During the last month, the city council managed through another tough fiscal year by balancing another budget that reflected cuts to the operation of the city. And yet, notwithstanding the pinch city government is feeling, we still celebrate!

The city’s 125^th anniversary provided opportunity to reflect on Pasadena’s rich and diverse history, celebrating the contributions of its people, events and struggles.

We set the stage for revising the General Plan, with community workshops and surveys designed to measure how residents feel about growth and development in our fair city. Jobs, housing, traffic, parks and open space are a few areas where the community shared their vision.

Celebrations continue throughout the summer with block parties (Villa Esperanza’s 50^th Anniversary and District 3—Jackson Street), Levitt Pavilion’s free summer concerts and a variety of outdoor events in the Playhouse and Old Pasadena districts.

On a personal note, as some of you have heard, I have decided to run for the State Assembly.  Anthony Portantino is termed-out and we await the new district line configurations.

Yet I am encouraged that the district will retain a significant clustering of cities that have shared interest with Pasadena and I look forward to the opportunity this presents to serve you in Sacramento.  Since the election cycle would be in 2012, there is time to visit and engage on topics that matter to you.

Also, Melanie and I had two high school graduates this year with Nicholas and Noah finishing at Pasadena High School. They are on their way to University of Puget Sound and University of Pittsburg respectively.

Wow!  Time flies.  Our vacation this summer will be shuttling the boys to college.  I’ll share the experience with you in the next newsletter.  Finally, for the first time I will insert a vintage Chris Holden photo section, for no other reason than it’s kind of cool and I can reminisce about having hair on my head.

Blog your comments and enjoy the summer!

Incorporated on June 12, 1886, Pasadena has grown to become one of the primer cities in the world. With a population of more than 143,000 and renowned institutions, we celebrate our past and our future. 

With the theme “Destination Pasadena: Celebrating 125 Years of Service and Hospitality,” the community had the opportunity to reflect on the people, places and events that define our great city. 

On June 18, residents and visitors enjoyed music performed throughout the city, along with fireworks, festivals, lectures and events that reflect the rich, diverse spirit of Pasadena.

Joining them were their art teachers and district art coordinators, along with many of the students’ proud parents.
This is the fourth year the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority has invited high school students in grades 9 to 12 to enter the Bob Hope Airport Tower Banner Art Contest. Each year, the Airport Authority chooses a different aviation theme for the contest. This year’s theme was “Up and Away.”

The winning artwork from each school district is displayed on the façade of the Bob Hope Airport terminal tower for a period of approximately three months. The  winning entries are rotated among Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena schools.

Burbank’s winning banner, created by 11th grader Jasmine Flores from John Burroughs High School, will be the first to be displayed on the tower beginning in September.

Glendale Unified School District’s winning banner, created by 12th grader Christina Padilla from Crescenta Valley High School, will be displayed starting January 2012.

Pasadena Unified School District’s winning banner, created by 11th grader Hannah Baldwin from Pasadena High School, will be displayed beginning April 2012.

Notables: NBA standout Michael Cage (Clippers and Supersonics), back row center left; and San Diego Padres Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, back row far right.

OK, young Councilman Holden is on the back row, right side, third from Gwynn.

FYI…I look shorter because guys to my right are standing on a raised ledge. It’s not every day that I look short.

In 2008 and 2010, voters passed  ballot initiatives—Proposition 11 and Proposition 20, respectively—to shift control of redistricting away from the state legislature to an unelected citizens’ panel. 

Voters disenchanted with the state of dysfunction in Sacramento sought an approach that would force more competitive districts, and encourage the election of candidates willing to compromise for pragmatic solutions and away from hardline partisan positions.  Whether this becomes the outcome is yet to be determined. 

The commission is currently finalizing maps to be released on July 28.  Public input is taken into consideration by the committee, however they are not willing to compromise districts that are formed based on the Voting Rights Act.  Any district that can be created with a 50%+ ethnic minority population is encouraged. 

Click here to see the latest version of Pasadena’s Assembly district map.

Input is still encouraged.  Share your thoughts.  Visit wedrawthelines.ca.gov to see other maps for Assembly, Senate, Congress and Board of Equalization. To submit a public comment to the commission, call them toll free at (866) 356-5217 or via e-mail: votersfirstact@crc.ca.gov.

The California Energy Commission and UC Berkeley are also conducting an assessment for the development of a national training center. The Energy Commission’s $75 million Clean Energy Workforce Training Program has already launched the nation’s largest state-sponsored green jobs training program.

