CITY OF PASADENA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE MINUTES
February 20,2024 - 5:00 P.nfl.
CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBER
MEETING
OPENING
ROLL CALL:
Staff:
INFORMATION ONLY
D
01 Chair Hampton called the meeting of the Economic Development and Technology Committee to order at 5:08 p.m.
Councilmember Tyron Hampton, Chair
Vice Mayor Steve Madison
Councilmember Jason Lyon
Councilmember Jessica Rivas
David Klug, Director of Economic Development
Amanda Cusick, Deputy City Attorney
Jerice Kenebrew, Recording Secretary
PASADENA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN DRAFT
PRESENTATION
David Klug, Economic Development Director, provided introductory comments, and Larisa Ortiz, Managing Director and Anya Chan, Director of Research and Analysis, both representing Streetsense (City Consultants), presented a Power Point presentation on the five-year Economic Development Strategic Plan, with all responding to questions.
The following individuals provided comment on the matter:
Paul Little, Pasadena resident
Andy Wilson, Pasadena resident
Aaron Hawkey, Pasadena resident
Councilmember Rivas thanked Streetsense for their work on the Economic Development Strategic Plan ("Plan"); and voiced her agreement on the City's challenges related to miles of street frontage and restrictions on housing on the ground floor of commercial buildings.
Chair Hampton, advocated for staff to develop a streamline process for new businesses to move into store front locations within the City.
Councilmember Lyon recommended that once the Plan is adopted, staff present the plan to the City's various commissions (i.e., Transportation, Northwest, and Planning Commissions), Pasadena City College, Pasadena Unified School District and Foothill Workforce Development Board to retrieve as much community input and engagement as possible.
He also spoke on the need for staff to be thoughtful on where to focus the City's retail efforts, which should include Old Pasadena, South Lake, Playhouse, and Hastings Ranch districts. He echoed comments supporting the implementation of a streamline process for building permits and creating retail incubators.
Vice Mayor Madison asked staff to develop plan to fill the City's empty store fronts; and to ensure the data on the total Pasadena jobs in the City presented by Streetsense is the same data used by Regional Housing 02/20/2024
L
Needs Allocation (RHNA) to determine the number of housing and jobs the City should provide. He stated that after viewing the prestation, staff should consider adjusting the City's overall land use inventory to more housing and away from office space. In addition, he expressed concerns with the Pasadena's recovery employment levels compared Los Angeles County's levels and asked staff to provide additional information on the matter.
Chair Hampton advocated for staff to consider creating retail incubators in all quadrants of the City and/or small business support incubators or concierge services to assist in the opening of business in the City. He also advocated for additional assistance (i.e., grant and business plan opportunities), to small business owners in the City. Chair Hampton asked staff to provide an update to the Committee if any significant changes are made to the Plan; and to post the Powerpoint on the City's website.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPIVIENT UPDATE BY DAVID A. KLUG,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Due to time constraints, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the above referenced item will be continued to a future Committee meeting.
ADJOURNMENT:
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On the
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r of the Chair, the special meeting of the Economic
id Technology Committee was adjourned at 6:43 p.m.
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IAI^IPTON, Chair
fevelopment and Technology Committee
Jeric^Xenet
Recording Secretary
02 02/20/2024