CRESCENTA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL

November 17, 2005

Called to Order: 7:00 P.M.

Adjourned: 9:53 P.M.

 

 

1.  Call to Order - President Hales

4th graders from Lincoln Elementary – 11 members of their troop attended. The badge in January is helping other younger girl scouts. They participate in many different activities. They have sent over 500 cookies in the past three years to the troops in Iraq.

Present                                                        

Councilmember Andrus                                    

Councilmember Beatty

Councilmember Erickson                                                                                  

Councilmember Lunt

Councilmember Ostler

Councilmember Pierce                                                     

Councilmember Raghavchary

Councilmember Rawlins                                                   

Councilmember Smiley

Councilmember Thomas

Councilmember Toyon

President Hales      

 

2.  Acknowledgement of Officials and Guests

 

3.  Approval of Minutes of CVTC General Meeting, October 20, 2005

Moved to approve by Councilmember Lunt, seconded by Councilmember Raghavachary, passed unanimously.

 

4. Neighbor of the Month – Rosetta Raguso

Nancy Stone presents the Neighbor of the Month – Rosetta Raguso, CVHS Student, is an inspiration to her classmates. She has a depth of compassion and a heart for service. Raguso is a member of the Kiwanis’ Builder Club- Junior scholarship honor for excellence and pride. She worked on the Key Club Rose Parade Float, the Center for Children in La Crescenta, has written to many soldiers in Iraq, a CV Park Snack Volunteer, and head of SOS Uganda. SOS Uganda is a group that helps orphaned and abandoned children around the world. Raguso’s goal is to raise $1000 each year at CVHS with her Club to Save Uganda. She was featured in Seventeen Magazine as a role model for the youth, and has a very supportive family.

 

5. Blue Ribbon Schools Special Recognition

Monte Vista Elementary – Susan Hoge, Principal                           Tuesday, November 29th 8:30 AM

Mountain Avenue Elementary – Kris Simmons, Kindergarten Teacher        Tuesday, November 22nd 8:30 AM

Valley View Elementary – Naehi Wong, Assistant to Principal                   Friday, November 18th  9 AM

A detailed and extensive application was presented by each school in order to be considered for this award. There were 210 schools recognized in the US, whose achievement needed to be improved or were the top 10 in the US. The La Crescenta Blue Ribbon Schools are in the top 10. There was a flag given to the schools. The representatives had an opportunity to be addressed by the Department of Education and to network among the schools’ representatives. They also received a DVD of the ceremonies.

Susan Hoge has been with the school district for 34 years, but this is her first time at a Blue Ribbon School. Credit is given to the students, parents, and staff. The schools are dependent upon their business partners, CV community, whole community, for their success.

 

Dennis Mountjoy, CA Assemblyman:  This is a stellar achievement to the schools.  There are wonderful teachers here.

There will be help available for our off ramp sign.  Thanks to Councilmember Toyon for his design.

Californians are “safe from harm until January 4th” since the assembly is out of session.

Governor will run again.  He loves CA and wants to save CA from its physical problems.  He needs to work with the legislator and the legislators should work with him.  Sixty-eight percent of the people want to see him succeed.  There is just a difference of opinion (philosophy) as to how it should be done.

Councilmember Beatty asked about special election attitudes.  Assemblyman Mountjoy believes there should be elections for specific reasons.  These were issues about unions and teachers saw it as a threat.  There was $150 million on the anti-proposition side.  Nobody wants to loose so the problems just continue.

Joe Canstamilla and Dr. Keith Richman are examples of opposite sides that are wiling to talk and come with rational clear-head tools to save the state.  Until the legislature comes to solve problems and not further their own careers and their own parties, nothing will get done.  There needs to be the argument to help the people.

Valley Sun reporter Cooper asked if in 2008 Mountjoy is planning on running for Marget’s seat in the senate.  Mountjoy is planning a senate run.

Legislatures are good people, they just have a different way to solve problems.  Some are short and to the point – cold and prickly or warm and fuzzy.  Mountjoy has served the people in San Gabriel for 21 years and wants to continue to serve them.  He is a public servant. 

Kris Simmons – asked about illegal immigrants.  Mountjoy responded that the people need to support the CA boarder police.  The regular police force needs to be allowed to arrest illegal immigrants but they are too busy keeping our streets safe.

Ray Haines – commented that the Federal government is not securing our boarders.  Mountjoy said it would cost 400 million dollars, but will save about 8 billion dollars if allowed to go into fields, businesses, etc. to find illegal immigrants.

