WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
SATURDAY, MAY 23, 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 25

City Council  

Canceled in observance of Memorial Day

 

TUESDAY, MAY 26

 

Accessibility and Disability Commission

4 p.m.

Jackie Robinson Center

1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.

On the agenda: Public Works presentation on sidewalk repairs framework.

 

Design Commission

6 p.m.

Hale Building

175 N. Garfield Ave., #120

On the agenda: Final design review of 123 Hurlbut St.

 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27

 

6:30 p.m.
City Hall
Council Chambers
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Scoping meeting for the Rose Bowl Music & Arts Festival EIR; Housing Element Annual Report.

 

THURSDAY, MAY 28


4 p.m.
221 E. Walnut St., #210
On the agenda: Not available.
"Quote" of the week
 
"What we learned with the embezzlement situation is that we cannot be too careful and we cannot probe too deeply."
 -Victor Gordo, Pasadena City Councilman (District 5)
WPRA in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

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.

 

PUSD approves limited trenching at San Rafael Elementary

This week the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education authorized limited trenching on the San Rafael Elementary School property, as requested in the first recommendation of the 7-11 committee report. This trenching will determine with 99 percent certainty whether or not the earthquake faults underneath the school are active. Approximately 40 neighbors and school parents were in attendance at the board meeting, the vast majority of whom supported the effort. The WPRA will work with PUSD to make sure that any trenching that does occur on the school property has minimal impacts on the properties and lives of neighbors, and to make sure that the trenching is done in a sensitive and respectful manner that has as little impact as possible. Any trenching would be limited to the San Rafael campus and take place during the school's summer recess. If determined to be inactive, the district would be able to proceed with the modernization of the school and potentially remove the "surplus" status. 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.

Neighborhoods 
in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

 

STREET CLOSURE ALERTS
  • The Southern California Gas Company will be performing a hydrostatic pressure test on a segment of one of its natural gas pipelines in west Pasadena. This test may include periodic closures of some lanes of traffic. The anticipated start date is mid-May. Work hours will be Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Construction will take place in three locations: Fair Oaks Ave. between Hurlbut St. and Bellefontaine St.; Pasadena Ave. between Del Mar Ave. and Valley St.; and Corson St. between Holly St. and Walnut St. It will take approximately two months to complete. Lane reductions along abovementioned construction areas will result in traffic delays. Heavy equipment along with SoCal Gas and contractors' trucks will be present in and around the work area. Streets will be plated during non-working hours. This test involves digging around the underground pipeline and safely venting natural gas from the pipeline. Workers will then fill the pipeline with water and increase the pressure to a level that is higher than the pipeline's normal operating pressure. If the pipeline holds the pressure without any leaks, the pipeline will be returned to service. If the pipeline leaks during the test, SoCal Gas will repair the pipeline and retest it, or replace it with new, pretested pipeline. At times, you may smell the odor of natural gas and hear a loud, steady noise as they vent natural gas from the pipeline using safe and common techniques. Although this is normal when crews are working, SoCal Gas encourage anyone who has concerns about the smell of gas to call them from a safe location at (800) 427-2200, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • On Sunday, May 31, several streets will be closed for CicLAvia-Pasadena, presented by Metro, a car-free event on key city streets in Downtown Pasadena to be enjoyed by walking, jogging, bicycling, skating and other non-vehicle means from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. On event day only, call (626) 744-7889 with questions about street closures, parking, and general event information. The main routes are Colorado Blvd., from Pasadena Ave. to Bonnie Ave.; Raymond

    Ave. from Walnut St. to Del Mar Blvd., and Lake Ave. from Colorado Blvd. to California Blvd. Some city streets along the route will close to vehicular traffic as early as 6 a.m. and will reopen as soon as possible following the clean-up of the event by about 6 p.m.

    North/South travel will remain open at the following intersections along Colorado Blvd.:

    • Fair Oaks Ave. and Colorado Blvd.
    • Los Robles Ave. and Colorado Blvd.
    • Hill Ave. and Colorado Blvd.

    East/West travel will remain open at the following intersections along Raymond & Lake avenues:

    • Union St. and Raymond Ave.
    • Green St. and Raymond Ave.
    • Green St. and Lake Ave.
    • Del Mar Blvd. and Lake 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., today, 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.


Watch the Rose Bowl music festival public hearing, attend scoping meetings

Click the headline to watch the entire community meeting held last week regarding the proposed music festival at the Rose Bowl. 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. The WPRA is interested in seeing the Rose Bowl Music & Arts Festival develop as an opportunity to showcase Pasadena as a cultural nexus in art, music, dining, and of course, the natural beauty of the Arroyo Seco. In addition, this major event must provide a sound revenue stream for the Rose Bowl and contribute to funding improvements to the Central Arroyo, as was arranged after the concerts in 2014. However, the severe impact of such a large event on both the surrounding neighborhoods and neighborhoods along the traffic corridors serving the Rose Bowl must be fully considered and taken into account. To that end, the WPRA submitted comments and concerns to Mr. Sanchez on May 21, which included recommendations such as: consider the cumulative impacts of displacement events plus additional events; describe mitigations in measurable ways; provide expected attendance by age group; consider how to mitigate negative impacts to Brookside golf course and park; consider how to prevent people from gathering in nearby neighborhoods; and many more. Click here to read the WPRA's entire comments. Scoping meetings will be held by the city and RBOC to receive comments on the scope of the proposed project's EIR, scheduled for:

 

TODAY, 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.

