Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, November 14, 2020

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 14, 2020 

City of Sierra Madre

SUMMARY NOTICE

From: The City of Sierra Madre

Subject: Commercial Code Update - Ordinance 1431

Applicant: City of Sierra Madre

Project Location: Properties in the City of Sierra Madre, County of Los Angeles, State of California

On November, 10 2020 the City Council of the City of Sierra Madre introduced for second reading, recommending adoption 
of Ordinance 1431, amending Chapter 17.08 (Definitions), Chapter 17.36 (Commercial Zone) in its entirety, and Chapter 17.60 
(Variances and Discretionary Permits). 

The purpose of the amendment is to update the list of permitted and conditionally permitted uses in the commercial zone, update 
the corresponding development standards, and develop a comprehensive list of commercial zone uses pursuant to City Council 
Resolution 20-62. Additional amendments to the chapters referenced above are intended to achieve consistency specific to cross 
references in the Commercial Zone and other related zoning provisions. 

This summary is published pursuant to Government Code Section 36933(c)(1) and a full and complete certified copy of the text 
of Ordinance is available at the Sierra Madre City Manager’s Office located at City of Sierra Madre City Hall, 232 W. Sierra 
Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA. Ordinance 1431 becomes effective on December 10, 2020. For further information on this 
subject, please contact the Planning and Community Preservation Department at (626) 355-7138.

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The subject ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act 
(CEQA) pursuant to Title 14,a §15060(c)(2), §15060(c)(3), and §15061(b)(3) of the California Code of Regulations. The Ordinance 
amending Chapters 17.36, 17.40, and 17.60 will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the 
environment; the ordinance does not involve a “project” as defined by Section 15378; and the ordinance is covered by the general 
rule that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment; Therefore, it may 
be seen with certainty that there is no possibility this ordinance will have a significant effect on the environment. 

APPEAL: If in the future anyone wishes to challenge the decision of the City Council in court, one may be limited to raising the 
issues that were raised or presented in written correspondence delivered to the City Council at, or before, the scheduled public 
hearing. For further information on this subject, please contact the Planning and Community Preservation Department at (626) 
355-7138.

WALKING SIERRA MADRE - The Social Side 

by Deanne Davis

“Let us never forget that government 
is ourselves and not an alien power 
over us. The ultimate rulers of our 
democracy are not a President and 
senators and congressmen and 
government officials, but the voters of 
this country.” 

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

“You have to accept whatever comes 
and the only important thing is that 
you meet it with courage and with the 
best that you have to give.” 

Eleanor Roosevelt

“Let us not seek the Republican 
answer or the Democratic answer, but 
the right answer. Let us not seek to fix 
the blame for the past. Let us accept 
our own responsibility for the future.”

John F. Kennedy

Just a few thoughts to pass along, post-
election, of the seemingly never-ending 
election. And here’s another really 
important fact to pass along, post-
election: People are hoarding bathroom 
tissue again! Seriously? Seriously? I’m 
at Walmart and the entire aisle of any 
kind of tissue, paper towel or anything 
else to clean up self or kitchen with is 
non-existent. Target…same story.

Safeway, some strange brand that is, 
apparently, so awful nobody wants to hoard it. I thought we were past that, didn’t you?? Enough 
whining! 

This past Wednesday was Veteran’s Day and in my mind’s eye I can see Bud Switzer, in uniform, 
standing straight and proud, holding a flag. A presence at all the important occasions in our town. 
Thanks again, Bud, for all you did over the years to make Sierra Madre a wonderful place to live.

“People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime...”

Living across the street from Bud and Donna for so many years was a pleasure. Another delightful 
person came into my life a few years ago - Elaine Holmgren, the mother of my son-in-law, Chuck, 
married to our oldest daughter, Leah. I met Elaine right around her 94th birthday, which was one 
day after my birthday and realized immediately we were going to be best friends. And we were. I 
would go to the Kensington for Happy Hour at 4:00 for a glass of wine while an excellent pianist 
played songs we actually recognized, or a violinist might be playing show tunes, or we’d just sit 
and chat in her quiet, peaceful room. Elaine loved to read and, frequently, that’s what she would 
be doing when I arrived.

