OPENING:
CLOSED SESSION
Councilmember Madison
arrived at 5:12 p.m.
CITY OF PASADENA
City Council Minutes
March 30, 2026-5:00 P.M.
City Hall Council Chamber
UNOFFICIAL UNTIL
APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Hampton
and Vice Mayor Rivas left
the meeting at 6:15 p.m.
Teleconference Location:
Kawga Hotel
Business Center
Piste de N'Guerigne, Somone, Petie Cote
Mbour, Thies, Senegal
Mayor Gordo called the regular meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. (Absent: Councilmember Madison)
Councilmember hlampton pari:icipated in the Closed Session via teleconference.
Vice Mayor Rivas reported that she is participating in the Closed Session remotely under Government Code Section 54953.8.3 "just cause" provision on the basis of having a contagious illness and is not able to participate in person.
On the order of the Mayor, the regular meeting recessed at 5:00 p.m. to discuss the following closed session items:
CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL
regarding pending litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Name of Case: Robison v. City of Pasadena, et al.
Los Angeles County Superior Case No.: 22AHCV00085
CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL
regarding pending litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 94956.9(d)(1)
Name of case: Davenport, S. v. City of Pasadena^ et al.
Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 21STCV18268
CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE regarding public employee
employment pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1) and 54957.6
Position: City Manager
Agency Designated Representative: Victor M. Gordo
The above closed session items were discussed, with no reportable action at this time.
Council Minutes103/30/2026
CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY
NEGOTIATORS pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8 Property Addresses: 275 Arlington Drive, Pasadena, CA
Agency negotiator: Miguel Marquez
Negotiating parties: State of California, Department of Transportation
Under negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
CONSIDERATION OF INITIATION OF LITIGATION pursuant to
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4): Two potential cases
CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL
regarding significant exposure to potential litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2): One potential case
CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Designated Representatives: Miguel Marquez and
Tiffany Jacobs-Quinn
Employee Organization: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency Designated Representatives: Miguel Marquez and
Tiffany Jacobs-Quinn
Employee Organization: Laborers International Union of North America
ROLL CALL:
Councilmembers:
Staff:
The above closed session items were not discussed.
On the order of the Mayor, the regular meeting reconvened at 6:17p.m. The pledge of allegiance was led by Councilmember Jones.
Mayor Victor M. Gordo
Vice Mayor Jessica Rivas (absent)
Councilmember Rick Cole
Councilmember Tyron Hampton (absent)
CouncilmemberJustin Jones
Councilmember Jason Lyon
Councilmember Steve Madison
Councilmember Gene Masuda
Assistant City Manager Matt Hawkesworth
City Attorney/City Prosecutor Michele Beal Bagneris
City Clerk Mark Jomsky
Council Minutes 2 03/30/2026
CEREMONIAL MATTERS
PUBLIC COMMENT ON
MATTERS NOT ON THE
AGENDA
Mayor Gordo presented a proclamation declaring the month of April 2026 as Donate Life Month in the City of Pasadena and recognized the many lives saved through organ donations. Alien Jolley, One Legacy Ambassador, accepted the proclamation, shared information on the importance of becoming a registered donor, and invited the public to participate in the Donate Life Run Walk at Azusa Pacific University taking place at the end of April.
Mayor Gordo also presented a proclamation declaring April 2026 as Earth Month and April 22, 2026 as Earth day in the City of Pasadena.
Lindsey Paige McCloy, Sustainability Administrator, and Lauren Siegel, Chair of the Environmental Advisory Commission, accepted the proclamation, thanked the City Council for recognizing Earth Day and Earth Month, shared environmentally friendly activities scheduled on April 18, 2026 at Villa Park and Brookside Park, and encouraged everyone to take action to protect the environment in various forms.
Ashley Du and Bernice Deng, Pasadena residents, advocated for the City Council to pass a plastic pellet ban resolution.
Kate E., Pasadena resident, spoke on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ethical investments.
