Pasadena Rental Housing Board to Discuss Staffing, Legal, and Public Relations Needs at Special Meeting Wednesday

The Pasadena Rental Housing Board will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, June 7, to discuss its immediate staffing, legal, and public relations needs. This will be only the Board’s second meeting.

The Board is expected to vote on proposals to hire Goldfarb Lipman Attorneys to provide interim legal services, Allegra Consulting to provide interim public relations services, and BHYV Consulting to provide interim staffing and consultant services. The Board is also expected to discuss possible future agenda items.

The proposal with Goldfarb Lipman Attorneys would be for the provision of interim legal services related to the implementation of the Pasadena Fair and Equitable Housing Charter Amendment.

The proposed action is recommended as exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under the “common sense exemption”. The Board will consider a contract not exceeding $50,000.

If approved, the Board’s fiscal year 2023 operating budget would be adjusted to accommodate this cost.

Also up for approval is a proposal with Allegra Consulting to provide interim public relations services related to the implementation of the housing charter amendment, with a contract not to exceed $25,000. Like the legal services proposal, this action is also recommended to be exempt from CEQA and would require an amendment to the Board’s fiscal year 2023 operating budget.

The Board will also consider a proposal with BHYV Consulting to provide interim staffing and consultant services, with the contract amount not exceeding $74,999. This proposed action is also recommended to be exempt from CEQA.

All three proposed contracts are deemed to be in the city’s best interests due to the specialized services they provide, according to the agenda. They are recommended for exemption from the Competitive Selection Process, as immediate action is necessary and competitive price bidding is not required for contracts for professional or unique services according to the Pasadena Municipal Code and City Charter.

Each of these proposed actions, if approved, will require amendments to the PRHB’s Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Budget. The respective funds will be appropriated in the Pasadena Rental Housing Board Fund (689) for the specified services.

The Pasadena Rental Housing Board was created by Measure H, a voter-approved charter amendment that was passed in November 2022. The Board is responsible for implementing and enforcing the provisions of Measure H, which includes rent control and just cause eviction protections for tenants.

The Board is composed of 11 members, including seven tenant members and four at-large members. The tenant members are nominated by Pasadena City Council members and must be residents of the council district they represent. The at-large members are appointed by the City Council and must be residents of Pasadena.

The meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the Robinson Park Recreation Center Multi-Purpose Room, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103.

The Board is expected to meet monthly. The public is welcome to attend the meetings, which will not be televised.