WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 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 southwest Pasadena. 

   
Subscribe, unsubscribe or update your email address at the bottom of this page.

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 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).
Visit our website
Important community meetings
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26

City Council & Special Meeting of the Pasadena Public Financing Authority
6:30 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Resolution approving supplemental agreement for Holly Street Bridge seismic retrofit and rehabilitation project; Contract with Earth Systems and Geocon West to provide on-call geotechnical engineering services for two years for $200,000 for each consultant; Amendment to letter agreement with SoCal Edison to increase the no-to-exceed amount from $326,544 to $652,574 for the replacement of damaged disconnect switches at the T. M. Goodrich receiving station; Authorize increase to contract with SHI International Corp. for the purchase of an additional 292 global positioning satellite tracking systems for an additional not-to-exceed amount of $472,810; Authorization to enter contract with CWS Systems for the construction of a security wall at T. M. Goodrich receiving station for the Water & Power Dept.; Authorization to enter contract with Macias Gini & O'Connell to perform a fraud risk assessment; Recognition and appropriation of state Office of Traffic Safety, Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, grant revenues to conduct driving under the influence education and enforcement programs; Resolution approving the execution and delivery of not-to-exceed $60 million aggregate initial principal amount of refunding certificates of participation, approving the form of and authorizing the execution and delivery of a sixth supplemental trust agreement, and other related actions; Recommended residential impact fee distribution methodology change.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27

4 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Center
1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Discussion of future focus of accessibility coordinator position.

6 p.m.
City Hall
Basement Training Room S018
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Public Works presentation of the Urban Forest Management Plan; final design review of 2233 E. Foothill Blvd.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28

6:30 p.m.
City Hall
Council Chambers
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Discussion of the implementation of the Housing Element and housing related issues, including a summary of the 10/21/15 Housing Workshop on homelessness, status update on the Housing Element implementation programs, and informational update on housing related issues, which includes Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, State Density Bonus Law, Assembly Bill 2222, and City subsidized affordable housing.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29

Pasadena Unified School District
6 p.m.
San Rafael Elementary School Auditorium
1090 Nithsdale Rd.
On the agenda: PUSD will host this meeting for parents, community members and staff of San Rafael Elementary School to discuss the findings of a report issued by Earth Systems of Southern California which indicates that active faults are not present within the depth and location explored at the campus. School board member (District 7) Scott Phelps and PUSD Chief Facilities Officer Nelson Cayabyab will brief the community, answer questions about the report, and discuss next steps, including the presentation of the item to the Board of Education at an upcoming meeting to review the report and take action on the disposition of the school site. According to the October 2015 report, the potential for surface fault rupture at the site during the design life of the existing structures is considered to be very low. The effects of ground shaking in the event of a large earthquake or a nearby earthquake can be mitigated by proper engineering design and construction in conformance with current building codes and engineering practices. To stay updated on the San Rafael geotechnical report, please visit pusd.us or contact the Communications Office at (626) 396-3606.
"Quote" of the week

"
The Gold Line Extension was completed on time and on budget and I think that deserves a round of applause
."

- Mark Ridley-Thomas, Metro chairman and LA County supervisor
WPRA in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
 
Since June 1, the City has been under a Level 2 water-supply-shortage plan to reduce water use across the city by 28%. Report water waste to the City:

  1. Call 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. Complete a short form on the City's Citizen Service Center
  3. Use the free app for smart phones and tablets: 

According to Assistant City Manager/Interim Public Works Director Julie Gutierrez, the Arroyo Seco trail on the east side of the channel under La Loma Bridge will be closed intermittently between 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday while constructing overhead elements. The intermittent closures will occur through December 2015 (during removal of the existing bridge). Signs were posted designating a detour trail route. Preparations to construct a temporary bridge to transport heavy equipment to the west side of the channel are also underway. The east side detour will not accommodate equestrians. It makes use of old paths to go up to Arroyo Blvd. and then back down past the bridge.The trail on the west side of the channel is closed for the duration of the project. 

