OPENING:
ROLL CALL:
Councilmembers:
Staff:
CITY OF PASADENA
City Council Minutes
January 18, 2023-3:30 P.M.
City Hall Council Chamber
Mayor Gordo called the special meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. The pledge of allegiance was led by Councilmember Rivas. (Absent:
None)
Mayor Victor M. Gordo
Vice Mayor Felicia Williams
Councilmember Tyron Hampton
Councilmember Justin Jones
Councilmember Jason Lyon
Councilmember Steve Madison
Councilmember Gene Masuda
Councilmember Jessica Rivas
City Manager Miguel Marquez
City Attorney/City Prosecutor Michele Beal Bagneris
City Clerk Mark Jomsky
APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT TRANSFERRING
$75,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH
DEPARTMENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2023 OPERATING BUDGET TO
PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES
Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council:
(1) Find that the recommended action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the "common sense" provision that CEQA only applies to projects that may have a significant effect on the environment; and
(2) Amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Operating Budget by transferring $75,000 from the General Fund to the Public Health Department to provide supplemental emergency shelter services to people experiencing homelessness. (Budget Amendment No. 2023- 14)
AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 ADOPTED
OPERATING BUDGET AND AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND
CONTRACT NO. 31830 WITH THE FID GROUP DBA FRIENDS IN
DEED WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE PROVISION OF
MOTEL VOUCHERS
Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council:
(1) Find that the recommended actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines per Section 15061(b)(3), the "common sense" provision that CEQA only applies to projects that may have an effect on the environment;
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(2) Amend the Department of Housing's Fiscal Year 2023 Adopted Operating Budget by transferring $100,000 from the unappropriated fund balance in the General Fund (101) to the Housing Department's Other Housing Fund (238) for expenses associated with the provision of weather-activated motel vouchers to people experiencing homelessness as detailed in the background section of the agenda report; (Budget Amendment No. 2023-15)
(3) Authorize the City Manager to amend Contract No. 31830 with The FID Group, dba Friends In Deed, to increase the total contract value by up to $50,000 for emergency shelter services as detailed in the body of the agenda report; (Contract No. 31830-5)
(4) Authorize the City Manager to further amend Contract No. 31830, if necessary, such that the total contract award may be increased by an additional $50,000 as detailed in the agenda report; and
(5) To the extent the amendments could be considered a separate procurement subject to the Competitive Selection Process, grant the contract an exemption pursuant to Pasadena Municipal Code (PMC) Section 4.08.049(B), contracts for which the City's best interests are served. These transactions are exempt from competitive bidding per PMC Section 4.08.030 and City Charter Section 1002(F) based on contracts for professional or unique services.
Mayor Gordo noted that the two agenda items listed above will be heard concurrently.
Bill hluang, hlousing Director, and Manual Carmona, Interim Director of Public Health, provided an oral oven/iew of the agenda items, and responded to questions.
Councilmember Hampton expressed concerns with reports that Friends In Deed turned away individuals seeking shelter from inclement weather during the recent storms; encouraged City staff to reach out to the City pari:ners and other service providers informing them not to withhold vouchers, but instead request additional resources when needed; spoke on the hesitancy of some individuals in seeking emergency shelter services, noting that they may feel more comfortable reaching out directly to other non-profits, such as Shepperd's Door and the City's violence interrupters; requesting that various non-profits and City partners working in the City be provided access to motel vouchers to further spread the availability and benefit of these important resources.
Mayor Gordo expressed his disappointment with the reported situation that Friends In Deed did not inform the City of the additional needed resources and that the City Council was not notified in real time; supported expanding access to vouchers through additional partners and non-profits to City's vulnerable populations, suggesting the City's Health Department, as well as Union Station be included.
Mayor Gordo commented that Friends In Deed is a very good Council Minutes201/18/2023
organization, and that he supports and appreciates their work and partnership in serving those in need, noting the history of the proceeds raised at the annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast that go to Friends In Deed.
Following questions raised by Councilmember Rivas and
Councilmember Madison related to the lack of a bad weather shelter site in the City, Housing Director Huang stated that there is a possible candidate for a new shelter site for next winter, the difficulty in securing such sites, even when City staff utilized a Request For Proposal (RFP) process, and stated that he intends to return to the Council with more information on the specifics of a possible bad weather shelter for next winter.
Councilmember Madison commented on the recent real human cry to have housing on religious property, stating that there should be a way to couple this and incentivise those religious facilities that have the space/facility to consider accommodating a bad weather shelter.
Vice Mayor Williams expressed support for staff's recommendation; stated that she looks forward to hearing about the progress of a possible new bad weather shelter site, as well as further policy discussions on increasing motel voucher funding, identifying different funding sources for PORT, and the possibility/consideration to on-street overnight parking (Safe Parking program) for the homeless.
Following discussion, Jennifer O'Reilly-Jones, Program Coordinator Ill, stated that the draft Homeless Plan is scheduled for presentation to the EdTech Committee in March or April, as well as a report towards the summer months on the results of the homeless count that will take place on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.
