1. Call to Order President Rawlins

• Pledge of Allegiance Council-member Gilden

• Invocation Council-member Ostler
• Roll Call Council-member Hales

Council-members Present: Andrus, Adelman, Beatty, Erickson, Gilden, Hales, Lunt, Ostler, Raghavachary, Smiley, President Rawlins

2. Correspondence Council-member Lunt

An e-mail was received inquiring as to the possibility of CVTC encouraging family restaurants in the area. An e-mail was received notifying CVTC of possible gang sightings in local neighborhoods, i.e. young men with short hair and questionable attire. An e-mail was received from a resident asking if CVTC is looking into establishing some sort of guidelines for real estate developers. Council-member Raghavachary will respond to this resident that his concerns were voiced, and that he should come directly to a Town Council meeting.

3. Report from Treasurer Council-member Erickson

4. Approval of Minutes of CVTC meeting, September 16, 2004 Council-member Hales

5. Guest Speakers

• Representatives from BFI Disposal: Richard Ashworth, operations manager; Erin Weir, recycling coordinator; Thomas Solis. With fully automated trash pickup there has been a jump of recycling from 36% in July to 51% in September. Mr. Ashworth’s remarks spoke to some of the questions BFI has received. BFI will take extra bundles without extra charge, i.e. yard trimmings. Smaller containers are now available on request (90, 60 and 30 gallon containers). Second carts are also available. BFI apologized for their failure to solicit input from the Crescenta Valley Town Council before implementing the new trash pickup program. The sorting of recyclable materials now takes place at Sun Valley Paper Stock, the recycling facility. An audience member raised the concern that their street sweeper comes on the same day as trash collection, causing problems with trash containers left in the street. Shari Afshari, of L.A. County Public Works, indicated that they are attempting to coordinate schedules so that street sweepers come the day after trash collection, but this is complicated by the "open market system"--meaning the use of private contractors. She said that La Crescenta could be considered a priority if and when L.A. County implements a contract franchise system. L.A. County will gather community input prior to starting a new system. Existing L.A. County ordinance states that cans should be taken off streets by 8 p.m. on day of collection. Enforcement of this rule is the responsibility of the road maintenance division. Garbage cans should be put in the street at the curb. Tom Ibara, representative of Crown Disposal Company which services the City of San Fernando, thinks that BFI is doing a good job and that Crown Disposal is unable to compete at this time. If L.A. County goes to the franchise system in Crescenta Valley, then Crown Disposal will put in their bid for servicing Crescenta Valley. A representative from Solid Waste Disposal also praised BFI in dealing with the large task of changing trash containers.
• Captain Peters, Sheriff’s Department (unavailable)
• Bob Yousefian, Mayor, City of Glendale (population 205,000--projected to increase by 19,000 by 2020). Mr. Yousefian suggested that having too many trash haulers puts wear and tear on roads, and that Crescenta Valley should consider going to one provider (as La Canada is currently considering). Glendale has connected a pipeline to CVWD to sell extra water from Metropolitan Water District at cost. Glendale is planning to expand the Montrose Library, including senior housing, a community center, and subterranean parking. Then they will work on expanding the fire department. Glendale has had problems with taggers becoming violent gang members and committing narcotics-related crimes. Glendale will add 100 more officers to their current force of 288 police officers. Mr. Yousefian would like to connect the red and gold rail lines to complete an east-west connection from Pasadena-Burbank in order to mitigate traffic congestion. Mr. Yousefian opposes the proposed 710 Freeway. In the future multiple railroad crossings will need to be built to accommodate the projected increase in containers from large ships. Council-member Gilden asked about Glendale’s plan for multi-family housing. Mayor Yousefian responded that they are restudying all multi-family zoning. They have started to revamp parking and zoning codes, especially multi-family zoning that is right next to single family residences. Lobbyists in Sacramento are pushing for dense housing, and as a result Glendale will be focusing their growth into the core of downtown, i.e., residences above commercial properties. Glendale has also purchased hillside properties for preservation. They are also trying to increase home ownership of condominiums and fewer apartments. Some Montrose properties are converting to condominiums, and Glendale’s goal is to down zone all streets that are zoned multifamily, but are currently single family residences. Council-member Lunt asked about the controversial fence ordinance. Mayor Yousefian indicated that the ordinance will stand, as it has been in place since 1922. If fences were built before 1952 they will be grandfathered in, but if fences were installed after 1952 they are illegal. A business tax for Montrose businesses was passed.
• Candidates for the Crescenta Valley Town Council

Charles Beatty, Grace Andrus, Sharon Raghavachary, Webster Williams (absent), Robert Thomas, William Bodell.

5. Public Comments

Two residents voiced their concern about narcotics activities in the house next door to them. They had brought this concern to the Sheriff’s department, who indicated to them that the department was understaffed. They spoke to the Watch Commander and received the same response. One of the complaining residents, a former police officer working in gang and narcotics, urged that narcotics units should be working in our area on Friday and Saturday nights—times of high activity. Council-member Adelman suggested that CVTC send letters to Sheriff Baca and Under-Sheriff Stonich regarding this issue. Council-member Beatty suggested that the letter go to Captain Peters at Briggs Station.