Bill Stuart - asked about a 50 billion dollar bond for CA.  Mountjoy said that we won’t see his name on it. 

 

6.  Guest Speakers from Glendale Police Department

Adams has been the Chief of Police of Glendale for nearly three years.   He has a good working relationship with all law enforcement agencies.  The Council and public were given a presentation about the Metrolink accident in Glendale that occurred on 1/26/06 a little after 6 AM on a wet morning.  Chief Adams was at home watching morning news and getting ready to go to a Boy Scout breakfast.  There was a news chopper over the incident almost instantaneously.  Initially didn’t look so bad.  The south bound train coming from Moorepark/Simi Valley to Union Station and was going to stop in Glendale.  The northbound trains pulls and the southbound train pushes.  Deranged Juan Alverez was suicidal wanted to cause a train crash, was the first thoughts of the police.  He drove southbound from Chevy Chase and doused his SUV with gas and stood back and watched the collision, they found.  He has been charged with 11 counts of murder.  The DA decided to prosecute with death penalty.  His attorney quit and was replaced by a public defender.  There was a northbound train traveling in the opposite direction and a parked Union Pacific locomotive.  The lead car had eight people that were killed.  There was a forensic specialist in the accident.  A man in the back survived, Marvin Marshall.  He said it felt like being a bug being shook in a jar.  Resources responded immediately.  Fire departments from Glendale and Los Angeles both helped, including Costco and lumber workers too.  The Glendale and Los Angeles Police departments responded too.  This is a great indication of on going training.  The Sheriff provides actual train service.  On the tracts, one side LA City and one side Glendale.  There was no jurisdictional tug of wars.  Both Sheriff Bacca and Chief Bratton worked well with Chief Adams.  Since the crash began in the city of Glendale, therefore Glendale PD was the primary handling agency and the other agencies asked what they could do to help.  On the scene were crime scene detectives and forensic specialists.  One count of arson was added to the case.

The LAPD teams assisted by conducting interviews of the train passengers.  There were over 200 interviews to conduct which was difficult since there was no manifest.  There were countless ambulances transporting victims everywhere.  129 people to 15 different hospitals.

The suspect fled the area.  Police believe that it was a bigger accident then he expected.  He went to a resident he planned to lease and self inflicted wounds while telling about the incident.  The manager of the residence called paramedics.

Glendale PD had the job of control of information that went to relatives calling to find information about their loved ones.  They set up an emergency operations center.  Ron Depampa was in charge of coordinating information to give to people calling in.  There was a family reception area set up when they came to inquire about their loved one.  Setting this up away from the scene was helpful.

The staging area was in the Costco parking lot.  Posts were set up with all departments, LAPD, LA Sheriff, and Glendale PD, and all fire departments and emergency medical responders, in order to facilitate face to face communications.  Costco supplied food for victims and kept closed that day with employees to assist officials.  Other eateries in the area lost their sales due to a closed area, but they stayed to help throughout the day providing food for officials and victims.  This was the largest local media event with news broadcasters from everywhere.  Sgt. Lorenz was in charge of that area so there was one voice in a coordinated manner feeding the media monster.  Lorenz supplied timely information so the media could do their job efficiently.  There was a concern that this may have been a terrorist attack.  Calming fears by assuring everyone that this was only an individual act was important.

Quick over view of the incident was relayed to the Council and public.

This was a tremendous example in so many areas of departments working together.  The police and fire departments meet every other week and there is a special planning element which plans ahead for disasters such as these.  The large response by first responders was over whelming.  Chief Adams has a son who is a paramedic in Santa Barbara.  Officials there were amazed at the response and the equipment available so quickly.

This presentation was a memorial for those who died or were injured forever by this accident.

Councilmember Erickson – commented on the media being first on the scene and wondered why that was the case.  Chief Adams explained that they heard the radio dispatch and were in a helicopter viewing morning commute traffic.  Therefore they were able to reach the scene first.  The police have good relations with the media.

Councilmember Thomas – questioned if this could be prevented, if the train would not have derailed if it was pushed instead of pulled.  Chief Adams replied that it would be difficult to prevent, but that discussions are ongoing to provide greater safety.  Such things as enhanced penalties would help, but there is legal resistance to this.

Community member Coby Horn – inquired about interoperability.  Chief Adams stated that it didn’t become an issue because of the Costco staging area and ability for face to face communication.  La County has in place the ISIS system with more agencies using this radio system, there will be easier ability to coordinate efforts with all agencies.  There is a study by the county of this issue because it is a major concern to link fire departments and police departments.  It will take time to set this up.  Ideally, a true officer on the street can talk anywhere in the county and others can talk to him.

