OPENING
ROLL CALL:
Staff:
CITY OF PASADENA
LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE MINUTES
PASADENA CITY HALL
100 NORTH GARFIELD AVENUE
COUNCIL CHAMBER - ROOM S249
MAY 6, 2025
The Chair called the regular meeting of the Legislative Policy Committee to order at 4:43 p.m.
Councilmember Steve Madison, Chair
Vice Mayor Jess Rivas (Arrived at 4:45 p.m.)
Councilmember Gene Masuda
Councilmember Jason Lyon
Michele Bagneris, City Attorney/City Prosecutor
Mark Jomsky, City Clerk
Matt Hawkesworth, Acting Assistant City Manager/Director of Finance
Jennifer Paige, Director of Planning and Community Development Tim McDonald, Director of Libraries and Information Services Phillip Leclair, Chief Information Officer
Jason Mikaelian, Deputy Director of Planning and Community Development
Israel Del Toro, Deputy Director of Planning and Community Development
Tim Wellman, Chief Assistant City Prosecutor
Timothy Park, Budget Administrator
Shannon Prior, Principal Administrative Analyst
Steven Leung, Senior Administrative Analyst
Chinua Obaze, Management Analyst III
Bill Petry, Project Manager
Kristen Johnston, Management Analyst V
Brenda Harvey-Williams, Assistant City Manager
Arnold Lee, Chief Assistant City Attorney
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary
PUBLIC COMMENT
Vice Mayor Rivas arrived at
4:45 p.m.
Yadi, Pasadena resident, requested that the City Council consider support for California Assembly Bill 1337 (Ward) (AB 1337), and examine adopting a citywide privacy program.
Chair Madison requested the City's legislative advocates provide a briefing on AB 1337 to the Committee.
Rene Gonzalez, representing PADRES, requested that the
Committee explore revising the language for City of Pasadena Measure J (2018), in which one-third of sales tax revenue is allotted for Pasadena public schools, in effort to promote taxpayer accountability for the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD). 01 05/06/2025
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
f-l
NEW BUSINESS
It was moved by Councilmember Masuda, seconded by
Councilmember Lyon to approve the minutes of October 1, 2024, and November 5, 2024, as submitted. (Motion unanimously approved) (Absent: None)
BUDGET WORKSHOPS
OPERATING BUDGET
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
CITY COUNCIL
CITY CLERK
Michele Bagneris, City Attorney/City Prosecutor, presented a Powerpoint presentation on the department's Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 accomplishments, appropriations, FY 2026 priorities and enhancement request, and responded to questions.
Chair Madison spoke in support of the City Attorney's Office documenting all work associated with the Eaton Fire in order to seek reimbursement.
Arnold Lee, Chief Assistant City Attorney, provided information on City staff tracking time for work related to the Eaton Fire, and responded to questions.
Matt Hawkesworth, Acting Assistant City Manager/Director of Finance, provided information on funding for the Deputy City Attorney position assigned to the Rent Stabilization Department, and responded to questions.
Tim McDonald, Director of Libraries and Information Services, and Chinua Obaze, Management Analyst III, jointly presented a Powerpoint presentation on the department's FY 2025
accomplishments, FY 2026 priorities, and FY 2025 appropriations, with both responding to questions.
Councilmember Masuda expressed gratitude to the Library staff for opening the Hastings Branch Library for residents impacted by the Eaton Fire.
Jennifer Paige, Director of Planning and Community Development, presented a Powerpoint presentation on the department's FY 2025 accomplishments, appropriations, FY 2026 priorities and enhancement requests, and responded to questions.
The Committee expressed gratitude to the department for their response to the Eaton Fire and establishing the Eaton Fire Rebuild Program.
02 05/06/2025
n
INFORMATION ONLY
Chair Madison asked staff to include information on the 710 Revisioning Project on future budget presentations; advocated for staff to develop additional solar installation projects in the City and explore opportunities to install underground utilities concurrently with other projects. He also asked the Planning and Water and Power departments to collaborate and explore incentives to develop projects that include solar installations.
Yadi, Pasadena resident, advocated for the City to update the Pasadena Municipal Code (P.M.C) Chapters 17.40.080
(Outdoor Lighting) and 17.46.220 (Outdoor Parking Area
Lighting) for better clarification, to decrease light pollution, and as a hardscaping safety measure.
Matt Hawkesworth, Acting Assistant City Manager/Director of Finance, presented a Powerpoint presentation on the City Council's FY 2025 accomplishments, significant changes from FY 2025 adopted budget, appropriations, and responded to questions.
Mark Jomsky, City Clerk, presented a Powerpoint presentation on the department's Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 major accomplishments, expenses by categories and divisions, FY 2026 priorities and work plan, and responded to questions.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
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's Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 proposed budget includes:
o Recommended budget increases for the Department of
Defense and Department of Homeland Security;
o 44% cut to Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD);
o 55% cut to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);
o Approximately 30% cut for State Department foreign aid programs;
o Eliminating the HDD Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership
Program (HOME);
o Eliminating Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP).
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) pausing and
terminating grant awards;
03 05/06/2025
n
04 One Big Beautiful Bill (budget reconciliation bill) expands on 2017 tax cuts, immigration enforcement, and energy
exploration; and
• Presidential Executive Orders, memorandums, and
declarations relating to sanctuary cities:
o Legal remedies for state and local entities who do not cooperate with federal immigration law or officials;
o Direct the Department of Justice and Department of
Homeland Security to create a list of sanctuary cities.
