OPENING
ROLL CALL:
Staff:
CITY OF PASADENA
LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE MINUTES
PASADENA CITY HALL
100 NORTH GARFIELD AVENUE
COUNCIL CHAMBER - ROOM S249
APRIL 7, 2026
The Chair called the meeting of the Legislative Policy Committee to order at 5:09 p.m.
Councilmember Steve Madison, Chair
Vice Mayor Jess Rivas
Councilmember Gene Masuda (arrived at 5:18 p.m.)
Brenda Harvey-Williams, Assistant City Manager
Chad Augustin, Fire Chief
Tim Sell, Deputy Fire Chief
Jose Enriquez, Deputy Fire Marshal
Jason Mikaelian, Deputy Director of Planning and Community Development
Arnold Lee, Chief Assistant City Attorney
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
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INFORMATION ONLY
01 It was moved by Vice Mayor Rivas, seconded by Chair Madison to approve the minutes of January 6, 2026, and February 3, 2026,as submitted. (Motion unanimously approved) (Absent: Councilmember Masuda)
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 legislature reconvened from Spring Recess on Monday, April 6, 2026;
Legislative fiscal policy deadline is April 24, 2026, addressing approximately 950 bills;
Senator Wiener will not move forward with Senate Bill (SB) 677, SB 908, or any SB 79 clean-up bills;
Senator Harabedian amended Assembly Bill (AB) 2578,
contains language to add historic buildings on the state and national register before January 1, 2025, and a one-year delay in the operative date of SB 79;
Senator Durazo gutted and amended SB 1361, a bill
sponsored by LA Metro to address SB 79 issues;
Nine bills regarding data centers moving through the
legislature;
Los Angeles County sales tax bill; and
Housing and permitting bills.
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Councilmember Masuda
arrived at 5:18 p.m.
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OLD BUSINESS
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02 Yadi, Pasadena resident, advocated for the City Council to support and monitor state bills focusing on immigration (SB 1105, AB 1807), wildfire technology (SB 1079), information privacy protections (AB 1337), public contracting (AB 1786), and public lands protection (AB 1624).
Chair Madison spoke in support of the City Council showing a strong interest on data centers, and shared concerns with the effect of data centers on the electrical grid and real estate resources.
Councilmember Masuda expressed concerns on the Amazon
property on New York Drive being utilized as a data center and shared that it is a high interest topic for Council District 4 residents.
Jason Mikaelian, Deputy Director of Planning and Community Development, responded that based on the information received, the Amazon property is classified for research and development and office use, and responded to questions.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
CONTINUED REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF SB 79 (WIENER)
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT: TRANSIT-ORIENTED
DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER RELATED BILLS
Chair Madison provided introductory comments and commenced the discussion on SB 79 and other related bills.
Kyra Emanuels Ross, State Legislative advocate for the City, provided information on conversations between the State Assembly and State Senate to delay the operative date of SB 79 to give local agencies additional time for mapping and implementation, and responded to questions.
The following individuals spoke in support of the City implementing SB 79:
P.A. Brown, Pasadena resident
Yadi, Pasadena resident
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary, reported that the City Clerk's Office received one correspondence, which was distributed to the Committee, posted online, and made part of the record for this item.
Councilmember Masuda expressed support for building housing in the city and the importance of local control in addressing the concerns of neighborhoods.
Chair Madison stated that affordable housing is a significant issue throughout the United States and proposed examining available resources such as the 710 Freeway stub, the former Kaiser Permanente property on Lake AvenueA/illa Street, and the former 04/07/2026
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03 YWCA building as opportunities for innovation in developing housing with consideration for SB 79.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
UPDATE AND DISCUSSION OF ZONE ZERO
Fire Chief Chad Augustin, presented a Powerpoint presentation as part of his oral update on Zone Zero, including information on the definition of Zone Zero (an area of defensible space withing first five feet of a home or structure), Zone Zero vegetation and tree options, local challenges, and community feedback, and responded to questions.
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 record for this item.
The following individuals spoke in support of the City Council agendizing support for Zone Zero Vegetation Options 2 and 4 and local control:
Lee Wallace, representing the West Pasadena Residents
Association
Yadi, Pasadena resident
Jessica Richards, Pasadena resident
Lauren Siegal, representing the Environmental Advisory
Commission
Vice Mayor Rivas proposed submitting a support letter for Zone Zero Vegetation Options 2 (Some plants in pots and low maintained vegetation allowed) and 4 (well-maintained plants allowed), and include details of the city's implementation of alternative methods that provide similar fire safety results as outlined in Zone Zero.
