Pasadena City Council Meeting: August 3, 2026

Pasadena City Council meeting, August 3, 2026: The council considered placing a fire and emergency-services parcel tax on the November ballot to support the department’s 10-year plan. The proposed tax is 19 cents per square foot of improved property and was estimated to raise approximately $22.1 million annually; the measure includes a low-income senior exemption and accountability provisions. Planned uses include seismic retrofits of Fire Stations 33 and 37, additional fire facilities and equipment, expanded emergency-response capacity, and ongoing wildfire preparedness. Speakers supported the safety investments but raised concerns about the tax’s burden on property owners, commercial and multifamily properties, and the absence of a sunset in the initial proposal.

The council approved the ballot measure 7–0, with one abstention, adding a 14-year sunset and a commitment to seismic retrofits of Stations 33 and 37. The council also clarified the ballot question and required that any remaining funds after expiration be used for the measure’s authorized purposes. No vendor selection, contract award, or purchasing action was identified. Public comment on a separate, non-agenda topic asked the city to continue supporting Rose Bowl Riders and youth programs at Myrtle Hill Farm; no related action was reported.