Agenda
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Transcript
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[0:04]
recording in progress.
[0:06]
Thank you, mayor and council. We are
[0:08]
live. Thank you. Um, welcome everyone to
[0:12]
the uh September 8th, 2025 meeting of
[0:17]
the passing of city council. Um, let me
[0:20]
first start by apologizing on behalf of
[0:22]
the council for uh uh our long close
[0:26]
session that's delayed this meeting. Um
[0:28]
but we had some urgent and important
[0:30]
matters uh in close session that needed
[0:33]
the council's attention. Um so my
[0:36]
apologies on behalf of the council. The
[0:39]
we'll start with the calling of role.
[0:41]
Council member Cole
[0:43]
present.
[0:44]
Council member Hampton
[0:45]
blessed and honored to be here.
[0:46]
Council member Jones
[0:47]
here.
[0:48]
Council member Lion
[0:49]
here.
[0:49]
Council member Madison
[0:50]
here.
[0:51]
Council member Massuda
[0:52]
here.
[0:53]
Vice Mayor Rivas
[0:54]
here.
[0:55]
Mayor Gordo
[0:56]
here. There's a quorum in the council
[0:58]
president.
[0:59]
Okay. We have a couple of ceremonial
[1:01]
matters.
[1:02]
Pledge of allegiance.
[1:03]
Oh, I'm sorry. Um, Mr. Hampton, will you
[1:06]
lead us in the pledge of allegiance?
[1:07]
Everyone rise. Right hand over your
[1:09]
heart. Ready? Again.
[1:12]
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
[1:14]
United States of America and to the
[1:17]
republic for which it stands, one nation
[1:20]
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[1:23]
justice for all. You may be seated.
[1:32]
Um, so as I was saying, we have uh two
[1:35]
ceremonial matters. The first uh I'll
[1:38]
ask uh Chief Harris to step up and uh
[1:43]
introduce our new sergeant-at-arms.
[1:45]
Uh as we thank our outgoing
[1:48]
sergeant-at-arms, uh Jason Van Heck for
[1:51]
her service as a
[1:52]
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It's going to be
[1:54]
uh the division commander for field
[1:56]
operations uh commander Sean Dawkins
[1:58]
who's going to make that introduction.
[1:59]
Great. Thank you, Chief. Commander,
[2:01]
welcome.
[2:03]
Thank you, mayor. Uh good evening,
[2:04]
mayor, vice mayor, council members, city
[2:06]
staff, uh Sergeant Rich Padilla. Could
[2:08]
you please join me up here?
[2:11]
Uh this evening, I have the pleasure of
[2:13]
introducing to you your new uh
[2:15]
sergeant-at-arms for city council. I'll
[2:18]
give you a quick brief uh bio on
[2:20]
Sergeant Padilla. Richard Padilla has
[2:22]
been with the Pacian Police Department
[2:23]
for 27 years. He joined the department
[2:25]
after graduating from the University of
[2:27]
Leverne with a bachelor's degree of
[2:29]
criminology. As an officer, Richard was
[2:32]
assigned to the following sections:
[2:33]
patrol, the special investigation
[2:36]
section, vice narcotics, patrol as a
[2:38]
field training officer. He was my field
[2:40]
training officer a couple years back.
[2:43]
And the neighborhood action team as a
[2:44]
bicycle officer. As a corporal, he was
[2:47]
assigned to patrol and then detectives
[2:48]
as a res residential burglary
[2:50]
investigator. In 2014, he was promoted
[2:53]
to sergeant. As sergeant, he supervised
[2:56]
patrol, the field training program, the
[2:58]
hope team, park safety, and the K-9
[3:00]
unit. In 2018, he reestablished the
[3:03]
neighborhood action team, a mark bicycle
[3:05]
unit specializing in quality of life
[3:07]
issues. In 2020, he was given the
[3:10]
opportunity to supervise the K9 unit on
[3:12]
a full-time basis. He currently serves
[3:14]
as a dual a dual role as both a canine
[3:17]
supervisor and a canine handler. His
[3:19]
partner Peppa is a six-year-old Belgian
[3:22]
Malawa trained to detect explosives and
[3:24]
firearms. Together, they have worked
[3:26]
four Roseb seasons ensuring the safety
[3:28]
and security of both the Roseb and the
[3:30]
Rose Parade. In 2018, Sergeant Padilla
[3:33]
was recognized as a police as police
[3:35]
officer of the year by the Pasadena
[3:36]
Scottish right. He's a post-certified
[3:38]
bicycle instructor, postk9ine evaluator,
[3:41]
and a canine subject matter expert. In
[3:44]
his spare time, he enjoys cheering for
[3:46]
his favorite baseball team, the Dodgers.
[3:49]
And spending time with his wife Diana,
[3:51]
and their two children, Isabella, a
[3:53]
college student, and Gavin, a high
[3:55]
school student. And I would be rem
[3:57]
remiss if I didn't add um that recently
[4:00]
uh last week, Chief Harris uh promoted
[4:04]
Sergeant Padilla to acting lieutenant
[4:06]
where he'll step into that role as one
[4:08]
of the watch commanders in patrol in two
[4:10]
weeks from today on September 22nd while
[4:12]
Lieutenant Quay is attending the FBI
[4:14]
National Academy. So he'll be doing that
[4:15]
for about three months with us. Uh in
[4:17]
addition to his roles here, he'll still
[4:19]
be with with all of you every Monday
[4:21]
night for city council. I'll let uh Rich
[4:22]
Padilla come up and say a few words.
[4:24]
Thank you.
[4:26]
Perfect. Thank you. Thank you. Welcome.
[4:32]
I'd just like to thank everyone for the
[4:34]
opportunity to be here and I'm looking
[4:36]
forward to learning more about the uh
[4:37]
what the city council does and and and
[4:40]
more about these meetings and and how it
[4:43]
helps out every other department other
[4:45]
than the police department in our city.
[4:47]
So, thank you for the opportunity once
[4:48]
again.
[4:49]
Do we get the dog?
[4:51]
Uh yeah,
[4:52]
she's out in the car right now.
[4:55]
bring her in.
[4:58]
Thank you and welcome.
[5:01]
Uh next, uh we have an announcement uh
[5:07]
and presentation uh related to the
[5:09]
Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month
[5:11]
celebrations. I'll ask uh Pam Cantero
[5:15]
and uh Bana Deakuba and Lisa Barios to
[5:19]
step forward.
[5:26]
Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, and
[5:28]
council members. Um, I'm Vana de Lauba.
[5:30]
Uh, I am the co-chair of the Pasino
[5:33]
Latino Heritage Parade and Festival
[5:36]
Committee. My co-chair, my colleios
[5:39]
isn't able to join us this evening.
[5:41]
She's ill. Lisa, we hope you're feeling
[5:44]
better really soon. Um, so I'm here also
[5:47]
with my colleague Pam Canter, um, from
[5:50]
PRCS to talk about this year's Latino
[5:53]
Heritage Month and the celebrations that
[5:55]
we've got underway.
[5:58]
This year has been a difficult year for
[6:00]
our committee um, as it has been for our
[6:02]
Latino community here in Pasadena. And
[6:04]
this morning's Supreme Court ruling
[6:07]
allowing detentions based on race,
[6:10]
language, and simply where a person
[6:12]
works wasn't only troubling.
[6:16]
It is a step backwards
[6:19]
for justice in our nation. Seeing the
[6:22]
ICE raids and the impact that they have
[6:24]
had in our community has been difficult,
[6:26]
troubling, heartbreaking, heartbreaking
[6:28]
to see the impact on our kids.
[6:30]
personally difficult for many of us as
[6:33]
many of us can absolutely connect with
[6:35]
those families. Um and yet we know the
[6:38]
strength of our Pasadena community and
[6:39]
our strength is really deep and it comes
[6:41]
from the diversity that we have and from
[6:43]
the hardworking families, our
[6:45]
hardworking immigrant families um who
[6:47]
are here and who help make our community
[6:49]
as great and as strong as it is.
[6:52]
[Applause]
[6:59]
So, it is that belief that led to our
[7:01]
theme for this year's Latino Heritage
[7:03]
Celebration,
[7:08]
a proud past and a hopeful future. And
[7:11]
after much discussion with our partners
[7:13]
and others out in the community, our
[7:15]
committee came to a really difficult
[7:16]
decision, but one that reflects both our
[7:18]
compassion and our responsibility. This
[7:21]
year we are foregoing the parade,
[7:24]
but we are expanding the Latino Heritage
[7:27]
Festival in front of Pasadena City Hall
[7:29]
and we're going to offer many community
[7:31]
center programming, education, things
[7:33]
that uplift our community, things that
[7:35]
are fun, dancing, music. Um, it's going
[7:38]
to be in the evening to make it more
[7:40]
comfortable for our neighbors to come
[7:42]
out and to celebrate and for you all to
[7:45]
uh Mayor, now that we've seen you
[7:47]
dancing.
[7:50]
Exactly. There you go. Come out and and
[7:52]
uh and and and join us and join the
[7:55]
Latino community, your community, uh in
[7:57]
this celebration because even though
[7:59]
times are really heavy, the fear is
[8:01]
real. There is a lot to celebrate. The
[8:04]
strength that we have in our community,
[8:05]
the beauty of our community is worth
[8:07]
celebrating. And so we hope that you
[8:08]
will join us all on that evening. During
[8:11]
the month of Latino Heritage, we do have
[8:13]
a variety of other activities that are
[8:15]
have also been planned. Um, so that
[8:18]
there's educational things, fun things
[8:20]
for kids, for seniors, for adults, um,
[8:22]
something for everyone. And I can, uh,
[8:24]
I'll have my colleague Pam talk a little
[8:26]
bit more about that.
[8:29]
Good evening. Um, just like Vana said,
[8:31]
our goal is to bring joy into our
[8:33]
community. Um, we're going to be having
[8:35]
a series of events or smaller events,
[8:37]
workshops. We're having Fiesta Spatrias
[8:40]
September 19th at Villa Park from 5 to
[8:43]
9:00. We're having the movie Elio at
[8:46]
Madison Elementary. Um, Friday,
[8:49]
September 26th, we're having a bandulse
[8:51]
or a koncha making class at Villa Park
[8:54]
on October 4th. Um, we're having Panawa
[8:58]
Frescas Villa Park October 18th and
[9:01]
we're going to be celebrating Day of the
[9:03]
Dead October 24th. Hopefully you can
[9:05]
join us for one of those events.
[9:08]
Thank you.
[9:09]
Thank you.
[9:10]
Thank you.
[9:17]
Next, uh, Council Member Jones,
[9:21]
uh, has an adjourn memory.
[9:23]
Thanks, Mayor. Uh, I have two
[9:25]
adjournments. The first one is for
[9:28]
Reverend Dr. Joan Taylor. She was a
[9:31]
Reverend at First Amy Pastina, born and
[9:33]
raised in the city of Pastina, was a
[9:36]
resident of Mr. Hampton's district, and
[9:38]
she served our community um, throughout
[9:41]
her life. And so I think it it's it's an
[9:43]
honor for her family, at least has been
[9:46]
communicated to me, that we adjourn in
[9:48]
her honor, the city council and the city
[9:50]
that she was born and raised in. And
[9:52]
then the second adjournment is Mr.
[9:55]
William Larry Edson. Um similar story,
[9:59]
born and raised in city of Pasadena, I
[10:02]
believe at St. Luke's Hospital. He uh
[10:04]
grew up in Pasadena, attended John Mir
[10:07]
High School. Uh he was the vice
[10:09]
president of Union Bank of California.
[10:12]
Um he married Geraldine Edson and
[10:15]
together they built a multifamily
[10:17]
residential housing portfolio in the
[10:19]
city of Pasadena and he also was deeply
[10:22]
committed to civic and community life.
[10:24]
He was engaged in his church, engaged as
[10:27]
the board of director for LA athletic
[10:29]
club and he was also um on the board of
[10:34]
friends of Cleveland Elementary and
[10:35]
supported Door of Hope and also
[10:38]
supported Steam Coders Community
[10:40]
Partners and just was a very big
[10:42]
advocate for the city of Pastina and its
[10:45]
residents.
[10:48]
Thank you, Mr. Jones. Um I and I know
[10:52]
I'm joined by all of my colleagues here.
[10:56]
Uh ask that we um adjourn in memory of
[11:00]
Nina Chsky, a longtime resident envi
[11:03]
environmental advocate. Um in Nenah's
[11:06]
loss, passing loss, one of its fiercest
[11:09]
and most passionate advocates. Uh she
[11:12]
was an attorney, an extraordinarily
[11:14]
intelligent leader, a tireless volunteer
[11:16]
uh and pro poured herself into
[11:18]
protecting the Aoyo, championing uh
[11:21]
neighborhoods uh and preserving Pasio's
[11:25]
uh historic beauty and legacy. Uh for
[11:29]
decades she was a constant presence in
[11:31]
our community and in our city council
[11:32]
chambers, always speaking up for for
[11:35]
preservation, uh thoughtful
[11:37]
architecture, design, planning,
[11:40]
importantly diversity, uh and improving
[11:42]
the quality of life for all of us who
[11:44]
call Passina home. Um, and she was a
[11:47]
formal advocate, always prepared, uh,
[11:50]
always principled, uh, and never about,
[11:54]
uh, making and never shy about making
[11:57]
her opinion known. Um, in fact, some
[12:00]
would say, uh, you know, she was she
[12:03]
could be a bit stubborn. Uh, and I would
[12:05]
say, and thank goodness for that
[12:07]
because, uh, she always caused us to
[12:11]
think differently. uh and because of
[12:13]
that more deeply and we made better
[12:16]
decisions uh as a city ca as a city
[12:18]
council and as a and as a city uh she
[12:21]
leaves behind a legacy of service, civic
[12:23]
pride and spirited leadership. Uh and so
[12:27]
on behalf of all of us uh and on behalf
[12:30]
of all residents of Pasadena
[12:33]
uh I want to say that Nina is a
[12:35]
tremendous loss uh but a tremendous
[12:39]
contributor and leaves behind a legacy
[12:42]
of great contributions. I think we can
[12:44]
find her fingerprint on virtually every
[12:48]
important decisions uh in the last 30 to
[12:52]
40 years in this city. Um, you know, on
[12:55]
a personal level, uh, I
[12:58]
didn't always have a good relationship
[13:00]
with Nenah. Uh, in fact, when I was, uh,
[13:03]
um, a member of the RBOC and we were
[13:06]
going through the renovation project,
[13:09]
uh, Nina, you'll recall Mr. Madison and
[13:12]
others made it a habit to show up at
[13:15]
RBOC meetings and city council meetings
[13:17]
and asked for my resignation.
[13:20]
Um
[13:21]
and she did so and she meant it. Um but
[13:26]
you know like any other good person um
[13:29]
she gave me a chance uh and she gave me
[13:32]
a chance uh to prove myself and one day
[13:35]
I got a call just over 5 years ago from
[13:39]
uh her and Mick Hansen saying I'd you
[13:42]
know like to invite you to breakfast.
[13:44]
We've never sat down.
[13:47]
And so I thought to myself, well, should
[13:48]
I bring a taster? Um, but no, you know,
[13:53]
I showed up at Brookside Park uh at
[13:56]
Brookside uh clubhouse. Um, and before I
[14:02]
was able to sit down, as I was sitting
[14:04]
down, she points at me and says, "I
[14:08]
never thought I'd agree with you on
[14:09]
anything,
[14:11]
but you should be our next mayor." and
[14:14]
she's the person who really got me
[14:17]
thinking about that. Um, you know,
[14:21]
that's
[14:23]
uh a very uh important moment for me uh
[14:28]
and showed a lot about her and her
[14:31]
willingness to to give people a chance
[14:34]
uh and give this city a chance. And so
[14:38]
on behalf of all of us, I'd like to say
[14:41]
thank you, Nina Chsky, um, for all of
[14:44]
your contributions.
[14:50]
Mr. Madison,
[14:53]
thank you, Mayor. I um, very well said,
[14:56]
and I don't want to prolong the evening,
[14:58]
but I um, this was a major loss for
[15:01]
Pasadena, and I, too, have many arrows
[15:04]
in my back from Nenah over the years.
[15:07]
Um, but actually that's even unfair
[15:08]
because Nina wouldn't stab you in the
[15:10]
back. She would tell you to your face
[15:12]
when she thought you were wrong
[15:13]
right here.
[15:14]
And uh and Larry Wilson put it so well
[15:17]
in his piece that um she would come to
[15:20]
counsel and end up filling out cards on
[15:23]
things that she hadn't intended to speak
[15:25]
on and and she would begin those remarks
[15:27]
with. I wasn't going to speak on this,
[15:29]
but I have to tell you, um, but we need
[15:33]
people like Nenah, uh, who are
[15:36]
dedicated, who care, uh, who do what
[15:39]
they say they're going to do, who show
[15:41]
up, you know, for young people, uh, you
[15:45]
will find that when you do what you say
[15:47]
you're going to do and you show up, that
[15:50]
that separates you sadly from most of
[15:52]
the world in terms of uh, integrity and
[15:56]
and being there and uh you know Nina was
[16:00]
a pioneer. She was um became a lawyer in
[16:03]
1973 and it's hard to believe cuz it's
[16:07]
seems you know forever ago and also not
[16:10]
that long ago it was very difficult to
[16:12]
be a female attorney in 1973. Those were
[16:15]
the days when um not too far after
[16:18]
people like Justice Sandra Day Okconor
[16:20]
were offered uh legal secretary jobs
[16:23]
instead of um the job that the number
[16:26]
three person in her class in the case of
[16:28]
Okconor should have received at law
[16:30]
firms. The the sexism was still rampant
[16:33]
in the profession and she proudly became
[16:36]
an attorney and was a great lawyer. Um
[16:39]
and her her intellect was just
[16:42]
unwavering. She had paid attention to
[16:45]
detail. She read everything. She studied
[16:47]
everything. We need people like that in
[16:49]
the in our community to keep us on our
[16:51]
toes and to keep us all moving in the
[16:54]
right direction. In April, she stepped
[16:56]
away from the LVAA board and uh was I I
[17:01]
joke that she was claimed as a free
[17:02]
agent by the WP who uh put her on their
[17:06]
board and assigned her to some u a
[17:08]
mandate, but she'd been on the LVA board
[17:11]
for as long as I could remember for
[17:13]
decades and been the president of it for
[17:15]
for many many years. And I am so
[17:18]
thankful that we collectively at a at a
[17:21]
town hall about the fires that we had in
[17:23]
April, we um honored Nenah and thanked
[17:26]
her for her her decades of service. Even
[17:29]
that was painful though because she
[17:31]
insisted we go to her home, pick her up,
[17:33]
drive her to the event, drive her home,
[17:36]
and she didn't really know what was
[17:37]
going to happen. But we presented her
[17:39]
with a certificate and some flowers and
[17:41]
and she was pleased as punch uh because
[17:44]
her efforts weren't often enough. um
[17:47]
recognized. So, uh her memorial is
[17:50]
pending and I think I'll be involved in
[17:52]
that in some way, shape or form along
[17:54]
with the many many other friends she has
[17:56]
in the in the community. And um you
[17:59]
know, very very grateful and so tragic
[18:01]
that she died in a in a house fire that
[18:04]
um should be prevented, you know, these
[18:08]
days with technology and our fire
[18:09]
department was there instantly. But the
[18:12]
home was a it's the so-called butterfly
[18:15]
house on Lancaster, wood and glass
[18:17]
basically. And so it it was u you know a
[18:20]
very rapid confflration and um anyway uh
[18:25]
thank you mayor and I hope uh we will
[18:27]
adjourn in in Nina's memory and honor.
[18:30]
Thank you.
[18:32]
And you know, uh I I'm confident that
[18:37]
there will be an opportunity for an
[18:39]
appropriate
[18:41]
uh
[18:42]
dedication to recognize Nenah's
[18:45]
contributions and uh and uh fingerprint
[18:51]
in every part of our city. Um a lasting
[18:54]
contribution. Mr. Mr. Hampton,
[18:58]
I appreciate everything that everyone
[18:59]
has said um you know about Mrs. Taylor,
[19:02]
u Mr. Edson and Miss Chsky. I know that
[19:06]
there are people watching this right now
[19:07]
and I know that there's some young
[19:09]
people actually watching this because um
[19:11]
there's a high school um student that
[19:13]
reached out to me about watching a city
[19:15]
council meeting. I said you could look
[19:16]
at them on YouTube now. By the way, you
[19:18]
can watch this on YouTube. Um,
[19:22]
as we talk about these individuals, I
[19:25]
mean, they were amazing people in our
[19:28]
community. They were bricks of roads
[19:30]
that have been paved um that have been
[19:32]
paved by people before them, but they
[19:34]
kept on moving forward. I would just
[19:38]
remind everyone in this room to not be
[19:40]
the problem, but be the person who
[19:43]
solves the problem. And these
[19:44]
individuals are all individuals who
[19:46]
solve problems. They didn't bring us
[19:48]
problems. they they said this could be a
[19:50]
problem and here's how you can fix it.
[19:52]
And so I just want to um say that I
[19:54]
appreciate knowing all three of these
[19:56]
individuals and as a silent second um to
[19:59]
adjourning in their their memory tonight
[20:01]
um they will never be forgotten in this
[20:04]
community. Thank you.
[20:06]
Well said, Mr. Hampton. Thank you.
[20:10]
Okay. Um
[20:12]
it's uh we'll move on now with with our
[20:16]
agenda. Um well, we'll start with public
[20:19]
comment for matters not on the agenda.
[20:22]
Um and before we
[20:25]
start that, let me just say that uh the
[20:29]
council will recall that earlier this
[20:31]
year um uh a number of council members
[20:35]
including Mr. Cole and um well, no, Mr.
[20:39]
Cole and a few others, Mr. line others
[20:43]
um requested the issue of uh an ethical
[20:48]
investment policy. I think Mr. Cole
[20:50]
raised it at finance committee initially
[20:53]
uh that it come to finance committee. Um
[20:56]
the
[20:58]
because the matter has been delayed uh
[21:01]
first by the budget and then other
[21:03]
urgent items. Uh, I've conferred with
[21:06]
council member Cole to and to suggest
[21:09]
that this be referred directly to the
[21:11]
fire and police and pension fund um the
[21:15]
issue of divestment. Um, and so
[21:20]
um and well the issue of an investment
[21:21]
policy I should say. Um and he is now a
[21:25]
member of that board uh and in a
[21:28]
position to ask that the matter be
[21:31]
agendaized for a discussion. um and he
[21:35]
will be requesting a special meeting of
[21:37]
the board to do so. Um and that's the
[21:41]
body that has jurisdiction. This should
[21:44]
not be thought of as you know some sort
[21:46]
of punt because
[21:49]
we have to follow our own rules and
[21:52]
jurisdiction on these matters is with
[21:54]
that board. Um
[21:57]
and that there will be an opportunity
[21:59]
there to uh give public comment. uh and
[22:03]
I look forward to a productive
[22:06]
discussion um by that board.
[22:11]
So with that, um, Mayor was one of the
[22:14]
council members and before we had the
[22:17]
public, I don't need the credit or
[22:19]
anything, but I I I do definitely want
[22:21]
to make sure that we have a I mean,
[22:24]
because we're going to get this more and
[22:26]
more and more and more.
[22:27]
I mean, the way our world is shifting,
[22:29]
things are changing. Um, I think there
[22:31]
should be a policy that we have across
[22:34]
the board that just says, you know what,
[22:36]
if we find an organization that has or
[22:40]
anyone that has um, you know, not
[22:45]
cause war crimes, etc. I have no idea. I
[22:47]
mean, that's what the the great minds of
[22:50]
attorneys are to to think about those,
[22:53]
but um that we are not investing in um
[22:56]
any businesses that are supporting uh
[22:58]
atrocities like what's happening in
[23:00]
Gaza.
[23:01]
[Applause]
[23:07]
I I appreciate that, but I got ADHD and
[23:09]
that messes up my train of thought. So,
[23:12]
at least my wife tells me I got it.
[23:16]
could be a long list.
[23:18]
Okay. Um
[23:22]
so let's uh
[23:25]
so let's move on uh because we have a
[23:28]
long agenda with matters agendaized. Um
[23:32]
uh we're going to suggest one minute uh
[23:35]
per speaker for matters not on the
[23:36]
agenda. If you wish to have more time,
[23:39]
um, please state so and then at the end
[23:43]
of the agenda, we'll give you more time.
[23:46]
Uh, but I think it's fair to say to
[23:49]
let's we're going to try and get as many
[23:50]
people in as we can, one minute. Uh,
[23:53]
please respect that. Uh, and if you want
[23:55]
more time, we invite you to allow us to
[23:59]
conduct the city's business. Uh, address
[24:01]
matters on the agenda and then come
[24:02]
back.
[24:04]
Okay. with that
[24:06]
uh Fawaz al El Mar Masri followed by
[24:10]
Hadab Tarifi then Lucinda Wills then
[24:13]
Olden Denim I'll ring a bell when
[24:16]
there's 30 seconds
[24:19]
and we have over 20 cards and so if
[24:22]
21
[24:22]
21 so if you if you hear your name
[24:24]
please step up and form a line in the
[24:27]
center aisle here
[24:28]
Mr. mayors, council members, dear
[24:32]
community, respected members, and I read
[24:35]
their names of the children they were
[24:36]
killed in Gaza.
[24:52]
Muhammad
[24:59]
Muhammad basal
[25:02]
Hamdan
[25:04]
Radi Hamdan Shannon
[25:09]
Muhammad Mustafa Muhammad Abu Mas Ali
[25:13]
Khali
[25:15]
Elen Ahmed Abdarimi
[25:27]
Sal
[25:30]
Yousef Abu
[25:33]
sir your time is expired.
[25:34]
I'm sorry.
[25:35]
Your time is expired.
[25:37]
Thank you for your time.
[25:38]
Thank you. Hab Tarifi followed by
[25:40]
Lucinda Wills followed by Olden Denim
[25:42]
then Alen Shay.
[25:44]
Greetings of peace everyone. Um, last
[25:46]
time I left sad and extremely upset
[25:50]
after I shared the picture and the name
[25:52]
of my niece who was killed just a few
[25:54]
days earlier.
[25:56]
None of you showed empathy, sympathy, or
[25:58]
even one word of condolences after
[26:01]
giving us almost an hour giving
[26:03]
condolences and eulogy about the
[26:05]
previous mayor. So, just to let you
[26:07]
know, but you're not getting rid of me
[26:09]
so easily. I am back and all the names
[26:12]
that are going to be read about these
[26:14]
kids who have been killed. Uh I'm going
[26:16]
to ask I'm going to share a few
[26:17]
questions that these kids have been
[26:19]
asking instead of asking about what gift
[26:23]
uh they're going to get. All these
[26:25]
questions are about death after we die.
[26:28]
Will I hear your voice? When I die, will
[26:32]
they put me in a grave with my mom and
[26:34]
dad? When it rains, will we drown in the
[26:38]
tent?
[26:39]
When they bomb us in the tent, will we
[26:42]
burn?
[26:44]
If they bombed someone while I was
[26:45]
walking next to him,
[26:47]
Mr. Time is expired.
[26:49]
I hope these questions touch your heart
[26:51]
because they broke mine.
[26:52]
Thank you, ma'am.
[26:53]
Lucinda Wills, followed by Olden Denim,
[26:55]
followed by Alan Shay, then Randall Hen
[26:57]
Lamb.
[27:01]
Dr. Ahmed Sam is a surgeon with Doctors
[27:03]
Without Borders. This is a story in in
[27:05]
his words, edited to fit our short time
[27:07]
limit. The last thing I heard was the
[27:09]
voice of my children playing. Then
[27:10]
everything went black. When I opened my
[27:12]
eyes, I thought I'd gone blind. I could
[27:13]
no longer hear them. I checked to see if
[27:15]
my wife was alive. Her back and legs
[27:17]
were fractured, but she was alive. I
[27:19]
turned on my phone flashlight to find
[27:20]
the children. My three-year-old
[27:22]
daughter, Julia, was calling to me from
[27:23]
beneath the rubble. I carried her to a
[27:25]
safe place and went back for my second
[27:27]
son, Kareem. He had severe head trauma.
[27:29]
When I brought them to the hospital, I
[27:30]
refused to let my colleagues deal with
[27:32]
their injuries. I wanted them to feel
[27:34]
our dad is taking care of us. Maybe he's
[27:35]
still our hero. We're doing okay now, I
[27:38]
guess. My wife is in a wheelchair now.
[27:39]
She can't walk, so I'm everyone's
[27:41]
caregiver. The children's wounds are
[27:43]
healing slowly, but they cannot talk or
[27:44]
eat well. I'm trying to keep myself
[27:47]
together, so they can still see me as
[27:48]
their hero. But no, I'm not strong now.
[27:50]
There's so much fear that they will
[27:52]
never recover. If there's another strike
[27:54]
near us, they will lose their mind. And
[27:55]
I have so much guilt because I'm the
[27:57]
reason we stayed. We had a chance to
[27:59]
leave Gaza a year ago. I refused because
[28:01]
I love my people and my patients, but I
[28:02]
regret it now. We used to be a beautiful
[28:04]
family, but now I don't know.
[28:06]
Your time is expired. Sorry.
[28:08]
Um,
[28:09]
Olden Denim, followed by Alan Sheay,
[28:11]
then Randall Hein Lamb, then Mrs. Mrs.
[28:14]
Jane.
[28:15]
I'm no stranger to everyone here. And
[28:16]
everyone know
[28:17]
if everyone will form a line whose name
[28:19]
was called, please.
[28:20]
Excuse you.
[28:21]
I think I'm sorry, M.
[28:23]
Everyone knows my name. Everyone I'm no
[28:24]
stranger here. And everyone knows what
[28:25]
I'm here about. I came here a few years
[28:27]
ago trying to get some justice. All I
[28:29]
had was the truth in my hand telling. I
[28:31]
put the truth on the table, but I've
[28:33]
seen this truth being put down by lies.
