CRESCENTA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL

 General Meeting Minutes

September 15, 2005

Official Start Time 7:04 P.M.

Official End Time 9:05 P.M.

 

1.  Call to Order - President Hales

Present                                                                                    Absent

Councilmember Andrus                                                     Councilmember Thomas

Councilmember Beatty                                                     

Councilmember Erickson

Councilmember Lunt

Councilmember Ostler

Councilmember Pierce                                                     

Councilmember Raghavchary

Councilmember Rawlins                                                   

Councilmember Smiley

Councilmember Toyon

President Hales      

 

2.  Acknowledgement of Officials and Guests

 

3.  Installation of Steve Pierce, Alternate CVTC Member - President Hales

 

4.  Approval of Minutes of CVTC General Meeting, August 18, 2005

     Motion to approve the minutes made by Councilmember Erickson, Seconded by Councilmember Beatty, passed unanimously  

5.  Guest Speaker

                Lee Baca, Los Angeles County Sheriff

Quality of life is number one mission in the Sheriff’s Department.  This is the largest department in the US and has the largest jail system.  There are 50,000 members of this department and it covers 40 cities, the transit system, rapid rail system, trains, and nine community colleges. 

In order to get the bureaucrats at the top get interested in the problems, Sheriff Baca leads from the middle down.

He learns from the community and talks with all sorts of people from secretaries, to Councilmembers.  Sheriff Baca is pleased that the culture has changed to leadership within the Sheriff’s Department.  He believes not all issues need to be addressed downtown and he works on a regular basis with city managers, and the like, to keep the community in a position of power.  Every community has its own needs and he knows the differences in various communities.  In the Crescenta Valley we have nature, good neighbors, and common values. 

The Sheriff’s Department is a learning culture with several universities in the system to allow department employees to continue their education.  This system has 2000 people in school, with 400 graduated. 

Sheriff Baca has no fear of making mistakes but a willingness to do more.  The Sheriff Department has sent deputies   and a helicopter to New Orleans and performed rescues. 

Councilmember Erickson asked what the biggest changes have been within the department.

Sheriff Baca responded that there are 1,100 positions open and they are now in a recruitment phase.  Currently there is the best crime lab in America being built at Cal State Los Angeles.  There are three new stations being built, a new academy, to replace the closing Whittier academy, and one at the Antelope Valley Community College which will be similar to the one at the community college in Santa Clarita. 

Councilmember Andrus asked if the Sheriff could inform the Council and community about current policies of the Sheriff’s Department in relation to arrested illegal immigrants and the reporting of these detainees to the INS.

Sheriff Baca replied that all illegal immigrants, when booked, are audited back to the Immigrations and Customs Enforcements Bureau.  Once they serve the sentence, they are then transferred to a federal facility and then readied for deportation. 

Councilmember Andrus then asked if the Sheriff knew approximately how many prisoners in the California system are illegal immigrants.  According to the Sheriff, there are 40,000 illegal immigrant inmates in California with LA County having 4,000-5,000 illegal immigrant inmates, which is about 23%. 

Next Councilmember Andrus asked if there was any current information on the progress of the extradition for the Mexican-national fugitive, Armando Garcia, who is wanted in connection with the murder of Deputy David March. Sheriff Baca indicated that there are US Marshals and Mexican police authorities working together who know where they believe he is and are trying to capture him.  Apparently it is an unsafe location and they are “waiting him out.”  The Sheriff believes it “won’t be long before they catch him.”  There is an agreement to work with the Mexican police and there are also bounty hunters working on the capture as well.

 Finally, Councilmember Andrus asked if, due to the increase in the budget, we were going to be able to have more officers in the Crescenta Valley station.  Sheriff Baca said that they are recruiting and training and cycling though cities to add deputies as allowed.  He also stated that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has a high priority to staff the stations. 

President Hales asked about natural disaster resources in our area.  The Sheriff assured the Council that there is a comprehensive system already in place and that the Crescenta Valley Station is connected to the larger County station and can handle water disasters, earthquake, civil unrest, and terrorist related issues.  There Sheriff also suggested that perhaps a meeting can be in the emergency center where we can see how everything works.  If there is an 8.0 earthquake, the largest potential problem would be from the San Andres fault, where pipes are not earthquake proof.  This would cause spillage of natural gas, petroleum, and water and would be a threat to this area.  There needs to be a retrofitting of those pipe lines on the fault line.  It was the Sheriff’s opinion that if we keep saying we want small government we cannot fix the problems.  He also voiced his opinion that the loss of adding to the sales tax was not good for local government. 

