n
OPENING:
ROLL CALL:
Councilmembers:
Staff:
CITY OF PASADENA
City Council Minutes
April 20, 2026-6:00 P.M.
City Hall Council Chamber
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING WITH
PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Mayor Gordo and Board President Tina Fredericks called the Special Joint meeting of the City Council and Pasadena Unified School District ("PUSD") Board of Education ("Board") to order at 6:40 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Board
President Tina Fredericks.
Mayor Victor M. Gordo
Vice Mayor Jessica Rivas
Councilmember Rick Cole
CouncilmemberTyron Hampton
Councilmember Justin Jones
Councilmember Jason Lyon
Councilmember Steve Madison
Councilmember Gene Masuda
Interim City Manager Matthew E. Hawkesworth
City Attorney/Prosecutor Michele Bagneris
City Clerk Mark Jomsky
Pasadena Unified School
District, Board of Education
Staff:
President Tina Fredericks
Vice President Dr. Yarma Velazquez
Board Member Michelle Richardson Bailey
Board Member Jennifer Hall Lee
Board Member Scott Harden
Board Member Patrice Marshall McKenzie
Board Member Kimberly Kenne
Dr. Elizabeth J. Blanco, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools Sergio Canal, Acting Chief Business Officer
Dr. Helen Chan Hill, Chief Academic Officer
Board President Fredericks thanked the City Council for hosting the annual joint meeting and acknowledged the importance of collaboration between the two local government agencies.
Mayor Gordo and the City Council recognized and expressed their gratitude to Miguel Marquez for his service to the City as City Manager and guiding the City through the pandemic, the 2025 Eaton fire, and other challenges over the past few years.
Mr. Marquez thanked the City Council for their kind
acknowledgements and emphasized the importance of
community in the City of Pasadena.
Council Minutes104/20/2026
UPDATE AND DISCUSSION ON CITY AND PASADENA
UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT GREEN ENERGY INITIATIVES
(INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO MUNICIPAL AND
SCHOOL SITE SOLAR PROJECTS)
David Reyes, General Manager of Water and Power, provided introductory comments on the item. Jennifer Guess-Mayo, Assistant General Manager, presented a Powerpoint
presentation on the City's green energy initiatives in partnership with PUSD, supporting each agency's sustainability efforts and climate goals. She also provided a brief overview of the guiding principles for the City's optimized strategic plan.
Sergio Canal, PUSD Acting Chief Business Officer, provided introductory comments on the item. Jacob Tsui, Energy
Manager, provided information on PUSD's energy costs and existing solar sites. Michael Dunning, PUSD Facilities Director, provided information on the City-PUSD green energy
coordination, the District-wide Energy Master Plan, and the future steps towards accomplishing long-term climate goals.
Discussion briefly ensued regarding PUSD's plan for solar implementation and collaborative efforts with the City (i.e. land use for solar and battery).
Councilmember Cole suggested developing a rate structure, within the legal constraints of Proposition 28, to better align incentives with renewable energy investments made by PUSD that could advance shared sustainability objectives.
Rene Gonzalez, Pasadena resident, provided comments on
housing for PUSD staff and electric vehicle chargers as a retention initiative.
Connie De la Torre, Pasadena resident, thanked the City and PUSD for working together for the greater good of the
community.
Sandy Krasner, Pasadena resident, praised the City and
PUSD for working together to achieve carbon free energy by 2030.
Ana Soulriver, Pasadena resident, advocated for the City and PUSD to align with their climate action initiatives and utilize adaptive reuse to modernize existing schools instead of demolishing them.
Council Minutes204/20/2026
Councilmember Hampton left
the meeting at 8:02 p.m.
Following discussion, on order of the Board President and Mayor, and by consensus of the Board of Education and City Council, the information was received and filed.
DISCUSSION ON SHARED ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO
LOBBY FOR ADEQUATE FEDERAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT
CITY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT MANDATED SERVICES,
INCLUDING SERVICES RELATED TO PUBLIC HEALTH,
HOUSING, AND SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES FOR
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Dr. Julianne Reynoso, Assistant Superintendent Student
Wellness and Support Services, presented a Powerpoint
presentation on the underfunding of the Individuals with Disabilities Act ("IDEA") and how PUSD has adjusted their budget and reduced contracted services to help offset budget shortfalls to provide much needed support services. Interim City Manager Hawkesworth presented information on how the City is utilizing lobbying efforts to help PUSD advocate for funding and close the funding gap for IDEA.
Mayor Gordo suggested that the City and PUSD work with other local agencies (i.e. San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments) to expand collaboration on lobbyist efforts as a way to further support advocacy and help identify funding for the mandated services.
Discussion ensued regarding joint legislative strategies for shared letters of support/opposition and engaging in lobbyist efforts to represent aligned priorities. The City Council and the Board of Education emphasized the importance of funding education and providing equal opportunities for all students, especially those with disabilities.
Les Hammer, Pasadena resident, expressed concerns
regarding the feasibility of increased state and federal funding for public schools.
Christy Zamani, Partnership for Children Youth & Family, encouraged collaboration between schools and nonprofits to secure grants and resources for youth, schools, and
families.
Brian Biery, Pasadena resident, expressed support for joint advocacy efforts and also encouraged collaborating with local nonprofits and community organizations to further strengthen lobbying efforts.
Council Minutes304/20/2026
f
1 Daniel Mark, Pasadena resident, expressed concerns
regarding air quality in school classrooms and advocated for installing air quality monitors in classrooms.
Following discussion, on order of the Board President and Mayor, and by consensus, the information was received and filed.
DISCUSSION ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITY AND SCHOOL
DISTRICT COLLABORATION EFFORTS RELATED TO
AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS, INCLUDING
JOINT USE AGREEMENTS AND EFFORTS RELATED TO
SHARED SPACES
Koko Panossian, Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Director, and Dr. Helen Chan Hill, Chief Academic Officer, presented a Powerpoint presentation on collaborative efforts between the City and School District on youth programs and joint use facilities, and responded to questions.
Vice President Velasquez emphasized the importance of the need to continue education and learning during summer
programs and advocated to incorporate an academic aspect in the City's After School Adventures Program ("ASAP"). She noted that many students need additional academic support beyond what is currently provided. PRCS Director Panossian clarified that the City's recreational staff is not equipped to provide formal educational enhancement services and that their focus is on recreational activities and looking after youth participants.
Councilmember Cole advocated for shared maintenance of
athletic fields and converting artificial turfs to natural grass.
Discussion ensued regarding joint use facilities, maintenance, and coordination/communication between the City and PUSD to better manage the balance of recreational demands and
availability of fields for youth programming.
In response to Councilmember Jones' inquiry regarding the incorporation of artificial intelligence ("AI") in school curriculums, Dr. Chan Hill reported that Al is already present in certain learning tools and that usage is limited to provide efficiency while outputs are responsibly reviewed by educators to ensure accuracy.
Council Minutes404/20/2026
ADJOURNMENT
Board Member Bailey and Mayor Gordo advocated for future discussions on having youth partake in civic engagement and learning about the role of government through Youth Council or City Commissions.
Angel-Vanessa Bonds, residence not stated, advocated for increased support for children and young adults in areas of physical health and cognitive development.
Following discussion, on order of the Board President and Mayor, and by consensus, the information was received and filed.
On the order of the Board President and Mayor, the special joint meeting of the City Council and Pasadena Board of Education adjou^f&(J at 9:09 p.m.
ATTEST:
VictdTM. Gordo, Mayor
City of Pasadena
CitfClerl
Council Minutes504/20/2026