Pasadena City Council, Monday, March 3, voted to create an ordinance to protect renters impacted by the Eaton fire from eviction for six months, mirroring a recently passed Los Angeles County resolution.
The council voted unanimously, with Mayor Victor Gordo recusing himself, to direct members of city staff to draft an ordinance to be ready for first reading at the next City Council meeting on March 17.
Ryan Bell, chair of the Pasadena Rental Housing Board, presented the item to the council. The rental housing board recommended the City Council take action to protect those impacted by the fire from evictions.
The county resolution includes provisions for nonpayment of rent, repayment of rent and defense for qualifying individuals.
In addition to approval of an ordinance, the council encouraged the Rent Stabilization Department to use mediation to help tenants pay at least 25% of rent due and resolve disputes. The City Council directed members of city staff to return with information on possible funding for a city-sponsored rental assistance program.
The majority of public commenters supported the city following the county and even expanding the ordinance to be in effect for a year.
“Without protections landlords can evict not only displaced families but those who have chosen to open their homes to people in need due to economic hardship from loss of income or increased expenses, Lisa Thornton said.
Some argued the ordinance would put too much of a burden on landlords and urged the city to follow the county’s six-month proposal.
“The threats of more and more regulations and unfunded rent relief programs, it’s just not sustainable,” Deborah Lutz said.
Phase-2 Update
Deputy Director of Planning & Community Development Israel Del Toro said that he observed a Phase-2 post-wildfire cleanup operation in Pasadena over the weekend in council District 1.
He said the property he observed being cleared was approximately 1,500 square feet and required about 15 truckloads to haul debris.
Phase-1, which was recently completed in about a month, involved the removal household hazardous waste materials from destroyed structures.
Once crews completed Phase-1 at a property, it became ready for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to remove the remaining debris and six inches of top soil. However, the Army Corps and its contractors can only do work on properties whose owner has filed a right of entry form.
So far, 125 property owners in Pasadena have submitted right of entry forms to allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to remove debris. Del Toro said, 37 applications have been forwarded to the army corps.
Del Toro said the city’s rate of 30% of applications approved is ahead of the county rate, which is around 20%.
The deadline to opt-in to the Army Corps program is March 31.
Price gouging
Tim Wellman, Pasadena’s chief assistant prosecutor, reported that since the Eaton fire started there have been 43 complaints of price gouging in the city of Pasadena.
Price gouging is a misdemeanor with penalties including up to one year in county jail and/or a $10,000 fine.
At least 33 different rental units appeared in individual complaints. Some units appeared in multiple filings. Wellman said the complaints have been referred to the Pasadena Police Department for investigation.
“If we get a conviction for one of these cases we will make that as public as possible because it is such an egregious offense,” City Attorney Michele Bagneris.