MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES 8/19/2008

 

 

  1. CALL TO ORDER: 7:05 PM
    Pledge of Allegiance: Ruth N Edwards
    Members Present: 4601: Gino Sund, Tim Kelly; 4602: Okorie Ezieme, Sarah Fuller ; 4603.01:
    Alice Wessen, Keith Gibbs; 4603.02: Not present; 4610: Tecumseh Shackleford , 4611: Alan
    Wasserman, Michele Zack, 4612: Ken Balder, Ruth Neilan Edwards; 4613: Susan Goldman, Lorie
    Judson.
    Excused Absences: (4603.02) S Thomas, (4610) Gene Campbell, (4613) Lori Judson
    (4603.02) S Lamb (resigned) open slot
    OFFICERS REPORTS:
    Recording Secretary: M. Duncan (Absent) Susan Goldman offered a correction of Jerry Rhoads’
    Census Tract.
    Motion: Accept correction
    M/S Passed
    Treasurer’s Report: B. Thompson - bank balance currently at $2771.84
    Check cleared for $98.85 (for website hosting)
    Motion: Accept the Treasurer’s Report
    M/S Passed
    Corresponding Secretary Report:
    • Received letter from Supervisor Antonovich acknowledging receipt of ATC letter requesting
    a grand jury investigation of the Lincoln Crossing development. The Supervisor states he
    has forwarded the letter to the appropriate agencies.
    • Received letter from the Grand Jury acknowledging receipt of the ATC letter.
    Vice Chairs Report: Susan Goldman, no report
    Chair’s Report: G. Lewis, No report
    Altadena Town Council Minutes 2
    GOVERNMENTAL REPORTS:
    California Highway Patrol: Capt Bill Dance (Workman is on vacation)
    • State budget not going to be affecting CHP.
    • Officer Primeaux is working on speeding issues for Altadena Drive.
    • Gave general statistics on traffic and citations are up. Accidents are down in 2008.
    • New tools: Lidar and radar. Altadena station has 5 lidar units, very accurate.
    • CHP Altadena Office is starting an Explorer Post, designed to provide young adults the
    opportunity to experience a career in law enforcement by working side-by-side with officers.
    Must be between 15 - 20 years. Contact the Southern Division Coordinator: (818) 240-8200
    for more info.
    L.A. County Sheriff’s Department-Altadena: Capt Blow
    • Introduced Detective Bureau Commander Lt. Michael Bornman
    • Crime stats being posted monthly to Altadena Blog (altadenablog.com).
    • Altadena sheriff's station now has an email address for public to report non-emergency
    crimes (vandalism, graffiti, parking violations): altadenacrimetips@lasd.org.
    • Capt Blow discussed how the complaint process works. Call the watch commander, that is
    their responsibility. You may ask for serial number of the complaint report you filed for later
    reference if needed.
    • Community Events. Aug 5th National Night Out was a great success with the best ever
    attendance.
    • Capt. Blow shared several examples of how the station is working with youth in Altadena
    including sending several kids to summer camp, taking several youth to the beach with
    officers and working with local middle school youth through the annual Soap Box Derby.
    • Altadena Sheriffs partnered with the Crescenta Valley station to practice a Columbine
    community Training at Eliott Middle School
    • Altadena Sheriff’s are involved with the Golden Guardian 2008 Exercise Series
    (http://www.ohs.ca.gov/hseep/golden_guardian/) in preparation for the Great Southern
    California ShakeOut. (www.shakeout.org).
    Congressman Adam Schiff: No report
    Senator Jack Scott: Jackie Corby – Women’s Business Awards luncheon. Budget issues are
    occupying the state. Legislation is still moving through.
    Assemblymember Portantino: Adam Carter - Echoed sentiment about the budget.
    Supervisor Antonovich: R. Hadjimanoukian – welcome the new town council members.
    Foothill Municipal Water District: (Includes La Cañada Irrigation District, Rubio Canon Land &
    Water Association, Valley Water Company, Lincoln Avenue Water Company, Kinneloa Irrigation District,
    Crescenta Valley Water District, Mesa Crest Water Company and Las Flores Water Company).
    Altadena Town Council Minutes 3
    • Lincoln Avenue Water Co. has issued a water supply alert to its 16,000 customers in
    northwest Altadena and, in response to the continuing drought, has imposed a moratorium
    on new water connections.
