Newsletter 052913

The Council Weekly
Prepared by the City Manager’s Office, City of San Gabriel
WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013
TOP STORIES
San Gabriel: 3 restaurants in Times’ Top 101
SELECTIONS DEMONSTRATE EMERGENCE AS REGIONAL DINING DESTINATION
 Los Angeles Times restaurant critic Jonathan Gold
selected three restaurants in San Gabriel for his ‘101 best
restaurants’ in Los Angeles. Shanghai No. 1 Seafood Village
was listed at #31, Golden Deli at #73, and Newport Tan
Cang Seafood Restaurant at #85.
San Gabriel has become a destination for authentic Chinese cuisine in the U.S.,
where food aficionados can find a variety of dishes from hand-cut noodles to
mapo tofu to marinated jellyfish. While most restaurants in the city represent a
specific Chinese region, there are also other Asian cuisines, including
Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese.
Gold recently released his list of the best restaurants in Los Angeles, and three restaurants in San Gabriel made
the cut. He points out the authenticity of the cuisine at Shanghai No. 1 Seafood, which “is less a Shanghai-style
restaurant than it is an actual Shanghai restaurant.” However, he also finds the “Southeast Asian-inflected
Cantonese food” at Newport Tan Cang Seafood Restaurant to be so tasty that diners leave “lips numb with chile
and their hearts filled with glee.” The third San Gabriel restaurant on Gold’s list is the local favorite Golden Deli,
recognized as “the default Vietnamese noodle shop in the San Gabriel Valley for more than 30 years.” See the
attached newspaper clippings for the full reviews.
These three restaurants show a diversity of Asian cuisines in San Gabriel, but the city is especially known for its
many Chinese restaurants. Earlier this year, Gold published his picks for the best regional Chinese food in Los
Angeles. Eleven of the 17 restaurants were in San Gabriel. See the list here: Jonathan Gold’s best Chinese
restaurants in L.A., by regional cuisine.
ACE PROJECT UPDATE
Mission Rd. at tracks to close for two weeks in June
In order to facilitate construction of the San Gabriel Trench project, Mission Rd. at the railroad tracks, will be
closed for a period of two weeks beginning Monday, June 10 in order to complete utility work.
Once this stage is completed, Ramona St. will then be closed at the railroad tracks for two weeks with a
tentative start date of Monday, June 24. Message boards will be set up this week to warn motorists about the
closures, and ACE staff will be working with affected businesses and residents to advise about the closures.
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New plantings enhance entrance to San Gabriel
In a collaborative effort between Parks and Recreation,
Public Works and Caltrans staff, the City provided
CalTrans with a plan for proposed planting around the
new monument sign at San Gabriel Boulevard and the I10 freeway. CalTrans not only accepted and approved
the plan, but also graciously provided plants and
materials for the planting. The agency also allowed the
City to tap into their irrigation system.
Thank you to John Gonzalez, Parks & Recreation
Supervisor, for preparing the plan and taking the lead on
the planting; and to Caltrans for their assistance and
support.
EYE ON SAN GABRIEL
News from San Gabriel City Hall
IN MEMORIAM
Longtime civic leader Dondi Adkins passes
Longtime San Gabriel civic leader and 2013 Outstanding Senior award recipient Dondi Adkins passed away over
Memorial Day weekend. Ms. Adkins, a member of the City’s Planning Commission, was a former president of
the West San Gabriel Valley Board of Realtors, and had served the community through the Chamber of
Commerce, the Women’s Division, and a host of other community and volunteer activities.
A memorial service is scheduled Saturday, 11 a.m. at Pierce Brothers Mortuary, 1136 East Las Tunas Drive.
Following, a reception will be held at the San Gabriel Elks Lodge.
FINANCE
Next budget study session set for June 18 at City Hall
LATEST CHANGES WILL DELIVER BALANCED BUDGET
The fourth Council study session of this budget season will be held on Tuesday, June 18 at
5:00 p.m. in Conference Room "A" at City Hall.
