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South Pasadena Beautiful celebrates this year’s superbloom of springtime flowers by featuring six residential properties for its 2023 Golden Arrow Award. We encourage you to take a look at these front gardens while the blooms are still at their peak and enjoy the showcase of spring color all over South Pasadena!

Christian and Amanda Mazza knew when they moved to 1715 Diamond Avenue that they wanted to remove the grass lawn and create a drought-tolerant landscape. They worked with Canterbury Landscaping to create a vibrant garden to welcome butterflies, bees, and birds. The old grass irrigation system was replaced with a new, water-wise irrigation system best suited for the new drought-tolerant plantings which include Salvia ‘marine blue’, Phlomis fruticosa, Dietes iridioides ‘Variegata’, Verbena lilacina ‘De La Mina’ and Achillea ‘moonshine’. Additionally, as the home originally only had access to the front patio and front door from steps on the side, via the driveway, new steps leading to the front garden were added, along with a meandering flagstone pathway that compliments the surrounding landscape design. A few copper LED lights were added along the path and others for additional landscape lighting.

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The 1913 Craftsman bungalow at 1228 Stratford has been planted and maintained by owner Erin P. Moore. Near the front porch are Matilija Poppies, Black Sage, yellow Channel Islands Tree Poppy, and Pride of Madera. Shade trees include White Crepe Myrtle, Eastern Redbud, California Sycamore, and on the parkway Live Oak and Valley Oak. The sunny spots in the left corner include California Bush Sunflower (Brittlebush), Yellow Yarrow, Purple Sage, California Fuchsia, and Mallow. The shady areas include native Iris and Coral Bells. In front of the Sycamore are a St. Katherine’s Lace, White Sage (larger), Catalina Perfume, a small Hearst’s Ceanothus, new Toyon and Showy Island Firecracker snapdragon. The parkway features Manzanita, Jerusalem Sage, and a Pittosporum. The nasturtiums have gone wild and add a taste of color for the spring. African Daisies, Spanish and French Lavender, and Mexican Sage are easy drought tolerant fillers when the spring bloom ends. The owner waters less than once a week in the summer and not at all from November to June (except for the new purchases) and the garden is a certified wildlife habitat.

Michelle Del Rosario and Steven Fu set out to re-landscape their dated front yard at 1317 Marengo Avenue in hopes that the many families walking by on their way to and from school each day could enjoy it. When designing their garden, the homeowners wanted to make sure that it was more drought tolerant, had an organic feel, and displayed a beautiful array of colors through mostly foliage since Steven is allergic to pollen. To help their garden goals come to fruition, they collaborated with Sergio Gomez, owner of All About Garden, to design and implement a water-wise garden that included plants such as Cleveland Sage, Ascot Rainbow Euphorbia, Blue Glow Agave, Purple Heart and Tricolor Tradescantia, and Lampranthus Deltoides. They were then thoughtfully arranged to diversify the colors, heights, and varieties of plants around a dry creek bed which cuts across the face of the garden and intersects the flagstone pathway leading to the house’s entrance. Other plantings on the property include Loropetalum, Westringia Fruticosa, Foxtail Fern, a Cercis Tree and a Dwarf Olive Tree. Three years later, Michelle continues to add and replace plants in her never-ending quest for her dream garden!

A thriving native pollinator ecosystem replaced a 30-year-old lawn at 809 Grand Avenue. Rion Nakaya, who grew up in South Pasadena, and her Brooklyn-born husband, Michael Cosentino, took on the DIY gardening project after renovating the family home in 2019. A work in progress, the yard now boasts a vibrant spring showcase of purples, yellows, and oranges featuring Cleveland sage, verbena de la mina, Palmer’s abutilon, museum palo verde trees, and California poppies. White sage and dark star ceanothus adorn planters near the house, while recent additions—St. Catherine’s Lace, red buckwheat, sunset manzanita, Dara’s choice, hummingbird sage, Catalina Island snapdragon, fuchsia, and yarrow—aim to extend the yard’s blooms into summer, autumn, and winter. Three years on, the waterwise yard attracts diverse pollinators, including hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and the occasional white-lined sphinx moth. Nakaya also enjoys connecting with passing neighbors while she tends to the garden.

