A Message From the City Manager
Welcome to the City of Pasadena City Manager’s weekly newsletter. Whether you are a long-time resident, a newcomer, a student, a business, or a commuter who works in our City, we hope that this will prove to be a great resource for you.
This newsletter is one of many different ways for you to stay connected and informed. City happenings are highlighted on our home page, along with meeting calendars and special event notifications/full press releases. We welcome, encourage, and appreciate your involvement, and feedback. The office of the City Manager and the employees of the City are proud and here to serve and assist you.
Most of us have heard and witnessed the heroic deeds of our courageous first responders while the fires raged. We are grateful for their heroic efforts. Other departments, operating companies, and many others undertook efforts that were just as noteworthy and heroic. In the articles below are some of the measures undertaken by City departments, such as the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services (PRCS) Department and the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD). The Pasadena Center Operating Company (PCOC) and the Rose Bowl Operating Company (RBOC) were also quick to open their facilities, playing a crucial role in fire response efforts (serving as an evacuation center and as the command center, respectively). And Pasadena Transit worked alongside firefighters and police officers to evacuate hundreds of people from the fire’s destructive path. I am eternally grateful to all of them and to the countless volunteers, nonprofits, businesses, faith-based partners, and everyone else who has stepped up to meet the many challenges posed by the fire.
Locally, our region has not seen significant rain since last spring. Rain is now predicted to fall in our area this weekend. The recent fires have left the local hillsides bare, with no vegetation to hold water. Though we welcome the rain to assist in reducing the threat of fire, we are now faced with a threat of mudslides. Please know the City—in conjunction with our federal, state, and county partners—has been working hard to prepare for the potential impacts of the rain. Please visit City of Pasadena Prepares for Potential Rain Following Eaton Fire and Urges Residents to Take Precautions for more information.
I wish everyone a Happy Lunar New Year! With the new moon on Wednesday, January 29, comes the Year of the Snake, symbolizing introspection, transformation, and growth.
Stay vigilant and stay safe!
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
IN THIS ISSUE...
- Extensive Heroic Measures
- Fire Response Efforts by the Rose Bowl
- Pasadena Water and Power Expands Water Leak Assistance Program
- Legal Advertisements and Public Notices
Extensive Heroic Measures
The evening of Tuesday, January 7, 2025, and subsequent days will fall into Pasadena history along with the windstorm of December 1, 2011. I’m sure there were unsung heroes then in 2011 as there are now. Many stories of unique heroism and fortitude from our recent wind event and local fire are now just coming to light. At a future date we will provide a comprehensive and complete After-Action Review but for now this is to highlight just a few heroic efforts from individuals, Operating Companies, and departments other than the brave men and women of our Police and Fire departments.
Pasadena Center Operating Company
At 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday, January 7, Michael Ross, Chief Executive Officer of the Pasadena Center Operating Company (“PCOC”), was contacted by Koko Panossian, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services, who was working from the Emergency Operations Center (“EOC”). Without hesitation, Mr. Ross agreed to open the facility to provide temporary shelter due to the escalating fire. By 8:10 p.m. the Convention Center was open. PCOC staff pitched in to help set up for evacuees who started arriving at 8:15 p.m. Staff continued to set up chairs in the lobby while notification was received that they would be receiving 20 buses full of elderly care residents in need of critical attention. Throughout the night, the Evacuation Center at the PCOC received approximately 1000 evacuees.
At 9:40 p.m. the Red Cross arrived with cots and blankets. PCOC continued to provide staff to assist throughout the night while organizing food for evacuees. Since then, the PCOC inhouse food service provider, Sodexo Live, has served approximately 30,000 meals to date. PCOC also immediately provided public Wi-Fi for evacuees as well as security personnel.
Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department
Once the evacuation center was secured, the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services department (“PRCS”) led by Koko Panossian, sprang into action to set up an evacuation shelter at the Pasadena Convention Center arriving at 8:30 p.m. They then organized staff, volunteers, and agencies to provide support including Community Volunteers, Pasadena Police Volunteers, State Volunteers, LA County, Kaiser, and Alta Med. Staff continued to work beyond their regular work shifts to ensure the shelter was running smoothly and that all evacuees were safe.
From January 8-9 and 13-15, Trinity Lutheran Church was opened to provide the Bad Weather Shelter where PRCS staff assisted in food service, cot assembly, assisting clients with finding clothing and health/hygiene products, and directing other volunteers.
PRCS continuously ensured efficient shelter operations and effective resource management by collaborating closely with various agencies, including local law enforcement, state volunteers, healthcare providers, and community groups. On January 11, the shelter transitioned smoothly to Red Cross operations at 7:00 p.m.
After the transition, PRCS staff sought to reinstate Senior Programs, Youth Sports Programs, and Recreation. Senior classes resumed on January 12 providing seniors with an opportunity to find solace from the traumatic events as well as the game of futsal at Villa Park for children. On January 13, PRCS launched a recreation day camp for kids affected by school closures providing a safe space for children to engage in activities. On January 21, the basketball league for kids was reinstated, helping children regain a sense of routine and joy.
Pasadena Public Health Department
Manuel Carmona, Interim Director of Pasadena Public Health Department (“PPHD”), activated 75 PPHD staff to provide support at the evacuation shelter distributing water, Personal Protective Equipment (“PPE”), contacting long-term care facilities, and community locations. PPHD provided critical medical support and coordinated over 100 volunteer doctors, nurses, and other clinicians to support the Evacuation Shelter operation.
Staff worked tirelessly to support the transfer of approximately 400 long-term care facility residents from the evacuation shelter to appropriate medical facilities within 48 hours of the shelter opening. PPHD prepared press releases issuing a local health emergency, two health officer orders, several health education materials, and kept the public up to date with numerous social media posts to inform and protect public health. Furthermore, staff distributed over 147,000 N95 masks and thousands of cases of bottled water to the community at a drive-thru point of distribution site located at 450 N. Lake Avenue.
PPHD continued by hosting virtual reopening information sessions for skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, restaurants, and early childhood education centers. Carried out inspections of eight skilled nursing facilities and 23 assisted living facilities, completing an important step in the process for repopulating Pasadena long-term care facilities.
Fire Response Efforts by the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl CEO, Jens Weiden, transforms historic stadium into firefight staging ground. Click on the following link for full story: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-18/rose-bowl-fires
Pasadena Water and Power Expands Water Leak Assistance Program
Pasadena Water and Power (“PWP”) recently expanded its Water Leak Assistance program to provide aid to residential and commercial customers impacted by the Eaton Fire. David M. Reyes, Interim General Manager of Water and Power provided the details as follows:
- Maximum bill credit up to $5,000 per customer.
- Property must be located in an Eaton Fire mandatory or voluntary evacuation zone.
- Excessive water usage must have happened on January 7, 2025, or within the subsequent 30 days ending February 6, 2025.
- Bill adjustment for assistance is one time per metered account.
- Customers who previously received water leak assistance are eligible under the Eaton Fire assistance criteria.
- Assistance applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are fully expended.
Assistance provided only as a bill credit to water charges (no cash payments). To apply, customers can download the application at PWPweb.com/WaterLeak, e-mail CustomerService@cityofpasadena.net, or contact the PWP Call Center at (626) 744-4005, Monday to Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Legal Advertisements and Public Notices
The webpage for posting public notices and advertisements has been updated with this week’s submissions set for publication. The information can be accessed from the City Clerk's webpage at https://www.cityofpasadena.net/public-notices/. If you require additional detailed information on these legal advertisements and public notices, please contact Sandra Robles, Senior Assistant City Clerk, at (626) 744-7398.