As we celebrate the Fourth of July this year, South Pasadena Police and Fire Departments want to remind our residents that all fireworks are illegal in the City of South Pasadena. The current law prohibits all Safe and Sane fireworks, including those legally purchased in neighboring cities. No fireworks of any kind can be used in the City of South Pasadena. Officers will respond to calls involving fireworks, as these incidents are considered misdemeanors. Please remain vigilant and report illegal fireworks in the City of South Pasadena, by calling the Police non-emergency number at (626) 403-7270
In March, the City Council adopted an Emergency Resolution that suspended requirements for overnight parking permits in response to the national pandemic. This week council adopted Emergency Resolution 7657 to reinstate enforcement of overnight parking restrictions beginning July 6th, 2020. The City of South Pasadena wishes to alert residents that South Pasadena Municipal Code 19.58(a) states, “It is unlawful for any person to stop, stand or park a motor vehicle on any public street or in any city-owned parking lot for a period of time longer than 30 minutes between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. of any day, unless in accordance with an all-night parking permit issued in accordance with this division.” During the first week of enforcement, violators will receive a warning instead of an actual citation. After this one-week grace period, vehicles parked on City streets overnight will be cited for violations of SPMC 19.58(a), unless they properly display valid Temporary or Annual Permits. Temporary and Annual Permits can be purchased at the Police Department or online at: https://www.southpasadenaca.gov/government/departments/police/e-policing-resources/parking-permits Questions regarding overnight parking regulations should be directed to 626-403-7235.
On Monday, July 6, the City will reopen City facilities on a limited basis in accordance with public health guidelines. Visitors will be allowed by appointment only and face coverings and social distancing will be required. The City has implemented all possible steps to ensure a safe environment for both our employees and visitors. This includes workplace modifications to provide for appropriate social distancing, sneeze guards at public counters, and increased cleaning and disinfecting of facilities. In addition, employees have completed training on how to clean and disinfect their workspace before and after each shift, or as necessary, for the protection of employee and visitor health. Over the last few weeks, employees have phased back to the workplace as necessary to deliver services to the community, while maintaining safe operations. As we transition into this new phase of limited reopening, employees will be on site with staggered or alternating schedules. We encourage the public to continue to conduct business as much as possible via phone or online.
Please click here for a list of city departments and contact information. Visitors will only be allowed into the facilities by appointment. Upon arrival, visitors should contact the department they are scheduled to meet with. Visitors will have their temperatures checked prior to being granted access to the facility. Visitors are asked to follow protocols posted prominently at each city facility per Los Angeles County Health Orders. Face masks and social distancing will be required at all times when inside the facility and sneeze guards have been installed where necessary for the safety of visitors and employees. The City will continue to monitor the evolving situation and follow guidance from public health officials.
State Enforcement strike teams will be deployed throughout California targeting non-compliant workplaces in partnership with local public health departments and businesses. The Strike Team is comprised of multi-agency teams from Alcohol Beverage Control, California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Department of Business Oversight, Department of Business Affairs, California Highway Patrol and agents from LA County, Department of Health. The intent is not punitive; it is being done to help save lives. If you observe violations of thecurrenthealth orders, please call Los Angeles County Health Environmental Health at (888) 700-9995 or (626) 813-3346.
The revised Los Angeles County Health Officer Order, “Reopening Safer at Work and in the Community Revised Order (07.01.20) is now available on Public Health’s website, under the Health Officer Order dropdown tab. The revised order aligns the County with the Governor’s announcement requiring the closure of specific activities and business sectors.
The temporary closure of indoor, in-person dining at restaurants, indoor museums, indoor children’s museums, and indoor operations at zoos and aquariums, and cardrooms and satellite wagering facilities.
Bars have also been ordered to remain closed in all 19 counties on the State’s watch list, including LA County.
Family gatherings are traditional for the holiday weekend. This year, however, LA County residents should celebrate only with members of their immediate households.
See the DPH updateon the number of COVID-19 cases across LA County.
Enjoy a stroll through town and experience the artwork by South Pasadena youth and decorated store fronts on Mission and Fair Oaks. Artwork will be on display until July 10, and also on the City’s website click here. Please continue to follow social distancing guidelines!
With hints of businesses reopening and community enthusiasm for expanding safe outdoor dining and retail opportunities, our downtown Mission Street is reasserting itself as a lively neighborhood. A potential addition to the downtown area is a mixed-use development project called “Seven Patios” that proposes to build new housing units and more retail and restaurant options. If approved by the Planning Commission, the Seven Patios would replace the current commercial building at 845/899 El Centro Street, just southwest from the Metro train station across El Centro. The plans include retail and restaurant spaces totaling approximately 6,100 square feet along the El Centro Street frontage, with 57 residential units on the upper floors and in the interior spaces. The project conceptually centers around seven distinctly designed patios, from which the project takes its name — “Seven Patios.” This project proposes to improve walkability in the Mission-Meridian core in downtown South Pasadena around the Metro station, helping to improve the economic sustainability of businesses and the cohesiveness of the neighborhood that hosts the Thursday night Farmers Market along Meridian and El Centro. The concept proposes to provide desired retail and restaurant services in the West Mission area and to provide a better connection between the neighboring residential areas southwest of the property and the commercial corridor along Mission Street located northeast of the property.
