RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASADENA,
CALIFORNIA, CALLING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN
THE CITY OF PASADENA, CONSOLIDATED WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024, FOR THE PURPOSE OF
SUBMITTING TO THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF PASADENA THE PASADENA
CENTRAL LIBRARY EARTHQUAKE RETROFIT, REPAIR, UPGRADE BOND
MEASURE
WHEREAS, on June 10, 2024, following a presentation by City staff on a proposed Pasadena Central Library Earthquake Retrofit, Repair, Upgrade Bond Measure ("Bond Measure"), the Pasadena City Council directed staff to prepare the necessary resolutions to place the Measure on the November 5, 2024 General Municipal Election ballot; and
WHEREAS, approving the Bond Measure will enable the Central Library to reopen after earthquake and seismic repairs, meet current fire safety regulations, replace the leaky roof, remove asbestos, mold and lead paint, update outdated technology and mechanical systems, and restore library services and programs while maintaining the historic and architectural characteristic; and WHEREAS, the Central Library is a nearly 100-year-old Historic Landmark and was the first structure built in the historic Pasadena Civic Center alongside the Pasadena City Hall and Civic Auditorium, and is a cornerstone of the community's architectural and cultural heritage, forming a key part of Pasadena's historical identity; and
WHEREAS, the Central Library offers various programs and services that cater to different community needs, including educational resources, personal and professional development resources, literacy programs, cultural events, and technological training helping to bridge educational gaps and promote community engagement; and
WHEREAS, the Central Library acts as a vital resource for underserved populations, offering equal and free access to books, the internet, and other learning materials that might otherwise be inaccessible; and
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WHEREAS, the Central Library served as a refuge, especially for those experiencing homelessness, offering a temperature-controlled, safe space while providing a full-time Care Navigator from the Pasadena Public Health Department, providing essential social services not replicated at the library branches and which will return upon the reopening; and
WHEREAS, the closure of the Central Library has significantly impacted library services in Pasadena, as evidenced by key metrics comparing Fiscal Year 2019, when all libraries were open, to Fiscal Year 2023, with the Central Library closed, leading to marked declines in various aspects of library usage, highlighting its critical role in the Pasadena community; and
WHEREAS, overall visits to Pasadena's libraries have fallen by 51.0%, from 803,274 in FY19 to 393,429 in FY23, and circulation decreased by 45.8%, from 1,251,793 items in FY19 to 679,068 items in FY23, demonstrating its importance in borrowing and lending materials and
WHEREAS, single-use computer reservations decreased by 86.6%, from 128,515 in FY19tojust 17,165 in FY23, reflecting a significant decline in computer availability and drastically limiting access to information and technology, particularly for those without personal or home access; and
WHEREAS, the decline in technology access underscores the necessity of reopening the Central Library to ensure community members can connect to social services, find employment, combat isolation, and enhance their education and digital skills while keeping it closed prevents assistance to vulnerable community members, widens the digital divide, and hinders the community's growth and empowerment; and WHEREAS, nearly 9 in 10 (95%) respondents agree the Pasadena Central Library is an important community asset and needs to be protected; and WHEREAS, on October 23, 2023, in relevant part, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 10016, calling a Primary Municipal Election for Tuesday, March 5, 2024 and a General Municipal Election for Tuesday, November 5, 2024, requesting that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles approve the consolidation of the Statewide General Election, and direct the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/ County Clerk to administer said elections on behalf of the City; and 2 VALGR0700D1UM8
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that a measure authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance the cost of the earthquake retrofit, repair and upgrade project for the Central Library (the "Project") should be placed before the voters of the City of Pasadena for their consideration; and WHEREAS, on July 22, 2024, the City Council passed Resolution No. determining the necessity to incur a bonded indebtedness to finance the Project; and WHEREAS, the City Council is required to submit the proposal for bonded indebtedness to the voters for their consideration by the California Constitution as well as other applicable provisions of California law, in addition to the requirements of the Charter of the City of Pasadena;and
WHEREAS, on July 29, 2024, the City Council passed Ordinance No. which orders the submission to the voters a proposition incurring bonded indebtedness to the voters of the City of Pasadena for their consideration; and WHEREAS, Assembly Constitutional Amendment No. 10, also known as Proposition 5 ("Proposition 5"), has qualified for the November 5, 2024 Statewide election; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 5, if approved by the voters, inter alia, would lower the voter approval requirement for the issuance of general obligation bonds issued by a city to fund construction of "public infrastructure" from two-thirds (2/3) to fifty-five percent (55%) of the voting electorate, provided the bond authorization includes certain accountability requirements; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 5 further provides that its terms, including the lower 55% voter approval requirements, would apply to any proposition authorizing the incurrence of general obligation bonds by a city approved at the same election as Proposition 5 (i.e., November 5, 2024); and
WHEREAS, the City Council intends that the provisions of its bond authorization comply with the requirements of Proposition 5, and accordingly, if Proposition 5 is approved by the Statewide voters at the November 5, 2024 election, the proposition for the incurrence of the Bonds will be subject to the approval of 55% of the City electorate voting on the measure; and
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WHEREAS, the City Council further finds, for clarity, that if Proposition 5 is not approved by the Statewide voters, a 2/3 vote of the City electorate voting on the measure will be required to approve the proposition for the incurrence of the Bonds; and WHEREAS, in compliance with California Elections Code Section 9222, said Measure shall be submitted to the voters at the November 5, 2024 General Municipal Election.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Pasadena, California, as follows:
SECTION 1. That pursuant to the requirements of California Elections Code Section 10403, the Board of Supervisors is requested to consent and agree to the consolidation of the City's General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, for the purpose of submitting the Bond Measure; and to direct the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk to perform all necessary functions, services, and tasks related to: the complete and successful conduct of said consolidated elections; the provision of all election materials and equipment; the hiring, training and supervision of election workers and other election personnel; the printing and distribution of ballot materials; the translation of ballot materials; the administration of vote by mail processing and signature verification; the collection of submitted ballots; the tallying of votes; and the canvassing and certification of election results.
