CITY OF PASADENA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE MINUTES
APRIL 21, 2026-5:00 P.M.
MEETING
OPENING
ROLL CALL:
Staff:
PUBLIC COMMENT
The Chair called the meeting of the Economic Development and Technology Committee to order at 5:06 p.m.
CouncilmemberTyron Hampton, Chair
Vice Mayor Jessica Rivas
Councilmember Steve Madison
Councilmember Jason Lyon
David Klug, Director of Economic Development
Teresa Garcia, Senior Project Manager
Deborah Membreno, Project Manager
Jason Mikaelian, Deputy Director of Planning and Community Development
Amanda Cusick, Assistant City Attorney
Betty Gao, Recording Secretary
Yadi, Pasadena resident, voiced concerns on the lack of public input related to the City's technology-related capital improvement projects.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Vice Mayor Rivas, seconded by Councilmember Lyon, to approve the minutes of March 17, 2026, as submitted. (Motion unanimously approved)
NEW BUSINESS
01 PASADENA RETAIL VACANCIES
David Klug, Director of Economic Development, provided introductory comments, and Teresa Garcia, Senior Project Manager, presented a Powerpoint presentation as part of her oral presentation, providing information on the City's retail uses, vacancy measurement and misconceptions, new space challenges, regulatory challenges, retail success, and new retail openings; with both responding to questions.
Anya Chan, Director of Research at Streetsense (City consultant), provided an overview of retail success factors, changes in retail space demand, and considerations related to vacancy taxes.
Burton Heiss, CEO of Escapology, shared the company's experience opening its Pasadena location, emphasized the importance of co-tenancy, and noted strong performance since opening.
Erica Guiterrez, founder of Monarca Sol Collective, shared her business development journey and emphasized the importance of community collaboration, small business support, and cultivating unique local shops, and responded to questions.
Betty Gao, Recording Secretary, reported that 1 letter 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.
04/21/2026
The following individuals spoke on the city's retail perception, permitting process, vacancy tax, adaptive reuse of retail space, and/or provided related comments on the matter:
Brigham Yen, Pasadena resident
Steve Mutheim, representing Old Pasadena Management
Humaira, Pasadena resident
Jodi Shoemake, resident not stated
Councilmember Lyon requested staff to provide additional information on the duration of retail vacancies, particularly along South Lake Avenue; and for staff to return to the Committee with policy recommendations to expedite leasing and activation, including improvements to the permitting process. He expressed concerns with the large and chronically vacant retail spaces and emphasized the need to remove barriers to occupancy such spaces.
Councilmember Madison echoed Councilmember Lyon's remarks regarding the need to expedite planning and permitting processes and asked staff to follow up on the current plan check process, including whether services are being outsourced. hie also emphasized the importance of parking and transportation access in supporting retail activity and encouraged continued efforts to improve these systems.
Vice Mayor Rivas spoke on the importance of right-sizing commercial space in the City and emphasized the need to focus on chronically vacant retail spaces, particularly in the Northwest region and along North Lake Avenue.
Chair Hampton emphasized the need to focus on chronically vacant retail spaces and asked staff to return with policy recommendations to address and reduce long-term vacancies.
The Committee thanked staff and speakers for their presentation and hard work on the matter.
Chair Hampton reported that the adaptive reuse topic will be agendized at a future Committee meeting for further consideration and discussion.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
COMMERCIAL DISTRICT NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CDNA)
David Klug, Director of Economic Development, provided introductory comments, and Deborah Membreno, Project Manager, presented a Powerpoint presentation as part of her oral presentation, providing information on Northwest Pasadena's commercial districts, the Los Angeles Economic Equity and Access Forward (LEEAF), scope of work and timeline, data collection plan; with both responding to questions. 02 04/21/2026
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Elianne Rodriguez, Executive Director of LEEAF, provided an overview of the organization and its economic development support for small businesses, including outreach, data collection, and community-based services.
The following individuals advocated for residential internet access, tailored implementation process, and/or provided other comments on the matter:
Yadi, Pasadena resident
Christian Jones, Pasadena resident
Chair Hampton suggested involving students from John Muir High School and Sequoyah School in outreach and data collection efforts, in conjunction with Pasadena City College (PCC) students.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
INFORMATION ONLY CDGB PROGRAMS — FAQADE
MICROENTERPRISE GRANTS
IMPROVEMENTS AND
David Klug, Director of Economic Development, provided introductory comments, and Deborah Membreno, Project Manager, presented a Powerpoint presentation as part of her oral presentation, providing information on CDBG grant timeline, outreach methods, commercial fagade improvement grantees, and microenterprise recovery grant; with both responding to questions.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE BY DAVID A. KLUG,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
David Ktug, Economic Development Director, summarized the staff memo as part of his oral presentation, providing information on business development, open rewards pilot program, small business support, special events, technology and innovation connect week, and responded to questions.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
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ADJOURNMENT On the order of the Chair, the meeting of the Economic Development and Technology Committee was adjourned at 7:01 p.m.
^^
Tyron/-ld<hpton, Chair
Econo'mic Development and Technology Committee
ATTEST:
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Bett^ Gao
Recording Secretary
04 04/21/2026