Acton Town Council Meeting Minutes, September 15, 2025 Approved

1. Call to Order, Flag Salute & Roll Call – The meeting was called to order at 6:31 PM by President Jeremiah Owen.  Present at the meeting: Jacki Ayer, Jeremiah Owen, Don Laird, June Perkins and Kelly Teno.  Absent: Pam Wolter.
2. Community Comments – A representative from Acton Firewise spoke about becoming Firewise homeowners.  The more residents we get that meet the Firewise criteria the more grants we can get for seniors in our community.  You can look up Acton Firewise INC. for more information.
3. Announcements & Correspondence – Announcements included local events going on in Acton/Agua Dulce, the Antelope Valley, and LA County.  The County has drafted the Santa Clara Watershed Plan which affects Acton.  We will learn more about the plan because our WASC watershed coordinator is on tonight’s agenda.  Jacki reported on the Zone Zero Regulations.  “Zone Zero” means the first five feet around a structure.  The Legislature requires the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to establish an ember-resistant defensible zone within 5 feet of a structure and pass the regulations by December 31, 2025.  The ATC learned that the County has adopted an ordinance which allows homeowners to open up restaurants in their homes and serve food to diners in their backyards.  The only requirements are that they get a license and do not put up signs.  The County is moving forward with their Community Wildfire Protection Program.  They have changed direction and are not adopting an ordinance but will work with individual  communities to come up with plans to prioritize local issues like access and brush clearance.  The County is updating their Oak Tree Permit requirements making them more stringent.  This should not heavily affect Acton since we have few oak trees.  The County is preparing to do a General Plan “tune up” to bring the General Plan in conformance with the zoning code and planning policies.  This is a requirement of the County due to State law.  This matter will be discussed before the Planning Commission on October 15th.  The County is moving forward with an Antelope Valley Water Plan.  This is something our community should keep its eye on since the County Water Plan is not working out well for rural residents who are not part of any water district or not properly represented.  The Superior Court of Los Angeles County is looking for civic-minded residents to apply for the 2026-27 Civil Grand Jury.  Applications are due by November 1, 2025.  If interested contact the ATC and we will forward the information.
4. Library Report –  Friends of the Library had a successful book sale.  Proceeds from their book sales go to fund special events at the library.  See all upcoming events at lacountylibrary.org.  The Bookmark contest is going on.  Forms are available at the library.  The ATC will post the flyer on our website.
5. Representative Update –  Representative from Congressman Whitesides office gave an update on bills he is working on. HR 5106 is about the representatives in Congress having no interest in the Stock Market.  Another bill the American Wildfire Bill that is being looked at is about using satellites to better detect wildfires, this is a bi-partisan bill.  Service Academy applications being taken.  They can be found on their website.
6. Deputy Martinez – None
7. Santa Clara River Watershed Plan – Amanda Begley, Watershed Coordinator, from Tree People spoke about stormwater collection projects funded from Measure W.  Acton is in the Santa Clara Watershed, which is asking communities their needs assessments.  You can find the link to the survey on the Acton Town Council website or go to safecleanwaterLA.org and look up Santa Clara River Watershed.  A question was raised by Ruth Brock of Acton Takes Action about the proposed BESS projects in Acton and their close proximity to the Santa Clara River.  She asked if Amanda would ask about the possibility of the Tree People writing a letter expressing concerns for the Santa Clara River.  Amanda said that Ruth should contact Tree People directly to ask but that she believed it was an issue of concern.  After discussion Jacki Ayer made a motion to write a comment letter on the Santa Clara River Watershed Plan.  June Perkins 2nd the motion.  The motion carried.
8. Fahnestock Ranch –  The ATC received a letter from Mr Fahnestock sharing concerns that while his plans are close to being approved, Water Works District 37 is now requiring him to do infrastructure upgrades that will service all Acton WWD37 customers during a PSPS event.  This construction will cost upwards of about $500,000.00, with the only way to receive any money is if someone needs to link into it in the next 5 years.  This has nothing to do with the arena etc.. that he is wanting to construct.  The ATC has requested WWD37 requirements for the justification of this.  Mr Fahnestock will come back to the October 6,2025 ATC meeting.
9. Mountain View Detox –   Representatives in charge of running the Mountain View Detox gave a background of the location and improvements he has made.  He also spoke about complaints he has heard from neighboring homeowners.  The neighbors spoke up about their complaints and what they felt went wrong and ways to improve.  They were told that it would be looked into.  They were asked if they knew when clients are coming to the facility, the times they arrive, and are they allowed to drive themselves.  They know when people are scheduled to arrive, clients don’t generally drive themselves, and they like to have them arrive between 8am and 6pm.  Nobody can just drop in.  A nearby homeowner complained about the light in the backyard and about the large tree that needs to be cut back.  The ATC spoke about the light in the back needing to be shining downward and fully shielded so no light spills out into neighboring properties.  This is according to the Acton Community Standards.
