PASADENA CITY HALL RETROFIT AND RESTORATION:
ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the cost of the project?
The total project budget is $117.5 million. On Jan. 31, 2005, the City Council awarded the contract for the project to Clark Construction Group.

How is the project funded?
Through a combination of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding, grants from the state of California, local tax revenues, the sale of bonds and an increase in the percentage of electricity revenues that are transferred from the city's light and power fund to the general fund annually, and contributions from individuals and foundations.

What is included in the project?
The move-out and move-in of employees and offices; the protection of the seven lovely oaks in the courtyard and the majority of the stately magnolias that surround City Hall; the seismic retrofit; the historic restoration of the building; the repair or replacement of infrastructure; the addition of new safety systems, including fire sprinklers; and improvements to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

When will the project be complete?
In Summer 2007.

Where will the offices be located in the interim?
Our new locations can be found here.

Will phone numbers change?
All phone numbers will stay the same.

Will roads be closed?
The east side of Garfield Avenue between Union Street and Thurgood Marshall Way is closed. The west side of Garfield Avenue is open to one-way, southbound traffic only. The west side of Euclid Avenue between Union Street and Thurgood Marshall Way is closed. The east side of Euclid Avenue is open to one-way, northbound traffic only.

Why does City Hall need a seismic retrofit?
Extensive study conducted over the past 15 years revealed that City Hall will not be able to withstand an earthquake of 7.0 on the Sierra Madre fault or 8.0 or higher on the San Andreas fault without destruction of the building and possible loss of life. An earthquake of that magnitude is predicted by Caltech scientists within the next 30 years. In 2003, the City Council approved a plan for the seismic retrofit, historic restoration and infrastructure upgrade that will ensure that City Hall will continue to stand proud and serve the community for the next 100 years. During the retrofit, base isolators will be installed.

What is a base isolator?
The most common type consists of alternate layers of rubber and steel bonded together with a cylinder of lead tightly inserted through a hole in the middle. There are several other types of base isolators; a bid process in the next few months will determine which type will be used at Pasadena City Hall. During an earthquake, base isolators allow the ground to move independently from the building. The rubber layers allow base isolators to move sideways easily, reducing the tremors that are experienced by a building and its occupants. 

Where does the City Council meet?
The City Council meets Monday evenings in the multipurpose room of the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. Getting there is simple: take the Metro Gold Line to the Memorial Park Station next door to the Senior Center and present your ticket to the Senior Center’s front desk attendant to receive a free Metro token for the ride home; or park in the structure at the northeast corner of Holly Street and Arroyo Parkway and present your ticket (must be dated that day) to the Senior Center’s front desk attendant for validation. Please go to www.cityofpasadena.net/councilagendas/council_agenda.asp for City Council agendas.

Will updates be provided during the project?
We'll let you know the latest developments in every issue of Pasadena In Focus. Revisit www.cityofpasadena.net for periodic updates (click on City Hall Project) or call 744-7073.

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