WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 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<
NOTE: The following meeting dates, times and agenda references are accurate as of Friday. 
Click on the appropriate blue headline to ensure the meeting hasn't been cancelled or rescheduled.

MONDAY, APRIL 18
 
6 p.m.
City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., Council Chambers, 
On the agenda: 
  • Request the City Attorney to draft an amendment to the City's municipal code to permit immobilization (booting) of vehicles as an alternative to towing
  • Conduct a public hearing of an appeal of a Design Commission decision to deny permission to demolish the 1906 Pinney House, 180 S. Euclid Ave. City staff recommends Council overturn the Design Commission's ruling to permit demolition. The Design Commission has twice reviewed and determined that the house, which was designed by C.W. Buchanan in a unique Craftsman/Mission Revival style, is eligible for landmark status and has historic integrity worth preserving. Pasadena Heritage sides with the Design Commission.
  • Conduct second reading of a proposal to amend the Light and Power Rate ordinance to establish economic incentives for new commercial electric customers and expanded electric services for existing customers under certain conditions. Staff estimates the incentives will result in a reduction of electric revenues of up to $1 million over a three-to-five year period. This short-term loss, Staff further estimates, will bring additional revenue to offset Pasadena Water and Power's overall electric customer base over the long term.
7:15 p.m.
City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., Council Chambers, 
On the Agenda: Analysis of police oversight models and a survey of community perceptions of policing in Pasadena.

TUESDAY, APRIL 19

4 p.m.
351 S. Hudson Ave., Conference Room 229, 
On the agenda: Certificated in/out of classroom ratio for 2015-2016; staffing ratios; update on public access to budget
                   
6 p.m.
George Ellery Hale Building, 175 N. Garfield Ave., Hearing Room
On the agenda: Not available 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

4:30 p.m.
George Ellery Hale Building, 175 N. Garfield Ave., Conference Room 1A
On the agenda: Civic Center Our Town public art project update; zoning code amendments for private development projects in the former redevelopment area

6 p.m.
George Ellery Hale Building, 175 N. Garfield Ave., Hearing Room #120
On the agenda: Approval of:
  • A Conditional Use Permit (CUP)to enable Lucky Baldwin Trappiste restaurant, 1770 E. Colorado Blvd., to sell and serve alcohol
  • A CUP to enable Starbucks Coffee, 575, S. Lake Ave., to sell and serve beer and wine
  • A modification to a minor CUP for T-Mobile Wireless, at 177 E. Colorado Blvd., to remove three existing antennas and install of six new panel antennas and ancillary radio equipment on existing commercial office building

6 p.m.
Allendale Branch, 1130 S. Marengo Ave.
On the agenda: One City, One Story wrap-up; budget update 

10:15 a.m.
City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Avenue, Council Chambers, 
On the agenda: approve the March retirement allowance of $1.1 million; approve addition and removal of members and/or beneficiaries from the monthly allowance rolls; Consider action following a presentation from a small-cap asset manager

6:30 p.m.
Field Elementary, 3600 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Multi-Purpose Room
On the agenda: Subcommittee discussion and appointment; role discussion; Website improvement progress; and Board of Education Liaison re-appointments
 
THURSDAY, APRIL 21

11 a.m.
Department of Transportation, Parking Division, 221 E. Walnut St., Suite 210
On the agenda: Not available

6 p.m.
984 E. Locust St.
On the agenda: Not available

6 p.m.
McKinley Elementary School, 325 S. Oak Knoll Ave.,  Gymnasium
On the agenda: workforce development opportunities at John Muir High School

"Quote" of the week
"There is a much-repeated Pasadena anecdote showing the power of revenue return. When the city of Pasadena wanted to install parking meters in its Old Pasadena neighborhood, there was resistance from local merchants. When Pasadena proposed using the meter revenue just to improve Old Pasadena, merchants responded: can we run the meters at night and on weekends!?."
- StreetsBLOG LA,
related to Los Angeles' move toward returning parking meter revenue to neighborhoods. See article below.
WPRA in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

This year's WPRA annual meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 18, at the Marantha Student Center, 169 St. John Ave. A reception with refreshments and exhibits by local organizations will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the formal meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. This year's themes are local crime, presented by Pasadena Police Department Lt. Johnny Mercado (Community Service Area 1), and alternatives to the 710 tunnel, presented by noted Pasadena architect Stefanos Polyzoides.
Neighborhoods in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

In and around the Rose Bowl this weekend
Sunday, April 17
Estimated attendance: 8,000
9 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.: street closures
9:30 a.m.: amplified sound begins
10 a.m.: Walk MS begins
1 p.m.: amplified sound and event concludes

This event includes street closures on Rosemont between Seco and Washington; On Washington between Rosemont and West Drive; On West Drive between Washington and Seco. Seco and the Recreational Loop and the Equestrian Trail will remain open at all times. To receive assistance before, during or after the event, call the Rose Bowl Event Day Resident Hotline: (626) 397-4141.

 

The public is invited on Wednesday, April 27, 7-8 p.m., to a live televised debate, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters and KABC (ABC-7), for the six candidates for Los Angeles County District 5 Supervisor to replace termed-out Supervisor Michael Antonovich. The debate, which will focus on conservation and other important issues, can be viewed on KABC or seen in person at the Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church, 301 N. Orange Grove Blvd. Marc Brown of KABC will serve as moderator. Church doors open at 6:30, and the debate will be followed by a reception at 8 p.m. If you wish to attend the debate in person, click on the headline to RSVP.

The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) recently reduced Pasadena's 28% water conservation goal to 26%. The decision was based on a climate adjustment. Also, in February, the SWRCB extended the compliance period of its statewide conservation mandate from February 2016 to October 2016. The extension provides suppliers with more flexibility to meet their conservation goals through adjustments and credits. While the conservation goal has changed, Pasadena's overall water conservation progress toward its goal has remained unchanged at 21%. City officials continue to urge residents and businesses to conserve more water. 

On April 1, the City resumed its spring/summer watering schedule, which runs through October 31. This schedule permits outdoor watering on Tuesdays and Saturdays only between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m.
Editor's top news picks
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION

"You can thank the NFL for the three-day music festival coming to Pasadena next year." Pasadena Star-News

City releases police oversight report
"Research reveals widely diverse views of police held by Pasadenans, recommends both independent auditor and accountability commission." Pasadena Now

City Council agonizes over planning appeals case
"It was, by many accounts, one of the simplest, and one of the most complex decisions the Pasadena City Council has had to face in many years. Two houses. Two families. One view. One sun." Pasadena Now

Pasadena Water and Power will seek authority from the City Council to enter into various contracts with private contractors for services and equipment intended to improve the utility's services to the community." Pasadena Now

"Parking expert Donald Shoup has long asserted that one cornerstone of smart parking policy is to return parking meter revenue to the neighborhoods where the revenue is generated." StreetsBLOG LA

Five elementary schools in the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) are among several hundred in the state being honored with the new Gold Ribbon Award sponsored by the California Department of Education (CDE). The award honors schools while the California Distinguished Schools Program creates new assessment and accountability systems.  Nearly 6,000 elementary schools were eligible to apply for the award this year. The PUSD schools recognized with Gold Ribbon Awards for their outstanding programs are:
  • San Rafael Elementary School, for its Spanish-English dual language immersion program
  • Don Benito Fundamental School, for its community and parent docent program
  • Hamilton Elementary School, for its Leadership Academy
  • Norma Coombs Elementary School, for its Balanced Literacy Initiative
  • Sierra Madre Elementary School, for its community and parent engagement program
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.