Elizabeth and David Mauceli transformed their conventionally landscaped front yard of their 1927 storybook house at 515 Grand Avenue into a watershed garden with the help of Julie Deamer. Inspired by the nearby Arroyo Seco, they created a riparian landscape that attracts and supports native birds and insects with drought-tolerant plants such as desert olive (Forestiera pubescens), rock rose (Cistus spp.), and ceanothus (Ceanothus spp.). Several native bird species now nest on the property, adding to the biodiversity and beauty of the garden. The garden is also full of wildflowers this spring, such as California poppies, arroyo lupine, and tidy tips, among others, creating a colorful and fragrant display. A majestic velvet ash tree (Fraxinus velutina) shades the garden, while a custom-made arbor and gate by local artisan Andrew Karl at Kindred Furniture adds a touch of whimsy. The arbor’s arch mirrors the peaks of their house, creating a harmonious and inviting entrance.

A native plant habitat garden surrounds Barbara and Jim Eisenstein’s 113 year-old Craftsman home at 1852 Monterey Road. Over the past twenty-five years, Barbara has gradually transformed their lawn-dominated, traditional yard into a wild suburbia. Each year as new native plants replaced bits of lawn, more birds, insects, lizards and other critters appeared. Now the yard is alive with juncos, towhees, cedar waxwings, and so much more. The birds feast on insects sheltering among the natural mulch that forms from fallen leaves. The change has been dramatic and rewarding. On most days, Barbara can be seen tending the garden. Neighbors stop to chat, often exclaiming that it looks like a lot of work, but to her it is all play. Barbara writes about native plant horticulture for her blog, WeedingWildSuburbia.com. She is author of the book, Wild Suburbia – Learning to Garden with Native Plants.

Visit our website at southpasbeautiful.org for more information and to sign up for our newsletters. Do you have a garden to recommend for future Golden Arrow Awards? Email us at [email protected]

South Pasadena City Council Member Michael Cacciotti is encouraging residents and independent gardeners to attend a special demonstration of battery-powered leaf blowers on Wednesday, February 8, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Garfield Park.

Air pollution, ear-piercing noise, global warming and the associated health risks were the impetus two years ago behind South Pasadena City Councilmember Michael Cacciotti’s push for a city-wide ban on gas-powered leaf-blowers.

With it now in effect, yet lightly enforced during a lengthy educational period designed to show the merits of electric over gas, Cacciotti is extending that effort by inviting the public, including independent gardeners and others, to a demonstration of battery powered leaf blowers – void of harmful emissions – on Wednesday, February 8, on a drop-in basis, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Garfield Park in the city.

With strict implementation of the city’s ban on the use of gasoline powered leaf blowers set to start in the next several weeks, “this provides another opportunity for our residents and their gardeners to learn the numerous benefits and substantial advancements in the power, quality and reliability of these battery-powered pieces of equipment,” explained Cacciotti. “Seeing and personally experiencing the new generation of advanced commercial battery electric lawn equipment will dispel concerns about the ability of this equipment to operate comparably with dirty, loud, polluting gasoline powered lawn equipment.”

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Information on huge state financial incentives offered by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for the purchase of electric powered equipment will also be provided at the event. In addition, the California Clean Off Road Equipment (CORE) Voucher Incentive Project is offering up to 70 percent off on electric leaf blowers, including batteries and chargers.

“Qualifying backpack battery electric leaf blowers are eligible for an up to $400 per tool voucher incentive (discount) at the point of sale,” explained Cacciotti. “Further, batteries on the backpack and hand held electric leaf blowers are eligible for up to $1,000 in incentive funding. Qualifying battery chargers are also eligible for a voucher of up to $5,000. I would recommend gardeners and other interested individuals act sooner than later as I don’t anticipate these incentive funds will be available in several months as many gardeners around the state are taking advantage of the great program discounts!”

