The following is a wrap-up of the October 15 City Council meeting. You may view the complete agenda here as well as a video of the meeting here.
Earlier this year, the City Council approved an agreement with AECOM to conduct a Mission District study that would evaluate the City’s historic core. Several months later, AECOM has completed their study with several recommendations to improve economic development in the area, including:
- Updating the Mission District parking policy and strategy
- Tracking market performance and opportunities
- Updating the Mission District Specific Plan
- Looking at gateway treatments, directional signage, directory maps and art, updated retail signage and sidewalk dining/seating
- Evaluating cultural assets
- Increasing regular programming and marketing/branding initiatives
- Supporting existing and future tenants
- Issuing development RFPs for City-owned sites
- Developing an infrastructure financing strategy
You can read more about the study here.
City Council agrees to place sales tax initiative on March 2020 ballot
In a 4-0 vote with Councilmember Liao absent from the vote, the City Council approved a sales tax ballot measure to be considered at the March 2020 general election. The ballot measure would help invest in the City’s General Fund. The General Fund currently has a reserve balance deficit due to several years of revenues falling short of projections. This can also be attributed to increased costs for litigation, workers’ compensation and general liability costs.
City Council approves new EMS supplies and equipment for Fire
In a 4-0 vote with Councilmember Liao absent from the vote, the City Council voted to approve an open purchase order for $65,000 for EMS supplies and equipment for the San Gabriel Fire Department.
To maintain services, the San Gabriel Fire Department carries paramedic and firefighting supplies that are delivered on an as-needed basis. Life Assist, Inc. is the City’s primary supplier for paramedic supplies and equipment.
The City of Pasadena, on behalf of the Verdugo Fire Agencies, bids and contracts for EMS supplies for the area every two years. Fire staff has determined that waiving the formal bidding process and piggybacking on the terms and pricing offered to the City of Pasadena would be the most cost effective option for the City. Such pricing from Life Assist is typically given to larger agencies and no minimum purchase order is required.
Paramedic supplies are budgeted for FY 2019-2020 as a line item. The open purchase order for Life Assist, Inc. $65,000 is within a budget of $81,000.
Metro 710 FWY mobility projects presented to the City Council
Since 2017, staff from Public Works have been working with Metro to consider projects that would alleviate extra traffic caused by the lack of a 710 FWY connection from I-10 in Alhambra to the I-210 in Pasadena.
In response to a request for projects, the City submitted 24 potential projects estimated at $144 million to Metro for consideration. Metro approved seven projects with a total estimated project fund of $23 million. These include:
- Valley Boulevard and New Avenue intersection improvements
- Mission Drive and Las Tunas Drive intersection improvements
- Adaptive/traffic responsive signal control project on Valley Boulevard and San Gabriel Boulevard
- A street realignment project on San Gabriel Boulevard and Marshall Street
- Valley Boulevard and San Gabriel Boulevard intersection improvements
- Valley Boulevard and Del Mar Avenue intersection improvements
- San Gabriel traffic signal improvements