City services closed on Memorial Day

City Hall and many city services and administrative business offices will be closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day.

 

Fireside chat with Pasadena's new mayor

The Downtown Pasadena Neighborhood Association is hosting a "Meet the new Mayor" event onThursday, 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.

 

Plein Air paintings to debut at La Casita del Arroyo

A collection of Plein Air paintings donated by John Watkins and Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Onderdonk will be introduced at La Casita del Arroyo on Sunday, May 31, from 4 to 6 p.m. Jean Stearn, executive director of the Irvine Museum and noted scholar of California Impressionism, will be the guest speaker. There is limited seating, so RSVP early at paintingsrsvp@gmail.com or (626) 440-0585. The WPRA was a major donor to the La Casita del Arroyo renovation effort, and as such the La Casita Foundation would like to extend to the members of WPRA an invitation to this event.

 

Jazz pianist to play at Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden

Jazz pianist and Pasadena resident David Arnay returns to the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden with a special guest for an afternoon of jazz on Open Day, Sunday, May 31 at 1 p.m. Arnay has had a busy career, first in New York and later in Los Angeles, as a soloist, sideman, leader of his own jazz group and member of the faculty at USC Thornton School of Music. He has been performing in residence at Pasadena's Parkway Grill supper club since 1989, and has released three CDs, most recently "8" (Studio V, 2013). His music has been described as "energetic and accessible, rooted in the jazz mainstream charged with eclectic influences." Open Day is every last Sunday of the month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reservations can be made on the website for $7.50 or pay $10, cash or check, upon arrival (12 and under free.) The garden is wheelchair accessible. No pets allowed.


Applications will be accepted 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.


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 meeting on 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 meeting begins 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 a public hearing on Thursday, June 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Braun Auditorium at Westridge School, 324 Madeline Dr. 


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<

Rialto Theatre to open for one night

"Its neon lights back on, its historic name intact, the Rialto Theatre will be back in business next month - for one night, that is. The South Pasadena Preservation Foundation received confirmation last week that it can open the doors to the facility to hold its annual membership meeting. The public is invited to see the Rialto Theatre before new ownership begins plans to restore the structure that opened in 1925. The South Pasadena Preservation Foundation will hold its annual meeting and Preservation Awards Gala on Saturday, June 6, at 6:30 p.m." Pasadena Now


Earthquake faults cause shake up between school and state officials

"Four earthquake faults underneath an elementary school are causing quite a shake up between school and state architect officials. The Pasadena Unified School District plans to start preliminary testing in May to determine the ages of faults found underneath San Rafael Elementary School's campus, pending the school board's approval." NBC

 

710 battle royale inches toward conclusion

"The decades-long conundrum of the 710 freeway, which ends in Alhambra and spills cars and trucks onto residential streets, continues to confound planners. But an answer may slowly but surely be arriving." Los Angeles Magazine


Council hires new auditor, authorizes deeper scrutiny of city finances

"The Pasadena City Council hired a new auditor Monday and authorized that firm to dig deeper into city finances - up to additional 600 hours a year of scrutiny deeper - in the wake of the recent embezzlement scam." Pasadena Now


Where Southern California's parrots are from, and where they're going

"The parrots' origins are rooted in myth - rumors abound they came from a pet store that burned down. What is clear, is that people brought them here as escaped or released birds from the exotic pet trade." KPCC


Tournament of Roses awards $200,000 to local organizations

"The Tournament of Roses Foundation Tuesday announced the recipients of $200,000 in grants for 2015 - an amount double that of last year. The nonprofit foundation, which assists charities in the Pasadena area, gifted 42 civic, educational and cultural organizations throughout the San Gabriel Valley." Pasadena Star-News

 

Huntington Hospital undergoes management restructuring

"Six Huntington Memorial Hospital executives and directors were eliminated Monday as the facility instituted some top-level restructuring, officials confirmed." Pasadena Now

 

200 South Pasadenans turn out to hear about 710 tunnel

"A panel of transportation and legal officials protected their home court during the SR-710 Community Workshop last week at South Pasadena Middle School, addressing the potential of a tunnel running below the surface of town." Pasadena Now

 

PUSD accepting applications for District 3 vacancy

"PUSD is accepting applications to fill the vacant District 3 Board of Education seat created by Tyron Hampton's election to the Pasadena City Council. But that appointment could be voided by a special election." Pasadena Weekly

 

Residents pull papers to fill City Council seat vacated by Mayor Terry Tornek

"As of Tuesday, six people had pulled the necessary papers to fill the City Council District 7 seat left vacant by Mayor Terry Tornek, who was elected mayor last month. Tim Lan, Ciran Hadjian, Margaret York, Andy Wilson, Don Morgan and Lorena Yepez Hernandez have until June 1 to collect 25 signatures and pay a $25 fee to be considered for the job by the full City Council." Pasadena Weekly

 

City Council considers increased water restrictions

"City Council held a public hearing to discuss raising the city's level Water Shortage Plan to Level 2 next month." Pasadena Weekly

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.