The following individuals advocated for a sister cities relationship with the City of Guanajuato, Mexico:
Rene Gonzalez, Pasadena resident
Connie De la Torre, Pasadena resident
Gaeun Kwon, CJ Olive Young, USA, expressed gratitude to be opening up their first North American flagship store in the City.
JT Parr, residence not stated, provided comments on development of the Metro K Line.
Melvin D., residence not stated, advocated for a singles week for social interaction.
Chad Kroeger, residence not stated, sang a snippet of "More Than Friends" for the City Council.
Olden Denham, Pasadena resident, expressed concerns regarding local labor matters and officer-involved shootings.
Rose Malmberg, Pasadena resident, expressed concerns regarding unpermitted operations at Elli Banquet Hall on Lake Ave.
Council Minutes303/30/2026
CONSENT CALENDAR
City Council
APPOINTMENTS,
REAPPOINTMENTS, &
RESIGNATIONS
RESIGNATION OF HEATHER ROBB FROM THE
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMISSION (At Large
Nomination/District 3)
City Clerk/ Secretary
MINUTES APPROVED
CLAIMS RECEIVED AND
FILED
MOTION:
ORDI^ANC^S^
SECOND READING
February 23, 2026
February 23, 2026
March 2, 2026
March 2, 2026
March 7, 2026
March 8, 2026
City Council
Successor Agency to the Pasadena
Community Development Commission
City Council
Successor Agency to the Pasadena
Community Development Commission
City Council Special Meeting
City Council Special Meeting
Claim No. Claimant
2026-0231 Jerome Vaughn
2026-0232 Micheline McFarland
2026-0233 Anthony McFarland
2026-0234 Aleksandr Verniss
2026-0235 Live Nation Worldwide and
Creative Artists Agency
Claim Amount
$ 35,000.00+
35,000.00+
35,000.00+
154.66
35,000.00+
It was moved by Councilmember Lyon, seconded by Councilmember Masuda, to approve all items on the Consent Calendar. (Motion unanimously approved) (Absent: Councilmember Hampton and Vice Mayor Rivas)
Adopt "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASADENA,CALIFORNIA AMENDING THE LIGHT AND POWER RATE ORDINANCE, TITLE 13, CHAPTER 13.04 OF THE PASADENAMUNICIPAL CODE" (Ordinance No. 7466) City Clerk Jomsky reported that two letters expressing concerns and/or opposition to the proposed ordinance amendment were received by the City Clerk's Office, distributed to the City Council, posted online, and made part of the public record for this item.
The above ordinance was adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Cole, Jones, Lyon, Madison, Masuda, Mayor Gordo
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Hampton and Vice Mayor RivasABSTAIN: None Council Minutes 4 03/30/2026
RECOMMENDATIONS
FROM OFFICERS AND
DEPARTMENTS
City Manager
Adopt "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASADENA ADDINGPASADENA MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE 9, ARTICLE XIII,CHAPTER 100 TO ADOPT AN ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
STATEMENT AND CREATE A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION FOR
AGGRIEVED INDIVIDUALS" (Ordinance No. 7467)
Yadi, Pasadena resident, expressed support for the ordinance and advocated for explicit privacy protections to be mentioned in the ordinance.
