Pasadena City Council

The Pasadena City Council approved over $1.6 million to electrify city maintenance yards and revised its municipal solar and energy storage program construction approach. The decision passed unanimously without debate as part of a single motion by Councilmember Steve Madison, with Mayor Victor Gordo absent during the vote.

The Pasadena City Council will consider advancing new tax measures for the Nov. 3 ballot, with a Finance Department report outlining five revenue options. The Council is being asked to direct which options staff should draft into ballot resolutions, though no tax measures are being enacted or placed on the ballot immediately.

Pasadena's digital library usage, including eBooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines, surged by 80%, reaching 33,229 titles. With the Central Library closed for retrofit, the Pasadena City Council will consider a $2 million sole-source contract with OverDrive, Inc. to sustain and expand the digital collection.

Pasadena City Councilmember Rick Cole urges a broader public discussion about new taxes, cautioning against rushing into a proposal due to potential long-term financial and public service implications. The city faces growing fiscal pressures with a November ballot deadline approaching.

The Pasadena City Council instructed staff to draft a parcel-tax measure for the November ballot to rebuild earthquake-vulnerable fire stations, aiming to meet an August 7 deadline. The unanimous vote, initiated by Councilmembers Rick Cole and Steve Madison, directs staff to prepare the tax proposal and spending plan but does not yet place the tax on the ballot.

The Pasadena City Council is expected to vote on which tax proposals to advance for the Nov. 3 municipal election. The council is considering five new taxes for residents.

The Pasadena City Council will consider placing five new tax measures on the November ballot to address a widening structural deficit. The proposed taxes could generate $5 million to $30 million annually, but no tax was adopted during the July 13, 2026, meeting. The city's General Fund has been balanced using one-time funds for three consecutive years.

Pasadena City Council will consider accepting an additional $77,250 in state funding to increase a regional Urban Search and Rescue training agreement with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to $324,450. The proposal authorizes Interim City Manager Matthew Hawkesworth to extend the contract through June 30, 2028.

Pasadena City Councilmember Rick Cole is hosting a webinar on July 7 to discuss community mental health, citing international conflict, national unrest, the Eaton Fire's effects, and economic inequality as contributing factors. The event aims to explore approaches to strengthening mental health support and encourage public participation.

The Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship, rejecting President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to deny citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants. The Pasadena City Council had previously joined legal challenges against the executive order, supporting lawsuits defending the 14th Amendment.

Pasadena City Council cancelled its June 29 meeting and additional summer dates (July 6, July 27, August 3) as noted on the city's agenda portal. During June sessions, the council advanced the fiscal year 2026–27 budget and capital planning process, continued housing and land-use policy discussions, and approved routine items like contracts and grants.

Pasadena Water and Power customers will face a 9% increase in water costs starting July 1, 2024, as part of a five-year rate plan approved by the City Council. The adjustment is the third in a series of annual July 1 increases scheduled from 2024 through 2028.

Los Angeles County Registrar Dean Logan certified the June 2 primary election results, confirming Pasadena City Council incumbents' re-election and the passage of Measure ER, a healthcare sales tax expected to allocate $1 million annually to Pasadena's Public Health Department.

Pasadena City Council voted to annotate the portrait of former Mayor A.I. Stewart and remove a civic honor from Herbert Hahn, addressing the city's historical role in racially restrictive housing covenants that excluded Black, Latino, Asian, and Jewish families.

The Hahamongna Watershed Park Advisory Committee will hold its annual meeting on June 23 to review past accomplishments, elect officers, and establish a work plan for advising the Pasadena City Council. The committee operates under Section 2.150.110 of the Pasadena Municipal Code and provides non-binding recommendations to the council.

The number of people experiencing homelessness in Pasadena remained nearly unchanged in 2026, with 577 people counted, a decrease of four from 2025. However, unsheltered homelessness fell by 6% for the first time in five years.

The Pasadena City Council will consider removing a former mayor's picture from City Hall due to their promotion of housing covenants that barred Black residents and people of color. A 1917 court ruling declared these covenants unconstitutional.

Pasadena City Council is set to consider a pre-development agreement with Outward Bound Adventures to manage a vacant, publicly owned compound in the Hahamongna Watershed Park for up to 40 years. The nonprofit's plan relies on funds it has not yet raised, and the council will vote on June 22 to authorize negotiations.

Pasadena City Council members received minimal notice before a U.S. Army special-operations exercise occurred in a residential area, involving helicopters, flash-bangs, and simulated gunfire. Police Chief Eugene Harris confirmed no prior warning was given to council members, prompting calls for a policy requiring earlier notification.

The Pasadena City Council honored Betsy Nathane, a community advocate who transformed a closed elementary school into Linda Vista Park, following her recent death from cancer. Councilmember Steve Madison requested the adjournment to commemorate her contributions to West Pasadena and Linda Vista.

Pasadena City Council approved a $1.409 billion all-funds budget, including a $383.4 million general fund balanced with $6.8 million in one-time funds, resulting in a $43,000 surplus. The budget includes a directive for the police chief to submit an Olympics-era staffing plan by mid-year and leaves a proposed Real-Time Crime Center unfunded.

California’s SB 79 will expand housing development rights around Pasadena’s six Metro A Line stations, threatening historic neighborhoods. The Pasadena City Council has passed a temporary ordinance to protect certain historic areas while developing a long-term plan, but preservation groups argue the law leaves unresolved challenges for many historic sites.

The annual Turkey Tussle football game became a focal point during Pasadena City Council budget discussions as officials debated potential cuts to community events amid financial challenges. Interim City Manager Matthew Hawksworth mentioned staff reviewed reductions to non-essential programs and events.