STNC Board Elections -- Run for office

STNC 2014 ELECTION promo from SunlandTujungaNC on Vimeo.

STNC Elections-Candidate Filing is Open!

Candidate Filing is now open. Run for office and make a difference in Sunland-Tujunga! To learn more about who can run for office, responsibilities and campaigning for office, please come out and participate in any of the upcoming meetings and events. Election Day is Saturday March 8 and STNC will be holding their elections with 7 other neighborhood councils on the same day. This is known as Region 1. All Region 1 neighborhood councils are working together to outreach for candidates and get out the vote. Region 1 and individual Neighborhood Councils will be holding several events including a Rally in the Valley at North Valley Neighborhood City Hall on Friday, January 10 6:30 - 8 p.m. This will be a great opportunity to learn more of what it takes to be a Neighborhood Council board member. For more information contact the STNC Elections Committee (or any current STNC Board member): Cindy Cleghorn or Brenda Fortune, STNC Elections Committee at outreach@stnc.org or 818-951-7411 OR Jose Sandoval, Independent Election Administrator at joses@empowerla.org If you do not wish to run for office but would like to work with the committee, join us at the next STNC meeting on January 8. The STNC needs volunteers to help coordinate room set up, refreshments and getting candidates to run for office and stakeholders to vote. Save the date -- Election Day is Saturday, March 8. To run for office sign up online at http://empowerla.org/stnc/sunland-tujunga-nc-2014-elections/ The site will be updated as candidates are verified by the City Clerk.

TCDS - Historic Cultural Monument #1039 Purification Ceremony held December 16, 2013

Shinto Purification Ceremony at TCDS 16 Dec 2013 from SunlandTujungaNC on Vimeo.

STNC Elections

LA Recycled Program

LADWP Presentation 11 Dec 2013 from SunlandTujungaNC on Vimeo.

STNC Board Meeting Wed 12/11 at 7 p.m.

Join us for the STNC's holiday meeting on Wednesday, December 11 at 7 p.m. Bring your favorite holiday side dish or dessert to share. Refreshments available after 6:30 p.m., meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. Representatives from the LADWP will present the LA Recycled Water Program.

McGroarty Arts Center Holiday Boutique 2013 from SunlandTujungaNC on Vimeo.

Highlights from the McGroarty Arts Center Holiday Boutique 2013 from SunlandTujungaNC on Vimeo.

The Los Angeles Recycled Water Program

Save the date -- December 11 STNC Board Meeting will feature The Los Angeles Recycled Water Program with speaker John Hinds from the Water Recycling Policy Group.

