WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 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
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City Council and commission meetings
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MONDAY, JUNE 1

City Council  

6:30 p.m.

City Hall, Council Chambers

100 N. Garfield Ave., Room S249

On the agenda: Joint meeting with the Successor Agency to the Pasadena Community Development Commission; Contract with Puretec Industrial Water to provide the water conditioning system inspection, monitoring, and maintenance services for the Glen Arm and Broadway power plants; Memorandum of understanding between the city of Pasadena and the Pasadena Police Officers Association for the term of April 22, 2013-June 30, 2018; Approve an increase of $1,500,000 for the project contingency for major contracts related to the Glenarm repowering project, thereby increasing the not-to-exceed amount from $2,500,000 to $4,000,000, and authorize the city manager to amend and/or approve change orders for such contracts in amounts up to $4,000,000; Implement level 2 water supply shortage measures; Update on the process to fill the district 7 vacancy on the city council by appointment and review of ad hoc committee's recommended interview and appointment process; Predevelopment plan review of Art Center College of Design master plan; Appeal of a Board of Zoning Appeals decision: conditional use permit no. 6222, to allow the repair and replacement of facilities within the Arroyo Seco Canyon area that were damaged or destroyed by the Station Fire-related events of 2009.

 

TUESDAY, JUNE 2

 

Historic Preservation Commission

Canceled

 

Recreation and Parks Commission

6 p.m.

City Yards

233 W. Mountain St., 2nd Floor

On the agenda: Draft Rim of the Valley Corridor Special Resources Study & Environmental Assessment Report.

 

Human Relations Commission

6:30 p.m.

Jackie Robinson Center

1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.

On the agenda: Pasadena Police Department report on hate crimes, hate incidents, and violent crimes.

 

THURSDAY, JUNE 4


4 p.m.
Hale Building
175 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Public hearing on violation of municipal code at 180 S. Grand Oaks Ave.
"Quote" of the week
 

"We see the opportunity and the potential for a great event that will generate significant revenue, but there are great concerns that if these impacts are not mitigated adequately that this should not go forward."


 -Geoffrey Baum, WPRA President, quoted in a Pasadena Star-News article on the Arroyo Seco Music & Arts Festival at the Rose Bowl
WPRA in motion
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Change of venue for June 3 WPRA board meeting

This Wednesday, June 3, the WPRA board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Giddings Conference Room at the Pasadena Museum of History, 470 W. Walnut St. The board usually meets in the Community Room at Westridge School, but due to extensive activities on the Westridge campus, the WPRA board had to choose a new location for this meeting only. Starting in July, the WPRA board meetings will resume at its normal location at Westridge School.

 

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 3,276 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.

 

The National Trust for Historic Preservation declares the 710 route a national treasure

On Thursday the National Trust for Historic Preservation named historic communities of the 710 as its newest National Treasure. The National Trust is joining the Beyond the 710 coalition to call on Caltrans, Metro of Los Angeles, and other key decision makers to embrace a progressive, forward-thinking model for transportation planning that is suitable for the 21st century needs of the Los Angeles metro area. The Historic Communities of the 710 encompasses several historic neighborhoods and communities in the San Gabriel Valley, including Glendale, Sierra Madre, Pasadena, South Pasadena, La Caņada Flintridge, Alhambra, and the El Sereno neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Neighborhoods 
in motion
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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.
  • Tomorrow, 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.

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.


This Monday, June 1, the Arroyo Seco Canyon Project will be presented to the Pasadena City Council for final approval. The Arroyo Seco Foundation and the Pasadena Department of Water and Power have been working together for more than four years to shore up local water supplies while protecting the environment. On Monday the council will consider the Conditional Use Permit and Mitigated Negative Declaration that have been carefully drafted by technical experts to evaluate the impacts of the project. The Arroyo Seco Canyon Project is a model water project, an innovative program to improve water resources, habitat, and recreational opportunities in the region between Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena and the Angeles National Forest. The WPRA encourages you to attend the meeting and provide your input.


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.

