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OPENING
ROLL CALL:
CITY OF PASADENA
LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE MINUTES
PASADENA CITY HALL
100 NORTH GARFIELD AVENUE
COUNCIL CHAMBER - ROOM S249
JUNE 3, 2025
The Chair called the meeting of the Legislative Policy Committee to order at 4:46 p.m.
Councilmember Steve Madison, Chair
Vice Mayor Jess Rivas
Councilmember Gene Masuda
Councilmember Jason Lyon
Staff:
PUBLIC COMMENT
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
OLD BUSINESS
01 Brenda Harvey-Williams, Assistant City Manager
Mark Jomsky, City Clerk
Jennifer Paige, Director of Planning and Community Development Alexander Hernandez, Assistant to the City Manager
Jason Mikaelian, Deputy Director of Planning and Community Development
Tim Wellman, Chief Assistant City Prosecutor
Arnold Lee, Chief Assistant City Attorney
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary
No one appeared for public comment on matters not on the agenda.
Recording Secretary Sabha reported an amendment to the
December 3, 2024 minutes, stating that the proposed revision is a modification to the fourth page, first paragraph, to read "Chair Madison reaffirmed the City of Pasadena's adopted policy in Resolution No. 9557, commended the City Manager for addressing community concerns by circulating the City's policy to community members, and requested that staff provide a copy of the resolution to the Committee."
It was moved by Vice Mayor Rivas, seconded by Councilmember Masuda to approve the minutes of December 3, 2024, as amended above, January 7, 2025, and February 4, 2025, as submitted. (Motion unanimously approved) (Absent: None)
REVIEW OF ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY STATEMENT
INCLUDING ENFORCEMENT OPTIONS AND PROVIDE
DIRECTION ON NEXT STEPS
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.
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In response to Vice Mayor Rivas' inquiry related to requirements for employers verifying eligibility with 1-9 Employment Eligibility Verification forms, Assistant City Manager Harvey-Williams shared that the City Manager's Office will confirm and provide an update to the Committee.
Tim Wellman, Chief Assistant City Prosecutor, provided information on enforcement options for administrative and criminal violations, and responded to questions.
Chair Madison advocated for staff to include a prefatory statement to the Anti-Discrimination Policy statement or resulting ordinance and requested the City Attorney's Office examine state and federal nondiscrimination laws for consistency before returning to present an update to the Committee.
Arnold Lee, Chief Assistant City Attorney, confirmed that the City Attorney's Office can include a prefatory statement in the draft ordinance, and responded to questions.
Following discussion, the Committee requested that staff provide an update on the draft anti-discrimination ordinance at a future meeting, preferably in September 2025.
Recording Secretary Sabha reported one letter of correspondence related to this item was received by the City Clerk's Office, distributed to the Committee, posted online, and made part of the record for this item.
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, provided introductory comments, reviewed the proposed City Council retreat topics, and responded to questions.
The Committee discussed the following topics identified for the City Council retreat:
02 City Council meeting efficiencies and protocols
City Council team building
City Council communications
City advisory boards and commissions
Vice Mayor Rivas spoke in support of considering new methods for efficient meetings on a trial basis, public comment procedure, closed 06/03/2025
NEW BUSINESS
03 session, and empowering the Mayor to take a more proactive role in facilitating meetings and keeping the City Council on track.
Councilmember Lyon expressed concerns with the implementation of time limits for Councilmember questions unintentionally increasing the total time an agenda item is discussed, and supported using the retreat to engage in meaningful dialogue to acknowledge issues and work towards improvement.
Chair Madison spoke on the importance of Councilmembers conducting their due diligence and engaging with city staff for clarification prior to City Council meetings, and the difficulty in making impactful decisions when meetings continue into the late evening.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
SUPPORT FOR AB 476 (M. GONZALEZ); METAL THEFT
Brenda hlarvey-Williams, Assistant City Manager, 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 Masuda, to approve the staff recommendation and forward the item to the City Council for consideration. (Motion unanimously carried) (Absent: None)
DISCUSSION AND REVIEW OF SB 79 (WIENER); HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT: TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT:
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT: PUBLIC
TRANSIT AGENCY LAND
Brenda Harvey-Williams, Assistant City Manager, provided introductory remarks and introduced Kyra Emanuels Ross, State Legislative advocate for the City, who presented a Powerpoint presentation on the item, with both responding to questions.
