TEMPLE CITY M ID - C E N T U R Y P L A N
COMMUNITY PROFILE ADMINISTRATIVE DRAFT JUNE 2014
INSIDE: OUR HISTORY | OUR PEOPLE | OUR PLACES | OUR ECONOMY | OUR HEALTH & SAFETY
temple city | community profile
Hello.
LETTER FROM THE MAYOR
Welcome to the City of Temple City! Weather you’ve lived here since birth, recently moved here or are visiting, we encourage you to get to know the “Home of the Camellias.” This publication, modeled after our award winning Connect Magazine, is the first step in a community driven process to update the City’s existing General Plan. This “Community Profile” highlights what makes Temple City unique and identifies our Opportunities and Constraints as we move forward in creating our common vision for the future. Many efforts are underway locally and regionally that have implications for the General Plan. As a top priority, the City has been working on a Strategic Plan to articulate a clear vision of the City’s future and guide internal decision making toward successful implementation of programs and projects. The General Plan is the umbrella document that allows cities to plan for future development. The California State Supreme Court has referred to General Plans as “the Constitution for future development”. A new General Plan will help to confirm and establish a collective vision for Temple City to the year 2050. This “mid-century” Plan’s intent is to provide the City’s goals towards development and the built environment, establish land use ground rules, provide the basis for development approvals, and provide the public the opportunity to participate in the City’s planning process. Every City document related to the built environment, including the zoning code, specific plans, and various master plans all have to be consistent with the General Plan, as do all development applications. The City’s existing General Plan is over 25 years old and is severely outdated. Temple City has seen a dramatic shift in demographics and in the look and feel of the City since the last General Plan update. This General Plan update is looking to the future of Temple City and will set the direction of the City for the next generation. Updating the General Plan at this time will also allow us to build upon the work currently being completed as part of the City’s Strategic Plan. With a forward-thinking community actively involved in a number of planning efforts, foremost on the mind of City leaders and the community is implementation. The City needs a General Plan that provides innovative strategies for making General Plan goals, policies, and programs a reality. The General Plan should have the potential to serve as a multi-departmental decision-making and budgetary tool, one that addresses the unique needs of Temple City and works within the City’s strategic planning framework. Combined with the update to the City’s Zoning Code and the creation of the Specific Plan for Rosemead/Las Tunas, the larger General Plan process provides an incredible opportunity to set the City on a path that will provide an improved quality of life and enhance Temple City’s reputation as a great place to live and work.
Mayor Carl Blum
CITY COUNCIL:
Mayor Carl Blum
Mayor Pro Tem Tom Chavez Councilmember Fernando Vizcarra Councilmember Vincent Yu Councilmember Cynthia Sternquist
PLANNING COMMISSION:
Chairman John Cordes
Vice-Chairman Albert Leung Commissioner Steve Curran Commissioner Patrick Horton Commissioner Tom O’Leary
GENERAL PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX
STAFF:
Acting City Manager Tracey L. Hause Community Development Director Michael Forbes, AICP Planning Manager Geoffrey Starns, AICP
PLACEWORKS
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temple city | community profile
Inside Temple City TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION
18
Mobility & Circulation
OUR HISTORY
20
Parks & Recreation
4
Summary of Document
6
Timeline
22
8
OUR PLACES
OUR PLACES
OUR ECONOMY
Employment & the Local Economy
OUR PLACES
Historic Architectural Styles
OUR PEOPLE
10
People of Temple City
12
Community Engagement
14
Changing Faces
16
Land Uses and Housing
OUR PEOPLE
28 30
OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY
Public Safety Volunteer Programs
WHY IT MATTERS
OUR PEOPLE
OUR PLACES
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temple city | community profile
Introduction
WHAT IS A COMMUNITY PROFILE? TEMPLE CITY
Founded by Walter P. Temple on May 20, 1923, and incorporated May 25, 1960, the City of Temple City is one of 31 cities in the San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County. The City encompasses approximately 4.0 square miles with a population of 35,609 residents as of 2012. It is centrally located in the west San Gabriel Valley, five miles southeast of Pasadena and 13 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. The City is neighbored by the cities of Arcadia, San Gabriel, El Monte, Rosemead and unincorporated portions of Los Angeles County.
PURPOSE OF THE COMMUNITY PROFILE
No other community is exactly like ours. Our unique history, people, places, environment and economy contribute to Temple City’s special character and identity. In 2010 Temple City celebrated its 50th anniversary as an incorporated city. This celebration provides a time to reflect on the qualities and accomplishments that have built this great community, and an opportunity to assess current issues and opportunities in order to better plan for a sustainable future for Temple City, through a collaborative, transparent, and fun process. This Community Profile is a critical first step in the preparation of Temple City 2050 Mid-Century Plan, a comprehensive update of the City’s General Plan document. The Mid-Century Plan will provide the blueprint for how Temple City will protect its neighborhoods and special places, address important issues facing the community, and grow over time. The Community Profile provides a framework for identifying and understanding the range of issues and opportunities that Temple City faces, housing, education, recreation, culture, circulation, health and safety and the economy. It compares the City with the greater San Gabriel Valley and nearby jurisdictions to highlight the City’s unique characteristics. It also highlights how the City is changing over time and provides some findings for the community to consider through the Mid-Century Plan process. This Community Profile establishes a benchmark for the definition of a clear vision for Temple City 2050, and set goals, policies and actions to guide decision making over the next 30 plus years. This Community Profile is organized by the following broad topics >>
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temple city | community profile
OUR HISTORY
To understand where we are today, we must understand where we came from, and how we’ve evolved over time. This section describes the history of Temple City, from an early Spanish settlement to a Pacific Electric Railway “streetcar suburb” to today’s diverse bedroom community.
OUR ECONOMY
A strong economy supports and sustains all aspects of community life, from neighborhoods and businesses, to community services and facilities. At the same time, market forces at work locally and in the region direct and influence local jobs and the economy. This section describes the local and regional economies, current market conditions and economic forecasts that may support or impede the community’s vision for the future.
OUR PEOPLE
A community is shaped by the people who inhabit it. To create a great place, we must cultivate, attract, and maintain great people. To do this, we must understand who we’re serving, both now and in the future. This section describes Temple Citians— our households, races, ages, and education, and the demographic trends that will influence and shape the future of Temple City.
OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY
A healthy and safe environment is the lifeblood of a thriving community, and is the result of many factors. This section highlights the many public safety volunteer programs in Temple City. The care and responsible management of these resources is critical for the health and wellness of our present and future community.
OUR PLACES
Our Places describe the elements of the built environment, and how they influence our lives. Our neighborhoods, businesses, parks, and institutions—their organization and character—and how we move and interact between them, all combine to define Temple City’s unique sense of place. A description of historic architecture and recent initiatives to preserve our unique places is also provided.
WHY IT MATTERS
This section summarizes how our history, our people, our places, our economy and our health and safety work together. It highlights the opportunities and constraints that exist in Temple City that should be considered as we work together to create the new Temple City 2050 Mid-Century Plan!
A COMMUNITY EFFORT
“Community” is important to the City. The process of preparing the MidCentury Plan will be a collaborative process, where all community members will be invited to actively engage in all steps in the process. The dialogue with the community started with this Community Profile, where a community survey was prepared and distributed at the Farmer’s Market, Neighborhood Watch meetings, the Lunar New Year’s festival, Camellia Festival, and posted online at www.makeTChappen.com. Adults and children alike were asked to identify the things in Temple City that were important to them, what things in the City that they would like to change, and what the community should look like in another thirty years. Responses from the survey have been incorporated into this Community Profile. The dialogue will continue over the next two years, concluding with a new Temple City 2050 Mid-Century Plan, which will reflect the vision, needs and desires of the community. It will then be up to the community to carry that plan forward, and continue to “Make TC Happen”.
