WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 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).
Important community meetings
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

MONDAY, MARCH 21

City Council  - Cancelled

TUESDAY, MARCH 22

4 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Community Center
Room 200
On the agenda: Coordinator's report on accessibility developments; discussion by Interim City Manager Steve Mermell and Director Horace Wormley about filling an upcoming vacancy of an Accessibility Issues coordinator

THURSDAY, MARCH 24

LA Metro Board of Directors - Call to action
9 a.m.
Metro Headquarters (behind Union Station)
3rd floor, Metro Board Room
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles
On the agenda: The project list for the proposed tax increase/extension Measure R2, which will be on the November ballot. 
NOTE: The No 710 Action Committee is hoping for high attendance at this Metro meeting to help send the message that the 710 tunnels MUST be removed from all Meaure R2 documents. If it is not, the organization has pledged to work actively against Measure R2. Meet outside the Metro Board Room before 9 a.m. on the 3rd floor. Directions to the Metro Headquarters
"Quote" of the week
"I don't see the benefit of spending another $50,000 to $200,000 and wasting more time just to get to a point where we should address this issue. We are trying to get to a point where we have a system that makes sense, with consistent development patterns and sustainable neighborhoods." 
- Aracadia Mayor Gary Kovacic, during a recent Arcadia City Council discussion about how to address mansionization, a problem shared by many area communities, including Pasadena. See related article in Editor's top news picks section below.
WPRA in motion
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The City's final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Arroyo Seco Music and Arts Festival will be available starting on Monday, March 21, on the City's website. The EIR includes written responses to all comments received during the draft comment period. As required, the City must provide responses to comments at least 10 days prior to City Council's certification of the EIR.
 
NOTE: The Rose Bowl Operating Company will hold a public hearing to receive testimony on the final EIR on Thursday, March 24, 6:30 p.m., at the Brookside Golf and Country Club clubhouse, 1133 Rosemont Ave.
 
The West Pasadena Residents' Association supports the City's interest in developing an event that showcases Pasadena as a cultural nexus for art, music and dining. And while the WPRA understands that this major event will also provide a new, continuing revenue stream for the Rose Bowl, 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 to eliminate or mitigate the negative impact. In a February 19 letter to the City, the WPRA identified the ways in which we believe the draft EIR 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. We encourage you to do the same.

The West Pasadena Residents' Association board of directors meets at 6:30 p.m. every first Wednesday of the month (with some exceptions) 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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Pasadena Heritage will host its 2016 Spring Home Tour - "Designing their own: homes of Pasadena architects" - on Sunday, March 20, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Pasadena is famous for its remarkable architecture, spanning decades from Victorian to Modern. In fact, many architects came to Pasadena to experiment and build what turned out to be some of Southern California's most impressive homes. This tour will highlight the homes that several significant architects designed for themselves. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling Pasadena Heritage Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at (626) 441-6333.



The Pasadena water-savings gauge dipped to 20% between June 1, 2015 and March 9, 2016; the state-mandated target remains at 28%. Fortunately, the State Water Resources Control Board extended the deadline of its statewide conservation mandate to October from February.
Editor's top news picks
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION

"A former Pasadena city employee and two other people were ordered Thursday to stand trial in a case stemming from the alleged embezzlement of millions of dollars from the city." Pasadena Patch

"The Glendale Unified School Board took an opposing stance to a potential tunnel extension of the Long Beach (710) Freeway on Tuesday, siding with concerns from neighboring districts over possible adverse impacts to student health." LA Times
 
"The San Fernando Valley Audubon Society Conservation Committee has been laser-focused on halting the permitting of a Coachella-like music event proposed for October 7-9, 2016, which will be held in Woodley Park and the entire eastern area of the Sepulveda Wildlife Area. The committee is concerned about the impact 200,000 attendees, pyrotechnics, high-volume acoustics, and broad, intense lighting might have on area wildlife." City Watch

"On the heels of the Gold Line Foothill extension opening from Pasadena to Azusa earlier this month, Metro has unveiled new plans for an extension of the light-rail train through Commerce, Montebello, Pico Rivera, Whittier and South El Monte. Though in the works for nine years, the Gold Line Eastside line will be the focus of four community meetings March 28-31." Pasadena Star-News (may require subscription)
 
"Looking for a spacious townhome with high ceilings, large walk-in closets, a four-car garage and your own private elevator? Insignia City Ventures has got your number - but it won't come cheap." Pasadena Star-News (may require subscription)

"City officials voted to not pursue an economic impact study on how home size affects property values, an issue that has created a deep divide in the community as some cry foul over 'mansionization.'" Pasadena Star-News (may require subscription)
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.