Tuesday, December 6, 2011

PARK CLEANUP - Saturday, December 10, 2011

Hope everyone is doing okay after the big storm. I know some of you (including my neighbors) are still without power. If I can do anything to help, please email or call.

Anyway, still planning to have a park cleanup this Saturday. It will be interesting to see how the non-irrigated Nature Park did. It would also be nice to plan for the January planting (January 28, 2012). I did call the city before the storm to see if we could get the rocks back. Can't bother them with any of this right now, so we will go with what we have.

Hope to see some of you on Saturday.


View Larger Map

Meet at the park info sign on Pasadena Ave and then head down into the park. The group will pull weeds, pick up litter, and enjoy the park. Come for the whole time, for an hour, or just stop by to say hello.

110417_2073_400px
Nature Park entrance on Pasadena Ave., east of the York St. Bridge


Remember to:
- wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- bring water
- bring gardening gloves and tools (weeders, trowels, whatever you use in your own garden)
- comfortable work clothes, including work shoes (sneakers or boots)
- binoculars for bird watching (optional)

Children must be under adult supervision at all times. There is poison oak in the park, which we will point out before we start.

Please pass this info along to anyone else you think might be interested in the park. If you know of anyone who doesn't use the internet, let me know so we can be sure they are kept in the loop.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Park Cleanup Report (11/19/2011)


Saturday's cleanup started with the appearance of a large, beige-colored praying mantis on the park sign holder on Pasadena Avenue. Walking down into the park, a blue dragon fly lit onto my finger. Neither insect was moving very fast in the cool, early morning weather.

With such a nice welcome, it turned into a very productive day. At this time of the year the weeds are just getting going. The ground is moist and the young weeds are easy to remove. We concentrated on castor bean, mustard and horehound in the central mound area and near the steep wooden steps. Removing them now is extremely efficient since not only are they small and easy to pull, but they have not flowered and spread seeds.

In addition to weed removal, some picked up litter, others worked on removing chain link in a drainage area on the southwest side of the park (below Pasadena Ave.), and others chopped away at some large, weedy trees (shamel ash and Chinese elm).

The park is improving and with plans to lay paths and plant in the bare central mound area, I foresee good things to come. And none of this would be possible without the help of community volunteers, including scouts, college students, landscape professionals, and just regular people who care about the park. 

The next cleanup is Saturday, December 10th. On January 28th, students from Occidental College and South Pasadena girl scouts will be laying paths and planting in the center of the park.

If you have a few minutes on one of our weekend cleanups, stop by to say hello, enjoy the park, or get down and dirty pulling weeds and picking up litter.

111015_4837_500px
Volunteer removes graffiti from sign. (10/15/2011)
111024_4478_500px
Oak tree in park
111024_4464_50px
Path leading to sign in center of park. Plants include red willow (Salix laevigata), deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens), coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis).
111024_4463_500px
Large boulders surround infiltration basin that collects rain water and runoff from Pasadena Avenue.
111119_4897_500px
Beautiful cloudy day is perfect for working,walking or just sitting in the park.
111119_4903_500px
Red toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) berries add color during the holiday season.
111119_4902_500px
Monkeyflowers (Mimulus aurantiacus) have been blooming for months.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Meet Rick Schneider, Candidate for City Council

As you can guess by now, I am a big fan of city council member Rick Schneider. Rick has been a true friend of the nature park, involved since the days before it was even created. Since then he continues to work for it, removing trash and weeds in the park, and supporting it in city government.

090110__3448_500px

If you have not met Rick and would like to talk to him, there are several upcoming opportunities. He has been going door-to-door, shaking hands, saying hello, and asking for support. Rick will also be at the nature park tomorrow, so if you'd like to see him wrestling with oversized trash and behemoth weeds, join us from 9 am to noon.

There will be a Sierra Club walk through the historic residential neighborhood in the northern part of South Pas (Buena Vista and Oaklawn Streets). This is a lovely part of town, worth walking or biking through. I will post new events as I get more information. Feel free to email me for information on ways to support Rick's candidacy - lawn signs, endorsements, donations, volunteer work.

OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET AND LEARN ABOUT  RICK SCHNEIDER:

Sierra Club Walk with Candidate Rick Schneider

Saturday, October 22, 9 am - 11 am
Meet at northeast corner of Meridian and Buena Vista, South Pasadena


040220_6224_500px
Lovely Craftsman home in Oaklawn/Buena Vista historic neighborhood of South Pas
The Pasadena Group of Sierra Club will sponsor a 2-hour walk through historic Buena Vista and Oaklawn residential neighborhoods in South Pasadena on Saturday, October 22. South Pasadena City Council candidate Dr. Richard Schneider, whom the Sierra Club has endorsed for re-election, will join in the walk and provide information about historic homes in these neighborhoods and discuss how they would be impacted if the proposed 710 Freeway Extension is built through the city. Interested participants should meet at 9 am at the NE corner of Meridian and Buena Vista in South Pasadena. The walk is open to the public. Those who would like to meet and talk with Dr. Schneider are especially invited.

For further information contact David Czamanske at (626) 458-8646

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

PARK CLEANUP - Saturday, October 15, 2011

The park looked good last month. We did some heavy-duty weed removal in the central area in preparation for a large planting in January. Let's make this part of the park prettier and friendlier to birds, butterflies, lizards and other critters. Hope to see you on Saturday.


View Larger Map

Meet at the park info sign on Pasadena Ave and then head down into the park. The group will pull weeds, pick up litter, and enjoy the park. Come for the whole time, for an hour, or just stop by to say hello.

