WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
SATURDAY, MAY 28, 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 

Happy Memorial Day!

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 30

City Council - Cancelled

THURSDAY, JUNE 2

6:30 p.m.
Brookside Clubhouse, 1133 Rosemont Ave.
On the agenda: Not available
VERBATIM
"The [crime rate] going down has to do with neighbors getting involved, calling [the police] when they see something suspicious, just people keeping an eye out for each other. If people think the neighbors are watching them, they'll go somewhere else."
- Lt. Tracey Ibarra, Pasadena Police Department
WPRA'S POINT OF VIEW
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

The public is invited to attend the regular WPRA board meetings, held the first Wednesday of the month (except August and December) in the Westridge School Community Room (unless otherwise noted), 324 Madeline Dr.

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.

WPRA encourages you to attend June 13 city council meeting
At the meeting, the city council will discuss Mayor Terry Tornek's proposal to place an initiative on the November ballot to repeal Measure A. Passed in 2001 by Pasadena voters, Measure A directed the city to support the "completion of the 710 extension." At the WPRA's annual meeting on May 18, Mayor Tornek called for the repeal of Measure A so that the city can oppose the 710 tunnel without reservation. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 13, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.

Pasadena Unified's School Support Services Division provided a summary of efforts to improve traffic flow and safety around San Rafael Elementary School. Staff and consultants from PUSD and the city of Pasadena began working collaboratively on traffic and parking concerns in Fall 2015, with input from WPRA. Here are some of the general procedures that have been implemented to improve safety at the school site:
  • Between eight and ten staff members, including Principal Ramirez, support drop-off every morning by being present on the street and standing in front of the school. In the afternoon for pick-up, every teacher (except Kindergarten) posts at different gates and at different curbside locations.
  • Pasadena police traffic officers have provided extra uniform patrol and made numerous site visits (in plain clothes) to observe the traffic and pedestrian conditions. Moving violations and parking citations have been issued from time to time.
  • PUSD engaged a safety consultant to make recommendations to improve safety in and around the school campus that perhaps had not been previously considered.
  • Temporary signage and cones are placed in the parkway on school days to be used as a traffic calming measure.
  • Kindergarten Orientation includes a substantial section on traffic safety, parking guidelines, pick-up and drop-off protocols, and general safety awareness. That messaging is redistributed in monthly newsletters to regularly remind parents how essential they are to our combined success.

Questions or concerns regarding this work effort underway should be directed to Matt Bogaard, School Safety and Emergency Preparedness Consultant, who can be reached at spo-bogaardm@pusd.us.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<
 
 
UPCOMING ROSE BOWL DISPLACEMENT EVENTS:

Saturday, June 4 at 7 p.m. - Copa America Soccer (Brazil vs. Ecuador)
Tuesday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. - Copa America Soccer (Colombia vs. Paraguay)
Thursday, June 9 at 7 p.m. - Copa America Soccer (Mexico vs. Jamaica)
Monday, July 4 (Time TBD) - 4th of July Americafest
Wednesday, July 27 at 8:30 p.m. - International Soccer (Chelsea vs. Liverpool)
Saturday and Sunday, August 20-21 (time TBD) - Coldplay Concert

For assistance before, during or after events, 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 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 city's Spring/Summer watering schedule runs through October 31. This schedule permits outdoor watering between midnight to 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. to midnight on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
THE EDITOR'S TOP NEWS PICKS
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION

"Throughout May and until the end of June, Pasadena Fire Dept. crews are out inspecting neighborhoods and hillsides for compliance with the extensive preventative measures reinforced by the city's Hazardous Vegetation Ordinance." Pasadena Now

"Last week Mayor Tornek said he plans to seek council support and ask Pasadena voters to repeal Measure A, the 2001 initiative requiring the city to 'be in favor' of the 710 extension. Such repeal would allow leadership in the city of Pasadena a much-needed place at the table in determining acceptable impacts from regional transportation projects through the city." San Rafael Neighborhoods Association

"A new suggestion comes from Stefanos Polyzoides of the Pasadena-based architectural firm Moule & Polyzoides, who has imagined what would happen if Caltrans sold the land near the northern end of where the 710 is supposed be to the city of Pasadena so it could be redeveloped into housing, businesses, and 'a tree-covered boulevard.'" Curbed LA

"Despite an increase in gun violence since late 2015, the reported crimes rate for Pasadena has dropped 15 percent so far this year, according to a report just issued by the Pasadena Police Department." Pasadena Now

"The Pasadena City Council's conflicted relationship with the Pasadena Police Department has never been more evident in recent times than it is now, as the 2017 budget comes up for deliberation and the Council has to put a dollar figure on where it stands." Pasadena Now

"Los Angeles will finally launch its first bike-share system this summer, as Metro rolls 1,000 shiny new bikes docked at 80 solar-powered stations. By 2017, Metro plans to extend the program to Pasadena and connect with the city's own Bike Share program, thereby implementing step-by-step a seamless regional Bike-Share system." Pasadena Now

"Antonovich's impending departure due to term limits has opened the proverbial floodgates for a lengthy list of candidates to take his place." Pasadena Weekly

"Congressman Adam Schiff, (D-Burbank), is taking no chances. Although he has handily won seven elections for his seat, and faces little serious opposition in the June 7 primary, he still actively campaigns." Pasadena Weekly

"Since he entered the political arena four years ago, retired FBI special agent and small business owner Jack Orswell has run twice against Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-Pasadena), both times coming up short. On June 7, Orswell's hoping to win a ticket back to the ballot in November after he and Independent Tim Sweeney square off with the veteran lawmaker in the June 7 primary for the 27th Congressional District seat." Pasadena Weekly

"Six candidates in the June 7 Primary Election are hoping to replace Sen. Carol Liu, who is terming out of office after serving eight years in Sacramento. Meanwhile, Democratic Assembly member Chris Holden, a former member of the Pasadena City Council, faces re-election to a third two-year-term in state office against two Republicans and an Independent candidate from South Pasadena." 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.