Ceremonials/Gifts – The following individuals were recognized for their “faithful and
loyal service” on the following boards and commissions: Gudiel Crosthwaite
(Alhambra Planning Commission, two years); Enrique Garcia (Alhambra Planning Commission, three years); Debra Moreno Garcia (Alhambra Arts & Cultural Events Committee, eight years); Sarah Garcia (Alhambra Youth Commission, four years);
Adriana Miramontes (Alhambra Youth Commission, four years); Sandra Tung
(Alhambra Board of Library Trustees, eight years).

The Civic Center Library is the recipient of a gift of $529 from the ScholarShare
“Think Big—Save for College” program, which will be used to support the library’s
college preparation and financial aid book collection. The gift was received in
conjunction with a promotional winning entry form completed by an Alhambra library
patron after being randomly selected to receive a ScholarShare savings account of
$529. The promotional offer was sponsored by the ScholarShare 529 College Savings
Plan and TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc.

Special Presentations – Silverado Senior Living disclosed initial details about a
proposed remodel and addition to its existing facility. The senior living facility, located
on Stoneman Avenue between Huntington Drive and Pine Street, is in the process
of acquiring the adjacent property to the south. The proposed 14,782 square foot
expansion would add 38 new beds and provide an enclosed atrium while continuing
the architectural style of the existing building and extending the landscaping across
the front of the addition. A parking variance would be sought from the Planning
Commission to allow for fewer spaces since residents no longer drive.
 
The Energy Wise Partnership, a collaboration between the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (COG) and Southern California Edison (funded through the Public Utilities Commission), provided an update about their efforts to help cities reduce their energy consumption and utility costs. Alhambra was recognized for having the second highest energy savings of any city in the San Gabriel Valley over the past three year period after it installed five water pump upgrades, saving over 1.3 million kilowatt hours of electricity and leading to over $100,000 in incentives from Edison; and now with two more water pump grades underway for 2013-14, the Partnership says the City should obtain about $25,000 more in incentives and reduce utility costs by another $41,000.

Alhambra Police Chief Mark Yokoyama presented an update on the use of current technology to impact crime, and to outreach and engage with the community. He noted
a new app for iPhone and Android phones that will help users keep up-to-date on
public safety news & alerts, as well as enable them to submit crime tips and much more. 
It is also making available an online tip form (“TIP 411”) that makes it possible for
individuals to make an anonymous tip to the Alhambra Police Department via their
computer. Additionally, Chief Yokoyama noted a new program being implemented
called Predictive Policing (aka “PredPol”) that allows police department staff to
predict and forecast future crimes.

Boards & Commission Appointments – Each of the City’s five council members
appointed their new representatives and renewed some existing appointments to the C
ity’s various boards and commissions.

City Council Appointments – The following appointments were made relative to the
City Council reorganization on February 25, 2013, for the term February 25, 2013-
November 25, 2013:
a) Board of Directors, League of California Cities, Los Angeles: Director, Luis Ayala; 
    Alternate, Gary Yamauchi.
b) San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership: Representative, Stephen Sham;
    Alternate, Dr. Steven Placido.
c) Independent Cities of Los Angeles County:  Representative, Gary Yamauchi;
    Alternate, Stephen Sham. 
d) San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG): Governing Board 
    Representative, Barbara A. Messina; Alternate Governing Board Representative,
    Dr. Steven T. Placido
e) Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG): Representative, 
    Barbara A. Messina; Alternate, Luis Ayala.
f)  Alhambra Museum Board of Directors: Representative, Dr. Steven Placido;
    Alternate, Barbara A. Messina

710 Freeway Update - Metro has been working on a four-year Environmental Impact
Report (EIR) for the past two years.  In looking at all the possible ways to complete the
freeway, Metro started with 42 alternatives.  Many of the alternatives have been
eliminated.  Presently, there are five under consideration.  Soon the study will focus on
even fewer alternatives.  Of the five, there is the (1) the “No Build” option.  This option
will evaluate what future traffic conditions can be expected.  Since the 710 Freeway construction ceased almost 50 years ago, Alhambra and the entire San Gabriel Valley
have suffered the consequences of a “No Build” approach.  Traffic congestion, air
quality, and travel times may look a whole lot worse if the 710 Freeway is never
completed.  The “No Build” option is always a required solution in any transportation
EIR. The second option (2) is the “Transportation System Management/Transportation
Demand Management (TSM/TDM)” alternative.  In non-technical terms, it is a “No Build”
type of approach with local street improvements including synchronizing street lights,
street widening, expanded bus services, ride-sharing, and promotion of telecommuting.  Years ago, freeway opponents coined a primitive form of this alternative as ‘The
Connector Road.’ The third option (3) is a “Bus Rapid Transit” design with refinements
(BRT-6X).  Basically, this is a “No Build” design with an expanded Bus system to improve public transit time. Option four (4), “Light Rail Transit” with refinements (LRT-4X), would include an elevated and tunnel light rail.  This public light rail alternative would go underground in the northern portion and have an aerial approach in the southern portion connecting an East Los Angeles Gold Line station to a Pasadena Gold Line station.
Finally, option five (5) is a “Freeway Tunnel” (F-7X).  The tunnel option would take 25%
of commuter traffic off our local streets.  It would reduce congestion at our intersections
by over 20%, improve air quality more than any other transportation project in the five Southern California counties, and finally take five decades of commuter traffic off our
local streets.

Revised Bicycle Master Plan - The revised Bicycle Master Plan, prepared by
Alta Planning and Design, is online. Read the Draft Report: Chapters 1-4; 5-6.
Website: www.alhambrabikeplan.com/

Fallen Soldiers Project - The City of Alhambra is looking to identify the names of servicemen and women who died in the line of duty during any war or military conflict,
either while on the field or from injuries sustained during the war/conflict. The names
will be inscribed in a special tribute area at the Alhambra Veteran's Memorial.
If you know of someone, please call the Community Services Department at
626-570-5044.

Adoption of Noise Ordinance – The revised noise ordinance (Code Section 18.02
of the Alhambra Municipal Code) simplifies existing regulations and incorporates
separate noise standards for commercial (up to 70 dBA), residential (up to 55 dBA)
and mixed-use (up to 60 DBA) areas, thereby making the ordinance easier to
understand, apply and enforce.