OPENING
ROLL CALL:
CITY OF PASADENA
LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE MINUTES
PASADENA CITY HALL
100 NORTH GARFIELD AVENUE
COUNCIL CHAMBER - ROOM S249
JANUARY 6, 2026 MEETING
The Chair called the meeting of the Legislative Policy Committee to order at 5:05 p.m.
Councilmember Steve Madison, Chair
Vice Mayor Jess Rivas
Councilmember Gene Masuda
Staff:
PUBLIC COMMENT
OLD BUSINESS
01 Mark Jomsky, City Clerk
Brenda htarvey-Wiltiams, Assistant City Manager
Arnold Lee, Chief Assistant City Attorney
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary
The following individuals spoke on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and/or advocated for the City to divest from fossil fuel and weapon manufacturers:
Randall Heyn-Lamb, representing Pasadena 4 Palestine
Bert Newton, representing Pasadena 4 Palestine
Brian Biery, representing Pasadena 4 Palestine
In response to public comments, Chair Madison stated that the proposed resolution discussed at the Legislative Policy Committee meeting on Thursday, December 18, 2025, included specific language that Israel was committing genocide.
Vice Mayor Rivas reported that she is working with staff on a broader resolution regarding investment and social responsibility to present to the Committee in February 2026.
Humaira Afzal, Pasadena resident, expressed concerns on correspondence received for the Legislative Policy Committee meeting on Thursday, December 18, 2025, and asked staff to reconsider releasing records related to her public records request.
Mark Jomsky, City Clerk, detailed staffs process to extract information from correspondence and offered to speak to Ms. Afzal after the meeting to address her concerns.
REQUEST BY CHAIR MADISON TO CONSIDER REVISIONS TO
THE CITY'S FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICES AGREEMENT
RELATED TO CAMPAIGN MATERIALS, THE TIMING OF
NOTIFICATIONS TO OPPONENTS FOR CAMPAIGN
MESSAGING, AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS
01/06/2026
n
Mark Jomsky, City Clerk, summarized the agenda report as part of a Powerpoint presentation on the item, and responded to questions.
Vice Mayor Rivas spoke on the importance of campaign supporters giving consent for information that will be disclosed in voter support materials.
Chair Madison expressed concerns in the revised agreement being perceived as complicated and a deterrent to candidate participation in the campaign practices agreement, and also recommended City Council adoption before the beginning of the next election cycle.
Following discussion, the Committee reviewed the redlined version of the Pasadena Fair Campaign Practices Agreement, and
recommended the following amendments:
Amend Section 2, renaming the section "Written Campaign Messaging" to expand the application of campaign
materials beyond "Campaign Advertisements and Mailings"; Amend Section 2b, defining "Written Campaign Messaging" to include mailers, billboards, signage, electronic mail (to 250 or more recipients), videos, or social media, where campaign funds are expended towards the distribution or amplification of such messaging;
Amend Section 2b, increasing the period of required
disclosure of campaign messaging to opponents 48 hours
prior to distribution of the messaging, from 14 days prior to the election to 30 days prior to election to cover the full voting period;
Add Section 2C, prohibiting a candidate from withdrawing from the agreement (mid-campaign) without first giving
written notification of alleged violations of the agreement to all participating candidates in that City Council race, and attempting to mitigate or address the alleged violation(s) directly; and
Add Section 4, Voter Support Information, to require that the candidate or campaign receive written consent from the voter, including approval of whether and what location
information about the voter is used as part of the campaign messaging.
Following further discussion, it was moved by Vice Mayor Rivas, seconded by Councilmember Masuda, to approve the revised Pasadena Fair Campaign Practices Agreement, including the amendments as detailed above, and forward the item to the City Council for consideration. (Motion unanimously approved)
CONSIDERATION OF REVISED PROTOCOLS AND
PROCEDURES GOVERNING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR
RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL
02 01/06/2026
n
INFORMATION ONLY
03 Chair Madison provided introductory comments and opened the discussion on City Council protocols and standards for more efficient meetings.