Samoa Apartments Update from LUC meeting on 12/2

NOTE: The following update is not a position of the LUC or the STNC. The STNC/LUC has not yet submitted their formal comments on the latest set of plans. Above are photos of the renderings presented at the meeting with two areas enlarged so the info can be read better. At the December 2 Land Use Committee meeting representatives from Milare Housing with Dalila Sotelo presented updated plans for the Samoa Avenue 100% Affordable Housing proposal. They've spent the past year working on redesigning and refinancing the project. The units have been reduced to 48 from the previous plans at 64 units. Dalila is asking for no opposition to their proposal for this now by right project. She said they now have the private funding commitment and will next move forward to get the bond funding through the State. There will be no City funds and no public subsidy sought. They are seeking bond financing. The site will be leased to families with children who make an income range of $29-$58,000 per year. Units will be rented at 10% under market rates. They studied our community and said we have 8,000 renters who could qualify for this brand new quality housing/living. A resident manager will be on site. The property will be managed by the John Stewart Company (who apparently manages other properties in S-T). There will be a 24 hour on call service, leasing agent, maintenance and janitorial. Milare Housing will be the long term owner. The complex will be built with a courtyard in the middle so all eyes will be on the courtyard and the residents staying within their own little community. The new plans still have the "institutional" design and will bring the height to 38 ft but when the towers/penthouse space are added for fire safety requirements, the height will increase an additional 10-11 ft. and the roof will have solar panels added. The parking lot will be "on grade" with the guest parking visible just inside the entrance at the south east end of the site. Parking at the north east end will not be visible from the street. There will be 81 parking spaces (67 for residents and 12 for guests), which, according to the City Planning Dept. is "over parked". This number of parking spaces is also lower than the SCANPH (http://scanph.org/) recommends for a housing complex of this type based on SCANPH studies because their studies show families living in these complexes typically have only one vehicle. The households will have 18-4 bedroom units, 27-3-bedroom units, the remainder 2 bedroom units and no one bedroom units. A sidewalk will be built in front of the site but not along the rest of the street. The new plans appear to be consistent with the Foothill Blvd. Corridor Specific Plan except for parking. If there was one thing that the audience and LUC emphasized, it is that this proposal does not have enough parking for 48 family households. We do not have the public transportation within or in and out of the community that other projects of this type have in other parts of the City. The new plans do not appear to consider the City's Residential Guidelines and Walkability Checklist. The project still turns its back on the neighborhood with its institutional design. Representatives said they are not using SB1818 but they would be using SB1818 to allow the lower parking requirement and inadequate infrastructure. This is the type of development for a Transit Oriented Development area, not Sunland-Tujunga. The LUC will continue to submit comments to City Planning. The representatives are continuing to work out details to the plans with the city but are looking for construction to begin in April or May of 2014 and would be completed in 14-16 months. If you have an interest in this proposal you are encouraged to continue to stay involved and participate at LUC and STNC meetings, send your comments to the STNC and to Mr. Fuentes and his staff Wesly Hernandez and Claudia Rodriguez. Part of the State funding approval will include the need for community support. The LUC appreciates these meetings with the representatives so the community can be informed about their proposal and participate in the process. Overall, how do we get to a good project for this site?

Neighborhood Council Region 1 Elections Outreach starts now

Land Use Committee Meeting Agenda for 12/2

At Monday's meeting we will meet with a representative of the Samoa Apartments proposal. If you have an interest in this proposal which we understand will be 48 apartments with 81 parking spaces, please plan to attend the meeting. Also, early notice has been received regarding a proposed cell tower on Verdugo Crestline. This tower is to be installed on an existing SCE tower and is within the Scenic Corridor Specific Plan area. An application for the subdivision of land on Las Lunitas has also been received. If you know anyone in these areas, please let them know about these proposals. The LUC would like to hear from them. Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.

Lighting for Big T and Oro Vista?

Neighbors in the Big Tujunga Canyon and Oro Vista area may be interested in a new proposed assessment on specific properties for street lighting. All neighbors in the area should have received notice from the City. Click on the link below to get to the Council File that contains more detail, including the specific properties that will be assessed. If you have an interest in this Lighting District, please let us know at the STNC at secretary@stnc.org. Please submit your own comment letter to the City Clerk and copy City Councilman Felipe Fuentes at councilmember.fuentes@lacity.org. Do so quickly as this item will be up for a vote by the full City Council soon. http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=13-1505

Discovery Science Center Plans

Discovery Science Center Presentation from SunlandTujungaNC on Vimeo.

7687 Foothill - Roof Top WTF ?

Foothill Gardens Apartments located at 7687 Foothill Blvd. is proposed for installation of AT&T 4G technology. There will be two cabinets increasing the height of the building in two places and equipment on the ground. Sunland-Tujunga does not have any cell tower equipment installed on top of apartments or condos that we know of so if this application is approved, it would be the first one and open the door to other installations. The LUC asked the AT&T rep to identify alternate sites and provide a rendering of what the installation would look like. If you know anyone who lives in this apartment complex, please let them know. The LUC will provide a comment letter at a later date. The Zoning Administrator hearing date has not yet been set.

S-T Community TOWNHALL Meeting

S-T Community TOWNHALL Meeting, a set by MS KRYSTEE CLARK on Flickr.