110417_2073_400px
Nature Park entrance on Pasadena Ave., east of the York St. Bridge


Remember to:
- wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- bring water
- bring gardening gloves and tools (weeders, trowels, whatever you use in your own garden)
- comfortable work clothes, including work shoes (sneakers or boots)
- binoculars for bird watching (optional)

Children must be under adult supervision at all times. There is poison oak in the park, which we will point out before we start.

Please pass this info along to anyone else you think might be interested in the park. If you know of anyone who doesn't use the internet, let me know so we can be sure they are kept in the loop.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Re-elect Rick Schneider - Champion of the Nature Park

Rick (officially, Dr. Richard Schneider) has been there for the park from the very beginning: working to get the park built, consistently attending community cleanups, donating discretionary money for additional plants, and supporting the expansion into the land adjacent to the golf course driving range.

110910_4449_600px
Posing for a rare picture, while stopping by the park to chat with community volunteers. Usually Rick is dressed to work, as he pulls weeds, unearths and removes trash and litter, and enjoys the birds and critters who also use the park. 
Check my other blog for more information on Rick's campaign for re-election to the South Pasadena City Council.  Rick's re-election website contains indepth information on his positions and actions on many city issues. Follow Rick on twitter and facebook.

Friday, September 2, 2011

PARK CLEANUP - Saturday, September 10, 9 am - noon

Can't believe summer is over! I have not been to the park for a while but hope to make a visit this weekend. Looking forward to resuming the war on the weeds. Well, really I am looking forward to meeting up with friends and enjoying the park. Hope more of you can join us this year.


View Larger Map

Meet at the park info sign on Pasadena Ave and then head down into the park. The group will pull weeds, pick up litter, and enjoy the park. Come for the whole time, for an hour, or just stop by to say hello.

110417_2073_400px
Nature Park entrance on Pasadena Ave., east of the York St. Bridge


Remember to:
- wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- bring water
- bring gardening gloves and tools (weeders, trowels, whatever you use in your own garden)
- comfortable work clothes, including work shoes (sneakers or boots)
- binoculars for bird watching (optional)

Children must be under adult supervision at all times. There is poison oak in the park, which we will point out before we start.

Please pass this info along to anyone else you think might be interested in the park. If you know of anyone who doesn't use the internet, let me know so we can be sure they are kept in the loop.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Golf Course status report

During the upcoming city council meeting, Wednesday, August 17, there will be a status report (Item 19, the last agenda item on the agenda) on the transition of the golf course operation to Donovan Brothers Golf, LLC. The agenda item is as follows:

Reports
19. Arroyo Seco Golf Course's status report on operations and finances during the transitional period (no staff report)
As a reminder, the lease with Lohmann Golf expired at the end of June 2011. Negotiations for a new long-term lease with Donovan Bros. Golf were held up over a proposed extension of the driving range. In the original instructions from City Council (5-0 vote), a small piece of property located between the existing driving range and Nature Park (but within the original footprint of the golf course property) was to be added to the park and landscaped by North East Trees, an urban forestry non-profit. In spite of this directive, the property became part of the negotiations with Donovan Bros. The golf management company wanted to extend the golf course into this previously unused land. Upfront cost for the extension was to be paid by Donovan Bros. but fully reimbursed by the city through rent credits.

Citizen objection to the golf course extension and the city's failure to file CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) documents resulted in a temporary agreement with Donovan Brothers. Since the expiration of the lease with Lohmann Golf, Donovan has been paid by the city to manage the facility. It is my understanding that they will be reporting to City Council on Wednesday on "the operations and finances" during this period.

As a reminder, under the long-term lease agreement being negotiated by the city and Donovan Brothers, the golf course management company would provide upfront capital for facility improvements to be reimbursed by the city through rent credits. The company would pay the city rent to manage and run the facility, and would cover operating expenses. Profits generated by the facility would go to the management company. In this arrangement, if capital improvements do not result in increased revenue the city is still fully responsible for the outlay of funds via these ongoing rent credits.

Under the temporary agreement, the city pays Donovan Bros. a fixed amount to run the facility, but keeps the profits. It is my understanding that capital improvements are paid by the city in this temporary arrangement, but resulting increases in generated revenue are kept by the city. In contrast to the long-term agreement, the outlay of capital for improvements is linked with an expected increase in revenue.

Through this long process I have written blog posts, newspaper editorials, and spoken at city council meetings explaining my position on the driving range extension issue. I have tried hard to be accurate in describing what I believed was being negotiated. If now, or in the past, I made any erroneous statements, I welcome corrections.

Previous blog posts:

WildSuburbia Blog
April 20, 2011: City Council to Review Driving Range Extension in Closed Session
April 6: City Council Action Item 19: Driving Range Extension
April 1, 2011: Driving Range Extension on City Council Agenda
March 19, 2011: Golf Course vs Habitat
March 6, 2011: City Council considers extending golf course
Native By Design Blog (Nature Park blog)
April 20, 2011: City Council to Review Driving Range Extension in Closed Session
April 15, 2011: 4/17/11 (Sunday) Cleanup & 4/20 (Wed) City Council Meeting 4/17/11 (Sunday) Cleanup & 4/20 (Wed) City Council Meeting

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

PARK CLEANUP - Saturday, July 9, 9 am - noon

I haven't been in the Nature Park for about 2 weeks. At last visit it was really weedy! Argh!! If it is very hot we will weed and clean up in the shade - and if it is really, really hot, we won't stay too long. Hope to see some of you there, even if just to walk around and do some bird watching.

We will also be discussing plans to do a planting next January. Hoping to have some ideas on ways to improve the central area with paths and plants. Please, join in the discussion!


View Larger Map

Meet at the park info sign on Pasadena Ave and then head down into the park. The group will pull weeds, pick up litter, and enjoy the park. Come for the whole time, for an hour, or just stop by to say hello.

