CRESCENTA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes
General Meeting
November 15, 2007 7 PM
Crescenta Valley High School Career Center
1. Call to Order 7:04PM President Andrus
2. Flag Salute Cub Scout Troop 302, Monte Vista Scout John and Karen Gates
3. Invocation President Andrus
4. Roll Call Councilmember Beatty
Absent - Councilmembers Campbell, Choate, Raghavachary
Councilmember Erickson arrived late from CV Chamber Dinner.
5. Minutes of October General Meeting were approved.
6. Honored Historic Home
The Home of Patrick and Melanie Anson at 2435 Orange Avenue was honored. This home was built in1925 as a Hunting Lodge and has extensive rock work throughout.
7. Comments from Officials
California Highway Patrol Officer Todd Workman
Traffic Collisions for month of October: eight non-injuries, and two DUI, one injury. Officer Workman also addressed the new DMV renewal requirement for seniors that would require computer interface, and if failed, a formal drivers’ test would be required.
CHP conducted a child seat safety check and found 100% of those checked were incorrectly installed.
L A County Deputy Sheriff George Valdivia
Deputy Valdivia reported the following offenses for October: four aggravated assaults, 21 burglaries, 23 larceny/thefts, and one motor vehicle theft.
L A County Fire Stephanie English
Ms. English talked about the extreme danger associated with wind driven fires that in Santa Clarita blew embers far from fire to burn an additional 12 homes. Councilmember Beatty was told to consult with local fire officials concerning gasoline powered pumps to drive home sprinklers.
Councilmember Cleven was also referred to local fire officials regarding the question of cutting back brush on public lands around private homes.
Student Council Representative Greg Kilpatrick
President Andrus announced that Student Council Representative Annie Lawler term is expiring December 2007 and that Greg Kilpatrick will give the report.
Greg addressed the traffic problems with other students and how they might be solved. Greg also mentioned that the trash issue is beginning to work, with less trash on campus and in the streets.
8. Special Guest Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Mr. Lawren Markle
Mr. Markle discussed the Verdugo Hills Golf Course issue of combining funds to save the property, i.e. an effort to join funds from Los Angeles City, LA County, and the Santa Monica Conservancy.
9. Public Comment
Mrs. Georgina Truffar, a resident of Caracas street, is asking that the liquid- amber trees on their property, for which the County has an easement, not be trimmed by the County's subcontractors who over trim. She suggested that the Caracas street home owners hire an arborist and trim the trees themselves. She asked the reason for trimming, how to stop it. This was referred to the Streets and Roadway Committee.
Mrs. Cheryl Davis from the C V DOGS read the letter of support from The Glendale Humane Society and presented additional signatures, now totaling 1236.
Mr. Neville Hong, the youth pastor of the Antioch Community Church, invited everyone to the Messiah Presentation December 8th, 2007, at 7:30 PM at the Lanterman Auditorium in La Canada.
10. Correspondence
Councilmember Thomas read letter in support of the Hometown Banners from Patricia Ranous.
11. Committee Reports
Election Committee Councilmembers Smiley and Thomas
Regular Voting Members
1st - Grace Andrus - 244 votes
2nd - Cheryl Davis - 188 votes
3rd - Frank Beyt - 179 votes
Alternate Members
4th - 1st Alternate - Elizabeth Arnold - 175 votes
5th - 2nd Alternate - Dennis van Bremen - 168 votes
6th - 3rd Alternate - Charles Beatty - 165 votes
Remaining Candidates
7th - Susan Kilpatrick - 134 votes
8th - Todd Thornbury - 58 votes
9th - E. Bonnie Marshall-Creel - 43 votes
10th - Susie Fighera - 18 votes
Statistics
Total number of voters = 534
Total number of regular voters = 367
Total number of absentee voters = 167
Total number of votes = 1,372
Nominated Slate of Officers
President Grace Andrus
Vice President Steve Pierce
Recording Secretary Cheryl Davis
Treasurer Frank Beyt
Corresponding Secretary Robert Thomas
Finance/Fundraising Committee Report Councilmember Pierce
Treasurer’s Report had a beginning balance of $25,313.34 and an ending balance11/15/07 of $9,608.88.
Banner Committee Report Councilmember Erickson
Ray Larson reviewed the Banner celebration at the American Legion Hall on Nov 10, 2007, with about 150 people present. The Council was shown the Banner video that was originally presented at the celebration.
Councilmember Beatty stated that Charter Cable Channel 25 will air the American Legion Program as soon as they receive the DVD being prepared by Ray Larsen.
