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Roughly seven months after its implementation, the Pasadena Rental Housing Board unanimously approved three agreements Wednesday to provide legal services, program consulting, and public relations services for the fledgling Board.
The agreements, which total $149,999, were approved after a presentation and discussion by Board members.
The Rental Housing Board was formed following the successful passage of Measure H, the Pasadena Fair and Equitable Housing Charter Amendment, which became effective in December 2022.
There are 11 members on the Board, with two alternates. Ryan Bell is the current chair.
Following a presentation and discussion, the Board unanimously authorized Chair Bell to execute an agreement with Goldfarb Lipman Attorneys to provide interim legal services, in an amount not-to-exceed $50,000, and to amend the Pasadena Rental Housing Board’s Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Budget by $50,000, for those services.
The Rental Housing Board is authorized to approve agreements with vendors without City Council approval for amounts under $75,000.
According to their presentation, Goldfarb & Lipman is able to provide on-demand advice to staff, hearing officers and the Rental Housing Board regarding petitions related to the rent stabilization act, state laws such as the Ellis Act and the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, as related to the Pasadena Fair and Equitable Housing Charter Amendment.
The firm can also craft and deliver introductory discussions for new members of the Rental Housing Board, orienting the Board members and alternates to their duties under the Charter Amendment and as Board members, and advising them about state law and constitutional provisions that are relevant to the Board members actions, it said.
The company, which has offices in Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Diego, assisted the City of Mountain View in implementing its voter-approved Charter amendment creating a rent stabilization program by developing a full set of implementation regulations, advising the Rental Housing Committee during regular and special meetings, consulting with staff and hearing officers, and defending the Rental Housing Committee in litigation.
The Board also approved a $25,00 agreement with Allegra Consulting to provide interim public relations services related to the Charter Amendment.
A partial list of Allegra’s clients includes The City of Los Angeles, The Pasadena Health Department, the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health, Tree People, the City of San Gabriel, the City of San Marino, and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.
Finally, the Board unanimously authorized the chair to execute a $74,999 agreement, with BHYV (“Bee Hive”) Consulting to provide interim staffing and consultant services.
The company would assist with Program development, budget drafting, and staffing models, as well as Board governance, adjudicative regulations, internal standard operating procedures, and policy manual (SOPs) for the adjudicative hearings, and housing counseling services. BHYV would also provide Administrative and Project Management services.
The next meeting of the Pasadena Rental Housing Board will be held on Wednesday, June 14.
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