Fire Prevention Festival at the Sierra Madre Fire Department Saturday, Oct. 17th - 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015 VOLUME 9 NO. 42 MEET SIERRA MADRE’S 2016 PRINCESSES UTILITY USER TAX MEASURE HEADED FOR APRIL BALLOT On Tuesday, the Sierra Madre the city. “I want facts, not spin”, City Council unanimously agreed said Delmar when referring to the to move forward with the necessary upcoming ballot measure. steps to place a Utility User Tax Mayor Pro Tem Gene Goss and Measure on the April 2016 ballot. Councilman John Harabedian both The decision follows in part the favored following the committee’s recommendation of the Revenue recommendation of increasing Committee, however the measure the tax to 12%. There was even will only ask for a 10% UUT. The discussion of raising the tax to 11%. committee’s recommendation was In the final analysis the 10% figure for an 12% increase. gained the support of all five council The current UUT will bottom out members. in the next fiscal year at 6% leaving Residents attitude towards an the city with an estimated $1 million increase in the UUT appears to have dollar shortfall. changed since the last time the issue Although the last attempt to was presented to voters. The city maintain the UUT at 10% failed to has held several community input get voter approval in 2014, the city’s meetings and a citywide Town Hall current financial position along with meeting. As a result, the consensus of an apparent shift in public sentiment those attending was that an increase has convinced all members of the in the tax is needed. council that an increase is needed. Harabedian pointed out that of Mayor John Capoccia was very those responding to the various pleased to have consensus among of forms of community outreach the members on the ballot measure. and education, 91% agreed that an In addition to raising the tax to increase was needed and of those 57% 10%, the new measure will not have wanted a 12% increase compared to a sunset clause, nor will it have 43% who thought a 10% increase was The Sierra Madre Rose Float Association is pleased to Congratulations to Emily Lopez, Alverno High School, an oversight committee. It will, sufficient. announce our 2016 princesses, who were crowned on October Cameron Martinez, Alverno High School, Kari Savoie, however, have exemptions for low The council did not, however, 4th, 2015. These young women are Sierra Madre residents, are Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and Katie Stapenhorst, income households. feel that it was necessary to spend 16 or 17 years old and have a 3.0 or better GPA. They will be Polytechnic School. $30,000 for a survey of residents by riding SMRFA’s float, entitled “Rollin’ on the River”, on New The above photo, from left to right, shows Emily, Cameron, Council members Denise Delmar an outside firm. Year’s Day. Kari and Katie – in the same order as listed above. and Rachelle Arizmendi who both Revenue Committee Member campaigned against the UUT at its Holland voiced what many have last offering have changed positions come to realize, “If we want to live MEET OUR PIONEERS AT SIERRA MADRE CEMETERY on the matter, seeing no other in Sierra Madre we have to pay for it. Turning a piece of real estate that was nothing more than be standing right there in the flesh to tell you about themselves solution to increase revenues for S. Henderson/MVNews “sagebrush and jackrabbits” into a town – our town – complete and their eventful lives and hard-won achievements. with businesses, schools, homes, and pepper tree-lined streets, was no job for the bland and boring. Our pioneers and the Please come to our charming cemetery and listen to their people who came after them were a scrappy and resourceful stories as they bring old Sierra Madre to life. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL bunch who all had a dream of what Sierra Madre could be, and Saturday, October 17 they made that dream come true. 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. MEETING ON WATER ISSUES This is your chance to meet some of those colorful folks in Pioneer Cemetery Sierra Madre, CA. – The Sierra last several months and will discuss person. On Saturday, October 17th, important Sierra Madre 601 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Madre City Council will meet for a replacement of some of the city’s figures from the past, whose wish had been to be interred $ 5.00 per person. special meeting Monday, October 19, worst leakers. Water conservation nowhere else but in the town they helped build, in its own Tickets sold at the entrance gate of the cemetery 2015 at 7:00PM to address key issues has been of increasing concern for cemetery, now called the Pioneer Cemetery