Neighborhood Watch Meeting - Nov 19, 2013

STNC Elections Meeting with Presidents, Elections Chairs

This meeting will be held at NVCH this coming Monday. If you would like to know more of how neighborhood councils plan their elections and if you would like to volunteer to help, please join us on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at North Valley City Hall. This meeting is not an official STNC meeting so no agenda is being posted. However, everyone is welcome to attend if you wish to. The meeting will be led by Jose Sandoval, Independent Elections Administrator. Jose is a board member on the Panorama City Neighborhood Council. We would like to specifically invite the Election/Selection Chair, Outreach Chair, and/or resident/Chair of each Neighborhood Council in the Northeast Valley to an initial Region 1 meeting: WHEN: Monday, November 18, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. with a meeting start time of 6:30 p.m. (promptly) WHERE: Sunland Tujunga Municipal Building, 7747 FoothillBlvd., Sunland Tujunga 91042 Please park in the rear lot and enter through front We will be reviewing the Election Procedures Stipulation Worksheet status of each NC, Vote By Mail participation, the role of the Independent Election Administrator working with each NC, the new role of the City Clerk for this election, recruiting volunteer poll workers and, regional outreach ideas and opportunities, and other topics of interest.

Land Use Committee Agenda for 11/18 at 7 p.m.

The STNC's Land Use Committee will meet on Monday. At this meeting we will hear a presentation on a roof top cell tower installation for 7687 Foothill -- This is the Foothill Gardens Apartments located near North Valley City Hall. If approved, this cell tower installation would be the first of its kind in Sunland-Tujunga. The LUC has received letters from the developer's representative regarding the Samoa Apartments. You may recall that this development is for a 100% Affordable Housing project located near Valmont and Samoa.

DWP Bill to High?

As announced at last Wednesday's STNC meeting, the next Energy & Environment Committee will be a discussion about a motion requesting the LADWP to report on the status of the new Customer Information System and LADWP's efforts to address customer concerns associated with inaccurate bills and long customer service wait times. The STNC has heard SEVERAL complaints about high and inaccurate bills and the difficulty associated with getting resolution. This is YOUR opportunity to weigh in either by speaking at the committee meeting which will be held at City Hall in Room 1010 (10th floor) or writing your letters. It is important for this committee to hear from you. Councilman Fuentes is the Chair of this committee and the author of the motion. See agenda for more details. If you wish to submit your comments in writing please send to adam.lid@lacity.org and include Council File #13-1475 in your correspondence. Thank you.

STNC News for 11-11-13

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs130/1102285884341/archive/1115611713746.html

Arts, Culture, Recreation Committee Meeting 11-13-13 @ 6 p.m.

STNC Board Meeting Agenda for 11-13-13

DWP Advocacy Update

Mayor Garcetti Requests Extension of Public Comment Period in Bridge Redesign Process

LAFD Strategic Plan Survey

The LAFD is working with the 95 neighborhood councils across the city and collecting feedback from neighborhood council board members, committees and stakeholders. Please help us to spread the word to participate in this survey. This is your opportunity to be involved just like everyone else. If you prefer to submit on paper, please pick up a copy at the STNC office or at the upcoming STNC meeting. Thank you! Here is the online link: https://surveymonkey.com/s/LAFD?utm_source=GM%27s+Message%2C+Great+Bridges%2C+Great+Data%2C+Great+Advocacy%21&utm_campaign=GM%27s+Message%2C+Great+Bridges%2C+Great+Data%2C+Great+Advocacy%21&utm_medium=email

Go and be impressed - Local Art Show

See many of our local landmarks memorialized in art.

Positively Local from SunlandTujungaNC on Vimeo.

Little Landers Musical Celebration is Today !

Little Landers Historical Society presents a Musical Celebration from SunlandTujungaNC on Vimeo.

LA Aqueduct Centennial Celebration

LA Aqueduct Centennial Celebration from SunlandTujungaNC on Vimeo.

Budget Committee Meeting - Nov 5 at 6:30 p.m.

