OPENING:
REMOTE
PARTICIPATION
REQUEST
Councilmember Jones
joined the meeting virtually
at 4:07 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Councilmembers:
Staff:
CITY OF PASADENA
City Council Minutes
July 29, 2024-4:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chamber
Teleconference Location:
50 California Street
50 California Street, 22nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 9411 1)
SPECIAL MEETING
Mayor Gordo called the special meeting to order at 4:06 p.m.
APPROVAL OF A REQUEST BY COUNCILMEMBER JONES TO
PARTICIPATE REMOTELY DUE TO EMERGENCY
CIRCUMSTANCES
In response to a request submitted by Councilmember Jones to participate remotely in the City Council meeting due to a family medical emergency pursuant to Government Code Section
54954.2(b)(4), the City Council took the following action:
It was moved by Councilmember Lyon, seconded by Councilmember Williams, to approve the request by Councilmember Jones to participate remotely in the City Council meeting due to personal emergency provisions under AB2449, and subject to the
requirements of Government Code Section 54954.2(b)(4).
I AYES: Councilmembers Hampton, Lyon, Masuda,
Williams, Vice Mayor Madison, Mayor Gordo
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Jones
ABSTAIN: None
The pledge of allegiance was led by Councilmember Rivas.
Mayor Victor M. Gordo
Vice Mayor Steve Madison (participated virtually)
Councilmember Tyron Hampton
Councilmember Justin Jones (participated virtually)
Councilmember Jason Lyon
Councilmember Gene Masuda
Councilmember Jessica Rivas
Councilmember Felicia Williams
City Manager Miguel Marquez
Chief Assistant City Attorney Javan Rad
City Clerk Mark Jomsky
Rivas,
Council Minutes107/29/2024
r
ADOPT RESOLUTIONS RELATED TO THE CALLING OF A
GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION OF THE CITY OF PASADENA
CONSOLIDATED WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION
HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024, FOR THE PURPOSE
OF SUBMITTING TO THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF PASADENA
THE PASADENA CENTRAL LIBRARY EARTHQUAKE
RETROFIT, REPAIR, UPGRADE MEASURE (To be discussed and
considered concurrently with Item No. 3, including for public comment purposes)
Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council:
(1) Find that the proposed action and the proposed ballot measure in the agenda report are not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (California Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.) ("CEQA") pursuant to Section 15060(c)(2) (the activities will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activities are not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3. State CEQA Guideline Section 15378(b)(4) excludes "government funding mechanisms or other governmental fiscal activities" from its definition of "project" when they "do not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment." On its own, voter approval of the proposed bonds will not "commit" the City to issue bonds or construct the Project; (2) Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Pasadena, California, calling of a General Municipal Election to be held in the City of Pasadena, consolidated with the Statewide General Election held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, for the purpose of submitting to the voters of the City of Pasadena the Pasadena Central Library Earthquake Retrofit, Repair, Upgrade Measure (Resolution No. 10076);
(3) Adopt a resolution of the City Council of the City of Pasadena, California, setting priorities for the filing written arguments related to a bond measure submitting to the voters of the City of Pasadena the Pasadena Central Library Earthquake Retrofit, Repair, Upgrade Measure, and directing the City Attorney to prepare an impartial analysis of the measure (Resolution No. 10078); and
(4) Adopt a resolution of the City Council of the City of Pasadena, California, providing for the filing of rebuttal arguments for the Pasadena Central Library Earthquake Retrofit, Repair, Upgrade Measure submitted at a General Municipal Election to be consolidated with the Statewide General Election held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. (Resolution No. 10077)
Tim McDonald, Library and Information Services Director, presented a Powerpoint presentation on the item, and responded to questions.
Council Minutes207/29/2024
MOTION:
The following individuals spoke in support of the proposed resolutions to place the Library Bond Measure for the Central Library repair project on the November 5, 2024 election ballot and/or provided various comments:
Rachel Adams, American Institute of Architects Pasadena Foothill Chapter
Joan Branin, Pasadena resident
Valeri Siegel, Pasadena resident
Marlene Decker, Pasadena resident
Robert Decker, Pasadena resident
Sonia Berndt, Pasadena resident, spoke in opposition to the proposed measure and placing the matter on the November 5, 2024 ballot; she also expressed concerns that the resolutions do not clearly define the terms for "assessed valuation".