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:
State tax returns continue to trend above Governor
Newsom's proposed 2025-2026 State Budget released on
January 10,2025;
Deadline for May budget revision is May 14, 2025;
Federal government funding cuts affecting the state budget, including cuts to public health and libraries;
Governor Newsom signed AB 100 (Gabriel) on April 14,
2025, which expands the use for wildfire recovery funds; Added language that provides two years of property tax
backfill for areas affected by the recent wildfires;
Recent legislative hearing on Zone 0 program and the need for Zone 0 defensible space during the rebuilding process; • Fiscal deadline for policy committees is June 2, 2025; Notable wildfire bills: AB 238 (Harabedian), AB 239
(Harabedian), AB 246 (Bryan), AB 301 (Shiavo and Rivas), AB 311 (McKinnor and Rivas), AB 846 (Connolly), Senate
Bill 222 (Wiener) (SB 222), SB 256 (Perez), SB 663 (Alien, McNarney and Perez);
AB 1337 (Ward), updates the internet Practices Act (IPA) for state agencies and applies the IPA to local agencies; and
SB 79 (Wiener), transit-oriented development and
upzoning.
Yadi, Pasadena resident, spoke in support ofAB 1337 (Ward), and for staff to contact the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) to discuss privacy protections.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed 05/06/2025
n
NEW BUSINESS
(Continued)
OLD BUSINESS
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION TO IMPLEMENT
RECENT CITY CHARTER APPROVED AMENDMENTS,
INCLUDING PREPARATION OF AN ORDINANCE TO CODIFY
PROCESS FOR FILLING CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT VACANCIES
BY APPOINTMENT AND CONVENING A COUNCIL
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Mark Jomsky, City Clerk, summarized the agenda report at part of his Powerpoint presentation on the item, and responded to questions.
Vice Mayor Rivas suggested outreach to residents include mailers, press releases, and utilizing Council District email lists; and emphasized looking at the appointment process from an equity perspective to ensure people from all walks of life can serve on the City Council.
Councilmember Lyon recommended compiling a list of qualities that would be beneficial for members serving on the Council
Compensation Committee, including experience in human
resources.
Following discussion, the Legislative Policy Committee requested staff forward the following topics to the Committee on
Councilmembers' Compensation for examination and discussion:
Expenses relating to child and/or family care that are
separate from other monthly expenses;
All methods of support and best practices (Example: meals provided before City Council meetings);
Cafeteria style benefit plan based on individual needs; Encourage and assist with educational goals;
Reimbursement policies; and
• Eliminating City Council ad hoc committee
Following further discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
CONSIDERATION OF REVISED PROTOCOLS AND
PROCEDURES GOVERNING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR
RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL
Mark Jomsky, City Clerk, presented a Powerpoint presentation on the item, and responded to questions.
The Committee discussed meeting efficiencies and protocols, and the following topics for potential recommendation to the City Council:
05 • City Council communications
05/06/2025
n
INFORMATION ONLY
(Continued)
06 City Council budget process
City Council meeting length
Adhering to City advisory body term limits
City commission process and project approvals
Following discussion, the Committee requested the removal of term limits for advisory bodies from the list of proposed topics and have staff from the City Manager's Office return to present an updated recommendation.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
DISCUSSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL RETREAT
Phillip Leclair, Chief Information Officer, provided information on the upcoming City Council retreat, scheduled for June 20, 2025, and responded to questions.
The Committee discussed the importance of focus on process, as opposed to substance, amongst the City Council, and using the retreat as a method to discuss complex issues that cannot be resolved during a City Council meeting.
Chair Madison suggested a goal of the City Council retreat as, "how to work together during meetings", and suggested trainings involving the Brown Act, closed session confidentiality, and fiduciary duties.
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 - March 25, 2025, April 22, 2025
b. Arts & Culture Commission - March 12, 2025, April 9,2025 c. Commission on the Status of Women - March 5, 2025, April 2,2025
d. Community Police Oversight Commission - April 10, 2025 e. Design Commission - March 11, 2025, March 25, 2025, April 22,2025
f. Environmental Advisory Commission - March 11, 2025, April 8,2025
g. Historic Preservation Commission - March 4, 2025, April 10, 2025, April 15, 2025
h. Human Relations Commission - March 4, 2025, April 1 , 2025 Human Services Commission - March 12, 2025, April 9,
2025
j. Library Commission - March 19, 2025, April 1 6,2025
k. Northwest Commission - March 11, 2025, April 8,2025
05/06/2025
n
I. Old Pasadena Parking Meter Zone Advisory Commission - April 17,2025,
m. Pasadena Rental Housing Board - March 6, 2025, March 20, 2025, April 3,2025, May 1 , 2025
n. Planning Commission - March 12, 2025, April 9, 2025
o. Recreation and Parks Commission - March 4, 2025
p. Senior Commission - March 11, 2025, April 8,2025
q. South Lake Parking Place Commission - March 27, 2025 r. Transpori:ation Advisory Commission - March 27, 2025, April 14, 2025, April 24, 2025
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
REQUESTS FOR FUTURE The Committee asked staff to agendize the draft Anti-Discrimination AGENDA ITEMS Policy statement and Fair Campaign Practices Agreement for review and discussion.
ADJOURNMENT
ATTEST:
On the order of the Chair, the meeting of the Legislative Policy Cornmitteawas adjourne^at 7:43 p.m.
Couhbi-tiliemfcer Stev^ Madison, Chair
Legislative Policy Committee
Fm^r Sabha
Recording Secretary
07 05/06/2025