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temple city | community profile
Our History TEMPLE CITY TIMELINE
From its early Native American and Spanish roots, Temple City’s unique history and goals as envisioned by its founding families are preserved in its built environment and its creative and entrepreneurial spirit. The City’s prime location and fertile soil made it a historic gateway into the Los Angeles Basin and a central narrative of Southern California’s diversity, growth, and development. This chapter describes the eras of development in Temple City and the major events and themes that continue to influence the City’s physical and social identity today. The findings herein identify trends, opportunities, and challenges to be considered for the City’s future development and preservation of its rich past. Spain launches its first expedition to Southern California under Portuguese explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. For nearly 300 years, the Spanish settled across Southern California through missions and homesteads.
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Fleeing political unrest in Santa Fe, businessmen William Workman and John A. Rowland arrive in California and are granted Rancho La Puente to start a homestead. The Rancho encompassed much of the San Gabriel Valley – the original Workman house stands there today as a museum.
The Tongva were renamed the Gabrieleños by Franciscan monks who founded the San Gabriel Mission. The Temple City area likely served as a turkey farm for the mission until 1834 when the Mission was “secularized” or given back to government.
The Tongva Tribe occupies much of the San Gabriel Valley, trading extensively throughout the Southern California and Nevada region.
3000 BC
Walter P. Temple purchases 300 acres from Elias Baldwin for $500,000 and forms the Temple Townsite Company with George H. Woodruff, Milton S. Kauffmann, and Sylvester Dupuy.
1542
1771-1834
Within two years, the Temple’s newfound wealth allows them to reclaim 75 acres of Rancho La Puente and the original WorkmanTemple Homestead. They built a new mansion, “La Casa Nueva,” signaling the rebirth of the Temple family’s prominence.
William Workman’s daughter, Antonia, marries a young clerk named Pliny Fisk Temple. Together, they have 11 children, the tenth being Walter P. Temple, the eventual founder of Temple City.
1841
1845
1916
1923
temple city | community profile
The City Council adopted a General Plan for the City that lowered the potential density available and maintained the singlefamily residential nature of the community.
The Town of Temple hosts the First Camellia Festival. Established by the Temple City Women’s Club, the festival continues to celebrate and fundraise for children’s programming in the City and attracts over 5,000 children and 20,000 visitors annually. The Pacific Electric Railway ends its Temple City service with the rise of the automobile. Tracks are replaced with palm trees to form the central business district. Las Tunas Drive and Main Street became auto and pedestrian-oriented corridors service stations, and auto shops.
During the late 1960s, the City conducted numerous street widening projects along Live Oak and Grand Avenue. Temple City, in collaboration with El Monte, South El Monte, Sierra Madre, and Arcadia, renamed its “Double Drive” to “Santa Anita Avenue” to link the five cities into an eight-mile thoroughfare from Sierra Madre to the Pomona Freeway. Temple City launched the Rosemead Boulevard Beautification project, to revitalize the City’s commercial core and introduce new sidewalks, public art, and traffic safety measures to foster a greater sense of community.
The Pacific Electric Railway arrives in the Town of Temple with a station at Las Tunas Drive and Kauffman Avenue.
1924
The “City of Temple City” is officially named and approved as a California city. That next year the City drafted its first master plan and zoning ordinance in anticipation of a growing population, economy and infrastructure needs over the next several decades.
1941
1944
1960
Make TC Happen represents a dynamic outreach campaign by the City to re-engage its community through interactive dialogues, the Connect TC Magazine, the web, and public events.
1965 1987
2010 7
temple city | community profile
Our History
ARCHITECTURAL STYLES IN TEMPLE CITY THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF TEMPLE CITY
Protecting Temple City’s historic resources is central its development and unique character. In June 1987, The Historical Society of Temple City was established to promote interest in the history of Temple City in order to encourage the preservation and the protection of historic landmarks in the community and to collect and preserve material illustrating or demonstrating the history of the area and of the customs and habits of the people who have lived in the area. The Society was incorporated in 2004 and is a 501(c)3 organization exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. In 2006, the Society was given the original Woman’s Clubhouse to maintain and call home.
HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURAL STYLES IN TEMPLE CITY
The following describes Temple City’s most prominent architectural styles and forms. The descriptions represent general characteristics of each style and design. Buildings within Temple City are not necessarily clustered by the decade they are built, but these styles are interspersed throughout the City.
CRAFTSMAN & CALIFORNIA BUNGALOW
(1920s) Craftsman architecture in America grew out of the late19th century English Arts & Crafts movement. It stressed simplicity of design, hand-craftsmanship, extensive use of natural materials, and the relationship to the climate and landscape. It became the dominant residential style in Southern California during the first two decades of the 20th century. In Temple City, Craftsman/California Bungalow residences were constructed primarily in the 1920s. Extant examples of this style occur throughout the city.
FRENCH REVIVAL (1920s- 1940s) Never common in the United States, the French Revival style enjoyed its greatest popularity in the decades following World War I. The style shares a number of characteristics with the contemporary Tudor Revival style, both of which were based on a variety of Medieval English building traditions. The French Revival style drew from the simple farm houses of rural France, and incorporated steeply pitched roofs and round towers. Temple City has several good residential and commercial examples of this style.
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STREAMLINE MODERNE (1930s) Characterized by smooth surfaces, curved corners, and sweeping horizontal lines, Streamline Moderne is considered to be the first thoroughly Modern architectural style to achieve wide acceptance among the American public. Inspired by the industrial designs of the period, it was popular throughout the United States in the late 1930s. Unlike the highly-ornamental Art Deco style of the late 1920s, Streamline Moderne expressed an austerity that was perceived as more appropriate for Depression-era architecture. In Southern California, the style was adapted for every use, from industrial buildings to single-family homes and apartment buildings. SPANISH COLONIAL REVIVAL (1930s-1940s) Enormously popular in Southern California from the late 1910s through the late 1930s, the Spanish Colonial Revival style emerged from a conscious effort by architects to emulate older Spanish architectural traditions, and break with Eastern colonial influences. The style attained widespread popularity throughout Southern California following the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego. At the peak of its popularity, design features of other regions of the Mediterranean were often incorporated. This style is prevalent among residential buildings in Temple City, primarily constructed in the 1930s. ENGLISH TUDOR REVIVAL (1930s-1940s) The Tudor Revival style is loosely based on a variety of Medieval English building traditions. In the United States, these traditions are combined freely, but retain the steeply-pitched front-facing gable which is almost universally present as a dominant façade element. The style’s popularity expanded dramatically in the 1920s and early 1930s, when masonry veneering techniques allowed even the most modest examples to mimic closely the brick and stone exteriors seen on English prototypes. In Temple City this style was primarily constructed in the 1930s.
MID-CENTURY MODERN (1940s-1950s) The term “Modern” describes postwar-era architecture influenced by the European Modernist movement of the 1920s. European Modernism advocated an architectural philosophy that stressed rationality, logic, and a break from past traditions, embracing an industrial aesthetic characterized by clean lines, pure geometric forms and materials such as metal, glass, and concrete. Modern buildings represented the adaptation of these elements to the local climate and topography, as well as to the postwar need for efficiently-built, moderatelypriced structures. In Temple City, the Modern style is most commonly applied to commercial buildings.
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temple city | community profile
Our People TEMPLE CITY DEMOGRAPHICS
The people who make up the community of Temple City came for its quality of life, cultural diversity, superior education, family friendliness, and safe environment. These people comprise the “human capital”--that strengthen this community and help “make TC happen”. Who are Temple Citians? And how will the choices we make today for the Temple City 2050 Mid-Century Plan affect and influence future generations?