On Monday the City Council designated October 2015 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Mayor Terry Tornek presented a proclamation to City Attorney/City Prosecutor Michele Beal Bagneris, Chief Assistant City Prosecutor Will Rivera, Police Department staff and local domestic violence service provider Peace Over Violence to symbolize the City's support for renewed efforts by the City Prosecutor to eliminate domestic violence and educate victims. People interested in receiving domestic violence resources can contact the City Attorney/City Prosecutor's Office at (626) 744-4611 to request copies of the "Stopping Domestic Violence in Pasadena Through Prevention and Protection" brochure, which includes helpful tips and resources for those who experience or may encounter domestic violence
Neighborhoods 
in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

TRAFFIC/CROWD ALERT

Today, Saturday, October 24
7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Estimated attendance: 2,000+
Event hours: At 6 a.m. the east and west extension of Arroyo Blvd. will close. At 6:30 a.m. street closures will be in effect (one-way traffic will be permitted). At 7 a.m. registration begins. At 8:30 a.m. the Race for the Rescues Walk begins. From 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. there will be event amplified sound. At 12 p.m. the race concludes and streets open.
Street Closures: This event will involve street closures in the recreational loop including Arroyo Boulevard-East & West Extension north of Seco Street; Northbound on West Drive between Seco Street and  Westbound on Washington Boulevard. Please note: Seco Street and one-way traffic will be open at all times.

Tomorrow, Sunday, October 25
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Estimated attendance: 8,000+
Event hours: From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be event amplified sound. At 9 a.m. street closures will be in effect. At 10 a.m. the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes begins. At 11:30 a.m. streets reopen. At 1 p.m. the event concludes.
Street closures: This event will involve street closures in the recreational loop including Rosemont between Seco and Washington; Washington between Rosemont and West Dr.; West Dr. between Washington and Seco St.

Both events will involve specific street closures in the recreation loop to all vehicles; however, the recreational loop will remain open to patrons for recreational activity during this time. For any resident questions or concerns, please contact the Rose Bowl Event Day Resident hotline at the number: (626) 397-4141.

 

All are welcome to join Pasadena Community Gardens (PCG), 721 S. Pasadena Avenue, today, Saturday, October 24, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., for its second annual Fall Festival. The event also features a birdhouse-building competition sponsored by the Pasadena & Foothills chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Additionally, the festival includes a silent auction for many of the homemade birdhouses, prize raffles, a wish tree, lunch, and live cool-jazz music. Organizations tabling at the event include: Huntington Hospital (free flu shots and cholesterol counseling); Pasadena Water & Power (water conservation); City of Pasadena ("Path to Zero Waste"); Los Angeles Community Garden Council; Gardening in LA blogger Yvonne Savio; and Pasadena CROP Walk to End Hunger. Festival proceeds will go to PCG's compost program, a large-vegetable and fruit-growing area in the garden, and AIA-PF's young-architect education scholarship fund. For more information, email info@pasadenacommunitygardens.org and visit aiapf.org. 

The Pasadena Fire Department is hosting an open house from 9 to 11 a.m. today, Saturday, October 24 at Station 38, 1150 Linda Vista Ave. There will be demonstrations, information tables, and an opportunity to meet and greet the men and women of the Fire Department, city officials, and community health and safety partners.

On Sunday, Nov. 1, from 4 to 7 p.m., the Arroyo Seco Foundation's native plant nursery in Hahamongna Watershed Park is hosting an autumn celebration. Entitled "Twilight at Hahamongna Nursery," the special event is just for members, contributors and volunteers of the Arroyo Seco Foundation. The festivities will highlight the great work being done largely by community volunteers and supported by Pasadena Water & Power as part of the Arroyo Seco Canyon Project. There will be a silent auction, native plants, music, and refreshments. If you need to renew your membership, you can do so here.

Japanese art historian Meher McArthur will draw from her 20 years of experience researching and curating Japanese art to present a lecture discussing aspects of Japanese traditional and contemporary art on Thursday, November 5, 6:30 p.m., entitled "The wonders of Japan's woodblock prints."