[28:36]
I've seen police officers say that
[28:37]
Anthony Mlan had a gun in his hand. I've
[28:39]
seen nobody look at the footage long
[28:40]
enough to know that he didn't have a gun
[28:42]
in his hand. He had a cell phone in his
[28:44]
left hand. And the only other and the
[28:45]
other thing that I got to say because I
[28:47]
know I don't have much time is his dying
[28:49]
declaration was after being asked where
[28:52]
was his gun, he said his dying
[28:54]
declaration, I don't have one.
[28:59]
Thank you, Mr. Sheay.
[29:03]
First of all, I'd like to thank uh
[29:07]
Commission, I mean, council member
[29:09]
Hampton. I think he said the most poetic
[29:11]
thing tonight, and that is being a
[29:13]
problem solver. I would hope that the
[29:17]
councilman as the chair of the public
[29:19]
safety indicate whether we're going to
[29:22]
close out our request to have a properly
[29:26]
held agenda item instead of continuing
[29:29]
to ask that we get it done correctly. It
[29:33]
was requested that we have it heard and
[29:37]
discussed. The city attorney brought
[29:39]
forth the law which was not complied
[29:42]
with by the police officers. So if it
[29:45]
doesn't stop here, we're going to take
[29:46]
it to the oversight commission and keep
[29:49]
putting it forth. So we are asking that
[29:51]
you put an end to it now and either make
[29:54]
a declaration that it is ended now.
[29:56]
You're not going to move forward and
[29:58]
then we'll take it to another level or
[29:59]
we get it corrected here and call it
[30:02]
closure. Thank you.
[30:04]
Thank you, Mr. Ch.
[30:05]
Randall Hin Lamb followed by Mrs. Jane
[30:08]
Alara followed by Denellia
[30:11]
Hin Lamb and then Bailey Payne. Please
[30:14]
make your way forward.
[30:16]
Thank you very much. Uh, Mr. Mayor, I
[30:18]
want to say that your words about Nenina
[30:22]
were very moving and I hope you will
[30:24]
remember that as we continue to be
[30:26]
stubborn, I won't call for your
[30:28]
resignation here today, but as we move
[30:31]
stubborn,
[30:33]
uh, these are names of children who
[30:35]
never reached their third month of life
[30:38]
who were killed in Gaza. Shima Nabil
[30:41]
al-Aam
[30:43]
Samar Muhammad Abu Hind Khaled Jajou
[30:47]
Mariam Su Abed Mahmud Abdullah Hammad
[30:52]
Sullean Jabra Kinawi Habiba Amar
[30:56]
Al-Srafi Samir Muhammad Tamraz Juri Anas
[31:01]
Shamiya Alma Adnan Jamal Wam
[31:07]
Salah Salam Abdullah Riyad als
[31:15]
Rabba al-Hhat
[31:17]
Abdel Rahman Hammuda Bilal Kam.
[31:22]
Thank you.
[31:22]
Thank you very much.
[31:23]
Mrs. Jane Al Far.
[31:26]
Okay. Thank you.
[31:27]
Uh Daniela Hinlam
[31:31]
follow
[31:31]
then Bailey Payne. Then Paul then Simon
[31:34]
Gibbons.
[31:38]
Hi, I'm Don Heinlam, resident in
[31:40]
Pasadena, District 5.
[31:43]
I was gutted today to hear of yet
[31:46]
another act of violence, this time in
[31:49]
Jerusalem.
[31:52]
Mainstream media across our country will
[31:55]
cover this act of violence. We'll know
[31:57]
their names. We'll know all about them.
[32:01]
We'll be able to recite their names.
[32:04]
Unlike the perhaps 66,000
[32:07]
officially declared dead in Gaza, of
[32:10]
whom we know very few of their names.
[32:13]
The names I read today are all babies
[32:18]
two months old who have died and been
[32:21]
killed in Gaza.
[32:23]
Aria Saber Salah Abua
[32:27]
Bisan Ibraim Muhammad al- Malaha Malak
[32:30]
Ahmed Maher Abuida
[32:33]
Gaser Nabil Nafal Mustafa Muhammad Farid
[32:38]
Kandil Aid Hussein Muhammad Abuhamad
[32:43]
thank you
[32:43]
may rest in peace
[32:45]
Bailey Payne followed by Paul by by
[32:48]
Simon Gibbons then Dr. Treasure Shepard.
[32:52]
Good evening, council and mayor. I
[32:54]
wanted to share a story to explain why I
[32:57]
will keep showing up at city council
[32:58]
meetings advocating for divestment from
[33:00]
the genocide in Palestine.
[33:03]
The Red Crescent gets a phone call from
[33:05]
a 15-year-old girl in a car in distress,
[33:07]
begging for help. Her family is trying
[33:09]
to flee, but they're surrounded by
[33:10]
Israeli tanks in Gaza. Then shrieks,
[33:14]
rounds of rapid fire, and then no more
[33:16]
voice of a 15-year-old girl. The only
[33:19]
voice left was that of Hend Rajab, the
[33:22]
six-year-old girl with the flower crown.
[33:25]
She says the tank is right next to her.
[33:27]
She says it's dark and she's scared. She
[33:29]
begs for the operator to come rescue
[33:31]
her. The operator stayed on the phone
[33:33]
with her for hours, reciting the Quran
[33:36]
while two paramedics are trying to find
[33:37]
her in an ambulance. Then the call goes
[33:40]
silent. The Israeli tank killed the two
[33:43]
paramedics and the ambulance and hind
[33:45]
Rajab, the six-year-old girl with the
[33:47]
flower crown.
[33:49]
That tank was paid by my tax dollars and
[33:52]
that haunts me.
[33:53]
So, I will continue to show up
[33:56]
differently. Thank you, Paul, followed
[33:59]
by Simon Given, then Dr. Treasure
[34:01]
Shepard, then Chelsea.
[34:05]
Uh, good evening, Mr. Mayor. Council
[34:08]
like to read the names of one-year-old
[34:09]
children killed in Gaza. Eileen Ahmed
[34:13]
Abdel Muti Alami
[34:20]
Leanne Bilal Shabban Al-Husami
[34:24]
Masa Allah Alin Ali Uda
[34:38]
Talia Matasum Samir Mosp Okay.
[34:43]
Malak Yaser Muhammad Doud
[34:47]
Zena Fadi Muhammad Hajazi
[34:54]
Masa Ahmed Paranaser
[34:57]
Mera Mahmud Fadi Amida
[35:04]
Juman Osama
[35:07]
Sir your time is expired.
[35:09]
Simon Gibbons followed by Dr. Treasure
[35:11]
Shepard then Chelsea then Scott
[35:14]
Habbermell.
[35:18]
Thank you. Last year I stood in front of
[35:21]
this dis with a group of other people
[35:23]
asking you to review the way that you
[35:26]
manage rents in Pasadena.
[35:28]
We looked at whether we could make some
[35:30]
adjustments to measure PR and we were
[35:33]
told we needed to wait until the next
[35:35]
electoral cycle. we'd see how things
[35:37]
worked out. As you know, the rent
[35:40]
department is not doing well. And last
[35:43]
week, as part of the California
[35:44]
Apartment Association's uh lawsuit, I
[35:47]
took part in the the appeal court and
[35:49]
listened in and heard the words from
[35:52]
Justice Seagull. This is the most
[35:54]
unfair, discriminatory rent
[35:56]
stabilization board that I've ever seen.
[36:00]
I'd like you to think about this and as
[36:02]
we move into the next electoral cycle,
[36:04]
as new options are put in front of you,
[36:06]
to consider how we can make a reasonable
[36:08]
approach to managing rent in Pasadena
[36:10]
that make sure that all voices are heard
[36:12]
so that we can have a stable and
[36:15]
suitable way to ensure affordable
[36:17]
housing. Thank you.
[36:19]
Thank you, Dr. Treasure Shepard,
[36:22]
followed by Chelsea, followed by Scott
[36:24]
Habmill, then Michael Bonura.
[36:27]
Uh, thank you. There's supposed to be a
[36:28]
visual that Koko Panasian sent to it to
[36:31]
post up right now um regarding the
[36:33]
concert series, but I'm here as CEO of
[36:35]
the Pasadena Recreation and Parks
[36:37]
Foundation. We partnered with the city
[36:39]
to bring back the Levit Foundation
[36:41]
concert series for 3 years. So, we need
[36:43]
everyone to vote. They have until the
[36:45]
15th to do so, 5:00 p.m. on that day.
[36:47]
Random time, but please do so. Um just
[36:50]
text Pasadena to the number 187749-5525.
[36:55]
and whenever you guys put up the visual,
[36:57]
that'd be great. Um, second, Council
[37:00]
Member Cole, please take care of this
[37:01]
divestment issue. You're hearing all of
[37:03]
this. I know you care. I've talked to
[37:05]
you, but yes, we need to handle that.
[37:07]
And I agree with Hampton. Um, we need to
[37:09]
make sure that citywide we are prepared
[37:12]
for this in the future. Um, thank you
[37:14]
very much.
[37:14]
Thank you.
[37:15]
Thank you, Chelsea.
[37:18]
Followed by Scott Habbermill, followed
[37:20]
by Michael Bonura, then Nasier Carse.
[37:23]
Yes, this is Chelsea. I reside in
[37:25]
district 7 and thank you Hampton for
[37:27]
your interest in divestment. That's
[37:29]
actually something I wanted to bring up
[37:32]
um about just the media attention right
[37:34]
now in Israel today about um eight
[37:36]
civilians who were wounded by
[37:37]
Palestinian shooters at a bus stop. Um
[37:40]
however um as I've been sharing um
[37:45]
Israel military intelligence data
[37:46]
indicates that five out of six
[37:48]
Palestinians killed by Israel's army are
[37:50]
civilians. Um the 83% of civilian deaths
[37:53]
is extremely high for modern warfare and
[37:56]
even when compared to recent civil wars
[37:57]
in Syria and Sudan. Um did that mean I
[38:00]
was done?
[38:01]
No, you have 30 seconds.
[38:02]
Okay. Hamus International has concluded
[38:05]
that Israel's committing genocide in
[38:06]
Gaza joining more than 400 genocide
[38:09]
scholars. So your continued interest is
[38:12]
um really key right now. Thank you so
[38:14]
much council. God bless you guys.
[38:16]
Thank you.
[38:18]
[Applause]
[38:19]
Scott Habbermill followed by Michael
[38:21]
Bonura, then Nasier Carse, then David
[38:24]
Bond, then Pranit.
[38:26]
Hello. Uh, my name is Scott Habmill. I'm
[38:28]
a resident of Pasadena District 7. I'm
[38:31]
here today to give my unqualified
[38:33]
support for the Pasadena Greenways
[38:35]
Project. I believe that everyone
[38:38]
deserves the right to get around
[38:39]
Pasadena safely without a car. And by
[38:42]
that, I mean they should be they should
[38:44]
both be safe and feel safe.
[38:48]
In addition, I think that includes
[38:49]
walking by bike, by scooter, or by
[38:52]
public transport. The greenways are a
[38:54]
low impact project that promises to give
[38:56]
neighborhood streets back to the people
[38:58]
who live on them while allowing those
[39:00]
who don't to safely get around Pasadena
[39:03]
on a bike. Please put them on the agenda
[39:06]
and please approve the plan following
[39:07]
the all ages and abilities guidelines.
[39:09]
Thank you.
[39:13]
Michael Bonora followed by Nasir Carse
[39:16]
followed by David Bond then Prrenit then
[39:18]
Levent Akarut.
[39:20]
Thank you. Mayor and council members
[39:22]
while the while the FBS board will make
[39:26]
the decision to divest the city council
[39:29]
can still pass a resolution calling on
[39:32]
the FBS board to divest.
[39:36]
that will show that the council cares
[39:39]
that we are involved in genocide. Please
[39:42]
be strong leaders. Thank you.
[39:47]
Nasir car followed by David Bond and
[39:49]
Perit
[39:53]
Nasir.
[39:54]
Yes. And it's Naser Kaser. Sorry.
[39:58]
Um thank you so much for having us and I
[40:01]
appreciate you serving our community.
[40:05]
However, I am here today to um and and I
[40:09]
was very touched by what everybody said
[40:12]
about uh uh Nenina and um in my mind I'm
[40:17]
thinking how many thousands of
[40:20]
Palestinians have been killed and I
[40:22]
would like for us to recognize at least
[40:26]
the loss of the children and the honest
[40:30]
people, the the uh young people. So what
[40:33]
I was going to mention is just a couple
[40:35]
of names one year olds that have passed
[40:38]
away
[40:40]
have been killed uh by Israeli um
[40:44]
killers Muhammad Abdullah Nadia Senad
[40:49]
Ahmed Minir Ibraim Ali Kazim Magd
[40:54]
Muhammad. So I'm just reading a few.
[40:57]
These are one year olds. 2,000 of them
[40:59]
were killed
[41:01]
which is just amazing.
[41:02]
Your time has expired. David Bond
[41:04]
followed by Prrenit
[41:06]
then Levent Akbar and Mariam Gada.
[41:12]
City Council, I am here in support of
[41:15]
the city council's divestment of all of
[41:19]
the genocide actors that's occurring
[41:22]
right now in Palestine. It is uh the
[41:25]
worst genocide that we have seen. It is
[41:28]
being televised to us and we're seeing
[41:29]
hundreds of thousands of innocent
[41:31]
civilians killed. We're seeing a famine
[41:34]
imposed by our tax dollars and this city
[41:38]
has investment into these actors. We
[41:41]
must show a united front of ending this
[41:45]
genocide.
[41:50]
Prenit followed by Levent Akabarut then
[41:53]
Miriam Gaada then Anna Soul River and
[41:55]
then Michael Tucker will be the last
[41:58]
speaker on matters not on the agenda.
[42:02]
Hi everyone, thank you for having me. My
[42:04]
name is Prrenit. Um I just wanted to ask
[42:06]
you guys again to divest from all all
[42:09]
the companies that are uh currently
[42:11]
profiting off of the genocide that's
[42:13]
happening in Gaza. uh as you guys saw
[42:15]
maybe in Santa Monica they have a
[42:17]
financial emergency because of a huge
[42:19]
lawsuit that they faced and they're
[42:21]
unable to balance their books and the
[42:23]
same thing will happen in Pasadena once
[42:25]
they find that we are also guilty of
[42:27]
committing genocide as we own we are
[42:30]
partial owners in some of the war
[42:31]
companies so again this is more of a
[42:33]
legal protection for Pasadena is we need
[42:35]
to make sure we dive best from all of
[42:36]
them because as amnesty and all ICJ ICC
[42:40]
has determined that genocide has been
[42:42]
committed we are responsible for that.
[42:44]
So, let's divest as quickly as possible
[42:45]
so we don't get any legal repercussions
[42:48]
as the city of Pasadena. Thank you.
[42:50]
Thank you, Levent Akarut, then Mariam
[42:54]
Gada, then Anna Soul River, and then
[42:56]
Michael Tucker who's participating
[42:58]
virtually.
[42:59]
Okay. My name is Levent Akbar. I am a
[43:01]
resident of Pasadena.
[43:04]
I have a list of 1896 children and it's
[43:09]
probably a way more now that have died
[43:12]
since July 15, 2025.
[43:15]
My list consists of number 9004, Karam
[43:20]
Nadal Zoher Salman. And last on my list
[43:24]
but not least is Jud Ma Mahmud Muhammad
[43:28]
Hamdan.
[43:30]
All the names here are uh children that
[43:33]
are 11 months old. All of them are just
[43:36]
11 months old. And I would like to say
[43:40]
that let's adjourn with the remembrance
[43:42]
of the beautiful children of Gaza.
[43:46]
Hopefully we can think deeply and make
[43:49]
right decisions. Do not be a genocide
[43:53]
denier. do not fall for the public uh
[43:56]
for the public relations machine that
[43:59]
are per perpetuating lies
[44:02]
encouraging the genocide in Gaza.
[44:05]
Mariam Gada Gada
[44:09]
followed by Anna Soul River and then
[44:11]
Michael Tucker.
[44:12]
Good evening uh mayor and council
[44:14]
members. My name is Mariam Sada. I'm an
[44:16]
educator. Um I work with children every
[44:19]
day. This is suicide prevention month
[44:21]
and it's ironic that I work on the
[44:24]
prevention end of death and I get
[44:27]
trained uh to see the signs and prevent
[44:31]
and save lives before they go and I'm
[44:34]
standing here with a list of lives that
[44:36]
are gone. And I tell my students every
[44:39]
day, you know, as a good taxpayer, I
[44:41]
don't want my money to go to this. I
[44:44]
really don't. I work really hard so that
[44:46]
my students go to college. we improved,
[44:48]
you know, they find their American
[44:50]
dream, they live it not for the sake of
[44:53]
anything. So, it's the question here is
[44:55]
not when where if we're going to divest
[44:58]
is when. Thank you.
[45:03]
Anna Soul River.
[45:04]
Yes. Good evening, council members. I'm
[45:07]
speaking as a concerned Pasadena
[45:08]
resident. After reviewing the Department
[45:10]
of Transportation's hydrogen bus
[45:12]
proposal and hearing expert analysis
[45:15]
like Joe Rum of the Bulbas,
[45:17]
I urge real caution. Yes, hydrogen
[45:20]
grants are tempting and a few extra
[45:21]
miles of range may sound appealing, but
[45:24]
those short-term benefits don't justify
[45:25]
the long-term cost. Hydrogen is
[45:28]
incredibly energy intensive to produce.
[45:30]
And as the solar and battery
[45:31]
technologies keep improving, hydrogen
[45:34]
becomes harder to justify, not easier.
[45:36]
Even so-called clean hydrogen has major
[45:39]
climate drawbacks. Not the best idea.
[45:46]
Okay. Michael Tucker,
[45:49]
who's participating virtually. Mr.
[45:51]
Tucker, I'll ring a bell when you have
[45:52]
30 seconds left.
[45:59]
mute. Oh, I'm trying.
[46:02]
There we go. All right. My name is
[46:03]
Michael Tucker and I'm addressing the
[46:05]
Pasadena City Council today to express a
[46:07]
serious concern as a citizen of the city
[46:09]
of Pasadena, District 1. First,
[46:11]
expression of principle. For me, every
[46:12]
human being that lives and works in this
[46:14]
city is a member of this community and
[46:16]
deserving of its respect and protection
[46:17]
regardless of their federal immigration
[46:19]
status. Everybody has inalienable human
[46:21]
rights and is our duty as a community to
[46:23]
look out for all of us. My concern is
[46:25]
the expected resumption of the ICE raids
[46:27]
in our community after the disappointing
[46:29]
Supreme Court decision that put a stay
[46:31]
on the district court order stopping
[46:32]
him. That decision was handed down with
[46:34]
no explanation despite two lower courts
[46:36]
finding the stoppage order legal and
[46:37]
appropriate. The brief review of a brief
[46:39]
review of ISIS's motus operandi. ICE
[46:42]
deputies are often mass and do not
[46:43]
identify themselves. They detain people
[46:44]
who have committed no crimes and
[46:46]
interrogate them on the street. They
[46:47]
imprison people, some of whom were later
[46:48]
discovered to be American citizens
[46:50]
unjustly and without warrant. The last
[46:52]
item is my biggest concern. But I don't
[46:54]
understand how we can allow people to
[46:55]
essentially be kidnapped by someone
[46:57]
cosplaying as a federal officer or
[46:58]
without providing the requisite proof
[47:00]
such as a signed warrant or at least ID
[47:02]
proving they're a federal agent. I want
[47:03]
to know what the city council has done
[47:05]
and or plans to do to protect the
[47:07]
members of our community these
[47:08]
constitutional activities danger.
[47:10]
Mr. Tucker, your time is expired.
[47:11]
Thank you, Mr. Tucker.
[47:13]
That completes public comment on the on
[47:15]
matters not on the agenda.
[47:17]
Thank you everyone for your patience and
[47:18]
for adhering to the time limits. Um,
[47:23]
Mr. Mayor.
[47:24]
Yes, Mr. Cole.
[47:25]
Um, I'll be brief. Um, I took to heart
[47:28]
uh the comment made uh both to me after
[47:31]
the meeting and then tonight at um the
[47:34]
beginning of public comment that um
[47:37]
we've heard week after week um eloquent
[47:40]
and heartfelt uh concerns expressed by
[47:43]
members of our community and that
[47:45]
seemingly by our silence
[47:49]
um we showed lack of empathy and
[47:50]
compassion. I don't think that's the
[47:52]
case with any of the members up here,
[47:54]
but I understand how um people would
[47:57]
interpret um that silence. Uh these are
[48:02]
deeply troubling times in our country
[48:05]
and in our world and uh what is
[48:08]
happening in in Gaza and the West Bank
[48:11]
uh and now in Israel again um is
[48:15]
heartbreaking and sickening.
[48:19]
Um, so I would ask um in the in the
[48:22]
spirit of empathy and compassion, um,
[48:25]
it's estimated that more than 700
[48:26]
civilians were killed on October 7th um,
[48:31]
uh, in Israel. And as we all know, well
[48:35]
over 50,000
[48:38]
Gazins have died uh, in nearly two years
[48:41]
of warfare against uh, a civilian
[48:45]
population. So I would ask that we also
[48:47]
tonight adjourn in memory of all of the
[48:50]
innocent victims
[48:53]
of this war.
[48:56]
I'd give a silent second to that and
[48:58]
then I have one thing that's not such a
[49:00]
silent second as well.
[49:03]
I get it.
[49:05]
Can't you can't be silent here. You
[49:07]
know, Mike, but um a silent second to
[49:09]
that. Uh and I also wanted to um say um
[49:11]
to Missy Dodd, I'm so sorry to hear
[49:14]
about your niece. I I wasn't here when
[49:16]
you told the story, but I just want you
[49:18]
to know that I love you and um your your
[49:20]
family. I I just I want you to know that
[49:22]
I'm I'm here uh in any way, any capacity
[49:25]
I could be for you. I love you.
[49:27]
[Applause]
[49:31]
I uh
[49:34]
I think um you know the
[49:39]
public should also understand that you
[49:41]
know it's it was well put by Mr. Cole,
[49:44]
Mr. Hampton, and I think you speak for
[49:46]
the rest of the council, uh, but you
[49:48]
know, by law, we're prohibited from
[49:51]
engaging or addressing matters that are
[49:53]
not on our agenda. Um, and so I I I just
[49:58]
want you to understand that it's not
[50:00]
don't interpret our silence as, you
[50:02]
know, a lack of sympathy or empathy for
[50:05]
anyone who has lost a family member on
[50:09]
whatever side they may be on. um uh in
[50:14]
in any part of the world in any atrocity
[50:17]
uh including in this country. Um and so
[50:22]
uh you know we will uh adjourn in memory
[50:24]
of all victims of violence uh anywhere
[50:27]
and anywhere they may be.
[50:32]
Um
[50:34]
with that uh we will uh move on to the
[50:38]
consent calendar.
[50:45]
For the consent calendar, we have one
[50:47]
speaker card for item 8. Uh we did
[50:51]
receive correspondence for item four,
[50:54]
five, and eight with those letters
[50:58]
distributed to the council posted online
[51:01]
and part of the record for each of those
[51:03]
items.
[51:08]
Okay.
[51:10]
Um, mayor,
[51:11]
I have concerns on items seven and
[51:12]
eight.
[51:15]
Ask the
[51:17]
Okay, you want to hold them? Um,
[51:20]
okay. Uh, is there a motion? Is that a
[51:22]
motion on the remainder of the consent
[51:24]
calendar?
[51:25]
So moved.
[51:26]
Okay. Is there a second?
[51:28]
Second.
[51:28]
Second. Are there any objections?
[51:30]
I'm sorry. Six and seven, not seven and
[51:33]
eight. I apologize.
[51:35]
Six and seven.
[51:36]
Yeah. Six and seven. You're dropping
[51:38]
eight.
[51:39]
No, no. 82. 678.
[51:43]
Well, we have a speaker card on
[51:46]
We have a speaker card on item eight.
[51:48]
Okay. So, 6, seven, and eight are held.
[51:53]
Uh, and the remainder of the consent
[51:55]
calendar
[51:56]
uh is subject to a motion. Any
[51:58]
objections? Seeing none, let's start
[52:01]
with item six, Mr. Cole.
[52:04]
So, um, I was on the municipal services
[52:07]
committee. My colleagues gave it serious
[52:08]
consideration. Um I'm
[52:11]
concerned about our recommendation. Um
[52:16]
the
[52:17]
under the proposal we move now to as
[52:22]
little as onethird of the residents of a
[52:25]
block um uh could u
[52:30]
could be successful in in voting for
[52:32]
speed humps. Um I made a motion for a
[52:35]
higher threshold which is that at least
[52:38]
50% of the people meaning 67% of the
[52:42]
voting but at least 50% of the people um
[52:45]
who live there. The staff made a very
[52:48]
persuasive to my colleague argument that
[52:50]
it's very difficult particularly in some
[52:52]
neighborhoods where there's a higher
[52:53]
level of renters um etc. But uh I think
[52:57]
it's we will encounter down the road
[53:00]
some concerns when people say how come
[53:03]
there speed humps on my street and we'll
[53:04]
say we had an election and half the
[53:06]
people voted and twothirds of the people
[53:08]
voted for speed humps which means that
[53:11]
twothirds of the people haven't weighed
[53:12]
in. I think that's difficult but I am
[53:16]
not going to um do anything other than
[53:19]
suggest to my colleagues who are not on
[53:20]
MSC if you share that concern we could
[53:23]
discuss it. Otherwise, um I'm prepared
[53:26]
to I I don't think it's a bad choice,
[53:28]
but I I would be more comfortable with
[53:30]
at least 50% of the people on a street
[53:33]
saying they wanted speed humps.
[53:36]
I I I agree with you given our history
[53:39]
on speed humps. Uh it's been my
[53:42]
experience that once they're installed,
[53:44]
there are unintended consequences. you
[53:46]
know, people speeding up to the hump,
[53:50]
slowing down, going over it, and causes
[53:53]
noise and sometimes screeching. Um, and
[53:56]
then there are other issues when people
[53:59]
don't slow down for the speed hump and
[54:02]
cars bottom out, maybe lose control. Uh,
[54:05]
my experience is that sometimes people
[54:09]
who,
[54:11]
you know, be careful what you wish for.
[54:12]
Sometimes they wanted some wanted the
[54:14]
speed hump and then they want them out.
[54:16]
In fact, at one point we took up a
[54:18]
policy in Pasadena that if a
[54:21]
neighborhood wanted them out, they had
[54:22]
to pay to remove them. Um, and so uh I I
[54:27]
think I would suggest that we hold this
[54:30]
matter uh and uh and revisit
[54:34]
particularly the issue of a threshold.
[54:38]
Mayor Oh,
[54:40]
yeah. Go. Oh, council member.
[54:42]
Oh my. Sorry.
[54:45]
Uh, thank you, mayor, and thank you for
[54:47]
your comments on on that.
[54:49]
Council member Cole, um, I have a
[54:53]
experience with this kind of like on a
[54:55]
negative experience on it. starting with
[54:57]
Green Hill and um you know there was a
[55:01]
someone that wanted bumps on Green Hill
[55:04]
really it was like she was running for
[55:08]
election you know and and and really
[55:10]
going to all the houses and then they
[55:12]
put
[55:14]
um you know speed bumps on that street
[55:17]
and and everybody was complaining about
[55:19]
it you know and when I was walking you
[55:22]
know the uh when I was walking in 2011
[55:26]
uh They told me how them how much they
[55:27]
hated the the speed bumps. Well, she
[55:29]
moved away. You know, the lady that
[55:31]
wanted it. And now the the the uh the
[55:34]
traffic goes onto the adjacent streets
[55:37]
and that's the problem with having speed
[55:39]
bumps if you're not careful. Thank you.
[55:43]
And then there's the issue of, you know,
[55:45]
people want some people want the speed
[55:47]
humps and then there's one put in front
[55:48]
of their home
[55:50]
and they said, "No, move it over." Um
[55:52]
and so I I think this this Well, let's
[55:56]
hear from members of the MSSE.
[56:00]
Mr. Hampton,
[56:00]
um the policy went through so many
[56:04]
different I mean it went through other
[56:06]
committees as well. So there was a lot
[56:08]
of time for residents to um chime in. Um
[56:11]
in my district um there have been speed
[56:15]
bump petitions that have gone out and
[56:17]
transportation didn't get enough vote or
[56:19]
enough responses at all. Right. And so
[56:21]
we have to ask transportation to send
[56:23]
out another ballot and they're kind
[56:25]
enough to do it. Sometimes in some cases
[56:28]
up to three to four times to get the
[56:31]
response either yes or no. Um most cases
[56:34]
it was always in favor or someone looked
[56:36]
at the mailer that came in and they were
[56:38]
like I'm not paying for nothing. I don't
[56:41]
know what the city is sending me because
[56:44]
probably looks like a bill or something
[56:45]
to them. Um but I would say that I think
[56:48]
that the policy that was put together um
[56:51]
by um the transportation department um
[56:54]
and um the transportation committee
[56:57]
yeah transportation committee of a
[56:59]
commission sorry commission of uh the
[57:01]
city members uh is is actually a solid
[57:03]
policy. The one thing I would have added
[57:06]
to this um would be as um council member
[57:10]
Cole has mentioned, you know, having
[57:12]
below 50% or having would be to notify
[57:17]
the residents 60 days prior to the
[57:19]
install if they want to respond. They
[57:23]
have 60 days putting notice notices
[57:25]
along the corridor of that street that
[57:28]
will say speed bumps will be installed.
[57:30]
you have questions or concerns to reach
[57:33]
out.