During the meeting, the City Manager and Finance Director will review the City's Preliminary
Budget, which has been balanced based on a combination of increased revenues and
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decreased expenditures and after which the City Council, community members and staff will have an opportunity
to share information, ideas, and concerns, and offer any additional recommendations or changes to the City's
2013-14 Preliminary Budget.
The study session is open to the public. For more information, please contact Finance Director Tom Marston at
308-2812, ext. 4610 or [email protected].
PARKS & RECREATION
Registration is now open for summer swim lessons
Beginning June 17, youth and adult swim lessons will be offered at Smith Park
Pool. Registration is now available online or at the following locations:
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Parks and Recreation Office, 250 S. Mission Drive
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (until 6 p.m. on Tuesdays)
Smith Park Pool, 232 W. Broadway
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (until Tuesday, June 11)
Daily, 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (after Tuesday, June 11)
Phone registration is also available
For more information on swim lessons, please contact Recreation Coordinator
Theresa Johnson at 626.308.2875 or [email protected].
PUBLIC WORKS
La Casa pre-school kids enjoying the open house
Thank you for a successful Public Works open house
Last Thursday, the Public Works department opened its doors to the community at its 11th annual open house.
This event was in celebration of National Public Works Week, to show the public the importance of infrastructure
in daily life.
The open house featured tours, exhibitions and demonstrations of how the department operates and maintains
the neighborhood. The Edison team and Athens Services both provided demonstration trucks, and Athens served
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hamburgers and hot dogs for all in attendance. The Alameda Corridor East (ACE) Construction Authority provided
information on the railroad trench project, the San Gabriel County Water District offered water conservation tips
to residents, and the Centennial Committee displayed historic artifacts and photographs of San Gabriel.
Public Works would like to thank all attendees, sponsors and supporters, including Athens Services, RKA, Sakaida
Nursery, West Coast Arborist, Allen Stutin-Empire Cleaning, Mission Hardware and Hagemeyer.
For more information, please contact Gerry Lopez, Street Superintendent at 626.308.2825 or [email protected].
COMMUNITY ALERTS
Safety tips for deterring coyotes from your property
Coyotes are sly, intelligent and very adaptable animals. Despite attempts to
regulate their numbers throughout the United States, coyote populations have
continued to increase. Primarily nocturnal, coyotes are omnivorous and are
attracted to urban neighborhoods because of the abundant food sources such
as garbage cans, pet food, bird seed and outdoor pets.
Unless there is an immediate threat to human life, the San Gabriel Valley
Humane Society or the City of San Gabriel will not trap, relocate, or kill coyotes.
So use these few tips to keep coyotes from your property:
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Make your trash can inaccessible; keep lids securely fastened
Do not keep pet food outdoors
Use battery operated flashing lights, tape-recorded human noises, and
scattered moth balls.
For more tips, please visit http://www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/coyote.html. For more information, please contact
Finance Director Tom Marston at [email protected] or 626.308.2812, ext. 4610.
Prevent mosquitoes by eliminating standing water
1 out of every ten housing structures in Los Angeles County is a high
potential breeding site for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes present a public health
risk because they can spread diseases such as the West Nile virus. You can
prevent the spread of mosquitoes in your area by keeping your swimming
pool clean and ridding your yard of any standing water. The San Gabriel
Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District is partnering with the Pasadena
Police Department’s Air Operations Section to patrol the skies over San
Gabriel Valley and spot poorly maintained pools and water sources.
For more information, please visit www.sgvmosquito.org or contact the
Mosquito & Vector Control District at 626.814.9466; or the Neighborhood
Improvement Services Division at 626.308.2806.
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CENT ENN I AL
CAL EN D AR
JUNE THEME
Arts & Culture
CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE
Free Centennial Concert Sunday
June 2
3:00 p.m.
CalStateLA/Olympia Youth Orchestra
Community Concert
San Gabriel Mission Playhouse
320 S. Mission Dr.
Free event
www.missionplayhouse.org
June 4
2:00 p.m.
Honoring Centennial Centenarians
Event Moved to Vista Cove
901 W. Santa Anita Street
Information 626.289.8889
Contact [email protected]
June 15
7:30 p.m.