POPULATION ULATI POP1,838ON 3
ULATION POP ULATION POP
ULATI POP1,034ON 3
1960
ULATI POP8,972ON 2
1970
33,377
ULATI POP1,100ON 3
2000
1990
1980
POPULATION
Temple City is one of 31 cities in the San Gabriel Valley, and one of 88 cities in Los Angeles County. With a population of 35,609 residents in 2012, it ranked 14th in the San Gabriel Valley and 41st in the County in population size.
25.3%
18.2%
AGE
Age is an important factor in determining demand for housing types, health care, and community facilities and programs. The majority of Temple City residents are in their middle age (45-64) and family forming years (25-44). Temple City along with communities across the region, are home to an aging population, where the older age groups are increasing in size while the younger populations remain steady or are declining.
30.4%
AGE
15.2%
5.6%
<5
5.3%
5-19
20-24
25-44
45-64
65+
HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION
Households are all persons occupying a housing unit, which may include families, persons living alone, or unrelated persons sharing a home. The relationship of household members contributes to the types of housing and services that are needed. Consistent with the age distribution described above, the majority of Temple City households consist of married-couple families without children, followed closely by marriedcouple families with children, similar to the San Gabriel Valley as a whole. Nonfamily households and other family
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HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION MARRIED-COUPLE FAMILY WITH CHILDREN MARRIED-COUPLE FAMILY WITHOUT CHILDREN OTHER FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS NONFAMILY HOUSEHOLDS
HOUSEHOLD SIZE 27.1% 31.7% 21.5% 19.8%
AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SIZE
3.1
35,609 2012
temple city | community profile
INCOME
households combined represent over 40% of total households, indicating a diverse community.
$25,000- $49,999
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
$50,000- $74,999 $100,000- $149,999
< $25,000
$75,000- $99,999
> $150,000
Changes in household composition and size significantly affect the need for different types of housing and community services. The average household size for Temple City residents in 2012 was 3.1 persons per household, compared to 3.4 for the San Gabriel Valley and significantly lower than El Monte and Rosemead household sizes.
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
15.5%
22.8%
18.0%
14.2%
12.3% 17.2%
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
12.0 21.8 27.2 25.8 13.3 LESS THAN HIGH SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL OR GED
SOME COLLEGE
In 2012, the median household income of Temple City exceeded the median income of the San Gabriel Valley by 4.8% ($64,148 to $61,206, respectively). However, it increased substantially by nearly 26% between 1990 and 2000, and another 34% between 2000 and 2012, from $48,722 to $64,148.
%
Temple City’s population is highly educated. Approximately 27% of residents 25 and over have some college, and nearly 40% of the population has a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Temple City has a much higher percentage of individuals with a Bachelor’s, graduate, or higher degree (25.8% and 13.3%, respectively) compared to the San Gabriel Valley (18.5% and 9.1%).
BACHELOR GRADUATE OR HIGHER
RACE & ETHNIC DIVERSITY
%
56.5 ASIAN 24.4 WHITE 17.1 HISPANIC < 2 OTHER 11
temple city | community profile
Our People COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT The City Council of Temple City invites and encourages all civic-minded individuals (including the youth) interested in serving the community to apply for service on commissions and committees. These groups serve in advisory roles to the City Council and influence public policy. Civic groups include, but are not limited to the following: Planning Commission. Has decisionmaking authority on a variety of development proposals. Meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, 7:30 p.m., in City Council Chambers. Parks and Recreation Commission. Monitors and oversees all of the City’s park facilities and recreational programming. Meets on the third Wednesday of the month, 7:30 p.m., in the City Council Chambers. Public Arts Commission. Advises the City Council on all public art matters. Meets on the first Wednesday of the month, 7:30 p.m., City Council Chambers. Public Safety Commission. Reviews and makes recommendations regarding the administration of public safety programs. Meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, 7:30 p.m., in the City Council Chambers. Citizen’s Academy. Encourages residents and business owners to become better acquainted with each
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department’s operations at City Hall. Meets 7 times through the spring and summer for two-hour sessions. Neighborhood Watch. Engages members about home security and public safety to generate stronger communication between residents and law enforcement. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Provides support to emergency personnel to help mitigate problems during the first 72 hours following a disaster.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Representing the business community, the Temple City Chamber of Commerce, located at 9050 Las Tunas Drive, promotes a vibrant business environment through cooperative interaction among businesses, government, and the community. Membership at the Chamber includes both business professionals and residents. The Chamber seeks involvement from the residential sector in order to communicate with the business areas by an exchange of ideas.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Temple City’s prominence as a livable community in the Los Angeles area began with the Camellia Festival founded in 1946. Over the years it has grown to
include an annual parade with floats, carnival booths, and a royal court of first graders that reign over the weekend’s festivities. Today, the festival and parade draws more than 20,000 people to the city each February. The purpose is to encourage every youngster in the community to participate in one of the youth organizations and to engage in the affairs of their community. Over the years, the City has continued to expand and diversify its annual community events. These traditions bring the community together to celebrate, strengthen community ties and create lasting memories. Annual events include the following:
• • • • • • • • • • • •
Fall Festival and Car Show Concerts in the Park Dining under the stars Mayor’s “Biggest Loser” Fitness Challenge Lights on Temple City Halloween Carnival Lunar New Year Celebration Food Truck Festival Bike Ride and Rodeo Arbor Day Celebration Spring Fling Camellia Festival
temple city | community profile
citizen’s academy
SOCIAL FACILITIES
Social facilities provide benefits to the community by servicing specific interests of community members, including various clubs and organizations, for all age groups and ethnicities. Social facilities allow people to congregate to build and strengthen relationships, volunteer, learn skills, participate in areas of interest and engage with the community. Below are examples of some of Temple City’s social facilities. Pavilion Arts Performance Center: The Pavilion Arts Performance Center is a large gazebo/bandstand located in the center of Temple City Park and is operated by the Parks and Recreation Department. The Pavilion is open to public and private uses. Live Oak Community Center: Live Oak Community Center is located in Live Oak Park. It is used extensively for paid classes and by non-profit organizations for meetings and banquets. Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., Monday- Sunday.
Women’s Club of Temple City: The Woman’s Club of Temple City was organized in 1925. Their objective is to promote cultural and philanthropic work among its members and to develop interest in civic, social and educational areas of the community. Amid Society: The Amid Society, is a Buddhist institution devoted to Pure Land Buddhism, which places emphasis on personal practice and understanding sutra teachings and chanting. Open to the public seven days a week, it hosts regular group practices and an extensive library.
STOP
are woven into the fabric of most of the City’s neighborhoods. Temple City’s faith-based community is also active in educating youth and adults through music and language programs, educational venues, and numerous other opportunities to serve the Temple City community.
Historical Society of Temple City: The Historical Society of Temple City brings together advocates and activists for historic preservation in the community.
FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY
Temple City is home to approximately 30 churches and faith-based organizations that play an active role in community life. Places of worship for all faiths
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temple city | community profile
Our People CHANGING FACES
During the last 40 years, Temple City’s demographic have changed dramatically due to one of the fastest growing Asian populations (predominantly Chinese) in Southern California. In 1970, the population of Temple City was predominately Caucasian (over 98%). By 2012, the Asian and Hispanic communities comprised 56.5% and 17.1% of Temple City, respectively. Growth of the Asian population in Temple City is largely attributed to the immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which abandoned former restrictions and quotas limiting immigration of all nationalities to the U.S., and the Immigration Act of 1990, which introduced a new U.S. Visa Immigrant Investor Program (EB-5). Under the EB-5 program, a potential U.S. immigrant could invest $1,000,000 (or $500,000 in “Targeted Employment Areas”) and receive twoyear conditional resident status with the opportunity to gain permanent resident status if the investment is dedicated to creating new commercial enterprises. The EB-5 program enticed many foreign families to purchase and build homes throughout the United States. Since Temple City’s neighboring cities, including Monterey Park and San Gabriel, have budding Asian communities, stable job markets, and high-performing schools, Temple City quickly became an attractive location for many Asian families seeking to invest and establish themselves in the United States.
