A drop-off box for mail-in ballots has been placed outside the La Cañada Flintridge Library, but city officials also are asking the county to place a voting center in the city. The nearest locations for in-person voting for the Nov. 3 election are in La Crescenta and Altadena.
In an effort to provide La Cañada Flintridge residents with more voting locations for the Nov. 3 election, City Manager Mark Alexander assured the community on Tuesday that municipal staff members are working with the Los Angeles County registrar-recorder office to possibly open a voting center here.
Residents reached out to local officials after noticing LCF’s absence from the county’s list of locations for in-person voting. The nearest polling places scheduled to open include the La Crescenta Woman’s Club, Franklin Elementary School in Altadena, Crescenta Valley High School and the Chevy Chase Library in Glendale.
“We are hoping to persuade them to identify a location for a vote center in La Cañada Flintridge for Election Day,” Alexander said during a virtual City Council meeting. “In fact, we have offered City Hall as a possible location for a voting center on Election Day. We are still waiting for word back from the county on whether they will be able to do that.” He said he also suggested Memorial Park as an alternative site.
There is currently one drop-off box located outside the La Cañada Flintridge Library where voters can return mail-in ballots by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
City Hall also is scheduled to be one of L.A. County’s flex vote centers — which are one-day, pop-up polling places — on Monday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., when any person can drop off a ballot or vote in person.
GIFT CARD PROGRAM COULD LAUNCH THIS MONTH
The city is close to kicking off its online gift card program and is targeting a launch date around Oct. 26, according senior management analyst Lisa Brancheau.
LCF is collaborating with Yiftee to sell — at a discounted rate — online gift cards that could be used at participating businesses in the city, a move aimed at boosting a local economy greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those who buy a $40 gift card will be given a bonus of $15 for a total of $55. There is no restriction to the number of gift cards that can be purchased, but customers will be limited to nine gift cards with the $15 bonus.
The city just finished its design and branding for the program and will reach out to local businesses before rolling out social media coverage and sending emails to residents.
LICENSE PLATE-READING
CAMERAS A SUCCESS SO FAR
Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station Capt. Todd Deeds expressed enthusiasm for the 39 Flock Safety cameras installed around the city this past summer.
Deeds said all of his station’s deputies have been trained on how to use the platform and monitor the cameras, which have already aided them in recent investigations. The system can read vehicles’ license plates and have been seen as a possible enhancement to public safety in an locale where residential burglaries have been a concern.
Carl Alameda, assistant city manager, said the city worked closely with the station in determining the placement of the cameras.
He also encouraged residents to visit the city website’s public safety page to learn about the camera system. Vehicles can be registered into the system to aid any possible investigations, including car thefts. Should a resident choose to be on the safe list, his or her registered vehicle will be removed from all Flock cameras.
UPDATES ON CITY PROJECTS
Director of Public Works Patrick DeChellis informed the council about projects involving his department.
The citywide resurfacing project is nearly complete, with the contractor finishing up the installation of street name signs.
The reconstruction of pavement on Green Alley between Alta Canyada Road and Indiana Avenue behind La Cañada Imports and 7-Eleven is scheduled to begin after the new year and to be completed by late February.
The second phase of sound wall construction hit a snag after Caltrans raised concerns over the right-of-way acquisition for the project. DeChellis said staff members are working with the design team to resolve the issue, which will likely delay getting approval to advertise the project for construction.
