There seem to be two majorissues plaguing the proposedconvention center. One is the

recently published Brookings Institutionreport. The report cited a glut of exhibition space nationally and adeclining demand for convention andtrade show space. The report also statedthat returns to cities from conventionbusiness are often far short of projec-tions. The second issue is the designconcept that was reviewed at a specialDesign Commission meeting lateJanuary. The meeting left open ques-tions about the appropriateness of theproposed design. Should the expansionof the Pasadena Conference Center bedesigned in a “nostalgic” style or should

it be “more bold and modern” to contrast with the 1932 auditorium andstand on its own as a work of art. Eitherway, the Pasadena Center OperatingCompany (PCOC) won’t let any disagreements slow itsattempt to start this project.It is scheduled to appearbefore Council aroundApril 11th. (Check thecouncil agenda if you areinterested in attending.)

A larger question iswhether expanding the conventioncenter is even worth doing. In January2005, the Brookings Institution report-ed the following:

• Since 1993, the convention centermarketplace is declining with slim likelihood of a turnaround.

• Convention center space hasincreased by nearly 50% since 1990.

• 44 new or expanded conventioncenters are currently being plannednationwide.

• Despite dedicated tax dollars to payoff tax bonds, many convention centersoperate at a loss.

The Mayor, responding to theBrookings Institution report, requestedthe city revisit past assumptions regard-ing projections for the proposed convention center. Many conventioncenters try to remain competitive byoffering deep discounts or city spon-sored amenities such as publiclyfinanced hotels. Spending city moneyto expand the convention center, onlyto then spend additional city money tomake it attractive may not make sense.

Roger Smith, the PCOC CEO,argues that the Brookings Institution

document only refers to larger convention centers and thatPasadena’s conventioncenter would be moreappropriately comparedwith local competitorssuch as Long Beach,

Palm Springs and San Diego. The totalcost of $65 to $68 million would beoffset by the $1.6 million bed tax thatthe city expects to collect per year. Thetax has to be used within the year it’sreceived. (Note: a 5% loan over tenyears for $68 million costs roughly $8.8million per year to repay the debt). Mr.Smith prefers to use the ConventionSports and Leisure (CSL) organizationfor guidance and future projections.The PCOC will conduct the economicanalysis to show how the conventioncenter in Pasadena will be profitable.

The Pasadena Center Operating

A L S O I N T H I S I S S U E

P a s a d e n a , C a l i f o r n i a e s t a b l i s h e d 1 9 6 2 Wi n t e r 2 0 0 5

Pasadena Conference Center Expansion:If we Build it, Will they Come? by Cheryl Auger

W e s t P a s a d e n a R e s i d e n t s ’ A s s o c i a t i o n

Our recent construction efforts

support the concerns of Pasadena Heritage

and the DesignCommissioners.

Ambassador Campus Update . . . . . . . . .3

President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Looking to Make a Difference? . . . . . . .5

Reengagement in the PUSD . . . . . . . . .6

Maranatha High School Seeking CUP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

WPRA & the Arroyo Seco Lose a Friend — Richard Flanagan Davis . . . . .7

West Pasadena Residents Respond to NFL Survey . . . . . . . . . . . .8

NFL Survey Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Transportation Update . . . . . . . . . . . .11

New ARTS Service for SW Pasadena . .12

Weekly Neighborhood E-Newsletter . . .12

Let your City Representatives know . . .12

ARTS Bus Route 70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Thank You to Our Donors . . . . . . . . .14

Board of Directors / Phone Numbers . . .16

NEWSa

Pasadena Civic Auditorium 1980,Inset 1932

continued on page 3

2

Company, the Design Commission,Pasadena Heritage and the CityCouncil are the players in the designcontroversy. The PCOC supports thecurrent design by architect CurtFentress which boasts flanking two-story entrance lobbies, a new parkingstructure, a 24,000 square foot plusballroom and a 60,000 foot subter-ranean exhibit space that is dividable.The Design Commission finds theFentress plan to be imitative of theCivic Auditorium and recommended amore modern approach. PasadenaHeritage has attended many meetingsand offered input throughout theprocess, but remains concerned that thedesign needs further exploration. It iscertainly more respectful of the CivicAuditorium than the last round, but itis not the great design solution which

the site deserves. The PCOC believesthat Design Commission has over-stepped its role as a reviewing agency bysuggesting a specific redesign. SomeDesign Commissioners felt they havebeen treated as “an annoying hindranceto the project.”

Our recent construction efforts sup-port the concerns of Pasadena Heritageand the Design Commissioners. Therehas been such a large amount of construction in our city over the lastseveral years but few, if any, of thesenew buildings would be consideredarchitectural masterpieces. In addition,there has been a public outcry to raiseour standards rather than accept mediocrity in design. Others ask whythe new design does not encouragepedestrian traffic from the nearby GoldLine, furthering City goals to increasepedestrian access by offering “gates”from the West.

City residents will now have to waitand see what unfolds. The CityCouncil will be asked to decide the best

PasadenaConference CenterContinued from front page

direction in a few short weeks. It isunclear if the Mayor’s financial analysiswill be completed by that time. It’s alsounclear whether changes will be madeto the concept design, as requested bythe design commission and suggestedby Pasadena Heritage. If the project isapproved, bids will be solicited in theSpring and construction will start inNovember, beginning with the parkinglot along Marengo.