Foothill Design Committee President Andrus reporting for Councilmember Raghavachary
Report on CSD Meeting, about 100 people present with positive responses from those there with a few questions from Foothill Property owners, one wanting compensation for having to improve his property and one not wanting any ordinances.
Letter regarding Aposhian Property- President Andrus motioned and seconded by Councilmember Beatty, that we send a letter in favor of this development on Foothill near La Crescenta Ave. Passed unanimously.
The (Maylane) La Crescenta Motel property is moving forward with some concern about traffic exiting on to Briggs Ave. The plans were approved in May of 2005 so a new traffic study may not be warranted. Paul Novak,
from Supervisor Antonovich's office is looking into it.
Land Use Committee Councilmember Thomas
Wednesday, December 5th at 9AM, there will be a public meeting downtown to address the removal of 3 oak trees and the encroachment on 8 more trees at 2748 Frances.
Councilmember Thomas also addressed the grant he had worked on. The Council is not eligible for this grant with out policy changes, but we can develop bike paths and are pursing these.
Streets/Roadways/Parks/Safety Committee Councilmembers Pierce,
and Cleven
Councilmember Cleven reported on Adopt-a-Tree. We can not prune the trees. The county hires a company from Altadena to trim trees. President Andrus asks for a press article to adopt a Foothill tree and to find out if old adopters still take care of their trees.
Youths and Seniors Committee Councilmember Cleven
Councilmember Cleven went to CV Cares yesterday and reports CVHS is more active this year with students who need help. Vandalism and theft are down this year as well. With Betty Barnes retiring Sarah Hagman now seems to show more interest in girl problems than boy problems.
12. Items from Council
President Andrus reports on Welcome to La Crescenta signs at Pickens Canyon, the 210 onramp, Ellis property at Pennsylvania and Foothill and the CVWD property near Pennsylvania and 210 off ramp. The font, design and colors are all decided but she did not have the final picture. They will be coming soon. The CVWD will choose the position for their sign. Norma Ellis was in favor of the CSD and also is still on board for the sign.
Pickens Canyon Park has a tentative finish date in January 2008.
The Chamber will have elections on Wednesday, November 21st for their officers for next year. As honorary members, President Andrus will vote for us. Since there is only one person for each office she read the list of who was running and if anyone opposed these. No one opposed them.
Councilmember Cleven reported on Glendale City Trail meeting he attended with Frank Beyt. The Glendale Sports Complex is the center of activity up to the fire roads and to other trails. The City of Glendale is joining two trails to make a loop trail.
Councilmember Cleven reported on the third cell tower going in on Public Storage property below OSH. While we can not fight it on health issues unless we go to the federal level, we can ask for aesthetic issues to be addressed. Councilmember Cleven spoke to Verizon and it will be 4 months before they get their permit. There is a need for a Conditional Use Permit due to 3 towers in close proximity. The camouflage of an electric pole left the council wondering if a better design could be achieved, a pine tree or even a redwood tree. Councilmember Erickson moved to camouflage the pole in a better way. The motion passed with a letter to be written by Councilman Thomas to Verizon with copies to both Congressman Dreier and the owner.
Councilman Pierce reported on 210 freeway cleanup with the Chamber twice a month. The next clean up will be first week of Dec. The community is welcome to join in these efforts to keep the off ramp clean.
Councilmember Beatty moved to adopt article XII Standing Rules by adding a paragraph E
All Executive committee meetings are open to the general public and members of the press, with the provision of entering closed session when discussing matters regarding legal proceeding and any other issues deemed necessary by a majority of the executive committee. Councilwoman Smiley seconded the motion. Much discussion followed with the vote being 5-4 opposed.
Councilmember Pierce made a new motion to strike out the part about closed sessions, Councilman Beatty seconded. There was a friendly amendment to replace standing rule A instead of making this a new standing rule which would actually be in conflict with rule A. The new rule would read, "Executive committee meetings are open to the public." This passed 6-2 with 1 abstention.
13. Announcements
12/1/07, Saturday Montrose Christmas Parade 6 PM Honolulu Ave
12/6/07, Thursday Exec Committee meeting 7PM Sheriff’s Station
12/20/07 General Meeting/Holiday Party 7 PM CVHS Career Center
14. Adjournment at 10:05 PM
Charles K. Beatty Danette Erickson Frank Beyt
Recording Secretary Rec. Sec. Asst. Assisting the Recorders