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The growing diversity in Temple City has transformed the economic and social fabric of the community, as many businesses and community programs evolve to serve the diversity of needs of the population.
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temple city | community profile
Our Places
EXISTING LAND USES
WHAT WE USE LAND FOR IN TEMPLE CITY
The “places” of Temple City provide the setting and services for human activity, where residents live, work, shop, play, and learn. They consist of homes, businesses, parks, schools, civic, social and cultural institutions. A diversity of land uses, the overall design and character of the community; and educational, recreational and cultural programs, cumulatively contribute to Temple City’s unique sense of place, and support the development of human and social capital that are the building blocks for a thriving community.
What does Temple City look like today? What types of uses define the community and create a sense of place? And how effective is the City at providing the programs and services that support and sustain the people and places of Temple City?
Residential land uses in Temple City include single- and multi-family housing, and together make up the largest land use in the City (89.0%). Single-family residential neighborhoods make up the largest percentage of residential uses (89.7%), as indicated in Figure 4-5, and are located throughout the City, divided mainly by the major commercial corridors of Rosemead Boulevard and Las Tunas Drive. Medium density residential uses make up 8.4% of residential uses, followed by high-density residential at 1.9%. Unlike many communities which have very segregated land uses, it is not uncommon to find lots of 2-4 units interspersed with single-family homes in Temple City, although higher density uses (5 plus units) are primarily found along or adjacent to major corridors such as Rosemead Boulevard, Temple City Boulevard and Santa Anita Avenue.
WHAT IS ZONING?
XXX
EXISTING LAND USES Single Family Residential
EXISTING ZONING
Zoning
Multi Family Residential Commercial Open Space Waterways Industrial Downtown Specific Plan
N
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temple city | community profile
CIVIC AND INSTITUTIONAL USES COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE LAND USES INDUSTRIAL LAND USES PUBLIC ART
In August 2012, the City Council approved the Temple City Public Arts Commission and the Arts in Public Places program. The purpose of this program is to develop and maintain a visual arts program for residents and visitors of Temple City, add to the economic vitality of the community, and enhance the environment and unique character of Temple City by providing for the acquisition and maintenance of quality public art works. Peices by Robin Brailsford from Dulzura, Daniel Stern from Los Angeles, and Carole Choucair Oueijan from Hacienda Heights woeve together a series of pieces that illustrate Temple City’s origins as a small agricultural town and its evolution as a modern 21st century community. Brailsford designed a series of 24 mosaic sidewalk pavers representing 100 years before the founding of Temple City in 1923, Stern designed two 8-feet bronze sculptures, and Oueijan designed mosaic murals illustrating community life in modern-day Temple City from an immigrant and family perspective.
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temple city | community profile
Our Places OUR HOMES
HOUSING TYPES IN TEMPLE CITY
Compared to the San Gabriel Valley and nearby jurisdictions, Temple City has a higher percentage of single-family housing, as shown above.
HOUSING OCCUPANCY IN TEMPLE CITY
However, relatively low vacancy rates (as described below) and a steady increase in population over the past several decades indicate a strong demand for multi-family housing in the City. Approximately 63.8% of the total units in Temple City were occupied by owners and 36.2% were occupied by renters in 2012. By comparison, approximately 60.5% of the total units in San Gabriel Valley were occupied by owners and 39.5% by renters. The City’s homeownership rate has remained steady since 2000, and additional data indicates that owner-occupied housing tends to be very stable, with long term residents.
Housing Types by City/Region, 2012 Single-Family Detached
Single-Family Attached
Multi-Family
Mobile Home
61.0%
10.3
28.7%
0.0%
El Monte
56.0%
12.8%
26.1%
5.2%
Monrovia
57.8%
12.0%
29.1%
1.1%
Jurisdiction Arcadia
Rosemead
75.2%
9.7%
14.1%
1.1%
Temple City
80.6%
7.3%
11.1%
0.9%
San Gabriel Valley
60.2%
8.8%
28.7%
2.3%
Source: California Department of Finance, 2012.
Housing Occupancy in Temple City, 2012 Housing Occupancy
Number
Percent
Total Housing Units
11,983
100.0%
11,424
95.3%
Vacant Housing Units
559
4.7%
For Sale Only
128
1.1%
For Rent
143
1.2%
Occupied Housing Units
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
Housing affordability is typically determined by measuring the amount renters or owners pay compared to their gross household income. If a household pays more than 30% of their income on rent or a mortgage, then their housing is not considered affordable. This is also known as overpaying for housing. Overpaying for housing can strip a household of its ability to afford other critical needs, such as health care, childcare, food, insurance and transportation. In some cases, overpayment results in an inability to afford adequate home maintenance, which can cause rapid deterioration of the structure and landscaping. Moderate overpayment is spending between 30% and 49% of the household’s income for housing, while severe overpayment is spending 50% or more for housing. Compared to the San Gabriel Valley as a whole, Temple City has slightly more
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For Seasonal, Recreational, or Occasional Use
99
0.8%
All Other Vacancies
189
1.6%
Homeowner Vacancy Rate (percent)
--
1.7%
Rental Vacancy Rate (percent)
--
3.3%
Source: U.S. Census, 2010-2012 American Community Survey.
Comparison of Income Spent on Housing Renters Paying 30-49% of Income on Rent
Owners Paying 30-49% of Income on Mortgage
Temple City
22.9%
29.1%
San Gabriel Valley
26.5%
28.1%
City
temple city | community profile
owners with moderate and severe overpayment problems. However, with respect to renters, Temple City has almost one third of all renters with a severe overpayment problem, which is higher than the San Gabriel Valley and most nearby jurisdictions. This may be due, in part, to the limited supply of rental housing and cost of rental and for-sale housing compared to the San Gabriel Valley and nearby jurisdictions.
HOUSING ELEMENT
As part of the City’s 2013-2021 Housing Element update, City staff conducted a vacant and underutilized land use sur¬vey to identify sites that could accommodate additional housing units in order to satisfy the City’s share of the regional housing needs. The City located sites in Downtown Temple City, and in the R-2 and R-3 zoning dis¬tricts, particularly along Rosemead and Temple City Boulevards.
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temple city | community profile
Our Places
COMMUTER MODAL SPLIT
MOBILITY & CIRCULATION
Mode Choice
The availability and affordability of transportation options shape not only the way in which people navigate the physical environment, but also our collective impact on the environment. Mobility within a community involves multiple modes of transportation; walking, bicycling, taking public transit, and driving. Offering multiple modes of transportation can improve health and the environment, increase utility and social connectivity.
PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT
Sidewalks are not continuous throughout the city. In some locations sidewalks are present on both sides of the roadway, in other areas sidewalks are on only one side, and in others there are no sidewalks at all. In addition to continuity, five other factors affect walkability and the pedestrian experience, including:
• • • • •
Sidewalk Conditions Shading Grade Amenities Buffers
Single Passanger
Carpool
Temple City
Los Angeles County
78% 72% 13% 11% 3% 7%
Public Transit
Biking/ Walking
1% 4%
BICYCLE FACILITIES
Rosemead Boulevard recently became the first roadway in Temple City to have dedicated bicycle lanes. Most streets within the City are generally wide enough to accommodate bicyclists even when parking is provided. Recommendations have been made in the Bicycle Master Plan for on-street dedicated bike lanes along Las Tunas Drive and Temple City Boulevard and for on-street bike routes along Encinita Avenue and Golden West Avenue.
