Monthly Archives: August 2017

News & Announcements, Trail Reports

Pinecrest Gate Open!

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Trail users have great cause to celebrate! After years of ongoing effort by the ACTRWG and others, following recent intervention by new L. A. County Parks & Rec staff, public access has finally been restored to the Pinecrest Trailhead! 
For many years a razor-wire fortified, neighbor-controlled metal Gate has locked in / out numerous hikers, dog walkers, backpackers, bicyclists and horse riders. This hazardous situation was finally remedied by the County a few days ago when the metal pedestrian gate was removed! See attached photo. Access will remain closed to unauthorized motorized vehicles on the fire road beyond the Pinecrest Gate. Hopefully, the remaining visual blight caused by unnecessary penitentiary-style fortifications, including dangerous razor wire and welded metal paneling, will also be removed soon. Thank you to all those who have worked so long to get the Pinecrest Gate reopened, particularly ACTRWG “regulars” Mitch M., Kevin S., Steve M., Marietta K., and Lori P, and the County Parks and Recreation staff. 
 
Enjoy the scenic vistas and trails beyond the Pinecrest Trailhead! With return of public access, trail users are encouraged to respect neighborhood peace and quiet when entering or leaving at Pinecrest and to only park in legal parking spaces that do not block adjacent driveways. Please report any hazardous or inappropriate activity to the Altadena Sheriffs, as you would for any location along roads and trails in Altadena.
News & Announcements

July 2017 Meeting Minutes

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Altadena Crest Trail Restoration Working Group (ACTRWG) Steering Committee…from Arroyo Seco to Eaton Canyon
DRAFT Minutes

Tuesday 2017 July 11 7:04 PM meeting at Altadena Community Center (730 E Altadena Dr.)

0.   Introductions for new attendees: Steve Messer, Rob Staehle, Lori Paul, Marietta Kruells, Zachary Likins (LA County), Kevin Singleton, Michelle O’Connor, Mitch Marich, Dorothy Wong.

1.   Desired adjournment time for this meeting?  8:15  pm

2.   Decision on meeting Secretary & Recorder of Action Items. Steve Messer

3. Review Minutes and Action Items from June meeting. Not ready for review. Held until next month.

4. County / City / U.S. Government Announcements of any items not covered later on agenda. No new items announced.

5. Any serious new trail conditions or problems requiring immediate attention (firsthand reports strongly preferred; photos much appreciated)?  Nothing reported.

6. Current Tasks

A. Responses to letter regarding recommended trail restoration, corrections & improvements (action from prior meeting and field visit).

a. Resuming progress in restoring the historic Altadena Crest Trail.

b. Correcting new trail signage. County is looking at correcting the monument sign for Loma Alta to include the word Trailhead as it was historically.

c. Restoring trail segments on the County’s ACT map and trail website; including the crib trail north of the gymnasium. Zach GPSd the alignment recently and found the existing trail encroaches on La Vina homeowners assn property. County needs to pursue an easement to consider the trail official. Also need to coordinate with County legal department on current state of lawsuits.

d. Ongoing closure of the Pinecrest Gate. Zach reports that his Department is going to recommend to Pasadena Water and Power the removal of Pinecrest gate and reestablishment of uninhibited access for pedestrians, bicycles and horses. This group wants to ensure anything built there will be suitable for horses to pass through. This group prefers removal of the gate, to prevent any restriction of access by nonmotorized trail users.

e. Lincoln Avenue Roadside route from Loma Alta Park South to Altadena drive and from there to Hahamongna Watershed Park; Enhance safety for trail users as well as Aveson Charter Schoolchildren on their daily group walks to and from Loma Alta Park adjacent to traffic on Lincoln. DPW Roads Division was consulted about Lincoln Ave bridge. Possible alternatives include: Wayfinding signs, combining sidewalk and trail. No easy way to provide a trail along the shoulder; not enough room for both recreation easement and road right of way. DPW is considering sidewalk access on east side. This group would like to see a DG path on the east side, suitable for horses and people. There is an empty lot and a drainage that may provide an opportunity for a new trail to get kids and horses off the road, ending behind Aveson school.

f. Proposed Shady Lane connection to the ACT along Loma Alta under existing trees to improve safety for trail and park users, including crosswalk improvements at Sunset Ridge Road. Field visit a few weeks ago. Department agrees with recommendations to make this trail official. Met with flood control district, and they are receptive to having the trail. Development division is doing a conceptual plan. Concept plan will be brought to this group before implementation. Concept plan is a month away, possibly next meeting. Will need to amend Parks Dept. use agreement with Flood Control to expand Loma Alta trailhead staging area to include Shady Lane trail. Funding has not been identified.

B. Restore full equestrian use and amenities to Loma Alta Equestrian Park, Trailhead and Staging Area.

a. Remove signs excluding horses from south side of the Equestrian park where the bathroom and drinking fountains are located. Discuss re-opening of small restroom at Trailhead & Staging Area on north side of Loma Alta.

b. Replace dead trees in the Loma Alta Park Trailhead & Staging Area, including the recently killed White Alder (only trunk stum remains). Require adequate care for new and existing shade trees.

c. Move concrete picnic tables out of direct sun to shade under trees or provide shade armadas over the tables. Tables are no longer shaded and are hazardously hot during the day. Need a site visit at the right time of day (noon).

