WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015
Published weekly since 2000
 
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 

Justin Chapman
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, MAY 18

City Council  

6:30 p.m.

City Hall

Council Chambers

100 N. Garfield Ave. 

On the agenda: Contract with MIG, Inc., for landscape architectural services for parks and Arroyo Seco Capital Improvement Projects for $800,000; Contract with Inter-Con Security for citywide parking services; Workshop on implementation of Level 2 Water Supply Shortage Plan and consideration of additional water conservation measures.

 

TUESDAY, MAY 19

 

Environmental Advisory Commission

6 p.m.

City Hall

Council Chambers

100 N. Garfield Ave.

On the agenda: Presentations on planting fruit trees in Pasadena, Level 2 Water Shortage Plan, and Water & Power's 2015 Integrated Resource Plan.

"Quote" of the week
 
"I urge Metro to think anew, reject the (710) tunnel, and give serious consideration to other, more forward-thinking and suitable options."
 -U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
WPRA in motion
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Opportunity for public input on future of San Rafael Elementary School

Due to non-invasive seismic readings taken a few years ago, potential faults were discovered under the last remaining public school in west Pasadena, which in 2014 was named a California Distinguished School, and had the fastest rising test scores in PUSD. This school is currently slated for closure in a few years due to that finding. On May 7, the PUSD Board of Education held a special meeting and considered whether to undertake very limited, narrow trenching - only on the grounds of the school itself - to verify the old findings. Trenching done near the fire station on Avenue 64 led the city to conclude that apparent faults on this same trace, under that site, were not actually active faults. A large number of San Rafael parents and west Pasadena residents (many of whom send their children to San Rafael) attended the May 7 meeting. The WPRA has been a strong supporter of San Rafael Elementary School, and of keeping it open, if that is possible and safe. The WPRA also works actively with the school to minimize traffic impacts. At 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, the PUSD Board will consider an action item regarding whether to approve this limited trenching, only on three spots on the school property itself. The WPRA strongly encourages residents to attend and make their voices heard. The meeting will be held at 351 S. Hudson Ave. in the Hickambottam Board Room, Second Floor.

 

Sign the No SR-710 Action Committee's tunnel petition 

The No 710 Action Committee's petition - "Remove the F7-X tunnel alternative from SR-710 North EIR/EIS in favor of better, more fiscally and environmentally responsible solutions!" - has collected more than 3,223 signatures to date. Since the survey has surpassed 3,000 signatures during the Draft EIR comment period, notifications will be sent to Gov. Brown, the California Transportation Commission, the Metro Board and the others. If you have not done so, please sign the petition (click on the headline above).

 

The SR-710 Draft EIR/EIS is 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.
  • 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

Help us help you. 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 an exhaustive analysis of the DEIR/DEIS documents and will respond on behalf of west Pasadena area residents. The WPRA has re-activated the Neighborhood Protection Fund. Please consider donating to help us save our neighborhoods.

 

Editorials from 1964 protesting the 710 freeway surfaced by No 710 Action Committee

Sam Burgess of the No 710 Action Committee found and circulated a few very interesting and unfortunately still relevant editorials from the El Sereno Star dating from 1964.

 

A flurry of official letters opposing 710 tunnel

Visit the WPRA website to read letters from Congressman Adam Schiff, former Mayor Bill Bogaard, and South Pasadena's city manager, all opposing the 710 tunnel option.

Neighborhoods 
in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

 

TRAFFIC & CROWD ALERTS
  • TODAY, Saturday, May 16, from noon to 7 p.m. the Rose Bowl will be hosting the 6th annual Vegan Beer & Food Festival, featuring local craft brews, vegan eats, and live music. The event will take place on the stadium field and in the Court of Champions. Estimated attendance is 4,000-5,000. The east and west extensions (streets leading up to Gate A) will be closed, but the Recreational Loop will remain open.
  • On Sunday, May 17, the final stage of the Amgen Tour will depart LA Live at 9:15 a.m. and is expected to enter Pasadena city limits by 10:15 a.m. About 15,000 spectators are expected to cheer on the final stage of America's largest and most prestigious professional cycling race with its finish at the Rose Bowl stadium. The race will enter Pasadena via Colorado Blvd. at Figueroa, continue eastbound across the historic Colorado Street Bridge, north on Orange Grove Blvd., west on Holly St., south on Arroyo Dr., north on Arroyo Blvd. and will complete seven full laps around the Rose Bowl Loop before reaching the finish line on West Dr. In preparation for the arrival of the tour, city streets will close to vehicular traffic from approximately 9:45 to 10:30 a.m. Access will be maintained up until and as soon after the race passes. The Rose Bowl Loop will close to all traffic, including pedestrians and vehicles, from approximately 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Rose Bowl Loop will re-open as soon as possible following the final lap of the race. On event day only from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the public telephone number to call with day-of-event questions about street closures, parking, and general event information is (626) 397-4141.

