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This Week's Top Stories
Week of March 16, 2010
San Gabriel celebrates Arbor Day
San Gabriel Public Works, in conjunction with the Interact Club at Gabrielino High School and the Asian Youth Center, will stage an Arbor Day tree planting program this Saturday, March 13 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Planting will commence at San Gabriel Boulevard and progress eastbound along Las Tunas Drive to Burton Avenue. For more information, call Public Works at (626) 308-2825, or contact Patty Pena at ppena@sgch.org.
News from City Departments
Administration
Senate, Assembly pass transportation funding ‘swap’
Thursday the Senate and Assembly passed AB X8 6 (Budget) and AB X8 9 (Budget), which contain the provisions for the Transportation Funding Swap Proposal (“swap”). The Swap was once again revised from the last proposal released on February 22nd. AB X8 6 and AB X8 9 currently await action by the Governor. Unlike previous proposals, the final Swap package does not authorize a new locally-imposed fee on gasoline to fund transit, bicycle, and pedestrian projects. It also increases the share for local streets and roads from 40 percent to 44 percent, apparently providing increased funding for local streets and roads. However, it also continues to have some of the same problems as the previous two proposals, including weakened constitutional protections and vulnerability if state debt service increases in the future. More information can be obtained from the League of Cities at http://www.cacities.org/index.jsp?zone=locc&previewStory=27976.
Public Works
Community outreach meetings set for Public Works facility
The Public Works Department will be hosting 3 outreach meetings for the new Public Works Maintenance Facility, on March 17, 18 and 20, 2010. The meetings will give residents, community members and employees an opportunity to view and comment on three proposed site plans. The meetings will be held at three different locations and times of day to maximize community participation. The hours and locations are as follows:
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Grapevine Room
Adult Recreation Center
324 S. Mission Dr.
San Gabriel CA 91776
Thursday, March 18, 2010
noon to 2:00 pm
San Gabriel City Yard
121 W. Mission Rd.
San Gabriel CA 91776
Saturday, March 20, 2010
10 am to noon
San Gabriel Water District Office (Parking Lot)
8366 Grand Ave.
Rosemead CA 91778
For further information please contact Project Manager Gerry Lopez at 626-308-2825.
Parks and Recreation
Prop 84 grant application submitted
The City’s grant application for Prop 84 funds was mailed to the state last Monday, March 1. The grant entitled Marshall Community Park – Increasing Cultural Unity through Recreation Experiences requested over $4.6 million for a proposed joint use school/park site on the Marshall School campus. A huge “thanks” to Assistant Director Nancy Hogan who worked with our grant writer to finalize, print and mail the completed application. The state has indicated that they will be awarding the grants in the fall. We are keeping our fingers crossed that we are successful in receiving funding!
San Gabriel’s ‘Egg’straordinary Spring Celebration
Plans are underway for the 66th Annual Pancake Breakfast and Egg Hunt, sponsored by San Gabriel Kiwanis and the Parks and Recreation Department. The event will be held on Saturday, April 3, 2010 at Smith Park. The morning’s activities will get underway with the Pancake Breakfast from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m. The donation for breakfast is $5 for adults and $2 for children under 10, with proceeds benefiting the Kiwanis scholarship program. The Pancake Races will begin at 9:00 a.m., followed by the Egg Hunt at 10:00 a.m. Boys and girls under 6 are invited to hunt for eggs at this free event.
In addition to these activities, the Kiwanis Club has proposed a children’s health fair to take place during the event. The fair will be located on the west end of the park. Kiwanis plans to have a variety of health screenings including hearing, dental and eye exams. Key Club members will also host activity and game booths for children. Details are still being finalized for this children’s health fair, but it should prove to be a good addition to this community event.
Community Development
Building: Adoption of the 2010 California Building Codes
The City last adopted new building codes in November of 2007 with an effective date of January 1, 2008. The California Building Standards Commission publishes new standards every three years and has recently completed their codification, filing with the Secretary of the State and release of the 2010 California Codes to the publishers. As of July 4, 2010, these codes should be available for purchase with an effective date of enforcement set as January 1, 2011.
In addition to the regular triennial code adoption scheduled later this year, the City will be introducing for the first time several new code volumes which include the California Green Building Code and the California Residential Code with references to the International Mechanical and Plumbing Codes. The Building Division staff have been monitoring these changes and informing the public since the beginning of this year. In February, signs were posted on the CD public counter, webpage, and placed on the City’s cable scroll channel to assist in getting the word out to our community. For more information, contact Building and Safety Manager Evan Zeisel at x4627.
Economic Development: New round of outreach to start on Wayfinding Plan
Hunt Design is making progress with the Visual Identity and Wayfinding Signage Program. Staff will be reviewing the draft vehicular and pedestrian location maps with department heads, community groups and selected property owners. These wayfinding maps show the proposed list of destinations and placements of wayfinding or navigational signs. A set of plans will be available for viewing by the public at the City Hall counter. Staff estimates that the review period will take between six and eight weeks as some stakeholder organizations will need to review the plans at regularly scheduled meetings. After comments are received, the plans will be revised by Hunt and presented to City Council and the Agency for approval in late spring or early summer. Design details (hardware, materials, colors and letter type) will also be considered at that time. For more information, contact Robin Scherr at 308-2806 x5123.
Economic Development: San Gabriel streetscape meeting a success on all countsOur hats are tipped to Robin Scherr and staff for orchestrating last Wednesday’s workshop for the proposed streetscape improvements on San Gabriel Boulevard. Nearly 80 people attended, sharing their ideas, thoughts and personal stories about San Gabriel and providing KSA, the landscape architect, with inspiration for themes for the Boulevard. This was another great example of the staff’s commitment to the outreach and engagement goals set by Council. Thank you to Robin Scherr, Jennifer Davis, Algis Marciuska, Angela Cheng, Carol Barrett, Winzler & Kelly Engineers, City Architect Dale Brown, the Council and our intrepid team of interns for their support.
Planning: City seeks another energy grant
San Gabriel has submitted the requisite paperwork to the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments to be included in the COG’s proposal for funding under Southern California Edison’s RFP for activities that support California’s Long-Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan. If the grant application is successful, the money can be used to further our sustainability efforts. For more information contact Planning Manager Carol Barrett at 626.308.2800, ext. 4624.
Mission Playhouse
The wonderful wizard comes to the Mission Playhouse this weekend
Hold off on that trip to Kansas! It’s time to put on your red shoes and follow the yellow brick road along to the Playhouse for a delightful and colorful production of the almost universally loved Wizard of Oz, presented this weekend by students from Temple City High School. Performances are at 7:30pm on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th and 2:00pm on Sunday 14th. Call now for tickets at 626-548-5160.