CITY OF PASADENA
City Council Minutes
September 29, 2022 - 5:00 P.M.
City Hall Council Chamber
SPECIAL MEETING
The special meeting was convened and held virtually by videoconference/teleconference.
OPENING:
ROLL CALL:
Councilmembers:
Staff:
Council Minutes
Mayor Gordo called the special meeting to order at 5:06 p.m. The pledge of allegiance was led by Councilmember Hampton.
Mayor Victor M. Gordo
Vice Mayor Andy Wilson
Councilmember Tyron Hampton
Councilmember Steve Madison
Councilmember Gene Masuda
Councilmember Jessica Rivas
Councilmember Felicia Williams
City Manager Miguel Marquez
City Attorney/City Prosecutor Michele Beal Bagneris
City Clerk Mark Jomsky
Mayor Gordo made introductory comments and provided an
overview of the City Council District 3 interview and appointment selection process.
The following members of the City Council publicly disclosed for the record their relationship, interaction and/or encounters with the three applicants, Justin Jones, Brandon Lamar, and Lucious Smith:
Mayor Gordo stated that he has known Pastor Lucious Smith for approximately 30 years, and was with him at the hospital the day Councilmember Kennedy passed away. He also reported on brief candid conversations with all three applicants regarding their interest in applying to fill the District 3 Council vacancy. Mayor Gordo noted that he saw Justin Jones at the Playhouse Village Park opening but they did not discuss the application process.
Councilmember Rivas stated that Mr. Lamar reached out to her before the application period had opened and prior to the ad hoc committee's decision to not meet with applicants. She reported that they had a brief and broad discussion about the application process in general and her experience going through the process in 2021 as one of the applicants for the District 5 vacancy.
Councilmember Williams stated that she is familiar with Justin Jones from his work on the Environmental Advisory Commission, and noted the two had spoken over the summer regarding some environmental policies and priorities. She also reported that she spoke with Mr. Jones regarding her experience on the City Council, 09/29/2022
PUBLIC COMMENT
REGARDING ITEMS ON
THIS SPECIAL MEETING
AGENDA
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before there was any restrictions regarding Councilmembers speaking with applicants about the appointment, as well as speaking with Brandon Lamar at the Playhouse Village Park opening and with Pastor Smith today in the hallway of City Hall.
Councilmember Madison stated that he also knows Pastor Smith, whose church is in his district, and considers him a friend. He noted that he recently saw Pastor Smith at a memorial vigil honoring Councilmember Kennedy in front of City Hall. Councilmember Madison reported that Pastor Smith left him a voicemail but did not return the call since it was agreed not to meet with the applicants outside the public interview process.
Councilmember Hampton stated that he knowns all three
applicants. He reported that he attended the same memorial vigil for Councilmember Kennedy in front of City Hall, as well as funeral services for the late District 3 representative, which Pastor Smith also attended. Councilmember Hampton reported that he returned a phone call from Pastor Smith call, but let him know that the ad hoc committee agreed not to meet with applicants outside the public interview process. Councilmember Hampton reported that Mr.
Jones is his appointee to the Environmental Advisory Committee, and that he spoke with Brandon Lamar after the ad hoc committee convened, to talk about some of Mr. Lamar's work with the Human Services Commission. He reported that he had not discussed the application process with any of the applicants.
Councilmember Masuda and Vice Mayor Wilson stated that they had no direct interaction with the any of the three applicants.
Mark Jomsky, City Clerk, reported that the City Clerk's Office received twenty-nine letters in support of Justin Jones, eighty-nine letters in support of Brandon Lamar, one letter in support of Lucious Smith, and fifteen letters providing comments on the appointment process, qualities for the City Council to consider when making the appointment, noting the pressing concerns in District 3; and/or advocating for a City Charter amendment to allow for a special election in lieu of an appointment process; with all correspondence distributed to the City Council, posted on-line, and made part of the public record.
The following individuals provided comments and concerns with the appointment process:
Daniel Gonzalez, Pasadena resident
Yadi, Pasadena resident
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Council Minutes
The following individuals advocated for the City Council to appoint Brandon Lamar as Pasadena Council District 3 Councilmember:
Tina Fredericks, Pasadena resident
Kimberly Douglas, Pasadena resident
Kaveh Naeeni, Pasadena resident
Dawn Burkhardt, Pasadena resident
Aeryn Levey, Pasadena resident
Brigitte Rooney, Pasadena resident
Ashay Patel, Pasadena resident
Ed Washatka, Pasadena resident
Maria Skelton, Van Nuys resident
Miss Bernard, Pasadena resident
APPLICANT PRESENTATIONS, INTERVIEWS, AND CITY
COUNCIL SELECTION OF AN APPOINTEE TO FILL A
VACANCY ON THE CITY COUNCIL, REPRESENTING DISTRICT
3, PURSUANT TO CITY CHARTER SECTION 404
The Mayor thanked the public speakers and individuals who submitted correspondence for their participation; and reported that applicants will be interviewed in the following order (as was determined by random drawing): Lucious Smith, Brandon Lamar, and Justin Jones.
Lucious Smith, Brandon Lamar, and Justin Jones, District 3 applicants, individually participated in an interview process, provided an overview of their personal and professional experiences, and responded to questions asked by each member of the City Council.
Following all presentations/interviews, the City Council deliberated on the qualifications of each applicant for the District 3 vacancy; and expressed their thanks, appreciation, and gratitude to all three applicants for their willingness and interest to serve in this important role to represent District 3.
Mayor Gordo, Vice Mayor Wilson, Councilmembers Hampton, Masuda and Williams expressed their support for Justin Jones.
Councilmembers Madison and Rivas expressed their support for Brandon Lamar.
Following discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Hampton, seconded by Councilmember Williams, to nominate Justin Jones to serve as the appointed City Councilmember representing District 3:
AYES:
NOES:
Councilmembers Hampton, Masuda, Williams, Vice
Mayor Wilson, Mayor Gordo
Councilmember Rivas
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I
ADJOURNMENT
ATTEST:
I
I
Council Minutes
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Councilmember Madison
The City Council congratulated and welcomed Justin Jones as the newly appointed Pasadena City Councilmember for District 3.
OATH OF OFFICE ADMINISTERED TO NEWLY APPOINTED
DISTRICT 3 COUNCILMEMBER BY CITY CLERK
City Clerk Jomsky administered the oath of office to Justin Jones as Pasadena City Councilmember representing District 3.
Mr. Jones thanked the City Council and the community for the opportunity to serve the residents of District 3.
On order of the Mayor, the special meeting of the City Council adjour ed at 9:30 p.m.
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