OPENING
ROLL CALL:
Staff:
CITY OF PASADENA
LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE MINUTES
PASADENA CITY HALL
100 NORTH GARFIELD AVENUE
COUNCIL CHAMBER - ROOM S249
FEBRUARY 4, 2025
The Acting Chair called the regular meeting of the Legislative Policy Committee to order at 4:51 p.m.
Councilmember Steve Madison, Chair (participated virtually) Vice Mayor Jess Rivas
Councilmember Gene Masuda, Acting Chair
Councilmember Jason Lyon
Brenda Harvey-Williams, Assistant City Manager
Alexander Hernandez, Assistant to the City Manager
Arnold Lee, Chief Assistant City Attorney
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary
PUBLIC COMMENT
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
NEW BUSINESS
No one appeared for public comment on matters not on the agenda.
It was moved by Vice Mayor Rivas, seconded by Councilmember Lyon, to approve the minutes of July 2, 2024, July 30, 2024, August 6, 2024, and September 3, 2024, as submitted:
AYES: Councilmembers Lyon, Masuda, Vice Mayor Rivas,
Chair Madison
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
SUPPORT OF ASSEMBLY BILL 239 (HARABEDIAN) STATE-
LED DISASTER HOUSING TASK FORCE
Brenda Harvey-Williams, Assistant City Manager, provided introductory comments, and Alexander Hernandez, Assistant to the City Manager, summarized the agenda report as part of the Powerpoint presentation on the item, with both responding to questions.
Chair Madison spoke in support of Assembly Bill 239 (AB 239) and expressed gratitude to Assemblymember Harabedian for his swift response to the community following the Eaton Fire.
Councilmember Lyon advocated for the Mayor's AB 239 letter of support include "local governments" be defined as the specific jurisdictions that were impacted by the Eaton Fire, as a method for Pasadena to be included in the decision-making process. 01 02/04/2025
^^^^^^^^
Councilmember Lyon left the
meeting at 5:05 p.m.
Yadi, Pasadena resident, spoke in support of AB 239 and requested that the Committee continue to discuss similar bills and track their progress.
Following discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Madison, seconded by Councilmember Lyon, to approve the staff
recommendation as amended to specify that the task force include representatives from the cities and towns impacted by the wildfires:
AYES: Councilmembers Lyon, Masuda, Vice Mayor Rivas, Chair Madison
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
CONTRACT AWARD TO CAPITALEDGE ADVOCACY INC.FOR
FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY SERVICES FOR $135,000
PER YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS
Brenda Harvey-Williams, Assistant City Manager, introduced the item, summarized the agenda report as part of the Powerpoint presentation on the item, and responded to questions.
Following discussion, it was moved by Vice Mayor Rivas, seconded by Councilmember Madison, to approve the staff recommendation, and forward the item to the City Council for further consideration:
INFORMATION ONLY
Councilmember Lyon
returned to the meeting at
5:07 p.m.
AYES: Councilmembers Lyon, Masuda, Vice Mayor Rivas, Chair Madison
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Lyon
ABSTAIN: None
BRIEFING BY CHRIS GIGLIO ON FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE
MATTERS
Chris Giglio, Federal Legislative advocate for the City, provided an update on the following legislative matters listed below and answered questions on the following topics:
President Trump and Congressional leadership desire to
include conditions to Federal disaster assistance for the Eaton Fire;
White house memorandum to freeze federal funding, which was later rescinded;
Tax bill direct impact of eliminating the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds;
Budget reconciliation process and potential mandates on local governments to enforce federal immigration policy; and Trump administration desire to reduce the size of the federal government.
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Chair Madison expressed appreciation for the attention the City has received from the Congressional delegation that represents Pasadena. He also invited Chris Giglio, the City's Federal Legislative advocate to visit Pasadena to attain first-hand knowledge of the fire zone and share observations with others as a representative of the City.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
BRIEFING BY KYRA EMANUELS ROSS ON STATE
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS
Kyra Emanuels Ross, State Legislative advocate for the City, provided an update on state and local legislative matters listed below and responded to questions:
Governor Newsom introduced annual budget ahead of the
January 10, 2025 deadline:
Projected $363 million budget surplus;
Addition of policy principles relating to housing and
homelessness;
Proposal to create a new housing and homelessness
agency; and
Los Angeles wildfires delayed tax returns and $2.5 billion relief package for wildfire recovery will impact budget surplus
California Department of Finance notified state agencies and departments to slow spending and prepare for a baseline budget going forward this year;
Considerable funding for wildfire recovery and rebuilding going forward;
550 bills introduced before the February 21, 2025 deadline with 30-50 bills related to wildfire and insurance;
Senate Bill 98 (SB 98), requires school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to immediately notify all students, parents, faculty, staff, and community members of the presence of immigration officers on school sites;
Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) bills on housing and homelessness;
Bills on the impact of social media and youth;
Special legislative session wildfire bills: Assembly Bill X1 4 (AB X1 4) and Senate Bill X1 3 (SB X1 3), provide $2.5 billion for disaster recovery response emergency operation;
Wildfire-related executive orders and actions:
Tax relief to those impacted by fires;
Mortgage relief;
Homeowner protections;
Tenant protections;
Temporary housing;
o Streamline rebuilding of homes and businesses; and
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o Homeowner's insurance moratorium
ADJOURNMENT
ATTEST:
T^mfer Sabha
Recording Secretary
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
UPDATE ON CALIFORNIA HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE
Kyra Emanuels Ross, State Legislative advocate for the City, introduced the item, provided an update on California homeowners insurance, and responded to questions.
Chair Madison invited Kyra Emanuels Ross, State Legislative advocate for the City, to visit Pasadena to attain first-hand knowledge of the fire zone and share observations with others as a representative of the City.
Yadi, Pasadena resident, advocated for SB 98, spoke on
California Insurance Commissioner Lara's interest in
scheduling town hall meetings in Council Districts 1 and 4, and advocated for the Committee to remain informed on bills that address insurance issues with multi-unit dwellings.
The Committee requested that staff send an invitation to California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to provide an update on homeowners insurance at a future City Council meeting.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
PAST AGENDAS FOR CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
a. Accessibility and Disability Commission -January 28, 2025 b. Arts & Culture Commission - January 8,2025
c. Commission on the Status of Women - January 8, 2025
d. Community Police Oversight Commission - December 12, 2025
e. Human Relations Commission - January 7,2025
f. Human Services Commission - January 8, 2025
g. Northwest Commission - January 14,2025
Following a brief discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
On th r
icy m
of the Cj,?air, the regular meeting of the Legislative
itteewa§. adjourned at 5:58 p.m.
Councilmember Steve Madison, Chair
Legislative Policy Committee
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