Home Minutes Acton Town Council Meeting Minutes, January 5, 2026, Approved

Acton Town Council Meeting Minutes, January 5, 2026, 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: Jacki Ayer, Jeremiah Owen, Don Laird, June Perkins, Pam Wolter and Kelly Teno.
  2. Community Comments –  A resident brought up several points which included 1. At the park by the slide there is a large metal piece sticking out of the ground.  It is a problem that could hurt children. 2. The traffic at Meadowlark Elementary during drop off and pick up is getting worse and needs to be addressed.  3. Acton is having issues with motorcycles and razors on private roads.  4. The resident is a realtor and spoke about the well restrictions being bad for people selling their private property.  Another 22 year resident spoke about the issue of CalTrans not picking up the trash on their right of ways.  It has become a large issue and as residents we can not do anything about it.  When they mow over trash in the grass, 500 pieces become 5,000 pieces.  Another resident spoke about the security lights on the bank needing to be adjusted so they are not blinding to drivers on the road.
  3. Announcements & Correspondence –  The ATC was told by the LA County Department of Public Works that the County will soon be recording an NOV on the Happy Trails facility for unpermitted modifications.  On December 18, 2025 the ATC submitted a formal request to meet with Supervisor Barger to discuss this project; we have not heard anything in response. The Superior Court of Los Angeles County just launched a pop-up community resource center to help LA County residents get connected with court services in their own community and get accessible civics lesson in the process.  This “Court Common” pop-up will soon be traveling to schools and communities in the Fifth District.  The ATC has heard back from LA County Public Works on meeting about the Santa Clarita River Watershed Plan; the following dates have been offered: Jan. 12 between 10:30 and 1:00, Jan 13 between 1:00 and 3:00, and Jan 26 between 10:00 and 2:00.  we will decide during Committee Reports.  One Application for a membership on the Acton Town Council was received so there will not be an election but a new member can be appointed until the next election cycle, so if you are interested, please contact the Acton Town Council.  In response to the inquiry that we sent to Regional Planning, HCD, Public Health, and Supervisor Barger’s office regarding Cactus Creek, we received a response from the Health Department indicating that they are not involved but that the HCD has filed a civil abatement case with the DA.  They have basically said that they are not involved but that HCD has filed.
  4. Library Report – Library events for January were announced, all events can be found on the library website.  Library will be closed on January 19, 2026
  5. Representative Update – A representative from Congressman Whitesides office gave a report on what the Congressman is working on along with bills he is supporting.  Sign up on their website for their newsletter.  The Art Competition will be open soon for High School students.  Chuck Bostwick from Supervisor Barger’s office gave an update on what is being done at Cactus Creek. He added that Senator Valladeres has helped with the HCD.   There were concerns about if the County took it over there would be a squatting issue on the property. Deputy Martinez added to the discussion and reported that if the County cleans up Cactus Creek and puts a fence around it, no one can squat on the property.
  6. Deputy Martinez Report –  The person who provides the Stats is on vacation.  Deputy Martinez has been to Cactus Creek 4 times since November and he stated that the trash looks better, and there are less residents.
  7. Parking Enforcement – DPW- Steven Dykstra –   An update was given for measures that have been taken for line of sight issues on Sierra highway and the exits at the 76 gas station.  On the North side of Siera Highway 50 feet of red curb have been put next to the driveways.  There are plans to put signs to place a time limit for parking.  1 hour parking from 6am to 10 pm; No overnight parking from 10 pm to 6am.  They can do something similar on the South side of Sierra Highway.  They are working on an ordinance that would prohibit large vehicle parking on the streets.  They stated that it might work for Acton.  Many questions were brought up about this which included; How will it be enforced? Concerns about residents with trucks pulling horse trailers needing to stop or RV’s.  We wouldn’t want to see residents penalized.  It was thought that maybe this ordinance is not for Acton.  DPW brought up that the Department of Economic Opportunity might have signs prohibiting street vendors.  The ATC brought up the question if a bike lane would help the vendor parking situation on Sierra Highway.  Sierra Highway is a mapped bike lane.  Under the Master Bicycle Plan, all bike routes in Acton are Class III and appear to be paths that are in the same road as the cars.  Once we could have painted a blue line onto the asphalt, called a sharrow, for Acton bike paths, and that cost $15,000 per mile.  Governor Newsom signed SB-1216 on 2024 which prohibits the installation of sharrows on a highway that has a posted speed limit greater that 30 miles per hour.  Can we make the speed limit in the vicinity of Crown Valley Road and Sierra Highway 30 mph and install the sharrows on the North side at the least.  DPW will bring all these questions back for discussion.
