Saturday, November 9, 2019
Published on Saturdays since 2000
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Dan Beal
Co-editor
Neighborhood Update - This weekly WPRA eNewsletter is emailed each Saturday morning to nearly 1,500 residents of Pasadena and beyond.

The News - The WPRA's quarterly magazine is mailed to nearly 8,000 homes in west Pasadena and beyond.
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Community meetings
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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, NOVEMBER 11


City Council - CANCELLED

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12

6:30 p.m. 
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave 
On the agenda:
  • Preliminary consultation, 444 N. Fair Oaks (Council District 5) – 206 unit multi-family project
  • Concept design review, 135 S. Catalina Ave (Council District 7) - 76 unit residential project over shared subterranean parking

6 p.m. 
Permit Center Hearing Room, 175 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Presentation of plans for Earth Day celebration (4/19/2020); recommendation of the Water System and Resources Plan

2 p.m. 
Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave. 
On the agenda: Findings from the 2018 Pasadena Community Health Improvement Plan; discussion of Pasadena as an age-friendly city; FY 2019-20 Commission Work Plan

4 p.m. 
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Not available at press time.

6:30 p.m. 
Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Update from Pasadena Police Dept; review and approve updated welcome letter; update of six-month strategic plan

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13

6:30 p.m. 
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield St.
On the agenda: Public Hearings: Zoning Code amendment for Playhouse District parking requirements; Zoning Code amendments for regulations for single-room occupancy uses; Zoning Code amendments for Cannabis regulations

5:30 p.m. 
Hale Building, 175 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Updates by annual grant recipients

6 p.m. 
Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Presentation about the Office of the Young Child

6 p.m. 
City Public Works Yards, 233 W. Mountain St.
On the agenda: Request for public tree removal at 2975 Sierra Grande St.; Master Street Tree Plan amendment for Walnut Street from Pasadena Avenue to Fair Oaks Avenue; condition-based tree removals.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14

11:15 a.m.
Room 240, 351 S. Hudson Ave.
On the agenda: Bylaw/policy/administrative regulation/exhibit discussions

5 p.m.
Board Room, 351 S. Hudson Ave.
On the agenda: Staff presentation – special programs; Board discussions – Board Committees, social media protocols, transparent budget 

Click for the latest Pasadena City Commission   Facts and Vacancies
Announcements
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On Saturday November 9, Pasadena, in partnership with the Triumph Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with disabilities, is hosting the second annual Pasadena Adaptive Sports Festival, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., at Brookside Park. The free festival will feature more than 10 adaptive recreational sporting events open to the general public.

On Monday, November 11, the public is invited to salute military veterans at Pasadena City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave. The program will begin at 10:30 a.m. The Condor Air Squadron will conduct a flyover at 11:11 a.m. Following the program, attendees are invited to chow-down on grilled hot dogs, donated and cooked by Pasadena Firefighters Union 809.

On November 11, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., admission to Kidspace Children’s Museum, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., is free for active military and veterans and up to four guests in their party (regular admission is $14 per person).

On Tuesday, November 12, you are invited to join Art Center College of Design, the Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the Center for Student Experience in honoring our community's military and veterans with a free luncheon from 1–2 pm. in the Faculty Dining Room,1700 Lida St.

On Wednesday, November 13 District 6 Councilmember Steve Madison will host a forum - “Reconnecting Pasadena: Re-imagining Pasadena in a Time of No 710 Tunnel.” The session is scheduled for 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Pasadena Civic Center, Room 107, 300 E. Green St. Attendees will receive a self-validated free 1.5 hour parking pass for the Paseo Colorado garage.

District 3 Councilmember John J. Kennedy invites the public to his annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway and Job and Resource Fair on Wednesday, Nov. 13, from 6 – 8:30 p.m. at Robinson Park Recreation Center, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave., in the multi-purpose room and gym. The fair will feature at least 50 employers and providers of important information.

