OPENING
ROLL CALL:
Staff:
CITY OF PASADENA
MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
PASADENA CITY HALL
100 NORTH GARFIELD AVENUE
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER - S249
AUGUST 26, 2025
MEETING
The Chair called the meeting of the Municipal Services Committee to order at 4:04 p.m.
CouncilmemberJustin Jones, Chair
Councilmember Tyron Hampton (Absent)
Councilmember Rick Cole
Councilmember Jason Lyon
David Reyes, General Manager of Water and Power
Joaquin Siques, Director of Transportation
Varoojan Avedian, Assistant General Manager of Water and Power Lynne Chaimowitz, Assistant General Manager of Water and Power Jenny Cristales-Cevallos, Deputy Director of Transportation Donson Liu, Engineer
Jesse De Anda, Building Official
Lisa Hosey, Assistant City Attorney
Betty Gao, 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 Councilmember Lyon, seconded by Councilmember Cole, to approve the minutes of May 27, 2025, June 10, 2025 (cancelled meeting), June 24, 2025, July 8, 2025, July 22, 2025 (cancelled meeting), and August 12, 2025 (cancelled meeting), as submitted. (Motion unanimously approved) (Absent: Councilmember Hampton) ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TITLE 10 (VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC)
OF THE PASADENA MUNICIPAL CODE TO DEFINE ELECTRIC
BICYCLES, REMOVE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS AND
UPDATE RIDING REGULATIONS
David Reyes, General Manager of Water and Power, and Joaquin Siques, Director of Transportation, provided introductory comments, and Jenny Cristales-Cevallos, Deputy Director of Transportation, summarized the agenda report as part of the Powerpoint presentation on the item, including providing information on staff's recommendations, proposed changes to riding regulations, sidewalk regulation findings, with both responding to questions.
Councilmember Cole requested that staff review policy changes within 6 to 12 months to assess the impacts and effectiveness of the changes and report back to the Committee.
01 08/26/2025
Following discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Cole, seconded by Councilmember Lyon, to approve the staff recommendations, and forward the item to the City Council for consideration and further discussion. (Motion unanimously approved) (Absent: Councilmember Hampton)
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED
SPEED HUMP POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Joaquin Siques, Director of Transportation, provided introductory comments, and Donson Liu, Engineer of Department of Transportation, summarized the agenda report as part of the Powerpoint presentation on the item, including providing information on staff's recommendations, background information on speed humps in the City, current physical and operational criteria, historical changes to the City's speed hump policy, research and analysis conducted by staff, and review of speed hump requests; with both responding to questions.
Councilmember Lyon advocated for staff to establish a codified minimum threshold for ballot returns to prevent decisions based on low participation related to the City's voting process on speed bump implementation.
Chair Jones advocated for a thorough plan to ensure ballots reach all residents on the street, including those in apartment buildings.
Councilmember Cole asked staff to provide a map with information on existing speed humps throughout the City; and suggested requiring at least 50% of ballots to be returned, with at least a 67% approval rate, to ensure sufficient community participation before approving speed hump installations.
Betty Gao, Recording Secretary, reported that seven letters of correspondence were received by the City Clerk's Office, which were distributed to the Committee, posted online, and made part of the record for this item.
The following individuals spoke in support with the proposed amendments, asked to consider Pasadena Greenways, and/or provided other related comments on the matter:
Colin Bogart, Pasadena resident
Dan Martin, Pasadena resident
Councilmember Cole proposed requiring either 67% of yes votes with that representing at least 50% of all households, or as an alternative, a 50% ballot return rate with 67% of returned ballots voting yes.
Councilmember Lyon suggested including designated greenways as eligible streets for speed humps, as long as they meet all other criteria.
Councilmember Cole highlighted the challenge of divided public opinions on speed hump and greenways and urged the Committee to establish a political will and continue collaborating with staff for roadway safety initiatives.
02 08/26/2025
I
u
03 In response to Councilmember Cole's comments, Chair Jones noted that this topic will be brought back at a future Committee meeting.
Following discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Cole, seconded by Councilmember Lyon, to approve staff's recommendations, amended to include a minimum ballot return response rate of 50% for a valid vote, and to include City designated Greenway bike facilities as identified in the 2015 Bicycle Transportation Action Plan as an eligible street classification; and forward the item to the City Council for consideration and further discussion. (Motion unanimously approved) (Absent: Councilmember Hampton)
DIRECT THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING PASADENA MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 13.04.177 TO
INCREASE ALLOWABLE LIMITS FOR SOLAR CUSTOMER-
GENERATOR SYSTEMS
David Reyes, General Manager of Water and Power, provided introductory comments, and Assistant General Manager Varoojan Avedian, Assistant General Manager Lynne Chaimowitz, and Building Official Jesse De Anda, jointly summarized the agenda report as part of the Powerpoint presentation on the item, including providing information on overview of solar systems and Pasadena's electric grid, installation requirements, solar incentives, building permit process, building permit inspection requirements, program improvements and considerations; with all responding to questions.
In response to Councilmember Cole's inquiry regarding limitations in Pasadena Municipal Code (PMC) Section 13.04.177, Lisa Hosey, Assistant City Attorney, clarified the PMC does not state a specific limit but implies one, as systems are meant to offset a customer's electrical needs, not exceed them for profit, and responded to questions.
In response to Chair Jane's inquiry regarding timeline, Assistant City Attorney Lisa Hosey clarified that the ordinance will take effect upon publication, and a resolution could be adopted without a second reading. General Manager Reyes suggested adopting a resolution as an interim measure to provide clear direction to staff and the public while staff works on broader code amendments.
Betty Gao, Recording Secretary, reported that eleven letters of correspondence were received by the City Clerk's Office, which were distributed to the Committee, posted online, and made part of the record for this item.
The following individuals spoke in support of the staff recommendation to increase allowable limits, voiced concerns on federal tax incentives and limited solar usage, advocated for waiving affidavit requirements, improved power control system, and/or provided other related comments on the matter:
Robert Carroll, Pasadena resident
Simon Anuszczyk, Pasadena resident
Jim Spencer, Pasadena resident
Sanford Krasner, representing Pasadena 100
Joe Feinblatt, Pasadena resident
08/26/2025
ADJOURNMENT
Rex Mayreis, Pasadena resident
Solar Vie Aguilar, residence not stated
Alan Bair, Pasadena resident
Councilmember Cole thanked staff for flexibility to expedite the process through adopting a resolution, advocated to waive the affidavit requirement, and increasing solar capacity limit from 150% to 200% due to wide usage of electricity and electric vehicles in the City, and spoke in support of staff developing a battery rebate incentive program.
Councilmember Lyon emphasized the importance of active outreach to multifamily and commercial areas throughout the City, encouraged staff to promote solar adoption more proactively in support of the City's carbon-free energy goals, and supported waiving the affidavit requirement.
Chair Jones spoke in support of the staff recommendation.
Following discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Lyon, seconded by Councilmember Cole, to approve the staff recommendations with strong urging to fast-track the City's battery rebate program, removal of the affidavit requirement, and to adopt a resolution and forward the item to the City Council for consideration and further discussion. (Motion unanimously approved) (Absent: Councilmember Hampton)
On the order of th^Chair, the meeting of the Municipal Services Committep^ft/,as ad}(5urhed at 5:59 p.m.
\,
f^
ATTEST:
CouncHfriemb9^Justin Jones, Chair
Muni6ipal Sertuces Committee
L-/
^1^
BerfyGao
Recording Secretary
04 08/26/2025