Councilmember Smiley – commented that the leadership has lots to do with how this incident played out.  The example given was the difference between the leadership of Katrina vs 9/11.  This emergency was handled efficiently.

Chief Adams showed the tribute DVD and then thanked everyone who helped.

 

7.  Comments from Officials

County improvement and benefit assessments department.

Presentation on the process to convert private streets to public streets

There are two processes to deed the street to the county and become a public street.

Property owners can hire a registered CA civil engineer to draw plans to bring the streets up to the standards of the county and then hire a contractor to build the street to bring it to code.  The permits would be obtained by owners and dedicate to country gratis.  The public street would then be maintained by the county.

Second option is to make the street a county improvement district.

-          finance through annual property tax assessment

-          70% of the owners majority vote to do it

-          Insurance that 100% of the owners would dedicate right of way to the county

-          construction would be done by the county and then this would be maintained by the county

Right of persons on a private street was questioned.  Officials said to view lot plans and documents which show how much you own.  Normally the property line runs down the middle of the street – sometimes more on one area than another.

Question of zoning enforcement was asked by Councilmember Andrus.  Zoning, as far as set backs and such, are the same.

Councilmember Erickson – wondered how many streets go private to public.  Philips and Namminga commented that when they include the width of right of way, curb and gutter, and scope out the lines, often property owners will loose their landscape, dining room, or bedroom.  Therefore it doesn’t happen too often.  The street requires 60 feet wide of right a way and 40 feet curb to curb.  This is needed for emergency access.  Councilmember Erickson asked if a street could ever go public to private.  This would be through the land development division.  Public safety would determine negative impacts other areas.  Some residents in another area were concerned with through traffic and desired to close one end and gate the other.  This requires to vacate the easement.  There is no cost to go from public to private. 

Councilmember Andrus asked if it is true that the private street must cord off once a year to remain private.  County will get back with answer to that question.

Community member Steve Dunning – pleased that Stevens Street problem was partially resolved with removing the vehicles with problems.  Wanted to know who could answer enforcement questions to so the public can contact them directly.  The county agreed to send one letter to the Council responding back with all contact information and the Council will put it on the website for community members to access.

Is there a CA civil code for private streets, for example, as there was for the RV issue?

The community standards district could be expanded to include the RV issues.  Regional Planning and Building and Safety should have a written law with code enforcement and regional planning back up.

 

Councilmembers Hales, Andrus, Erickson, and Smiley signed up for tour.  Last winter the District voted to raise prices 12% instead of tiered rates.  In June they adopted a budget and 7% rate increase.  On December 13th  there will be a vote on raising the rates again.

Councilmember Toyon asked about cost cutting.  There was a handout presented on the budget.  The District had allocated 1.9 million toward on emergency planning.  There is a master plan for the whole system – fire, earthquake.

The interconnect is necessary between CVWD and Glendale in case of an emergency.  Southern California Edison is raising rates10% in January.

Councilmember Rawlins – expressed strong dissatisfaction with the fact that there was not sufficient notice of the opportunity to run for the CVWD board and the election was therefore not necessary due to lack of new candidates.  He is unhappy with the slow response to dealing with community issues.

Councilmember Pierce – requested that Senior Citizen age discounts be lowered to 62 years old.

Councilmember Erickson – pointed out that the total rate increase would be 61% over the years.

Board member Atwater explained that there must be improvement of the system over the years.  There is a choice to call for bonds or upgrade piece by piece as they plan to do.

Election is every two years, next one scheduled for 2007.  There must be a filing the last week of July, first week in August.

Councilmember Raghavachary – would like to know what law states that the District cannot say multi family housing causes negative demand on water supply.   

There will be water statistics available at that meeting on the 13th

The District is currently at the legal limit of pumping.  Glendale used to allow us to pump extra water, free of charge.  Now they will allow us to pump water they are not using, but are now charging us.

 

Crime stats for October:

Aggravated assaults - 3 (domestic violence)

Burglaries - 8

Arson - trash can related

Theft larceny - increase of 2

Auto theft - 2 total of 4

Councilmember Lunt:  regarding domestic violence, is there anything that can be done to lessen this number.  Response was that it is hard to police these situations because it is in the home.  During the winter months more people are inside for longer periods and this aggravates the situation.

Councilmember Pierce:  noted that there are more volunteers more patrolling around the high school.

