WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 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, MARCH 7

6:30 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: 
  • Amend the Pasadena municipal code to allow for the service of alcohol at Casita del Arroyo
  • Oral presentation on Level 4 water supply shortage and Metropolitan Water District shutdown
  • Request for direction regarding the formation of a charter study task force WHY?
  • Conduct first reading of an ordinance of the city of Pasadena to require the payment of a city-wide minimum wage
  • Adopt an ordinance amending the official zoning map of the city of Pasadena to include the General Plan land use diagram
  • Adopt an ordinance to allow hospital uses with a conditional use permit within the S. Fair Oaks specific plan
  • Adopt an ordinance of the city of Pasadena amending various provisions to delete the requirement that new planned developments are consistent with the allowed land uses in the existing specific plans, to allow increased FAR and residential density in new planned developments
  • Update for the bicycle transportation action plan
TUESDAY, MARCH 8

2 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Center, Room 200
1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Update on senior housing; Introduction of new Public Health Department director; Call for nominations of Senior Services Agency representatives due to commission vacancies.

6 p.m.
City Hall
Basement Training Room S018
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Arroyo Seco Master Sign Plan; 78 North Marengo Avenue - YWCA/ Kimpton Hotel Project.

6 p.m.
Permit Center Hearing Room
175 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Update on water cost of service analysis and rate design.
 
6:30 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Center
1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Not available.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9

5:30 p.m.
Hale Building
175 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Fall 2015 Final ArtNight Report; Painting gift from Grigor Terterian; Final Art Plan for 686 E. Union St., Andalucia (formerly Union Village); PUSD finalist for Bob Hope Airport student art banner competition.

6 p.m.
City Hall
Grand Conference Room, S038
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Report from ad-hoc subcommittee on Community Development Block Grant applications; Proposed co-sponsorship of workshop.

6 p.m.
City Yards
233 W. Mountain St.
On the agenda: Request for Public Tree Removal - 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave. (Robinson Park); Request for Public Tree Removal - 740 S. Hudson Ave.; Request for Public Tree Removal - 4 Westmoreland Pl. (Gamble House Shed Area); Tree Removals Based on Condition - 1001 Rose Bowl Dr.; Pasadena City Council Review of the Urban Forest Management Plan.

6:30 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: YWCA/Kimpton Hotel DEIR comments.

THURSDAY, MARCH 10

6 p.m.
Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room236
351 S. Hudson Ave.
On the agenda: Five-Star Coalition Resolution - SR-710 North Study Draft EIR; 2016-17 Board of Education Planning; 2014-15 Annual Report on Findings of School Visits and Monitoring.
"Quote" of the week
"We are trying to be as open as possible and give the community a chance to participate as much as possible [in the selection of the city's new city manager], but, like any other job application process, people have some expectation of privacy." - Margaret McAustin, District 2 City Councilmember

WPRA in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

The West Pasadena Residents' Association board of directors meets at 6:30 p.m. every first Wednesday of the month in the Community Room at Westridge School, 324 Madeline Dr. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.
Neighborhoods in motion
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Through March 10, the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) has 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).

 
 
Tour Old Pasadena today, Saturday, March 5, 9 a.m., with an experienced Pasadena Heritage docent, see the renaissance and enjoy the architectural variety, fascinating history, virtually unchanged alleyways, and all the authentic details that keep history alive in the 21st Century. The cost for the tour is $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Reservations are required.

As the search for a new City Manager begins, the City is wants to hear from you about the most important qualities potential should have. You can provide that input during the below meeting. If you can't attend the meeting, you can provide input online. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 8, Noon-1 p.m. at the Villa-Parke Community Center, 363 E. Villa St.

At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) will host a town hall event in the Witherbee Auditorium at the Los Angeles Zoo, 5333 Zoo Dr., Los Angeles, and another town hall along with Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9, at the Oak Park High School Room G-9, 899 N. Kanan Rd., Oak Park. The town halls will allow constituents, advocates and homeowners to discuss the final report on the Rim of the Valley Corridor Special Resources Study which examined the possibility of expanding the boundary of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) to include the Rim of the Valley. The report recommends a significant expansion of the existing recreation area, and has been delivered to Congress and the public.
Enjoy a free evening of art, music and entertainment as Pasadena's most prominent arts and cultural institutions swing open their doors. Begin your journey at any one of the 18 participating cultural institutions, where free shuttles will be waiting to transport you to your next destination. Last fall, 28,000 people experienced the excitement of ArtNight. This year's ArtNight will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, March 11. Participating venues include Armory Center for the Arts, Art Center, City Hall, Kidspace, Jackie Robinson Center, Light Bringer Project at Day One, Norton Simon Museum, and many more.

JPL to host free lecture on what has been learned about Mars so far
Dr. Leslie Tamppari, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter deputy project scientist, will speak about what JPL has learned about Mars during the last 10 years of the project. Entitled "In the Blink of the Eye: What 10 Years at Mars Can Tell Us About the Planet," the free lecture will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, at the von Kármán Auditorium at JPL, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., and at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 25, at the Vosloh Forum at Pasadena City College, 1570 E. Colorado Blvd.
Editor's top news picks
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION

"After the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) stopped delivering water to Pasadena on Monday morning for a planned 10-day shutdown, Pasadena Water & Power Interim General Manager Shari Thomas updated the Pasadena City Council as to the City's water availability through March 10." Pasadena Now

"Mayor Terry Tornek has appointed a committee to help guide the City Council through the search process. The committee includes Council members Margaret McAustin, Tyron Hampton, Victor Gordo and Tornek. The public will have the chance to provide more input about the qualities needed in the city's next city manager at two meetings." Pasadena Weekly

"This weekend will see the opening of the Gold Line Extension from Pasadena to Azusa. But before that, on Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will launch its 'NoHo to Pasadena Express' bus service. The new service, Line 501, will connect the Metro Red and Orange lines in North Hollywood and the Metro Gold Line in Pasadena. It will operate seven days a week - every 15 minutes during peak hours and every half an hour during off-peak times." KPCC

"As the most car-dependent city in America, Los Angeles has long vexed millions of drivers with nightmarish traffic jams. But thanks to a massive influx of funds collected since Measure R, a half-percent sales tax increase approved by voters in 2008, the county's Metro Rail system is taking major strides to effect change that is partially paying off  Saturday with the opening of the Gold Line Foothill Extension from Pasadena to Azusa." Pasadena Weekly

"Pasadena resident and community activist Walt Jackson died on Saturday night after a lengthy battle with heart disease. He was 80." Pasadena Weekly

"In a conference call with shareholders, officials with SeaWorld admitted that an employee with the park spied on members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) during a protest at the 2014 Rose Parade." Pasadena Weekly

"A popular local nursery must enter into a new agreement to continue using the city-owned site it's on in Hahamongna Watershed Park by March 23 or vacate the property." Pasadena Weekly
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.