Our best times, though, were our special outings. We would go every now and then to the 
Cheesecake Factory for cheesecake and champagne. If you have not tried cheesecake and 
champagne, you are missing out. Elaine was partial to the Salted Caramel cheesecake but as soon 
as pumpkin season arrived we were all pumpkin all the time. Pumpkin cheesecake is so good it’s 
slightly immoral, especially with champagne.

We would tour the town, look at everybody’s gardens and trees, bemoan the lack of water and 
sad appearance of many of our trees. We talked about our families, our parents, our children, 
incidents from our past where we might have done better. Elaine loved to talk about her mother, 
who, I do believe, was a mix of Wonder Woman and the best Presbyterian church member ever. 
Elaine had great stories of her youth and her mother’s exploits. 

When Elaine was about eight years old, around the beginning of the Great Depression, her 
mother would fearlessly take her four children, Elaine being the 3rd child and only girl, on long 
road trips to see the country while her dad stayed home and worked. These were true adventure 
trips as they “car camped” and dined on the stews her mom created in the pressure cooker pot she 
had had welded to the engine block of their car, visiting campsites and Presbyterian or Methodist 
churches in the towns they visited.

Elaine thoroughly enjoyed the Sierra Madre Halloween season scarecrow contest. We would 
wend our way up streets and down to find the best scarecrows and the pumpkin creations by our 
neighbors. We looked and laughed and had a great time. Every time I appeared where she was, 
Elaine would greet me with an enthusiastic, “Sweetie!!” and was always glad to see me.

Elaine was in my life for a reason: to make us both laugh a lot and enjoy a little champagne from 
time to time. Her season with me was not nearly long enough as she left us very early one Sunday 
morning on November 12th four years ago. I would have enjoyed Elaine for a lifetime. 

If someone is in your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime, take time to go have a little champagne 
and cheesecake with them, or a cup of tea and a muffin. But enjoy them, my friends, enjoy them, 
even if you have to do it by Zoom, or being socially distant. Call your friends! Text them! If 
someone comes to mind, do something. It seems we’ve all lost too many people we love lately. 
The picture, of course, is Elaine, with champagne! 

My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis

Due to popular demand, “The Crown” which was available as a Kindle story is now 

also available as an actual book! Yes, it’s Easter-centered, but my hope is that folks will want to 
pass it along to others. Take a look! Here’s the link: https://amzn.to/3kggVeX

 “Sunrises and Sunflowers Speak Hope” and

 “A Tablespoon of Love, A Tablespoon of Laughter” are there, too.

Both of these books are stuffed with hope and a whole bunch of good recipes.

You can follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/@playwrightdd


City of Sierra Madre

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

From: The City of Sierra Madre

Subject: Streamline Design Review Process – Ordinance 1434

Applicant: City of Sierra Madre

Project Location: Properties in the City of Sierra Madre, County of Los Angeles, State of California

On November 10, 2020, the City Council of the City of Sierra Madre introduced for second reading recommending adoption of 
Ordinance 1434, amending Section 17.60.041 (Design Review Permit). Ordinance 1434 amends the design review authority, 
allowing staff to conduct administrative design review for all projects in the R-1 (One-Family Residential), R-3 (Medium/High 
Density Residential), and RC (Residential Canyon) Zones, with appeal to the Planning Commission. The purpose of the amendment 
is to streamline the design review process and to reduce regulation within these Zones.

The Planning Commission forwarded an alternative recommendation to the City Council at a noticed public hearing held on 
October 15, 2020. 

 

This summary is published pursuant to Government Code Section 36933(c)(1) and a full and complete certified copy of the text 
of Ordinance is available at the Sierra Madre City Manager’s Office located at City of Sierra Madre City Hall, 232 W. Sierra 
Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA. Ordinance 1434 becomes effective on December 10, 2020. For further information on this 
subject, please contact the Planning and Community Preservation Department at (626) 355-7138. 

