City of South Pasadena City Council
Wednesday, Feb. 2025 (Photo – Screenshot)
South Pasadena City Council members met on February 5, 2025, to Discuss Rent Freeze, Interim City Manager, and Post-Eaton Fire Issues.
By Daniel Peters
Rent Freeze Post-Eaton Fire
Councilmembers held an extensive discussion on Wednesday night about the possibility of implementing a rent freeze in response to rising rent prices and price-gouging following the Eaton Fire.
“Since the emergency declaration on January 7, there have been reports of significant increases in residential rent prices across the region [LA County],” stated Eduardo Lizarraga, Senior Management Analyst for the Community Development Department, “potentially impacting South Pasadena residents due to increased demand pressures on the local housing market.”
In 2019, the California State Assembly approved the Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) to curb rising rent costs. The law limits rent increases to a maximum of 10%, or 5% plus the cost of living—whichever is lower—and it mandates Just Cause eviction notices. These eviction notices fall into two categories:
- At Fault: A tenant violation (e.g., failure to pay rent or a breach of the lease).
- No-Fault: A landlord action (e.g., the property owner moving into the property or substantial remodels).
South Pasadena has enacted its own Just Cause Ordinance, which offers further protections for tenants. This includes eliminating the “substantial remodel” clause from the state ordinance, mandating relocation assistance for temporary housing, and providing tenants with a 5-day window to rescind any buyout agreement.
The California State Assembly has also passed several measures in response to recent wildfires. Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order N-11-25 prevents the eviction of tenants who are survivors of the LA wildfires. Additionally, price-gouging penalties were increased on January 14, and a new proposal seeks to freeze rents across LA County to January 7 rates. However, this measure has not yet been passed.
While these state-level actions influence cities like South Pasadena, the City Council has not yet approved a local ordinance to freeze rent in response to the fires. On Wednesday, Councilmembers discussed options, such as a temporary rent freeze for three to six months. However, there was continued hesitation, and the matter will be revisited at the next City Council meeting on February 19, where a Rent Stabilization Program will be discussed.
If you or anyone you know believes they are a victim of price-gouging, contact the South Pasadena Police Department to file a complaint.
Additional Post-Eaton Fire Information
In addition to rent control, Councilmembers also addressed issues related to parking and trash pickup following the Eaton Fire.
Since January 7, overnight parking enforcement has been suspended in South Pasadena. Other cities, such as Pasadena, planned to lift their suspension, but South Pasadena has not yet confirmed whether it will follow suit. Councilmembers also discussed the possibility of offering temporary overnight parking permits at a reduced price for displaced residents, though this remains under discussion and has not yet been implemented.
Another topic discussed was trash pickup for green waste left behind by the windstorm. If you or anyone you know still has green waste from the storm, contact the Public Works Department at (626) 403-7370 for assistance.
New Interim City Manager
On Wednesday night, Sean Joyce was appointed interim City Manager for South Pasadena, succeeding Don Penman. Penman, who was appointed in July 2024, had been contracted to serve until a permanent City Manager was found or until he reached 960 hours (roughly 24 weeks). With that milestone now met, Penman will retire, and Joyce will assume the role beginning February 9.
Joyce previously served as South Pasadena’s City Manager during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. He will be re-hired under the same contract terms as Penman, meaning he will serve until a permanent City Manager is found or until he reaches 960 hours.
Additionally, Joyce has served as interim City Manager in Huntington Beach, San Clemente, and Laguna Beach.
Watch the full meeting at this link.
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