Chair Madison expressed appreciation to the Fire Department staff for their attentiveness in home brush inspections and reported out letters he received from neighborhood and other local associations advocating for Zone Zero Vegetation Option 4 (Well-maintained plants allowed) and Zone Zero Tree Option 2 (Well-maintained trees allowed, branches must be 10 feet from chimneys).
Following discussion, it was moved by Vice Mayor Rivas, seconded by Councilmember Masuda to support Mayor Gordo sending a letter to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection expressing the City of Pasadena's position in support of Zone Zero Vegetation Option 4 (Well-maintained plants allowed) and Zone Zero Tree Option 2 (Well-maintained trees allowed, branches must be 10 feet from chimneys) in order to preserve local authority within the local responsibility area, and forward the item to the City Council for consideration. (Motion unanimously approved)
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INFORMATION ONLY -
Cont.
OLD BUSINESS -
Cont.
04 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:
• Military operations in the Middle East;
• President Trump released Fiscal Year (FY) 2027
discretionary budget request to Congress on April 3, 2026; • Proposed elimination of Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) program and HOME Investment Partnerships
Program that provide $3 million annually to the city;
• Congress working on reauthorization of Federal highway, transit and rail programs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control and navigation projects, telecommunications
legislation; and
• President's Executive Order (EO) 14365: Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Al.
Chair Madison expressed strong support for the regulation of artificial intelligence and social media platforms, noting K.G.M. v.
Meta et al. and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (1996).
Following 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
Chair Madison provided introductory comments and opened a discussion on City Council protocols and standards for more efficient meetings.
The Committee discussed the following topics and suggestions to improve City Council meeting efficiency:
• Councilmembers adhering to a speaking time limit of five minutes at the dais;
• Encouraging the Mayor and Vice Mayor to utilize the clock at the dais to track speaking time;
• Using allotted speaking time to express own views and not summarize the comments of other Councilmembers;
• Consideration of time and impact on the community with the order of agenda items discussed; and
• Asking questions to staff in advance of the meeting.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
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PUBLIC COMMENT
INFORMATION ONLY -
Cont.
05 P.A. Brown, Pasadena resident, encouraged the committee to explore the installation of automated traffic enforcement cameras as a potential revenue source.
Chair Madison requested Kyra Emanuels Ross, State Legislative advocate for the City, provide an update on AB 645 and SB 720 at the next Legislative Policy Committee meeting, and requested staff contact public safety personnel and the City Attorney's Office for their input on both bills.
The following individuals spoke in support of the City Council adopting a resolution in support of nuclear abolition:
Kyle McGrath, representing Back from the Brink
Alon Friedman, representing Back from the Brink
Yadi, Pasadena resident, advocated for the city to establish an advisory body or codify a method for residents to give input on technology-related issues, artificial intelligence, and privacy concerns.
REVIEW OF RECENT CITY ADVOCACY LETTERS
The Committee reviewed advocacy letters written by the Office of the Mayor in support of SB 1004 and SB 1352, and distributed to Senators Wiener, Arreguin, Perez, Wahib, and Valladares.
Brenda Harvey-Williams, Assistant City Manager, provided information on the City Council budget workshop briefing related to the Los Angeles County Measure ER.
Chair Madison asked staff to agendize a discussion on Los Angeles County Measure ER at the next Committee meeting; and
communicate any concerns with advocacy letters that may be in misalignment with the city's legislative platforms.
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
Following a brief discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF CALIFORNIA STATE
AUDITOR'S 2026-133 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ST ATE ROUTE 710 EXTENSION PROJECT
Chair Madison provided introductory comments and opened a discussion on the audit of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) State Route 710 Extension Project. 04/07/2026
Chair Madison stated that he and Councilmember Cole, in their individual capacities, attended the press conference in South Pasadena on Friday, March 20, where Senator Perez announced she was seeking an independent state audit of Caltrans' management of the former State Route 710 extension properties, and applauded her vigilance in ensuring transparency and accountability to the community.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
COMMITTEE COMMENTS Chair Madison congratulated Assistant City Manager Harvey Williams on her upcoming retirement and expressed appreciation for her many years of service to the city.
ATTEST:
, Chair
Legislative Policy Committee
ing Secretary
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