McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
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Jim Radon
Saturday, August 1, 2026 9:Z8 ^M
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parcel tax for fire protection
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These policies seem to be popular with poorly managed city governments adjacent to LA. Why not extort more money from tax payers from whom you already extract enough funds to cover the cost for fire protection..
Besides, Pasadena is over building to raise more revenue. Where does that money go? Just another California government ploy.
Jim Radon
08/3/2026
ltem3
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
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Ken Kules
Sunday, August 2, 2026 1 1:56 AM
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City Council 8-3-2026 Agenda Item 1: Pasadena Fire, Wildfire, Emergency Preparedness and Response Parcel Tax
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The proposed language in the ballot question provides that the tax be in place "until ended by voters."This appears to be an effort to give the impression that the measure gives the voters a say in discontinuing the tax.
This is a "red herring" since the voters already have the prerogative to rescind the tax under State law. This is, in essence, a "forever tax" as it would require a voter initiative to rescind it with a majority vote -an effort more daunting than the City faces in getting a 2/3 vote on a City Council-backed initiative.
Ken Kules
District 4
08/3/2026
ltem3
APARTMENT ASSOCIATION QF.-fi^EAT^lfOS ANGELES
K 1.1.. f. t V I:. I.1
20?fSAUG-3 fiH 9^51
C.T'f CLLRK
CITY OF PASADENA
AAGLA
"Great Apartments Start Here!"
Janet M. Gagnon
Senior Vice President, Government
Affairs & External Relations
[email protected]
213.384.4131; Ext. 309
August 3, 2026
Via Electronic Mail
Mayor Victor Gordo
and the Members of the Pasadena City Council
Pasadena City Hall
Council Chambers, Room S249
100 North Garfield Avenue
Pasadena, California 91101
Re: Parcel Tax - Agenda Item 3
Dear Mayor Gordo and Members of the Pasadena City Council:
The Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles (AAGLA) represents rental housing providers throughout Greater Los Angeles, including many in Pasadena. More than 80% of our membership are mom-and-pop owners with 20 or fewer units. We are strongly opposed to the parcel tax resolution as it unfairly places a financial burden for fire services enjoyed by the entire community, including renters (residential and commercial), workers (including non-residents), tourists, sports enthusiasts, dignitaries, business and social visitors, solely onto property owners. A sales tax (a/k/a, transactions and use tax) would be far more equitable and would face no opposition according to the City's Finance Committee report. If the need for additional funding is urgent, then the tax with the least objections should be utilized to secure passage, which is a sales tax and NOT a parcel tax.
According to the City Manager's report, "Emergency medical services (EMS) calls now comprise the majority of the Fire Department's responses." EMS needs can be experienced by anyone who happens to be in Pasadena at the moment the experience a medical need, such as a heart attack, stroke, choking, overdose, etc. These needs are NOT limited to property owners. City staff have provided NO DATA as to the breakdown of calls by renters (residential or commercial), workers (including non-residents), or actual property owners (single-family housing, multifamily housing, commercial, retail, industrial). However, there is at least an even chance that the caller is a renter or worker versus a property owner. As such, it is only fair and equitable to use a sales tax to cover these costs rather than a parcel tax.
It is also worth noting that the Eaton fire was caused by a utility and not a property owner. Fires are caused by many sources and occur at many locations (public land, private land, and personal property), including residents that are cooking outdoors, arsonists, car fires, etc. Thus, the fighting and extinguishing of fires are fire services that also benefit the entire community.
Using a parcel tax is particularly damaging to multifamily property owners with properties before February 1,1995 due to the City's existing rent stabilization ordinance (RSO). These owners are already extremely limited in their ability to increase rents as the RSO forces annual increases to be lower than inflation on an ongoing basis at 75% of Consumer Price Index (CPI). This new parcel tax will as an additional permanent cost will only drive more mom-and-pop multifamily owners providing needed affordable housing out of business and their 08/3/2Q26
ltema^lof2
APARTMENT ASSOCIATION OF GREATER LOS ANGELES
AAGLA
"Great Apartments Start Here!"
properties to developers for luxury housing. As such the City will lose more naturally occurring affordable housing. We urge the City Council to exclude all multifamily properties from this new parcel tax in order to preserve need housing for working families.
