The meeting was called to order at 7:09 p.m. by Jane Fanganiello. There were about 43 people in attendance. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by John Bunte. Joe Eiben served as Parliamentarian in Shirley Kellstromâs absence.

Minutes
The minutes of the December 6, 2000 and January 10, 2001 meetings were approved as read.

Treasurerâs Report
A bill of $70 was paid for advertising in the Community Calendar. The balance as of February 14 is $773.97.

Communications
Brenda McAlpine reported that she received a copy of the Dept. of Neighborhood Empowermentâs proposed Plan for Neighborhood Councils. Anyone interested in getting a copy should contact her.

Opening Remarks
Jane Fanganiello thanked Nina Royal for taking meeting flyers to the local churches, the Armenian market, and other locations. We need more people to hand out flyers.

Easter Carnival:  Mike Rubio moved that the Council sponsor a booth at the Easter Carnival (Apr. 13-15, 2001). Seconded. Carried. Sign-ups were taken by the Secretary.

LAPD Officer Don Muniz and Officer Richard Askew visited the meeting. Officer Muniz announced that an ordinance called the ãLee Lawä states that any business serving alcohol must have clean and neat operations. Several community members are being trained to make inspections at these businesses.

The City of LA is holding its second annual Neighborhood Convention on Feb. 24.

There will be an abandoned couch pickup in the near future. Stay tuned for more details.

Program
John Yard introduced the guest speakers:  Suzanne Reed, Chief of Staff for State Assemblymember Carol Liu; Judy Boggs, representing State Senator Jack Scott; and Randy Hough (ãHuffä), government affairs representative of the DWP.

Randy Hough:  The DWPâs debt is at $1.35 billion, down from $4 billion. Rates have been frozen for 9 years, and will remain frozen at least through 2002. The DWP chose not to enter into what is called ãderegulation,ä so they are in good financial shape. The DWP is building more efficient plants, and has money-saving incentives for ratepayers, including a Green Power program.

Suzanne Reed:  The state government has a 5-point strategy to ãkeep the lights on.ä  Step 1 is for the state to enter into long-term contracts with power generators. Step 2 is the introduction of a bill in the Legislature to help utilities ãregain financial health;ä this would include the state taking over the transmission system in exchange for keeping the utilities solvent. Step 3 is conservation. Step 4 is to increase the supply, by building new power plants. Step 5 is helping low- and fixed-income households to cover the increased costs of power.

Judy Boggs:  Judy stated that Jack Scott ãtotally agrees with Carol Liuä on the solutions to the power crisis. She brought handouts of bills going through the Legislature concerning the bailout of the utilities.

Reports
Adopt-a-Cop:  Joe Eiben reported that the pilot program started this week, with 2 homes and 2 businesses. He gave some background information about the Adopt-a-Cop program.

SunlandTujunga.org:  Ken gave background information for newcomers. The next meeting is Sunday, February 18 at 3 p.m.

Sunland Park:  Roberta Cole reported on the latest park committee meeting, held on January 25. The survey results were presented. The 3 top priorities given were:  1) lighting; 2) skateboarding area; and 3) jogging/walking path. The committee is looking for alternative sites and funding for the skateboard area. There are some ãQuimbyä funds set aside for: 1) gym floor upgrade; 2) state-of-the-art irrigation system; 3) paving the senior center parking lot. The next meeting is February 22 at 7 p.m. at the Rec. Center.

Planning:
Gas. Co.:  Jane gave some background information about the proposed redevelopment for the former Gas Co. building, including Ford Motor Co.âs interest in putting a new dealership there. Since any new auto-related businesses must be in a mall setting, an amendment to the Foothill Corridor Specific Plan would be necessary for the dealership to go forward.

Edwards Theater:  There are buyers currently looking at the property.

Marisolâs Nursery:  The architect/developer, Dan Lamy, presented his plans for the property. He intends to put an auto repair mall there. The lot is zoned C-2. Escrow has not closed yet, and he is seeking a conditional use permit, since the property is located near a residential zone. He worked with Rita Schack at the Planning Dept. to devise a landscaping scheme that would improve the appearance of the building.

Meiling Dai spoke in opposition to the project. Her main concerns were the traffic overflow onto Foothill Blvd., and the amount of parking that would be available in the facility. Mr. Lamy responded that he would be building all the way to the back of the property, and would be adding more parking than is required by the Planning Dept. The traffic studies showed no adverse impact on Foothill, and it has been approved by the Dept. of Transportation.

Several attendees questioned why he was choosing to put in an auto repair mall when there are already so many auto shops in Sunland-Tujunga, and some of them are barely getting by. Mr. Lamy responded that he would have no trouble finding tenants for the auto mall, but shopping centers and storage facilities in Sunland-Tujunga already have a high vacancy rate. He said he was unable to get a lease from Starbucks.

Safety:
SDA Church:  Nina Royal introduced Mike Elias, pastor of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Tujunga. He is moving to Sunland on March 15. The church has opened its yard to neighborhood kids for basketball and other activities. They are trying to keep the kids off the street with Boys and Girls Club-style activities. Charlotte Leu also mentioned that the church allowed the Merchantsâ Assn. to use their parking lot for the Street Faire.

CERT:  The next Community Emergency Response Team training class will be held in May, not March.

Neighborhood Watch:  Nina reported that we need more Neighborhood Watch groups in S-T, especially in the Samoa/Pinewood area. Anyone interested in starting a Neighborhood Watch should call Nina at 353-5504.

Old Business
Bylaws:  John Waters handed out copies of the last page of bylaws (yay!) for amendment. He noted that even our final draft of bylaws is subject to possible modification from DONE. The changes are attached.

Community Concerns
Michelle Sahfran brought forward a petition to keep the DWP from putting Sprint PCS cellular towers on water tower land. The DWP is leasing out its property, across the street from her home, and she is concerned about the electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) being emitted by the cell towers.

Tomi Lyn Bowling mentioned that there are several dogs running loose on Sherman Grove. The number for the Animal Shelter is (818) 756-8446.

Susan Potthoff reported that a portion of La Tuna Cyn. Blvd. along the 210 freeway is being used as a dumping zone.

An attendee asked whether there are or would be sidewalks on Glory Ave. in Highland Square, where the new houses are being built.

Another attendee asked whether business signs that are not in English should be posted in English as well as other languages.

Announcements
Century 21 Crest is sponsoring a run/walk at the Rose Bowl to benefit Easter Seals. Volunteers are needed to run, walk, hand out water, etc.

The Neighborhood Councilâs planned Mayoral Debate has been rescheduled for March 16 at 7 p.m., due to a scheduling conflict with another group that is already hosting a candidate forum.

The next Neighborhood Council meeting will be on Wednesday, April 11 at 7 p.m. at the Elks Lodge. The next agenda meeting will be on Saturday, April 7 at 3 p.m. at the Century 21 Crest office in La Crescenta (corner of Foothill and Lowell).

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
 

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