Proclamation Declaring Monkeypox Local Emergency Could Be Ratified Monday

As part of Monday’s consent calendar, the City Council on Monday will consider adopting a resolution ratifying the City Manager’s proclamation of a local emergency in response to the Monkeypox virus.

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 including 17 cases in Pasadena. 

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

“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.”

Here are the other items on Monday’s consent calendar:

•  A contract amendment with Dixon Resources Unlimited for the creation of a parking strategic plan increasing the total not-to exceed amount from $131,747 to $145,811 through June 30. This contract provides a full review of all aspects of the City’s parking operation, administration, and related ordinances to provide recommendations for improvements to the operation to be compliant with audit recommendations and to align the program with industry best practices. 

• A resolution approving the City of Pasadena General Fund Emergency Contingency commitment of $43,003,950 and General Fund Operating Reserve commitment of up to $14,334,650. The final amount will be determined upon conclusion of the Fiscal Year financial statement preparation based solely on General Fund sub-fund 101) from fund balance of the General Fund for the Fiscal Year. As recommended by the Government Finance Officers Association best practices and to meet City Council’s strategic planning objective of fiscal responsibility and stability, the City has established fund reserve goals. Maintaining adequate and prudent levels of fund reserves mitigates current and future risks by protecting against reducing service levels or raising taxes or fees, because of temporary revenue shortfalls, unexpected one-time expenditures, or natural disaster costs. Appropriate reserve levels are monitored by rating agencies and protect the City’s bond ratings.

• Authorize the filing of the 2022 Continuum of Care (CoC) Consolidated Application with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a funding request in the amount of $4,832,321 for 16 projects. On August 1 the U.S. Department of Urban Development released its annual Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the 2022 Continuum of Care Program Competition. The NOFO makes available funding to address homelessness for CoC renewal projects and new projects created through reallocation or competitive bonus funding. The deadline for the City to submit an application in response to the NOFO is September 30, which is more than one month earlier than in previous years. In accordance with HUD’s NOFO, the CoC is required to design, operate, and follow a collaborative process for the development of an application. 

• Authorize the City Manager to amend a contract with CDW Government LLC, to $13,401,000 and to extend the contract term for two years, to February 28, 2025 for the purchase of information technology services, products and solutions. The Department of Information Technology (DolT) purchases technology equipment and supplies, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, monitors, printers, peripherals, and software on behalf of all City departments. On June 11, 2018, in an effort to obtain optimum pricing, reduce the administrative overhead required to procure technology products and supplies from multiple vendors, and streamline the ordering process, City Council approved staff’s recommendation to enter into a master contract with CDW Government LLC for the purchase of information technology products and supplies.

• Naming the new pocket park located at 140 South Altadena Drive Lamanda Park Library Pocket Park.  On August 9, the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department (PRCS) presented a report to the Recreation and Parks Commission requesting a name for the new park located at 140 S. Altadena Drive. The report also detailed the public outreach process and public input received for naming of the park. Following discussion, the Commission recommended that the new park be named Lamanda Park Library Pocket Park. When complete, the pocket park being built on the grounds of the Lamanda Park Branch Library at 140 S. Altadena Dr., will contain playground equipment with a rubberized play surface and shade structure, picnic area, drinking fountains and perimeter fencing improvements along the south property line. The construction is estimated to be completed in mid-October.

• Authorization to.enter into a contract with National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) for minimum wage outreach, education, and training. The City’s Planning & Community Development Department, Code Compliance Division, manages enforcement of the City’s minimum wage ordinance. Since 2016, the Planning Department has held five contracts and one purchase order, in the amounts ranging between $50,000 to $74,999, with National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) for minimum wage outreach, edu·cation, and training associated with the Pasadena Minimum Wage Ordinance.  

• Authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Eric Handler, MD, MPH, for service as Interim Health Officer for one year and in an amount not-to-exceed $372,528. An optional extension period of up to one additional year at the same rate of compensation is requested, to be exercised in the sole discretion of the City Manager.  The maximum contract term is two years and the grand total not to-exceed contract amount over that two-year term is $745,056. 

• Contract award to Mcdonnell Roofing Inc. for roof replacement at Linda Vista Branch Library for an amount not-to-exceed $143,445. The Department of Public Works, Building Systems and Fleet Management Division is charged with maintaining and making needed repairs to City buildings. The roof at Linda Vista Branch Library is a flat roof system that has undergone multiple repairs over the course of its lifetime and is in poor condition. The current roof system has reached the end of its life cycle and it is no longer advisable to maintain, and therefore requires a complete replacement. 

• Quarterly investment report – quarter ending June 30. Government Code Section 53646 (2)(b)(1) states that in the case of a local agency, the Treasurer or Chief Fiscal Officer (CFO) may render a quarterly report to the legislative body of the local agency containing detailed information on: 1) all securities, investments, and moneys of the local agency; 2) a statement of compliance of the portfolio with the statement of investment policy; and 3) a statement of the local agency’s ability to meet its pool’s expenditure requirements for the next six-months. By making these reports optional, this bill does not impose a state-mandated local program, however encourages local agencies to continue to report. The bill also states that the Treasurer or CFO may report whatever additional information or data may be required by the legislative body of the local agency. 

• Loan to the Pasadena Center Operating Company for a term of 10-years in an amount not to exceed $2.5 million to be used for future PCOC capital improvement needs, to be repaid from PCOC’s operating revenues as further described in this agenda report. Historically, PCOC has had several loans from the City to pay for major renovations and upgrades to the Pasadena Convention Center, Civic Auditorium, and Ice Skating Center. In 1999, the City provided PCOC with a 10-year $1.4 million loan for the renovation of the Conference Center. The loan was paid in full in 2019. Similarly in 2009 and during the construction of the Convention Center, PCOC entered into a $3 million loan agreement with the California Energy Commission to upgrade the HVAC system that allowed the new center to achieve LEED Gold Certification. This specific loan will be paid off in December 20. 

• Amend the Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget. Amend the Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget.

• Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Ensemble Real Estate Investments (Ensemble) to provide up to 140 parking spaces at the rates detailed in this report for parking for the Hyatt Hotel in the Paseo Colorado Garage for a term of 55 years and grant the proposed contract an exemption for which the City’s best interests are served. When the hotel opened, in December of 2018, Ensemble Real Estate Investments (Ensemble) agreed to pay the validated daily rate of $6 per vehicle to the City for use of a maximum of 99 spaces in the Paseo Colorado subterranean garage. Payments were made to the City on a monthly basis, and were based on occupancy of the spaces on a per night basis. As hotel operations continued, hotel management realized they needed to be able to utilize additional spaces during meetings and events and were interested in having more stability in parking expenses. 

• Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to receive Fiscal Year 2023 grant funding for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Outreach Program in the amount of $187,000 and any subsequent agreements regarding this grant award; and 3. Amend the Department of Transportation’s FY 2023 operating budget to recognize and appropriate $187,000 in grant funds awarded by OTS for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Outreach Program as detailed in the Fiscal Impact section of this report. The City applied for funds through the OTS in January 2022 for a Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Outreach Program. As a result of this application, the City was awarded $187,000 in OTS Grant Funds for this proposed program for the period from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Outreach Program focuses on pedestrian and bicyclist safety through a campaign that will reach residents and visitors throughout the city and raise awareness to the dangers and consequences of vehicular speeding. Street teams will distribute safety information to pedestrians and bicyclists at high traffic locations citywide while a social media campaign will be disseminated through social and physical media.