Mountain Views News          Saturday, November 2, 2013

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 2, 2013 

City of Sierra Madre

ORDINANCE NO._1344_

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIERRA MADRE AMENDING THE SIERRA MADRE MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING A 
NEW CHAPTER 15.58 (“LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT PLAN”) TO TITLE 15 (“BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION”) 

THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIERRA MADRE FINDS AS FOLLOWS: WHEREAS, the City of Sierra Madre is authorized by Article XI, §5 and §7 of the 
State Constitution to exercise the police power of the State by adopting regulations to promote public health, public safety and general prosperity.; and WHEREAS, the 
City of Sierra Madre has authority under the California Water Code to adopt and enforce ordinances imposing conditions, restrictions and limitations with respect to any 
activity which might degrade the quality of waters of the State; and WHEREAS, the city is a permittee under the “Waste Discharge Requirements for Municipal Separate 
Storm Sewer System (MS4) Discharges within the Coastal Watersheds of Los Angeles County, Except those Discharges Originating from the City of Long Beach MS4,” 
issued by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board--Los Angeles Region,” (Order No. R4-2012-0175) which also serves as an NPDES Permit under the Federal 
Clean Water Act (NPDES No. CAS004001), as well as Waste Discharge Requirements under California law (the “Municipal NPDES permit”). In order to participate in 
a Watershed Management Program and/or Enhanced Watershed Management Program, the Municipal NPDES permit requires permittees to develop and implement a 
“Low Impact Development” (LID) Ordinance; and WHEREAS, the City of Sierra Madre is committed to a storm water management program that protects water quality 
and water supply by employing watershed-based approaches that balance environmental and economic considerations; and WHEREAS, urbanization has led to increased 
impervious surface areas resulting in increased water runoff and less percolation to groundwater aquifers causing the transport of pollutants to downstream receiving waters; 
and WHEREAS, The City of Sierra Madre seeks to update its approach to managing rainwater and urban runoff while mitigating the negative impacts of development 
and urbanization; and WHEREAS, LID is widely recognized as a sensible approach to managing the quantity and quality of storm water runoff by setting standards and 
practices to maintain or restore the natural hydrologic character of a development site, reduce off-site runoff, improve water quality, and provide groundwater recharge; and 
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the City of Sierra Madre to expand the applicability of the existing Standard Urban Storm Water Mitigation Plan (SUSMP) requirements by 
providing storm water and rainwater LID strategies for Development and Redevelopment projects as defined by this Chapter. 

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Sierra Madre as follows: 

