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City of South Pasadena                                                                                                                                                                           October 2017
 
In This Issue
Environmental Fun Fact 
of the Month
 
 
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is a petroleum by-product that is neither readily recyclable nor biodegradable. Products made from EPS are more commonly known as Styrofoamâ„¢.  It takes several decades to hundreds of years for EPS to deteriorate in the environment or landfill. Instead, it merely breaks down into smaller pieces that litter the City's streets, parks, and open spaces. Eventually these pieces make their way to the nearby watershed and ultimately our beaches and ocean waters, which endangers birds and sea life that mistake the EPS for pieces of food. Ingestion of EPS can result in reduced appetite and nutrient absorption and death by starvation in the animals that consume the debris.

If you would like to submit an environmental fun fact for n ext month's newsletter, please email 
Holiday Closures
Columbus Day - October 9, 2017
 
Clic k here   for holiday closures throughout the year.
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.
Receive information when you need it most with
Connect South Pasadena - the City's emergency notification system  
Click here to register for Connect South Pasadena, the City's emergency alert system and ensure that you & your loved ones receive the information you need to stay safe!  
Community Services Classes & Programs Guide

The Fall 2017 issue of the Community Services Classes & Programs Guide
is
available here . 
Job Opportunities
Link to City Employment Opportunities
  
A bulletin board with postings of all current City employment opportunities (pictured) is located on the 2nd floor of City Hall
Sign Up for Library Youth Programs
Icon to Sign up for Library Youth Programs
The City of South Pasadena Public Library Children's online program registration and notification signup features are available here. For more information, please contact the Library Children's Services at (626) 403-7258.
Senior Center Events
 
Give the gift of membership at the South Pasadena Senior Center! (South Pasadena non-residents are welcome).  
More information is available here. 
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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After an extensive recruitment and interviewing many excellent candidates, the City of South Pasadena has selected its top candidate-Stephanie DeWolfe-to serve the community as its new City Manager; Ms. DeWolfe's employment agreement was approved at the Regular City Council Meeting of September 20, 2017. After interviewing several candidates provided through the recruitment firm of Peckham & McKenney, the City Council unanimously selected Stephanie DeWolfe, who will assume the post effective November 6, 2017. Ms. DeWolfe ("Stephanie") has nearly 30 years of experience in city services, particularly in planning, community development and services, and city administration. She has worked in both the Pasadena and West Hollywood City Manager's Offices in Assistant and Deputy City Manager functions, with outstanding qualifications and references from all past employers. Stephanie has been on a City Manager "track" in her professional career for the past five years, and most recently has been serving the City of West Hollywood as its Deputy City Manager since 2016, where she helped to oversee a staff of 225 employees and a budget of $134 million dollars.
Stephanie intends to fully engage with the community and hit the ground running. "I am excited to be part of team South Pasadena. I have always loved South Pasadena and I am looking forward to spending even more time in this wonderful community."

West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman spoke highly of Stephanie, describing her as "first rate," very intelligent and capable with a positive reputation in the community, stating "We hate to lose her." Similarly, West Hollywood City Manager Paul Arevalo describes Stephanie as "a big picture person, a great communicator, who knows how to build consensus in the community," and with her more than 15 years' experience in Pasadena, she also "has the regional perspective that will serve South Pasadena well."

Mayor Michael A. Cacciotti, on behalf of the entire City Council stated, "I am very excited about hiring Ms. DeWolfe. She brings to our city the optimum combination of experience and leadership qualities. South Pasadena is very fortunate that she has agreed to serve our community."
District Election Public Hearing
Wednesday, October 4, 2017













The South Pasadena City Council invites all interested persons to attend a Public Hearing on Wednesday, October 4, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. in the Amedee O. "Dick" Richards, Jr., Council Chamber, located at 1424 Mission Street, South Pasadena, California. Community input is sought relative to the proposed district boundaries and maps for the formation of five City Council districts for elections commencing with the General Municipal Election in November 2018. The City Council will discuss, consider, and take action on one or more district map(s) including adoption of an ordinance, and such other matters as may be related to the formation of City Council districts. For more information, you are welcome to contact Anthony J. Mejia, Chief City Clerk, at (626) 403-7232 or by email [email protected] .