Fire services are core city services that should be paid for by all taxpayers. As such, the Council should be utilizing the general fund to do so. Yet, it has failed to even begin review of the exiting budget to reallocate needed funding, identify cost savings and re-prioritize existing spending. To rush any ballot measure through on the fears of the community is simply unconscionable. Even more egregious, rushing a ballot measure that unfairly singles out property owners for services enjoyed by the entire community. This is an urgency of the Council's own making and yet it has failed to conduct a detailed review of its existing budget to meet the current needs of the community.
If additional urgent funding is needed for EMS, then the Council should bring forward a temporary tax measure, such as a bond measure and NOT a permanent parcel tax. This would allow the Council the time needed to thoroughly review its current budget to re-prioritize funding while also addressing the immediate additional need. A bond measure was not even included in City staffs analysis as to whether it would face more or less opposition. However, given its temporary nature, it would have been far more likely to have been supported.
The Council has repeatedly stated the need to pass a ballot measure now. Yet, it is considering a parcel tax that is extremely unfair and facing significant opposition. If the goal is to get a measure passed, then the City should be promoting the least objectionable approach. According to the Finance Committee report, a sales tax would face NO OPPOSITION. It could also be structured as a "temporary" tax by inserting a sunset date. If the funding is truly urgently needed, then the Council should be promoting a sales tax. A sales tax would also be far more equitable, since it would encompass the entire community that is benefiting from fire services, particularly EMS where the need is greatest.
We again urge the Council to reject the parcel tax resolution and instead use a sales tax (either permanent or temporary) instead. If the Council moves forward with a parcel tax, we request that all multifamily properties be excluded from it.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Please feel free to reach out to me directly by telephone at (213) 384- 4131; Ext. 309 or via electronic mail at janet(%aagla.ore.
Sincerely,
•ja'^rcwn<wz'
^
Janet M. Gagnon, Esq.
CC: Daniel Yukelson, Executive Director, Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
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Steve Haussler
Monday, August 3, 2026 10:23 AM
PublicComment-AutoResponse
Madison, Steve; Chapman, Justin
Agenda Item 3 today
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Hello
I am very much opposed to the tax proposal on the agenda: out of a $1.4 Billion budget I cannot believe $30 or so million cannot be found on an annual basis to fund the needed upgrades for the Fire Department. Addingthis tax measure is yelling "FIRE!" on a too-crowded ballot and uses fear to avoid the Council doing their proper job of balancing our budget.
Further, I say this as a citizen who lost two homes in the Eaton Fire.
Thankyou foryour consideration.
Steve Haussler
Pasadena 91105
08/3/2026
ltem3
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
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Lisa M Haussler
Saturday, August 1, 2026 1:53 PM
PublicComment-AutoResponse; Gordo, Victor; Madison, Steve; [email protected]; Mellem, Araceli
Agenda Item 3
^
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I strongly support maintaining excellent fire protection and emergency response services. However, I am concerned about placing another permanent parcel tax on Pasadena property owners without first demonstrating that existing revenues have been fully evaluated and that alt reasonable alternatives have been explored. Please carefully consider the cumulative financial impact on homeowners and local businesses before moving this measure forward.
Sincerely,
Lisa hlaussler
Pasadena, CA 91105
08/3/2026
ltem3
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
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Tiffany Wopschall
Monday, August 3, 2026 1:36 PM
PublicComment-AutoResponse
Proposed Pasadena Fire Parcel Tax
To Whom this may concern:
I strongly support maintaining excellent fire protection and emergency response services. However, I am concerned about placing another permanent parcel tax on Pasadena property owners without first demonstrating that existing revenues have been fully evaluated and that all reasonable alternatives have been explored. Please carefully consider the cumulative financial impact on homeowners and local businesses before moving this measure forward.