SECTION 1: Municipal Code Amendment. Chapter 15.58 (“Low Impact Development Plan”) is added to the Sierra Madre Municipal Code to read as follows: 
“15.58.010 Purpose. The provisions of this chapter contain requirements for construction activities and facility operations of Development and Redevelopment projects to 
comply with the current “Municipal NPDES permit,” lessen the water quality impacts of development, and integrate LID design principles to mimic predevelopment 
hydrology through infiltration, evapotranspiration and rainfall harvest and use. LID shall be inclusive of SUSMP requirements. “15.58.020 Definitions. Except as 
specifically provided herein, any term used in this section 15.58.020 shall be defined as that term in the current Municipal NPDES permit, or if it is not specifically defined 
in either the Municipal NPDES permit, then as such term is defined in the Federal Clean Water Act, as amended, and/or the regulations promulgated thereunder. If the 
definition of any term contained in this chapter conflicts with the definition of the same term in the current Municipal NPDES permit, then the definition contained in the 
Municipal NPDES permit shall govern. The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings when used in this chapter: “Automotive Service Facility” 
means a facility that is categorized in any one of the following Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. 
For inspection purposes, Permittees need not inspect facilities with SIC codes 5013, 5014, 5541, 5511, provided that these facilities have no outside activities or materials 
that may be exposed to storm water (Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Basin Plan” means the Water Quality Control Plan, Los Angeles Region, Basin Plan for the 
Coastal Watersheds of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, adopted by the Regional Water Board on June 13, 1994 and subsequent amendments (Source: Order No. R4-
2012-0175). “Best Management Practice” or “BMP” means practices or physical devices or systems designed to prevent or reduce pollutant loading from storm water or 
non-storm water discharges to receiving waters, or designed to reduce the volume of storm water or non-storm water discharged to the receiving water (Source: Order No. 
R4-2012-0175). “Best Management Practice (BMP) Manual” means a manual identified to assist applicants with meeting the requirements of this chapter. The BMP 
Manual shall be selected by the City Engineer and may be updated, or replaced from time to time when additional qualified and available specifications are produced. The 
BMP Manual shall be available at the Development Services and/or Public Works Departments for public access. “Biofiltration” means a LID BMP that reduces storm 
water pollutant discharges by intercepting rainfall on vegetative canopy through incidental infiltration and/or evapotranspiration, and filtration. Incidental infiltration is an 
important factor in achieving the required pollutant load reduction. Therefore, the term “biofiltration” as used in this Ordinance is defined to include only systems designed 
to facilitate incidental infiltration or achieve the equivalent pollutant reduction as biofiltration BMPs with an underdrain (subject to approval by the Regional Board’s 
Executive Officer). Biofiltration BMPs include bioretention systems with an underdrain and bioswales (Modified from: Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Bioretention” means a 
LID BMP system that reduces storm water runoff by intercepting rainfall on vegetative canopy through evapotranspiration and infiltration. The bioretention system typically 
includes a minimum 2-foot top layer of a specified soil and compost mixture underlain by a gravel-filled temporary storage pit dug into the in-situ soil. As defined in the 
Municipal NPDES permit, a bioretention BMP may be designed with an overflow drain, but may not include an underdrain. When a bioretention BMP is designed or 
constructed with an underdrain it is regulated by the Municipal NPDES permit as biofiltration (Modified from: Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Bioswale” means a LID BMP 
consisting of a shallow channel lined with grass or other dense, low-growing vegetation. Bioswales are designed to collect storm water runoff and to achieve a uniform sheet 
flow through the dense vegetation for a period of several minutes (Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Clean Water Act” or “CWA” means the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act enacted in 1972, by Public Law 92-500, and amended by the Water Quality Act of 1987. The Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of pollutants to Waters 
of the United States unless the discharge is in accordance with an NPDES permit. “Commercial malls” means any development on private land comprised of one or more 
buildings forming a complex of stores which sells various merchandise, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from store to store, along with 
parking area(s). A commercial mall includes, but is not limited to: mini-malls, strip malls, other retail complexes, and enclosed shopping malls or shopping centers (Source: 
Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Construction activity” means any construction or demolition activity, clearing, grading, grubbing, or excavation or any other activity that result 
in land disturbance. Construction does not include emergency construction activities required to immediately protect public health and safety or routine maintenance 
activities required to maintain the integrity of structures by performing minor repair and restoration work, maintain the original line and grade, hydraulic capacity, or original 
purposes of the facility. See “Routine Maintenance” definition for further explanation. Where clearing, grading or excavating of underlying soil takes place during a repaving 
operation, State General Construction Permit coverage by the State of California General Permit for Storm Water Discharges Associated with Industrial Activities or for 
Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activities is required if more than one acre is disturbed or the activities are part of a larger plan (Source: Order No. 
R4-2012-0175). “Control” means to minimize, reduce or eliminate by technological, legal, contractual, or other means, the discharge of pollutants from an activity or 
activities (Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Development” means construction, rehabilitation, redevelopment or reconstruction of any public or private residential 
project (whether single-family, multi-unit or planned unit development); industrial, commercial, retail, and other non-residential projects, including public agency projects; 
or mass grading for future construction. It does not include routine maintenance to maintain original line and grade, hydraulic capacity, or original purpose of facility, nor 
does it include emergency construction activities required to immediately protect public health and safety. “Green roof” means a LID BMP using planter boxes and 
vegetation to intercept rainfall on the roof surface. Rainfall is intercepted by vegetation leaves and through evapotranspiration. Green roofs may be designed as either a 
bioretention BMP or as a biofiltration BMP. To receive credit as a bioretention BMP, the green roof system planting medium shall be of sufficient depth to provide capacity 
within the pore space volume to contain the design storm depth and may not be designed or constructed with an underdrain (Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Hazardous 
material(s)” means any material(s) defined as hazardous by Division 20, Chapter 6.95 of the California Health and Safety Code. “Hillside” means a property located in an 
area with known erosive soil conditions, where the development contemplates grading on any natural slope that is 25% or greater and where grading contemplates cut or fill 
slopes (Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Impervious surface” means any man-made or modified surface that prevents or significantly reduces the entry of water into the 
underlying soil, resulting in runoff from the surface in greater quantities and/or at an increased rate, when compared to natural conditions prior to development. Examples of 
places that commonly exhibit impervious surfaces include parking lots, driveways, roadways, storage areas, and rooftops. The imperviousness of these areas commonly 
results from paving, compacted gravel, compacted earth, and oiled earth. “Incidental infiltration” means any interception of rainfall in addition to evapotranspiration and 
active filtration as defined in the Ventura County Technical Guidance Manual for Stormwater quality and Control Measures, Manual Update 2011. (Source: Order No. 
R4-2012-0175) “Industrial park” means land development that is set aside for industrial development. Industrial parks are usually located close to transport facilities, 
especially where more than one transport modality coincides, such as highways, railroads, airports, and navigable rivers. An industrial park includes office parks, which have 
offices and light industry (Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Infiltration BMP” means a LID BMP that reduces storm water runoff by capturing and infiltrating the runoff 
into in-situ soils or amended onsite soils. Examples of infiltration BMPs include infiltration basins, dry wells, and pervious pavement (Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175). 
“LID” means Low Impact Development. LID consists of building and landscape features designed to retain or filter storm water runoff (Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175). 
“MS4” means Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). The MS4 is a conveyance or system of conveyances (including roads with drainage systems, municipal 
streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, manmade channels, or storm drains): Owned or operated by a State, city, town, borough, county, parish, district, association, or 
other public body (created by or pursuant to State law) having jurisdiction over disposal of sewage, industrial wastes, storm water, or other wastes, including special districts 
under State law such as a sewer district, flood control district or drainage district, or similar entity, or an Indian tribe or an authorized Indian tribal organization, or a 
designated and approved management agency under section 208 of the CWA that discharges to waters of the United States;

