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West Pasadena Residents' Association
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Saturday, March 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, MARCH 27
6:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda:
- On the Consent Calendar, authorization to enter into a contract with Onyx Architects for design of Desiderio and Victory parks restrooms for an amount not to exceed $126,210
- Public hearing to establish a 20% water conservation target, as compared to calendar year 2013 water use, and implement a Level 1 water supply shortage plan
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Consider City policy in regard to immigration issues and approve the City's legislative platform, including the support for the reforming of federal immigration law; consider what, if any, additional actions City Council may wish to take beyond those being implemented at the staff level to address community concerns regarding the need to prevent the reuse of personal information in a deportation or other adverse setting. A new citywide policy has been developed and applies to all City employees, which sets forth the City's commitment to the confidentiality of information gathered for municipal purposes and would explicitly limit collection or dissemination of information regarding a person's status. This policy, as developed by
City staff, differs from that proposed by community advocates most significantly in that it does not declare the City of Pasadena to be a "Sanctuary City." Annually, the City of Pasadena receives a significant amount of federal funding that could actually be subject to elimination in the event of adverse action by the Trump Administration is currently undetermined. Nevertheless, in
Fiscal Year 2016 the grand total amount of federal funding received by the City of Pasadena was just under $35 million, broken down as follows.
4 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Amendments to the Fiscal Year 2017 Capital Improvement budget, and an informational report on second quarter 2017 second quarter monitoring
4 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: A discussion of mental health services offered by the City of Pasadena
4 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Informational items including updates of water-rate redesign, the water master plan, the status of 2011 Water Integrated Resources plan and current water supply conditions, and Urban Forestry planning
6 p.m.
Basement Training Room S018, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield St.
On the agenda:
Concept design review for new construction of a three-story, 15,525 sq. ft. commercial/office building at 85 W. Green St., at the site of the former Twin Palms restaurant. The plan includes replacement and reconstruction of the current structure with a new structure that is said to be substantially the same size, serving the same purpose and with a similar customer capacity. The applicant acknowledges that two protected trees, which were located in an area said to be in conflict with the proposed new building, were removed without permits. The plan calls for replacing the trees on site with four 36 inch box Fruitless Olive trees.
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Verbatim
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"The entire FEIR [final environmental impact report]
lacks the necessary information to support its certification."
- LA Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant, in his ruling that at least temporarily halts the LA County Flood District's plan, which some believe is an overreach, to remove sediment from behind Devil's Gate Dam
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"We hoped that he would vacate the approval (of the project), but he actually achieved the same effect without vacating the approval."
- Arroyo Seco Foundation's attorney Mitchell Tsai as published in Pasadena Now
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"This puts the project back in the County Supervisors' court, and when we go back to the County Supervisors, we're going to ask them to revise the entire project along more sensible lines."
- Arroyo Seco Foundation Executive Director Tim Brick
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WPRA'S POINT OF VIEW
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>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
St. Andrew's celebrates memorial mass in John Van de Kamp's name
Funeral services will be private, but a memorial mass will be held at
3 p.m. on Thursday, March 30, at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, 311 N. Raymond Ave. (Parking is across Raymond Avenue from the church.) A reception at the church will follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that gifts in John's memory be made to the Dartmouth College Scholarship Fund for the Class of 1956, c/o the Dartmouth College Development Office, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755.
WPRA celebrates 55 years of service at its annual meeting, this year on May 3
The West Pasadena Residents' Association cordially invites you to its 55th annual meeting on Wednesday, May 3, at Mayfield Senior School, 500 Bellefontaine St. Parking is free on the Mayfield campus (enter from Bellefontaine).
- At 5:30 p.m., the evening starts with a reception, during which attendees will be able to enjoy light refreshments thanks to Los Tacos, while visiting with many community organizations that will be exhibiting their services and programs. During this time, several students will service as guides for tours of the schools receiving hall.
- At 6:30 p.m., Bill Bogaard and Doug Kranwinkle, co-chairs of the Arroyo Advisory Group (AAG), will discuss the preliminary activity of the AAG, including community outreach programs. Setting the stage for their remarks and covering some of the history of the Arroyo Seco will be a visual presentation from AAG member, Don Hahn, a world-famous artist, film-maker and storyteller. Also, the WPRA will formally recognize individuals and organizations whose activities have materially improved the quality of life in west Pasadena, and members will elect officers and directors for the 2017-2018 WPRA fiscal year.
The WPRA on March 17 sent a letter to the LA Metro's Board and the California State Assembly Transportation Subcommittee indicating its support of the SR-710 North Study Bill, AB 287, but with modifications. "SR-710 tunnel north portal in Old Pasadena.Due to the enormous cost of the SR-710 tunnel alternative, the inadequacy of both the tunnel proposal and the environmental impact assessment, and the large environmental impact to residents that have suffered from the threat of a freeway destroying their communities for more than a half century, we recommend that you support AB 287 [introduced by Assemblymember Chris Holden] so that the SR-710 North Study Tunnel Alternative can be permanently removed from consideration. Instead of a tunnel, we urge support for a multi-modal solution that will serve all communities, promote economic vitality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as required by SB743 and the Governor's April 2015 Executive Order. While the WPRA supports AB 287, the Board is concerned with some of the language and request that the wording of the draft bill be changed." To read the complete letter, click on the headline above.