 

Fire Department to host 'Map Your Neighborhood" event

The Pasadena Fire Department Disaster Advisory Council is pleased to announce a "Map Your Neighborhood Workshop" on Wednesday, June 3, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Pasadena Boy's and Girl's Club, 3230 E. Del Mar Blvd. Please register your attendance via this email or at preparepas@cityofpasadena.net. This training will allow you to be better prepared and to organize your neighborhood to work together during a disaster. In a disaster each of us has to be self-sufficient and the most immediate source of help is the neighbors living around you. Neighbor helping neighbor will help us to survive.


Residents can safely dispose of household hazardous waste and recycle electronics from
9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, June 6, in Parking Lot K, south of the Rose Bowl Stadium, 1001 Rose Bowl Dr. The free event is sponsored by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works in cooperation with the City's Department of Public Works.

 

The city of Pasadena and Rose Bowl Operating Company are considering entering into a license agreement with AEG to host a three day "Arroyo Seco Music & 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 & 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 Arroyo Seco 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.

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

 

Assemblyman Chris Holden to host drought community meeting

From 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, Assemblyman Chris Holden will be hosting a community meeting at Kidspace Children's Museum to discuss California's historic drought. Attendees will learn about available rebates, see live demonstrations, and hear practical advice from Dr. Duane Waliser, Chief Earth Scientist at JPL, Caren Trgovcich, Chief Deputy Director of the state Water Resources Control Board, and representatives from Pasadena Water & Power. There will also be Metropolitan Water District exhibits on water conservation programs, information on household rebate programs, interactive workshops for elementary age students on water conservation, drought tolerant plant exhibits, and refreshments. Each guest will receive a family of four pass to visit Kidspace, located at 480 N. Arroyo Blvd. RSVP by June 19 by calling (626) 351-1917 or emailing assemblymember.holden@assembly.ca.gov.

Editor's top news picks
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710 Freeway debate game changer? Powerful coalition launches new approach, plan

"A group of cities and organizations today dramatically reshaped the debate over the 710 tunnel on Thursday by announcing 'Beyond the 710,' an effort to reimagine how to resolve the conflicts over congestion and mobility that have divided the western San Gabriel Valley for decades." Pasadena Now

 

Arroyo Seco Music & Arts Festival proposal draws critism

"A proposal to turn the Rose Bowl and the surrounding Brookside Golf Course into a three-day music festival with four stages and 11 hours of performances drew continued criticism Thursday as Pasadena began a study of the event's potential environmental impacts." Pasadena Star-News

 

Everything you need to know about CicLAvia-Pasadena

"Presented by Metro, CicLAvia-Pasadena is a fun, car-free event on key city streets in Downtown Pasadena to enjoy by walking, jogging, bicycling, skating and other non-vehicle means from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CicLAvia is free and connects people with local neighborhoods, businesses, arts and culture not possible by car." Pasadena Patch

 

New Shriners medical center broke ground this week on Fair Oaks

"Shriners Hospitals for Children led a groundbreaking ceremony at 909 Fair Oaks Ave. (corner of Fair Oaks and Hurlbut St.) on a new, $77 million, state-of-the-art medical center scheduled to open in mid-2017." Pasadena Now

 

Pasadena named 'Best Arts Town' by Sunset Magazine

"Facing tough competition, Pasadena beat out three other cities well known for their arts scenes to be named the 'Best Arts Town' in Sunset Magazine's first ever Travel Awards." Pasadena Now

 

Pasadena Library calling all local authors

"Pasadena Public Library is looking for local authors to participate in its 3rd Annual Author Fair on Friday, October 9 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Central Library as a part of Pasadena's biannual ArtNight celebration." Pasadena Now

 

Public CPR training in Pasadena

"Pasadena fire officials and Huntington Hospital staff will be offering free, potentially life-saving training in 'Hands-Only CPR' to the public next week at the Paseo Colorado. The demonstrations and training will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, June 4, in the courtyard of the Paseo Colorado, 300 E. Colorado Blvd." Pasadena Star-News

 

Former mayor named city manager of Santa Monica

"Former mayor of Pasadena Rick Cole was unanimously chosen as city manager of Santa Monica this week by the Santa Monica City Council. He has also served as city manager of Venture and Azusa, and was appointed by L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti to Deputy Mayor for Budget and Innovation." Santa Monica Mirror

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.