It is unknown whether the Councilwill enable the PCOC to proceed orwait to revise the current design. Nowis the time for us all to becomeinformed on the finances of small convention centers, consider the type of public process a city project of this size should follow and determine whattype of building should occupy thatspace. In the meantime, information isavailable on the WPRA web site(www.wpra.net) and Council MemberSteve Madison would probably appreciate your feedback. n

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Ambassador Campus Update by Mike Vogler

West Campus – Citizen advocacy a successWith help from WPRA, Save SouthOrange Grove (SSOG) has fulfilled itsgoal of ensuring that the formerAmbassador College property WestCampus will not become a massivehousing development: the AmbassadorAuditorium has been saved without apenny of taxpayer dollars, with theCalifornia Symphony kicking off itsfirst season of performances; land useof most of the West Campus is toremain educational, due to its purchaseby Maranatha High School; and fivehistoric homes on Orange Grove northof Del Mar will be preserved due to thecreation of the Ross Grove LandmarkDistrict.

East Campus – Developerseeks change in land usedesigned by citizens With the purchase of the former EastCampus by Sares-Regis, citizens maysoon find a massive housing project rising up in west/central Pasadena, onewhich will define our city for genera-tions to come. With a proposed 832units on little more than 11 acres,Sares-Regis is proposing the largesthousing project ever built in Pasadena.

Of particular concern is the fact thatthis project is in the heart of the OldPasadena Historic District, where seldom do the quaint, century oldbrick buildings exceed two stories.Sares-Regis is proposing structures upto 60ft in height, a full 20ft higherthan the 40ft height maximumallowed under the new adoptedCentral District Specific Plan.

Additionally, the developer seeks toexceed the allowable density of 60units per acre by as many as 23 units insome places, with the entire project

being elevated many feet above thestreet. This is not only inconsistentwith the Specific Plan, but will create“concrete canyons” which are incom-patible with the character of OldPasadena.

Development must fit ourcommunityAllowable heights and number of unitspermitted by the Central DistrictSpecific Plan are maximums, NOTentitlements. Under a PlannedDevelopment Application, a developeris not constrained by the limits withinthe zoning code and could build a pro-ject much larger than allowed by theCentral District Specific Plan, ifapproved by the City Council. This iswhat Sares-Regis is proposing to do.However, a Planned Development cutsboth ways. The City can use its discre-tionary authority (contained withinthe Planed Development Code) toreduce a project below what is beingproposed in order to ensure that thedevelopment fits Old Pasadena andthe surrounding historic neighbor-hoods. Citizens are urged to implorethe Council to use this opportunity toensure that the project fits Pasadena.

On January 10th, SSOG appearedbefore the City Council to requestthat, as the project moves forward, theprocess by which it gets entitled befully transparent to the community. In order to ensure that transparency,

three things are requested:1. The City utilize its discretionary

authority within the PlannedDevelopment Code to ensure that theproject is appropriate and complimenta-ry, in both size and scale, to the OldPasadena Historic District and that ofthe surrounding historic neighborhoods.

2. Should the City enter into anyDevelopment Agreement with thedeveloper, that Agreement be madeavailable to the public, for public com-ment, prior to approval by the City.

3. That the City Council require thedeveloper to produce, for public view-ing, a three-dimensional model of theproposed development prior to approvalof the project by the City Council.

Citizens must stay engagedContact your City Council Member,Mayor and City Staff to request thatthe City ensure transparency and guar-antee a fair process for the community.This project will dramatically definethe future of Old Pasadena for futuregenerations. Don’t let an OrangeCounty developer such as Sares-Registell you and our City what Pasadena isto become. Make your voice heard!

Check the WPRA website for newdevelopments. n

Mike Vogler is the Executive DirectorSave South Orange Grove and a Boardmember of WPRA.

City Council has scheduled a meetingon February 28th with theTransportation Advisory Commission(TAC) to discuss what measuresshould be undertaken to effectivelyalleviate our continuing problemwith traffic congestion. Whether talkwill be translated into action remainsa long lingering, open, question. Butthe opportunity to implement TAC’srecommendations is a golden one thatWPRA strongly urges not be lost.

Parks and open space also remainproblematic. In September 2004 theCity Council adopted a fee of $19,743per dwelling unit. Upon challenge bySares-Regis and other developers, thefee temporarily has been reduced to$10,977.00 per dwelling unit (e.g., InSeptember 2005 the fee will return tothe original amount of $19,743 perdwelling unit).

Regardless of the amount of thefee, it is evident that too many yearshave passed without collecting anadequate fee to cover the acquisitioncosts of parks and open space interms of current “real time” cost ofacquisition. It therefore seems appar-ent that, if the City of Pasadena is tohave parks and other open space suf-ficient to meet its need, the onlyalternative available will be to supple-ment the park fee with a tax or bondof some kind imposed upon all residents. Because of its concern thatacquisition of parks and open space isvital to the health and growth of ourcommunity WPRA is monitoringthis situation. Stay tuned.

Sares-Regis ProjectThe Sares-Regis developer has

submitted a plan to put 832 dwellingunits and 30,000 square feet ofground floor retail/commercial onwhat formerly was known as the east

campus of the World Wide ChurchOf God. The project, comprised of11.94 acres, is described as a masterplanned development of an “urbanmixed-use village” that will extendacross three city blocks from GreenStreet to Del Mar Boulevard andPasadena Avenue to De LaceyAvenue.

In one of the blocks Sares-Regisproposes 69.7 units per acre for anarea zoned for 16 dwelling units peracre. In the other two blocks Sares-Regis proposes slightly less than 60units per acre for areas zoned for 60 units per acre, but does notaccount for the higher traffic to begenerated by the 30,000 square feetof ground floor retail/commercial.

