City Approves $1 Million Reimbursement Agreement With One Arroyo

The City Council voted on Monday to authorize the City Manager to enter into a reimbursement agreement with One Arroyo Foundation for the implementation of the Arroyo Seco Trail Project.

Under the agreement, the foundation will reimburse the City $1 million for project expenditures.

In correspondence to the City Council, local resident John Fauvre questioned the role of the group.

“I know it to be led by well-meaning Arroyo supporters and to somehow provide reports to the City Manager, but it seems to be opaque and unaccountable to residents,” Fauvre wrote.

One Arroyo entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Pasadena in 2019 to begin planning the demonstration projects and to work on behalf of the Arroyo Seco in concert with the City. The MOU was approved by the City Council and provides for quarterly update meetings between the City and One Arroyo.

On Monday, the group was accountable to local residents via the vote by the City Council.

All items appearing on the consent calendar inform local residents on the issue and allow them to express opinions via correspondence. Additionally, local residents can contact their Councilmembers to express their position on the issues on the City Council agenda.

Also, local residents have had opportunities to provide feedback throughout the process.

In March 2022 and February 2023, the City’s Recreation and Parks Commission received updates throughout the project’s planning and design phase.

These presentations allowed the Commission and the community to provide feedback on design elements, which were utilized to develop the final construction documents.

One Arroyo has sought funds to construct the designed project. Funds have come from public agency grants like the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, The County of Los Angeles Proposition A, State of California Prop 68 as well as Private Foundations, Family Foundations and general fundraising.

The group’s donors are listed on its website at https://www.onearroyo.org.