SPECIAL BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING Committee Members: Nina Royal, Treasurer & Chair, Bill Skiles, David Barron, Ed Rock, Melodee Patterson DATE: Tuesday, November 5, 2013 LOCATION: STNC OFFICE AT North Valley Neighborhood City Hall 7747 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga, CA 91042 (Corner of Wyngate & Foothill) TIME: 6:30 P.M. 1. Call to Order 2. Assign Notetaker 3. Discussion/Action regarding quarterly audits by DONE 4. Discussion/Action regarding STNC funding requests 5. Discussion/Action regarding November STNC Budget & Finance Report 6. Next Meeting date Adjourn [Posted 11/4/13; Remove after 11/5/13] The public is requested to address the Board/Committee on any item of the agenda prior to the Board/Committee taking action on an item. Comments from the public on Agenda items will be heard only when the respective item is being considered and at the discretion of the presiding officer(s). Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the agenda can be heard during Public Comments. Public Comment is limited to two minutes per speaker, unless waived by the presiding officer(s) of the Board/Committee. **Time limits may take more or less time. .Order of items on this agenda may be changed by the presiding officer. ** All items may be acted upon whether specifically listed for action or not. In compliance with Government Code section 54957.5, non-exempt writings that are distributed to a majority or all of the board in advance of a meeting, may be viewed at the STNC Office, 7747 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga, at our website: www.stnc.org or at the scheduled meeting. In addition, if you would like a copy of any record related to an item on the agenda, please contact the STNC office to schedule an appointment at (818) 951-7411. As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Sign language interpreters, assisted listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or services may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request at least 3 business days (72 hours) prior to the meeting by contacting Cindy Cleghorn, at (818) 951-7411, toll-free at (866) LA HELPS, or e-mail secretary@stnc.org. Agenda is posted for public review at: Sunland-Tujunga Chamber of Commerce 8250 Foothill Blvd. Unit B, Sunland; North Valley City Hall, 7747 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga and Sunland Senior Center, 8640 Fenwick Street, Sunland. Posted 11/4/13. Sign up to receive STNC meeting agendas on the City of LA ENS system.

Outreach Committee Meeting 11-6-13 at 6:30 p.m.

Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council 7747 Foothill Blvd., Room 101, Tujunga CA 91042 (818) 951-7411 FAX (818) 951-7411 www.stnc.org Special Outreach Committee Meeting Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. North Valley Neighborhood City Hall – STNC Office 7747 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga, CA 91042 1. Call to order 2. Public Comments 3. Assign Notetaker 4. Discussion / Action: Formation of new committee - Media 5. Discussion/Action: Region Meet & Greets 6. Discussion / Action: FinalizeNovember 13 STNC meeting refreshments 7. Discussion / Action NC Elections: a. New Tools for Getting Candidates & Voters b. Finalize list of outreach items for budget committee c. Region Outreach d. STNC Outreach plan for candidate forums, online, banners, other ideas. 8. Discussion – STNC communications and website updates 9. Adjourn The public is requested to fill out a "Speaker Card" to address the Board/Committee on any item of the agenda prior to the Board/Committee taking action on an item. Comments from the public on agenda items will be heard only when the respective item is being considered. Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the agenda that is within the Committee's subject matter jurisdiction will be heard during the public comment period. Public comment is limited to 2 minutes per speaker, unless waived by the presiding officer. As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or services may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request at least 3 business days (72 hours) prior to the meeting you wish to attend by contacting Office Manager Ed Rock 818-951-7411. SI REQUIERE SERVICIOS DE TRADUCCION, FAVOR DE NOTIFICAR A LA OFICINA 3 dias de trabajo (72 horas) ANTES DEL EVENTO. SI NECESITA ASISTENCIA CON ESTA NOTIFICACION, POR FAVOR LLAME A NUESTRA OFICINA AL 818-951-7411. Posted 11/4/13 Sign up to receive STNC Agendas at the City of LA ENS system.

