CRESCENTA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL
General Meeting
September 16, 2004—7:00 p.m.—Sheriff’s Station
MINUTES
1. Call to Order President Rawlins
Councilmembers Present: Adelman, Andrus, Beatty, Gilden, Hales, LaJoice, Ostler, Raghavachary, Smiley, President Rawlins
2. Correspondence President Rawlins
CVTC received a letter of thanks from Leeann Ostler for flowers sent upon the birth of a baby girl. The city of La Canada Flintridge replied to an inquiry from CVTC regarding future plans of the intersection of Briggs and Foothill: there are currently no plans to install a traffic signal. CVTC received a letter asking for code enforcement to remove boats being stored on Altura Ave.; Councilmember Raghavachary will follow up on this. County Code Enforcement removed an illegal business sign at 4308 La Crescenta Ave.
3. Report from Treasurer President Rawlins
Currently there is approximately $5400 in the CVTC account.
4. Approval of Minutes of CVTC meeting on August 19, 2004 Councilmember Hales
5. Public Comments - none
6. Comments from Officials
Mark Totten, the new La Crescenta Library children’s librarian, was introduced.
Dennis Erdman, the new general manager of CVWD, was introduced. At the CVWD meeting on August 24, 2004 a contract for an emergency response plan was approved. We are at a 3.6% reduction of water usage from last year, but improvement is still hoped for in conservation efforts. A contract was approved to replace defunct water mains. A water quality sampling station was authorized in accordance with Hyperion Water Plant’s specifications. CVWD provides 6 ½ -7 million gallons per day to its customers. A water leak audit indicates that water losses approach 31,000 gallons per day due to leaks. CVWD is undergoing a leak detection program.
A letter from Rita Hadjimanoukian was issued regarding speed enforcement on Pennsylvania between Markridge and Foothill, which will begin about October 30, 2004. The County recommends time-limited parking spots to prevent prolonged parking of cars for sale on Foothill Boulevard. Councilmember Raghavachary requested a 2 a.m.-6 a.m. restriction instead. L.A. County will consider this and report. Councilmember Raghavachary made a motion that CVTC approve this measure should the County give permission, and it was seconded by Councilmember Smiley. The motion carried: 7 in favor (Councilmembers Adelman, Gilden, Hales, Ostler, Raghavachary, Smiley, Rawlins); 2 opposed (Councilmembers Beatty, LaJoice).
A resident submitted a request for a covered bus bench at La Crescenta and Foothill, in addition to a request that sidewalks on La Crescenta be cleaned. L.A. County will review these issues.
Santa Monica Conservancy recently made about $200,000 in acquisitions. A performance review commission issued recommendations to the Governor for California’s operations to be improved. The commission’s recommendation was to concentrate the control of state properties (acquisitions and land management) and allotments of monies in a couple of committees in Sacramento. Thus, budgets could be settled by selling properties. Santa Monica Conservancy responded to each recommendation, stating that control by local experts will be much more efficient.
There were eight collisions in August. CHP has been using radar on Pennsylvania for quite a while. Radar will be used on the 210 Freeway from Sylmar to Arcadia. A new traffic signal has been installed at Pennsylvania and Altura Avenues. Former Division Chief Mike Brown became Departmental Commissioner in Sacramento. The building currently under construction at the 2 and 210 Freeways will be the CHP communications facility.
Saturday September 18 will be an art walk from 9-4 p.m. on Honolulu. The Octoberfest kick-off mixer will be on Wednesday, Sept 29 at Citibank on Honolulu from 6-9 p.m. Octoberfest will be held on October 2 with new rides and games from 12 noon –11 p.m.
Mr. Lawler presented a history of the La Crescenta Library. The next meeting of the Historical Society will be on Monday, September 20, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. at the Church of Religious Science.
Applications for candidates wishing to run for CVTC are currently available, and are due October 14, 2004.
A resident was concerned about heavy traffic along Orange Ave. L.A. County will study this and report. In the near future speed and count studies will be conducted near schools, specifically along Whittier Ave. and near CV High School.
Councilmembers Raghavachary and Gilden attended the last meeting of the La Canada City Council to hear Metropolitan Transit Authority discuss a feasibility study to construct a tunnel connecting the 710 and 210 freeways. MTA agreed to request that the study be extended to include La Crescenta.
Paradise Valley Homeowners Association sent a letter to L.A. County indicating that if there is a flood they will hold the County responsible for home damage. It was suggested that the debris basins in the unincorporated area might be in danger as well, and CVTC may wish to consider similar measures.
Councilmember Raghavachary is attempting to set up a meeting with L.A. County to discuss the Community Standards District. A "for sale" sign is back up on the Maylane Motel property.
The last meeting was well attended and focused on ways to increase voter participation. Councilmember Andrus asked L.A. County if it is legal to post signs promoting CVTC elections at General Election polling places. They responded that signs may be placed inside, as well as outside polling places. A motion was passed to allocate $100 for supplies to produce these signs.
CVTC Library Committee attended Supervisor Antonovich’s Library Committee meeting.
President Rawlins indicated that it was a positive meeting, although no specifics were given on land acquisition.
8. Other items
A trails committee was formed at the last CVTC meeting, and since then President Rawlins has had much input. He solicited input from Sussy Nemar in Supervisor Antonovich’s office, who said that in other communities it is the community members who run the committee with the town council operating as an advisory body. Councilmember Raghavachary moved that we dissolve the current trails committee and create a trails liaison group to L.A. County, and that Councilmembers Beatty and Erickson be the liaisons to the community and L.A. County. Councilmember Hales seconded it, and discussion followed, including community comments. The motion passed unanimously with two abstaining.
Councilmember Adelman was one of many neighbors to receive an anonymous letter condemning the appearance of his home. He wished to clarify that the letter did not originate with CVTC.
CVTC members have been invited to meet with Supervisor Antonovich on October 29 at 4:00 p.m.
GUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Escalante invited CVTC to meet with GUSD Board of Education President Greg Krikorian on Wednesday, October 6, 2004 at 5:30 p.m.
CVTC will run the beverage booth at Octoberfest on October 2. Town Council volunteers will be President and Mrs. Rawlins, Councilmember and Mrs. Gilden, Brian Ostler.
Councilmember Adelman said that after three years of serving on CVTC, he will not seek re-election, and will serve out his term that concludes at the end of this year.
Business cards, nameplate and nametag are being acquired for Councilmember Andrus.