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West Pasadena Residents' Association
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Saturday, May 20
, 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' Association 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 1,600 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, MAY 22
Joint Meeting of the City Council and its Finance Committee
3 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Recognition and appropriation of 2016 Urban Area Security Initiative grant funds; Quarterly investment report ending March 31, 2017; Continued public hearing on FY2018 operating budget hearing, including Police, Fire, Human Services and Recreation, Library, Public Health, and City Clerk departments.
6:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda:
- Continued public hearing on FY2018 recommended operating budget, schedule of taxes, fees, and charges, and general fee schedule
- Discussion of the future development of the YWCA building located at 78 N. Marengo Ave.
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Second reading of ordinance to suspend city utility services for violation of the municipal code (marijuana dispensaries)
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City Council Municipal Services Committee
4 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Adoption of a Resolution and Setting a Public Hearing on June 19, 2017 to Consider Granting Non-Exclusive Solid Waste Franchise Renewals; Non-Potable Water Project update; Glenarm GT-2 repair or replacement study update; Water Integrated Resource Plan status update.
4 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Establish Nominating Committee.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 24
Planning Commission
6:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield St.
On the agenda: Public hearing on Accessory Dwelling Units; Update on the implementation of the Housing Element; Marijuana regulations.
THURSDAY, MAY 25
9 a.m.
One Gateway Plaza, 3rd Floor, Metro Board Room, Los Angeles
On the agenda:
Motion by Ad Hoc Congestion, Highway, and Roads Committee chair John Fasana that would effectively kill the 710 freeway tunnel.
On the agenda: Proposed changes to Traffic Reduction and Transportation Improvement Fee (TR/TIF) for new development projects; Preliminary discussion on the Commission's Annual Report and Work Plan to be finalized in July meeting of the Commission.
6 p.m.
351 S. Hudson Ave., Room 236
On the agenda: Parent-Teacher Association Council report; Foster Youth Council report; Approval of K-12 mathematics instructional material; Consent action on academics, business, personnel, facilities, policy, and technology.
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Verbatim
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"We have endured decades of freeway gridlock debate. Continued assertions to implement a Tunnel Alternative regardless of citizen opposition will never result in a solution. After taking account of my own history with this project, and evaluating the analysis provided, I decided we need a new way forward. It is clear that the State Route 710 tunnel project is a misguided and obsolete solution. First, the funding is not available. Second, it fails to relieve traffic in the region since it only shifts traffic from one area to another. Third, the conclusions of the EIR do not accurately reflect the analysis in the report; therefore, additional analyses would need to be conducted to ensure the affected areas will not be overly burdened with increased air pollution. Now is the time to focus on solutions that work and can bring the community together to move us closer to our environmental sustainability goals."
- Assemblymember Chris Holden, 41st District, in a letter to the Metro board
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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 of informing 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<
TRAFFIC ALERT: Pasadena will be very busy today and tomorrow
This weekend will be one of the busiest on record in Pasadena. U2 will be performing at the Rose Bowl both nights with more than 60,000 people expected to attend; JPL will host its two-day "Explore JPL" event (this event is sold out and you must have a ticket to attend); the Amgen Tour will cycle through the middle of town on Saturday; LitFest will be held both days in the Playhouse District; Museums of the Arroyo (the Gamble House and the Pasadena Museum of History) will open their doors for free admission on Sunday; and the city's Spring 2017 Boxing Exhibition will take place at the Villa-Parke Community Center on Saturday.
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CITY SETS BUDGET HEARINGS FOR FY2018
The public is encouraged to learn more about the city's budget for Fiscal Year 2018 and provide input during special joint meetings in May and June by the City Council and its Finance Committee at City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., Council Chambers.
- Monday, May 22, 3 p.m. and continue at 7 p.m.: Budget presentations by Planning, Housing, Police, Fire, Public Health, Human Services & Recreation, and Library departments.
- Monday, June 5, 3 p.m. and continue at 7 p.m.: Budget presentations by Human Resources, Finance, Transportation, Public Works, and City Clerk departments.