The massive scale and density ofthe project has the capacity to over-whelm its surroundings with adverseimpacts including, among others,lack of parks and open space toaccommodate the new residents andtraffic congestion resulting from suchhigh density.

The project is subject to reviewthrough the Environmental ImpactReport (EIR) process. The currentschedule calls for a scoping meetingto determine the scope of the EIRsome time between March – June2005. Comments on the EIR will beaccepted between July – August2005; with response to comments tooccur in September 2005. Thereafterthe planning commission and thecity council will hold public hearingsduring October – November 2005.WPRA will monitor the process toassure inclusion in the EIR of essen-tial facts relating to adverse impactsand alternatives for their mitigation.

NFL/Rose BowlThe City has issued its draft

President’s Message

David Romney

WPRA has scored significantvictories in recent months.The “caps” on residential

and commercial development in theCentral District have been reinstated.The City also has imposed a substan-tial fee to fund parks and open spaceand recently has shown active interestin their acquisition.

At the same time, only marginalprogress has been made on manyfronts. A major reason for it is thatour City’s decision-making process,in many instances, has been mired inbureaucracy rather than invigoratedby the intended rigorous process ofexamination of policy and its imple-mentation. Accordingly, WPRA willbe re-doubling its effort in themonths to come to assure our neigh-bors, and the residents of the City asa whole, have full and fair opportuni-ty to examine what the City is doingand why. The stakes are high – as evidenced by the following:

“Updated” General Plan &Accompanying EIR

The City Council adopted an“updated” General Plan based on anEnvironmental Impact Report (EIR)approved even though its glaring deficiencies concerning adverseimpacts – particularly those involvingtraffic congestion and parks and open space – had not been addressed as the highest priorities of the 1994General Plan being “updated.”

In an apparent attempt to do whatalready should have been done, the

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President’s Message, continued

from the Rose Bowl OperatingCommittee (RBOC) and the City,destroy the historic design and character of the Rose Bowl, greatlydiminish access to the environs of theRose Bowl for residents who use theArroyo for sports, recreational activi-ties and picnics, and introduce further traffic congestion to an areaalready heavily congested by traffic.

In light of the results of WPRA’ssurvey of its members, it’s apparentthat great care must be taken toassure the NFL does not become the“tail that wags the dog.” Over thecoming months WPRA will continue to investigate and evaluatethe NFL’s proposal to assure it iscompatible with the needs of ourneighborhood and City.

Our Strength Is OurMembership

As can be seen, WPRA has itshands full. We can do little as individuals. Yet we constitute a powerful force collectively. Your participation and continuing financial support during the comingyear will be vital to our continuingsuccess – and we thank you for joining with us to make Pasadena the unique gem of a City that it is!

Sincerely,David T. RomneyWPRA, President n

Environmental Impact Report (EIR)for the National Football League’s(NFL’s) proposed use of the Rose Bowl.

The NFL’s proposed use includesre-construction of the Rose Bowlwith addition of thousands of squarefeet of retail space, the NFL’s use ofthe Rose Bowl on Sundays during theregular NFL season and the play-offs,if any, and the NFL’s use of the re-construction for its own purposesduring days when football is notbeing played.

The NFL proposal has been toutedas a way of saving the Rose Bowl byassuring an income stream sufficientto renovate it to modern needs.

On the other side of the ledger isconcern the NFL’s proposal will wresteffective control of the Rose Bowl

All membership dues are tax-deductible, and donations of $75 or more are acknowledged in this newsletter.Please take a moment to complete this form and mail it with your check today!

Name _________________________________________________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone ( _________ ) ______________________________ E-Mail _______________________________________

L Associate $25-$49 L Patron $75-$99 L Neighborhood Protection Fund

L Friend $50-$74 L Benefactor $100-$249 L Platinum $250 or more

Please mail to: West Pasadena Residents‚ Association, Post Office Box 50252, Pasadena California 91115

Join the WPRA Today

Would you like to make a difference in our community?

Do you have a special interest that fitswith the WPRA’s mission? Would you like to influence public policy?The WPRA needs your help!

The WPRA has no paid staff. All work is done by members anddirectors, and we can’t do it without

you. Staying on top of issues, con-tributing expertise and consideredopinions, analyzing policy decisionsand documents, representing commu-nity interests before agencies and commissions, and communicatingwith the public are among the ways theWPRA gets things done – but it takestime and interest from people like

you to get it all done. Your commit-ment of time or expertise can make ahuge difference.

Can you help? Do you want to make adifference? You can! Just call the WPRA orsend an email to membership@wpra.netto find out how. We need your help – canwe count on you? n

Looking to Make a Difference?

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6

Ask staff members of any organization why they operate the way they do and

the likely answer is “Because that’s theway we’ve always done it.” Nowhere is this more true than in the PasadenaUnified School District, which is why the voters overwhelminglyapproved Measure DD (by 75%), the“School Accountability Reform Plan,”in November 2000.

Under the Plan, the SchoolGovernance Reform Task Force called for substantial reform in the areas of Student Achievement, PublicEngagement, Financial Management,District Operations, School Safety,School Choice and the Role of theGoverning Board. Yet some of the mostcritical recommendations proposed bythe Task Force to improve the qualityof our public schools have beenignored by the Board of Education

and the Reform Plan has been all but forgotten.

To make matters worse, the PUSDrecently announced there will be noMeasure Y dollars for San RafaelElementary School and that there arenot enough Measure Y dollars to com-plete the construction already begun atLinda Vista Elementary School. As aresult, San Rafael will not get the muchneeded modernization it requires to bea functional elementary school, andLinda Vista is boarded up, vacant, andmay never reopen.