110417_2073_400px
Nature Park entrance on Pasadena Ave., east of the York St. Bridge

Remember to:
- wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- bring water
- bring gardening gloves and tools (weeders, trowels, whatever you use in your own garden)
- comfortable work clothes, including work shoes (sneakers or boots)
- binoculars for bird watching (optional)

Children must be under adult supervision at all times. There is poison oak in the park, which we will point out before we start.

Please pass this info along to anyone else you think might be interested in the park. If you know of anyone who doesn't use the internet, let me know so we can be sure they are kept in the loop.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

PARK CLEAN UP: Saturday, June 4, 9 am - noon

Back from travels afar. I was actually homesick after three weeks away and am really looking forward to checking out the nature park. Hope to see some of you there.

Meet at the park info sign on Pasadena Ave and then head down into the park. The group will pull weeds, pick up litter, and enjoy the park. Come for the whole time, for an hour, or just stop by to say hello.

110417_2073_400px
Nature Park entrance on Pasadena Ave., east of the York St. Bridge

Remember to:
- wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- bring water
- bring gardening gloves and tools (weeders, trowels, whatever you use in your own garden)
- comfortable work clothes, including work shoes (sneakers or boots)
- binoculars for bird watching (optional)

Children must be under adult supervision at all times. There is poison oak in the park, which we will point out before we start.

Please pass this info along to anyone else you think might be interested in the park. If you know of anyone who doesn't use the internet, let me know so we can be sure they are kept in the loop.

Monday, May 9, 2011

May Weeds and More

We had a nice turn out for the May 7th cleanup. In addition to the "old reliables" there were two Arroyo Vista students and parents, and a couple of other adults, along with two adorable little dogs.

110507_2342_600px

110507_2340_600px

We focused mostly on the central mounds where castor bean seedlings, mustard and other exotics were planning an attack. I would like to say that the weeds are in retreat but, alas, this is a long-term project. We have made amazing progress but it took years to get this way and it will takes years to reverse it.

Park Enemy: castor bean seedlings. Pull if you see them.
100424_4421-1

Weeds, as many of you know, are just plants growing in places you do not want them to be. Here in California, and throughout much of the world, many plants from far away places have found a good home with few nature enemies and little competition. They are aggressive bullies that force out the native plants, reducing biodiversity and limiting food supplies for native animals. Some, like castor bean, grow so large that they shade out our lovely, delicate native wildflowers. Other weeds, like arundo, suck the water from the ground, forcing out all other plants, and providing poor habitat for most birds. Where these non-native, invasives grow, little else can grow.

In California, hillsides and fields of multi-colored wildflowers once teamed with life and delighted all who saw them. Now mustard colors the slopes a lovely yellow, but unfortunately at the expense of lupines, tidytips, poppies, phacelias, and untold other wonders. When I hike I see the mustard and ripgut everywhere and I wonder whether we will ever win this battle and restore balance and diversity to the land.

Since Friends of the Nature Park started weeding back in spring of 2006 I have thought hard about methods of weed control. I've read books and articles on the subject and spoken with experts. I see progress but wonder what we could do to be more successful with the limited resources we have.

Weed control by our group has only involved pulling. Weeds with no flowers or seeds are pulled and left to dry up in the sun. Weeds with flowers or seeds are bagged and removed. This has the disadvantages of being very labor intensive, difficult once the ground dries up, and it causes a great deal of soil disturbance.

I have been thinking about trying another method: weed whipping the exotics to keep them from going to seed. We would have to visit the park frequently to make sure we never let the weeds reach maturity. We would also have to be very careful to target the weeds, allowing any native seeds to germinate and grow. Timing is critical. We would go after each weed right as it emerges.

Anyone who has been working at the Nature Park knows how difficult and frustrating this work is, but they also know how much progress we have made. We are beginning to see some native that would never had made it if the weeds had been allowed to grow. There has been more miners lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), fiddleneck (Amsinckia), and miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor). Mugwort (Baccharis salicifolia) is sprouting here and there, and golden currant (Ribes aureum) is appearing all over. Jimson weed (Datura wrightii) is also doing very well. Coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia) and southern California walnuts (Juglans californica) are sprouting from seed.

So when those who have not seen where we have come from, what we are up against, and how much progress we have made, comment on the condition of the park, I want them to get educated by coming on down to help out.

The state grass, purple needlegrass (Nassella pulchra) appeared on the mound near the deerweed.
110507_2414_600px

A lovely stand of blue elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) with wild cucumber (Marah macrocarpus), golden currant (Ribes aureum), and jimson weed (Datura wrightii).
110507_2423_600px


Blue wildflowers of globe gilia (Gilia capitata) grow with buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), sagebrush (Artemisia californica), and bush sunflower (Encelia california), all coastal sage scrub plants.
110507_2348_600px

Delicate tendrils of wild cucumber (Marah macrocarpa) curl from the stems.
110507_2425_600px

Deerweed (Lotus scoparius) is a native shrub found in areas of disturbance, like our Nature Park.
110507_2421_600px

Jimson weed (Datura wrightii) is another early pioneer plant for areas that have experienced rapid change or disturbance.
110507_2409_600px

Monday, May 2, 2011

City Council to Vote on Recommendation to.....

The golf course extension is once again on the agenda for the next open session of city council, Wednesday, May 4, 2011. I am really trying to get this right but I'm no lawyer and so I am not completely clear on it. The following is a cut/paste of the agenda item and the supplementary info on it in the agenda packet.

May 4, 2011 Agenda Item 12. Consideration to add the property adjacent to the back of the driving range to the golf course lease agreement.

