Budget Reductions, Rose Bowl Loop, Aggressive Panhandling, Up for City Council Deliberations Monday

The City Council is scheduled to meet Monday and will look at a budget reduction, the first of what could be many such cuts as deficits are projected for coming years; at corporate sponsorship and signage in the Arroyo Seco; and at an ordinance which would give police more options for dealing with aggressive panhandling.

An Agenda Report from City Manager Steve Mermell stressed the need for the city to reduce expenditures in the 2017 General Fund by at least $3 million. The report said although the city could expect modest revenue growth from local economic activity and a moderately expanding economy, the upward pressure on personnel and pension suggests a need to reduce expenses.

Mermell also explained that an anticipated gap between revenues and expenses of some $7.6 million for fiscal year 2018, reported during the adoption of the 2017 operating budget, supports this need.

“Rather the wait for the preparation of the Fiscal Year 2018 Recommended Operating ·
Budget to identify reductions, staff is recommending that reductions in the General Fund
totaling $2,113,057 be implemented at this time,” Mermell said. “While every budget reduction impacts the resources available to provide City services, these immediate reductions have been determined to have less than significant impact on City operations and can be implemented immediately.”

Mermell and Finance Department staff are expected to present detailed recommendations Monday on what services and offices could be affected by these fund reductions.

Also on Monday, the City Council is expected to act on a recommendation to name new perimeter “loop improvements” in Area H – the grassy area outside Pasadena’s Rose Bowl – as “Honda Community Recreation Loop” and to allow the placement of two signs recognizing donor contributions to the Rose Bowl Legacy Connections fundraising effort.

The Rose Bowl Operating Company said the Area H perimeter project was supported by gifts from a number of private donors, with a total anticipated gross gift of $1,895,000. Honda was the largest donor.

Part of Honda’s donation will also support a youth education initiative for Pasadena Unified School District students call the “Field Trip to the Field” program. The initiative will ensure that every PUSD student will have the chance to visit and learn about the Rose Bowl Stadium, a Pasadena National Historical Landmark.

The City Council will also conduct first hearing on an ordinance to amend Section 3.24.110(A)(8) of the Pasadena Municipal Code, in an effort to prohibit camping in specified business districts in the city and empower the Pasadena Police Department to enforce the City’s prohibition against aggressive panhandling.

Focusing on 19 streets identified as primary commercial corridors in Pasadena, the ordinance will prohibit the “obstruction of public ways and places by persons or property, including prohibiting camping and aggressive panhandling in public ways,” an Agenda Report prepared by the City Attorney’s said. The ordinance will also redefine camping and what constitutes obstruction of public ways and places, with provisions on how such obstructions should be removed.

The proposed ordinance still places on the Pasadena Police Department primary responsibility for enforcing these prohibitions.

The Department’s HOPE (Homeless Outreach-Psychiatric Evaluation) teams will provide outreach to the homeless to provide them with services. Those who seek services may be assisted by the Housing Department. The Public Works Department will become involved if the storage of property is required. If criminal citations result from the enforcement of these regulations they will be prosecuted by the Prosecution Division of the City Attorney/City Prosecutor’s Department.

The Pasadena City Council will also hear a presentation from the City’s Transportation Department related to revising the speed limit on certain local streets, and act on recommendations to award contracts for Pasadena Water and Power’s brush clearing services, and for traffic signal improvements at the intersections of Colorado Blvd. and Orange Grove Blvd., and of Orange Grove and Holly Street.

The City Council meets in closed session at 5:30 p.m. at the Council Chambers at City Hall, and opens for the Public Meeting at 6:30 p.m.