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<
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ARROYO EVENT NOTIFICATION - TODAY (MARCH 25)
Estimated attendance:
1,200+
Event parking:
Lots B, F and K; no charge
Event hours:
- 6:30 a.m.: Festival opens
- 8 a.m.: Amplified Sound Begins
- 8:30 a.m.: Bike MS starts
- 7 p.m.: Event, festival and amplified sound concludes
The Recreational Loop and equestrian trail will remain open at all times for recreational activity, but will remain partially closed to vehicles during the times listed below. There will be street closures in effect for this event:
- 4 a.m. to 7 p.m.: East and West extensions
- 8:15 to 9:15 a.m.: Seco Street from Arroyo Boulevard to West Drive, and West Drive from Seco Street to Washington Boulevard.
To receive assistance on the day of the event, contact the Rose Bowl Event Day Resident Hotline :
(626) 397-4141.
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Do you change the oil yourself for your car or truck? All Pasadena do-it-yourselfers are invited to safely recycle both their used oil and oil filters-and get a new oil filter for free-from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, March 25, 2017 at O'Reilly Auto Parts, 919 N. Lake Ave.
The City's Permit Center will close at 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 30 due to a department meeting.
City solicits comments about accessory dwelling-unit regulations
City Council in January adopted targeted changes to the City's accessory dwelling-unit regulations to comply with the then-newly amended State law. Council also directed Planning staff to review the entire accessory dwelling-unit regulations as required by the Housing Element and come back with appropriate comprehensive changes by the end of June. The purpose of the review is to consider changes to the rules to facilitate the creation of accessory dwelling units while maintaining the character of the established character of Pasadena's single-family neighborhoods. As a part of this process, the Planning Department will hold two community meetings to solicit input from the public as follows:
- Tuesday, April 4, 6-8 p.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene Pasadena, Gilmore Hall, 3700 E. Sierra Madre Blvd.
- Thursday, April 6, 6-8 p.m. at the Pasadena Senior Center, West Pavilion, 85 E. Holly St.
Both meetings cover the same content. The City suggests you choose the most convenient meeting date. If you have any questions, please contact Joanne Hwang, Planner, at (626)744-7309 or jhwang@cityofpasadena.net.
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THE EDITOR'S TOP NEWS PICKS
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>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION
Ruling sends fate of the project back to County Supervisors; asks for new mitigation reports
Environmentalists on Thursday won a temporary halt to a project to remove millions of cubic yards of sediment from behind Devil's Gate Dam near JPL in northwest Pasadena. Handing local environmentalists a temporary but significant victory, Judge James C. Chalfant of the Los Angeles Superior Court Thursday halted LA County Flood District's Devil's Gate sediment removal project at Pasadena's Hahamongna Watershed Park. In his ruling, Chalfant found that the project's Final Environment Impact Report (FEIR) 'lacks substantial evidence to support (the) conclusion that mitigation would be effective, and the district will have to newly analyze any proposed habitat mitigation and perform a feasibility analysis for the use of model year 2010 or later trucks. Until this is done, the FEIR must be set aside.'" Pasadena Now
Focusing on what one attendee called the "blood and guts of the city," District 6 Councilmember Steve Madison addressed a small but attentive group of local residents at his Thursday evening Town Hall meeting at the Pasadena Conference Center, on the subject of "Economic Vitality, Public Safety and Smart Growth." Pasadena Now
"Pasadena area volunteers and community members will be planting trees again during the commemoration of the 2017 Arbor Day Saturday, March 25, and of Pasadena's 26th year as a Tree City USA." Pasadena Now
"Moving traffic and people in Pasadena has officially entered a new era. As Councilmember Tyron Hampton told his colleagues Monday evening, following the presentation of a draft version of the City's new Street Design Guide, "'Complete Streets' is not just about moving cars anymore, it's about moving everyone." Pasadena Now
"Public-private partnerships [such as the PPP Metro suggests will fund the 710 tunnel] are sort of like credit cards: You get the shiny thing you want now, and put off the pain of paying for it. But sooner or later, the statement comes around. Local governments sometimes find that the bill is bigger than expected-if, for example, not as many riders, drivers, or ratepayers used the train, road, or hook-up as investors promised. Citizens may also be irritated, to say the least, to wake up and find a new toll on a previously 'free' road, or their water prices tripled, thanks to their town's new private monopoly. Roads, bridges, and trains jump-started by investor dollars always come looking for public ones, eventually." The Atlantic City Lab
"Originally reacting in part to a 2014 incident in which students and faculty were shut out of their living spaces following the purchase by Carmel Partners of three dorm apartment buildings from Fuller Theological Seminary, the City Council Economic Development and Technology Committee Tuesday evening unanimously approved a series of six modifications to the City's Tenant Protection Ordinance." Pasadena Now
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Pasadena has seen steady growth in both commercial and residential property values, but the continuing demand especially for commercial rental space has resulted in available space getting hard to come by.
Although office space demand statewide has flattened and demand for retail space has been decreasing, both city authorities and real estate brokers agree that Pasadena is running out of available commercial real estate."
Pasadena Now
Council unanimously approves City regulation of drones
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Given the rising popularity of drones and the potential for conflicts with public safety, the Pasadena City Council Monday voted unanimously to direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance 'regulating the operation of unmanned aircraft systems commonly referred to as drones, above or near critical infrastructure, and over permitted special events.'" Pasadena Now
A typewriter repair technician by trade from Michigan, Carl Elmer Anderson started the Anderson Typewriter Company in Pasadena in 1912 after falling in love with the City as a vacationer. His idea to start the company came when he quickly realized he would become the only service for miles that was able to repair typewriters, which was a skilled trade and a service that was much in demand during that time.
When Assemblyman Chris Holden introduced a bill in February that would kill the option of drilling a tunnel to close the 710 Freeway gap, he angered several local politicians in cities generally seen as favoring the tunnel over any other option. Now, the bill can count labor unions among its opponents, too.
San Gabriel Valley Tribune
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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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