City of South Pasadena
December 2017
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Environmental Fun Fact
of the Month
Despite only representing 5% of the world population, the U.S. generates more waste than any other country in the world. Recycling conserves fresh water up to 95% in the mining and manufacturing process for many materials as well as prevents waste from going into oceans .
If you would like to submit an environmental fun fact for n
ext month's newsletter, please email
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Holiday Closures
Christmas Day -
Monday, December 25, 2017
New Year's Day - Monday, January 1, 2018
Clic
k
here
for holiday closures throughout the year.
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Calendar of City Events
Clic
k here t
o view a list of upcoming meetings of interest.
City Council Meeting Agendas & Minutes
Clic
k here
to view a list of upcoming meetings of interest.
City Council Meeting Video
Clic
k here
to view the live streaming of City Council meetings.
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Receive information when you need it most with
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Community Services Classes & Programs Guide
The Winter 2018 issue of the Community Services Classes & Programs Guide is
available
here
.
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A bulletin board with postings of all current City employment opportunities (pictured) is located on the 2nd floor of City Hall
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Sign Up for Library Youth Programs
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The HRC is a nonprofit civil-rights organization that has identified and addressed the challenges of housing discrimination since 1968. The HRC provides assistance to residents with discrimination complaints and landlord-tenant disputes. The HRC also provides outreach and public education, landlord-tenant counseling, housing discrimination investigation, mediation and legal services.
Contact the Housing Rights Center at (800) 477-5977 or (213) 201-0867 for TTY Users.
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Subscribe to Nixle to receive Public Safety Updates
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Spark of Love Toy Drive Fund Monday, November 27 - Sunday, December 24, 2017 |
The South Pasadena Fire Department is proud to continue our long-held charitable partnership with ABC7, fellow Southern California Firefighters and newcomers, the U.S. Marine Corp Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation.
Reaching a pinnacle 25th season, the Spark of Love Toy Drive Fund continues to be a vital pillar to our communities in need during the holidays. Share in the spirit of giving by donating a new, unwrapped toy and/or sports equipment for a child or teen in need.
Donations can be dropped off at various locations in South Pasadena starting Monday, November 27, 2017.
- South Pasadena Fire Department lobby 7 days a week between the hours of 7 am - 8 pm.
- South Pasadena Police Department lobby during normal business hours.
- South Pasadena City Hall during normal business hours.
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Water & Sewage Rate Change
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City of South Pasadena residents did an exceptional
job in
meeting the
water
conservation requirements mandated by the State of California. However, the prolonged drought in southern California has seriously impacted the water supply. This is especially true of ground water from where South Pasadena obtains the majority of its water. These sources are at historically low levels. The City is proposing to increase the water and sewer rates to generate sufficient revenues to ensure reliable water and sewer services.
At a Public Hearing on November 1, 2017, the City Council approved establishing new water and sewer rates. These new rates will be effective January 1, 2018. Global Water will continue to bill customers on a bi-monthly basis for water and sewer services. Residents will see the new water and sewer rates for January 2018 service on their bills around March 2018. While the water rates for the residential customers are increasing, the sewer rates will be slightly lower than the what the current residential customers are currently paying. The sewer bills for the commercial customers will be based on actual water consumption instead of a fixed monthly charge. Small businesses using less water will see a slight decrease in their sewer bills, however businesses using more water will see an increase in their sewer bills.
The proposed water rates will still include an Efficiency Fee for water conservation projects throughout the City as well as Water Conservation Rebates for South Pasadena residents. Click here for information on the City Water Conservation Programs and Rebates.
If you have any questions regarding the proposed rates please contact the Finance Department at 626-403-7250. More information on the proposed rates can also be found here on the City's website.
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Children's Holiday Program
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
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Utility Billing Alert for Residential Rubbish Services |
Billing for rubbish (solid waste) services will transition from the City of South Pasadena to Athens Services as of January 1, 2018. Athens currently bills commercial accounts for rubbish services and will be streamlining the
city's utility billing
process by also administering residential billing. The transition will result in multiple bills to residential customers during January and February of 2018.
The transition will result in customers receiving a bill from the City for November and December rubbish services as part of their regular city billing period during the months of January and February 2018. Customers will also receive a bill from Athens in February for rubbish services for January, February and March of 2018. There will be no overlap of service periods and customers are not being double-billed for the same service. The next quarterly bill for rubbish service will be sent in April for rubbish services for the months of April, May and June.
In order to assist with the transition in billing, both Global Water and Athens Services offer payment plans. Customers may contact both companies directly for more information on available options.
Over the next several months, the City will make every effort to ensure residents continue to be informed about the transition and the changes that will be reflected on their utility bills.