Asian Arts Talent Foundation Dance Festival
San Gabriel Mission Playhouse
320 S. Mission Dr.
www.missionplayhouse.org
The CalStateLA/Olympia Youth Orchestra Community Concert is
hosting a free event on Sunday, June 2 at the San Gabriel Mission
Playhouse. Led by Conductor Fung Ho, the concert will include
performances by pipa player Celia Liu (left), 13-year-old Grand Prize
Winner Tiffany Wee, 14-year-old cellist Danna Xue, and worldrenowned mezzo soprano Suzanna Guzman (right). For more
information, please visit www.missionplayhouse.org.
Honoring centennial centenarians
JULY THEME
Celebrate Our Youth and
The Future of San Gabriel
July 4
9:30 a.m.
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4 of July Parade and Kids’ Day
Mission Dr. and Broadway
Kids’ Day Picnic in Smith Park
Information 626.308.2875
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At the 4 of July Parade and Kids’ Day, there
will be an “Honor Wall” to acknowledge
current and past troops in San Gabriel. The
display will list the name, branch, years served
and a photo. If you or someone you know
served in the U.S. armed forces, please provide
your information to the Parks and Recreation
Department by Saturday, June 1. For more
information, please call 626.308.2875 or click
here.
Learn more at www.sangabrielcity.com
San Gabriel residents who have turned or are turning 100 years old
this year are invited to a special reception at the Vista Cove Care
Center on Tuesday, June 4 at 2 p.m. Centenarians will be recognized
with a special certificate from the Centennial Committee and have
the opportunity to share their experiences and memories with the
community. For more information, please contact Miles Yoshisato at
626.289.8889 or [email protected].
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CENTENNIAL CORNER
San Gabriel Valley Humane Society operating since 1924
Dedicated to the protection of animals, the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society
(above, since 1924) was founded by San Gabriel resident Fannie Thompson
Kessler (left). The organization provides food, shelter and medical care to
thousands of dogs and cats who are stray and homeless, or have been rescued
from abusive conditions or relinquished by their owners.
We invite you to learn more about the Society, and see how you can volunteer, donate, and support this
important organization. The San Gabriel Valley Humane Society is located at 851 E Grand Ave, San Gabriel, CA
91776. For more information, please call 626.286.1159 or visit the Society’s website at www.sgvhumane.org.
These images are from the files of the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society
BRIEFLY NOTED
Participate in a community event this weekend
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The San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce will host a networking breakfast from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. this Friday,
May 31 at the Elks Lodge on 1373 E. Las Tunas Dr. This is a great opportunity to build relationships with other
professionals in the community. See the attached flyer for more details.
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The San Gabriel Valley Medical Center will hold a blood drive from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. this Friday, May 31
at the CHEC Building on 261 Junipero Serra Dr. To schedule an appointment, please visit
www.redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code SGVMC. For more information, please contact Carol
Coenraad at 626.670.6533. You’ll find details in the attached flyer.
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Southern California Edison offers a “Summer Readiness” program for both residents and businesses. This
summer, learn how to conserve energy and save money with a variety of energy-use tracking tools, rebates,
bill credits and rate discounts. See the attached flyer for more information.
Learn more at www.sangabrielcity.com
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COUNCIL CALENDAR
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Tuesday, June 4, 2013 – 6:00 p.m. Olson Co. Presentation, City Hall, Conference Room A, 7:30 p.m. City Council
Meeting, City Hall, Council Chambers
Tuesday, June 18, 2013 – 5:00 p.m. Budget Study Session, City Hall, Conference Room A, 7:30 p.m. City Council
Meeting, City Hall, Council Chambers
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 – 5:00 p.m. City Council Meeting for public hearing and adoption of budget, City Hall,
Council Chambers
Tuesday, July 2, 2013 – 7:30 p.m. City Council Meeting, City Hall, Council Chambers
Tuesday, July 16, 2013 – 7:30 p.m. City Council Meeting, City Hall, Council Chambers
COMING UP: AT THE COMMISSIONS
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Monday, June 3, 2013 – 7:00 p.m., Parks and Recreation Commission, City Hall, Council Chambers
Monday, June 10, 2013 – 6:30 p.m., Planning Commission, City Hall, Council Chambers
Monday, June 24, 2013 – 7:00 p.m., Design Review Commission, City Hall, Conference Room A
Monday, July 8, 2013 – 6:30 p.m., Planning Commission, City Hall, Council Chambers
Monday, July 22, 2013 – 7:00 p.m., Design Review Commission, City Hall, Conference Room A
We welcome your thoughts and opinions regarding The Council Weekly.
