MINUTES

Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council

Regular Meeting of 11/14/2001

The meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m. by Jane Fanganiello. There were about 60 people in attendance. John Waters led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Treasurerâs Report

Nedd Brown reported that we had income of $16 from water sales, $60 from T-shirt sales, and expenses of $40 for the Street Faire booth fee. The balance, as of 11/14/01, is $1,047.36.

Correspondence

Jane Fanganiello read Lloyd Hittâs resignation as historian and asked for a volunteer to fill the appointed position.

Minutes

The minutes of the October 10, 2001 meeting were approved as read.

Nominating Committee

The following people were nominated to the three openings on the Nominating Committee:Ê Jim Margolin, Tracy Fletcher, Nedd Brown, Karen Robinson-Stark, and Tomi Lyn Bowling. Laurel Fest moved to close the nominations. Seconded. Passed. Mike Hall, Lynn Bedri and Laurel Fest were appointed as counters. Jim Margolin, Nedd Brown and Tomi Lyn Bowling were elected to the Nominating Committee.

Presentations

Canyon Theater Banquet Hall Conversion:Ê Hal Dorian, an architect for the new owners of the Canyon Theater property, gave a presentation on the ownersâ plans to convert the building and adjoining property into a banquet hall. The owners are not seeking any exemptions from the Foothill Blvd. Specific Plan or any variances. The architect does not foresee any building and safety problems. 80% of the 75-year-old building will remain standing and be refaced.

VHTV:Ê Francisco Solorzano, general manager of VHTV Channel 19, and Ron Farmer of VHTV gave a presentation on VHTVâs current needs. The station is leaving its longtime location at Verdugo Hills High School because the school needs room for more classrooms. They are looking at a location in Tujunga.

Since the station does not pay utilities or rent to the school, their costs will increase dramatically when they move to the new location. The current annual budget is $120,000, and AT&T, the funding source and broadcasting supplier, is not providing any additional funding.

AT&T has a 15-year contract with the City of Los Angeles where they are required to provide community access. When the contract expires July 1, 2002, the requirement will no longer be in effect. VHTV is circulating a survey and petition to the City asking that the public-access requirement be renewed. Mr. Solorzano and Mr. Farmer asked everyone to sign the petition and to use the facility by producing local shows.

Program

State Senator Jack Scott:Ê Jack Scott gave a brief report on the legislative session and answered questions from the audience. He mentioned that since September 11, tourism in California is down and there has been some reduction in international trade. Electricity usage is down 12% from last year, and there are eight new power plants that have opened or are coming online. Another school bond was passed, and $1 billion were added to the budget for textbooks.

New Business

Veterans Memorial:Ê Jane Fanganiello proposed an idea for raising money for Al Timinsâ veteransâ memorial renovation. She suggested a chili cookoff sponsored by the Neighborhood Council and the Rotary Club. The proceeds would be split with Mr. Timins, then between the two groups. A show of hands demonstrated broad support for the idea.

Secession Oversight:Ê Nina Royal suggested that the Neighborhood Council perform its own study on the data surrounding the secession issue. The committee would remain neutral and would look into such details as water and power, police and fire, and street maintenance costs. Interested parties should contact Nina to join the team.

Corresponding Secretary:Ê Brenda McAlpine moved to amend the bylaws to create a corresponding secretary position. Seconded. Elaine Brown moved to table the motion until next month. Seconded. The motion was tabled.

Open Forum

A member of the library committee at Sunland Elementary School asked for donations for construction of the schoolâs expanding library. Donors who give $25 will be honored with a library bookshelf in their name; $100 donors will be honored with a bookcase, and larger donors will be mentioned on a new mural at the school.

Nina Royal reported that she wrote a letter to State Senator Pete Knight about our concerns with redistricting. She received a response from him. Anyone interested in reading it should see her after the meeting.

