AGENDA
LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING NOTICE
OCTOBER 5, 2026
PUBLIC MEETING 5:00 P.M.
MEMBERS
Steve Madison, Chair, District 6
Gene Masuda, District 4
Jess Rivas, District 5
STAFF
Phillip Leclair, Acting Assistant City Manager
Arnold Lee, Chief Assistant City Attorney
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary
MISSION STATEMENT
The City of Pasadena is dedicated to delivering exemplary municipal services, responsive to our entire community and consistent
with our history, culture and unique character.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Assistive Listening Devices are available from the City Clerk’s Office with a 24-hour advance notice.
Please call (626) 744-4124 to request use of a listening device.
Language translation services are available for this meeting by calling (626) 744-4124 at least 24 hours in advance.
Habrá servicio de interpretación disponible para éstas juntas llamando al (626) 744-4124 por lo menos con 24 horas de anticipación.
Items on the agenda may not be called in order listed.
Agendas and supporting documents are available on the Internet at http://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/city-council-legislative-policy-committee/ Materials related to an item on this Agenda submitted to the Legislative Policy Committee after distribution of the agenda packet will be posted online and listed as: “Supplemental Agenda Material Received after the Posting of the agenda”
PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING FOR OCTOBER 5, 2026, AT 5:00 P.M. WILL BE ACCEPTED IN-PERSON AND BY VIDEOCONFERENCE/TELECONFERENCE.
Link to City Meeting Policy:
cityofpasadena.net/CityCouncilMeetingPolicy
TO VIEW A LIVE STREAM OF THE MEETING:
http://pasadena.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=9 OR
HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/@PASADENAMEDIATV/STREAMS
AND
WWW.PASADENAMEDIA.ORG
In order to facilitate public participation at meetings the City will accept public comment in the following manner:
1. Whether participating in-person or virtually at the meeting, members of the public may provide public comment by submitting a speaker card prior to the start of public comment on that item, at the following webpage:
www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/public-comment/
If a public comment speaker wishes to speak on more than one agenda item, please indicate which items on the online form (multiple item speakers will be handled according to the process posted on the agenda and as specified in the City meeting policy). Public comments are limited to 3 minutes each, and the Chair and Committee may limit this time if reasonable under the circumstances.
2. In-person Meeting Participation: Complete an online speaker card at the following website: www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/public-comment/ After submitting a public speaker card, members of the public may attend the meeting in-person by coming to the Pasadena City Council Chamber, Room S249 at City Hall at the date and start-time of the posted meeting.
Virtual Meeting Participation: For virtual participants, you may attend by connecting to the meeting using a computer, other electronic device, or by telephone. Please review the agenda to identify the published start time for the meeting and connect to the meeting just prior to, or at the start of the meeting.
To participate in public comment for an item and to be recognized to speak, it is required that the speaker login to the meeting using the same name or telephone number used on the Speaker Card form. This will allow City staff to locate and promote the speaker into the meeting when it is time for their public comment.
Participants’ phone calls to the Committee meeting will be recorded as part of the Committee meeting. By staying on the line and making public comment during the Committee meeting by phone, you are agreeing to have your phone call recorded. Following is the connectivity information for virtual participation:
Computer or electronic devices, join the meeting at: cityofpasadena.net/cczoom Telephone only dial-in: 1-669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 161 482 446
3. Speaker Card Help Line: If a public comment speaker needs assistance in completing a speaker card, please call the City Clerk’s Office at: (626) 744-4124.
Help line will open 30 minutes prior to the posted start time of the meeting.
4. Members of the public may submit correspondence of any length prior to the start of the meeting, at the following email address:
[email protected]
Written correspondence will be forwarded to the Legislative Policy Committee prior to the start of the meeting, posted online, and made part of the legislative record for the item.
LIVESTREAM WITH CAPTIONING IS AVAILABLE AT WWW.PASADENAMEDIA.ORG, AND ALSO AT WWW.CITYOFPASADENA.NET/COMMISSIONS/AGENDAS,
IF YOU NEED A REASONABLE MODIFICATION OR ACCOMMODATION PURSUANT
TO THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
BECAUSE YOU ARE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE ELECTRONICALLY AS SET FORTH ABOVE, CONTACT THE CITY CLERK’S OFFICE
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AT (626) 744-4124 OR
[email protected].
REGULAR MEETING
AGENDA
LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 5, 2026
Public Meeting: 5:00 P.M.
Council Chamber, Pasadena City Hall
100 North Garfield Avenue, Room S249
The Committee may take action within its authority on any item listed on this agenda as it deems appropriate following consideration and discussion of the matter.
