altadenablog

Town council kicks back cell tower

In a rather brief (two hour) monthly meeting, a rump Altadena Town Council kicked back the proposed T-Mobile cell tower to the land use committee.

Representatives of two groups (Altadenans for St. Elizabeth's, and the Altadena Neighborhod Alliance) urged the council to reconsider its approval of a cell phone tower to be located at St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church at Lake and Woodbury.  Steve Escobar of Altadenans for St. Elizabeth's presented the council with the signatures of 385 neighbors who were opposed to the tower.

After some discussion, the council voted to ask the land use committee to readdress the tower in light of the strong community opposition.

Altadena Town Council Meeting

... always a scene -- Tues., April 15, 7-10 PM at the Altadena Community Center.

The Cobb Estate

Pasadena Daily Photo has some stairs to nowhere at the Cobb Estate.

Trash talk dominates town council

Altadenans have multiple large trash trucks from two different carriers lumbering down the streets -- and are paying ever-increasing collection rates for them-- because we want it that way.

Or so concluded the Altadena Town Council last night after a presentation by Virginia Maloles of the LA County Dept. of Public Works.  Maloles Powerpointed the differences between offering carriers an exclusive (one carrier) franchise, a semi-exclusive franchise (two carriers, as we have it now) or making trash collection non-exclusive (households can contract anybody to haul their trash).

Briefly: Maloles said that by offering an exclusive franchise, haulers can compete with each other for the franchise and sometimes offer lower rates (because there's no danger of the homeowner switching their business to someone else).  In other unincorporated county communities where this happens, rates are usually reduced or steady.  In addition, they can offer or the county can require such services as large trash collection days, collecting "sharps" (hypodermic needles and other medical waste), spring cleaning, etc.

However, council members responded that surveys and community meetings were held regarding trash collection in 2006, and 47% of those responding preferred the "semi-exclusive" franchise in operation now.   (In that same survey, 27% wanted non-exclusive, and only 23% preferred an exclusive franchise).
Councilman Steve Lamb said that it sounded like the county "didn't like our answers," and "What you're saying is free market economics don't work."  Councilman Walter Olszewski said he had not found "one person who says I want to be regulated ... this area does not like exclusivity."

The council agreed to send a letter to County Supervisor Mike Antonovich affirming the community's choice of a semi-exclusive franchise.

Lewis resumes seat, charges dropped

First droplet of news from tonight's Town Council meeting (liveblogging now):  CT 4612 rep George Lewis resumed his chairmanship of the council today.  Lewis announced that felony charges against him had been dropped.  Lewis stepped down two months ago when he was facing charges relating to spousal abuse.

Town council monthly meeting Tues.

... 7 PM at the Altadena Community Center, 7:30 E. Altadena Drive.

"Green building" meeting Wed.

LA County is holding a series of meetings to discuss Green Building Ordinances for unincorporated county areas.  The next meeting will be held Wed., March 19, at the Altadena Senior Center, 560 E. Mariposa, from 6-8 PM.  The county is soliciting feedback on proposed ordiances  for green building, low impact development, and drought-tolerant and native landscaping.  Says the release:

These ordinances are intended to help the County efficiently manage land uses to achieve its goals of environmental sustainability, carbon footprint reduction, and water conservation.  The proposed ordinances will impact [sic] all residential and non-residential development throughout the unincorporated County areas. 

There's lots more information here.

Lewis steps down as town council chair

Altadena town councilman George Lewis stepped down as chair of the governing body -- at least temporarily -- following tonight's meeting at the Altadena Community Center.  Lewis was arrested Dec. 15 on suspicion of felony spousal abuse.  In a statement obtained by Altadenablog, Lewis said:

At this time an investigation is ... underway regarding this personal matter.  Because it is under investigation I can not discuss nor elaborate, except to say, I am waiting for this to be resolved by the investigating authorities in a short time.

In order to avoid any potential conflict of interest, or appearance of favoritism, I have been informed that this matter has been turned over to the Internal Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and will not be handled by our local station.

I am confident that when this investigation is complete I will be cleared of this charge.  But because I do not want a personal matter to become a distraction to the Town Council or to the community, [as] of the adjournment of this meeting, I will recuse myself from duties as Town Council Chairman until this matter has been resolved.  I will continue to meet my duties as representative of census tract 4612.

Our council Vice Chair Susan Goldman will act as chair in the interim.  I'd like to thank the council and the community for their fairness in withholding judgment when they don't have all the facts, and for their continuing support.  I have faith in the fairness of our judicial system and fully expect that justice will prevail, and my good name [be] restored.

Respectfully,
George Lewis

Electrical upgrades and animal control on supes' agenda

This note from Lori L. Paul to some of the Altadena trail newsgroups highlights some concerns that will come up at the meeting with LA County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, Thurs., Jan. 17, 9-10:30 a.m. at the community center:

Altadena Town Council spruces up

Our very interesting Town Council (see a few examples below) has recently spiffied up its webpage.  Lots of useful community links, too (altho' pointedly not to this blog).  And their links are not as comprehensive as you'll find to the right and left.

NOTE:  Typepad seems to have trouble loading today, so we apologize if it's been hard to get to Altadenablog earlier.

Lincoln Crossing parking reduced, Town Council has spat

Altadenablog is catching up after the holidays:

PSN tells the tale of the Lincoln Crossing Project Area Committee and Town Council both voting to lop off 1/7th of Lincoln Crossing's parking.  Developer Dorn Platz is looking at valet "scrunch" parking for peak hours at the Magic Johnson 24 Hour Fitness.  A shouting match erupts at the Town Council meeting over who will be their representative to the Project Area Committee: local councilman Gene Campbell or Michele Zack, who's been to the PAC meetings.  Winner: Zack.

Christmas Tree Lane is Go!

Cooler heads have prevailed after the hare-brained idea we pointed out below to close Altadena Drive for repaving right at Santa Rosa, i.e. Christmas Tree Lane, during the Christmas Tree Lane season.

Pasadena Now reports that Supervisor Michael Antonovich has stepped in, and the repaving will be delayed until after the season.

However, Allen will be torn up at Mendocino and "No Parking" signs will be put up around the Balian mansion ... okay, we're kidding.

Don't forget to vote!

The Altadena Library District Board of Trustees election is TODAY, so don't forget to exercise your franchise!

If you don't know where your polling place is, go here.

LA County hotlines are hot!

Trying to pin down some information on the construction on Fair Oaks from about Woodbury to -- well, north as far the eye can see, Altadenablog attempted to call the County Services Toll-Free Help Line (linked thru the Altadena Town Council page).  The 1-888-924-HELP line only gets an ad for another phone number, and then bounces you to ATT, where you're chastised for not making a call.  We'll keep trying, but a help line needs to be helpful!

Same results when we called Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Works 24 hour line on their website -- same cheery female voice promoting another phone line.  Out of curiosity, we called the number she was promoting.  When we connected, there was a bad 70's porno soundtrack and another recorded female voice who began, "Hey, sexy guy ..."  We didn't continue, but we bet we weren't going to get road closure information from her.  Your county tax dollars at work, sexy guy.