WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
Saturday, February 1, 2014

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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Chuck Hudson
Editor 

 

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).
 

 

 

 

City Council and commission meetings
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Monday, February 3

6 p.m.

City Yards, second floor

233 W. Mountain St.

On the agenda: Provide comments to City Council related to Goal 8 and Policies 8.10 of the General Plan update


City Council

6:30 pm

City Hall

Council Chambers

100 N. Garfield Ave.

On the agenda: Review of the Rose Bowl Operating Company governance including review of the annual operating budget, presenting quarterly reports and monthly finance reports to City Council, develop a policy for capital project construction management and analyze event coordination in the Arroyo; designation of South Grand-Covington Place Landmark District (see related article in the WPRA in motion" section below) 


Tuesday, February 4

                   

Recreation and Parks Commission

6 pm

City Yards, second floor

233 W. Mountain St.

On the agenda: "Deal points" for new agreement with Pasadena Roving Archers related to archery activities in the Arroyo Seco

Neighorhoods in motion
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PWP joins state, local leaders in calling for more water conservation in 2014

On Jan. 17, 2014, California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. declared a statewide Drought of Emergency, urging consumers to cut water use by 20% and directing state officials to take all necessary actions to prepare for the severe drought conditions. As a result, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced that as of January 31, 2014, all of its State Water Project deliveries throughout California would be cut to zero for the year. The decision affects 29 public water agencies that buy State Water Project water for about 25 million Californians. Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) has joined the call to step up water conservation efforts by calling on all Pasadena residents and business owners to voluntarily cut water use by 20%. PWP, which receives about 18% of its supply from the State Water Project through the Metropolitan Water District, is closely monitoring the situation and is developing additional response plans as necessary. Due to strategic investments in water storage, PWP does not expect the cutbacks to have an immediate impact on customers, but there could be long-term impacts if the drought persists beyond 2014. 

Draft policies for the General Plan update will be reviewed at a community meeting on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 9 a.m. in the Creveling Lounge (Building CC) at Pasadena City College. The policies cover topics such as growth, transportation, design, historic preservation, environmental sustainability, arts and culture, economic vitality, parking and education, and give direction for future planning efforts for several areas of Pasadena, including the West Gateway.

Pasadena Black History Month events 

The public is invited to celebrate Black History Month 2014 in Pasadena by participating in the parade and numerous special events and activities planned through Friday, Feb. 28. All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Open enrollment for PUSD schools 

If you'd like a child to attend one of Pasadena Unified School District's magnate programs, dual-language immersion programs, themed high-school academies or any other signature program, the deadline for open enrollment in Thursday, Feb. 6, for the 2014/2015 academic year. You are eligible if your child will be entering kindergarten through 11th grade. 

 

"Your water: The big picture"

PWP invites all to discuss state and local water concerns during its upcoming forum, "Your Water: The Big Picture," beginning at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 26 at the Pasadena Convention Center. A panel of California water experts will share insights about the water supply challenges facing the state, and what local efforts can be made to ensure long-term sustainability. Participants can register for this free session online or by calling (626) 744-3715.

 

March 1 is 2014 deadline for buying a Rose Bowl Stadium "brick" 

If you'd like to purchase a Rose Bowl Stadium "brick," note that the initial brick installation is slated for this summer; bricks must be purchased by March 1. Bricks may still be purchased after this date, but they will not be installed until 2015.

WPRA in motion 
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WPRA reaffirms support of landmark district creation

The West Pasadena Residents' Association on January 31 sent a letter to Mayor Bogaard and City Council to express its wholehearted support for the Landmark District (LD-21). City Council is expected to approve the request during its Monday, February 3 meeting. The letter noted that "over 80% of the property owners in this neighborhood have signed the petition requesting a Zone Overlay for 23 contiguous properties, which would establish an LD-21 (Landmark District-21) district as an overlay to the existing RS-4 (Single-Family Residential) zoning designation. Further, the Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved the formation of the Grand Covington Landmark District. We hope that the City Council will agree that the existing neighborhood will benefit from the protection offered by this designation."

Editor's top news picks
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Madison: "City can't wait, pit bulls must be controlled now"

"Councilmember Steve Madison points to a pit bull attack Wednesday morning as further evidence that the City Council needs to pass his ordinance mandating all pit bulls be spayed or neutered." Pasadena Now

 

Reactions to Mayor's State of the City address

"Reaction varied to Mayor Bogaard's 2014 State of the City speech Thursday night. The annual event draws a 'Who's Who' of officials and city leaders, activists and residents by laying out the Mayor's vision of Pasadena as it is - its strength, its weaknesses." Pasadena Now

 

Pasadena Unified, teachers union reach tentative contract agreement

"Pasadena Unified School District teachers will get a 3 percent pay raise, according to a tentative contract agreement reached by the district and the teachers' union Friday evening after a day-long negotiating session. The three-year tentative agreement includes a 3 percent salary schedule increase effective retroactively to Jan. 1." Pasadena Star-News 

 

City spends $64,000 for sidewalk repairs

"Up to this point the city has spent $64,375 for the completed sidewalk repairs of 87 properties under its Pilot Sidewalk Repair Program. The property owners contributed about $95,550 as their share for the repair of the properties that totaled 13,000 square feet of sidewalk." Pasadena Now 

 

Banks in the San Gabriel Valley prepare for the Lunar New Year with fresh currency

"In a sign of the region's changing demographics, banks throughout the San Gabriel Valley stockpile unused currency around the Lunar New Year to meet the growing demand from Asians eager to stuff new money into red envelopes." Pasadena Star-News

 

City Council approves two big concerts at Rose Bowl in August

"Another big name musical group could be coming to the Rose Bowl for two nights in August, after the City Council Monday approved the addition of two additional large scale events at the iconic stadium." Pasadena Star-News

 

Residents take a bite out of Pasadena council's pit bull proposal

"City Council Monday voted to table a proposed ordinance to require all pit bull breeds to be spayed or neutered. The controversial ordinance proposed by Councilman Steve Madison for the mandatory spay/neuter of pit bulls and cross breeds has received huge opposition and Monday's council meeting confirmed that opposition." Pasadena Independent 

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 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 is grateful to local artist Joseph Stoddard, who has generously allowed us to display his watercolors in our quarterly newsletter, The (WPRA) News; on the WPRA website; and in this publication. To explore Mr. Stoddard's work, visit josephstoddard.com.