Cacciotti is encouraging property owners, property managers, professional gardeners/landscapers “and anyone else interested in learning about and trying out the most advanced battery electric commercial lawn and garden equipment, including leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, lawn mowers, line trimmers” to attend the demonstration event.

On hand for the walk-through, showing electric versus gas-powered leaf blowers and other gardening maintenance devices, will be Dan Mabe from the American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA). The non-profit organization is dedicated to advancing the use of electric and zero-emission equipment in the creation of safe, clean, quiet, and sustainable work environments. AGZA offers a variety of services, including consulting and certifications, educational programs, and green zone creation and management.

“Gas powered leaf blowers and all the gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment has now for the first time surpassed cars and light duty trucks as a harmful source of pollution in our state,” said Cacciotti. “Dirty gasoline powered leaf blowers emit harmful pollutants such as nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, benzene and particulate matter. Nitric oxide combines with volatile organic compounds in the air we breathe and sunlight to produce unhealthy smog, which covers our sky many times each year. The cumulative effect of the thousands of polluting gas powered leaf blowers adversely impacts the health of all humans and their pets, particularly those suffering from asthma, COPD, and other respiratory illnesses.”

When it comes to noise from gas-powered leaf blowers, the council member warned of the long-term physical impact on the hearing of gardeners who use, what he calls, “dirty, polluting equipment everyday,” and on residents “subjected to the daily loud noise from these internal combustion engines heard almost daily in their neighborhoods.”

New battery-driven leaf blowers are not only efficient but in Cacciotti’s mind, as quiet as an electric run Tesla zipping down the roadway.

Emissions from gas-powered motors “contribute to climate change, which impacts the severity and frequency of devastating weather events such as severe storms/hurricanes/tornadoes, flooding, and extreme droughts,” he said. “These extreme weather events as we have seen in just the past few years have caused billions of dollars in property damage and the loss of life all over the world.”

The damage and destruction, Cacciotti insisted, “have also impacted city, county and state budgets as officials try to manage the costly damage caused by these extreme weather events on our infrastructure – our roads, properties, buildings, water systems and pipes, etc.”

Efforts to inform residents about the ban on gas-powered leaf blowers have been made through the City of South Pasadena website, social media posts, newsletter blasts, during a city-hosted open house last fall and written correspondence to local households and businesses.

The city is taking what it calls a soft touch approach, contacting non-electric leaf blower users with information about the ban, and plans to follow it up with stricter compliance efforts through notifications and citations in the coming days.

In 2008, while continuing to serve on the South Pasadena City Council, Cacciotti, a passionate environmentalist, was selected by the mayors/councilmembers in the 34 cities of the Eastern Los Angeles County to represent them on the governing board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), an agency he continues to serve today. Last month, he was named the vice chair of the organization, which includes 13 board members.

The SCAQMD initially launched its crusade January 1, 1977, setting out to conduct efforts that would help improve air quality and public health in the four counties – LA, Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange – it represents. The agency is responsible for regulating stationary sources of air pollution in the South Coast Air Basin, and the Coachella Valley portion of the Salton Sea Basin in Southern California.

Late in 2021, the City of South Pasadena started a community outreach effort for the gas-powered leaf-power ban designed to go into effect October 1 2022.

Educating the public was only one piece in implementing the task. Cacciotti, the catalyst in the ban’s push, joined others on the council in creating a timeline for its ultimate successful execution while researching grants through the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and other programs that could be called on to subsidize the cost of going electric and efficiently minimize the impact on residents, businesses and land care professionals looking to make the switch.

While the ban has been on the books since last October, city staff delayed its full implementation until early this year while community education efforts, like the one scheduled next Wednesday, spread citywide.

Cacciotti likes the idea the equipment demonstration will be a way for community members and professional gardeners to see a variety of electric leaf blowers, lawn mowers, trimmers and hedge clippers in action. City work crews are already making use of the devices in parks throughout town.

