Saturday, October 19, 2019
Published on Saturdays since 2000

To receive your own copy of this weekly email update just click on " Subscribe " ... or forward this email to friends so they can subscribe.
Click on the links at the bottom of this page to unsubscribe or to update your email address. Send comments and suggestions to update@wpra.net .

Dan Beal
Co-editor
Neighborhood Update - This weekly WPRA eNewsletter is emailed each Saturday morning to more than 1,400 residents of Pasadena and beyond.

The WPRA News - The WPRA's quarterly magazine is mailed to nearly 8,000 homes in west Pasadena and beyond.
Visit us at wpra.net and on Facebook
Community Meetings
>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, OCTOBER 21

6:30 p.m. 
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda:   
  • Item 3: Establish a "risk manager" classification in the City Manager's department and set a salary control rate. | STAFF REPORT
  • Item 11: Amend the employment agreement for City Manager to accommodate an increase in annual salary. | STAFF REPORT
  • Item 15: Modify composition of the Hahamongna Watershed Advisory Committee | STAFF REPORT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22

6:30 p.m. 
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave 
On the agenda: Time extension for 913 Boston Ct. (Council District 5) and its annual report to City Council  

4 p.m. 
Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Informational presentation about the proposed Playhouse District pocket park; fiscal year 2019-2020 work plan updates and discussion

4 p.m. 
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Citywide Sidewalk Improvement program update

6 p.m. 
City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., Council Conference Room S039
On the agenda: Briefings on federal and state legislative matters; recommendation to change meeting location; receive and file the Arts and Culture Commission's annual report and work program

6 p.m.
John Muir High School auditorium
1905 Lincoln Ave.
On the agenda: Presentation of school consolidation findings for secondary schools

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23

6:30 p.m. 
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield St.
On the agenda: Item 5-Public hearings: Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for cannabis retailer at 908 E. Colorado Blvd.; CUP for six-story mixed-use project at 83 N. Lake Ave.; zoning code amendment; and Playhouse District parking requirements.

4 p.m. 
300 E. Green St.
On the agenda: Not available at press time

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24

4 p.m. 
City Hall basement conference Rm. S039, 100 N. Garfield St.
On the agenda: Not available at press time 

4 p.m. 
Hale Building, 175 N. Garfield Ave. Permit Center hearing room
On the agenda: Not available at press time. 

4 p.m.
Room 236, 351 So. Hudson St
On the agenda: Item J – Action Item: options for keeping high schools and middle schools open

Click for the latest Pasadena City Commission   Facts and Vacancies
Announcements
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

On October 19, 7:30 p.m., the First United Methodist Church’s Chancel Choir will be joined by the choirs of First Congregational Church and First United Methodist Church of Glendale, and Chorale Ben Canto to perform in a free concert of Mozart's Piano Concert No. 9 in E-flat and Requiem. The event will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 500 E. Colorado Blvd.

AT/AROUND THE ARROYO/ROSE BOWL STADIUM
Est. Attendance: 8,000
Event parking: Lots F, K and B
Event hours:       
       8 a.m.: Registration opens and amplified sound begins
       9 a.m.: Roads close 
       10 a.m.: Walk begins
       11:30 a.m.: Roads reopen
       1 p.m.: Event and amplified sound concludes
  
Brief sound-checks will take place on the day prior to the run/walk in the afternoon hours. The Recreational Loop will remain open at all times for recreational activity, with the exclusion of bicycles and all vehicle traffic. The Equestrian Trail will remain open at all times.

To receive assistance on the day of the event, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., contact the Rose Bowl Event Day Hotline: (626) 397-4141

Between October 21-31, the whole family is invited to have a frightfully good time at the Old Pasadena Halloween celebration. Planned activities include an annual pumpkin decorating contest, a movie-screening and other fun Halloween festivities for children. All are also invited to participate or watch a doggy costume parade and trick-or-treating along Colorado Boulevard and in the One Colorado Courtyard.

This year's annual Medicare open enrollment period runs through December 7. During this period Medicare members are able to change their Medicare program for 2020. To help residents compare current Medicare and prescription drug plans with other programs, and to help them make those program changes, a free Medicare Resource Fair will be held on Wednesday, October 23, 9 am.-1 p.m. at the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St. The Health Care Rights Advocacy (HICAP) will make a presentation and answer questions at noon.

Los Angeles County will conduct a test run of a new voting system during the next California presidential primary. The system will make its official debut statewide in 2020. On Thursday, October 24, 2019, 1 p.m., representatives of the League of Women Voters-Pasadena Area convene an informational session to help residents get interactive sample ballots, vote at any voting center in the county and register and vote the same day. The event will be held at the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St.

