Minutes of Agua Dulce Town Council Meeting

AGUA DULCE TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES

APPROVED: 10/14/98

September 23, 1998

REGULAR MEETING

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 7:42 p.m. by Trish Sullivan. The Pledge of Allegiance followed. Art Brewer, Doc Ellis, Diane Terito, Mike Terito, Michael Sullivan and Trish Sullivan were present. Dick Tracy was absent due to business commitments.

AGENDA: An agenda was presented by Trish. The agenda was approved with the deletion of reports from the Election and Communication Committees.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Michael moved that the Minutes of September 9, 1998, be accepted as submitted. Seconded by Art. VOTE: Aye - 6; No - 0; Abstain - 0.

SECRETARY’S REPORT: The following mail was received between 9/10 and 9/23/98:

1. Department of Regional Planning, County of L.A.

a. CUP #98-055-(5). RE: Wireless telecommunications facility. Location: 4718 1/2 Sierra Highway, Acton in the Soledad Zoned District. Hearing to be held October 20, 1998, 9:00 a.m. in Room 150, Hall of Records, 320 West Temple Street.

b. CUP #98-078-(5). RE: Wireless telecommunications facility. Location: 1.5 miles east from the crossing of Edison Road and Angeles Forest Highway in the Soledad Zoned District. Hearing to be held November 3, 1998, 9:00 a.m. in Room 150, Hall of Records, 320 West Temple Street.

c. CUP #98-083-(5). RE: Wireless telecommunications facility. Location: 31650 Spring Canyon Road, Vasquez Rocks, in the Soledad Zoned District. Hearing to be held November 3, 1998, 9:00 a.m. in Room 150, Hall of Records, 320 West Temple Street.

d. Notice of Public Hearing Concerning Zone Change Case No. 97-009-(5), Conditional Use Permit No. 97-009-(5), Revised Tentative Tract Map No. 36943-(5). Hearing date: October 21, 1998 at 9:00 a.m.

e. Notice of Public Hearing for Proposed Land Division Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 48786 (Revised), CUP No. 98-013. Hearing date: October 20, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. This request proposes to create 65 single-family lots and 1 sewage treatment plant lot on 157 acres located on the south side of Sierra Highway, approximately 820 feet east of Agua Dulce Canyon Road in the Agua Dulce area of the Soledad Zoned District. (Sierra Colony)

2. Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District. Grant Application Manuals, Fourth Funding Cycle (Summer 1998) (with revisions) for

a. Natural Lands Restoration;

b. At-Risk Youth Recreation and Service Facilities;

c. Senior Centers & Recreation Facilities;

d. Graffiti Prevention;

e. Rivers & Streams;

f. Trails Acquisition & Development

3. City of Palmdale, Robert W. Toone, Jr., City Manager. Copy of the 1998-99 budget for the City of Palmdale and the Community Redevelopment Agency.

4. Antelope Acres Community Center - 5th Annual Pete Ritter Day, Saturday, October 3rd, 1998.

Trish received a request from Stacey Nichols of Acton for a copy of the Council’s letter to SCOPE dated 9/9/98.

A discussion followed regarding the wireless telecommunications facilities. Lillian suggested that a letter be sent to any company planning one for Agua Dulce, requesting that it be appropriately landscaped, or suggesting that various companies share a facility where possible.

TREASURER’S REPORT: The Treasurer submitted a written report, showing a balance of $1,236.42.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

WATER COMMITTEE - Lillian Smith, Chair: The California Regional Water Quality Control Board (CRWQCB) postponed the update scheduled for September was postponed until November. Brian Schwickert of the CRWQCB wanted to wait so that he could combine Hacienda Vasquez into his report. The WSC has sent out additional letters to all well testing volunteers requesting more information. John Cromwell has indicated that testing will resume in October. Ken Schmidt has prepared a quarterly report, which has now been sent to the CRWQCB (copy to be provided for the Council files). Lillian is continuing to work on the Manure Removal program, which may now include Acton.

