
MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES 8/19/2008
- 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