On Tuesday, October 29, 6:30-8 p.m., Pasadena's City Council will conduct a public information meeting to summarize community comments and ideas, and present concepts for the design of a vertical barrier on the Colorado Street Bridge to deter suicide attempts. The meeting will be held in the Council chambers. Background information.

On Sunday, November 3, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. , the La Casita Foundation will host a showcase of paintings, many of which feature the Arroyo and surrounding areas, by approximately 20 local artists. Proceeds from the sale of paintings will benefit La Casita del Arroyo, 177 S. Arroyo Blvd. In addition the building and surrounding gardens will be open for review.

Los Angeles County seeks well-qualified citizens to volunteer for the 2020-2021 civil grand jury, which will be impaneled on July 1, 2020.

The Pasadena Police Department is looking for hard-working and career-driven college students with strong leadership and youth-mentoring skills to join its team as a youth advisor.
Editor's news picks
>CLICK ON  HEADLINES  FOR MORE INFORMATION<

Governor signs AB 29 and SB 7 to officially kill 710 tunnel and more
  • “With a signature on Assembly Bill 29, authored by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), Gov. Gavin Newsom relegated the concept of a 710 Freeway tunnel beneath Pasadena to the archives of history.” Pasadena Now
  • “SB 7, authored by State Sen. Anthony Portantino, the ‘final nail in the coffin’ for plans for a 710 freeway extension in Pasadena, has been signed by Gov. Newsom.” - Pasadena Now

"After five decades of managing the Gamble House — crown jewel of Pasadena, international pilgrimage site for devotees of the Arts and Crafts style and point of pride for USC’s School of Architecture — the university is giving up oversight of the historic home to more local supporters." LA Times

“The City Councilmember who is the outgoing president of the Rose Bowl Operating Company says ‘stability for the Bowl is needed’ in today’s rapidly changing marketplace for stadiums and it may be time for the City to provide financial support.” - Pasadena Now

“The teamwork between the Pasadena Police Department’s Special Victims Unit and a local organization called Peace Over Violence is making a positive difference in the lives of Pasadenans.” - Pasadena Now

“Pasadena area State Sen. Anthony J. Portantino’s school start-time bill has been signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. California will become the first state in the country to mandate that high schools and middle schools start later in the morning. - Pasadena Now

“Public meetings regarding the redevelopment of the Julia Morgan YWCA building will be scheduled after city staff decides on how to proceed with 10 proposals from developers. On Monday, City Council met in closed session to discuss the proposals and some local activists worried that a deal was being made without public input.” - Pasadena Now

“When ‘The Big One’ hits – and it will – Pasadena will be ready to recover rapidly, but it will be costly, according to a presentation to the City’s Public Safety Committee. The emphasis of the presentation was less about preparedness for a disaster itself, but making sure City could still function and recover quickly following a large-scale event.” – Pasadena Now

WPRA's point of view
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

The public is invited to attend the regular WPRA board meetings held at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month (except in August and December) in the Westridge School Community Room (unless otherwise noted), 324 Madeline Dr. Park in the State Street lot and walk north across campus to the Community Room.

Would you like to help the WPRA share important information with your neighbors? Send an email to update@wpra.net to volunteer to serve as a co-editor of WPRA's weekly Neighborhood Update email newsletter. It will only take a few hours a week (within your own schedule) in the month or two each year in which you'd serve.
Your donations and membership allow us to continue our efforts to maintain the character and enhance the quality of life in our west Pasadena neighborhoods.
We can't do it without your support!
... to serve our community by joining neighbors who are equally dedicated. If you live within WPRA service area we'd welcome your help.

Got the local news bug? Just curious about your city (and would like to share news with over 1.500 of your closest friends)? Consider serving as a co-editor of the Neighborhood Update . It will only take a few hours a week (on your own schedule) in the one or two months a year in which you'd serve. We'll train you. 

We also have opportunities to serve on one of our many committees:
  • Land use and planning for those interested in land use and zoning
  • Education to improve public education in west Pasadena 
  • Open space & conservation focuses on parks, open space and our environment
  • Membership to help us build membership and serve our members

If you'd like to chat about ways we could help you become more involved or more effective (by working with us), send an email to WPRA President , indicating your interests.
Leisure
>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 below to visit that publication's events section (alphabetical order).


Monthly WPRA board meeting dates and locations are on the WPRA website. Click on the headline immediately above or visit our website and look under "Meetings and Events."
To learn more visit wpra.net
Information to be considered for the Neighborhood Update should be submitted 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 WPRA News, on the WPRA website, and in this publication.
To explore Mr. Stoddard's work, visit josephstoddard.com .