Land Use Committee Agenda for 11-4-13

AGENDA LAND USE COMMITTEE MEETING*updated DATE: Monday, November 4, 2013 LOCATION: North Valley Neighborhood City Hall 7747 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga, CA 91042 (Corner of Wyngate & Foothill; Auditorium) TIME: 7:00 PM 1. Call to Order – Introductions of LUC, CD7 staff, neighbors and guests. 2. MINUTES of 10/21/13 meeting 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS – non agenda items 4. COMMITTEE MEMBER UPDATES – recent land use related meetings community and citywide : a. City Attorney’s Office Community Outreach at Bolton Hall on 10/29/13 b. Consolidation: Building & Safety / City Planning c. Foothill Blvd. /Commerce retail sites • CD 7 STAFF COMMENTS and Q&A o Oro Vista / Oro Vista Park / Other 5. UPDATE: UCLA Neighborhood Analysis Studio 6. DISCUSSION/ACTION: Approve comment letter re: Grant for Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance award to LA Equine Advisory Committee and possible LUC / STNC participation. – Mary Benson 7. DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION: 6581 Foothill Blvd. – New Sign at Foothill Dental – presentation not confirmed as of agenda posting. 8. DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION: Samoa Project at 10046-56 Samoa Avenue – City Planning reports that applicant will move forward with building permit applications soon. No plans submitted. Will be an “over-the-counter sign-off for the Foothill Specific Plan.” 9. DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION: 7687 Foothill Blvd. – Conditional Use application for rooftop Wireless Telecommunications Facility. Presentation not confirmed as of agenda posting time. 10. DISCUSSION / POSSIBLE ACTION regarding the new draft Housing Element 2013-2021 CPC-2013-1318-GPA dated 9-11-13 and LUC comment letter for PLUM and City Council. 11. UPDATE: Tuna Canyon Detention Station / Verdugo Hills Golf Course 12. UPDATE/DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION: 6342 Sister Elsie – ZA 2012-3329(ZV)(ZAD) – Site visit set for 10/26 2-4 p.m. with owners and neighbors. 13. EARLY NOTIFICATION: 12232 Big Tujunga Canyon – Application for Lot Line Adjustment -AA-2013-2904-PMEX, AA-2013-2908-PMEX, ENV-2013-2905-CE, and ENV-2013-2909-CE. – As of agenda posting the STNC is still waiting for copies of applications/environmental documents. 14. DISCUSSION / ACTION: To approve comment letter re: CF13-1325 regarding Elderare Facility Guidelines. 15. DISCUSSION / ACTION: to approve comment letter re: CF13-1279 – Support CM Fuentes motion regarding Tujunga Wash / Prohibit Encampments 16. Update Overnight Parking of Big Rigs 17. ANNOUNCEMENTS / Future Agenda items: a. Next LUC Meeting is November 18 and December 2 (no meeting Dec. 16) b. PlanCheckNC Meeting – November 9 with City Planning Director Michael LoGrande c. Next STNC Meetings November 13 and December 11 d. Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council Board Election Day March 8, 2014. Adjourn. The public is requested to address the Board/Committee on any item of the agenda prior to the Board/Committee taking action on an item. Comments from the public on Agenda items will be heard only when the respective item is being considered and at the discretion of the presiding officer(s). Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the agenda can be heard during Public Comments. Public Comment is limited to two minutes per speaker, unless waived by the presiding officer(s) of the Board/Committee. **Time limits may take more or less time. .Order of items on this agenda may be changed by the presiding officer. ** All items may be acted upon whether specifically listed for action or not. In compliance with Government Code section 54957.5, non-exempt writings that are distributed to a majority or all of the board in advance of a meeting, may be viewed at the STNC Office, 7747 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga, at our website: www.stnc.org or at the scheduled meeting. In addition, if you would like a copy of any record related to an item on the agenda, please contact the STNC office to schedule an appointment at (818) 951-7411. As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Sign language interpreters, assisted listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or services may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request at least 3 business days (72 hours) prior to the meeting by contacting Cindy Cleghorn, at (818) 951-7411, toll-free at (866) LA HELPS, or e-mail secretary@stnc.org. Agenda is posted for public review at: www.stnc.org; Sunland-Tujunga Chamber of Commerce 8250 Foothill Blvd. Unit B, Sunland; North Valley City Hall, 7747 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga and Sunland Senior Center, 8640 Fenwick Street, Sunland. Posted 11/1/13; Remove after 11/4/13