PUBLIC MEETING - 5:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
PUBLIC COMMENT – Public comment will be limited to a total of 20 minutes at the beginning of the meeting and will continue at the conclusion of the meeting, if necessary. Please limit comments to 3 minutes each
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
OLD BUSINESS
1. CONSIDERATION OF REVISED PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES
GOVERNING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL*
2. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND
STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL CITY
COUNCIL
3. CONSIDERATION OF A POLICY REGARDING THE VICE MAYOR
APPOINTMENT PROCESS *
4. RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT MEASURE PFD AND MEASURE UP FOR THE NOVEMBER 2026 LOCAL ELECTION; AND
RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT PROPOSITION 1 AND OPPOSE
PROPOSITIONS 39 AND 43 IN THE NOVEMBER 2026 STATE
ELECTION*
5. DISCUSSION ON AT&T COPPER WIRELINE SERVICES*
NEW BUSINESS
INFORMATION ONLY
Information only items contain no staff recommendations. The committee may, however, take action within its authority relating to informational items on the agenda as it deems appropriate following consideration and discussion of the matter.
6. BRIEFING BY CHRIS GIGLIO ON FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE MATTERS
7. BRIEFING BY KYRA EMANUELS ROSS ON STATE LEGISLATIVE MATTERS
8. DISCUSSION ON THE PASADENA FAIR HOUSING CHARTER
AMENDMENT*
9. DISCUSSION ON THE SCOPE OF THE LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE
WORK AND WORK PLAN
10. PAST AGENDAS FOR CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS*
a. Code Enforcement Commission – October 1, 2026
b. Pasadena Rental Housing Board – October 1, 2026
ADJOURN
* INDICATES ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED
OLD BUSINESS
1. CONSIDERATION OF REVISED PROTOCOLS AND
PROCEDURES GOVERNING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR
RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL*
OLD BUSINESS
3. CONSIDERATION OF A POLICY REGARDING THE VICE
MAYOR APPOINTMENT PROCESS*
OLD BUSINESS
4. RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT MEASURE PFD AND
MEASURE UP FOR THE NOVEMBER 2026 LOCAL
ELECTION; AND RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT
PROPOSITION 1 AND OPPOSE PROPOSITIONS 39 AND 43 IN
THE NOVEMBER 2026 STATE ELECTION*
OLD BUSINESS
5. DISCUSSION ON AT&T COPPER WIRELINE SERVICES*
Martinez, Ruben
From: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Subject: Legislative Policy Committee -October 6, 2026 -AT&T Copper Wireline Services (continued from 9/28 Item 8)
From: William M. Paparian <>
Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2026 7:39 PM
To: Madison, Steve <[email protected]>; Leclair, Phillip <[email protected]>; Jomsky, Mark <[email protected]>; Sabha, Tamer <[email protected]>; cityclerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Fw: Subject: Legislative Policy Committee-October 6, 2026 -AT&T Copper Wireline Services (continued from 9/28 Item 8)
[ 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.
For the meeting packet: the guest essay is now published here:
https://pasadenanow.com/main/guest-opinion-william-paparian-i-was-evacuated-in-the-eaton-firepasadena-must-fight-to-keep-our-landlines ----- Forwarded Message -----
From: William M. Paparian >
To: Steve Madison < Phillip Leclair < Mark Jomsky
< Tamer Sabha Cityclerk <> Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at 04:35:14 AM PDT Subject: Subject: Legislative Policy Committee -October 6, 2026 -AT&T Copper Wireline Services (continued from 9/28 Item 8)
Dear Chair Madison:
Thank you for placing AT&T copper wireline services on the September 28 agenda as Item 8 and for continuing the matter to October 6.1 ask the Committee not to receive and file this item. I ask you to recommend that the City Council take a formal position and direct staff to return with a draft resolution.
Since July, a federal judge refused to freeze California's carrier-of-last-resort rules, while the FCC granted AT&T a path to discontinue copper service on or after June 1, 2027. The lawsuit and the FCC preemption petition are still pending. That is why Pasadena should take a position now, before the 2027 cutoff.
The Eaton Fire showed how quickly power outages and strained cell networks can leave residents without reliable communications. Copper landlines carry their own power and still support home alarms, smoke detectors, and medical-alert devices. I was evacuated on January 7, 2025. I do not want Pasadena to give up that backup until a replacement is independently shown to work through multi-hour outages and a mass evacuation.
1 Sabha, Tamer
From:
Sent:To:
Cc:
Subject:
William M. Paparian
Friday, September 25, 2026 8:46 AM
PublicComment-AutoResponse
Leclair, Phillip; Jomsky, Mark; Madison, Steve
Legislative Policy Committee Meeting - 9/28/26 - Agenda item #8 [A] CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachmpntc iinlpcs ynii frnowthe content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button (PAB). For more information about the PAB view article "KB0011474" on the DolT portal.
