Mayor Gordo Selected as Chair of New Burbank Glendale Pasadena Regional Housing Trust

Pasadena Mayor Victor was unanimously selected as the chairman of the newly formed Burbank Glendale Pasadena Regional Housing Trust during its inaugural meeting Wednesday at Glendale City Hall. 

The joint powers agency will provide new funding sources for affordable housing in the tri-city area and can fund affordable housing for the homeless population and for extremely low, very low, low, and moderate-income households. 

Gordo joins Vice-chair Burbank Councilmember Nikki Perez, and Glendale Mayor Daniel Brotman, as members of the new board. 

“I’m excited that Pasadena and Glendale and Burbank have taken up the challenge to get people off the streets and into homes,” said Gordo, following the meeting. “This agreement is charting a regional approach for all these cities and their residents.”

Gordo added, “I’m honored to be selected as chair of this new board.”

The Housing Trust was created from SB 1177,  which was originally authored in 2022 by  State Senator Anthony Portantino. 

The bill authorized the creation of a Joint Exercise of Powers agreement between the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena. An appropriation of $23 million was made in the 2022-2023 state budget to fund the Trust.

The trust is governed by a three-member Board of Directors, one from each member City. The directors will serve for a two-year term and serve without compensation. 

The three cities have now entered into a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement and drafted bylaws for adoption by the BGP, and the Trust is authorized to receive public funds and issue bonds to finance affordable housing.

“BGP (Burbank Glendale Pasadena Regional Housing Trust) will be a critical tool to generate funding to the tri-cities region for the creation of affordable housing,” said the presentation. 

The next BGP meeting is tentatively scheduled for June 7. 

Mayor Victor Gordo was appointed in October to serve as Pasadena’s appointee. 

In March, the Pasadena City Council approved a joint exercise of powers agreement on Monday to establish the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Regional Housing Trust.

Meetings of the housing trust are held and conducted in accordance with the Brown Act.