SIERRA MADRE EDITION
SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2018 TEACHER OF THE YEAR HONORED
VOLUME 12 NO. 23
COUNCIL TO TACKLE BUDGET, WATER AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES AT NEXT MEETING
On May 29th, Marc Garlett of the Rotary Club of Sierra Madre presented its “Teacher of the Year” Award to St. Rita’s School Teacher Rich Martinez. Mr. Martinez teaches 5-8 graders in math and Spanish. Principal Joanne Harabedian describes Martinez as a Renaissance man due to his broad knowledge of topics and his athleticism. Sierra Madre Rotary has honored excellent teachers in Sierra Madre for over ten years. Photo: L to R: Tom Brady, Joanne Haribedian, Rich Martinez, Marc Garlett. The agenda for Tuesday’s Sierra Madre city council meeting contains three items of critical importance to residents. One is the city’s fiscal year 2018-2019 Budget /2018-2019 fee schedule. Another agenda item of great import to residents is the consideration and possible adoption of the city’s Comprehensive Water and Wastewater Cost Service Study. If the water study is accepted by the council, it will require a public approval for the water rate adjustments via the initiation of the Prop 218 process. Proposition 218 is an adopted California constitutional amendment and is often referred to as the “Right to Vote on Taxes Act.” However, nothing will probably attract as much attention as the agenda item on the controversial development project known as Stonegate (formerly known as 1 Carter). The council will consider whether or not to rescind a prior council’s decision to reject the Planning Commission approval of one of the homes in the project.
2010, after various lawsuits were filed, a settlement was reached but since then, there have been delays in constructing new homes because of opposition from neighbors, the drought and the Sierra Madre building moratorium. In October 2014 the Planning Commission, after numerous meetings and design changes approved the Hillside Development Permit (HDP) and the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for 610 Baldwin Court in the Stonegate Development. (Concept drawing above). It is the only property in the entire project that has been approved by the Planning Commission. The Staff recommendation is to rescind the prior council denial of the HDP and CUP and reinstate the Planning Commission’s approval. The council’s decision on Tuesday will determine whether or not the current litigation brought forth by the developers against the city will continue.
The property under consideration was 1 of several For the complete staff report and history, go to: lots in the Stonegate project. The development of www.cityofsierramadre.com the entire project has been a bone of contention in the community for approximately 15 years. In S. Henderson/MVNews
CONGRATULATIONS! ST. RITA SCHOOL CLASS OF 2018!
RED FLAG WILDFIRE AWARENESS NIGHT Wednesday June 13th at 7PM City Hall Council Chambers *Pre-planning for wildfire evacuation. *Review of Red Flag Parking restrictions. Presented by the Sierra Madre Fire Department. (Additional meetings will be held in the future.) Any questions please contact Fire Marshal Rich Snyder at 626-355-3611.
SIERRA MADRE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
With summer around the corner, Sierra Madre PD's Neighborhood Watch (NW) Program will be in full swing. This is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and to hear firsthand information on public safety issues, current crime alerts and other topics of interest. For more information, contact: Lou Oronoz, Community Service Officer Sierra Madre Police Department Office: 626/355-4596 loronoz@cityofsierramadre.com
Mountain Views News
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