In response to questions posed by Councilmember Lyon regarding opposing arguments from the public, City Clerk Jomsky stated that bona fide associations and/or voters, can submit arguments in support or opposition to a measure on the ballot.
It was moved by Councilmember Williams, seconded by
Councilmember Hampton, to approve the staff recommendation and designate the Mayor and Vice Mayor to organize arguments in favor of the Library Bond measure.
AYES: Councilmembers Hampton, Masuda, Williams, Vice
Mayor Madison, Mayor Gordo
NOES: Councilmembers Lyon, Rivas
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Adopt "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASADENA
ORDERING THE SUBMISSION OF A PROPOSITION INCURRING
BONDED INDEBTEDNESS TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF
THE CITY OF PASADENA AT THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL
ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024, FOR THE
PURPOSE OF FINANCING THE COST OF THE EARTHQUAKE
RETROFIT, REPAIR AND UPDATE OF THE CENTRAL LIBRARY"
(Ordinance No. 7430) {Discussed and considered concurrently with Item No. 2, including for public comment purposes)
The ordinance above was adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Hampton, Masuda, Williams, Vice
Mayor Madison, Mayor Gordo
NOES: Councilmembers Lyon, Rivas
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Council Minutes307/29/2024
Councilmember Hampton
left the meeting at 4:28
p.m.
Councilmember Williams
left the meeting at 4:36
p.m.
Recess at 4:41 p.m. due
to a lack of quorum.
Reconvened at 5:05 p.m.
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS TO SUBMIT THREE CHARTER
AMENDMENT BALLOT MEASURES TO VOTERS AT THE
NOVEMBER 5, 2024 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
RELATED TO CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE ISSUES,
INCLUDING: APPOINTMENT AND ELECTION PROCEDURES
FOR WHEN VACANCIES OCCUR ON THE CITY COUNCIL;
CHANGES TO THE ROLE, LENGTH OF TERM AND TIMING OF
SELECTION FOR THE VICE MAYOR POSITION, AND CREATION
OF AN ACTING MAYOR POSITION WHEN A VACANCY OCCURS
IN THE MAYOR'S SEAT; IMPLEMENTING TERM LIMITS FOR
THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL; MAKING OTHER
ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES TO PASADENA CITY CHARTER,
ARTICLE IV, INCLUDING THOSE RELATING TO CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTION LIMITS; AND AUTHORIZING THE PRINTING
AND MAILING OF A CITY VOTER INFORMATION PAMPHLET
Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council:
(1) Find that the proposed action in the agenda report is not a project subject to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as defined in Section 21065 and Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines, and as such, no environmental document pursuant to CEQA is required;
(2) Adopt a resolution of the City Council of the City of Pasadena calling a General Municipal Election to be held in the City of Pasadena, consolidated with the Statewide General Election held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, for the purpose of submitting three ballot measures to amend the Pasadena City Charter, Article IV, related to City Council governance issues (Resolution No. 10079); (3) Adopt a resolution of the City Council of the City of Pasadena setting priorities for the filing of written arguments pertaining the ballot measures; and directing the City Attorney to prepare an impartial analysis for each measure (Resolution No. 10080); (4) Adopt a resolution of the City Council of the City of Pasadena providing for the filing of rebuttal arguments for the measure (Resolution No. 10081); and
(5) Authorize the City Clerk to prepare, print, and mail a Pasadena-specific Voter Information Pamphlet to send to Pasadena voters containing information on six City of Pasadena ballot measures, at an estimated cost of $125,000.
City Clerk Jomsky presented a Powerpoint presentation on the item, discussed the revisions made to the proposed ballot measure questions, and responded to questions.
Vice Mayor Madison expressed concerns and stated that the proposed wording of the ballot questions could potentially cause confusion among voters.
