Susan Campisi addressing the Council on Monday, August 20, 2018 (Photo – Garrett Rowlan).
After a two-week hiatus, the Pasadena City Council returned to business Monday night, considering a plethora of issues before a small but engaged public, each group with its special concerns.
By Garrett Rowlan
In open forum, speakers representing the Desiderio Project brought opposition to the current placement of the parking lot, restroom, and playland. As many suicides have occurred there, events likely to cause trauma in young minds, it was strongly suggested that the Council adapt Concept C, which puts those amenities at a less impactful location.
Others complained about the removal of sentiment from Hahamongna Park and the resultant destruction of trees and pollution from the machines used to destroy them and the massive number of trucks needed to haul the dirt away. The speakers were told, however, that the project belongs to the County, which is determined to see it through.
Later, and an issue that also concerns the Arroyo Corridor, former Mayor Bill Bogaard and others submitted their plan to create a public-private paradigm, called the One Arroyo Foundation, to raise money—seven million, they hope—to help the Arroyo Corridor that suffers from overuse, drought, and lack of dedicated funds. Current Mayor Terry Tornek praised the effort, saying that the Foundation can “raise money and bring resources to bear that wouldn’t be otherwise available.”
The Council’s final item—by which time most people had left the room—though they gathered noisily outside—was to adopt five of the staff’s recommendations regarding budget reduction options. These were rather painless measures inviting no Draconian cuts. “Change in the sofa,” Steve Madison said, characterizing the recommendations. They were approved.
The Council adjourned at 8:10.
> Watch the entire Pasadena City Council meeting on Monday, August 20, 2018.
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