10. Juana Segunda – MCP – Violations – Tabled
11. Illegal Use – Sierra Highway – This property is located on Sierra Highway east of McDonalds.  The old Crown Valley Harware Store and outdoor antique sales have been replaced with unpermitted and illegal outdoor storage uses, heavy equipment rental, RV sales and services, and other uses.  None of these uses have been approved, and some of them are not permitted in the Rural Commercial Zone.  The site was originally established with an approved CUP, a subdivision, a General Plan amendment, and a -DP zone change that limited site uses to a hardware store and antiques dealer. The timeframe in which the CUP was valid ran with the parcel map, and since the parcel map was never finalized, the CUP expired almost 30 years ago.  No use on any of the parcels has been authorized for decades.  Both Acton residents and the Acton Town Council have brought these concerns and illegal uses to the Department of Regional Planning.  The ATC passed a motion to engage Director Bodek to address why DRP accepted applications for development when zoning code prohibited them from doing so because of the violations.  A meeting was scheduled, the ATC was there, but DRP did not show.  The ATC followed up with an email and the response was that County is processing a Clean Hands Waiver so they can process the applications.  The ATC pointed out that the site uses are limited to what was approved with the -DP zone change in 1991, so none of the proposed uses are allowed.  The ATC requested an appointment to go to the Regional Planning office to review the original file; that appointment is pending.  The ATC received a follow-up email that planning is having an internal meeting to discuss the problems associated with this property. After discussion Jacki Ayer made a motion we write a detailed letter to Regional Planning articulating our concerns with the proposed development and the fact that they are not consistent with the -DP zoning and that they should not have accepted the application.  Don Laird 2nd the motion.  The motion carried.
12. BESS – We spoke about over concentration and what that meaning might be.  Dangerous systems like lithium based BESS should not be located in any community and should be remotely placed.  For all other systems, an overconcentration is created when a system is installed that provides more capacity than what is needed by the community in which it is located. So, a non-lethal BESS system with the capacity of 3 MW is more than sufficient to serve 2,500 homes or Acton’s population of about 7,500 people. Any more than that for any type of use (electrical generation, electrical storage, etc.) would constitute an overconcentration.  SB 254 has not yet passed which would require BESS developers to provide certain information ahead of time such as land that has been acquired.  It also changes the requirements for community benefits and allows energy developers to set up a “community foundation” that they give money to that in turns issues grants to the community.  This allows them to completely avoid all community engagement and discussion and just place money into an account that they control and decide whom and how much, the money is allocated.  When they violate their charter by giving grants to special interests that do not benefit the community, we will have to rely on the State Attorney General to do something about it.  Regional Planning Staff is scheduled to present the Renewable Energy Ordinance to the Planning Commission this week.  Ruth Brock from Acton Takes Action went over what is happening with the trial on the Humidor Project.  The judge should make his decision by October 15, 2025.  Prairie Song BESS proposed project has filed with the state process , the CEC.  It is a longer process and SORT (Save Our Rural Town) has filed a letter about the application.  Ruth has asked that all residents comment on the docket, she will post a link on social media.  Prairie Song as proposed would be the largest BESS in the world, 2035 containers in all.  Ruth spoke about a video from a retired Fire Chief that lives in San Juan Capistrano, and his presentation of the truth about lithium ion and all the problems and concerns.
13. Minutes – Jacki Ayer made a motion to approve the minutes from January to July 2025 with already received changes and  the ability to make new changes if necessary.  June Perkins 2nd the motion.  The motion Carried.    Jacki Ayer made a motion to accept the minutes of August 4, 2025 with corrections.  Don Laird 2nd the motion.  The motion carried.
14. Committee Reports -The following committees had reports ; Planning and Coordinating – The ATC needs input from Acton residents on areas of concern for brush clearance issues.  Please email the ATC.  One resident in attendance recommended the SCE property and the properties owned by BESS developers.  Another suggestion was to contact Captain Cole at Station 80 for input.  Trails, Open Space, and Recreation – Justin Seastrand head of the San Gabriel National Monument is asking for a support letter for a parcel of land purchase.  One request was to ask that existing trails remain.  Jacki Ayer made a motion that the ATC write a letter of support; with a friendly amendment from Jeremiah Owen that the letter stipulates the protect and expand existing trails and access routes, Jacki agreed with the amendment. June Perkins 2nd the motion.  The motion carried.  Utilities – Should the ATC file a complaint CPUC on the January PSPS.  It was decided to wait until the October 6, 2025 meeting.
15. Unfinished/New Business – None
16. Items For Next Agenda – Edison PSPS, PW – Josephine Guiterrez – WW District 37, Fahnstock Ranch
17. Adjournment – 9:18 PM