Agenda Packet, Item 12:
Recommendation
May 4, 2011

Consideration to Add the Property Adjacent to the Back of the
Driving Range to the Golf Course Lease Agreement

It is recommended that the City Council:
I. Direct staff as to whether the Council wishes to consider including a portion of the property adjacent to the back of the range to the proposed lease agreement with Donovan Bros. Golf;

2. Direct staff as to whether it wishes to consider an approximate 27 yard extension to the driving range; and

3. Direct staff to return with a lease agreement including exact measurements of a proposed extension, capital improvement items, rent credits and appropriate California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Fiscal Impact
None.

Commission Review and Recommendation
The Arroyo Seco Lease Committee recommended Donovan Bros. Golf to operate the City'S Golf
Course.

Background
Formal negotiations with Donovan Bros. Golf began during Closed Session on March 2, 2011 and subsequently during closed session on March 16, 2011. At the March 16, 2011 Closed Session, City Council asked staff to bring the option of extending the driving range to open session. Staff presented a proposed extension of the driving range to the City Council at the April 6, 2011 where a motion to have the City Council consider allowing for a full extension failed. However, City Council directed staff to return to negotiations with Donovan Bros. Golf and propose a less-than-full extension of the driving range, which would leave a reasonable space between the Nature Park and the extended driving range.

Analysis
During negotiations with Donovan Bros. Golf on April 27, 2011 they were asked if they would be willing to enter into a lease with the City for the operation of the Golf Course if the driving range were to remain at its present length. Donovan Bros responded by saying that they were not willing to lease the golf course without the right to extend the driving range. Donovan feels that the driving range is the amenity that needs the most attention and extending it would make the golf course a more-viable operation. They did say that they would accept an approximate 27 yard extension of the driving range and they were willing to curve the fence, however this would prove more costly.

Should the City Council direct staff to bring back for its consideration a recommendation to allow for an extension of the driving range, staff will work with the Planning Deparhnent to begin the appropriate CEQA process. Furthermore, Staff will also address the pending grant applied for and awarded to North East Trees to expand the nature park into the unimproved area in the back of the driving range.

Legal Review
The City Attorney has reviewed this report.

Public Notification of Agenda Item
The public was made aware that this item was to be considered this evening by virtue of its inclusion on the legally publicly noticed agenda, posting of the same agenda and reports on the City's website and/or notice in the South Pasadena Review and/or the Pasadena Star-News.
As I read this, Donovan Bros. is not interested in leasing the golf course without being able to extend the driving range. The compromise number is 27 yards, as opposed to the original 35 yard extension. It is not clear to me exactly where either of these lines would be. My question to Donovan Brothers is, if the extension of the driving range is so important to the success of the entire golf course facility, are you willing to take on some of the financial risk?

I also received a couple of emails from individuals who believe that the golf course extension can not be included in the proposed lease until the environmental assessment is done.

I stand firm on not wanting any extension of the golf course driving range because of:
1. Financial risk for the city in the form of rent credits for "improvements" and incentive to make improvements. (Isn't increased business enough incentive? What other South Pasadena business is given rent credits, tax credits, or whatever to make business improvements?)

2. The land is better used as habitat for the health and well-being of plants, animals and people.

3. This very city council approved plans by a vote of 5-0 in 2009 to extend trails from the Nature Park into this land. In fact they approved a proposal by North East Trees to take on the project. An "about-face" reduces the city's credibility when it claims that it has an good environmental record. I am concerned that this move will make it harder for the city to get funding for projects for clean water, clean air, and other environmental improvements.

4. Before the land is given to the golf course it should be vetted fully with the public. This means the public is entitled to clear, accurate and complete information on what is at stake, including answers to the following questions:
  1. What will be the exact location of the border and what type of fencing will be used?
  2. How much soil disturbance and grade change is needed to extend the driving range?
  3. If soil is to be removed, how will it be disposed of? If there has been dumping on the site and the soil is contaminated, who will pay for the cleanup?
  4. How much is this project likely to cost and who will pay for it - both now and later? What are the possible cost overruns?
  5. How much is the Environemental Assessment and possible full EIR likely to cost the city? Will Donovan Bros. pay this upfront also? Will they get rent credits to cover the preconstruction costs even if they fail to get final approval for the extension?
  6. How much additional money can we expect the extension to generate and how are these numbers calculated?
  7. How will the trees be protected during construction and during use of the land as a driving range?
  8. How much pesticide- and fertilizer-contaminated runoff can be expected to enter the Arroyo Seco from the turf grass?
  9. How much additional water will be required to maintain the area and where will this water come from?
  10. Other water issues: Is the golf course currently irrigated with water drawn from the Arroyo Seco? Is this legal? If it has been irrigated with Arroyo Seco water, will it be allowed to continue to use this water and even increase this usage? Is it safe to use water drawn from the Arroyo Seco on turf that children and adults play on?
  11. Is it legal to include this provision (extension of the golf course driving range) in the lease before environmental review?
  12. Why should the lease include this provision before these questions are answered?
Let your city council know where you stand on this! I hope to see you at the city council meeting on Wednesday, May 4, 2011, 7:30 PM.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

PARK CLEAN UP: SATURDAY, May 7, 9 am - noon

Castor bean is trying to make a come back but we won't let it! Pulling these little seedlings is easy to do and very therapeutic. For those wishing to use a bit more muscle, there are plenty of larger, more entrenched weeds to attack.

Meet at the park info sign on Pasadena Ave and then head down into the park. The group will pull weeds, pick up litter, and enjoy the park. Come for the whole time, for an hour, or just stop by to say hello.

