WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
Saturday, July 19, 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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Ann Erdman
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.
View past issues of this weekly WPRA eNewsletter, which is emailed each Saturday morning to more than 1,100 residents of Pasadena (and beyond).
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Pasadena City Council and commission meetings
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Monday, July 21
  
City Council
6:30 p.m.
City Hall
Council Chambers, Room S249
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Adoption of 2014 self certification report related to management of traffic congestion; contract award for security services at City of Pasadena buildings, parks and parking structures; General Plan Update project schedule and transportation performance measures.
 
Tuesday, July 22
 

Design Commission

6 p.m.

Hale Building/Permit Center

First Floor Hearing Room    

175 N. Garfield Ave. (enter through Ramona Street door) 

On the agenda: Preliminary consultation on new construction of a two-story, 29-unit City of Gardens residential project at 123-133 Hurlbut St.; concept design review of demolition of the building at 45 W. Green St. and construction of a four-story, mixed-use building including an addition of up to four stories above the existing building at 33 W. Green St. and ground-level parking for nine cars. Please note there will be a 4:45 p.m. site visit to 123-133 Hurlbut St.  

 

Wednesday, July 23

Planning Commission
6:30 p.m.
Council Chambers
City Hall, Room S249
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Continuance to Aug. 27 for review of the Draft Environmental Impact Report on the planned development at 100 W. Walnut St.
WPRA in motion
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Transportation performance measures on July 21 Pasadena City Council agenda
Eighteen people, including two WPRA board members, spoke at the June 25 Planning Commission meeting regarding new performance measures for a transportation impact analysis proposed by city staff in relation to the General Plan Land Use and Mobility Element. The item is agendized on the July 21 City Council agenda (see the meeting calendar above) with a recommendation to finalize and begin using the new performance measures. WPRA believes some of the measures could radically alter how environmental impact statements factor in traffic volume and patterns generated by new development and could eliminate consideration of vehicle traffic analysis when determining suitability of a new development. Level of Service F (traffic congestion) could be accepted for traffic conditions in most of the Central District and negatively impact local businesses. Public comment will be welcomed at the City Council meeting.
Neighborhoods in motion
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Pasadena Public Library's Summer Reading Challenge is ongoing with activities for adults, teens and children. Events at San Rafael Branch Library include Pause for Juicing (adults) Saturday, July 19, at 11 a.m.; Shooting with Camera Phones (teens) Monday, July 21, at 3:30 p.m.; Magician Dave Skale in search of "Big Paw" (children) Wednesday, July 23, at 10:30 a.m.; and Art a la Carte (adults) Wednesday, July 23, at 2 p.m.

Robinson family weekend
Late baseball great Jackie Robinson, late Olympic silver medal-winning runner Mack Robinson and their families are being celebrated this weekend in Pasadena with events including the induction of Rachel Robinson, Jackie's widow, into the Baseball Reliquary's Shrine of the Eternals Sunday, July 20, at 2 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Pasadena Central Library. 

Summer block party
For years Pasadena City Councilman Chris Holden's annual block party on his street was the place to be every summer. Now California Assemblyman Chris Holden is continuing the tradition for all of his Pasadena constituents Saturday, July 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Old Pasadena Film Festival offers free summer flicks
The Old Pasadena Film Festival is in full swing with screenings of 23 movies through July 27 at locations including Central Park, Distant Lands, One Colorado, Armory Center for the Arts and Pasadena Senior Center. Coming up:

Forum on Identity Theft
Congressman Adam Schiff, whose district includes most of the WPRA area, will host a forum on identity theft with experts from the federal government Monday, Aug. 4, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the L.A. Zoo's Witherbee Auditorium, 5333 Zoo Dr. Representatives from the IRS, FBI, Federal Trade Commission, Social Security Administration and U.S. Postal Inspection Service will discuss concrete ways to protect your identity. Seating is limited; RSVP to CongressmanSchiff.RSVP@mail.house.gov or (818) 450-2900.
Editor's top news picks
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Caltrans' proposed rules for sale of 710 Freeway homes under fire
"The politician behind a law governing the sale of the Caltrans-owned homes in the 710 Freeway corridor spoke out Thursday against a set of new rules proposed by the agency for the upcoming home sales." Pasadena Star-News

Pasadena plans driver feedback signs to help brake rise in traffic deaths
"In response to a jump in Pasadena traffic fatalities more than doubling in 2013 from the prior year and with speed playing a major role in accidents, the city plans to install 10 driver speed feedback warning signs in high speed areas to influence drivers to slow down." Pasadena Now

"Nice Girls" finish first
"...There are so many wonderful, envy-inducing things about Pasadena...And right at the juncture of great people and great neighborhood architecture is the iconic Prairie-style 1906 Blinn House." Pasadena Weekly

Food for thought
"The Pasadena Unified School District is offering free breakfasts and lunches for children under the age of 18 this summer as part of the district's wellness policy." Pasadena Weekly
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 and "like" our Facebook page  

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.