MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES
                          12/16/2008

 

1. CALL TO ORDER
Pledge of Allegiance-------Sarah Fuller
Roll Call
Members Present:
4601: Gino Sund, Tim Kelly; 4602: Okorie Ezieme, Sarah Fuller; 4603.01: Keith Gibbs, Alice Wessen;
4603.02: Ken Roberts; 4610: Tecumseh Shackelford, Gene Campbell; 4611: Allan Wasserman, Michele
Zack; 4612: Ken Balder; 4613:
Excused Absences: 4603.02: Sandra Thomas ; 4612: Ruth Neilan Edwards; 4613: Susan Goldman , Lorie
Judson; 4611: Michele Zack
2. OFFICER’S REPORTS
Recording Secretary -------Alice Wessen
Motion to approve minutes of November 18th, 2008
MSP Wessen/Roberts
Corresponding Secretary---Lorie Judson NR/No letters went out in November
Vice Chairman-----Ken Balder
Exect. Committee met, reviewed minutes, made corrections, developed agenda and discussed trash hauling
contract
Treasurer---------------------Tecumseh Shackelford
Balance Forward; $2267.15
Deposits 72.00
Subtotal $2,339.15
Checks cleared 0
Ending Balance $2,339.15
Chairman-----------Gino Sund
1. 2009 Election Rules Comm. Ruth Neilan Edwards is chair though she is out, so she will give her report at
next town council in January.
2. Cell tower of St Elizabeth’s church approved Dec 3 at regional planning.
We want to send our ATC letter showing that we support the neighbors of Elizabeth’s church in their
opposition to the cell tower.
3. GOVERNMENTAL REPORTS
Assemblyman Anthony Portantino-------Adam Carter (No Report)
Congressman, Adam Schiff---------------William Syms (No Report)
4 PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS
Altadena Sheriff’s Station-----Capitan Roosevelt Blow
Sat Dec 6th Altadena Station held tour of Altadena with tour of Altadena to raise funds for Altadena.
We also dedicated the stations new flagpole.
Dec 20th will do their annual toy and food giveaway.
Parenting conf with special victims discussion and what is legal for how to discipline child.
For information on local crime, visit the Crime Log: http://altadenasheriffs.blogspot.com/
Thanks to Sup. Antonovich we acquired a patrol vehicle that is a license plate reader. Already got a
hit using the automatic lic plate reader we found that a vehicle was stolen. Vehicle had been taken
from a burglary in Sierra Madre.
Capt. Blow introduced new Surface Area Lieutenant to handle community Lt Sheila Sanchez
California Highway Patrol-----Sergeant Todd Workman
29 traffic collisions in November. Majority are pedestrian oriented. Non-injury 20, injury 7, DUI 2
Toys were distributed to several sites around Altadena. If you know folks who could use toys, contact Todd
Workman.
Lake Ave is radar certified.
Dec 1st is our start of radar surveillance. 35 mph is the limit on Lake ave.
Please be sure to use car seats properly.
Mentioned the Glendale officer recently killed due to rain related collision.
There will be DUI checkpoints
Contact info: 626-296-8100
2130 Windsor Ave, Altadena across from Jack in the Box
5. ALTADENA FRANCHISE TRASH HAULING CONTRACT
ATC Vote: Recommendations on the elements of the proposed new trash-hauling contract for Altadena.
We will look at issues related to trash hauling.
Two presentations for Altadena.
1. Chair Grace Sanchez chair of La Crescenta Town Council. Chair Sanchez extends invitation to observe. 3rd
Thursday of month at La Crescenta Valley HS.
We switched from multiple carries to a contract carrier Allied Waste. I am more of a free enterprise
person so I was concerned, we as a council had no control over trash carriers but we could not do
much
For past three years, if there is a complaint, we can go directly go to county to force carrier to solve
problem. Prior to exclusive contract, we got a LOT of complaints. First year was difficult, but after
the first year, we took brunt of it and it has gotten a lot better. Street sweeper and trash hauling was
not coordinated so that also was an issue.