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The adoption of this amendment is exempt from the California Environmental 
Quality Act review pursuant to Title 14, Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Code of Regulations as it can be seen with certainty 
that there is no possibility the adoption of this Ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment, because (1) the 
proposed amendments do not change the development standards which are already analyzed as part of the General Plan’s EIR, 
(2)individual projects may require separate discretionary approvals, and (3) it will impose limitations on development in the
City and protect the aesthetic character of Sierra Madre, thereby serving to reduce potential significant adverse environmental
impacts. 

APPEAL: If in the future anyone wishes to challenge the decision of the City Council in court, one may be limited to raising the 
issues that were raised or presented in written correspondence delivered to the City Council at, or before, the scheduled public 
hearing. For further information on this subject, please contact the Planning and Community Preservation Department at (626) 
355-7138.

THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE


This year the Sierra Madre Fire Department is partnering with Sierra Madre Elementary 
School (SME) to assist with their annual food drive. Donations will be accepted now through 
November 20th. All food donated goes to families in need and food pantries in our community. 
Join us in making a difference!

Below is a list of donation suggestions provided by SME:

-No glass jars or items requiring refrigeration

-Canned Meat (Chicken, Tuna, Ham, Salmon)

-Canola & Olive Oil

-Soups, Stews, Chili, Chowders & Broth

-Mixes that only require water (pancake, muffin, etc.)

-100% juice, milk (only powdered or evaporated, instant coffee, tea)

-Canned & Dried Fruits

-Dried Pasta & Sauce, Macaroni & Cheese, Rice

-Canned Vegetables (potatoes, carrots, spinach, peas)

-Beans (black, red, pinto, lentils, chick peas, etc.)

-Peanut Butter & Jelly

-Cereal & Oatmeal

-Snacks (granola bars, popcorn, pretzels, crackers, nuts, etc.)

-Baking Supplies (flour, sugar, baking soda, etc.)

-Seasonings (salt, pepper, cinnamon, oregano)

Bins for donation’s have been placed outside of Station 41. When dropping off any donations, 
please be sure to not block any emergency fire exits or park in any red zones. Thank you.

SIERRA MADRE POLICE BLOTTER

 


November 1, to November 7, 2020 During this period 
the Sierra Madre Police Department responded to 
237 calls for service.

Excessive Speed 

On 11-2-20, at 11:31AM, a vehicle in the 400-500 
block Michillinda Ave. was stopped at Michillinda 
and Foothill Bl. for excessive speed. The driver was 
cited and released. Case to the DA’s office.

Possession of a Controlled Substance 

On 11-2-20 in the 00 block of N. Lima Street at 10:51PM, a vehicle was stopped for 
a traffic violation. Following the interview process, it was determined that the driver 
was unlicensed and in the possession of a controlled substance. The driver was cited 
and the vehicle was released to a licensed driver. Case to the DA’s office

Speeding Violation 

On 11-3-20 Officers stopped a vehicle for speeding in the 500 block of S. Michillinda 
Ave. at 11:30AM. The driver was cited for unsafe speed. Case to DA’s office.

Repeat Offender 

On 11-3-20, officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle for excessive speed at 
Michillinda and Colorado Bl. Officers recognized the driver as the same driver cited 
for the same excessive speed violation the previous day. During the interview process, 
the driver became uncooperative, combative and began making threats to the 
officers. The driver was arrested and taken to the Pasadena Police jail. Case to the 
DA’s office

Arrest of a Felon 

Officers conducted a pedestrian stop of a male subject that was seen exiting the 
driveway of a business in the 100 block W. Sierra Madre Blvd. after hours. A records 
check revealed the subject had prior felony convictions. The male admitted to breaking 
into the garage of a business and stealing several items, including a shotgun with 
ammunition. The subject also admitted to stealing a bicycle from a different (unidentified) 
location. He was subsequently arrested for burglary, felon in possession 
of a firearm, petty theft, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was taken to the 
Pasadena Police Jail for booking.

Case to DA’s office

PLEASE

STAY SAFE!

STAY COOL!

WEAR A MASK! 

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