AUTO FACILITIES
The majority of the streets in Temple City fall under the local street classification. Local streets are two-lane roadways without medians, and in some cases, without centerlines with speed limits are typically 25mph or less. Major arterials (including Rosemead Boulevard, Baldwin Avenue, Santa Anita) often have medians and four lanes of traffic with speed limits of between 25 and 40 mph. On-street parking is com-
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TRAVEL TIME TO WORK >30 min.
<15 min.
20% 52% 28% 15-30 min. Travel Time to Work of Temple City Residents Source: American Community Survey. (2008 – 2012).
temple city | community profile
TEMPLE CITY STREET TYPOLOGIES Cul-de-sacs Alleys Primary Roads Parks Waterways as Dr
Las Tun
in Ave S Baldw
d City Blv Temple
Rosemead Blvd
N
mon throughout the city, with parallel parking common in the downtown region.
PUBLIC TRANSIT
Foothill Transit and LA Metro provide the following transit services in Temple City:
• • •
Metro- Line 78/79/378 and Line 268 Foothill Transit- Line 492 Paratransit- In Temple City, DialA-Ride provides same day, curb to curb transit for residents who are 62 years of age or older, or disabled in a manner that makes use of regular transit unduly difficult.
EXISTING PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES
Sidewalk Conditions Generally within the downtown area the sidewalks are in good condition, free of cracks and fissures. Outside of this area, there is a significant amount of damage to sidewalks due to tree roots both in residential neighborhoods and the commercial districts. The main issue is uplifting of
slabs, causing lateral peaks and valley along the walkways. This poses an impediment to pedestrians, especially those with disabilities. Shading Shading is common in the city, with large, shade bearing trees lining most streets, both arterials and local streets. The downtown core is lined with shade trees; however, the other commercial districts lack vegetation. Grade In both the east-west direction and the north-south direction, the streets are generally flat. There is a slight slope in the north-south streets. Amenities Offered In the downtown area amenities are plentiful, with public space, shopping, dining, benches, and shade. Outside of the area the character is entirely residential, and other than shade and occasional benches, there are no amenities supporting pedestrians. Buffers Buffered space is common throughout the city, particularly along roads with more traffic. There are many
locations however that benefit from wider sidewalks, sidewalk bulb-outs at intersections where feasible, and appropriate signage.
COMPLETE STREETS
AB 1358 – Complete Streets Act The California Complete Streets Act of 2008 was signed into law on September 30, 2008. Beginning January 1, 2011, AB 1358 required circulation elements to address the transportation system from a multi-modal perspective. The bill states that streets, roads, and highways must, “meet the needs of all users…in a manner suitable to the rural, suburban, or urban context of the general plan.” Essentially, this bill requires a circulation element to plan for all modes of transportation where appropriate – including walking, biking, car travel, and transit. The Complete Streets Act also requires circulation elements to consider the multiple users of the transportation system, including children, adults, seniors, and the disabled.
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Zoning
temple city | community profile
Our Places PARKS & RECREATION
Parks, recreational facilities and other green places are important parks of sustaining a healthy community. They provide a space to exercise, play, or relax; in a group or alone. They contribute to resident’s individual health and overall quality of life. They are important in developing the City’s social capital, as they promote health, community engagement and civic pride. As a city grows, the parks and other green places become even more important because they serve as leisure and recreation spaces and provide a break from the urban fabric of the city.
TEMPLE CITY PARK
4-acre “Neighborhood Park” Located at 9701 Las Tunas Drive between Kauffman and Golden West Avenues. Serves as the primary open space and center for community gathering and cultural-recreational activities. Amenities Include: • Picnic areas • One playground • Performing Arts Pavilion. Special Events Include: • Fall Festival and Collector Car Show (October) • Camellia Festival (February) • Concerts in the Park (Summer) • Lights on Temple City (December)
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LIVE OAK PARK
15-acre “Community Park” Located at the intersection of Gracewood and Dines Drive Amenities at Live Oak Include : • Large playground area, • A large picnic shelter with 18 picnic tables and a small picnic shelter with seven picnic tables • Full basketball court, • Two half basketball courts with lights • Seven tennis courts (three with lights) • One baseball field • One soccer/football field Special Events include: • Easter Egg Hunt • Halloween Carnival • Movies in the Park (Summer) • Junior High Dances • Senior Programs
PARKS & REC PROGRAMS
Adult and youth sports classes and special events After-school and summer programs Community classes and enrichment programs Citywide recreation programs. gymnasiums at Oak Avenue Intermediate School and Temple City High School The swimming pool at Temple City HS Five elementary school playgrounds
temple city | community profile
Temple City Park Live Oak Park
Citywide Special Events and Festivals Visual and Performing Arts Program Recreational Classes Child Development Dance Educational Fitness Music and Production Self Defense/Martial Arts Special Interest Sports
Sports Lessons/Leagues
Badminton Lessons and League Basketball Lessons and League Tennis Lessons and League Ping Pong Lessons and League Aqua Aerobics (osite) Lap Swim Program (osite) Martial Arts Program
Youth and Teens
Adults
Seniors
Youth Sports Programs Youth Summer Camp Programs Youth Fitness and Wellness Programs Before and After School Programs Teen Programs Youth Life Skill and Enrichment Programs Adult Sports Programs Adult Fitness and Wellness Programs Culinary Programs Senior Health/Wellness Fitness Programs Senior Leisure/Enrichment Classes Senior Excursions
FUTURE PARK SPACE
In December 2012, Temple City approved the development of the Parks and Open Space Master Plan. The Master Plan will determine current needs, strengths and areas for growth in parks and recreation facilities and programs. The goals of the Master Plan is to: 1) Reduce the deficit of parkland in Temple City, 2) Meet the needs of walking and biking trails in the city 3) Update aging amenities in order to keep up with growth and trends.
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temple city | community profile
Our Economy
DOLLARS & CENTS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
What are the economic forces that will impact the future of Temple City? How are these forces changing, and what can Temple City do to try and in a competitive marketplace? When economists talk about the local economy, they are talking about a community’s share of and position in the regional economy. This is especially true for Temple City. Temple City is relatively small, and, for the most part, it is a community where people live, shop, and recreate. However, few people work here. On average from 2009 through 2011, there were 0.55 jobs per household in Temple City, well below the rates of 1.23 and 1.29 in the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles County. There is nothing inherently right or wrong about being a predominantly residential community. The real question is what do residents want Temple City to be in the future? Are the municipal revenues generated by residential land-uses sufficient to satisfy the level of public facilities and services desired by residents? If more revenue is desired from non-residential land use, what types, where, and how much should the city plan for? Beyond economics, there are other relevant issues to being a predominantly residential community, including time spent and fuel burned commuting to and from work.
EMPLOYMENT AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY
To understand a local economy, economists consider the share of total jobs that are in each sector of the economy. The chart to the right shows the percentage of total jobs that are in each major group of economic sectors in Temple City, the San Gabriel Valley, and Los Angeles County. The data show that the local-serving sectors are about a third more important in Temple City
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Temple City
SHARE OF TOTAL EMPLOYMENT BY MAJOR ECONOMIC SECTOR, 2009-2011
San Gabriel Valley LA County
%
GoodsProducing
Trade and Distribution
than what might be expected based on the regional economies. This analysis suggests that the local economy, while focused on providing goods and services to local residents, is not too far out of sync with what one might expect based on the economies of the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles County. Delivery of the number of jobs However, analysis per 1,000 households the data told a different story. Because the local Temple City economy is small (less than half of the number of jobs per household) it provides relatively few jobs in all the major economic-sector groups, even the local-serving sectors. We concluded that the local economy is under-developed, and may warrant substantial new investments.
