1. Call to Order President Rawlins

• Pledge of Allegiance President Rawlins
• Invocation Council-member Erickson
• Roll Call Council-member Hales

Councilmembers present: Andrus, Erickson, Gilden, Hales, Lunt, President Rawlins

2. Speaker

• Dr. Greg Franklin, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Glendale Unified School District

Enrollment is down 600 students throughout the district. Last year $3,000,000 in cuts were made in maintenance and administration. All schools in the Crescenta Valley scored over 800 on the Academic Performance Index. Calendar negotiation with the teachers’ union is currently in progress. School will begin either the day after Labor Day or on the Monday before Labor Day. Council-member Hales requested that the Superintendent’s Office and School Board consider the population growth in La Crescenta projected by SCAG (Southern California Association of Governments), and then develop a school plan accordingly.

3. Public Comments

• Mark Stirdivant, chairman of La Crescenta VOICE attended at the invitation of Council-member Raghavachary. He asked for support of an issue important to the Crescenta Valley. There is currently a proposed housing development of 14 equestrian estate units on 68 acres in Shadow Hills. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy is in the process of appealing the approval of this project. This will go before the Los Angeles City Council. The property sits in the middle of a wildlife corridor, which is critical to maintaining bio-diversity. If this project is approved, the corridor will be blocked permanently. The Conservancy asks that the developer and officials plan the project in a way so that the equestrian estates and wildlife corridor can coexist. He asks the CV Town Council to send a letter to Councilmember Gruehl supporting the appeal of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.
• Will Fleet, Publisher of the new Foothill Leader, stated that plans are underway to make the newspaper "more local," and they are in the process of recruiting a new editor for the newspaper. Page two of the paper will cover business, youth and schools, senior citizens, civic organizations and clubs, politics.

4. Neighbor of the Month Awards

• Crescenta Sports Association and La Crescenta Babe Ruth League

5. Comments from Officials

• Supervisor Antonovich’s Office Rita Hadjimanoukian

Measure A did not pass in the November 2004 election. Supervisor Antonovich did not support the measure as he was not in favor of L.A. County being the highest taxpayers in the country. He is, however, addressing the rest of the Board of Supervisors to find more money for the Sheriff’s Department in the general fund. Supervisor Antonovich donated $13,000 to the La Crescenta Sheriff’s station for emergency funds.

Supervisor Antonovich’s office is happy to restrict parking on Foothill Blvd., but they are asking Crescenta Valley Town Council to get real input from the community so that there is community consensus.

Council-member Gilden extended the Supervisor’s office thanks for providing funding for 800

mailers advertising CVTC elections.

• La Crescenta Library Vickie Guagliardo
• Historical Society Mike Lawler

The next meeting will be on Monday, December 20 at 8:00 p.m. at La Crescenta Women’s Club, the oldest community service organization in the Crescenta Valley.

• California Highway Patrol Officer Vince Bell

Holiday CHPs for toy drive will soon begin; designated locations throughout town will collect unwrapped, new toys. A resident living near Glenwood and La Crescenta Avenues reported speeding cars. She was told to contact LA Public Works and Supervisor Antonovich to inquire into the possibility of getting a stop sign.

• Sheriff’s Station Captain Peters

The 911 number for cell phones only for the Crescenta Valley Station is (818)957-2918. Currently, inmates are being released after 10% of their sentence. Supervisor Antonovich’s push for additional funding for the Sheriff’s Department would end this early release program. One-third of narcotics arrests are people who live in our area, while two-thirds of those apprehended are traversing our area. Narcotics reports are given to narcotics officers. The team is comprised of a sergeant and two deputies, who are on call 24/7. An anonymous tip line is available on the Sheriff’s website: lasd.org (click on patrol stations, region one, link to Crescenta Valley Station, highlighted tip line to access e-mail). The e-mail will go directly to Captain Peters, four detectives and a crime analyst. Anonymous calls are also accepted at the Sheriff’s Station. The Sheriff’s Station will provide crime statistics to CVTC semi-annually in January and July. Crime statistics are also available on the Sheriff’s website.

 

• Montrose Chamber of Commerce Mike Schaar

The Montrose Christmas Parade will be on Saturday, December 4, 6:00 p.m. December 1 will be the last mixer of the year at Andersen’s Pet Shop.

• Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce
• Santa Monica Conservancy Heinz Ellersieck

State budget constraints are negatively affecting the Conservancy, but citizens are stepping in to promote land conservation.

• Crescenta Valley Water District Vasken Yardemian

CVWD is gathering input from the public regarding rate increases. They require about an 11% increase in rates to cover costs of purchasing water. The public may express thoughts at a public workshop on Monday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m., and at a public hearing at the CVWD board meeting on December 14 at 7:00 p.m. In January the CVWD will take this item into consideration. The Water Board voted to work on a new master plan (long run). The installation of lights at Encinal reservoir requires 60% approval of neighbors, and a special assessment would be added to their property tax (approximately $7 per year).

• State and Federal Officials

5. Correspondence Council-member Lunt

A phone call was received from Laureen Lopez from the Fire Department announcing a controlled burn on Tuesday, November 23.

6. Report from Treasurer Council-member Erickson

7. Approval of Minutes Council-member Hales

8. Committee Reports

• Webpage Council-member Raghavachary
• Streets, Roads and Parks Council-member Ostler

L.A. County is still investigating CVTC requests.

• Foothill Design/Planning Council-member Raghavachary

Plans for the Community Standards District will be unveiled to the public in the first part of 2005.

• Community Outreach Council-members Smiley and Gilden

800 fliers were sent to advertise CVTC elections, banners, newspaper and historical society publicity. Fewer than 300 voters cast votes in the CVTC election. COC is considering the possibility of distributing a monthly newsletter via e-mail.

• Library President Rawlins

The CVTC Library committee met with Supervisor Antonovich on October 29. The County is in the process of attempting to acquire one particular site and presented a drawing.

• Elections/Nominations Council-member Lunt

The results of the CVTC elections are as follows:

Regular Council-members: Grace Andrus 181 votes, Charles Beatty 151 votes, Sharon Raghavachary 139 votes.

Alternate Council-members: Robert Thomas 117 votes, Webster Williams 61 votes.

An additional Alternate Council-member will be appointed and approved at the next CVCT meeting.

The slate of 2005 CVTC officers to be voted on next month is as follows: Sharon Hales-President, Jaleen Lunt-Vice President, Grace Andrus-Recording Secretary, Sharon Raghavachary-Corresponding Secretary, Danette Erickson-Treasurer.

9. Items from Council

Councilmember Erickson moved that CVTC send a letter to support the appeal for Santa Monica Conservancy. The motion passed.

CVTC received a request to attend and present a certificate to Karen Jorgensen, business owner and past long-time resident of La Crescenta. CVTC will make a certificate, and Council-member Andrus will attend the dinner at Castaways restaurant.

L.A. County sent a letter asking that CVTC conduct broader polling of community thought regarding parking restrictions on Foothill. The public will have an opportunity to comment at the CVTC meeting in January.

At the request of Supervisor Antonovich Council-member Andrus will participate in an election review in Agua Dulce.

President Rawlins will give a year-end report either in December or January.

10. Announcements

• December 2, 2004 CV Town Council Executive Meeting
• December 16, 2004 CV Town Council Meeting and Holiday Party

11. Adjournment 9:47 p.m.