CITY OF PASADENA
City Council Minutes
March 7, 2022 - 4:00 P.M.
City Hall Council Chamber
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING
The meeting was convened and held virtually by videoconference/teleconference.
OPENING:
ROLL CALL:
Councilmembers:
Staff:
Pasadena Unified School
District, Board of Education
Staff:
Council Minutes
Mayor Gordo and President Pomeroy called the Special Joint meeting of the City Council and Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Board of Education to order at 4:06 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by PUSD President Pomeroy.
Mayor Victor M. Gordo
Vice Mayor Andy Wilson
Councilmember Tyron Hampton
Councilmember John J. Kennedy
Councilmember Steve Madison
Councilmember Gene Masuda
Councilmember Jessica Rivas
Councilmember Felicia Williams
Interim City Manager Cynthia Kurtz
City Attorney/City Prosecutor Michele Beal Bagneris
City Clerk Mark Jomsky
President Elizabeth Pomeroy
Vice President Michelle Richardson Bailey
Boardmember Kimberly Kenne
Boardmember Jennifer Hall Lee
Boardmember Patrick Cahalan
Boardmember Tina Fredericks
Boardmember Scott Phelps (Absent)
Dr. Brian McDonald, Superintendent of Schools
Elizabeth J. Blanco, Ed.D., Chief Academic Officer
Leslie Barnes, Ed.D., Chief Business Officer
Ree A. Harris-Hudson, Director of Early Childhood Education Department
HIGHLIGHT OF PUSD PROGRAMS PRESENTED BY PUSD
Elizabeth J. Blanco, Ed.D., Chief Academic Officer, and Ree A.
Harris-Hudson, Director of Early Childhood Education
Department, jointly presented a PowerPoint presentation on many of the Pasadena Unified School District's (PUSD)
programs, and responded to questions.
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Councilmembers Rivas and
Madison connected to the
meeting at 4:11 p.m., and
4:14 p.m., respectively.
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Boardmember Kenne provided information on PUSD's
International Baccalaureate Programmes and Math Academies.
Boardmember Cahalan and Dr. Brian McDonald,
Superintendent of Schools, provided information on PUSD's Center for Independent Study (CIS) Academy student
enrollment numbers and program purpose. Boardmember Hall Lee provided information on Blair High School's Junior Reserve Officers Training Corp (JROTC) program.
President Elizabeth Pomeroy encouraged Councilmembers to participate in the School District's Principal for a Day program, sponsored by Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) to get a better understanding of programs occurring at PUSD's schools.
Councilmember Hampton asked PUSD staff to provide
information on PUSD's most popular programs; and
recommended that Board of Education and City Council focus on and support successful student programs that garner the most interest of Pasadena students.
Ms. Blanco responded that PUSD staff is currently working on a Return on Investment project that will analyze all PUSD's initiatives and programs. and will share the data with the City Council once the project is complete. In response to
Councilmember Hampton's request, Ms. Blanco stated that PUSD staff will also provide data on the number of students who are graduating from John Muir High School with college credits.
Following discussion, Mark Jomsky, City Clerk, reported that one letter expressing concerns with PUSD not recognizing Blair High School's JR OTC program, was received by the City Clerk's Office, distributed to the City Council and Board of Education, posted online, and made part of the public record for the item.
Gabriel Lizardo, Pasadena resident, advocated for Latino representation on the Pasadena Unified School District
Board; and expressed concerns with Latino student's
reading capabilities and graduation rates.
In response to the public speaker and comments from
Councilmember Kennedy, Dr. McDonald stated that he will contact the public speaker to discuss and address his concerns related to student reading abilities and graduation rates of Latino students from PUSD.
Following discussion, on order of the President and Mayor, and by consensus, the information was received and filed.
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COMMUNITY SAFETY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS FOR
YOUTH PRESENTED BY CITY OF PASADENA
Brenda Harvey Williams, Interim Assistant City Manager, presented a PowerPoint presentation on the item, and
responded to questions.
Boardmember Fredericks advocated for joint, collaborative and integrated programs addressing student and community safety between PUSD and the City.
Interim City Manager Kurtz stated her willingness to meet with PUSD representatives to review both agencies' programs to determine if greater collaboration might occur for a larger community impact; and responded to questions.
Mayor Gordo responded that representatives from both PUSD and the City will meet to discuss Measures I and J, which will be a good opportunity to discuss collaborative community and school programs.