OUT-COMMUTING
introduction On average from 2009 to 2011, 14,640 to geometry c of Temple City’s total residents were a b employed. Of these, however, only 6.1 percent worked in Temple City. And of the 6,220 jobs in the City during this time, 14.4 percent were held by City
KnowledgeBased
LocalServing
Other
residents. Typically in Southern California a majority of each city’s residents work in another city. In Los Angeles, for example, 48.1 percent or employed residents worked in a different city. Nevertheless, Temple City’s 93.9 percent outcommuting rate is fairly high.
EMPLOYMENT OF RESIDENTS VERSUS JOBS IN THE CITY
Equally as important as the number of out-commuters is the fields in which they work versus the economic sectors providing jobs in Temple City. Only the local-serving sectors provided a higher percentage of total jobs in the City than the percentage of residents the group employed. These sectors provide 69.1 percent of the jobs in the City, but only 48.7 percent of employed City residents work in these sectors (whether in the City or elsewhere). This difference reflects the limited nature of the local economy, which is heavily focused on local-serving sectors. To some degree, it may represent a mismatch between the education and skills of residents and the nature of jobs available in Temple City. More important, though, are the sectors
temple city | community profile
AVERAGE DAILY COMMUTE TIMES... Temple City
29.8 min.
San Gabriel Valley
29.8 min.
Los Angeles
29.2 min.
Pasadena
26.1 min.
The goods-producing sector includes four economic fields: 1) agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting; 2) mining and quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; 3) construction; and 4) manufacturing. This group of sectors provides only 52 jobs per 1,000 household locally but 158 jobs per 1,000 households regionally. Most of these jobs are in manufacturing and construction. Construction is the only non-local-serving economic sector in which the share of jobs in higher in Temple City than it is regionally.
Delivery
introduction to geometry
c
a
b
The trade and distribution sector includes jobs in wholesale trade, which tend to provide local and subregional distribution services. Businesses in these two sectors are typically looking for large facilities when they relocate. In addition, warehouses especially seek out locations in close proximity to freeways. Without a freeway and without large land areas or large existing buildings, Temple City would find it difficult to compete against cities to the east for trade and distribution jobs. The knowledge-based sector represents fields in which many or most of the jobs require a college degree or more education. Specifically, this group includes four sectors: 1) information; 2) finance and insurance; 3) professional, scientific, and technical services; and 3) management of companies and enterprises. This sector plays an important role in the county’s economy, and so The City could explore how it might attract more jobs in the information sector. The local-serving economic sector typically provides goods and services to the residents living or working in the area where businesses are located. Analysis of local-serving economic sectors compares the number of jobs per 1,000 households rather than the share of total jobs. This group includes seven economic sectors: 1) retail trade; 2) real estate and rental and leasing; 3) educational services (public and private); 4) health care and social assistance; 5) arts, enter-tainment, and recreation; 6) accommodation and food services; and 7) other services (excluding public administration). Because the local-serving sectors draw their customers from the area, each of these economic sectors represents a good potential target for local economic growth and development.
Source: PlaceWorks 2014, using data from the US Census Bureau’s Local Employment Dynamics Program
in which Temple City exports the greatest number of workers. The largest cost for most businesses is labor. As the baby boom generation begins to retire, the national and regional economies will face a structural labor shortage, especially among skilled and educated workers. Proximity to a qualified labor force will become increasingly important in business location decisions. So Temple City may be able to attract businesses based on a competitive advantage of having a skilled labor force. The knowledge-based sectors are one group with a large difference between the employment of residents and the share of jobs in the local economy. The information sector employs ten times as many Temple City residents than it provides in jobs in the city. The result is a net exodus of at least 410 residents each day to work in information jobs elsewhere. The other knowledge-based sectors have a similar out-commuting pattern: finance and insurance, 500 residents; professional, scientific, and technical services, 760 residents; and management of companies, 290 residents. In the case of health care, employment in this sector is likely to grow for another 15 to 20 years. It is a potential economic development target in just about every community across the country, including Temple City.
ECONOMIC AND EMPLOYMENT FORECAST
If Temple City does not change policies, plans, and investments, what is the likely future it faces? The forecast suggests that the goodsproducing sectors would decline slightly
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temple city | community profile
while the trade and distribution sectors would experience slight increases. The knowledge-based sectors, local-serving sectors, and miscellaneous sectors are all predicted to grow. The biggest increases are predicted to come in health care and social assistance (47.5% increase), accommodation and food services (37.2% increase), technical services (35.9% increase), and construction (36.5% increase). The forecast, however, only tells what might be. The question for the community, while updating the General Plan, is how much economic growth do you want to plan for and try to make happen? To the degree that the community envisions a different economic picture for Temple City, the General Plan Update should evaluate and address this.
WHERE DO TEMPLE CITY RESIDENTS WORK?
1. Los Angeles— 21.5% 2. Pasadena— 6.5% 3. Temple City— 6.1% 4. Arcadia— 4.8% 5. El Monte— 3.8% 6. Alhambra— 3.3% 7. San Gabriel— 2.8% 8. Monterey Park— 2.8% 9. Rosemead— 2.4% 10. City of Industry— 2.4%
93.9% of Temple City Residents work outside of the city. Here are the top 10 cities in which Temple City residents worked from 2009-2011.
2
4 3 7
5
6 9
1
8
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10
temple city | community profile
EMPLOYMENT BY ECONOMIC SECTOR FOR TEMPLE CITY RESIDENTS, 2009-2012 1600
Admin.
Other Services
Accomodation & Food Services
Arts & Recreation
Health Care & Social Addistance
Educational Services
Admin. & Support
Management
Professional, Scientific & Tech.
Real Estate
Finance & Insurance
Information
Retail Trade
Wholesale Trade
200
Manufacturing
400
Construction
600
Utilities
800
Mining, Oil & Gas
1000
Transportation & Warehousing
1200
Agriculture & Forestry
Temple City Residents
1400
0
FOR SALE
DEMOGRAPHIC FORECAST
In addition to the number of jobs, regional growth patterns may result in changes in the number of households and houses in Temple City. Households are the basic unit of economic analyses. Decisions on where to live or how much to spend on housing and transportation are typically made at the household level and help determine how much is left over to spend on groceries, clothing, and other items. From the 1990 to 2010, the number of households in Temple City increased by about 530. If the same growth rate continues, the city could have 12,230 households in 2035. If the growth rate were to continue to decline, then the city might have only 11,840 households in 2035. The Southern California Association of Governments assumes that Temple City will grow to 13,000 households by 2035. Which of these growth projections—200, 590, or 1,360 new households through 2035—is correct? The answer will depend in large part on market conditions, but city policies— pro-growth, anti-growth, managed-
growth, or other—will also influence the rate of household growth. Unlike households, the trend in housing is an increasing rate of growth. In part, the difference reflects an increased vacancy rate. Over the long term, the household and the housing increases must closely coincide. Otherwise, if the vacancy rates gets too high developers would stop putting housing on the market.
