City Council Recap: Sweeney's Speech, Fair Oaks Updates & Arroyo Seco Extension

CLEAN ENERGY REBATES

A representative from Energy Upgrade California presented ways residents can receive anywhere from $1,000 to $4,500 in savings through rebates. This can be acheived through household improvements such as complete air sealing, duct sealing, hot-water pipe insulation and a thermostatic shut-off valve. To learn more or apply for the rebate, visit www.energyupgradeca.org.

MATT SWEENEY RESIGNATION

"He's a wonderful engineer and a great friend," said City Manager John Davidson as he announced this would be Public Works Director Matt Sweeney's last council meeting. 

Sweeney announced April 19 that he would be resigning, with his last day slated for May 6.

Sweeney took the podium and thanked city council members and staff for their hard work over his two-year tenure.

"I spent a lot of time at private industry before the city. Any attitude I had about city employees, I lost right away," said Sweeney.

Sweeney's speech was followed by comments from Mayor Mike Ten, who thanked Sweeney for coming out of retirement to fill a void in the South Pas Public Works Department.

"I think we are seeing a renaissance in South Pas of infostructure, street and curbs, and protection and planting of trees," Ten said as he attributed these improvements to Sweeney. "We have to give a big thank-you for that."

FAIR OAKS STREET IMPROVEMENT UPDATES

Sam Telebian of DMR Team in Culver City, a consultant working with the contractor doing the work, reported that an ongoing concern of merchants has been overall traffic control and staging and said the work was not phased as promised.

While some merchants thought all curb and gutter work would be completed in phases—finishing the west before moving on to the east—this would cause an overall increase of three months in the duration of the overall project.

Public Works Director Matt Sweeney said that the city miscommunicated the level of devastation that the project would have on merchants and that the city could have made the effects more clear.

Residents brought up similar questions that were raised at the council meeting April 20, including why the decorative crosswalk was removed from plans without notification and why the contractor is not being held accountable for its damage to the local businesses. A member of South Pasadena Political Action (WHISPPA) expressed her concerns about the absence of an engineer once Sweeney leaves and asked that the council be more involved with the project.

Owner of , Gail Dragna, asked that there be more signage to help drivers better navigate the consruction area. She asked why construction was ending at 5 p.m. instead of the promised 3 p.m. and asked that the curb bulb-outs be red to avoid accidents. 

ARROYO SECO GOLF COURSE EXTENSION

The debate continued Wednesday, with passionate speeches from both council members and residents. While some feel the extension will increase business revenue for the city, others hope to preserve and enhance the area using a $150,000 grant approved in 2010 (the city accepted a proposal from North East Trees to do the work). Council members in favor of the extension say the money can still be used to enhance the South Pasadena Nature Park with the extension in place.

Council member Richard Schneider gave a passionate agrument as to why the topic of extending the golf couse should have never been brought before the council, citing minutes from a board meeting on Feb. 17, 2010.

The minutes read, "By roll call vote (5 ayes), the City Council authorized the issuance of the proposed Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Arroyo Seco Golf Course, taking into consideration changes recommended by Council member Cacciotti: a modification to Section 1.5 to convey that the Nature Park will be expanded for trails and deletion of a footnote that states the range can be extended 30 yards."

Schneider worries that if the council reverses its previous resolution and votes in favor of the extension, it will look "unreliable" and "fickle."

City staff and the Arroyo Seco Golf Course and Racquet Center Lease Subcommittee previously recommended the City Council approve the extension of the driving range to border the neighboring South Pasadena Nature Park. The subcommittee was formed in September 2006 to evaluate the golf course’s pending lease.

And even though City Council previously voted against extending the driving range for the full-length (which would have removed the 1 acre land buffer that is currently between the driving range and the nature park), the issue was back to council Wednesday night for discussion on a partial driving range extension.

Council member Philip Putnam, who referred to himself as the "swing vote,"said having a strong golf course is in the best interest of the city. But with Mayor Pro Tem Michael Cacciotti and Schneider mentioning many trees missing from the city staff's drawing of the golf course, Putnam made it clear that it is important to consider landmarks and not just dimensions when voting on the extension.

Many residents voiced opinions on the topic. Some said the golf course extension is necessary to drive business, while others said it is difficult to put a pricetag on an open space.

"We have two civic assets that our citizens enjoy greatly. ... I think it needs to be balanced. I know why the operator wants to extend the driving range, because I can hit the ball over the fence," said resident Gary Pia. "I think the city will be worse if the golf course continues in its decline. We have an empty pro shop. The business is in jeopardy."

Cacciotti argued that those who golf at Arroyo are long-time residents who come for the special small-town feel.

Scott Feldman spoke during public comments on behalf of the subcommittee, which Cacciotti and council member David Sifuentes are also a part of. He stated that much planning and preparation has gone into the committee's recommendation and that its members were looking to improve the quality of life for the residents of South Pas.

In a 3-2 vote, the council voted to further study the proposal of extending the golf course up to 27 yards. This means a final decision has yet to be made. Ten, Sifuentes and Putnam voted in favor of the study; council members Cacciotti and Schneider opposed it.

A new operator will take over the golf course from Scott Lohman on July 1.

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

will host Operation Cookie May 25 from 9 a.m. to noon. The cookies will be brought to the Veteran's Hospital prior to Memorial Day. For more information, call (213) 300. 9305.

The and various businesses around town will host the Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.

*The article originally reported that Mayor Mike Ten was a member of Arroyo Seco Golf Course and Racquet Center Lease Subcommittee. He was not. We replaced his name with Mayor Pro Tem Michael Cacciotti. 

*The article originally reported Deputy Public Works Director Shin Furukawa was present at the meeting on behalf of the Public Works Department in addition to Sweeney. Furukawa was not present.