110417_2073_400px
Nature Park entrance on Pasadena Ave., east of the York St. Bridge


Remember to:
- wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- bring water
- bring gardening gloves and tools (weeders, trowels, whatever you use in your own garden)
- comfortable work clothes, including work shoes (sneakers or boots)
- binoculars for bird watching (optional)

Children must be under adult supervision at all times. There is poison oak in the park, which we will point out before we start.

Please pass this info along to anyone else you think might be interested in the park. If you know of anyone who doesn't use the internet, let me know so we can be sure they are kept in the loop.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

City Council to Review Driving Range Extension in Closed Session

On April 6, 2011 the South Pasadena city council voted against (Ten and Sifuentes for and Schneider, Putnam and Cacciotti against) directing staff to negotiate with Donovan Bros. on a full extension of the driving range to the border with the Nature Park. On a 5-0 vote, the city council directed staff to negotiate in closed session a compromise position with the prospective golf course lessee.

For more information on this meeting, please call the city and request the meeting minutes. They were posted on the web but have since been taken down. I wrote about the meeting on this blog. There is also information in the following newspapers:

The South Pasadena Patch
The Pasadena Star-News
The South Pasadena Review, April 13, 2011, p.2, Council Seeks Compromise on Golf Course Driving Range

Having read through the 58-page agenda packet (yes, several page were "intentionally left blank" but it was quite a read) here are my continuing concerns about this endeavor.


Opposition to Including Extension of the Driving Range in the Golf Course Lease

I am opposed to the inclusion of an extension of the driving range in the golf course lease agreement on the following grounds.

1. Environmental concerns
Loss of habitat, increased irrigation (there are serious questions about the legality of withdrawing water from Arroyo Seco without proper Water Master rights), runoff concerns, and protection of native trees during construction and operation of the driving range extension. As the UC researcher noted during the April 6, 2011 city council meeting, although runoff from turf grass may be minimal, not having seen this site, it is not known whether runoff into the Arroyo Seco would increase or not. Although the city council voted to instruct staff to negotiate with the golf course lessee to protect trees in the land in question, there was no serious proposal on how to protect these trees and still create a driving range that may require significant grade changes. There was no arborist report on the trees, nor was there any information on the changes that might be needed to the existing grade in order to accommodate the driving range activity, both recreational and maintenance.

2. The public was not adequately informed of change in land use for the extension of the driving range
Although the Golf Course Lease Subcommittee did allow for public comment from February 2007 through June 2010, there were no public comments in support of a driving range extension. In fact the minutes for the February 17, 2010 city council meeting indicate that the council rejected a potential expansion of the driving range.

According to minutes of the February 17, 2010 city council meeting (attachment 4, page 298), on a vote of 5 - 0 city council advised city staff to “issue proposed RFP... taking into consideration changes recommended by Councilmember Cacciotti: … 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; allowances are to be made to take into consideration the grant from Supervisor Antonovich that will involve moving a fence; and that the next lease agreement exclude a triangular piece of property (90 ft. by the Arroyo and 180 ft by the trail).”

Furthermore, the city had issued an RFP for use of this land as an extension of the Nature Park and unanimously approved a resolution for a $150,000 project from North East Trees to extend the trail, remove weeds, plant native plants, and place rocks and boulders in the area.

3. Financial considerations
The Arroyo Seco Golf Course RFP states in item 8. Operator Upfront Investment (pp. 265-266) that the golf course lessee will front the money to be returned through rent credits.

“City will negotiate a substantial Rent Credit which will compensate the Operator for the cost of money invested in approved Capital Improvements plus an incentive for making the investment. The Rent Credit will be applied to the annual rent as long as it takes to recapture the Operator’s investment.”

In other words, the risk for and cost of the capital improvements are completely assumed by the city. If the driving range extension does not result in significantly higher revenue, the amount of money the city will receive from the golf course lessee will be reduced by the Rent Credit until the investment, “plus an incentive for making the investment,” is fully repaid to the lessee.

It should be noted that the driving range grossed $232,763 in 2006, $219, 215 in 2007, $187,571 in 2008. We have no estimates on the cost of the driving range extension but even with significant increases in gross revenue from the driving range, the costs may be sufficiently high to make this improvement fiscally unwise.

4. Legal considerations

For changes in land use, CEQA requires an environmental analysis to determine whether a full EIR is required. Even if a Negative Declaration is ultimately issued after having conducted environmental analysis, a public comment period applies. In any event there has been no Negative Declaration or environmental analysis. I don’t believe there is a categorical exemption from CEQA because the property in question was encompassed within the footprint of the prior lease as the City Attorney appeared to suggest at the prior council meeting. With all of the physical changes and disturbance of ground that would ensue from the driving range extension, it strains credulity to think that CEQA would not apply.

There may be serious questions about whether the city was in compliance with the Brown Act during the Closed Session City Council meeting of March 2, 2011, during which the driving range extension was discussed. This would also apply to tonight's closed session meeting, item 5, in which according to the April 6, 2011 motion, the city will be negotiating a "compromise" position for a partial extension of the driving range. Although real estate negotiations on price and terms of payment can be executed in closed session, changes in land use are not specifically covered. Furthermore, the Supreme Court case of Laurel Heights Improvement Association teaches that the environmental analysis must precede any discretionary action by city council.

Full disclosure of the financial, environmental, and open space consequences of the driving range extension should be brought out into the open and given adequate time for public review and comment in accordance with applicable law.

City Council should take the appropriate time to review these points and possible needed actions. If there is concern regarding the impending expiration of the current lease, a number of solutions should be explored, including having the current operator function on a month-to-month basis, having the Department of Recreation and Parks operate the facilities on a temporary basis, or the city could go forward and enter into a lease with Donovan Bros., addressing all other modifications and improvements except the extension of the driving range. That last issue could be resolved by lease amendment, if necessary.