(i) Designed or used for collecting or conveying storm water;
(ii) Which is not a combined sewer; and
(iii) Which is not part of a Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) as defined at 40 CFR §122.2.


(40 CFR § 122.26(b)(8)) (Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175) “National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System” or “NPDES” means the national program for issuing, 
modifying, revoking and reissuing, terminating, monitoring and enforcing permits, and imposing and enforcing pretreatment requirements, under CWA §307, 402, 318, and 
405. The term includes an “approved program” (Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Natural drainage system” means a drainage system that has not been improved (e.g., 
channelized or armored). The clearing or dredging of a natural drainage system does not cause the system to be classified as an improved drainage system (Source: Order 
No. R4-2012-0175). “New development” means land disturbing activities; structural development, including construction or installation of a building or structure, creation 
of impervious surfaces; and land subdivision (Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Non-storm water discharge” means any discharge to a municipal storm drain system 
that is not composed entirely of storm water (Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Parking lot” means land area or facility for the parking or storage of motor vehicles 
used for businesses, commerce, industry, or personal use, with a lot size of 5,000 square feet or more of surface area, or with 25 or more parking spaces (Source: Order 
No. R4-2012-0175). “Person” means any individual, partnership, co-partnership, firm, company, corporation, association, joint stock company, trust, state, governmental 
entity or any other legal entity, or their legal representatives, agents or assigns. The masculine gender shall include the feminine and the singular shall include the plural 
where indicated by the context. “Planning Priority Projects” means development projects subject to City conditioning and approval for the design and implementation 
of post-construction controls to mitigate storm water pollution, prior to completion of the project(s). (Modified from: Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Pollutant” means any 
“pollutant” defined in Section 502(6) of the Federal Clean Water Act or incorporated into the California Water Code Sec. 13373. Pollutants may include, but are not limited 
to the following: Commercial and industrial waste (such as fuels, solvents, detergents, plastic pellets, hazardous substances, fertilizers, pesticides, slag, ash, and sludge). 
Metals (such as cadmium, lead, zinc, copper, silver, nickel, chromium, and non- metals such as phosphorus and arsenic). Petroleum hydrocarbons (such as fuels, lubricants, 
surfactants, waste oils, solvents, coolants, and grease).