Chair Madison and Members of the Legislative Policy Committee:
Thank you for placing copper landline service on the September 28 agenda as Item 8. I am William Paparian, former Mayor of Pasadena. I was evacuated during the Baton Fire on January 7, 2025.1 ask the Committee not to receive and file this item, but to recommend that the City Council take a formal position and direct staff to return with a draft resolution.
On January 7, power failed and cell service became unreliable in foothill and canyon neighborhoods. Systems that depend on home electricity and strained wireless networks are not a complete emergency communications system. Copper landlines often continue to function because they carry power from the central office. They also support home alarms, smoke detectors, and medical-alert devices that many residents, especially seniors, still use. In parts of Pasadena, cell coverage was already uneven before the fire.
AT&T is moving to retire copper service. Fiber and wireless may serve everyday needs. They have not been shown to replace landlines when the grid is down, winds are high, and thousands are evacuating at once. Pasadena should not give up a working backup until that test is met here.
I request that the Committee recommend that the City Council:
1. Oppose withdrawal of copper landline service in Pasadena's high wildfire-risk and poor-coverage areas until a replacement is independently shown to work through multi-hour power outages and massevacuation conditions.
2. Urge the FCC and the California Public Utilities Commission to require that testing before copper service is discontinued.
3. Direct staff, working with Police, Fire, emergency management, and Pasadena Water and Power, to identify residents who still rely on landlines for voice service, alarms, and medical devices. 4. Direct staff to return within 45 days with a draft Council resolution and proposed letters to the FCC, CPUC, and our state and federal representatives.
This is not a request to stop fiber or wireless investment. It is a request to keep a disaster-resilient layer of communications until a substitute is proven under the conditions Pasadena has already experienced.
I am available to meet with the Committee and staff.Respectfully, William Paparian
Former Mayor of Pasadena
1 Sabha, Tamer
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Martinez, Ruben
Friday, September 25, 2026 10:49 AMSabha, Tamer
FW: Place Preservation of Copper Landlines on August Legislative Policy Committee Agenda - Post-Eaton Fire Public Safety
On Jul10, 2026, at 4:24 AM, William M. Paparian •wrote:
[EXTERNAL EMAIL from
Dear Councilmember Madison,
Having been evacuated during the Eaton Fire on January 7, 2025, I saw how quickly power outages and strained cellular networks can endanger residents in our foothill and canyon neighborhoods. I respectfully and urgently request that the Legislative Policy Committee place the preservation of reliable copper landline service on its agenda for the next meeting in August (or the earliest available date). Below is the full text of a draft op-ed I prepared on this critical public safety issue. I can alsomeet with you and staff if helpful.
I Was Evacuated in the Eaton Fire. Pasadena Must Fight to Keep Our Landlines.By William Paparian Former Mayor of Pasadena On the evening of January 7, 2025, as fierce Santa Ana winds whipped through the San Gabriel foothills, I was among the thousands ordered to evacuate as the Eaton Fire exploded outofEaton Canyon. Power flickered and failed across neighborhoods. Cell service became unreliable. In the darkness and chaos, clear information and the ability to make a call were anything but guaranteed.
The Eaton Fire destroyed thousands of homes, claimed lives, and tested our emergency systems to the breaking point. Widespread power outages—tens to hundreds of thousands of customers affected—hampered cell towers and Wireless Emergency Alerts. After-action reviews documented delays and inconsistencies in evacuation warnings, especially in vulnerable foothill areas. Some residents received little or no notice before flames arrived. 911 calls captured raw panic. In those moments, every reliable communication channel was a potential lifeline.
Traditional copper landlines remain uniquely valuable in such disasters. Unlike wireless or internet-based phones, they carry their own low-voltage power from the central office and 1 often continue to function even when local electricity is out. They support home alarm systems, smoke detectors, and medical alert devices that many residents—particularly seniors and those with health conditions—depend upon. In Pasadena's canyon and hillside neighborhoods, where cell coverage has long been spotty, landlines have served as aproven backup.Yet AT&T is moving aggressively to retire copper landline service for roughly 184,000California households and businesses. The company cites declining usage and highmaintenance costs. With FCC approval providing a pathway forward, the utility arguesmodern wireless alternatives are superior. But the Eaton Fire demonstrated the fragility ofsystems dependent on both home power and cell infrastructure. When the grid fails and networks strain, those "modern" solutions can fail at the exact moment we need them most.Pasadena lived through this reality. Our city was directly in the fire's path. We cannot afford to dismantle a resilient layer of our emergency communications infrastructure before truly equivalent replacements are proven under disaster conditions.I urge the Pasadena City Council to act decisively. The Council's Legislative PolicyCommittee should immediately place this matter on its agenda and recommend that the fullCouncil adopt a resolution:
Opposing the premature retirement of copper landlines in high wildfire-risk zones.Calling on the FCC and California Public Utilities Commission to require rigorous,independent testing of any replacements in real-world emergency scenarios. • Directing city staff to coordinate with state and federal officials to protect service for alarm systems, medical devices, and basic voice access in Pasadena.
