OPENING
ROLL CALL:
Staff:
(
I
PUBLIC COMMENT
INFORMATION ONLY
CITY OF PASADENA
MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
PASADENA CITY HALL
100 NORTH GARFIELD AVENUE
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER - S249
FEBRUARY 11, 2025
MEETING
The Chair called the meeting of the Municipal Services Committee to order at 4:07 p.m.
CouncilmemberJustin Jones, Chair
Councilmember Tyron Hampton (Arrived at 4:21 p.m.)
Councilmember Rick Cole
Councilmember Jason Lyon
David Reyes, Acting General Manager of Water and Power
Jennifer Paige, Director of Planning and Development
Joaquin Siques, Director of Transportation
Greg de Vinck, Director of Public Works
Israel Del Toro, Deputy Director of Planning and Community Development
Stacie Takeguchi, Assistant General Manager of Water and Power Lynne Chaimowitz, Assistant General Manager of Water and Power Caroline Monroy, Deputy City Attorney
Betty Gao, Recording Secretary
No one appeared for public comment on matters not on the agenda.
UPDATE- CITY RESPONSE TO WINDSTORMS AND FIRES
David Reyes, Acting General Manager of Water and Power, provided introductory comments, and both Israel Del Toro, Deputy Director of Planning and Development, and Jennifer Paige, Director of Planning and Development, presented a Powerpoint presentation on the item, including providing updates on the cleanup progress on phases one and two, as well as City fire recovery efforts for properties, with all responding to questions.
Councilmember Hampton
arrived at 4:21 p.m.
Councilmember Lyon thanked staff for their ongoing efforts in securing temporary approval for displaced schools; and asked staff to provide additional education and guidance to residents regarding architectural styles, as well as fire-resistant materials, and related construction methods.
Councilmember Hampton encouraged staff to continue engaging and collaborating with local organizations and universities on ongoing architectural planning efforts, emphasized the importance of preserving the style of the upper Hastings Ranch neighborhood, and advocated for efficient rebuilding processes, accessible planning permits, and waving building permit and Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) fees for residents. He recommended that the staff provide information to the Committee and the community on the cleanup site process. 0102/11/2025
Chair Jones echoed Councilmember Hampton's comments on Hastings Ranch neighborhood, asked staff to reference the City's recovery efforts from the 1993 Kinneloa Fire near Eaton Canyon, and to provide information on the Phase II, cleanup efforts truck routes.
Greg de Vinck, Director of Public Works, presented a Powerpoint presentation on Pasadena's green waste cleanup and storm debris flow preparation, and responded to questions.
Councilmember Hampton thanked Mr. de Vinck and the Department of Public Works staff for their cleanup efforts while working around the clock; and requested that the Parks, Recreation and Community Department to be included in a future meeting to provide information on tree cleanup efforts at the Hahamongna Watershed park trails.
Joaquin Siques, Director of Transportation, presented a brief Powerpoint on the City's parking enforcement resumption, and responded to questions.
Councilmember Cole advocated for additional flexibility in granting on street parking permits for individuals who may have had to stay with family or friends in the City and now have additional vehicles parking on the street.
Councilmember Hampton and Chair Jones asked staff to provide and publish the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maps for the debris removal haul routes for Pasadena and Altadena areas.
David Reyes, Acting General Manager of Water and Power, presented a Powerpoint presentation providing information on leak assistance program, utilities update, City's outreach and communications, upcoming multi-year projects, and an update on the City's electric rate study; and responded to questions.
Chair Jones asked staff to continue enhancing communication efforts, ensuring community members and residents without Pasadena Water and Power accounts are notified of emergency and important municipal alerts and updates.
Councilmember Cole asks staff to clarify the solar panel requirements for newly built homes and to agendized for discussion solar power and batteries at a future Committee meeting, related to the rebuilding process.
Councilmember Hampton thanked and applauded Mr. Ryes and Water and Power Department's staff for their constant communications and working around the clock during the Eaton fire and windstorm.
In response to Mr. Hampton's inquiry related to the City's reservoirs, Stacie Takeguchi, Assistant General Manager of Water and Power, responded that all reservoir Clean-ln-Place (CIP) systems will be upgraded based on the lessons learned from this emergency to enhance future resilience.
0202/11/2025
NEW BUSINESS
Betty Gao, Recording Secretary, reported that one letter of correspondence was received by the City Clerk's Office, which was distributed to the Committee, posted online, and made part of the record for this item.
The following individuals provided comments on the matter:
Ken Kules, Pasadena resident
Kathy Berlin, representing League of Women Voters
In response to public comment, Mr. Reyes stated that he would reach out to Mr. Kules to address his concerns.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PASADENA MUNICIPAL CODE
CHAPTER 13.04 TO REMOVE STRANDED INVESTMENT CHARGE
AND RESERVES AND AMEND TO INCLUDE A WORKING CAPITAL
RESERVE TARGET
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
David Reyes, Acting General Manager of Water and Power, provided introductory comments, and Lynne Chaimowitz, Assistant General Manager of Water and Power, summarized the agenda report as part of the Powerpoint presentation on the item, including providing information on the City's Road to New Electric Rates and Working Capital Target Reserve, with both responding to questions.
Councilmember Cole emphasized the importance of strategic, long- term planning and collaboration with staff to determine how to balance investments in both traditional and renewable energy systems.
Councilmember Hampton expressed his support with Councilmember Cole's comments related to renewable energy systems and expressed continued interest in having Water and Power expand into the business of selling solar power to increase resilience.
Following discussion, the Committee asked staff to develop a minimum level for reserves to establish the point at which reserve levels would be detrimental to the operations of the utility and return to the Committee or City Council with an update.
Following further discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Cole, seconded by Councilmember Lyon, to approve the staff
recommendation with the direction to staff and detailed above, and forward the item to the City Council. (Motion unanimously approved) It was moved by Councilmember Lyon, seconded by Councilmember Cole, to approve the minutes of September 10, 2024, September 24, 2024 (Cancelled meeting), October 8, 2024, October 22, 2024, November 12, 2024 (Cancelled meeting), November 26, 2024 (Cancelled meeting), December 10, 2024 (Cancelled meeting), December 24, 2024 (Cancelled meeting), and January 14, 2025 (Cancelled meeting), as submitted. (Motion unanimously approved) 0302/11/2025
ADJOURNMENTOn the order of the Chair, the meeting of the Municipal Services Committee was adjourned at 6:26 p.m.
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ATTEST:
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Coun^HrfiembotLJ^tin Jones, Chair
MiMcipal Services Committee
Bett^ Gao
Recording Secretary
0402/11/2025