General Meeting

March 18, 2004—7:00 p.m.—Sheriff’s Station

MINUTES

1. Call to Order President Rawlins

• Pledge of Allegiance Councilmember Lunt
• Invocation Councilmember Erickson
• Roll Call Councilmember Hales

Councilmembers Present: Beatty, Erickson, Gilden, Hales, LaJoice, Lunt, Ostler, Raghavachary, Smiley, President Rawlins

• Supervisor Antonovich’s Office Rita Hadjimanoukian

The new light for the flagpole at Two-Strike Park is in operation. At the April CVTC meeting Margaret Todd, Director of LA County Libraries, will present a library needs assessment report. At the May CVTC meeting Kathy Page will provide the details of that report. Public works representative Justin Schmidts will attend CVTC meetings about every six months to discuss traffic issues. Supervisor Antonovich desires a task force comprised of members from CVTC, CV Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, CAO and Friends of the Library Committee. The Supervisor’s office will be sending a letter to request that CVTC appoint one task force member, in addition to one from the Foothill Design Committee. For concerns regarding zoning, call Rita Hadjimanoukian at the Pasadena Field Office (626) 356-5407. A traffic light will be installed at Altura and Pennsylvania, the cost of which will be $180,000 to be split evenly between LA County and the City of Glendale.

2. Neighbor of the Month Awards

Presented by Councilmember Erickson and President Rawlins

Recipients: Stephanie Grieco, Ted Schunck, Brian Ostler, Krista Smiley, Bill Latuf

3. Public Comments Mike Padula, President CV CAN

CVCAN aims to raise $1.4 million to replace the track and playing field at CV High School. First fundraiser will be a walk-a-thon on April 17, 2004. Mr. Padula requested that CVTC endorse CVCAN’s goal.

4. Guest Speakers Ted Baumgart, Jim Somers

Topic: Tree Education. Mr. Baumgart attended a three-day course in citizen forestry conducted by Tree People. He hopes to heighten community involvement and care for trees that LA County will be planting on Foothill Blvd. Jim Somers, Director of Forestry at Tree People, explained that the purpose of his organization is to educate and support communities in the planting of trees in neighborhoods. Ownership is the key to tree preservation.

5. Correspondence and Second Reading of Proposed By-laws Change and Vote

Councilmember Lunt

A letter was received from the Sheriff’s station to thank CVTC for recognizing Deputy Dan at the Arbor Day celebration. CV High School announces an aviation public exhibit on Saturday, March 20, 2004. CVTC received a letter of invitation to Verdugo Hills Hospital Smart-a-thon.

A letter was sent to Captain Martin regarding the Sheriff’s station response time to emergency calls, but it was not addressed in comments from Sheriff’s department a few minutes earlier. A letter was sent to Gov. Swarzenegger regarding library funding cuts. A letter was sent to Supervisor Antonovich regarding CVTC opposition to billboard placement in proximity of La Crescenta. Letters were sent to Supervisor Antonovich and District Attorney Steve Cooley congratulating them on their re-election.

Second reading of proposed change of By-law Article 6B. Current wording is "Special Committees will be designated from time to time to address special purposes concerning the Council, and will terminate upon completion of that special purpose. . . ." Wording of proposed change is "Special Committees will be designated by majority vote of the regular council members from time to time to address special purposes concerning the Council, and will terminate upon completion of that special purpose. . . ." Discussion and vote. Motion passed 6-3.

6. Report from Treasurer Councilmember Erickson

The report was given, and with no questions will be filed for audit.

7. Approval of Minutes Councilmember Hales

To be done at the next meeting.

8. Comments from Officials

• C.V. Water District Kathy Ross

Report of pipe maintenance. Metropolitan Water District will be increasing water rates, and CVWD is considering a tiered rate that will reward consumers who are attempting to conserve. Tours and dedication of CVWD garden will be on Saturday, May 15, 2004.

• Santa Monica Conservancy Heinz Ellersieck

President Rawlins asked that the Conservancy check into the sale of the Verdugo Hills Golf Course, and the potential for 140 homes to be built on the property. The property is currently in escrow.

• California Highway Patrol Officer Vince Bell
• Montrose Chamber of Commerce Mike Schaar
• C.V. Chamber of Commerce
• Sheriff’s Department Sargeant Mike Mangen
• Historical Society Mike Lawler

Old Ridge Route tour will be on Saturday, March 20, 2004. Next meeting of the Historical Society will be on Monday, April 19, 2004. Upcoming tours will include Lanterman House and Pink Castle.

9. Committee Reports

• Webpage Councilmember Raghavachary

The CVTC Scholarship application is on the website.

• Streets, Roads & Parks Councilmemer Ostler

• Foothill Design/Planning Councilmember Raghavachary

Councilmember Raghavachary will attend a meeting with the Paradise Valley Homeowners Association and L.A. Dept. of Public Works regarding the Mullally debris basin. A weed-killer is being sprayed in the flood channel areas, and there is a question about run-off. Councilmember Raghavachary will ask about that as well.

The new owners of the Maylane Motel submitted plans to LA County. A Copy of these plans will be posted on the CVTC website.

An informational meeting for the LA County General Plan will be in April. Councilmember Raghavachary and a member of VOICE will attend.

DPW has requested of Cal Trans

• Community Outreach/Channel 55 and Arroyo-Verdugo Cities Councilmembers Gilden/Erickson

The last COC meeting was well attended. Sarkis Tchakian will interview Councilmembers Erickson and President Rawlins on Armenian television. The next meeting will be on March 25, 2004, 7:00 p.m. at the Armenian Center on Honolulu in Montrose. COC proposes a tree festival celebrating the planting of trees on Foothill Blvd. Outreach Committee has written letters to CV Sun and Glendale New Press to highlight Neighbor of the Month award.

Councilmembers Gilden and Erickson attended the Arroyo-Verdugo Cities meeting. Letters have been written to Supervisor Antonovich and SCAG requesting HOV (carpool) lanes on 210 Freeway in La Crescenta. A motion to send letters of request passed unanimously.

Grace Andrus, chairperson for Friends of La Crescenta Library, discussed their cookbook fundraiser. A motion passed for CVTC to support cookbook by submitting Town Council information.

• Scholarship Committee President Rawlins

CV High School will continue to conduct scholarship interviews, and applications will be put on the CVTC website. Deadline for scholarship applications is April 13, 2004.

• Library President Rawlins

An additional soil sample was needed from the site currently being tested (for the future La Crescenta Library), and results will take additional weeks.

10. New Business

• Verdugo Hills Hospital Smartathon – March 24, 2004
• Billboard Moratorium – On March 23, 2004 the L.A. County Board of Supervisors approved a new ordinance regarding billboards. Specifics can be found on the website of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. New billboards must be located in manufacturing or industrial zones. This does not change the Crescenta Valley billboard status.
• Items to be included in Press ReleaseCouncilmember Lunt motioned for CVTC to set aside $500 for study of possible incorporation. Passes unanimously. Letter will be written to CVCAN endorsing their fundraising project.

11. Announcements

• April 1, 2004, 7:00 p.m. – C.V. Town Council Executive Meeting
• April 15, 2004, 7:00 p.m. – C.V. Town Council Meeting
• May 13, 2004, 7:00 a.m. – Crescenta-Canada YMCA Annual Community Prayer Breakfast

12. Adjournment at 10:46 p.m.