[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6285934,"mediaKeyId","2566193-b177824714c8fbf34d2c036d88ff8e37","parentId",2566193,"title","Commission recommends keeping traditional fireworks at South Pasadena High School","audioSeconds",613,"startMs",3105000,"endMs",3718000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2566193-b177824714c8fbf34d2c036d88ff8e37&start=3105&end=3718","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2566193-b177824714c8fbf34d2c036d88ff8e37/thumbnail_3105000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6285934/South-Pasadena-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Commission-recommends-keeping-traditional-fireworks-at-South-Pasadena-High-School","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285934-81e6d8569aea7248964a59dc903daeb3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195431&Signature=JV8eJvTaXZtOdn-1UHlXiALDUducNalLowfVKAbxaZURt7kbF1C0aRksu3YsBbKWbGgDUscH5OJ9L-AN3u35jAPUFOBkn09TqU2OWPb3PoQZ9V6xGxpXhBj0D6MUbbdRNPTW6UKgaPphhh3vwbDR3zZW2Ct5u~QnEfw9kdASqSZriLzHzZKl9auiYkBUwWm63fkpEQcfAq9MNzUggA9Z52BnctB7rSmkiJo~uueusTogKMO8vJVfmPP3NV~ykNthEggtdQsxTeHkkvzcs6q8y1V8fmQYD1mlMWqWN8Rr79W5I6FofokoWyfT6FYNXzkFxEoN7awkdMY-Pg22hhrE0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of South Pasadena, California","date","2025-03-11T21:50:57Z","article","The Community Services Commission voted on March 10 to recommend that the city continue a traditional fireworks show at South Pasadena High School for the July 4 celebration rather than replace it with a drone show.

Community Services Director Lucy presented staff analysis and vendor cost information, saying staff had reviewed options and that moving the fireworks to the Arroyo or golf course was not recommended because of brush, access and parking concerns. \"Staff does not recommend moving the show down to the Arroyo Fields or to the golf course,\" Lucy said. She also reported a range of vendor estimates for drone shows: Grizzly Entertainment quoted about $27,500 for a 250-drone show and roughly $35,000 for a 350-drone show; SkyElements gave a range roughly $60,000–$175,000; Skyworks’ holiday minimum was reported as $45,000.

Lucy said drones have advantages — lower fire risk, fewer pollutants and more control over imagery — but are shorter (battery-limited) and may reduce ticket revenue if attendees prefer fireworks. She also told commissioners the city budget for the entire July 4 event (parade, party in the park, opening ceremony and the show) is $135,000 and that the city paid about $36,000 for the fireworks portion in 2024. Staff noted the high school district waived the facility fee this year but the city would still cover staffing costs for district staff.

A public commenter, Josh Albertson, urged the commission to keep fireworks for the crowd and children: \"My kids want to go see things go boom up in the sky,\" he said, arguing a 12‑minute drone display would disappoint families used to a longer fireworks performance.

After discussion about costs, sound and viewing angles (Lucy said drone formations are limited by FAA rules and that drone displays are typically flown to about 400 feet), Chair Samuels moved that the commission recommend the city retain the traditional fireworks show at the high school and extend the show if budget allows. The motion was seconded and the roll-call vote was recorded as: Chair Samuels — yes; Vice Chair Plotkin — yes; Commissioner Alby Field — yes; Commissioner Bagasau — yes; Commissioner Moore — yes; Commissioner Weinberger — yes. The chair declared \"Motion carries.\"

Staff will include the commission’s recommendation in a report to City Council for the March 19 meeting and, if Council agrees, staff said it would move quickly to finalize vendor contracts and event logistics so the show can be staged this year.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","South Pasadena Community Services Commission 03/10/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Community Services Commission on March 10 recommended the city maintain a traditional fireworks show at South Pasadena High School for the July 4 celebration rather than substituting a drone show.","taxTitle","South Pasadena City, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",70853,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6285939,"Commission outlines priorities: communications, youth outreach, site visits and permit review",1728,1148000,2876000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2566193-b177824714c8fbf34d2c036d88ff8e37&start=1148&end=2876","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2566193-b177824714c8fbf34d2c036d88ff8e37/thumbnail_1148000.jpg","/articles/6285939/South-Pasadena-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Commission-outlines-priorities-communications-youth-outreach-site-visits-and-permit-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285939-3d64b36fb55fb42005620974472eef2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195431&Signature=FuAzq-UUQw6WqjtpMb0Vb8SbkDKdq0J2IbUP09kBDV0FMZPIN9M8KvjByXnBiVVQiI57kTtVhORijRctjf99bJ-0QT~Gb~DX4xAT9SZFgsq~O6CLthFTZE6t1nKmHk6PN7iQQ06CBLLi31zCChtn5eZzH6YzYLvWNo5-Wd1mboXvpmoEhnzjC8YrBbcU~3dwFfvLDqtzGIchPdv1l8eQYJm979Yftg-IqDLhY6mJ7WpVI3tRs3FHTqDY56yZy18iqhYSBGuBp~uvw9cTW5btc608C~sX5UcX2RE98xlI6wVzrtf7RHnmLuqLlMB3CzQLi7xALUXwhfFdnjpc0q29Gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Community Services Commission on March 10 spent its main agenda item compiling candidate priorities for inclusion in a 2025 work plan meant to align with the city council’s goals.