Please see our  Frequently Asked Questions  page for details about district elections.

As of September 11, 2017, draft District Maps can be downloaded or accessed via an interactive online mapping system.
Walk or Bike to School 
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
The Community Services Department will be hosting the 14th annual Walk or Bike To School Day on Wednesday, October 4th at the three elementary schools as well as the middle school.

South Pasadena Youth Commissioners will be at the schools handing prizes to those who walk or bike to school. Our local Police & Fire Department personnel will be on-site as well. For more information, contact the Recreation Division (626) 403-7380 or visit www.southpasadenaca.gov/events.
Free Flu Shot Clinic and Blood Pressure/Glucose Screening & Healthy Happy Halloween
Thursday, October 12, 2017 and Thursday, October 26, 2017
Community Outreach nurses from t he H untington Memorial Hospital will be offe ring free se asonal influenza vaccinations  at the South Pasa dena Farmers' M arket  o n Thursday, October 12, 2017. Clinic hours are 4:30 - 6:30.  A limited number of immunizations are available, and will be on a first-come, first-ser ved basis. 

IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS FOR FLU SHOT CLINIC:
* Vaccines are for adults aged 18 years and over, and children aged 9-17 years with parent/guardian present for consent
* No allergy to eggs or previous influenza vaccine
* No history of Guillain-Barre syndrome
* No serious illness or fever on day of vaccination
Blood pressure and glucose screening will also be available free of charge from 4:00 pm - 8:00 p m.
Please contact the Huntington Hospital Flu Shot Hotline at (626) 397-3333 for information about the immunizations, or call the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce at (626) 441-2339 for more information.

Healthy Happy Halloween!
 
Celebrate Halloween a few days early at the South Pasadena Farmers' Market Thursd ay, October 26 from 4:00 - 8:00 pm.  Trick-or-Treat: Many of our farmers and vendors will be decorated for our family friendly Market, and will have special treats!  Look for special signs that will be displayed on the booths of participating vendors. The South Pasadena Farmers' Market is located on Meridian Avenue and El Centro Street, and is open from 4:00 - 8:00 pm every Thursday, rain or shine. 

Click here for more information on these events.
Dumpster Donation Event
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Athens Services is partnering with the City of South Pasadena for the annual FREE Dumpster & Donation Day event. Residents of South Pasadena are welcome to bring their large, bulky items for free disposal. ACTS thrift store will be on site to accept items that still have life left in them. The event will be held on Saturday, October 14th from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Arroyo Drive (just south of Mission Street).

For more information, please call Athens Services at (888)336-6100.
Fall Arts Crawl
Saturday, October 21, 2 017
Artisans and Businesses team up to celebrate the arts with another fun and family friendly "Neighborhood Night-on-the-Town" on Saturday, October 21, from 5:00 to 9:00 pm.  Shops and boutiques will be open late with special exhibits, trunk shows, open houses and sales!  Many local restaurants and cafes will have special offers, or grab a bite from one of the food trucks.
 
This fall we are embracing the season with a theme of SCARECROWS!  Businesses are encouraged to create their own scarecrow and display it at their business during the event.  Be creative!  SPACE will also be hosting a scarecrow making family activity at the South Pasadena City Hall courtyard.
 
For merchant and artist participation, please contact Hope Perello, Director of SPACE, at [email protected].  The quarterly Arts Crawls are organized by the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, and produced by SPACE, to highlight the city's unique business district and provide a showcase for artists and musicians.

More information and details can be found at www.southpasadena.net, or by calling 626-441-2339.
Garfield Reservoir Open House and Water Facility Tour
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Garfield Reservoir Open House
Construction at the City's largest reservoir, Garfield Reservoir, is nearing completion.  An Open House will be hosted at the facility on October 21, 2017 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.  Garfield Reservoir is located at 416 Garfield Avenue in South Pasadena.  Please mark your calendar and plan on joining us for this event!

Water Facility Tour
Want to learn more about South Pasadena's water system? Immediately foll owing the Garfield  Reservoir Open House there will be a tour of the South Pasadena  Water Facilities for residents to learn more about the City's water supply, production and distribution system.  The tour will leave from Garfield Reservoir at 11:00 am and return around 1:00 pm. 
 
