WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
APRIL 18, 2015
VOL. 15, ISSUE 16     
 
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 

Chuck Hudson
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
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MONDAY, APRIL 20

City Council - Cancelled 

 

TUESDAY, APRIL 21 

 

6 p.m.
Hale Building
175 N. Garfield Ave.
Hearing Room #120

 

Environmental Advisory Commission 

6 p.m. 

Grand Conference Room,  

City Hall Basement, Room SO38

175 N. Garfield Ave.  

 

 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22

 

Planning Commission 

6:30 p.m.
Hale Building
175 N. Garfield Ave.

On the agenda: Information about RFP process, at Commissioners' request, for the Kimpton Hotel/YMCA rehabilitation project, and the City's newly adopted transportation performance metrics as they relate to the City's Transportation Impact Analysis Guidelines; review of the City's Capital Improvement Project, as it relates to consistency with the City's General Plan; and a public hearing on City Council's recommendation to approve a 10-year, four-phase Master Plan for Hillsides, a non-profit organization in west Pasadena, which, among other elements, calls for removal of eight protected trees and nine mature trees on the Hillsides campus, 940 Avenue 64.

WPRA in motion
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The SR-710 Draft EIR/EIS is now available for review. Caltrans and Metro will receive comments until July 6. Once the comment period ends, it may be up to two years before the final DEIR is released and the "preferred alternative" identified.
  • The following public hearings will be conducted:
    • Wednesday, May 6 

      • La Caņada High School auditorium, 4463 Oak Grove Dr.

      • Map viewing: 5-6 p.m.
      • Public hearing: 6-9 p.m.
    • Thursday, May 7
      • Los Angeles Christian Presbyterian Church, 2241 N. Eastern Ave., Los Angeles
      • Map viewing: 5-6 p.m.
      • Public hearing: 6-9 p.m.
  • Hard copies are available for review at:
    • All Pasadena public libraries
    • Shatford Library, Pasadena City College
  • Submit comments:
    • Online: through the Caltrans public comment website
    • By mail: Send to Garrett Damrath, Caltrans District 7, Division of Environmental Planning, 100 S. Main St., MS-16, Los Angeles, CA 90012

The WPRA believes our service area would be significantly and negatively impacted by the tunnel option. As a result, a WPRA-led team of experts and volunteers has begun its exhaustive analysis of the DEIR/DEIS documents and will respond on behalf of west Pasadena area residents. To raise necessary funding, the WPRA has activated the Neighborhood Protection Fund. Please consider donating to help us save our neighborhoods and city. 

   

'Picnic in the Park' with LVAA 

The WPRA encourages you to attend the Linda Vista~Annandale Association's annual Picnic in the Park on
Saturday, May 9, in Linda Vista Park, 11:30 am. to 3 p.m. The event is co-hosted by District 6 Councilmember Steve Madison. Pack your blanket, bring a picnic lunch or buy a burger and cold drink.

 

Neighborhoods 
in motion
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ROSE BOWL TRAFFIC & CROWD ALERTS:

  • The 11th annual Walk Now for Autism Speaks will be held on Saturday, April 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Rose Bowl Stadium parking lot F, Rosemont Avenue (from Seco St. & Washington Blvd.) and Brookside Golf Course. At least 50,000 attendees/participants are expected. Peak vehicular traffic will occur 7:30-9:30 a.m. Registration for the event starts at 8 a.m., and the walk will be between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Vehicular access into the Arroyo will remain open at all times on Seco Street (east- and west-bound access lanes), West Drive (north- and south-bound access lanes), and Washington Boulevard (east- and west-bound access lanes). Rosemont Avenue will be shut down from north of Seco Street to just south of Washington Boulevard. Barricades will be in place on the streets adjacent to the stadium.
  • The 2015 Walk MS (for Southern California and Nevada) will be held on Sunday, April 19, 7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Rose Bowl Stadium parking lot F and Rose Bowl Loop. About 8,000 attendees/participants are expected. Registration starts at 7:45 a.m., and the walk will be between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Recreational use of the Rose Bowl Loop during the event will be permitted. Expect delays.
Note: If any issues arise during either of these events, please contact the Resident Hotline at (626) 397-4141. Please report any issues or concerns as soon as possible (especially during the event) so that they can be addressed immediately. For more information about these events, please visit the Rose Bowl Stadium website.

 

Coming up at the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden (270 Arlington Dr.)

  • On Friday, April 24, at 7 p.m., former LA County District Attorney Gil Garcetti will present a slide show of his most recent collection of photographs which capture and illustrate the Japanese reverence for beauty. The garden will open at 6:30. Admission is $10.
  • On Sunday, April 26, at 2:30 p.m., join Japanese home-cooking instructor, Sonoko Sakai, for "Adventures in Onigiri" a hands-on rice-ball making workshop for kids and adults. Learn how to make healthy, cute and delicious onigiri for snacking and lunches. The workshop is $25 per person and includes admission to Open Day. Children are free. Space is limited and reservations are necessary.

Honor Mayor Bill Bogaard; celebrate his legacy 

Pasadena's first citywide elected mayor will end his 16-year tenure in May. Join Mayor Bill Bogaard and Pasadena's First Lady, Claire, on Saturday, April 25, 3-5 p.m. at Centennial Square in front of City Hall for an afternoon of live music, children's activities, art exhibits, 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.

