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Inside this Week:

MVNews this week: Page 1

MEET THE CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES....Page 2

VOLUME 14 NO. 38

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020

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PRELIMINARY MAGNITUDE 4.6
EARTHQUAKE STRIKES SOUTH OF
ROSEMEAD, RATTLING SAN GABRIEL
VALLEY AT 11:38PM FRIDAY

RESIDENTS THANK SIERRA MADRE FIRST

RESPONDERS, CITY STAFF AS BOBCAT FIRE
EVACUATION ORDERS ARE LIFTED; FIRE
EXPANDS EXPLOSIVELY NORTH, EAST AND
WEST TOWARDS THE ANTELOPE VALLEY

Early reports say the epicenter was near El Monte, 2 miles south of
Rosemead. At press time, no reports of serious damage or injuries.

In one of the most efficient emergency operations anyone can ever
remember, the Sierra Madre Fire, Police, CERT, Search and Rescue and
City Staff utilized traditional methods of protecting the city and new
technology to keep residents informed of the fire's progress and possible
threat. As reported previously, the SMFD also sent teams out to
assist other agencies as they worked day and night to keep the fire from
spreading.

The last dispatch to the cummunity was sent on Wednesday by the
Sierra Madre PD: "The current status of the fire for Sierra Madre is that
all contingency lines have held the fire in check. Fire crews have worked
diligently today in the rough and steep terrain to establish perimeter lines
that are intended to contain the southern portion of the fire. Once the
perimeter lines are complete, crews will monitor to make sure the lines
have held. After validation, these perimeter lines will become a portion of
the overall containment of the Bobcat Fire. Today the evacuation orders
for Sierra Madre residents east of Santa Anita Ave. and north of Elkins
Ave. were lifted.

However, Sierra Madre remains under evacuation warning at this time.
The order requiring streets to remain clear in the canyon areas of all vehicle,
property, and debris expired at 6:00 pm. Red flag parking restrictions
in the canyon areas will remain in place indefinitely.

When the Bobcat Fire first started, there was no imminent threat to
Sierra Madre and informational updates on the fire were focused on the
overall condition and status of the fire. As the Bobcat Fire moved toward
Sierra Madre, communications became more frequent and detailed as it
pertained to the Sierra Madre community. As the threat to Sierra Madre
is diminished, communications will once again decrease.

The City will not communicate via Nixle Alerts unless there is an immediate
threat or substantial change to the status of the Bobcat Fire in
regards to Sierra Madre. The City will provide additional updates on the
Bobcat Fire after daily Incident Command briefings."

In true Sierra Madre fashion, the community expressed their gratitude
with donations of food and water for the brave men and women
who keep the town safe.

Resident Allen Wolff took the photo below of PhosChek being
dropped on the fire lines.

Also below, the Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce delivered two
pallets of water for first responders

SMFD Chief Bartlett posted a sincere letter of thanks that you can
find on the city's website: www.cityofsierramadre.com

YMCA AWARDED BID TO MANAGE
SIERRA MADRE POOL

At last week's council meeting, the city elected to award the lease for
the Sierra Madre pool to the Pasadena-Sierra Madre YMCA. The
organization will take over operations at the Aquatics Center, ending its
lease with Waterworks Aquatics after eight years.

Waterworks swim lesson format was met with mixed reviews by
residents. While some noted that they enjoyed lap swim and programs
for kids, others felt pool temperatures were kept too warm and there was
a lack of community programming.

In 2012, budget woes brought about by the destructive wind storm
at the end of 2011 was cited as the main reason for leasing the pool to
Waterworks. The city sustained $1.2 million in damage as a result of
the windstorm. After some early growing pains mainly over pricing and
hours, Waterworks overall received favorable reviews.

However, this year, when it came time to review and possibly renew
the Waterworks contract, once the Request for Proposal was sent out,
Waterworks response disturbed many residents. In an effort to maintain
the contract, the group resorted to rather aggressive techniques to gain
the support. Those efforts including 'robocalls' and mailers were not
well received by many, confirmed City Manager Gabe Engeland.

The YMCA, in its bid, proposed to tailor programs and hours to fit
community needs and also offer free community events throughout the
year. Engeland noted there may be a pool closure to allow for transition,
pool maintenance and to set rules for COVID-19 protocols. This may be
as long as 30 days. The new contract will begin October 1, 2020.

The initial lease is set for two years, with the option to renew for an
additional three years. Though leasing the pool to the Y will bring in
$4,000 a month or $48,000 annually, that is $18,720 less annually than
the current lease. Despite this figure, the City expects to save money on
maintenance and capital items.

YMCA programs that will be offered include: lap swim, recreation
swim, water aerobics, various group, private, parent & me swim lessons,
and swim team. In addition, the YMCA proposed an annual Water
Safety week, a free Get Summer program for youth, Junior Lifeguarding,
and community rentals. K.McGuire/MVNews

INSIDE MOUNTAIN VIEWS
NEWS THIS WEEK

Special Pre-Election Coverage that will
run weekly on all Statewide Measures,
County and City Races and Issues and
the PUSD 2, 4 and 6 Races.

SIERRA MADRE 2 YEAR COUNCIL RACE...PAGE 2

COVID 19 UPDATES ...........................PAGE 7

SIERRA MADRE NEWS.................................Pgs 3, 4

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

ARCADIA/MONROVIA & MORE..... .Page 6

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

EDUCATION & YOUTH.................................Page 9

BEST FRIENDS.............................................Page 10

THE GOOD LIFE..........................................Page 11

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