Roll out service for service was available. Vacationing folks can also get that service. Most
important, we have an umbrella organization with the county to handle issues. We had a rep from
Allied waste at every town council meeting so we could handle it immediately.
No longer attend because the amount of complaints went down so significantly.
I personally live on private street and it was important not to have multiple trucks going up and down.
Balder: did Allied operate in La Crescenta before?
Sund: In terms of backyard service. What of excess green waste? We have 4x a year of additional
pickup.
Keith Gibbs: When you have a problem, how do you handle it?
Chair Sanchez Ans: A county rep came to every meeting. Now we have a direct line. We have only
had one issue in last 6 months. County came to town council as requested and hauler came to resolve
the issue.
On another note, please visit Crescenta Valley Town Council .org where we have a federal petition.
Welcome folks come and sign it.
2. Presentation by DPW/County via PowerPoint. Main points are covered in attached document.
Scooter service is an additional cost. Basic rate plus 50%.
Public Comments: (Summary)
Kinneloa Assoc, 38 residents. We have private collection and are serviced by multiple haulers. Private
community on private street. Resistant to change. We divide our trash and we all are subject to brush
clearance. Avg lot size is ½ acre so green waste a big issue.
Need definition for self hauling for opting out.
What is duration of contract period?
Altadena Drive: Recently purchased home in Altadena. Attractive due to freedom to choose.
Competition seems best way to get what I want. Currently pays 35 dollars a month, which is more than what is
listed if we go for exclusive. Main concern was one hauler and seeing my rates rise dramatically, but this
appears to be less money.
Chaney Trail area in NW Altadena, private road with 37 houses. Have had a lot of discussion on our listserve.
Am in favor for exclusive contract. No control for fees. Poor service and no-one to appeal to. Charge for even
one bulky item pickup. Also concerned that recycled items are not in fact recycled. Only 5-10% recycles in our
area. Haulers have to compete at front end so we do not get best price.
Chaney Trail Area: Scooter person who gets a slight surcharge from BFI for scooter service. May opt out.
We have an issue with multiple trucks that cause wear and tear. One, two or three are hard on roads and noisy.
Due to ways roads are laid out, sometimes I am charged for my neighbors trash. We live in the wildlife urban
interface and do a lot of brush clearance. We find our selves trying to condense our twigs.
One home was charged 72.97, and another 92 and hauler could not explain why. 50% more for scooters for
hillsides seems steep.
Not paying 1K for a bearproof container, can we buy our own?
County responses:
If you are using dumpsters you can use the hauler you already have. You may choose whomever
including the one who wins the contract.
Duration of contract: we don’t have evergreen clauses. Provision in contract that we can extend one year
at a time up to three years for 10 years.
96 gallon container is equivalent to three 32 gallon containers. 8 containers under current process probably
co-mingled trash. So in essence if you are separating, you should have less trash.
Low emission trucks. We are finding due to AQMD requirements a lot of the haulers are committing to
alternative fuel vehicles. As you change your fleet you have to change to alternative fuel vehicles.
Annual criteria: hauler can only come to us for $$ increase if there is a change in consumer price index cost
and tipping fees (CPI ) IF no change they can’t ask for an increase rate.
Regarding your own containers, no. You are limited to franchisee carts for automated collection that work
with the trucks used.
Keith Gibbs: Self hauling question, Does that mean we can choose another hauler?
County: No, that literally means we haul ourselves.
Okorie Ezieme: Senior or incapacitated persons, what can be done to alleviate that to haul their trash to the
curb. What are residents going to do with existing trash bins?
County Ans; we can not force anyone to recycle. If customer is not able to roll it out , there is free roll out
services for 62 or older or disabled.
County coordinates with existing haulers to pick up old containers,
Sarah Fuller: Will we discuss issues of billing with quarterly newsletters?
County: We have some type of announcements of coming events. Billing will be quarterly How do you opt
out? Sign something and verify by county.