Jennifer Paige, Director of Planning and Community Development, provided information on the effect of SB 79 (Wiener) on local planning, and responded to questions.
Jason Mikaelian, Deputy Director of Planning and Community Development, provided information on requirements of adopting a transit-oriented development (TOD) alternative plan, and responded to questions.
Councilmember Lyon spoke in support of the Mayor's letter of opposition to SB 79 (Wiener) and for Pasadena to continue to be a pro-housing and thoughtfully planned city.
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INFORMATION ONLY
04 Michael Canavan, Pasadena resident, provided comments in support of SB 79 (Wiener) and the importance of access to high-quality transit stops near housing.
Recording Secretary Sabha reported one letter of correspondence related to this item was received by the City Clerk's Office, distributed to the Committee, posted online, and made part of the record for this item.
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:
Legislative budget deadline of June 15,2025;
State faces $12 billion budget deficit, with Medi-Cal program facing most significant cuts and adjustments;
Push for renewing $1 billion funding for Homeless, hlousing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program;
Governor Newsom proposal to streamline the Delta
Conveyance Project;
Reauthorization of the California Cap-and-Trade Program; Significant impact from Trump administration cuts and tariffs; and
Notable legislative bills discussed:
o AB 238 (Harabedian), mortgage forbearance;
o AB 239 (Harabedian), disaster housing task force;
o AB 1337 (Ward), changes to Information Practices Act; o SB 607 (Wiener), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and
o SB 79 (Wiener), housing development: transit-oriented development
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:
"Big, Beautiful Bill", budget reconciliation bill on tax, immigration, and defense spending;
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Trump Administration FY 2026 budget proposal;
Trump Administration proposed programs for elimination:
o Community Development Block Grant (CDBG);
o HOME Investment Partnerships program;
o Community Services Block Grant;
o Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program;
o Water Reclamation grants (Title 16);
o Economic Development Administration grants;
o Job Corps and AmeriCorps;
o National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities grants; and
o Institute for Museum and Library Services grants
Proposed programs for contraction:
o Homeless assistance programs, restricted to emergency- type assistance by state block grant, eliminate "Continuum of Care" model;
o hlousing assistance, eliminate rental assistance
programs, like Section 8, and into a state block grant; o Workforce development funding, combine 10 programs for youth and adults into a state block grant;
o Drinking and Clean Water Revolving Loan Funds, convert into state block grant; and
o Major restructuring/consolidation of Department of Health and hluman Services programs.
Department of Homeland Security posted a list of sanctuary cities, counties, and states, and was taken down.
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 - May 27, 2025 b. Arts & Culture Commission - May 14, 2025
c. Commission on the Status of Women - May 7, 2025
d. Community Police Oversight Commission - May 8, 2025
e. Design Commission - May 27,2025
f. Environmental Advisory Commission - May 13, 2025
g. Fire & Police Retirement - May 21, 2025
h. Human Relations Commission - May 6, 2025
Human Services Commission - May 14,2025
j. Library Commission - May 21,2025
k. Northwest Commission - May 13,2025
I. Pasadena Rental Housing Board - May 15, 2025
m. Planning commission - May 28,2025
n. Reconnecting Communities 710 Advisory Group - May 21 2025
o. Recreation and Parks Commission - May 13, 2025
p. Senior Commission-May 13, 2025
q. South Lake Parking Place Commission - May 15, 2025
r. Transportation Advisory Commission - May 22, 2025
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ADJOURNMENT
ATTEST:
^^- Tamer^Sabha
Recording Secretary
s. Urban Forestry Advisory - May 14, 2025
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
On the order pf the Chair, th^f meeting of the Legislative Policy <turrjled at ^:27 p.m.
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Committee,
"'<^r:
Counatrtlember Steve Madison, Chair
Legislative Policy Committee
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