The long term consequences of theDistrict’s actions, combined withdeclining enrollment, could mean thatin the future West Pasadena will haveno public elementary school, despitethe tens of millions of dollars we will besending to the District in early Aprilwhen our property tax payments aredue, and to which we will continue

to send our dollars year, after year, after year.

The prospects for a public school-of-choice in West Pasadena are lookingbleak. The District either appearsunconcerned about West Pasadenafamilies, or is unwilling to take the stepsnecessary to attract West Pasadena families back to the public schools.

Either way, we all lose.What is necessary is the reengage-

ment of West Pasadena residents in thePasadena Unified School District.Each and every one of us must demandaccountability for how our tax dollarsare spent, and how our schools arebeing run.

But this alone is not enough. It’s also necessary that the District reachout and reengage West Pasadena residents. n

Reengagement in the PUSDBy Mike Vogler

Maranatha High School(MHS) is seeking aConditional Use Permit for

the operation of a High School on portions of the former AmbassadorCollege Campus on Pasadena. Theschool will be housed in the existingbuildings, no new buildings will beconstructed and no existing buildingswill be torn down.

The former Men’s DormitoryBuilding will serve as the school’s main classroom building, which willundergo interior renovations toaccommodate classrooms.

The Student Center Building willhouse a library, science and computerlabs, student center and cafeteria.

The existing athletic facilities,including a sports field (on top of a322 space parking garage), a softballfield, a sports complex including agym, locker rooms, weight room andan indoor swimming pool will bereused.

Founded in 1965, MHS has beenthe only inter-denominational, collegeprep Christian high school in the SanGabriel Valley. The current enrollmentis 450 students, and the school isrequesting an increase on their CUP to650 students.

Since MHS bought the property inMay 2004, little change has been seenon the campus. MHS hired the exist-ing landscape staff and continues to

maintain the landscaping and otheropen areas. The school grounds willcontinue to be open and retain theirpark-like atmosphere. Though therewill be security, no fences or walls willbe built around the school. The campus will be a “closed” campus,meaning students are not allowed offthe grounds during the school day.

The school will operate its first academic year in 2005/2006, buthopes to move to the new campus as soon as feasible after approvals have been gained, and the interior renovation of the classroom building iscomplete.

The school’s athletic activities willinclude baseball, football, golf, soccer,

Maranatha High School Seeking CUPBy Fred Zepeda

continued on page 11

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WPRA & the Arroyo Seco Lose a FriendRichard Flanagan Davis

1934 - 2004

Richard Flanagan Davis, abeloved friend and colleague ofWPRA and supporter of the

Lower Arroyo Seco, passed away peace-fully at home on December 20, 2004,surrounded by his loving family, cherished dogs, and favorite music.Richard had steadfastly endured hisfinal journey with terminal brain cancer, only to be struck down bycomplications suffered in a care facility,following a fractured vertebra.

A 28-year resident on the ArroyoSeco in Pasadena, Richard was activelyinvolved in his community, serving onthe WPRA Board of Directors for thepast several years. Over the years, hegenerously gave both his time and hismoney for betterment of our commu-nity through his work with variousorganizations. In his personal life, he wasan avid archer, backpacker, and musiclover. Richard was often seen walking hisdogs in the Lower Arroyo and joining inthe roving archers’ functions.

Richard was a strong and tireless advo-cate for preserving the natural beauty ofthe Arroyo Seco. He was a co-founder ofPeople For The Arroyo, and was instru-mental in galvanizing community inter-est in protecting the Arroyo in its natur-al state, helping to organize a “silentwalk” in the Arroyo to protest the proposed bicycle path. Some years later,on behalf of WPRA, Richard was afounding member and Co-Chair of theCoalition for the Protection of the ArroyoSeco, participating in endless meetingsand review sessions to analyze and challenge the City of Pasadena’s ArroyoSeco Master Plan, always pushing forpreservation and protection of the entireArroyo Seco.

Even when he knew the end was near,

Richard stayed engaged and took on lifewith continuing good cheer and a desireto do what he could do to help others.He was actively participating in com-munity affairs, speaking at various Citymeetings only weeks before his death.

Most of us knew Richard after he hadretired from his professional life. Hehad earned a political science degreefrom Loyola University, worked in thepower industry, and continued to serveas a consultant to energy companies.Born on October 23, 1934, in LosAngeles to Frank C. Davis and EveleneFlanagan Davis, Richard is survived byhis wife of 14 years, Linda Zinn Davis,and leaves behind four children: KeithDavis (wife Julia); Guiliana Menefee(husband Joey); Adelia Huth; andRachel England (husband Travis); andeight grandchildren.

Richard will be sorely missed by allhis loved ones and friends. A memori-al service in his honor was held early in January, where over 300 people celebrated his life.

Linda shared a wonderful story withus: Richard had always said that, after

his death he wanted to return as ahawk. People had tried to dissuadehim, but he expressed great admirationfor the hawks, and often watched themsoaring over the Arroyo. On the day of

his death, shortly after the mortuaryhad taken Richard’s body away, a hawkcame and roosted in the oak tree justabove their house. Linda captured thispicture of the hawk, and everyone iscomforted by knowing that Richardwill continue to watch over his family,the community and especially theArroyo Seco that he loved so much.

