MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2008
7:00 p.m. Altadena Community Center
1. CALL TO ORDER
Pledge of Allegiance-------Keith Gibbs
Roll Call
Members Present:
4601: Gino Sund,; 4602: Okorie Ezieme, Sarah Fuller; 4603.01: Keith Gibbs, Alice Wessen; 4603.02:
Sandra Thomas 4610: Tecumseh Shackelford, Gene Campbell; 4611: Allan Wasserman, Michele Zack;
4612: Ken Balder, Ruth Neilan Edwards; 4613: Susan Goldman
Excused Absences: (4601) Tim Kelly, (4613) Lorie Judson
2. OFFICER’S REPORTS
Recording Secretary -------Alice Wessen Approval of minutes
Balder/(all) Passed
Corresponding Secretary---Lorie Judson No report
Vice Chairman-----Ken Balder No report
Treasurer---------------------Tecumseh Shackelford
Beginning Balance: $2,494.15
Deposits 80.50
Checks for Website software 307.50
Ending Balance $2,267.15
Chairman-----------Gino Sund
Citizen’s oversight committee being convened for measure TT
Jack Scott is retiring from State Senate
Motion: ATC make a proclamation thanking Jack Scott for his service (Zack/Balder/passed)
Anthony Portantino: addressed Town Council.
Teacher appreciation luncheon from NAACP had a great luncheon. Portantino noted passage of measure TT.
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State still has budget issues. Last in nation for student counselors to students. We have a $27.8 billion dollar
budget crises in Sacramento. We need to bring Republicans and Democrats together. We must have 2/3 to pass
the budget. Other than Rhode Island no other state requires 2/3. It becomes by nature bipartisan. Only 30% of
the kids get funding for community college.
Portantino also noted his staff person Adam Carter, who often is at ATC for Portantino
3. GOVERNMENTAL REPORTS
Congressman, Adam Schiff-----------William Syms (Dist Rep for Schiff)
• ATC gets calendars from Schiff’s office
• We have an annual holiday party
• William.syms@mail.house.gov
Jack Scott’s office: Last report to ATC: Biography of Jack Scott to remind the community of his history. He
will be chancellor for community colleges but he remains an Altadenan living in Altadena. 21 years serving
Now you may Contact Carol Liu at 710 South Central Ave, Glendale
4. ALLEGED RULES, ETHICAL STANDARDS AND BY-LAW VIOLATIONS
Discussion: Letter from Laura Graham, 2008 ATC Election Chair alleging ethical violations during 2008 ATC
election. The letter was shared with the entire ATC.
General discussion: Whether to convene a body to review the violations.
Previous review by ATC Executive Committee included reviewing the work done by the Haussler/Brown
Committee and the Executive Committee previously found the following:
The Haussler/Brown committee did a thorough and conscientious job. The Committee commended them for
their civic work. Due to the lack of factual evidence of a violation of ATC Ethical Standards by a seated
member of the Council, no investigation of possible violation be initiated. At the October ATC, it was stated
that Council should review the election rules and procedures to ensure the accuracy and fairness of future
election and that Council should appoint the 2009 Election Committee in March according to the By-Laws,
to insure proper preparation tor the June 2009 election.
Further discussion: Do we want to form a committee to investigate?
Keith Field: We should investigate
Tecumseh Shackleford: The folks mentioned in the letter are not even on town council
Ruth Neilan: Take it as lessons learned for the future.
Okorie Ezieme: 2-3 months ago this body voted to have the election challenges investigated. To be fair, if
there are any challenges outstanding we owe it to be looking into it.
Alice Wessen: We need to move forward.
Sandy Thomas: Move forward
Michelle Zack: We have to have an election chair be able to do their job. I am still thinking about it.
Susan Goldman: Perhaps an investigation could end it once and for all. The last two elections I have been
witnessed to have not been pretty.
Allan Wasserman: There is nothing concrete in the letter. We need to be much more prepared for the next
election.
Motion: Set up committee to review the ethical violations per the letter from 2008 Election Chair:
M/S Failed.
Motion: Alice Wesssen We form an advisory committee to review election bylaws and review election
procedures and make a recommendation to ATC. The committee be comprised of 3 members from ATC and 4
from community.
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Friendly amendment Okorie Ezieme.
M/S/P
5. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS
Altadena Sheriff’s Station-----Capitan Roosevelt Blow
Charges were made in prior town council that members of Altadena Sheriffs as being wrongly involved in
elections. If folks took the time to read the shirts, they clearly did not identify anyone as being a peace officer.
“California Penal Code section 148.6 makes it a misdemeanor to “file [ ] any allegation of misconduct
against any peace officer . . . knowing the allegation to be false.”..may be punishable by imprisonment in a
county jail not exceeding six months, by a fine not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), or
both the fine and imprisonment…”
Issues of slander and libel-it appears that Town Council is accused of things without proof. I encourage
Town Council that if it continues, I will give you copies of the code. If this continues and people make false
comments, I encourage you to seek legal counsel.
Sahob Mesrob School. Some felt that is might be a law enforcement issue. Nuisance abatement team did not
find any violations that constituted nuisance abatement.
