The Northwest Commission is scheduled to vote on a strategic plan that would task commissioners with shepherding business development along three commercial corridors and positioning neighborhood shops to land Olympic contracts before the 2028 Games.

The FY 2026-27 plan, up for approval at the commission's Tuesday, Aug. 11, meeting at the Jackie Robinson Community Center, organizes the advisory body's work around three committees: health and safety, economic development and LA28 Olympics preparation, according to Pasadena Now.

The economic development committee, led by Chair Christian Jones and including Vice Chair Randy McKenzie, Commissioner Suzanne Madison and Commissioner Sheryl Scott, carries five action items. Among them: monitoring specific plans for North Lake Avenue, Lincoln Avenue and Fair Oaks/Orange Grove, and supporting the formation of a new Lincoln Avenue Business Association.

No such association exists yet. The plan calls for commissioners to help organize one, though no timeline or formation milestones are specified in the document.

Scott divided corridor assignments among the group. Jones will track the North Lake Avenue Specific Plan, Madison will monitor Lincoln Avenue and Scott will watch Fair Oaks/Orange Grove. The Lincoln Avenue plan was adopted in 2021; the North Lake and Fair Oaks/Orange Grove plans remain in development, according to the city's 2024 Economic Development Strategy.

The committee also plans to weigh in on Community Development Block Grant and Capital Improvement Plan spending. McKenzie told Pasadena Now "the commission wants a clearer understanding of how those projects are prioritized and an opportunity to influence which receive funding."

Olympic contracting push

A separate LA28 committee, staffed by Commissioners Leon Doell, Jer-Adrianne "Juju" Lelliott, Madison and Jones, aims to ensure Northwest Pasadena businesses capture a share of Olympic procurement dollars. As we reported Aug. 10, LA28 has committed to directing 25 percent of its procurement spending to small businesses, with 75 percent going to the Greater Los Angeles region overall.

Deputy City Manager Alexander Souto is scheduled to present to the commission on Aug. 11 on LA28 impacts and contracting opportunities for Northwest businesses, according to a separate Pasadena Now report. The LA28 presentation identifies eight spending categories where sourcing has already begun or will begin in 2026, including food and beverage, construction, security services and translation.

Commissioner Doell reported that the LA28 committee held its first meeting Aug. 4 and will meet on the first Tuesday of each month going forward. He is identifying city contacts and coordinating with other commissions to consolidate shared LA28 questions.

At the commission's June 9 annual meeting, Madison pointed to a USA vs. Paraguay soccer watch party activation outside the Convention Center as a model, saying "similar activities could help bring economic development into Northwest Pasadena as the Commission plans for LA 28."

What it means

The Northwest Commission is strictly advisory. It cannot direct city departments or commit funding. The Pasadena City Council retains final authority over any policy or spending that grows out of the plan.

Still, the commission's corridor monitoring role gives it a formal channel to flag delays or funding gaps in specific plans that affect North Lake, Lincoln and Fair Oaks/Orange Grove businesses. Pasadena's 2,056 commercial parcels contributed over $114 million to the city's general fund in 2023.

The commission meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Jackie Robinson Community Center, 1020 North Fair Oaks Ave. The LA28 committee's next monthly session is scheduled for the first Tuesday in September.