SECTION 2. The City Council, pursuant to its right and authority, does order submitted to the voters of the City of Pasadena at the General Municipal Election, to be consolidated with the Statewide General Election on November 5, 2024, the following question:
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PASADENA CENTRAL LIBRARY EARTHQUAKE RETROFIT,
REPAIR, UPGRADE MEASURE
Shall the measure to earthquake retrofit the 97-year-old library building; meet current fire safety regulations; replace the leaky roof; remove asbestos/mold/lead paint; update outdated
technology; restore Pasadena Central Library services by the City of Pasadena issuing $195,000,000 in bonds at legal rates, levying $28.90 per $100,000 of assessed valuation, generating $12,000,000 annually while bonds are outstanding, requiring independent audits, public spending disclosure, all funds staying local, be adopted?
YES
NO
SECTION 3. The full text of the Bond Measure to be submitted to the voters is set forth in Ordinance and is attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by this reference. The Bond Measure shall not take effect unless either (a) approved by a fifty-five percent (55%) vote of the voters voting on the question within the City of Pasadena if Proposition 5 on the Statewide ballot is approved by the Statewide voters or (b) approved by a 2/3rds vote of the voters voting on the question within the City of Pasadena if Proposition 5 on the Statewide ballot is not approved by the Statewide voters.
SECTION 4. The ballots to be used at the election shall be in form and content as required by law.
SECTION 5. The Vote Centers for the consolidated elections shall be open as required during the identified voting period, pursuant to Election Code Sections 4007 and 14404.
SECTION 6. The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk is authorized to canvass the returns of the Bond Measure, and to certify the same to the City Council of the City of Pasadena at the time and in the manner provided by law.
The vote requirement for passage of the Bond Measure shall be either (a) a fifty-five percent (55%) of votes cast by the voters voting on the question within the City of Pasadena if Proposition 5 on the Statewide ballot is approved by the Statewide voters or (b) a 2/3 majority of votes cast by voters voting on the proposal within the City of Pasadena if Proposition 5 on the Statewide ballot is not approved by the Statewide 5 VALGR0700D1UM8
voters. The election shall be held in all respects as if there were only one election, and only one form of ballot shall be used.
SECTION 7. The City Council hereby finds that the estimates and projections contained in the Bond Measure and in the Tax Rate Statement prepared in connection with the Bond Measure, have been made based on currently available information, but depend on a number of variables which are subject to variation. Such estimates and projections have been made in good faith, and are not binding or intended to be limitations on the terms of the Bonds. The City Manager is hereby authorized to finalize and execute the Tax Rate Statement, and to file the Tax Rate Statement with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
SECTION 8. That the City of Pasadena recognizes that additional costs will be incurred by the County by reason of these consolidated elections and agrees to reimburse the County for the City's share of election related costs resulting from said consolidations. The City Director of Finance is authorized and directed to pay out of the General Fund of the City a sum equal those costs upon the completion of the services as described above and upon presentation to the City of a bill.
SECTION 9. In all particulars not recited in this Resolution, the election hereby called shall be held and conducted as provided by law for holding municipal elections in said City.
SECTION 10. That the City Clerk is directed to forward without delay to the Board of Supervisors and to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, each a certified copy of this Resolution.
SECTION 11. That the Board of Supervisors is requested to issue instructions to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk to take any and all steps necessary for the holding of these consolidated elections.
SECTION 12. That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution and enter it into the book of original Resolutions.
SECTION 13. Notice of the time and place of holding the election is given and the City Clerk is authorized, instructed and directed to give further or additional notice of the election, in time, form and manner as required by law. ///
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Adopted at the special meeting of the City Council on the 2024, by the following vote:
day of July,
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
LISA HOSEY
Assistant City Attorney
Mark Jomsky, City Clerk
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