The Pasadena City Council will vote Monday on a $970,000 contract with Chino Hills-based Arellano Associates for community engagement services, despite four Pasadena firms originally competing for the taxpayer-funded work on six transportation projects linked to the former SR 710 corridor.
The contract, which pays exclusively for public meetings, surveys, outreach, and door-to-door canvassing rather than actual planning or construction, represents redirected Measure R funds originally designated for the California Boulevard Grade Separation Project. The Department of Transportation is recommending Arellano Associates after the firm scored 92 out of 100 in evaluations, beating Pasadena-based Allegra Consulting’s score of 87.
“The purpose of MCPE services is to ensure that the Pasadena community’s vision guides the direction of each project phase,” according to the staff report, which outlines plans for 45 public meetings, community advisory committees, and extensive canvassing efforts across multiple neighborhoods…