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West Pasadena Residents' Association
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Saturday,
February 25, 2017
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Published weekly since 2000
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WELCOME
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Founded in 1962, the West Pasadena Residents' Assocation is dedicated to maintaining the character of our neighborhoods and enhancing the quality of life in southwest Pasadena. Subscribe, unsubscribe or update your email address at the bottom of this page.
Send comments to update@wpra.net
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Neighborhood Update
View past issues of this weekly WPRA eNewsletter, which is emailed each Saturday morning to more than 1,500 residents of Pasadena (and beyond).
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COMMUNITY MEETINGS
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>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
NOTE: The following meeting dates, times and agenda items are accurate as of Saturday morning.
Click on the appropriate blue headline to ensure the meeting hasn't been cancelled or rescheduled.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27
4 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: adoption of a City debt policy
6:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda:
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Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract amendment with Vali Cooper & Associates for construction management services for the La Loma Bridge seismic retrofit and rehabilitation project. The amendment would increase the contract by $150,000 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $1,250,000 for additional construction management services through completion of the project, which is now slated for reopening (finally!) in late May or early June.
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Appointment of Martin Sweeney as District 6 nominee to serve on the Accessibility and Disability Commission
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Appropriate up to $85,000 from the General Fund without competitive bidding to fund a contract with the Flintridge Center for the continuation of the Parole Reintegration Program. The City Council Public Safety Committee recommended that Council adopt the amendment.
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Approve phase 2 of a countywide bike-share program, which would position bike-share stations in 34 places across Pasadena. In late October 2016, City Council, in response to the General Plan Mobility Element guiding principle "Pasadena will be a city where people can circulate without a car" - authorized the City Manager to execute all agreements associated with the Pasadena bike-share program and directed staff to return with a recommendation of where to place the bike stations. In it's return to Council, the s
taff also requested the discretion to relocate a bike station if encountering physical limitations or challenges. The cost of the program in FY 2017 is $850,000, which would be fully funded from the existing balance of $1,395,617 in Measure R funds.
4 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Americans with Disabilities Act and disability etiquette presentation by City's Humans Services and Recreation Department
4 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave
On the agenda:
- Adopt energy efficiency and demand reduction goals for fiscal years 2018 through 2027;
- Consider authorizing the City Manager to execute all agreements associated with the receipt of grant funding of $1.36 million from LA MTA for Pasadena's project to relieve significant overcrowding on Routes 10, 31/32 and 40, which carry 85% of the 1.6 million Pasadena Transit passengers. The grant funds purchase of four 35-foot, CNG-fueled, low-floor and fixed-route transit buses.
- Consider amending the Pasadena Municipal code to enhance the City's stewardship of public trees by increase penalties for violations of the City Trees and Tree Protection Ordinance to serve as a stronger deterrent against violations and permit the City to recover financial losses as a result of those violations
6 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda:
State and Federal legislative briefings and a briefing by LA County Division League of California cities
6 p.m.
Basement Training Room S018, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield St.
On the agenda: Preliminary consultation for new construction of a three-story, 24,600 square foot office building for Southern California Public Radio/KPCC expansion at 500 S. Raymond Ave.
6 p.m.
Hearing Room #120, Hale Building, 175 N. Garfield Ave.
Hale Building, 175 N. Garfield Ave.
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Verbatim
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"The turnaround has been remarkable. Thursday's report shows no part of the state in "extreme drought" for the first time in four years.
Every major city in California has dropped mandatory water restrictions and penalties that marked much of the past five years, and dam operators around the state have raced to release water to try to leave some room in reservoirs for spring runoff and new storms.
Only nine of the state's 58 counties now have drought remaining in any significant way. All are in Southern California, particularly Ventura, Santa Barbara and Imperial counties.
But even those places have seen an amazing turnaround.
- As reported by the San Jose Mercury News, "Drought finally over in nearly every part of California, scientists say"; see below
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WPRA'S POINT OF VIEW
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>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
The public is invited to attend the regular WPRA board meetings, held at 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month (except August and December) in the Westridge School Community Room (unless otherwise noted), 324 Madeline Dr. Park in the State St. lot and walk north across campus to the Community Room.
WPRA seeks email newsletter editors
Do you have writing and editing skills and want to help the WPRA achieve its mission on behalf of the community? Contact Chuck Hudson at hudson@wpra.net to learn how to become a co-editor of WPRA's weekly Neighborhood Update email newsletter. It will only take a few hours a week (on your own schedule) in the month or two a year in which you'll serve. We'll train you.