[57:35]
I think that would be fair and then
[57:37]
transportation would have the
[57:38]
opportunity to look at those and say,
[57:40]
you know what, now that everybody has
[57:42]
weighed in on this and they really
[57:44]
notice this and they're not just
[57:46]
throwing away that mailer.
[57:49]
Long story short, because otherwise we
[57:51]
could just have, you know, 10 households
[57:53]
on a house on a street of, you know, 30
[57:56]
households that are on all in favor of
[57:59]
it and everybody else says absolutely
[58:01]
no. Because everybody looked at the
[58:03]
mailer and they said, "Oh, I'm not going
[58:05]
to I don't I don't need to respond to
[58:07]
this. I don't need to I don't need to
[58:09]
look at this." Or maybe there's just
[58:11]
another way to advertise that we're
[58:14]
we're asking for your input. I think
[58:16]
that's I think that's what we're
[58:19]
what's being suggested. Um, and it's a
[58:22]
good suggestion. I mean, I don't want to
[58:26]
infer from people's unwillingness
[58:28]
sometimes to respond that they're for or
[58:31]
against. Sometimes people don't respond
[58:33]
because they're against. Um, Mr. Jones.
[58:38]
Thanks, Mayor. And we did have this
[58:40]
discussion at MSC and I believe it was a
[58:42]
unanimous decision, but Mr. code did u
[58:45]
bring up his recommendation as part of a
[58:47]
a second motion, but I think it's
[58:50]
important to to know like this policy is
[58:54]
in response to the residents coming to
[58:57]
their council members and what we've
[58:59]
seen from DOT is that we've put out the
[59:02]
the speed markers. A resident will
[59:04]
petition for a speed hump and they
[59:07]
didn't meet the threshold, right? They
[59:08]
didn't meet the thousand um what is it
[59:11]
car trips per day. So we've lowered that
[59:13]
to 500. Often times when even if they
[59:16]
did meet the thousand um they didn't get
[59:19]
the 67% response rate that they were
[59:23]
required. And so now the residents who
[59:26]
have actively engaged and organized,
[59:29]
they don't get the speed humps. And so
[59:31]
our fear was is that if we didn't revise
[59:34]
this policy,
[59:36]
then we'll just be back at the same
[59:38]
issue again. residents asking for speed
[59:41]
humps and they not qualifying for it. Um
[59:44]
I mean it's a good point about what Mr.
[59:46]
Cole brought up and we did defer to to
[59:49]
walk and his team to do some further
[59:51]
investigation and then come back with a
[59:53]
a recommendation of a response rate
[59:55]
because it originally there was no
[59:58]
minimum response rate. I believe it was
[1:00:00]
just based on your engineering judgment.
[1:00:03]
And so then part of that discussion we
[1:00:05]
landed at a um for walk to come back and
[1:00:08]
look at a minimum response weight. He
[1:00:10]
came back with 50% and I think it'd be
[1:00:12]
helpful to hear from him as how you came
[1:00:15]
to that conclusion.
[1:00:21]
Thank you. Yes. As as we discussed at
[1:00:22]
MSSE, there were a number of things that
[1:00:24]
we're looking for in this policy update.
[1:00:25]
Um the one that that this discussion
[1:00:28]
revolves around is that twothirds vote
[1:00:30]
and um not getting um enough ballots
[1:00:33]
back even after going going out a second
[1:00:35]
or third time to try to get additional
[1:00:37]
feedback. Um in the gender report we we
[1:00:40]
did note that uh the percentage of
[1:00:42]
ballots returned really ranged from
[1:00:44]
about 46% to 78% of those mailed out and
[1:00:48]
that's really after doing um a number of
[1:00:50]
rounds of of outreach. So, um we are
[1:00:54]
open to um adjusting that number at, you
[1:00:58]
know, at this time if we'd like to move
[1:01:00]
forward with um 50 or 50% plus one of
[1:01:04]
all votes versus 2/3 of 50% of what
[1:01:06]
comes back. I think either way, what
[1:01:08]
this does, it it does uh provide um more
[1:01:13]
uh opportunity for speed humps to be
[1:01:15]
installed. They are a proven uh safety
[1:01:18]
uh device. They're proven to be
[1:01:19]
effective at reducing speeds. um they're
[1:01:21]
one of the most asked for um types of
[1:01:23]
devices that we get throughout the city.
[1:01:25]
It's just it's very hard to meet our
[1:01:26]
criteria. Um so we were trying to make
[1:01:29]
that more uh accessible to everybody. Um
[1:01:32]
we as staff feel that the 67% approval
[1:01:36]
of 50% ballots was um was a a good
[1:01:40]
number based on our data, but um it
[1:01:42]
doesn't mean that we're opposed to uh
[1:01:44]
50% plus one of of a yes vote. Um it's
[1:01:50]
just that again we don't count no votes
[1:01:54]
as nos um anymore. We still need that
[1:01:57]
that yes vote.
[1:02:01]
Um I I think the policy in terms of the
[1:02:03]
threshold is I mean I I I don't think
[1:02:06]
that's the issue. The issue is the
[1:02:09]
people who will respond and vote and um
[1:02:15]
uh Mr. Lion were you
[1:02:16]
yes in the
[1:02:17]
Thank you mayor. I support the
[1:02:19]
recommendation um the department's
[1:02:21]
recommendation. I supported the
[1:02:23]
recommendation that came before um this
[1:02:25]
has gone through TAC, it's gone through
[1:02:26]
MSSE um and now it's here. I don't know
[1:02:30]
I don't know the residents that are that
[1:02:32]
are crying out about furious about about
[1:02:35]
speed bumps. Um I heard from quite a few
[1:02:37]
people about this policy. Everyone
[1:02:39]
uniformly asked me to vote for it.
[1:02:42]
people. What I hear is that people want
[1:02:44]
don't want cars speeding down their
[1:02:46]
residential streets where their kids are
[1:02:47]
playing and they're walking their dogs
[1:02:50]
and this is a way to slow people down on
[1:02:52]
our neighborhood streets. Um I I I don't
[1:02:56]
think there's a lot of data to support
[1:02:58]
that that speed bumps in particular, but
[1:03:00]
trafficcoming measures in general result
[1:03:02]
in in a mass um overflow to other
[1:03:06]
streets. It's the first argument
[1:03:07]
everyone makes against any trafficcoming
[1:03:09]
measure and there's not a lot of data to
[1:03:12]
support it. So I very much support the
[1:03:15]
recommendation. Um I don't think we we
[1:03:18]
have to infer anything from the non
[1:03:20]
votes. That's the nature of democracy.
[1:03:22]
The people who vote get to say what
[1:03:23]
happens. That's how we're all sitting
[1:03:25]
here at this table and we don't have a
[1:03:27]
minimum threshold in our districts. So I
[1:03:30]
think the threshold we came up with is
[1:03:32]
is good. half the people on the street
[1:03:34]
have to vote and then twothirds of of
[1:03:36]
those voting can decide. Um and I I
[1:03:39]
support the policy uh as written.
[1:03:41]
I I'd second the motion too.
[1:03:46]
I just have one clarifying question.
[1:03:48]
It's not about the
[1:03:49]
speed. So there's speed tables, speed
[1:03:52]
humps, and speed cushions. Are we still
[1:03:54]
doing speed humps or only speed cushions
[1:03:56]
and speed tables? Uh speed cushion is a
[1:03:59]
type of speed hump and that's the new
[1:04:01]
standard that we're using throughout the
[1:04:02]
city. It provides the grooves for fire
[1:04:04]
vehicles. Speed tables are still under
[1:04:06]
pilot and not um part of this policy. So
[1:04:08]
we would come back at a later time for
[1:04:10]
speed tables.
[1:04:11]
I understand. So speed the long speed
[1:04:14]
humps that everybody's used to seeing is
[1:04:16]
no longer going to happen. What we're
[1:04:18]
going to see from here on out are going
[1:04:20]
to be the individual cushions that are
[1:04:22]
like three cushions. They look like
[1:04:24]
pillows.
[1:04:25]
Correct. there. Uh they have the wheel
[1:04:27]
cut out for fire emergency response
[1:04:29]
vehicles. So that is the speed cushion.
[1:04:31]
That's our current design. We wouldn't
[1:04:33]
go back and change the existing ones
[1:04:35]
unless we're resurfacing a street, but
[1:04:37]
any new locations would uh would have
[1:04:39]
that speed cushion design.
[1:04:41]
Okay. Thank you. And nobody's found a
[1:04:43]
way to take advantage of those and just
[1:04:45]
go with one set of tires over it.
[1:04:47]
Promise,
[1:04:48]
Mr. Cole. Um, so to be clear, I support
[1:04:54]
the change in policy and as the chairman
[1:04:57]
noted, I went along with it because I
[1:05:00]
support the change in policy and I do
[1:05:02]
think it has been well vetted and I do
[1:05:04]
think it's a step forward. Um, I again
[1:05:08]
worry about what happens after speed
[1:05:10]
humps are installed and I think that
[1:05:12]
council member Hampton's suggestion is a
[1:05:14]
good one. Although if that just opens
[1:05:16]
Pandora's box, we have a we have a
[1:05:18]
problem. I mean, the three complaints
[1:05:20]
cause us to maybe maybe posting during
[1:05:24]
the election makes sense.
[1:05:27]
Uh so so that people know to to request
[1:05:30]
a ballot if they lost theirs or threw
[1:05:32]
theirs away. Um in the interest of of uh
[1:05:36]
of hopefully passing this and and if it
[1:05:39]
passes without um uh my vote, then I'm
[1:05:42]
I'm fine with that as well. Let me offer
[1:05:45]
a friendly amendment that we increase
[1:05:46]
the um minimum uh threshold of
[1:05:50]
participation
[1:05:52]
uh to either 60%
[1:05:55]
or um
[1:05:58]
to 60% or um the equivalent of 50% of
[1:06:04]
the turnout in the election to be either
[1:06:08]
60% or the number of yes votes uh to be
[1:06:11]
at least 40%.
[1:06:14]
uh that on 67 at least 40% of the total
[1:06:19]
households. I know that sounds
[1:06:20]
confusing. Let me say it again. Right
[1:06:22]
now at 50% a twothirds vote is one-third
[1:06:26]
of the people on the street.
[1:06:29]
I think that's a problem. I think u Mr.
[1:06:33]
Lion makes a good point that where's
[1:06:35]
there's no minimum on elections for this
[1:06:38]
body. If 10% of the people show up to
[1:06:40]
vote, somebody gets 6% of the vote,
[1:06:43]
they're a member of this body. But I do
[1:06:45]
think on something as sensitive as this,
[1:06:47]
it will make sense for us to be able to
[1:06:49]
say there's a higher than onethird of
[1:06:52]
the people. So leave it at at 67%.
[1:06:56]
Um but at least
[1:07:00]
40% of the of the households be voting
[1:07:03]
yes.
[1:07:06]
Yeah. Um the the distinction, Mr. Lion,
[1:07:09]
I I get what you're saying, but you
[1:07:11]
know, we're not I mean, if if voters
[1:07:15]
vote us in, um they can also vote us out
[1:07:19]
uh in a couple of years. Uh there's a
[1:07:22]
little bit more permanency to a physical
[1:07:25]
change to someone's street. Um and you
[1:07:29]
know that's I I think that's where I
[1:07:32]
would say to you uh the difference is um
[1:07:36]
and you know in terms of we we may have
[1:07:39]
to agree to disagree on this but I do
[1:07:41]
believe that you know I mean just look
[1:07:44]
at your own our your meaning the
[1:07:47]
collective all of us driving patterns um
[1:07:50]
I've always said traffic is like water
[1:07:53]
you know it will find the path of least
[1:07:54]
resistance and I challenge anyone in
[1:07:57]
this room to say to me, you haven't
[1:07:59]
thought about finding the path of least
[1:08:02]
resistance when you're driving, whether
[1:08:03]
it means taking residential streets uh
[1:08:06]
or streets with no speed humps or, you
[1:08:08]
know, no stop signs. Um I think uh maybe
[1:08:13]
at least once in your commute in the
[1:08:16]
last few years, you've thought about
[1:08:19]
that. And so I I do think there's an
[1:08:22]
argument. Maybe we'll just have to agree
[1:08:23]
to disagree.
[1:08:24]
No, sir. I think I think we'll look at
[1:08:26]
some data on the traffic is like water
[1:08:28]
is is there's a good deal of data to
[1:08:31]
respond to that I think. So
[1:08:33]
mayor we can I clarify just your math or
[1:08:37]
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
[1:08:40]
I understand what I was going to say.
[1:08:41]
It didn't just sound confusing to us.
[1:08:43]
I know. I apologize.
[1:08:45]
Let me let me make it as simple as
[1:08:46]
possible.
[1:08:47]
40% of 50% of 22% on a Tuesday is what I
[1:08:51]
understand. No, no,
[1:08:53]
that's exactly what to me.
[1:08:55]
He was like, who's on first?
[1:08:58]
Sorry.
[1:09:00]
100 houses on two blocks, right? Under
[1:09:04]
the current policy,
[1:09:06]
the minimum vote is 67 votes. If 67
[1:09:11]
people vote and they all vote in favor
[1:09:13]
of it, fine. But you have to have
[1:09:16]
obviously more than than um 67 votes in
[1:09:20]
order to get to the 67 threshold. And
[1:09:24]
that's almost impossible as it turns out
[1:09:26]
um because of people who don't vote at
[1:09:28]
all. So um under the proposal that's
[1:09:32]
before us,
[1:09:35]
uh the minimum number is 34 on on those
[1:09:38]
two blocks. I'm suggesting that it be we
[1:09:42]
leave it as as 67, but there be a
[1:09:44]
minimum of 40 yes votes.
[1:09:47]
So 40% of the of the households be the
[1:09:51]
minimum threshold. So it's that's pretty
[1:09:53]
simple. It's the difference between
[1:09:54]
right now it's 67 under this proposal be
[1:09:57]
34. Under my proposal it would be a
[1:10:00]
minimum of 40 votes. It could be 90 to
[1:10:03]
one or 90 to 10. It can be 67 to 33. But
[1:10:08]
the yes votes have to me make up at
[1:10:10]
least 40% of the households. That's all.
[1:10:16]
Thank you, Mr.
[1:10:16]
So basically 40% of the ballots that go
[1:10:19]
out have to be returned in affirmative.
[1:10:22]
No, that's under this proposal. Under
[1:10:23]
the current proposal, 50% have to be
[1:10:26]
Oh, in the affirmative. Yes. Correct.
[1:10:30]
Yes. Correct.
[1:10:31]
So that's your I missed your last two.
[1:10:32]
You got to get 40% of yes votes and you
[1:10:35]
doesn't matter how many come back.
[1:10:36]
Yes. If it happened that 40% came back
[1:10:39]
and they were all yeses, it would be a
[1:10:41]
a yes.
[1:10:43]
But I mean, we did discuss this at MSC
[1:10:45]
and we did say that we was going to
[1:10:47]
re-evaluate it after like 6 months.
[1:10:51]
So I I mean I I'm still comfortable
[1:10:53]
supporting the
[1:10:54]
it's a friendly amendment if you don't
[1:10:55]
accept it. I understand.
[1:10:56]
Yeah. And and part of in addition to
[1:10:59]
this is that we was going to do more
[1:11:01]
outreach in different languages because
[1:11:03]
a lot of residents were not returning to
[1:11:06]
ballet because you know we just wasn't
[1:11:08]
meeting their preferred language and so
[1:11:10]
there was a barrier to that as well.
[1:11:13]
So would could I add an amendment if
[1:11:16]
that's okay? And I don't have an
[1:11:18]
amendment on the the math percentages. I
[1:11:21]
there's not going to be a math contest
[1:11:23]
here. just that we notify
[1:11:27]
the way the same way you know you can't
[1:11:29]
park on the street there's some very
[1:11:31]
visible notification that ballots are
[1:11:34]
going out check your mail
[1:11:37]
that we can do yes
[1:11:38]
thank you I I I think I mean you
[1:11:40]
mentioned 60 days and I was going to
[1:11:42]
suggest it should be during the voting
[1:11:45]
process
[1:11:46]
yeah prior to the vote you know maybe
[1:11:48]
put out the the the electronic uh sign
[1:11:53]
um
[1:11:54]
to notify people be that the vote is
[1:11:57]
happening because 60 days out we've
[1:11:59]
already let contracts we've you know the
[1:12:01]
that
[1:12:03]
no no 60 days is off the table. It was
[1:12:05]
Yeah. Yeah. No. Council member Cole
[1:12:06]
brought up a great idea. He was like or
[1:12:08]
someone said why not before the ballots
[1:12:11]
even go out so that we're advertising
[1:12:13]
it.
[1:12:14]
I was only putting the 60 days prior to
[1:12:17]
just in case had issues with it.
[1:12:19]
But yeah before Any
[1:12:26]
further? Oh, Miss Rivas.
[1:12:28]
Thank you, mayor. I'm supportive of the
[1:12:29]
motion, supportive of the um friendly
[1:12:31]
amendment. Um I think the key piece that
[1:12:34]
we don't see in the staff report. It
[1:12:36]
sounds like there was discussion, but
[1:12:37]
that's why I support the friendly
[1:12:38]
amendment. It's just the outreach piece.
[1:12:40]
Um I think right now in my district, the
[1:12:43]
streets that have done it, they really
[1:12:45]
go all out. it is a really intensive
[1:12:47]
effort and which is a good result
[1:12:49]
because you know people are really
[1:12:50]
motivated really invested in it um but
[1:12:53]
it it's a lot of work so doing the
[1:12:56]
outreach helping with outreach is going
[1:12:57]
to make a big difference so I appreciate
[1:13:00]
everyone's attention to that thank you
[1:13:03]
and one quick item is the mailing of the
[1:13:06]
ballots because we know from the city
[1:13:09]
clerk's office you're doing obviously
[1:13:11]
the city clerk's doing an audit but
[1:13:12]
there's some city mail that hasn't
[1:13:14]
reached every residential unit in the
[1:13:17]
city. And so we need to make sure that
[1:13:19]
we're very thorough about mailing out
[1:13:22]
ballots to each unit within that block
[1:13:25]
or that that segment that's petitioning
[1:13:28]
for the speed hump.
[1:13:30]
Yes, that's one of the things that we're
[1:13:32]
looking at with the mailers is u making
[1:13:33]
sure that the addresses that we've
[1:13:35]
mailed them to uh make sense. If we get
[1:13:37]
any returned ballots for undeliverables,
[1:13:40]
we'll check and see why that address um
[1:13:44]
uh was returned. Maybe it's a different
[1:13:46]
address or maybe that address doesn't
[1:13:47]
exist. But but we're um trying to
[1:13:49]
approve that process to make sure that
[1:13:51]
everybody gets a paper ballot um gets it
[1:13:53]
in multiple languages. And uh now uh we
[1:13:56]
will also be doing some notification
[1:13:58]
when the ballots go out um public
[1:14:01]
notification so people can see it
[1:14:02]
through some kind of signage on that
[1:14:04]
street that there is a ballot out.
[1:14:09]
Last question. Do we do this digitally
[1:14:12]
as well? Have we thought about that?
[1:14:15]
We've traditionally just done paper
[1:14:17]
ballots to be able to get them um back
[1:14:20]
that way so that we can um um verify
[1:14:23]
that it was
[1:14:25]
the ballot that was mailed out is is
[1:14:26]
coming back from that address.
[1:14:28]
I'll tell you this just as one
[1:14:29]
individual, right? I mean, I guess I'm
[1:14:32]
considered a millennial. I I the mail
[1:14:35]
that I get in my home is pretty much
[1:14:38]
just coupons.
[1:14:40]
Everything else is done digitally. My
[1:14:42]
bills don't come to me. That's all
[1:14:44]
digital. I don't get that in the mail.
[1:14:46]
So, if I get a a letter from the city of
[1:14:49]
Pasadena,
[1:14:51]
I mean, I'm looking at it because it
[1:14:52]
comes in our packages, right? But but
[1:14:55]
I'm saying the average person is not
[1:14:57]
opening them, right? They're just not
[1:14:58]
opening them. They're just saying, "I'm
[1:15:00]
not going to open that because
[1:15:03]
everything I get is digital." So I mean,
[1:15:05]
so we should look at when that
[1:15:06]
notification goes out some sort of dig
[1:15:09]
digital way and in a way that the
[1:15:11]
individual can identify, you know, this
[1:15:13]
is my address, etc. Because even, you
[1:15:16]
know, with fraud, someone say, well,
[1:15:18]
that that opens up the door for anyone
[1:15:19]
to vote, right? And put any address in.
[1:15:22]
You could do that now.
[1:15:24]
Right. You could technically get a
[1:15:25]
ballot from someone's mailbox and vote
[1:15:28]
in affirmative
[1:15:29]
or vote in favor or vote against.
[1:15:31]
I'm going to remind us that we're still
[1:15:32]
on consent calendar on the first item
[1:15:34]
pulled.
[1:15:36]
Um there's a speed bump.
[1:15:39]
Yeah.
[1:15:41]
Question.
[1:15:42]
And so
[1:15:44]
um
[1:15:45]
are there we have a motion and a second.
[1:15:48]
Are there objections? This is for the
[1:15:50]
staff recommendation without the
[1:15:51]
friendly amendments.
[1:15:53]
What was the friendly amendment? I think
[1:15:54]
we were good with the with the
[1:15:56]
outach. Yeah. Yeah. Signage on the
[1:15:59]
street I think is important and and and
[1:16:01]
a really rigorous outreach. That's what
[1:16:03]
I would say.
[1:16:04]
Okay. So, that was the friendly
[1:16:05]
amendment. Okay.
[1:16:08]
Uh,
[1:16:10]
Council Member Cole
[1:16:11]
on balance. Yes.
[1:16:14]
Council member Hampton.
[1:16:16]
Yes.
[1:16:17]
Council Jones. Yes.
[1:16:18]
Council Lion.
[1:16:19]
Yes.
[1:16:20]
Council Madison.
[1:16:21]
Yes.
[1:16:21]
Council Msuda.
[1:16:27]
Yes.
[1:16:28]
All right.
[1:16:28]
Vice Mayor Rivas.
[1:16:30]
Yes.
[1:16:30]
Mayor Gordo.
[1:16:32]
Yes.
[1:16:33]
The motion passes unanimously.
[1:16:36]
Item seven. Mr. Cole.
[1:16:41]
Um, let's see. Uh,
[1:16:45]
questions or
[1:16:46]
No, not I'm sorry. Seven was a mistake.
[1:16:48]
I did not mean to call seven.
[1:16:49]
Eight.
[1:16:50]
Motion to move approval of item number
[1:16:52]
seven.
[1:16:53]
Thank you.
[1:16:53]
Second.
[1:16:56]
We have a motion and a second to approve
[1:16:57]
staff recommendation.
[1:16:59]
Any objections?
[1:17:01]
Seeing none, matters approved.
[1:17:02]
I apologize. I was I was looking at six
[1:17:05]
and eight and uh seven got mixed up in
[1:17:08]
there.
[1:17:08]
Okay. Uh on number eight
[1:17:10]
again I had um a difference of
[1:17:14]
perspective from my colleagues on MSC
[1:17:16]
although um we're all thinking in the
[1:17:20]
same regard all of us uh who are present
[1:17:23]
want to see this policy changed um I
[1:17:27]
wanted to go further um right now you
[1:17:32]
can size up to 150% of your uh current
[1:17:37]
use
[1:17:39]
um and if you want to go above 150%
[1:17:44]
uh this under this policy change then
[1:17:47]
you need to install batteries. The
[1:17:49]
problem with that is the batteries are
[1:17:51]
very expensive. They make a lot of sense
[1:17:53]
but we we have not yet in uh created an
[1:17:56]
incentive program to help people to
[1:17:58]
invest in batteries. And so we need
[1:18:02]
between 90 and 120 megawws of local
[1:18:05]
solar and putting them on people's
[1:18:08]
rooftops,
[1:18:09]
individual homes as well as businesses
[1:18:11]
make a lot of sense. And given that
[1:18:14]
people are buying electric cars, people
[1:18:16]
are increasingly electrifying as I have
[1:18:20]
um their appliances and their heating
[1:18:22]
and air conditioning. Uh, I think that
[1:18:25]
200%
[1:18:27]
um makes more sense. If we want to come
[1:18:29]
back and revisit when we get a battery
[1:18:31]
incentive and and really um incentivize
[1:18:35]
batteries, I think that makes a lot of
[1:18:37]
sense and I understand why the staff
[1:18:39]
recommended it. But I think until we
[1:18:41]
have that battery incentive to ask
[1:18:43]
people um to put in very expensive
[1:18:47]
battery systems, not that we'll pay for
[1:18:49]
100% of it, but we should we should find
[1:18:51]
a way either to finance it or or some
[1:18:54]
kind of credits, but in the meantime, I
[1:18:57]
think it's unreasonable to limit to just
[1:19:00]
150%. It's not a do or die issue, but I
[1:19:04]
think it is an important um and and the
[1:19:07]
the chances of abuse, whatever that
[1:19:09]
looks like, uh are so minuscule. The
[1:19:13]
number of people that are going to spend
[1:19:14]
the money to go above 150% are the
[1:19:17]
people who are not trying to make a buck
[1:19:19]
off of the city. They're people who
[1:19:22]
legitimately think I'm going to buy an
[1:19:23]
electric car or I'm going to convert. Um
[1:19:26]
and and so that's uh that's my view and
[1:19:30]
I wanted to put it on the record and see
[1:19:32]
if any of my colleagues not on MSSE
[1:19:34]
share those concerns.
[1:19:36]
I will second that if that is a motion.
[1:19:38]
Uh and I am fine with I prefer the more
[1:19:42]
I think that anybody wants to put any
[1:19:43]
solar on their home, we should allow
[1:19:45]
them to do that. Um if they want to
[1:19:47]
disconnect from the grid, we should
[1:19:49]
allow them to do that as well. So, um,
[1:19:51]
if you're able to produce 200% of your,
[1:19:54]
um, usage, maybe you'll eventually
[1:19:56]
decide to disconnect from the grid. Um,
[1:19:59]
to council member Cole's, um, point
[1:20:00]
about the, um, how much batteries cost,
[1:20:04]
depending on how you're doing your
[1:20:06]
solar, um, installation, adding 50% more
[1:20:11]
could be equivalent to the cost of your
[1:20:14]
battery. So, I I I do think that
[1:20:17]
residents should have the option um to
[1:20:19]
go to 200% if they like. Um but I would
[1:20:22]
encourage them to and I would encourage
[1:20:24]
water and power to um come up with um
[1:20:26]
some sort of incentive um to give our
[1:20:30]
residents to to really invest in battery
[1:20:33]
storage.
[1:20:33]
Well, not to be um preempt here, but I I
[1:20:36]
will make a motion to that effect with
[1:20:39]
the following provisions. number one
[1:20:41]
that we adopt this the recommendation
[1:20:43]
from MSSE
[1:20:45]
number two that we raise the threshold
[1:20:48]
from 150 to 200%
[1:20:51]
um to be revisited when and if we move
[1:20:55]
forward with battery incentives
[1:20:57]
and number three that this apply not
[1:21:00]
just to new systems but to upgrades of
[1:21:02]
existing systems.
[1:21:04]
That's my motion.
[1:21:09]
I mean, I thought I just seconded it.
[1:21:11]
So, I mean, I I I seconded before, but
[1:21:13]
it's all good.
[1:21:15]
Okay.
[1:21:16]
Works.
[1:21:18]
Um,
[1:21:21]
Mr. Madison,
[1:21:24]
thanks, Mayor. Mr. um Hampton was
[1:21:26]
talking about making a buck, but is this
[1:21:28]
a a revenue generator for the resident
[1:21:33]
if if it potentially is sell back? It
[1:21:36]
potentially is uh if they are producing
[1:21:40]
more than they consume.
[1:21:41]
Is that a policy change?
[1:21:45]
It is a slight policy shift I would say
[1:21:48]
um from where the existing policy exists
[1:21:50]
today which is to try to match the solar
[1:21:52]
system to the residents uh needs to
[1:21:55]
their actual usage.
[1:21:56]
Are residents today receiving u checks
[1:21:59]
from the city for power?
[1:22:01]
Some do.
[1:22:02]
Okay. Yeah. That's problematic because
[1:22:06]
uh
[1:22:08]
you know there've been some subsidies of
[1:22:10]
those systems by the city and other
[1:22:13]
levels of government. So I wasn't aware
[1:22:15]
of that. I have solar in my home but um
[1:22:18]
we don't get checks from the city.
[1:22:20]
Certainly never expected and I never got
[1:22:22]
a rebate too. I never applied for them.
[1:22:24]
Um, so that's a significant policy
[1:22:28]
judgment, I think, if we're going to
[1:22:29]
turn the residents into um, producers.
[1:22:34]
I'm not opposed to it necessarily, but I
[1:22:36]
think that needs some discussion. And
[1:22:38]
then my understanding was, I mean, I
[1:22:40]
liked the staff recommendation because
[1:22:41]
what we really need is storage. We need
[1:22:43]
to have storage so that um, we've got
[1:22:46]
the capacity when we need it um, even if
[1:22:49]
we're not able to generate it in that
[1:22:51]
moment. So I read the staff
[1:22:53]
recommendation to be you can get more
[1:22:56]
but it'll be tied to a storage
[1:22:59]
mechanism. So for me that's a good
[1:23:02]
policy. Um and it's hard you know at
[1:23:05]
8:30 at night for eight of us to tinker
[1:23:08]
with really well-reasoned professional
[1:23:10]
staff
[1:23:11]
policy judgments that have already all
[1:23:13]
these arguments were made at MSC
[1:23:15]
unsuccessfully apparently um by Mr.
[1:23:19]
Cole. So, I'm going to stick with the
[1:23:20]
staff recommendation.
