Pasadena City Council to Consider Supporting AB 239 for State-Led Disaster Housing Task Force

On Monday the Pasadena City Council will consider throwing its support behind AB 239.

The Assembly Bill would create a state-led disaster housing task force to aid in rebuilding housing in Altadena and Pasadena, impacted by the Eaton Fire.

The bill seeks to enhance coordination between local, state, and federal agencies in disaster recovery efforts. The Legislative Policy Committee unanimously voted to back the legislation.

If the City Council votes to support the legislation, Mayor Victor Gordo would send official letters of support to the state legislature.

The bill would require the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Office of Emergency Services to jointly establish a task force focused on the disaster housing recovery process.

The task force would work closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, local governments, and other agencies to streamline efforts to rebuild housing in areas devastated by wildfires and other disasters.

A state disaster housing coordinator would be appointed to accelerate the delivery of resources, including funding and technical assistance, to impacted communities. Pasadena, which was severely affected by the January storm and fire, would benefit from the enhanced coordination among these agencies.

The fire, pushed by disastrous winds, destroyed more than 9,000 homes in Altadena and Pasadena. Pasadena’s City Manager Miguel Márquez declared a local emergency on January 8, which was ratified by the City Council on January 13, as part of the city’s response to the crisis.

Here are the other items on Monday’s consent calendar:

• A resolution that establishes a new job classification and updates the salaries of six existing classifications for city employees, ensuring the city remains competitive in attracting and retaining skilled workers. The new classification, Senior Financial/Rate Analyst, was requested by the Department of Water and Power. This role will provide advanced administrative assistance in public utility finance, project funding, and investments. In addition to the new classification, the salary control rates of six existing classifications were reviewed and updated. The updates include: Senior Park Safety Specialist, Electrical Mechanic Series, Apprentice Electrical Mechanic, Electrical Mechanic, Lead Electrical Mechanic, Power Distribution Crew, Supervisor—Electrical/Electronic and Stormwater Program Administrator. The action does not require the addition of any new full-time employees.
• A 64-month warehouse lease agreement with RIF-VINEDO, LLC, for a property located at 125 North Vinedo Avenue, to support the growing operational needs of the city’s Water and Power Department. The lease, totaling up to $8.67 million, would provide essential storage, office space, and parking for Water and Power Department projects. The lease agreement would take effect on March 1, and run through June 30, 2030. The Vinedo warehouse, a recently-renovated 48,520 square-foot building, would serve as a critical facility to accommodate Water and Power Department’s increased demand for storage space related to upcoming projects, including the “Path 2” sub-transmission project and the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project. These projects, along with the displacement of employee parking due to the Sunset Reservoir Project, prompted the need for additional warehouse and office space. Water and Power Department’s existing facilities, particularly the City Yards, have reached capacity. Under the proposed terms, the city would pay an effective monthly base rent of $1.86 per square foot, with the total rent for the entire lease period capped at $8,674,194. The landlord will provide several lease incentives, including four months of rent abatement totaling $423,094 and a tenant improvement allowance of $300,000 for customizing the warehouse and office spaces.
• A six-month extension to Contract 31,568 with TRC Engineering Services, to continue conducting quality control inspections for the Pasadena Transit and Pasadena Dial-A-Ride fleet. The contract will now run through June 30. The extension comes after the city identified the need for additional time to complete a federally-required audit and review documentation for a recent vehicle purchase. TRC Engineering Services has been responsible for providing third-party audits and performing onsite inspections of vehicles, ensuring that all transit fleet assets meet maintenance specifications and quality control standards. These inspections also cover buses being procured during the manufacturing process, helping guarantee the vehicles’ adherence to quality standards before they are accepted into the city’s fleet. Without this extension and subsequent completion of the audit, the city would not be eligible for $145,800 federal funds. The City’s transit fleet consists of 54 vehicles, including 38 fixed-route transit vehicles for Pasadena Transit and 16 demand-response vehicles for Pasadena Dial-A-Ride, all of which are maintained by the city’s transit operations contractor.
• A five-year extension of a contract with CapitalEdge Advocacy Inc. for federal legislative advocacy services. The contract, valued at $135,000 annually, is set to run through June 2025 with a total not-to-exceed amount of $675,000. CapitalEdge Advocacy has been providing federal advocacy services to the city since 1981, demonstrating a strong understanding of both local needs and federal processes. The scope of the services provided by CapitalEdge includes promoting Pasadena’s federal legislative agenda, monitoring relevant legislative issues, lobbying for city positions, and identifying federal grant opportunities. The firm has also assisted in securing millions in federal funding for local projects. The renewal agreement eliminates the $5,000 annual allowance for reimbursable expenses under the previous contract, which will help offset the price increase.