Note: In lieu of flowers, Richard’s family has requested that remembrancegifts be made to Union Station, thePasadena Humane Society, orNeighborhood Church. A gift has beenmade in memory of Richard Davis to the WPRA Neighborhood Protection Fund. n

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Last summer, the Rose BowlOperating Company approveda new $400 million proposal to

renovate the Rose Bowl stadium tohouse a National Football League(NFL) team. The proposal wouldexpand the historic stadium by nearlyone million square feet, and add twofour-level towers with 200 luxurysuites. A new ground-level plaza wouldfeature a museum, retail store, and possibly a restaurant. Other proposedchanges include two open-air con-courses that would ring the RoseBowl’s middle and upper sections.

The new design serves as the projectdescription for a just-released environ-mental impact report (EIR). Last fall,the City hosted two workshops toidentify environmental and historicpreservation issues to be studied in thedraft EIR, which was released onFebruary 4, to be followed by a 45-daypublic comment period. The PlanningCommission is scheduled to review theEIR sometime in May. (For the latestinformation on the status of the draftEIR, please visit the City’s website atwww.cityofpasadena.net.) The 470-page EIR offers a comprehensive lookat the effects rebuilding the 83-year-oldstadium would have on the surround-ing environment, and finds “significantunavoidable impacts” in the areas oftraffic congestion, noise and historicpreservation. Comments on the EIR

may be submitted in writing untilMarch 21, and orally at all publichearings or meetings considering thesedocuments.

To better understand what issues toaddress in the EIR process, the WPRAmailed a two-page NFL survey toapproximately 8,200 households in the 91105 and 91103 zip codes.WPRA received 1,200 surveys. 1,006respondents identified their zip codes;of those, about 60% live in 91105 and40% in 91103.

A majority of West Pasadena resi-dents responding to the survey opposebringing an NFL franchise to a rebuiltRose Bowl. When asked their personalview of this issue, 59% of respondentsoppose the NFL at the Rose Bowl and10% are in favor. 29% would supportthe NFL only if there is a demonstrat-ed net financial benefit to the City andif use of the Arroyo Seco for otheractivities is not adversely affected.

When asked if financial issues affecttheir view, 55% of respondentsopposed an NFL presence, regardlessof whether it can be shown to be afinancial benefit for the City or theRose Bowl stadium. 38% would likelysupport the bid if a financial benefitcould be realized, and 4% want anNFL team regardless of the financialissues. 81% of respondents do notwant Pasadena to spend any publicfunds to improve or prepare the Rose

Bowl for the NFL.65% said that an NFL team would

not be compatible with the Rose Bowland its surrounding neighborhoods,29% said it would be and 6% had noopinion. The survey also asked resi-dents to rank the relative importanceof certain issues pertaining to hostingan NFL team: 95% rated traffic as an“important” or “very important” issue,and 90% said the availability of theArroyo to other users is important orvery important.

WPRA has not taken a formal posi-tion regarding the possibility of anNFL team at the Rose Bowl, becausethe NFL has not made a business pro-posal to the City Council. However,WPRA will continue to monitor theCity’s negotiations with the NFL, andwill carefully review and comment onthe draft EIR. In the meantime, weinvite and welcome your commentsand views on this important issue. n

Editors Note: On Thursday, March 10,at 6:00 p.m., the TransportationAdvisory Commission will hold a publichearing on the draft EIR for NFL at theRose Bowl. The Commission will takepublic comment on traffic and trans-portation issues. The location of the meeting is still to be determined. Formore information please call theDepartment of Transportation at (626) 744-6470.

West Pasadena Residents Respond to NFL SurveyBy Vince Farhat

Residents Invited to Comment on NFL at the Rose BowlPasadena Heritage will host a public information meeting on Saturday, March 5, at 9:00 a.m.,

at the Travis Auditorium, located on the Fuller Seminary campus. For more information, please call Pasadena Heritage at (626) 441-6333.

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Transportation UpdateBy Vince Farhat

ARTS Bus Service Comes to West Pasadena

When the Gold Line opened in July2003, the City of Pasadena beganreceiving requests from residents forexpanded shuttle bus service to theGold Line. In Summer 2003, theWPRA conducted a survey thatshowed a strong interest by WestPasadena residents in having a shuttleconnection to the Gold Line’s FillmoreStation.

In October 2004, the TransportationAdvisory Commission (TAC) reviewedproposed service improvements for thePasadena Area Rapid Transit System(ARTS). Among the service improve-ments was a new ARTS bus for WestPasadena. TAC voted to recommendthe proposed service improvements,which the City Council unanimouslyapproved in November 2004.

Pasadena’s new ARTS Route 70 isexpected to be up and running onFebruary 21. The new route will

operate Monday through Friday from6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 3:00p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The western termi-nus of the route is Melrose andColorado Boulevard, with coverageon South Orange Grove Boulevardfrom Colorado Boulevard toColumbia Street, and connection tothe Fillmore Station.

The WPRA thanks the City forexpanding ARTS service to our neigh-borhood, and we urge West Pasadenaresidents to try this new shuttle bus asa new alternative for getting to theGold Line.

City Council to Hold JointMeeting with TAC

On February 28, the Pasadena CityCouncil will host a joint meeting withthe TAC. The meeting will be held at8:00 p.m. in the Pasadena SeniorCenter Multi-Purpose Room, locatedat 85 East Holly Street. The Counciland TAC will discuss the City’s imple-mentation of the transportation strate-gies set forth in the recently-adoptedGeneral Plan Mobility Element, includ-

ing TAC’s recommendation that theCity publish an annual “Report Card”for traffic and traffic-calming.