Zero Waste Plan Public Meetings

The City of Los Angeles is releasing a Notice of Completion (NOC) for the Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (Draft PEIR) on the Solid Waste Integrated Resources Plan (SWIRP), also known as the Zero Waste Plan. The NOC is to inform the public that the SWIRP Draft PEIR has been completed and is ready for public comment from October 31, 2013 to December 20, 2013. SWIRP is a long-range plan to meet the City's solid waste management needs through 2030. The plan identifies various policies, programs, and facilities that will be needed to reach the City's goal of 90% landfill diversion by 2025. The attached NOC gives the details of public meetings, where the Draft PEIR is available, and where to submit written comments. It can also be accessed through www.lacity.org/san We look forward to your participation during this public review period, and hope you join us at one of the scheduled meetings.

Mules - LA Aqueduct

In Search of 100 Mules Walking Part 1 from SunlandTujungaNC on Vimeo.

Healthy LA Roadshow coming up for the North Valley

The Plan for a Healthy Los Angeles launched its new, interactive website featuring community and citywide health profiles. Please check out the website for regular updates on upcoming events or news on the new health and wellness project. The website has already been covered by Atlantic Cities and got a mention on LA Observed. We are also now on social media! Please like/follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Please help us spread the news about this new data tool and our social media pages to your networks. The Plan for a Healthy Los Angeles is doing a roadshow at the seven Area Planning Commissions over the next few weeks. A flyer with presentation dates is attached. Please share with neighbors. Lys Mendez Outreach Coordinator and Planner Raimi + Associates lys.mendez@lacity.org

Definition of Kennels - are Pet Shops Excluded ?

The City has a Citywide case open regarding the Clarification/Interpretation that the definition of kennels excludes pet shops. If you have an interest in this, please contact Katherine Peterson at 213-978-1445. The STNC's Land Use Committee will be monitoring the progress of this case as it moves along. Case Nos. ZA-2013-3104-ZAI and ENV-2013-3105-CE

BIG TUJUNGA WASH Maintenance Oct 23-24

MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 23 THROUGH OCTOBER 24, 2013 Please be aware that maintenance activities will be conducted throughout the Big Tujunga Wash Mitigation Area beginning on Wednesday, October 23 and continuing through Thursday, October 24, 2013. Maintenance activities consist of clearing debris from trails. The crews will generally be working between the hours of 7:00 am and 3:30 pm. Please be watchful when riding horses or hiking in the vicinity of where the crews are working. Crews will be cautious when horseback riders or hikers are in the vicinity of their work area, but it would be most helpful if you can avoid their work areas. If you do come upon a crew, please call out to them if they do not see you so they can stop their equipment until the equestrian or hikers pass by. ECORP’s biologists will be monitoring the maintenance activities to ensure that sensitive biological resources are not damaged during the maintenance activities. If you have any questions regarding the maintenance activities, please contact Los Angeles County Department of Public Works at BTWMA@dpw.lacounty.gov.

STNC News

"In Search of 100 Mules Walking"

NOVEMBER 5, 2013 MARKS THE 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING OF THE LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT 100 mules will traverse the 240 miles of pipelines and canals that bring water from the Eastern Sierra through a gravity-fed system to Los Angeles, passing through three counties and nearly 50 communities along the way. Mule power shaped the modern West and was a primary force in constructing the aqueduct, an engineering feat that took only seven years to complete despite the rough terrain. The parade will take nearly a month commencing at the Intake and will culminate in a Veterans Day Parade down Western Avenue in Glendale to welcome the mules into the City of Los Angeles on November 11, 2013, followed by a ceremony at the Equidome to celebrate our country’s equine labor force—the mule. This commemorative action is a prelude to Bending the Los Angeles River Back into the City, a work that will pierce the concrete jacket of the Los Angeles River and use a sixty-foot waterwheel to reconnect the land to the river that originally supplied all the city’s water. This action is coordinated with the support of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) that has itself been working to make a new century of water delivery happen. Also see: http://www.laaqueduct100.com/

In Search of 100 Mules Walking Part 1 from SunlandTujungaNC on Vimeo.