Please contact Public Works at (626) 403-7240 or visit   www.southpasadenaca.gov/waterandsewerrates  for more information.
Water & Sewer Rate Change Public Hearing
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
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.

The City Council approved the notice of Public Hearing for the proposed Water and Sewer rates at their September 6, 2017 Meeting.  These notices were mailed to residents and water customers on September 12, 2017.  The City Council will be having a Public Hearing regarding the proposed water and sewer rates on Wednesday,  November 1, 2017, in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 1424 Mission Street.

Click here for more information.
Halloween Spooktacular 
Friday, October 27, 2017

The City of South Pasadena's annual Halloween Spooktacular will be held at Orange Grove Park, 815 Mission Street, on Friday, October 27, 2017 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. There will be games, music, inflatables, and more! Make sure to bring a monstrous appetite, there will be plenty of food available for purchase.  
 
Pre-registration is not required to attend this free event. For more information, please contact the Recreation Office at (626) 403-7380 or visit www.southpasadenaca.gov/events.
Check it Out! South Pasadena Public Library has free eBooks and eAudiobooks
Did you know your South Pasadena Public Library card connects you to almost 6,000 eBook titles and more than 4,000 eAudiobook titles? Whether you like biographies, classic literature, self-help, bestsellers, fantasy and sci-fi, or non-fiction, you are guaranteed to find a title that interests you!
 
Our digital collection is always open! The eBooks and eAudiobooks you checkout are available on your computer, smartphone, tablet, or e-reader, anytime, anywhere . Setting up your account on the Overdrive platform and checking out is easy, but librarians are happy to help you get started, just drop in or give us a call. Get started by downloading the Overdrive app to your device or by visiting the collection homepage using the browser on your computer.
 
The fine print: Cardholders can checkout up to 5 items at a time; borrowing period is two weeks; no late fees: eBooks and eAudiobooks automatically return at the end of the lending period.
 
We have collections for teens  and children , too! We invite you to browse, search, and discover. Find your next great read!
 
For more information about South Pasadena Public Library events and services visit our website:  www.southpasadenaca.gov/library, or come see us in person, 7 days a week. 
Updates from the Children's Room at the Library
Recent visitors to the South Pasadena Public Library might notice the entrance to the Children's Room shrouded in blue paper. Soon, that blue paper will come off and a new mosaic will be revealed! Commissioned by the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library, artist Jolino Beserra has created another whimsical piece to welcome visitors to the Children's Room. In the same style as the column mosaic that he created in 2011, the entrance mosaic includes colorful ceramic bits and bobs to engage children, and characters that represent the variety of topics you can investigate at the library, from science to sports and art to animals. When the final touches are finished, an official unveiling celebration will be announced. For more information about Jolino Beserra's art, go to www.jolinomosaicarts.com.
  
Don't forget to join us this fall for Storytime for preschoolers, toddlers, and families, as well as
Barks and Books with the Pasadena Humane Society. Mark your calendars for special events in December, including a Family Gift Making Workshop and Lego Mania!
For dates and details about these and other programs for youth, please visit the South Pasadena Public Library website: www.southpasadenaca.gov/childrensresources or call the Children's Room at (626) 403-7358. You can also view our calendar of events for youth here: http://southpasadena.evanced.info/signup/calendar
Plan South Pasadena Update
The process for updating the City's General Plan and Mission Street Specific Plan is moving forward to the next stage of public engagement following the conclusion of the Charrette on April 28, 2017.

The Charrette synthesized quantifiable data collected by the consultant team, responses from the General Plan survey, and the results of the first round of focus group meetings, refining this information at the evening workshops. The Charrette focused on developing a physical vision and building blocks for the future of the Specific Plan.

The various focus groups have been meeting over the summer to develop the building blocks for the draft updated General Plan and Specific Plan, based on the vision developed during the Charrette.   Following focus group review and changes, these draft documents will be consolidated into a draft General Plan and draft Specific Plan.  Working drafts of these documents are available for public review and comment at http://www.plansouthpasadena.org/outcomes.html.

The drafts will be presented at a joint meeting of the Planning Commission and City Council in November, at which they will be asked to use these documents as a basis for the required Environmental Impact Report.