The Council agenda, along withdownloadable reports, can be found on the City’s website at www.cityofpasadena.net. In addition,the Pasadena Public Library, KPASChannel 55 and the Pasadena UnifiedSchool District have joined together toprovide access to streaming media content over the Internet, so Pasadenaresidents can watch Council meetingslive on the City’s website. n

Editor’s Note: Vince Farhat works for theDepartment of Justice as an AssistantUnited States Attorney. He serves as West Pasadena’s representative on theTransportation Advisory Commission.Vince has been on the WPRA Board ofDirectors since 1997, and served asPresident from 2001 to 2003.

softball, swimming, diving, track andvolleyball.

The CUP is expected to call for anumber of conditions on the use,which are expected to include:

• A maximum enrollment of 650 students;

• Re-striping of Del Mar at PasadenaAvenue to include two northboundleft turn lanes;

• No school parking on residentialstreets; with no field lights after9:00 pm on weeknights;

• All pick up and drop off activitiesshall be on the site in the existingparking facility, with carpoolingincentives given to student drivers.

• Prior to the start of each semesterthe school shall distribute infor-mation to student families on carpooling;

Maranatha High School Seeking CUPContinued from page 6

• The traffic plan shall be monitoredand enforced by MHS, with a one-year review of compliance withconditions. n

12

New ARTS Service for Southwest PasadenaJoyce Y. AmersonDirector of Transportation

The Department ofTransportation is pleased toannounce the implementation

of a new Pasadena Area Rapid TransitSystem (ARTS) route in SouthwestPasadena. Effective February 21, 2004the new Route 70 will connectSouthwest Pasadena residents to theFillmore Metro Gold Line StationMonday through Friday during themorning and afternoon commutehours.

The development of the Route 70was a direct result of the interestexpressed by Southwest residents to beable to use the ARTS service to connect to the Gold Line. TheDepartment worked with theTransportation Advisory Commissionto secure City Council approval forthis new route and other servicechanges to the ARTS service that willprovide residents with increased service

options. The Department actively supports the principle that Pasadenacan be a City where people can circulate without cars, and these serviceimprovements will further this goal.Please continue to let us know how we can best meet your transportationneeds. n

Weekly Neighborhood E-Newsletter

Let your City Representatives know how you feel about issuesWrite to your Council Member and Mayor at P.O. Box 7115, Pasadena, CA 91109-7215,

or contact them by phone or email below:

Contact Phone E-mail

Mayor Bill Bogaard 626-744-4311 bbogaard@cityofpasadena.net

Council Member Steve Madison 626-744-4739 smadison@cityofpasadena.net

Council Member Syd Tyler 626-441-4802 styler@cityofpasadena.net

Council Member Paul Little 626-744-4742 plittle@cityofpasadena.net

Council Member Joyce Streator 626-744-4444 jstreator@cityofpasadena.net

Council Member Chris Holden 626-744-4738 cholden@cityofpasadena.net

Council Member Victor Gordo 626-744-4741 vgordo@cityofpasadena.net

Council Member Steve Haderlein 626-744-4740 shaderlein@cityofpasadena.net

City Manager Cynthia Kurtz 626-744-4222 ckurtz@cityofpasadena.net

West Pasadena, including NFL at theRose Bowl and future developmentof the Ambassador College property.

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and you can un-subscribe at anytime. To receive the NeighborhoodUpdate, please send an e-mail toWPRA at: wpra.postmaster@wpra.net.Thank you for supporting WPRA. n

The WPRA publishes a week-ly e-mail “NeighborhoodUpdate” informing residents

of upcoming civic and cultural eventsin Pasadena. We also provide regularupdates on important issues facing

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Reid and Katherine AllenSusan Jennifer BoothJudith B. BrandtEdward & Alicia ClarkGary & Norma CowlesRobert J. DeBlasisBetsy, Vince & Will FarhatLauren M. FrankelThomas Gertmenian

Bob GillespieMr. & Mrs. David LaraDorothy R. LindseyDr. Calandra & John LindseyEthan & Joanne LipsigCharles & Carolyn MillerJoan MoseleyMarian Crawford MouleElizabeth Moule & Stefanos Polyzoides

John and Carolyn NaberAndrew & Martha NasserAudrey O’Kelley & James FahlgrenJames PlotkinEd & Callae RoundsPatricia ShanksEldon J. TeperPaul & Liz WalkerFred Zepeda

T h a n k Y o u

Mr. & Mrs. Larry AbelsonDarrell & Maggie AglerPaul & Allison AlanisCheryl Auger & Chris PeckBruce A. BaileyDavid A. BaileyAndrea & Habib BalianWilliam J. BarneyMrs. Doris BartonDan & Laura-Johnson BealMs. Annaly Bennett & Jared

CrawfordVera BensonDavid & Cherry BianchiBill and Claire BogaardJohn & Mary BorovikaJudith & Richard BresslerClaire & Brad BrianJohn J. BucklinPatricia CallanBlaine CavenaCharles & Janet ChillingworthGus and Judith ChristopoulosSabra M. ClarkDonald & Sally ClarkAngelica & Dave ClarkEdward E. & Alicia ClarkSusan and David CodigaMichael J. ConnellRobert CookeHerbert & Francine CooperGeorge Corey & Eugene

SchlueterMary Anne CunninghamDr. & Mrs. Wilber D. CurrierGeorge & Kathryn DawleyRobin Stever de BarrantesJohn & Elena DeMarcoDolores Diaz-CarreyLouise O. Dougherty