[1:23:22]
Thank you,
[1:23:24]
mayor. I don't know that it's helpful,
[1:23:25]
but I would just remind the council that
[1:23:26]
the council did approve uh a budget that
[1:23:29]
includes a rebate program, and we're in
[1:23:32]
the process of developing that
[1:23:33]
implementation. So, there's money there
[1:23:35]
for a rebate program for batteries,
[1:23:37]
battery storage. We hope to roll that
[1:23:39]
out in the next 3 months.
[1:23:41]
And David, could you clarify the fund
[1:23:43]
that that's coming out of?
[1:23:44]
It's from the PBC fund.
[1:23:45]
Yeah.
[1:23:45]
Yeah.
[1:23:46]
Public benefit. Yes. So it doesn't
[1:23:48]
affect the rate pair.
[1:23:51]
And I'm not this is sort of without
[1:23:52]
prejudice to future adjustments upwards.
[1:23:55]
And I'm not hearing staff say otherwise
[1:23:57]
in terms of the the generation piece,
[1:23:59]
but I think it's a it's a good balance
[1:24:02]
of focusing on more generation and more
[1:24:05]
storage. I think we need to catch up
[1:24:07]
with storage if we can as it were.
[1:24:12]
Um Mr. Jones followed by Miss Reebas.
[1:24:15]
Thanks, Mayor. And and that's precisely
[1:24:18]
the discussion we had at MSC. This is
[1:24:20]
again responding to residents who want
[1:24:23]
to get the the solar credit before it
[1:24:26]
expires or the federal government um
[1:24:28]
takes it away and allowing them to build
[1:24:31]
out some additional capacity. Maybe in
[1:24:33]
the future they're going to get one EV.
[1:24:35]
And so we came to the conclusion that
[1:24:37]
150% of their existing usage was a fair
[1:24:42]
and balanced approach. part of the staff
[1:24:44]
recommendation and Mr. Cole did raise
[1:24:46]
these concerns and and you know we
[1:24:48]
thoroughly discussed it and my
[1:24:50]
recollection was is that we would kind
[1:24:53]
of the the general manager would get a
[1:24:57]
sense of the applications coming in and
[1:25:00]
then if you know if people are saying
[1:25:02]
hey I want 200% then general manager
[1:25:05]
would come back to MSC and we'd have
[1:25:07]
that further discussion but it part of
[1:25:10]
that was that we are um encouraging
[1:25:13]
solar storage because we do know that we
[1:25:15]
need our residents to help us meet our
[1:25:18]
carbon-f free goals with solar and with
[1:25:20]
storage. And so that was part of the the
[1:25:22]
balanced discussion we had at MSSE. And
[1:25:25]
so I'm prepared to support the um
[1:25:27]
staff's recommendation, the
[1:25:29]
recommendation that we had at MSC, but
[1:25:31]
I'm also prepared to to have a further
[1:25:34]
discussion on Mr. Cole and Mr. Hampton's
[1:25:36]
motion.
[1:25:37]
If that's a substitute motion, I would
[1:25:39]
second it.
[1:25:39]
Yeah, substitute motion.
[1:25:42]
uh the the issue of I'm sorry, Miss
[1:25:44]
Reebus. Go ahead.
[1:25:46]
Thank you, Mayor. Just quick question
[1:25:48]
because I I wasn't following the
[1:25:49]
discussions at MSSE and I appreciate the
[1:25:51]
overview we've gotten here, but and as a
[1:25:54]
just from the perspective of residents,
[1:25:56]
what I've heard, the move to 200% over
[1:25:59]
150 is something that I've seen a call
[1:26:01]
for a desire for, there's a desire for
[1:26:04]
to be able to to do more. Um what's the
[1:26:06]
department's response? What is the
[1:26:08]
concern that I feel like we haven't
[1:26:09]
heard that piece of it yet? what why why
[1:26:11]
did the department recommend 150 over
[1:26:12]
200?
[1:26:13]
Yeah. So, what what we've looked at and
[1:26:15]
and again the the existing ordinance and
[1:26:18]
policy really speak to trying to size
[1:26:20]
the solar system to the customer's needs
[1:26:23]
so that whatever is generated or used uh
[1:26:26]
is paid for. It's offset. Basically, the
[1:26:28]
solar system would offset the the needs
[1:26:30]
of the customer and so basically you're
[1:26:32]
not paying for electricity. And what
[1:26:34]
we've heard is that our existing policy
[1:26:37]
of looking at annual usage is somewhat
[1:26:39]
restrictive and doesn't allow customers
[1:26:41]
to rightsize for the future. They're
[1:26:43]
going to buy an EV, they're going to do
[1:26:44]
an addition, maybe they're going to grow
[1:26:45]
their family. Um, and 150% is what we
[1:26:50]
recommended just sort of as a matter of
[1:26:52]
right. Uh, that accounts for about one
[1:26:54]
EV, a little bit more than one EV from
[1:26:56]
our from our math. And then the thinking
[1:26:58]
was beyond that. Um, if you want to go
[1:27:02]
beyond 150, you you certainly can, but
[1:27:04]
we'd like you to install a battery. And
[1:27:06]
the OSP, although it's not done, our
[1:27:08]
carbon-f free goals in the city are
[1:27:11]
going to require uh our residents to to
[1:27:13]
help out and and batteries are a great
[1:27:16]
way of doing that. And that that was the
[1:27:17]
staff thinking.
[1:27:18]
And is it a concern from the department
[1:27:21]
or the city that if a home has more
[1:27:24]
capacity than it needs and then the city
[1:27:25]
has to buy it back, is that a financial
[1:27:27]
concern from the department's
[1:27:28]
perspective? Is that what is that where
[1:27:30]
this is what's driving this?
[1:27:32]
So, the time of use rates that we've
[1:27:34]
been talking about with council with MSC
[1:27:36]
within the OSP uh once we have our AMI,
[1:27:39]
we think we're going to be able to
[1:27:40]
address that. Right now, we're not able
[1:27:42]
to. In other words, buying back power at
[1:27:44]
12:00 p.m. when we don't need it at at a
[1:27:47]
premium cost, it doesn't make a lot of
[1:27:49]
sense for anybody. Um but but if a
[1:27:51]
customer has uh battery, they can
[1:27:54]
basically store that energy that's not
[1:27:56]
needed at 12 and they can either use it
[1:27:58]
themselves or they can sell it back to
[1:28:00]
the city at a premium. So financial uh
[1:28:03]
analysis was not part of this
[1:28:04]
discussion. I can tell you that it would
[1:28:06]
be certainly part of something in the
[1:28:08]
future. We've talked about it with time
[1:28:09]
of use rates and what that looks like in
[1:28:11]
terms of how much the city uh would
[1:28:13]
would actually how much we're paying for
[1:28:15]
power versus how much we're uh buying
[1:28:18]
from our our customers. But the 150
[1:28:20]
versus 200 and when the batter is
[1:28:22]
required, you know, I think staff would
[1:28:24]
would uh follow whatever council's
[1:28:26]
direction was.
[1:28:28]
Thank you for that explanation.
[1:28:29]
Appreciate it.
[1:28:30]
We also have public comments
[1:28:32]
in the issue of uh of whether you know
[1:28:36]
the city would buy back. That that was
[1:28:39]
heavily debated when when we went
[1:28:40]
forward. Um and it was a concern that
[1:28:44]
people would you know um
[1:28:49]
uh make it a profit center or that
[1:28:50]
businesses would make it a profit
[1:28:52]
center. Where we landed on it at the
[1:28:54]
time was well you know we are interested
[1:28:57]
is in in uh having no carbon footprint
[1:29:01]
and so that was a price to pay at the
[1:29:04]
time.
[1:29:05]
Yeah. um for
[1:29:08]
uh allowing residents to to collect.
[1:29:11]
Right. I appreciate hearing that uh as
[1:29:13]
well. If it seems like the the the
[1:29:16]
technology or batteries or is not there
[1:29:18]
yet or rather the cost of batteries is
[1:29:20]
not there yet to make them widely
[1:29:22]
available. So we have this mismatch
[1:29:23]
between the panels and the batteries.
[1:29:25]
And I don't see it as folks, you know,
[1:29:28]
trying to gain the system, trying to
[1:29:29]
make a profit. It's just the nature of
[1:29:31]
that imbalance right now where there's
[1:29:32]
going to be an excess at certain points
[1:29:34]
of the day until we correct that until
[1:29:36]
there's more batteries. I appreciate
[1:29:37]
again hearing what the logic was with
[1:29:39]
the the batteries.
[1:29:40]
The other the I just want to add and
[1:29:42]
Vujo would probably do a lot better than
[1:29:43]
me, but just to share it really does
[1:29:45]
help with demand on the grid as well.
[1:29:47]
The the batteries do help uh alleviate
[1:29:50]
load and I don't know if Mr. Vidian if
[1:29:52]
you wanted to say a little bit more
[1:29:53]
about that. Uh yes thank you David
[1:29:55]
version of video and assistant general
[1:29:57]
manager for power delivery division in
[1:29:58]
addition to the financial aspects of it
[1:30:01]
and us and the customers needing the
[1:30:03]
batteries I mean uh David mentioned the
[1:30:06]
imbalance like in the middle of the day
[1:30:08]
there's we have excess solar and that
[1:30:10]
the excess solar that comes back to our
[1:30:12]
grid has an impact on our grid it can
[1:30:15]
increase voltage it can over overload
[1:30:17]
equipment and we have been upgrading our
[1:30:19]
system for years this was the first year
[1:30:22]
we created a specific CIP P to capture
[1:30:25]
the cost to give us transparency and the
[1:30:27]
public transparency how much as far as
[1:30:29]
how much we're spending. So our concern
[1:30:30]
for going anything over 150 is that that
[1:30:33]
impact on our distribution system is
[1:30:35]
going to be greater. So we want to be
[1:30:37]
really cautious as far as what we do. We
[1:30:39]
can certainly uh be back at council at a
[1:30:42]
later date if we see uh what it is as
[1:30:45]
far as financial impact on our
[1:30:46]
distribution system, not the rates. Uh
[1:30:49]
but we uh we can we can report back to
[1:30:52]
council as far as what what we see.
[1:30:55]
Yeah.
[1:30:56]
You know the the debate at the time was
[1:30:59]
heavily around we still have to pay for
[1:31:02]
the distribution system and and so that
[1:31:05]
was part of the the the balance we the
[1:31:07]
council at that time was attempting to
[1:31:09]
strike. Um, let me suggest that maybe uh
[1:31:13]
since we have a substitute motion um
[1:31:16]
that we support the substitute motion
[1:31:18]
with an amendment to send the issues
[1:31:20]
raised by Mr. Hampton and Mr. Cole uh
[1:31:23]
back to MSE for more thinking and then
[1:31:25]
come back to us. Um but um
[1:31:29]
we still have public comment
[1:31:31]
oh uh we still have public comment and I
[1:31:34]
see Mr. Lion, uh Mr. Madison and Mr.
[1:31:38]
Coler are back in the queue.
[1:31:40]
Thank you, mayor. Um, I we did go around
[1:31:43]
and around about this. The batteries are
[1:31:47]
an incredibly important piece of
[1:31:49]
converting solar into a resource that we
[1:31:52]
can use around the clock. Um, but
[1:31:56]
in some ways that this number is squishy
[1:31:58]
and maybe a little arbitrary. I wonder
[1:32:00]
if there's not a compromised position to
[1:32:02]
get to here, which is that we set the
[1:32:06]
the entitlement at 150%. And then to go
[1:32:10]
over you either have a battery system or
[1:32:14]
demonstrate a need for and which is to
[1:32:17]
show I'm actually purchasing a or I have
[1:32:20]
purchased uh a second EV. Um, but you
[1:32:24]
can either either get a battery system
[1:32:26]
or demonstrate a need and then you can
[1:32:27]
go to your need over
[1:32:30]
150%. That may be able to bridge this
[1:32:32]
together. It's unfortunate we're coming
[1:32:34]
to this discussion now. It's a little
[1:32:36]
peace meal. We we're we're just about to
[1:32:38]
get to adopting the OSP. We know that
[1:32:41]
solar is the critical component in
[1:32:44]
getting over the 100% goal. Um, but we
[1:32:48]
also are running up against the clock of
[1:32:50]
the of the federal incentive running out
[1:32:53]
at the end of the year. And so we're
[1:32:54]
trying to create what we can a mechanism
[1:32:56]
to incentivize people to move now if
[1:32:58]
they want to do that. Um, so it it I we
[1:33:02]
need to get something passed tonight.
[1:33:04]
Um, and I'm I'm happy to to compromise
[1:33:07]
on how we do it. Council
[1:33:09]
totally undermine batteries, but the if
[1:33:11]
if the if that system could work, we can
[1:33:13]
kind of meet both.
[1:33:15]
Is that a friendly amendment? Oh,
[1:33:17]
I was just want to clarify. Um, what if
[1:33:21]
a resident already had an EV? Would that
[1:33:24]
qualify them to get the 200%.
[1:33:27]
Well, no. They're going to get to So,
[1:33:28]
they get to go to 150% of their of their
[1:33:31]
load for the last five years. Is that
[1:33:33]
how we do it? So, we look at average
[1:33:34]
from the last five years. they they get
[1:33:36]
to go to 150% of that. To go over that,
[1:33:39]
they either have to demonstrate an
[1:33:40]
actual need, which might be another EV,
[1:33:44]
it might be uh they're expanding the
[1:33:46]
house. Um I don't know what other need
[1:33:48]
you might have, but but um either an
[1:33:51]
actual need or a battery system.
[1:33:53]
So your EV now, at least newer EVs, act
[1:33:57]
as a battery system. So I my question is
[1:34:01]
would that contemplate or maybe I should
[1:34:04]
ask the general manager me having a EV
[1:34:07]
that could generate power back to my
[1:34:09]
home which most EVs have this capability
[1:34:11]
now and any EV I think any EV has the
[1:34:14]
avail ability to do this with a device
[1:34:17]
would that consider me as having a um a
[1:34:21]
battery
[1:34:22]
that doesn't get back to the grid just
[1:34:23]
yet so the the point of the battery is
[1:34:26]
that it would be connected to the grid
[1:34:27]
and So, um, we we hope to get there. Uh,
[1:34:30]
and and I believe actually we will get
[1:34:32]
there. We're we're not there yet. Where
[1:34:34]
the the car batteries would serve as,
[1:34:36]
uh, uh, interconnected to the grid, but
[1:34:38]
it it certainly as everything that you
[1:34:40]
said I I believe is true. They can if
[1:34:43]
you hook it up correctly, you can uh
[1:34:44]
help power your home, but it wouldn't
[1:34:46]
get back to the grid. Okay. Thanks.
[1:34:51]
Okay, Mr. Madison.
[1:34:54]
Thank you, Mayor. I'd really just want
[1:34:56]
to follow up. So, did I hear that we're
[1:34:58]
buying power that we can't use right now
[1:35:02]
from residents?
[1:35:05]
We under our existing net energy
[1:35:07]
metering system, we we do purchase uh
[1:35:10]
excess power um from from our customers
[1:35:12]
that have solar where they're generating
[1:35:14]
more than they uh than they use.
[1:35:16]
Even at non- peak time when we don't
[1:35:18]
need it.
[1:35:19]
Yeah. We without consideration of time.
[1:35:21]
Yeah, that's a problem.
[1:35:22]
I mean, it's a bit it's it's a problem
[1:35:25]
just because I don't know that we
[1:35:26]
understand what the economics of that
[1:35:28]
are, why we're doing that. So, and you
[1:35:31]
know, my experience is batteries are
[1:35:33]
already the prices are coming down and
[1:35:34]
they're going to proliferate. So, I I
[1:35:37]
really feel like that's where our focus
[1:35:38]
should be. Um, and I would actually like
[1:35:42]
to see a maybe a just a written report
[1:35:45]
about, you know, what and how much money
[1:35:47]
are we spending and are we are we is
[1:35:49]
that taxable income to the resident? Are
[1:35:51]
we are you issuing 1099s? Um what's
[1:35:55]
happening there?
[1:35:56]
It's in the form of credit usually. Um
[1:35:58]
if they're generating more and so um
[1:36:01]
well the credit's different and if what
[1:36:03]
you're telling me is
[1:36:04]
we're just rolling that into their
[1:36:06]
yearly or some other measurement of of
[1:36:09]
power. I think that might be okay
[1:36:11]
because then they're still just
[1:36:13]
getting the benefit of what they're
[1:36:14]
using.
[1:36:15]
Yeah. the the existing uh regulations
[1:36:19]
call for a credit and in some instances
[1:36:21]
they're still generating more than than
[1:36:22]
what their usage is on on a rare
[1:36:25]
occasion. I know that we we have issued
[1:36:27]
checks before.
[1:36:27]
Then we cut a check. So again, is that a
[1:36:29]
taxable event? Are we issuing a 1099?
[1:36:31]
We we are not issuing 1099.
[1:36:34]
I I don't know why not. That should be
[1:36:35]
taxable income probably, right? I mean,
[1:36:37]
this needs more study than a 900 p.m.
[1:36:40]
city council, you know, session. So,
[1:36:44]
I'd like to get a report, you know, just
[1:36:46]
offline from staff about all that. Thank
[1:36:49]
you.
[1:36:51]
No pun intended.
[1:36:55]
Um,
[1:36:55]
non peak.
[1:36:56]
Yeah. Not non- peak hour. Uh, we do have
[1:36:59]
public comment. Um,
[1:37:03]
clerk.
[1:37:05]
Um, Mr. Qu was in the queue, but I'll
[1:37:08]
I'll defer till after public comment.
[1:37:11]
Sandy Kraner
[1:37:14]
and uh I believe Yachti put in a public
[1:37:16]
comment card for this as well.
[1:37:18]
Hi there. Well,
[1:37:19]
two minutes. Go ahead.
[1:37:21]
Two minutes. Okay. As I understand,
[1:37:22]
politics is the art of the possible,
[1:37:24]
right? Um so I think tonight it
[1:37:28]
certainly makes sense to go ahead with
[1:37:30]
the staff proposal for 150% batteries
[1:37:33]
above that. I think as you've seen
[1:37:36]
there's a certain sense of urgency. We
[1:37:39]
got a deadline coming up at the end of
[1:37:40]
the year because of what the
[1:37:42]
administration has done to solar panel
[1:37:44]
credits. Let's move out with this as
[1:37:47]
you've got it. Now, I didn't want to
[1:37:49]
address Mr. Madison's question. I don't
[1:37:51]
know what the statistics are on PWP, but
[1:37:54]
I suspect there's not a lot of people
[1:37:55]
out there making a million dollars a
[1:37:57]
year being power generators. There might
[1:38:01]
be a few people that are making a couple
[1:38:02]
of bucks on the side, but I suspect
[1:38:05]
that's not really the concern. Um, one
[1:38:08]
big thing to keep in mind here, sort of
[1:38:11]
referring to something else that that
[1:38:12]
you that that you're working on right
[1:38:13]
now, um, certainly as Mr. Reyes uh,
[1:38:17]
said,
[1:38:19]
battery storage is coming. There's a
[1:38:20]
there part of the the plan is to put in
[1:38:23]
125 megawatts, which I think is 500
[1:38:25]
megawatt hours of batteries at at
[1:38:28]
Glenarmm. Um it's really important that
[1:38:31]
you proceed with the optimized strategic
[1:38:33]
plan which should be putting together
[1:38:35]
the whole story for how much um how much
[1:38:40]
storage are we going to have at Glenarm?
[1:38:42]
How much rooftop solar are we going to
[1:38:44]
have? How are you going to incentivize
[1:38:45]
people for ro rooftop solar? If we had
[1:38:48]
the optimized so strategic plan
[1:38:51]
presumably all this would come together
[1:38:53]
and there'd be an understanding of how
[1:38:55]
all the pieces fit together. But for
[1:38:57]
now, we got the street the the urg what
[1:39:00]
do they call it? The urgency that we got
[1:39:02]
to get this one going and then we can
[1:39:04]
come back and revisit it. Okay. Thank
[1:39:06]
you very much.
[1:39:09]
Uh Yachti,
[1:39:13]
I just want to say I appreciate the many
[1:39:15]
discussions that there's been. As you
[1:39:17]
probably already know, I'm a big
[1:39:18]
proponent of clean energy. I drive EV. I
[1:39:21]
have solar. Actually, I picked the house
[1:39:23]
that I live in right now because it
[1:39:25]
already had panels and my lease is
[1:39:27]
already over and I'm kind of stuck in no
[1:39:28]
man's land when I'm trying to figure out
[1:39:30]
how to upgrade. But because we're stuck
[1:39:32]
in this conversation, I um I'm I'm stuck
[1:39:36]
at trying to make a decision. And for
[1:39:37]
example, what you guys were look saying
[1:39:39]
to look at the past power usage. That
[1:39:42]
would be difficult. For example, in my
[1:39:45]
um in in my scenario where I don't use
[1:39:47]
my gas stove because it's gas and I try
[1:39:49]
not to use my gas dryer because it's gas
[1:39:52]
and I would like to upgrade my other
[1:39:53]
appliances. So, examply, for example,
[1:39:55]
using a heat pump. And so, looking
[1:39:57]
retroactively at my past power use
[1:40:00]
wouldn't uh help me or be able to
[1:40:03]
qualify for that. And the 150 I think is
[1:40:06]
good if that's what you settle on. And
[1:40:07]
possibly I would ask maybe to look at
[1:40:09]
200% or giving the flexibility of people
[1:40:12]
to be able to have a discussion with the
[1:40:15]
city staff on being able to look at a a
[1:40:18]
special accommodation. But again, just
[1:40:20]
appreciate and the urgency and again I I
[1:40:22]
have an EV because I was able to take
[1:40:24]
advantage of the tax credits and I would
[1:40:26]
try to take advantage of other programs
[1:40:28]
that are available um as much as
[1:40:30]
possible. But that's what we would need
[1:40:33]
our rebates and incentives to do that.
[1:40:34]
Thank you.
[1:40:37]
That completes public comment on this
[1:40:39]
item.
[1:40:39]
Okay.
[1:40:41]
Uh so
[1:40:43]
where are we? Mr. Jones, you're in the
[1:40:45]
Mr. Cole followed by Mr. Jones.
[1:40:47]
Yeah. Go ahead.
[1:40:50]
So I I apologize that um we seem to be
[1:40:53]
arguing over a relatively
[1:40:56]
um small difference and that um
[1:41:00]
philosophically I think we're all
[1:41:01]
aligned. I agree with Council Member
[1:41:03]
Madison. We want batteries. We want to
[1:41:06]
incentivize batteries. Um, we're talking
[1:41:10]
about a handful of people who are going
[1:41:14]
to take advantage of of this under any
[1:41:17]
circumstances, right? It's probably less
[1:41:19]
than a hundred will will actually be
[1:41:22]
under this policy before we have
[1:41:25]
batteries. And we're what are our annual
[1:41:29]
electric sales, Mr. Rivas?
[1:41:32]
Mr. Reyes?
[1:41:36]
I have that number. Just give me one
[1:41:38]
second, please.
[1:41:40]
I don't have that data.
[1:41:42]
Yes.
[1:41:45]
I also misgendered you, so uh my
[1:41:49]
apologies.
[1:41:51]
Yeah. Um but it's I think my memory is
[1:41:55]
it's 80 million but um we're talking um
[1:41:59]
I mean the the concerns about uh this
[1:42:02]
this is
[1:42:04]
less than a rounding error. Um,
[1:42:08]
philosophically
[1:42:10]
the reality is that we need 90 to 120
[1:42:14]
megawatts of solar and we need a similar
[1:42:16]
amount of battery and some of it's going
[1:42:18]
to be on people's rooftops and some of
[1:42:20]
it's going to be municipal but we need
[1:42:23]
to be moving forward on it. I would
[1:42:25]
rather on the side of encouraging
[1:42:30]
as much solar as possible. I am strongly
[1:42:32]
in favor of um supporting batteries, but
[1:42:36]
I think um the rather than think about
[1:42:41]
how little we can do, I think we should
[1:42:44]
be focused on how much we can do uh
[1:42:47]
given the the stakes and given the
[1:42:50]
timeline. We have five years to get to
[1:42:53]
2030 and get to 100%. So, um I will not
[1:42:57]
support the substitute motion, but I
[1:42:59]
understand um the you know on this issue
[1:43:04]
I I think we're not all that far apart.
[1:43:10]
Yep. 2030.
[1:43:13]
Mr. Jones.
[1:43:15]
Thanks, Mayor. Um Fujian, could you
[1:43:18]
remind us why you recommended 150% and
[1:43:22]
not 200%.
[1:43:23]
Sure.
[1:43:25]
as Mr.
[1:43:28]
Dis
[1:43:33]
um
[1:43:34]
so as Mr. Reyes mentioned the
[1:43:36]
discussions we had we had numerous
[1:43:38]
discussions about this topic and the
[1:43:40]
conclusion that came we came up with is
[1:43:42]
that the additional 50% it's
[1:43:45]
approximately equal to one electric
[1:43:48]
vehicle. So if a household doesn't have
[1:43:49]
an electric vehicle, we consider that
[1:43:52]
like added that uh 50% to that which is
[1:43:55]
150%. One thing I want to emphasize is
[1:43:59]
all the percentages that we're talking
[1:44:01]
about whatever it is, whether it's 140,
[1:44:03]
150, 200, whatever it is, they have a
[1:44:06]
real impact on our distribution system.
[1:44:08]
I want to emphasize that fact that
[1:44:10]
whatever we do, any excess solar coming
[1:44:12]
to our system has an impact. Some areas
[1:44:15]
will not have much as much impact as
[1:44:17]
other areas, but they do have an impact.
[1:44:22]
Okay. Thank you.
[1:44:27]
So, um, should we vote on the substitute
[1:44:29]
motion and then see where we go?
[1:44:33]
I like Mr. Lions, but if there's no
[1:44:36]
uptake on that,
[1:44:38]
what was Mr. Lions? What was you said to
[1:44:41]
go to 200% but you have to prove that
[1:44:43]
you're getting the
[1:44:44]
EV just the to go over 150 you either
[1:44:47]
have to you either have to have a
[1:44:49]
battery or demonstrate an actual need
[1:44:51]
for for more and then you can do more
[1:44:54]
sort of blends the two.
[1:44:55]
Prove it up.
[1:44:57]
I could support that.
[1:44:58]
I support that. I mean
[1:45:00]
if you I mean if the
[1:45:03]
if that's a substitute substitute
[1:45:05]
Well, let's see if the substitute the
[1:45:07]
maker of the motion. I think you get one
[1:45:09]
substitute, right?
[1:45:10]
Well, no, you can make it a friendly
[1:45:12]
amendment.
[1:45:12]
That's what I was proposing to
[1:45:13]
substitute. Yeah, I'm amendable to that.
[1:45:15]
I'd like to hear Mr. Reyes and
[1:45:19]
your team's take.
[1:45:20]
Yeah. If if the thinking was by
[1:45:22]
demonstrating actual need, it's um you
[1:45:25]
know, they're doing an ADU and it's not
[1:45:27]
just like I'm thinking about doing an
[1:45:28]
ADU, but I'm here here's I have plan
[1:45:31]
check in. I have a you know, I'm I'm
[1:45:33]
making actual steps towards an ADU where
[1:45:35]
I have a new demand. I think that makes
[1:45:37]
a lot of sense. Uh here's registration.
[1:45:39]
I'm, you know, I've purchased an EV
[1:45:42]
versus I I think I'm going to get an EV
[1:45:44]
in the future. And the way that we've
[1:45:45]
outlined it is the 150% to sort of
[1:45:48]
rightsize your system and then a
[1:45:50]
battery. I think what I hear Mr. Lion
[1:45:52]
saying is that's fine, but what if
[1:45:54]
someone also says, "Look, here's my
[1:45:57]
registration. I've got another EV. I
[1:45:58]
need more than 150%." And I think
[1:46:01]
that's what I'm talking I have an EV on
[1:46:02]
the way or I'm getting ready to
[1:46:05]
electric appliances on the way. So, it's
[1:46:07]
basically
[1:46:08]
EV on the way.
[1:46:09]
It's basically actual demand.
[1:46:12]
Yeah, Mr. Madison.
[1:46:14]
Thank you, Mayor. I think that's already
[1:46:16]
in the motion. So the the second part of
[1:46:19]
the motion is to allow greater than
[1:46:22]
150%. Uh provided that such
[1:46:25]
installations do not exceed 1 megawatt
[1:46:29]
or paired with an energy storage system
[1:46:31]
which I'm hearing could be a new EV or a
[1:46:33]
battery system and subject to localized
[1:46:37]
grid distribution efficiency. And this
[1:46:39]
is critical because if we're going to
[1:46:42]
set up a system where we're buying power
[1:46:43]
that we can't use and that that strains
[1:46:46]
our our distribution system, that's
[1:46:48]
crazy talk. So I'm com I'm comfortable
[1:46:52]
with the uh staff recommendation which
[1:46:55]
already offers those things and and
[1:46:58]
hasn't offered the the overage. I think
[1:47:00]
the difference the difference is, if I
[1:47:02]
may, is that if we want to if a resident
[1:47:05]
wants to go from 150 to 200 because
[1:47:08]
they're going to purchase a second
[1:47:10]
electric vehicle, they would have to
[1:47:12]
prove to David and his team that they
[1:47:15]
have a registration or they just
[1:47:17]
purchased the vehicle and they need that
[1:47:19]
additional uh capacity. And I think
[1:47:22]
that's what Mr. Lion is saying. So I
[1:47:24]
think that's a little different from
[1:47:26]
what's in here, which in that point
[1:47:30]
you're saying that that's fine as long
[1:47:32]
as they are for sure going to have the
[1:47:34]
EV by the time the of the installation
[1:47:38]
of the solar.
[1:47:39]
What it lets us do is know that there's
[1:47:41]
not going to be excess generation that's
[1:47:44]
not stored. So if they have excess
[1:47:45]
generation over the 150%, it's because
[1:47:48]
they're using it.