On Thursday, November 14, at 7 p.m., the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity will hold its "Women Build 2020" kick-off event at La Casita del Arroyo, 131-199 S Arroyo Blvd. Attend the event to become a part of the movement that’s transforming women’s lives and doing its part to ease the housing crisis. A hardhat is not required, but registration is requested.

Help support a local school by ordering your Christmas tree, wreath, evergreen swags and garland (for pickup or, for an additional $20, delivery) from San Rafael Elementary School. All proceeds go to the school to help provide its students with access to enrichment programs and necessary educational needs. Orders may be placed online or by using the form provided. The last day to order is November 13.

Pasadena Water and Power reminds all residents that fall/winter outdoor watering limits are now in effect through March 31, 2020. Outdoor watering is limited to once a week on Saturday and must be completed before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m.

Single-use plastics labeled with recycling codes #3 through #7 will no longer be accepted for residential recycling. Residents should dispose of the excluded plastics in green-top garbage carts. The city continues to accept plastic containers with recycling symbols #1 or #2 as well as aluminum cans and foil, glass bottles and jars, phone books and catalogs, food boxes and paper packaging, mail, newspaper, magazines, and cardboard.

The city Department of Transportation has a new FAQ web page with information about curbside parking, annual and temporary overnight parking permits, parking citations and more.

Editor's news picks
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“The City Council Monday and Tuesday approved an expanded Tenant Protection Ordinance (TPO) that places a freeze on evictions without just cause and rolled back rents backdated to March 15, 2019 for tenants who may still be in the eviction process. The ordinance also capped Pasadena rent increases to match the pending Tenant Protection Act: AB 1482. The State bill goes into effect on New Year’s Day.” – Pasadena Independent

“In the latest chapter of Pasadena’s Civic Center/YWCA Building saga, the City Council has approved further study on five proposed projects for the historic Julia Morgan-designed building in Centennial Plaza. The five new projects were culled from a list of ten projects received following a Request for Proposals issued by the City in June for the YWCA property and a nearby plot of land. Housing and homeless activists praised The Ratkovich Company’s affordable housing component.” – Pasadena Now

“Pasadena’s Playhouse District, already one of the City’s most dynamic areas, could sport a vibrant new look and attitude over the next decade, should its new proposed streetscape plan and economic strategy come to fruition.” – Pasadena Now

“Buses on the planned North Hollywood to Pasadena Transit Corridor could likely make their way directly into Pasadena off the SR-134 Ventura Freeway at Fair Oaks Avenue and then follow an east-west round trip route along Colorado Boulevard, based on an informal consensus at a Metro workshop at Pasadena City College Wednesday. Local residents also said they want safe, shaded stations, with attention to bike parking.” – Pasadena Now

“The official nomination period for Pasadena’s March 3, 2020 primary municipal election opens Tuesday, Nov. 12 and closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6. Candidates may receive and circulate nomination petitions to gather signatures of registered voters to place their names on the March 3 ballot for the Office of Mayor (elected citywide) for a full four-year term, or city council districts 1, 2, 4, and 6, each elected for a full four-year term.” – Pasadena Now ( Additional information from city)

“Pasadena Fire Department personnel have either deployed or pre-positioned firefighting assets for multiple fires that have broken out throughout California over last two months, including at least three fire incidents in Northern California.” – Pasadena Now 
WPRA's point of view
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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.

WPRA seeks grant application writing expertise 
Do you have experience writing grant proposals? WPRA is exploring assisting city departments in applying for public and private grant funding. Please send email to president@wpra.net .
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!

NOTICE: Due to a production error, the donation envelopes included in the recent edition of WPRA's quarterly newsletter, The News, may result in personal information being visible when mailed. WPRA regrets the error. You may send membership donations in a regular envelope to: WPRA, P.O.Box 50252, Pasadena CA 91105, or donate online HERE

Questions? Please email membership@wpra.net.
... 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
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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 this publication, on our website and in The News , our quarterly newsletter. To explore Mr. Stoddard's work, visit josephstoddard.com .