Colorado Boulevard in Old Pasadena - March 22, 2020 - Noon
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AVRAM GOLD
Co-editor
Neighborhood ALERT - This timely WPRA eNewsletter is emailed each Saturday morning to more than 1,500 residents of 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, MARCH 30

2:00 p.m.
For submitting public comments, click HERE
For viewing live streaming, click HERE or HERE
On the agenda:   
  • Item 18: City’s response to COVID-19 pandemic – City Manager 
  • Item 19: Joint action of the City Council and Pasadena Public Financing Authority (PPFA): actions related to the city’s variable rate obligations series 2008a conference center bonds and series 2000 paseo Colorado bonds STAFF REPORT
  • Item 20: Ratification of the City Manager’s third supplement to declaration of local emergency in response to COVID-19 pandemic STAFF REPORT
  • Item 21: Conduct first reading of “An ordinance of the city of Pasadena amending sections 17.30.030, 17.50.300, and 17.80.020 of title 17 (zoning code) of the Pasadena Municipal Code to make single-room occupancy a permitted use in all CD zoning districts and increase the maximum unit size to 375 square fee” STAFF REPORT
  • Item 22: Conduct first reading of “An ordinance of the city of Pasadena amending section 17.46.250 of title 17 (zoning code) of the Pasadena Municipal Code to reduce minimum parking requirements for certain uses in the CD-4 zoning district STAFF REPORT
  • Item 23: Adopt “An ordinance of the city of Pasadena amending title 2, chapter 2.155, section 2.155.120 of the Pasadena Municipal Code (Pasadena Community Access Corporation, Citizens Advisory Committee)” STAFF REPORT
  • Item 24: Adopt “An uncodified ordinance enacting a moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent by tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic” STAFF REPORT

   TUESDAY, MARCH 32

No Tuesday city meetings scheduled this week

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1



THURSDAY, APRIL 2


The agenda or cancellation: Not available


Click for the latest Pasadena City Commission  facts and vacancies
Announcements / Events
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

Most of our local events
have been cancelled or will be cancelled
for this coming week.
to reference the Pasadena Now
EVENT CALENDAR
for descriptions and contact information.

March 27, 7:00 PM - LA County ALERT – All hiking trails and beaches are now closed to the public.

All Pasadena Heritage March events have been postponed, including the Spring Home Tour. For more information, call 626-441-6333, or email:

March 17 - City Council approves COVID-19 relief measures for residents and businesses

1. Suspension of any new late fees and penalties for City-provided services, including water, power and garbage pickup.

2. Suspension of any new all utility shut-offs for non-payment; 

3. Modification of various parking policies to reduce the financial burden on residents and support local businesses, including:

  • Temporary suspension of metered parking enforcement to facilitate delivery and curbside pickup zones for food from restaurants.
  • Temporary suspension of non-critical vehicle impounds; and
  • Temporary suspension of impounds of vehicles with five (5) or more past-due parking citations or expired registrations.

4. Approval of $150,000 to provide meals to for seniors, as well as disabled and other vulnerable citizens.

5. Enactment of a moratorium on eviction for non-payment of rent if a residential or commercial tenant has been impacted by COVID-19 and, therefore, unable to pay.

March 19 — In concert with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Pasadena Health Officer Dr. Ying-Ying Goh has issued a new proclamation regarding the COVID-19 outbreak.  

The purpose of this Order is to prohibit public and private events or gatherings of 10 or more people, and require the closure of malls, shopping centers, children's playgrounds, and non-essential retail businesses in an effort to stem or slow the spread of COVID-19 within the Pasadena community. 

For all gatherings that are not prohibited, the health officer orders those persons attending an event or gathering and the venues holding the event or gathering implement the following infection control precautions: 

  1. Practice social distancing within the confined space by requiring attendees to be separated by six (6) feet; 
  2. Provide access to hand-washing facilities with soap and water or hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol;
  3. Post a sign in a conspicuous place at the public entry to the venue instructing members of the public to not attend if they are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness, including fever or cough; and 
  4. Adhere to communicable disease control recommendations provided by the Pasadena Public Health Department.
 
This Order does not prohibit any individual or family from outdoor activities such as hiking, walking, and shopping at essential businesses—including grocery stores and restaurants—so long as all persons practice social distancing to the extent practicable.

This Order applies within the City of Pasadena Public Health Jurisdiction, beginning at 11:59 p.m. on March 19 and continuing through April 19, 2020. Violation of or failure to comply with this Order is a crime punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both.

For more detailed information about COVID-19, including citywide updates, visit  cityofpasadena.net ; follow us on Twitter at @PasadenaGov, and Instagram and Facebook at @CityOfPasadena; or call the Citizen Service Center, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at (626) 744-7311.

March 19 - The list of Essential Workforce & businesses allowed and directed to remain open and active

Welcome to the Huntington Hospital COVID-19 site. Please consider this page as a resource for you and your family. We will also keep this page updated with important notifications to patients, visitors and the community about our hospital operations.

Editor's news picks
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“Five more deaths due to coronavirus have been reported in Los Angeles County, raising the total to 26, and the county’s mortality rate from the illness rose above the levels seen across the country and in New York City, which has been particularly hard-hit by the virus.” Pasadena Now

(May require a subscription)
“As job losses mount, some economists say the nation’s unemployment rate could approach 13% by May. By comparison, the highest jobless rate during the Great Recession, which ended in 2009, was 10%.” Los Angeles Times

“The Pasadena City Council plans to hold a regular public meeting next Monday, March, 30, with items related to the coronavirus crisis — including relief efforts to help businesses clobbered by the pandemic’s economic fallout — expected to dominate the discussion.” Pasadena Now

“On Saturday, Los Angeles County Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer called on residents to proceed as if they are a carrier of the Coronavirus. There are fewer than 200 available intensive care unit beds countywide, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said. Ferrer stressed on Thursday that the county is going to see continued increases in cases over the next four to 12 weeks.” Pasadena Now

“‘We are working with the city of Pasadena to explore alternate care site options for our community and have a surge plan that we will activate to ensure all beds at the hospital are available to care for the sickest patients,’ said Dorey Hutson, hospital spokesperson.” Pasadena Now

“The Fraud & Cyber Crimes Bureau, Emerging Cyber Trends Team (ECTT) has seen an UPTICK in fake emails, texts and phishing scams related to the COVID-19 emergency. Criminals use fake emails or texts to get you to share valuable personal information, such as: account numbers, Social Security numbers, or your login IDs and passwords.” Pasadena Now

(May require a subscription)
“For years, dozens of perfectly good houses in El Sereno and nearby areas have sat empty, even as California’s housing shortage has grown more and more dire. Last week, a group of families that are homeless or at risk of becoming so decided to start  moving into some of those empty houses . As of Friday, the group, which calls itself  Reclaiming Our Homes , had taken over 12 houses.” Los Angeles Times

“Bertral Washington has announced his retirement as Pasadena fire chief, according to an internal email sent to department members last week and obtained by Pasadena Now – but Vice Mayor Tyron Hampton, in an interview on Tuesday, said Washington’s exit is, in reality, ‘a push-out.’ The full text of Washington’s email can be found here .” 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: To be determined <

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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).


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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 .