Saturday, February 15, 2020
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 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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Official council and commission 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, FEBRUARY 17

City Council - CANCELLED   

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18



WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19

10:15 a.m. 
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave. 
On the agenda: 
  • Receive and file the 4th quarter 2019 asset manager performance reports
  • Receive, discuss and (possibly) take action on report from asset managers
  • Set cost-of-living benefits increase at 3% for eligible retirees and beneficiaries

6 p.m. 
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: 
  • Approval of a memorandum of understanding between Pasadena and Glendale re: the Pasadena Computer Crimes Unit and Glendale Verdugo Regional Crime Laboratory
  • Receive and file annual report and work plan, Code Enforcement Commission annual report for July 2018 through June 2019, and work plan for 2019-2020
  • Receive information about facial recognition and Police Chief’s monthly report

Human Services Commission - Special Meeting
6 p.m. 
Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Commission work plan updates

Land use permits and variance hearings (public hearing officer)
6 p.m. 
Hearing Room #120, Hale Building, 175 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda:
  • Consolidation of two parcels into one at 506 and 510 N. El Molino Ave. (Council District 5)
  • Allow on-site consumption of limited alcohol for a fast-food restaurant at 1687 E. Colorado Blvd. (Council District 2)

6 p.m. 
San Rafael Branch Library, 1240 Nithsdale Rd.


THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20

6 p.m. 
984 E. Locust Street

Click for the latest Pasadena City Commission  facts and vacancies
Announcements / Events
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Celebrate black history, culture and achievements at Pasadena’s 38th annual Black History Parade and Festival, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15. This year’s theme is “For the Culture – Celebrating Our Excellence.” The parade begins at 10 a.m. at Fair Oaks Avenue and Figueroa Street in Altadena, then heads south on Fair Oaks before ending at Robinson Park, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave., where the festival takes place from noon to 4 p.m.

Pasadena City Hall will be closed and many city services and many city services will be unavailable on Monday, Feb. 17 in observance of Presidents’ Day.

The Pasadena Public Health Department continues to closely monitor an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. As of 2/10/2020, only one case has been confirmed in LA County and none in Pasadena. Local health jurisdictions, including the Pasadena Public Health Department, are educating the public and providing assistance to returned travelers, schools, healthcare facilities.

New voting procedures will be introduced in the upcoming March 3, 2020 elections. LA County is modernizing the voting experience by replacing traditional polling locations with vote centers. Locally, Pasadena will have 24 vote centers in and around Pasadena. For more information and a complete list of LA County vote centers, click on this article's headline, call the LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk at (800) 815-2666, or the Pasadena City Clerk’s Office at (626) 744-4124.

Editor's news picks
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“On Monday, the Pasadena City Council approved an affordable housing concession permit that will facilitate the construction of a new 91,217 square-foot, five to six-story, 90-unit, multifamily residential building (including eight ‘very low income’ units), with associated parking in a three-level subterranean parking garage, at 253 South Los Robles Ave. But not before the project almost became a test case to challenge state laws that take control over housing developments away from cities.” – Pasadena Now

“At a standing room only City Council meeting on Monday, members of the Pasadena NAACP rallied to support embattled Fire Chief Bertral Washington. Chief Washington was reassigned to the City Manager’s office last Thursday.” – Pasadena Now

“The Pasadena City Council on Monday voted to change the name of the Human Services and Recreation Department to the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department. City officials hope the new department will clear up confusion regarding services provided to the city’s parks.” – Pasadena Now

“The city has purchased from Caltrans a home that was previously seized to make room for the 710 freeway extension. The three-bedroom home on Waverly Street in District 6 is currently being renovated. The home cost the city $305,000, but would have gone for more than $800,000 if it had been sold at market value, according to (District 6) Councilmember Steve Madison.” – Pasadena Now

“Officials with the Ambassador College campus are appealing a decision to revoke its Conditional Use Permit, (CUP) according to a city staff report. The CUP allowed weddings, receptions and other events to be held on the property and minor CUPs allowed shared parking with Maranatha High School and the Elk’s Lodge, as well off-street parking.” – Pasadena Now

“The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education held a special meeting Thursday dedicated to support for families whose children attend schools scheduled to close at the end of the school year. Students from Franklin, Jefferson, and Roosevelt elementary schools, along with Wilson Middle School, are selecting new schools to attend after their schools were slated for closure at the end of the current semester.” – Pasadena Now

“Pasadena residents gathered at Jackie Robinson Park last week to listen to mayoral and City Council candidates up for election discuss climate policies in the city. Residents learned about many local organizations that focus on advocating for a greener community as part of the resource fair featured before the forum started. The forum was moderated by local students.” Pasadena Independent

Time to ‘Stand Up for Pasadena’ (guest opinion by Erika Foy)
“We must try to achieve better traffic calming measures as we grow as a city. Projects must also be required to help promote Goal 5 of our General Plan with meaningful conditions of approval that reduce vehicle trips. It is time to ‘Stand Up for Pasadena’ and try and maintain a quality of life for everyone as we grow in high-density projects.” – Pasadena Now

WPRA's point of view
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The public is invited to attend the regular WPRA board meetings convened at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month ( except for 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.
> NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, March 4

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 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!

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. We have opportunities to serve on one of our many committees:
  • Land use and planning - for those interested in land use and zoning
  • Education - to support and 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 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).


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 Joseph's work, visit josephstoddard.com .