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View Winners → From the Stratosphere, to the Gutters: Council Keeps Busy Before Winter Recess
News Dec 08, 2016
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Council Member Tyron Hampton, as he usually does, spoke out in favor of local businesses by challenging the city’s decision to purchase police vehicles from a non-local vendor. – Courtesy photo by Terry Miller
By Gus Herrera
Although their winter recess is only a couple weeks away, the Pasadena City Council was quite busy during their most recent meeting this past Monday. The local representatives tackled everything from global warming, to infrastructure repairs, and even snuck in a little holiday shopping for Pasadena’s men and women in uniform.
Item 2 on the evening’s agenda, which was approved without opposition, authorized the city to amend an existing contract with Rincon Consultants for the development of a Climate Action Plan (CAP). The amendment increased the contract by $75,018, raising the total amount from $100,958 to $175,976.
Work on the CAP, a document that “outlines specific activity to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to help achieve GHG reduction targets and mandates,” began in 2015, but further funding became necessary as the “work required to complete the CAP … exceeded the expectations of the original contract scope due to recent legislation passed by the state and the need to analyze new data sets.”
According to city staff’s report, the CAP intends to accomplish the following:
– Update city’s GHG emissions forecast.
– Establish GHG emission reduction targets.
– Conduct public outreach: the most recent public meeting, held on May 31, had over 50 participants.
– Develop and quantify measures to reduce GHG emissions.
– Incorporate new analysis based on the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, aka SB32.
“We are a little ahead of the curve … not a lot of cities have [a CAP] that’s workable and implementable. We want to make sure we have something we can achieve. [The] goal is to reduce our carbon footprint, as well as becoming more green and more efficient,” said David Reyes, director of planning and community development.
The CAP is expected to be completed by January 2017. It is indeed quite reassuring to see government at the state and local level working to combat global warming, whilst our nation’s federal policies remain clouded in uncertainty.
The next important item approved shifted council’s focus down from the atmosphere, back to Earth. Item 3 on the evening’s agenda approved a contract with Vart Construction Inc. for drainage improvements for the city’s flat streets.
The project, which costs $670,000, will consist of the removal and replacement of portions of damaged concrete curbs, gutters, and driveway aprons. Additionally, the project will also work to repair damaged sidewalks previously paid for by property owners, as is required under certain building permits/property sales.
Los Angeles recently undertook a similar project that will repair all damaged sidewalks throughout the entire city. Their $1.4 billion project is expected to take three decades to complete, but property owners who wish to take matters into their own hands and skip the long wait can begin repair work immediately. Those who choose to do so will receive compensation from the city in the form of a voucher.
Pasadena’s project, thankfully, will not take so long – work is expected to begin in February 2017 and conclude three months later in May 2017.
The final two items on the meeting’s agenda allowed the city’s police and fire departments to check some stuff off of their respective holiday wish lists. Item 6 purchased new critical safety equipment (fire-resistive coats and trousers – aka “turnouts”) for Pasadena Fire and Item 7 purchased 10 replacement Ford Explorer Police Interceptor vehicles.
With this purchase, Pasadena PD continues its transition from the old Ford Crown Victoria Interceptors, to the newer, better-equipped Explorer utility vehicles.
Although most of the other items on the night’s agenda were approved with very little deliberation, Council Member Hampton took particular issue with Item 7, voting against approval because of the city’s decision not to purchase the vehicles from local businesses.
“I’ve talked to a couple car dealerships here in Pasadena that said they could bid … If we’re not entertaining local businesses that employ local people … I can’t vote yes on it,” said Hampton, who defends local businesses seemingly every time a similar contract order comes before council.
Council Member Kennedy, despite voting to approve the item, agreed, in principle, with his colleague Hampton, “These dollars have an impact on the community … I’m glad Council Member Hampton brought it up.”
Council will meet again on Dec. 12, before recessing until the new year.
