CRESCENTA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL

 General Meeting

March 16, 2006 - 7:00 p.m.

 MINUTES

1.  Call to Order - Vice President Raghavachary

• Pledge of Allegiance - Cub Scout Troop 333
• Invocation - Councilmember Erickson
• Roll Call - Councilmember Ostler

Present                                          Absent  

Councilmember Andrus                                                 

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 Meeting, February 16, 2006 [unanimously approved]           

4. Guest Speaker

                Peter Rosenthal, Presentation on Graffiti (818)248-0000

5.  Proclamation in Honor of National Women’s History Month

                Nina Crowe - Soroptimist International of the Verdugos

     Proclamation in Honor of National Library Week

                Vickie Guagliardo - La Crescenta Library

6.  Comments from Officials

• Los Angeles County Regional Planning Department - Andrew Malakates

March 7, Antonovich brought emergency ordinance to allow Regional Planning to initiate zoning study in R-3 areas which was approved by board.  Ordinance is a conditional 45 day.  Use Permit will be required for any multi-family units.  After 45 days a motion for a follow-up ordinance for 10 months will be made.  Residents will receive notice of upcoming hearings.

Los Angeles County Regional Planning Department - Sam Dea

                Conditional Use Permits are approved usually with conditions and terms imposed by Regional Planning Commission or Hearing officer for smaller projects.  Hearing process involves notification to property owners and other public officials.  How long does the Use Permit process take:  Non-controversial: 6 months to 1 year.  Non discretionary review: 4 weeks.  Conditional Use Permit (“CUP”) runs with the property, or are transferred with the sale of the property.  

Questions:

Charles Cooper: What are the notification requirements for CUP? 1000 feet notification area.

Vern Jarks: How are you going to do the study, what factors are you going to take into consideration?

Factors learned from community hearings, history, consensus.

Richard Toyon: CUP doesn’t necessarily drive down the value of the property, case in point is Maylane Property which has gone up in value even though CUP property.

• Supervisor Antonovich’s Office - Rita Hajamanoukian

Date for Arbor Day April 22, 2006, 9:30 a.m.

• Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Department - Sgt. Jeff Hart
• California Highway Patrol - Officer Saul Velasquez
• Glendale Unified School District - [none]
• Crescenta Valley Water District - Ernie Weber

May is Water Awareness month, and May 20^th CVWD Open House.  March through May doing water main repair work.  Pines surrounding the water reservoirs have become a hazard to homeowners.  Arborist is going to study problem and provide recommendations.  Trees will be cut down by homeowner. 

Clair Rawlins: Blending Tanks don’t have lights on them like the neighbors have requested for a long time.   

• Los Angeles County Parks - Geannies (Necie) Butler

Announcement of various programs for the next couple of months.  For reservations at park, call 1(800) 2-6-p-a-r-k-s

• Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce - [none]
• Montrose Chamber of Commerce - Mike Sharr

Announcement of upcoming events.   April 10, 2006: Montrose Bowl

• La Crescenta Library - Vickie Guagliardo                          
• Historical Society of La Crescenta - Mike Lawler

John Robinson speaking Monday night. Author of local mountains.  Speaking about “Gateways.”

Friday 24, 2006 Art in the Park to benefit restoration of Seymour Thomas painting

G&M Railway Tour.  April 1, 2006.  Three tours. 9, 12 p.m., 3 p.m.

La Crescenta History Books on sale!

• Crescenta Valley Heritage - Mike Lawler

John Pearson will be speaking on restoration of winery barn at Dukmejian Park.  March 27, 2006, 6:00 Montrose Library.  Thanked CVTC for support to push the downzoning of Montrose.                          

• Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy - Richard Toyon

Park funds have been reduced and have become a big issue among the conservancies.  Safe Drinking Water Bond Act will be on ballot, hopefully in Nov.   Some of the money will go to Santa Monica Conservancy.  Watershed Management Program was voted upon for further study by Alta Dena.  Encourage CVTC to look into this as well.  Pickens Ridge-Angeles Forest Connector is on the top of the list for purchase for trail access. Greta Pruit and Monty Reynolds currently own these properties.   

• BFI/Allied Waste - Kennetha Jespers

Newsletter distributed.  E-waste can be picked up by appointment.  Broken carts will be replaced free of charge; bulky items can be picked up two times a year for free.  Introduction of Tomas Solis who is  supervisor for La Crescenta.  Community member Joyce Garib thanks BFI for responding to concerns about picking up on one day.   Goodwill will take e-waste.   

7. Public Comments

Mike Lawler: Oakview Convalescent Home is being closed and it is proposed for condos. 

8. CVTC Committee Reports

• Arbor Day - Councilmembers Smiley/Lunt

Flyers passed out announcing Arbor Day Celebration.  April 22, 2006, 9:30 a.m.

• Finance/Fundraising - Councilmember Thomas

Report on Baja Fresh fundraiser $155.  New fundraiser: Gift Cards from Ralphs for sale. 

• Foothill Design Committee - Councilmember Raghavachary

Meeting tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.  Letter to editor on mixed use on Foothill Blvd.  Committee to discuss and respond in support of idea. 

• Library Committee - Councilmember Raghavachary

No meeting because architect is still revising.  15 artists have submitted RFQ for artwork at new library.

• Public Relations/Internet - Councilmember Erickson

Letter from scout stating he liked prayer at beginning of meeting.

• Scholarships - Councilmember Rawlins

Had a meeting and decided to change format a little bit.  Application has been revised and given to CV High School.  Everything is in place and we are trying to raise funds now.

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

Focus right now is on Briggs/Mountain safety issues.  County is doing study right now.  Mountain Ave. Elementary PTA has been pushing the issue. 

• Youths and Seniors - Councilmember Erickson

Sent letter backing them for grant for new counselor. 

9.  Treasurer’s Report - Councilmember Thomas – filed for audit [see attached report]

10.  Correspondence - Councilmember Erickson

Feb. 16, 2006 Letter from Bob Margett – Noise issue along 210 free way.  Requested noise survey of Caltrans. 

March 2, 2006 E-mail re pending franchise agreement for waste hauler.  Determined that this will be a one-contractor franchise.  Sussy Nemer.

11. Items from Council

• Items for Press Release

-          2^nd Reading of Proposed Bylaw change by Councilmember Andrus regarding and motion regarding Elections.  Motion passed unanimously. 

-          Councilmember Erickson: Candidates will be coming to upcoming general meeting.

-Councilmember Beatty: Believes one-contractor waste hauling is not a good idea.

- Councilmembers Clair Rawlins/Steve Pierce County will keep tight control will over service 

12.  Announcements

• Wednesday, March 29, 11:30-1:30 pm - Smart-a-thon at Verdugo Hills Hospital
• April 6, 2006, 7:00 pm – CVTC Executive Meeting
• April 20, 2006, 7:00 pm – CVTC General Meeting

13.  Adjournment  9:32 p.m.