TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2008
7:00 p.m. Altadena Community Center
1. CALL TO ORDER 7:11PM Pledge of Allegiance-------Michele Zack
Roll Call
Members Present: 4601: Gino Sund, Tim Kelly; 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: Lorie
Judson.
Excused Absences: (4612.) Ken Balder, 4613 Susan Goldman
2. OFFICER’S REPORTS
Recording Secretary -------Alice Wessen
Motion to accept minutes of Sept 16th.
S Thomas/ Judson MSP
Corresponding Secretary---Lorie Judson
Two letters sent. First to PUSD Superintendant E Diaz regarding Const Project of tennis courts letter
of assent.
Second to Mr. Bruce McLendon of Regional Planning regarding MonteCedro Home Communities
Treasurer---------------------Tecumseh Shackelford
Balance forward $2,803.84
Deposits 58.00
Checks for: Website support/hosting 212.57
New checks 37.99
Ending balance $2,494.15
Vice Chairman-----Ken Balder (No report)
Chairman-----------Gino Sund
The Monte CedroProject retirement home project was approved by Regional Planning and will move
to the Board of Supervisors. The Eliot tennis court proposal is still being considered by the School
District with no decision as of now.
Executive Committee reviewed election challenges and will take it up under old business.
Altadena Town Council Minutes 2
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
Okorie Ezieme moved for a motion to ask for additional public comment after Special Committee
Reports.
No second, motion died for lack of second.
O. Ezieme motion to include Sahrob school in agenda. Chair comment: based on the number of
residents in attendance to speak on the issue we will take it up in new business, no need for a motion.
Summary of public comments:
Owner of Purdues BBQ let community know of new business at Orange Grove and Los Robles.
Lt Col. Ed Tyrell at Blair ROTC. Let community know that last may all three ROTC programs at
Blair would be closed. Gave info on the quality of kids that he has turned out from his program.
75% of his graduating seniors went on to a 4 year college.
Sahag Mesrob Armenian Christian School: 29 residents raised their hands in opposition, 20 residents
offered comments opposed, two teachers from the school and one resident spoke in support.
Opposed: Comments summary included issued related to noise, way school treated neighbors, traffic,
lack of permits, lack of notification to neighbors, impact to children living in neighborhood, business
use is out of character with the neighborhood. One speaker canvassed neighborhood and the
neighborhood sent over 200 letters/emails/phone calls objecting to school.
Support: School had an outreach meeting to the neighborhood where 70 folks attended and heard
about plans. Principal has opened his arms and is willing to work on mitigating the noise and traffic.
4. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS
Altadena Sheriff’s Station-----Capitan Roosevelt Blow
Report: Clergy Council, Dept of Parks and Recreation and Sheriffs hosted a job fair. About 100 folks
came to job fair.
Toy and Food Drive will start up at Altadena Sheriffs station in lobby.
Sheriffs looked into whether we have a homeless problem in Altadena, but we did identify 5 people
including one who hangs out at St Elizabeth school. He was transported to a shelter.
Watch out for Holiday crimes. Recommend hide your packages.
T Kelly Question regarding gangs operating in Altadena?
Ans: Denver Lane Bloods and Altadena Lane Block Crips. Altadena is part of a gang extinction
eradication program. In Altadena, gang count is very low. Member of audience mentioned graffiti
from PLK (Pasadena Latin Kings) who are tagging and stole an electric meter.
M Zack: thank you for assistance in removing tagging from the pocket park on Marengo
Blow: If anyone does not get the response they expect or want or anything, please ask to talk to the
watch commander and file a report.
California Highway Patrol-----Officer Thomas Franklin
Last month’s stats: 14 non injury accidents, 1 injury and 1 DUI.
Altadena Town Council Minutes 3
There is a rise in those arrested for being DUI. If you drink, don’t drink, if you drink, don’t drive.
5. GOVERNMENTAL REPORTS
WAPAC---------------------------------Bernardean Broadous
Bernadean is Chair of West Altadena Project Area Committee. She asked that the ATC to give the
WAPAC a courtesy call the next time we appoint our representative to the WAPAC. Also, she feels
that the representative should come from CT 4610. While this is not required this has been the past
practice.
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC):
Lawren Markle. I represent Altadena and La Crescenta. As owners want to sell their land that they
want to preserve for the future, they can consider contacting me. SMMC will work with owners
including tax deductions, or create easement so the land can not be built upon and preserved for
future. Call me at 626-388-7570I also work with Altadena Foothills Conservancy, a private
conservancy.
6. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
Traffic Committee Chair Ken Johnson introduced Amy Cheema a traffic engineer from the County
Department of Public works,
A presentation by the Traffic Division on a proposed comprehensive traffic mitigation plan for West
Altadena was made. The area under study includes the streets West of Fair Oaks and South of
Altadena Drive.