In response to Councilmember Lyon, Mr. Huang and Ms. O'Reilly- Jones, stated that they feel the recommended contract increase to Friends In Deed is sufficient for emergency shelter services for this winter season. Councilmember Lyon stated his support for staff to look into services that go beyond the traditional service providers and connecting with the organizations that are likely to encounter people who are newly homeless, such as schools (e.g., Pasadena Community College (PCC)) and Young and Healthy, noting that more than half of the City's homeless population are newly homeless and may not know the resources available to them.
The following individuals provided comments on the agenda item:
Raquel Calderon, Pasadena resident
Andrew Good, representing Pasadena for All
Jo Long, Pasadena resident
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Anthony Manousos, representing
Community Happen (MHCH)
Bert Newton, representing MHCH
Making Housing and
Mark Jomsky, City Clerk, reported that eleven letters in support of the staff recommendations for Agenda Items 3 and/or 4; and three letters expressing concerns with the staff recommendation and advocating for the City to increase the additional funding request for more motel vouchers for Agenda Item 4, which were received by the City Clerk's Office, distributed to the City Council, posted on-line, and made part of the public record.
Councilmember Hampton asked Mr. Huang to connect with
Pasadena For All; and noted that (in response to some comments made during public comment) a discussion related to virtual meetings to support both in-person and remote public comment will be heard at the Economic Development and Technology Committee (EdTech) meeting on January 31, 2023.
It was moved by Vice Mayor Williams, seconded by Councilmember Hampton to approve the staff recommendations for Items 3 and 4. (Motion unanimously approved) (Absent: None)
LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH LIVE NATION FOR TWO (2)
CONCERTS TO BE HELD ON OR AROUND SEPTEMBER 30 AND
OCTOBER 1,2023
Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council:
(1) Find that the license agreement proposed in the agenda report is categorically exempt under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15323 (Normal Operations of Facilities for Public Gatherings), there are no features that distinguish this project from others in this exempt class, and therefore, there are no unusual circumstances present; and
(2) Make the findings set forth herein and required by Pasadena Municipal Code (PMC) Section 3.32.270.A to authorize the Rose Bowl Operating Company (RBOC) to host displacement event number 22 and 23 for 2023. (Contract No. 23,789)
Mark Jomsky, City Clerk, reported that one letter expressing concerns with the number of displacement events for year 2023 and the problems with neighborhood impacts/protection from events, was received by the City Clerk's Office, distributed to the City Council, posted on-line, and made part of the public record.
Jens Weiden, Chief Executive Officer of the Rose Bowl; provided an oral overview of the agenda item and responded questions.
Mayor Gordo commented on the event being held on Sunday and acknowledged the concerns expressed by residents impacted by events being held on Sunday evenings.
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Vice Mayor Williams thanked Mr. Weiden for responding to the public comment concerns, expressed support for the Rose Bowl being "in the black" and her appreciation for all the new events and the new formats; and suggested that at a future time, when the RBOC stabilizes its strategic plan, that the City Council review the Arroyo Lands Ordinance for possible updates in terms of "right sizing" the number of displacement events that occur at the Rose Bowl/Arroyo for events under 25,000 people.
Mayor Gordo briefly commented on the definition of "displacement events" tied to the ordinance and expressed his support to revisit the Arroyo Lands Ordinance with the City Council and RBOC.
Mr. Weiden commented on his discussion with the City Manager and RBOC Board regarding the Operating Agreement that expires in June, noting that there will be opportunity for the City Council to weigh in on these issues at the time the agreement is renegotiated and submitted for approval. In response to Councilmember Hampton's concerns regarding trash being left behind after an event, Mr. Weiden stated that he will discuss with him possible supplemental clean up efforts after an event.
Councilmember Hampton expressed his support for approving the agenda item and thanked the RBOC and the Rose Bowl for the great work.
Councilmember Madison expressed his support to authorize the RBOC to host the displacement events, stating that the performance that is coming to the Rose Bowl is iconic; and acknowledged the concerns of Nina Chomsky and others who are mindful of the impacts on the neighborhood and thanked the Rose Bowl and Councilmember Hampton, and the City Council for their commitment to protect the neighborhood surrounding the Arroyo.
Mr. Weiden noted that attached to the agenda reports is the Event Impact Report, which was provided by Pasadena Center Operating Company (PCOC), which showcases the local spending and tax revenue for Pasadena, noting that Vice Mayor Williams was very helpful with this, as she requested this type of reporting from the RBOC.
Mayor Gordo expressed his appreciation to the RBOC, and thanked Councilmembers Hampton and Madison for their work with the Rose Bowl and Mr. Weiden, as well as their advocacy with regard to neighborhood concerns.
It was moved by Councilmember Madison, seconded by
Councilmember Hampton, to approve the agenda item. (Motion unanimously approved) (Absent: None)
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ADJOURNMENT
ATTEST:
Cit^lerk /
On order of the Mayor, the special meeting of the City Council adjouj^ed at 4:32 p.m.
(yjy^i.4^
Victor M. Gordo, Mayor
City of Pasadena
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