Anne M. DoughertySteve & Janet ElkinsRobert L. & Carmen FarmerMichael & Terrie FarrandMitsuko & Dave FeltonJanet S. & Robert M. FitzgeraldClarence & Anne FlemingClifford E. FordJames B. & Jane FoxRichard & Mary Alice FrankWillis & Anita FreemanRyan & Asma GeorgeDon and Meg GertmenianPatricia GiermannDr. Richard C. GilmanDave Goodwin & Frances TengBetty L. GormanMartin & Mildred GouldMr. & Mrs. Michael GroffMic Hansen & Len EvansS. M. Hansen Noel HansonElaine and James HawkesJonel C. & Lois A. HillHillsidesThomas & Marian HirschPriscilla & Gary HoeckerWm. P. & Maureen

HollingsworthPhilip & Susan HolmesRobert & Emilie HoytRandolph HutesonJean E. JohnsonKelly Jones & Michael MurrayMarilyn KeyBrian King & Alexandra PatsavasMs. Judith S. KlumpSusan & Doug KranwinkleSidney H. & Hiroko KunitakeEdward & Eleen Kutch

Stuart Landau & David FarahMrs. Pauline W. LedeenJohn & Patricia LockeDonald & Elaine LomasJudith & Paul MacCreadyThelma & C. J. MacGregorRobert Macklin & Merrilee

FellowsBaldwin W. & Doreen MarchackMs. Virginia M. MartensDorothy & John MattiessenLaura A. MatzRichard & Rosemary McDonaldKevin & Stacey McFarlaneDelford B. McGeeMr. & Mrs. Steve MorrisonRob & Charmean NeithartMartin Nicholson & Laja

HollandMr. & Mrs. H. Eugene NollMr. & Mrs. Donald J. NoresMarcia & Ed NunneryMr. & Mrs. I. Gordon OdellDennis and Linda O’LearyRamon G. & Juanita O’MarahOrganizational Effectiveness Grp.Mark H. OuchiRon Paler & Michael LoyaDiana Peterson-MoreCornelius & Marjore PingsSandra and Denis PortaroJohn PratteDiana RaneyRobert and Janice RaneyBob RassiniDr. Robert & Shelly ReischJohn & Susan ReitnouerBrent & Carla RiggsMark RoevekampDavid & Mary Dee Romney

George R. RossmanAnne & Jim RothenbergJohn and Thelma RotondeJan & Joyce SakonjuTimothy Sales & Denice WatersElizabeth Loucks SamsonArthur & Ann SchneiderLeonard SearleGerald & Donna SecundySusan & Bruce SeidelThomas Seifert & Diane

PhilibosianLinda & John SeiterThe Shakespeare ClubAnthony & Iris ShawMr. & Mrs. James R. Shoch, IIIBetty and Norri SirriLuchus Smith, Jr.Phillip K. SotelRobert & Judy SpareSarah and Charles SteidelDick & Ginny SteverWalt and Dottie SumnerEdmund SutroDawn SuttlePatricia S. SuttonKathleen M. Sweeney & K.

WhitingVicky & Lenora ThomasJohn A. TolbertJo Ann Turovsky & Emily

BernsteinCharlene & Paul VertJames and Robin WaltherPam & Fred WassonMichael R. WhalenRita Jane WhitneyWilliam and Rebecca WoodsBob & Leslie Zasa

Platinum DonorsFebruary 2005

BenefactorsFebruary 2005

Paul W. AllenEldridge Armstrong & Donna

WilliamsMr. & Mrs. W. Jeff ArnettLourdes BairdGeoffrey Baum & Lisa GallawyMrs. Marvel BennetesenMr. & Mrs. Gerald K. BergmanMrs. William E. BloomerJohn & Janet BowmerKathryn E. BreidenthalFrank M. Brooks, Jr.Jo Anne & George BurrRita M. CasarettoRobert & Joan CathcartDon J. ChavezMr. Michael Checca &

Margaret LeongDawn Herbuveaux CobbMichael & Diane CornwellMr. & Mrs. Joseph H.

CoulombeChet Crane (Maranatha HS)

Wendy CurrierGeorge G. & Kathryn DawleyIsabelito F. DeGuzmanAnthony S. DmohowskiMr. & Mrs. Thomas R. DunnRichard & Barbara EalyMr. & Mrs. Thomas EllisonCalvin EngMr. & Mrs. FalardeauBeverly E. FitzgeraldCharles R. FreearkDr. & Mrs. Donald B.

FreshwaterJames B. GamboaMr. & Mrs. Larry GarciaDennis & Susi GertmenianBob & Esmeralda GibsonMerton & Barbara GoddardJames GordonLeslie Clarke GrayMeg HickmanJimmy & Suzanne HolderAmanda & Winter Horton

Fritz & Betty HutchesonT. JeyaranjanLaila Karne, M.D.Jim & Jean KeatleyMr. & Mrs. K. E. KhalafJanet KobrinLee KuhnYoung D. LeeKaren & Steven LuKanicLois & Christopher MadisonDr. & Mrs. Frank M. McCarthyWilliam F. McDonaldMel & Marcia MeansMrs. Louisa N. MillerMr. & Mrs. John MillsCharles G. MorseKay & Steve OnderdonkMarjorie PetersonRobert L. PowellWilliam & Carrie RabkinPeter RiddallMr. Michael SanchezDean Schneider

Teri SchwartzMyrl & Joan ScottDavid Simkins & Laura SmithRobin SteverKelly StumpusLorranie E. SuppleMr. & Mrs. Henry J. TenagliaVirginia & Thomas TrowbridgeMr. & Mrs. David UllmanBill & Jaine UrbanJohn & Andrea Van de KampTimothy & Janet WalkerNancy E. Warner, M.D.Mr. & Mrs. Chuck WatermanByron & Christina WebsterPeter J. Wong & Patricia KinagaJamesWyattDr. & Mrs. Dale W. ZehMr. & Mrs. Enrique R.