Regards,
Tiffany
i?*.,
<^
—
TIFFANY WOPSCHALL
REALTOR® | CAL DRE# 02129096 | Hythe Realty
[email protected]
08/3/2026
ltem3
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
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Giselle Mora <c
Monday, August 3, 2026 1:36 PM
PublicComment-AutoResponse
Urgent: Proposed Pasadena Parcel Tax & What It Means for Local Homeowners Some people who received this message don't often get email fromam why this is important [ I ] CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button (PAB). For more information about the PAB view article "KB0011474" on the DolT portal.
Hi,
I'm reaching out because something came across my radar at the Pasadena City Council that directly impacts property owners and home buyers in our community, and I thought you should know about it.
The City Council is currently considering placing a measure on an upcoming ballot for a new annual parcel tax.
The proposal would charge 19<t; per square foot of improved property to help fund fire protection and emergency medical services.
To give you an idea of what that looks like in real numbers: for a typical 1,600 sq. ft. home, that's an extra $300 added to the tax bill every single year.
Now, as a local realtor, I work with firefighters, paramedics, and first responders all the time—no one is questioning how vital their work is or the need to keep our community safe. But Looking at the broader picture of local real estate, I have serious concerns about what anotherpermanenf tax means for our neighborhood:
Cumulative Cost Pressures: Between rising property taxes, skyrocketing home insurance premiums, and utility costs, the price tag of homeownership in Pasadena is becoming harder to manage for young families, seniors on fixed incomes, and Long-time residents alike.
Housing Affordability: Every added fee chips away at overall affordability, making it that much tougher for first-time buyers to enter the market or for current owners to stay in their homes.
Fiscal Responsibility: Before we place another forever-tax on property owners, we should be asking whether the city has fully explored other existing budget solutions and funding options first.
Best regards,
Giselle Nora
Local Realtor, and member of PFAR
08/3/2026
Item 3
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
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KayTolentino <
Monday, August 3, 2026 2:17 PM
PublicComment-AutoResponse
Proposed Pasadena Fire Parcel Tax
High
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To whom it may concern,
I strongly support maintaining excellent fire protection and emergency response services. However, I am concerned about placing another permanent parcel tax on Pasadena property owners without first demonstrating that existing revenues have been fully evaluated and that all reasonable alternatives have been explored. Please carefully consider the cumulative financial impact on homeowners and local businesses before moving this measure forward.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
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KAY
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TRADEMARK
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BROKER
DRE#01919372
OWNER
Immediate Past President - Pasadena Foothills
Association of Realtors 2024'''
CAR. Board of Directors 2023, 2024"
N.A.R. Committee Member 2024'-
P: 626.394.9494
E: [email protected]
A: 680 E. Colorado Blvd. Suite 180 Pasadena, CA 91101
www.trademark-realestate.com
*Not speaking on behalf of any organization un less otherwise stated 08/3/2026
ltem3
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
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julianna
Monday, August 3, Z026 2:28 PM
PublicComment-AutoResponse
[email protected]; 'David Delgado'; Jomsky, Mark; 'Annette Yasin'; Cole, Rick; Lyon, Jason; Rivas, Jessica; 'Tina Miller'; 'Marsha Rood'; [email protected]; Jones, Justin; Hampton, Tyron; 'Gail Price'
RE: Opposition to Item #3 — City Council Meeting Agenda, August 3, 2026 I
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DATE: August 3, 2026
FROM: Julianna Delgado, MArch, PhD, FAICP. Pasadena Property Owner; Past President, Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood Association; President, Southern California Planning Congress RE: Item #3 - August 3, 2026, City Council Meeting Agenda, "ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS RELATED TO CALLING A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION CONSOLIDATED WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF PASADENA AN ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER 4.110 TO TITLE 4 OF
THE PASADENA MUNICIPAL CODE, ESTABLISHING THE PASADENA FIRE, WILDFIRE, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
PARCEL TAX, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF TWO-THIRDS OF THE VOTES CAST BY VOTERS VOTING ON THE PROPOSAL WITHIN THE CITY"
Mayor Gordo and Members of the City Council:
I am wholly in favor of funding the Pasadena Fire Department so it has the equipment, staffing, and facilities it needs to protect our community. However, I am OPPOSED to your method of financing deficiencies by imposing the entire burden on property owners as a parcel tax increase on the November ballot. The proposed tax is wholly inequitable for those who live in owner- occupied dwelling units, especially those who are aging in place on fixed incomes. Property owners have been taxed for the library improvements, school improvements, and other community-wide needs. For those living in and improving their historic homes, many no longer benefit from Mills Act Contract relief and, in some cases, their property taxes have more than tripled since the Eaton Fire. Since fire suppression impacts all of us, the entire community should bear the cost of additional funding.
