Cover Story: Márquez Talks Second Year in Pasadena

Pasadena City Manager Miguel Márquez came to Pasadena two years ago this month.

Since his arrival, the City Manager has led City employees through monumental issues ranging from rent control to City Charter reform.

And later this month another monumental issue will come forward when the City Council discusses Grants Pass, a Supreme Court decision that gives local municipalities more power to deal with people experiencing homelessness.

“It has been an honor to serve the nearly 150,000 residents of the City of Pasadena, and the City’s countless visitors, over the past two years,” Márquez told Pasadena Now. “Municipal leadership can be challenging, but with our dedicated staff of nearly 2,400 public servants, an experienced and knowledgeable City Council, and residents who have stepped up time and again to advance issue after issue, there is nothing we cannot achieve in Pasadena.”

Márquez came to Pasadena after City Manager Steve Mermell announced his resignation in closed session in September.

Mermell left the City in December. But, that wasn’t the only resignation.

Earlier Police Chief John Perez announced his intentions to resign.

The resignations placed the new City Manager in a unique position.

The previous two City Managers, Michael Beck and Mermell, were forced to appoint new police chiefs also.

But in those cases, the City Manager was already in place when the head of the Police Department resigned.

Márquez would have to hit the ground running. He hired Eugene Harris to lead the Police Department, but he didn’t stop there.

Big Accomplishments

Pasadena has a Council-Manager government, which calls for the elected City Council to serve as the City’s primary legislative body and appoint a City Manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations, to draft a budget, and to implement and enforce the Council’s policy and legislative initiatives.

The City Manager oversees 14 of the City’s 16 departments, including the Police and Fire departments. The City Clerk and City Attorney also answer to the City Council.

“I am happy to report that together we have accomplished much over the last two years,” Márquez said. “Some of our major achievements include:

“Stabilizing the City’s finances, operations, and personnel after a very challenging period due to the global pandemic. This included the appointment of a majority of the City’s Executive Leadership Team and the establishment of multi-year agreements with all eleven of the City’s labor union partners.

“Enhancing the infrastructure and sustainability of our City, including the investment of more than $10 million in additional funding over the last two years to improve our streets, and making tremendous progress on our goal of sourcing 100% of our energy from carbon-free sources. Pasadena’s Clean Energy Tracker can be accessed at:

https://pwp.cityofpasadena.net/clean-energy-tracker/

“Reducing the number of people who were unhoused in Pasadena. In 2022, Pasadena had a total of 1,208 people who experienced homelessness at some point during that year. Last year, in 2023, that number decreased 9%, to 1,097.”

“We certainly have a lot more work to do, but every step forward matters,” Márquez said.

“Establishing a Rent Stabilization Department to implement Measure H, which was passed by voters in November 2022. The City’s Rental Registry is expected to launch this September.

Enhancing public safety by investing nearly $15 million in much-needed fire engines and other safety equipment, including the addition of another rescue ambulance.

Placing a $195 million bond measure on the November 2024 ballot to ensure our storied library will stand tall for another one hundred years. Great cities have great libraries.

“Pasadena is a Great City that needs to retrofit, repair, and upgrade its historic Central Library to serve generations to come. Our Central Library is more than just a building; it provides support and resources—without cost—to all who cross its threshold,” he said.

The Past

Márquez’s parents immigrated to the United States from México. As a boy, Spanish was his first language. He was inspired to lead a life in public service by early childhood education programs.

Márquez was the first Latino justice to be confirmed to the Sixth District Court of Appeals when he was confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments in 2012. That appointment came less than a month after he was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown.

He was further prepared for his current appointment when he oversaw the daily operations in Santa Clara, which serves a diverse urban and rural population. Márquez was responsible for operations including the County’s public health department, health and hospital system, public safety and justice systems, social services agency, parks and recreation, the Emergency Operations Center (including helping to lead the County’s pandemic response), the Office of Supportive Housing (working to create sustainable and affordable housing).

He also worked with the community to address social justice issues, which prepared him for calls for change by local activists on police and housing issues. Since he came to Pasadena, things have changed; by November, nearly half the Councilmembers who interviewed him for the job will have left the dais.

He has led the way to restore leadership at City Hall after the City lost 100 years of institutional knowledge due to high-level exits, including Mermell, Perez, and Assistant City Manager Julie Guitierrez.

Back to the Future

Later this month the City Council will discuss the controversial Grants Pass Supreme Court decision.

The ruling has lifted previous restrictions that prohibited municipalities from taking certain enforcement measures to curtail public encampments. Advocates argue the ruling provides necessary tools to maintain civic order and safeguard commercial and residential areas, while critics contend it criminalizes homelessness and could exacerbate social inequities.

As with every other issue locally, there are multiple sides to consider.

In his weekly newsletter, Márquez emphasized the City’s commitment to addressing homelessness, stating that any policy changes would only occur after careful consideration by the City Council.

“Our goal in Pasadena is to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring,” Márquez said.

Any policy change would come from the City Council, but even then Márquez acts as Harris’s supervisor.

“We have lots more work to do in the months and years to come. Among other things, we must remain strong financial stewards of City resources,” he said. “We must do more to support our unhoused neighbors.

“We must keep Pasadena safe for all residents and visitors. We must continue our aggressive efforts toward energy sustainability while keeping rates affordable for all. And we must continue to improve our City’s aging infrastructure to preserve what makes Pasadena special.”

“I continue to be grateful to work alongside so many incredible individuals from all walks of life in service to our Great City,” Márquez said. “The first two years have gone by incredibly fast. I look forward to what comes next!”