The STNC 2006 board hit the ground running with a special meeting held on December 29, 2005 to present a list of streets in our community needing desperate repair. Status on these repairs are pending. We hope the City will be able to return with another program of its kind in the future.
Monthly STNC board meetings started off great with our first meeting hitting an all time high of 190 in attendance. Since then we've averaged about 100 per board meeting. Year-after-year our neighborhood council participation continues to increase in Sunland-Tujunga. Our dedicated community, board, outreach efforts, structure and volunteers who help pull our meetings together make the difference.
Thank you to stakeholder Elsa Waters for conducting two leadership training sessions for the STNC board. Out of those sessions came many ideas for working together as a board and improving the STNC including opportunities for participating and supporting all community events, intelligent discussions before taking a vote and participation by more stakeholders in the issues that effect them.
The board took a bold position asking that a proposed development at 11130-60 Oro Vista receive a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) instead of a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) due to the sensitivity of this land and rare protected habitat. After almost a year, the City will now hold a reconsideration hearing on January 9th, 2007 for the MND already issued.
The STNC continued with its emphasis on keeping neighbors informed with our monthly postcard mailing and e-mail notices. The Foothills Paper offered space to the STNC where I have submitted bi-monthly articles and updates on neighborhood and citywide issues. I have continued with these updates on the STNC web site and the new North Valley Reporter. Just this month, the newly designed STNC web site will be unveiled in an effort to make the site more easy to navigate and user-friendly. Check it out in January at www.stnc.org . New features include a documents library, extended calendar of STNC events, links to resources and other information.
Since 2004, when we first heard that our long standing K-Mart store would be closing, the STNC has taken a lead role in keeping the community informed and involved in the future of this site. The STNC 2006 board has continued to support the community, businesses, No2Home Depot Campaign and Councilmember Wendy Greuel in opposing a Home Depot in Sunland. This site was part of the bankruptcy proceeding where Home Depot Corporation acquired 24 K-Mart stores throughout the country. This year the STNC sought and won support of neighboring neighborhood councils to join in our opposition. Just this past week both myself and Victor Castro spoke before the City Council regarding the "piecemealing" of the tenant improvement permits that have been issued to Home Depot. Piecemealing is not acceptable and must be halted immediately. Since our appearance at City Council, Councilmember Wendy Greuel has sent a copy of STNC's letter to the Dept. of Building and Safety hoping that "the totality of the issues raised will be sufficient to revoke all permits issued". In addition, Councilmember Greuel is in direct communication with Gail Goldberg, City Planning Director on this issue. A public hearing is scheduled for January 19th to hear the appeal filed by the No2 Home Depot Campaign.
The Design Advisory Committee (DAC) committee experienced a change in leadership this year with Victor Castro appointed as DAC Chairman. New stakeholder volunteers, Vic Aghakhanian and Saro Minassian have also been appointed to this committee. Outreach has expanded to include contact with neighbors surrounding proposed developments, STNC representation at various public hearings, working with our City Planning representative, presenters and Councilmember Wendy Greuel's staff. DAC meetings are held twice a month. Attendance at our DAC (land use) meetings has increased 71%* over 2005.
Deadly traffic accidents, erratic drivers and traffic congestion are major concerns to Sunland-Tujunga residents and business owners. The STNC has heard from LAPD, LAPD Valley Traffic and Dept. of Transportation (DOT) reps this year to learn more about the City's process and what can be done to help us. Although not a part of STNC recommendation, speed humps and bumps were installed on various side streets in an effort to slow people down. The STNC's Safety Committee worked with neighbors on Summitrose and adjacent streets to install a stop sign at McClemont and Summitrose by hosting meetings for the neighbors. Pending, proposed and in progress developments along Tujunga Canyon Blvd. prompted the DAC/STNC to request a traffic impact study be done for this major artery in and out of our community. This item is currently in review by the DOT and will come before the City's Transportation Committee in a few weeks.
The Bylaws committee has submitted STNC Bylaws Tier 1 changes to the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) for approval. The committee is now in the process of researching changes to the STNC committee and board structure. Work on this committee continues and you are welcome to participate. The Bylaws Committee has also drafted a set of Standing Rules including a Code of Civility. STNC formed an Audit Committee to review and make recommendations to the recently released City Controller's audit of DONE.
The STNC joined with Sun Valley Area, Foothill Trails District and Pacoima Neighborhood Councils to share in the cost of a License Plate Recovery System for the LAPD Foothill Division. Several other neighborhood councils have picked up on this effort with the LAPD throughout the City as well. This combined effort helps our community and gives us the opportunity to work together on common issues.
STNC participated in the selection of a representative to the City's 912 Commission by voting one of our own stakeholders to go on to the North Valley Planning area selection process. I now serve with 28 other commissioners throughout the City to review the neighborhood council system as required by the City Charter. Public hearings are being held throughout the city, surveys are being taken and a report is due to the City Council by end of summer 2007. On a related note, Mark Seigel, Scouting rep became DONE certified as an Independent Election Administrator (IEA) working with NCs throughout the city on their board elections.
The STNC participated in the Mayor's Day of Service by working with the Mayor's office and Council District 2 on details for clean-ups around Sunland-Tujunga some of which included Commerce Avenue, Foothill/Commerce and painting of the Tujunga and Sunland post office walls.
STNC board members have been active in the community. Lightpole banners will soon be installed on Foothill Blvd. thanks to the efforts of the Outreach Committee with Dan McManus, District 4 rep/Outreach Committee Chairman. District reps David Cain and Janet Linsalato have met with neighbors about concerns in their neighborhoods with trash and development, attended public hearings and have participated in events promoting the spirit and history of our community. Business representative Saro Minassian has helped local businesses with their issues directing them to the right department and getting striping for parking installed. Richard Stewart, Inter Faith representative has recognized the good in our community with Community Service Awards to local churches for their work with homeless issues and our youth.
The above is just a part of the STNC 2006 year. Look for more in a future issue. A tremendous thank you to Sunland-Tujunga's stakeholders who participate and attend our meetings. Happy New Year!