Land Use Committee 10-21-13 at 7 p.m.

Sunland-Tujunga Branding Initiative: Realizing Our Full Potential

Everyone and everything has a brand. We either decide what that brand is or we let others decide it for us. Allowing the latter is dangerous for small business and for communities. Branding isn’t limited to big companies. Branding is important for small business and maybe even more important for communities. A strong brand can bring a wealth of opportunities for a community, helping it define itself, present its value, and become a magnet to draw others (people, businesses, economic investment, government funding, etc.). And while full-blown branding initiatives can be extensive, time-consuming and costly (check out the town of Hardeeville in South Carolina – their branding initiative is costing them $20,000), there are ways to begin branding a community that don’t require major expense or effort. Given that the VP of Community Improvement has a background in and is recognized as an expert in marketing, she is leading the effort; to that end, Sunland-Tujunga branding presentations (available online here) were made to the Neighborhood Council and the Chamber, both of which voted to moved forward on the initiative. A community stakeholder volunteer ad-hoc committee has been formed to further flesh out the plan and its execution options. One of the first steps is to put out for public vote as well as for input and further submissions our first identity element – our logo. When it comes to community branding and associated logos, a great example to review is from a town in Iowa called Grinnell. They’ve branded themselves as the “Jewel of the Prairie.” Why do they brand themselves that? According to their Mayor’s message, it’s because “Some say that this town sparkles. Some say this town has verve! Others say it is called that because the people are so friendly and helpful. Still others say we are the Jewel of the Prairie because we are a handsome and robust community full of life. We are all of these for a lot of reasons, but chief among them is the fact that the folks who live here have a very positive attitude and a desire for an excellent quality of life…” Grinnell determined what they believe makes them unique, and they claimed for themselves a brand with many interpretations, all of which are intangibles…”the town sparkles.” We in Sunland-Tujunga have a very tangible claim to make, one that will serve us well in this “phase one” of our branding initiative. As a matter of fact, back in 1971, a group of Sunland-Tujunga residents calling themselves the “Gateway ‘76” began the branding initiative, making it their mission to seek an identity for this area, and realizing its potential if we were to leverage our community’s proximity to the Angeles National Forest. As told in an article written by Marlene Hitt in the April 2013 edition of the North Valley Reporter, one of the group’s leaders Bob McKee wrote in July, ‘71 (Record Ledger) that Gateway ‘76 “would give the community a chance to adopt a brand new lifestyle, improve property values, enhance local business and, for the first time, give a chance to place direction on where this town is going.” Following through on what the Gateway ’76 group started, we have claimed for ourselves and are in the process of trademarking: Sunland-Tujunga “Gateway to the Angeles National Forest.” (Note: trademark costs as well as initial logo concept costs were 100% paid for by private donations.) To realize Sunland-Tujunga’s full potential, we’re going to leverage the indisputable and immediately recognizable draw of the Angeles National Forest. Doing so affords us the following: • We immediately give the rest of the world a sense of where we are geographically. • We immediately put forth to everyone a visual of the beauty that is our backdrop. • We immediately underscore the importance of our position as a community and become instantly recognizable. • We “piggy back” on all of the branding and promotion and information that exists and attracts in relation to the Angeles National Forest itself. • We bridge our past (Gateway ’76) and what they started with our present and build into our future. • We benefit from instant traction, allowing us to focus our real energies and efforts to bringing our brand to life and using it to get what we need and deserve. There are several questions related to this branding initiative, and some people may even think that it’s a waste to brand a community unless and until we actually have something “major” in our town to offer. After all, some people say, there are so many other things a community in need could focus on. That’s sort of like saying “I’ll eat healthier as soon as I have a heart attack.” Our community may be well on its way to experiencing its own heart attack, or in other words, it may be falling further and further into ruin. The time is now to eat healthier…to act as if you already are a healthy eater. Acting “as if” is a way to more quickly bring to life that which we wish to be a reality. We are creating buzz and making it so, simply by the power of putting our brand out into the universe. By socializing our brand, the essence of our brand will more quickly be adopted, shared, and internalized. And we’ll reap the rewards sooner rather than later. Other questions and concerns as well as informational tidbits regarding the Sunland-Tujunga branding initiative are addressed on its dedicated Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SunlandTujungaGateway. Thoughts – as well as volunteers – are welcome!