Nov 13, we have a male suspect that was shot outside Jonny’s Liquor store. Male black, 6 feet tall approx 18
years old. Has keloid scar tissue on his ear lobes. Victim did not die. If you have any information please
speak to one of our detectives.
On a more positive note, we are engaged in our annual toy drive. For families not fortunate enough (approx
200) sheriffs were out all day delivering to those families. Laura and Jasmine were volunteers with our toy
drive. Alice Wessen’s son also volunteered to tutor at Eliot school.
Sheriffs 2008 tour Altadena. Bring your own bicycle and $10.
New County ordinance about commercial vehicles parking on the street. Last week we did enforcement on
Fair Oaks. We are issuing citations. Vehicle can read 8000 license plates in the course of a day. Thanks to
Supervisor Antonovich’s office.
Okorie Ezieme: what will constitute a nuisance (Sahrob school)?
Ans: 370 of penal code: anything injurious to health, offensive to senses….
(http://www.ci.brisbane.ca.us/municode/_data/TITLE08/Chapter_8_36_ABATEMENT_OF_PUBL.html#1)
Capt Blow recommended all calls regarding Sahrob school go to Regional Planning.
California Highway Patrol-----Officer Todd Workman
Passed out maps. 20 collisions, no fatalities, 2 were DUI related.
Good Samaritans often get hit because the one who stops to help may be further out in the lane and therefore
subject to traffic hazard. Motorcycles go down a lot. Very dangerous. Use extra caution during holidays.
6. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
L.A. County Parks Dept---------------Lorraine Martinez
Supervisor Muepo – Charles White Park, snack program for kids 18 and younger. 626-794-3807
Farnsworth Toy Giveaway on Dec 14th at Farnsworth on 300 toys
626-798-6235 Angelica
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Loma Alta park, youth basketball league ages 3-15 starting December. Also Salsa Cardio Dance. 626-398-
5451
Old fashioned Christmas sing along: starting Dec 14th after Farnsworth program ends
Altadena Library-----------------------Barbra Pearson
No report
Sheriff’s Support Group--------------Mike Manning
No report
7. SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS
Education Committee---Keith Gibbs no report
WAPAC------------------Michele Zack
Just want to say we elected a new committee. Bobby Thompson was vice chair. Understand that Altadena
Lincoln Crossing sign should have gone up today. Next meeting is January 2009
8. CENSUS TRACT REPORTS
4601
Tim Kelly
G Sund
No report
4602
Okorie Ezieme
Sahrob school continues to be an issue.
Sarah Fuller:
NR
Sandy Thomas:
I am excited. Bad news was incident on Fair Oaks. Tonite it is my pleasure to bring before the council
someone who is willing to serve my census tract, He truly loves Altadena.
Mr. Ken Roberts.
He has lived in Altadena for 5 years and sales and marketing for 20 years. Loves the hills and trails.
As far as I know Mr. Roberts has no connection to anyone on this council.Mr. Roberts states: “ I have
watched Altadena grow and want to be part of that growth.”
Can he have a moment to speak to use and then put it to a vote.
Motion: To seat Mr. Ken Roberts as census tract representative for 4603.01
He has complied with application and fee of $25
Sandy/Balder MSP
4603.02
Alice Wessen
- Illegal bow hunter reported in the Meadows area.
- Last round of fire assessments to reduce fuel load (brush clearance) will be done in the Chaney
Millard area Nov 25th
- Next round of grants proposals comes out in February.
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Development at corner of Lincoln and Altadena is seeking Howie’s grocery store. Not sure at this time
whether Howies will come in
Keith Gibbs- Added that the development will open Dec. 14th.
4610
Tecumseh Shackleford
Super King market will get additional parking
4610
Gene Cambell: 4611
Allan Wasserman
no report
Michele Zack: Regarding the MonteCedro development, she thinks the community needs to understand that
this will cater to a considerable more wealthy clientele. We still need to understand the charitable mission.
On Fair Oaks, the Apple Jack market is closed and will reopen
4612
Ken Balder Two dump trucks parking on streets have been taken care of
As for what is going on with the Wamu property on Lake Ave., NO info is forthcoming.
Ruth Neilan Edwards – no report
9. OLD BUSINESS
Chairman Sund: The proposed County franchise trash hauling contract.
Allan Wasserman, Alice Wessen and Gino Sund met with DPW last week regarding trash contracts. We
decided to do a couple of things. We wanted to get as much input as possible. Get folks to come to the town
council meeting next month. Allan Wasserman had great idea to bring La Crescenta twon council to meeting
because they went through similar process in bidding for a new trash contract. A member of La Crescenta
Town Council will come to Town Council in December to talk with ATC.
Sahrob School had a period of time that they could appeal the clean hands permit but that ended Saturday.
Regional Planning will set a hearing date and that will be an immediate decision
10. NEW BUSINESS
No new business
11. PUBLIC COMMENT
Robert Funter Regional Planning will hear cellular phone tower regarding T-Mobile cellular phone tower at
St Elizabeth. Altadena Heritage has reversed their initial approval of the tower.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn: 9:42PM