Chris Holden

Pasadena City Councilmember & Burbank Airport Commissioner

Accomplishments

1980s

Served on the City of Pasadena Human Relations Commission

Served as the first chair of the Fair Oaks Avenue Project Area Committee, responsible for the area’s redevelopment efforts plan implementation

Served on the Light Rail Alignment Task Force, which selected the route the light rail would take through Pasadena using the same rail line that was established in 1885

Fought for a moratorium on institutional uses in Northwest Pasadena, stopping the proliferation of nursing homes, sober living facilities, and group homes into the community

Lead the city to create the Northwest Commission

Established the Summer Rose Program, creating hundreds of summer jobs for the city’s youth

1990 to Present

Lead the city of Pasadena to purchase and establish, with a grant from Kaiser Permanente, the health clinic on North Fair Oaks Avenue now known as
the CHAP clinic

Brought a number of low-scale affordable housing projects to
Pasadena’s District 3

Provided leadership to bring to neighborhoods north of the freeway free public transportation through the uptown shuttle, now known as the ARTS buses. (Buses are no longer free.)

Lead the effort to bring  quality retail shopping to Northwest Pasadena, which included Renaissance Plaza and Vons market

Lead the council to pass a moratorium on auto-body-related uses for North Fair Oaks Avenue

Lead the city to establish a Fair Oaks Specific Plan that protected the community from offensive uses

Worked with District 3 neighborhoods to establish historic districts for Garfield Heights, Orange Heights, and Banbury Oaks

Lead the council to establish the library tax approved by voters

Lead the council through utility deregulation. Established the council Deregulation Committee, now known as the Municipal Services Committee

Brought cable television to Pilgrim Towers‘ 300+ senior housing units

Fought Altrio Cable from installing utility cabinets in residential neighborhoods

Facilitated bringing the Levitt Pavilion to the band shell in Memorial Park, where 50 free concerts are offered every summer

Raised the idea and fought for moratorium on the installation of telephone cell towers in residential neighborhoods

Lead effort to change the city charter to establish an elected mayor for Pasadena

Brought a new multi-purpose field to Robinson Park

Fought for the establishment of a Hahamonga Watershed Advisory Committee

Fought to keep upper Arroyo passive open park space

Provided leadership to school reform. Served as the chair of the Charter Reform Task Force on School District Governance

Served eight years as  president of the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority. Continues to serve since 1992 as a commissioner

Participated in bringing millions of dollars to Burbank for soundproofing homes and schools around the airport

As chair of the City’s Finance Committee, oversaw financing of the building of the police headquarters, main library, and Rose Bowl press boxes, and refurbishment of the historic Colorado Street Bridge

As mayor of Pasadena from 1997 to 1999, lead the city to establish a living wage ordinance, and create a City Center Task Force (responsible for the Gray Book,  which become the planning tool that lead to the Paseo Colorado and the reconnecting of the historic civic center and new convention center). Established the 710 Freeway design advisory group made up of supporters and opponents

Share