    • Altadena has been below average in precipitation. Currently no restrictions in Altadena.
    Foothill Municipal Water District and its eight member agency retailers are forming a
    volunteer Water Conservation Team. Team members will spend a few hours each week in
    the community spreading the word that water conservation is a necessary way of life.
    COMMITTEE REPORTS:
    Nominating Committee Report:
    • Tim Kelly discussed the selection of the slate of officers and offered the slate into
    nomination which was seconded. Allan Wasserman was nominated and seconded from the
    floor for Vice Chair. (Zack/Goldman)
    • Three absentee ballots from Members not in attendance were given to the chair by Tim
    Kelly.
    • The Chair George Lewis would not accept the absentee ballots. Several objections were
    raised about this ruling and Chair Lewis invited a motion to overturn his ruling.
    • MOTION: Appeal from the Chair’s ruling. (Sund/Balder)
    M/S Passed 9 YES 3 NO
    • Ballots distributed, collected and counted by Capt. Blow.
    • VOTE: for Vice Chair: Ken Balder 10 and Alan Wasserman 5
    • MOTION: Approve remaining slate.
    M/S Passed 14 YES 1 ABSTENTION
    • The following officers took their seats:
    o Chairman: Gino Sund
    o Vice Chairman Ken Balder
    o Recording Secretary Lori Judson
    o Corresponding Secretary Alice Wessen
    o Treasurer Tecumsah Shackelford
    • Tim Kelly thanked George Lewis for his service as chair.
    • Chairman Sund: Goals to accomplish this year are professionalism and courtesy, better
    informed decision making and improved communication with the community.
    • Chairman Sund: All elected Alternates have the right to serve but must indicate there desire
    to do so. In order to complete the ATC Roster and to give other potential volunteers an
    opportunity to serve, a deadline for the Elected Alternates to state their interest to serve
    seems appropriate.
    Altadena Town Council Minutes 4
    • MOTION: (Kelly/Gibbs) Elected Alternates must indicate their desire to serve, by the end
    of the next Council meeting or the position will be declared vacant.
    M/S PASSED 10 YES 1 NO 1 ABSTENTIONS
    • Chair stated that the Elected Alternates would be contacted to let them know they needed to
    let the ATC know their preference.
    • Alternates Bobby Thompson (4610) and Walter Olzweiski (4603.01) were in attendance
    and indicated their desire to serve as Alternates. They will be placed on the ATC Roster.
    Chair: The slot for CT 4601.02, vacated by Steve Lamb's resignation last month, will be
    appointed by a two-thirds vote of the Council hopefully, next month. Interested candidates
    who live in that census tract can submit a letter of intent to the town council (and pay a $25
    fee). Any candidate not elected will have the $25 fee refunded.
    COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
    Altadena Library: B. Pearson – Not present
    L.A. County Parks & Recreation Dept: Not present
    Altadena Chamber of Commerce – Not present
    ACTRWG - Not present.
    Sheriffs’ Support Group: M. Manning – Looking forward to this year. Free conference series
    sponsored by Altadena Sheriff’ Department. Latin Jazz band on 30th of August. An Elvis tribute
    artist will perform Sept 13.
    West Altadena Project Area Committee (WAPAC): M Zack reported that she was elected to a seat
    in the West Altadena Project Committee representing the Town Council. However, the new council
    has discretion over whom they would like in that position. Zack discussed the closure of Farm
    Fresh Market, the number of letters from the Town Council reflecting community concern about
    the project, and that several law suits and investigations are pending. Ray Carlisle of the West
    Altadena Development Corp (WAD-C) reported on problems at Lincoln Crossing.
    COMMITTEE REPORTS
    Traffic Committee: Report submitted by Ken Johnson – West Altadena traffic mitigation plan will
    be presented at October meeting.
    Education Committee: Keith Gibbs stated that the committee was dark for last two months. Sept
    20th is next meeting. Gibbs discussed the program sharetolerance.com, and how we can get this
    program into our schools for Altadena.
    Land Use: Did not meet, no report
    Altadena Town Council Minutes 5
    PUBLIC COMMENT:
    Ron Carter: Invited public to Farnsworth Neighborhood Block Association on Sept 6th.
