WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
Saturday, November 8, 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.
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).
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City Council and commission meetings
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Monday, November 10

 

City Council

The Nov. 10 meeting of the Pasadena City Council has been canceled.  

 

Tuesday, November 11  

 

Design Commission

6 p.m.

First Floor Hearing Room 

Hale Building/Permit Center

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

On the agenda: Application for 50% advisory review of demolition of a building at 45 W. Green St. and the addition of three to four stories above the building at 33 W. Green St.; major changes to an approved project at 660-690 S. Fair Oaks Ave., 10 Pico St. and 655-665 S. Raymond Ave. involving demolition of six buildings and construction of a three-story, 39,948-square-foot medical research laboratory with surface parking.      

 

Wednesday, November 12

Planning Commission

The Nov. 12 meeting of the Planning Commission  has been canceled.  

  

Arts and Culture Commission

5:30 p.m.

First Floor Hearing Room

Hale Building/Permit Center

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

On the agenda: Third phase of Playhouse District crosswalk art; Music Lifeboat project; consider approval of recommendation to apply the CIP Public Art Program Conservation Clause to public art funds generated by the Pasadena Center Operating Company.   

  

Urban Forestry Advisory Committee

6 p.m.

City Yards 

Public Works Building, Second Floor  

233 W. Mountain St.

On the agenda: Request for tree removal related to Upper Arroyo Canyon Project; tree removals based on condition on Prospect Boulevard. 

WPRA in motion
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WPRA board takes position on Desiderio restrooms
After the Pasadena City Council approved the addition of restrooms to the plan for Desiderio Park on Oct. 27, the WPRA board sent a letter to Mayor Bill Bogaard and the City Council expressing dismay that the community was not consulted about this direct contradiction to the staff recommendation.  

Help design the future of the 710 "ditch"
The WPRA is actively involved in the Connecting Pasadena Plan (CPP), a citizen-driven initiative that aims to develop a draft master plan for the 35-acre strip of land that flanks the 710 stub from Union Street to Del Mar and California boulevards and revitalize the space. CPP will host a second workshop to solicit community input Saturday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to noon at Maranatha High School;s Hall of Administration, 300 W. Green St. The workshop will be led by architect and urbanist Stefanos Polyzoides and other transportation, economic and land-use experts. Park for free in the lot off of Green Street in front of the building entrance. RSVP here.

The WPRA and the Arroyo Seco Foundation endorse the recommendations of the Devil's Gate Sediment Removal Working Group, which developed a plan for a truly sustainable alternative, with lower impacts. These recommendations are not reflected in the L.A. County Flood Control District's Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR). On Wednesday, Nov. 12, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors will consider approving the FEIR during a 9:30 a.m. meeting in Room 381B at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 W. Temple St. We appeal to everyone to take one of the following steps: Attend the meeting and speak against the FEIR and in favor of Pasadena's alternative plan; or contact each member of the Board of Supervisors in advance to let them know your opinion about this monumentally important issue. The Working Group's recommendations can be found here.
 
Help stop Metro's plan to build a 710 tunnel
WPRA has formed a team to analyze and respond to the SR-710 Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) and Statement (DEIS), which Metro has said it will release in February 2015. While we're fortunate to have found many of the special skills we need to accomplish this highly complex task, we still need help from those with knowledge of the following areas: law (attorneys, paralegals and/or legal secretaries), biological impact assessment, construction, noise metrics, geology, hydrology, economic impact, cost-benefit analysis, environmental justice, graphical presentation. Be part of this vital effort to stop what many believe would be a catastrophe for our community and lifestyle. To volunteer or recommend an expert, contact Sarah Gavit at gavit@wpra.net.

 Neighborhoods in motion

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Comment period for Arroyo Seco Canyon Project 

The City of Pasadena is accepting written comments from the public through Saturday, Nov. 8, on an initial environmental study recommending a mitigated negative declaration with mitigation measures. The Arroyo Seco Canyon Project takes a multibenefit, integrated approach to improving water resources and restoring the natural habitat in the Arroyo Seco while enhancing the experience of recreational users. Email your comments to josejimenez@cityofpasadena.net.     

  

eWaste event

Safely dispose of old computers, keyboards, printers, scanners, fax machines, phones, TVs and other electronics Saturday, Nov. 8, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in parking lot I at Brookside Park. You can also bring documents to be shredded as well as old household batteries (vehicle batteries will not be accepted). 

 

Fall Festival will take a step back in time 

The Fall Festival at the Old Pasadena Farmers Market Sunday, Nov. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. will include live bluegrass music, corn shucking and apple bobbing contests, egg toss, three-legged race, square dancing, children's activities and more. 

 

Don't be confused by Veterans Day closures

City of Pasadena administrative offices will be closed Monday, Nov. 10, and public schools will be closed Tuesday, Nov. 11. Enforcement of parking meters will be in effect on Nov. 10 but not on Nov. 11.    

 

Veterans Day event at City Hall

The annual Veterans Day commemoration in front of Pasadena City Hall Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 10:30 to 11:11 a.m. will include JROTC presenting the colors, music performed by the Pasadena City College Band, a flyover of vintage World War II airplanes, special guest speakers, echoing Taps and more, followed by refreshments including hot dogs grilled by Pasadena firefighters.     

  

Hillsides Master Plan

A proposed 10-year, four-phase Master Plan for Hillsides would allow demolition of a 5,978-square-foot recreation building, construction of 9,635-square-foot recreation/dining facility and a 24,350-square-foot underground parking structure, relocation of the swimming pool, rehabilitation of administrative buildings and more. Learn about the Master Plan and review proposed project plans during a community meeting Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 6 p.m. at San Rafael Branch Library, 1240 Nithsdale Rd.   

  

Come to the fair!

Central Library invites the community to celebrate 130 years of library services in Pasadena Saturday, Nov. 15, from noon to 4 p.m. with historical photo exhibitions, live music, comedy performances, face painting, storytelling, magic acts, cupcake walk, children's activities, free refreshments (hot dogs, kettle korn, lemonade) and much more.  

 

Japanese Garden opens again Nov. 30

The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden at 270 Arlington Dr. is open to the public the last Saturday of each month (except December). Visit the garden Saturday, Nov. 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $7.50 in advance or $10 at the gate (children 12 and under are free). From 1 to 2 p.m. Rick Wilson, an authority on historical flutes, will discuss and play four antique Japanese flutes from his extensive collection that dates back to the Renaissance era. Seating is limited and reservations are required.    

Editor's top news picks
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Pasadena's Desiderio park, affordable housing project move forward
"The long-awaited demolition and reuse of the former Desiderio Army Reserve Center took two important steps forward in the past two weeks, and the project is slated to begin in January." Pasadena Star-News

PCC to hold open forum on presidential search
"The public is invited to participate in an open forum Friday, Nov. 14, to discuss Pasadena City College's search for its next superintendent-president, the 15th in its storied history." Pasadena Now

Pasadena Doo Dah Parade announces grand marshal
"A local bartender will lead the 37th Occasional Doo Dah Parade on Nov. 15." Pasadena Star-News

Celebrate the life of Sandy Bourne
"...Her family and friends will gather later this month to celebrate the life of this great lady who lived with magnificent love, joy, strength, kindness and humor." Pasadena Journal
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.