City Eyes Teaming With Planned Parenthood For Affordable Housing Project

On Monday, the Pasadena City Council took steps toward developing affordable housing on city-owned property on North Lake Avenue, declaring a commercial site as surplus land to pave the way for a potential partnership with Planned Parenthood.

The Council adopted a resolution on August 27 designating the property at 1015 and 1027 N. Lake Ave. as exempt surplus land. This 14,872-square-foot site, currently 35% vacant, houses a commercial office building for small businesses and nonprofits.

 The city acquired the property from Los Angeles County in 2018, subject to a use restriction for nonprofit and government use until 2028. If the Council approves current recommendations, the city will seek to reduce this restriction.

Adjacent to the city property, Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley, Inc. owns land at 1037 and 1045 N. Lake Ave. The organization plans to relocate in 2025 and aims to sell its property by year-end, expressing interest in seeing it developed for affordable housing.

City officials and Planned Parenthood representatives have discussed combining the two sites, totaling approximately 1.70 acres, to maximize affordable housing potential. Current zoning allows for multifamily residential development, with the possibility of accommodating up to 100 housing units using an 80% density bonus.

In June 2023, Planned Parenthood expressed interest in partnering with the city through a joint request for proposals (RFP) process for the sale and development of the properties.

To move forward, Pasadena must comply with the Surplus Land Act. The city plans to adopt a resolution declaring the properties as exempt surplus land, which will allow the project to bypass some state procedural requirements. To qualify for this exemption, the development must restrict 100% of residential units to low or moderate-income households, with at least 75% of units reserved for lower-income households.

If approved, the city will notify the state Department of Housing and Community Development and proceed with the RFP process. The anticipated development could include a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom units aimed at serving individuals and small families.

The proposal aligns with the city’s General Plan Housing Element and supports goals outlined in the City Council’s Strategic Plan. Environmental reviews will be conducted at the project stage, but current actions are not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act as they do not commit the city to any specific project at this time.

The City Council is expected to review proposed terms for the affordable housing development once developer proposals are received.

Here are the other items that passed on Monday’s consent calendar. 

• A resolution establishing one new classification and updating the salaries of 20 existing classifications. The Human Resources Department’s Labor Relations and Classification & Compensation Division is responsible for managing classification and compensation work for the City. Periodically there is a need to update or add job classifications and salary rates as duties and the operational needs of the City change over time and the marketplace adjusts. The City’s Manual of Personnel & Administrative Rules establishes a comprehensive process for classification submission in which the Human Resources Department reviews, approves, and provides recommendations on classification requests. A provision in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and Pasadena Management Association (PMA) also provides a compensation review for classifications or classification series as outlined in the MOU.

• The City Council will also consider adopting a resolution updating the salaries of 15 existing classifications. 

• A $1.1 million six year contract as the result of the competitive bidding process with Robert Meyers Studio for outsourced printing. The agreement covers the production of vinyl banners, wall posters, display boards, bus stop art, and other oversized print projects that exceed the capabilities of the City’s in-house equipment or are needed when current production is at maximum capacity. The decision follows a bidding process initiated on June 13, which was advertised in the Pasadena Press and on the City’s website. The bid attracted responses from 3,238 vendors, including 343 local businesses. The bid package included an estimate of large-format printing needs over a 12-month period. The contract with Robert Meyers Studio aims to enhance efficiency and maintain consistency for the City’s large-format printing needs. Additionally, the City Manager has been granted authority to approve no-cost amendments to the contract, including extensions of its duration.

• A $694,249 contract with Select Electric Inc., for installation of a traffic signal at Orange Grove Boulevard and Craig Avenue. The Department of Transportation first reviewed the need for a traffic signal in 2017 after several traffic collisions occurred at the intersection. The evaluation confirmed that the intersection met the requirements for a traffic signal, as outlined in the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Located at the midpoint of a nearly one-mile stretch of Orange Grove Boulevard between Allen Avenue and Altadena Drive, the intersection is also significant due to Craig Avenue’s designation as a Bicycle Boulevard in the city’s Mobility Element. This designation encourages the use of Craig Avenue by both bicyclists and pedestrians, making the addition of a traffic signal essential for enhancing safety and providing a controlled crossing point. The new traffic signal aims to improve safety and traffic flow at this busy intersection, benefiting all road users.

• A $687,389 contract with Corner Keystone Construction for Villa Parke Community Center ADA improvements. An assessment conducted on April 25, 2022, identified several barriers at the facility that did not comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The assessment highlighted issues in the locker rooms, east parking lot, and the pathway leading to the pool. The project is divided into two phases: Phase I, which focuses on exterior path of travel and parking lot improvements, and Phase II, which addresses interior upgrades to the locker rooms. The contract for Phase I was awarded on May 20, with construction scheduled to start in September to avoid disruptions to the summer pool programming. Phase II, covered by the new contract, involves comprehensive accessibility improvements within the pool locker rooms. This includes demolishing existing fixtures, installing new ones at compliant heights, replacing floor slabs to correct slope issues, installing a ramp, and converting exit doors to automated doors. Minor electrical work will also be completed as part of the project. The Department of Public Works, in collaboration with the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS), prepared the project plans and specifications. Bids were solicited in accordance with Pasadena Municipal Code Section 4.08.070. A Notice Inviting Bids was first published on May 2, 2024, in the Pasadena Press and on OpenGov Procurement. The notice reached 51 vendors, including three local businesses. However, only one bid was received by the May 23, 2024, deadline. That bid was deemed non-responsive due to the vendor’s lack of active registration with the System for Award Management (SAM), as required by Community Development Block Grant specifications.

• An agreement with the Federal Highway Administration (FhlWA) to receive grant funding for the Reconnecting Communities Planning grant in the amount of $2,000,000 and execute any subsequent agreements regarding this grant award; and amend the City Manager’s Office Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget by recognizing revenue and appropriating $1,350,000 of the grant award in the General Fund Projects Fund (Fund 105), and also appropriating the grant match of $2,000,000 in Fund 105 to administer the Reconnecting Pasadena Master Plan and Specific Plan process. The City of Pasadena has been awarded a $2 million planning grant from the Federal Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) program, part of the Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This grant, paired with a $2 million local match requirement, will fund the development of the Reconnecting Pasadena 710 Master Plan and Specific Plan for the SR-710 Northern Stub area. The SR-710 Northern Stub, relinquished to the city by the State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in August 2022, is the focus of this grant. The RCP program, established in October 2022, is the first federal initiative dedicated to reconnecting communities disrupted by transportation infrastructure. It provides $1 billion over five years for planning and capital construction grants aimed at restoring community connectivity. The planning grant will support a comprehensive two-year master plan process, followed by an additional year for the specific plan development. The goal is to integrate the 710-relinquishment area back into the surrounding community while aligning with the city’s development goals and General Plan policies. In February 2023, the City Council awarded the contract for this project to Perkins Eastman, a firm with 40 years of experience in large-scale urban planning. Perkins Eastman’s work will include seven key deliverables: a Community Engagement Strategy, a Restorative Justice Framework, Data Collection and Existing Physical Conditions, an Economic Study and Market Demand Analysis, Mobility and Circulation Analysis, Land Use Options, and a Climate Resilient Infrastructure Development and Services Plan. Since receiving the RCP grant, city staff has been working with the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Acquisition and Grants Management to finalize the grant agreement. The City Attorney’s Office is reviewing the terms to ensure compliance with all grant requirements. The Reconnecting Pasadena 710 Master Plan aims to revitalize the area, enhancing connectivity and supporting future development that aligns with Pasadena’s strategic goals.