Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Altadena Town Council Will Mark 50 Years of Civic Service With October Event

The anniversary celebration will reflects on five decades of community representation, is planned as Altadena rebuilds from the Eaton Fire

The Altadena Town Council will commemorate its 50th anniversary on Oct. 11 with a Community Celebration & Resource Fair at the Altadena Community Center, honoring five decades of civic engagement and local representation in Los Angeles County’s largest unincorporated community.

Founded in 1975, the council has served as Altadena’s primary advisory body, representing approximately 43,000 residents to county government.

The anniversary date coincides with the council’s first election, held exactly 50 years earlier, when more than 1,500 ballots were cast for just two seats — an early sign of what has evolved into the strong civic participation Altadena is known for today.

Chair Victoria Knapp, who has led the council since 2023, continued serving despite losing her own home in the fire.

The current executive committee includes Vice Chair Nic Arnzen, Recording Secretary Kim Yu, Corresponding Secretary Connor Cipolla and Treasurer Milissa Marona.

The council meets every third Tuesday of the month at the Altadena Community Center, located at 730 E. Altadena Drive.

As an unincorporated area, Altadena lacks a mayor or city council and relies on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for municipal services.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents District 5, is referred to by the council as Altadena’s “Technical Mayor.”

The council’s dual purpose, as defined in its bylaws, is to act as an ombudsman to government agencies and provide a public forum for community concerns.

Its 16 elected members represent eight census tracts, with two representatives per tract serving staggered two-year terms.

Over the decades, the council has played a pivotal role in historic preservation and community planning.

In the mid-1980s, the Council spawned Altadena Heritage as a committee focused on protecting historic properties.

The group’s first major success came in 1987, when it helped save Scripps Hall — now the Waldorf School — from subdivision into a housing tract.

The council also contributed to the development of the Altadena Community Plan, adopted in 1986, and the creation of the Community Standards District for historic preservation.

Altadena’s demographic transformation has helped shape its civic identity.

In 1960, the community was 95 percent white and about 4 percent Black. By 1980, the community was reported as 49 percent white and 43 percent Black, and had evolved into one of California’s most affluent Black middle-class enclaves.

Notable residents have included Sidney Poitier, Octavia Butler and Eldridge Cleaver.

As of 2020, Altadena is 46 percent white and 18 percent Black, with growing Asian and Latino populations.

The community remains primarily residential, with a homeownership rate of 78.3 percent.

Despite its successes, the council faces ongoing challenges.

Its advisory-only role limits its authority compared to incorporated cities, a gap made evident during the Eaton Fire response.

Still, the council’s elected structure offers a rare model of accountability in unincorporated governance.

Unlike many appointed advisory bodies, Altadena’s council provides direct representation and transparency through regular elections and public meetings.

Looking ahead, the council has identified four key priorities: fire recovery and rebuilding, housing affordability, infrastructure advocacy and climate resilience.

The 50th anniversary celebration is expected to highlight both the council’s legacy and its renewed commitment to serving Altadena’s evolving needs.