OPENING:
ROLL CALL:
Councilmembers:
Staff:
Pasadena Unified School
District, Board of Education
Staff:
CITY OF PASADENA
City Council Minutes
April 29, 2024-6:00 P.M.
City Hall Council Chamber
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING
Mayor Gordo and President Kenne called the Special Joint meeting of the City Council and Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Board of Education (Board) to order at 6:06 p.m.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by President Kenne.
Mayor Victor M. Gordo
Vice Mayor Steve Madison
Councilmember Tyron Hampton
Councilmember Justin Jones
Councilmember Jason Lyon
Councilmember Gene Masuda
Councilmember Jessica Rivas
Councilmember Felicia Williams (arrived at 6:12 p.m.)
City Manager Miguel Marquez
Chief Assistant City Attorney Javan Rad
City Clerk Mark Jomsky
President Kimberly Kenne
Vice President Jennifer Hall Lee
Board Member Richardson Bailey
Boardmember Patrick Cahalan
Boardmember Patrice Marshall McKenzie
Boardmember Dr. Yarma Velazquez
Boardmember Tina Fredericks
Dr. Elizabeth J. Blanco, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools Kingsley Udo, Chief Business Officer
Dr. Helen Hill, Chief Academic Officer
PRESENTATION FROM PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT ON SCHOOL SITE MAINTENANCE INCLUDING
GARDENING LANDSCAPE INFORMATION
Manuel Carrasco, PUSD Director of Facilities, provided a presentation on the recent facility enhancements at PUSD properties made throughout the school district, specifically relating to gardening and curb appeal, hie provided an oven/iew of the School District's efforts to maximize their current infrastructure and address the needs of maintenance of their facilities and landscaping.
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Councilmember Hampton expressed concerns that some
parkways and curbsides appear to be overlooked in regard to proper maintenance, emphasizing areas of need near Cleveland Elementary and Washington Elementary.
In response to President Kenne's concerns regarding the use of turf fields in the City, Councilmember Williams reported that the Senate Bill (SB 676) regarding turf fields will be discussed at a future Municipal Services Committee meeting, noting that the School District should participate in that discussion since PUSD's facilities and staff may be impacted.
Councilmember Mlasuda thanked Director Carrasco, PUSD
staff, and Amigos de los Rios, for their collaboration in beautifying the areas surrounding Willard Elementary.
City Clerk Jomsky reported that 1 letter advocating for traffic improvements around Washington Elementary and La
Pintoresca Library was received by the City Clerk's Office, distributed to the City Council and PUSD Board of Education, posted online, and made part of the public record for this item.
The following individuals expressed concerns regarding the deferred maintenance at the Allendale Elementary campus and having Longfellow Elementary students temporarily utilize the campus under poorly maintained conditions:
Paul Backstrom, Pasadena resident
Beau Wammack, Pasadena resident
Nina Chomsky, Linda Vista Annandale Association, spoke on the importance of maintaining closed school site properties to prevent degradation and impacts to adjacent neighborhoods.
Rene Gonzalez, residence not stated, requested that a feature be created on the PUSD website to allow the public to take a photo and report maintenance issues.
Councilmember Hampton suggested that since the City already has a Citizen Service Center (CSC) app, the public can report issues related to PUSD through the app so City staff can forward them to the School District, as an alternative to having the District develop an entirely new feature.
Following discussion, on order of the President and Mayor, and by consensus of the Board of Education and City Council, the information was received and filed.
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UPDATE ON CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND
APPRENTICESHIP PARTNERSHIPS
Mayor Gordo introduced and thanked Congresswoman Judy
Chu for securing federal funding to support career pathway opportunities for people of all ages within the Pasadena community.
Congresswoman Chu announced that she was able to secure $1.8 million dollars in direct federal funding to support two of the City's project proposals - the Pasadena Facility for Jobs Creation, Training, and Education and the Pasadena Water Treatment Project. She reported that the funding will help cover labor, material, and construction costs for both projects.
Phyllis Hallowell, Assistant to the City Manager, gave a presentation on the Career Technical Education Pilot program formalized through a partnership between Pasadena City
College (PCC), PUSD, and the City of Pasadena. She reported that City staff will be touring a model Career Education Program in Kern County on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
Dr. Helen Hill, Interim Chief Academic Officer, and Dr. Kristina Turley, College and Career Pathways Coordinator, presented the School District's High School Career Technical Education Pathways program and reported on student outcomes.