Friday, April 15, 2011

4/17/11 (Sunday) Cleanup & 4/20 (Wed) City Council Meeting

I realize it is a busy time of year for many but unless we are vigilant and vocal the acre of habitat east of the Nature Park will be leveled, converted into turf grass for the driving range extension, and a 75 ft. tall fence will tower over the Sycamore Circle. I would be happy to tour the area on Sunday with anyone who is interested in seeing what is at stake.

For those who were unable to come to the 4/6/2011 city council meeting, or had to leave before the driving range extension was dealt with, the city council voted 3-2 against a motion by Councilmember Sifuentes to direct city staff to negotiate with Donovan Bros. to extend the driving range to the edge of the park. Councilmember Putnam then made a motion to direct staff to continue negotiating with Donovan Bros. to extend the driving range somewhere between the existing borders of the driving range and the Nature Park with an effort to protect the most significant trees in the undeveloped area. They are also to consider curving the fence as needed to keep significant trees on the Nature Park side of of the fence.

Questions abound regarding whether a CEQA review, or even an initial determination, is required. Even if a negative determination is made, I believe there is a required 30 day public comment period. There are also questions about whether the closed session negotiations were actually in compliance with the Brown Act since they are negotiating more than just "price and terms of payment for real estate transactions." Negotiations regarding land use, and funding for improvements may not be covered under the closed session clause. (Hope I am getting this kind of right - I'm no lawyer!)

Finally, there is great concern about whether it is possible to grade the land and still protect the significant trees. Seems to me one would need to hire an arborist to examine the property, along with detailed plans for grading the land.

So, hope to see you at the park on Sunday, and definitely at the public comment period for the City Council Closed Session on Wednesday, 4/20/2011. The driving range is item #5 and the session begins at 6:30PM. All public comments for the closed session are made at the beginning of the closed session, so be there at 6:30.

South Pasadena City Council/Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
City Hall Conference Room, Second Floor, 1414 Mission Street
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 6:30 p.m.

5. Real property negotiation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8
Property: South Pasadena Golf Course
City Negotiator: Assistant City Manager Sergio Gonzalez
Negotiation Party: Donovan Bros. Inc.
Under Negotiation: Terms of Lease



PARK CLEAN UP: SUNDAY, April 17, 9 am - noon
Meet at the park info sign on Pasadena Ave and then head down into the park. The group will pull weeds, pick up litter, and enjoy the park. Come for the whole time, for an hour, or just stop by to say hello.

Nature Park entrance on Pasadena Ave., east of the York St. Bridge


Remember to:
- wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- bring water
- bring gardening gloves and tools (weeders, trowels, whatever you use in your own garden)
- comfortable work clothes, including work shoes (sneakers or boots)
- binoculars for bird watching (optional)

Children must be under adult supervision at all times. There is poison oak in the park, which we will point out before we start.

Please pass this info along to anyone else you think might be interested in the park. If you know of anyone who doesn't use the internet, let me know so we can be sure they are kept in the loop.

Friday, April 8, 2011

City Council Meeting Results (4/6/2011)

Although I left before the end of the city council meeting, I received the following information. I will try to be as accurate as I can but if anyone has different information, please let me know so I can correct or add to this.

After hearing an extensive presentation on how and why the golf course driving range extension was the thing to do - with expert witnesses, pictures and even a couple of golf clubs - Councilman Sifuentes made a motion to direct staff to extend the driving range to the edge of the Nature Park. The city’s lawyer said that the Planning Department would have to perform an initial CEQA review. This motion got support only from Mayor Ten.

Councilman Putnam then made a motion to give staff direction to continue negotiating with the potential (though all through the meeting it sure sounded like Donovan Bros. was a done deal) new golf course operator to: 1) extend the driving range but only to the drip line of the most significant trees in the undeveloped area, and 2) to curve the fence as needed to keep those trees on the Nature Park side of the driving range fence. The motion passed unanimously.

Other than Mayor Ten, the council members felt the use of the land for the driving range extension was not about revenue but about balancing competing values and interests in the community.

The good news:
1. The issue was brought out into the open and not decided in closed session.
2. the city will have to do a determination of whether a complete CEQA review and an EIR are needed. This will allow for more public comment.

The bad news:
1. The city ran this meeting in a totally inappropriate and unfair way, indicating that at least some city council members believe that use of public land is the purview of five individuals without the need to consult the people they represent.
2. The land is still very much endangered and will only be saved if enough people participate in the process.

I was heartened to see so many people come and stay until well after 11 PM in support of preserving habitat!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

City Council Action Item 19: Driving Range Extension

Hope to see you at tonight's city council meeting (starts at 7:30 PM) where the extension of the driving range is on the agenda as action item #19. For background information check out page 243 in the attached pdf (thanks to Drew Ready for bringing to our attention):

http://www.ci.south-pasadena.ca.us/government/PDFs/packet/Agenda_Packet.pdf

Several other blogs have taken up the issue of extending the golf course driving range versus protecting habitat:

ArroyoLover with info on the current golf course and its value and uniqueness: (Note: the driving range will not be extended into the Nature Park. The small parcel in question is located between the existing driving range and Park.)

LA Creek Freak with an awesome graphic re-envisioning the open space along the Arroyo Seco in So Pas.

Hope to see you tonight.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Driving Range Extension on City Council Agenda

The driving range extension is item #19 on the City Council agenda for Wednesday, April 6, 2011.

