WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
Saturday, March 14, 2015

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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Send comments to update@wpra.net 

Ann Erdman
Co-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
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

MONDAY, March 16

6:30 p.m.

City Hall

Council Conference Room

100 N. Garfield Ave

On the agenda: Public housing agency annual plan to be submitted to HUD; amendments to several goals in the 2010-2015 consolidated plan to be submitted to HUD.   

 
TUESDAY, March 17
 
Environmental Advisory Commission
6 p.m.
City Hall
Council Chambers
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Draft amendment to anti-scavenging (recyclables) ordinance; EAC comments to draft EIR for land use and mobility elements of the General Plan.

Historic Preservation Commission
The March 17 meeting has been canceled.

Recreation and Parks Commission
6 p.m.
City Yards
Public Works Building, second floor
363 W. Mountain St.
On the agenda: Summary of City Council decision about the archery range in the Arroyo Seco.
WPRA in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
 

La Loma Bridge construction update 

District 6 City Councilman Steve Madison will host a community meeting Wednesday, March 18, at 6:30 p.m. at La Casita del Arroyo, 177 S. Arroyo Blvd., to inform residents about the La Loma Bridge construction project. Pasadena Public Works Department staff will explain project timelines and alternate traffic routes and will answer questions. Click here for more information about the project.

  

Draft 710 Draft EIR/EIS is available for review and comment  

Caltrans released the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement March 6 for the proposed extension of the 710 Freeway. The review and comment period has been extended to 120 days for the project, which floats five potential alternatives:  expanding bus rapid transit between East Los Angeles and Pasadena, expanding light rail between East Los Angeles and Pasadena, building a tunnel connecting the cities of Alhambra and Pasadena, establishing a traffic management system to upgrade and synchronize signals and make improvements to surface street intersections, and a no-build option that would leave conditions as they are. It will be up to Caltrans to adopt a preferred alternative after the DEIR/DEIS review and comment period comes to an end in early July.

The WPRA area would be significantly and negatively impacted by the tunnel option. The WPRA team has begun its exhaustive analysis of the DEIR/DEIS documents and will respond on behalf of area residents. To raise necessary funding, the Neighborhood Protection Fund has been activated. Please consider donating.
  • Comment period:
    120 days, through July 6.

  • Public hearings:

    • Sunday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
      • Map viewing: 10 to 11 a.m.
      • Public hearing: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
      • East Los Angeles College, Rosco Ingalls Auditorium, 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Montery Park
    • Tuesday, April 14, from 5 to 9 p.m.
      • Map viewing: 5 to 6 p.m.
      • Public hearing: 6 to9 p.m.
      • Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St.
    • A third meeting date and location will be announced
  • Click here to view all of the study documents online
  • Hard copies are available for review at the following Pasadena locations:
    • Central Library and all branch libraries
    • Shatford Library at Pasadena City College
  • Submit written or electronic comments:
    • Online: through the Caltrans public comment website
    • By mail to Garrett Damrath, Caltrans District 7, Division of Environmental Planning, 100 S. Main St., MS-16, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Mills Act applications now being accepted 

The Application Submittal Period for the Mills Act program in Pasadena closes on Monday, May 4. The program offers a financial incentive to encourage rehabilitation of historic properties. As a result, owners may receive a substantial reduction in their property taxes. Applications are processed through the Office of the City Manager and administered by the Planning & Community Development Department. Typically 15 residential properties and five commercial properties are selected per year. (Source: Pasadena Heritage)

Neighborhoods in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

 

La Loma Bridge project begins with undergrounding 

The first step in the long-awaited La Loma Bridge project has begun: installation of underground electrical conduit. About two weeks ago Pasadena Water and Power completed undergrounding on San Rafael Avenue between La Loma Road and Lagunita Road; it is now underway on La Loma Road between Hillside Terrace and Rockwood Road west of the bridge and will be completed next week. Retrofit and renovation of the bridge will begin next month and the bridge will be closed to all traffic, which will be detoured to the Colorado Street Bridge to the north or the San Rafael Bridge to the south. The Pasadena Public Works Department is creating a traffic management plan to assist the flow of traffic during the project. The bridge is scheduled to reopen in winter 2016. 

 

The General Plan is the blueprint for Pasadena's future. The Draft EIR for the Land Use and Mobility Elements (chapters) of the General Plan update is available for review. The public comment period is open through Tuesday, March 24. Click into the link above or, if you prefer leafing through a hard copy, go to Window #3 at the Permit Center, the City Clerk's Office at City Hall, Central Library or any branch library.   

 

One City, One Story 

Pasadena's annual community reading celebration continues through March 28 with book discussions, films, exhibits, lectures and youth activities, all related to this year's selection The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez.    

 

Spectacular Spanish 

The Pasadena Heritage Spring Home Tour Sunday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. will feature several Pasadena-area homes in the Spanish Colonial Revival style built in the 1920s and early 1930s. Drive yourself to each location where docent-led tours will give you a peek inside and out. The cost is $35 for members and $40 for non-members in advance; $40/$45 same day. Architect Michael Burch will lead a discussion about Spanish Colonial Revival architecture Monday, March 23, at 7 p.m. at the Pasadena Playhouse. $12 for members, $15 for non-members. 

 

Spring Festival and Egg Bowl

You and your family will have an egg-cellent time at the Rose Bowl Stadium Saturday, April 4, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with Pasadena's largest Easter egg hunt, scavenger hunts for all ages, face painting, live entertainment, food and much more. Admission is free. 

 

Form-based zoning is a relatively new and innovative method for managing growth and shaping development to achieve a preferred mix of land uses. It also addresses the relationship between public and private spaces. Pasadena Heritage invites the community to a special presentation Wednesday, April 8, at 7 p.m. in the Lecture Space at Ganahl Lumber, 3003 E. Colorado Blvd. Learn about the potential for establishing form-based zoning in Pasadena, how it could work with the existing Pasadena Zoning Code and more. The cost is $20 for members, $25 for non-members, $12 for students with valid ID. 

 

Celebrate Mayor Bill Bogaard 

Pasadena's first citywide elected mayor will end his 16-year tenure in May. Join Bill and Claire Bogaard Saturday, April 25, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Centennial Square in front of City Hall for an afternoon of live music, children's activities, art exhibitions, gourmet food trucks and more. Share your memories and thanks by writing a note and dropping it off at Central Library or any branch library, writing in a special memory book during the celebration or sharing your reflections online.   

Editor's top news picks
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

Kidspace's new greenhouse lets visitors get their hands dirty 

"The newly opened facility offers new learning experiences and opportunities that connect visitors to the world of nature." Pasadena Star-News 

 

Election 2015: Pasadena mayoral election headed to runoff

"City Councilmembers Terry Tornek and Jacque Robinson learned Tuesday they are headed to a runoff election in their mayoral bids before either can replace retiring Mayor Bill Bogaard at City Hall, according to unofficial results." Pasadena Star-News

 

Playhouse Executive Director Elizabeth Doran leaves for San Diego Theatres 

"The Pasadena Playhouse announced today that Executive Director Elizabeth Doran will leave at the end of April for a position with the San Diego Theatres, a non-profit public benefit corporation that manages the San Diego Civic Theatre and the Balboa Theatre." Pasadena Now

 

Dedication pays homage to first Pasadena police officer killed in the line of duty
"Hundreds of police and police family members, fire and government officials and community members gathered Friday morning at Pasadena police headquarters to pay tribute to a police officer killed in the line of duty 46 years ago to the day and dedicate a section of the 210 Freeway in his memory." Pasadena Now

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 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.