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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 jangreteman.com #01943630Judy Webb-Martin 626.688.2273jwmartin@dppre.com #00541631 Katie Orth 626.688.0418korth@dppre.com #00942500Who We Are: Residents & business owners of Sierra Madre selling real estate since 1975 & proudly giving back to the community. Your Story. Your Home. Your Team. Together Stronger. We offer over 90 years of trusted experience. Please reach out to us for any of your real estate needs. 381 Mariposa Avenue #B | Sierra Madre 91024690 Oak Crest DriveSierra Madre 91024Represented the Buyer3 beds | 3 baths | 1,553 sqft | Listed at $699,000The way we are working may have changed, but our commitment to you is still the same. SOLDJust Listed451 Camillo RoadSierra Madre 91024Represented the Seller SOLDwww.381MariposaB.com 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 | |||||||||||||||||
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Mountain Views News 80 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. #327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.604.4548 www.mtnviewsnews.com |