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Q. How can I apply for monetary relief due to rainstorm
damage to my property?
A. Apply online at
http://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm or by calling (800) 621-FEMA. You will be
asked to provide your current mailing address and phone number, Social
Security number and what type of homeowners insurance you have. If you apply
online, be sure to print out a copy of the final confirmation page for your
records; if you apply by telephone, write down the confirmation number that
is given to you.
Q. Can I get relief on my property tax?
A. Possibly. Under state law, owners of properties appearing
on the county assessment roll are eligible to apply for a temporary
reduction in assessed value if rain, mud or other storm-related damage
amounts to $10,000 or more. Reassessment could mean a lower tax bill for the
period between the date the damage occurred and the date repair or
rebuilding was completed. Section 170 of the Revenue and Taxation Code
requires the application form to be submitted within one year of the date of
damage. Photographs and any other documentation, such as repair estimates,
should accompany the form. For more information, visit
http://lacountyassessor.com (click
on "Download Forms" and then select ADS-820) or call (213) 974-8658.
Q. Will the City of Pasadena handle disposal efforts for rocks, dirt,
sod, wood, etc., that came down private roads?
A. The City of Pasadena can take loads of dirt and rocks only. To apply for
a no-cost permit for this work, call the Administrative Office of the Public
Works Department at (626) 744-4233. To have other materials picked up (sod,
construction materials, etc.), call the Street Maintenance and Integrated
Waste Management Division of the Public Works Department at (626) 744-4087
or contact a private hauler.
Q. Can we use our annual one-time bulky item pickup for disposal of
debris from rainstorms?
A. Yes. There are regulations associated with this service. For more
information call the Street Maintenance and Integrated Waste Management
Division of the Public Works Department at (626) 744-4087.
Q. Can I transfer my annual one-time bulky item pickup to someone else if
I haven't used it yet?
A. No.
Q. My home is on a hillside; does the Hillside Ordinance apply if I have
to rebuild?
A. Not if you rebuild to original specifications.
Q. What are the reimbursement mechanisms for private property owners
related to declarations of emergency?
A. If the President of the United States
declares an emergency regarding the same issue, the City of Pasadena will
publicize and post contact information immediately for property owners who
may be eligible for reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA). As the
City of Pasadena receives status updates, we will publicize the information
through news releases and community newsletters and will post it on this web
page.
Q. How should we prepare for additional possible rainstorms in the near
future?
A. The best preparation is to make sure your roofs, retaining walls, etc.
are in good shape and rain gutters are free from debris. The City of Pasadena's MASH+ program offers home repair
and maintenance services at low costs to Pasadena residents. Call the MASH
and MASH+ Office at (626) 744-7620 for more information. To find out if you
need a permit, call the Planning and Development Department at (626)
744-4200.
Q. Who is responsible for damage to private roads?
A. The owners of private roads are solely responsible. Private roads are not
public property. When private roads are built by developers, the City of
Pasadena requires studies related to drainage and compaction. However, the
City of Pasadena cannot legally require developers to conform to the same
standards for minimum width, curbs, gutters and street lights that are
required for public roads.
Q. Will the City of Pasadena make improvements to private roads at
homeowners' expense?
A. Possibly. The City of Pasadena could enter into a contract with a
Homeowners Association to make the improvements, but would need to recover
all costs associated with this project, including Living Wage Ordinance
requirements for payment to contractors. For more information call the
Street Maintenance and Integrated Waste Management Division of the Public
Works Department at (626) 744-4087.
Q. How can a private road be converted to a public road?
A. Private streets must meet all City of Pasadena standards for width
(minimum 32 feet), pavement thickness (4 inches of asphalt over 4 inches of
rock), drainage (including possible construction of a storm drain system),
curbs and gutters, plus walls and other objects and structures within the
proposed right of way. In addition, license agreements must be completed
between the City of Pasadena and owners of properties that abut a private
road. The approval process is time-consuming and requires a series of
reviews and inspections. For more information call the Administrative Office
of the Public Works Department at (626) 744-4233.
Q. When will the streets be cleaned?
A. After the Public Works Department has attended to more immediate needs,
including assessments of roadway conditions and hillsides, removal of debris
from storm drains, and removal of fallen trees and branches.
Q. Can additional street sweepers be assigned until the mud and water and
rocks stop flowing?
A. Street sweepers are not effective tools for cleaning large quantities of
dirt on the city streets. Instead, tractors and loaders are being used to
scoop up dirt and load it into trucks for transport to disposal sites. Dirt
is then washed off the street and into gutters by water trucks, a process
that is somewhat slow because State law requires that water be blocked from
entering storm drains.
Q. Will City staff advise me on what repairs need to be made to my
property?
A. It depends on what needs to be done. If there is a structural or safety
issue, be sure to call the Planning and Development Department at (626)
744-4200 to schedule an inspection.
Q. What are public health issues related to raw sewage associated with
the rainstorms?
A. Never stay in an area where raw sewage accumulates and make sure no part
of your body touches raw sewage. If you do come in direct bodily contact
with raw sewage, consult with your family physician immediately. Sensitive
population groups including children, seniors and persons with weakened
immune systems are at a higher risk of illness if they come in direct
contact with raw sewage. To report raw sewage, call the Street Maintenance
and Integrated Waste Management Division of the Public Works Department at
(626) 744-4087; to learn about the proper cleaning of a home or personal
belongings that have been contaminated with raw sewage, call the
Environmental Health Division of the Pasadena Public Health Department at
(626) 744-6004.
Q. What are public health issues related to standing water and potential
for mosquitoes?
A. Potential mosquito breeding can be found anywhere there is standing
water. Standing water found in discarded tires, rain gutters, containers,
decorative ponds and potted plants should always be emptied immediately. To
report standing water along streets and sidewalks, call the Environmental
Health Division of the Pasadena Public Health Department at (626) 744-6004.
Q. When will all storm drains be cleaned out?
A. This is a high priority for the Public Works Department. Crews work hard
to ensure that water will move through the storm drain system during the
next storm.
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