Zermeno

$500 and AboveDoris K. HiltonMary Alice & Richard FrankDorothy R. LindseyMarian Crawford Moule

$250 and AboveSusan BoothEdward E. ClarkWarren ClarkBeverly JeffriesCharles & Carolyn MillerCornelius & Marjorie PingsDavid Simkins & Laura SmithMarylynn Warren & Neil Clark

$100 and AboveLarry & Mary AbelsonMr. & Mrs. Robert E.AndersonHabib F. & Toni BalianSandra & Dan Bane Sally Barngrove Mrs. Doris BartonRobert Beart, Jr.Helen M. BenedictMrs. Marvel L. BennetsenMrs. William E. BloomerMichael BoruszewskiJohn & Janet Bowmer

Patrcia CallanBlaine CavenaSusan & David CodigaMary CoquillardKen ColbornMary CoquillardJ. K. CrowellNadine DanzEmilie Davidson & Robert HoytRichard Davis & Linda ZinnGeorge C. DawleyGene & Deanna DetchemendyAthony S. DmohowskiLouise O. DoughertyMr. & Mrs. Richard C. DunnSherry Maxwell Du PontCharles DuvallCarol Anne EconnEllen & Charles EidsonVince & Betsy FarhatClifford E. FordWill & Anita FreemanGarth GilpenJames & Donna GordonMr. & Mrs. Donald E. GrannisDon & Anna GreathouseMic HansenJames & Elaine HawkesJohn & Betty HennoMarian & Tom Hirsch

Priscilla & Gary HoeckerNancy & Fred JohnsonJean E. JohnsonMary Lou JudsonSpencer KarpfSharon & Michael KelleyJanet KobrinMs. Kay KochenderferStuart LandauJohn & Susan LeisnerCelia LemonMary LevenickSara LippincottEthan & Joanne LipsigPatricia & John LockeMarvine & Bob MaloufBaldwin W. MarchackMarlow V. MarrsPhillip & Lois MatthewsAdolfo MendezThomas & Toby McGillRieko & Wayne McMillanMei-Lee NeyMr. & Mrs. H. Eugene NollMarcia & Ed NunneryDelores Olambiwonnu & Lucy

McLeggonJohn PratteMr. & Mrs. M. R. QuinnSusan & JohnReitnouer

Mr. & Mrs. Peter RosichBobRossiniSiobhan SamplesElizabeth SamsonDorothy ScullyDonna & Gerald SecundyNorri & Betty SirriMaria Sol CaroRobin SteverBetty Lee StickellPatricia & Sherlyn StafforJohn Kelly StumpusRobert H. SummersLorraine SupplePatricia S. SuttonJohn & Lee TaylorVicky ThomasSharilun & Robert ThorellJohn TolbertLonee & Charles UrtuzuasteguiJean B. VailNancy E. Warner, M.D.Carl D. Winberg, M.D.Amnon & Frances YarivBob & Leslie ZasaAdolfo & Isabel MendezRick & Sharon DeHerder

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T h a n k Y o u

PatronsFebruary 2005

WPRA Neighborhood Protection FundFebruary 2005

Non-Profit Org.U.S. POSTAGE

P A I DPasadena,CAPermit #1105

WEST P ASADENA RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Post Office Box 50252Pasadena, CA 91115-0252WPRA Message Line: (626) 441-1388

Visit our website @ www.wpra.net

Board of Directors 2004 - 2005

Geoffrey Baum

Blaine Cavena

Leslie Clarke Gray

James Hawkes

John Martin

Carolyn Naber

Marilyn Randolph

Mary Dee Romney

Pat Shanks

Priscilla Taylor

John Van de Kamp

Michael Vogler

Fred Zepeda

Board Members:

The West Pasadena Residents’ Association is a Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation.

Officers:

President David Romney 626-403-0242

Vice-President Joan Hearst 626-796-4057

Director of Communications Cheryl Auger 626-799-6465

Director of Membership Dorothy Lindsey 323-256-4972

Treasurer Judith S. Klump 626-403-7022

Secretary Audrey O'Kelley 626-441-3783

Immediate Past President Vince Farhat 626-441-1388

For more information about our committees, please contact:

Newsletter & Advertising: Cheryl Auger 626-799-6465

Membership: Dorothy Lindsey 323-256-4972

Traffic & Transportation: Carolyn Naber 626-795-7675

Vince Farhat 626-441-1388Ambassador Sares-Regis Project: Fred Zepeda 626-578-7505

Citywide Development: Audrey O'Kelley 626-441-3783

NFL Committee: Cheryl Auger 626-799-6465

Seated: Mike Vogler, David Romney, Leslie Clarke Gray. Middle row: Cheryl Auger,Vince Farhat, Marilyn Randolph, Geoff Baum. Back row: Mary Dee Romney, JohnMartin, Richard Davis, Priscilla Taylor, Joan Hearst, John Van de Kamp, CharlesMcKenney, James Hawkes. Not Pictured: Blaine Cavena, Judith Klump, DorothyLindsey, Audrey O'Kelley, Pat Shanks, Fred Zepeda.

WEST PASADENA RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATIONPost Office Box 50252 • Pasadena, CA 91115-0252

WPRA Message Line: (626) 441-1388

SAVE THE DATE

May 4, 2005

WPRA Annual Meeting

at Maranatha High School