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>CLICK ON
HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
LA County officials are asking Pasadena residents to report damage to their homes, property and businesses from the series of storms which began on February 17. To complete an online damage assessment survey, visit 211la.org and click on the banner for damage assessment survey, or call 2-1-1 to complete the survey and get information and referrals for assistance. During the recent storms, the City received 21 reports of fallen trees. Of those, 10 were street trees (City-owned) and the rest were privately owned trees on private property. If you come across a damaged tree call the Pasadena Citizen Service Center at (626) 744-7311 to request an inspection by the Department of Public Works, Parks and Natural Resources Division. Remember, use only licensed contractors and certified arborists. Ask to see a copy of the contractor's current insurance policy.
Recently elected State Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-25) invites the public to join him at Noon on Sunday, February 26 for a community swearing-in ceremony. State Controller Betty Yee will be administering the oath of office to Portantino. The event will be held at Glendale Community College, 1500 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale.
The City will convene one more special budget meeting to both provide the public with a better understanding of the City's budget and to receive public input on
Wednesday, March 1, 6-8 p.m.
, Villa-Parke Community Center, 363 E. Villa St.
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THE EDITOR'S TOP NEWS PICKS
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>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION
"The historic drought that plagued California for five years is finally over in nearly every part of the state, federal scientists reported Thursday." San Jose Mercury/Pasadena Star-News
"Collapsing trees continue to pose an ongoing risk to Pasadenans in the wake of a series of recent rainstorms. For one family, the nightmare of a fallen tree damaging their home on Tuesday got worse Wednesday when a second tree showed signs of imminent failure and forced the evacuation of their neighbor's house." Pasadena Now
Rare mural by 19th Century French Master woodblock printer found adorning iconic Green Street building
"A special mural made by renowned 19th century French master woodblock printer Jean Zuber has been discovered adorning the two-story stairwell of one of East Green Street's iconic New Orleans-style brick buildings and may be worth a small fortune if confirmed to have been printed during the artist's prime." Pasadena Now
"Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) recently completed the Glenarm Repowering Project, an extensive power plant upgrade that includes the replacement of a 51-year old steam generating unit, Broadway 3, with a more efficient combined cycle turbine unit known as Gas Turbine 5 (GT-5). GT-5 is the most environmentally "clean" unit in its class, with the lowest emissions limits in the country." Pasadena Now
"In an effort to make riders feel safer, the county's largest transit agency Thursday approved sweeping changes in the way buses, trains and stations are policed, adding two other law enforcement agencies and reducing the role of sheriff's deputies." Pasadena Star-News
"Seven new police officers for the Pasadena Police Department were sworn into office Wednesday at City Hall." Pasadena Now
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- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION -
Looking for other ways to entertain or educate yourself and your family?
For current events around the area, we encourage you to visit our local news outlets. Click on the publication title to visit that publication's events section (alphabetical order).
Attend WPRA board meetings each month Monthly WPRA board meeting dates and locations are on the WPRA website. Click on the headline above or visit our website and look under "Meetings and Events."
The WPRA needs you ... ... to serve your community and do it with a group of your neighbors who are equally dedicated. If you live within our service area, we'd welcome your help.
- Got the local news bug? Just curious about your city (and would like to share news with 1,600 or so of your closest friends), consider serving as a co-editor of Neighborhood Update. It will only take a few hours a week (on your own schedule) in the month or two a year in which you'd serve. We'll train you.
- We have lots of opportunities to serve on one of our many committees:
- Land use and planning
If you care about how we use our land
- Education
If you want to help save public education for West Pasadena
- Open space & conservation
If you care about preserving open space and conservation of land and resources
- Membership
If you'd like to help us continue to build our membership so we can do more
If you'd like to chat about ways we could help you become more involved or, more likely, more effective (by helping us), send an email to WPRA President. Tell him about your interests.
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To submit information for the Neighborhood Update, send it to update@wpra.net.
Joseph Stoddard's watercolors: The WPRA is grateful to local artist Joseph Stoddard, who has generously allowed us to display his watercolors in our quarterly newsletter, The (WPRA) News; on the WPRA website; and in this publication. To explore Mr. Stoddard's work, visit josephstoddard.com.
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