\"City council priorities for 2025 were approved on 02/19/2025, and we must ensure that the commission works in harmony with these goals,\" Deputy Director Melissa Snyder told the commission as staff introduced suggested topic areas. Commissioners broadly agreed and added items ranging from communications improvements to site visits and policy reviews.

Commissioners proposed a set of high-level priorities to include: a communications strategy with youth-focused outreach (including digital forms and school-based outreach), forming or reactivating youth/senior subcommittees or leveraging the current youth commissioner to increase youth engagement, scheduled site visits and an \"adopt a park\" concept so commissioners can monitor city facilities, a targeted review of field-use permits and equity of facility allocations, volunteer recruitment for large events, and more systematic budget and KPI reporting for department programs.

Several commissioners noted ongoing large projects — the parks comprehensive plan, the library/community center site plan (the \"Library Park Campus\"), and golf-course planning — and recommended focusing commission energy where it supplements staff outreach for those multi-year efforts. Commissioner suggestions included asking the parks consultant to treat skate-park safety and youth learning features as part of the parks plan and composing a skater-centric meeting if the consultant’s scope allows.

Commissioners also discussed using existing events (farmer’s market, concerts, festivals) and registration systems to request post-event surveys so staff can get broader community feedback about items such as the July 4 celebration. Several commissioners asked for more financial transparency and suggested a future packet with the community services department’s portion of the budget broken down by program and line item; staff agreed to present a draft departmental budget and explained the city’s fund-accounting approach.

The commission did not adopt a final work plan at the meeting. Chair Samuels proposed meeting offline with staff to synthesize the notes and return a recommended, prioritized list at the next commission meeting for formal adoption. Melissa Snyder and Community Services Director Lucy (last name not specified in the transcript) both agreed to help compile and present the draft.

Commissioners asked staff to ensure the work plan aligns with council priorities (governance and community engagement directives), and to include measurable items such as KPIs, quarterly financial reports for enterprise programs and an outreach strategy that reaches younger residents through school channels and social media.

","The Community Services Commission discussed and began prioritizing topics for the 2025 work plan, including a communications strategy, youth outreach, site/facility visits and a review of field-use permit policies. Staff agreed to work offline with the chair to synthesize the commission’s list and return a prioritized draft at the next meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6285944,"Skaters and residents urge repairs, staff says vendor inspection is scheduled",366,201000,567000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2566193-b177824714c8fbf34d2c036d88ff8e37&start=201&end=567","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2566193-b177824714c8fbf34d2c036d88ff8e37/thumbnail_201000.jpg","/articles/6285944/South-Pasadena-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Skaters-and-residents-urge-repairs-staff-says-vendor-inspection-is-scheduled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285944-34abf35a10f8ca86d29acb9998ce3efc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195431&Signature=fGQtIQS~ghtOBCE7iMcS41y9kb2PaenFEEmzJq5UURJQTo-8mkvusF~BJZj3OkADZhAm20w10KOCIE~iz~XDWK2cc9BJqkDqeUbE32Wh3Dlb0T5AHNdXv-44d7wTuIubQLxfo-~PiqTw5p6OcRMnenImJD4ljo-hh15QvosCkTv85oMXWzqix68zTn24Nna0BisZZB1RusAgKxCkRDq7eUU-E~GD65PcRt8P4qrdqo2qzty9g9YWb6xZqw8UPB5i9BXaDG63TadWk9hnq8wkdwLQjBVthPRApafIbFSreVwLaF8GwwTC-ZcIYBFmu1hyL2RhLPlwgJSDCjkYmE3TZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Patrick Cruz, a longtime South Pasadena resident and frequent user of the city skate park, told the Community Services Commission on March 10 that the facility needs maintenance and a few new obstacles to make it safer and more useful for local youth.

