Acton Town Council Meeting Minutes, December 1, 2025 Approved

1. Call to Order, Flag salute, & Roll Call –  The meeting was called to order at 6;32 pm by Vice President Don Laird.  Present at the meeting Don Laird, Pam Wolter, Jacki Ayer, June Perkins, and Kelly Teno.  Absent: Jeremiah Owen.
2. Community Comments – Comments included; last Sunday 50 dead chickens were found in feed bags near Ave. V and Sierra Highway.  They were picked up by Animal Control and the Health Department stated that they tested negative for Bird Flu.  They will still do further testing to find the cause of death.  The ATC has recently been emailing back and forth with the County to determine who is in charge of large animal facilities and it is the LA County Health Department.  The investigation on the previously reported on Detox house has been completed.  Results included that there are unqualified personnel providing services.  The State of CA has requested the facility to put out an action plan.  The are planning more inspections in the future.  A neighbor spoke about a recent drug deal that took place in the front of the house.  They are not for sure if it was part of the recent investigation or a future one.  A resident spoke about 6 dead horses found up Peaceful Valley.  They were found spread out, all were shot in the head and in various forms of decay.  The question raised was who the agency in control would be or investigate.  It was speculated that it might be LA County Animal Control for animal cruelty.
3. Announcements & Correspondence – Jacki announced events and meetings happening in LA County and the AV Area.  There are 2 council seats up for the 2026-2027 term, 2 year term.  Those wishing to apply must complete the Official Candidate Application Form which must be received on or before 5:00pm, December 26, 2025.  If more than 2 applications are received there will be an election on January 13, 2026.  At the last council meeting there was a vote to request a meeting with Supervisor Barger to discuss what can be done about the violations caused by so many food vendors in Acton and the lack of enforcement by LA County Health Department.  Since then the ATC has learned that Supervisor Barger is already moving in  that direction.  Given this information we thought we should discuss this tonight with Chuck Bostwick, Representative from her office and ask how best to collaborate with her and her staff.  The ATC has received communication from several people living in the Arrastre Canyon area about work being done at the old Acton Rehab.  The County has issued stop work orders for work being done without permits.  The ATC believes that as of this date they have not gotten their site plan approved and their plan to allow Pali to run and education camp most of the year is a violation of LA County Code.  The LA County Public Works has warned of an increase in the amount of illegal dumping in the Antelope Valley.  They have issued a statement regarding what their plans are to combat this issue.  The statement is posted on the ATC website.  The County Community Wildfire Protection Ordinance Survey is still open for unincorporated LA County residents to comment.  See the flyer on the ATC website.  After many email exchanges with state agencies, the ATC learned that we will have to rely on LA County Health Department to ensure that the commercial chicken operation does not harm our air, soil, and ground water quality.  The farm has approximately 2,000 chickens.  The ATC received an email from a UCLA student researching how infrastructure and resources shape wildfire preparedness, evacuation, and recovery across Pallisades, Altadena/Eaton, and Acton.  He is wanting to put together 2 brief interviews with local residents who have experienced wildfire and the information gathered will be used in a final paper that provides policy recommendations to LA County.  Participation is voluntary, confidential, and requires no preparation.  The ATC received an email from the manager of an animal rescue in Culver City.  The rescue would like to be relocated to Acton.  They have acquired 4 parcels and they indicated their intent to vacate the offers of dedication for roadway purposes on the property.  They were invited to present at an upcoming ATC meeting.  In response to an email the ATC sent regarding the closure of a park in the Sierra Pelona portion of the Angeles National Forest , the Forest Service has offered to give a presentation of projects in the forest included ones close to Acton and the AV.
4. Library Report –  Upcoming events for December were announced.  All programs can be found on the library website.  Times and closures for Christmas and New Years were announced.
5. Representative Update – Chuck Bostwick from Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office reported that he is not for sure if the supervisor would be able to help with the Health Department combat the Food Vendors.  The ATC stated that there needed to be more rules for the unincorporated areas.  The State of California decriminalized food truck violations so law enforcement has their hands tied.  The Health Department could confiscate equipment from illegal food vendors, but they do not.  Deputy Martinez spoke about going with the Health Dept. and confiscating food from violating food vendors.  The ATC spoke about going back and writing the letter to Supervisor Barger from the motion at the last meeting.  Chuck Bostwick will ask the Department of Public Works about the status of the request to make the whole curb red in front of the 76 Station, to help with line of sight issues the Food Vendors cause.  A representative from Congressman Whitesides office reported on the following; Happy Holidays, The government shutdown has ended and it is back to regular transportation.  There was an update on the renaming of the Castaic Post Office.
6. Deputy Martinez Report – The November stats were reported. 0Part One Crimes and 3 Property Crimes.  There was a 18.1 percent reduction in crime.
7. Proposed Gas Station – Update – On November 19, 2025 3 representatives from Acton went to speak about the driveways and fire lane changes for this project.  The ATC wrote an extensive letter on this.  Many problems were pointed out during verbal comments.  Commissioner Hastings asked County Counsel if they were allowed to approve the project.  County Counsel replied that they were not  sure and couldn’t say.  The Acton representatives thought the commission might decide they needed more answers and would continue the item.  They passed the item.
8. General Plan Tune Up – The County is doing a tune up to align with General Plan policies.  This will take place on December 10, 2025 from 6;00 to 7;30 pm online.  Registration required to attend.  See the link on the ATC website.
9. BESS – Bloomberg News from Northern CA interviewed Jacki Ayer from the ATC and Ruth Brock from Acton Takes Action about the proposed BESS projects.  They also took them on a tour of where the BESS are proposed.  They are writing an article about the communities who are opposing the BESS.  It was reported that Prairie Song has purchased property along Soledad Canyon Road and Sierra Highway.  They are asking residents to fill out liability releases and easement agreements.  Their accessibility to Soledad Canyon Road has been cut off by Prairie Song.  One of the residents has been asked if they could send an unsigned copy of the easement agreement for the ATC to look at.   Jacki Ayer made a motion to write a letter to the CEC letting them know that, after residents adjacent to the Angeleno development were cut off, they were directed to sign an easement agreement that address liability issues and even appear to surrender all prescriptive easements rights.   Pam Wolter 2nd the motion.  The motion carried.
10. Minutes – Tabled
11. Committee Reports –  The following committees had reports: Education Committee – The school board is off for Christmas.  Planning and Coordinating – 1) Ask for a joint Happy Trails/Supervisor Barger’s office presentation. 2) Concerns with the Housing Ordinance update include, the removal of Townhouses as a allowable Ag use with a CUP, and the revision of 21.16.015.H.3 should refer to subsection D not C.  Put off meeting with DPW re Santa Clara River Watershed Plan until January 2026.  Trails, Open Space, and Recreation – It was decided to put the USFS  in contact with the ARTC.  Emergency Response & Disaster/Resiliency Plan – No new CERT dates have been announced.  The audience was asked if anyone was interested in working with the UCLA student.  Pam announced she was planning to meet with Mike Hughes and Cal Ogelsby at the Emergency trailer to go through everything.  Beautification /Illegal Dumping –  They get calls from residents about dumped items like the couch under the freeway at Red Rover Mine Road.  They fill 3-4 dumpsters a week.  Construction debris dumps are the biggest issue right now.  Cal recycle is having a follow up meeting on how to deal with illegal toxic dumping in January 2026.  Utilities – The meeting with WWD37 and LARWQCB will be put off until January 2026.  The discussion will pertain solely to well protection.
12. Unfinished/New Business – None
13. Items for Next Agenda – General Plan Tune-up, Election
14. Adjournment – 9:11 PM