte Vista TBA

-President Hales announces that Supervisor Antonovich to be honored by BYU Alumni event featuring BYU Ballroom Dancers at the Alex Theater.

13.  Adjournment in memory of Johnny Johnson 10:03 p.m.