President Hales:  noted that 2900 children are off campus lunch and there are bound to be issues.  Asked if there

could be a sheriff car in the outlying areas during lunch time, perhaps change the schedule of the patrol.  Lt. Lopez will

look into that solution.

Councilmember Erickson:  asked about the auto thefts and commented that regarding the Seapine community, a community watch program would be good.

Resident Dunning asked where in the civil code would one find the written laws regarding vehicles on private streets.  Lt. Lopez pointed him to the motor vehicle codes.

Lt. Lopez also reminded the Council and audience that during holidays shopping it is especially important to lock up vehicles and to not allow packages to remain in plain sight. 

 

Saturday programs are in full swing with Native American tales on Saturday.  There will be holiday music.  There is a bookmark contest which will be judged by the La Crescenta Woman’s Club Juniors.  They have over 700 bookmarks to judge.

 

Mary Lou Posa will be unable to make it to the meeting, therefore our John Draman will be speaking this Monday night.

 

On December the 28th  Tim Foy, planning for city of Glendale, will be speaking.  Thanks given to Councilmember Raghavachary for the disassembling the Florencita property.

 

8.  Public Comments

 

9.  Committee Reports

Councilmember Ostler arranged, with Councilmember Pierce, for the Council to be right behind Supervisor Antonovich in the Parade.  There are three convertibles which we will ride in, courtesy of Bob Smith Toyota.  Council is to meet at the dealership at 4:30 PM.  There will be a car pool to the parade, with the reception before and after Goudas and Vines.

Thanks from President Hales, and a request to meet again to put together suggestions for future elections.

Statistics from the years prior given.  There will be the installing in the December meeting for new members with new council voting on the officers after that installation.

December 5th there will be a meeting with the county and architects.

For the month of October, there were 3014 hits to the website.  The busy week was from the 16th, with 1186 hits in one week.

The Outreach Committee is planning a hiatus until January.

Waste disposal meeting is going to be held on Saturday, November 19th at 10 AM at La Crescenta Elementary School.

Rosemont Middle School held a meeting regarding the drug issues occurring in the school and finding ways to curb them.  What happens currently is that parents will drop off their child at the movie theater and they don’t go in.  Children will then go to the park or go somewhere else.  Councilmember Ostler commented that perhaps parents should go with them.  Councilmember Smiley suggested that parents go early to pick up their child to see exactly where they come from.

There were three trees destroyed and the county paved over the wells for safety.  There were also two paved over last year and by spring they will be replaced.  The tree in front of Tortas was backed over.  There was another tree that was bending over and Stuart Byles fixed the tree.  Phase two in planting will begin the next fiscal year.

The Plumb Crazy property designers have revised the plans from two to one story and moved parking to other side to save the ficus tree.  The new plans alleviate most problems.  There is less impact on rear neighbors and less impact on the ficus tree.  It is recommended to use water permeable paving for the tree and perhaps less wall in the back. 

Councilmember Toyon read the letter written to Regional Planning regarding the new plans submitted by the Plumb Crazy property designers.  Motion to pass the verbiage was made by Councilmember Lunt, Seconded by President Hales.  Discussion:  Councilmember Andrus praised the good architectural modification of design and asked about the need to discuss types of materials and size of windows.  President Hales also expressed concern about being specific about the materials.  Councilmember Toyon explained that the design already contained rock and Foothill Design was recommending natural verses artificial rock.  Vote cast to pass verbiage was unanimous. 

La Crescenta Motel:  demolition permit pulled 3-4 weeks ago and should be begin within 5 months. 

Property by Tazza coffee, Foothill Reality and small house red house, new plans submitted due to parking issues.  Originally plans were to build a three story building to contain all offices, mortgage broker and Foothill Realty with the rest to be rented.  Current plans are for a two story office building, but these may be revised again to include mixed use.

 Resident Alex Rojic asked about the proposed school on Rosemont Avenue.  Councilmember Raghavachary replied that there has not been anything proposed to the planning commission.  All we know at this time is that  escrow has closed and no plans have been submitted.

 

10.  Items from Council

 

11.  Slate of officers from the Nominating Committee, Councilmember Rawlins, Ostler, Lunt, who contacted all Councilmembers to see what position they desired.  The nominations include:

President - Hales, Beatty

Vice President - Raghavachary

Recording Secretary - Ostler

Treasurer - Thomas

Corresponding Secretary - Erickson

 

12.  Correspondence - Councilmember Raghavachary

 

13.  Treasurer’s Report - Councilmember Erickson

Report filed for audit

 

14.  Announcements

 

15.  Adjournment