(1) Excessive eroded soil, sediment, and particulate materials in amounts that may adversely affect the beneficial use of the receiving waters, flora, or fauna of 
the State.
(2) Animal wastes (such as discharge from confinement facilities, kennels, pens, recreational facilities, stables, and show facilities).
(3) Substances having characteristics such as pH less than 6 or greater than 9, or unusual coloration or turbidity, or excessive levels of fecal coliform, or fecal 
streptococcus, or enterococcus.


“Project” means all development, redevelopment, and land disturbing activities. The term is not limited to “Project” as defined under CEQA (Pub. Resources Code §21065) 
(Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Rainfall harvest and use” means a LID BMP system designed to capture runoff, typically from a roof but can also include runoff 
capture from elsewhere within the site, and to provide for temporary storage until the harvested water can be used for irrigation or non-potable uses. The harvested water 
may also be used for potable water uses if the system includes disinfection treatment and is approved for such use by the local building department (Source: Order No. 
R4-2012-0175). “Receiving water” means “water of the United States” into which waste and/or pollutants are or may be discharged (Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175). 
“Redevelopment” means land-disturbing activity that results in the creation or addition of 500 square feet or more of impervious surface area on an already developed site. 
Redevelopment includes, but is not limited to: the expansion of a building footprint; addition or replacement of a structure; replacement of impervious surface area that is 
not part of routine maintenance activity; and land disturbing activity related to structural or impervious surfaces. It does not include routine maintenance to maintain original 
line and grade, hydraulic capacity, or original purpose of facility, nor does it include emergency construction activities required to immediately protect public health and 
safety (Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175).”Regional Board” means the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region. “Restaurant” means a 
facility that sells prepared foods and drinks for consumption, including stationary lunch counters and refreshment stands selling prepared foods and drinks for immediate 
consumption (SIC Code 5812) (Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Retail gasoline outlet” means any facility engaged in selling gasoline and lubricating oils (Source: 
Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Routine maintenance “projects include, but are not limited to projects conducted to:

1. Maintain the original line and grade, hydraulic capacity, or original purpose of the facility.
2. Perform as needed restoration work to preserve the original design grade, integrity and hydraulic capacity of flood control facilities.
3. Includes road shoulder work, regrading dirt or gravel roadways and shoulders and performing ditch cleanouts.
4. Update existing lines* and facilities to comply with applicable codes, standards, and regulations regardless if such projects result in increased capacity.
5. Repair leaks


Routine maintenance does not include construction of new** lines or facilities resulting from compliance with applicable codes, standards and regulations. Update existing 
lines includes replacing existing lines with new materials or pipes. ** New lines are those that are not associated with existing facilities and are not part of a project to 
update or replace existing lines (Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Significant Ecological Areas” or “SEA” means an area that is determined to possess an example of 
biotic resources that cumulatively represent biological diversity, for the purposes of protecting biotic diversity, as part of the Los Angeles County General Plan. Areas are 
designated as SEAs, if they possess one or more of the following criteria:

1. The habitat of rare, endangered, and threatened plant and animal species.
2. Biotic communities, vegetative associations, and habitat of plant and animal species that are either one of a kind, or are restricted in distribution on a regional 
basis.
3. Biotic communities, vegetative associations, and habitat of plant and animal species that are either one of a kind or are restricted in distribution in Los Angeles 
County.
4. Habitat that at some point in the life cycle of a species or group of species, serves as a concentrated breeding, feeding, resting, migrating ground and is limited 
in availability either regionally or within Los Angeles County.
5. Biotic resources that are of scientific interest because they are either an extreme in physical/geographical limitations, or represent an unusual variation in a 
population or community.
6. Areas important as game species habitat or as fisheries.
7. Areas that would provide for the preservation of relatively undisturbed examples of natural biotic communities in Los Angeles County.
8. Special areas (Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175).