- Monday, June 12, 3 p.m. and continue at 7 p.m.: Budget presentations by Water & Power Department; City Council review and questions; adoption of general fees, taxes, fees, and other charges.
- Monday, June 19, 3 p.m. and continue at 7 p.m.: Final review and questions; adoption of FY18 Operating Budget.
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The Pasadena Department of Water and Power invites the public to attend a "Laundry-to-Landscape (L2L) Greywater Workshop" from
9 to 11 a.m. today, Saturday, May 20, at the Villa Parke Community Center, 363 E. Villa St. Attendees at the workshop will learn how to design an L2L system for your home and landscape, how to build a system including creating a "mock-up" of a real system with real greywater parts, what parts needed for a home L2L system, how much greywater systems produce and how many plants can be watered, what soaps and detergents are greywater friendly, and about the new L2L system direct install program for income qualified customers. To RSVP and for more information please visit
pwpweb.com/greywater or call (626) 744-6970. Registration is required.
Update on SR-710 North Study from Metro
Metro staff will provide a status update on the State Route 710 North Project environmental process to the Metro Board of Directors on
Thursday, May 25, in the Metro Board Room at the One Gateway Plaza, 3rd Floor, Los Angeles.
Dedication of Enduring Heroes Memorial monument May 29
The dedication ceremony of the Enduring Heroes monument will take place at
3 p.m. on Monday, May 29, at Defenders Parkway West, located at the corner of Colorado Blvd. and Orange Grove Blvd. The monument, created by noted artist Christopher Slatoff, is in memory of Pasadena's 11 fallen soldiers from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, as well as honors service members and veterans. The afternoon will include patriotic music, keynote speakers, and a condor flyover. For additional information contact Rhonda Kozacik at kozacik@earthlink.net.
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THE EDITOR'S TOP NEWS PICKS
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>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION
"A Metropolitan Transportation Authority report studying the benefits and impacts of the proposal to connect the Long Beach (710) Freeway to the Foothill (210) Freeway concluded last week that a freeway tunnel is the preferred alternative to address projected traffic congestion in the area." Los Angeles Times
"At this week's Metro board Ad Hoc Congestion, Highway, and Roads Committee chair John Fasana introduced a motion that, if approved by the full board this week, could spell the end of efforts to extend the 710 freeway north via a $6 billion tunnel." Streetsblog LA
"Following an unsuccessful legislative effort to prohibit building a tunnel to close the 6.2-mile gap of the 710 Freeway Extension between the 10 and 210 freeways, Assemblymember Chris Holden now has set his sights on convincing the Board of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board (Metro) to officially no longer consider the tunnel as a viable alternative." Pasadena Now
"LitFest Pasadena, the city and Southland's free literary arts festival, celebrates its sixth year with a packed weekend of readings, authors' panels, poetry, and celebrity guests on May 20 and 21 in the Playhouse District. Programming for all ages and interests runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on May 20 and from 11:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 21." Pasadena Now
"Even though the Kimpton Hotel 'boutique' project was put on hold in April, the potential developers for that hotel will offer four 'modified' options at the May 22 council meeting."
Pasadena Independent
"The city of Pasadena is doing as well or better economically than many local cities of the same size, but could be doing even better in increasing foreign investments and attracting new companies and hotels as well as better marketing itself through social media, according to the head of the city's Economic Development Department."
Pasadena Now
"A resolution authored by state Sen. Anthony Portantino to name a segment of the 134 Freeway between Eagle Rock and Pasadena after President Barack Obama advanced one step closer to becoming official this week. The state Senate approved the resolution on Monday by a vote of 35-1. If approved by the Assembly, it would go to the governor's desk for his signature."
Pasadena Star-News
"The Board of Directors of the Pasadena Museum of California Art (PMCA) announced today the appointment of Susana Smith Bautista, Ph.D., as Executive Director of the Museum. Dr. Bautista will begin in this position on May 23, 2017." Art Fix Daily
"Multiple reports of mountain lion sightings in West Pasadena, one reportedly well out of the Arroyo Seco and in a neighborhood near South Orange Grove Boulevard, remain unconfirmed by the Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA, which now plans to host a free 'Co-Existing with Wildlife' on Sunday."
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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