Gino Sund: Motion before the council:
1. Do we go with single hauler or semi exclusive
Motion: We go with a single hauler
M/S/P Wasserman, 2nd Wessen 8 plus 3 absentee votes, 1 opposed
2. What do we recommend to the county for services?
Comments: Alice Wessen: We need to revisit the 50% charge using scooter service. Many in my census
tract need the service and 50% is too high.
M/S Kelly, Wasserman: we accept the current list of services with additional discussion of scooter
service M/S/P Unanimous
6. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Southern California Edison-----------Dave Ford
Wanted to talk a few moments about infrastructure activity in the area.
SCE will be investing 1.6 billion into energy efficiency
We heard a great deal about outages occurring in Altadena area.
We have invested about 3.8 million dollars, tying in Kinneloa and other circuits coming down from Mt
Wilson. The infrastructure upgrades should eliminate the outages Altadenans have been facing.
Trees and fire hazard. Trees in foothill area are a special concern. SCE inspects foothill trees every 6 months.
If there are issues with trees and electrical wires, contact me.
Campaign to try and convert Christmas Tree Lane to LED lights. The cost of each bulb is far more expensive
but the payback is enormous.
2-300 compact fluorescent lights to Christmas Tree Lane.
Tehachapi renewable transmission project. 4M wind generated energy project, once complete will serve 3.5
million customers in So Cal.
L.A. County Parks Dept---------------Lorraine Martinez
Dec 19th Visit with Santa and Toy Give Away
Loma Alta Park: 626-398-5451 or 52
Discussed several programs put on by the park. Los Angeles County of Parks and Recreation
Will accommodate kids for whom schools are out on Dec. 19th with additional programs and camp activity
Altadena Library-----------------------Barbra Pearson
No report
Sheriff’s Support Group--------------Mike Manning
No report
7. SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS
Education Committee-------------Keith Gibbs NR
WAPAC----------------------------Michele Zack NR
Election Rules Committee-------Ruth Edwards NR
8. CENSUS TRACT REPORTS
4601: Tim Kelly issue of trash generated more input than any other activity
4602 Okorie Ezieme: welcomes emails and phone calls. Direct phone is 626-389-0645
Thanks those who called to give words of wisdom and encouragement.
Happy holidays.
Sarah Fuller: Enjoyed Christmas Tree lighting.
4603.01 Alice Wessen thanks Bill Westphall for updating the ATC website.
Kieth NR
4603.02: Ken Roberts NR
4610: Gene Campbell no report
Tecumseh Shackleford: Casitas parking issue: Public works made survey to support no parking 6am -6pm 7
days a week. School principal has been notified.
4611: Allan Wasserman pocket park on Marengo does need light gardening from 9am-11 this Saturday Dec
20th at the new pocket park
4612: Ken Balder Happy holidays and New Year.
9. OLD BUSINESS
Old Business: Regarding cell tower at St. Elizabeth. Unfortunately the ATC letter did not make it to Regional
Planning.
Two issues; CUP to put cell tower on ST Elizabeth ppty, pastor agreed to it without community input.
County granted cup permit but denied oak tree permit to remove the oak. Now we will appeal CUP.
Commissioner did acknowledge lack of letter. Town council did not want to approve without master plan.
Also town council opposed due to visual impact and architectural defamation.
Heritage Society also concerned due to old building impact.
Motion to send a letter that we already sent.
Letter to be sent to Sup Antonovich and Regional Planning correcting error of prior council to recommend
denial of cup permit
Kelly/Gibbs MSP unanimous
Business cards are here.
10. NEW BUSINESS
LUC is not very busy. Therefore want motion for LUC to review Altadena Community Standards for
recommendation back to council for areas that may be changed and improved
M: Balder, Second Wessen
MSP unanimous
11. PUBLIC COMMENT
none
Any person wishing to address the Council is requested to complete a public comment card located on the
piano at the rear of the room. Submit the card to the Chair prior the start of the meeting.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn 9:29PM