Pasadena, California Celebrating 56 years of community service Spring 2018 LAND USE / PLANNING EDUCATION OPEN SPACE / CONSERVATION NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY GOVERNMENT PARKS / RECREATION ‘Housing and the character of our community’ WPRA sets date for 56th annual meeting “The strength of a city derives from the integrity of its neighborhoods and homes.” – Confucius (paraphrased) Save the date “Don’t buy the house, buy the neighborhood.” – Russian proverb What: he West Pasadena Residents’ year is “Housing and the character of WPRA 2018 annual meeting Association cordially invites you to its our community.” T 56th annual meeting on Wednesday, When: May 2, in the Westridge School, 324 Madeline What gave rise to the idea was the literal Dr. Parking is free in the south parking lot at tsunami of bills introduced recently by Wednesday, May 2, 2018 the State legislature to “solve” the State’s the corner of South Orange Grove and State 5:30-8:30 p.m. Street; enter from State Street. general housing and affordable housing shortage. [See related articles on page 4 and 5:30 p.m.: Meet and greet 5.] These new laws, many of which became Where: effective on January 1, supersede many local The evening starts with a reception, during Westridge School residential zoning and housing regulations. which attendees will be able to enjoy light Previously, cities, especially Charter cities 324 Madeline Dr. refreshments, while visiting with many such as Pasadena, had relative autonomy to (Free parking in school lot at community organizations that will be control their own planning and growth. To an exhibiting their services and programs. corner of South Orange Grove and appreciable extent, that’s no longer true. State Street; enter from State Street) Among the City officials who’ll join us will But this topic covers more ground than be Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek, District accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and forced Cost: 6 Councilmember Steve Madison and regulation changes. Our exploration of the City Manager Steve Mermell. Also, if their Free housing topic will expand to mansionization, schedules permit, we hope to see State Sen. short-term rental ordinances and affordable Anthony Portantino, State Assemblymember housing. Chris Holden and U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff. How is Pasadena addressing the homeless Helping us decipher the housing tea leaves, challenge? 6:30 p.m.: Business program will be panel moderator and WPRA Director Will ADUs materially ease the affordable The theme of the business program this Mic Hansen. A seasoned community planning housing shortage? and development specialist, Mic will lead a Where’s the line between the rights of panel of experts that include: the individual property owner and the David Reyes, Director, City Planning & interests of the neighborhood? Community Development What recourse does Pasadena have William Huang, Director, City Housing to preserve the character of our and Career Services neighborhoods, given the state mandates? Sue Mossman, Executive Director, How can oversight and enforcement be Pasadena Heritage strengthened to ensure that both the spirit Panelists will help us walk through the and letter of the law are upheld to preserve tangled underbrush of housing issues and the character of our neighborhoods? offer answers to questions such as: Last, but certainly not least, the WPRA will formally recognize those whose activities What are the City’s housing priorities, and have materially improved the quality of life YEARS why are they priorities? in west Pasadena, and our members will 1962 – 2018 How well are we dealing with Pasadena’s elect officers and directors for the 2018-2019 56 affordable housing shortage? WPRA fiscal year. WPRA IN MOTION A circular argument supporting transparency, activism By Kenyon Harbison that many of our disputes and pressing issues of the City or our President, WPRA in Pasadena are equally arcane, or would be, school district without the efforts of so many people to lift when we know no s I write this column, my last as them out of the shadows. That is, in large part, one who runs these President of the West Pasadena what the all-volunteer WPRA does, whether entities, and not Residents’ Association, it is “Pi Day.” A in our weekly Neighborhood Update e-mails, much more about I sit wondering whether Stephen Hawking or in this newsletter. We are not the only how they are run, — may he rest in peace — was aware of and organization that does this, of course. or the challenges amused by the fact that he passed away on they face or the such a high holy Good government timeframes (often day for nerds. I thrives on a certain “…citizen involvement in their long ago) when the Kenyon Harbison am sufficiently minimal level of seeds for present crazy that I favor government, as we have transparency, citizen challenges were actually planted. If the sum of the number “T” involvement and in Pasadena, makes one’s knowledge can fit into a tweetstorm, one (tau), which is 2π, activism. And, of doesn’t know much. as a more correct government better.” course, the one leads expression of the to the other. You may Being President of this organization has not circle constant. But Pi Day (3/14) is certainly recall seven or eight years ago, when the always been easy. I am an attorney with a more appealing as a mathematical teaching Los Angeles Times exposed the scandalous, sometimes-more-than-full-time job, a father device for children because it makes one think criminal behavior of officials in the City of of two young children, and involved in other of a warm pumpkin ... well, you know. Bell. It reminds us that citizen involvement activities as well. But it has been worthwhile, in their government, as we have in Pasadena, and I am grateful for the opportunity. Anyway, what does an arcane dispute about makes government better. the circle constant have to do with you, or I hope you all will continue to support the me, or the price of lavender scones at Little However, involvement also makes us better. WPRA, and the work it does, including by Flower Candy Company? Well, it turns out It’s very easy to rail about mismanagement volunteering if you are so moved. About us 2017 – 2018 officers 2017 – 2018 board of directors President: Kenyon Harbison Dan Beal ([email protected]) Bill Christian Vice President: Avram Gold Vince Farhat, past president ([email protected]) The News is mailed each quarter to Sarah Gavit Treasurer: Blaine Cavena nearly 8,000 homes and businesses in the Ken Grobecker ([email protected]) 91105 and 91103 ZIP codes and beyond. Mic Hansen ([email protected]) Secretary: Justin Chapman Land use, Planning Editor: Chuck Hudson ([email protected]) Joan Hearst ([email protected]) Mission: Founded in 1962, the West Chuck Hudson ([email protected]) P. O. Box 50252 Pasadena Residents’ Association is dedicated to Communications maintaining the character of our community and Pasadena, CA 91115-0252 Audrey O’Kelley, past president enhancing the quality of life in west Pasadena. Catherine Stringer The West Pasadena Residents’ Area: The WPRA service area is bounded on Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit the north by Colorado Boulevard, on the east by Priscilla Taylor Fair Oaks Avenue and on the south and west by Bill Urban, past president public benefit corporation. the city limits. Nancy Walker ________________________________ Funding: All WPRA activities are funded Gazelle Raye Wichner through membership dues and contributions. Linda Zinn ([email protected]) Visit our website at wpra.net The WPRA receives no public funding and Visit our Facebook page has no paid employees. Since the WPRA is a Membership, Open Space & 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation, Conservation contributions and donations are fully deductible to the extent permitted by law. The News 2 Spring 2018 The News 3 Spring 2018 BREAKING NEWS BRIEFS Mayor sounds fiscal alarm City of Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek delivered the annual State of the City address on January 16 at the Marshall Fundamental School. What follows are excerpts from that address. For the past two years I have tried to alert everyone that the day was fast approaching when we could not rely on our current sources of revenue to adequately pay our bills. Participating in a recent Pasadena Educational Foundation’s annual event, Principal For A Day, Unhappily, that day has arrived. are (left to right), PEF Executive Director Dr. Patrick Conyers, Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek and PUSD Board of Education President Roy Boulghourjian. Increased development and rising property values will continue to be our primary source of revenue and revenue gains, while sales and utility taxes are largely flat. PUSD struggles as revenues decline, The City’s contribution to the employee Retirement system expenses rise, unique services expand (CalPERS) continues to take a Traditional sources of City revenue declining growing bite out of our budget. While budget payments to CalPERS By Roy Boulghourjian student population declined. were stable from 2011-2015, President, Board of Education Since then, Pasadena has been experiencing City employees increased their Pasadena Unified School District a decline in the birthrate. This trend was contributions to help offset the asadena Unified School District exacerbated by the shrinking middle class CalPERS rate increases; so our (PUSD) is going through a particularly due to the rising cost of housing. Also, young budget cost during this time held tough financial patch. As much as $7 families continue to either move out to buy in the lower $30 million range. P million in spending needs to be cut this year, less expensive homes elsewhere or simply Unfortunately, underperformance in with as much as another $15 million next can’t afford to move here.