CRESCENTA VALLEY
TOWN COUNCIL
General Meeting
June 15, 2006—7:00 p.m.—Sheriff’s Station
MINUTES
1. Call to Order at 7:10 p.m. - President Hales
Present Absent
Councilmember Andrus Councilmember Lunt
Councilmember Beatty
Councilmember Bodell
Councilmember Erickson
Councilmember Ostler
Councilmember Pierce
Councilmember Raghavachary
Councilmember Rawlins
Councilmember Smiley
Councilmember Thomas
President Hales
2. Acknowledgement of Officials and Guests: Mountain Avenue Elementary School comments by Joanna Voost and Laurie Mc Farland,
3. Approval of Minutes of CVTC General Meeting, May 18, 2006 [postponed until next month]
4. Beautification Award – First Baptist Church at La Crescenta
Todd Hessick - Eagle Scout, Pastor Shawn and Assistant Pastor. Located across the street from La Crescenta Elementary School, and referred to as the ARK, they are partnering with CVHS and Rosemont for tutoring and homework and have wireless access.
5. Guest Speakers
Fire Captain Kerry Mc Pherson and Richard Anderson (Chief Madrigal was out fighting a brush fire in Santa Clarita). Richard Anderson made the following fire safety recommendations: clear brush 200 feet to your property line; clear trees for vertical clearance up to 16 feet for engines to not touch a burning tree; eucalyptus trees burn like a roman candle; keep tree limbs up off roof line; L.A. County says 50 to200 foot clearance and on all sides. On June 1, 2006, the First Department started handing out brush inspections, if residents get official violation report as a door hanger they have 30 days to complete. If not done then they have to enforce, $200 bill and 231on property taxes and county crew fee is on top of that. It is best if the residents do it themselves.
Resident Paul Dutton asked about an oak tree over house, which needs a permit to cut any branch over 2 inches in diameter. An emergency permit can be issued.
Fire Captain Kerry McPherson: Councilmember Raghavachary asked about the clearance for emergency vehicles on Maurice Avenue. She had polled some of her neighbors and 10 agreed and 4 opposed restricting parking on one side of street for fire engine clearance.
Captain McPherson had the following response: minimum clearance for access roads is 20 feet.
Many areas in Briggs Terrace are not in compliance with requirements. Optimally, the Fire Department would like to see enough space for two fire engines to pass. However, the Fire Department would prefer to see citizen get together to see if they can work things out for themselves. Fire Department was up there and took a few pictures showing that there are problems.
Resident of La Crescenta for 14 years at 5854 Freeman Avenue brought pictures which he took near his house which show there is enough clearance. Last Monday the Fire Department came to his house with no problems. Fire Department Response: pictures don’t show problem, some areas are 20 feet in the area.
Another Maurice Street resident says parking restrictions is not a good idea. Parking is problem already.
Resident Marilyn Reynolds at 2234 Maurice Street – almost all of the houses up at the top have no parallel parking already, so if no parking is enforced on one side of the street that would eliminate parking on the street. Rather than mandating more rules, solution would be for everyone to be responsible and respectful.
Susan Moore 2230 Maurice Street: we are happy neighbors and there is adequate space in front of her house. Wants to address this issue by having a meeting by sitting down and meeting with the Fire Department. Fire Department responded that the neighborhood should work together with Sheriff and CHP.
Greg Leemons from Maurice Street reads part of letter from Councilmember Raghavachary as inferring that parking might be limited to one part of the street.
Councilmember Smiley stated that Mt. Washington has very small streets and she will look into this issue to see how another community deals with this issue.
Mr. Farrell: Ever since I have lived in this area I have never known fire trucks to have had a problem getting up there. Fire Department Response: nobody ever thinks it is going to happen to them, but this is one of the biggest problems in the area.
Councilmember Raghavachary stated that of 15 calls she made, 9 people said absolutely there is a problem, 4 said absolutely “no” to parking restriction, and 2 said they wanted to know what Sheriff said.
6. La Crescenta History Presentation
Mike Lawyer and Robert Newcombe
7. Motion to add CVTC representative to Supervisor’s Library Committee
--Motion by Councilmember Erickson and seconded by President Hales.
Open Discussion. Motion Passes 5 to 4:
Councilmember Andrus - no
Councilmember Beatty - no
Councilmember Erickson - yes
Councilmember Ostler - yes
Councilmember Raghavachary - yes
Councilmember Rawlins - yes
Councilmember Smiley - no
Councilmember Thomas - no
President Hales - yes
--Councilmember Thomas: motion to add Councilmember Erickson (First Alternate) and Councilmember Andrus (Second Alternate) to Supervisor’s Library Committee. Seconded by Councilmember Smiley.