[1:47:49]
We're meeting their need. And then if
[1:47:50]
you're if you don't need it, then you
[1:47:52]
got to be storing it. So it sort of
[1:47:55]
accomplishes both goals.
[1:47:56]
Yeah. I'm struggling with um how that's
[1:47:59]
not in part B. And to me is only about
[1:48:02]
the battery. It's not about your excess
[1:48:04]
need.
[1:48:06]
But the the EV is a battery.
[1:48:09]
Yep. The EV is not a battery. Actually
[1:48:12]
shut that down. It's not a battery. that
[1:48:13]
I mean the technology it is a battery
[1:48:15]
but um that's the where the technology
[1:48:17]
is but they're saying that they're not
[1:48:19]
they're not recognizing that.
[1:48:21]
Okay. Even for even for the home you're
[1:48:24]
not recognize that as a storage system
[1:48:25]
that the home can use.
[1:48:28]
Yeah. From from our perspective in terms
[1:48:30]
of looking at the the reasons that Mr.
[1:48:32]
Adian talked about the the number and
[1:48:34]
the reason for the battery storage is
[1:48:36]
really to help protect the grid and also
[1:48:39]
to uh to offset some of uh the demand
[1:48:42]
that we need at the peak time. So uh and
[1:48:45]
the car batteries just aren't there yet
[1:48:46]
for to help the grid.
[1:48:48]
Okay. And does the motion the amendment
[1:48:52]
to the amendment include grid
[1:48:54]
sufficiency as being a factor or is
[1:48:57]
Yeah. All of the other technical pieces
[1:48:59]
that are here need to remain. Yeah.
[1:49:02]
So I'm I'm fine with it.
[1:49:04]
Yeah. I would accept the amendment then
[1:49:05]
to the substitute if that's the intent.
[1:49:08]
Just a addition, right? Yeah.
[1:49:11]
Yeah.
[1:49:13]
Mark, do you have that? Um
[1:49:16]
it was a lot, Mark.
[1:49:17]
It is a lot. Uh also to make a note, the
[1:49:21]
we've distributed a revised resolution.
[1:49:25]
Um the it's a revision to um page two of
[1:49:29]
the resolution.
[1:49:31]
uh item number one in the resolution
[1:49:34]
second line and it's to remove the word
[1:49:36]
new. So I think this addresses the to
[1:49:39]
apply to existing and not just new solar
[1:49:42]
systems. So that's resolutions in front
[1:49:44]
of you. It's an amended resolution. So I
[1:49:47]
would assume that that's part of the
[1:49:49]
Yes. Yes.
[1:49:50]
Okay.
[1:49:55]
Okay. Um
[1:49:58]
all set.
[1:50:00]
So to vote on the
[1:50:02]
So uh
[1:50:03]
substitute motion
[1:50:03]
vote on the substitute motion as
[1:50:05]
amended. Um are there objections?
[1:50:11]
Okay. Thank you. Uh uh matter passes
[1:50:15]
unanimously.
[1:50:16]
Thank you everyone for your input and
[1:50:18]
participation and patience.
[1:50:22]
We are on to
[1:50:22]
You don't look as charged up as I
[1:50:24]
thought you would be.
[1:50:28]
Pun intended. Okay,
[1:50:32]
we're on to item 11.
[1:50:34]
Took a minute.
[1:50:38]
I was laughing, but I was like, man.
[1:50:40]
All right. All right.
[1:50:42]
I'll keep
[1:50:44]
I'll keep both my day jobs. Um, next
[1:50:47]
next matter is item 11.
[1:50:50]
It's pennies.
[1:50:52]
Pennies.
[1:50:56]
And there are 11 speaker cards on item
[1:50:58]
11.
[1:51:09]
The mayor had to step out for a moment,
[1:51:11]
but I believe
[1:51:12]
we lost our
[1:51:13]
Oh, did we also lose our quum as well?
[1:51:14]
No, we have five.
[1:51:16]
Oh, no. I'm sorry. Thank you.
[1:51:17]
So, we can continue. I believe we'll
[1:51:19]
start with the staff recommendation on
[1:51:20]
this item.
[1:51:21]
Yes. vice mayor the hour where we have a
[1:51:24]
presentation teed up or if you'd like to
[1:51:26]
uh have questions or we can
[1:51:29]
yeah what's the will of the council on
[1:51:31]
this item and uh council member Hampton
[1:51:33]
this is in your district so look to you
[1:51:36]
first
[1:51:36]
yes I've gone through this uh thoroughly
[1:51:38]
and um I do have some questions but I
[1:51:41]
don't know if everybody needs a
[1:51:42]
presentation on it if we don't need a
[1:51:44]
presentation I could go straight into
[1:51:45]
the questions
[1:51:45]
yeah I think that's appropriate so thank
[1:51:47]
you
[1:51:48]
um first and foremost I want to thank um
[1:51:49]
staff for um doing all the work and
[1:51:51]
making sure that we got all the legal um
[1:51:55]
eyes dotted and tees crossed um for the
[1:51:58]
process. Now, part of the um staff
[1:52:00]
report, it recommends um demolishing the
[1:52:03]
buildings.
[1:52:04]
Yes, sir.
[1:52:06]
um
[1:52:08]
as a part of the RF. So, so I'll just
[1:52:11]
start with off with why don't we make
[1:52:13]
that the ownest of whoever is awarded
[1:52:16]
the RFP to do a um I guess a building
[1:52:20]
analysis to see if the if the buildings
[1:52:23]
actually need to be demolished and have
[1:52:25]
them pay for their own um structural
[1:52:28]
engineer, etc. to go out to to check to
[1:52:30]
see if those buildings need to be
[1:52:32]
demolished.
[1:52:34]
Council member Hampton that that is an
[1:52:36]
option available to the council if that
[1:52:37]
is a direction. Our direct our
[1:52:39]
recommendation to demolish the buildings
[1:52:42]
uh is
[1:52:43]
more a result of the recent uh
[1:52:46]
assessment done by our city's risk
[1:52:48]
management team safety officer in the
[1:52:50]
visit and the all the the the condition
[1:52:53]
of the buildings that were further
[1:52:54]
deteriorated from back when it was
[1:52:55]
adopted in 2010. Um, that's the reason
[1:52:58]
why the city's position, the staff's
[1:53:00]
recommendation is to look at demolishing
[1:53:02]
the building to to open the opportunity
[1:53:05]
for a new construction that can probably
[1:53:07]
better suit the proposals that are going
[1:53:09]
to be coming forward.
[1:53:11]
I think that um we would only get a few
[1:53:13]
proposals if we demolish all the
[1:53:16]
buildings because whatever organization
[1:53:17]
comes forward would have to have multi
[1:53:20]
millions upon millions of dollars to be
[1:53:22]
able to to do the work that we would
[1:53:24]
like to see in this um in this place. I
[1:53:27]
think that onus if even if another
[1:53:29]
organization has millions and millions
[1:53:30]
of dollars and they say we want to tra
[1:53:32]
we want to demolish all these buildings
[1:53:34]
and start a fresh that's their option
[1:53:36]
but I think any other organization
[1:53:37]
that's going to apply for this RFP
[1:53:39]
should have the option to look at the
[1:53:41]
buildings that are existing to see if
[1:53:43]
they are able to refurbish those in any
[1:53:45]
way. So that would be one of the items
[1:53:48]
um that I would ask uh you my colleagues
[1:53:53]
um to just make the onest whoever is the
[1:53:56]
awardee of the RFP.
[1:53:59]
The other um piece is in your staff
[1:54:02]
report it says that RFP is going to take
[1:54:04]
12 months.
[1:54:07]
Yes, we uh we estimate about six months
[1:54:09]
to prepare the RFB process, have it
[1:54:12]
reviewed by multiple departments and
[1:54:14]
ensure it is prepared and everything is
[1:54:16]
captured and the release and the process
[1:54:18]
of receiving the RFPs, reviewing, doing
[1:54:21]
the interviews of the proposers. We're
[1:54:23]
estimating between 6 months for the
[1:54:25]
first portion, six months for the other
[1:54:26]
about one year overall. I think that
[1:54:29]
that is a u very prolonged period of
[1:54:31]
time and we mentioned this at um finance
[1:54:33]
at least I mentioned it at finance and I
[1:54:35]
said that a lot of the work has already
[1:54:37]
been done and there's been a lot of work
[1:54:39]
um towards this it seems like we've been
[1:54:41]
talking about this building or these
[1:54:43]
structures um for the past 3 years or so
[1:54:46]
um and so because we have so much work
[1:54:50]
and you guys have already done all the
[1:54:51]
work to talk to all the different
[1:54:53]
departments you talked to um the water
[1:54:55]
board etc to make sure that this could
[1:54:57]
all be approved Now that we've gotten
[1:54:58]
this far, um I would like to see um a
[1:55:02]
RFP issued within the next 90 days. That
[1:55:05]
would be
[1:55:07]
No. No. And and those are my two um
[1:55:12]
issues with the staff's proposal or or I
[1:55:15]
mean if it's not 90 days, you let me
[1:55:17]
know. I mean, it seems like we're able
[1:55:19]
to get RFPs out in 90 days. That seems
[1:55:21]
like the the going and that was what was
[1:55:23]
brought up in finance according to my
[1:55:25]
notes that I wrote on the day that we
[1:55:27]
talked in finance. Can you hold that
[1:55:29]
thought cuz I want to make sure I I we
[1:55:31]
didn't just make a mistake. Given the
[1:55:33]
importance of item 14, the fire um uh
[1:55:39]
issue um the because of the late hour,
[1:55:44]
uh I don't I think it's best to put it
[1:55:46]
off for a couple of weeks. Uh allow
[1:55:49]
public comment. um
[1:55:52]
to go forward. Um so we would allow
[1:55:56]
public comment to go forward and then
[1:55:58]
take the matter up.
[1:55:59]
Just to clarify, item 14 is the fire
[1:56:02]
department's plan, not not this item.
[1:56:05]
The fire department the
[1:56:07]
informationational item.
[1:56:08]
It's anformational item,
[1:56:09]
not for action.
[1:56:11]
Um
[1:56:12]
it's not it's not this item.
[1:56:14]
It's not this item.
[1:56:15]
It is item 14. It is the fire
[1:56:17]
department's 10year strategic plan and
[1:56:20]
and look forward. That's the last item.
[1:56:23]
It's anformational item. I It's not this
[1:56:25]
item. Seeing your looks.
[1:56:28]
Yeah, it's not this item.
[1:56:31]
We're on item 11 right now. Yeah,
[1:56:33]
we're saying item 14 is not happening.
[1:56:35]
We're on 11 right now.
[1:56:38]
14 is not happening. We're on 11 right
[1:56:40]
now.
[1:56:41]
14's not happening.
[1:56:42]
And 14 is also an important issue. And I
[1:56:45]
don't want us to give it, you know,
[1:56:46]
short trip. I think we should have fresh
[1:56:48]
minds and
[1:56:49]
and and so there are five public comment
[1:56:52]
cards submitted for item 14 on the fire
[1:56:54]
department. If you are here for that,
[1:56:56]
we can hear
[1:56:57]
we can hear your public comments after
[1:56:59]
we get to that item and it's going to
[1:57:02]
come back in the future. So you can wait
[1:57:04]
near future a few weeks,
[1:57:07]
a couple weeks. they can wait until the
[1:57:09]
you can wait until we get to item 14
[1:57:11]
when we're going to continue it to
[1:57:13]
another meeting or you can um come back
[1:57:16]
when it's back on the agenda.
[1:57:17]
I just don't want people to wait um and
[1:57:21]
then the matters put off because of the
[1:57:23]
hour. So I apologize.
[1:57:26]
Um so with that um
[1:57:30]
item 11,
[1:57:31]
back to item 11.
[1:57:36]
Should
[1:57:38]
we take public comments for item 11? We
[1:57:41]
could do that.
[1:57:42]
The other Oh, so there were only two
[1:57:44]
things that I had mentioned um about the
[1:57:46]
staff report. Otherwise, I'm supportive
[1:57:48]
of it.
[1:57:48]
I've noted them. Council member,
[1:57:50]
thank you.
[1:57:52]
Vice Mayor, do you want to do public
[1:57:54]
comment?
[1:57:55]
Yeah.
[1:57:55]
Okay. So, we'll do public comment on
[1:57:57]
item 11. Uh Dr. Treasure Shepard,
[1:58:00]
followed by Charles Thomas, followed by
[1:58:02]
Brandon Hammerly, followed by Jackie
[1:58:04]
Heny.
[1:58:06]
If you hear your name, come forward. Is
[1:58:09]
Dr. Treasure Shepard here?
[1:58:12]
Left.
[1:58:13]
Okay.
[1:58:14]
You are Charles Thomas.
[1:58:15]
I am Charles Thomas.
[1:58:16]
Great.
[1:58:18]
Welcome, Mr. Thomas. You have two
[1:58:19]
minutes. Go ahead.
[1:58:20]
Way to small riot. That was really smart
[1:58:24]
of you to clarify that. Thank you. This
[1:58:26]
is 11.
[1:58:27]
This is This is 11. All right. So,
[1:58:30]
tonight we're going to be voting on this
[1:58:31]
RFP that is pretty important to a lot of
[1:58:35]
people obvious as you can see. Uh and
[1:58:37]
it's important because it's going to
[1:58:39]
have profound impacts on workforce
[1:58:42]
development, providing jobs, promoting
[1:58:45]
environmental and
[1:58:47]
uh um racial justice, addressing climate
[1:58:51]
change, and creating major opportunities
[1:58:54]
for community healing. The restoration
[1:58:57]
of the Hamonga annex and creek are two
[1:59:00]
ideas whose time has come. And to quote
[1:59:04]
uh Victor Hugal, nothing is as powerful
[1:59:06]
as an idea whose time has arrived. These
[1:59:11]
are community uh solutions addressing
[1:59:14]
systemic social problems. And uh the
[1:59:17]
need for a conservation job training
[1:59:19]
center, the need for green more green
[1:59:21]
space, the need for community healing is
[1:59:24]
immediate. These are today's problems
[1:59:27]
that will eventually become tomorrow's
[1:59:29]
crisis if they're not uh addressed. And
[1:59:32]
as Dr. King often described it there,
[1:59:35]
this is the type of need that's also
[1:59:38]
referred to as the fierce urgency of
[1:59:41]
now. So before you vote yes to the staff
[1:59:45]
recommendation, please consider amending
[1:59:47]
the motion to consider these three
[1:59:49]
things. One, as noted in items number
[1:59:52]
two and five of the staff recommendation
[1:59:55]
uh asking the council to authorize a
[1:59:57]
demolition of six buildings, please
[1:59:58]
allow a comprehensive feasibility study
[2:00:01]
to make the definitive uh determination
[2:00:04]
for demolition. Now, um I don't try to
[2:00:08]
brag much, but I am internationally
[2:00:11]
known as a leader in environmental
[2:00:13]
education and uh mission excellence. And
[2:00:16]
I can assure you that the existing
[2:00:18]
layout of those buildings of the annex
[2:00:21]
buildings are perfectly set up to
[2:00:24]
develop a worldclass environmental
[2:00:26]
education center. Uh, and regarding uh
[2:00:29]
the last item referring to the one-year
[2:00:32]
timing of the RFP, now I've worked at
[2:00:35]
three federal agencies. I'm almost done
[2:00:36]
here. I've worked at the Army Corps of
[2:00:39]
Engineers. I've worked at the Forest
[2:00:40]
Service, and I've worked at the National
[2:00:41]
Park Service. And each of these
[2:00:43]
agencies, I've always had an input on
[2:00:46]
developing RFPs. Now, we know the
[2:00:49]
federal government is notoriously slow
[2:00:52]
for uh getting stuff done and moving at
[2:00:55]
a glacial pace. Well, when we worked
[2:00:58]
when I worked on these RFPs, they
[2:01:00]
typically got these RFPs out in 90 days
[2:01:04]
or no longer than 6 months for projects
[2:01:06]
much longer than
[2:01:08]
Mr. the the annex. Yes, I'm I'm wrapping
[2:01:11]
right now. So it should take about 3
[2:01:13]
months and um with the amount of
[2:01:16]
information studies and documents that
[2:01:18]
have already been written and if it does
[2:01:20]
take more than that then I would highly
[2:01:22]
recommend that you either give Mr.
[2:01:24]
Penosian more staff or you give him new
[2:01:27]
staff.
[2:01:28]
So I appreciate the time and I
[2:01:30]
appreciate you guys consideration on
[2:01:32]
this. Thank you. Brandon Hammerly
[2:01:37]
followed by Jack Heny and then Dave uh
[2:01:40]
Wishoff.
[2:01:42]
Good evening everybody. My name is
[2:01:43]
Brandon Hammerly. I am the project
[2:01:45]
manager for Creek, the Climate
[2:01:47]
Resilience Environmental Education
[2:01:48]
Center working for OBA. Um I just want
[2:01:50]
to clarify from the last time we were
[2:01:52]
here those questions about who is the
[2:01:53]
lead organization. Outwardbound
[2:01:54]
Adventures is the lead organization um
[2:01:57]
for this Creek initiative. Okay. So um
[2:02:00]
just want to make sure that's really
[2:02:02]
clear. We're responsible for managing
[2:02:03]
the project. We're responsible for
[2:02:05]
responding to the RFP, carrying it
[2:02:07]
through a feasibility study, and
[2:02:08]
ensuring it has sustainable political
[2:02:11]
and financial support. So, I want to
[2:02:13]
tell you you all a little bit about the
[2:02:15]
political and financial support we
[2:02:17]
currently already have before this RFP
[2:02:20]
is released. Um, we have secured the
[2:02:23]
following support. The Santa Monica
[2:02:25]
Mountains Conservancy has promised a
[2:02:28]
$250,000 grant to fund the feasibility
[2:02:31]
study and the planning of the creek
[2:02:33]
project if OBA is awarded and becomes
[2:02:35]
the tenant under the RFP. Senator Perez
[2:02:39]
and Assembly Member Harbedian have
[2:02:41]
jointly submitted a letter to the state
[2:02:43]
legislature to support in support of
[2:02:45]
this project and have requested a direct
[2:02:47]
allocation of $3 million to fund the
[2:02:50]
creek initiative from Prop 4 funding.
[2:02:52]
So, we have right here a joint letter
[2:02:54]
from Harbedian as well as Perez. Um,
[2:02:57]
it's in the legislature as we speak. Um,
[2:03:00]
we submitted a public access grant to
[2:03:02]
the state wildlife conservation board
[2:03:04]
for $3.5 million. It is currently also
[2:03:07]
being considered um with the pending of
[2:03:09]
the release of this RFP. Um, we have
[2:03:12]
also met with and engendered the support
[2:03:15]
of Susie Nemer and Supervisor Katherine
[2:03:17]
Barger. um and they will be supporting
[2:03:20]
our submittal of a $500,000 grant uh for
[2:03:23]
planning and design under their RPOSD.
[2:03:25]
Um so we've been busy, okay, uh getting
[2:03:28]
a lot of support for this initiative. Um
[2:03:32]
I'm really worried about the momentum of
[2:03:34]
it um getting a road a roadblock, a
[2:03:38]
speed bump if you will, um because of
[2:03:41]
this RFP taking so long. So, a whole
[2:03:43]
year, all of that amazing support that
[2:03:45]
we have right now, all that momentum we
[2:03:47]
have, I'm worried about a year-long RFP
[2:03:50]
really derailing some of that. So, just
[2:03:52]
please act on that uh excitement that's
[2:03:55]
happening. Please don't um miss the
[2:03:58]
opportunities that are before you. I
[2:03:59]
want you all to be champions of this.
[2:04:01]
You have a great chance.
[2:04:02]
Jackie Hy,
[2:04:03]
I'm going to introduce Jackie and she's
[2:04:04]
going to tell you a little bit about how
[2:04:06]
we want to go about this. uh
[2:04:08]
followed by Dave Wishoff, followed by
[2:04:11]
Emily Hob Hopkins, and then Heavenly
[2:04:13]
Hughes.
[2:04:14]
And I'd like to request that Tristan
[2:04:15]
Walker go behind me in the order. We
[2:04:17]
submitted his card. Um if that's okay,
[2:04:23]
is that okay?
[2:04:24]
I'll say it's okay.
[2:04:25]
That's fine. I don't see Mr. Walker, but
[2:04:27]
I'll uh
[2:04:29]
refresh. Maybe it's there. Go ahead. You
[2:04:30]
have two minutes.
[2:04:31]
Okay. Uh good evening, council members.
[2:04:33]
My name is Jackie Henzy. I'm
[2:04:34]
representing Stainer Architects and so
[2:04:36]
is Tristan in a proono capacity to offer
[2:04:39]
our professional opinion in support of
[2:04:41]
transforming the Hahaonga annex into
[2:04:43]
Creek's vision for an environmental
[2:04:44]
education center and a living resource
[2:04:46]
for our community. I'd specifically like
[2:04:49]
to present our findings on the condition
[2:04:51]
of the annex buildings and implore the
[2:04:52]
council to consider adaptive reuse with
[2:04:55]
imagination. These buildings can be
[2:04:57]
transformed into a modern code compliant
[2:04:59]
and usable environmental education
[2:05:01]
center. Viability of reuse has been
[2:05:04]
confirmed by a licensed structural
[2:05:06]
engineer, Matthew Melnik of Noose
[2:05:08]
Engineering, and we perform an initial
[2:05:10]
life cycle analysis. Our investigation
[2:05:12]
confirms that this project is not only
[2:05:14]
viable from structural and layout
[2:05:15]
perspectives, but offers significant
[2:05:17]
environmental benefits relating to
[2:05:19]
greenhouse gas emissions and solid waste
[2:05:21]
reductions. A building's initial
[2:05:22]
construction emits more greenhouse gas
[2:05:25]
emissions than during its entire
[2:05:27]
operational lifespan. It can take up to
[2:05:29]
80 years for energy reduction strategies
[2:05:31]
to overcome this initial carbon impact.
[2:05:34]
These buildings already exist and the
[2:05:35]
carbon from their construction is in the
[2:05:37]
atmosphere. Earth has paid the carbon
[2:05:39]
price for these structures. Our
[2:05:41]
responsibility is to reuse what we have
[2:05:43]
and consider new construction when
[2:05:45]
there's no other viable choice. By
[2:05:47]
reusing just the concrete walls and
[2:05:49]
foundations, we conserve 317 metric tons
[2:05:52]
of carbon dioxide. That's equivalent to
[2:05:55]
the annual energy usage of 139 typical
[2:05:59]
Pasadena homes or the carbon absorbed by
[2:06:03]
318 acres of US forests in one year. In
[2:06:07]
addition, reusing these structures will
[2:06:09]
divert 968 tons of solid waste from
[2:06:12]
landfills and the associated carbon
[2:06:14]
emissions from hauling and dumping.
[2:06:16]
We're confident the existing masonry
[2:06:18]
walls and foundations can be repurposed
[2:06:20]
to meet or ex meet or exceed the
[2:06:22]
structural provisions of the 2025
[2:06:24]
California building code. The buildings
[2:06:26]
are well suited for selective demolition
[2:06:28]
to transform the annex into something
[2:06:30]
entirely new. This could involve
[2:06:32]
expanding openings for more natural
[2:06:35]
your time is expired.
[2:06:36]
Raising the ceiling heights and
[2:06:37]
incorporating a new roof to conjoin
[2:06:38]
existing structures to create outdoor
[2:06:40]
classrooms. Thank you.
[2:06:42]
So, I'm going to pull Tristan Walker out
[2:06:45]
of the order
[2:06:47]
and and we don't generally do that.
[2:06:50]
Followed by Dave Wishoff, then Emily
[2:06:52]
Hopkins.
[2:06:52]
Please step forward if you hear your
[2:06:54]
name.
[2:06:54]
Thank you for the flexibility. Um, good
[2:06:56]
evening, council members. My name is
[2:06:58]
Tristan Walker. I'm also here
[2:07:00]
representing Stainer Architects as a
[2:07:02]
proono capacity. Um, we wanted to raise
[2:07:05]
a concern that extensive demolition will
[2:07:08]
negatively impact the health of the
[2:07:10]
existing oak trees on the site. An
[2:07:12]
assessment by a certified arborist Matt
[2:07:14]
Riberitch um identified that two trees
[2:07:17]
in proximity to the four structures with
[2:07:20]
a diameter of breast height of over 60
[2:07:22]
in. These trees qualify as heritage oaks
[2:07:25]
and the largest is already stressed and
[2:07:27]
needs immediate care. Heavy machinery
[2:07:29]
from total demolition and new
[2:07:31]
construction will compact the soil
[2:07:33]
around the trees, reducing their access
[2:07:35]
to water, oxygen, and nutrients. While
[2:07:37]
debris will contaminate the soil, the
[2:07:39]
widespread presence of invasive mustard
[2:07:41]
seed on the site is competing with the
[2:07:43]
oak trees for resources, making the
[2:07:46]
trees vulnerable to disease, drought,
[2:07:47]
and fire.
[2:07:49]
A large pile of dead wood and mulch on
[2:07:51]
site further increases fire risk and can
[2:07:53]
introduce invasive beetles identified as
[2:07:56]
a significant threat specifically to
[2:07:58]
mature oaks. There's an immediate need
[2:08:01]
for on-site intervention to protect
[2:08:02]
these heritage oaks. We encourage
[2:08:05]
council to approve Creek's request to
[2:08:07]
introduce a motion to amend agenda item
[2:08:09]
number two from potential demolition to
[2:08:11]
selective demolition and agenda item
[2:08:14]
number five from demolish and rebuild to
[2:08:16]
adaptively reuse. This is a project that
[2:08:19]
aligns directly with Pasadena's climate
[2:08:21]
action plan. It prioritizes reusing
[2:08:24]
existing buildings, reducing waste, and
[2:08:26]
limiting new construction. This is a
[2:08:28]
project that benefits our community and
[2:08:30]
our environment. and I urge you to
[2:08:32]
define the parameters for an RFP that
[2:08:34]
prioritizes adaptive reuse, a
[2:08:36]
construction model essential to our
[2:08:37]
collective future. Thank you very much.
[2:08:40]
Thank you.
[2:08:40]
Thank you. Um David Dave Wishoff
[2:08:43]
followed by Emily Hopkins and then
[2:08:46]
Heavenly Hughes.
[2:08:47]
Hello. Uh Mayor Gordo, I'm Pasadena City
[2:08:50]
Council. I'm David Weissoff, vice
[2:08:52]
president and conservation chair of
[2:08:53]
Pasadena Ottabbon Society and wish to
[2:08:56]
emphasize the importance of expediting
[2:08:58]
the issuance of the RFP as well as
[2:09:00]
accelerating the RFP decision process
[2:09:03]
and signing a contract to proceed. The
[2:09:06]
Creek the Creek Coalition
[2:09:07]
enthusiastically working for over three
[2:09:10]
years on the project is ready now to
[2:09:13]
reply to the RFP quickly, completely and
[2:09:16]
in response to the needs of the
[2:09:18]
community. As you're aware, the annex
[2:09:20]
area of the watershed park has been
[2:09:22]
derelic for many years. It is a
[2:09:24]
temporary rotating dumping ground for
[2:09:26]
tons of miscellaneous dead trees,
[2:09:28]
leaves, trunks, creating a fire hazard
[2:09:31]
and a risk of personal injury and
[2:09:34]
beetles. The vacant buildings are
[2:09:36]
unattended and at risk of vandalism as
[2:09:38]
well as inviting personal injuries and
[2:09:41]
other hazards to park users who might
[2:09:43]
visit the location day or night just on
[2:09:46]
an occasional basis. And we have seen
[2:09:48]
that going through the the area uh
[2:09:51]
individuals and also small groups of
[2:09:54]
children going through the this property
[2:09:56]
in its current state. The mission of
[2:09:58]
Pasadena Ottabon is to bring the
[2:10:00]
excitement of birds to our community
[2:10:02]
through birding education conservation
[2:10:05]
of bird habitats. Pasadena Ottabons
[2:10:08]
actively supports these activities but
[2:10:10]
is severely limited by the lack of
[2:10:12]
suitable venues to do so. Especially
[2:10:15]
since each eaten Canyon is closed and
[2:10:17]
will not be reopened for many years. We
[2:10:20]
forecasted we could readily provide free
[2:10:23]
public education, recreational, and
[2:10:26]
conservation offerings at Creek nine
[2:10:29]
times a month, more than trebling our
[2:10:32]
support to passing area families,
[2:10:35]
schools, and multicultural demographics.
[2:10:40]
And not only will we be three times the
[2:10:43]
number of events, educational programs,
[2:10:47]
etc., But we are currently limited to 25
[2:10:50]
people per per meeting by by what we
[2:10:52]
have access.
[2:10:53]
Your time is we could triple that.
[2:10:55]
Sir, your time is up. We want to be fair
[2:10:57]
to everyone.
[2:10:58]
The time is now quickly to thank you.
[2:11:00]
Thank you.
[2:11:01]
Emily Hopkins, followed by Heavenly
[2:11:04]
Hughes, followed by Marcus Rener, then
[2:11:06]
Jessica Blickley,
[2:11:09]
then Marcos Aguilar.
[2:11:12]
Go ahead.
[2:11:14]
Hi. Um, members of council and Mayor
[2:11:17]
Gordo, thank you for having me today.
[2:11:18]
Um, I am a resident of district 1. My
[2:11:22]
name is Emily Hopkins, uh, and current
[2:11:24]
resident. I'm back. Um, executive
[2:11:27]
director of Sid Street Projects and
[2:11:29]
Creek Coalition member. Um, I am
[2:11:31]
actually reading a public statement on
[2:11:33]
behalf of our communications manager,
[2:11:35]
Stephanie Ailles, who is also a District
[2:11:37]
1 resident because she is born and
[2:11:39]
raised here, and I think that her
[2:11:41]
experience speaks more to the urgency.