RETAIL SPENDING FORECAST
If present trends in retail spending continue, the city is unlikely to see any retail development demand. The question for the community to answer is whether nor not the existing level of retail development is sufficient to support the desired level of public facilities and services and whether or not the nature and extent of the existing retail, dining, and entertainment businesses reflects the
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temple city | community profile
TOTAL GOVERNMENT-WIDE EXPENDITURE PER HOUSEHOLD 2003-2012 (in Inflation-Adjusted 2013 Dollars) Monrovia
4137 El Monte
3338
Arcadia
3038 3215 San Gabriel
Temple City
1344
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
needed goods and services, even electricity bills. A city’s fiscal health, at its basic level, is measured by the difference between revenues and ex-penditures. Clearly a key element in the General Plan update is to ensure that the community is planning a city they can afford to own.
MUNICIPAL REVENUES
In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002 (FY02), the city’s total revenues were $12,121,000 and in FY12 they had increased 30.5 percent to $15,821,000. Once adjusted for inflation this is a real annual increase of 0.6 percent per year.
desired quality of life in Temple City. If there is a desire for more retail offerings, the analysis indicates that there is a substantial amount of consumer spending that city residents currently do in other cities. Providing the right types of shops and the right mix of busi-
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nesses could help bring some of the retail spending back home.
THE FISCAL REALITIES
Cities, like businesses, have to manage their operations to preserve the bottom line. Both have costs for their workforce, facilities maintenance, acquiring
From FY02 to FY12, governmental expenditures increased 46.8 percent, from $10,538,000 to $15,474,000. When adjusted for inflation and the number of households, expenditures grew from $1,164 per household in FY02 to $1,356 in FY12. This brings up some questions. What financial track are we on? Is it sustainable? And does it take us where we want to go? There are two positive trends in Temple
temple city | community profile
AVERAGE EXPENDITURES PER HOUSEHOLD BY CATEGORY, 2003-2012 (in Inflation-Adjusted 2013 Dollars)
Temple City: $190
Temple City: $80
Temple City: $70
Temple City: $190
Temple City: $130
Temple City: $370
Temple City: $340
Arcadia: $530 El Monte: $1,260 Monrovia: $490 San Gabriel: $410
Arcadia: $170 El Monte: $340 Monrovia: $680 San Gabriel: 0
Arcadia: $120 El Monte: $310 Monrovia: $330 San Gabriel: $300
Arcadia: $310 El Monte: $180 Monrovia: $280 San Gabriel: $240
Arcadia: $260 El Monte: $30 Monrovia: $520 San Gabriel: $390
Arcadia: $1,530 El Monte: $1,320 Monrovia: $1,870 San Gabriel: $1,280
Arcadia: $380 El Monte: $290 Monrovia: $330 San Gabriel: $100
General Government
Debt
Capital Outlay
Community Services
Community Development
STOP
POLICE
Public Safety
City’s municipal finance from FY02 to FY12. First, revenues and expenditures are on a positive trend. This means that if present trends continue, the city could expect to have increasing real resources. The second positive note is that the revenue trend is increasing slightly faster than the expenditure trend. This is an important indicator of fiscal sustainability. Temple City compares very favorably to adjacent cities in the sustainability of its fiscal trend. Of all these cities, Temple City has the most positive fiscal trend. The City has demonstrated that it has managed its resources well in the past.
ECONOMIC & MARKET IMPLICATIONS FOR PLANNING
Updating the general plan is a good time for the community to consider the level of public facilities and services. If the community is satisfied with existing levels, then the fiscal story suggests that there is little economic rationale
for land use change. If, however, the community desires increased levels of public facilities and services, then the planning issue is what land use and development changes would provide a financial support for these policies and practices. If the desired changes are economic in nature, that is primarily an issue of jobs and business development, the economic conditions suggests there are a number of potential avenues. Temple City’s economy has a strong sector of construction businesses. Connecting those businesses to publicly available resources, such as worker training or management consulting, could assist them to become more profitable and expand.
Public Works
the knowledge-based sectors. If the community wants more and better shopping and entertainment, it will need to provide a more desirable alternative: experience-oriented shopping. The retail and entertainment destinations must satisfy more than material needs. They must provide opportunities for socialization, entertainment, and other activities.
In addition, Temple City would need to invest in marketing and business attraction efforts if it hopes to attract more jobs in local health care and knowledgebased sectors. Many cities will be competing for good jobs in health care and
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temple city | community profile
Our Health & Safety PUBLIC SAFETY VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS
A key element contributing to crime prevention and public safety is through the administration of a variety of community and volunteer crime-prevention programs available to the City’s residents, businesses, and schools. Many times LACSD officers rely on the support of civilians, who can offer critical information to officers when responding to emergency situations and crime scenes. In many ways, residents are the eyes and ears of LACSD, as they are firsthand witnesses to many of the crimes that have occurred or are about to occur. Early notification and first-hand information from residents have not only led to the capture of a suspect or solving a crime scene, but have also stopped many crimes before they even happen.
PUBLIC SAFETY VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS
The City offers three programs that are key components of the City’s emergency preparedness efforts: the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Temple City Emergency Radio Team (TCERT), and Community-Oriented Policing Strategy (COPS), which are discussed below.
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM
The Neighborhood Watch Program is designed to inform and involve community members regarding home security and public safety, and to generate stronger inter-action and communication between residents and law enforcement. The program is administered by the Temple City Sherriff’s Station. The City is divided into ten Watch Areas, and the Sherriff’s Department conducts one Neighborhood Watch meeting per month. For some meetings, free childcare, translation, and dinner are provided. Topics addressed at the meetings include, but are not limited to (Temple City 2013b):
• • • •
Crime trends and statistics Crime prevention Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Emergency preparedness
Following is a discussion of the various community and volunteer crime-prevention programs available in Temple City.
EVERY 15 MINUTES PROGRAM
RESIDENT SAFETY PROGRAM
Volunteer Patrol The Resident Safety Volunteer Patrol (RSVP) program provides citizens training in performing public safety auxiliary support services to LACSD and the City’s Public Safety Division. Its mission is to
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preserve and enhance the City’s residential neigh-borhoods and business community by establishing a cooperative partnership between the citizens of Temple City and public officials. Under general supervision, RSVP members patrol the community in a marked Cityowned vehicle while conducting limited parking enforcement duties, assisting with traffic control, and conducting safety checks of parks, business districts, and residential neighborhoods.
The Every 15 Minutes program is administered by Temple City in coordination with emergency personnel from LACSD, LACoFD, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, and Temple City High School (TCHS). The program is a two-day program that is presented to students of TCHS via a live dramatization of the aftermath of a fatal alcohol-related traffic collision. The goal of the Every 15 Minutes program is to reduce alcoholrelated collisions through an increase of safety and awareness in the community.
CITIZENS ACADEMY
Citizen’s Academy is a free pro-
temple city | community profile
gram designed by the City to help its residents, business owners and future leaders become better acquainted with the resources offered to the community (e.g., public safety facilities and personnel available to residents). The City conducts seven two-hour evening sessions on alternating Thursdays of each month. Topics discussed at the sessions include public safety, among others.
proven strategy for reducing loss of life in major disasters, it is consistent with City Hall’s philosophy to expand citizen engagement (Temple City 2013e). CERT members are trained to help mitigate problems during the first 72 hours following a disaster. It is during this crucial time period when damaged roads, dis-rupted communications, and high call volumes may restrict access by professional emergency services. CERT training promotes a partnering effort between emergency services and the people they serve. The goal is for trained and certified emergency personnel to train members of neighborhoods, community organizations, or workplaces in basic safety and response skills. CERT members are then integrated into the emergency response capability for their area and work hand-in-hand with professional responders.
to carry out basic medical emergency procedures, perform light search and rescue techniques and operations, and deal with the psychological traumas experienced by victims and/or workers to first responders following an emergency or disaster, but also intervene until first responders arrive on scene. The CERT training includes a total of 20 hours of instruction and is spread out over a period of three Saturday sessions. Those who attend and complete the 20 hours of CERT training receive CERT certification which authorizes them to work with City’s CERT and professional responders in the event of a disaster (Temple City 2013c). As stated by Roger Mason, Ph.D., Vice President of LECMgt (a firm specializing in preparing public agencies for all types of natural and man-made disasters) in the spring 2013 issue of Temple City Connect, “Ultimately, the goal is to have at least one CERT member on every block” (Temple City 2013e).
