WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 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 

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).
Important community meetings
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MONDAY, MARCH 28

City Council  - Cancelled
"Quote" of the week
"The bedrock of effective city management comes from an understanding that nothing significant can be accomplished unless it is both politically acceptable and administratively sustainable." 
- John Nalbandian, professor at the University of Kansas School of Public Affairs and Administration
WPRA in motion
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You're invited to the monthly WPRA board meeting
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.

WPRA invites you to attend our Annual Meeting on May 18
This year's Annual Meeting of the West Pasadena Residents' Association will be held the evening of Wednesday, May 18, at the Maranatha Student Center, 169 St. John Ave. Members will vote on the 2016-17 slate of board officers and directors.

The City's final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Arroyo Seco Music and Arts Festival is available 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. 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.
Neighborhoods in motion
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TRAFFIC & CROWD ALERT
Today, Saturday, March 26
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Event Hours:
8:30 a.m. Parking Lots F, K Open; No Charge
(Parking is Open to both Event Attendees and Recreational Users)
9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. VIP Bunny Brunch (Ticketed Attendees Only)
11 a.m. Amplified Sound Begins
11 a.m. Egg Bowl Begins (Open to the General Public)
3 p.m. Event and Amplified Sound Concludes
Est. Attendance: 8,000+
As a reminder, this event is free and open to the General Public and will feature over 60,000 colorful eggs, food, arts and crafts, live entertainment and plenty of other adrenaline-pumping activities. The Recreational Loop will remain open at all times to patrons for recreational activity. The Equestrian Trail will remain open at all times. To receive assistance before, during or after the event, please contact the Rose Bowl Event Day Resident Hotline at (626) 397-4141.

How do you know if your neighborhood is eligible as a Landmark District? What are the benefits of becoming a Landmark District? In Pasadena, neighborhoods that are designated historic at the local level are called Landmark Districts. These are areas in which historic buildings and their settings are protected by municipal zoning laws. In most cases, designation makes owners eligible for grants or tax incentives for rehabilitation projects, such as the Mills Act. But how do you know if your property or neighborhood is eligible? How do you apply for either program? In advance of the May 2 deadline for Mills Act applications, these questions and more will be addressed at an informational forum hosted by Pasadena Heritage and the Arroyo Group, which will be held at 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, at La Casita del Arroyo, 177 S. Arroyo Blvd. Participants will get a review of the application process, up-to-date program details, and a first-hand look at the pro's and con's. Speakers from the City Planning Department, County Assessor's Office, and local citizens who participate in the programs will outline what to expect and what you should know before applying, with additional time included for questions and answers. This event is free but all attendees must RSVP in advance. A $10 donation will be requested at the door. To reserve your seat click the headline.

San Rafael Elementary School is hosting its annual fundraiser on Wednesday, April 16. The Black & White event will include a Paella dinner, drinks, dancing, and live and silent auctions. The fundraiser allows the school to provide classroom support for its teachers deliver visual and performing arts programs as well as physical education to its students. San Rafael is still actively seeking silent auction items and event sponsorships. Please contact Kera Saenz de Maturana at kera_s@me.com with any questions or donations.


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
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"A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge has found that enough evidence exists for a former Pasadena employee and two suspected accomplices to stand trial on dozens of charges related to the theft of $6 million from the city's coffers." Pasadena Star-News

"In a relatively unusual development, the Pasadena City Council Public Safety Committee Wednesday moved a staff recommendation for a new ordinance addressing homelessness ahead to the full City Council for 'consideration' without passing a motion to recommend it." Pasadena Now

"Lucy Jones, the face of earthquake science and safety in Southern California for many years, is retiring from the U.S. Geological Survey." ABC 7

"Three pregnant border collies were found in the past two weeks roaming the streets of Pasadena, and local animal-care officials asked the public Friday to be on the lookout for anyone who might be dumping dogs or other animals." Pasadena Patch
 
Pasadena Star-News owners acquire OC Register, Riverside Press-Enterprise
"A bankruptcy judge Monday morning approved the sale of the Orange County Register and Riverside Press-Enterprise to Digital First Media for $52.3 million." Pasadena Star-News

New names pitched to Bob Hope Airport officials in effort to attract more passengers
"A South Pasadena branding firm told Bob Hope Airport officials the possible benefits of having Los Angeles in its name. However, some residents do not want any of it." Los Angeles Times

"Last year's hit film The Big Short depicted various investors who, realizing that there was a housing bubble in the years before the 2000s crash, found ways to 'short' housing, betting against the market and ultimately making a killing when the crisis hit. Looking forward, there's a plausible case to be made that this might be the time for a 'Big Short' in parking, as a confluence of the growing popularity of walkable neighborhoods and the arrival of self-driving cars may make our current levels of parking way over-supplied compared to demand in the near future." City Commentary

"At 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, KPCC will celebrate the legacy of Jackie Robinson with a special event at John Muir High School featuring excerpts from the documentary 'Jackie Robinson' by Ken Burns and a conversation with KPCC Off Ramp's Kevin Ferguson and a panel of guests." KPCC

OPINION: Who will be the best city manager for Pasadena?
"With the resignation of Michael Beck, now a vice chancellor at UCLA, Pasadena is in the market for a city manager. It's a big job, and a plum one. What should Pasadena be looking for in the search for a City Hall boss?" Pasadena Star-News
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.