[2:11:43]
My name is Stephanie Ailles. I am a
[2:11:45]
proud District 1 resident, the daughter
[2:11:48]
of Salvador and immigrants and a first
[2:11:50]
generation college graduate. I grew up
[2:11:52]
in Pasadena. I attended Washington
[2:11:54]
Elementary and Middle School and John
[2:11:56]
Mir High School. I am here today not
[2:11:58]
only as a community member but a proud
[2:12:00]
team member of the visual arts
[2:12:01]
organization side street projects who
[2:12:03]
deeply values the city. The Haha Manga
[2:12:06]
an annex has great potential to become a
[2:12:08]
vibrant community hub by uplifting local
[2:12:11]
voices and engaging residents through
[2:12:13]
art and more. For example, I can see our
[2:12:16]
free intergenerational art skillshares
[2:12:17]
workshops being a place of sanctuary for
[2:12:20]
folks to connect with community centered
[2:12:22]
artists and learn new skills. I still
[2:12:25]
remember school field trips with my
[2:12:26]
grandma to the Eaten Canyon Nature
[2:12:28]
Center learning about my backyard's
[2:12:30]
wildlife. Now, imagine something like
[2:12:33]
that in Northwest Pasadena, offering
[2:12:35]
programs in intergenerational art and
[2:12:37]
environmental education. This is the
[2:12:40]
future I envision and I hope you'll
[2:12:41]
support it by releasing the RFP as soon
[2:12:43]
as possible so that we can get to work.
[2:12:46]
Thank you.
[2:12:46]
Thank you.
[2:12:47]
Good timing. Thank you.
[2:12:49]
Well, actually, you
[2:12:51]
Hello. Hello. Hello. It's so great to
[2:12:53]
see all of your faces tonight. We're
[2:12:55]
still up and at it, right? This this
[2:12:57]
topic is the most important topic to us
[2:13:00]
right now. So, I'm glad that it was not
[2:13:02]
being moved to another night. Um, we
[2:13:05]
really want to Everything's been said,
[2:13:07]
right? Everything's been said. It's very
[2:13:09]
important. Um, why we want to have this
[2:13:12]
environmental
[2:13:14]
climate, all the things, right? The
[2:13:16]
climate, the environment, education,
[2:13:18]
inclusive, diversity, healing in nature,
[2:13:21]
all the things that we need right now in
[2:13:24]
our community. It's available. It's
[2:13:26]
before us. It's right here before us.
[2:13:28]
All we have to do is vote and say let's
[2:13:30]
get this RFP. We want to say yes to
[2:13:33]
that. Yes to the RFP and we want to make
[2:13:35]
some adjustments saying let's get it
[2:13:38]
within the next next 90 days because
[2:13:41]
what I understand is that the haha manga
[2:13:44]
annex has been sitting for over 20 years
[2:13:47]
right so it's been dormant like death
[2:13:50]
kind of like a space that's been
[2:13:51]
grieving although it has all this um
[2:13:54]
life that can be activated right in that
[2:13:57]
space right I'm actually experiencing
[2:14:00]
that with all my neighbors in Aladena
[2:14:02]
right Now we're grieving, right? We want
[2:14:05]
to activate this space. And when we see
[2:14:09]
that places like Hahaanga annex sitting
[2:14:12]
for 20 years is a little discouraging
[2:14:14]
because we we don't want to see that
[2:14:16]
happen in Aladino. We don't want to see
[2:14:18]
that happen in Pasadena where places are
[2:14:20]
sitting 20 years dormant waiting for
[2:14:23]
decisions to be made. So I'm just glad
[2:14:27]
that decisions are going to be made
[2:14:29]
tonight to activate this space to be
[2:14:32]
able to say let's get this RFP out there
[2:14:35]
so decision so people can apply for the
[2:14:38]
RFP. Um when you do the RFP RFP is
[2:14:42]
giving access to many people to uh be a
[2:14:45]
part of it. Although I think the Creek
[2:14:47]
Coalition is very prepared. Um yes we
[2:14:51]
are. Yes we are. um yet we are we
[2:14:54]
understand that this opportunity needs
[2:14:56]
to be a process and so let's get this
[2:14:58]
process going. Thank you so much for
[2:15:00]
listening.
[2:15:01]
Thank you.
[2:15:01]
Thank you Miss Hughes.
[2:15:03]
So then it's Marcus Rener, Jessica
[2:15:06]
Blickley, then Marcos Aguilar and then
[2:15:08]
Anna Soul River.
[2:15:10]
Okay. Thank you. I'm just going to coast
[2:15:12]
on Heaven Heavenly's energy that she
[2:15:14]
just brought. Um, I'm speaking to you as
[2:15:17]
somebody who just uh finished a dissert
[2:15:20]
PhD dissertation from UC Davis in
[2:15:22]
geography on environmental justice in
[2:15:23]
Pasadena and along the Aoyo. And I just
[2:15:26]
want to underscore the real opportunity
[2:15:28]
to address environmental justice which
[2:15:30]
is as I understand it a required mandate
[2:15:33]
of the state to incorporate into our
[2:15:35]
general plan.
[2:15:36]
A lot of this opportunity has to do with
[2:15:38]
the history. 25 years before the first
[2:15:40]
uh environmental justice summit in
[2:15:42]
Washington DC, Outerbound Adventures was
[2:15:46]
taking young people of color into the
[2:15:47]
outdoors and introducing them to
[2:15:49]
conservation careers.
[2:15:51]
There's a place for the co-founders of
[2:15:55]
OBA, Helen Mary Williams, Helen and
[2:15:57]
Leroy Chris, and Bud Ross to be embraced
[2:16:00]
by the city in the pantheon of civil
[2:16:02]
rights leaders in line with Jackie
[2:16:04]
Robinson, in line with Octavia Butler.
[2:16:07]
that this is an opportunity because of
[2:16:09]
this history to honor it. Um
[2:16:13]
before getting a PhD, I got did a wrote
[2:16:15]
a master's thesis on conservation
[2:16:16]
education. Um there was a distinction
[2:16:19]
made uh at the finance committee meeting
[2:16:21]
between nature education as Eden Canyon
[2:16:24]
and workforce development. But the best
[2:16:26]
environmental education connects nature
[2:16:28]
education, our plants and wildlife, um,
[2:16:31]
to how we treat each other, to how we
[2:16:32]
build and power our cities, to how we
[2:16:34]
manage our water, to environmental
[2:16:36]
engineering, to the environmental
[2:16:37]
careers young people dream of, and to
[2:16:40]
the workforce skills that they need to
[2:16:43]
make those dreams a reality. Not many
[2:16:45]
environmental education groups take on
[2:16:47]
that challenge, but that's what Creek
[2:16:49]
aspires to. Um, so there's a real
[2:16:52]
opportunity here. I know you're just
[2:16:54]
approving the RFP, but thinking about
[2:16:56]
building and honoring the OBA founders
[2:16:59]
and um not only teaching about nature,
[2:17:01]
but joining that with workforce
[2:17:03]
development for conservation careers and
[2:17:05]
starting green businesses for Pasadena.
[2:17:07]
Thank you.
[2:17:08]
Thank you.
[2:17:08]
Thank you,
[2:17:10]
Jessica Blickley, followed by Marcos
[2:17:13]
Aguilar, then Anna Soul River.
[2:17:18]
Thank you. Good evening. My name is
[2:17:19]
Jessica Blickley and I'm Pr I'm a
[2:17:21]
professor at Pasadena City College where
[2:17:23]
I've been teaching biology for the last
[2:17:25]
12 years. I'm here to speak in strong
[2:17:28]
support of Creek and the RFP for the
[2:17:30]
Haha Watershed Park annex.
[2:17:33]
In our classes at PCC, we use the Haha
[2:17:37]
Watershed Park and the Aoyo as a living
[2:17:39]
laboratory.
[2:17:41]
It's a critical part of our curriculum
[2:17:43]
where students apply the academic
[2:17:45]
knowledge and technical field skills
[2:17:46]
that they are learning in class. um by
[2:17:49]
collecting real data and engaging in
[2:17:51]
authentic research beyond the academic.
[2:17:54]
For many students that have grown up
[2:17:56]
here, these trips are their first
[2:17:58]
opportunity to connect with the nature
[2:17:59]
in their own backyard. I have seen it
[2:18:02]
time and again. These experiences in the
[2:18:04]
Aoyo spark a genuine and lasting
[2:18:07]
connection to the natural world and
[2:18:09]
inspire careers in conservation,
[2:18:12]
environmental science, and environmental
[2:18:13]
education.
[2:18:15]
Creek will amplify this work. The
[2:18:18]
proposed environmental education center
[2:18:19]
will provide a permanent home for
[2:18:21]
hands-on learning both in the classrooms
[2:18:23]
and in the field. Equally important, it
[2:18:26]
will serve as a vital hub to connect
[2:18:28]
students with community members and
[2:18:30]
environmental organizations that are
[2:18:32]
working here in our local community.
[2:18:35]
Environmental education for the
[2:18:37]
community and by the community.
[2:18:39]
Crucially, it will also provide
[2:18:41]
essential job training for envir
[2:18:42]
environmental and conservation careers,
[2:18:45]
preparing the next generation to face
[2:18:48]
our most pressing climate challenge.
[2:18:50]
Creek represents more than an
[2:18:51]
environmental education center. It's a
[2:18:53]
community-driven investment in
[2:18:55]
Pasadena's future. I urge you to move
[2:18:57]
forward without delay by expediting the
[2:18:59]
RFP process and avoiding unnecessary
[2:19:02]
demolition. Our students and our
[2:19:04]
community need this center now. Thank
[2:19:07]
you for your time and your support in
[2:19:08]
bringing this initiative to life.
[2:19:10]
Thank you.
[2:19:14]
Marcos Aguilar Fab River
[2:19:30]
My name is Marcos Aguilad. I serve as an
[2:19:32]
executive director of Anawa Kalmechak.
[2:19:34]
We're the only indigenous people school
[2:19:35]
in all of Los Angeles County. I'm also a
[2:19:38]
head of the Secat Community Development
[2:19:40]
Corporation by which we liberated 12
[2:19:42]
acres of land in Northeast LA that were
[2:19:44]
rematriated to the Gabalino Shashon
[2:19:46]
Nation. And through those partnerships,
[2:19:48]
we met and uh collaborated much more
[2:19:50]
closely with Outwardbound Adventures and
[2:19:52]
are here to support the the initiative.
[2:19:55]
I'm here to express my support for item
[2:19:57]
11 on the agenda today regarding the
[2:19:59]
Haamonga watershed park annex area. I'd
[2:20:02]
like to add my voice of support for the
[2:20:04]
concept of the climate resilience
[2:20:05]
education center as proposed by the
[2:20:07]
coalition including outwardbound
[2:20:09]
adventures and San Gabriel Ban and
[2:20:10]
Mission Indians among others. As a Nawa
[2:20:13]
Mexican indigenous educator, I look
[2:20:14]
forward to including the proposed
[2:20:16]
concepts of the of the park annex as a
[2:20:18]
future learning site for millions of
[2:20:19]
indigenous children, youth, and families
[2:20:21]
from across North America who make the
[2:20:24]
greater Los Angeles area, including
[2:20:26]
Pasadena their home, our home as we grow
[2:20:29]
in our autonomous approaches to
[2:20:30]
indigenous education across the county.
[2:20:33]
However, with regards to the SQUA
[2:20:35]
exemption, we urge the council to
[2:20:36]
conduct formal tribal consultation with
[2:20:38]
all local tribes in compliance also with
[2:20:40]
AB52 as a proper and necessary course of
[2:20:43]
action and a requirement respecting
[2:20:45]
tribal self-determination and
[2:20:47]
sovereignty. Thank you very much.
[2:20:49]
Thank you. And
[2:20:53]
Anna Soul River,
[2:20:55]
welcome back.
[2:20:56]
I'm back. Um, good evening again.
[2:20:59]
Tonight, I want to emphasize one thing,
[2:21:01]
alignment. We say we want
[2:21:03]
sustainability, equity, and climate
[2:21:05]
resilience, but our actions must align
[2:21:07]
with those values, especially here in a
[2:21:09]
place like Hahaonga. We pass an adaptive
[2:21:12]
reuse ordinance. We can't invest in
[2:21:13]
climate education through projects like
[2:21:15]
Creek. And yet, we're still proposing
[2:21:17]
demolition of usable structures without
[2:21:19]
full exploration of reuse. That's not
[2:21:22]
alignment. That's contradiction. If
[2:21:24]
we're serious about climate action,
[2:21:26]
adaptive reuse isn't optional. It's
[2:21:28]
essential. is how we reduce carbon,
[2:21:31]
preserve cultural memory, a model
[2:21:33]
responsible land stewardship. Hahaonga
[2:21:35]
is sacred ground ecologically and
[2:21:37]
historically. Let's not erase what
[2:21:39]
exists before we're asked the right
[2:21:41]
questions. And let's also practic be
[2:21:43]
practical. The longer we delay an RF FP
[2:21:47]
and clear guidance, the more these
[2:21:48]
buildings deteriorate, making reuse
[2:21:50]
harder, slower, and more expensive. Time
[2:21:52]
is money. Streamlining adaptive reuse as
[2:21:55]
the first choice and offering incentives
[2:21:57]
can actually save time and resources
[2:22:00]
while staying true to ourselves. I urge
[2:22:02]
you to amend the recommendation tonight
[2:22:04]
and to prioritize adaptive reuse before
[2:22:06]
moving forward. Not as a symbolic
[2:22:08]
gesture, but as a real commitment to
[2:22:10]
sustainability, to history, and to the
[2:22:12]
future we keep talking about. Let's lead
[2:22:15]
by example and put our policies into
[2:22:17]
practice. Thank you.
[2:22:19]
Thank you.
[2:22:19]
Thank you, ma'am.
[2:22:22]
That completes public comment on this
[2:22:24]
item. Be
[2:22:25]
before we get to council members, maybe
[2:22:28]
a response to RFP options to address
[2:22:32]
reuse versus uh new.
[2:22:35]
Yes, Mayor Gordo, uh safety has been our
[2:22:38]
priority as it relates to the
[2:22:39]
recommendation of demolishing the
[2:22:41]
buildings. Having heard from the
[2:22:42]
community, there is an opportunity in
[2:22:44]
the RFP process if council directs. We
[2:22:46]
can incorporate a feasibility study to
[2:22:49]
have a firm come in and do the study and
[2:22:52]
recommend which buildings selectively
[2:22:54]
can be demolished and which ones can be
[2:22:55]
preserved for use for adaptive reuse.
[2:22:57]
That is an option we can incorporate in
[2:22:58]
the RFP if that is council's
[2:23:00]
recommendation.
[2:23:02]
Okay. Thank you, Mr. And that uh just
[2:23:05]
for clarification on that um that would
[2:23:07]
be um paid for by the applicant or the
[2:23:10]
awardee of the RFP. Correct.
[2:23:13]
Yes, council member Hampton that is the
[2:23:15]
intent is once we release the RFP and we
[2:23:17]
will do our utmost best to expedite it
[2:23:19]
as fast as possible to release it within
[2:23:21]
the timelines being requested. uh and
[2:23:24]
within the RFP will highlight the fact
[2:23:26]
that the operator and proposers would be
[2:23:29]
responsible for the feasibility study
[2:23:31]
the you know the adaptive reuse the
[2:23:33]
construction necessary rehabilitation as
[2:23:35]
well as the operation of the site
[2:23:37]
you mentioned exped I'm so sorry to
[2:23:39]
everybody that's in the queue but you
[2:23:41]
mentioned expedite and this is what I
[2:23:43]
was talking about before when we were
[2:23:45]
playing musical chairs what does that
[2:23:47]
mean
[2:23:48]
the RFP process
[2:23:49]
the RFP process to have it you would
[2:23:51]
expedite it
[2:23:54]
Go go go go go go ahead and then we'll
[2:23:56]
get back to
[2:23:56]
Yeah, council member Hender, our intent
[2:23:58]
is to make sure we capture everything
[2:23:59]
that should be within the RFP and
[2:24:01]
consulting with the departments that
[2:24:03]
should be consulted as well as the LA
[2:24:04]
County's RPOSD given that the grant we
[2:24:07]
want to make sure they're comfortable
[2:24:09]
because they had given a grant. It's in
[2:24:10]
the report uh uh the area was
[2:24:12]
rehabilitated and they should have a
[2:24:13]
say. So part of that process is we're
[2:24:15]
buying safe timeline to not commit for a
[2:24:18]
shorter time frame yet allow us actual
[2:24:21]
reasonable time to put the RFP together
[2:24:23]
and release it. So uh we will do our
[2:24:25]
best to release it as fast as possible
[2:24:27]
but there's still the evaluation and the
[2:24:28]
interview process that comes afterwards.
[2:24:30]
So that is our goal. The intent is to do
[2:24:32]
the best we can to release it sooner
[2:24:33]
than intended in the report.
[2:24:35]
Okay, Mr. City Manager.
[2:24:37]
Thank you, Mayor. Yeah, I just want to
[2:24:39]
emphasize something Koko said because,
[2:24:41]
you know, we looked at this, went back
[2:24:43]
three years and and there's been a long
[2:24:45]
process here. We wanted to dot the eye
[2:24:46]
and cross the tees and I thank the
[2:24:48]
public for and the community for giving
[2:24:50]
us that time to get it right. And I
[2:24:52]
think now we bring forward a report that
[2:24:54]
really has us ready to move forward. Uh,
[2:24:56]
however, you know, it is important to
[2:24:58]
remember the buildings have sat vacant
[2:25:00]
for since 2004. That's in the report.
[2:25:02]
So, 21 years there's been a lot of
[2:25:05]
damage to them. There's been theft.
[2:25:06]
there's been a lot of infrastructure
[2:25:08]
that's, you know, vandalized. Um, and I
[2:25:11]
myself went to go see it. I wasn't
[2:25:13]
allowed to go in because of the dangers
[2:25:14]
associated with it. So, I I think we
[2:25:16]
need to be careful on the safety
[2:25:18]
component. And I think what uh Mr.
[2:25:20]
Ponosian is telling me and telling us is
[2:25:22]
that we can work into the RFP process a
[2:25:25]
way to safely do a feasibility study to
[2:25:28]
see what can and can't be saved or
[2:25:30]
reused, what needs to be demolished, and
[2:25:32]
we can enter into that exercise in good
[2:25:34]
faith. But I also do want uh everyone to
[2:25:38]
be mindful of our own safety office went
[2:25:41]
out and identified all kinds of safety
[2:25:43]
issues. Asbestous lead, all of the
[2:25:45]
hazardous materials that are from a
[2:25:47]
different era that we still have to
[2:25:49]
contend with. Uh but we can again work
[2:25:51]
that into an RFP. And as you suggested,
[2:25:53]
Council Member Hampton, that would be on
[2:25:55]
the proponents, whoever it is, because
[2:25:57]
we we're going through an RFP in good
[2:25:58]
faith. We don't know who's going to um
[2:26:01]
submit proposals, but we can uh engage
[2:26:03]
in that process so that we can vet it
[2:26:05]
carefully and and safely.
[2:26:09]
Mr. Msudo, followed by Mr. Cole, then
[2:26:11]
Mr. Jones and Mr. Madison.
[2:26:13]
You know, thank you very much for uh
[2:26:15]
letting us know what this is all about.
[2:26:17]
In fact, I asked them the question from
[2:26:19]
just on on the side here about the u uh
[2:26:23]
the feasibility study and and trying to
[2:26:26]
preserve the buildings if possible. and
[2:26:28]
and now we're hearing from the city
[2:26:29]
manager saying how how it's kind of a
[2:26:32]
real dangerous situation right now
[2:26:35]
because of safety uh concerns.
[2:26:37]
Is there a possibility of start going
[2:26:41]
into that direction of trying to save
[2:26:43]
the buildings at least some of them?
[2:26:47]
Council member medicine um sorry council
[2:26:49]
miss yes there's opportunity is there uh
[2:26:52]
and it would have to be determined by a
[2:26:55]
consultant we bring on board or the
[2:26:57]
proposal we bring on board to do that
[2:26:58]
study. It is there there is room. The
[2:27:00]
safety officer has identified methods of
[2:27:03]
entry to the building, access to the
[2:27:04]
building to you know play it safe, wear
[2:27:06]
N95 masks. So we'll have to put criteria
[2:27:08]
as to who can get access to the building
[2:27:10]
and what type of work should be done.
[2:27:12]
They could all be incorporated in the
[2:27:13]
RF.
[2:27:14]
I certainly like the idea when uh the
[2:27:17]
the the speakers were talking about
[2:27:19]
educational purposes and that that
[2:27:21]
that's really great, but the adapted
[2:27:23]
reuse is what caught my attention. So
[2:27:25]
thank you for your uh of studying that.
[2:27:29]
Thank you. Um, Mr. Cole, followed by Mr.
[2:27:33]
Jones
[2:27:35]
and
[2:27:37]
Mr. Madison.
[2:27:39]
I appreciate Mr. Massuda and Mr.
[2:27:41]
Hampton's uh, comments about expediting
[2:27:43]
the RFP and about um, uh, doing
[2:27:47]
everything we can to look at adaptive
[2:27:49]
reuse. I I'm going to be unusually
[2:27:52]
direct, mayor, because I find this to be
[2:27:55]
a surreal situation.
[2:27:58]
I understand why we um are not just
[2:28:03]
partnering automatically with Creek.
[2:28:06]
This is public property and we have an
[2:28:08]
obligation uh to to have an open
[2:28:11]
process.
[2:28:13]
But we've been at this for a couple of
[2:28:16]
years and literally no one in the
[2:28:21]
universe
[2:28:23]
has stepped forward and said, "I would
[2:28:25]
be vaguely interested in this project
[2:28:29]
except Creek.
[2:28:36]
We we have a broad multi-racial
[2:28:41]
community coalition of credible,
[2:28:45]
committed, passionate people
[2:28:48]
who have been on this
[2:28:52]
like flies on fly paper for years. Mr.
[2:28:56]
Cole, may I may I interrupt because the
[2:28:59]
RFP process may need to be voted on. I
[2:29:03]
I'm I'm not I'm going to look to the
[2:29:04]
city attorney. The awarding of a
[2:29:08]
contract. Yeah.
[2:29:10]
Yeah. The actual contract if there are
[2:29:12]
multiple
[2:29:15]
uh
[2:29:16]
proposal submitted.
[2:29:17]
Yeah. I I don't want any one of us to
[2:29:20]
get too far ahead and be accused of
[2:29:24]
having made up our mind before a
[2:29:25]
contract with the comments we make
[2:29:27]
tonight. And so,
[2:29:28]
yeah, you're just framing
[2:29:30]
Okay. right now generally not u I
[2:29:33]
appreciate your comments mayor but
[2:29:34]
and I and I would like to clarify that
[2:29:36]
I'm the council member that represents
[2:29:38]
the area and there's been a lot of
[2:29:39]
interest of those buildings
[2:29:42]
for for someone to propose
[2:29:45]
for the you the use of those buildings
[2:29:47]
okay
[2:29:47]
since I've been elected
[2:29:49]
okay so you expect that there will be
[2:29:52]
applicants beside Creek
[2:29:55]
I think that they're doing a great job
[2:29:56]
at making sure that there are no other
[2:29:58]
applicants
[2:30:02]
So, so let me let me in in in
[2:30:04]
consideration
[2:30:05]
public institutions as well who
[2:30:07]
in in consideration of of your comments,
[2:30:10]
mayor, let me let me make this point.
[2:30:16]
Pastina Playhouse exists today. They
[2:30:18]
just bought their building because we
[2:30:21]
partnered with them first um with the
[2:30:24]
developer and then with the nonprofit
[2:30:27]
and and we saved um the state theater of
[2:30:31]
California which now um is stands stands
[2:30:34]
on its own self-sufficient.
[2:30:37]
Uh the Western Justice Center,
[2:30:39]
notwithstanding the arguments over
[2:30:41]
whether they have weddings, exists
[2:30:43]
because we partnered with them with a
[2:30:46]
lease um for a building that um has had
[2:30:51]
really significant contributions to our
[2:30:54]
community. We have a Norton Simon Museum
[2:30:57]
where we still pay to do the landscaping
[2:31:01]
there. Um, we've partnered with one Aoyo
[2:31:05]
who have raised money and and done
[2:31:08]
projects.
[2:31:10]
We have a extraordinarily long-standing
[2:31:14]
partnership with an organization called
[2:31:15]
the Tournament of Roses um where we are
[2:31:20]
intimately
[2:31:21]
um connected to them financially and
[2:31:23]
logistically. Um
[2:31:26]
and uh the Pastina Armory exists because
[2:31:30]
uh this city partnered with them. Um
[2:31:34]
okay, we'll go through an RFP process,
[2:31:37]
but I think the way to expedite this is
[2:31:41]
not to exhaustively
[2:31:44]
create all of the 17,000
[2:31:47]
possibilities
[2:31:49]
uh legal, logistical,
[2:31:52]
financial, etc. but rather to see who is
[2:31:55]
actually viable. That's more like a a
[2:31:59]
request for interest. Um, and then to
[2:32:02]
enter into not just negotiations
[2:32:05]
about how we can protect ourselves seven
[2:32:08]
ways from Sunday, but how we can
[2:32:11]
actually bring into birth as we did the
[2:32:15]
parade and the bowl, the Norton Simon
[2:32:18]
Museum, the Pasadena Playhouse,
[2:32:21]
um, the Western Justice Center, the
[2:32:24]
Armory Center for the Arts. These were
[2:32:26]
products of the city partnering
[2:32:30]
with community organizations. And I
[2:32:32]
would like to see if if we have a
[2:32:35]
community organization who wins this RFP
[2:32:39]
that we not try to solve every problem
[2:32:42]
beforehand, but rather we find a viable
[2:32:45]
partner and then we try to solve the
[2:32:47]
problems with them so that we end up
[2:32:50]
with a great project. And I think if
[2:32:52]
that's our approach, there is no
[2:32:54]
question that we can get this out on the
[2:32:57]
street in 90 days. And if we have
[2:33:00]
multiple applicants, great. We'll go
[2:33:02]
through the process, weigh the um the
[2:33:05]
pluses and minuses. But if as I suspect
[2:33:09]
we only have a very small number of
[2:33:13]
viable um applicants then uh we can get
[2:33:17]
to moving forward to bringing this dream
[2:33:20]
into realization. That's my approach um
[2:33:24]
to this.
[2:33:25]
Thank you Mr. Cole. Um I don't think
[2:33:28]
anybody disagrees
[2:33:31]
I don't think anybody disagrees with the
[2:33:32]
partnership and the importance of
[2:33:34]
working with partners. the the the
[2:33:37]
examples you use, however, none of them
[2:33:40]
were subject to an RFP.
[2:33:43]
None of them were subject to the legal
[2:33:46]
implications and ramifications if we
[2:33:48]
don't follow the RFP process and law.
[2:33:53]
This one is subject of an RFP and it's
[2:33:57]
we're bound by our by our own rules in
[2:34:00]
handling an RFP as well as um
[2:34:05]
state and
[2:34:06]
what's what's the state law on RFPs? Uh
[2:34:09]
I understand the state
[2:34:10]
we have to be fair and we can't it has
[2:34:11]
to be competitive. You you can't just
[2:34:14]
say we're going to issue an RFP and and
[2:34:16]
where in the where in the state
[2:34:17]
predetermined that there's
[2:34:18]
code does it say that?
[2:34:22]
There's no rules for requests for
[2:34:24]
proposals for cities that
[2:34:26]
for a competitive RFP and this is
[2:34:28]
there is not mayor. There is there is
[2:34:30]
for bidding. Yes, absolutely.
[2:34:34]
There is absolutely for surplus property
[2:34:37]
but we're making a choice about our
[2:34:40]
property and there's no state rules on
[2:34:43]
that
[2:34:43]
but we've made a decision to have a
[2:34:46]
competitive and open process. That's the
[2:34:48]
rule
[2:34:49]
and and we have our charter and our code
[2:34:52]
that we would follow with respect to
[2:34:53]
that the city not as
[2:34:56]
it's there.
[2:34:58]
I understand that but that it's not it's
[2:35:00]
not factual to say there's state law on
[2:35:03]
this that applies here. It is we have
[2:35:04]
our own rules and our own laws. We issue
[2:35:07]
RFIs. We issue RFPs.
[2:35:10]
Um, and this should, in my view, look
[2:35:13]
more like an RFI.
[2:35:15]
That's competitive and it should be
[2:35:17]
competitive. But the reality is is that
[2:35:20]
um, we don't have to have an exhaustive
[2:35:23]
um, process if we end up with one or two
[2:35:26]
applicants.
[2:35:27]
That's not what I'm suggesting. And if
[2:35:28]
we didn't follow our own rules on a
[2:35:30]
competitive RFP, you better believe the
[2:35:33]
attorney general would be down here from
[2:35:34]
the state attorney general to call us on
[2:35:37]
that. And that's what I mean by
[2:35:38]
following state rules.
[2:35:40]
So, we should follow our own rules.
[2:35:42]
That's all I'm suggesting. Find a
[2:35:44]
partner. F follow our rules. Find a
[2:35:46]
partner and work with them as you
[2:35:48]
suggest in partnership. But if we don't,
[2:35:50]
the the state implication comes from the
[2:35:53]
attorney general if we don't do that or
[2:35:56]
or somebody else. So, um Mr.
[2:36:02]
Jones,
[2:36:03]
thanks, Mayor. I only need like five
[2:36:05]
minutes. Uh, Koko, you said that we
[2:36:08]
could do a feasibility study um to look
[2:36:11]
at rehabbing the buildings instead of
[2:36:14]
demoing them, right? So, you can
[2:36:16]
incorporate that into your RFP.
