Guidelines

The U.S. Department of Transportationdoesn't want you tweeting on Twitter, poking on Facebook, or giving a "thumbs up" to new music on Pandora when you're behind the wheel -- unless your car is parked. And to that end, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced on Thursday the "first-ever federally proposed guidelines to encourage automobile manufacturers to limit the distraction risk for in-vehicle electronic devices. " Translated, LaHood and the Transportation Department are calling for an end to distractions caused by our in-car infotainment systems, which are increasingly relying on touch screens to operate and bringing navigation, music and even social networking apps into the cabin of our rides.

GLENDALE — Design guidelines for commercial buildings in a portion of La Crescenta could soon fall under a wide-ranging set of conditions put forth by community leaders seeking a “more attractive and vibrant business environment.” The City Council on Tuesday unanimously directed staff members to further develop a draft set of guidelines written by La Crescenta residents that are the product of six years’ worth of research in the unincorporated section of Los Angeles County.

CITY HALL ? The Glendale Historic Preservation Commission has approved guidelines for the formation of historic districts within the city, a move that could lead to the designation of entire Glendale neighborhoods as historic. The commission's approval Monday means the Planning Commission will review the guidelines on March 15. If the Planning Commission gives its blessing, the City Council could introduce the city's first historic district ordinance on April 18, and approve it a week later.

o7The Air Force this week has announced new guidelines for religious tolerance that seek to have members of the service refrain from public prayer at official functions. The move comes in response to allegations of pervasive religious intolerance that favored Christian evangelicals at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Some have wondered if the guidelines will be implemented fairly. What do you think of the guidelines and the chances of their being properly implemented?

The Glendale Historical Society and the city of Glendale are receiving some big honors — historically speaking. With a recent award for the city's new historic districting guidelines and the possibility of the city's first historic district, city preservation advocates have their hands full — and it is just in time, as May is national Historic Preservation Month. The historic district guidelines, adopted in September, were the product of significant work between city officials and members of the community, Principal Planner Timothy Foy said.

NORTH GLENDALE — Creating design guidelines for Foothill Boulevard, limiting residential growth and maintaining its unique small-town feel were among the top concerns residents shared with city planners over the course of several months of community outreach, officials reported Monday. About 30 residents and business and property owners attended a Planning Department meeting Monday aimed at sharing the results of its public outreach campaign regarding a North Glendale Community Plan.

Janine Marnien Those interested in running for the Crescenta Valley Town Council can apply now, the council has decided. A report from the election committee on election guidelines was heard by the council at its September meeting, and was largely accepted save for a proposed bylaw change concerning officer elections. Guidelines include extending the election from a half-day to a full day and changing the process by which voters can get absentee ballots.

GLENDALE — The school board Tuesday night approved energy conservation guidelines for the district in a quest to save money and make schools more environmentally friendly. The guidelines will result in a review of energy and water usage for educational programs, food services, landscaping, transportation, maintenance, new construction and administrative operations. Specific changes that will be requested include a reduction of power during high-peak hours, cutting equipment and lighting usage when a building is closed, and shutting down a classroom or facility when it is not being used.

Homes on skinny, smaller lots in Los Angeles are doing so well they sell out in neighborhoods like Silver Lake and Atwater Village over a weekend. Now, Glendale officials think what worked across the border can spark the right kind of development in some of the city's densest neighborhoods. “If they're successful in L.A., they can be successful in Glendale,” said Principal Planner Laura Stotler. For years, Glendale has been down-zoning overdeveloped areas in South Glendale.

The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board has concluded an investigation into contamination on the site of the Walt Disney Studios, a senior board official said. The agency's decision comes a day after the Los Angeles Times reported that the board, along with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was investigating whether a vintage air conditioning system and cooling towers at Disney were the source of groundwater and soil contamination from chromium 6, a cancer-causing heavy metal.

The U.S. Department of Transportationdoesn't want you tweeting on Twitter, poking on Facebook, or giving a "thumbs up" to new music on Pandora when you're behind the wheel -- unless your car is parked. And to that end, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced on Thursday the "first-ever federally proposed guidelines to encourage automobile manufacturers to limit the distraction risk for in-vehicle electronic devices. " Translated, LaHood and the Transportation Department are calling for an end to distractions caused by our in-car infotainment systems, which are increasingly relying on touch screens to operate and bringing navigation, music and even social networking apps into the cabin of our rides.

I am writing in response to the Nov. 8 letter from Sherry Stubbs titled, “New Nordstrom design needs improvement.” I wanted to point out that retail design in urban areas must adhere to certain defensive design guidelines. The perimeter of the store in most cases will be easily protected against civil unrest. That means few or no windows close to the ground, and small entrance doors with bollards installed closely together to protect them from ramming vehicles. And no flammable materials such as wood.

CITY HALL — City officials this week moved closer to a set of development guidelines for the North Glendale annex of the Crescenta Valley. The City Council on Tuesday gave city planners direction to proceed with drafting the North Glendale Community Plan, which would serve as a "constitution" to guide other policy documents and potential zoning changes. The move is a milestone in a process that started in 2008 when the City Council directed the Planning Department to respond to concerns from residents who wanted to preserve their area's rural feel and mountain views from encroaching development.

CITY HALL — The City Council today will consider an interim green building policy for new development projects before a comprehensive, more permanent set of regulations are drafted. The council last month held off on establishing the citywide policy, instead creating a community task force of local stakeholders to wrestle with the issue while city officials wait for pending green building codes to be approved by state legislators this summer. Glendale’s top building safety official, Stuart Tom, recommended that the council wait for the state standards, which he said could be used as a starting point.

CITY HALL — Under increasingly narrow federal spending guidelines and pressed for time, the City Council on Tuesday authorized $660,934 in federal stimulus funds for a nonprofit child care center and East Garfield neighborhood improvements. In doing so, the council rejected an earlier Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee recommendation to peg a large chunk of the money for a new youth center for Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Chapter. In June, the committee voted unanimously to uphold its original recommendations to allocate $660,934 to New Horizons Family Center and Homenetmen — and a city capital improvement project to be determined.

CITY HALL — With months of public outreach on possible amendments to the North Glendale Community Plan complete, the City Council on Tuesday authorized city planners to form a citizen advisory committee to guide the next phase of the project. The committee of about 30 members would meet up to eight times starting in late July to discuss some of the more contentious issues that arose during the months of community input. Recommendations out of those meetings would be presented to the Planning Commission and eventually the City Council sometime this fall, said Laura Stotler, principal planner with the city.

Part 1 Body proportions It is essential to understand the importance of body proportions and balance in the choice of clothing designs. Technically, vertical body proportions for clothing styles can be determined through charting the body (on paper) to analyze your bone structure. With the paper attached to the wall (as tall as the person ? from the floor), a diagram of the human body is determined by having someone mark: top of the head to the underarm, underarm to the hipline (where the leg meets the torso)

NORTH GLENDALE — Creating design guidelines for Foothill Boulevard, limiting residential growth and maintaining its unique small-town feel were among the top concerns residents shared with city planners over the course of several months of community outreach, officials reported Monday. About 30 residents and business and property owners attended a Planning Department meeting Monday aimed at sharing the results of its public outreach campaign regarding a North Glendale Community Plan.