SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016

VOLUME 10 NO. 7

CUP DENIED 

PRESERVATIONISTS PLEASED

A UFO OVER SIERRA MADRE?

Preserve Sierra Madre Says, “we are not happy because the applicant 
is now facing a consequence for his actions. We are happy because 
the importance of our General Plan and Municipal Code have been 
affirmed by the highest governing body in the City of Sierra Madre.”

 On Tuesday, the Sierra Madre city council upheld the denial of 
an after the fact Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for the owners of 
the multi unit residential property at 156 W. Highland. 

 In March, 2015, it was noticed that an additional 2-story, 1322 
square foot structure had been built. According to the complaints, 
the addition was done without complying with the City’s Municipal 
Code and General Plan. Per Director of Planning and Community 
Preservation Vincent Gonzales, there were no approved permits 
or plans authorizing the add on. 

 The motion to deny overturning the Planning Commission’s 
decision was approved by a 2-1 vote. Mayor John Capoccia and 
Councilwoman Denise Delmar recused themselves because of the 
proximity of their residences to the property in question. Mayor 
Pro Tem Gene Goss and Councilwoman Rachelle Arizmendi voted 
to deny the application. Former Mayor John Harabedian thought 
that the Planning Commission’s decision should be overturned. 
MVNews

Sierra Madre Search 
And Rescue Has The 
Answer


Many residents of Sierra Madre may be 
curious about a search and rescue operation 
that occurred recently. We’ve described 
the incident in much more detail below 
since it occurred close to town, took place 
over several hours and involved significant 
activity from emergency vehicles and low 
flying helicopters. 

 Stranded Hiker, Auburn/Bailey Canyon 
Area, Sierra Madre: On January 29th, a Sierra 
Madre resident reported hearing calls for help 
in what seemed to be the canyon area above 
Auburn Avenue near Bailey Canyon. The 
Sierra Madre Police and Fire Departments 
both responded and quickly determined 
that, given the very faint nature shouts, the 
hiker was well above town somewhere on 
the mountainside. SMSR was paged at 6 
p.m. and ground crews responded to both 
the top of Auburn and Bailey Canyon to 
attempt to pinpoint the hiker’s location and 
coordinate the search efforts with the Foothill 
Air Support Team (FAST) helicopter. The 
“search” aspect of search-and-rescue quickly 
became the initial focus. Initial attempts by 
the FAST helicopter to locate the hiker were 
unsuccessful and, with the loss of daylight, 
a much more complicated situation was 
confronting emergency responders. 

 A large cliff created a box canyon effect 
for crews attempting to reach the hiker from the bottom of the canyon. 
Although it was extremely steep, trailless and with no obvious routes 
present, rescuers determined the slopes above Auburn Canyon would 
provide the most viable point of access. Detailed knowledge of the area 
and assessment of the maps raised the possibility of access to the area via 
the Mt. Wilson Trail (MWT). Unfortunately, thick brush and dangerous 
terrain limited the ability of the MWT crew to reach the east side of 
Auburn Canyon. One of the crews was able to reach the ridge on the 
west of the canyon and, although they were able to make voice contact, 
they were not able to pinpoint the hiker’s location. The crew assigned to 
Bailey Canyon returned to the command post at the top of Auburn Ave. 
and located a steep off-trail option that would allow them to ascend an 
eastern ridge into the canyon. Ascending a third of a mile of very steep 
terrain allowed this 3-person crew to climb to an area just below a large 
band of cliffs in Auburn Canyon. Using night vision goggles (NVG), 
this crew was able to spot the missing hiker approximately 100 meters 
from their location and a short distance down from the top of the cliff 
but well above the canyon bottom. Rescuers determined that given the 
hiker’s precarious position and likelihood that a ground-based rescue 
would take several hours, a helicopter based rescue would be the safest 
option. 

