MINUTES

Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council

Regular Meeting of 12/12/2001

The meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m. by Jane Fanganiello. There were about 45 people in attendance. Johnie McDowell led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Treasurerâs Report

Nedd Brown reported that the ãKids for Kidsä clean-up day collected $230 in donations for the children in Afghanistan. The Neighborhood Councilâs balance, as of 12/12/01, is $1,047.36.

Chairmanâs Comments

Jane Fanganiello reminded the council that elections for officers will be held next month. She announced that she would not seek re-election as chairman.

Minutes

The minutes of the November 14, 2001 meeting were approved as written.

Nominating Committee

Jim Margolin announced the nominees for council officers. They are as follows:Ê Chairman ö Ken McAlpine; Vice-Chairman ö Mike Hall; Recording Secretary ö Ava Wrightsman; Corresponding Secretary ö Brenda McAlpine; Treasurer ö Nedd Brown. Nominations from the floor were solicited, but none were received.

Program

Public Safety:Ê Nina Royal introduced LAPD Officer Jay Roberts, senior lead officer for Tujunga, LAFD Capt. Tom Dowling, and LAFD firefighters Mitch McKnight and David Mack from Fire Station #74 in Tujunga. Officer Roberts, Capt. Dowling and Mr. McKnight gave brief talks on how residents can volunteer to work with the police and fire departments in emergency response. The speakers also answered audience questions.

Presentation

Baseball Academy:Ê The property in question is 21 acres in the Hansen Dam Recreation Area that is not designated open space. Major League Baseball is proposing a public-private partnership to train kids in all aspects of the baseball sport and industry. 180 kids would be admitted each semester, with 4 semesters per year. The fields would be open to the public on a limited basis.

The baseball academy was to be debated at this meeting, but the spokesperson for the academy did not attend the meeting. The opponents of the academy presented their side of the issue instead. Fritz Bronner of the Lake View Terrace Home Owners Assn. raised concerns about traffic flow, bright lights and overdevelopment, and proposed that an equestrian veterinary center would better benefit the local community.

New Business

Principal Farewell Gift:Ê Carol Loweree moved that the Neighborhood Council spend $50 on a plant or other gift of appreciation for retiring Mt. Gleason principal Patricia Joe. Tomi Bowling seconded. Motion passed.

Joe Eiben moved that the council look into finding liability insurance for officers. Brenda McAlpine seconded. Motion passed. Mike Hall and Mark Seigel were appointed to the committee.

Ken McAlpine moved that the council authorize up to $400 for the outreach committee to purchase or rent a mailing list of Sunland-Tujunga residents. Ava Wrightsman seconded. Motion passed.

Nina Royal moved to form a committee to investigate secession as it relates to Sunland-Tujunga. Seconded. Motion passed.

Unfinished Business

Bylaws Amendments:Ê Jim Margolin moved that the elected officers/Executive Board consist of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer. Motion seconded. Passed.

Jim Margolin moved that the corresponding secretary bean ex-officio member of the outreach committee. Lynn Bedri seconded. Jim Margolin amended the motion to omit the word ãex-officioä. Motion passed.

Jim Margolin moved to convene the nominating committee in October of each year instead of in November. Seconded. Motion passed.

Open Forum

Legislative Liaisons:Ê Pat Davenport from the City Council District 2 office gave an update on the construction work taking place on Tujunga Cyn. Blvd., near the 210 freeway and La Tuna Cyn. Rd. New phone lines are being installed and long-overdue safety improvements are being made to the intersection of Tujunga Canyon Blvd. and La Tuna Cyn. Rd. Four oak trees must be removed, but seven new oaks will be planted on Tujunga Canyon and ten new oaks will be planted at local parks. No public hearings are scheduled to discuss the project.

Tujunga Canyon Blvd. cannot be widened below Foothill Blvd. The city would have to take so much property from the local residents that the resulting lots would be non-conforming. If a house on a non-conforming lot were damaged beyond repair or destroyed, the owner could not rebuild.

Josh Goldstein of Congressman Adam Schiffâs office gave an update on his legislative activities. He secured $750,000 for a water treatment plant in Glendale. There will be a town hall meeting on Chromium 6 in early January. Schiff also requested $300,000 for a skate park in Sunland-Tujunga. Today the House of Representatives passed the Anti-Hoax Terrorism Act of 2001, which provides for civil and criminal penalties at the federal level for persons who create false terrorism scares.

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

REPORTS

Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council

Regular Meeting of 12/12/2001

Planning Issues:Ê Jane Fanganiello reported that construction on the Sav-on complex has begun. She is requesting that the developers participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for the project.

La Tuna Canyon:Ê Steve Crouch reported that he was notified on Monday about a PLUM (Planning and Land Use Management) committee meeting on Tuesday. A few people from the community were able to attend.

The Scenic Preservation Plan went back to the Planning Commission. There is talk about another round of community hearings. The Scenic Plan is not expected to be heard before the Planning Commission until April.

Caroling:Ê Carol Loweree reported that the second annual caroling party will be held on Sunday, December 23 at 3:00 p.m. at the New Vista Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Fenwick St. in Sunland. The program will last about thirty minutes, followed by pie at Cocoâs. Singers should wear their council t-shirts. Carol is still taking sign-ups.

Certification:Ê Lynn Bedri reported that the committee has collected about 150 signatures. More signatures will be collected at the back of the room.

Outreach:Ê Jim Margolin reported that he is setting up a meeting for the new neighborhood captains. Anyone who is interested in becoming a neighborhood captain should see Jim after tonightâs meeting to schedule a captainsâ meeting.

Alliance of Neighborhood Councils:Ê Mike Hall reported that he attended the last Alliance meeting on November 17. The meeting covered several topics, including fundraising, outreach, the pros and cons of non-profit incorporation, certification and legal liability. ãThe city will defend us in a lawsuit, except when they wonât.ä