“Similar to electric cars, operating battery powered lawn maintenance equipment will result in the gardener realizing substantial savings in the first year of operation, based on the cost of purchasing gasoline, oil, spark plugs, and air filters as opposed to the much lower cost of charging with electricity,” Cacciotti said. “I hope a lot of people come out and support our city’s effort in going electric with the use of leaf blowers and not breathing particles, contaminants, vapors and gases.”

For additional information about programs, events, and resources, go to: SouthPasadenaCA.gov/LeafBlowers or visit [email protected] or call (626) (626) 403-7240.

A free electric leaf blower event, hosted by the City of South Pasadena, was held last week in Garfield Park. A ban on gas-powered leaf blowers went into effect last October.

Winding his way through neighborhoods in South Pasadena last week, City Councilmember Michael Cacciotti was on a mission to seek out gardeners working around homes, especially those using loud, noisy, polluting gas-operated leaf blowers.

Once targeting them, Cacciotti, an environmentalist fierce in his efforts to clear the air of toxins, passed along information that the city has placed a ban on the devices in favor of emission free electric models as an eco-friendly option to improve the lives of others in the town he helps to govern.

Cacciotti also invited the dozen or so gardeners he met along his travels to a free electric leaf blower event, hosted by the city, going on that day at the entrance of the city’s Garfield Park.

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South Pasadena city staff was on hand at the site to answer inquiries about the citywide ban that went into effect last October, and is slowly gaining traction by independent gardeners and local citizens. Eventually, after making the rounds notifying yard workers and some of his constituents, Cacciotti made it to the park centrally located in town where he was joined by members of the American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA), B&M Lawn & Garden Center, Ace Hardware, West Coast Arborist and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) – all trumpeting the sound of battery use over gas when it comes to power.

“We anticipated a push back from some of the gardeners in going all-electric as we were getting the word out,” explained Cacciotti, “We notified all the property owners in the city about the ban, and now there’s no excuse. People have to make the conversion. A lot of people in favor of the ban are getting impatient in hearing gas-polluting leaf blowers in our city.”

A small percentage, maybe five percent of gardeners in town, according to Cacciotti, has made the switch to battery-operated leaf blowers. In addition to his civic duties in South Pasadena, the five-time mayor who joined the council in 2001 has been on the board of directors for the South Coast Air Quality Management District for 15 years and currently serves as the organization’s vice chair, recently elected to the prestigious position.

“We have a lot more to do to get the word out about the ban in our city before we begin issuing warnings, followed up by fines to those not using them,” he said. “Gas-powered leaf blowers are a major source of pollution and seriously impacts our residents, children, seniors, and animals. It’s making a health impact on all of us and we need to do something about it now.

“These harmful particulates pass our blood brain barrier and go to our circulatory system, into our organs, into our lungs, into our heart,” Cacciotti continued. “We know it causes premature deaths, affects kids with asthma, autism and is associated with Alzheimer’s disease. This is something very, very serious.”

Through his dedication and efforts, Cacciotti has become a prominent figure in the environmental activism movement in California and a source of inspiration for those who share his vision for a more sustainable future.

“I’m passionate about protecting the health of others,” he insisted, pointing out there are significant savings available to those looking to make the switch to electric powered lawn and garden equipment. “We’re patiently moving forward. Our ban on gas-powered leaf blowers is a benefit for everybody.”

Dan Mabe, founder and president of AGZA, an organization dedicated to promoting sustainable landscaping practices and reducing noise and air pollution in outdoor environments, was busy demonstrating a variety of battery-powered lawn and maintenance equipment during the April 6 event.

Mabe is considered a leading expert in green landscaping, and his work has helped to raise awareness about the impact of gas-powered landscaping equipment on the environment and public health, helping to drive a shift toward more sustainable healthy practices in the industry. AGZA works with parks, schools, municipalities, and other organizations to certify them as “Certified Green Zones,” using electric and battery-powered landscaping equipment.

AGZA Green Zones prioritize the use of low-noise, low-emission equipment and sustainable landscaping practices to create healthier, more livable outdoor areas.

AGZA is making a significant effort in reducing carbon emissions, promoting sustainable landscaping practices, and overall improving air quality. He is a passionate advocate for sustainable landscaping and has been recognized for his work by the U.S. EPA and the Sierra Club, along with SCAQMD, of course.