“Site” means land or water area where any “facility or activity” is physically located or conducted, including adjacent land used in connection with the facility or activity 
(Source: Order No. R4-2012-0175). “Storm drain system” means any facilities or any part of those facilities, including streets, gutters, conduits, natural or artificial drains, 
channels, and watercourses that are used for the purpose of collecting, storing, transporting or disposing of storm water and are located within the City of Sierra Madre. 
“Storm water” or “storm water” means water that originates from atmospheric moisture (rain or snow) and that falls onto land, water, or other surfaces. Without any 
change in its meaning, this term may be spelled or written as one word or two separate words. “Stormwater runoff” means that part of precipitation (rainfall or snowmelt) 
which travels across a surface to the storm drain system or receiving waters. “SUSMP” means the Los Angeles Countywide Standard Urban Stormwater Mitigation 
Plan. The SUSMP was required as part of the previous Municipal NPDES Permit (Order No. 01-182, NPDES No. CAS004001) and required plans that designate best 
management practices (BMPs) that must be used in specified categories of development projects. “Urban runoff” means surface water flow produced by storm and 
non-storm events. Non-storm events include flow from residential, commercial, or industrial activities involving the use of potable and non-potable water. 15.58.030 
Stormwater pollution control requirements - Scope. This chapter contains requirements for storm water pollution control measures in Development and Redevelopment 
projects and authorizes the City of Sierra Madre to further define and adopt storm water pollution control measures, develop LID principles and requirements, including 
but not limited to the objectives and specifications for integration of LID strategies, grant waivers from the requirements of the Standard Urban Stormwater Mitigation 
Plan, and collect funds for projects that are granted waivers. Except as otherwise provided herein, the City of Sierra Madre shall administer, implement and enforce the 
provisions of this Section. 15.58.040 Applicability. The following Development and Redevelopment projects, termed “Planning Priority Projects,” shall comply with 
the requirements of 15.58.040;

(1) All development projects that add more than 500 square feet of impervious surface area.
(2) Industrial parks that add more than 500 square feet or more of impervious surface area.
(3) Commercial malls that add more than 500 square feet or more of impervious surface area.
(4) Retail gasoline outlets that add more than 500 square feet or more of surface area. 
(5) Restaurants (Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) of 5812) that add more than 500 square feet or more of impervious surface area.
(6) Parking lots that add more than 500 square feet or more of impervious surface area.
(7) Streets and roads construction of 10,000 square feet or more of impervious surface area. 
(8) Automotive service facilities (Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) of 5013, 5014, 5511, 5541, 7532-7534 and 7536-7539) that add more than 500 square 
feet or more of impervious surface area.
(9) Projects located in or directly adjacent to, or discharging directly to an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA), where the development will:
a. Discharge storm water runoff that is likely to impact a sensitive biological species or habitat; and
b. Create 500 square feet or more of impervious surface area
(10) Single-family hillside homes.
(11) Redevelopment Projects
a. Land disturbing activity that results in the creation or addition of 500 square feet or more of impervious surface area on an already developed site on Planning 
Priority Project categories. 
b. Redevelopment does not include routine maintenance activities that are conducted to maintain original line and grade, hydraulic capacity, original purpose of 
facility or emergency redevelopment activity required to protect public health and safety. Impervious surface replacement, such as the reconstruction of parking lots and 
roadways which does not disturb additional area and maintains the original grade and alignment, is considered a routine maintenance activity. Redevelopment does not 
include the repaving of existing roads to maintain original line and grade.
c. Existing single-family dwelling and accessory structures are exempt from the Redevelopment requirements unless such projects create or add 500 square feet 
of impervious surface area, or the provisions of 15.48.040 (C)10 apply.


