Acton Town Council Minutes – April 6, 2015
Meeting Called to Order at 7:30 p.m. at the Acton Agua Dulce Library
1. Present at the meeting: Chris Croisdale, Michael Hughes, Ray Billet, Tom Costan, Pam Wolter, Katherine Tucker. Absent: Thor Merich and Jacqueline Ayer
2. Minutes of 3-16-2015 distributed in hard copy and posted on Acton Town Council web site.
3. Treasurer’s Report: From 2/27/2015 $1842.47
4. Sheriff’s Report: Deputy Short 661-272-2571 -Crime statistics for March 2015 given: 15 crimes in the area including one arson. 3 grand thefts, 4 petty thefts, 6 burglaries including thefts to outbuildings. Entries were not forced as the structures were not locked.
5. SCE Report: Patricia Bartoli-Wible – FAA lighting questions discussed. Ms. Bartoli-Wible said that the SCE engineers cannot come to the Acton Town Council meeting to discuss the issue of the FAA lights on the TRTP towers being too bright and directing into resident homes. She said that SCE said that the Acton Town Council should contact the FAA directly about the issue. Ms. Bartoli-Wible said that she would provide a contact name from FAA. Vincent Substation – it was announced by Patricia Bartoli-Wible that SCE is going to be putting up a solid block wall fence around the property due to a directive from Homeland Security.
6. Library Report: Valerie Bailey said that she was promoted to Librarian 5 and will be transferring to the Lancaster Library where she will be head librarian. The Children’s Librarian will also be leaving to take a job in New Mexico. There will be continuity of service.
7. Announcements and Correspondence:
- LA County proposed Renewable Energy Ordinance – hearing set for 4/8/2015. There will be a remote location where residents can make comments – 335 East Avenue K-6. Start time: 9:00 a.m. Staff will probably recommend that the hearing be continued to 4/22/2015.
- Don Henry from Agua Dulce Town Council – attended the meeting and made a statement thanking the Acton Town Council and volunteers on the Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Resiliency Program. Mr. Henry said that the Agua Dulce Town Council would like to continue this relationship, that it is beneficial to both communities. He said that there is a sunset clause on the funding and he would like to send a formal letter with the Acton Town Council asking that the funding be continued. Secondly, Mr. Henry stated that the Agua Dulce Town Council has been approached by an Acton group who live near Hubbard Road. He said that they desire to be included in the Agua Dulce Town Council area. This issue has been brought up before and has been evaluated by LA County Department of Regional Planning. Mr. Croisdale said that before any recommendations are made, he and the other new Acton Town Council members would need the background information on the issue.
- 1000 Trails – Ms. Kathy Fiore, Manager of Acton 1000 Trails spoke about the improvements and code violation corrections. Ms. Fiore has been an employee of 1000 Trails for 4 years. She said that there at 80 1000 Trail Campgrounds throughout the United States and that the Acton site has the largest amount of acreage and has the largest pool. She said that she has spent 1 year addressing the immediate needs at the site and is making a 5 year and 10 year plan for the site. Some of the things they are correcting are improvements to the electrical systems, correctionCUP violation corrections. Also included in the improvements are the construction of an Arizona Crossing over the Santa Clara River. This project is in the process of being engineered. One of the main issues are the occupancy violations. Campers can only stay 90 days out of every 180 days. Ms. Fiore said that she meets monthly with Regional Planning on the corrections. Also, they are planning to open the restaurant to the community – it will be open daily. And, the facility will be open to the public. There will be a $10 per person fee. This will include the basket ball and tennis courts and the pool. Ms. Fiore was asked if the Civic groups will be able to use the facility for fundraisers. Ms. Fiore said, “Yes”. Ms. Fiore said there will be two kinds of memberships at 1000 Trails: 1. Annual – pay 1x per year. The members can leave their car and have a shed at the facility. They can stay 90 days in any 180 day period. 2. Extended Stay: Membership Camping: Members can stay three weeks and they have to be gone for one week. Ms Fiore also said that they were working on improving cell reception at 1000 Trails.
