WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
Saturday, November 2, 2013

Welcome

Founded in 1962, the WPRA is dedicated to maintaining the character of our neighborhoods and enhancing the quality of life in West Pasadena. 

   
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Editor  

Chuck Hudson

 

View the latest and past issues of the WPRA's quarterly magazine, The News, which is mailed to more than 7,000 homes in West Pasadena.
Neighborhood Update
View past issues of this weekly WPRA eNewsletter, which is emailed each Saturday morning to more than 1,100 residents of Pasadena (and beyond).
 

 

 

 

Turn your clock back;
update disaster supplies

The Pasadena Fire Department provides us with the following "4C" guidance as we prepare to return from daylight saving time (to standard time) by turning clocks back an hour on Sunday, November 3:
  • Change: Replace old smoke alarm and emergency flashlight batteries.
  • Check: Activate smoke alarm safety test buttons after replacing the batteries and replace them every 10 years.
  • Count: Make sure a smoke alarm is placed in every bedroom and in every hallway directly adjacent to the bedrooms. If the bedrooms are on an upper level, install a smoke alarm in the center of the ceiling directly above the interior stairway.
  • Clean: Remove any dust and cobwebs on a smoke alarm with a vacuum cleaner once a month.
City Council and commission meetings
- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION -

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4
 

City Council

6:30 p.m.

City Hall

Room S249

100 N. Garfield Ave.

On the agenda: Discussion about the proposed rebranding of Pasadena Area Rapid Transit System (ARTS), the City's bus system, as "Pasadena Transit" at a cost of about $150,000 during Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015, funded by Proposition A and C sales taxes

 

Historic Preservation Commission

6 p.m.

Hale Building

175 N. Garfield Ave

 

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5
                   

The scheduled Recreation & Parks Commission meeting has been cancelled

                                

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6

 

Hearings: use permits and variances

6 p.m.

Hale Building

175 N. Garfield Ave.

 

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7

Code Enforcement Commission

4 p.m.

Hale Building

175 N. Garfield Ave.
WPRA in motion

 - CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION -

 

701 forum to be hosted by North and East Arroyo Neighbors

The North and East Arroyo Neighbors will host a 710 Forum for the public. It will be held at the Rose Bowl Stadium media center on November 9, 10 a.m. to Noon.

 

WPRA supports Avenue 64 Coalition's efforts to improve safety

The WPRA Board unanimously approved a motion supporting the Avenue 64 Neighborhood Coalition's proposal to improve safety along Avenue 64 in the Garvanza neighborhood. UPDATE: The Coalition celebrated its first victory: Los Angeles has installed stop signs at the intersection of Elder and Ave 64. The group hopes this action will encourage Pasadena to move forward with interim safety measures it has proposed.

Neighborhoods in motion
- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION -

TRAFFIC AND CROWD ALERTS: 

The UCLA Bruins will play the University of Colorado Buffaloes at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, November 2. Game time is 4:30 p.m. Attendance is expected to exceed 50,000. NOTE TO AREA RESIDENTS: If you live on a street that is barricaded during major Rose Bowl events, you can get your 2013 resident vehicle parking passes at the Rose Bowl Administrative office, 1001 Rose Bowl Dr. between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., on any weekday. Passes will NOT permit access through the Event Parking toll plazas in the Arroyo and serve as event parking passes. Rather, they're intended to provide you with access to your home only. 

 

Join NewTown and an adventuresome array of Southern California's artists on Saturday and Sunday, November 2 and 3, 10: 30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Lower Arroyo Park for a half-mile stroll, enlivened with their interpretations of the Arroyo Seco's history, inhabitants, ecosystems and its often contentious human interactions. [Go west on California Boulevard until it dead-ends at Arroyo Boulevard, make a right onto Arroyo and take the first left.] For more information, contact Richard Amromin at (626)398-9278 or (626)240-7787.


Three compete for PCC Board of Trustees election Tuesday 

"The election for the vacant seat at Pasadena Area Community College District Board of Trustees will be held on Tuesday, November 5. Pasadena residents Dianne Philibosian and Ross Selvidge, as well as Alexander Keledjian of La Caņada Flintridge, are vying to represent Area 1. Geoffrey Baum of Pasadena currently holds the seat and is not seeking reelection." (Source: Pasadena Now)


The L.A. County Department of Public Works has completed a draft environmental impact report (DEIR) for the Devil's Gate Reservoir sediment removal and management project. The report has been posted on the project's website. The county will host a community meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 6-8 p.m. in the visitors' locker room at the Rose Bowl Stadium. Park in Lot F, and enter at Gate A.

Expect dust, noise during San Rafael Bridge closure
An electrical conduit and vault system are now being installed on Arroyo Boulevard from Madeline Drive to San Rafael Avenue and on San Rafael Avenue from Arroyo Boulevard to Laguna Road. Expect additional noise and dust through the completion of the project in January. During this period, the San Rafael Bridge will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

NOTE: District 6 Councilmember Steve Madison reports that "keeping with Pasadena's policy, there will be no construction between December 15 and January 8."For more information contact John Orolfo, principal engineer with PWP, at jorolfo@cityofpasadena.net or (626) 744-4175.

City Hall and many City services will be closed on Monday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. The Pasadena Police and Fire departments will continue to be staffed for all patrol, jail, fire, paramedic and other emergency services. For any life-threatening emergencies, call 9-1-1.

