Acton Town Council Meeting Minutes, July 15, 2024 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 – Jeremiah Owen, June Perkins, Jacki Ayer, Kelly Teno and Pam Wolter remotely.
2. Community Comments – Representatives from LA County Department of Public Works gave a report about upcoming paving projects in Acton.  A resident brought up about how their signage is done and asked that they put their signs out about the closure or work a couple of days prior to the work and at the site they are working.  Another resident asked about the 1/2 acre parcel next to her property, she is concerned about what they can build.  The property is zoned A-1 and has a Certificate of Compliance issued, she asked what this meant.  A certificate of Compliance was issued at some point to make it a legal lot and they can only build what is allowed on A-1.
3. Announcements and Correspondence –  The Beach Bus is back. Cal Trans has answered us on the billboards and acknowledged that over half the billboards in Acton were upgraded without permits.  Cannabis meeting on July 22nd at 5:30 pm to go over the ordinance and answer questions.
4. Library Report – Librarian Jim Wall announced upcoming events.  He explained about the library being a Cooling Center and what that means.  When there are excessive heat warnings the library will be open extra hours as a Cooling Center.  There are no library services outside their operating hours.  The library always provides WiFi.
5. Representative Update – None
6. Water –  Jacki Ayer attended many meetings about the Water Plan which does not offer many protections for most of Acton.  They are talking about drawing 1000 more acre feet per year out of our basin, which will give more water to those on County water but not to those on wells.  The more water taken out of the basin the more harm it does to our wells.  The ATC has requested a sit down meeting to discuss the water plan and how to protect the properties on wells.
7. Cannabis Public Meeting –  The upcoming public meetings for the Cannabis ordinance outline to be presented.  The meeting in Acton is on July 22, at 5:30pm We have not seen the ordinance so it is hard to come up with questions we might have.  Our community had a majority of no votes to legalize cannabis.  Acton has a large number of parcels that are zoned to have cannabis grows, manufacturing, and distribution.  The ATC has repeatedly asked for the buffers to include residential properties.
8. Deputy Martinez Report –  Stats for the month of June: 357 calls for service, 260 were Opps or stops. 0 part one crimes ( 11 all of last year), 1 property crime (34 for all of last year). A resident asked the difference between the two types of crimes. Part One Crimes are homicides, assaults.., Property Crimes are burglaries.
9. Increase Sheriff Patrols/Substation – Sara Rate – Acton resident Sara Rate has been concerned over crime in Acton that seems to have increased and not enough Sheriff presence in our community.  She asked other concerned residents to the Acton Town Council meeting along with asking if Deputy Martinez could be present to give his stats.  She prepared an extensive report about what has been happening and possible solutions.  After Deputy Martinez gave his monthly stats which are down from last year, he gave his overview about what is happening in the Sheriffs Department.  This included Population and crime rate determine the number of sheriff units, reported how many units and where they patrol at the different shifts of the day (they patrol Agua Dulce to Elizabeth Lakes with 2 daytime units, 4 PM’s, and 2 Early’s), explained the different types of calls, County Parks have different units that respond only to park issues, he spoke to the amount of officers they are down and the numbers and quality of cadets that are coming through the Academy, he spoke about the ongoing efforts to get a sub station in Acton and the issues which include it never being manned because they are always on the move and it would be a place to go to the restroom.  The Sheriff budget is decided by the County Board of Supervisors and the CEO has decided not to fund more,  His suggestion was to write the BOS regularly and go downtown to a BOS meeting to ask for the things we want.  He stated that they don’t have the personnel even if they got the funds.  There was a discussion and questions from residents during and after the time Deputy Martinez presented.  There was talk about starting a committee to research Acton’s options and come up with possible solutions.  The ATC needs a resident to chair this committee with our help.
10. BESS Update – Ruth Brock from Acton Takes Action gave an update on the court case which is dragging out.  Our US Congressman Mike Garcia has been fighting for our town in Washington DC.  The DOE wants to have an exclusion for the Environmental Process on the BESS.  Congressman Garcia has a bill on the floor to keep the Environmental Process for BESS and feels he has the votes.  The DOE is giving incentives for BESS projects that don’t use lithium ion batteries.  Jacki spoke about the people from Advantus talking to the homeowners near their proposed mile long project.  Should we ask them back to talk about the project.  Jeremiah will invite them.
11. Billboards – Tabled
12. CSD – Tabled
13. Zone Changes for A-1 Properties – The property owner of a parcel east of the California RV Park had a Ne Stop meeting with LA County about their proposed development and zone change.  There is a Notice of Violation on the property for removal of vegetation.  The process should not move forward until the violation is cleared.  They are requesting a zone change from A-1 to M-2 which is a red flag that they may be planning something else other than what they proposed.  In the One Stop meeting the applicant was told they need a General Plan amendment, and the project must provide an community need.   Jacki Ayer made a motion to write a letter to LA County regarding this zone change.  June Perkins 2nd the motion.  The motion carried.
14. California High Speed Rail Authority –  Jacki spoke about the CHSR Board meeting 2 weeks ago.  Their preferred route is the fully underground route.  The tailings from tunneling are to be placed in trucks and delivered to fill in an old quarry.  The Authority has said they will coordinate with Acton on times of traffic and school pick up times.
15. Gemstone Mobile Home Park CUP violations –  The ATC has been contacted by several owners in the Gemstone Mobile Home Park about an abandoned burned out home that has been in the park for years.  We contacted the County to get a copy of CUP.
16. Minutes – Tabled
17. Councilmembers Comments – None
18. Committee Reports – The following committee gave a report.  Beautification/Illegal Dumping – They got a call for a huge dump of hydraulic liquid containers.
19. Unfinished/New Business – None
20. Items for Next Agenda – Tabled Items, Election
21. Adjournment – 9:45 pm