The caroling day is likely to be announced through postcards and e-mail. See Jane after the meeting if you are interested in participating or hosting the after-caroling party at your home.

A question was asked about the closure of Lords Cuisine Indian restaurant. Laurel Fest responded that the proprietors had trouble with the landlord.

There will be a planning hearing this Friday at 9:00 a.m. at the Airtel Plaza in Van Nuys. The prospective owner of the former Marisolâs Nursery lot is reducing the number of retail spaces from five to three. The change is needed because Sweet Cherrieâs Diner has ownership rights to a portion of the parking lot.

Josh Goldstein of Congressman Adam Schiffâs office announced that Congressman Schiff authored the ãSafer Skies Act,ä which would deputize police officers as air marshals when they are aboard a commercial airplane. These officers would receive air marshal training from the federal government. Congressman Schiff will also be holding a press conference on biometric screening at airports. Congressman Schiff will be sponsoring a Military Academy Night on November 28, for youths aged 17-22 who are interested in attending a military academy.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:07 p.m.

REPORTS

Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council

Regular Meeting of 11/14/2001

Planning Issues:Ê Jane Fanganiello reported that the golf course owners are working on permits. Albertsons, the owner of the former Gas Co. property, will start construction on the Sav-on complex in December. Construction should take about five months. There is no estimated start time on the Alberstons supermarket renovation.

Caroling:Ê Jane Fanganiello asked for volunteers to go caroling at the nursing home across from Sunland Park. A date has not been set, and a house is needed for the after-caroling party.

Outreach:Ê Jim Margolin reported that he is setting up a meeting for the new neighborhood captains. He will be contacting the volunteers. He also gave background information on the neighborhood captain program.

McGroarty Arts Fundraiser:Ê The fundraiser at Century 21 Crest raised $3500 for the McGroarty Arts Center.

Street Faire:Ê Brenda McAlpine reported that we added about three dozen names to our mailing list at our informational booth.

Street Cleanup Day:Ê Carol Loweree reported that the ãKids for Kidsä cleanup day was a success. The cleanup started at Bolton Hall and progressed down Foothill Blvd. The volunteers were served lunch at Sunland Park afterward. Radio Disney provided the entertainment and the council presented plaques to the police and fire stations. Carol thanked everyone who helped with the project. The council gave certificates of appreciation to Carol, Deborah Schrock and Marcy Brown for their work in organizing the project.

Certification:Ê Lynn Bedri reported that the committee will meet next Monday. The current focus is on getting at least 200 signatures throughout the community. Volunteers are needed to gather signatures for Thanksgiving weekend and the following weekends.

Redistricting:Ê Elaine Brown reported that there was very little community turnout to the redistricting forum held by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF). MALDEF has filed a lawsuit regarding the congressional redistricting plan.

Safety:Ê Nina Royal reported that a Volunteer Surveillance Training was held last Saturday. She thanked Al Timins for putting together the Veterans Day celebration at Sunland Park. She also mentioned that the police officers and firefighters were very appreciative of the ãKids for Kidsä event. The next session of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes is scheduled to begin January 8, 2002. The classes run for seven weeks from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

La Tuna Canyon:Ê Steve Crouch reported that Duke Development has agreed to take their planned La Tuna Canyon homes off the ridgeline. This is a great victory for the local residents who opposed the weakening of the Scenic Preservation Plan.

Steve is not sure where the Scenic Preservation Plan stands right now. He met with the Planning Dept. staff as they toured the area for the first time. Bob Sutton of the Planning Dept. (?) is now very supportive of the community. Steve emphasized the importance of having high community turnout to planning hearings.

Steve has also heard rumors about proposed development on Mt. McGroarty, near the cross monument. Few details are available. There is no activity at the Planning Dept. and Building and Safety doesnât know about anything going on there.

SunlandTujunga.org:Ê Ken McAlpine reported that we have a small team and need more volunteers. He especially needs someone to keep track of community events and recruit businesses to join the website.