rCITY OF PASADENA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE MINUTES
AUGUST 27, 2026 - 5:00 P.M.
SPECIAL MEETING
OPENING
ROLL CALL:
Staff:
The Chair called the special meeting of the Economic Development and Technology Committee to order at 5:12 p.m.
Councilmember Tyron hlampton, Chair
Vice Mayor Jessica Rivas
Councilmember Steve Madison
Councilmember Jason Lyon (Absent)
David Klug, Director of Economic Development
Jason Mikaelian, Acting Director of Planning and Community Development
Israel Del Toro, Deputy Director of Planning and Community Development
Teresa Garcia, Senior Project Manager
Dion O'Connell, Assistant City Attorney
Betty Gao, Recording Secretary
APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Vice Mayor Rivas, seconded by Councilmember Madison, to approve the minutes of June 16, 2026, and July 21, 2026 (cancelled meeting), as submitted. (Motion unanimously approved) (Absent: Councilmember Lyon)
OLD BUSINESS
01 PASADENA RETAIL FOLLOW UP
David Klug, Director of Economic Development, provided introductory comments, and Teresa Garcia, Senior Project Manager, and Jason Mikaelian, Acting Director of Planning and Community Development, jointly presented a Powerpoint presentation on the item, including providing information on retail occupancy, plan check review process, market intelligence and partnerships, business investment, and performance measures; with all responding to questions.
Betty Gao, Recording Secretary, reported that one 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.
Paul Brown, Pasadena resident, advocated for the Committee to consider opening an Aldi Grocery Store in the City, and provided other related comments on the item.
Following public comment, the Committee thanked staff for their hard work.
In response to Chair Hampton's inquiry regarding the use of artificial intelligence (Al) for the plan check process, Israel Del Toro, Deputy Director of Planning and Community Development, responded that the department is in the process of procuring services for preliminary plan review, and responded to questions.
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Chair hlampton asked staff to consider comparing the City's plan check processing time period with those of neighboring cities to provide comparable plan check data.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
DEEP TECH CAMPAIGN RESULTS YEAR 2 AND PROPOSED MEDIA
PLAN
David Klug, Director of Economic Development, provided introductory comments, and Mike Schaffer, CEO of Echo Factory, presented a Powerpoint presentation on the item, including providing information on campaign targets, campaign distributions, and campaign measurements, 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.
INFORMATION ONLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE BY DAVID A. KLUG,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
ADJOURNMENT
David Klug, Economic Development Director, summarized the staff memo as part of his oral presentation, including providing information on awards and recognition, new business developments, business updates, outreach and small business support, and community events; and responded to questions.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
On th
Techi
fordej of the Chair, the meeting of the Economic Development and log c )mmittee was adjourned at 6:36 p.m.
Tyror(^lampton, Chair
Economic Development and Technology Committee
ATTEST:
^
BettV Gao
Recording Secretary
02 08/27/2026