The above ordinance was adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Cole, Jones, Lyon, Madison, Masuda, Mayor Gordo
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Hampton and Vice Mayor Rivas
ABSTAIN: None
Adopt "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASADENAAMENDING TITLE 17 (ZONING CODE), CHAPTER 61 (PERMITAPPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL), SECTION 17.61.030 (DESIGNREVIEW) OF THE PASADENA MUNICIPAL CODE, AND ADDINGSECTION 17.50.165 (OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FORHIGH-DENSITY HOUSING) TO CHAPTER 17.50 (STANDARDSFOR SPECIFIC LAND USES) TO THE PASADENA MUNICIPALCODE TO ADOPT OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR
HIGH-DENSITY HOUSING AND MODIFY THE DESIGN REVIEW
PROCESS FOR SUCH PROJECTS" (Ordinance No.7468)
The above ordinance was adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Cole, Jones, Lyon, Madison, Masuda, Mayor Gordo
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Hampton and Vice Mayor RivasABSTAIN: None CONSIDERATION OF RECONNECTING PASADENA 710 VISION
PLAN FOR THE RELINQUISHED 710 STUB PROPERTY
Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council:
(1) Find that the action proposed in the agenda report is covered by the "Common Sense" exemption set forth in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) as CEQA only applies to projects that may have a significant effect on the environment; and (2) Review, discuss, and provide direction in the following areas:
Immediate Next Steps:
a. Transition the land use concepts from the Vision Plan to the Planning Department and initiate environmental analysis, entitlements, and regulatory requirements;
Council Minutes503/30/2026
b. Direct staff to continue to develop and recommend financingmechanisms for developing the 710 Stub area;c. Direct that the 71 0 Stub area become the City's first sustainable,resilient and carbon neutral district; d. Initiate work on options for City Council consideration of agovernance structure to guide the development of the area;Restorative Justice:
e. Acknowledge past harms to former residents, businesses andinstitutions required to vacate the relinquishment andsurrounding area to clear the path for the freeway construction;f. Consider and/or further research all targets, goals, andprograms delineated in the Restorative Justice Framework ofthe Vision Plan report as part of consideration of a Citywideapproach to restorative justice. This includes the draft definitionof restorative justice, targets for affordable housing, the creationof a community oversight committee, a community benefitsplanning framework, policies for wealth generation throughhome and business ownership, business development support,workforce development, and other public benefits throughRestorative Justice; Land Use:
g. Set a goal of developing a minimum of 1 ,800 residential units inthe relinquishment area. This will include a mix of units forownership and rentals of varying affordability and size;Mobility, Access and Reconnection:
h. To advance reconnection, accessibility, multi-modat and activetransportation, and community safety, include the Boulevard andPaseos street and access concept as the working option to carryforward in the land use entitlement process (item "a" above);Direct staff to continue to work in partnership with Caltransregarding the transition of the existing freeway-to-freeway to alocal-to-freeway/freeway-to-local access system, as well as inthe creation of Transit Mobility Hub on Caltrans property in thearea immediately north of and connected to the relinquishmentarea; Other Items:
j. Direct staff to continue to work with Caltrans to identify a newlocation for the stormwater facility located in the southern portionof the relinquishment area; and k. Continue to grow existing partnerships - and seek newpartnerships - with public, private, and non-profit agencies andentities that enhance the delivery of positive outcomes from therelinquishment area for the City of Pasadena and its residentsand businesses.
Recommendation of the Reconnecting Communities 710Advisory Group: At their final meeting on March 18, 2026, theReconnecting Communities 710 Advisory Group voted not to take aposition on the Vision Plan. They instead chose to submit their ownreport to the City Council "...to highlight, supplement and make Council Minutes 6 03/30/2026
certain recommendations regarding the Vision Plan". Please seeAttachment C of the agenda report.
Brenda hlarvey-Williams, Assistant City Manager, providedintroductory comments on the item, acknowledged the variousdepartments that have collaborated on the 710 Stub project, andpresented a clip from Amplify, the documentary commissioned bythe City on the history of the 710 Stub. She also announced that thedocumentary won two awards, the 2025 Davey Award and the 2025MarCom Award. Mayor Gordo commended Suzanne Madison andthe entire Allegra Consulting team for winning these two prestigioushonors.