[2:36:18]
Correct. Council member Jones. The what
[2:36:20]
what I said was incorporate a
[2:36:21]
feasibility requirement, feasibility
[2:36:23]
study requirement in the RFP. So the
[2:36:25]
successful proposals would have to
[2:36:26]
conduct that hiring the right
[2:36:28]
consultants and determination of that
[2:36:30]
study can help guide us which buildings
[2:36:32]
should or should not be demolished or
[2:36:34]
selectively choosing which buildings
[2:36:35]
must be demolished based on the
[2:36:36]
findings.
[2:36:37]
Okay, cuz I'm I'm interested in in
[2:36:40]
repurposing the buildings and adapting
[2:36:42]
for use of those buildings. And then the
[2:36:44]
second part was the RFP doesn't
[2:36:46]
necessarily have to take one year,
[2:36:48]
right? You can expedite the process and
[2:36:50]
like how soon could you get it out?
[2:36:52]
Council member Jones, I don't want to
[2:36:54]
put a timeline. It's a matter of
[2:36:56]
resources and sometimes things do get
[2:36:58]
delayed and held up and I just don't
[2:37:00]
want to put a timeline. We feel six
[2:37:01]
months would have been appropriate. It
[2:37:03]
gives us enough time of whatever delays
[2:37:05]
we might experience at the different
[2:37:06]
levels, different organizations that we
[2:37:08]
have to work with. But the goal now
[2:37:10]
based on the direction is to expedite it
[2:37:12]
to get it to uh to be released sooner
[2:37:14]
than the six month.
[2:37:16]
Sooner than the six months. Okay. Thank
[2:37:17]
you.
[2:37:18]
Okay. Um Mr. Madison, followed by Mr.
[2:37:23]
Hampton.
[2:37:24]
Thank you, Mayor. Um, one question I had
[2:37:27]
was how many acres of the 30 total are
[2:37:29]
we talking about here?
[2:37:32]
Council me, this area is roughly about 8
[2:37:33]
to 10 acres.
[2:37:35]
Okay.
[2:37:35]
And then the Oakland comes in the mix as
[2:37:37]
well. The 30 acres is the entire Hong
[2:37:39]
area that has all the equestrian
[2:37:40]
centers, but this location is roughly
[2:37:42]
about 10 acres.
[2:37:42]
So, is that the right way to think of it
[2:37:44]
that we're dealing with an RFP for the
[2:37:46]
use of the 10 acres or is it just the
[2:37:48]
buildings or something else? Uh so
[2:37:50]
council member Madison there were two
[2:37:51]
areas within the Hamonga annex that
[2:37:54]
we're considering. One is the former US
[2:37:56]
forest service which are the buildings
[2:37:57]
these six buildings and the surrounding
[2:37:59]
area and then the second area is the
[2:38:01]
Oakland's the the Woody area which is
[2:38:04]
the open space that is the second
[2:38:05]
portion that we're incorporating A and B
[2:38:07]
together uh for this particular um RFP
[2:38:11]
process.
[2:38:11]
Okay. So how many acre because you said
[2:38:13]
and the surrounding area on the
[2:38:14]
buildings. So how
[2:38:15]
buildings in surrounding areas in plus
[2:38:17]
the oaks the wood oaks is roughly about
[2:38:19]
10 acres
[2:38:20]
total
[2:38:20]
total
[2:38:21]
and do you have a division of the the
[2:38:23]
breakdown of that?
[2:38:24]
There is a map that actually would show
[2:38:26]
yes if I could uh pull the
[2:38:29]
it's I believe it's one of the
[2:38:30]
attachments and I do have it as a slide.
[2:38:32]
If we can pull the presentation please
[2:38:34]
I'd be happy to show that
[2:38:35]
in the agenda report it is attachment C
[2:38:37]
that shows.
[2:38:39]
Thank you. And then is this uh one RFP
[2:38:42]
for both parcels? Yes sir. Okay.
[2:38:45]
The intent is to identify both areas
[2:38:47]
within the RFP and one operator to
[2:38:50]
commit to both.
[2:38:51]
Okay. And then um I do think the debate
[2:38:55]
between two of my colleagues was
[2:38:58]
interesting but it was a little bit uh
[2:39:00]
premature. I I do think though that the
[2:39:02]
um surplus land act does apply right the
[2:39:05]
California surplus land Act under the
[2:39:08]
acquisition agreement with MWD.
[2:39:11]
That that is correct. So, council
[2:39:12]
memberson, we did reach out to the
[2:39:13]
housing.
[2:39:14]
No, my question was just surplus land
[2:39:16]
act applies.
[2:39:16]
It it does apply and we are exempt as an
[2:39:18]
agent for its agency use.
[2:39:20]
We are exempt
[2:39:22]
uh we are exempt to from the uh
[2:39:24]
reporting under the surplus lands act
[2:39:26]
only because we are considered as agency
[2:39:28]
use because the intent to use it to
[2:39:30]
bring a nonprofit organization to
[2:39:32]
operate as we would it kind of allows
[2:39:35]
for the exemption.
[2:39:36]
Okay. So, um we're still bound by the
[2:39:39]
land act. we just don't have to report
[2:39:40]
to somebody agency. Okay.
[2:39:42]
And then um the costs that we have, I
[2:39:45]
noticed there was a lot of enthusiasm
[2:39:47]
and even some kind of u maybe overly
[2:39:51]
robust comments about grant funding
[2:39:53]
that's been promised or is out there
[2:39:55]
somewhere and that's great. I hope
[2:39:57]
that's all real. But for right now, the
[2:40:00]
question is are those estimates of cost
[2:40:03]
uh current? Because there's a lot of old
[2:40:04]
information kind of embedded in this
[2:40:06]
record. But the
[2:40:09]
so council member Madison the cost
[2:40:11]
estimates presented herein were
[2:40:13]
evaluated and resubmitted with
[2:40:15]
partnership with our public works
[2:40:16]
department. It was when we brought this
[2:40:18]
item to uh the finance committee in May
[2:40:20]
of this year. I believe it was May.
[2:40:22]
That's when these numbers were revamped
[2:40:23]
to more current standards of what the
[2:40:25]
estimates would be. And of course we
[2:40:27]
also in the report highlight that these
[2:40:28]
are estimates as of today. They'll be
[2:40:30]
like 7% escalation for construction for
[2:40:33]
future years. And we'll look to the RFP
[2:40:35]
applicants to address the financing.
[2:40:38]
Yes, sir.
[2:40:39]
In whole.
[2:40:40]
Yes, that is the intent.
[2:40:41]
Okay. And um is it a long-term lease or
[2:40:45]
a a land transaction or some other form
[2:40:48]
or is that not baked in right now?
[2:40:51]
We will be consulting with the city
[2:40:52]
attorney's office as to the best
[2:40:53]
approach. There are a number of ways we
[2:40:55]
can approach it, whether it be a lease
[2:40:57]
or an operating agreement for the use of
[2:40:58]
the area for a long period of time. And
[2:41:01]
the intent to do a long-term contract
[2:41:03]
agreement is because the entity is going
[2:41:06]
to bring forth investment to the
[2:41:09]
property by way of grants or other
[2:41:11]
means. We want to make sure that they're
[2:41:13]
able to get those grants. So longer term
[2:41:15]
works best in that effort.
[2:41:17]
Okay. And then this may be a little
[2:41:19]
premature too, but since we've gotten so
[2:41:21]
much comment from this one coalition,
[2:41:23]
which is highly impressive, no question.
[2:41:26]
But does it include the Tongva and
[2:41:28]
Hahaonga
[2:41:30]
um native peoples?
[2:41:32]
I'm looking at the the organization and
[2:41:34]
the they're giving me the thumbs up that
[2:41:35]
yes, it does.
[2:41:36]
Okay. Can you explain that to me?
[2:41:40]
St. Gabriel Band of Mission Indians is
[2:41:42]
coalition.
[2:41:44]
So it includes the Tongva.
[2:41:46]
Correct.
[2:41:46]
So it's the Gabrielino Gabriel
[2:41:48]
St. Gabriel Mission
[2:41:50]
St. Gabriel Mission Indian
[2:41:51]
Band of Indians including Tongva and
[2:41:53]
Hahaonga.
[2:41:54]
Correct.
[2:41:54]
Okay. Great. and their role in this is
[2:41:56]
is particularly around I mean they have
[2:41:59]
a very robust role in the coalition but
[2:42:01]
in particular they're going to be um
[2:42:03]
managing the the um
[2:42:05]
well let's not we don't know that you're
[2:42:07]
going to apply for a letting you know
[2:42:09]
but
[2:42:09]
that's the problem that's the problem I
[2:42:11]
was trying to highlight but sir if you
[2:42:12]
could identify yourself for the record
[2:42:15]
myself
[2:42:16]
yes just for the record
[2:42:17]
we know you did before but if you could
[2:42:19]
do that again
[2:42:19]
Brandon Hammerly uh creek uh project
[2:42:23]
manager
[2:42:23]
thank you we we just need to have a
[2:42:25]
clear record.
[2:42:25]
Okay, those are my questions. Thank you.
[2:42:27]
That that's that's precisely
[2:42:30]
the problem that I was infully trying to
[2:42:34]
highlight, but okay. Um
[2:42:38]
so, uh
[2:42:41]
Mr. Hampton, yeah. Um thank you and I I
[2:42:44]
thank all my colleagues and the
[2:42:46]
discussion has um been been great. Um,
[2:42:48]
to Council Member Nicole's point about
[2:42:50]
the RFP, I agree that I think the city
[2:42:53]
could just go into a partnership uh with
[2:42:55]
any organization, um, I agree with that,
[2:42:58]
but in principle, I would not vote in
[2:43:02]
favor of that and I would never do that
[2:43:04]
because that's the reason why there has
[2:43:06]
been so many people that look like me
[2:43:08]
that have been overlooked because the
[2:43:10]
city has decided to make sure that they
[2:43:12]
are giving it to whoever their friends
[2:43:14]
are or whatnot. Um, and that's not just
[2:43:16]
in the city of Pasadena, that's across
[2:43:18]
the board. So, I just want to be very
[2:43:20]
clear here. That's the purpose of a RFP
[2:43:22]
is to make sure that it's fair for
[2:43:24]
everyone to be able to um participate in
[2:43:26]
it. Um, I appreciate the
[2:43:29]
a real competitive process.
[2:43:30]
A real competitive process. Absolutely.
[2:43:32]
Uh, that is notified for everybody and I
[2:43:34]
appreciate the questions about the
[2:43:36]
Tongva and the Gallerino tribe being um
[2:43:39]
a part of the the process in general. I
[2:43:42]
wish we had had that as a part of the
[2:43:44]
process. As I mentioned when the one a
[2:43:46]
royal was being formed, they're still
[2:43:48]
not a board member at the one of Royal
[2:43:50]
um that and I every time they come and
[2:43:52]
present to us, I say, "Where's the
[2:43:55]
representation from um those tribes?" Um
[2:43:58]
because the one of Royals essentially
[2:44:01]
just recreating the same trails that
[2:44:03]
were already created by um the Native
[2:44:05]
Americans that were here before. But
[2:44:10]
once again, I don't know if you guys
[2:44:11]
were here earlier. Yes, I appreciate it.
[2:44:14]
But ADHD. Um, so uh the my um my my
[2:44:20]
motion would be to would to be to put
[2:44:23]
out the RFP um and make the feasibility
[2:44:26]
study um on the onus of the awardee of
[2:44:28]
the RFP. Um number two um as a part of
[2:44:32]
the motion would be to have the RF we've
[2:44:35]
already had RFP that was presented for
[2:44:37]
this before. Isn't that correct?
[2:44:39]
Not for this purpose.
[2:44:41]
But there was an RFP for these buildings
[2:44:43]
at one point
[2:44:46]
or this space.
[2:44:48]
Council, not not to my knowledge, not
[2:44:50]
for the use of the annex. You you may be
[2:44:52]
referring to the RFP process we start
[2:44:54]
for the equestrian center to bring new
[2:44:56]
operators at the equestrian center. That
[2:44:58]
is process is still pending, but uh we
[2:45:01]
have not had one released for the annex,
[2:45:02]
the use of these buildings and this open
[2:45:04]
space.
[2:45:05]
Okay. So, this this process um we've
[2:45:07]
been talking about this I I feel like
[2:45:09]
I've been talking about this for three
[2:45:10]
years and um I would like to see now
[2:45:13]
that we have gotten all the eyes dotted
[2:45:15]
and tees crossed and we've asked all the
[2:45:17]
right people um I would like to see this
[2:45:20]
RFP um go out in 90 days or before the
[2:45:23]
end of the year.
[2:45:26]
That would be my request and my motion.
[2:45:28]
And so my motion would be to make the
[2:45:30]
physibility study um the onus of the RFP
[2:45:34]
awardee and um for the RFP to go out
[2:45:37]
within 90 days or by the end of the year
[2:45:39]
calendar the end of the actual calendar
[2:45:41]
year not year.
[2:45:42]
I'd second that.
[2:45:43]
Okay.
[2:45:44]
Is that uh doable?
[2:45:48]
Mayor Gordo, we will do our utmost best
[2:45:50]
to make that doable. Uh I do have a
[2:45:53]
clarification question. The assumption
[2:45:55]
would be that the other items which
[2:45:56]
would be three and four as in the uh the
[2:45:59]
organizations the entities allowed to
[2:46:01]
submit and the uses are also part of the
[2:46:04]
motion being adopted.
[2:46:05]
Yes.
[2:46:08]
So all the staff the recommendations one
[2:46:10]
through five because it includes squa
[2:46:12]
and some other
[2:46:17]
uh questions comments.
[2:46:20]
Okay.
[2:46:21]
And who was the seconder? I
[2:46:23]
I don't know. Oh, Mr. Lion.
[2:46:25]
Lion.
[2:46:25]
Thank you.
[2:46:26]
Thank you.
[2:46:28]
Speaking of dotting eyes and crossing
[2:46:30]
tees,
[2:46:31]
we have a motion and a second. Um,
[2:46:35]
and I think this is deserving of a roll
[2:46:37]
call vote. You, you've all worked very
[2:46:39]
hard to get us to this point. Don't
[2:46:41]
interpret any of our comments as
[2:46:43]
predetermining one way or the other. I
[2:46:46]
think you all understand the open and
[2:46:48]
competitive process and why it's
[2:46:52]
important for us to follow the rules and
[2:46:55]
and have it be a real open and
[2:46:57]
competitive process. I do suspect that
[2:46:59]
the work that's been done is going to
[2:47:02]
pay dividends. Uh but I'm not prepared
[2:47:05]
to predetermine that, nor would it be
[2:47:07]
appropriate for any of us to do that.
[2:47:09]
So, with that, um,
[2:47:13]
let's, uh, take a roll call vote.
[2:47:19]
Uh, Council Member Cole,
[2:47:20]
yes.
[2:47:21]
Council member Hampton,
[2:47:22]
this is item 11. Yes.
[2:47:26]
Council member Jones,
[2:47:27]
yes.
[2:47:28]
Council member Lion,
[2:47:29]
yes.
[2:47:29]
Council member Madison,
[2:47:30]
yes. Take off.
[2:47:31]
Council member Massuda,
[2:47:32]
yes.
[2:47:32]
Vice Mayor Rivas,
[2:47:33]
yes.
[2:47:34]
Mayor Gordo,
[2:47:35]
yes.
[2:47:35]
Motion is unanimously approved.
[2:47:40]
Okay. Again, thank you to the public um
[2:47:44]
and all of the staff and everyone who's
[2:47:47]
gotten us to this point.
[2:47:48]
I got to
[2:47:50]
seems like it's slow, but we have to get
[2:47:52]
it right.
[2:47:54]
Okay, with that, um we have items 12 and
[2:47:58]
13 left. Mayor, it's a public hearing.
[2:48:02]
This is the time and place for the
[2:48:04]
public hearing on ordinance on the
[2:48:06]
ordinance
[2:48:09]
on the ordinance prohibiting Senate Bill
[2:48:12]
9 applications within a very high fire
[2:48:15]
hazard severity zone in the boundary of
[2:48:17]
the Eaton fire. On August 28th, 2025,
[2:48:21]
the public hearing notice was published
[2:48:22]
in the Passina Press. The city clerk's
[2:48:25]
office received three letters in
[2:48:27]
opposition to the staff recommendation
[2:48:29]
and advocating for the city to maintain
[2:48:31]
the implementation of SB9. The letters
[2:48:34]
have been distributed to the council,
[2:48:35]
posted online, are part of the record
[2:48:37]
for this public hearing item.
[2:48:39]
Um, do we have public comment?
[2:48:41]
Uh, we have two speakers on and we're
[2:48:45]
taking up items 12 and 13 concurrently.
[2:48:48]
Okay. Why don't we open the public
[2:48:49]
hearing? Um,
[2:48:51]
public hearing is open
[2:48:53]
and uh I think the matters pretty
[2:48:56]
straightforward.
[2:48:58]
Um why don't we unless anyone needs a
[2:49:02]
full presentation
[2:49:04]
um why don't we just go straight to
[2:49:05]
public comment
[2:49:06]
uh Bert Newton followed by Andrew
[2:49:08]
Slackom Slum sorry
[2:49:11]
it's
[2:49:13]
yeah good evening uh mayor and city
[2:49:14]
council so my concern with this is that
[2:49:18]
um the SB9 would be a good tool for
[2:49:20]
people who are underinsured and who have
[2:49:22]
lost their homes in the fire to be able
[2:49:25]
to rebuild uh they can sell uh half of
[2:49:28]
their lot to uh to someone who's going
[2:49:31]
to live in it because that SB9 requires
[2:49:33]
owner occupancy. Um so it's probably not
[2:49:37]
going to be used by anybody else. It'll
[2:49:39]
probably be because those who can
[2:49:40]
rebuild on their whole lot will probably
[2:49:42]
do so. It's only people who really need
[2:49:44]
to who are underinsured that could use
[2:49:46]
SB9 to rebuild. And if they can't do
[2:49:49]
that, they may sell to an outside
[2:49:51]
investor. They'll sell the whole lot.
[2:49:53]
SB9 would not allow that. it would only
[2:49:56]
allow it to be sold to um to somebody
[2:49:58]
who's going to live in it. So, um so if
[2:50:01]
we want to have our people stay and and
[2:50:04]
be able to move back and rebuild, we
[2:50:06]
need to let SB9 uh stand and and allow
[2:50:10]
them to use that. Um I I don't think
[2:50:12]
it'll be that many people, but it will
[2:50:14]
be the people who really need it.
[2:50:16]
Thanks.
[2:50:18]
Thank you.
[2:50:19]
Thank you,
[2:50:19]
Mr. Sloum.
[2:50:20]
Yeah. Um do for since we're doing two
[2:50:23]
items concurrently, can I speak twice on
[2:50:25]
each one? Yeah. Okay. Um good evening uh
[2:50:28]
council members and uh mayor.
[2:50:30]
Well, no.
[2:50:32]
I'm sorry.
[2:50:33]
Yeah.
[2:50:33]
Uh on the two items. Yeah.
[2:50:35]
You can speak on both items. You'll have
[2:50:38]
two minutes to speak, right?
[2:50:39]
For each item.
[2:50:40]
No, two minutes.
[2:50:43]
Okay. All right. Um anyway, I want to
[2:50:45]
make it clear that banning SB9 does not
[2:50:48]
actually reduce the number of units that
[2:50:50]
can be built. Um under state law, ADUs,
[2:50:53]
the same number of units is still
[2:50:54]
allowed even in areas with limited
[2:50:56]
entry. What the ban really does is
[2:50:58]
punish homeowners. ADUs are valued far
[2:51:01]
lower than SB9 because they are
[2:51:03]
illegally accessory, not primary. The
[2:51:05]
lower valuation means homeowners will
[2:51:07]
have less equity, less access to
[2:51:09]
financing and insurance is now valued on
[2:51:12]
the equity that you now have. Um, in
[2:51:15]
addition to this, underinsured families
[2:51:16]
may use a lot split to sell their lot as
[2:51:19]
Bert had said, and that may be the only
[2:51:21]
reason they're able to rebuild and stay
[2:51:23]
here. Um, on top of that, the number of
[2:51:26]
80 or SP9 applications will be extremely
[2:51:29]
small. There's not going to be a
[2:51:30]
floodgate. So, I think taking the
[2:51:32]
knee-jerk reaction that mayor's failed
[2:51:34]
policies of city Los Angeles, which will
[2:51:36]
be facing a lawsuit over this, uh, as it
[2:51:39]
is a legislative authority in violation
[2:51:43]
of constitutional separation of powers
[2:51:45]
under the California Emergency Services
[2:51:47]
Act, is not a way that Pasadena should
[2:51:50]
go. I think we're better than City of
[2:51:52]
LA. And so I urge you to not move
[2:51:54]
forward with this ban that strips
[2:51:56]
residents of value, equity, and choice
[2:51:58]
without actually solving a housing or
[2:52:01]
safety problem.
[2:52:03]
Thank you.
[2:52:05]
That completes public comment on this
[2:52:07]
item.
[2:52:08]
Okay.
[2:52:10]
Um
[2:52:13]
questions, comments,
[2:52:14]
question.
[2:52:15]
Oh, I'm sorry. Vice Mayor Rivos.
[2:52:17]
Actually, Mayor, if Council Cole has a
[2:52:19]
question. Go ahead, Mr. Go ahead. How
[2:52:20]
how many lots I don't know if that did I
[2:52:23]
miss that in the staff report.
[2:52:25]
There are 185 approximately 185 parcels
[2:52:28]
that would be subject to the ban.
[2:52:30]
Okay. Thank you.
[2:52:31]
Go ahead.
[2:52:33]
Yeah. Thank you, mayor. Um
[2:52:36]
and I'll be brief given the late hour.
[2:52:38]
Um, I totally understand
[2:52:40]
the policy reason for uh suspending SB9
[2:52:45]
in a high density area with limited
[2:52:47]
points of entry and exit like we saw in
[2:52:49]
the Palisades on that afternoon of Jan
[2:52:51]
of January 7th where it was just a
[2:52:53]
traffic jam and they were bulldozing
[2:52:55]
cars out of the way. That's I think the
[2:52:57]
nightmare scenario that city of LA was
[2:53:00]
trying to avert or try not to make
[2:53:02]
worse. So, I totally understand in that
[2:53:04]
scenario why we'd want to suspend SB9,
[2:53:08]
try not to bring in more density to that
[2:53:11]
neighborhood that dealt with a
[2:53:12]
catastrophe. Um, this neighborhood did
[2:53:16]
as well in Upper Hastings, homes burned,
[2:53:19]
but we didn't have that evacuation
[2:53:22]
um blockage essentially. There are, I
[2:53:25]
believe, based on the map provided and I
[2:53:27]
think it's exhibit B, four entry points,
[2:53:30]
north south streets going to those 185
[2:53:33]
homes. And so to my knowledge and and I
[2:53:36]
defer of course to staff and council
[2:53:37]
massudas, your district, you know it
[2:53:39]
well. Um, in this area that we're
[2:53:42]
talking about, was there was there were
[2:53:44]
there traffic jams or did people have
[2:53:46]
trouble getting out because the roads
[2:53:47]
are blocked? because I feel like that's
[2:53:48]
the that's the main concern that we're
[2:53:50]
trying to address through this this
[2:53:53]
proposed action.
[2:53:57]
I can speak to that. I did uh speak to
[2:53:58]
the fire chief and they confirmed that
[2:54:00]
there were not um evacuation and
[2:54:03]
issues or cars coming in and out. I
[2:54:05]
think from the staff perspective, it's
[2:54:07]
an area where we wouldn't want more
[2:54:09]
density. You know, we would like to
[2:54:10]
focus our density in other areas. Um,
[2:54:12]
under ADU law, you can get up to four
[2:54:15]
um, units, but most of these lots did
[2:54:18]
already had attached garages. So, you'd
[2:54:19]
be probably be looking at a maximum of
[2:54:21]
three. You wouldn't be looking at these
[2:54:23]
sites getting four ADUs because they're
[2:54:24]
not converting a detached garage. So,
[2:54:26]
there would be potential for another
[2:54:28]
unit on each one of these lots that they
[2:54:29]
wouldn't get under ADU law. So, I think
[2:54:31]
just from the policy perspective of
[2:54:33]
planning, it's not an area where we
[2:54:35]
would like to see four times in the
[2:54:37]
extreme scenario. We know that not every
[2:54:39]
property would do it, but right
[2:54:40]
potentially four times over the amount
[2:54:42]
of um rebuilding going on on the
[2:54:44]
properties. So from that perspective,
[2:54:46]
it's not traditional grid streets. Um
[2:54:48]
you have some that are one way in, one
[2:54:50]
way out. Um you don't have as many
[2:54:52]
access points and so they have to funnel
[2:54:53]
into the streets to get out. And so just
[2:54:55]
from a planning perspective, that was
[2:54:57]
our approach. But again, it's it's up to
[2:54:58]
the will of the council.
[2:54:59]
I I appreciate that explanation. And can
[2:55:01]
you remind me how many SP9 projects
[2:55:03]
we've had in the city in the last
[2:55:04]
We've had um four pull permits citywide
[2:55:07]
and we've had one um as a result of the
[2:55:10]
fire that is outside of this area there
[2:55:12]
in council district 1. So this only
[2:55:14]
impacts one portion of um council member
[2:55:18]
a very small portion. Totally
[2:55:20]
understand.
[2:55:21]
So yeah, the fact that we over the last
[2:55:24]
several years haven't seen many SP9
[2:55:26]
projects and in this tiny little sliver
[2:55:27]
of a neighborhood we're unlikely to see
[2:55:29]
many. Um, I'm uncomfortable with taking
[2:55:32]
an option away from perhaps that one
[2:55:34]
homeowner that want does want to do a
[2:55:36]
lot split or maybe does want to make use
[2:55:38]
of the ADU provision. So, you've
[2:55:40]
explained um and we've heard that there
[2:55:42]
are other ways to build ADUs, not
[2:55:44]
necessarily through AB9. So, uh through
[2:55:48]
SB9, sorry. So, again, just to wrap up,
[2:55:51]
I I don't feel like the case been made
[2:55:54]
for this neighborhood here. Um, and I
[2:55:56]
would hate to take away that option from
[2:55:58]
that one neighbor who's that one
[2:56:00]
resident who's trying to rebuild and
[2:56:01]
maybe does want to to have that
[2:56:03]
flexibility to do that here. Um, but
[2:56:05]
again, I appreciate the staff bringing
[2:56:06]
this up and I look forward to hearing
[2:56:08]
everyone else's comments. Thank you.
[2:56:12]
Um,
[2:56:14]
Mr. Cole,
[2:56:16]
I uh I share the concern of of of the
[2:56:19]
vice mayor. Look, um,
[2:56:24]
a couple of these streets maybe we
[2:56:25]
should never have built on, right? I
[2:56:27]
mean, that's arguably particularly the
[2:56:29]
ones that are dead ends.
[2:56:31]
Um, but state law will allow additional
[2:56:35]
density through ADUs.
[2:56:38]
Um, and very few people probably will
[2:56:42]
take advantage of these. These are big
[2:56:43]
homes on big lots. Um, and uh, if
[2:56:48]
anything, I think people will build
[2:56:49]
bigger houses um, rather than than do
[2:56:53]
lot splits. Um, I we haven't heard from
[2:56:56]
from the council member who represents
[2:56:58]
the area. I I I don't see the urgent
[2:57:02]
need for the handful of cases that that
[2:57:05]
uh, that might eventuate from this and
[2:57:08]
particularly given that the difference
[2:57:10]
between what you can build in the way of
[2:57:12]
ADUs and what you can build under SP9 is
[2:57:14]
is dimminimous. But there's a
[2:57:16]
significant advantage to the homeowner
[2:57:18]
if they take the SB9 route. Um, so, uh,
[2:57:22]
I if if we were to compromise, and I
[2:57:24]
don't know if there's any interest in
[2:57:25]
that, uh, at least just confine it to
[2:57:28]
the to the deadend streets right there.
[2:57:31]
Streets like Valley Lights, um, you
[2:57:33]
know, have have plenty of access, um, up
[2:57:36]
and down. So that would be I would be
[2:57:39]
more comfortable with that um than just
[2:57:42]
saying you know SB9 doesn't apply here.
[2:57:46]
it. I think the number of people
[2:57:48]
affected one way or the other is going
[2:57:50]
to be probably counted on one hand. And
[2:57:53]
um there's, you know, we have to weigh
[2:57:55]
the the concerns uh about um uh fire
[2:58:01]
danger and density against um the desire
[2:58:05]
to allow people to rebuild um in in the
[2:58:08]
neighborhood that they've lived in in
[2:58:09]
many cases for a number of years.
[2:58:12]
Yeah. I um let let me say as someone who
[2:58:16]
represents that part of the city as well
[2:58:18]
and is very familiar with it. Um there
[2:58:22]
there are concerns about uh getting out
[2:58:26]
in an emergency um and you know those
[2:58:29]
were expressed. Our fire department did
[2:58:31]
a and you know city staff in general did
[2:58:34]
a phenomenal job of getting people out
[2:58:36]
but that could have been a very day
[2:58:38]
different situation. these 139 property
[2:58:42]
owners who were impacted. Um uh uh you
[2:58:48]
know
[2:58:49]
we want to do everything we can to
[2:58:51]
support them and we have I think it's
[2:58:53]
very telling uh and this is a partly a
[2:58:56]
statement and partly a question that I I
[2:59:01]
I don't know where you live Mr. Slokum.
[2:59:04]
Um, but residents who were impacted are
[2:59:08]
not here objecting to this. Have they
[2:59:10]
expressed a view one way or another?
[2:59:17]
Have the residents said no, don't don't
[2:59:19]
do this.
[2:59:20]
My microphone might have not to staff.
