WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 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 

Chuck Hudson
Co-Editor 

 

View the latest and past issues of the WPRA's quarterly magazine, The News, which is mailed to nearly 8,000 homes in west Pasadena.
Neighborhood Update
View past issues of this weekly WPRA eNewsletter, which is emailed each Saturday morning to more than 1,500 residents of Pasadena (and beyond).
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Important community meetings
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

MONDAY, JUNE 29

 

City Council - Cancelled

 

TUESDAY, JUNE 30

 

Grants Subcommittee of the Arts & Culture Commission 

4:30 p.m.

175 N. Garfield Ave

George Ellery Hale Building

2nd floor conference room

On the agenda: Review of funding structure and award amounts for 2015-2016 grants program 

 

District 6 Town Hall meeting for downtown community

6:30-8 p.m.

Pasadena Convention Center, Room 211

300 E. Green St.

Councilmember Steve Madison invites all to a Town Hall meeting for the downtown community, although all are welcome

On the agenda: Downtown life, economic development and public safety

 

Pasadena Unified School District Citizens Oversight Committee 

6:30 p.m.

351 S. Hudson Ave.

Conference Room #229

On the agenda: election of new chair and vice chair, committee membership, Measure TT bond website and presentation, report on revised audit schedule

 

 WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
 

Land use permit and variance hearings 

6 p.m.

George Ellery Hale Building

175 N. Garfield Ave
Hearing Room #120

 

Department of Public Works/Parks & Natural Resources Division/Urban Forestry 

6 p.m.

Victory Park Community Center

2575 Paloma St.

On the agenda:DPW Urban Forestry staff will host a community meeting to receive comments on the draft Urban Forest Management Plan.


WPRA July board meeting - public is welcome

6 p.m.: Reception to meet neighbors and learn how to lend a hand to the various initiatives in which the WPRA is engaged 

6:30 p.m.: Formal meeting begins

La Casita del Arroyo

131-199 S Arroyo Blvd.
On the agenda: The WPRA response to the SR-710 DEIR/DEIS and an update on the Beyond the 710 Coalition; status of the trenching and traffic safety plans at San Rafael Elementary School; the WPRA summer reception

 

THURSDAY, JULY 2
 

Code Enforcement Commission 

4 p.m.

City of Pasadena Permit Center

175 N. Garfield Ave

"Quote" of the week
  

"To say that the [SR-710] tunnel provides the greatest benefit without stating that it is the most costly, by far, borders on misrepresentation. I will be bringing this dereliction of basic duties owed to the taxpayers of the county to the highest authorities who have jurisdiction over this matter - enough is enough."

- Ara Najarian, Glendale Mayor and member of the LA Metro Board, in response to the SR-710 Cost Benefit Analysis, which Caltrans and Metro released last week

WPRA in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
 
Caltrans and Metro will accept comments until August 5. Once the comment period ends, it may be up to two years before the final DEIR is released and "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

Report water waste to the City in three ways

Since June 1, the City has been under its Level 2 water-supply-shortage plan to reduce water use across the city by 28%. Report water waste to the City by:

  1. Calling Pasadena's Citizen Service Center, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at (626) 744-7311. Be prepared to provide the location and nature of the issue.
  2. Completing a short form on the City's Citizen Service Center
  3. Using the FREE app for smart phones and tablets: 
Neighborhoods 
in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

 

TRAFFIC/CROWD ALERT:

Corps at the Crest L.A.

Saturday, June 27, 2015: 4:30-10 p.m.

Twelve drum corps will compete inside the Rose Bowl Stadium. Corps will rehearse in Lot I prior to the scheduled performances. The drum corps will begin rehearsals at 3:30 p.m. and continue to play throughout the event. No streets will be closed, except the east & west extension of Arroyo Boulevard, which leads into the stadium, beginning at 1 p.m.

Attendance estimate: 6,000

 

Vehicles will have access to the Arroyo at all times, and recreational users will also have access at all times on the Rose Bowl loop. If any event-related issues arise, contact the Rose Bowl Resident Hotline at (626) 397-4141. Report any issues or concerns as soon as possible. Issues can be addressed immediately. MORE

 

Happy Birthday, Pasadena 

You are invited to join the free community festivities on Sunday, June 28, 1-4 p.m., as Pasadena Museum of History and the City of Pasadena present Happy Birthday, Pasadena: Forward Motion! The event will be held at the Pasadena Museum of History, 470 W. Walnut St. Mayor Terry Tornek will cut the cake at 2:30 p.m., marking Pasadena's 129th year since incorporation. View fascinating cars, bicycles, and other vehicles that were innovative for their time - both a century ago and today. Explore companion exhibitions "When Johnny Came Marching West: How the Civil War Shaped Pasadena" and "Thaddeus Lowe: Chief Aeronaut of the Union Army." Enjoy a slice of complimentary birthday cake, entertainment and a craft workshop.