The City invites the public to learn more about this proposed project.
Facing El Centro
A Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) has been prepared for this project and will be available for a 30-day public review from Tuesday, June 30 to Wednesday July 29, 2020.
If you wish to review a printed copy of the Draft IS/MND, you can do so at the following locations:
South Pasadena City Hall: 1414 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030; Monday – Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (by appointment only; please call 626-403-7223 to schedule an appointment)
South Pasadena Public Library: 1100 Oxley Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030; Monday – Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Friday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (by check-out/pick-up only; please call 626-403-7350)
We encourage your participation and welcome all comments on this Draft IS/MND. Please submit your comments (via email or letter) no later than 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 to:
City of South Pasadena Attention: Kanika Kith, Planning Manager 1414 Mission Street South Pasadena, CA 91030 Email: kkith@southpasadenaca.gov
If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact Kanika Kith at (626) 403-7227; or via e-mail at kkith@southpasadenaca.gov.
Joanna Hankamer Planning and Community Development Director
The Library is once again partnering with the American Red Cross to give our residents an opportunity to contribute to the much needed blood supply, with a blood drive in the Library Community Room on Wednesday, July 29. Appointments are available between 1:00 and 7:00 p.m.
To schedule, visit www.RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code SOPASLIB. A bonus for donors…all successful donations will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies. Results will be available 7-10 days after a successful donation.
Earlier this week, LA County issued an executive order which extends an existing temporary moratorium on evictions in parts of LA County, in response to the COVID-19 health emergency.
The eviction moratorium will remain in place until July 31, 2020. The temporary eviction moratorium covers:
all residential & commercial tenants in LA County, except those who live or conduct business in cities with their own eviction moratoria; and
it includes a ban on evictions for nonpayment of rent, if the tenant can show they have been financially impacted by the health emergency, among other protections.
The order also extends the temporary rent freeze in the unincorporated areas of LA County. This means property owners may not increase rent for rental units or spaces covered by LA County’s Rent Stabilization and Mobile Home Rent Stabilization ordinances.
These actions are retroactive to March 4, 2020.
Tenant & Landlord Resources are available through LA County’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA). DCBA has developed guidelines, in the interest of both property owners & tenants, to: 1) help understand the temporary Eviction Moratorium and 2) take proactive steps now.
The Guidelines, available at dcba.lacounty.gov/noevictions, include the following topics that owners should consider as they plan for the months ahead:
Applicability for residential & commercial tenants
How to determine reasonable financial impacts
Notice requirements & documentation
Guidance for repayment of rent once the moratorium is lifted
Resolving disputes between landlords & tenants
DCBA also provides expanded foreclosure prevention assistance for landlords with 15 or fewer units.
If you are a renter or property owner facing financial difficulty, contact a DCBA Rent Stabilization counselor to learn about available resources: call (833) 223-RENT (7368), e-mail rent@dcba.lacounty.gov, or visit them online atrent.lacounty.gov.
After years of inactivity, the Rialto Theater is coming back to life beautifully. The owners are literally pealing back layers of paint to reveal its past. Starting in early 2020, the owner of Rialto Theatre, Shomof Group, has been working on the repair and restoration of the exterior of the building with assistance from Escott O. Norton/Friends of the Rialto. The Shomof Group is a real estate developer that has extensive experience in restoring many historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles. A few of the restoration and adaptive reuse projects done by the Shomof Group in downtown Los Angeles include Spring Tower Lofts at 639 South Spring Street, the Premiere Towers at 621 South Spring Street, and Hotel Alexandria at 501 South Spring Street.
Staff is working closely with the Shomof Group and Escott O. Norton to ensure all the exterior work is consistent with a Historic Structure Report for the property prepared by Architectural Resources Group. The exterior restoration is near completion but the storefront for the retail units are still in progress.
KC Restoration collected several paint samples from the face of the building and both the blade and marquee signs. Paint samples were removed with a scalpel and taken to include a portion of the substrate to ensure that a full paint layering sequence was obtained. The result shows many layers of different paint colors over time as illustrated below. The Shomof Group is planning to restore the building and both signs to their original colors.
More details to come on completion of the storefront and hopefully a fully occupied retail frontage.
Joanna Hankamer Planning and Community Development Director
City Hall Scoop 