Please contact Jessica Hsu, Public Information Officer, at [email protected] or 626.308.2800, ext. 5141.
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San Gabriel Valley Medical Center
Blood Drive
Friday, May 31st, 2013
9:00am-3:00pm
Held in the CHEC Building
261 Junipero Serra Dr., San Gabriel, CA, 91776
To schedule an appointment, please log onto www.redcrossblood.org Enter sponsor code
SGVMC, or for more information, please contact Carol Coenraad at 626-570-6533.
All participants will receive an American Red Cross t-shirt
and Laugh Factory Tickets!
Summer Readiness
Partnering This Summer
Community conservation efforts helped save 300 megawatts during a critical time last summer. This summer—same
as last—conservation efforts will be more important because of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station continuing to
be offline.
Although we have sufficient resources to meet business and residential electricity needs, the loss of a major transmission line could result in transmission grid problems affecting portions of Orange County. We are taking steps to make
sure that doesn’t happen, including accelerating transmission projects, promoting conservation and energy efficiency
programs and increasing community outreach efforts.
Bottom line is that SCE is looking to partner with you to make this a smooth summer.
Prepare Now for Summer
Summer is almost here, which often means higher energy usage. Personally or professionally, you can monitor your
budget using Budget Assistant. Manage and control your electricity costs when you set a monthly spending goal,
and get updated with weekly email, text or voice message alerts – eliminating any end-of-the-month bill surprises. And
that’s not all…
What your organization can do...
What you personally can do...
It is also the time when business electricity rate shifts
from lower “winter” rate period to the higher “summer”
rate period (June-September). The reason for this shift is
to align rates with increased energy demands that come
with the summer months, when demand is at its peak
and the cost to produce energy is higher.
SCE offers a variety of low-cost and no-cost solutions to
help you get ready to reduce your energy usage and take
control of summer electricity bills.
SCE can help you prepare now to lower your energy
usage and better manage your electricity bills during the
summer months. We offer a wide variety of tools, including case studies that provide examples of what other
businesses are doing to save energy and costs, tips on
how to make your workplace more energy efficient, and
payment plans that give you alternate methods of paying
your bill.
Save with Save Power Day Incentives.
Earn up to $100* a year in bill credits when you reduce
your energy usage between 2PM and 6PM when a Save
Power Day is called. It’s our way of rewarding you for doing your part to conserve energy.
Discover Home Rebates
Recycling your old, inefficient working refrigerator or
freezer is an environmentally-conscious way to save
energy, lower your electric bill, and help the environment
– and you’ll receive a $35 incentive!
Demand Response: Rewards for Reducing
We offer a variety of Demand Response Program options
that reward qualifying business customers for reducing
their energy use when demand is high — typically during
summer months.
In addition, take advantage of SCE Rebates such as:
Get ready for summer today. Take advantage of the
helpful options that best fit your energy and cost-saving
needs. To learn more, visit www.sce.com/energytips.
Get ready for summer today. Take advantage of the helpful options that best suit your energy and cost-saving
needs. To learn more, visit www.sce.com/reduce.
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Refrigerators – $35 - $75
Pool Pump and Motor – $200
Evaporative Coolers – $300
*Savings may vary based on actual usage reductions during a Save Power Day and other factors. These programs are funded by California utility ratepayers and administered by Southern
California Edison under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. Incentive programs limited to SCE customers only. Specific program terms and conditions apply.
Programs are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and are effective until funding is expended or the program is discontinued. ©2013 Southern California Edison. All rights reserved.