RESIDENT SAFETY VOLUNTEER PATROL
The TCERT program is a volunteer organization that is part of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Disaster Communications Service (DCS) that provides volunteer disaster relief communications for the citizens of Los Angeles County. Amateur radio operators donate their time and equipment in performing radio operations in the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). TCERT members also assist with local and county-wide events such as the Camellia Festival and Parade and the Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay Race (Temple City 2013d).
COMMUNITY ACADEMY
Temple City, in conjunction with the Temple Station has been hosting the Com-munity Academy since 2011. Under the academy, community members have the opportunity to learn more about local law enforcement and public safety. The academy is a six-week program addressing such topics as patrol procedures, the Coroner’s office, ride alongs, emergency preparedness, and the function of Temple City departments (e.g., roles of the City’s Public Safety Division staff).
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM
The CERT program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills. It provides citizens of the community with basic but key information and skills that enable them to handle their own needs and then to respond to their community’s needs in the aftermath of a disaster. Aside from CERT being a
Since 2009, the City has conducted regular CERT training. The classes are led by the City’s Public Safety and Services Department personnel, who are trained and certified in emergency preparedness. The classes also include local police, Sherriff, and fire department personnel. As part of the CERT training, the City’s Public Safety Division conducts a series of interactive activities and courses that help residents learn how
The City provides uniforms and basic supplies and equipment to members of the TCERT program. Official City photo identification cards are also provided upon successful appointment to the TCERT program.
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temple city | community profile
Why it Matters The City of Temple city enjoys significant locational advantages. There are, however, a number of constraints on future development. This section summarizes some of these issues and opportunities for consideration during the Mid-Century Plan process. The next step is for the community to decide its vision for the future. Depending on the nature and extent of changes inherent in that vision, more in depth analysis may be conducted and specific strategies developed for the General Plan.
OUR HISTORY
The history of Temple City provides a valuable context for understanding the layout and evolution of the built environment. It generates interest and appreciation for historic elements of the City that keep that history alive and visible, such as the historic architecture and town center. Temple City’s development history is unique in that residential neighborhoods were not originally built in block form. Homes were individually built and dispersed throughout the community. Future development and design standards have the opportunity to honor the historic character of Temple City with compatible form, scale, and design details.
OUR PEOPLE
Temple City’s projected population growth indicates a continued demand for new housing and services. Like many other communities, Temple City is experiencing an aging population. The predicted result is fewer young workers to care for the growing elderly population, a growing demand for medical care, increased demand for public transportation and walkable neighborhoods, and housing types that are suited for residents who want to stay in their current homes as they age. Investing in young people is vitally
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important to help them better support the aging population. Temple City is a racially diverse community, with growing Asian and Hispanic populations, which will influence future community programs, housing types, business attraction and other services that cater to these population groups. An opportunity exists to plan for Temple City’s future as a diverse community, and to celebrate and capitalize on the assets that this diversity brings.
OUR PLACES
The City has very little remaining vacant land, only 0.5%. New development will almost exclusively come from infill development, meaning the demolition and redevelopment of existing buildings or adaptive reuse of existing buildings. The City has slightly decreased in the percentage of multi-family units over the past two decades compared to nearby jurisdictions, Temple City is
much more oriented to single-family. However, low vacancy rates and a steady increase in population over the past several decades indicate a strong demand for multi-family housing in the City. Although not unique to Temple City, the increasing population and rising demands for new housing in Temple City, coupled with a lack of supply and low vacancy rates, have caused housing prices to increase significantly over the past decade. Almost three-quarters of Temple City’s housing stock are over 40 years old (74.2%). Housing this old may exhibit rehabilitation needs due to age and deferred maintenance. And, looking ahead into the future, as more of the housing stock ages, an increasing number of property owners may have difficulty undertaking the maintenance needed to keep their units in good shape. The City has limited land reserved for non-residential land uses, including
temple city | community profile
commercial, office, industrial, civic, institutional and parks. Combined, these uses account for 9.2% of the total land area. The deficiency in available undeveloped land upon which to grow these uses may present a challenge for meeting the community’s needs in the future. However, opportunities for infill development adjacent to major transit corridors, including Rosemead Boulevard and Las Tunas Drive may foster economic revitalization. Temple City is one of the few locations in the San Gabriel Valley that has a well-defined downtown commercial area. Accentuating and concentrating development within the downtown could provide additional opportunities for walking, biking, and transit trips. However a majority of Temple City residents choose to drive rather than use other modes of transportation. Residents drive at a higher rate than the county, State, and national average. Additionally, residents bicycle and walk at a lower rate than the county, state, and national average. The City is making a significant investment in Rosemead Boulevard to provide additional facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. Locating new development within this corridor could generate even additional bicycle and walking trips without the need for any new physical improvements.
construction sector is a strong part of the local economy. Connecting existing construction businesses to publicly available resources, such as worker training or management consulting, could assist them to become more profitable and expand. Finally, Temple City, like most cities, has opportunities to expand the local health care sector, especially due to its aging population. The market conditions indicate that a relatively large amount of Temple City residents’ consumer spending goes to nearby cities and supports their roads and their parks. For the city itself, about 48 percent of residents’ retail spending occurs outside of the city (excluding automobiles and excluding online purchases). However, for the area within three miles of the city, only about 18 percent of that area’s residents’ spending leaks outside of the three-mile area. Thus, there may be a relative lack of retail businesses in Temple City, but one does not have to travel far to find a full spectrum of shopping opportunities. The competition in existing retail centers is one of the main obstacles for the midcentury plan process to consider.
Temple City has lower revenues and lower expenditures per household than its neighbors. Even so, the city’s ten-year fiscal trend is better than its neighbors, demonstrating that the city has managed its resources well in the past. It is a good time for the community to examine the level of public facilities and services.
If the community wants more and better shopping and entertainment, it will not be enough to plan for bigger and better strip centers or shopping malls. Temple City will need to provide a more desirable alternative: experience-oriented shopping. The retail and entertainment destinations must satisfy more than material needs. They must provide opportunities for socialization, entertainment, and other activities. These places are less likely to be disrupted by increases in Internet sales than are conventional strip centers and big box retailers.
The knowledge-based sectors are not a strong part of the local economy, however the city has a large number of residents that work in the information and professional, scientific, and technical services sectors who leave the city for work. Economic development efforts could focus on building Temple City’s strengths for these knowledge-based sectors. The
The continued development of the City’s disaster preparedness and response efforts and plans (e.g., Hazard Mitigation Plan, EOP, CERT, SNAP etc.) will continue to aid the residents of Temple City in an area-wide emergency or disaster. Proper training for natural disasters and local emergencies needs to be extended far beyond
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public safety professionals like police officers or firefighters. All Temple City employees have specific obligations to the community during such an event and should receive the proper training necessary. Pursuant to the California Emergency Services Act, every individual hired by the City becomes a registered disaster service worker. There are certain sectors and structures in the City which are more vulnerable to fire, including multifamily and commercial areas, due to the higher population density, as well as older structures that do not conform to modern building and fire codes. As the majority of homes in Temple City are 40 plus years old and aging, an increasing number of property owners and structures may be at risk of urban fires.
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CITY OF TEMPLE CITY
9701 LAS TUNAS DR. TEMPLE CITY, CA 91780