7. Other Old Business

1) Hahamongna. City of Pasadena maps showed County-owned easements in Hahamongna, but County does not have all easement records, and not all easements are on assessor’s maps. Zach spoke to Lauren Pluth, City of Pasadena. He has no issue with County trails in the park. The county would like to make a formal agreement with the City. Will figure out what type of agreement is needed to ensure the future of the County trails in Hahamongna in perpetuity. Potential for a trail junction hub was brought up, but Pasadena has little interest in the project, despite Rosa Laveaga’s initial enthusiasm. This group needs to decide where such a junction would go and advocate for it.

8. Other New Business

1) Camera that was at intersection of Rubio and Camp Huntington trail is no longer there.

9. Review of Task List for next meeting

1) Steve to get MWBA USFS MOU copy for County.

2) Lori to send County Biologist contact info to Zach.3) Lori and Marietta will meet with Lauren, Rosa and Zach to discuss Hahamongna Trail Hub.

4) Organize site visit to determine where to move two picnic tables in Loma Alta Park.

5) Zach to send Marietta parcel number and/or easement description for La Vina

10. Upcoming Events:  The next ACTRWG meeting falls on Tuesday, 2017 August 8 (2nd Tuesday of each month, unless cancellation is announced, 7pm at the Altadena Community Center).

11. Adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Minutes

August 2017 Meeting Minutes

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Altadena Crest Trail Restoration Working Group (ACTRWG) Steering Committee

…from Arroyo Seco to Eaton Canyon

Tuesday, August 8, 2017 v DRAFT Minutes

7:04 PM meeting at Altadena Community Center (730 E Altadena Dr.)

  1. Introductions for new attendees: Steve Messer, Rob Staahle, Lori Paul, Marietta Kruells, Zachary Likins (LA County), Kevin Singleton, Kathy Martin, Michell Zack, Linda World, Dennis Merkel (USFS), Dorothy Wong
  2. Desired adjournment time for this meeting?  8:15  pm
  3. Decision on meeting Secretary & Recorder of Action Items. Steve Messer
  4. Review Minutes and Action Items from July meeting. Approved with corrections including spelling of Staehle, and Lauren Pluth.
  5. County / City / U.S. Government Announcements of any items not covered later on agenda. No new items announced.
  6. Any serious new trail conditions or problems requiring immediate attention (firsthand reports strongly preferred; photos much appreciated)? Homeless encampments at Millard and Gould Mesa, homeless are disturbing and threatening trail users. FS has a plan to deal with the problems (to be implemented).
  7. Current Tasks
  8. Responses to letter regarding recommended trail restoration, corrections & improvements (action from prior meeting and field visit).
    1. Lincoln Avenue Roadside route from Loma Alta Park South to Altadena drive and from there to Hahamongna Watershed Park; Enhance safety for trail users as well as Aveson Charter Schoolchildren on their daily group walks to and from Loma Alta Park adjacent to traffic on Lincoln. Zack talked to DPW, the easiest way to deal with it is to partner with DPW. DPW Doing feasibility study to place a sidewalk on the eastern side of Lincoln. Funding has not been identified. La Vina developer is asking for a zoning change, a possible source for mitigation funds to apply to this project.
  1. Proposed Shady Lane connection to the ACT along Loma Alta under existing trees to improve safety for trail and park users, including crosswalk improvements at Sunset Ridge Road. Concept plan for Shady Lane trail was presented by Zack, developed in-house by County. Need to consider watering of trees in our comments, location of crosswalk, stop signs, tree removal.

B.       Restore full equestrian use and amenities to Loma Alta Equestrian Park, Trailhead and Staging Area.

a.       Remove signs excluding horses from south side of the Equestrian park where the bathroom and drinking fountains are located. Discuss re-opening of small restroom at Trailhead & Staging Area on north side of Loma Alta. Park Superintendent at Loma Alta put up signs so equestrians would be directed to Loma Alta, but this inhibits access to the bathrooms by equestrians and bicycles.

b.       Replace dead trees in the Loma Alta Park Trailhead & Staging Area, including the recently killed White Alder (only trunk stump remains). Require adequate care for new and existing shade trees. To be discussed on 9/5 site visit along with picnic tables.

c.        Move concrete picnic tables out of direct sun to shade under trees or provide shade armadas over the tables. To be discussed on 9/5 site visit along with picnic tables.

  1. Other Old Business
    • Pinecrest Gate. Gate was removed last Thursday, and some of the chainlink and razorwire has been removed today. Gate was on County property, not on Pasadena property. Two Pasadena Water supervisors Norman Lara and Vince Zamavoa were there to take down the gate. Kevin cleaned up debris, while a second crew arrived to continue removing material. If any problems, need to report them. County needs to get a written statement from Chris Klippert relinquishing control of the gate.
  1. Other New Business
    • This group needs to become engaged in the One Arroyo planning process.
  1. Review of Task List for next meeting
  • Organize site visit to determine where to move two picnic tables in Loma Alta Park. Site visit tentatively scheduled for 9/5/2017 at noon.
  • Zack to determine if parking restrictions on Pinecrest are county-approved.
  • Dennis to send a letter to County Parks supporting removal of Pinecrest Gate.
  • Kevin to email Mitch to ask him to preserve list of people trapped by Pinecrest gate.
  • Kevin to write a thank you letter to Phyllis Currie formerly of Pasadena Water & Power
  • Select a date to celebrate Pinecrest opening at the trailhead
  • Compile and submit comments on the proposed Shady Lane trail by August 22nd.
  • Zack to email a digital copy of the Shady Lane design proposal
  1. Upcoming Events: The next ACTRWG meeting falls on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 (2nd Tuesday of each month, unless cancellation is announced, 7pm at the Altadena Community Center).
  2. Adjourned at 8:21 p.m.