Saturday, January 11, 2020
Published on Saturdays since 2000
 WE'RE BACK AND EAGER TO WATCH & TRACK THIS NEW YEAR!
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AVRAM GOLD
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, JANUARY 13

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

6:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda:   
  • Information: Predevelopment plan review of a planned development zoning district at 491-577 South Arroyo Parkway Staff Report
  • Recommendation: Affordable housing concession permit no. 11869 located at 253 South Los Robles Avenue Staff Report
  • Information Item: Transportation performance measures Staff Report

6:30 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Discuss recommendation that city council adopt a resolution in support of the convention on the elimination of discrimination against women; discuss planning for Herstory 2020 including finalizing the date and location; commission work plan updates.


TUESDAY, JANUARY 14

2 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Presentation about the accessibility and disability commission FY 2019-2020 Work Plan ; discussion of renaming work plan objective #1: Pasadena as an age-friendly city; FY 2019-2020 Commission Work Plan updates and discussion


6 p.m.
Permit Center Hearing Room, 175 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: PWP power supply update; recommendation to staff and council on the water system and resources plan (WSRP) continued from 11/12/2019; approval of landscape equipment ad hoc committee report; reports from committees and commissions

6:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave
On the agenda: Preliminary consultations of: 439 No. Hill (District 2) – new construction of a two to three-story, 13-unit apartment building: 300 East Colorado Blvd. (District 6) - major modifications to the Paseo Colorado development applicable to the two-story commercial portion only.

6:30 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Heritage Square South update; discussion regarding the cultural signage project for 100 W. Walnut; approval of annual meeting to replace bi-annual retreat and agenda; update of six-month Strategic Plan

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15

10:15 a.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Not available at press time

6:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Not available at press time

6 p.m.
Hearing Room #120, Hale Building, 175 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Not available at press time

6 p.m.
Hastings Branch, 3325 East Orange Grove Blvd.
On the agenda: Quarterly update on Work Plan; Branch Associates reports; information items on publicity, circulation, attendance records, FOPPL meetings and 2020 Library Commission dates and locations

THURSDAY,  JANUARY 16

11 a.m. 
Suite 210, Parking Division, Department of Transportation, 221 E. Walnut St.
On the agenda:  Not available at press time


Click for the latest Pasadena City Commission   Facts and Vacancies
Announcements / Events
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Saturday, January 11 at 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Drop off your retired and broken electronics to Eliot Arts Middle School, for example: computers, monitors, laptops, televisions, lcds, pc peripherals, network equipment, computer boards, wires and cables, DirectTV boxes, power supplies, auto/rechargeable batteries, cell/landline phones. To find out what is NOT accepted, click on the heading link above. For more information, call: (909) 591-8408. Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School Parking Lot - 2184 N. Lake Ave. Altadena.

Sunday, January 12, 2020 from 5-8 p.m.
Come to the Brookside golf course – Arroyo room - 1133 Rosemont Ave . Menu: Southwest buffet. Cost: Presale – $30 for members / $35 for non-members, $40 at the door for all. Checks payable to “Pasadena Sister Cities” should be mailed to: Tamara Silver, 820 Oak Knoll Circle, Pasadena, 91106, or submitted during a monthly meeting.

Sunday, January 12 at 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Join Armory Center for the Arts for a free open discussion with shared reflections around the present, past, and future narratives from the extended region now known as California, US and Baja California, MX. This event is presented in conjunction with, and on the closing day of, the MexiCali Biennial's exhibition "Calafia: Manifesting the Terrestrial Paradise." This event is free and open to everyone. For more information, call: 626-792-5101 - Armory Center for the Arts, 145 N. Raymond Ave .