MWD imports water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta via the State Water Project, and from the Colorado River.  In recent years, prolonged droughts, climate change and environmental flow restrictions have triggered MWD to impose allocation limits to its member agencies for the first time since 1991.

To address these critical water supply challenges, PWP has taken a proactive step to lead as a model water agency by developing a Water Integrated Resource Plan (WIRP).  The WIRP was developed using an open, participatory planning process with input from the public at large.

The Plan calls for:

• Aggressive water conservation
• Devil’s Gate Dam storage to Eaton Canyon for groundwater recharge
• Recycled water from Los Angeles-Glendale Water Reclamation Plant
• Groundwater storage of imported water and;
• On-site stormwater capture projects for direct landscaping use and groundwater recharge.

The benefits of these elements are greater supply reliability, reduced overall lifecycle costs, improved groundwater levels, improved local environment and surface water quality, mitigation against potential climate change impacts, consistency with MWD’s regional water strategy and compliance with new state mandate for reducing water usage–thus, positioning Pasadena to be able to meet the continuing needs of its citizenry.

Councilmember Chris Holden, Bart Reed, transit activist; former Assemby member Richard Katz and Assembly member Mike Eng share their vision of regional transportation at the January 22 One Community forum.

On January 22^nd, One Community: A Grassroots Think Tank, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating free forums and other events to educate and connect citizens to information and co-founded by Chris Holden, held a regional transportation forum at Maranatha High School.  Special guests included Assemblymembers Anthony Portantino and Mike Eng, Pasadena Vice-Mayor Victor Gordo, Duarte Councilmember John Fasana, Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian and former Assemblymember Richard Katz.

More than 300 people attended to hear panel discussions on the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (Metro) 30-year plan, extension of the Gold Line Light Rail system, high-speed rail, freeway, bus and bicycle projects throughout the county and the prospects for I-710 freeway projects.

The discussion prompted more than 50 questions that were either answered by the panelists or were presented to the Metro for their review and comment.

Exhibitors from Parsons Brinkerhoff and Skanska to High Speed Rail Authority, Bob Hope Airport, City of Pasadena Transportation, Business Life magazine, Gold Line Extension Construction Authority, Rail LA, Metro and the Transit Coalition participated and shared their expertise on transit issues.

The I-710 panel discussion generated interest in the history of the project and the process to evaluate its future viability. Concerns about tunnel ventilation, truck traffic and neighborhood restoration were raised along with the need to complete the freeway gap causing relief in wait time on the overall freeway system.

Since the forum, Metro has begun a series of outreach meetings throughout the area to take input on the project. I hope that Metro would look to this community outreach period as an opportunity to build trust from those skeptical of Metro’s intentions by officially eliminating the surface route from consideration and returning the homes on Cal-Trans property back to the neighborhoods through the appropriate process. As a result, these actions would encourage everyone to participate in fair and open-minded discussions on the merits of how to best complete the I-710 freeway.

Councilmember Holden joins Mayor Bogaard and other dignitaries at Rose Bowl commemoration.

Our world renowned Rose Bowl is finally getting the improvements it has needed for so long. With the approval by city council and the RBOC, of the $152-million renovation project, the community will see the work begin on safety measures, tunnel access, press box modernization, concourse improvements and score-board enhancements. The work began recently with a groundbreaking event that brought together Rose Bowl stakeholders: City of Pasadena, Rose Bowl Operating Company (RBOC), Tournament of Roses, UCLA, Chamber of Commerce and neighborhood groups and associations to celebrate the important milestone.

Mayor Bogaard and members of the council and RBOC continue to look for additional resources that will complete the funding for the project.  Potential savings on construction cost, elimination of less critical features and future revenue are expected to fund the remaining financing gap.  Employment opportunities for local residents and skilled craftsmen will be maximized.  The improvements should be completed by Fall 2012.

With the revitalization of North Lake Avenue, Fair Oaks and Orange Grove, and the Lincoln Corridor, small businesses and national retailers are beautifying the business districts and providing valued services. Park improvements at Washington, La Pintoresca, Robinson, Villa and Brenner provide a quality environment for families and community events. And a number of community nonprofits and faith-based organizations offer services for young and old alike. Mother’s Club, DeVeal Family Services, YWCA, New Horizon School, and NATHA are but of few of the groups that support the needs of the people of Pasadena.

At a recent community meeting at the Rose Bowl locker room, many residents from Northwest neighborhoods came together to share their insights on the attributes of the community and the best ways to communicate those attributes with neighbors, other city neighborhoods and visitors to Pasadena. The goal is to take the input and develop a marketing plan that can be used to foster greater support and appreciation for Pasadena’s historic community.