Pasadena's Water and Power (PWP) Department is launching a new, citywide Outage Management System (OMS) in early 2014 that will, among other improvements, streamline customer communications and enable more efficient deployment of line personnel during outages. In preparation of the launch, PWP is asking its customers to update their emergency telephone numbers by December 15 either online at PWPweb.com/OMS, by phone at (626) 744-4005, or by returning the form enclosed with a recent account statement.

  Rose Bowl Legacy "brick" campaign
The long-awaited Rose Bowl Stadium "brick" campaign is up and running. You now have an opportunity to make your mark at our iconic stadium ... literally. You can inscribe a brick with a personal message in remembrance of a person, event or game, a special memory. Each personalized brick will be incorporated into the iconic plaza in front of Gate A, leading to the main entrance of the stadium. Premium 8" x 8" legacy bricks ($425-$350) take center stage, as they will create the iconic rose pattern. The 4" x 8" ($100) bricks will make up the plaza bands surrounding the rose design. Premium rose brick options also include a keepsake replica brick. Replica bricks are made of the same material and inscribed with the same personal message as the installed stadium brick (premium replicas will be rose red). Become part of history "one brick at a time" to ensure the Rose Bowl's future for generations to come.
Editor's top news picks
- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION -

 

Years of work celebrated as Pasadena Community Garden officially opens 

"Four years of hard work by a dedicated community coalition blossomed at the official bed-breaking of the new Pasadena Community Garden at a Saturday, Oct. 26 event. 'I'm excited about the establishment of a community garden because it represents a strong commitment to economical and environmentally responsible food production and a continuation of a great tradition of gardens and parks in Pasadena,' Mayor Bogaard said prior to the event." Pasadena Now

 

Caltrans begins drafting regulations for sale of homes in 710 freeway corridor 

"The sale of the state-owned homes in the 710 Freeway corridor has been a goal of many state legislators, freeway fighters and tenants for years, but with the transition into private ownership finally on the horizon, the mood in the room is largely one of concern and fear." Pasadena Star-News

 

Central Park South reopens, beautification complete 

"City officials and representatives from the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and the Tournament of Roses gathered in Central Park early Tuesday afternoon to officially reopen the southern end of the park, with its newest landscaping and beautification projects completed." Pasadena Now

 

Closer inspection of City budget focuses on increased local spending 

"The City Council received the finalized city procurement annual report for 2012 with suggestions by city staff that more closely inspect how much money the city invests locally and potentially open avenues for more local spending in the future." Pasadena Now

 

BCS era nears end, new College Football Playoff takes shape 

"The end is near for the Bowl Championship Series, the flawed and controversial system that has produced the pairings for the college football national championship game since 1998. The Jan. 6, 2014 game in Pasadena, CA, will be the last. The four-team playoff system that will replace it is called, simply, The College Football Playoff." WTVM (Columbus, GA)


Pasadena Heritage presents one-day workshop on working with historic properties 

"Pasadena Heritage presents a one-day workshop on the unique aspects of buying, selling, owning, and restoring historic properties. Tailored to the area's rich inventory of historic architecture, this event brings together experts to provide practical advice, informative examples, and to answer your questions." Pasadena Now

 

Taxpayers may receive millions from surplus in community college fund 

"The Pasadena Area Community College District is expected to have millions of surplus dollars left unallocated from the $150 million general obligation bond for facility repair and rehabilitation approved in 2002." Pasadena Now

 

Pasadena moves to increase oversight for Rose Bowl Operating Company 

"Top city officials this week recommended more City Council oversight of the Rose Bowl Operating Company as part of a proposed update to the operating agreement between the city and the stadium." Pasadena Star-News

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 to visit that publication's events section (alphabetical order).

Attend WPRA board meetings each month 

Monthly WPRA board meeting dates and locations are on the WPRA website. Click on the headline above or visit our website and look under "Meetings and Events."


The WPRA needs you ... 

If you'd like to serve your community and do it with a group of your neighbors who are equally dedicated, the WPRA encourages you to join your neighborhood residents' association. If you live within our service area, we'd welcome your help. 

  • Got the local news bug? Just curious about your city (and would like to share news with 1,000 or so of your closest friends), consider serving as a co-editor of Neighborhood Update. It will only take a few hours a week (on your own schedule) in the month or two a year in which you'd serve. We'll train you.  
  • We have lots of opportunities to serve on one of our many committees:
    • Land use and planning
      If you care about how we use our land  
    • Education
      If you want to help save public education for West Pasadena  
    • Open space & conservation
      If you care about preserving open space and conservation of land and resources 
    • Membership
      If you'd like to help us continue to build our membership so we can do more  
If you'd like to chat about ways we could help you become more involved or, more likely, more effective (by helping us), send an email to WPRA President. Tell him about your interests.   
To learn more

Visit wpra.net or click on one of the following links

 

To submit information for the Neighborhood Update, send it to update@wpra.net. 

 

Joseph Stoddard's watercolors: The WPRA wishes to express its appreciation to local artist Joseph Stoddard, who has generously allowed us to display his watercolors in our quarterly magazine, WPRA News, on the WPRA website and in this publication. To explore Mr. Stoddard's work, visit josephstoddard.com.