- Dollar General: Mr. Joshua Simon of Simon, CRE – preferred developer for Dollar General. The location for the proposed Dollar General is next to the new Acton Market and the old Acton Market. Mr. Simon described Dollar General as a store where “value conscious” customers shop. Proposed hours – 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. There were many residents from the community present at the meeting and who made comments. The majority of the members were very much against a Dollar General store in Acton. The consensus was that the store is not needed. Everything that Dollar General proposed to sell is available at either of the two markets and the Bargain Store on Sierra Highway. The residents also commented that the increase in traffic is not wanted. Michael Hughes noted that even if a project satisfies the zoning requirements, if the community does not want the project, they will be very vocal. Chris Croisdale noted that he was in Solvang over the weekend and they have an ordinance which does not allow stores to open which have more than two other locations. It was also pointed out to Mr. Simon that any tax revenues from the business will not benefit Acton, but will benefit LA County. Mr. Simon noted that he has not purchased the property yet for the Dollar General store.
- LA County Public Works – Josie Gutierrez – announced that through a grant, part of Angeles Forest Highway / Angeles Crest will be repaved. The project will start in May and last through October 2015 . There will be up to 30 minute delays. Commuters will have to take alternate routes.
8. 501 c3 / c4 – Michael Hughes contacted Randall Fink and provided the ATC by-laws. The ATC needs a physical address. This will have to be worked out.
9. Committee Reports:
- Planning, Coordination, Trails & Open Space, Recreation Committee: Jacqueline Ayer: Not present
- High Speed Rail – Pam Wolter: Accounting still not done for Sphaghetti fundraiser. They are waiting on a couple of bills. Local High Speed Rail meeting planned for 4/13/15 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Speaker TBD. 4/27/15 – Santa Clarita High Speed Rail group is having a meeting / rally at Canyon High School. High Speed Rail conducted sound studies in Acton on 4/1 and 4/2/2015 at 3 properties north of Sierra Highway, 1 property south the Freeway, and 1 property by Stallion Meadows. AB1138 sponsored by Jim Patterson is going before the Assembly on 4/22/2015.
- Publicity and Association of Rural Town Councils Committee -co-chaired by Tom Costan and Ray Billet.
- Finance Ways and Means Committee – Thor Merich
- By-Laws Committee – Michael Hughes –
- Public Works and Utilites Committee – C. Croisdale – no report
- Community Standards and Decorum – M. Hughes – Mike is planning on publishing sections of the Community Standards in the Country Journal and will ask for community input. There is a meeting scheduled for later in the month.
- Emergency Response and Disaster Planning- M. Hughes – Mr. Hughes is working on a new proposal and he is planning to have a float in the July 4th parade.
- Beautification, Illegal Dumping, and Perspective Committee – K. Tucker – the Illegal Dumping Task Force meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at Fire Station 29 in Lancaster at 3:00 p.m. It was decided that Public Works could help with illegal dumpling in Acton.
10. Liaisons
- Community Center – M. Hughes – No report
- Chamber of Commerce – Pam Wolter – 4/15/2015 5:30 p.m. – “Vision Builders”. It was noted that the Acton Chamber of Commerce is now a combination of Acton and Agua Dulce. Elizabeth Billet called Wendy Moore regarding the proposed minimum wage. Comments are due in 45 days.
- School Board – Vasquez High School construction remains on schedule. Money for the second phase of construction has been awarded. Dr. Woodard is planning a community meeting. There was no school board meeting this week.
- Women’s Club – Pam Wolter – no report
- Boy Scouts of America – no report
- Girl Scouts of America – no report
11. Unfinished Business – no report
12. New Business – 4/8/2015- LA County Regional Planning Renewable Energy Ordinance
Meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
Next Scheduled Meeting is April 20, 2015 at the Acton Agua Dulce Library at 7:30 p.m.