[2:59:23]
Yeah. I and this is a group of residents
[2:59:26]
who believe me has been very very
[2:59:28]
engaged
[2:59:30]
uh in in uh everything that uh we've
[2:59:34]
done to to be responsive. what we're
[2:59:37]
trying to
[2:59:38]
what I think the intent of setting aside
[2:59:42]
SB9 is to not create the situation that
[2:59:47]
you know you're describing uh Miss Rivas
[2:59:50]
um and you know there are infra
[2:59:53]
infrastructure issues in terms of fire
[2:59:56]
hydrants there are um access issues uh
[3:00:02]
and there's the question of whether or
[3:00:04]
not we should be um constructing
[3:00:09]
um in areas like this whether we as Mr.
[3:00:13]
Cole said whether we should have uh and
[3:00:15]
now the question is whether we should um
[3:00:18]
increase the density there. Some of
[3:00:20]
these lots are right up they're in
[3:00:22]
canyons. They're right up against the
[3:00:24]
foothills. Um, and
[3:00:28]
you know, I I think we have to be
[3:00:31]
careful about creating another situation
[3:00:35]
like that. And so, uh, I I you know, I
[3:00:38]
plan to support, uh, the motion. Um,
[3:00:43]
um, and if I'm sorry, there's no motion.
[3:00:46]
I I plan to support the staff
[3:00:47]
recommendation for all of those reasons
[3:00:50]
unless we're prepared to say we're going
[3:00:52]
to increase the capacity of our
[3:00:54]
infrastructure to meet the needs of the
[3:00:55]
additional
[3:00:57]
um density and we're okay with
[3:01:00]
increasing density in this neighborhood
[3:01:03]
uh given what we've experienced in
[3:01:07]
Altadena this neighborhood and uh other
[3:01:13]
and in Los Angeles
[3:01:15]
I I think that would be a mistake for us
[3:01:18]
to do. Mr. Massuda, did you have a
[3:01:20]
Thank you. And Vice Mayor, we didn't
[3:01:23]
have the congestion you're talking about
[3:01:25]
like in Palisades and Malibu area
[3:01:27]
because u you know I'm familiar with
[3:01:30]
that as well. Uh uh if you remember the
[3:01:35]
uh we were going through a red flag
[3:01:37]
alert right before that and so we're of
[3:01:39]
course you know being in the uh you know
[3:01:42]
the hills over there in upper Hastings
[3:01:44]
were very concerned but um I don't know
[3:01:48]
what your question is because we we
[3:01:50]
don't in in fact the of course the the
[3:01:53]
the people that live there that were
[3:01:55]
supposed to leave because it was
[3:01:57]
evacuation
[3:01:59]
requirement they didn't bottom of them
[3:02:02]
didn't leave. So that's uh that probably
[3:02:05]
added to the lack of a congestion. So
[3:02:08]
what is your question about that?
[3:02:09]
Sure. So my question and I think um
[3:02:12]
Jennifer answered it was essentially
[3:02:15]
I see the logic of suspending SP9 or
[3:02:18]
avoiding density.
[3:02:19]
Yes.
[3:02:20]
Where there's a potential for traffic
[3:02:22]
trams where there's only one point of
[3:02:24]
ingress. You know, people can only get
[3:02:25]
out through one street. Only get in
[3:02:27]
through one street. and we have the
[3:02:28]
situation we had in the Palisades which
[3:02:30]
was horrific and terrifying uh for those
[3:02:32]
folks. Um I again I just don't see that
[3:02:35]
this neighborhood is that situation. So
[3:02:38]
I I think what the city of LA did in the
[3:02:39]
Palisades makes 100% sense here because
[3:02:43]
there's we only talking about about 100
[3:02:45]
homes as opposed to hundreds feeding
[3:02:47]
into one street. We have about 180 I
[3:02:50]
think it is feeding into four streets
[3:02:52]
and some of them are culde-sacs for
[3:02:54]
sure. Um, I just don't I see it as two
[3:02:56]
different scenarios. Um, and and we we
[3:02:59]
went through the worst. We went through
[3:03:00]
the worst that could have happened and
[3:03:02]
we didn't have the traffic jams and I
[3:03:05]
think Council Member Cole's point is is
[3:03:07]
very important and just that at the end
[3:03:10]
of the day, no matter which way we go,
[3:03:11]
it's going to affect a handful of
[3:03:13]
people. we're not really gonna
[3:03:16]
it's and so that's and for me that
[3:03:18]
pushes me towards leaving things as they
[3:03:20]
are for that one or two homeowners who
[3:03:23]
do want to make use of SP9. I really
[3:03:25]
don't think we're going to see a a rush
[3:03:28]
to do something. Um so in the grand
[3:03:31]
scheme of things, I don't, you know, I
[3:03:32]
don't think we're going to shift things
[3:03:34]
too much in either direction no matter
[3:03:35]
what action we take. But for me
[3:03:37]
personally, I think the case hasn't been
[3:03:39]
made um like it was in the Palisades uh
[3:03:42]
to suspend SB9. And I want to make sure
[3:03:44]
that all homeowners, you know, whoever
[3:03:46]
that is out there, it might be just one
[3:03:48]
or two of them that want to use it. If
[3:03:50]
if that probably none, honestly, just
[3:03:52]
looking at the numbers of SB uh 9
[3:03:54]
projects in the last three years across
[3:03:56]
the city. So, but I want to make sure
[3:03:59]
they have all the options on the table
[3:04:01]
as homeowners going through a very
[3:04:02]
difficult uh situation and through the
[3:04:06]
rebuilding process. So,
[3:04:07]
you know, the the only thing I would say
[3:04:09]
to that is um it wasn't we're not just
[3:04:14]
talking about the properties that were
[3:04:15]
impacted. We're talking about the rest
[3:04:17]
of the neighborhood as well.
[3:04:18]
Absolutely. And they all feed down into
[3:04:20]
those.
[3:04:20]
We didn't see what happened in Los
[3:04:22]
Angeles, you know, um for two reasons.
[3:04:27]
Um well, the whole host of reasons, but
[3:04:30]
one is the wind shifted.
[3:04:34]
um you know the wind was headed uh in an
[3:04:38]
easterly direction and then shifted in a
[3:04:41]
westerly direction.
[3:04:43]
One two we issued our evacuation orders
[3:04:48]
before Los Angeles or the county did and
[3:04:51]
our staff evacuated as many people as
[3:04:54]
would leave. And so our process
[3:04:59]
um was different. We handled it proudly.
[3:05:03]
Um absolutely you know different but we
[3:05:05]
also you know
[3:05:07]
had some and again my thoughts to the
[3:05:11]
people who were and prayers to the
[3:05:12]
people who were impacted but if that
[3:05:15]
wind hadn't shifted you know but for the
[3:05:18]
grace of God if that wind hadn't shifted
[3:05:22]
we might be looking at a
[3:05:24]
totally different situation including
[3:05:26]
people not being able to get out in time
[3:05:28]
and that's what we're guarding against
[3:05:30]
that what I'm suggesting we guard
[3:05:34]
Mr. Cole,
[3:05:35]
uh, just a final comment and and then I
[3:05:37]
think we should take a vote here. Um, I
[3:05:39]
think we all are concerned about um
[3:05:43]
protecting the the neighborhoods and I
[3:05:45]
think we all are concerned about giving
[3:05:47]
um people the maximum option to to
[3:05:50]
rebuild where appropriate. Um, again,
[3:05:54]
for me um
[3:05:57]
we don't control the number of cars that
[3:06:00]
people have in their house. We don't
[3:06:01]
control the number of people that live
[3:06:04]
in a house. Um, we don't have any
[3:06:06]
control over the number of ADUs that are
[3:06:09]
allowed by by state law. So, we're
[3:06:11]
talking probably of these 185 homes,
[3:06:16]
we're talking about the margin of error
[3:06:19]
one way or the other, the margin of
[3:06:21]
error of people moving in and six people
[3:06:24]
moving into a house instead of three
[3:06:26]
people or um or a single person. So I to
[3:06:30]
me I would be much more comfortable with
[3:06:32]
just the the deadend streets. I think
[3:06:35]
there's a real concern on the deadend
[3:06:37]
streets. Um but I respect other people's
[3:06:41]
views. So um because the staff
[3:06:44]
recommendation is is uh I think we've
[3:06:47]
heard at least two voices in favor of
[3:06:49]
it. Um I will move that we um uh limit
[3:06:55]
it to just the deadend streets. And if
[3:06:57]
that doesn't pass, then I'll I will
[3:06:59]
support the staff recommendation.
[3:07:00]
And and what's your recommendation on
[3:07:03]
infrastructure improvements if um we
[3:07:07]
increase the density up there?
[3:07:08]
I think it's in the margin of error of
[3:07:10]
the number of people that live there and
[3:07:12]
the number of people that that can build
[3:07:14]
ADUs. I think I think the the there's
[3:07:18]
185 lots. Um, not not everybody is going
[3:07:22]
to be adding any units, but anybody can
[3:07:26]
add up to three units. This would add up
[3:07:29]
to four units. The difference between
[3:07:31]
the people who can add three and the
[3:07:33]
people that can add four is about the
[3:07:34]
same as the number of of older couples
[3:07:38]
that sell their home and now a family
[3:07:41]
moves in with two teenagers. I mean,
[3:07:43]
it's it's a very small number. So, I
[3:07:46]
don't think there's going to be a need
[3:07:47]
for any more fire hydrants or any any
[3:07:49]
less fire hydrants um in the end. But,
[3:07:53]
um but again, let's let's let's try this
[3:07:55]
out and um and see if there's any
[3:07:58]
support for that besides me and the vice
[3:08:00]
mayor. And if not, then we move with the
[3:08:02]
staff recommendation. So, that's my
[3:08:04]
motion. If the vice mayor will second
[3:08:07]
it.
[3:08:09]
Sure, I'll second it.
[3:08:11]
Well, just point of order. Can I ask
[3:08:13]
council member Massuda what your
[3:08:14]
position is on this? Are you supporting
[3:08:16]
the staff recommendation?
[3:08:18]
I am.
[3:08:19]
Okay.
[3:08:22]
I'm going to support the council member
[3:08:24]
from the district.
[3:08:26]
Yeah. And I had a
[3:08:27]
and the mayor
[3:08:28]
and the
[3:08:28]
sorry and the mayor for the whole city.
[3:08:32]
I had a a quick follow-up question. So,
[3:08:36]
have residents in Hastings Ranch reached
[3:08:39]
out to you asking for this to
[3:08:43]
voicing their opinion one way or the
[3:08:45]
other or No,
[3:08:46]
they haven't.
[3:08:46]
No, no, but uh um I definitely uh know
[3:08:52]
where they are from Yeah. just just from
[3:08:55]
talking to them in general.
[3:08:57]
Yeah, I'm I'm prepared to support the
[3:09:00]
the representatives of the area. So, I
[3:09:03]
would support the staff motion or
[3:09:05]
recommendation.
[3:09:08]
Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
[3:09:10]
Okay. Um,
[3:09:14]
well, we have a motion and second. Any
[3:09:17]
other comments?
[3:09:20]
Okay. So this is to limit uh the
[3:09:24]
Oh,
[3:09:25]
and if if we hear
[3:09:26]
and if we hear different from the
[3:09:29]
residents, we should be prepared to
[3:09:31]
to shift gears, so to speak.
[3:09:34]
Well, the motion is not what the council
[3:09:36]
member from the district and the mayor.
[3:09:38]
Correct. Right. So, correct. Should
[3:09:39]
there be a
[3:09:40]
sub meaning if I I'm I'm not going to
[3:09:43]
support the the motion as it is.
[3:09:46]
Thank you.
[3:09:47]
And um and if we get you know feedback
[3:09:51]
from the neighbors saying you know we
[3:09:53]
just you blew it and you know believe me
[3:09:57]
Mr. Masuda will hear about it. The staff
[3:09:59]
will hear about I will hear about it and
[3:10:01]
we should you know inform them
[3:10:03]
immediately that this motion has passed
[3:10:06]
or I mean sorry that that this motion
[3:10:09]
has passed or that um the staff
[3:10:12]
recommendation if this motion doesn't
[3:10:14]
pass uh hopefully that will pass and we
[3:10:18]
should inform them either way.
[3:10:19]
I appreciate that mayor. just reading
[3:10:20]
the room, I think the staff
[3:10:22]
recommendation will ultimately pass. And
[3:10:24]
I just appreciate you being open to
[3:10:26]
listen to the residents because if there
[3:10:28]
is that one homeowner that comes in,
[3:10:29]
it's like, man, I really want to do a
[3:10:31]
lot split, but you guys are not letting
[3:10:33]
me, at least we can, you know,
[3:10:35]
reconsider at that point. So, I I I
[3:10:37]
appreciate that.
[3:10:38]
Well,
[3:10:40]
I'm not sure if the staff recommendation
[3:10:41]
passes reading the room. And so I
[3:10:43]
thought I thought this was a a smart
[3:10:45]
compromised position to actually address
[3:10:48]
the streets where we have a an an an
[3:10:50]
egress issue. So
[3:10:52]
we'll see where we
[3:10:53]
and just procedurally to remind everyone
[3:10:55]
this is an interim ordinance. So we will
[3:10:57]
return within 45 days to extend it
[3:10:59]
longer if something if there's something
[3:11:01]
to pass. We would so it would be this is
[3:11:04]
for 45 days. We are having a workshop um
[3:11:07]
on the 18th. It's the 18th um with our
[3:11:10]
fourth workshop with the residents so we
[3:11:13]
can we can socialize some of this as
[3:11:15]
well. So when we come back um after the
[3:11:17]
45 days we will have some feedback and
[3:11:19]
we can provide more information at that
[3:11:20]
time as well. And believe me, I know
[3:11:22]
that neighborhood well having attended
[3:11:24]
Pasadena High School and spent a lot of
[3:11:27]
time in that neighborhood with friends
[3:11:30]
and there are but for that windshifting
[3:11:34]
there would have been ingress and egress
[3:11:37]
issues. Um and but for the wind shifting
[3:11:42]
and our staff, you know, acting swiftly,
[3:11:47]
um there would have been problems beyond
[3:11:52]
what we saw. So
[3:11:54]
So if the staff recommendation passes,
[3:11:56]
you'll socialize it for 45 days, you
[3:11:59]
said. And then if you hear from
[3:12:01]
residents that no, we wanted to do lot
[3:12:04]
splits, you would come back to the
[3:12:05]
council. we have to reach. This is an
[3:12:07]
interim emergency ordinance, so we have
[3:12:09]
to return within 45 days. And we would
[3:12:11]
ask the council to extend it for up to
[3:12:13]
two years unless the emergency order is
[3:12:15]
lifted, then it everything goes away
[3:12:17]
anyways. Um, and we're having a workshop
[3:12:19]
on the 18th, so we we were going to let
[3:12:21]
people know what happened tonight as
[3:12:22]
part of the other updates that we're
[3:12:24]
giving so they'll be aware of what
[3:12:25]
happened. Um, and we'll explain that
[3:12:27]
we're going to be coming back in 45 days
[3:12:29]
and so if they have strong opinions one
[3:12:30]
way or another that they could
[3:12:31]
participate if we come back with
[3:12:33]
something. Congratulations, Jennifer.
[3:12:36]
You just po co coined a new term,
[3:12:37]
socialize, uh our policy decisions. I
[3:12:41]
like that.
[3:12:41]
Yeah. Okay. Um
[3:12:43]
procedurally, mayor, uh we need to close
[3:12:46]
the public hearing first before we
[3:12:47]
Okay. Motion to close the public
[3:12:48]
hearing.
[3:12:50]
Second.
[3:12:51]
Moved and seconded. Uh any objections?
[3:12:53]
Seeing none, public hearing is closed.
[3:12:56]
Uh now on the merits, we have a motion
[3:12:59]
is
[3:13:00]
to limit to the dead end streets.
[3:13:03]
Mhm.
[3:13:05]
Um, you want me to roll call?
[3:13:09]
Uh, Council Member Cole,
[3:13:10]
yes.
[3:13:11]
Council member Hampton is absent.
[3:13:13]
Council member Jones,
[3:13:14]
no.
[3:13:15]
Council Lion,
[3:13:16]
yes.
[3:13:17]
Council member Madison,
[3:13:18]
no.
[3:13:18]
Council member Massuda,
[3:13:20]
no.
[3:13:20]
Vice Mayor Rivas,
[3:13:22]
yes.
[3:13:22]
Mayor Gordo,
[3:13:23]
no.
[3:13:25]
That's three in favor, four against. The
[3:13:26]
motion does not pass.
[3:13:30]
I will move staff recommendation.
[3:13:32]
I'll second if Mr. Masuda wants the
[3:13:35]
motion.
[3:13:36]
Mr.
[3:13:37]
I thought I did make the motion already.
[3:13:40]
So, Mr. Cole,
[3:13:41]
I'm happy. I'm happy to know that M Mr.
[3:13:43]
Massuda I was in the spirit of trying.
[3:13:46]
Yeah. Yeah.
[3:13:46]
You all heard. We had a vote.
[3:13:48]
Yeah.
[3:13:49]
Um it was not successful. So, we move
[3:13:51]
on. That's all.
[3:13:52]
Mr. Massuda will Yeah.
[3:13:54]
And you'll you'll second.
[3:13:57]
I'll make the motion to support.
[3:13:58]
You represent the area. You should
[3:14:00]
second.
[3:14:00]
Oh, okay. Thank you. I'll second.
[3:14:03]
Thank you, Mr. Jones. I appreciate
[3:14:05]
approve the staff recommendation moved
[3:14:06]
by Mr. Massuda, second by Mayor Gordo.
[3:14:10]
Uh, roll call.
[3:14:13]
Council member Cole,
[3:14:14]
yes.
[3:14:14]
Council Hampton is absent. Council
[3:14:16]
Jones,
[3:14:17]
yes.
[3:14:17]
Council Lion,
[3:14:18]
yes.
[3:14:19]
Council Madison,
[3:14:20]
yes.
[3:14:20]
Council Msuda,
[3:14:21]
yes.
[3:14:21]
Vice Mayor Rivas,
[3:14:22]
no.
[3:14:24]
Mayor Gordo,
[3:14:25]
yes.
[3:14:26]
Motion uh passes. Six in favor, one
[3:14:28]
against.
[3:14:30]
And then uh we have to do the ordinance.
[3:14:34]
Mr. MSU, you want to offer the
[3:14:36]
ordinance?
[3:14:37]
Yes, I would.
[3:14:39]
Yes, I would.
[3:14:40]
Okay. So,
[3:14:47]
there's the ordinance. There we go. This
[3:14:49]
is an uh interim urgency ordinance of
[3:14:51]
the city of Pasadena prohibiting urban
[3:14:53]
lot splits and construction of multi-
[3:14:56]
sorry construction of multiple dwellings
[3:14:58]
pursuant to Senate Bill 9 in very high
[3:15:02]
fire hazard severity zones within the
[3:15:04]
boundary of the Eden fire
[3:15:07]
uh to conduct first reading. Council
[3:15:09]
member Cole,
[3:15:10]
yes.
[3:15:10]
Council Hampton's absent. Council member
[3:15:12]
Jones,
[3:15:13]
yes.
[3:15:13]
Council Lion,
[3:15:14]
yes.
[3:15:14]
Council member Madison,
[3:15:15]
yes.
[3:15:16]
Council Msuda,
[3:15:17]
yes. Vice Mayor Rivas,
[3:15:18]
no.
[3:15:20]
Mayor Gordo,
[3:15:21]
yes.
[3:15:22]
Uh, ordinance was successfully first
[3:15:25]
read, uh, with, uh, six in favor, one
[3:15:28]
against, one absent.
[3:15:30]
Okay. On the socialization.
[3:15:34]
Now, um,
[3:15:38]
that completes
[3:15:39]
that does complete. Item 14 was not
[3:15:43]
discussed and I don't see anybody left
[3:15:45]
over to give public comment on that.
[3:15:48]
Okay. Now I I would ask that we stand.
[3:15:52]
Mayor, before we do that, just in the
[3:15:54]
manner of agenda items and the like, um
[3:15:57]
I have asked a couple times that we
[3:15:59]
agendaize the Guanowato city sister city
[3:16:02]
um relationship. U there's an invitation
[3:16:06]
outstanding to the entire council and
[3:16:07]
the mayor to attend events next month.
[3:16:10]
Now the time is passing and um I'd like
[3:16:13]
to know if we're going to do that. If
[3:16:14]
not, then I'd request that we formally
[3:16:17]
agendaize a motion to put it on the
[3:16:19]
agenda. I would hope that's not
[3:16:20]
necessary. I think there's a you know
[3:16:23]
interest on all of our part to move
[3:16:25]
forward with a sister city relationship
[3:16:27]
in in Mexico. Um especially given the
[3:16:31]
events that we're living under now. So
[3:16:34]
um just would love to know your your
[3:16:36]
view on that. Well, my my view is, you
[3:16:38]
know, the sister city um
[3:16:43]
the sister city program is an
[3:16:45]
international program that focuses on
[3:16:48]
building relations
[3:16:50]
uh and working together. Um the fact
[3:16:53]
that, you know, the the the approach
[3:16:56]
fails to even take account, you know, or
[3:17:00]
go through our own sister city committee
[3:17:03]
um flies in the face of that spirit. Um,
[3:17:05]
I've not heard our sister city um
[3:17:09]
committee make a recommendation to us.
[3:17:12]
Um, and I'd be interested in modeling
[3:17:15]
what the sister city program is all
[3:17:18]
about right here in our city. And so um
[3:17:22]
I you know I happy to agendaize
[3:17:27]
that issue um and that question um
[3:17:31]
whether we should model in our own
[3:17:34]
process what the sister city
[3:17:38]
uh program attempts to achieve.
[3:17:41]
So, um,
[3:17:42]
yeah, I'm fine with that as long as it
[3:17:44]
includes the opportunity for us to, um,
[3:17:47]
you know, pursue that relationship with
[3:17:49]
Guanowato. I mean, there is a report. I
[3:17:51]
I don't think it's unanimous on the
[3:17:53]
sister city, but they they arranged a
[3:17:56]
visit here, they've visited there.
[3:18:00]
Uh, I think there's pretty overwhelming
[3:18:02]
support for it. Somehow it seems to have
[3:18:05]
been politicized there, and I'm not
[3:18:06]
interested in that. I want to move
[3:18:08]
forward. And frankly, it's embarrassing
[3:18:10]
now that we've hosted the mayor and
[3:18:13]
she's hosted a contingent and now she's
[3:18:15]
asked the council and the mayor to
[3:18:17]
attend the Day of the Dead uh
[3:18:19]
celebration with her. There's no other
[3:18:21]
alternative on the table, near as I can
[3:18:23]
tell.
[3:18:24]
That's that's that's inaccurate, but I I
[3:18:27]
I would ask that the
[3:18:28]
there's no publicly available
[3:18:30]
information about any other alternative.
[3:18:32]
no politicized recommendation that's
[3:18:34]
made it appear that there's no one else
[3:18:37]
ready to participate. And so, you know,
[3:18:40]
I would ask that the sister city
[3:18:42]
committee
[3:18:44]
um weigh in and tell us uh whether there
[3:18:47]
are others under consideration whether
[3:18:51]
um that's their recommendation and then
[3:18:54]
we can make a decision. So, that's what
[3:18:56]
I would recommend.
[3:18:58]
So, we can we can have that discussion.
[3:19:01]
But will you include the option? Because
[3:19:03]
again, I would just I just want to make
[3:19:04]
sure that's included. So the council has
[3:19:07]
the power to do that. I don't I don't
[3:19:09]
want to get caught in a catch 22 if the
[3:19:11]
agenda doesn't include that.
[3:19:13]
Yeah, I'll I'll ask the sister city
[3:19:15]
committee their their view. Um because
[3:19:18]
they're they're the ones, you know, the
[3:19:20]
last time there was public comment here
[3:19:22]
on that issue. Um I suggested that we go
[3:19:25]
through the sister city committee and
[3:19:27]
one of the speakers said well we can
[3:19:29]
just you know essentially do it
[3:19:32]
ourselves
[3:19:34]
and that I think it was Mr. Gonzalez,
[3:19:38]
you know, and that just in my view that
[3:19:41]
approach flies in the face of what we're
[3:19:44]
trying to do. And so, you know, we'll
[3:19:47]
I'll ask the sister committee to weigh
[3:19:49]
in whether we should take their
[3:19:51]
recommendation so that that feedback is
[3:19:54]
before the council when we take the
[3:19:57]
issue up.
[3:19:59]
Yeah. So I'm going to ask then that we
[3:20:01]
formalize formally agendaize next Monday
[3:20:04]
a motion to pursue Guanowato so that
[3:20:07]
we'll have that option as well and u the
[3:20:10]
council will have to vote on that under
[3:20:12]
our rules of procedure to have it
[3:20:14]
agendaized. That's unfortunate because
[3:20:15]
again maybe there are backroom
[3:20:17]
conversations but there's been no public
[3:20:20]
pursuit. No let me just finish there've
[3:20:22]
been no public uh information about any
[3:20:25]
other relationship. uh there have been
[3:20:27]
no visits by any other city. There have
[3:20:30]
been no uh nothing certainly publicly
[3:20:32]
available and it should be a public
[3:20:34]
process.
[3:20:34]
That that's that's an accurate one. Uh
[3:20:37]
there have been visits um and there have
[3:20:41]
been people who expressed an interest
[3:20:43]
and I've always referred them through
[3:20:45]
the appropriate process to go to sister
[3:20:47]
cities.
[3:20:48]
That's what's different about this
[3:20:49]
and we're talking
[3:20:50]
but I don't think sister city has done
[3:20:52]
anything nearly as substantial as what
[3:20:54]
they have with Guanowat though. I don't
[3:20:56]
I'm not aware of any official exchanges.
[3:20:59]
Um
[3:21:00]
but but yeah, we're probably getting too
[3:21:01]
far down.
[3:21:01]
I'm making a motion to have this agenda.
[3:21:06]
Can I do that tonight?
[3:21:07]
You can make it You can make a motion to
[3:21:09]
have a future agenda item. Yes.
[3:21:10]
Okay. I thought I had to.
[3:21:12]
Yeah, I think we have to listen.
[3:21:13]
I thought we had to agendaize that
[3:21:14]
motion. Yeah.
[3:21:15]
And so you're making a motion to have
[3:21:17]
this considered for the agenda at the
[3:21:20]
next meeting,
[3:21:21]
please. And
[3:21:23]
my understanding is the process
[3:21:27]
you want them to vote next week on
[3:21:30]
whether to put it on the agenda
[3:21:32]
to to agendaize
[3:21:34]
to agendaize a vote on whether to put it
[3:21:36]
on the agenda.
[3:21:37]
Right. That's what I'm trying to say,
[3:21:40]
which I think you just did, but
[3:21:42]
yes.
[3:21:42]
Okay.
[3:21:43]
That's the request.
[3:21:44]
That's the request.
[3:21:44]
And I don't think it's a motion. I think
[3:21:46]
it's I make that request and it
[3:21:48]
goes on the agenda next Monday to vote
[3:21:50]
on.
[3:21:51]
So next week there will be an agenda
[3:21:53]
item that says consideration of a
[3:21:55]
request by council member Madison to
[3:21:57]
agendaize the sister city relationship
[3:21:59]
with Wanowatau Mexico. And that would be
[3:22:02]
an item on the agenda for a a vote. And
[3:22:06]
if if I have to do that, mayor, I'm
[3:22:08]
happy to include the things that you
[3:22:10]
articulated also that we should receive
[3:22:12]
feedback from the committee about their
[3:22:14]
efforts. And broadly speaking,
[3:22:17]
from which committee?
[3:22:18]
The sister city.
[3:22:19]
Yeah.
[3:22:20]
Yeah.
[3:22:20]
But but I I I do think we should ask for
[3:22:26]
um their input and follow the the
[3:22:28]
process.
[3:22:29]
Of course.
[3:22:29]
Yeah.
[3:22:30]
That that's fine. And so it's so I think
[3:22:32]
you've reached the end of the time for
[3:22:34]
it not being on the agenda to say we'd
[3:22:36]
like it discussed at a future meeting.
[3:22:38]
Mr. Massuda,
[3:22:39]
mayor, I I'm sure you're aware that the
[3:22:42]
sister cities uh group has split.
[3:22:46]
They they have a split there and uh that
[3:22:48]
makes it so unfortunate. So
[3:22:51]
uh I'm
[3:22:52]
and I mean I I know of it and I hear
[3:22:56]
about it. So, I'm kind of wondering uh
[3:22:59]
if if what we would do going forward,
[3:23:04]
you know, it's um
[3:23:06]
this may if not handled properly may
[3:23:09]
cause more of a split on the sister city
[3:23:11]
committee is my concern. So, so
[3:23:15]
um with that um
[3:23:19]
let's
[3:23:21]
anything else on that?
[3:23:23]
Where's Nina when we need her?
[3:23:24]
I know. I know.
[3:23:27]
So in that spirit, Mr. Madison, um let's
[3:23:31]
ask everyone to um stand
[3:23:36]
uh and um adjourn in
[3:23:41]
um the memory of three great
[3:23:44]
contributors to Pasadena. Uh and you
[3:23:47]
know I I always say that our city is
[3:23:50]
great not necessarily because of
[3:23:51]
buildings or you know um or architecture
[3:23:56]
but our city is great because of the
[3:23:58]
people. Um and you know they're these
[3:24:01]
are we're recognizing people who have
[3:24:03]
contributed greatly to our city uh to
[3:24:06]
make us who we are. And so I'd ask that
[3:24:08]
we stand and adjourn in memory of
[3:24:11]
Reverend Joan Taylor and Larry Edson uh
[3:24:15]
and uh Nina R. Chossky
[3:24:19]
and Mayor uh also we agree to um
[3:24:23]
to also adjourn in memory uh to the
[3:24:26]
civilians who've lost their lives uh in
[3:24:28]
Israel and Palestine.
[3:24:31]
Yes. Um and so
[3:24:35]
um if we'll observe a moment of silence.