Inside this week: 
SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2014 
VOLUME 8 NO. 9 
Sierra Madre City Council 2014 
As indicated in their devastating report 
that dropped the city’s credit rating last 
year, Moody’s made another assessment 
of Sierra Madre’s creditworthiness 
on Friday. The news was good 
from the standpoint that our credit 
rating was not dropped any lower and 
that the city is no longer under review. 
The bad news is that the rating did not 
improve. 
The following is the official reporton 
the state of the city’s water company’s, 
and ultimately the city’s credit status: 
Global Credit Research - 27 Feb 2014 
$2.6M debt affected 
New York, February 27, 2014 -- Moody's 
Investors Service has confirmed the Ba1 
rating on the City of Sierra Madre (CA) 
Water Enterprise's 1998 Revenue Bonds, 
of which there is currently about $2.6 
million outstanding. The enterprise has 
an additional $7.9 million in outstanding 
debt not rated by Moody's but considered 
in our analysis, including $6.8 
million Series 2003 parity bonds. The 
1998 bonds are secured by a senior lien 
on the net revenues of the water enterprise. 
Concurrently, we have removed 
the rating from review. The rating was 
placed under review for further possible 
downgrade on December 12, 2013 in 
anticipation of the outcome of Proposition 
218 rate increase protest. The protest 
failed and a rate increase ordinance 
has been adopted by the city. 
SUMMARY RATING RATIONALE 
The affirmation reflects the successful 
adoption of rate increases for fiscal 
2014 through 2018, effective on March 
1 2014. The Ba1 rating also incorporates 
several years of failure to implement 
rate increases to provide sufficient debt 
service coverage, the enterprise's moderately 
sized customer base with an above 
average socioeconomic profile, as well as 
aging infrastructure that requires 
STRENGTHS 
-Customer base with above average socioeconomic 
profile 
-Debt service reserve fully funded with 
cash 
-Newly adopted rate increases will result 
in additional revenues 
CHALLENGES 
-History of rate covenant violations 
-Weakened financial position with diminished 
reserves 
-Aging infrastructure requiring significant 
reinvestment 
-Historically lackluster political will toimplement rate increases sufficient to 
maintain healthy operations 
-Expected rise in operating expenses tied 
to increased water purchases 
-Late implementation of adopted rate 
increases 
WHAT COULD MOVE THE RATING 
UP 
-Sustained and material improvement 
of debt service coverage leading to compliance 
with rate covenants 
-Significant improvement in reserves 
-Long-term stable customer growth 
WHAT COULD MOVE THE RATING 
DOWN 
-Rescinding of Proposition 218 rate 
increases 
-Further declines in debt service coverage 
-Loss of customers and revenue sources 
-Further violations of bond covenants 
significant improvements. 
The principal methodology used in this 
rating was Analytical Framework For 
Water And Sewer System Ratings published 
in August 1999. Please see the 
Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com 
for a copy of this methodology. 
The company made it very clear in 
their assessment that the passage of the 
Prop 218 water rate increase was a factor 
in preventing further lowering of 
the city’s credit rating. 
The credit rating impacts more than 
just the city’s bonds. In the event of a 
disaster or other unforeseen circumstance, 
the water company, although it 
is a separate entity of the city, and its 
challenged credit rating will impair the 
city’s ability to borrow, refinance or engage 
in many other fiscal activities at a 
reasonable interest rate. It may even 
cripple the city’s ability to restructure 
its finances totally. 
For more information on the history of 
the downgrade go to: http://mtnviewsnews.
com/v07/htm/n50/index.htm 
S. Henderson/Mountain Views News 
SANDBAGS AVAILABLE 
The Public Works Department is making available sand and sandbags for all residents. The sand and sandbags are located 
at City Yards, in Sierra Vista Park which is located at 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Take the access 
road on west side of the park, closest to the Pioneer Cemetery. Continue northbound on the road past the tennis courts 
and the Sierra Madre Rose Float Barn to reach City Yards. Please be aware you will need to bring a shovel to fill the sandbags. 
Residents have access to the sandbags from 6:00am-10:00pm. 
For more information contact the Public Works Department at 626-355-7135. 
CELEBRATING 44 YEARS OF 
GOOD WORKS, WINE & FOOD 
Smiling for the camera at the Friends of the Sierra Madre Library’s 
44th Annual Wine and Cuisine Tasting event and totally unaware of 
being photo-bombed, are Library Trustees Pete Siberell and Glenn 
Putnam. Well over 100 guests tasted the wares of 18 wine vendors 
and 20 restaurants at Villa del Sol d’Oro, Alverno on Friday evening. 
Funds raised from the event help support Sierra Madre libraryoperations. Photo and caption by S. Henderson 
NEW JERSEY IN KERSTING COURT? 
Story on page B1 
CREDIT RATING AGENCY DELIVERS GOOD 
AND BAD NEWS TO CITY 
Moody’s Removes Sierra Madre From Review - No Further Downgrade 
SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2014 
VOLUME 8 NO. 9 
Sierra Madre City Council 2014 
As indicated in their devastating report 
that dropped the city’s credit rating last 
year, Moody’s made another assessment 
of Sierra Madre’s creditworthiness 
on Friday. The news was good 
from the standpoint that our credit 
rating was not dropped any lower and 
that the city is no longer under review. 
The bad news is that the rating did not 
improve. 
The following is the official reporton 
the state of the city’s water company’s, 
and ultimately the city’s credit status: 
Global Credit Research - 27 Feb 2014 
$2.6M debt affected 
New York, February 27, 2014 -- Moody's 
Investors Service has confirmed the Ba1 
rating on the City of Sierra Madre (CA) 
Water Enterprise's 1998 Revenue Bonds, 
of which there is currently about $2.6 
million outstanding. The enterprise has 
an additional $7.9 million in outstanding 
debt not rated by Moody's but considered 
in our analysis, including $6.8 
million Series 2003 parity bonds. The 
1998 bonds are secured by a senior lien 
on the net revenues of the water enterprise. 
Concurrently, we have removed 
the rating from review. The rating was 
placed under review for further possible 
downgrade on December 12, 2013 in 
anticipation of the outcome of Proposition 
218 rate increase protest. The protest 
failed and a rate increase ordinance 
has been adopted by the city. 
SUMMARY RATING RATIONALE 
The affirmation reflects the successful 
adoption of rate increases for fiscal 
2014 through 2018, effective on March 
1 2014. The Ba1 rating also incorporates 
several years of failure to implement 
rate increases to provide sufficient debt 
service coverage, the enterprise's moderately 
sized customer base with an above 
average socioeconomic profile, as well as 
aging infrastructure that requires 
STRENGTHS 
-Customer base with above average socioeconomic 
profile 
-Debt service reserve fully funded with 
cash 
-Newly adopted rate increases will result 
in additional revenues 
CHALLENGES 
-History of rate covenant violations 
-Weakened financial position with diminished 
reserves 
-Aging infrastructure requiring significant 
reinvestment 
-Historically lackluster political will toimplement rate increases sufficient to 
maintain healthy operations 
-Expected rise in operating expenses tied 
to increased water purchases 
-Late implementation of adopted rate 
increases 
WHAT COULD MOVE THE RATING 
UP 
-Sustained and material improvement 
of debt service coverage leading to compliance 
with rate covenants 
-Significant improvement in reserves 
-Long-term stable customer growth 
WHAT COULD MOVE THE RATING 
DOWN 
-Rescinding of Proposition 218 rate 
increases 
-Further declines in debt service coverage 
-Loss of customers and revenue sources 
-Further violations of bond covenants 
significant improvements. 
The principal methodology used in this 
rating was Analytical Framework For 
Water And Sewer System Ratings published 
in August 1999. Please see the 
Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com 
for a copy of this methodology. 
The company made it very clear in 
their assessment that the passage of the 
Prop 218 water rate increase was a factor 
in preventing further lowering of 
the city’s credit rating. 
The credit rating impacts more than 
just the city’s bonds. In the event of a 
disaster or other unforeseen circumstance, 
the water company, although it 
is a separate entity of the city, and its 
challenged credit rating will impair the 
city’s ability to borrow, refinance or engage 
in many other fiscal activities at a 
reasonable interest rate. It may even 
cripple the city’s ability to restructure 
its finances totally. 
For more information on the history of 
the downgrade go to: http://mtnviewsnews.
com/v07/htm/n50/index.htm 
S. Henderson/Mountain Views News 
SANDBAGS AVAILABLE 
The Public Works Department is making available sand and sandbags for all residents. The sand and sandbags are located 
at City Yards, in Sierra Vista Park which is located at 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Take the access 
road on west side of the park, closest to the Pioneer Cemetery. Continue northbound on the road past the tennis courts 
and the Sierra Madre Rose Float Barn to reach City Yards. Please be aware you will need to bring a shovel to fill the sandbags. 
Residents have access to the sandbags from 6:00am-10:00pm. 
For more information contact the Public Works Department at 626-355-7135. 
CELEBRATING 44 YEARS OF 
GOOD WORKS, WINE & FOOD 
Smiling for the camera at the Friends of the Sierra Madre Library’s 
44th Annual Wine and Cuisine Tasting event and totally unaware of 
being photo-bombed, are Library Trustees Pete Siberell and Glenn 
Putnam. Well over 100 guests tasted the wares of 18 wine vendors 
and 20 restaurants at Villa del Sol d’Oro, Alverno on Friday evening. 
Funds raised from the event help support Sierra Madre libraryoperations. Photo and caption by S. Henderson 
NEW JERSEY IN KERSTING COURT? 
Story on page B1 
CREDIT RATING AGENCY DELIVERS GOOD 
AND BAD NEWS TO CITY 
Moody’s Removes Sierra Madre From Review - No Further Downgrade 
SIERRA MADRE 

