By Brandon HENSLEY

The Crescenta Valley Town Council held a brief meeting July 18 at the La Crescenta Library, and most of the evening’s discussion centered on a big rig forum for next month.

The council will hold an open forum at its Aug. 15 meeting concerning the issue of big rigs parking in the unincorporated area of La Crescenta-Montrose. Big rig parking has become a point of contention for local residents, upset with seeing the trucks parked on streets overnight or longer.

“It’s a hazard and it’s an issue that comes and goes quite frequently,” said L.A. Sheriff’s Deputy Jorge Valdivia at the meeting. “It depends on who comes in and finds a spot and thinks it’s okay [to park].”

Parking on freeway overpasses is the main problem. Restrictions were passed two years ago for the Ocean View Boulevard overpass, but trucks still regularly take advantage of the one on Ramsdell Avenue, which denies parking spots to students of Crescenta Valley High School.

Councilmembers  asked Valdivia if there was any way to deny or discourage truck drivers from parking in those spots. Valdivia said the only action officers can take is handing out a citation for illegal parking, which he said is from $60 to $70.

Councilmember Robbyn Battles said she’s been in talks with L.A. County, as have representatives from Altadena which has had a difficult time with big rigs as well. Battles said the key is to be thorough when creating parking restrictions, and she cited Ocean View and Ramsdell as examples of La Crescenta not completely following through.

“We can’t hurt people that have businesses in La Crescenta, so you can’t just say, ‘No big rigs, you’re all done,’ because a big rig by definition [is] different sizes,” Battles said.

New CVHS principal Linda Junge introduced herself before council and the sparse attendance. Junge, who is from Glendale and has worked for Glendale Unified School District since 1997, takes over for Michele Doll, who is now the district director of Human Resources.

“If you go to a CV sporting event, you’ll get to know my husband and my children,” Junge said. “It’ll be a family affair.”

She added, “I look forward to community partnership. I think that’s an important part of my work, being visible and being involved.”

Nancy Stone, director of the CV Drug and Alcohol Prevention Coalition, said a rebranding of the organization will happen in the months to come. Stone said there will be a new logo and “maybe shortening our name. We have a very long name. We’ll hopefully be able to say our name in one breath.”

Stone also said free parenting classes at the YMCA will start in September, and will be held on Tuesday evenings.

Incoming CV High freshman Jessy Shelton announced the upcoming “Mutt Strut,” a 2K/5K walk-run event for the blind supported by the CVHS Prom Plus Club organization. Those who are not blind can join and help blind participants who choose not to be led by guide dogs.

The event is scheduled for Sept. 7 at CV Park, and Shelton said she hopes about 300 people will attend. September is National Guide Dog month.

The town council and CV Chamber of Commerce will hold a freeway off-ramp cleanup on Saturday, Aug. 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

The next CV Town Council meeting, which includes the open forum on big rig parking, is scheduled for Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the La Crescenta Library, 2809 Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta.

  Brandon Hensley