The meeting was called to order at 7:12 p.m. by Jane Fanganiello. There were about 55 people in attendance. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jane Fanganiello. Joe Eiben served as Parliamentarian in Shirley Kellstromâs absence.

Opening Remarks
Penny Blackwell gave a summary of her attendance at a breakfast held by the Institute of Real Estate Management, of which she is a member. The speakers at the breakfast gave a forecast of real estate and economic trends in the Los Angeles area. The speakers included Mayor Richard Riordan, Eli Broad of Kaufman-Broad, and Jack Kaiser, CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Los Angeles.

Introductions
Jane introduced several guests to the meeting, including Judy Boggs from State Senator Jack Scottâs office, Shannon Kearns, representing Congressman Adam Schiff, and Suzanne Reed, representing State Assemblywoman Carol Liu.

Program
Jane introduced Dale Thrush, who is the planning deputy for City Councilman Joel Wachs. After relating his career background, he gave an update on the various planning issues in Sunland-Tujunga. These issues are summarized below.

Commerce revitalization:  The City Council granted $165,000 to make Commerce an arts-and-crafts-oriented, pedestrian-friendly retail shopping area. They are in the process of hiring a consultant to get started and organizing an advisory committee to oversee the funds.

Albertsons:  They are one step from breaking ground; there is a technical aspect of the environmental clearance that needs to be resolved.

Foothill Blvd. Specific Plan:  Joel Wachs is introducing a motion to the City Council to update the specific plan, a key provision of which is a halt on all new auto-related business on Foothill Blvd.

Tujunga Cyn. Blvd. improvements:  A drainage repair project is starting this month, south of Foothill Blvd. The resurfacing of ãTCBä started yesterday (January 9).

Joselitoâs West:  Their application for a liquor license was approved.

Scenic Corridor Specific Plan:  The community has arrived at a consensus on the direction for the Plan, but needs to finish its research. We will likely see more and longer ridgelines and ãinvisibleä development. The ãWhite Birdä development (1000 acres) is years away from happening, but the ãDuke Developmentä project (35 acres) could break ground this year.

Edwards Theater (Canyon Theater):  Carlâs Jr. backed out of buying the property for internal financial reasons. Edwards Theater is in bankruptcy, so the property will be sold to someone. The City wants to buy it and put a youth center there. They are in the appraisal phase. Bonners Equipment Rentals wanted to purchase the site for open storage, but the Foothill Blvd. Specific Plan prevents this.

Creemore Drive:  In an effort to minimize cut-through traffic to and from the freeway, the Cityâs Dept. of Transportation is now considering installing speed humps or an all-way stop sign at Creemore Dr. and Creemore Pl., and/or at Creemore and Pali.

Mekhitarist (Muh-KIT-uh-rist) Fathersâ School:  They previously had solutions to the zoning problems that were agreeable to all sides, but that is no longer true. Dale may have to recommend the denial of the permit request. The next hearing is on January 25.

Golf Course:  They should have broken ground last year. Dale does not know why they have not started. They are not allowed to do any grading until April 2001.

Gas Co. property redevelopment:  We had expected Doug Jacobsen, the property developer, to appear at the town hall meeting in person, but he did not come. Ford Motor Co. wants to locate a new dealership in the Foothills, and they would like to use the former Gas Co. property. Instead of a mini-mall of retail stores, there would be a new Ford dealership and service facility. The Sav-On pharmacy and McDonaldâs would remain as part of the development, but the Ford dealership would take up the remainder of the property. The problem is that the updated Foothill Blvd. Specific Plan prohibits all new auto-related development. For this to occur, the community would have to agree to insert an amendment specifically allowing this project to be built.

The developer is also considering acquiring most of the homes between Foothill Blvd. and Tujunga Cyn. Pl., in order to widen Tujunga Cyn. Blvd. They are considering keeping the residences and renting them, which Dale discouraged, or building more units on smaller lots, or building senior housing.

Another possibility is the old Sunrise Ford property, which is about 2 acres in size and is owned by Ford Motor Co. The site is not big enough for the 3-4 acres needed for modern dealerships, but Wachsâ office asked whether they would consider redeveloping it as part of this larger project.

The original project (Sav-On, McDonalds, retail stores) is still in effect; the developer has the approvals needed to go forward. The changes being sought to the project (and to the Specific Plan) are motivated by Fordâs intense interest in the project, and by the economic downturn ö some tenants had backed out of their interest in the project.

Community Concerns
Tom Porterhouse gave a presentation on his non-profit group called Feed the Minds, Inc. They are seeking a waiver for a 99-seat theater on Commerce. They would produce up to eight family-oriented plays a year, for six weeks each. They would also have programs for seniors and kids on Saturdays.

Cobie Fair, a Tujunga resident, gave a presentation on his international motorcycle riding school. The offices for his 20-year-old company are currently located at 141 Allen in Glendale. He would like to move his offices to the buildings located at 7004, 7006 and 7008 Foothill Blvd. He stressed that the bikes are not street legal and are only driven on racetracks. Some bikes would be stored at the location, but mostly for minor repairs. He is seeking a variance to move a zoning line that runs through a garage on the property.

Reports
Christmas Caroling:  Jane Fanganiello reported that the caroling was a great success, and that we will plan to do it again next year.

Safety:  Nina Royal reported that the next CERT class will take place on Tuesday nights from 7-9 p.m. The goal is to have at least 400 people certified for emergency response. So far she has 75 people. There is a course syllabus at the back of the room.

Other safety items:  The City is hiring 50 temporary paramedics. The Police Protective League is holding up the reinstatement of the Senior Lead Officer program. Joel Wachsâ motions on the topic are available at the back of the room. Nina also reported that we need a volunteer truck and workers for the graffiti cleanup. Bonners is renting the equipment to the community.

Sunland Park:  Roberta Cole reported that the oversight committee still wants input for improvement priorities. They will present the results of their survey to the Parks and Rec. Commission on January 25 at 7 p.m.

Business Appearance:  Michael Gutierrez gave out his phone number so that residents could contact him with the names and addresses of ãeyesoreä businesses. He will take pictures of the businesses and ask them to improve their appearance.

New Business
Linda Hubbard moved that the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council shall officially oppose the 1-800-Autopsy project, as currently proposed, for future purposes. Seconded. Passed.

Announcements
The Business and Professional Women are holding an awards dinner, in honor of Shirley Kellstrom and Joe Eiben, on January 22, 2001.

The Neighborhood Council will sponsor a Mayor Candidates Night at the VHHS Auditorium. The date is tentatively set for February 23, 2001.

Steve Crouch announced that he has an updated newsletter for Canyon Area Preservation. The original Scenic Plan and a marked-up version are available.

A resident brought up traffic problems near Mtn. View Elementary School. The school police are no longer patrolling the area, and there are ongoing pedestrian safety and double parking problems.

The next Neighborhood Council meeting will be on Wednesday, February 14 at 7 p.m. at the Elks Lodge. The next agenda meeting will be on Saturday, February 10 at 3 p.m. at the Century 21 Crest office in La Crescenta (corner of Foothill and Lowell).

The meeting was adjourned at 9:03 p.m.