Issue: traffic from Windsor and Altadena Drive using Casitas, a narrow residential street. County
did an extensive study regarding traffic flow and came up with an abatement recommendation. Most
feasible solution was turn restriction signs during peak hours to channel traffic away from Casitas and
on to Lincoln Avenue. Lincoln is designed to carry a higher volume of traffic. Public Works
indicated that all the affected residents would be contacted before the plan is implemented.
7. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
L.A. County Parks Dept---------------Lorraine Martinez
Angie from Farnsworth gave info on several events: Oct 28-30th Haunted House, Nov 6,7,8 Maya
Angelou, November the Thanksgiving TurkeyToss, Dec 5 Stargazing night, Dec 14 joint
collaboration on Christmas Festival.
Altadena Library-----------------------Barbra Pearson
Report on library events
Sheriff’s Support Group--------------Mike Manning
NAACP wanted to announce that the chapter will have its annual freedom luncheon at Castaways in
Burbank. 29 of the best speakers from PUSD.
8. SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS
Education Committee---Keith Gibbs
Keith Gibbs, Education Chair: Tyrell came and talked about Jr. ROTC program. K Gibbs mentioned
that the ROTC has no affiliation to his own programs. K Gibbs pointed out the once the ROTC
program ends there is no return of the program. Gibbs appealed to the community to step up and
support the program.
Altadena Town Council Minutes 4
9. CENSUS TRACT REPORTS
4601
Tim Kelly discussed graffiti
4602
Okorie Ezieme
Wants to applaud residents for coming out regarding the school. Again the community spoke for
themselves. He presented a written petition from the neighborhood. O. Ezieme was at Farnsworth
park for job fair and it was a great success. Would like to touch on speed hump requested by
residents and said county came out. Discussed championing buses for residents.
Sarah Fuller: Altadena Hardware store will be closing this month. The owner is retiring.
4603.01
Alice Wessen-no report due to time
Keith Gibbs- no report due to time
4610
Tecumseh Shackleford
Sat Nov 1 was at John Muir parking lot fair.
Lincoln Crossing: Subway opened on Saturday. Super King Market did make its grand opening
on Oct 3. Everything is going along fine.
Famous Bills Chicken and Ribs will be opening up in middle of Oct next to Panda Express.
4610
Gene Cambell: Our group of students need parents to come out and see what their kids are doing
4611
Allan Wasserman
There will be some filming and it should not interfere with anyone but if it does do contact me.
Michele Zack
I was impressed at the graffiti removal from the pocket park on Marengo
4612
Ken Balder
Reported getting a few nasty comments on the deterioration of WAMU building.
Ruth Neilan Edwards – no report
10. OLD BUSINESS
Due to time, the discussion of the trash hauling contract was postponed until the next meeting.
2008 Election Challenge
Council chair Gino Sund gave a summary of why we are considering the 2008 election at this time.
The election challenge to the results in CT 4602 were not investigated according to the election rules
by the prior Council and were investigated by the Executive Committee of the current Council. The
Committee reviewed all relevant election materials, spoke with several poll workers and reviewed the
Altadena Town Council Minutes 5
work done by the Haussler/Brown Committee.
The Executive Committee found the following:
• The Haussler/Brown committee did a thorough and conscientious job. The Committee
commended them for their civic work.
• There were some inconsistencies and ballot errors that would disqualify four or five ballots in
total. There were some unusual voting patterns and sign-ins, but they had reasonable
potential explanation ie one person in a household signing in for all those present to vote.
• There is no evidence of excess ballots being cast.
• The margin of victory far exceeds the total of ballots that should be disqualified or could be
called into question.
The Committee recommended the following:
The results of the 2008 election should stand as certified by the prior Council. 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.
Council should review the election rules and procedures to ensure the accuracy and fairness of future
election.
Council should appoint the 2009 Election Committee in March according to the By-Laws, to insure
proper preparation tor the June 2009 election.
No motion was made by the Council and the 2008 election is considered closed.
T Kelly: Council should review election rules and work towards next election.
Chairman Sund indicated he would appoint a committee to review the election rules and procedures.
11. NEW BUSINESS
Chairman Gino Sund: Sahag Mesrob Armenian Christian School in March gave a presentation to
ATC. ATC advised the school to go through the process to apply for a CUP. Town Council asked
them to contact the Land Use Committee so they could be placed on the Agenda for consideration.
ATC did not hear again until the neighbors began complaining of the school opening. The county did
serve the school with a notice to abate the zoning violation within 15 days. The school requested a
“clean hands” waiver from the County which was denied. Now at this point, the school must abate
the violation before any further land use action can be taken.
Okorie Ezieme: Motion to send a letter to the supervisor that ATC does not support any operation
without proper permits.
Substitute motion: T Kelly, Lori Judson Send a letter to Supervisor Antonovich expressing the
communities’ concern and upset with the code violation by the Sahag Mesrob Armenian Christian
School that we strongly feel that the County should expeditiously enforce our county and local land
use codes.
Call for question Lori Judson (M/S/12) Unanimous
12. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn 10:06 PM