\"It's a great, great park,\" Cruz said, and added that skaters are repairing damage themselves and that the mini ramp has a hole patched with duct tape. He said younger children have been hurt and that the park lacks low, flat learning rails and other features suited to kids learning to skate.

The commission's deputy director for community services, Melissa Snyder, responded that staff has “already contacted the vendor that is going to be coming out to look at the skate park” and that the vendor was scheduled to do a site assessment but had not yet come because \"something had come up.\" Snyder said the vendor who originally installed the park, Spawn Ranch, conducts annual inspections: \"We do it annually. We have them come out annually, inspect all the ramps ... and they'll check all the screws to make sure everything is screwed in tightly,\" she said. Staff committed to coordinate maintenance with that vendor and to send the commission an update by email.

Commissioners and other speakers described additional problems beyond the ramp hole: a porta-potty described by multiple meeting participants as unsanitary and in need of more frequent servicing (staff said it is serviced twice a week), trash in and near the park associated with a nearby homeless encampment, and missing or improvised obstacles that skaters bring themselves and which can cause splinters or other injuries.

Commissioners suggested short-term steps staff can pursue while longer-range projects are handled through the parks comprehensive plan, including asking the vendor for a maintenance history and schedule and coordinating a site visit. The commission did not take a formal vote; staff noted they will obtain the vendor’s assessment and an estimate and will coordinate maintenance work as soon as the vendor is available.

The skate park remarks came during the meeting’s public comment period and were followed by staff and commissioner discussion identifying next steps: arrange the vendor site assessment, produce a maintenance schedule or report for the commission, and alert the parks comprehensive-plan consultant about skate-park safety and youth-access features.

Local skaters and parents asking for repairs said they are willing to assist with labor or provide dimensions for new rails, but that the city needs to fund the materials and schedule contractor or vendor work.

Staff and commissioners said they will follow up with a written status update for the commission.

","Residents and regular users of the South Pasadena skate park told the Community Services Commission the facility needs maintenance and new obstacles. Staff said the original vendor, Spawn Ranch, performs annual inspections and a site assessment was requested but delayed; staff will coordinate repairs once the vendor provides an estimate.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6285930,"Commission approves AYSO field use at Arroyo Southfield for spring season",127,4790000,4917000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2566193-b177824714c8fbf34d2c036d88ff8e37&start=4790&end=4917","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2566193-b177824714c8fbf34d2c036d88ff8e37/thumbnail_4790000.jpg","/articles/6285930/South-Pasadena-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Commission-approves-AYSO-field-use-at-Arroyo-Southfield-for-spring-season","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285930-fc8a6e7f601525f89000ab2a8c8ac939/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195431&Signature=f9wEHIRyqiX0oBQV9oni0mQjVvpSVzqbk3ac5zpKqdNmZJoaoWil7UJkZW-HFhEOL5PpH6q174bKd4FvaRVS0nfervSFeTmKyN6I~WeGpUiEdc7WsRgbZtBP26UsGzu6V7VPDwDdPlQNXTHw9qCGjn~1OpoS~h9X9d-nTcwZwa~n1nz9kEfcKbBGiEkh-kHgctt~3Dvis1wYbXXUcPwkrmjpzO1BfepkesQU4-qKLmg5yiXbvb9-HD9BFtZhNZu4B85qvWMAiGVPwruDbbr9NuVhmkMasJpPDDaylNUCi5k7ViadXxP68D5BHHiGeqVyzQEyuDBC9PE6cDF4OrViHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Community Services Commission approved a field-use request from American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) to use Arroyo Southfield between March 1 and May 31 on March 10.

Natalie (program staff) summarized the request: AYSO sought access Monday–Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with no scheduled field closures for maintenance noted at this time. Staff reported South Pasadena Little League agreed to share space when their programming did not conflict.

A motion to approve the permits was made and seconded; the commission recorded a roll-call vote in favor: Chair Samuels — yes; Vice Chair Plotkin — yes; Commissioner Alby Field — yes; Commissioner Bagasau — yes; Commissioner Weinberger — yes. The chair announced that the motion carried.

Staff noted the seasonal schedules change year-to-year and said dormancy of fields typically falls in late summer and winter months (example months noted: August and January). The commission approved the permit and staff will process formal permit documentation.

","The Community Services Commission approved AYSO’s request to use Arroyo Southfield March–May (weeknights and Sundays). Staff said Little League agreed to share fields when not using them. The permit passed by roll call.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission recommends keeping traditional fireworks at South Pasadena High School

Commission outlines priorities: communications, youth outreach, site visits and permit review

Skaters and residents urge repairs, staff says vendor inspection is scheduled

Commission approves AYSO field use at Arroyo Southfield for spring season