Applications will be accepted for 18 days, beginning May 14 until 5:30 p.m. on June 1, from eligible Pasadena residents who are registered voters living in City Council District 7 seeking to be appointed to fill the council seat recently vacated by newly elected Mayor Terry Tornek. In addition to the application, the Council voted to require that all applications must include a nomination petition signed by a minimum of 25 qualified registered voters who live in District 7. All application materials and petition papers must be issued by the City Clerk's Office and delivered in person back to the City Clerk's Office at City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., by the June 1 deadline.


Today, Saturday, May 16, Sequoyah School will host a community auction to benefit the school. A silent auction will begin at 5:30 p.m. along with a bar and food trucks. A dessert truck will open at 7 p.m. At 8:30 p.m. the silent auction tables will close. At 8:45 p.m. live and standard donation drawings will begin, along with the live auction. Some prizes include Rose Parade tickets, dinner for two at the Chateau Marmont, a GoPro Hero camera, an artists' retreat in New Mexico, a New Orleans-style dinner for 10 with Jonathan Gold and Jervey Tervalon, a ski vacation in Park City, a Big Sur getaway, and more than 800 other items. Sequoyah School hosted the WPRA's annual meeting this week.

 

Join Pasadena Heritage today, Saturday, May 16, to learn about 16 significant Mid-Century Modern Garden Apartments, all located on S. Orange Grove Blvd. Learn how Millionaire's Row became a center of Mid-Century living from a visual presentation at Westridge School at 10 a.m.Then walk the landscapes of ten lush garden grounds and explore seven Mid-Century interiors from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ticket price includes the cost of both the lecture and tour. $35 for members and $40 for non-members.

 

The public is welcome to provide comment and hear information on recommendations to implement the city's Level 2 Water Shortage Plan during the City Council's meetings on May 18 and June 1.  The Council will discuss the plan and other possible steps in response to the serious drought in California and Governor Jerry Brown's mandate for a 25% cut in water use.  The meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.


Mansionization meetings

Having heard from residents who are concerned about the size and/or style of new single-family homes being built in their neighborhoods (creating what some consider to be examples of "mansionization") the city of Pasadena would like to provide background information and hear residents' thoughts on this issue. Given the high level of interest in this issue, the City is holding additional meetings throughout the city. The following is the schedule of public hearings: 


Wednesday, May 20

6 to 8 p.m.

Jefferson Elementary Auditorium

1500 E. Villa St.

 

Thursday, May 21

6 to 8 p.m.

Armenian General Benevolent Union

2495 E. Mountain St.

Thursday, June 11

6 to 8 p.m.

Westridge School, Braun Auditorium

324 Madeline Dr. 


The Pasadena Education Foundation will hold its 2015 spring event, "Celebrating our schools," at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 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. 

 

Scoping meetings to receive comments on proposed Rose Bowl music festival

The city of Pasadena and Rose Bowl Operating Company are considering entering into a license agreement with AEG to host a three day Music and Arts Festival on an annual basis at the Rose Bowl Stadium complex and parts of the Brookside Golf Course. The proposed project would increase the number of displacement events from 12 to 15 per year. The festival is anticipated to include up to four music stages, a theater performance stage, art displays, carnival rides, concession stands for merchandise sales, food, and drink, and cultural programming representative of Pasadena. It is anticipated that the four stages, some of which would be in tents, would be erected inside the stadium and on the golf course. The annual Music and Arts Festival would have a capacity of up to 90,000 attendees daily. An EIR will be prepared to evaluate the impacts of the project. The city is accepting comments on a Notice of Preparation and an Initial Study until June 8. Please send comments regarding the scope of the EIR to David Sanchez at dasanchez@cityofpasadena.net or (626) 744-6707. Scoping meetings will be held to receive comments on the scope of the proposed project's EIR, scheduled for:

 

Thursday, May 21

6:30 p.m.

Rose Bowl, UCLA Locker Room

(Park in Lot F, enter at Gate A)

1001 Rose Bowl Dr.

 

Saturday, May 23

10 a.m.