City Council/CRA
0410611 1
Page 3
Action Items & Items Pulled from Consent Calendar

19. Discussion and direction regarding the extension of the Driving Range at the Arroyo Seco Golf
Course

There is no way to know when the city council will actually get to this item. The meeting starts at 7:30 PM and I am going to arrive by 7:45 PM just to be sure I am there if the council members move this item up. Hope many of you can come to make your voice heard. Please pass this info along. Thanks.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

DO NOT CONVERT HABITAT INTO TURF

Many things - important things - are difficult to accomplish. This one is easy. All you have to do is let your voice be heard. If you want to preserve habitat and support your Nature Park, write, call or email South Pasadena city council members and let them know that you do not want the golf course driving range extended into the habitat directly adjacent to the park. (You do not have to be a resident of So Pas to let your voice be heard.)
  • Emails should be written to the specific councilman, but sent via the city clerk, Sally Kilby: skilby@ci.south-pasadena.ca.us
  • To leave a phone message call: 626-403-7218, press 1 for Cacciotti, 2 for Ten, 3 for Putnam, 4 for Schneider and 5 for Sifuentes.
Things are moving quickly. The draft agenda for the April 6th city council meeting has the council voting on whether to extend the driving range. Please come to this meeting (April 6, agenda items can be moved around at the last minute so please arrive early). Let the city council know that you disagree or before you know it the land will be graded, trees either removed or damaged, and birds, lizards, and insects will be looking for a new home.

The following is a letter I faxed to the city. Feel free to modify it or use it as is (with your own name on it, of course), but please, let your city representatives know how you feel.


March 30, 2011

South Pasadena City Council
1414 Mission Street
South Pasadena, CA 91030
PHONE (626) 403-7200; FAX (626) 403-7211

To: Michael Cacciotti, Philip Putnam, Richard Schneider, David Sifuentes, Mike Ten

I am opposed to the extension of the golf course driving range and would like to see the habitat on the eastern side of the Nature Park protected and added to the park. Converting the property into turf will worsen pollution at our beaches by increasing toxic runoff into the Arroyo Seco, while decreasing much needed riparian habitat.

On April 6th please vote to protect habitat by rejecting the request to extend the golf course driving range.

Yours,


Barbara Eisenstein
Founder, Friends of the South Pasadena Nature Park
1852 Monterey Road
South Pasadena, CA 91030

Mature western sycamore that is at risk if the golf course driving range is extended

110319_0784_800px

Friday, March 18, 2011

SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE NATURE PARK

Just wanted to let everyone know that we are hoping that city council and the city manager will be at the park this Saturday (3/19/2011) at 9 AM to view the land between the park and the golf course driving range. Please attend and let them know how you feel (see below and below).

Yes it may rain. I will send an email if the meeting is canceled and will post on this blog and facebook. Feel free to email me if you have questions: barbara.eisenstein@gmail.com

Hope to see you tomorrow!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

IMPORTANT PARK CLEANUP, SAT. MARCH 19, 9 - noon

Members of the city council may be coming to the Nature Park this month. They have been discussing the possibility of allowing the golf course to extend the driving range into the small piece of land that acts as a buffer between the Nature Park and the driving range (you can see my thoughts on this below).

It is very important that those who oppose this come to the cleanup and let your representatives know how you feel. I am not sure what time they will be there, but I think it would be a good idea to arrive at 9.

As always:

Meet at the park info sign on Pasadena Ave and then head down into the park. The group will pull weeds, pick up litter, and enjoy the park. Come for the whole time, for an hour, or just stop by to say hello.

SPNP_GoogleEarth
Nature Park entrance on Pasadena Ave., east of the York St. Bridge


Remember to:
- wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- bring water
- bring gardening gloves and tools (weeders, trowels, whatever you use in your own garden)
- comfortable work clothes, including work shoes (sneakers or boots)
- binoculars for bird watching (optional)

Children must be under adult supervision at all times. There is poison oak in the park, which we will point out before we start.

Please pass this info along to anyone else you think might be interested in the park. If you know of anyone who doesn't use the internet, let me know so we can be sure they are kept in the loop.
See you soon!

FUTURE CLEANUP DATES
April 9, 2011

Sunday, March 6, 2011

City Council considers extending golf course

Last week I learned that the South Pasadena City Council is considering extending the golf course driving range into the piece of land adjacent to the Nature Park. (Item 6 on the Closed Session Agenda).

It had been hoped that the land would become part of the park providing a buffer between the park and the golf course. I spoke at the public comment period on Wednesday, March 2nd prior to the closed session meeting.

My opposition to this proposal is based on the following considerations:
  1. If the driving range (see map below) is extended there will be a tall fence adjacent to the path that goes down to the Sycamore Circle. The view from the Sycamore Circle will not be of an oak woodland (which it would become if weeds were removed and the existing trees were allowed to thrive), but of an unnaturally green field behind a tall fence.
  2. There are several beautiful native trees in this fenced area including a large, mature western sycamore (Platanus racemosa) and several coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia) of different sizes and ages. Even if the trees are not removed, the change to the land and the future requirement of ongoing irrigation, particularly in the summer, would likely be detrimental to the trees.
  3. Converting this land into turf will increase water usage and urban runoff into the Arroyo Seco. It is a direct, downhill slope from the property to the Arroyo. Whether it is recycled or potable water, it will require an increase in water usage. Recycled water usually has more salts than potable water and may endanger any trees that receive runoff or direct irrigation. Runoff into the Arroyo Seco from irrigation of turf with recycled or potable water is definitely a concern and may require an EIR (Environmental Impact Report), or at least notification to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board.
  4. The city promotes itself as a “Tree City” and requires residents to go through an arduous and expensive process to remove trees, especially California natives. If it were necessary to remove any of the trees in that parcel to accommodate the driving range activity, this would leave the city open to criticism of having a double standard when it comes to its policy on the value and protection of urban canopy. Project managers sometimes agree to move trees from effected areas as a form of mitigation. This practice has been shown to be ineffective and expensive. It is a waste of money and worse than just chopping down trees with no mitigation at all.
  5. The city sets a bad example by increasing turf when the public is being told to reduce water usage by removing lawn.
  6. Looking at a map of the park land along the Arroyo Seco in South Pasadena, the small southwest tip (shaded in blue and red on the map below) is the only habitat that can be enjoyed by the public. It should also be noted that a large portion of the Nature Park is actually on LA City land (the extreme western tip, shaded in red) so that South Pasadena land dedicated to natural habitat is even smaller.
Members of the South Pasadena City Council may be coming to the Nature Park for the next Friends of the Nature Park cleanup on Saturday, March 19th. It would be helpful if you could spread the word to anyone who might oppose the golf course extension. Ask them to contact the city council and to attend the March 19th cleanup to let them know in person how they feel.

