Council Approves Project Based Affordable Housing As Part of Monday’s Consent Calendar

The City Council on Monday voted to extend a housing assistance payment contract with Orange Grove Gardens (OGG) to provide project-based vouchers for affordable housing at 252 E. Orange Grove Blvd. as part of the consent calendar on the council’s agenda.

“The city intends to enter into a 10-year extension of the contract, with the ability to extend for an additional five years at the city’s sole discretion and subject to availability and conditions as required by HUD,” according to a city staff report.

Vouchers were awarded for nine units after the city and OGG entered into a 10-year housing assistance payment contract that expired on June 30 after being extended for five years.

The contract can be extended for four additional five-year periods.

“In accordance with the Housing Assistance Payment Contract, Orange Grove Gardens requested this additional extension of contract term prior to the expiration date of the extension contract,” the report states.

Orange Grove Gardens provides affordable housing to 38 low-income families. Nine of these units are designated as project-based voucher units. The additional 27 units are affordable through tax credit and city deed restrictions.

“Approval of the subject recommendation will allow the continued provision of affordable housing for nine low-income families,” the staff report reads. “The proposed recommendation is in accordance with the approved General Plan housing element, five-year consolidated plan, and five-year public housing authority plan.”

Other items adopted on Monday’s consent calendar:

• S non-represented management salary resolution to reflect a 1% pay increase effective Sept. 13 for the sworn Police Management classifications of police lieutenant and police commander. On Aug. 9, the City Council approved a nine-month contract extension with the Pasadena Police Officers Association (PPOA) that provided for a cumulative base pay increase of 0.5% alongside a change to overtime calculations and how compensatory time may be accrued. PPOA members ratified the agreement. In an effort to maintain reasonable salary differentials between sworn management and non-management classifications in the department, and in order to incentivize the promotion and retention of skilled and experienced law enforcement personnel, staff has updated the non-represented management salary resolution.

• A $142,520 purchase order to JCL Traffic Services for supplemental traffic control signs, devices, and water wall barricades for the Rose Parade. The Tournament of Roses Parade Public Safety plan implements the closure of approximately 65 street intersections and 40 private business and public driveway aprons. The closure of streets crossing the parade route will restrict general vehicular traffic on the parade route and provide a safer environment for the public attending the parade. The use of water barricades will create a visible and physical barrier for vehicles attempting to access private and public driveways. To achieve this, the city needs to contract with a reliable and responsible traffic control company for the rental and deployment of traffic control signs/devices and water barricades for parade operations.

• A $1,598,583 purchase order with South Coast Fire Equipment, Inc. for the purchase of one 2021 Pierce Arrow XT Tractor Drawn Aerial Ladder Truck. The Pasadena Fire Department currently operates four aerial ladder trucks, two of which are frontline ladder trucks, one in reserve status and one for training purposes. The new fire apparatus will be housed at Fire Station 32 and placed into front line service to assist with over 2,000 service calls received at this station annually. Upon delivery of the new replacement truck, front line Seagrave aerial ladder truck #0963 will be moved to reserve status and reserve Seagrave aerial ladder truck No. 3183 will be salvaged. The vehicle being replaced, No. 0396, is a 2010 Seagrave truck with over 76,867 miles; the vehicle being salvaged is No. 3183, a 1992 Seagrave truck with over 79,867 miles and has exceeded its useful life.

• A $1.8 million purchase order with Napa Auto Parts for automotive, heavy truck and equipment parts, accessories, and supplies over a three-year period with the option for two, one-year additional terms in the annual amount of $375,000.

• A $550,000 contract with E.C. Construction Co. for the Oak Grove Area Improvements at Hahamongna Watershed Park. The project scope includes localized pavement reconstruction and resurfacing of the park road leading to the Oak Grove Park athletic field. In addition, the existing asphalt parking lot by the field will be resurfaced with new asphalt paving and be reconfigured to accommodate additional parking spaces. The parking capacity will increase from 77 to 89 and include four Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) spaces. Other project components include ADA access upgrades to the athletic field, new concrete curbs, drainage and stormwater capture improvements including installation of catch basins with connections to dry wells, and a median island at the center of the parking lot with native plantings and trees to enhance the lot and maximize shade.

• A $479,653 purchase order with Cummins, Inc. for the purchase of two portable emergency generators. These will be used to adequately provide immediate and temporary back-up power on an as-needed basis at larger scale city buildings or facilities (i.e. City Hall, the City Yard, the Community Health Center, CNG stations) that may experience varying scales of power outages due to emergencies or catastrophic events, stationary generator failure, or power shutdowns during scheduled or unplanned repairs.

• An $810,257 contract with Convergint Technologies LLC for labor, materials, supplies or services, with Convergint for security upgrades to the Broadway Power Plant and branch libraries.

• A $925,000 contract with Mobile Health Medical Services PC for COVID-19 testing services. The city’s vaccination policy requires all employees be vaccinated by Sept. 17. Employees who are not vaccinated, including those who are partially vaccinated or have an approved medical, disability or religious exemption, are required, as a condition of employment, to be tested for COVID-19 once a week.