WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
SATURDAY, MAY 7, 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).
COMMUNITY MEETINGS
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
NOTE: The following meeting dates, times and agenda items are accurate as of Friday evening. Click on the appropriate blue headline to ensure the meeting hasn't been cancelled or rescheduled.

MONDAY, MAY 9

2:30 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Public hearing on the FY2017-2021 Recommended Capital Improvement Program Budget.

6 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Not available.

6:30 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers, 100 N. Garfield Ave. 
On the agenda: Polystyrene food packaging ordinance; Continued public hearing on the FY2017-2021 Recommended Capital Improvement Program Budget; FY2017 recommended operating budget; FY2017 recommended schedule of taxes, fees, and charges;  FY2017 recommended general fee schedule; First reading of ordinance to permit alcohol at La Casita del Arroyo.

TUESDAY, MAY 10 

2 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Not available.

4 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Adoption of the 2015 Urban Water Management Plan; Adopt Interconnection Agreement Forms for Customers Installing Generation Equipment.

6 p.m.
City Hall, Basement Training Room S018, 100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Not available.

6 p.m. 
Permit Center Hearing Room, 175 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda
:
2015 Urban Water Management Plan; Letter to City Council regarding trash in the Arroyo Seco.

6:30 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Discussion with residents regarding the types of businesses they want to see along the Lincoln Avenue corridor; Presentation of programs at La Pintoresca and Villa Parke libraries; Economic subcommittee report on the Arroyo Seco Music & Arts Festival recommendations.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11

5:30 p.m.
Hale Building, 175 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: Not available.

6 p.m.
City Yards, 233 W. Mountain St.
On the agenda: Request for public tree removal at 762 N. Fair Oaks Ave.; Discussion of caring for trees when changing out landscapes flyer.

6 p.m.
City Hall, Grand Conference Room S038
On the agenda: Not available.


THURSDAY, MAY 12

5:30 p.m.
Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room 236, 351 S. Hudson Ave.
On the agenda: Naming of Sierra Madre Middle School gymnasium for Ty Gaffney; Approval of agreements with Stratford School, Inc., to terminate Linda Vista Site lease, grant license to Stratford for temporary use of Burbank site, and pursue potential long-term lease with Stratford for Burbank site.
VERBATIM
"I'm honored to serve the students, families, community, and staff in the role of board president and to work with my fellow board members and our superintendent to increase transparency, develop shared leadership with our families and staff and continue to build community trust in PUSD."
- Kimberly Kenne, newly elected president of the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education
WPRA'S POINT OF VIEW
>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 Chief Philip Sanchez, remarks by Mayor Terry Tornek, and alternatives to the 710 tunnel, featuring a presentation by noted Pasadena architect Stefanos Polyzoides.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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TRAFFIC & CROWD ALERT:
Saturday, May 14 - 7:30 p.m.
For assistance before, during or after the event, please contact the Rose Bowl Event Day Resident Hotline: (626) 397-4141

 
Learn more about the City's budget for Fiscal Year 2017 during special joint meeting meetings in May and June convened by the City Council and its Finance Committee. The meetings are held at City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., Second Floor, in the Council Chambers.
 
The Pasadena Fire Department's brush clearance inspections have begun and will continue through June 2016. Residents in brushy areas should receive a brochure outlining the requirements mandated by the State of California. Firefighters are available to answer any questions about City fire codes and ordinances regarding hazardous vegetation management and brush clearance. Given the current drought, compliance is essential to avoid devastating fires. For more information, contact the Fire Prevention Bureau at (626) 744-4668.


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 water suppliers with more flexibility to meet their conservation goals through adjustments and credits. Pasadena's overall water conservation progress toward its goal increased to 22%.

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.
THE EDITOR'S TOP NEWS PICKS
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION

"The number of homeless in the city of Los Angeles continued to rise during the past year, as Pasadena's figures continued to go down. Pasadena posted a 15.8 percent decrease in the number of homeless people, from 632 in 2015 to 532 this year, according to the latest count by Urban Initiatives presented to the Pasadena City Council Monday. The city of Los Angeles, meanwhile, saw homelessness rise by 11 percent, while in Los Angeles County, homelessness increased by 5.7 percent." Pasadena Now

"Three patients and possibly more died last year at Huntington Memorial Hospital in a "superbug" outbreak thought to have been caused by improperly sterilized medical scopes." Pasadena Now

"Pasadena Unified School District said late Thursday afternoon it has reached a tentative agreement with United Teachers of Pasadena (UTP)." Pasadena Now

"Michael M. Watkins, the Clare Cockrell Williams Centennial Chair in Aerospace Engineering and Director of the Center for Space Research at The University of Texas at Austin, has been appointed director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and vice president at Caltech." Pasadena Now

"The City Council re-elected Gene Masuda as vice mayor. The council also approved a staff recommendation to overturn a Board of Zoning Appeals decision on a hillside property permit at 1835 Kaweah Drive, despite neighbor opposition." Pasadena Now

"It's been known to fliers as Hollywood-Burbank. Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena. Bob Hope. And lately, Burbank Bob Hope Airport. But beginning this week, the alternative to LAX known to most passengers as Burbank airport will be officially rebranded as Hollywood Burbank Airport." LA Daily News

"Kimberly Kenne was elected president of the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Board of Education, Roy Boulghourjian was elected vice president and Larry Torres was elected clerk at the board's annual organizational meeting May 2." Crown City News

"Following Pasadena's passage in March of a new ordinance which will raise the minimum wage in the city to $15 an hour by 2020, both business owners and people who work in Pasadena were left with two major questions - how will this raise actually be implemented and monitored, and how will the new law be enforced? City Hall's Minimum Wage Internal Working Group has a plan." Pasadena Now
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.