= ARROYO SECO FOUNDATION
To: Mayor Victor Gordo and Members of the Pasadena City Council From: Tim Brick, Managing Director, Arroyo Seco Foundation Date: February 14, 2022
RE: AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH CRAFTWATER ENGINEERING, INC. FOR
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE SAN RAFAEL TREATMENT
WETLANDS AND STORM WATER CAPTURE PROJECT FOR AN AMOUNT NOT-TOEXCEED $1,051,200
Stop! Please don't destroy the natural character of the Arroyo Seco this way! This a stealth plan that will do permanent damage to the character of the Lower Arroyo in Pasadena.
1. It clearly will have environmental impacts that should be studied carefully. It is a travesty to claim an exemption from environmental review for this project.
2. Despite the long history of public involvement in Arroyo planning, there has been no public outreach or discussion of this project.
3. The project is not consistent with the Arroyo Seco Master Plan and with other Arroyo planning efforts that have long considered the San Rafael stream to be an excellent candidate for stream restoration as it joins the Arroyo Seco.
4. The project will further destroy the hydrology and natural character is the Arroyo Seco.
5. The approach outlined in the agenda report is overengineered and will divert the stream to irrigate a soccer field and golf course in South Pasadena, a tragic desecration of the stream and of the Arroyo.
6. Nature-based measures are the best way to clean up any pollution that is in San Rafael creek, rather than expensive, high maintenance engineering pseudo-solutions.
With the help of Senator Anthony Portantino, the Arroyo Seco Foundation played an important role in obtaining the funding or this project from the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The funding was given to promote "Arroyo Seco stream restoration and water recycling." We even gave a letter of support in the early stages in the process, based on the assurance from the Pasadena Public Works Department that their goals were for Arroyo restoration and that there would robust public involvement in the planning process. Instead, we have not been informed of the project since we gave the support letter and had to learn about your consideration of the engineering design contract in Pasadena Now this morning. 02/14/2022
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Arroyo Seco Foundation - Page 2
Please don't approve this contract. Instead instruct the Public Works Department to involve the community in a robust planning process, and you will see the overwhelming support there is in Pasadena for restoring the natural character of the Arroyo and not junking it up with underground tanks, pipes and more concrete.
Sincerely
Tim Brick
Tim Brick
Managing Director
Arroyo Seco Foundation