The Clean Off-Road Equipment Incentive Voucher Project or simply California CORE, for short, and SCAQMD are offering incentive programs in an effort to get battery-operated lawn and maintenance equipment into the hands of gardeners, and away from polluting gas devices.

The California CORE project, according to its website, is a $27 million voucher incentive effort intended to encourage California off-road equipment users to purchase or lease commercialized zero-emission technology with a point-of-sale discount.

“This is statewide money and it’s going fast,” said Cacciotti. “People need to jump on it. Word to the wise, move quickly or you’re going to be spending full price for the same equipment.”

SCAQMD’s Commercial Electric Lawn and Garden Equipment Incentive and Exchange Program, available to commercial landscapers and gardeners, including the “mom and pop” variety, along with cities, school districts and non-profits, can receive an 85 percent discount on battery-operated devices at pre-authorized retailers.

“Just think about how much people can save in going the electric-powered route,” said Cacciotti, “and how much it’s going to help the environment. Gardeners will no longer have to buy gas again, never buy oil, never have to buy spark plugs, oil filters, never have to inhale those pollutants and chemicals. And on top of all that, they will appreciate not hearing those loud sounds from gas-powered leaf blowers ever again in our city.”

Through the SCAQMD, Cacciotti said about $4 million is available for the 17 million people it serves in the four-county region.

Mabe engaged about 25 gardeners, telling them about two incentive programs designed to reduce the costs for them to switch to electric. “I asked all of them, ‘Do you have an old piece of gas-powered equipment that is on its way out and needs replaced?’ One hundred percent of them said yes. At that point, I was able to break down the savings of the two programs, and they recognized that it does make sense to go with the battery-operated equipment. The event was very successful in that respect.”

To learn more about California CORE and its discounts, go to Californiacore.org.

AQMD programs are available to all individuals in the agency’s four-county jurisdiction – LA, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside. For more information about savings, go to: www.aqmd.gov/LawnGarden.

Calling it another “productive and memorable year,” outgoing South Pasadena Mayor Michael Cacciotti expressed his thanks to the council, and recognized those in the community who have continued to serve on a variety of commissions and committees as he delivered the city’s year-end annual State of the City address.

Cacciotti, the longest running councilmember in South Pasadena’s history – his service beginning back in 2001 – also acknowledged a wide range of organizations and groups before showing a video of some the city’s main accomplishments, along with a variety of activities over the course of the past year.

“As my 21st year on the City Council and fifth term as mayor comes to a close, I am excited and relieved to hand over the mayor’s baton to our mayor pro tem,” said Cacciotti, referring to Jon Primuth, the person holding that position. The council will be reorganizing as part of its regularly scheduled December 21 meeting at South Pasadena City Hall.

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Along with a new mayor and mayor pro tem, Janet Braun will take over the council seat vacated by Diana Mahmud, who decided not to seek re-election.

Reflecting on the past year, Cacciotti said it took a team effort to accomplish a myriad of tasks during his time in the mayoral seat. “First,” he said. “I want to thank my colleagues on the current city council – Mayor Pro Tem Jon Primuth, Councilmembers Diana Mahmud, Jack Donovan and Evelyn Zneimer – who have worked tirelessly over the past two years, reviewing staff reports and attending commission, City Council and regional agency meetings late into the night or early in the morning, meetings with residents, attending city and chamber events.”

The City of South Pasadena, pointed out Cacciotti, has approximately 20 local city commissions, committees and ad hoc committee meetings that all five council members must attend in addition to regular City Council open and closed sessions each month.

“In addition to those, there are more than 20 regional agencies and groups, including various committees, that some of the council members must participate in each month to give South Pasadena a seat at the table and the opportunity to secure much needed grant funds for our city,” he continued.

In addition, Cacciotti thanked dozens of citizen volunteers “that sacrifice their time each month to represent our community on over a dozen city advisory commissions, boards, and ad hoc committees to consider issues involving youth, seniors, preservation, parks, the library, development standards, transportation, finance, public art and public safety. With their professional experience, these commissioners provide recommendations to the City Council on many important issues.”

