Debris cleanup continues in Altadena and Pasadena (Photo – ColoradoBlvd.net)
The special Pasadena City Council meeting on March 17th included the authorization of Mayor Gordo’s co-sign on Governor Newsom’s request for $39 billion in federal funding toward fire recovery efforts, a presentation from Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang, and strong support from citizens on item 19, the ordinance offering protection for eligible tenants directly financially affected by the Eaton fire. The meeting concluded with further discussion on what the implementation of the Ellis Act could look like.
By Chase Jones
Mayor Victor Gordo opened the meeting by announcing the passing of Don Nollar, who had a significant impact on Pasadena over his 30 years of service as Director of the Planning and Development Department and a member of Civitan.
“Don was very committed not just to Pasadena, but to people. We are very grateful for his contributions to the City,” said Mayor Gordo.
Councilmember Rick Cole, who considered Don a mentor, described him as “passionately committed to good planning principles for the city, even when it wasn’t always popular.”
Los Angeles County Assessor
Next, Jeffrey Prang, Los Angeles County Assessor, gave a presentation to clarify the services his office provides in relation to recovery from the Eaton fire. He explained how to register for each assessor service program, with most offering a digital sign-up option through an E-service account. Prang also discussed the impact of the fires on property values and the taxation rates for homes rebuilt at equal or higher value than before the destruction. He noted that value is not determined by the size of a home but by the cost of replacement.
Prang highlighted an important point about updating ownership records on inherited homes. Some residents had not updated the deed after inheriting their property. If the deed is not corrected, the current resident does not technically own the property. They have six months to update the deed after being notified, and failure to do so could result in up to eight years of back taxes. Prang invited residents to a disaster relief resource fair on Saturday, March 22, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Duarte Community Center.
Governor Newsom
This past week, Governor Newsom requested that the cities affected by the recent Palisades and Eaton fires send letters supporting his $39 billion federal funding request for recovery aid. This funding would help restore not only Pasadena’s communities but also those in neighboring cities. Los Angeles has already submitted its letter in support backing Newsome. The council quickly ratified the decision without debate, and there were no negative public comments regarding the signing of the support letter.
Item 19
The agenda item that received the most public support was item 19, which focuses on protection for qualifying income-eligible tenants directly financially impacted by the Eaton fire. Several speakers during public comment shared that this protection is essential to avoid homelessness for some residents. The homes that burned down were not just residences but also places of employment. Three speakers, including one landscaper, shared stories of workers whose jobs, such as landscaping and housekeeping, were also lost when the homes they worked at were destroyed. Item 19 garnered six public speakers and 17 letters of support, and it was ratified as well.
Item 17
The final item, item 17, did not proceed smoothly. A representative from the Rental Housing Board presented a PowerPoint explaining that the Ellis Act aims to protect landlords, regulate entry and exit from the housing market, and prevent the abuse of these protections. This topic has been under discussion for over a year. Some councilmembers were skeptical of the 10-year agreement presented, as it was the only option available, and they questioned the actual benefits to both landlords and tenants. Councilmembers requested studies and data before committing to any changes. These studies, which had been requested in previous meetings, were still not available, leading to yet another meeting without a decision on the Ellis Act.
While each speaker during public comment on this topic understood the risks of implementing the Ellis Act, the urgency to get and keep families in homes was seen as far more important to them.
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