in their honor, will affecting the City’s water resources, Sierra Madre as the gap between the including discussion on water City’s water usage and the State’s Inside this week: penalties, repairs to infrastructure, conservation target widens. The latest and the State’s Notice of Violation for statistics reported for October show a Scarecrow Winners failing to meet water conservation shortfall in conservation targets for Page 18 standards. the fourth month in a row. In July 2015 the City began The City Council special session assessing penalties for customers that will take place on Monday, October CALENDAR Pg. 2 exceed their conservation targets; the 19, 2015 at 7:00PM in City Hall City Council will being reviewing Council Chambers. Residents SIERRA MADRE NEWS this policy and providing direction are encouraged to attend and the Pg. 3 regarding the imposition of penalties opportunity for public input will for excess water use that results from be available. The meeting will be PASADENA/ALTADENA a leak on private property. The City televised on Time Warner’s channel is also greatly concerned with the three and streamed live from www. Pg. 6 number of leaks in the City’s 80+ cityofsierramadre.com for those who year old water pipe system over the cannot be present. SAN GABRIEL VALLEY Pg. 7 ARCADIA NEWS Pg. 7 MONROVIA/DUARTE Pg. 8 EDUCATION & YOUTH Pg. 9 BEST FRIENDS Pg. 10 FOOD & DRINK Pg. 11 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Pg. 12 THE GOOD LIFE Pg. 13 BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS HEALTHY LIFESTYLES Pg. 14 THE WORLD Pg. 15 OPINION Pg. 16 LEGALS Pg. 17 2 COMMUNITY CALENDAR Mountain View News Saturday, October 17, 2015 Weather6-Day Forecast Wise Sierra Madre, Ca. Sun: Ptly Cldy Hi 80s Lows 60s Mon: Ptly Cldy Hi 80s Lows 70s Tues: Ptly Cldy Hi 80s Lows 60s Wed: Sunny Hi 80s Lows 60s Thur: Sunny Hi 80s Lows 60s Fri: Sunny Hi 80s Lows 60s Forecasts courtesy of the National Weather Service CITY OF SIERRA MADRE CALENDAR OF EVENTS Unless otherwise noted, all meetings listed below are held at City Hall 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre, Ca. 626-355-7135 NEXT REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Tuesday, October 27, 2015 6:30 pm SIERRA MADRE POLICE BLOTTER 1630 AM EMERGENCY RADIO & Free on-air publicity for local events During the week of Sunday, October 4th, to Sunday, October 12th, Sierra Madre’s EMERGENCY radio station is now accepting scripts the Sierra Madre Police Department responded to approximately for Public Service Announcements (PSAs) about community events. 287 calls for service. PSAs will be broadcast on the air at no charge. The station operates 24/7 and can be heard at 1630 on the AM dial. Any local non-profit or non-commercial organization can have Monday, October 5th their event information broadcast to the public on Sierra Madre At 2:40 pm, Sierra Madre Police responded to the 300 block of West Community Information Radio. The station covers the city of Sierra Montecito Avenue regarding a residential burglary. Upon arrival, Madre, plus surrounding areas of Pasadena, Arcadia, and Monrovia. Officers were met by a witness who stated that she had heard an Your event must: audible alarm going off while she was standing near her home. • Benefit a non-commercial or non-profit entity • Be open to the public Shortly after she witnessed a man running southbound on Grove • Be of general interest to local citizens Lane while carrying a red pillow case and saw him get into a blue Just write a Public Service Announcement that describes your event Jeep Cherokee. The neighbor stated she attempted to run after and e-mail it to [email protected]. the man but was unable to catch up to him before he jumped into the vehicle. Officers determined the suspect entered the home by breaking a back door window. The home was ransacked and the SIERRA MADRE CITY MEETINGS homeowner reported jewelry to be missing. This case has been forwarded to the Detective Bureau. Regular City Council Meeting October 27, 2015 - 6:30 pm Tuesday, October 6th At around 1 pm, Sierra Madre Police were patrolling the area near 300 block San Gabriel Court when Officers observed an The final agenda and staff reports will available online no later than Friday night. Enter the open package box in the middle of the roadway. As the Officers date “10/13/2015” for the complete agenda approached the package, they observed a silver Toyota sedan packet. without plates parked along the curb. Officers initiated a traffic Can’t make it to the meeting, but still want to stop and as they approached the vehicle, Officers observed share your thoughts? You can mail or drop off a written statement to several open package boxes in the back seat of the vehicle.