COMMUNITY STANDARDS DISTRICT REVISIONS COMMITTEE - Donna Saufley, Chair: Diane reported in Donna’s absence. The committee met on 9/8/98, with guest Dave Beaumont, an architect who lives in Agua Dulce. Dave has personal experience with the Acton CSD, and gave the committee insights into what works from the planner/architect’s view and what has not. Lillian will be printing a report in The Country Journal as a community update.

OPEN FORUM:

Trish Brewer addressed the subject of accessory buildings for elderly family members or caretakers. She suggested that this be addressed by the CSD Committee. It was agreed by consensus that this falls under the scope of this committee.

It was stated that there are trailers/RVs being moved onto the property of a residence on Davenport. These are former residents of Hacienda Vasquez who have moved there. A suggestion was made that the Council write a letter to the County with a formal request for action. Trish will be provided with the address of the subject property. It was also suggested that the letter request that County Building Inspectors visit the property.

The subject of increased graffiti was discussed. There has been at least one incident of NDAK spray painted on a block wall. Art stated that there were two writings in front of his house - one in red and then one in black sprayed over it - which occurred on a Friday night.

BREAK: 8:20 p.m. to 8:27 p.m.

OLD BUSINESS:

HACIENDA VASQUEZ: Trish reported that she did not a follow-up phone call from Tim Grover after he reinspected the property. Trish called both JoAnne Darcy and Eric of Harry Stone’s office, Public Works. Eric said that basically nothing has been happening. He reported that there’s a company interested in coming in and removing vacant trailers and moving them to Nevada to use as vagrant housing. JoAnne said that Roberta Stovich of Legal Aid has filed an appeal to the Notice of Order, which JoAnne feels will be denied as written. According to JoAnne, legal residents will receive money from the County for relocation. The amounts will range from $1,500 to approximately $8,000. Some will receive money prior to the move, when they can prove out of pocket expenses to make the move. Others will receive money after they have moved. JoAnne also stated that there has been a little bit of clean-up with the removal of a burnt out unit and a couple of others. She also stated that the sewage system has been shut down. Other than that, the County is not moving forward with anything else on the Notice of Order until the Board of Supervisors reaches an understanding of their legal position in the appeal filed by Legal Aid. JoAnne distributed a timeline at the recent Chamber meeting. Lillian will provide copies of whatever she received at the meeting.

Art reported that he met a gentleman in Agua Dulce Hardware who stated that he’d purchased 50 trailers currently located at Hacienda Vasquez.

Trish also reported that JoAnne Darcy told her that there are not enough funds to purchase Hacienda Vasquez with a portion of Prop A Funds. She also told Trish that Vasquez Rocks Park is having a sewage problem, and that the County is investigating using some of the funds to install a sewage system there. Art stated that the grant can not be used for this purpose.

Dick faxed Trish to say that Hacienda Vasquez currently owes Southern California Edison approximately $35,000 in electric bills.

SHERIFF: Art drafted a letter to Supervisor Antonovich regarding the need for supplemental Sheriff’s Department protection. Trish read the letter aloud. Suggestions were made, which Art will incorporate in a second draft. Trish will also include a request in the Council’s Community Update suggesting that community members send letters echoing the desire to have increased protection.

FUNDRAISING: This topic was held over to the next meeting.

COUNCIL LETTERS: Trish will send a copy of the appropriate letters to Lillian via Email.

NEW BUSINESS:

ASSOCIATION OF RURAL TOWN COUNCILS: The next meeting will be held at the Palmdale Cultural Center on September 24, 1998 at 7:00 p.m. Diane and Mike volunteered to attend.

SIERRA COLONY HEARING - L.A. COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT: Lillian provided some history regarding a prior effort to put a sewage treatment plant on the Sierra Colony property. The hearing is scheduled for October 20th, 9:00 a.m. All Council members should try to attend.

ADJOURNED: The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

DIANE TERITO

Recording Secretary

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