General Meeting

July 15, 2004—7:00 p.m.—Sheriff’s Station

MINUTES

1. Call to Order President Rawlins

• Pledge of Allegiance Boy Scouts Brendan Lucky and Chris Ramponi of Boy Scout Troop 101
• Invocation Councilmember Raghavachary
• Roll Call Councilmember Hales

Councilmembers present: Adelman, Erickson, Gilden, Hales, LaJoice, Lunt, Ostler, Raghavachary, Smiley, President Rawlins

2. Neighbor of the Month Awards Presented by Councilmember Erickson and Mike Lawler

Janice Gilden helped spearhead the CVTC 4^th of July fundraiser, and greatly increased the profit. She designed fliers, canvassed area businesses, wrote letters, made baskets and helped acquire the Swarzenegger rings.

Peter Schaller and Jim Stevens blaze trails in our area with a band of volunteers, using their own time, money and effort in order to provide hikers access to San Gabriel mountains.

3. Guest Speaker Peter Schaller

The recipient of the CVTC Neighbor of the Month Award, Mr. Schaller discussed his passion for building access trails into the San Gabriel mountains and Angeles Crest Forest. He reported that others have also donated thousands of hours to this effort. They work Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7:00 am until noon. His hope for the future is that Pickens and Goss Canyons, currently landlocked by private property, will be more accessible to hikers with five new trailheads. Mr. Schaller would like to gain legal access via a trail in the Briggs Terrace area, and he made a formal request of CVTC to formulate a Trail Committee to study and make recommendations in this pursuit. Ted Baumgart offered his expertise. President Rawlins said this issue will be discussed at the next Executive meeting.

4. Correspondence Councilmember Lunt

Thank you letters were received from CVTC scholarship recipients. A letter was received from Supervisor Antonovich thanking CVTC for its letter regarding the New Horizons center, as well as a letter from the Supervisor indicating that carpool lanes on the 210 Freeway are not in the future plans. A letter was received from Congressman David Dreier regarding the new Veterans History Project, and asking CVTC to distribute fliers to solicit historical data.

5. Report from Treasurer Councilmember Erickson

6. Approval of Minutes of June 17, 2004 CVTC Meeting Councilmember Hales

7. Public Comments (none)

8. Comments from Officials

• La Crescenta Library Vicki Gualgiardo

Councilmember Raghavachary requested from the Supervisor’s office that the Needs Assessment for the future La Crescenta Library be accessible via the CVTC website. Currently a hard copy is available at the La Crescenta Library for three-day checkout. Recipes are still being solicited for the Friends of the La Crescenta Library cookbook fundraiser. The summer story time programs for children and families are highly successful.

• Crescenta Valley Water District President Vasken Yardemian

Five candidates were interviewed for the position of CVWD General Manager, and they are in negotiations with current candidate. La Canada has been granted permission to tie into CVWD sewers. Pipeline replacement projects of very old water mains are underway. The one on Honolulu Ave. has been placed on hold, due to rejection of Glendale City Council and their desire to combine it with new lighting on Honolulu Ave. The water alert system currently indicates high yellow alert. Voluntary conservation measures are encouraged; residents should water every other day. Large residential water users and water wasters will be notified.

• Supervisor Antonovich’s Office Rita Hadjimanoukian

$350,000 in additional funds has been earmarked for the future La Crescenta Library (profit from the sale of the Canyon Country Library to the Santa Clarita school district.). The La Crescenta Library Replacement Project Planning Committee will meet for the first time on August 9^th, 2004. She said that although details are confidential, good progress is being made in this pursuit. Councilmember LaJoice made a motion to support Michael Antonovich’s effort to keep the cross on the L.A. County seal. Councilmember Adelman said is should be properly agendized to get public input. President Rawlins said it will be agendized for next month’s meeting. Ms. Hadjimanoukian said it is out of the hands of the Board of Supervisors, as the petition to put it on the November ballot was deemed not valid because of incorrect verbage.

• California Highway Patrol Officer Vince Bell
• Montrose Chamber of Commerce Mike Schaar

The August Mixer will be on August 4^th, and the Foothills Community Expo 2004 will be on Wednesday, Sept. 8 from 5-8 p.m.

• Sheriff’s Department Captain Tim Peters

This is the second year in a row that the department has come in under budget, so there will be no budget cuts, and an additional $10 million is expected to be added. A half-cent sales tax (possibly to be put on the November ballot) would increase $45 million to the patrol of the unincorporated area.

• Historical Society Mike Lawler

"A Picnic to Remember the Past!" will take place on Saturday, July 31 at 4:00 pm at Deukmejian Wilderness Park. Bring a potluck dish to share, and any artifacts from the history of Crescenta Valley.

9. Committee Reports

• Webpage Councilmember Raghavachary

The silent auction brought a high number of hits on the web page. The bracelet that did not sell on July 4 will be put up for auction on E-bay.

• Streets, Roads and Parks Councilmember Ostler

Red curbs on Cloud and Ramsdell have been installed. Other issues are school-related and are on hold until an accurate traffic count is conducted in Septmber.

• Foothill Design/Planning Councilmember Raghavachary

The Community Standards draft and Design Review process are complete and being formatted. Work is progressing on the Design Guidelines booklet. A presentation to CVTC will take place at the September Executive Meeting. A follow-up letter will be sent to La Canada City Council requesting a start date for construction of a median on Foothill at Briggs. A median was agreed to, but no time frame specified. CVTC has received from Metropolitan Water District a grant of $7500 for a spot park at Briggs and Foothill. Foothill Design Committee will meet to discuss the spot park design. They will also discuss community involvement in the maintaining of 50 trees to be planted by L.A. County along Foothill Boulevard in the Fall or early 2005.

• Community Outreach Councilmembers Smiley and Gilden

Councilmember Gilden and Janice Gilden have been attending Chamber meetings. The next COC meeting will be on July 21 at 7:00 at the Sheriff’s station; they will evaluate the 4^th of July fundraiser. Caltrans contacted CVTC to schedule a meeting regarding future La Crescenta off-ramp.

• Fourth of July Fundraiser Councilmember Erickson

The fundraiser was a huge success, earning about $3350 for CVTC activities.

10. Items from Council

Items to be included in the CVTC press release.

Councilmember Smiley brought up the issue of CVTC Alternate Councilmember position held by David Drucker, and his lack of attendance at Town Council meetings. She made a motion to initiate removal proceedings. The motion passed 7-2. President Rawlins appointed Councilmembers Ostler, Lunt and Erickson to investigate Mr. Drucker’s attendance. Results will be discussed at the CVTC Executive Meeting to be held on August 5, 2004.

Councilmember Raghavachary suggested that CVTC submit information to the new newspaper "G," which covers Montrose, Glendale, La Canada, La Crescenta. Letters of thanks will be sent to the providers of the new CVTC banner.

Councilmember Lunt made a motion that CVTC send a letter of thanks to Supervisor Antonovich for the allocation of $350,000 to the future La Crescenta Library. The motion was approved.

11. Announcements

• August 19, 2004 – Crescenta Valley Town Council Meeting

12. Adjournment at 9:24 p.m.