Dr. Brian McDonald, Superintendent of Schools, provided information on PUSD's internship school programs for PUSD students; and responded to questions
Councilmember Kennedy advocated for PUSD to consider
implementing a paid internship program similar to the City's Realizing Opportunities through Summer Employment (ROSE) program for PUSD students as another way to provide them with job training and monetary stipends.
Ricky Pickens, Community Violence Interventionist, provided information on the changing dynamics of gang intervention; and responded to questions.
City Clerk Jomsky reported that three letters providing comments on the matter, were received by the City Clerk's Office, distributed to the City Council and Board of Education, posted on line, and made part of the public record for the item.
The following individuals provided comments on the matter:
Michael Williams, Pasadena resident
Brittney Pollock, Sherman Oaks resident
Julia R., Los Angeles resident
Christy Zamani, representing Day One
Colin Bogart, representing Day One
Carolyn Ghiloni, Sierra Madre resident
Daniel Fong, representing Day One
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Yadi, Pasadena resident
Julie Martinez, Pasadena resident
Hiram Cormier Jr., Los Angeles resident
Kareena K., representing Black Lives Matter - Los Angeles Kate Mcinerny, Pasadena resident
Allen Shay, Pasadena resident
Following discussion, on order of the President and Mayor, and by consensus, the information was received and filed.
CURRENT JOINT USE AGREEMENTS PRESENTED BY
PUSD
Leslie Barnes, Ed.D. Chief Business Officer, presented a PowerPoint presentation on the item, including information on the various joint use agreement amendments; and responded to questions.
Vice Mayor Wilson provided information on the signed
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for McKinley School
which will provide both tennis and pickleball courts for the community.
Councilmember Williams requested information on the viability and process for converting closed PUSD schools into open space or creating additional MOU's for recreational uses, which may require amending the priority use order. She also
advocated for open recreational hours at PUSD school sites to allow pickle ball players some priority.
Council member Hampton asked staff to review PUS D's joint use agreements to ensure PUSD students are not displaced in favor of allowing outside organizations priority use of PUSD
recreational spaces and facilities.
Mark Jomsky, City Clerk, reported that twenty letters advocating for additional shared facilities within PUS□ schools to allow for the playing of pickleball, and four letters advocating for additional open park space, were received by the City Clerk's Office, distributed to the City Council and Board of Education, posted online, and made part of the public record for the item.
The following individuals provided comments on the matter:
Mike Alvidrez, representing Pickleball Players of Pasadena Jill Shook, representing Making Housing and Community
Happen
Christy Zamani, representing Partnership for Children,
Youth, and Families
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Interim City Manager Kurtz provided information on American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), Tom Sawyer Camps, and iTennis Rose Bowl lease agreements that use City properties; and responded to questions.
Boardmember Cahalan, member of PUSD's Facilities
Committee, invited the City Council to attend a Committee meeting to discuss various issues, including workforce housing.
Mayor Gordo suggested that a City staff member be assigned to attend PUSD's Facilities Committee meetings as a way to track the discussion on matters relevant to the City and collaboration with the School District. He also spoke on the need to for the City Council, PUSD Board of Education, and Pasadena City College (PCC) Board of Trustees to meet and discuss broader aspects of education in Pasadena, including educational needs, land use consistency, and vacant (or soon to be vacant) properties.
Councilmember Kennedy suggested that PUSD's
representatives contact Mr. Jim Osterling, PCC Trustee, who is involved in creating workforce housing.
Following discussion, on order of the President and Mayor, and by consensus, the information was received and filed.
CITY COUNCIL'S TASK FORCE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD
DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY LEARNING PRESENTED BY
CITY OF PASADENA
Interim City Manager Kurtz, presented a PowerPoint
presentation on the item, including information on the
establishment of a new Task Force and its work plan; and responded to questions. Mayor Gordo spoke on the importance of early childhood education to prepare children for when they enter into PUSD's education system.
City Clerk Jomsky reported that one letter thanking the City Council for considering early childhood education, and
advocating for a smarter approach to crime prevention within school age children in PUSD schools, was received by the City Clerk's Office, distributed to the City Council and Board of Education, posted online, and made part of the public record for the item.
Following discussion, on order of the President and Mayor, and by consensus, the information was received and filed.
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ADJOURNMENT
Council Minutes
Councilmember Hampton expressed appreciation and gratitude to President Pomeroy and Member Phelps for their service on the PUSD Board of Education.
On the order of the President and Mayor, the special joint meeting of the City Council and Pasadena Board of Education adjourned at 6:29 p.m.
Vic M. Gordo, May
City of Pasadena
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