South Pasadena hears storm damage estimates; residents urge permit-fee relief and help for displaced seniors

The City Commission of South Pasadena on Feb. 10 reviewed storm damage estimates and recovery steps after Hurricane Helene and heard public pleas for financial relief and assistance for displaced seniors.

Commissioner Ben Thomas, the finance commissioner, told the commission that the finance department "has submitted the damage assessment inventories for Hurricane Helene and Milton," estimating Helene damage at $2,210,000 and Milton at $160,000. He said FEMA representatives will be on site within 10 days to conduct property inspections and a cost-benefit analysis. Thomas also reported ad valorem property tax collections of $4,292,685, which he said represents 87.3% of the city's $4,913,775 budget for fiscal 2025, and noted a $12,736 refund to Palms of Pasadena Hospital related to the county property appraiser program.

A community improvement staff member reported permit activity as part of the recovery effort, saying the department has received 509 applications and issued 170 permits since Sept. 26, 2024. The staff member said FEMA provided floodplain technical assistance and "recommended increasing enforcement," and gave January 2025 totals of 128 permit applicants and 97 permits issued, compared with 73 applicants and 61 permits issued in January 2024.

During the People's Forum, resident Jack Dougherty thanked the commission for waiving repair permit fees and asked the city to consider waiving 50% of new-build permit fees "in situations like this where a person is required by FEMA to rebuild their house from scratch," saying his own house sustained damage greater than 50% and must be torn down. The mayor said the request would be evaluated with the community improvement department.

Michael Novak, whose mother and sister were displaced from the Lutheran Residences at 6800 Park Street South, described seniors who were led to believe they would be out for only a few days but remain displaced. Novak said roughly 160 units were occupied at the time of the storm and that many residents are elderly; he asked whether the city could provide a portable generator to run elevators long enough for residents to retrieve belongings. A staff member confirmed that some interiors and electrical systems were flooded and that work to pump out pits and restore systems — and safety inspections — would be required before elevators could be used.

Public works and parks updates included construction on the Bayview Pavilion (trusses arriving and installation to begin), ordered playground equipment and a children’s fire truck with installation planned for mid-March, the removal of damaged boats behind Fred Held Park, stormwater outfall inspections, and completion of curbside debris pickups.

The meeting closed the public-comment period after those remarks. City officials said they would follow up with departments to evaluate requests and practical steps, including permit-fee policy questions and assistance options for displaced residents. No formal directive or funding allocation was adopted at the meeting.

The commission then moved on to procedural business and new resolutions.