This is not resistance to progress—it is responsible governance. Pasadena has always prided itself on preparedness and protecting our most vulnerable residents. Preserving reliable landlines as a disaster-resilient backup honors the lessons of the Eaton Fire and strengthens our city for whatever challenges lie ahead.
William Paparian is a former Mayor of Pasadena and longtime resident of the city.
Thank you for your leadership on public safety.
I look forward to your response and am available to discuss further.Best regards, William Paparian
Former Mayor of Pasadena
2 INFORMATION ITEM
8. DISCUSSION ON THE PASADENA FAIR HOUSING CHARTER
AMENDMENT*
Martinez, Ruben
From: ru ma rti nez@cityof pasadena. net
Subject: FW: Legislative Policy Committee Meeting - 10/5/26 From: Marley Otto·
Sent: Wednesday, September JU, LULti u:43 AM
To: Sabha, Tamer <[email protected]>
Cc: Madison, Steve ; Rivas, Jessica ; Masuda, Gene
Subject: Legislative Policy Committee Meeting - 10/5/26 I You don't often get email from Learn 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.
Chair Madison and Members of the Legislative Policy Committee, My name is Marley and I am a tenant in Pasadena. I'm writing to tell you about my extremely negative experience encountering signature gatherers hired by a ballot measure committee called "Pasadena Housing Providers," who are attempting to qualify a measure for the ballot to weaken and eventually repeal essential tenant protections in Pasadena.
We encountered these petitioners multiple times outside of Vallarta on Orange Grove and each time they were extremely aggressive, and were being completely dishonest about what the petition included. They were telling people that it was a petition FOR rent control, when in fact it is exactly the opposite. When we pointed this out to them, they became irate and at one point store security had to come ask them to leave after they started yelling at us.
California Election Code§ 18600 reads, in part, "Every person is guilty of a misdemeanor who: "(a) Circulating, as principal or agent, or having charge or control of the circulation of, or obtaining signatures to, any state or local initiative, referendum or recall petition, intentionally misrepresents or intentionally makes any false statement concerning the contents, purport or effect of the petition, or the petition's Official Top Funders disclosure required by Section 107, to any person who signs, or who desires to sign, or who is requested to sign, or who makes inquiries with reference to it, or to whom it is presented for the person's signature."
If this measure makes it on to the ballot it will be under fraudulent circumstances, which makes a mockery of our election proceedings.
I urge you to investigate and prosecute the individuals who have propagated the false information about this ballot measure and make it clear that this kind of blatant lying and manipulation is not welcome or tolerated in Pasadena.
Thank you for your time!
1 Martinez, Ruben
From: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Legislative Policy Committee Meeting - 10/5/26 From: Steven Wood < >
Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 12:43 PM
To: Sabha, Tamer <[email protected]>
Cc: Madison, Steve ; Rivas, Jessica Masuda, Gene
Subject: Legislative Policy Committee Meeting - 10/5/26 I You don't often get email from . Learn 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 Do!T portal.
Chair Madison and Members of the Legislative Policy Committee, My name is Steven Wood and I am a tenant in Pasadena. I am writing to tell you about my experience encountering signature gatherers hired by a ballot measure committee called "Pasadena Housing Providers," who are attempting to qualify a measure for the ballot to weaken and eventually repeal essential tenant protections in Pasadena. Every time I visit the grocery store (Ralph's on lake) I am approached by a signature gatherer and blatantly lied to. I have seen the signature gatherers being trained and witnessed the trainer instructing the gatherer explicitly to lie about the contents of the ballot measure. The trainer told the gatherer to say "this ballot measure will strengthen rent control and if they ask "who is promoting the measure?" tell them Pasadena tenants union". These are provable lies designed to trick Pasadenans. This blatant and intentional misleading of voters must be stopped. California Election Code§ 18600 reads, in part, "Every person is guilty of a misdemeanor who: "(a) Circulating, as principal or agent, or having charge or control of the circulation of, or obtaining signatures to, any state or local initiative, referendum or recall petition, intentionally misrepresents or intentionally makes any false statement concerning the contents, purport or effect of the petition, or the petition's Official Top Funders disclosure required by Section 107, to any person who signs, or who desires to sign, or who is requested to sign, or who makes inquiries with reference to it, or to whom it is presented for the person's signature." I urge you to investigate and prosecute the individuals who have propagated the false information about this ballot measure and make it clear that this kind of blatant lying and manipulation is not welcome or tolerated in Pasadena. -Steven Wood
1 INFORMATION ITEMS
10. PAST AGENDAS FOR CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS