HAVE A SAFE, HEALTHY & HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.......STAY HOME!


VOLUME 14 NO. 19

 SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 

broker lic. #01514230 | source: CoreLogic, Freddie Mac, BankrateTHEWEBB-MARTIN GROUPJan Greteman 626.975.4033jan@jangreteman.com 
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SOLDJust Listed451 Camillo RoadSierra Madre 91024Represented the Seller
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SIERRA MADRE 
FIREFIGHTER PAY 
INCREASES IN THE WORKS

By Kevin McGuire

After several meetings between negotiators and the union 
representing the Sierra Madre Professional Firefighters Association 
(SMPFA), the City is moving forward with a plan that will increase 
salaries for firefighter/paramedics and captains.

During the April 28 Meeting, City Council adopted a Memorandum 
Of Understanding (MOU) between the City and the SMPFA, and 
approved a resolution amending the Classification Plan and Salary 
Matrix. This will increase the salary range for Fire Captains and 
gradually increase firefighter/paramedics salaries from $15.61 to the 
$24.00 an hour range over a five-year period. 

“It might sound irresponsible that we are giving a generous 
raise to our firefighters,” Mayor John Capoccia said at the April 
28 meeting. “Look at the currently hourly rate of a firefighter/
paramedic—$15.61—that’s barely above minimum wage. We are 
offering this [increase] to our firefighters as a matter of fairness. We 
expect them to be professional in their duties and we also want them 
to have the respect of their peers,” the Mayor said.

The proposed increase would bring Sierra Madre firefighters up to 
par with neighboring cities such as San Gabriel and South Pasadena 
over the five-year period, but this rate would still be below what is 
paid to Arcadia and Pasadena firefighters. 

This new MOU provides for a 20% salary increase to all association 
members, effective July 5, 2020. This will be followed by an increase 
of 12.5% in 2022 and 5.5% in 2024 (this excludes Fire Captains). The 
following additional items were also negotiated between the City 
and SMPFA: 

1. Five-year contract effective July 1, 2020 expiring on June 30, 2025. 

2.Additional Assignments and Pay incentives.

3.Vacation Leave accrual adjusted from 4.88 hours to 5.53 hours to
reflect the 24-hour work schedule. 

4.Sick Leave accrual adjusted from 4.88 hours to 5.5 hours to reflect
the 24-hour work schedule. 5. One-time Qualified Engineer Exam 
Bonus. 

6. Movie Detail to be governed by the City’s Fee Schedule as adopted 
by the City Council. 

Currently, the Fire Captain position is listed at 10 steps with each 
step increased by 2.5%. The proposed change to take the range to 
only 5 steps, with each step increased by 5% would be consistent 
with all other bargaining groups salary ranges. The total increase in 
personnel cost is estimated to $230,000 for the Fiscal Year (Source: 
Staff report provided by Miguel Hernandez, Human Resources 
Manager).

Once an all-volunteer fire department, the City has struggled to keep 
and maintain a fully-paid staff. Residents have spoken up and voiced 
support for the fire department and have also expressed displeasure 
over the thought of losing an engine or relying on Arcadia and 
Pasadena to respond to local calls in Sierra Madre. 

CITY MOVES FORWARD WITH SOLAR 
PANEL PROJECT AT CITY YARDS

By Kevin McGuire

The City plans to award a power 
purchase agreement contract to 
Rec Solar Inc. for the design and 
construction of a solar photovoltaic 
system at the City Yards site. The 
554 KW-Dc system and storage unit 
proposal would require a California 
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 
analysis and Conditional Use Permit 
before an agreement and construction 
can move forward. 

The proposed project is estimated to 
offset 989,000 kWh of energy from 
the Water Department’s distribution 
functions every year. This translates 
to the elimination of 715 tons of Co2 
emissions per year, according to a 
staff report provided by City Manager 
Gabe Engeland. 

As part of the 20-year agreement with 
Rec Solar, the City is not obligated to 
spend any capital investment toward 
the cost, which is not to exceed 
$1,373,000. The City expects higher 
water efficiency and better disaster 
preparedness as a result of the panels 
being installed. 

Back in 2019, Mayor John Harabedian 
and Mayor Pro-Tem John Capoccia 
put together a team, which included 
city staff, and industry experts Robert 
Parkhurst and Matthew Schneider. 
After hearing eight proposals, the 
team found Rec Solar to be the most 
qualified company offering the best 
value for solar panel construction on 
an approximate 65,000 square-foot 
section of the City Yards located at 
621 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Currently 
the property, North of Hal Dapper 
Field, contains two water basins not 
in use. 

Members of the community voiced 
concern that the solar panels would 
reflect into windows of nearby homes. 
After design is finalized and a CEQA 
analysis is complete, residents will 
be mitigated, according to Engeland. 
The current proposed design has 
the panels facing toward the South, 
suggesting that residents in that area 
would see the tops of the panels. 
The question of possible glare will 
be addressed as part of the CEQA 
analysis. 

City Council met on January 28, 2020 
and February 25, 2020 to discuss 
concepts for the project. On April 
28, 2020, the Council approved the 
power purchase contract, pending the 
CEQA analysis and approved permits. 


ALTADENA SHERIFF’S 
STATION CLOSING 

The Altadena Sheriff’s Station is set to close permanently July 1 as part of 
massive $400 million in cuts to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. 
Cuts include, full-time patrol positions, including: Youth Activities League 
(YAL), school resource deputy, Vital Intervention and Directional Alternatives 
(VIDA), Nuisance abatement, Community Relations Team and Search and 
Rescue Coordinator (pictured right), see full story on Page. 5


INSIDE THE MOUNTAIN VIEWS 
NEWS THIS WEEK

ARTICLES/INFORMATION ON DEALING WITH COVID19 
CAN BE FOUND THROUGHOUT THIS EDITION

LA COUNTY REOPENS..........................PAGE 7

A FMESSAGE FROM ATHENS............ ...Page 2

PASADENA NEWS ................................Page 5

NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY NEWS....Page 6

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY..........Page 7

EDUCATION & YOUTH..........................Page 8

SENIOR.COMMUNICATIONS...............Page 11

OPINION...............................................Page 12


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com