Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Assets And Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council member cites idle city properties and budget pressure as city manager candidate withdraws
Summary
At a Pasadena town-hall, a council member warned the city holds several idle assets (YWCA, Kaiser site) tied up with millions spent, described a structural budget deficit and said a conditional city manager offer was withdrawn by the candidate.
A Pasadena council member used opening remarks at a May 29 town-hall to raise concerns about several underused city-owned properties, the city's operating budget pressures and an interrupted city manager recruitment process.
The council member said the city paid "$6 million plus" for a historic YWCA property acquired more than a decade ago and that the city spent roughly $12 million of general fund money on the Kaiser site at Lake and Villa three years ago, but neither has delivered housing, jobs or tax revenue. "We have millions and millions of dollars tied up in assets that we are not realizing any return on investment," the council member said.
On staffing, the council member disclosed that the city made a conditional offer to the city manager of Riverside, but that the candidate withdrew during the final due diligence stage. "The council is determining how to proceed next," the council member said, noting the city manager is one of three direct council reports along with the city attorney and city clerk.
The council member also described litigation with UCLA over tenancy at the Rose Bowl but said he expected that matter to be resolved. He noted near-term community priorities including a $128 million San Raphael Elementary School rebuild approved by the school district and upcoming large events at the Rose Bowl.
No formal budget vote occurred at the meeting; the council member said the city remains financially resilient with full reserves and top bond ratings, but acknowledged a structural deficit and federal policy shifts that he said create headwinds for the operating budget.
City staff present included public-works director Greg Devink and David Reyes, director of water and power; the council member encouraged residents to hold officials accountable and to participate in commission service and outreach.
