BAILEY CANYON PARK FALL CLEANUP SET

FOR SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2015 8:00AM- NOON

The Sierra Madre Environmental Action Council (SMEAC) could use your help! Put on your work gloves and join us at Bailey Canyon Park (at the top of Grove), we’ll be pulling weeds, clearing out dead brush 
and improving paths. In addition to light snacks and beverages, we offer you; fresh air, exercise and enjoyable teamwork experience. Hope to see you there!


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2015

VOLUME 9 NO. 46

WATER, TAXES AND PUBLIC SAFETY 

COUNCIL CAREFULLY WEIGHS OPTIONS

THANK YOU OFFICER JOHN FORD FOR 35 
YEARS OF SERVICE TO SIERRA MADRE

 The Sierra Madre City Council 
once again tackled the three 
topics that weigh heaviest on 
most Sierra Madreans minds: 
Water - conservation and 
quality; Taxes - the upcoming 
Utility User Tax ballot measure 
and Public Safety - shall or will 
the city continue to maintain 
its Police Department or 
contract out those services 
to the Los Angeles County 
Sheriff’s Department. Potential 
solutions were reviewed again, 
or as one frustrated council 
member said, “it seems as 
though we keep going over the 
same thing every time we meet:.

Water Conservation

 At the last council meeting 
there was much concern over 
the penalties assessed. Overall 
83% of the city’s population 
is meeting their water 
conservation goals, however 
the remaining 17% - overusers 
- are cause for great concern as 
the city is well below the state 
mandated level and has received 
a warning. Those who are 
exceeding their conservation 
levels are only part the reason 
Sierra Madre is only at 21% 
conseration vs. the 30% required 
by the state. Water main breaks 
are also contributing to the 
city’s water saving deficit.

 The council directed staff 
to contact each of the top 
water abusers in an attempt 
to see what measures can be 
done to reduce their water 
consumption. Except for leaks 
that were undetected, penalties 
will be enforced. 

 

Utility User Tax

 April 12, 2016 is the date that 
citizens of Sierra Madre will 
have the opportunity to vote 
on whether or not to impose a 
Utility User Tax of 10% to avoid 
an almost $1 million budget 
deficit. Without its passage, 
city services, which include 
public safety will dramatically 
change in Sierra Madre. 
However, at the last two council 
meetings speaker after speaker 
came to the podium supporting 
the UUT. Tuesday, the UUT 
oversight committee gave its 
report and confirmed that the 
income generated from the 
taxes approved in 2008 were 
in fact being used as directed. 
Further, Committee Member 
Paul Savoie who presented 
the report pointed out that 
‘the increase in public safety 
expenditures over the base year 
of 2008 ($1,920,695) exceeded 
the increase in UUT revenues 
over the base year ($1,277,795) 
in the amount of $642,900, 
indicating that the city remains 
in compliance with Measure 
UA.’ Council directed staff to 
continue preparing the UUT 
for the April Ballot.

Public Safety

On the issue of whether to 
proceed investigating the cost 
of contracting the LASD to 
provide Police Services for 
Sierra Madre should the UUT 
fail, the council unanimously 
decided to proceed with Option 
I of the second phase of the 
proposal. The option will give 
the council further insight into 
the actual costs of contracting 
out police services, however, 
it will not cost Sierra Madre 
additional funds at this point. 

 

 Mayor John Capoccia reiterated 
that the council was not making 
a decision to hire the Sheriff’s 
but simply putting all options 
on the table. Capoccia noted 
that the public has indicated 
“20 to 1” that they want to 
keep the SMPD, however, the 
council needs to have complete 
information in the event the 
UUT fails in April. The next 
council meeting will be held on 
November 24th.

MVNews


The Sierra Madre community is going to miss SMPD Officer John Ford who, after 35 years 
of faithful service has retired. Picture above with Ford are (l to r) Public Safety Director and 
Chief of Police Larry Gianonne, Officer Ford, Sergeant Ken Berry, Sergent Ruben Enriquez 
and Captain Joe Ortiz. Best wishes and thank you for your years of dedication. 

Photo courtesy SMPD

COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER FOR PLANTING DAY


SIERRA MADRE SEARCH AND 
RESCUE HELP SAVE HIKER

 According to various news reports, a 23-year-old 
Reseda woman who said she was lost for two days 
in the mountains above Altadena was rescued after 
her cries for help were heard Monday morning, 
authorities said.

 Searchers responded after callers reported 
someone yelling for help in from the area of Mount 
Lowe Drive and Maiden Lane just before 9 a.m. 
She told her rescuers she had been stranded for two 
days, according to sheriff’s Deputy Dan Page. The 
woman said she was on a hike to Echo Mountain, 
a popular hiking destination, when she took “the 
wrong trail” and became lost, Page wrote in the 
Facebook post. She got stuck in an area where she 
could not hike back up the hillside because of loose, 
crumbly soil, and could not descend.

 A successful search effort took place at Rubio 
Canyon on Nov. 9, 2015.There was no cellphone 
reception, and she had very little food, water and no 
warm clothing.

 “The hiker told me she was ‘in over her head,'” Page 
wrote on Facebook. “We are all thankful she (was) 
located and made it off the mountain.”

 The hiker was airlifted in a Los Angeles County 
Fire Department helicopter to Farnsworth Park in 
Altadena, where she was assessed and then taken 
by ground to Huntington Memorial Hospital in 
Pasadena for treatment for possible hypothermia. 

 The county Fire Department, the Altadena 
Mountain Rescue Team and the Sierra Madre 
Search and Rescue Team participated in the search, 
as did search dogs.

 

CALENDAR Pg. 2

Sierra Madre, CA. – Thank you 
Community Planting Day volunteers! 
Over 75 volunteers from around the 
community gathered at City Hall last 
Saturday morning to help add new life 
to the landscapes surrounding the City’s 
public buildings. Planting day volunteers 
included a rich mix of young children, 
adults, and seniors all eager to lend their 
talents to the project. Working together, 
they installed nearly 300 plants in just 
two and half hours. 

 Planting Day was the culmination of 
months of planning and work aimed 
at improving the City’s landscape by 
replacing water-thirsty lawns with 
drought-resistant gardens. The City 
of Sierra Madre owes a special debt 
of gratitude to all who made this 
community project a success whether 
it be by volunteering, donating or 
helping us spread the word. 

 In an effort to show our appreciation, 
the City of Sierra Madre and the Sierra 
Madre Garden Club are issuing a 
limited number of memorial bricks for 
those still seeking to add their legacy 
to the new gardens. A limited supply of 
30 bricks will be available for purchase 
at City Hall from now until November 
30th. All donations are tax-deductible 
and payments must be made by check 
at the time of application submission. 

 Additional photos from Community 
Planting Day are currently available 
on the City’s Facebook page. To learn 
more about purchasing memorial 
bricks please contact City Hall at: 
626-355-7135.

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Flintridge Prep Admissions 
Open HouseSunday, December 6, 20152 p.m. to 4 p.m.
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Middle School & High School Presentations
..
SIERRA MADRE NEWS

 Pg. 3

PASADENA/ALTADENA

 Pg. 5

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

 Pg. 6

ARCADIA NEWS Pg. 7 
MONROVIA/DUARTE Pg. 7

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Pg. 8

BEST FRIENDS

 Pg. 9


HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

 Pg. 10

THE GOOD LIFE

 Pg. 11

FOOD & DRINK

 Pg. 12

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

 Pg. 13

BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS

THE WORLD

 Pg. 14

OPINION Pg. 15

 LEGALS Pg. 16