WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2016
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. 

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

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1

4:15 p.m.
City Hall
Council Conference Room S245/S246, 2nd Floor
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Proposed modification to municipal code to provide exemption from the overnight parking prohibition for businesses; Development and loan agreement with HHP-Summit LLC for the development of a 21-unit affordable homeownership project at 104-124 E. Orange Grove Blvd. and 677 N. Summit Ave.; Approval of substantial amendment to Annual Action Plan 2015-16 pertaining to Home Investment Partnerships Program funding; Report on first biannual housing workshop; Update on the acquisition of Pasadena Enterprise Center building at 1015 N. Lake Ave.

6:30 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Contract award to Fleming Environmental Inc for expansion of time-fill/fast-fill refueling system at City Yards; Approval of internal audit framework; Ordinance requiring the payment of a city-wide minimum wage; Adoption of a resolution certifying an EIR and adopting a mitigation monitoring and reporting program for the Pasadena Non-Potable Water Project; Adoption of a zone change to designate a landmark district overlay for the Green Street Village Landmark District; Designation of the house at 2480 Oswego Street as a landmark; Appeal of Design Commission decision of demolition of the house at 180 S. Euclid Ave.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2

6 p.m.
Hale Building
175 N. Garfield Ave., Hearing Room
On the agenda: Possible call for review of 1002 N. Catalina Ave. for a window replacement for a previously altered sleeping porch; Overview of Pasadena's Historic Preservation Program. 

6 p.m.
City Yards
233 W. Mountain St., 2nd Floor
On the agenda: Arroyo Seco Music & Arts Festival DEIR; Overview of the Player's Club Program at Brookside Golf Course.

6:30 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Center
1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Human trafficking discussion with Homeland Security representative; Jan. 6 All Northwest community meeting review; Black History Parade volunteer lunch budget; Education Forum 2016 event flyer approval.
"Quote" of the week

"It's important the city manager be the catalyst for transparency in all levels for city government. Complex issues can be very difficult to condense into simple messages. But that's a skill the city manager needs."
 - Ken Kules, retired engineer

"I'd also like a city manager who sees the public as allies instead of as hostile people, that sees us as resources that are eager to make our city the best city it can possibly be."  - Laura Garrett, chair of the Pasadena Audubon Society
WPRA in motion

This Wednesday, Feb. 3, the West Pasadena Residents' Association board of directors meeting will be held in the Pitcairn House dining room at Westridge School for Girls, instead of the regular Community Room. The public is invited to attend. A pre-reception will be held at 6 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Westridge is located at 324 Madeline Dr.
Neighborhoods in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

The Evenings at the Garden monthly presentation series continues Thursday, Feb. 4 with a lecture by Japanese Art historian Meher McArthur entitled "Ten Treasures of Japanese Art at the USC Pacific Asia Museum." Evenings start at 6:30 p.m. but the garden gates open at 5:45 p.m. for attendees to enjoy a peaceful walk through the garden beforehand. Reservations may be made for $15 at: japanesegardenpasadena.com. Artist Nori Shirasu will teach 10 weekly anime and manga drawing classes from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays, starting Feb. 4. Children eight and above are welcome. The course is $250 and includes materials.The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden is located at 270 Arlington Dr.

The Pasadena Police Department is seeking public comment from non-profits entities, community stakeholders and citizens to provide input for usage considerations pertaining to the development of a new policy for the forthcoming body worn cameras to be implemented by the Pasadena Police Department in late 2016. Input from community stakeholders may include the handling, storage, and retention length of video recordings, when body worn cameras should be activated or de-activated, viewing of recorded media files, public access to videos (Public Records Act), and privacy concerns. Public comments will be heard during a Special Public Safety Meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 2 in the City Council Chamber, second floor of City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.

Los Angeles County is studying park and recreation facilities to better understand how to improve, expand and make parks more accessible so that all communities can thrive. The County and all 88 cities are taking stock of what currently exists - parks, recreation facilities, open space and cultural and performing arts venues. What's the condition of the park and what would it cost to get it into good shape? Do residents have a park within a 10-minute walk? Is the park used beyond capacity, in need of improvement or different amenities? This assessment will provide a good snapshot of the current status of our parks. This is a once-in-a-generation chance to shape the priorities for where park funding will go for the next several decades. The county will hosting a community workshop in Pasadena to assess park needs, which will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4, at City Yards, 233 W. Mountain St., 2nd Floor.

