As part of Monday’s consent calendar, the City Council will vote to amend the Housing Department’s Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Budget by an additional $100,000 for expenses associated with the provision of weather-activated motel vouchers to people experiencing homelessness.
The money would go to Friends in Deed which is currently running a voucher program.
Last month, the City Council approved funds for the nonprofit after Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater told Pasadena Now that they would have to ration hotel vouchers.
But that money will run out this week.
“It is projected that the $100,000 of General Funds approved in January will be expended by March 1,” according to a City staff report.
At that point, Friends In Deed will also have expended $78,810.60 of funding from other sources including $25,000 in federal Emergency Solutions Grant funding, LA County Measure H funding ($31,258.65), and unrestricted funds from private donations since the start of the 2023 winter season.
“As such, the Department requests an additional $100,000 from the General Fund which will be used to sustain the provision of weather-activated motel vouchers.”
The City has been without a Bad Weather Shelter since the pandemic began.
The City has contracted with Friends In Deed to provide motel stays to unsheltered residents when the overnight temperature is predicted to fall below 40 degrees, there is more than a 40% chance of rain, or winds are predicted to exceed 40 miles per hour, according to a City staff report.
The City Council voted to provide more money in response to an unusually cold and rainy early winter season which exhausted available grant funds, on January 18.
Since then, under Council direction, Friends In Deed has ramped up its motel voucher program to ensure that motel stays during inclement weather are provided to all who request the services, according to the report.
Here are the other items on Monday’s calendar:
- A three-year, $86,179 contract with Courval Scheduling Inc. to provide transit scheduling software services. Pasadena Transit provides six local fixed routes, which connect Pasadena residents, visitors and workers to key points of interest throughout the City and to the regional transportation network including the Metro L (Gold) Line. Total fixed route fleet is 29 vehicles with approximately 21 operating during peak service hours. Service is operated seven days a week except on six major hotidays. Currently, staff utilizes a labor-intensive manual system of spreadsheets and data input to produce fixed route schedules and vehicle schedule assignments that over time have become increasingly complex. Specialized software, typically used by transit systems to develop schedules, streamlines the labor-intensive aspects of the scheduling process. In addition, this specialized software incorporates algorithmic optimization to provide enhanced scheduling.
- A $348,056 contract with Transportation Management & Design, Inc. (TMD) to provide consulting services. In order to continue to receive certain local, State and Federal transit funding, the Department of Transportation is required to update the Pasadena Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) every five years. The last SRTP was finalized in 2019. The SRTP provides guidance for five years of programming of transit service development and investments that support the policy goals for the City’s public transit services. Pasadena provides two vital transit services to the community: Pasadena Transit and Pasadena Dial-A-Ride. Pasadena Transit is a fixed-route bus service that currently provides six routes which operate throughout Pasadena, including service to the six Metro L (Gold) Line stations. Pasadena Dial-A-Ride is a demand-response paratransit service for older adults 60 years or older and individuals with disabilities who live within the service area of Pasadena, San Marino, Altadena, and unincorporated San Gabriel. The SRTP update process includes ridership analysis and operations, as well as public outreach to solicit feedback via public meetings, on board surveys, and online surveys. Based on the results of the data analysis of existing operational services and programs, public outreach meetings, and survey efforts, recommendations for the next five years will be developed with the goal of maximizing ridership within the Pasadena Transit and Dial-A-Ride service area.
- A five-year $1 million contract with Municipal Emergency Services, Inc. for structural firefighting turnout gear. The Fire Department utilizes structural firefighting coats, pants, boots, gloves and hoods on emergency incidents to protect firefighters from direct flame and heat. Proper turnout gear is critical to the safety of fire personnel during emergency responses. In addition to offering thermal protection to minimize fatigue and heat stress, the gear also provides abrasion and cut protection. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) certified turnout gear is composed of three layers: an outer shell, a moisture barrier, and a thermal liner. NFPA also requires gear to be retired at or before 10 years of service. Based upon the specialized requirements of turnout gear to maximize personnel safety, and the total annual expenditures made by· the Fire Department for protective equipment needs, the Department would like to establish a multi-year contract.
- A contract with the Pasadena Senior Center to allow patrons and employees to park in the Marriott Garage until February 29, 2024. The City currently provides the Center with subsidized parking at the Holly Street Garage, 150 E. Holly Street. Subsequently, the Center offers free parking with validation for its patrons and monthly employee parking. This parking arrangement is in place to reduce the financial burden on the Center and its patrons. The parking arrangement between the City and the Center was made possible due to the lease agreement between The First Baptist Church and the City that allowed the City to construct and operate the Holly Street Garage. The pending expiration of the lease and agreement on February 28, 2023, when the First Baptist Church will assume ownership and operational control of the garage, will impact the City’s ability to continue the arrangement with the Center. Effective March 1, 2023, the City will no longer be able to provide the Center free parking at the Holly Street Garage. The new Holly Street Garage operator is proposing a fee of $5 per car, or $66,000 annually, for the Center’s patrons and $75 per vehicle per month, or $13,500 annually, for the Center’s 15 employees. The Center communicated its inability to absorb these costs, which would impose a financial burden that could potentially adversely affect programs and services offered to seniors.
- A resolution and authorization for the City Manager to execute any and all agreements with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District associated with the receipt of California Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Fund grant funding for zero-emission buses. In 2022, the Department of Transportation successfully applied to receive $1,600,000 in grant funds from The California Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Fund. This grant program provides funding to replace older, high-poUuting transit buses with medium- and heavy-duty zero emission vehicles that are either battery-electric buses (BEB) or fuel cell electric buses (FCEB). Funding for this grant is provided by the California Air Resources Board (CARS) and is administered by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD). Per adoption of this Resolution, the SJVAPCD will issue a formal agreement awarding these funds to the City of Pasadena. The grant funds will partially fund the cost to replace compressed natural gas buses and/or unleaded gasoline buses with zero emission buses. Staff will return to the City· Council to receive and appropriate the grant funds and to award the contract for the purchase of the buses. The amount awarded may potentially increase, subject to the availability of future funds in this grant program.
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