WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 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 items are accurate as of Friday. 
Click on the appropriate blue headline to ensure the meeting hasn't been cancelled or rescheduled.

MONDAY, APRIL 25

4 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda:
  • Approval of project amendments to FY 2016 Capital Improvement Program budget
  • Convene public hearing on fiscal year 2017 schedule of taxes, fees and charges for dog license fees and general fee schedule for animal impounding fees
  • Authorize purchase of four 32-foot compressed natural gas busses for Pasadena Transit for a sum of no more than $1.75 million
  • Authorize annual software maintenance and support contracts for City's enterprise resource planning system
6:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave. 
On the agenda: 
  • Appoint Warren Sata to the Human Relations Commission - District 6 nomination
  • Conduct hearing on submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of an Amendment to the Annual Action Plan (2015-2016), specifically for sidewalk replacement and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) curb cuts within designated areas
  • Conduct public hearing and adopt the Capital Improvement Program for fiscal years 2017-2021
  • Conduct public hearing to adopt the fiscal year 2017 schedule of taxes, fees and charges for license fees and the general fee schedule for animal impounding fees
  • Approve proposed amendments for the Neighborhood District Overlay zone (Lower Hastings Ranch) in response to recent concerns for the potential for "mansionization" in Pasadena and to revise the Zoning
  • Code development standards governing single-family residences in Pasadena
  • Conduct first public hearing for an ordinance that will permit the City to require the use of non-potable water for landscape irrigation and other non-potable uses whenever its use is economically Justified and technically feasible
TUESDAY, APRIL 26
 
4 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: discussion of a polystyrene food-packaging ordinance and information about the 2015 Urban Water Management Plan and an update on the Glenarm Repowering Project
 
4 p.m.
Community Center Room, Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: presentation of Americans For Disability Act customer awareness; presentation of disability and disaster shelter guidelines; recommendations for City's disaster plans for serving those with disabilities
 
 
6 p.m.
Basement Training Room, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield St.
On the agenda: Proposed expansion and renovation of Robinson Park Recreation Center, which includes demolition of an existing 8,300 square-foot recreation center and construction of a new 13, 150 square-foot addition to the existing recreational building; proposed demolition of non-historic structures and five protected trees to accommodate construction of a new 12-unit multi-family residential development with 24 subterranean parks spaces

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27

4 p.m.
Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St.
On the agenda: Not available

6:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield St.
On the agenda: A public hearing for a planned 375-room Colorado Hill Hotel and ground-floor commercial space at 1347-1355 E. Colorado Blvd. and 39 N. Hill Ave. 

THURSDAY, APRIL 28

4 p.m.
Department of Transportation, 221 E. Walnut St, Suite 210
On the agenda: Not available

5:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: minimum wage update and discussion of implementation and enforcement
"Quote" of the week
"Those living near greenery had a 34% lower rate of death from respiratory illness and a 13% lower rate of death from cancer. This doesn't mean you need to move to the country. We found the associations within urban areas as well as rural areas. Any increased vegetation - more street trees, for example - seems to decrease mortality rates."
Source: Peter James, a research associate at Harvard University, based on the latest biannual study of health and lifestyle among 108,630 women between 2000 and 2008; see "Living near greenery may help you live longer" 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. The formal portion of the meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. This year's themes are local crime, featuring a presentation by Pasadena Police Department Lt. Johnny Mercado (Community Service Area 1), and alternatives to the 710 tunnel, featuring a presentation by noted Pasadena architect Stefanos Polyzoides.
Neighborhoods in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
  • Saturday and Sunday, April 23-24: The Pasadena Garden Club celebrates 100 years with a flower/horticulture show at the Pasadena Public Library. Admission is free. MORE
  • Wednesday, April 27: Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters debate for District 5 County Supervisor candidates MORE
  • Thursday, April 28:A History Night presentation: "The Darkest Night: The Destruction and Rebirth of Pasadena's Chinatown" MORE
  • Thursday, May 5: League of Women Voters Pasadena Area program: "Rising Seas and Falling Aquifers" MORE
  • Fridays in May: Sounds on South Lake - a Friday free concert series MORE
  • Saturday, May 7: Pasadena Heritage's Old Pasadena walking tour MORE


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.

In April Pasadena Water and Power completed two important milestones in the Glenarm Repowering Project, April, which brings it a few steps closer to commercial operation of the City's newest electric generating unit, GT-5. On April 2, natural gas fuel was introduced and ignited in the GT-5 combustion turbine, the equivalent to turning on the ignition and starting the engine on a car for the very first time. The gas turbine and associated equipment operated as planned for a few hours and all proper checks for operation were completed. The following week, on April 9, GT-5 started generating power for the first time, connecting to the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) via the City's Glenarm Dispatch Center. The electricity provided power to the unit's own auxiliary equipment and the unit operated at close to 30% of the full capacity, delivering 16 Megawatts of electricity. Adjustments continue to be made to the unit as we work to increase output from the unit's full potential.

Did you know ...
The City of Pasadena spends $600,000 each year in postage.
Editor's top news picks
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION

"In the 1970s, John Norquist was a lathe operator and a community organizer who worked to stop a plan to surround Milwaukee with freeways.  Three decades later, Norquist was mayor of Milwaukee and a member of the board of the Congress for the New Urbanism." Preservation Institute

"Compared with those living in the lowest one-fifth for greenness in the 250-square-meter area surrounding their homes, those living in the highest one-fifth had a mortality rate that was 12 percent lower." New York Times

"A consultant firm's study of police oversight which recommended the creation of a police auditor and commission for Pasadena met with decidedly mixed and at times hostile responses at a Monday night joint City Council and Public Safety Committee meeting at City Hall." Pasadena Now

"Robert Leviton's loudest neighbor is the 12-lane 210 freeway." Pasadena Star-News (may require subscription)
 
"Keep an eye out for Chevy Chase, Bill Murray and John Belushi in Pasadena over the next few weeks, or at least for the actors playing them in an upcoming film for Netflix. 'A Futile and Stupid Gesture,' a biopic chronicling the life of National Lampoon's co-founder Doug Kenney, is filming at three locations between April 29 and May 6, according to permits filed with the city." Pasadena Star-News (may require subscription)
 
"Los Angeles lawmakers voted Friday to draft a new law that would enshrine a "wildlife corridor" in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains, aiming to ensure that coyotes, bobcats and other wild animals are not cut off from stretches of their habitat by new homes or other development." LA Times

"Longtime Pasadena resident [Linda Vista area] and 1941 Rose Queen Sally Stanton Rubsamen, died April 15 at the age of 92. As part of her reign, she helped untie the ribbon to open the Pasadena Freeway/Arroyo Seco Parkway in December 1940." Pasadena Star-News (may require subscription) 
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.