The city has released the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Arroyo Seco Music and Arts Festival (formerly called the Rose Bowl Music and Arts Festival). The full text of the Draft EIR is available by clicking the headline above. The review period for the Draft EIR began Dec. 21) and ends on Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m. There will be three public hearings for the city to receive public comment on the Draft EIR:

Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 6 p.m.
Recreation and Parks Commission Meeting
City Yards, 233 W. Mountain St., 2nd Floor

Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 6:30 p.m.
Planning Commission Meeting
Pasadena City Hall, Council Chambers (Room S249), 100 N. Garfield Ave.

Contact David Sanchez at dasanchez@cityofpasadena.net with any questions regarding the project or the EIR process, or to formally submit comments on the Draft EIR.

The Pasadena City Council will consider certification of the Final EIR and approval of the Non-Potable Water Project at a public hearing to be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 22, at City Hall, Council Chamber, 100 N. Garfield Ave., Room S249. The EIR is available online at pwpweb.com/recycledwater. The purpose of the project is to provide nine to 10 percent of Pasadena Water and Power's overall water needs from local, non-potable water sources. The proposed project involves the construction and operation of a new non-potable water distribution system to deliver water from three local water sources to customers within the service areas of PWP, Foothill Municipal Water District and their member agencies (including Lincoln Avenue Water Company, Valley Water Company, Las Flores Water Company, and Rubio Canyon Land and Water Association), and California American Water Company for landscape irrigation, cooling, and other non-potable uses.

No outdoor watering Feb. 25 through March 10
Effective Feb. 25 through March 10, the Metropolitan Water District will be shutting down its Weymouth Treatment Plant for planned upgrades. The shutdown will affect Pasadena from receiving its imported water delivery, which provides 60 percent of the city's overall water supply. In January, the City Council is expected to approve a temporary adoption and implementation of its Level 4 Water Supply Shortage Plan during the shutdown period, which prohibits the use of all outdoor watering, including the use of hand watering.
Editor's top news picks
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION

"Over 100 volunteers fanned out across Pasadena on Wednesday to locate and count Pasadena's homeless in a study which will both measure recent 'success' in abating the problem and support more funding the city will receive to continue addressing the phenomenon." Pasadena Now

"The City Council began taking public input Monday on the qualifications people want to see in candidates for outgoing City Manager Michael Beck's job." Pasadena Weekly

"Brad Ratliff has been named president of the Tournament of Roses and will lead the 128th Rose Parade and the 103rd Rose Bowl Football Game." Pasadena Weekly

"The list of priorities for the county's mega transit agency in 2016 includes the on-time opening of two new rail lines, halfway completion of a first-ever train to LAX and, if that's not enough, a successful ballot measure in November that could add another half-cent sales tax to fund more rail, bus and highway improvements." Los Angeles Daily News

"Coldplay will set down in a large handful of major-market stadiums across the U.S. this summer as part of the group's first world tour in five years, the band announced Thursday. The stateside leg of A Head Full of Dreams tour opens July 16 at New York's Met Life Stadium and will reach the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Aug. 20." Los Angeles Times

"The Pasadena Public Health Department advises residents to protect themselves against mosquitoes at home and abroad in light of the ongoing spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in 21 countries, including throughout Latin America, the Caribbean and Puerto Rico. There have been no reported human cases of mosquito-borne diseases in Pasadena in 2016." Pasadena Now

"In what some see as a precursor to ultimate victory for supporters of a $15 per hour minimum wage ordinance for Pasadena, the Economic Development and Technology Committee of the Pasadena City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a staff recommendation to move the issue to a vote by the full Council. The item will come before the Council this Monday." Pasadena Now

"Pasadena residents are being advised to prepare for a Level 4 Water Supply Shortage Plan which will prohibit all outdoor watering, including the use of hand watering, from February 25 to March 10, 2016, when the Metropolitan Water District shuts down their Weymouth Treatment Plant in La Verne for planned facility upgrading." Pasadena Now
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.