The community and all current and former members of the U.S. military and their families are invited to join other local veterans, City officials and community leaders for a special, free Veterans Day ceremony on the steps of historic City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. On Friday, Nov. 13, Pasadena City Hall and many City services will be closed in observance of Veterans Day.

Assemblyman Chris Holden's office is currently accepting applications for their Young Legislators Program. This is a free program and is open to high school seniors attending a high school in the 41st Assembly District. It's a great leadership opportunity to gain inside knowledge on how the state government works. The deadline to apply is Nov. 15.

Fight the flu by getting a free vaccine offered by the Pasadena Public Health Department through Tuesday, Nov. 24. The influenza vaccine will be provided at various Pasadena locations on a first-come, first-served basis. The vaccine will be available to everyone ages 6 months and older at no cost, while supplies last. For more details about the clinics, call (626) 744-6000 or click the headline above. 
Editor's top news picks
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION

"The 'probability is 99.9 percent' that an earthquake measuring 5.0 or greater will occur within the next two and a half years on or near the same faults that caused the March 28, 2014, La Habra quake in the San Gabriel Valley, according to an as-yet-unpublished study by a JPL seismologist." Pasadena Star-News
(Editor's note: See also the  LA Times article on this, which highlights the U.S. Geological Survey's strong exception to this prediction by claiming there is actually an 85% chance)

"More than a dozen people opposing the 710 Freeway tunnel from El Sereno to Pasadena told the Metro board Thursday they will campaign against next year's transit tax if the ballot measure includes funding for the controversial project. The message was backed by a letter signed by 225 people and an online petition with 3,406 signees, explained Janice SooHoo, a member of the No 710 Action Committee. Geoffrey Baum, president of the West Pasadena Residents' Association, representing 7,000 households, said his group also would oppose Measure R2 if a 710 tunnel was listed." Pasadena Star-News

"A man was arrested for drunk driving after a collision between a commuter train and a compact car in Pasadena left two people injured and shut down a portion of the Metro Gold Line route in Pasadena Sunday afternoon, officials said." Pasadena Star-News

"The proper model for oversight - for a department in a medium-sized city such as Pasadena, at least - is an independent auditor. True independent oversight could best be achieved by an inspector-general type, in the manner that Altadena attorney Merrick Bobb has been so successful in overseeing departments from the Seattle police to the Los Angeles sheriff." Pasadena Star-News

"Last week, Pasadena officials issued a request for proposal (RFP) for the hiring of a consultant to study police oversight models. And this week, City Council members took the first steps in establishing policy for the use of body cameras by Pasadena police officers." Pasadena Weekly

"With deadline set for the end of business Tuesday, attorneys for the Pasadena Police Officers Association (PPOA) did not file notice on appealing to the state Supreme Court an appellate court ruling ordering the city to release a redacted version of a report on an officer-involved shooting death." Pasadena Weekly

"Demonstrating how powerful and divisive the issue has become, the Pasadena City Council's Public Safety Committee meeting Monday evening became an animated discussion on the homeless crisis in the city, as the committee met to discuss 'Homelessness and Aggravated Panhandling' in the city." Pasadena Now

"Every now and then, rumors circulate that the 'Big One' is coming. But no one has a crystal ball. Earthquakes are notoriously hard to predict, so the best defense is to be prepared." Pasadena Now

"The Foothill Gold Line that ends now at Sierra Madre Villa in Pasadena will have six new stops: Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte/City of Hope, Irwindale, Azusa Downtown and Azusa Pacific University/Citrus College." KPCC

"Erika Karen Winter, a 17-year-old senior at Flintridge Prepatory School, was selected to be the queen among the seven members of the 2016 Tournament of Roses Royal Court present at the event." KTLA

"A movement to incrementally raise Pasadena's minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 continues to find strong support from the council and residents, though it's still months away from coming to a vote." Pasadena Star-News
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.