OCII approves one-year extension of Fillmore Heritage Center garage management agreement after community objections

The Commission on Community Investment and Infrastructure on April 15 approved a one‑year extension of Pacific Park Management’s contract to operate the 112‑space Fillmore Heritage Center public parking garage, subject to a commission review before any further extension.

Staff had recommended a 14‑month extension to 06/30/2015 with an additional 12‑month option at the executive director’s discretion to permit orderly disposition once the Department of Finance (DOF) approves the successor agency’s property management plan. Tracy Reynolds, OCII real estate manager, said DOF must approve the plan before any sale or transfer of the garage and that staff did not believe a new procurement would be appropriate while disposal was pending.

During public comment, Ace Washington urged the commission to remove the item from consideration so staff could meet with local community members and address concerns that local African American residents had not been given hiring or contracting opportunities. Washington said he would pursue legal action if community concerns were not addressed.

The current operator, Sam Pesayev of Pacific Park, said the firm has managed the garage for three years and had cut losses after taking over; he said the operator is seeking daytime leases with California Pacific Medical Center to boost daytime occupancy. Commissioners pressed for procurement records and performance data. Sam Pesayev stated current parking rates as $2 for every two hours.

Commissioner Singh proposed amending the staff recommendation to limit the extension to one year and require any further extension to return to the commission rather than be approved at the executive director’s discretion. That amendment was incorporated into the resolution. The roll-call vote on the amended motion was 3 ayes, 2 absent.