CVWD Holding Rate Increase Hearing
On Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 6:30 p.m., the Crescenta Valley Water District will hold a public hearing on a proposed wastewater rate increase for October 2012 and July 2013. This hearing will be held at the district office at 2700 Foothill Blvd. in La Crescenta.

The City of Los Angeles provides for the treatment and disposal of wastewater from CVWD. CVWD’s wastewater collection system, over time, has aged and both the City of Los Angles and CVWD must maintain a wastewater system that adheres to strict State and Federal regulations. Increases in costs are a fundamental bi-product of this process.

The last CVWD wastewater rate increase was Jan. 2, 2009.

The purpose of the public hearing is for the board to hear public comments. Any CVWD customer or property owner may file a written protest of the proposed rate changes by sending a letter to CVWD, 2700 Foothill Boulevard, La Crescenta, CA 91214. A valid protest letter must be received at the main office by Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 4 p.m. and must include name, CVWD service address, a statement of protest and an original signature.

Protest letters will be tabulated and presented to the board of directors at the public hearing. CVWD customers or property owners are encouraged to attend the public hearing.

Council delays decision on smoking ordinance again
After previously postponing a decision on a proposed smoking ordinance that would include banning all smoking indoors in individual apartments, the Glendale City Council decided to push reaching an agreement on the ordinance for another month.

Reasons cited for the delay was to allow the Council enough time to hear input from the community. The decision had already been postponed in deference to Councilmember Rafi Manoukian, who had been absent.

If the ordinance goes into effect, apartment building owners would be granted a five-year grace period to comply.

Also to be discussed is a reexamination of the city’s outdoor dining smoking ordinance. A proposal to give restaurant owners more leeway was rejected by the Council last year.

Shredding for Fall Clean-Out
September is “Clean out your desk, closets and file cabinets month” in the foothills. It is time to throw away accumulated bank statements, bills, and canceled checks. To avoid becoming a target of identity theft, bring all outdated personal and business records to the Foothills Community Business Expo at Verdugo Hills Hospital on Sept. 12. As a free service to the community, SCORE of Greater Los Angeles and RSI Shredding Services, Inc. are bringing an industrial document shredding truck so residents can watch old records turned into confetti.

Shredding begins at 5 p.m. and local businesses and residents can bring as many as five boxes to be shredded at no charge.

Some documents can be destroyed almost immediately; others should be retained for 10 years. CPA guidelines on retaining old documents can be obtained by visiting www.shrednations.com; visiting the chambers of commerce – La Cañada Flintridge CoC at 4529 Angeles Crest Hwy., the Crescenta Valley CoC at 3131 Foothill Blvd. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or the

Montrose-Verdugo City CoC at 3516 Verdugo Road from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – or contacting Dick Mader of SCORE at dickmader@scorela.org and a copy of the guidelines will be sent via return email.

Kassakhian Invited to Exchange Program
American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) has invited Glendale City Clerk Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian to participate in an international exchange program to South Africa and Namibia in September. He will be part of a seven-member, bipartisan delegation to South Africa and Namibia serving as a young political leader representing the United States. Participants in the program must be nominated by a member of U.S. Congress or an alumnus of the program. Delegates have the unique opportunity to meet with elected officials at the national, regional and local levels, as well as policy makers, business and community leaders in the host countries.

“The City of Glendale is proud to have City Clerk Kassakhian serving as a member of this delegation,” stated Mayor Frank Quintero. “His selection and participation brings positive awareness and attention to our city. The insight he will bring back to our community will strengthen our global understanding and mutual relations with our international partners.”