Here’s What’s on Today’s Joint Meeting Agenda of the City Council with County Supervisor Kathryn Barger

The City Council will meet at 8 a.m. today in a joint meeting with LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

The agenda contains several important items and updates starting with a discussion regarding $3 million in rental funds received to be distributed to Pasadena by the county as part of the $1.9 trillion stimulus package. Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo has expressed concern about the county’s past performance in fund disbursement.

There will also be an update and information on mental health services provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.

According to Pasadena Police Chief John Perez, “the City of Pasadena continues to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to both the local economy and to issues of mental health.” Perez said in a recent statement. “Unfortunately, these issues seem to be having a direct effect on the level of violence in recent months. This increased activity cannot continue and the Pasadena Police Department will deploy additional patrol officers to combat and prevent any further acts of violence.”

The council will also receive an update on vaccination efforts in Pasadena.

The council will be updated on a recent review and action related to a report on oversight and accountability of skilled nursing facilities.

A report issued by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) questions whether the Los Angeles County agency responsible for oversight of skilled nursing facilities can effectively address crises and protect residents’ health.

The assessment of the county’s Health Facilities Inspection Division (HFID) centered on two emergency evacuations from Pasadena facilities in June and October.

“On June 11, 2020, more than 60 residents were evacuated from Golden Cross Health Care (Golden Cross) in Pasadena after the facility’s license was suspended due to ongoing quality-of-care issues,” the report states. “Fewer than four months later, on October 1, 2020, the OIG responded to Foothill Heights Care Center (Foothill Heights) in Pasadena where more than 30 residents were evacuated due to excessive indoor temperatures. Although each evacuation was precipitated by different underlying circumstances, both appear to have been preceded by several weeks of unsuccessful efforts to rectify potentially life-threatening issues. The evacuations revealed issues with state and local mechanisms for triggering a crisis response,  efficacy of HFID’s oversight and enforcement actions and  coordination and communication between HFID and partner agencies.”

The meeting will also include an update on the local big dig project in the Hahamongna and an application for affordable housing funds for the Heritage Square South project.

The meeting can be viewed on pasadenamedia.org