    Business mixer: Pasadena Museum of Contemporary Art.
    CENSUS TRACT REPORTS:
    4601: Tim Kelly discussed the need to communicate better with our community and town council
    4602: Okorie Ezieme will hold a "meet your town councilman" event on Sat., Aug. 23, from 11
    AM-3 PM at Farnsworth Park
    4603.01: Alice Wessen-Garage Sale in support of YesOnProp2.org will be held on Mt. Lowe
    Drive, on Sat Aug 23rd. Also the two Fire Councils in the Meadows and Chaney Trail are well into
    their work and that LaVina was starting a Fire Council.
    4603.02: No report
    4610: Tecumseh Shackelford: Talked with new owner of SuperKing Market and they did rehire
    some of the new employees and have new applications. Invited new owner to come to ATC in
    Sept.
    4611: Alan Wasserman, no report. Michele Zack-Good news: after a few years of lobbying the
    County in this regard, Zack reported Public Works decided to make Woodbury Corridor east of
    Fair Oaks a pilot bio-swale project whereby asphalt median will be removed to absorb rainwater
    runoff. Should be approved in a few months, but state of current budget makes implementation
    timing unsure.
    4612: Ken no report. Ruth Neilan Edwards: Joint use proposal for tennis courts with Eliot, will
    bring to Land Use.
    4613 Susan Goldman, graffiti reported.
    OLD BUSINESS:
    • MOTION (Kelly) The Executive Committee will investigate all legitimate challenges to
    the outcome of the 2008 election, will take into account the work already done by the
    previously gathered “ethics committee”, and will consider adding an outside non Executive
    Committee member to participate in that investigation.
    M/S Passed 9 YES 1 NO 1 ABSTENTIONS
    • Chairman Sund: We will also be forming a committee to review the entire 2008 election
    and revise the rules and procedures to help ennsure fair and efficient elections in the future.
    NEW BUSINESS:
    ATC Roster: Chairman Sund requested that Members review Roster information and send him
    updates.
    Appointment to Committees
    Chairman Sund appointed Brian League Chair of the Land Use Committee. The following
    Committee members were seated on the Committee by right of appointment:
    Altadena Town Council Minutes 6
    4601 Gino Sund and Phil Barela
    4602 Okorie Ezieme and Sarah Fuller
    4603.01 Dennis Bridwell and Greg Stanton
    4603.02 Sandra Thomas
    4610 Tecumseh Shackelford and Gene
    Campbell
    4611 Mark Goldschmidt
    4613 Susan Goldman and Lorie Judson
    Other member will be seated upon the submission of their intent letter to the ATC Chair.
    Chairman Sund appointed Ken Johnson Chair of the Election Committee
    • MOTION: The Traffic Committee will be authorized and organized for the current term
    of ATC.
    • M/S Passed 11 YES 0 NO
    The mission statement will be approved next month.
    Education Committee: Chairman Sund appointed Keith Gibbs as Chair of the Education
    Committee.
    • MOTION: The Education Committee will be authorized and organized for the current
    term of ATC.
    • M/S Passed 11 YES 0 NO
    The mission statement will be approved next month
    Chairman Sund requested the codes and password for the Web site. Alice Wessen and Susan
    Goldman will coordinate the transfer of that data to the new Executive Committee.
    In her committee report, Michelle Zack reported that the WAPAC voted to seat an ATC member.
    MOTION: To appoint Gene Campbell as the ATC representative to WAPAC.
    (Shackelford/Balder)
    M/S Failed 3 YES 7 NO 1 ABSTENTIONS
    MOTION: To appoint Michele Zack as the ATC representative to WAPAC. (Goldman/Wessen)
    M/S Failed Passed 6 YES 3 NO 2 ABSTENTIONS
    MOTION: Table this vote until next town council meeting. (Shackleford/ )
    M/S Passed 8 YES 2 NO 1 ABSTENTIONS
    Motions corrected at September 16th, 2008 Town Council Meeting
    MTA: discussion regarding whether to form a group to discuss issues. Edwards, Wessen and
    Ezieme would work offline on MTA issues
    Tim Kelly: Good words to the new officers.
    ADJOURNMENT:
    M/S Passed
    Meeting adjourned at 10:18 PM
    Respectfully submitted, A Wessen
    Alice Wessen