Cacciotti stressed that city policy is set by the City Council, “but our incredibly dedicated and competent city staff of approximately 150 full time and dozens of seasonal part-time staff implement the city’s vision, strategic plan and priorities through their day-to-day work serving our residents and merchants,” he added.

Cacciotti further thanked the “active and supportive” Chamber of Commerce, including the organization’s CEO Laurie Wheeler and her committed board of directors and members.

A video shown following his opening remarks highlighted efforts made by South Pasadena City Manager Arminé Chaparyan, and all the departments she oversees while implementing the City Council policy and vision.

In the video, Cacciotti praised “the many community organizations that always donate their time and talents to improve our community” including Rotary, Kiwanis, WISPPA, DUDES, Oneonta, the South Pasadena Preservation Foundation, the Woman’s Club of South Pasadena, South Pasadena Chinese-American Club, Vecinos, volunteer leaders in the Boy and Girl Scouts, Youth Sports coaches, referees, team parents, the board for region 214, South Pas AYSO, and volunteers in the South Pasadena Little League program.

“Also an integral and active part of our city is our faith based communities who serve our residents and those in need of food and clothing and spiritual and emotional healing,” insisted the mayor.

Cacciotti also said he’d be remiss if he didn’t mention “our outstanding regional, state and federal elected officials who represent us,” before singling out LA County Board of Supervisor Kathryn Barger, State Assembly member Chris Holden, current Assembly member Mike Fong, and State Senator Anthony Portantino, noting that “all are in powerful leaderships positions in Sacramento, and Congresswoman Judy Chu in Washington D.C.”

The mayor stressed that all the state and national representatives have supported South Pasadena financially at various times through legislation and advocacy in the county board room, State Capitol and in Washington DC.

Further, Cacciotti recognized the Spectrum team for providing live feeds of council meetings and special meetings for residents, before showing appreciation to city employee Mary Jerejian, “who worked tirelessly” producing the video of some of what transpired in South Pasadena in 2022. He went on to thank “our essential workers at our grocery stores, restaurants, health care workers and others who directly assisted our community during this nearly three year pandemic.”

Cacciotti opened his comments talking about the city’s long, rich, and multicultural history, talking about its earliest inhabitants – Tongva / Gabrielino tribes, later the influx of Spanish explorers, the importance of the city’s historic El Adobe Flores, constructed in 1839, which served as the headquarters for General Juan Maria Flores during the Mexican-American War, and further the impact of the War Memorial Building on Fair Oaks Avenue built in 1921.

He also talked about South Pasadena becoming an incorporated city in 1888, breaking away from Pasadena at a time when its population was a mere 500 residents, growing to roughly 26,000 today. He noted that South Pasadena is part of the San Gabriel Valley’s 30-plus cities, one of 88 in LA County and one of the more than 500 in California.

“Overall, our city is in good fiscal condition,” said the mayor, operating with a balanced general fund budget, revenues versus expenses, of approximately $92 million with about $20 million in reserves.”

Like many cities, Cacciotti knows South Pasadena is facing similar short and long-term challenges, whether it’s improving streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, city facilities, buildings, parks and the water and sewer systems. Capturing storm water during a drought, monitoring the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), and disposal of State Route 710 properties or Caltrans houses with the absence of a freeway are other important issues facing the city.

At the close of his State of the City address, Cacciotti told audience members inside the council chambers and those watching from home, “So, sit back with us and enjoy as we take a general look at South Pasadena in 2022.”

The December 7, 2022 City Council Meeting Video may be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s2xxowO8NQ and http://www.spectrumstream.com/streaming/south_pasadena/2022_12_07.cfm

South Pasadena Measure LL was on the ballot as a referral in South Pasadena on November 8, 2022. It was approved.

Election results

Text of measure

The ballot title for Measure LL was as follows:

Path to the ballot

This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing body of South Pasadena.

How to cast a vote

Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in California.

See also

External links

Footnotes