November 9, 2013 Meeting Summary

Agenda Items:
Preparation
Attendees
Acknowledgments
Meeting

Preparation

E-mail and phone reminders

Attendees

3 members

Acknowledgments

Susan sent scones

Meeting

Agenda Items:

The meeting began about 11:25 am

  • PWP construction activity, traffic, …
    • New large water main is being put in on Foothill east to Halstead, on Sierra Madre Villa from Foothill to Sierra Madre Blvd, east on Sierra Madre Blvd to the reservoir on the north side under Hamilton Park.
    • For the past month they’ve been making a mess on Sierra Madre Villa and also barreling up and down our streets. In addition to using the designated streets to access the storage lot they’ve also been using whatever streets are convenient to where they are working.
    • Details from last month’s meeting
    • In addition to the dust and fumes around where they are working, the heavy smell of diesel exhaust continues throughout neighborhood every morning they are working, especially bad shortly after 7 am.
  • Community Meeting for Council District 4
    • A Community Meeting for City Council District 4 has been announced.
      • Thursday November 21, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
      • at the former St. Luke Hospital building
      • 2632 Washington Blvd
    • A proposed project for the former St. Luke Hospital property will be discussed, with guest speakers including the city’s Deputy Director of Planning David Reyes, and Principal Planner Kevin Parker
  • SE corner Foothill / Sierra Madre Villa
    • As noted last month, the development of 212 residential units on the southeast corner of Foothill Blvd and Sierra Madre Villa Ave is underway again.
    • A 50% Design Review for the project was scheduled at the Design Commission on October 22.  The city Staff Report available online did not include and layouts, sketches, or other useful material it referenced as having been provided to the Commission.  But the report does mention the required pedestrian corridor.
  • Proposed Backyard Chickens Regulation Changes
    • A backyard chicken proponents group asked the City Council to amend the current ordinance to reduce the distance requirements for chickens so that they could be legal in more residential areas, not just on huge properties.  For the most part they want to be able to keep hens for access to fresh eggs.
    • Current regulation
      • Requires chickens to be kept a minimum of 100 feet from any dwelling, church, school, hospital or place with food
      • Requires a minimum of 50 feet from any street or property line.
      • Only roosters under 4 months old are allowed.
      • No more then 10 total chickens and other fowl or rabbits can be kept.
      • Must be kept contained and that place has to kept clean.
      • Manure must be disposed of daily.
      • Exemptions to the distance requirements can be submitted to the health officer, and appeals of the health officer decision can be made to the city manager.
    • Concerns about backyard chickens include odor and flies, noise, attracting predators, and potential harbors of disease.
    • Proposed changed regulations include
      • Reducing the required distance from dwellings to 35 feet
      • Explicitly requiring adequate enclosure or fencing to contain the chickens
      • Require shelter from the elements and from predators.
      • Eliminate the allowance for a rooster of any age.
      • Require registration with the Humane Society.
      • Establish a registration fee.
      • Make the Humane Society the exemption granting authority and allow appeals to be handled by either the City Manager or a designee of the City manager.
    • The Public Health Department is seeking input and feedback on the issue.  Send comments to Liza Frias at [email protected]
  • Veterans Day event at City Hall
    • On Monday November 11, Veterans Day will be celebrated in front of City Hall at Centennial Square from 10 am to 11:11 am.
    • This years event will focus on the newest, youngest veterans, featuring Pasadena City College’s program for returning veterans.
    • The Pasadena Firefighters union will grill hot dogs and the Pasadena chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America will provide dessert.
    • The ceremony will conclude with an aerial fly-by at 11:11 a.m.
  • Hamilton Park Native Garden Spruce Up
    • Hamilton Park is located in Upper Hastings at 3680 Cartwright Street.  A Native Garden planted by the community is located around the restrooms and near the baseball backstop.
    • You are invited to join in sprucing up the Native Gardens at Hamilton Park on
      Saturday November 16
      9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
    • Bring gloves and shovel or trowel to assist with weeding and planting.  Sunscreen, hat, weeder, and kneeling pads are also recommended.  (Don’t worry if you lack tools; others will share.)
    • There will be a demonstration on how to plant natives.
    • You can just show up, but an RSVP is appreciated.  RSVP to Rhonda Stone at [email protected] or 626-744-7147.
  • Local Crime Summary
    • For the last month, from crimemapping.com:
      • Mon Oct 21, 9:49 am, 3200 block Las Lunas St, Residential Burglary
  • Coyotes roaming neighborhood again
    • Just a heads up and reminder of the danger to pets…
    • Coyotes have been spotted roaming our neighborhood again.  Reported sighting of two on Del Vina and on Avocado in the early morning of Friday November 8.
  • anything else attendees wish to discuss
    • Dog license check in our neighborhood
      • The Pasadena Humane Society canvassers are currently going door to door in our neighborhood.
      • They are checking on where dogs live and whether they are vaccinated and licensed.
      • If they don’t find anyone home, they leave a brochure that includes a dog license application.
      • One concern that some neighbors have is about the potential for side effects if they vaccinate an elderly dog. The Humane Society has a form your vet can fill out to get an exemption, but it says on the form that age is not an excuse.

Next meeting is December 14, 11:15 am, at Hastings Branch Library

Adjourned about 12:30 pm