Mark Jomsky, City Clerk, reported that a clock will be installed on the Council Chamber dais before the next City Council meeting scheduled for Monday, January 12, 2026, provided information on the process of City Council meeting agenda review, and responded to questions.
Humaira Afzal, Pasadena resident, expressed concerns on the length of City Council Closed Session delaying the Public Meeting start time of 6:00 p.m., and requested the City Council consider changing the Public Meeting start time to 6:30 p.m.
Vice Mayor Rivas advocated for exploring protocols that increase the efficiency of City Council meetings and reduce delays in the start time for Public Meetings.
Chair Madison echoed similar sentiments related to meeting efficiency and time management, and noted constraints on the availability of legal counsel during Closed Session.
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:
Five-year anniversary of United States Capitol attack on Januarys, 2021;
Congressional session reconvened on Saturday, January 3, 2026;
Military operations in Venezuela; and
Continuing Budget negotiations with Congress looking to pass final budget before resolution expires on Friday,
January 30, 2026
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:
01/06/2026
n
u
04 State Legislature reconvened on Monday, January 5, 2026; Monique Limon sworn in as new Senate President Pro
Tempore;
Governor Newsom's State of the State speech is scheduled for Thursday, January 8, 2026;
Governor Newsom's budget expected to be released on
Friday, January 9, 2026;
Senate committee assignments and Chairmanships; and
State Senate Bills (SB) 677 and 79, and concerns related to protections for historic properties.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
CITY ADVOCACY LETTER
a. SB 677 (Wiener) Transit-oriented Development - Comments for Amendment
Kyra Emanuels Ross, State Legislative advocate for the City, provided an update on Senate Bill (SB) 677, and responded to questions.
The following individuals provided comments in support of Mayor Gordo's advocacy letter to Governor Newsom regarding SB 79 and SB 677:
Bridget Lawlor, representing Pasadena Heritage
Erica Foy, Pasadena resident
The following individuals spoke in support of SB 79 and affordable housing near public transit stops:
Eric Smith, Pasadena resident
Michael Canavan, Pasadena resident
Tom Boat, Pasadena resident
Sam Alcorn, Pasadena resident
HumairaAfzal, Pasadena resident
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary, reported that the City Clerk's Office received three letters of correspondence, which were distributed to the Committee, posted online, and made part of the public record.
Vice Mayor Rivas expressed concerns related to SB 79's effect on historic districts in the City and emphasized finding practical solutions, such as advocating for increasing the exemption cap for historic resources from 10% to 20%.
Councilmember Masuda spoke in support of Mayor Gordo's
advocacy letter, the importance of local control, and protecting historic neighborhoods.
01/06/2026
n
f
Chair Madison emphasized his support of historic districts in Pasadena and advocated for a City Council discussion on SB 79 advocacy strategy with direction to the Committee on how to assist in refining the process. He indicated the city-owned parcel at Orange Grove Boulevard and Villa Street could be candidate as a transit- oriented housing development.
Following discussion, the Committee directed staff to continue to agendize Senate Bills 79 and 677: Housing Development: Transit- Oriented Development, as a discussion item for future Legislative Policy Committee meetings, until further notice.
PAST AGENDAS FOR CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
a. Accessibility and Disability Commission - December 16,2025 b. Code Enforcement Commission - December 4, 2025
c. Design Commission - December 9, 2025, December 16,
2025
d. Northwest Commission - December 9,2025
e. Pasadena Playhouse Parking Meter Zone Advisory -
December 11, 2025
f. Reconnecting Communities 710 Advisory Group - December 17,2025
g. Urban Forestry Advisory - December 10, 2025
Following a brief discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
REQUESTS FOR FUTURE Brenda Harvey-Williams, Assistant City Manager, reported that the
AGENDA ITEMS
ADJOURNMENT
ATTEST:
February 2026 Committee meeting will include a review of the State and Federal Legislative Platforms for 2026.
mmi
?'h<On Jtee-OTc^e,r o^ the Ghair, the meeting of the Legislative Policy tee viiifas ^Idjouifned at 6:39 p.m.
Couhcilrnem6er Steve Madison, Chair
Legislative Policy Committee
"afinerSabha
Recording Secretary
05 01/06/2026