Sunday, January 12, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.
Come to Crowell Public Library for a free enjoyable hour of music from Japan, Russia, France, Brazil, Spain and Mexico. The Artisan Guitar Ensemble is a Southern California-based guitar trio established in 2006 when its members were studying music at CSU Fullerton. All of the members are soloists performing and teaching throughout the city. For more information, call: 626-300-0777. Crowell Public Library - 1890 Huntington Dr., San Marino

Tuesday, January 14 at 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
This informational meeting will provide an overview of the organization's history, programs and services, events and the ways you can get involved. The office is located off Elmira Street. Parking is limited in the lot, so please plan to arrive early to find street parking. Please make sure all individuals who want to volunteer RSVP - RSVPs are limited to one per e-mail address. Also, be sure to cancel your RSVP on Eventbrite or email Volunteer@unionstationhs.org if you can no longer make it to the volunteer orientation. To register, click HERE . For more information, call:
626-240-4550 - Union Station Homeless Services, 825 E. Orange Grove Blvd.

Wednesday, January 15 at 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Pasadena Unified School District's College and Career department is hosting its annual Academy information and showcase night. All 9 of its academies, the Early-College Program, and the IB program will be on-site with students, business partners, projects, and teachers to share all of the amazing opportunities they have for PUSD students. For more information, call: 626-396-3600. McKinley Gym, 325 S. Oak Knoll Ave.

Wednesday, January 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Award-winning filmmaker and social activist, Robert Greenwald will present his new documentary, “Suppressed: The Fight to Vote,” at the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center. Greenwald will speak after the film. The program is sponsored by the Social Justice Committee of the temple in conjunction with the Pasadena NAACP, The League of Women Voters - Pasadena Area, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance and Pasadenans Organizing for Progress (POP). The program will be followed by a reception and information on how people can be involved. Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, 1434 N. Altadena Dr. For more information, call: 323-770-3463. To RSVP, click HERE .

Saturday, January 18 at 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Concerned about neighborhood coyotes and how to help keep them away? Then join one of Pasadena Humane Society's upcoming Coyote Safety Workshops with PHS's expert Wildlife Manager who will share information about the urban coyote and demonstrate humane hazing techniques so that you can peacefully and safely coexist with coyotes. Sign up for this free workshop by clicking on the heading link. For more information, call: 626-792-7151. Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA, 361 S. Raymond Ave.

Saturday, January 18 at 2:00 p.m.
Attend Pasadena Museum of History’s event featuring film historian and musicologist Galen Wilkes exploring the development of motion pictures from silent films to the first talkies. He will also demonstrate equipment of the period and show rare and unique films and videos from his collection. TICKETS: Members $10; General $12. Pre-paid reservations required (tickets include admission to the exhibition  Starting Anew: Transforming Pasadena, 1890-1930 ). Reservations are available online at  https://galenwilkes.bpt.me  or by calling 1-800-838-3006 - 470 W. Walnut St . Free parking.
Editor's news picks
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“As the new year begins, a small but significant handful of new State laws will begin to take effect in Pasadena. The new state laws effectively supersede local zoning laws and have generated considerable concern in City Council. Mayor Terry Tornek has called the new legislation “the end of single-family neighborhoods” in Pasadena.” Pasadena Now

“At the request of City Council, staff has reviewed the stock of existing at-risk affordable housing projects. At-risk affordable housing are units with expiring covenants which make conversion of affordable units to market rate housing a future possibility.” C ity Manger’s Newsletter

“ Pasadena Now has learned that the Pasadena Police Department took nearly 500 guns off the streets in the past two years. All told 237 guns were taken off the streets in 2018 and 225 in 2019 according to documents supplied by the department. The department has long sought to take guns off the streets.” Pasadena Now

“For decades, hundreds of people have leaped to their deaths 150 feet from the Colorado Street Bridge onto the arroyo below. Countless hours of testimony and public input over the past years have proved fruitless as far as prevention but now the city believes it may now have the answer albeit divisive. Full-size mock-ups of the top three preferred barrier concepts will be installed on the Colorado Bridge for further evaluation by the public, city commissions and City Council, in early 2020.” Pasadena Independent

“Three Mayoral, six City Council and four PCC Board of Trustees candidates took the dais Wednesday in PCC’s Creveling Lounge at a political forum sponsored by ACT and the Arroyo Democratic Club ahead of March’s elections. Most candidates agreed homelessness and affordable housing are among the City’s most pressing issues.” 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 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: JANUARY 8TH

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!

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 .