CITY OF PASADENA
LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE MINUTES
PASADENA CITY HALL
100 NORTH GARFIELD AVENUE
COUNCIL CHAMBER - ROOM S249
MAY 24, 2022
SPECIAL MEETING
The meeting was convened and held virtually by videoconference/teleconference.
OPENING
ROLL CALL:
Staff:
NEW BUSINESS
The Chair called the special meeting of the Legislative Policy Committee to order at 2:06 p.m.
Chair Steve Madison
Mayor Victor M. Gordo
Councilmember Gene Masuda
Cynthia Kurtz, Interim City Manager
Phillip Leclair, Acting Assistant City Manager
Michele Bagneris, City Attorney/City Prosecutor
Mark Jomsky, City Clerk
Matthew Hawkesworth, Director of Finance
David Reyes, Director of Planning and Community Development Rochelle Branch, Cultural Affairs Manager
Israel Del Toro, Senior Project Manager
Arlene Gallardo, Risk and Insurance Administrator
Whitney Harrison, Public Health Division Manager
Kristen Johnston, Management Analyst IV
Jennifer Paige, Deputy Director of Planning and Community Development
Timothy Park, Budget Administrator
Ron Takiguchi, Building Official
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary
AMENDMENT OF THE 2022 STATE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Phillip Leclair, Acting Assistant City Manager, introduced the item and Whitney Harrison, Public Health Division Manager for Social and Mental Health, reviewed the agenda report as part of a Powerpoint presentation, and responded to questions.
The committee discussed adding similar language to the City's Federal Legislative Platform in support of legislation that supports efforts to improve mental and behavioral health access and services for the community, including a framework that will help individuals with mental health and substance abuse disorders; and directed staff to prepare an agenda report with the requested information and agendize the matter at a future City Council meeting.
It was moved by Mayor Gordo, seconded by Councilmember Masuda, to approve the staff recommendation, and forward the item to the City Council for consideration:
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AYES: Mayor Gordo, Councilmember Masuda, Chair Madison
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
BUDGET WORKSHOP - FY 2023 RECOMMENDED OPERATING
BUDGET
a. PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT
David Reyes, Director of Planning and Community Development, provided introductory comments, and Kristen Johnston, Management Analyst IV, Ron Takiguchi, Building Official, and Israel Del Toro, Senior Project Manager, jointly presented a Powerpoint presentation on the item, with all responding to questions.
Chair Madison asked staff to consider reducing the number of outsourced consultant plan check referrals, preferring that City employees conduct the plan reviews.
Councilmember Masuda expressed concern with the City's current employment vacancies for planners and inspectors. In response, Director Reyes confirmed that they are currently five vacancies in the Planning Department and elaborated on the hiring and training process.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
Mayor Gordo was excused
and left the meeting at 2:36
p.m.
b. CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
NEW BUDGET ENHANCEMENT REQUEST
OVERSIGHT COMMISSION SUPPORT DIVISION
FOR
Michele Bagneris, City Attorney/City Prosecutor, presented Powerpoint presentation on the item, and responded to questions. a
In response to Councilmember Masuda's inquiry related to residents' concerns regarding the visibility of traffic signals and stop signs in the City, Interim City Manager Cynthia Kurtz responded that the Municipal Services Committee will be presented the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 recommended operating budgets for the Department of Transportation and Public Works Department, and both departments will work together to address those concerns.
In response to Chair Madison's inquiry related to how city departments are invoiced for City Attorney's Office legal services, Matthew Hawkesworth, Director of Finance, responded that the city undertakes a cost allocation plan study that is reviewed every two years, and such costs are allocated based on a variety of factors.
In response to Chair Madison's inquiry regarding the reviewing of claim reports, Ms. Bagneris, and Arlene Gallardo, Risk and Insurance Administrator, provided a brief overview and status report related to the City's Origami Risk Management software system.
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Mark Jomsky, City Clerk, stated that all claims received by the city are entered into the Origami Risk Management software system.
Following discussion, Chair Madison asked staff to provide an information report to the Legislative Policy Committee on trends identified in the claims filed against the City through the Origami Risk Management system.
Tamer Sabha, recording secretary, reported that the City Clerk's office received one letter of correspondence expressing support of the Community Police Oversight Commission proposed budget
enhancement for training.
Following further discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed. c. CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
Mark Jomsky, City Clerk, provided introductory comments, presented a Powerpoint presentation on the item, and responded to questions.
In response to Councilmember Masuda's concerns with staff returning to in-person meetings and the number of COVID-19 cases rising in Los Angeles County, Mr. Jomsky stated that the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and Mayor, will make the decision to recommend to the City Council to return to in-person meetings at an appropriate time taking into consideration the City's Public Health Director's recommendation and Governor Gavin Newsom's emergency order.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
d. FY 2023 ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS
Cynthia Kurtz, Interim City Manager, provided information on the fiscal year 2023 enhancement requests to improve the Public Works Department budget for intersection inspections, and the Transportation and Public Works departments improvements, and responded to questions.
Matthew Hawkesworth, Director of Finance, reported that all the City Council committees received the list of enhancement requests from all the City Departments, not including the request made by the City Attorney's Office for the Community Police Oversight Commission, presented earlier in the meeting. He further added that the enhancement requests are a list of programs, services, or equipment (approved by the City Manager) that are requested by departments to continue the work that has begun or to begin new projects, pending approval from the City Council; and responded to questions.
Chair Madison requested staff provide information to the City Council related to the enhancement requests and the City's adopted budget within the last three years.
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ADJOURNMENT
ATTEST:
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
On the order of the Chair, the special meeting of the Legislative Policy Committee was adjourned at 3:54 p.m.
^
CoyRcJ^p^mber Steve Madron, Chair
Legislative Policy Committee
Tariner Sabha
Recording Secretary
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