Incumbents sworn into office for town council

Don Henry and Ed Porter were sworn back into their seats Wednesday on the Agua Dulce Town Council.

Porter and Henry once again join five other sitting members who work as a group to assist the unincorporated area of Agua Dulce and its residents as they work with L.A. County, according to Porter.

“We have some really good people on our town council with no egos and no friction,” said Porter. “Our job is simply to magnify the represented voice of the community.”

In addition to advising the county on such issues as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, authorized well usage, and the various fees and taxes imposed by the county, Porter says the council plans to focus on the Land and Water Conservation, Authorization and Funding Act.

Currently, the Pacific Crest Trail needs assistance being shifted to a nearby, safer trail corridor that will protect the trail users and preserve valued open space, according to a letter from Henry, the town council president. The LWCF was assisting with the relocation until the program expired on Sept. 30 and the town council is fighting to get the program re-established.

Porter is also looking at ways to remedy the “Safe, Clean Water Act,” or Measure W, that allows for parcels within the flood control district to be taxed at a rate of 2.5 cents per square foot of “impermeable area.”

“We have a lot of long driveways, barns and big properties out here, and we don’t believe (taxing those with long driveways and barns) was the intention of that act,” Porter said.

However, while they await the decision from the federal government regarding the fate of various programs and taxes, the council plans to continue to preserve the Agua Dulce community’s way of life, according to Porter.

“The county allows us to draw up our own suggested community standards that (officials) then adopt into the county code,” said Porter. “They’ve given us a lot of liberties over the years.”

Since the town council charter was adopted in 1991, the council members have worked to advise the county to allow the area various special provisions, including increasing the number of dogs homeowners are allowed to have, stopping the building of street lights that cause light pollution, as well as maintaining other unique aspects of the Agua Dulce community.

“It’s really wonderful that people who have an interest … can have an impact on their community and maintain the wonderful characteristics of (Agua Dulce),” said Porter.

Those looking to get involved can attend meetings on the second Wednesday of every month, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Agua Dulce Women’s Club located at at 33201 Agua Dulce Canyon Road.