Wendy Macias, Project Manager, provided a PowerpointPresentation on the historical data of the 710-freeway site, findingsfrom a UCLA study on the impacts of the 71 0 Freeway on Pasadena,oral history gathered by Allegra Consulting, historical implications,and redress actions. DannyParker, Chair of the 710 Advisory Group,thanked the City Council, City staff, the 710 Advisory Group, themeeting attendees, and everyone who collaborated on the 710 Stubproject. Chair Parker provided a brief overview of the discussionshad by the Advisory Group and subcommittees, and how theyreached the proposed recommendations noting key themes offlexibility, community, and promoting the local economy, as well asthe importance of placemaking and public art. Tina Williams, Chairof the Restorative Justice Standing Committee, and Wayne Brandt,Chair of the Land Use and Mobility Standing Committee, bothprovided recaps of topics and discussions held by their respectivestanding committees. Kate Howe, Perkins Eastman Consulting,provided a Powerpoint presentation summarizing the proposed 710Vision Plan. She presented information on the concepts of the plan,including flexible land use, restorative justice elements, physicalreconnection of the land, and transportation frameworks/goals forthe project. Vaughan Davies, Perkins Eastman Consulting,presented the design principles and vision concepts for the streetdesign framework and urban spaces. David Grannis, reported on thenumerous regional partnerships involved in the ongoing project(Cattrans, SCAG, Metro, etc.). Jennifer Paige, Planning Director,reported on the next steps to develop a Specific Plan for the area.
Councilmembers Jones and Cole advocated for careful
considerations regarding where traffic is redistributed in the projectarea to minimize impacts to surrounding areas.
Blair Miller, Pasadena resident, urged the City Council to takethe 710 Advisory Group's recommendations into carefulconsideration and utilize suitable metrics to measure and define success.
Council Minutes703/30/2026
Veronica Dolleschel, Pasadena resident, advocated for the Cityto consider elements of housing, traffic patterns, and repairingthe harms of the past as the 710 Stub project moves forward.
The following individuals expressed support for the proposedrestorative justice initiatives as a means of accountability for pastharms and/or provided related comments:
Bert Newton, Pasadena resident
Jacqueline Kuykenball, Greenline Housing
Pastor Kerwin Manning, Pasadena resident
Wes Hampton, Pasadena Voices Orange Grove ResidentsCouncil, requested access to the traffic simulation study for theproposed project, and advocated for speed traffic cameras andimplementing noise reduction technology.
Gabo Lizardo, Chair of Arts & Culture Commission, advocatedfor the City to prioritize public art and cultural infrastructure aspart of the proposed project.
Thomas Tai, Pasadena resident, advocated for the City Councilto prioritize increased housing objectives in the proposedproject.
Michael Warner II, Pasadena resident, emphasized theimportance of maintaining emergency access points toHuntington Hospital when implementing the 710 Stub VisionPlan.
Catherine Jurca, Pasadena resident, expressed concernsregarding the project and study area boundaries, andrequested a more definitive study report.
Marcus Renner, Pasadena resident, advocated for larger publicspaces, the creation of an interpretive center to preservecommunity history, and a community-driven planning process.
Michael Canavan, Pasadena resident, encouraged moreambitious housing goals as being essential to reconnectingcommunities and addressing past displacement.
Ed Riddle, Pasadena resident, expressed concerns regardingaffordability of senior housing and its lack of emphasis in theproposed project.
Councilmember Madison thanked the 710 Advisory Group, City staff,and all stakeholders for their collaborative efforts on the project. Herequested City staff to return in two weeks with a decision-makingframework and recommended sequencing of such decisions.
Council Minutes 8 03/30/2026
BRIEF REPORTS FROM
REPRESENTATIVES/RE
QUESTS FOR FUTURE
AGENDA ITEMS
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gordo also requested information on feasibility and financing for the entire project, various ownership models, governance models for long-term management, and potential impacts of SB79 implementation and increased density in the design and
implementation of the 710 Vision Plan.
Following discussion, on the order of the Mayor, by consensus of the City Council, the information was received and filed, with the item to return on April 13, 2026.
Mayor Gordo requested City staff to took into a permanent art piece to commemorate the LA Olympics taking place in 2028, possibly at the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center.
On order of the Mayor, the regular meeting of the City Council adjourned at 9:32 p.m.
ATTEST:
Victor M. Gordo, Mayor
City of Pasadena
City Clerk
Council Minutes903/30/2026