Cole’s comments came during a discussion on the Greenways project, which aims to make neighborhoods safer for walking and biking. After the City Council approved a $970,000 contract with a Chino Hills company for six Transportation Department outreach projects, Cole questioned whether this approach best serves residents.
He clarified that he does not oppose outreach itself, but rather objects to what he called a costly, inefficient, and fragmented system. “We need more and better outreach to truly involve residents in the issues that affect our community’s future,” Cole said. “But when each department engages their own outreach consultants for project after project—we are wasting money.”
In response, the City stated to Pasadena Now, “Public engagement is the foundation of client-centered, best-in-class municipal services. The preference is to use in-house staff for these functions, but this is not always feasible due to lack of staffing or subject matter experts.” The City added that consultants are sometimes necessary to supplement staff or bring in specific expertise and that these services may be grant funded.
The total the City has spent on consultants this year remains unclear. The City emphasized the importance of public engagement but stressed it should be achieved in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Cole noted to Pasadena Now that he supports long-term contracts with nonprofits or local firms, with a preference for local organizations. He urged Pasadena to develop its own staff and programs for outreach, offering meaningful chances for residents to solve tough issues together, rather than merely collecting input.
Cole said city staff and his colleagues plan to reexamine Pasadena’s public engagement approach, concluding, “My goal going forward will be to end our reliance on consultants to engage with our own citizenry.”
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