Councilmember Raghavachary mentioned the Community Emergency Response Teams.  Sheriff Baca said that it would be good to have members of the community to be CERT trained and there needs to be basic preparedness at home, including making sure pipes are ready to withstand an earthquake and shut off system for gas at a source away from the house. 

Resident Bob Thompson asked what can residents as individuals do to make our community better.  The sheriff talked about individuals being the eyes and ears in the community, driving unmarked cars, and being volunteers.  As a volunteer, an individual would receive a uniform and some academy training.  They could work administratively in the station or on patrol.  There are about 5,000 volunteers in the department and there is also a reserve program.    These people communicate with the public, support work for rescue, and work at the station.  There is no age limitation for the volunteers and reserves and even those in a wheelchair can answer phones. 

Resident Vito Canilla talked about having known Sheriff Baca for the last 33 years, since he was a LT.  Mr. Canilla said Sheriff Baca knows the department and responds to the people. 

Resident Ester Norbut asked if the Sheriff Department was feeling pressure form the Evacuees from the Hurricane.  Sheriff Baca discussed the Interfaith Council which has formed a support group for these people, has found 300 homes here.  He reminded everyone that this also happened in other parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Georgia.  He also sees the department, having raised a half a million dollars for police and fire families of 9/11, the most charitable organization in the nation. 

This concluded the Sheriff’s time with the Council.  

Captain Tim Peters mentioned that Councilmember Pierce contacted him regarding disaster preparedness and will be working with Deputy Randy Sulstrum in regards to the preparedness program, and to get community volunteers to work with them. 

Identified problem with larceny thefts – 24 in July (Cars), detectives worked nights, arrested 3 people in the first of August and this crime dropped to 3 in August. 

Monday- burglaries in Montrose, apartments, skylights and windows, 45 (10 linked to them).

16 part one crimes: 1 attempted rape, 5 burglaries, 3 grand theft autos, 2 vandalism acts, and 5 narcotics arrests. 

Randy Sulstrum is the community relations Sergeant who is working on dusting off the plans. 

Opened a communications room last November and can replicate an emergency center and recommended a Council tour before a meeting some time.  There was $110,000 given from the community to open the communications room. 

Also be diligent about fire protection, crush the brush – will burn out, and have an area evacuation plan.  It will take the county 24 hours to respond to needed help and that is why there is the importance of community involvement.  There needs to be water, food, ability to turn off gas, and ability to help others in the community. 

Dwane Barten – pregnant cat group burglaries.  Criminals would go to homes and claim to be looking for a lost cat, lost dog, etc.  These people are transients.

 

6.  Neighbor of the Month - CVCAN

Mike Padula and Grace Chase (Treasurer)- CV CAN  accepted the certificates for Susan Osborne – wonderful donor who met the remaining need for the track (granddaughter has back to school night).  The track should be completed next June.  CV CAN wants to partner with other projects

 

7.  Comments from Officials

New library times, story time has moved to 11 AM on Fridays, enhancing children’s service to include Saturday.  Friends funded programs for the summer.  On Saturday, 9-2, will be One Day Super Sale.

5K Run in October, Car Show October 28th, Business Expo was last night and it was great, Sheriff’s support group is available to raise money.  Recommends the CERT people come together, and be updated in their preparedness to support the Sheriff’s Department and the Fire Department .

Desires of this group is to preserve natural jewels in our community.  Last month Stuart Byles spoke.

Next meeting will be on Monday the Sept. 26th at Montrose library at 6 PM.

Local UFO abduction in Tujunga Canyon will be discussed on Monday at 7 PM.

October 26th will be a discussion of Vintage Baseball.

Seymour Thomas, local portrait artist, painted Woodrow Wilson portrait which hangs in the White House.  He married the niece of Benjamin Briggs, who was the first teacher for La Crescenta and La Canada.  They lived here from 1915- to the mid 50’s and was the designer of St. Luke’s Church.  Recommends the new library be named after him.