Lieutenant Scott Brickert addressed this case. He indicated that Captain Peters was informed of the situation and that enforcement activities are currently in place, but he is unable to discuss details of the case. Council-member Hales inquired about the Sheriff station’s response of insufficient staffing. Lieutenant Brickert apologized that the complaining residents received this response, and that enforcement did indeed begin. (Lieutenant Brickert said he could not comment on an e-mail received by CVTC complaining of alleged gang member citings, as he has not seen evidence to support this.) The resident’s concern is that gang problems need gang enforcement officers with expertise, and that we need officers targeting gangs. The only way to do this is to monitor them constantly, tracking their signs, etc. His experience is that gangs come through La Crescenta frequently, and that without the resources to monitor them we will never know if we have a gang problem. Lieutenant Brickert confirmed that the Briggs Sheriff’s Station does not have a special narcotics division. Council-member Adelman stated that cities around CV have gang/narcotics enforcement in place, and he is concerned that this is our "soft spot," to which gang activity will gravitate. Lieutenant Brickert indicated that a narcotics bureau team is assigned to this station but they are assigned to detective division and operate out of Alta Dena. Council-member Gilden asked if there is a mechanism in place that is proactive, rather than reactive. Lieutenant Brickert responded that officers are constantly deployed to gang activity based on assessments of Captain Peters. Council-member Raghavachary suggested that a special gang unit come assess our area as a preventive measure. Candidate Robert Thomson and President Rawlins reported that narcotics activity has gone on in their neighborhoods over the years. President Rawlins recommended that a light sensor be installed at Encinal reservoir to mitigate narcotics activities there. Council-member Andrus stated that she has witnessed drug activity throughout her years growing up in La Crescenta, and that she is aware of five reported incidents that have not been handled properly.

Council-member Gilden moved that CVTC write two letters. One to be sent to Captain Peters detailing the complaint of this particular drug activity in a La Crescenta neighborhood, and requesting that action be taken immediately—copies to be sent to Sheriff Baca and Under-Sheriff Stonich. A second letter to be sent to Sheriff Baca and Under-Sheriff Stonitch detailing concerns for our community, recounting a history of complaints, asking that they reevaluate the approach to policing our area (including assigning special gang and narcotics specialists), and requesting that this jurisdiction be more responsive to citizen complaints—a copy to be sent to Captain Peters. Council-member Lunt offered to draft the letters, with help from Council-member Adelman. Councilmember Adelman moved to amend the motion so that only one letter would be sent, combing the content of both letters into one to avoid overlap. Discussion followed, with a call for question. The amendment passed seven to two. The issues listed in Council-member Gilden’s motion will be combined into one letter. Council-member Raghavachary suggested that CVTC request a response from the recipients of the letters. A blind copy will be sent to Supervisor Antonovich. A motion to send the letter passed unanimously. The letter will be sent as soon as it is signed by President Rawlins.

The Sheriff’s Station will host the Haunted Jail on October 29 and 30, admission $7.

6. Comments from Officials

• La Crescenta Library Vickie Guagliardo
• State and Federal Officials (not present)
• Crescenta Valley Water District Ernie Weber

Mr. Weber clarified that Crescenta Valley will get water from the City of Glendale only as an emergency measure. Otherwise, most of CV’s water is purchased from Metropolitan Water District. CV Water District has recorded 13.7 inches of rainfall to date during this water year; the average is 23.4 inches.

• Supervisor Antonovich’s Office (no comments)
• Santa Monica Conservancy Heinz Ellersieck
• California Highway Patrol Officer Vince Bell

When a school bus has lights flashing, traffic on both sides of the street must stop. More patrolling with radar has been taking place on Foothill. No tickets are issued on parked cars unless they are responding to specific requests.

• Montrose Chamber of Commerce (not present)
• Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce (not present)
• Historical Society Mike Lawler

5. Committee Reports

• Web page Council-member Raghavachary
• Streets, Roads and Parks Council-member Ostler
• Foothill Design/Planning Council-member Raghavachary

Los Angeles County has verbally agreed to water 51 trees to be installed in January. CVTC will ask CVWD to water the trees only in emergency situations. Also, on November 1, 2004 FDC will meet with L.A. County Regional Planning and a planning deputy from Supervisor Antonovich’s Office to present a draft of the proposed Community Standards District for Foothill Boulevard.

• Community Outreach Council-members Smiley and Gilden

COC is planning the locations of banners advertising CVTC elections.

• Library President Rawlins

Council members will be attending a meeting with Supervisor Antonovich on October 29 at 4:00 p.m. to discuss the future La Crescenta Library.

• Elections Council-member Lunt

Bill Bodell, who withdrew from candidacy after the deadline for candidate filing, later indicated his desire to be re-installed as a candidate. CVTC By-laws indicate that the CVTC Election Committee will run the election. A vote was taken regarding Bill Bodell’s candidacy: 6-2 in opposition to reinstating his candidacy after the deadline. October 27, 2004 is the deadline for requesting absentee ballots, which are due by 5:00 p.m. on November 6, 2004 at the Sheriff’s Station. Volunteers are invited to help run the elections. A motion passed for four banners advertising CVTC elections be purchased.

5. Items from Council
6. Announcements

October is "End Domestic Violence" and "Breast Cancer Awareness" month.

• November 4, 2004 - CV Town Council Executive Meeting
• November 6, 2004 - CV Town Council Elections
• November 18, 204 - CV Town Council Meeting

11. Adjournment 11:20 p.m.