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Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, December 9, 2017
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Santa is coming to town! Our annual Breakfast with Santa event will be held on Saturday, December 9th from 9:00-11:30 a.m. at the War Memorial Building. This event is fun for the whole family! We will have crafts, music, and a tasty hot breakfast. Parents, make sure to have your camera ready, Santa will be available for photos! Please plan to arrive early; doors will close at 9:30 a.m.
Tickets are $15 per person, children under 2 are free. Everyone in attendance must have a ticket. Pre-registration will begin Wednesday, November 1, 2017, spaces are limited, you can register at the Recreation Division office at 815 Mission Street, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You can also visit our website
www.southpasadenaca.gov/events
to register on-line.
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City's Business License Tax Program and FAQs Update |
In an effort to assist our residents with the Business License Tax Amnesty Program, we have extended the Business Tax Amnesty period from December 31, 2017 to March 1, 2018. In October, the City sent out a letter requesting residents contact the City regarding possible business ownership or business activity in the City.
If you received this letter and still have questions or concerns, please
review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and available forms at
www.southpasadenca.gov/businesslicense
. We are also available to assist you by email at
[email protected]
and by phone at (626) 403-7257 or (626) 403-7259. If you have already discussed your situation with City representatives and/or submitted your application or some form of exemption, we thank you for your attention to this matter and you do not need to do anything further. Staff continues to work through the application materials already submitted and will be following up with applicants as quickly as possible.
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ChamberCoffeeChat at the SPTOR Float Building Site Thursday, December 14, 2017 |
Join us for ChamberCoffeeChat on
Thursday, December 14
at 8:00 am and get a sneak peek at the 2018 SPTOR Float "Booster Club". Meet us at the float building site at the War Memorial Building (435 Fair Oaks Avenue) for coffee and pastries, and the SPTOR volunteer team will talk about the float!
South Pasadena has the oldest self-built float in the Rose Parade - supported entirely by volunteers! Want to sign up to decorate this year's float? Visit www.sptor.org/volunteer.html for more information.
ChamberCoffeeChat
is sponsored by the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce.
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Lego Mania
Saturday, December 16, 2017
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City Council Reorganization
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
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The public is invited to attend the December 20, 2017 City Council Meeting, as the City Council will reorganize and elect a Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem for the upcoming year, with terms commencing immediately thereafter. The new Mayor will then lead the remainder of the meeting. The City Council and community will recognize outgoing Mayor Michael A. Cacciotti, for his past year of service. A presentation highlighting the year's accomplishments and events will be made by Mayor Cacciotti.
The City Council Meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Amedee O. "Dick" Richards, Jr., Council Chamber, located at 1424 Mission Street, South Pasadena. The reorganization will be broadcast live on Time-Warner Cable Channel 19 and AT&T Channel 99 and also be streamed live via the Internet from the
City's website.
For more information, contact the City Clerk's Office at (626) 403-7230.
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Holiday Cheer Friday, December 1 - Friday, December 15, 2017 |
Get Involved With Your Community
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The City Council seeks qualified applicants for its various Boards, Committees, and Commissions on an ongoing basis.
Applications are available at:
For more information contact the City Clerk's Division at (626) 403-7230.
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Check it Out! SAT Prep Workshops for Teens Coming in January! |
It isn't too early to start preparing for the spring SAT test dates. Start early, stress less!
The Library is partnering with
IvyMax, a leading education service provider, to offer two free SAT prep workshops in January.
The first one-hour workshop on Sunday, January 14th, at 1:00 p.m. the focus will be on test-taking strategies. In the second workshop on Sunday, January 28th, 1:00-5:00 p.m., IvyMax will administer a practice test. The practice tests will be evaluated and students will receive feedback on their test scores.
The IvyMax Foundation is a leading education service provider and a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and participant in the President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA). Instructors are fully credentialed.
Visit the South Pasadena Public Library website for information about library services and programs and to access ebooks and online resources, or come
see us in person, 7 days a week!
www.southpasadenaca.gov/library.
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Tree Drive Hosted by South Pasadena Beautiful |
"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."
-Chinese Proverb
In order to preserve our
urban forest, it is important to act now! South Pasadena Beautiful is hosting a tree planting drive with the goal to plant 75 trees by Arbor Day, March 2018. You can help by funding the planting of a tree through the South Pasadena Tree Dedication Program.
Donors can work with the City Arborist to pick a location and specie of tree close to their business, residence, or where the need is the greatest.
All tree donations made through South Pasadena Beautiful are tax deductible. For current price and more information, visit the South Pasadena Beautiful website at
www.southpasbeautiful.org.
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Check it Out! 'Tis the Season at South Pasadena Public Library
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The holidays are just around the corner and the Library has books and downloadable ebooks to help you plan and prepare for your holiday festivities!
Cooking and Entertaining
Crafts and Homemade Gifts with Kids (and Without!)