Alton Wang, PCC College Board Chair, spoke on the importance of community partnerships to offer students with career development opportunities and pathways to long-term careers.
Dr. Jose Gomez, PCC Superintendent, and Dr. Laura Ramirez, Vice President of Instruction, provided an update on the Career Technical Education programs offered by PCC. Dr. Ramirez reported on the various grants that PCC has received to fund a number of apprenticeship opportunities, and noted that PCC is working closely with PUSD to increase dual enrollment
curriculum opportunities.
The following individuals expressed concerns with the lack of allocated funding for special education and inclusivity of students with disabilities in the Career Education Technical programs offered by PCC.
Rene Gonzalez, residence not stated
Marlene Benites, Pasadena resident
Zella Knight, Pasadena resident
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Superintendent Blanco reported that special education students are a part of Pathways program at John Muir High School and that PUSD has an agreement with PCC for PAL students
between the ages 18 and 22 who attend classes.
Councilmember Hampton advocated for students with
disabilities to be actively included in discussions pertaining to career education.
Following discussion, on order of the President and Mayor, and by consensus, the information was received and filed.
PRESENTATION REGARDING POTENTIAL AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
FACULTY AND STAFF, INCLUDING A DISCUSSION OF
AB2295 AND SB35
Kingsley Udo, PUSD Interim Chief Business Officer, provided introductory comments on the item, and PUSD Facilities Director Carrasco gave an overview of PUSD's efforts to identify affordable housing resources for faculty and staff. He stated that PUSD will be working closely with Education Housing Partners on preliminary due diligence, and reported that next steps include presenting options to the School Board for review, followed by submittal of an application to the City for approval.
Jennifer Paige, Director of Planning, provided a presentation on Assembly Bill 2295 and Senate Bill 35, and responded to questions.
Discussion ensued regarding income thresholds for the potential affordable housing units, the constraints on the use of proceeds, allowable land uses available to PUSD for use of its properties, and the Surplus Land Act.
Mayor Gordo expressed concerns that repurposing school site properties that are not being used in a permanent manner would prevent such properties from returning to educational purposes.
He noted that PUSD, the City, the Board of Education, and the City Council have a collective responsibility of ensuring the success of public education in Pasadena.
Board Member Velasquez stated that the decline in student enrollment and local population reflects the need for community partnership, and emphasized the importance of supporting those who are disproportionately impacted in order to strengthen the K-12 system.
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In response to questions regarding options for use of affordable housing, Board Member Richardson Bailey expressed concerns that expanding the proposed project to include housing for members of the public that work in the community may create inconsistencies with the original intent of the housing project, which is to recruit and retain PUSD employees by providing affordable housing options.
The following individuals expressed support and provided comments on the proposed affordable housing project for PUSD staff and faulty:
Bert Newton, Making Housing and Community Happen
Anthony Manousos, Pasadena resident
Jill Shook, Pasadena resident
Cindy Rice, Pasadena resident
Carl Selkin, residence not stated
Chase Stafford, Pasadena resident
Rev. Marcos Canales, La Fuente Ministries Church
Denise Robb, Throop Church
The following individuals expressed opposition and/or concerns with the proposed affordable housing project for PUSD staff and faulty, and provided various comments and suggestions:
Emily Stough, Altadena resident
Rene Gonzalez, residence not stated
Diane Kirby, Lower Hastings Ranch Association
Jesse Dahlstrom, Pasadena resident
Marlene Benites, Pasadena resident
Caitlin Mahaffey, residence not stated, urged the City and School District to allow for flexibility as part of the proposed project, and urged for careful decision-making to ensure that immediate housing needs do not impact educational needs of students.
Deirdre Duncan, Pasadena resident, expressed concerns
pertaining to the availability of the affordable housing units in the City and urged for accountability.
City Clerk Jomsky reported that 4 letters, in support of the affordable staff housing initiative at the Roosevelt site, supporting a second site for student family housing, and/or providing comments on this matter, were received by the City Clerk's office, distributed to the City Council and PUSD Board of Education, posted online, and made part of the public record for this item.
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ADJOURNMENT
Following discussion, on order of the President and Mayor, and by consensus the Board of Education and City Council, the information was received and filed.
On the order of the President and Mayor, the special joint meeting of the City Council and Pasadena Board of Education adjour^ at 9:13 p.m.
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ATTEST:
Victor M. Gordo, Mayor
City of Pasadena
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City/&lerk
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