CITY OF PASADENA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JANRUARY 30, 2024 - 5:30 P.M.
CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBER
SPECIAL IVIEETING
OPENING
ROLL CALL:
Staff:
Councilmember Lyon called the special meeting of the Economic Development and Technology Committee to order at 5:33 p.m.
Councilmember Tyron Hampton, Chair (Arrived at 6.06 p.m.) Vice Mayor Steve Madison
Councilmember Jason Lyon
Councilmember Jessica Rivas
David Klug, Director of Economic Development
William Huang, Director of Housing
Jennifer O'Reilly-Jones, Program Coordinator III
Christopher Page, Project Manager
Dion O'Connell, Deputy City Attorney
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary
APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Councilmember Rivas, seconded by Vice Mayor Madison, to approve the minutes of September 19, 2023, October 17, 2023, November 21, 2023 (Cancelled Meeting), December 19, 2023 (Cancelled Meeting), and January 16, 2024 (Cancelled Meeting), as submitted. (Motion unanimously carried) (Absent: Councilmember Hampton)
OLD BUSINESSPASADENA CONTINUUM OF CARE HOIVIELESSNESS PLAN William Huang, Director of Housing, provided introductory comments, and Jennifer O'Reilly-Jones, Program Coordinator III with the Housing Department, presented a Power Point presentation on the updated Homelessness Plan, Pasadena Continuum of Care (CoC), including information on the CoC goals, evaluating progress, homeless annual count, and reducing homelessness strategies; with both responding to questions.
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary, reported that the City Clerk's Office received one letter providing comment on the matter, which was distributed to the Committee, posted on-line, and made part of the public record for this item.
Sonja Berndt, Pasadena resident, expressed concerns with the proposed Homeless Plan 2023 - 2028, stating the draft plan fails to treat homelessness as an urgent humanitarian crisis; fails to explain how the goals will be achieved; and the lack of accountability for potential failure without consequences.
Vice Mayor Madison asked staff to post a summary of the Continuum of Care Homeless Plan to the City's Housing Department website; and asked staff to include information on the City's legislative efforts in obtaining additional infrastructure, and resources from the state and federal governments.
0101/30/2024
Chair Hampton arrived
6:05 PM
Councilmember Lyon
excused and left
meeting at 6:33 p.m.
NEW BUSINESS
INFORMATION ONLY
at Councilmember Rivas stated for the record her support of "tiny homes," asked for information on an implementation process of tiny homes in the City; and advocated to fund the CoC's goals and strategies to reduce the number of homeless individuals.
Councilmember Lyon thanked staff for their extraordinary work on the matter; echoed comments related supporting the funding of the CoC's goals and strategies; and advocated for the Homeless Plan to be transformed into an implementation plan.
Councilmember Hampton spoke on the importance of reaching the CoC's was goals and asked staff to post the CoC's measurable goals on the City's the Housing Department website in order to provide information to the public and City Council. In addition, he asked staff to provide the policy and guidelines related to the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) database to review the policy to determine if additional organizations may be provided access to the database.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
CONSIDERATION OF AN ACTION TO SET THE TIME OF THE
REGULAR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
COMMITTEE MEETING TO 4:30 P.M.
Chair Hampton summarized the item, and Councilmember Rivas and Vice Mayor Madison expressed concerns with their ability to meet a 4:30 p.m., time schedule for Committee meetings, and advocated for a 5:00 p.m., regular start time of the Committee.
Following discussion, it was moved by Chair Hampton, seconded by Councilmember Rivas, to move the time of the regular Economic Development and Technology Committee meeting to 5:00 p.m. (Motion unanimously carried) (Absent: Councilmember Lyon)
In response to the Chair's inquiry, Dion O'Connell, Assistant City Attorney, stated that coordination with other committees may be needed and will defer to the City Manager if the item will be required to be agendized at a future City Council meeting.
LAGERLOF, LLP PRESENTATION ON RECENT EXPANSION
David Klug, Economic Development Director, provided introductory comments on Lagerlof, LLP, the largest law firm in Pasadena, and Joshua Driskell, Managing Partner, and Corey Castillo, Chief Operating Officer, with Lagerlof, LLP presented a Power Point presentation on the law firm, including providing information on the history and leadership of the firm, number of employees, Lagerlof Cares (a nonprofit organization investing in local nonprofit programs), and talent management, with both responding to questions.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
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r
ADJOURNMENT:
RECEIVE ANNUAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR JULY 22 THROUGH
JUNE 2023 AND WORK PLANS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 FOR:
Vice Mayor Madison and Councilmember Rivas spoke on the good works of the commissions, and operating centers.
Following a brief discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE BY DAVID A. KLUG,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR*
David Klug, Economic Development Director, introduced the Economic Development staff, and provided information on the opening and closing of various businesses in the City, business retention actions, and the "Blue Dot" program; and responded to questions.
Vice Mayor Madison expressed concerns with the empty store fronts in the City, which may possibly be due to the ease of purchasing online.
Chair Hampton asked staff to assist the business owners with permits and information related to moving their business locations in Pasadena in order to undergo the permit process as quickly and effortlessly as possible.
Christopher Page, Project Manager with Economic Development, provided information on the Authentically Yours Pasadena campaign, and responded to questions.
Chair Hampton requested that the City's Business Improvement Districts (BID) updates be agendized at future Committee meetings.
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 Economic Development and Technology Committee was adjourned at 7:36 p.m. /
JeripeKenebrew
Recording Secretary
(
TYRON HAMPTON, Chair
Economic Development and Technology Committee
AT-TEST:
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0301/30/2024