an you envision what Pasadena will look like in 2015? Can you imagine getting around the city conveniently without a car? What about open space and housing?

bus Pasadena’s General Plan is reviewed regularly and updated about every five years so it can continue to be a realistic document for achieving the community’s vision for the future.

The Land Use Element and the Mobility Element of the General Plan are among several chapters that are being updated this year. These two elements work together to help identify where buildings and parks should be located, and to manage transportation needs that result from these land uses.

The Transportation Department will update the Mobility Element this year, building on the concepts of the 2004 update while concentrating on specific topics such as “street classifications” and the role of our transportation network in achieving sustainability goals.

What is a street classification? The recently enacted California Complete Streets Act of 2008 requires cities and counties to include in their general plans a set of policies that describe how roadways will be designed to safely accommodate all users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders, motorists, children, seniors and disabled persons.

As part of the Mobility Element update, a series of guidelines will cover more specific definitions of how streets are created and how some streets have different design elements than others, such as adjacent land use, sidewalk treatments, roadway width, and connections to transit and bike routes.

The update will also evaluate how traffic and local green house gas emissions can be reduced.

Visit www.cityofpasadena.net/generalplan to learn more about the Mobility Element and all of the other elements that are being updated or call (626) 744-4009.

Protecting Our Natural Resources

Preservation of wide open spaces is an important issue in Pasadena. Learn more at the free Open Space and Conservation Community Fair on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 9:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m. in the courtyard at Pasadena City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave.

The event will kick off the update of the Open Space and Conservation Element of the General Plan, which will set goals and priorities for the future of our natural resources. You’ll examine maps and exhibits, meet one-on-one with city leaders and visit with like-minded residents. Will Rogers, president of The Trust for Public Land, will be the guest speaker, and there will be exhibits and children’s activities.

For more information or to be added to the mailing list, email ldahl@cityofpasadena.net or call 744-6767. You can also fill out an online questionnaire at www.cityofpasadena.net/planningcomments (click on Open Space and Conservation Element) or watch for the Open Space and Conservation kiosk traveling through Pasadena throughout February.

Discover the Arroyo Seco

Lace on some hiking boots and enjoy the Arroyo Seco! The Parks and Natural Resources Division of the Public Works Department will host a series of free events in March to help you explore the past, present and future of one of Pasadena’s most popular natural areas.

Environmental educator Mickey Long will offer an illustrated presentation about the Arroyo Seco ecosystem Friday, March 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. at La Casita del Arroyo, 177 S. Arroyo Blvd. Which plants and animals live here, where do they hide and why is that important to us? The event will continue Saturday, March 7, with a leisurely stroll through the Arroyo Seco from 8 to 11 a.m. You’ll touch and smell plants to discover how texture and scent ensure their survival, explore the habits of local critters and find clues letting us know they exist. The walk will begin at the Lower Arroyo parking lot (enter at Arroyo Boulevard and Norwood Drive).

Historian and author Elizabeth Pomeroy will detail the Arroyo Seco’s rich history Friday, March 20, from 7 to 9 p.m. at La Casita del Arroyo. She’ll trace early humans’ use of the stream, from the days of the Tongva Indians to the settlers who valued the area as an ideal spot for agriculture, recreation and simple living. This event will continue Saturday, March 21, from 8 to 11 a.m., with a walk through the Arroyo Seco where Pomeroy will point out traces of old buildings and dams and provide a glimpse into the Arroyo Seco’s history.

You can attend all of the events or any portion of them, including walks without the lectures or vice versa. For detailed information, locations, directions and future events, call 744-4321 or visit www.cityofpasadena.net/arroyoevents.

A Splash of Color in Neighborhoods

Colorful murals will spring up in surprising places this year thanks to a pilot program sponsored by the Cultural Affairs Division of the Planning and Development Department.

Matching grants of up to $2,500 are offered for collaborations between artists and neighborhoods to create murals that celebrate their heritage, values and dreams. Applications are due Feb. 20 for the first round of participants.

Murals add color, character and beauty to streetscapes, can boost nearby property values and draw visitors to local shops. The program will also increase public access to art – one of the goals of the 10-year Cultural Nexus Plan developed by the community – while providing opportunities for artists who live, work or lease space in Pasadena.

For more information and an application, call 744-7062 or visit www.cityofpasadena.net/arts.

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