Five Members of Recreation and Parks Commission to be Appointed to Hahamongna Watershed Park Advisory Commission

Five members of the Hahamongna Watershed Park Advisory Committee (HWPAC) are expected to be appointed on Tuesday, July 7, during a special meeting of Pasadena’s Recreation and Parks Commission, where a new nominating committee for officers for the term 2020 to 2021 is also expected to be formed.

The virtual meeting through Zoom begins at 6 p.m. and can be accessed by any member of the public.

A revised ordinance included in the Pasadena Municipal Code in March says the HWPAC shall consist of nine members, five of whom shall be members of the Recreation and Parks Commission.

One member each will be designated by the Environmental Advisory Commission and the Northwest Commission. Two members will be nominated by the mayor from persons recommended by the seven City Councilmembers, according to the Department of Public Works.

According to the Municipal Code, members designated by the Recreation and Parks Commission, the Environmental Advisory Commission and the Northwest Commission shall serve on the committee until their successors are designated by their respective advisory body.

The two members nominated by the mayor and ratified by the city council shall serve a term of three years, up to two consecutive terms.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Recreation and Parks Commission will also deliberate on a recommendation to finalize plans for construction of pickleball courts at an undeveloped portion of Vina Vieja Neighborhood Park, located at 3026 E Orange Grove Blvd. in Pasadena.

The site was selected after a series of consultations by a pickleball community working group formed in January 2018 to assist the City in identifying a recommended location. The group established a desired design program, considered 12 possible locations and identified three locations as having the most potential.

On April 3, 2018, three locations were presented to the Recreation and Parks Commission, which chose the Vina Vieja Neighborhood Park as the preferred location.

Based on feedback from the community and the project’s advisory group, a design concept for the project was finalized in May and includes construction of 12 pickleball courts, including two for adaptive/wheelchair use, and a parking lot for up to 95 additional spaces located on Southern California Edison (SCE) property.

The project will also include a restroom and storage building, lighting for the pickleball courts, parking lot and vehicular path through the park; shade canopies and structures, a common rest area, and landscaping and fencing.

Funding for the project, considered a Capital Improvement Program project, is envisioned to be sourced from Residential Impact Fees, as well as portions of the City’s Measure A fund allotments. The estimated project cost is about $4.4 million, according to the Public Works Department.

To access the online meeting, members of the public may watch through www.us02web.zoom.us/j/86325358288 or listen by phone through (669) 900-6833.

Public comments may be submitted in advance by email to shouser@cityofpasadena.net prior to the meeting day.