Water usage has dropped in the last few weeks.  Currently meeting needs 55% with 45% purchased water.  There was a billing error that has been corrected.  The water status is yellow for the last four weeks done by request of Foothill Water District, but now in the status is green.

ET controller rebate program has been going well, thanks to Dan Andrus, All American Landscape. 

Ground water assistance grant for ground water basin studies for new well construction has been received and there will be a demonstration on October 26th at 10 AM.

The Public Notice for district filing for board of directors was handled by the LA County Recorder 7/18-8/12.

The Valley Sun, 7/21, had a notice and there were also notices at the main office, open meeting discussions, and notices through the League of Woman Voters.

During the August Board meeting there was a proposal stating that the District media outreach protocol be set up with information kits, frequent press releases, editor meetings, and this was reminded to policy committee.  There will be incorporated a strategy plan, Wednesday, September 21st.

There was not a notice in the Pipeline or on the Website, but Website is being re-designed.

President Hales asked if these status notices help the community notice that they need to conserve water.

There is not a way to measure that.

Councilmember Toyon asked, “What if it was red?”

There would be notices to the residents, press conference, and an action plan.

            Councilmember Erickson asked about the water pipes.

The USEPA required every district to come up with a plan – for terrorist but not for earthquake – so there is a plan but it does not cover earthquakes.

President Hales asked if there was a “Time frame to restore pipes?”
There is no plan.

 

8.  Public Comments                   

 

9.  Items from Council

 

10.  Committee Reports

Final conditions for La Crescenta Motel property have been received.  Conditions included where appropriate.

The architects, Carde Ten, have been chosen and will be meeting with the Library Committee, prior to submitting drawings.  There will be monthly meetings as a committee

Saturday, October 1st, the Council will be manning coke booth number 3, from 5 to 11 PM.  Sept. 22nd is a mandatory meeting for booth volunteers.  There is an Oktoberfest mixer on Wednesday, Sept. 28th at Montrose Citibank, 6-8 PM

Election will be held Saturday, November 5th, at the Sheriff’s Station.  We are seeking candidates to fill 3 regular seats and 3 alternate seats.  We hope to mail notices through Antonovich’s office.  Applications available on website and the candidate forum will be held at the October 20th meeting.

The Outreach Committee will be working to support the election committee to help get out the vote and encourage qualified residents to run for a seat on the Council.

Letter was received from resident on Gertrude regarding a car repair business on her street.  This committee is currently looking into that situation.  Councilmember Andrus noticed several (maybe 7) call boxes out of order on our stretch of the 210 Freeway.  Councilmember Ostler will check into that issue.

“Why are regional planning and building and safety not on the same page?” questioned Councilmember Raghavachary.

Recreational building will not be built but will be landscaped and open to the public. There will be a fence and locked gate at 10 PM. Keeping rock wall, which will be reinforced, taking stones off to use to fix the rocks.  Neighbor said the gates are horrible, and the builder will put bad gates up making it look like a prison and cage at the zoo.  Builder offered to purchase trees the neighbor trees and fix driveway her driveway.  Stuart Byles said that the stucco wall will be stone.  Currently builder is adding queen palms, and crape myrtles, but oak trees like across the street, is preferred.  Currently there are Roman Cyprus trees in the plans and ficus trees in tree wells, along drive way.

Meeting at Rosemont was successful in keeping resource officer on full time basis, community advisory group, met September 8th, next one will be September 22nd,

Meeting September 27th to get tax refund, First Baptist Church, September 29th Glendale Library

 

11.  Correspondence - Councilmember Raghavachary

       Nomination for neighbor of the month

       Sunland-Tujunga hearing for Whitebird Project postponed for September 22nd

       Glendale Adventist September 24th

       New Horizons Open House September 24th

       Foothill Retirement Home, Wednesday September 28th 4-7 PM, St. Estaban in Tujunga

       Dodgers half - price Monday, September 26th, Tuesday 27th 7:10 PM

 

12.  Treasurer’s Report - Councilmember Erickson

       filed

 

13.  Announcements

Tri-Chamber Mixer September 28, 2005 6-8 PM - Beatty and Erickson and Pierce (Maybe Hales)

 

CV Tow representative came to say “thank you” to the Council for their support.  They got their GPD contract back and encouraged everyone to please give them a phone call if there is a problem.

 

14.  Adjournment