Rose Bowl, UCLA Locker Room

(Park in Lot F, enter at Gate A)

1001 Rose Bowl Dr.

Wednesday, May 27

6:30 p.m.

Planning Commission hearing

Pasadena City Hall

Council Chambers, S249

100 N. Garfield Ave. 
 
 

Residents and businesses can safely dispose of electronic waste, have personal and business documents shredded and receive free compost at the city's popular e-waste event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, May 23, in Parking Lot I outside the Rose Bowl Stadium near Brookside Park, 360 N. Arroyo Blvd. The event is sponsored by the City's Department of Public Works and Athens Services. Shredding trucks, e-waste collection sites and compost piles will be arranged at different stations in the parking lot.

 

Fireside chat with Pasadena's new mayor

The Downtown Pasadena Neighborhood Association is hosting a "Meet the new Mayor" event on Thursday, May 28, at 7 p.m. Wine and light snacks will be provided. The event, held in lieu of the association's May meeting, will take place in the Gamble Lounge of the Pasadena Presbyterian Church, 585 E. Colorado Blvd.

 

Help Habitat celebrate, fund the new Desiderio community

The San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity and the City of Pasadena invite west Pasadena residents to attend the upcoming "Building Dreams Under the Stars" gala from 5 to 9:30 p.m. on June 20 at the iconic Pasadena City Hall. This event is a celebration of the new Desiderio community. Tickets are $150 per person or $1,200 per table (seating for 10). Cocktails, dinner and dessert are included in the ticket price. All proceeds go directly to help build the nine affordable homes for low-income families including families of veterans. This gala event will be a great opportunity for the west Pasadena community to show support for the transformation of the former Desiderio Army Reserve Center. To pay by credit card, please call 626-387-6899 (x18). To pay by mail, please send a check made payable to the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity and a list of guest names to: 400 S. Irwindale Ave., Azusa, CA 91702

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

 

PUSD to re-examine age of faults under San Rafael Elementary

"PUSD will start preliminary testing this month to begin determining the exact age of the faults that pass under the San Rafael Elementary School campus, pending board approval, in a move which could lead to reversing an earlier decision to close the school." Pasadena Now

 

John Van de Kamp talks about how the city has changed

"John Van de Kamp addressed the West Pasadena Residents' Association's annual meeting last week - he sits on their board - and delivered a brief, moving verbal memoir of his almost-seven-decades-long residence in West Pasadena." Pasadena Now

 

City leaders received thousands of dollars' worth of free Rose Bowl tickets

"Pasadena city leaders received tens of thousands of dollars' worth of free tickets to the Rose Bowl in 2014, according to a Times analysis of ticket disclosure forms. The disclosure forms don't provide the exact value of the tickets, showing only a range of ticket prices. Based on the reports, the value of tickets received by Pasadena officials was at least $42,000, but could have been as high as $157,000." Los Angeles Times

 

Rep. Adam Schiff won't run for U.S. Senate seat

"California Congressman Adam Schiff on Tuesday joined the growing list of potential Democratic contenders who have declined to take on Attorney General Kamala Harris in next year's Senate race to succeed Barbara Boxer. Schiff said in a prepared statement that his responsibilities as the ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence took precedence." Pasadena Star-News


Pasadena, Eagle Rock anxiously await word from Glendale on Scholl Canyon Landfill

"It's been several months now, but Glendale is still reviewing comments made about an environmental impact report on a controversial plan to expand a local landfill. The city claims that 535-acre Scholl Canyon Landfill will reach capacity by 2021, though many dispute that timeline. Opponents of expansion also say the city is trying to maximize revenue, while the city of Glendale says expansion is only one element of a multifaceted plan aimed at achieving their goal of landfilling zero waste." Pasadena Weekly

 

Schiff calls on Metro to reject 710 tunnel plans

"In a letter opposing building a tunnel to connect the Long Beach (710) Freeway with the Foothill (210) Freeway, US Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) called on the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors to take a more innovative approach to alleviating traffic problems." Pasadena Weekly


Pasadena Heritage spotlights changes on Millionaire's Row in tour

"West Pasadena has long been known for its stunning homes, particularly the stretch of South Orange Grove Boulevard. Today, rapid development that is ravaging even the city's finest areas is threatening to affect those apartments, and the Crown City's prime preservation group Pasadena Heritage is finding ways to alert the public about what the city might be losing before it's too late. On Saturday, members of the group will be educating area home and history buffs with a special lecture and walking tour called 'South Orange Grove: Mid-Century Living on Millionaire's Row.'" 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.