Council Receives Information Item on City’s Response to Monkeypox Virus

The City Council received information on Pasadena’s response to the Monkeypox virus as part of the Consent Calendar on Monday.

Last month, the City Council unanimously approved a resolution ratifying the City Manager’s proclamation of a local emergency in response to the Monkeypox virus.

“The local emergency proclamation allows the City to take all actions necessary to implement preventive measures to protect and preserve public health, including, but not limited to, mobilizing City resources, accelerating emergency planning; streamlining staffing; coordinating across other agencies; expediting the ability of the City to purchase necessary supplies to combat MPX; allowing for future reimbursement by the state and federal governments; and raising awareness throughout Pasadena about MPX, including how people can lower their risk and stop the spread,” according to a city staff report. “If the local emergency proclamation is to remain in effect longer than seven days, City Council ratification of the local emergency is required.”

Monkeypox (MPX) is a viral infection that can spread through contact with body fluids, monkeypox sores, or shared items (such as clothing and bedding) that have been contaminated with fluids from sores of a person with monkeypox. Although monkeypox is not generally considered a sexually transmitted infection, it can be transmitted during sex through skin-to-skin and other intimate contact, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. 

As of August 30, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified over 18,000 cases in the United States with 3,369 cases in California. Los Angeles County has reported 1,263 cases.

Pasadena reported 27 confirmed or probable cases as of September 28.

Monkeypox was declared a public health emergency in the U.S. on August 4. 

Here are the other items that passed on Monday’s consent calendar by a unanimous vote:

• A contract amendment with Friends in Deed for additional emergency solutions grant program funding. The contract would be increased through June 30 for $183,000. An additional contract would be amended to $208,000.

•  A contract amendment to extend the schedule of performance for interior rehabilitation of the Centennial Place project.

• A $182,803 purchase order to SKC Company for lease of a modular trailer for fire station 38 renovation and seismic retrofit project. . In May 2020, a Tier 3 structural analysis was performed. The study found Fire Station 38 did not meet the objectives recommended for essential facilities and structural retrofit and upgrades would be required.

•  A contract extension with Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company to provide deferred compensation plan investment options, record keeping, and education services. 

• A $700,000 purchase orders with Herc Rentals inc., and Al Asher & Sons, inc., for heavy equipment rental services. Pasadena Water and Power provides electricity to 65,000 customers. The utility requires the usage of heavy equipment to perform its services.

• A $450,000 contract with Control Air Enterprises for heating, ventilation and air conditioning inspection and maintenance services. Pasadena Water and Power facilities routinely need HVAC services. The contract would allow for much-needed upgrades. 

• A $1.4 million purchase order with H&E Equipment Services to furnish and deliver heavy construction equipment. The contract provides for heavy-duty equipment so that the City’s utility can install pipelines, perform fire system upgrades and other maintenance and construction activities.

• An amendment to the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 2023) Adopted Operating Budget. Throughout the year amendments are necessary to account for unanticipated changes to the budget.

• Direction to prepare an ordinance amending the Pasadena municipal code to enhance the city’s ability to permit and regulate alarm systems and related false alarm activations. Pasadena Municipal Code regulates alarm systems installed to detect unauthorized entry to a property and subsequently notify the Police Department. This PMC Chapter was last updated in 1989 and similarly to any system relying upon technology over a period of time, the alarm industry and technology has changed. In addition to definition improvements, procedural changes based on feedback from community is included regarding permit duration and applicability. 

• A resolution and/or ordinance to adopt the 2022 California building standards code and related codes enforced by the City. The City Attorney would be directed to prepare a resolution and/or ordinance, and return within 30 days, that adopts the California Building standards code incorporating the: 2022 California administrative code; 2022 California building code