  8. LED Stop Signs – (Sierra Hwy and Crown Valley) –  The County has approved LED stop signs at the 4 way stop at Crown Valley Road and Sierra Highway.  After discussion with residents present it was a unanimous yes.  The ATC will tell the County.  A representative from DPW stated that the traffic study from Antelope Woods and Crown Valley warrants a 4 way stop.  Jacki Ayer made a motion to tell DPW that the LED stop signs at Sierra Highway and Crown Valley Road are a yes.  Don Laird 2nd the motion.  The motion carried.
  9. Zone Change Request – EV Charging Station –  An application has been submitted for a zone change to allow for an EV charging station across from Desert Rose on Sierra Highway.  The ATC will make a request for a copy of the application and will post it on our website.  A resident brought up that Acton already has two charging stations.
  10. BESS –  ruth Brock from Acton Takes Action gave an update.  We won our lawsuit and are waiting to see if there will be an appeal.  The developer could come back with safe batteries on the property but we got rid of Lithium Ion Batteries.  The new technology can be placed in buildings instead of containers.  A resident asked if she had heard of solid state batteries, she said yes but as far as she is aware only for vehicles, no for BESS as of yet.  She spoke about the letter from SORT to the CEC about the project application before them now.  She spoke about the suggested alternative locations for the project.  There is still a need for the community to keep writing to oppose the project.
  11. General Plan Tune-up –  Jacki Ayer gave an update on the tune-up.  The comments are due January 22, 2026.  The following is proposed in the tune-up; 1. remove noise study requirement that the health department was supposed to start 8 years ago.  2.  Remove the Recreational Plan development that was supposed to start more than 5 years ago.  3.  Eliminating the LOS component of all traffic studies because it is incorrectly believed that LOS is irrelevant under CEQA.  This is not true, an LOS study is still required for all projects to assess consistency with General Plan goals.  At unsignalized intersections the LOS study must utilize the vehicle delay method per the adopted Highway Capacity Manual, which establishes that because the V/C Method that is used in the LOS studies at signalized intersections is inappropriate for unsignalized intersections.  Jacki Ayer made a motion that the ATC submit a comment letter on this tune-up addressing the 3 issues raised.  June Perkins 2nd the motion.  The motion carried.
  12. OES SCE Wildfire Mitigation Plan for 2026-2028 –  Comments are due January 12, 2026.  This is an opportunity to point out that SCE does, not follow the PSPS protocols in its WMP.  We can also try and get some traction on the de-energization of transmission lines.  Jacki Ayer made amotion that the ATC submit a comment letter on SCE’s WMP Plan.  Don Laird 2nd the motion.  The motion carried.
  13. Election –  Don Laird made a motion to not have an election this year due to not enough applications.  Pam Wolter 2nd the motion.  The motion carried.
  14. Acton Bike Zone –  ATC Vice President requested this to be paced on the agenda.  He would like to see if LA County would make Acton a natural bike zone.  There was a 2012 Bicycle Master Plan being worked on but was placed on pause.  Maybe the ATC should look into why it was paused.  A representative from DPW  joining the meeting online will send a request to the proper County agency and have them answer us.
  15. Minutes –  Jacki Ayer made a motion to table the November 10, 2025 minutes and approve the minutes from December 1, 2025 with changes.  Pam Wolter 2nd the motion.  The motion carried.
  16. Committee Reports –  The following committees had reports.  Planning and Coordinating – ATC member Pam Wolter will reach out to Brady Watt to see about tilting the lights on the bank building down.  Utilities – Who is available to meet with DPW abiut the Santa Clara River Watershed Plan .  The proposed dates are January 12, 2026 either 10:30 or 1:00′ January 13, 2026 either 1:00 or 3:00, January 26, 2026 either 10:00 or 2:00.  It was decided January 26, 2026.  Beautification/Illegal Dumping – CALTRANs needs to clean up trash on their right of way and their fence is knocked down along Escondido Canyon Road and is protruding into the street and barbed wire enters the roadway and is a danger to pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrians.  We will reach out to Senator Valladeres’ office.
  17. Unfinished/New Business –  On December 18, 2025 the ATC sent an email to Department of Regional Planning, HCD, County Health Department and Supervisor Barger regarding the status of the illegal RV Park in Downtown Acton referred to as Cactus Creek.  WE have not heard back.  We must make sure that the HCD license is revoked and there are no further MHP entitlement opportunities on the property.  Chuck Bostwick from Supervisor Barger’s office will follow up.
  18. Items for Next Agenda –
  19. Adjournment – 9:23 PM
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