Meeting summary
Quick recap
The group discussed various updates on personal living situations and neighborhood developments, including construction activities and home renovations. They covered community meetings about fire safety ordinances and architectural covenants, while sharing experiences with lead remediation work and insurance coverage for affected properties. The conversation ended with discussions about environmental testing for toxic materials, upcoming sports events, and plans for the next meeting, along with sharing experiences about bear sightings in the area.
Next steps
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Darrell to work on transcribing the old covenants document for Rubio Highlands.
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Charise to collaborate with Darrell on developing new design restrictions to protect views in the neighborhood.
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Janie’s to provide Michael with contact information for “One of a Kind” remediation company that her daughter Shelly Warshaw recommended.
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John to have a private conversation with Michael about his experience with Paul Davis remediation company.
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Michael to follow up on the SBA loan application for home remediation.
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Darrell to send out a notice for the next meeting in a couple of weeks.
Summary
Neighborhood Construction and Relocation Updates
Barbara shared updates about her recent move and current living situation, mentioning she has been at her new home for two months and is in the process of setting up. She discussed neighborhood construction activities, including building work across the street and street improvements in the area, particularly in Rubio Canyon Road. Charise inquired about Barbara’s location on Rubio Crest, to which Barbara confirmed she is in the upper section.
Eaton Fire Ordinance Variance Updates
The group discussed updates on community meetings regarding the Eaton fire interim ordinance, which will implement a simplified variance process for building code requirements. Darrell explained that the process will allow for quicker reviews of variance requests, reducing the timeline from 16-18 months to 6 months for residential projects. The discussion also covered the status of architectural covenants for Altadena Highlands, with Mendes suggesting that forming a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation could help establish new design restrictions to protect views, though this would require significant work to update and remove outdated provisions.
Garage Redesign and Project Updates
Janie shared that their architect had to redesign their garage layout twice due to changes in the “like-to-like” definition, resulting in additional costs and time. The plans were finally approved, and Charise mentioned their hope to submit all plans to the county by mid-September. Charise also expressed her willingness to collaborate with Darrell on their project, despite personal challenges, and Barbara noted that a retaining wall was being constructed across the street.
Historic House Renovation Project
The group discussed a historical house that was moved to Poppy Fields and is now under construction with a second story being added. Janie’s shared that the house was previously located north of Marshall High School near a reservoir. Michael mentioned receiving an estimate from Paul Davis for lead remediation work, which came in high, and he is waiting on an SBA loan before making a decision on how to proceed. John and Lynn have been back in their house for almost two weeks, though they are still dealing with ongoing work. Charise shared that her husband’s lead test results were within normal limits, allowing them to proceed with building without additional soil work.
High Remediation Costs and Insurance
The group discussed high remediation costs for a property, with John mentioning their total was around $120,000, including $30-40K for contents and $70-79K for the house itself. Michael expressed concern about these prices and mentioned that the insurance fair plan had provided limited coverage, offering only about $10,000 for remediation and some monthly payments towards the mortgage. Mendes shared information about a new legislative initiative in Sacramento aimed at addressing fair plan coverage issues, though it was not yet law. Janie’s joined briefly to share her daughter’s positive experience with a contractor who was successfully handling her insurance claim directly with the insurance company.
Remediation Companies and Licensing Requirements
The group discussed remediation companies and their licensing requirements, with Robin explaining that Serve Pro in Whittier was not certified for lead abatement but was contracted by State Farm for soft goods. Adrienne shared her experience with Service Master, who handled her claim for approximately $19,000 excluding soft goods, with Allstate managing the payment process. Janie mentioned her daughter’s remediation company called “One of a Kind” and noted that Shelly Warshaw had referred them.
Flood Insurance and Remediation Updates
The group discussed insurance coverage and remediation timelines for homes affected by flooding. Charise inquired about State Farm’s payment of additional living expenses, and Adrienne shared her experience with Allstate, noting that coverage was extended for 36 months due to the emergency. Michael mentioned that the last home in their area was cleaned up around June, with payments continuing through that month. John and Lynn reported that State Farm provided a 6-month lease, which they utilized before returning home. The conversation concluded with a brief mention of a CAP LA zoom meeting the previous night.
Hexavalent Chromium Health Research Study
A team of scientists from Harvard, UCLA, and UC Davis is studying hexavalent chromium, a toxic material that can cause cancer and respiratory issues, and has been found in homes and soil. The group, led by Cap la, has formed a consortium with soil testing companies, doctors, and health experts to conduct further research. After remediation, they recommend additional hygiene testing and the use of air purifiers with charcoal filters in every room, along with leaving shoes outside and wearing specialized masks. Cedar Sinai Hospital will provide free evaluations for firefighters potentially exposed to the toxic material.
Free Purifiers and Community Resources
Janie shared information about a free purifier distribution program at a location on the southeast corner of Woodbury and Glen Rose, where residents can receive two purifiers per visit on Wednesdays from 8 to 12. Adrienne mentioned seeing similar giveaway activities at Farrell Sperger on Saturday mornings, including food and supplies, and shared details about her upcoming Zoom dance classes for children and adults, which are now available for registration through LA County Parks and Recreation.
Bear Encounters in Neighborhood
Adrienne shared her recent encounter with a bear that approached her garage while she was getting dog food, coming within two feet before she scared it away. She noted that bears have been more active in the area recently, possibly attracted by food sources, and mentioned previous sightings in neighbors’ yards and swimming pools. The group discussed how bears’ strong sense of smell likely led them to Adrienne’s property, with Michael and others sharing their own bear encounters in the neighborhood.
Sports Events and Scheduling Updates
The group discussed upcoming sports events, including the US Open and Rams season, and agreed to hold their next Zoom meeting in a couple of weeks at 4 or 5 PM instead of 7 PM due to attendance and scheduling concerns. Adrienne shared her experience with the US Forestry Service clearing charred material from her property after a fire, and offered to connect others in the area with the battalion chief for similar concerns. The conversation ended with participants wishing each other a happy Labor Day weekend.
AI can make mistakes. Review for accuracy.
We can no longer host a meeting on the 21st, please join us on the 29th. Sorry for any confusion.
Gary & Darrell
The links below are for the new meeting. Ignore older links from older messages. Sorry for any confusion.
Gary
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