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Ordinance Fact Sheet
May 11, 2026
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY ATTORNEY/CITY PROSECUTOR DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASADENA AMENDING TITLE 9(PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND WELFARE), TO ADD ARTICLE XIV,CHAPTER 9.99, SECTIONS 9.99.010 to 9.99.080 TO THE PASADENA
MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO PRESERVING CITY REAL
PROPERTY FOR CITY PURPOSES
TITLE OF PROPOSED OKDINANCE:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASADENA AMENDING TITLE 9 (PUBLICPEACE, MORALS AND WELFARE), TO ADD ARTICLE XIV, CHAPTER 9.99,SECTIONS 9.99.010 to 9.99.080 TO THE PASADENA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATEDTO PRESERVING CITY REAL PROPERTY FOR CITY PURPOSES PURPOSE OF ORDINANCE:
As directed by the City Council on April 6, 2026, the purpose of this ordinance is toprotect City real property so it remains accessible to the public and useable for itsintended City purposes by prohibiting City real property from being used as a stagingarea, processing location, or operations base for unauthorized law enforcement actions, including immigration enforcement.
MEETING OF5/11/2026
AGENDA ITEM NO.24
Preserving City Property for City Purposes
May 11, 2026
REASON WHY LEGISLATIOmS NEEDED:
The City of Pasadena is committed to the well-being of all its residents, irrespective of immigration status, and to serving its diverse community in an inclusive, safe, and secure environment. Critical to this commitment, the City has fundamental interests in securing for all residents safe and unimpeded access to City spaces and facilities, and in fostering a relationship of trust between the City's immigrant community and City Departments. Violative of these fundamental interests, unauthorized federal law enforcement activity involving City owned or controlled real property impedes City residents and employees from accessing or using City owned or controlled real property for its intended purpose, endangers residents and employees using it, and undermines the relationship of trust between the City and the community. In addition to sowing fear and distrust amongst City residents, unauthorized federal law enforcement on City property discourages residents from seeking essential City services.
The City has an interest in: (1) protecting its resources and personnel from being forced to undertake costly federal enforcement efforts, in violation of the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution; (2) protecting its private spaces from unwarranted intrusion, in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution; and (3) following applicable State law. If the City permitted the use of City owned and controlled real property as a staging area, processing location, or operations base for unauthorized federal law enforcement including, but not limited to, of federal immigration laws, the City would relinquish its resources contrary to its established policy, undermining trust in local government by City residents of all immigration statuses. The City does not seek to obstruct or impede lawful federal immigration enforcement. The City's interest is in ensuring that such enforcement is carried out by federal immigration officers, not by City personnel or employees, and in a manner that comports with the City's proprietary right to unimpeded use of its real property for City purposes, such as City programs and services that further the well-being of all residents irrespective of immigration status.
Since June of 2025, federal immigration agents have frequently conducted raids across southern California, including the City of Pasadena, on streets and at businesses, amongst a multitude of other locations. For City residents, the raids reach virtually every facet of life. Video footage and eyewitness accounts of the raids reveal that federal immigration agents typically have not shown judicial warrants or even administrative ones. Video recordings and eyewitness accounts show also that during the raids, federal immigration agents often wear masks and plainclothes and do not identify themselves. This practice heightens tension and fear among City residents, including those investigated or detained, bystanders, and those who learn about the raids through the news, social media, or word of mouth.
Federal immigration operations have taken place at numerous locations throughout the City, endangering public health and safety, and impeding and disrupting City functions.
The City has been compelled to expend its resources to mitigate the harms. It has, Preserving City Property for City Purposes
May 11,2026
therefore, become imperative that the City act to protect its real property to preserve it for access and use by the public for its intended City purposes. This protective action includes prohibiting the use of its real property as a staging area, processing location, or operations base for unauthorized law enforcement actions, including immigration enforcement.
PROGRAMS, DEPARTMENTS OR GROUPS AFFECTED:
All City Departments, as well as City residents, will be affected by the proposed ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the adoption of the proposed revisions to the Pasadena Municipal Code.
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Preserving City Property for City Purposes
May 11,2026
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"), which excludes from environmental review actions that are not "projects" as defined by California Public Resources Code ("PRC") Section 21065 and within the meaning of CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b). PRC Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b) define a project as an action which may cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 excludes from the definition of "project" administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. The actions proposed herein, amending the PMC to add chapters related to preserving City real property for City purposes, is an administrative activity, and therefore is not a "project" as defined by CEQA. Since the action is not a project subject to CEQA, no environmental document is required.
Respectfully submitted)
I
MICHELE BEAL BAGN^H/S
City Attorney/City PrjdsepCitor
City Attorney's Office-^
Prepared by:
Arnold F. Lee
Chief Assistant City Attorney
Concurred by:
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\E\N ^. AAWKESWORTHMATTti
Interim City Manager
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