Calendar Page 2 
Sierra Madre News Page 3 


PASADENA/ALTADENA 

Drunk Driver Plows Into Pg. 4Pharmacy 
AROUND SGV Pg. 5 
ARCADIA NEWS Pg. 6 

MONROVIA/DUARTE 
Pg.7 
EDUCATION & YOUTH 
Pg. 8 
FOOD & DRINK 

Pg. 9 
BEST FRIENDS 
Pg. 10 

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES 
Pg. 11 

THE GOOD LIFE Pg. 12 

BUSINESS NEWS Pg. 11 
HOMES & PROPERTY 
WORLD AROUND US 
Pg. 13 
LEFT TURN/RIGHT 
TURN/OPINION Pg. 14 

MORE NEWS AND 
FEATURES IN 
SECTION B 


ELECTION COVERAGE 
On April 8, 2014, voters in Sierra Madre will go to the polls and select three people from 
a field of four to sit on the City Council. They will also vote on a local ballot measure to 
extend the city’s current User Utility Tax Ordinance. 
The Mountain Views News will provide our readers with comprehensive coverage of 
this election. Each week, as we have done in the past, we will profile the candidates and 
give each of the candidates the opportunity to introduce themselves to our readers by 
answering the following questions: 
1. Why are you running for City Council? 
2. What are you going to do for Sierra 
Madre? 
3. How do you plan on accomplishing 
your goals? 
(All candidates are being asked to 
answer the same questions and their 
answers will be published unedited.) 
The paper will also review the pros 
and cons of the proposed User Utility 
Tax Ordinance. 
The schedule will be as follows: 
February 22nd The Pros and Cons of Measure UUT 
March 1st Candidate Denise Delmar 
March 8th Candidate Rachelle Arizmendi 
March 15th Candidate Noah Green 
March 22nd Candidate Eugene Goss 
March 29th Candidate Forum Review 
It is our sincere hope that each candidate will submit their answers so that we can share 
them with our readers. A separate letter has been sent to each candidate asking them to 
participate. 
In addition to the candidate spotlights, we will attempt to cover the various forums 
sponsored by local organizations. Where possible, the unedited video of these forums 
will be broadcast on the papers website. 
Our reporting on this election will be as fair and objective as possible. However, please 
keep in mind that our columnists are always free to share their opinions. Their opinions 
are their opinions and may or may not reflect the position of the paper. This is true in all 
things, not just this election. 
We will also provide for you the calendar of important dates regarding the election. It 
is our goal to do whatever we can to help you make an informed decision on April 8, 2014. 
Susan Henderson, Publisher and Editor 
WANT YOUR LOCAL NEWS 
AS IT HAPPENS? 
Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ 
mountainviewsnews or Twitter 
@mtnviewsnews or check in at www.mtnviewsnews.com for the 
latest breaking news! 
Candidate Information 
DENISE DELMAR 

1. Why are you running forCity Council?
I have over 30 years of community 
leadership experience serving 
communities in the San Francisco 
Bay Area. I have served as PTA 
President, PTA Council President, 
and volunteered at the state level 
organizing campaigns for school 
funding. I was selected to serve 
on a City Wide Task Force Against 
Violence, and was on the founding 
Board of Directors for a joint City 
and School District pre-school and 
after school program. 

Shortly after my move to Sierra 
Madre, I put my leadership skills to 
the test, serving as the Chair of the 
Sierra Madre General Plan Update 
Steering Committee (GPUSC) for 4 
years. This opportunity to hear the 
various concerns of many residents 
and business owners during the GPU 
process, the success of the committee, 
as well as my past leadership experience 
brought me to the decision to run for 
City Council in 2014. 

2. What are you going to do forSierra Madre? 
As a City Council member, I will work 
in collaboration with the other City 
Council members to ensure our City 
is efficient, effective and utilizing all 
its resources to the fullest potential. I 
will ensure all development projects 
brought before the City Council adheres 
to the General Plan, especially as they 
apply to housing mass, neighborhood 
compatibility, and protection of our 
hillsides and wildlife. I will continue 
my advocacy to limit development 
until our dire water situation has 
stabilized and reached a capacity to 
take on more customers. I will reach 
out to our residents and community 
organizations soliciting suggestions to 


enhance community engagement. 

3. How do you plan on 
accomplishing your goals?
My past experience serving on avariety of boards and committees hastaught me the only way to get anything 
accomplished is to be willing to roll up 
your sleeves and do some hard work, 
do your homework, listen to others and 
respect the opinions of those you servewith and those you serve. 

As a Human Resources Professional, 
with an emphasis in Benefits andCompensation, I will use my knowledgeand skills to help City officials makeinformed decisions, so we can offer afair compensation to our employees, aswell as continue to provide services toour residents. 

I will continue to attend PlanningCommission meetings, to gaininformation and educate myself on 
upcoming development projects. As 
an elected official, I would have to 
step down from the Preserve MaterDolorosa Steering Committee, but 
would continue to stay informed 
as they work together with MaterDolorosa representatives to find a win-
win situation for all. 

Read The Paper Online At: www.mtnviewsnews.com