For those who own rental properties (which I do not), the argument is NOT TRUE that increased costs in the form of property-tax assessments are passed down to renters. The amount of rent increase for most Pasadena renters is fixed each year, regardless of bond measures, other increases in property taxes, or other expenses for the owner. The property owner by law cannot pass increases on to their tenants by raising rents over and above the yearly rental increase rate. Thus, renters benefit from Fire Department services and although they make up a significant percentage of the City's inhabitants and are responsible for incurring a significant percentage of the service costs, they do not pay and, if approved, will not pay their fair share for increases if solely funded through a parcel tax. Renters may vote to incur the parcel tax yet it is at no cost to themselves, which is also unfair. The same is true for business owners who lease their properties at a fixed rate yet benefit from Fire Department protections and do not incur increased expenses as a result.
Please consider a more equitable means to fund Fire Department needs so that all who benefit from them are responsible for the cost. Please stop taxing solely property owners to cover City-wide deficits.
Julianna Delgado, M.Arch, Ph.D, FAICP
President, Southern California Planning Congress
Design Commissioner (Chair), City of Pasadena
Planning Commissioner (Vice Chair), City of Pasadena
Member, Board of Zoning Appeals, City of Pasadena
Member, Mayor's Housing Task Force, City of Pasadena
08/3/2026
ltem3
Professor Emerita, Department of Urban and Regional Planning California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
After enlightenment, do the laundry.
- Zen proverb
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
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Chang, Richard
Monday, August 3, 2026 3:31 PM
PublicComment-AutoResponse
Pasadena Fire Parcel Tax
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Dear Mayor and City Council,
I strongly support maintaining excellent fire protection & emergency response services.
However, I am concerned about placing another permanent parcel tax on Pasadena property owners without first demonstrating that existing
revenues have been fully evaluated and that all reasonable alternatives have been explored. Please carefully considerthe cumulative financial
impact on property owners and local business before moving this measure forward.
Richard Chang
*Wire Fraud is Real*. Before wiring any money, call the intended recipient at a number you know is valid to confirm the instructions. Additionally, please note that the sender does not have authority to bind a party to a real estate contract via written or verbal communication. 08/3/2026
ltem3
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
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Aram
Monday, August 3, 2026 3:36 PM
PublicComment-AutoResponse
Agenda Item Pasadena property
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I strongly support maintaining excellent fire protection and emergency response services. However, I am concerned about placing another permanent parcel tax on Pasadena property owners without first demonstrating that existing revenues have been fully evaluated and that all reasonable alternatives have been explored. Please carefully consider the cumulative financial impact on homeowners and local businesses before moving this measure forward.
Aram Gaboudian
Keller Williams Los Angeles
Cell 626-242-8197
CalDRE License 01493911
Website
Instagram
YouTube
x
Linkedin
08/3/2026
ltem3
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
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Kelly Metcalf
Monday, August 3, 2026 4:33 PM
PublicComment-AutoResponse
re Proposed Pasadena Fire Parcel Tax
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Hello!
Maintaining excellent fire protection and emergency response services is very important and I highly support that. hlowever, I am concerned about placing another permanent parcel tax on Pasadena property owners without first demonstrating that existing revenues have been fully evaluated and that all reasonable alternatives have been explored. Please carefully consider the cumulative financial impact on homeowners and local businesses before moving this measure forward.
KellyHetcalf
eXp Realty
DRE License #01398758
626-487-4727 Cell
[email protected]
08/3/2026
ltem3