Plan South Pasadena Focus Group meeting schedule:

Group
Date/Time
Location
CORE Group
October 10, 2017 
at 7:00 pm
Community Room, 
1115 El Centro Street
City Council/Planning Commission Joint Meeting
Wednesday, 
 November 8, 2017
City Council Chambers
                                                       
The CORE Group will be focusing on pulling together the work of the other focus groups and adding land use, parking and mobility issues into the mix.

Working draft papers reflecting the work of earlier focus groups are now available for public review and comment here.
"Pathways to Art" Street Sign Sale
SPEF and the South Pasadena Arts Council (SPARC) are teaming up to sell 300 local retired city street signs. This joint project, "Pathways to Art," will raise money to advance the arts within our community. These signs were generously donated to SPARC by the South Pasadena City Council.

87 new signs including Chelten Way, Diamond Avenue, Fair Oaks Avenue, Fremont Avenue, Huntington Drive, Marengo Avenue, Meridian Avenue, Milan Avenue, Mission Street, Monterey Road and Ramona Avenue. Funds will support SPARC's arts programs, public art in the community, and SPEF's efforts to enhance arts education in SPUSD.

Click here for more information.
The Water Conservation Rebate Program is Growing 
Have you 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
    to $100 for installation ($50 for additional toilets).
$100/toilet + up
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)
 
The City will soon offer a turf removal rebate program ($1 per square foot up to 1,500 square feet). Details are still being finalized, so check the website for updates.
 
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] .
Camp Med After School 2017-2018 
 
  Applications & the Program Handbook are available on our website.
 
Our program is SOLD OUT! If you are interested in being placed on the wait list, please contact the Recreation Division (626) 403-7380.  This program is for 1st - 5th graders only, and the weekly fee is $80.  If you have any questions please refer to our Program Handbook .
Sewer Rehabilitation and Replacement Project
As part of a city-wide initiative to replace aging sewer lines, the Public Works Department contracted with several companies to rehabilitate approximately 60% of the City's sewer system by the end of 2017.

By utilizing Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP) technology, the life of 272 sewer pipe segments, totaling approximately 83,600 lineal feet,  have been extended for another fifty years. 
 
In order to improve the effectiveness of this project, the Public Works Department would once again like to remind residents to ensure that their private sewer laterals are in good condition. Specifically, by hiring a professional to ensure each homes lateral is free of roots, grease, and other debris.

For more information on the project itself click here , or contact South Pasadena's Public Works Department (626) 403-7240.
Upcoming Events
"Rebel Without a Cause" to be Screened for Library Film Night
Thursday, October 5, 2017
A Screening of the classic 1955 blockbuster "Rebel Without a Cause" starring James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, and Dennis Hopper will be presented on Thursday, October 5 at 7 p.m. in the South Pasadena Public Library Community Room. The legendary film, which made James Dean an overnight sensation, will be introduced by actor Dean Ghaffari, a South Pasadena resident, in the persona of Sal Mineo.
 
Dean Ghaffari is the writer and performer of the virtuoso one-man show "Rebel With a Cause: The Sal Mineo Story" that recently enjoyed a two week run at the Promenade Playhouse in Santa Monica. In 2014, Ghaffari performed as Mineo at the South Pasadena Library and was accorded a prolonged standing ovation by the enthusiastic full house audience. "Rebel Without a Cause" opened the door for youth oriented films that has continued to widen ever since. The film has permanently attained iconic status and James Dean was recently honored with the installation of a bust on the west end of the Griffith Park Observatory. 
 
The Community Room is located at 1115 El Centro Street. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and no tickets or reservations are necessary. Refreshments will be served. The free event is presented by the South Pasadena Public Library, the Friends of the Rialto Theatre, and the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library.
After-Hours Chamber Mixer at Lloyd & Lane Found Objects
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Join us Tuesday, October 24 for an after-hours Chamber mixer, hosted by Lloyd & Lane Found Objects, located at 2016 Fair Oaks Avenue.  Stop by for a private shopping experience and refreshments!  Come mingle with fellow Chamber members and make some new friends. All are welcome! Food! Wine! Raffle Prizes!  Members: $10,  Non-Members: $12.
Breakfast with Santa 
Saturday, December 9,  2017 

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 November 1st, 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.