Open Discussion, Motion Fails 5 to 4:
Councilmember Andrus - yes
Councilmember Beatty - yes
Councilmember Erickson - no
Councilmember Ostler - no
Councilmember Raghavachary - no
Councilmember Rawlins - no
Councilmember Smiley - yes
Councilmember Thomas - yes
President Hales - no
--Motion by President Hales for a silent ballot, second by Councilmember Raghavachary
Open Discussion, Motion Fails, 7 to 2:
Councilmember Andrus - no
Councilmember Beatty - no
Councilmember Erickson - yes
Councilmember Ostler - yes
Councilmember Raghavachary - no
Councilmember Rawlins - no
Councilmember Smiley - no
Councilmember Thomas - no
President Hales - no
--Vote taken as to which Councilmember (Councilmembers Andrus and Erickson were both nominated) will be the alternate, non-voting member of Supervisor’s Library Committee. Councilmember Erickson 5 votes to Councilmember Andrus 4 votes.:
Councilmember Andrus - Andrus
Councilmember Beatty - [absent during vote]
Councilmember Erickson - Erickson
Councilmember Ostler - Erickson
Councilmember Pierce - Andrus [voting in place of Councilmember Beatty]
Councilmember Raghavachary - Erickson
Councilmember Rawlins - Erickson
Councilmember Smiley - Andrus
Councilmember Thomas - Andrus
President Hales - Erickson
--Motion by Councilmember Thomas for a second alternate, non-voting member of Supervisor’s Library Committee position, seconded by Smiley
Open Discussion, Motion passes 5 to 4:
Councilmember Andrus - yes
Councilmember Beatty - yes
Councilmember Erickson - yes
Councilmember Ostler - no
Councilmember Raghavachary - no
Councilmember Rawlins - no
Councilmember Smiley - yes
Councilmember Thomas - yes
President Hales - no
--Vote take as to which Councilmember (Councilmembers Andrus and Rawlins were both nominated) will be the second alternate, non-voting member of Supervisor’s Library Committee. Councilmember Andrus withdraws nomination and Councilmember Rawlins selected by default.
--Motion by Councilmember Andrus to open the CVTC Library Committee to every councilmember so that all become a part of the committee. Motion Seconded. Open Discussion, Motion passes 7 to 2:
Councilmember Andrus - yes
Councilmember Beatty - yes
Councilmember Erickson - yes
Councilmember Ostler - yes
Councilmember Raghavachary - no
Councilmember Rawlins - yes
Councilmember Smiley - yes
Councilmember Thomas - yes
President Hales - no
8. Public Comments (see above Fire Department Presentation)
9. Comments from Officials
Gave report of crimes for Month of May. Warned not leave valuables in sight because many are crimes of opportunity. Get a shredder. Councilmember Raghavachary brings up problem with homeless entering Cranberry House.
CVWD has held public workshop on budget. Public hearing on budget is scheduled for June 27, 2006. Open house was a success with over 200 attending. Approved 4600 feet new water lines near New York/Maryland Avenues, some around Lincoln School. Total price of work will cost $875,000. Board has removed trees around water tank where residents had complained.
Presented upcoming programs.
Next meeting will feature women who wrote companion book on La Canada.
Tour of Dukmejian Park 9:00 a.m., Saturday, June 24, 2006
Last event was Glendale City Council which decided not to act in terms of Montrose preservation.
Announced “What Montrose Means to Me” essay contest. Cash prizes.
Report from Councilmember Pierce: Music on the Lawn at CV Park on July 29, 1-4 p.m. Sr. Prom Oct. 14; Another Music on the Lawn in September.
Received character and ethics award for integrity from the Glendale character and ethics group.
Mixer tri-chamber upcoming at Valley Sun next Thursday. June 24, 2006; Relay for Life; Hometown Country Fair at CV Park, Saturday Sept. 2, 2006.
Mixer tri-chamber upcoming at Valley Sun next Thursday. June 24 Relay for Life; Mixer at Jenkins Properties, July 12, 2006.
Money at an all time low because of national events and State is trying to put a package together for 5.4 billion. A portion of that will come to the Conservancy. There is a new park named March Park located close to Dodger Stadium, which is a 1 acre park in a depression in the landscape.
If there are additional bags of trash, ideally the drivers should pick them up but they don’t always, so you should call the office to arrange the pick-up. Battery waste and e-waste questions were handled. There was a question from Councilmember Thomas regarding differences between La Canada and La Crescenta large-item pick-up.
10. CVTC Committee Reports
Presented Treasury Report and 2006 Budget which were distributed (see attached). Finance committee revised the budget which was voted upon and proposed a new Budget. Check from Dominick's was received tonight $193.81 + $10; Los Gringos $75.00; Thursday July 27, 2006; Grandview Aug. 31 (tentative). Councilmember Pierce raises the question about need for phone. Approved revised 2006 Budget [unanimous].
Received notice from L.A. County Regional Planning: CV Tow is seeking a renewal for variance.
No meeting has been announced, because architect is apparently not prepared at this point to present.
There has been a request from a resident on Laughlin for speed bumps. Discussion about how to handle. Councilmember Smiley stated that people in Montrose have asked about the status of Montrose Ave. construction. She would like a report.
11. Treasurer’s Report - Councilmember Thomas
(see above)
12. Correspondence - Councilmember Erickson
Letter from Adrienne Griffin thanking Councilmember Pierce and CVTC for help with stop sign. Thank you notes from Scholarship recipients.
13. Items from Council
Announcement made to purchase Ralphs cards for fundraiser.
Thanks to Councilmembers Rawlins and Pierce for attending CV meetings.
Councilmember Beatty will defer proposed by-law changes.
Councilmember Smiley will also defer items.
14. Announcements
15. Adjournment 10:47 p.m.