
The South Pasadena City Council adopted an update to its strategic plan April 17, but while the minimum wage proposal took all the airtime, the document includes a substantive set of 29 objectives including a plan for new sales tax initiative. The objectives, divided up under a set of six overarching goals, are all targeted for completion this year, though City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe called that “aspirational.”
The objectives are:
- Present a recommendation for a ballot initiative for a sales tax increase to close the city’s projected budget gap.
- Engage an architect to prepare concepts for a new City Hall to allow redevelopment of city property through a public-private partnership at “no or low cost.”
- Issue a Request for Proposal for redevelopment and/or new management models of the Arroyo Seco golf course facilities with an eye to generating new revenue.
- Complete a study on hospitality opportunities, such as the development of a “boutique hotel.”
- Complete an indirect cost allocation plan to increase grant reimbursements for staff time.
- Launch a branding and marketing plan to attract and retain “desirable” businesses.
- Implement a comprehensive parking strategy to aide business patrons.
- Research and recommend permit tracking software and a funding strategy.
- Complete a promotional video of the city.
- Produce a permit application guide to streamline the land use application process.
- Research and recommend a dispatch/records management software to meet FBI compliance standards.
- Initiate a process to inventory soft story buildings with seismic vulnerability and prepare retrofit regulations.
- Recommend an updated crisis communication system.
- Train graduating high school students on “Hands On CPR.”
- Prepare a plan to address the city’s inability to maintain operations during critical periods.
- Develop an outreach program to educate the public about the influx and dangers of non-native mosquitoes.
- Develop an integrated water resources plan.
- Complete the Climate Action Plan to provide an “umbrella under which a city-wide environmental sustainability plan” can be developed.
- Finalize plans to begin construction of the Berkshire pocket park.
- Assemble the technical support needed to design and build the Transportation System Management/Transportation Demand Management alternative adopted as the preferred alternative in the SR-1710 North environmental reviews.
- Find a consultant to facilitate affordable housing at Caltrans properties.
- Present a revised Affordable Dwelling Unit ordinance as the current ordinance is insufficiently flexible.
- Present an occupancy inspection ordinance to ensure quality of living standards in rental housing.
- Bring forth an inclusionary housing ordinance to better meet state housing standards.
- Present a tenant relocation ordinance to help tenants under specific circumstances.
- Implement “MobileCirc” to allow for library card services at off-site events.
- Adopt a neighborhood traffic management policy.
- Introduce an integrated credit card system to reduce the city’s cash acceptance points.
- Research and recommend software for a customer care app “to streamline the process of submitting issues to the city.”