In response to Councilmember Lyon's inquiry regarding the parameters for selecting the Vice Mayor, City Clerk Jomsky reported that the Charter Study Task Force recommendations suggested the Council Minutes407/29/2024
MOTION:
MOTION:
City Council utilize both seniority and rotational sen/ice when selecting a Vice Mayor, which were submitted as administrative recommendations and not meant to be included as provisions in the City Charter.
Vice Mayor Madison suggested revisions to the ballot question pertaining to term limits to ensure simplicity and clarity.
Following discussion, Councilmember Rivas expressed concerns and opposition to making last-minute substantive changes to the proposed ballot questions; she advocated to keep the ballot questions unchanged and as submitted.
Sonia Berndt, Pasadena resident, expressed concerns with last minute changes to be made and advocated for the City Council to approve the proposed ballot questions, as submitted.
Mayor Gordo expressed concerns that the implementation of term limits would impact the flexibility that residents have to vote for their preferred elected representative.
In response to Councilmember Jones inquiry regarding the revised 30-day residency requirement, Chief Assistant City Attorney Rad reported a California Supreme Court case upheld a 30-day residency requirement, but had determined that six months requirement would be too long.
It was moved by Councilmember Lyon, seconded by Councilmember Rivas, to approve the proposed ballot question pertaining to the appointment and election procedures for when vacancies occur on the City Council, as submitted.
AYES: Councilmembers Jones, Lyon, Masuda, Rivas,
Williams
NOES: Vice Mayor Madison, Mayor Gordo
ABSENT: Councilmember Hampton
ABSTAIN: None
It was moved by Councilmember Williams, seconded by
Councilmember Lyon, to approve the proposed ballot question pertaining to the role and term for the Vice Mayor position, and the creation of an Acting Mayor position when a vacancy occurs in the Mayor's seat, as submitted.
AYES: Councilmembers Jones, Lyon, Masuda,
Williams, Vice Mayor Madison, Mayor Gordo
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Hampton
ABSTAIN: None
Rivas,
Council Minutes507/29/2024
MOTION:
MOTION:
MOTION:
It was moved by Councilmember Williams, seconded by
Councilmember Rivas, to approve the proposed ballot question pertaining to the implementation of term limits for the Mayor and City Council, as submitted.
AYES: Councilmembers Lyon, Masuda, Rivas, Williams, Vice Mayor Madison
NOES: Councilmember Jones, Mayor Gordo
ABSENT: Councilmember Hampton
ABSTAIN: None
Councilmembers Rivas and Lyon, and Vice Mayor Madison
expressed their desire to be designated by the Council to write the argument in favor of term limits.
It was moved by Councilmember Williams, seconded by
Councilmember Rivas, to designate Councilmembers Rivas, Lyon, and Vice Mayor Madison to write the argument in favor of the term limits.
AYES: Councilmembers Jones, Lyon, Masuda, Rivas,
Williams, Vice Mayor Madison, Mayor Gordo
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Hampton
ABSTAIN: None
It was moved by Councilmember Williams, seconded by
Councilmember Lyon, to approve all staff recommendations incorporating votes taken on each individual item.
IRivas, AYES: Councilmembers Jones, Lyon, Masuda
Williams, Vice Mayor Madison, Mayor Gordo
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Hampton
ABSTAIN: None
Adopt "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASADENA
AMENDING TITLE 10 (VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC) OF THE
PASADENA MUNICIPAL CODE TO PROVIDE LANGUAGE
CLARIFICATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES" (Ordinance
No.7431)
The ordinance above was adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Jones, Lyon, Masuda, Rivas,
Williams, Vice Mayor Madison, Mayor Gordo
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Hampton
ABSTAIN: None
Council Minutes607/29/2024
ADJOURNMENT
ATTEST:
Cif^ Clerk6/
On order of the Mayor, the special meeting of the City Council adjoi^fri^d at 5:34 p.m.
l/v\,
VictoTM. Gor9o, Mayor
City of Pasadena
Council Minutes707/29/2024