Inspired by the Japanese print designer Ando Hiroshige's series from the 1850s, "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo," Los Angeles painter and printmaker Barbara Thomason painted a series of views of Los Angeles, but not the typical Hollywood-sign vistas. On Sunday, June 28 at 1 p.m., Barbara will present a slide-show and sign copies of her book. Open Day is every last Sunday of the month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Make your reservations at the garden website for $7.50 or pay $10, cash or check at the door (age 12 and under free.) Parking is available and the garden is wheelchair accessible. Sorry, no pets allowed.

 

Private fireworks are illegal in Pasadena 

It's illegal to sell, use or possess fireworks in Pasadena. The City maintains a zero-tolerance policy for fireworks. Violators are subject to arrest, vehicle impound, up to one year in jail and a fine up to $50,000.

 

Celebrate the Fourth at the Rose Bowl 

Celebrate the Fourth of July holiday with family and friends by attending the 89th annual "Americafest" at the Rose Bowl Stadium. Family fun begins on July 4 at 2 p.m. outside the Stadium. Parking is $25 per vehicle. Stadium gates open at 6 p.m. The show includes live motorcycle stunts; a tribute to our military personnel; performances by Liverpool Legends, the "Ultimate Beatles experience"; the Ultimate Elvis Tribute show; and a preview showing of "Despicable Me 2." The evening will be capped by Southern California's largest fireworks show - Pyro Spectaculars by Souza.

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


MTA's report on 710 Freeway gap project accused of tunnel vision 

"For months, elected officials and local activists have asked the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for a cost-benefit analysis of five project alternatives being put forth as potential solutions to addressing a 4.5-mile gap in the 710 Freeway between Alhambra and Pasadena. Now, less than a week after Metro released the long-anticipated document, those who oppose a multibillion-dollar underground tunnel as a means of connecting the freeway's end points claim the evaluation reveals a pro-tunnel bias and excludes several very real costs." Glendale News-Press


PWP online, phone payment system down for maintenance
"Pasadena Water and Power customers will not be able to use the utility's online bill payment system at certain afternoon hours on Friday and Saturday, June 26 and 27, and again on Tuesday, June 30, when PWP conducts a scheduled maintenance check on the system. Even its pay-by-phone service won't be available, so customers will either have to pay in person or mail in their payment." Pasadena Now

Man on a Mission

"Former California Attorney General John Van de Kamp on capital punishment, jail reform and the need for police oversight" Pasadena Weekly

  

Triple-Crown champion to appear between races at Santa Anita today 

"Triple-Crown champion American Pharoah will make a public appearance between races at The Great Race Place on Gold Cup at Santa Anita Day, Saturday, June 27." Pasadena Now


710 Freeway extension: Solis says East LA residents want more health info

"Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis said residents of her East Los Angeles district want more information on the health burdens that could come with an extension of the 710 Freeway." KPCC


Pasadena City Council funds body cameras, police oversight study, rejects auditor

"Taking steps toward increasing the accountability of its police department Monday, the Pasadena City Council unanimously approved the purchase of 275 body cameras for its police officers and a $50,000 study of additional oversight options for the department but rejected an independent police auditor, as some activists had advocated." Pasadena Star-News (subscription may be required)

  

New tenants announced for Playhouse Plaza in Pasadena

"More tenants were announced Thursday for the newly constructed Playhouse Plaza, a five-story, 155,000-square-foot office building located in the heart of the city's Playhouse District. Alibaba, a Chinese e-commerce company that serves millions of customers worldwide, will occupy the building's top floor with 22,000 square feet of space. Charles Schwab, a brokerage and banking firm, has leased another 9,300 square feet. This comes on the heels of an announcement earlier this month from EpicSpaces Co-Working, which has leased 9,500 square feet on the building's ground floor." Pasadena Star-News (subscription may be required)

 

Pasadena Humane Society opens $3 million Neely Cat Center

"The Neely Cat Center is a 4,000 square foot facility with room for up to 200 cats in an emergency and special areas for feral cats and for kittens still too young for adoption. Two staff cat behaviorists will help prepare even stubborn cats for a new life." Pasadena Star-News (subscription may be required)

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 ... 

... to serve your community and do it with a group of your neighbors who are equally dedicated. 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.