 Incident command staff at the command post at the top of Auburn 
Ave. contacted Los Angeles County Fire (LACoFD) dispatchers and 
requested that a hoist equipped helicopter respond to the incident to 
attempt a hoist rescue. Many residents in the area no doubt heard 
the unmistakable sound of a low flying helicopter since it was now 
shortly after midnight. The ground crew on the east side of the canyon 
worked with LACoFD’s ‘copter 11 flight crew to guide them into the 
hiker’s location until they were able to visually locate the hiker using 
their Night Sun searchlight. The helicopter was able to use their hoist 
to insert a paramedic into the location of the stranded hiker. Once the 
rescuer was inserted, the helicopter moved away from the immediate 
area to reduce the noise and risk of debris being knocked down onto 
people on the ground. After securing the hiker in a rescue harness the 
helicopter returned to the scene and successfully retrieved the rescuer 
and hiker. The hiker was flown to an appropriate landing zone near the 
top of Baldwin Ct. and transferred to the care of Sierra Madre FD. The 
helicopter returned to Auburn Canyon and did a one-skid landing on 
the western ridge of the canyon to fly those rescuers to the Baldwin Ct. 
landing zone. The crew on the east side of the canyon descended back 
to the command post and the incident was secured at 2:30 a.m.

 This rescue highlights the coordination and cooperation necessary 
to safely complete a complex search and rescue operation. During the 
month of January, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue (SMSR) responded 
to eight calls for assistance to kick off 2016. 

 For over 60 years the all-volunteer Sierra Madre Search and Rescue 
team has been responding to calls for help in the local mountains and 
beyond. Funded entirely 
by private donations, 
SMSR provides a range 
of public programs on 
wilderness safety in 
addition to its search 
and rescue activities. The 
Team never charges for 
any of its services. 

 For more information, 
including how to arrange 
a wilderness safety 
demonstration for your 
school or group, visit 
www.smsr.org.

MAYOR TO DELIVER STATE OF THE 
CITY ADDRESS TO KIWANIS

Sierra Madre’s Mayor John Capoccia will deliver The State 
of the City to the SM Kiwanis club on Tuesday, February 
16th at noon. 

The meeting will be held at “The Lodge” (formerly the 
Masonic Temple), 33 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. 
The event is free, however Lunch is $10. 

Call 626-355-0728 for a reservation.

 


CALENDAR Pg. 2

SIERRA MADRE NEWS

 Pg. 3

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY Pg. 5

PASADENA/ALTADENA

 Pg. 6

ARCADIA NEWS Pg. 7 
MONROVIA/DUARTE Pg. 7

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Pg. 8

UPDATE ON TEMPORARY CONTRACT FOR 
SUPPLEMENTAL POLICE SERVICES 

BEST FRIENDS

 Pg. 9

 At the Tuesday, February 23, 2016, City 
Council meeting, the City Council will consider 
an agreement with the Los Angeles County 
Sherriff’s Department to temporarily provide 
supplemental police patrol services, seven days 
a week between the hours of 6:00 pm and 6:00 
am beginning Sunday, February 28, 2016. The 
Sierra Madre Police Department has been 
providing patrol services, but due to numerous 
staff vacancies, the officers are working at an 
overtime pace that cannot be maintained and 
it is necessary to secure supplemental services. 
A law enforcement update was provided to the 
City Council at their February 9, 2016 meeting 
and will be presented to the Public Safety 
Committee on Thursday, February 18, 2016. 
The staff report can be found online at www.
cityofsierramadre.com/cityhall/agendas under 
City Council. 

 The City of Sierra Madre emphasizes that 
the Police Department is currently policing the 
city 24 hours a day, seven days a week with its 
current staff. In order to do this, investigative 
and management staff are supplementing patrol 
operations with assistance from part-time 
Officers. Full-time staff are cancelling days off 
and scheduled vacations, in addition to picking 
up overtime shifts to ensure the community’s 
safety. Although the current staff is working 
to keep the community safe, this staffing 
model in not sustainable. In order to continue 
providing patrol coverage 24/7, as well ensuring 
proper rest for the existing officers, staff will be 
recommending the City contract with LASD for 
temporary assistance while the City recruits to fill 
the Police Department vacancies.

 The City is actively recruiting for a variety of 
positons in the Police Department, interested 
persons can apply at www.cityofsierramadre.
com/cityhall/job_openings.

HEALTHY & FOOD

 Pg. 10

THE GOOD LIFE

 Pg. 11

THE ARTS

 Pg. 12

BUSINES NEWS & TRENDS

 Pg. 13

THE WORLD AROUND US

 Pg. 14

OPINION

 Pg. 15


LEGAL NOTICES 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 
Pg. 17/19