Acton Town Council Meeting Minutes, April 7, 2025, Approved

1. Call to Order, Flag Salute, & Roll Call –  The meeting was called to order by President Jeremiah Owen at 6:30 pm. Present at the meeting: Jeremiah Owen, Jacki Ayer, Pam Wolter, June Perkins, Don Laird, and Kelly Teno.
2. Community Comments – A resident reported about a friend living down the street from Cactus Creek.  Edison has cut their power and there is no water.  Another resident reported about all the health issues at the site.  Jacki answered with reporting all the items that have been issued against Cactus Creek.  Residents should report issues to Supervisor Bargers Office, the D.A.’s Office and the Health Department.  The Acton Town Council will post all the contacts on our website.  A resident inquired about what is going on at the site across from Fox Feed.  An email has been sent to Regional Planning and Public Works inquiring as to whether there is a proposed site plan issued for the property.  The ATC learned that there is an NOV on the property and learned that there is a subdivision application.  A resident announced that the property in front of the Acton Faith Bible has been stripped of all vegetation and has piles of debris left on it. A resident announced about the County not accepting their road in dedication, and now there are disputes.  Jacki gave an update on what the ATC knows about future streets.  The County has gone through and named them all Private and Future Streets.  The ATC has spoken to them in the past about all our concerns.  A resident announced that they learned that Dan Garinger at the County has written a pamphlet about how properties can be used in LA County.  Chuck Bostwick from Supervisor Barger’s office will send us a PDF so it can be put on the ATC website.
3. Announcements & Correspondence – The ATC needs to narrow down a date for the meeting with County Staff regarding County energy policy. We have received a follow up email from a resident who was affected by the disposal of chicken manure on the neighboring property. The health department looked at it and stated that nothing was seen so there was nothing that could be done.  The resident reported that they are continuing to dump and the smell is so foul that you can’t be outside for more than a few minutes.  Cannabis Scoping Comments were submitted on Friday.  DCBA did not consult the Sheriff’s Department before issuing the Initial Study.  The study concluded that there would be no impacts to public services, safety, or wildfire.  Our letter pointed out why all this is incorrect. Also pointed out was that they are barred by CEQA from preparing a Programmatic EIR and must prepare a regular EIR. We also pointed out that, since the County never enforces its own mitigation measures or even implements its own code, why would any mitigation measures for this ordinance be implemented.  Our comments included 52 photographs of 52 sites here in Acton that are operating in violation of the Code and their own permits.  It was also brought up that the project is inconsistent with the General Plan.
4. Library Report – Upcoming programs were announced along with other events for April.
5. Representative Update –  Chuck Bostwick from Supervisor Barger’s office sent out a notice for the listening session on Governance.
6. Deputy Martinez Report –  For March 2025 there were 0 part One Crimes and 0 Property Crimes.  Deputy Martinez spoke about the 4th of July meeting.  He also announced that he went to the residents at Cactus Creek and advised them that they are not allowed to use the water at the Community Center.  He spoke about the vehicles that have been cited because they are partially on private and partially on public property.
7. County Energy Policy –  The Chief Sustainability Office had 3 workshops on this update to the plan.  Jacki looked at all the energy portion of the update and their path to green energy.  She felt that the ATC needs to sit down with the County and the Chief Sustainability Office to talk about the energy plan.  One major concern is that to meet energy goals they support energy generating developers, like BESS projects.  In the next 15 to 20 years about 70 billion is planned for transmission lines.  Their money is in the transmission lines.  If they choose to do distribution with the storage where it is used, they don’t have to worry about transmission being taken out.  The ATC has dates to meet on the County Energy Policy.  Either April 22nd or April 30th.  After discussion April 22nd at 11:oo am was chosen.  Jacki Ayer made a motion to take the County up on the Energy Policy meeting on April 22nd at 11:00 am.  June Perkins 2nd the motion.  The motion carried.
8. SCE CPUC Complaint –  We are several years into the complaint process.  Southern California Edison has requested that the settlement is to remain confidential, but that the settlement itself is not.  there is a request for an ATC Special Meeting Thursday April 10th at 1pm.  Look at all the items after #8 and especially #10.
9. AB941 –  This bill allows utilities to identify what they consider a “priority project”and then inform the CPUC of why it is a priority and then requires the CPUC to certify an EIR within 270 days after a complete application is submitted.  This would give the CPUC exactly 6 months to hold hearings, consider public scoping comments, review, and prepare a draft EIR, consider public comments on the draft EIR and issue it.  Senator Valladeres is in support of AB941, and we need to reach out and engage with her and her staff as to why and what we don’t understand.   Jacki Ayer made a motion to engage with Senator Valladeres and staff on AB941 and our concerns with it.  Don Laird 2nd the motion.  The motion carried.
10. Real Estate Directional Signs – We have been receiving complaints about real estate directional signs and some blocking line of site on major roads.  Pam Wolter reported that Oscar Gomez from the County advised that the County Road Department be notified and they will remove them.  Chuck Bostwick from Supervisor Barger’s office asked to have the locations of signs sent to him and he will contact the Road Department.
11. BESS – Ruth Brock from Acton Takes Action gave an update on the lawsuit which is a CEQA brief and is set to go before the Judge on July 17, 2025.  Ruth spoke about the different workshop listening sessions she has attended.  Jacki spoke about the Renewable Energy Ordinance update being proposed by Supervisor Horvath.  The Antelope Valley would have the potential to look like all the wind turbines going up in Mojave and Tehachapi.  Ruth reported on the Moss Landing Battery Storage fire and all the contamination present there.  Ruth announced that AB303 has been pulled from the calendar due to amount of comments received from communities.  They are looking to make it stronger.  Acton Takes Action supports this bill.
12. Bylaws –  Kelly Teno presented the proposed changes to the Acton Town Council Bylaws.  The Bylaws were presented at the previous meeting of the Acton Town Council on March 26, 2025.  After discussion Jacki Ayer made a motion to accept the Bylaws as amended.  June Perkins 2nd the motion.  The motion carried.
13. Minutes –  Pam Wolter made a motion to accept the minutes with changes from September 2024 to December 2024.  Don Laird 2nd the motion.  The motion carried.
14. EAFB Resilience Meeting – This meeting is April 11, 2025 10:00 – 12:00 at AV College
15. Committee Report –  The following committees had reports.  Education – Don Laird has volunteered to be the chairperson of this committee.  Don reached out to the Superintendent.  He gave reports on all the schools.  Disaster/Resiliency Plan – June announced a 2 day event she will be attending in Palmdale
16. Unfinished/New Business –  Jacki spoke about the new requirement to go to Public Records Act for any information on proposed projects.  Jacki will follow up with Chuck Bostwick from Supervisor Barger’s Office.  we have received a recommendation that our ATC letters be posted to our ATC website and possible our Facebook page.
17. Items for Next Agenda – Nancy Harris about Parks.  Happy Trails
18. Adjournment – 9:17pm