CITY OF PASADENA
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES
ROBINSON PARK RECREATION CENTER
MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM
1081 NORTH FAIR OAKS AVENUE
DECEMBER 18, 2024
SPECIAL MEETING
OPENING
ROLL CALL:
Staff:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
OLD BUSINESS
Mayor Gordo called the special meeting of the Public Safety Committee to order at 4:18 p.m.
Mayor Victor M. Gordo
CouncilmemberTyron Hampton
Councilmember Justin Jones
Councilmember Steve Madison (Absent)
Matthew Hawkesworth, Acting Assistant City Manager
Michele Beal Bagneris, City Attorney/City Prosecutor
Manuel Carmona, Acting Director of Public Health
Alexander hlernandez, Assistant to the City Manager
Theodore Smith, Assistant City Attorney
Bill Grisafe, Police Commander
Jennifer O'Reilly-Jones, Housing Program Coordinator
Nathan Press, Program Coordinator of Public Health
Danielle St. Clair, Assistant City Attorney
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary
It was moved by Councilmember Jones, seconded by
Councilmember Hampton, to approve the minutes of July 17, 2024, and August 21, 2024, as submitted. (Motion unanimously approved) (Absent: Councilmember Madison)
UPDATE REGARDING CITY'S EFFORTS TO ADDRESS ISSUES
ASSOCIATED WITH HOMELESNESS
Alexander Hernandez, Assistant to the City Manager, and Theodore Smith, Assistant City Attorney and summarized the staff memo as part of the Powerpoint presentation on the item, providing information on the Homeless Outreach Psychiatric Evaluation (HOPE) Team and the Pasadena Outreach Response Team
(PORT), operation of a proposed homeless court program, and proposed costs associated with the proposed program, with both responding to questions.
In response to Councilmember Hampton's inquiry related to Illumination Foundation's historic data, Jordan Hoiberg, Director of hlousing Services at Illumination Foundation, provided information on the number of housed individuals through the program in the past 01 12/18/2024
year, and highlighted their experience with motel-based care model programs in Los Angeles and Orange County, and addressed the benefits and challenges of running a pilot program with 16 participants.
Councilmember Hampton suggested, based on the number of individuals who have received criminal citations, to expand the proposed homeless court pilot program to 20-25% of participants that were issued citations for a greater impact and analysis of the program.
City Attorney Michele Beal Bagneris explained the program was reduced from 32 to 16 participants due to the City's budget constraints and responded to questions.
Jennifer O'Reilly-Jones, Housing Program Coordinator, provided information on funding that is designated for Union Station Homeless Services, emphasized the need for a targeted approach to address the specific needs of the local unhoused population; and responded to questions.
Manuel Carmona, Acting Director of Public Health, and Nathan Press, Program Coordinator of Public Health, provided information on the PORT team's mission, and the benefits of adding healthcare resources to improve treatment and engagement with unhoused individuals, and responded to questions.
Matthew Hawkesworth, Acting Assistant City Manager, spoke on the City's efforts to address the specific needs of the local unhoused population, including information on actions of the different care groups and teams, and responded to questions.
Councilmember Hampton advocated for staff to consider an alternative approach to engage unhoused individuals with trust issues, expressed concerns over the limited effectiveness of current strategies, and advocated for additional motel vouchers to provide housing for homeless individuals.
The following individuals provided comments on the matter:
Wendy Wang, representing Sycamores
Sonja Berndt, Pasadena resident
Ralph Frammolino, Pasadena resident
Flavio Andrade, representing Brown and Black Foundation Alexandra Annald, Pasadena resident
Adriana Bautista, Pasadena resident
David Serri, Pasadena resident
Donna Sider, representing Pasadena Mennonite
02 12/18/2024
r
1 INFORMATION ONLY
Mayor Gordo encouraged staff to analyze the City of Los Angeles' strategies and efforts in addressing homelessness; and requested that additional services be provided alongside housing for unhoused individuals. He voiced support of staff taking the necessary steps to start the proposed homeless court pilot program with 32 participants, however he is supportive of commencing the program with the number of participants that is currently within the budget. He asked staff to work with the City Manager along with the City's partners to determine the correct number of participants for the proposed homeless court pilot program if the City Council decides to expand the program. Mayor Gordo asked staff to reach out to the County of Los Angeles Supervisor Kathryn Barger's office for investment partnership opportunities for the proposed homeless court pilot program.
In response to Councilmember Jane's inquiry on HOPE team hours and outreach efforts, Police Commander Bill Grisafe, provided information on the HOPE'S team daily and monthly outreach in partnership with resource centers, their role is limited to providing referrals, with many unhoused individuals declining the offered services.
Councilm'ember Hampton asked staff to provide information on the annual funding the City provides to Friends in Deed; if further discussion on the Friends in Deed master lease proposal should be agendized at a future Economic Development and Technology Committee or Public Safety Committee; and for staff to provide information on the synergy of Friends in Deed's motel vouchers and the Los Angeles County's motel leasing program.
Following discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Hampton, seconded by Councilmember Jones, direct staff to provide the information as detailed above, and forward the item to the City Council for discussion and further consideration. (Motion unanimously carried) (Absent: Councilmember Madison)
RECEIVE ANNUAL REPORTS FOR FISCAL YEAR JULY 2023
THROUGH JUNE 2024 AND WORK PLANS FOR FISCAL YEAR
2024-2025 FOR:
A. CODE ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION
B. COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION
C. OLD PASADENA PARKING METER ZONE ADVISORY
COMMISSION
D. RECREATION AND PARKS COMMISSION
E. SOUTH LAKE PARKING PLACE COMMISSION
F. TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMISSION
03 12/18/2024
ADJOURNMENT
ATTEST:
'A— ^
Atty Gao
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 Public Safety Committee^as adjourned at 6:24 p.m.nittee^as adjc
t^.
Mayor Victor M. Gordo, Chair
Public Safety Committee
Recording Secretary
04 12/18/2024