 

Schiff sets town hall meeting to discuss Rim of the Valley draft report 

U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) will host a town hall on Monday, April 27, 6:30 p.m. to discuss the new draft report for the Rim of the Valley Study, which examined the possibility of expanding the boundary of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include the Rim of the Valley, and offer feedback and concerns to the National Park Service. The meeting will be held at Descanso Gardens, Van de Kamp Hall, 1418 Descanso Dr., La Caņada Flintridge. RSVP by calling (818) 450-2900 or (323) 315-5555.


Public scoping meeting set for Arroyo Seco restoration feasibility study

The Los Angeles County Flood Control District and United States Army Corps of Engineers will convene a CEQA Public Scoping Meeting for the Arroyo Seco Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Feasibility Study/Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the South Pasadena Public Library Community Room, 1100 Oxley St.

 

Mansionization meetings

The City of Pasadena will host a meeting on Thursday, April 30, 6-8 p.m., at the Allendale Branch Library, 1130 S. Marengo Ave., to hear community concerns about newly constructed homes and/or recently remodeled single-family homes. Regulations are being prepared to address neighborhood compatibility in targeted single-family zones. The meeting will not address designated historic homes or those in hillside overlay areas, which will be addressed at a later date. 

 

PEF sets date for 2015 spring event, "Celebrating our schools" 

The Pasadena Education Foundation will hold its 2015 spring event, "Celebrating our schools," on Wednesday, May 20, 6 p.m., in the courtyard at Pasadena City Hall. In addition to introducing Pasadena Unified School District's new superintendent of schools, Dr. Brian McDonald, the event will feature Dr. S. Dallas Dance, a nationally recognized leader in education and one of 10 White House Connected Educator Champions of Change. Also, the PEF will present its 2015 Exemplary Service Award to the Helen and Will Webster Foundation.

Editor's top news picks
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What will the 710 Freeway project cost? Transportation officials want answers 

"The California Transportation Commission has threatened to pull the plug on the ongoing 710 Freeway project environmental approval process and withhold funding unless proponents complete and distribute a separate economic study." San Gabriel Valley Tribune

 

Divided Pasadena City Council votes against 710 tunnel plan 

"The Pasadena City Council voted 5-3 on Monday to oppose plans to build tunnels to extend the Long Beach (710) Freeway from Alhambra to Pasadena." Pasadena Weekly

 

Pasadena Working Group offers brainy alternatives 

"Smart people live in Pasadena. Some of them work for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and send probes to Mars. Others spend their days figuring out quantum mechanics at Caltech. And still others dabble in transportation. A study group formed by Pasadena's Mayor Bill Bogaard and its City Manager [Michael Beck] has a smart idea in response to L.A. Metro's study to link the stub end of the 210 with the end of the 710: instead of closing this "gap" in our freeways, rip out the 210's stub along Pasadena Avenue." StreetsBlog LA

 

Emotion erupts at second 710 freeway public hearing 

"A mixed bag of reason, outrage, begging and accusations ping-ponged through the Pasadena Convention Center on Tuesday at the second public hearing on closing a 4.5-mile 710 Freeway gap." Whittier Daily News

 

Pasadena City Council votes to oppose 710 tunnel 

"A historic vote in the decades-long battle against the 710 freeway extension took place Monday night when the Pasadena City Council voted 5-3 to officially oppose a tunnel option. All Pasadena Council members expressed opposition to the tunnel alternative but disagreed on procedural matters during a lengthy meeting at the Pasadena Convention Center." Pasadena Now

 

A sustainable ending for the 710 tunnel debate; let's build light rail for everyone 

"The never-ending debate over whether or not to 'complete' SR-710 so that it connects with the 210 provides a  great opportunity to create a sustainable option for the 710 Tunnel. Instead of a tunnel designed to move trucks and cars, we need to create a light rail alternative that connects the region's biggest job centers with the poorest, transit dependent communities. Yes, let's build a light rail alternative between Long Beach and Pasadena!" StreetsBlog LA

 

9 reasons to NOT build the 710 tunnel 

"A lot of residents are falling prey for misinformation about the construction of the 710 tunnel. It's time to set the record straight." ColoradoBoulevard.Net

 

Pasadena Chamber honors Mayor Bill Bogaard at University Club 

"Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard is retiring from public office after 16 years of service to the community. To thank him for his service, and the excellent leadership he has provided to Pasadena, the Chamber is hosting a tribute luncheon at the University Club on Thursday, April 23, 2015, from Noon to 1:30 p.m." Pasadena Now

 

Tapped out  

"The Metropolitan Water District (MWD) will soon begin rationing supplies to 26 Southern California cities - including Pasadena - to help conserve water following four years of drought that has left reserves dangerously low." Pasadena Weekly

 

Huge crowd, celebrity sightings predicted for Saturday's Autism Walk at Rose Bowl 

"Organizers say 55,000 people and a gaggle of television stars from shows like Homeland, Parenthood, and Jimmy Kimmel will flood into the Rose Bowl Saturday for the Los Angeles Walk Now for Autism Speaks event, North America's largest grassroots autism fundraiser." Pasadena Now

 

National "Mayors challenge for water conservation" in full swing 

"With at least 36 states facing water shortages this year, mayors across the country will be asking residents to make a commitment to conserve water and cut pollution by taking part in the "Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation," which aims to drastically slash water and energy use across the nation. Besides conserving water and energy, residents can win a new Toyota Prius Plug-In, water saving fixtures, and hundreds of other prizes by participating in the 30-day challenge period." Pasadena Now

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.