LOCAL GIRL MAKES IT BIG! STNC Board Member LYDIA GRANT has been appointed by the Mayor and affirmed by the LA CITY COUNCIL to serve as a COMMISSIONER on the BOARD OF NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSIONERS!

Thank you to Krystee Clark for these great photos! http://flic.kr/s/aHsjKWwqsG

Lydia Grant, Board of Neighborhood Commissioners Confirmation from SunlandTujungaNC on Vimeo.

October Neighborhood Watch Recap

October Neighborhood Watch Meeting Recap If you see empty shopping carts in your neighborhood, call 1(213) 393-4624 or 311 to have them picked up. Car thieves are targeting 2004 and older Honda and Toyotas. If you have one of these cars, it is advised that you put a CLUB on the steering wheel. This is enough to make the thieves move on. Two Freshman from Verdugo Hills High School were arrested for the house robberies in the neighborhood surrounding the school. These were crimes of opportunity done during the day. The robbers gained access through open windows. The LAPD and other agencies have been trying to get the homeless man who lives at the bus stop near Tom Cat in Sunland to accept medical attention. He has refused any and all help. Pedestrian Safety: An officer went "undercover" as a pedestrian to catch drivers not stopping for pedestrians crossing at Foothill and Tujunga Canyon. He reported that the majority of people did stop as they were supposed to, except for two drivers who were ticketed. An officer played the part of the pedestrian, once again, but this time crossed Foothill Blvd. near Haines Canyon (Chevron Station). The drivers were not so patient and courteous at this intersection and a number of tickets were written there. People came very close to hitting him a number of times. Remember, the pedestrian always has the right of way. Also, it is not considered J-walking to cross a street that does not have "controls" (stop sign, street light) on both corners. So crossing at Haines Canyon is not illegal for the pedestrian. It's very dangerous but not illegal. Next Neighborhood Watch Meeting is Tuesday November 19th 6:30pm North Valley City Hall. Possible guest is a Crime Analyst. Next Community Coffee meeting with the Senior Leads is November 5th 8:00am-9:30am Starbucks, inside the Tujunga Albertson's. These meetings are a great chance to voice your concerns about safety in your neighborhood, ask questions or just get to know your Senior Lead Officers. Special thanks to Robin Meares for providing this recap.

Zero Waste LA Franchise System Workshops

The City of Los Angeles is transitioning to a new waste and recycling system, called Zero Waste LA, for all businesses and large apartment complexes. Zero Waste LA will not affect single family home residents—or anyone serviced by the City of Los Angeles. The new waste and recycling system is scheduled to begin in early 2017. The Bureau of Sanitation is conducting public workshops with community, businesses and environmental leaders to increase awareness and stakeholder input. The goal of these meetings is to generate vital stakeholder input as to what we should expect and require of participating waste haulers. · Monday, October 28, 2013, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Office of Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, 19040 Vanowen Street, Reseda, CA · Monday, October 28, 2013, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, South LA Sports Activity Center, 7020 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA · Tuesday, October 29, 2013, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Pacoima City Hall, 13520 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 220, Pacoima, CA · Tuesday, October 29, 2013, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, San Pedro Municipal Building, 638 S. Beacon St., 4th Floor Meeting Room, San Pedro, CA · Wednesday, October 30, 2013, 2:00pm – 4:00 pm, Downtown LA City Hall, 200 N. Spring St. 4th Floor Media Room, Los Angeles, CA · Wednesday, October 30, 2013, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Palms – Rancho Park Library, 2920 Overland Avenue, Los Angeles, CA Please RSVP at ZeroWasteLA@lacity.org or call (213) 485-2260 with any questions. You may also visit our website at www.lacitysan.org for more information. If you require Spanish translation services, please notify us 72 hours in advance.