City Council Approves Job Center Lease as Part of Monday’s Consent Calendar

As part of the consent calendar on the City Council’s agenda Monday, the council amended a lease agreement with Tova LLC for the operation of the Pasadena Job Center at 500 N. Lake Ave.

The amendment increases the rent at the job center from $9,268.50 to $9,546.56 per month.

ince 2010, the city has leased the building for the operation of the Job Center, a program where day laborers are able to access employment opportunities and receive job training services.

The center is operated by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) under a separate contract with the city.

The rent increase will go into effect in April and be subject to annual 3% increases through the end of the lease term on March 31, 2027.

Following are other items approved as part of Monday’s consent calendar:

• A $1.6 million contract with Licher Direct Mail, Infuse Branding Inc. ($258,000) and iColor Printing and Mailing Inc. ($147,345) for printing services.

• A $750,000 contract to provide ebooks and audiobooks for the libraries and information services department. The Pasadena Public Library’s eBook collections, which include both eBooks and eAudiobooks, are among the highest-circulating collections in the system, and the popularity of these collections is on the rise. Through the first half of fiscal year 2021, circulation of the library’s eBook collections was up by 10.65% over the same six-month period in Fiscal Year 2020. The strong circulation of eBooks compares favorably with the Library’s print Collections, which have seen a dramatic decrease in circulation since the Stay-at-Home order went into effect in California in March 2020. Councilmembers expressed concerns over some books in the library’s collection, including “Little Black Sambo.”

• Amendments to two contracts with Scott Fazekas and Associates with True North Compliance Services to increase two three-year contracts by $1.4 million for building and fire plan review services. The Planning & Community Development Department and Fire Department review construction plans for all new construction within the city. To meet peak demand for plan check services, the city has traditionally contracted with multiple outside consultants, on an as-needed basis.

• Contracts with Iteris Inc., Fehr and Peers, and Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. for consultant services to prepare technical transportation studies for a four-year term with an anticipated commencement date of Sept. 1. The city is seeking professional services from experienced transportation firms for the preparation of technical transportation studies on an as-needed basis. These studies will be used in CEQA and local mobility analysis (formerly referenced as outside CEQA analysis).