Iraheta, Alba
From:
Sent: Monday, June 6, 2022 3:13 PM
To: Gordo, Victor; Madison, Steve; Rivas, Jessica; Masuda, Gene; Williams, Felicia; Hampton, Tyron; Kennedy, John J.; PublicComment-AutoResponse
Subject: Re: Why is Pasadena trying to thwart a state state Dethat will lower the cost of homes in our city?
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Dear Mayor Gordo and Council members,
As a Pasadena resident for ten years, I appreciate the Rose Bowl and see it as a venue that our city is deservedly proud of. However, I am deeply concerned about the Rose Bowl debt and do not want General Funds to be used for paying down this debt. I wantthe RBOC to come up with a viable plan, with a menu of options, to ensure that the RBOC will be self-sustaining.
I want to commend Sonja Berndt for calling the public's attention to this problem. She writes:
According to the PowerPoint presentation on agenda item #2, the RBOC "faces a cumulative deficit of $19.5 million after debt service through FY 2027." Further, "RBOC staff and its team of experts have identified approximately $45.6 million of unfunded capital repair, replacement, and improvement needs through FY 2028." The RBOC seeks the Council's authorization to (1) have the General Manager diligently pursue a number of potentially revenue-generating opportunities; and (2) have the incoming City Manager and incoming RBOC CEO work together and report to the RBOC and City Council quarterly with updates on progress.
Figuring out how to make the RBOC self-sustaining should be a priority of the City Council. We need to make sure that the RBOC doesn't drain funding from essential city services and needs. Mayor has pointed out, our city "desperately needs high quality affordable housing," with over 500 residents unhoused, over 600 PUSD students considered homeless, and 7,000 households in poverty, earning less than $35,000 per year and 70% paying more than 50% of their income on rent. Given this crisis, I feel we have a moral obligation to address this urgent need, not use our General Funds to pay for what is essentially an entertainment venue. Let's prioritize the need for housing over the desire for entertainment.
Sincerely,
Anthony Manousos
Co-founder of Making Housing and Community Happen.
06/06/2022
1 Item 2
Iraheta, Alba
From: KristinOckershauser <
Sent: Monday, June 6, 2022 2:31 PM
To: Gordo, Victor; Wilson, Andy; Hampton, Tyron; Kennedy, John J.; Madison, Steve; Masuda, Gene; Rivas, Jessica; Williams, Felicia; PublicComment-AutoResponse Subject: Inadequate RBOC/Council Effort to Close Dire Debt CAUTION: This email was delivered from the internef Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button Learn mere., June 6, 2022
Mayor Victor Gordo ([email protected])
Vice Mayor Andy Wilson ([email protected])
Councilmember Tyron Hampton ([email protected]) Councilmember John Kennedy ([email protected]) Councilmember Steve Madison ([email protected]) Councilmember Gene Masuda ([email protected])
Councilmember Jessica Rivas ([email protected]) Councilmember Felicia Williams ([email protected]) [email protected]
Pasadena, California
Re: 6/6/2022 City Council Meeting Agenda #1: Rose Bowl Operating Company Proposed FY2023. Operating Budget; and #2: Consideration of RBOC's Five-Year Strategic Initiatives Dear Mayor Gordo and Members of the City Council:
I join other taxpayers to register deep concern about the City's past payments toward the massive debt on the Rose Bowl and to strongly urge the City Council to commit to NOT spending any more funds from our General Fund or from our fund reserves to pay the debt. While the City is ultimately responsible for paying the debt if the RBOC cannot do so, the Council needs to ensure that the City and the RBOC work productively and urgently to address the RBOC's financial crisis.
As of May 2021, the Rose Bowl debt was $197.2 million. Our city's General Fund picked up $22.5 million of this for 2020 and 2021, and will again be asked for General Fund monies in 2024 and beyond. Meanwhile, other necessary city services will continue to suffer.
The proposals so far to find and develop new sources to pay the debt appear inadequate. However, corporate or major donor naming rights on the Arroyo campus and its assets, including the Rose Bowl, does appear more likely and does not have the substantial costs and delays of other options.
Likewise, the options involving ancillary opportunities to develop surrounding property in the Arroyo appear promising.
1 06/06/2022
Items 1 & 2
The manner in which the Council addresses the dire debt of the RBOC needs to be open to the public, the taxpayers, as opposed to how it's been done so far. Critical meetings of the "Rose Bowl ad hoc committee" this past year of the Mayor and Councilmembers Madison, Hampton and Williams have not been recorded or reported. This is not honest or prudent stewardship.
The Council needs to insist that RBOC take seriously the directive to develop adequate funding sources and report to the Council and the public their plans and results.
City taxpayers do not need an albatross of this size around our necks because RBOC will not work earnestly and quickly to develop adequate funding. And the Council must not be a silent partner in this dereliction of duty.
Sincerely,
Kris Ockershauser
District 6