WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
SATURDAY, MAY 21, 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 23


City Council - Cancelled

TUESDAY, MAY 24 


4 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
On the agenda: Presentation by Constance Griesmer on problems with Pasadena's Dial-a-Ride and shuttle bus programs.

Design Commission - Cancelled

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25

Planning Commission - Cancelled
THURSDAY, MAY 26

5:30 p.m.
351 S. Hudson Ave., Room 236
On the agenda: Public disclosure of proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement
with United Teachers of Pasadena.

6 p.m.
City Yards, 233 W. Mountain St.
On the agenda: Not available.
VERBATIM
"It was my expectation that the [710 tunnel project] was so flawed it would fail under its own weight, but I was wrong. This is the struggle of the decade for the city. As soon as the November elections are over, [Metro/Caltrans are] coming for us. [This project] is going to be pursued with unprecedented vigor."
- Mayor Terry Tornek, calling for a November ballot initiative to repeal Measure A at the WPRA's Annual Meeting on May 18.
WPRA'S POINT OF VIEW
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

The public is also invited to attend the regular WPRA board meetings, held at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month (except August and December) in the Westridge School Community Room (unless otherwise noted).

WPRA seeks email newsletter editors
Do you have writing and editing skills and want to help inform your community? Contact Chuck Hudson at hudson@wpra.net to learn how to become a co-editor of WPRA's weekly Neighborhood Update email newsletter.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
 
City Hall and many city services and administrative business offices will be closed on Monday, May 30 in observance of Memorial Day. Click the headline for a full list of closures and available services.

Councilman Steve Madison invites you to a curbside coffee and chat with Police Department
On Thursday, June 2, Councilman Steve Madison will host a curbside coffee and chat with Pasadena Police Department Sergeant Chris Gutierrez and Community Services Representative Sarah Presley to discuss quality of life issues, community needs, and safety. The event will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the San Rafael Library parking lot, 1240 Nithsdale at the corner of Avenue 64 and Nithsdale. If you have questions please call (626) 744-4739 or email tsuzuki@cityofpasadena.net.

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. While the conservation goal has changed, Pasadena's overall water conservation progress toward its goal has remained unchanged at 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

"Calling it the 'struggle of the decade' for the city, Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek re-emphasized his newly stepped-up opposition to the proposed $5 billion, 5-mile 710 Freeway tunnel project which would join the 710 Freeway to the 210 Freeway during the annual meeting of the influential West Pasadena Residents Association meeting Wednesday night." Pasadena Now

"The influential West Pasadena Residents Association Annual Meeting heard from a newly-energized ally in Mayor Terry Tornek, who Monday announced his intention to ask voters to repeal a 2001 measure advocating completion of the 710 freeway in order to fund a fight against building the tunnel extension." Pasadena Now


"Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek said Monday night that the city must urgently prepare a measure to repeal 2001's Measure A which promotes completion of the 710 Freeway while simultaneously readying for an 'ambush' in November by forces in favor of building the tunnel extension. The new repeal measure requires immediate action, said Mayor Tornek, because it will need to be ready in July to qualify for the November ballot." Pasadena Now

"Councilmember Margaret McAustin on Tuesday agreed with Mayor Terry Tornek that the City cannot actively campaign against the building of a tunnel under west Pasadena to complete the 710 Freeway without first repealing a 2001 measure passed by Pasadena voters." Pasadena Now

"California on Wednesday suspended its mandatory statewide 25 percent reduction in urban water use, telling local communities to set their own conservation standards after a relatively wet winter and a year of enormous savings in urban water use." The New York Times

"The sold-out show was flawless. The crowd was well-behaved. Police said there were no major incidents. Media reports that the glut of concert-goers would 'bring the city to a halt' were exaggerated. A well-oiled network of off-site parking lots coupled with shuttles kept traffic woes in west Pasadena to a minimum, observers agreed." Pasadena Now

"Pasadena residents will soon see a modest decrease in their monthly electric bill, around $2.50 to $5." Pasadena Now

"After the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Education issued transgender bathroom guidelines late last week, Pasadena Unified officials announced that District schools were already in total federal compliance." Pasadena Now

"California's pilot earthquake early warning system is one step closer to being ready for prime time thanks to Gov. Jerry Brown's latest budget proposal. In it, he asks the state legislature to allocate $10 million for the project." KPCC

"Friends of Mitrice Richardson, the 24-year-old college student whose decomposed body was found in a creek bed less than a year after she was allegedly last seen leaving the nearby Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station in 2009, will be hosting a free screening of an award-winning film about the case today at 2 p.m. at the Flintridge Center, 236 W. Mountain St." Pasadena Weekly
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.