15.58.040 Stormwater pollution control requirements--generally. The site for every Planning Priority Project shall be designed to control pollutants, pollutant 
loads, and runoff volume to the maximum extent feasible by minimizing impervious surface area and controlling runoff from impervious surfaces through biofiltration, 
bioretention, bioswale(s), green roof(s), infiltration, rainfall harvest and use, and/or any other appropriate LID BMPs. 15.58.050 Stormwater pollution mitigation for 
hillside development. A new single-family hillside home development shall include mitigation measures to:

1. Conserve natural areas;

2. Protect slopes and channels;

3. Provide storm drain system stenciling and signage;

4. Divert roof runoff to vegetated areas before discharge unless the diversion would result in slope instability; and

5. Direct surface flow to vegetated areas before discharge, unless the diversion would result in slope instability. 

15.58.060 Stormwater pollution control requirements for streets. Street and road construction of 10,000 square feet or more of impervious surface shall follow USEPA 
guidance regarding Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure: Green Streets (December 2008 EPA-833-F-08-009) and/or any local Green Street policies that may 
apply, to the maximum extent practicable. 15.58.070 LID plan requirement. Except as provided under sections 15.58.050 and 15.58.060, all Planning Priority Projects 
shall prepare a LID Plan to comply with the following: 

a. Retain storm water runoff onsite for the Stormwater Quality Design Volume (SWQDv) defined as the runoff from:

i. The 85th percentile 24-hour runoff event as determined from the Los Angeles County 85th percentile precipitation isohyetal map; or
ii. The volume of runoff produced from a 0.75 inch, 24-hour rain event, whichever is greater.


b. When, as determined by the City Engineer, 100 percent onsite retention of the SWQDv is technically infeasible, partially or fully, the infeasibility shall be 
demonstrated in the submitted LID Plan. The technical infeasibility may result from conditions that may include, but are not limited to: 

i. The infiltration rate of saturated in-situ soils is less than 0.3 inch per hour and it is not technically feasible to amend the in-situ soils to attain an infiltration rate 
necessary to achieve reliable performance of infiltration or bioretention BMPs in retaining the SWQDv onsite.

ii. Locations where seasonal high groundwater is within five to ten feet of surface grade;

iii. Locations within 100 feet of a groundwater well used for drinking water;

iv. Brownfield development sites or other locations where pollutant mobilization is a documented concern;

v. Locations with potential geotechnical hazards;

c. If partial or complete onsite retention is technically infeasible, the project Site may biofiltrate 1.5 times the portion of the remaining SWQDv that is not reliably 
retained onsite. Biofiltration BMPs must adhere to the design specifications provided in the Municipal NPDES Permit. 

i. Additional alternative compliance options such as offsite infiltration may be available to the project Site. The project Site should contact the City Engineer to 
determine eligibility. 


 d. The remaining SWQDv that cannot be retained or biofiltered onsite must be treated onsite to reduce pollutant loading. BMPs must be selected and designed to 
meet pollutant-specific benchmarks as required per the Municipal NPDES Permit. Flow-through BMPs may be used to treat the remaining SWQDv and must be sized based 
on a rainfall intensity of:

i. 0.2 inches per hour, or
ii. The one year, one-hour rainfall intensity as determined from the most recent Los Angeles County isohyetal map, whichever is greater.


e.. A Multi-Phased Project may comply with the standards and requirements of this section for all of its phases by: (a) designing a system acceptable to the 
City Engineer to satisfy these standards and requirements for the entire Site during the first phase, and (b) implementing these standards and requirements for each phase 
of Development or Redevelopment of the Site during the first phase or prior to commencement of construction of a later phase, to the extent necessary to treat the storm 
water from such later phase. For purposes of this section, “Multi-Phased Project” shall mean any Planning Priority Project implemented over more than one phase and the 
Site of a Multi-Phased Project shall include any land and water area designed and used to store, treat or manage storm water runoff in connection with the Development or 
Redevelopment, including any tracts, lots, or parcels of real property, whether Developed or not, associated with, functionally connected to, or under common ownership or 
control with such Development or Redevelopment.

SECTION 2. Severability: If any selection, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or otherwise 
invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance 
and each section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause and phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases 
be declared unconstitutional. 

SECTION 3. CEQA. This ordinance pertains to general policy and procedure making and does not constitute a “project” under CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines § 
15378(b)(2.

SECTION 4. Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this ordinance and shall cause the same to be published or posted in the manner prescribed by 
law. 

AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN:

City of Sierra Madre

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

To: Citywide

From: The City of Sierra Madre

Subject: TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 13-02 (TTM 13-02)

Applicant: Mur-Sol Construction, Inc.

Project Location: 407-413 Mariposa Avenue

The City of Sierra Madre gives notice, pursuant to State of California law, that the City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider 
a request for a Tentative Tract Map for the development of a subdivision to create seven condominiums on the property located at 407-413 
Mariposa Avenue. Pursuant to California Government Code Section 66426, a tract map is required for all subdivisions creating five or 
more condominiums. The Planning Commission at its August 15, 2013 meeting approved the Conditional Use Permit for the seven-unit 
multi-family residential project, and recommended approval of the Tentative Tract Map and adoption of the Negative Declaration.

DATE AND TIME OF HEARING PLACE OF HEARING

City of Sierra Madre City of Sierra Madre

City Council meeting City Council Chambers

Tuesday, November 12, 2013 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.

(Hearing begins at 6:30 p.m.) Sierra Madre, CA 

All interested persons may attend this meeting and the City Council will hear them with respect thereto.

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: An initial study on the project has been prepared and it has been determined that the project 
qualifies for a Negative Declaration pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). 

APPEAL: If in the future anyone wishes to challenge the decision of the City Council in court, one may be limited to raising the issues 
that were raised or presented in written correspondence delivered to the City Council at, or before, the scheduled public hearing. For 
further information on this subject, please contact the Development Services Department at (626) 355-7138.

WALKING SIERRA MADRE……THE SOCIAL SIDE 
By Deanne Davis

We’ve gotten through it once again,

The ghouliest, ghostiest time of year.

When creatures large, and creatures small,

Prowl the highways, infest the byways,

And give us plenty of reason, in this fear-filled season,

To quiver and shiver and shake in our shoes!!

Walking Sierra Madre this past week has brought us, the brave and daring John and I, to the 
conclusion, that this is one creepy town! There are 9, 742 huge black spiders clinging to gates, 
houses, fences and webs. There are 31,417 skeletons hanging from various pillars, posts and 
trees. And graveyards! Boy! Do we have graveyards. Here’s my favorite headstone: 

“Johnny Yeast

Forgive Me If I Don’t Rise.”

The best thing we’ve seen all week, though, are the window paintings downtown. Now that is 
Art! Some really splendid work and I’m thrilled that prizes were awarded and that some of our 
wonderful Sierra Madre ladies did a little underwriting so kids could still afford to enter the 
annual Window Painting Contest. Kids painting windows for Halloween is one of those neat 
things that’s been going on for years and years here in our town that should not be tampered 
with in any way! Kind of like Neil The Pig. We took pictures of our favorites and we just have 
to say this was an over-the-top terrific window painting year and we don’t want anything ever to 
change this Sierra Madre tradition. 

Charlie Brown’s buddy, Linus, would be proud. All of Sierra Madre was the sincerest pumpkin 
patch anywhere. We’ll be picking up candy wrappers for weeks to come, but seeing all the little 
princesses, Screams, Harry Potters, gypsies, hobos and 
hippies (which always makes us laugh as we really WERE 
hippies, back in the day!) is worth it. We gave out tons 
of Tootsie Rolls and tiny Snickers bars and I’m somewhat 
chagrined to admit I kept back several little boxes of Dots 
for future secret consumption. We miss having our kids 
here. We would send them out Trick ‘r Treating then tell 
them those big Hershey bars really weren’t very good and 
we’d help them out and eat them ourselves. They each 
bought it… once. The shameful things parents do! We’d put 
it all in the freezer in a day or two, they’d forget about it, and 
eventually out it would go. It’s been a fun Halloween season 
and we’ve seen so many clever things in people’s yards. 
Hope you did, too!

“An’ all us other children, when the supper things is done,

We set around the kitchen fire an’ has the mostest fun

A-list’nin’ to the witch-tales at Annie tells about,

An the Gobble-uns ‘at gits you, Ef you don’t watch out!” 

 Little Orphant Annie (1883)