SPArroyo_600px

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

PARK CLEAN UP - Sat, Mar 19, 2011, 9 AM - noon

Meet at the park info sign on Pasadena Ave and then head down into the park. The group will pull weeds, pick up litter, and enjoy the park. Come for the whole time, for an hour, or just stop by to say hello.

SPNP_GoogleEarth
Nature Park entrance on Pasadena Ave., east of the York St. Bridge


Remember to:
- wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- bring water
- bring gardening gloves and tools (weeders, trowels, whatever you use in your own garden)
- comfortable work clothes, including work shoes (sneakers or boots)
- binoculars for bird watching (optional)

Children must be under adult supervision at all times. There is poison oak in the park, which we will point out before we start.

Please pass this info along to anyone else you think might be interested in the park. If you know of anyone who doesn't use the internet, let me know so we can be sure they are kept in the loop.
See you soon!

FUTURE CLEANUP DATES
April 9, 2011

Friday, February 11, 2011

PARK CLEAN UP: SATURDAY, February 12, 2011, 9 am - noon

Meet at the park info sign on Pasadena Ave and then head down into the park. The group will pull weeds, pick up litter, and enjoy the park. Come for the whole time, for an hour, or just stop by to say hello.

SPNP_GoogleEarth
Nature Park entrance on Pasadena Ave., east of the York St. Bridge


Remember to:
- wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- bring water
- bring gardening gloves and tools (weeders, trowels, whatever you use in your own garden)
- comfortable work clothes, including work shoes (sneakers or boots)
- binoculars for bird watching (optional)

Children must be under adult supervision at all times. There is poison oak in the park, which we will point out before we start.

Please pass this info along to anyone else you think might be interested in the park. If you know of anyone who doesn't use the internet, let me know so we can be sure they are kept in the loop.
See you soon!

FUTURE CLEANUP DATES
March 19, 2011 (changed from 3/12)
April 9, 2011

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Jan. 29 Cleanup Report

What a lovely day it was at the Nature Park! Old friends and new wandered in through out the morning. A couple of young families arrived to help out and to look for lizards and other critters.
110129_9397_600px_

Others got down and dirty pulling weeds like...
110129_9390_600px_

horehound (Marrubium vulgare) before it goes into bloom, forming seed heads that stick to everything.
110129_9392_600px_

This horehound has been left to dry out in the sun, leaving room for black sage (Salvia mellifera) and other natives to thrive.
110129_9393_600px_

Seedling of sagebrush (Artemisia californica) will do just fine!
110129_9391_600px_

Coast sunflower (Encelia californica) on left and large black sage (Salvia mellifera) on right have enjoyed this winter's rains. It took several plantings of the encelia to get one going. Early ones didn't get enough rain and cooked by the wall. This one seems like it will make it. Keep a look out for its happy yellow flowers.

110129_9400_600px_

Hope to see some of you at the Nature Park. If you can't make it for the scheduled cleanups, do make the time to go for a stroll - there's always something interesting to see.

Future cleanups are scheduled for:

February 12, 2011
March 19, 2011 (changed from 3/12)
April 9, 2011

Saturday, January 22, 2011

PARK CLEANUP, SATURDAY, January 29, 2011, 9 am - noon

Don't know about you all, but I am ready to get back into the park and pull some weeds. On my last visit to the park horehound (Marrubium vulgare) was out of control. Here are some of the weeds we will be battling as the war on the weeds continues!

Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)

090214_3988_600px_

Castorbean (Ricinus communis)
090711_7927_600px_

Mustard (Brassica and Hirshfeldia species)
090214_3981_600px_

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum)
100122_1641_600px_

Meet at the park info sign on Pasadena Ave and then head down into the park. The group will pull weeds, pick up litter, and enjoy the park. Come for the whole time, for an hour, or just stop by to say hello.

SPNP_GoogleEarth
Nature Park entrance on Pasadena Ave., east of the York St. Bridge


Remember to:
- wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- bring water
- bring gardening gloves and tools (weeders, trowels, whatever you use in your own garden)
- comfortable work clothes, including work shoes (sneakers or boots)
- binoculars for bird watching (optional)

Children must be under adult supervision at all times. There is poison oak in the park, which we will point out before we start.

Please pass this info along to anyone else you think might be interested in the park. If you know of anyone who doesn't use the internet, let me know so we can be sure they are kept in the loop.
See you soon!

Monday, January 3, 2011

NO PARK CLEANUP IN JANUARY

I am sorry but I will not be available for the regular park cleanup this Saturday, January 8th. Please feel free to go on down to the park at your convenience to pick up litter, weed and just enjoy.

Future cleanups are scheduled for:

February 12, 2011
March 12, 2011
April 9, 2011

I will try to make it down on Saturday, January 29. This is tentative, so check your email (let me know if you want to be on the Nature Park email list) and this blog for confirmation.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year.

Barbara