Plus, JOIN US FOR A FREE GIFT-MAKING WORKSHOP for families in the Library Community Room (1115 El Centro Street) on Tuesday, December 5th, at 7:15 p.m. Learn about different winter holiday customs and make gifts in this season of giving. There will be a wide variety of gift projects to choose from and all supplies are included-all you need to bring are your hands and heart!
Visit the South Pasadena Public Library website for information about library services and programs and to access ebooks and online resources,
or come
see us in person, 7 days a week!
www.southpasadenaca.gov/library
.
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The Water Conservation Rebate Program Has Grown Again
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If you have been looking for ways to save more water around your property there are several new rebates being offered to help you do just that:
1) High efficiency toilets (1.28 gallons per flush or less)
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$100/toilet + up to $100 for installation ($50 for additional toilets) |
2) Drought tolerant plants maximum |
$400 |
3) Drip conversion maximum |
$150 |
4) Shower heads (2.5 gallons per minute or less) |
$25 each (3 max) |
In addition to all these great rebates, the City now offers a Turf Removal Rebate program ($1 per square foot up to 1,500 square feet). Pre-inspection is required so download the application from the City's website for full details.
Not sure where to start? Contact us today to schedule a free water audit to help determine where improvements can be made.
All other rebates are still being offered. For more information on these and other rebate devices, visit the
City website or SoCalWaterSmart.com, or contact the Environmental Division at (626) 403-7311
or
[email protected]
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Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
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Did you know:
- You can dispose of couches and other large items by calling Athens to schedule a bulky item pickup at 888-336-6100.
- If you have any old cell phones that you need to get rid of you can contact the City of South Pasadena's Police Department at 626-403-7270.
- Bottles and cans can be recycled at NexCycle in the Pavilions parking lot, or you can call 909-796-2210 to find other locations.
- If you have furniture or working electronics you would like to recycle, the ACTS Thrift Store in Pasadena can help. Contact them to schedule a pickup or call 626-577-4477.
- Recycle your used motor oil at Arco Station located at 1200 Fair Oaks.
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Holiday Overnight Parking Exemption |
Overnight parking restriction will not be enforced from Thursday, December 24, 2017 at 2 am through Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at 6 am. All other parking restrictions will be enforced including preferential parking districts, timed-restrictions and parking a vehicle continuously for 72 hours.
The Mission-Meridian Parking Garage is open to the public from 6 pm to 2 am daily and from 4 am to 2 am on weekends and holidays. This year the holidays fall on the weekends but the Rose Parade is on Monday, January 1, 2018, and parking will be free in the parking garage that day.
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Winter Break Specialty Camps
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During the Winter Break, the Recreation Division will offer half-day specialty camps. Morning camps are held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and afternoon camps will be from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Hogwarts Camp:
Perfect your magic skills in this interactive, creative, spell-binding class! Find out which house you belong to and learn how to make potions, use your wand, identify creatures, and more! Witches and wizards of all ages will graduate the Academy with the supplies and skills to use their magic for good. Ages: 5-13
Chem Kidz
: Chemistry is amazing! Conduct physical and chemical experiments and learn what makes them work. Make your own desiccators and Elephant Toothpaste, grow copper sulfate crystals, and get ready for an instant snowstorm! All reactions are done outdoors and students wear protective goggles. Ages: 5-13
Techkidz: Stop Animation Motion:
Have a blast with Stop Motion Animation using clay, Legos, whiteboards, cutouts and more! Storyboard ideas, develop plots, and create unique characters as you bring inanimate objects to life! Each student receives a copy of the collaborative class work at the end of the session. Ages: 6-13
Creative Sculpture:
Students learn how to make figurines, mosaics, multi-media sculptures and more while they learn about famous sculptors like Jeffrey Koons, Kenneth Price and Walter Furlan! We teach the principles of sculpture, and allow students to explore with various media. Come join the fun! Ages: 5-13
Each camp is $145 for the week. If you are interested in enrolling your child in both morning and afternoon camps, staff will be onsite to supervise the children between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Registration begins Tuesday, November 1, 2017. You can register on our website,
www.southpasadenaca.gov/classes or by calling The Recreation office 626-403-7380.
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2018 Winter Recreation Class Online Registration - Now Open! Classes for all ages and interests are available, giving unique opportunities to discover a new skill, passion, or experience!
Click here for more information.
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Snow Day
Saturday, January 20, 2018
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Let it snow! The Community Services Department will host the 3rd annual "Snow Day" event. Join us on Saturday, January 20, 2018 from 11 am to 3 pm at Garfield Park. We will have sled runs, snow play, crafts, and our Tot Land area for younger children will also be available.
Subject to availability, wristbands will be sold for $15 day of the event. Children under 2 years are free with one paid adult. Each wristband is good for 45 minutes of access to snow play and sled runs, there will be four 45 minute sessions. You can select your session on-line, www.southpasadenaca.gov/events . If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the Recreation office, 626-403-7380. We look forward to seeing you all there; remember to bring your scarves and mittens!
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