WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 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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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
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22

6:30 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: 
  • Certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report and approval of the Non-Potable Water Project that would provide up to 10% of Pasadena Water and Power's overall water needs for landscape irrigation, cooling, and other non-potable uses. The project would include construction and operation of a new non-potable water distribution system.
  • Authorization for the City Manager to receive $2.1 million in reimbursable grant-funding from LA Metro for the implementation and management of the Cordova "Road-Diet Project" (between Marengo and Hill avenues), which will convert the vehicular-oriented street to a Complete Street by removing two vehicular traffic lanes to accommodate the addition of pedestrian crossing enhancements and bicycle facilities. Signalized intersections will be upgraded and equipped with bicycle detection. The proposed street configuration will consist of pedestrian curb extensions to shorten crossing times at all intersections; bike lanes in both directions; a painted median/center turn lane; and one lane of traffic in each direction
  • Acceptance of a bid not to exceed $225,000 for removal and replacement of existing Linda Vista Park playground equipment, installation of an accessible walkway, relocation of an existing backstop, and associated repairs to the landscape and irrigation
  • Accept a bid not to exceed $1,044,000 for improvements to the Old Pasadena Pedestrian Mall located within the MTA right-of-way from Green to Holly streets. The work includes removal of existing asphalt and pavement, and construction of colored concrete pavement; construction of a drainage system; installation of a decorative streetlight system, bicycle racks, benches, trash receptacles, and bollards; and installation of planters with 24" box trees and shrubs
  • Acceptance of a resignation from Justin Chapman, the District 6 appointment to Northwest Commission, and approval of the appointment of Jack Huang to Old Pasadena Parking Meter Zone Advisory Commission, as the Mayor's nomination/District 6 
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23

6 p.m.
City Hall
Basement Training Room S018
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Continuation (from January 26) of public hearing on the 100 West Walnut (Lincoln Property/Parsons) mixed-use project consisting of 210,00 square feet of office space, 17,500 square feet of commercial space, and up to 475 residential units. Lincoln Property has also proposed a subterranean parking structure with spaces for approximately 431 vehicles, and has requested permission to remove 11 protected trees
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25

6:45 p.m.
Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room
Room 236
351 S. Hudson Ave. 
"Quote" of the week
"The NFL is off the table." 
- Darryl Dunn, Rose Bowl General Manager
WPRA in motion
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The West Pasadena Residents' Association supports the City's interest in seeing the proposed Arroyo Seco Music and Arts Festival develop into an event that showcases Pasadena as a cultural nexus for art, music and dining. The WPRA understands this major event will also provide a sound revenue stream for the Rose Bowl. 

However, the significant impact of such a large event on the surrounding neighborhoods -- as well as neighborhoods along the traffic corridors serving the Rose Bowl -- must be fully considered and offset by vigorous and effective measures that eliminate or mitigate the negative impact.

In a February 19 letter to the City, the WPRA has identified the ways in which we believe the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) is deficient, and suggested a number of remedies. We look forward to reviewing the City's response to these comments and participating in the public review and consideration of the proposed festival.
Neighborhoods in motion
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From February 25 through March 10, the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) will shut down its Weymouth Treatment Plant for a planned upgrade. This means Pasadena will receive no water from the MWD, which normally provides 60% of the city's total water supply. In January, City Council temporarily approved implementation of a Level 4 Water Supply Shortage Plan during the shutdown period. This action prohibits all outdoor watering, including hand watering.
 
During this period, Pasadena will have to rely on local groundwater from our wells and water stored in our reservoirs. Without strong conservation during this period, Pasadena will not have a sufficient water supply during the shutdown period. Although we are prohibiting all outdoor watering during the 15-day period, below are some additional things you can do to assist during the shutdown.
  • Take 5-minute (or less) showers.
  • Collect shower water (while it is warming) in a bucket and use that water for plants.
  • Collect water in trash bins or bathtubs for hand-watering household plants and sensitive plants as well as areas of the lawn that may show excessive stress (hot spots).
  • Do not leave the water running when washing dishes.
  • Run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher.
  • Do not leave water running when brushing your teeth or shaving.
  • Do not wash your car(s).

 
The Pasadena water-savings gauge dipped to 21% between June 1, 2015 and February 10, 2016 but the state-mandated target remains at 28%. Fortunately, given the recent rains, the State Water Resources Control Board extended the deadline of its statewide conservation mandate to October from February.
The seismic retrofit and rehabilitation of the La Loma bridge project is well underway and will soon transition from demolition to construction. This transition is expected to occur the week ofFebruary 15 or February 22, and will include the installation of piles, which is a noisy but unavoidable operation. The pile-driving operation is expected to continue intermittently during daytime work hours for approximately two weeks. Recent work at the project site has primarily included demolition of the existing bridge structure and appurtenances. In addition, the contractor has constructed a temporary bridge across the stream channel to provide access for trucks and machinery to the west side of the channel and has been busy prepping the site and planning for the transition from demolition to construction of the new bridge structure. It is anticipated that La Loma Bridge will re-open in December 2016.

Residents and businesses can safely dispose of electronic waste and have personal and business documents shredded at the City's e-waste event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 27, 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. Shredding trucks and e-waste collection sites will be arranged at different stations in Parking Lot I. Look for signs directing you to the event. Motorists and bicyclists are advised to use caution while traveling through the area. E-waste items include desktop and laptop computers, keyboards, printers, monitors, docking stations, scanners, shredders, fax machines, computer mice, telephones, televisions of all types, VCRs, DVD players, PDAs, cassette players, tape drives, stereos and household batteries. For more information about the free e-waste collection and document shredding event, visit the Public Works' website or call (626) 744-7311.
 
For 10 nights and 11 days starting on May 20, Pasadenans will have an opportunity to tour Japan and visit Pasadena's Sister City, Mishima, for its annual flower festival. The tour cost, including roundtrip airfare, is $3,800, based on 20 travelers. In coordination with the Pasadena Sister Cities Committee, reservations will be accepted up to February 29 on a first-come first-serve basis. For more information, contact Bryan Takeda at (626) 396-9927 or by sending and email to: affinity2000@earthlink.net
Editor's top news picks
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"The first passenger ride on the 11.5-mile Gold Line Foothill Extension went off with only a few glitches Wednesday, a preview of the public opening March 5 of the easternmost Metro Rail train in Southern California." Pasadena Star-News (may require subscription)

"Although Rose Bowl officials pushed hard to make a local music and arts festival in and around the iconic stadium happen this year, the proposed three-day event won't happen until 2017 due to the ongoing process of reviewing an environmental impact report (EIR) on the proposal." Pasadena Weekly

"The second oldest city in notoriously youthful Los Angeles County - after Los Angeles itself - Pasadena has aged admirably." The New York Times

"California State Assembly Member Chris Holden will host an open house at his Pasadena District Office, Suite 117, 600 N. Rosemead Ave., on Thursday, March 3, from 4:30-6:30 p.m., to provide an opportunity for residents in the 41st District to discuss community issues and upcoming legislation. Assemblyman Holden is expected to make a special announcement featuring the district's Women of Distinction." Pasadena Now
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 ... 

... 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.