Additional Documents

"Additional Documents" Agenda

CITY OF SOUTH PASADENA

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2026, AT 7:00 PM

1.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS

Additional Documents to the May 6, 2026, City Council Meetings. The attached documents include submitted written public comments and amendments to the agenda. Submit by no later than 12:00 p.m., on the day of the City Council meeting. Correspondence received after this time will be distributed the following business day.

AMENDED ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO THE MAY 6, 2026, CITY COUNCIL MEETING

General Public Comment_Ed Elsner

Public Comment_Item No. 20

Public Comment_Item No. 21

Presentation for Study Session Item No. 1

Presentation for Item No. 19

Presentation for Item No. 20

Memo for Item No. 21

1. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS CITY OF SOUTH PASADENA ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2026, AT 7:00 PM Additional Documents to the May 6, 2026, City Council Meetings. The attached documents include submitted written public comments and amendments to the agenda. Submit by no later than 12:00 p.m., on the day of the City Council meeting. Correspondence received after this time will be distributed the following business day. AMENDED ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO THE MAY 6, 2026, CITY COUNCIL MEETING General Public Comment_Ed Elsner Public Comment_Item No. 20 Public Comment_Item No. 21 Presentation for Study Session Item No. 1 Presentation for Item No. 19 Presentation for Item No. 20 Memo for Item No. 21 1

Additional Documents Agenda Report ITEM NO. 21 DATE: May 6, 2026 FROM: Todd Hileman, City Manager PREPARED BY: Nikima S. Newsome, Chief City Clerk SUBJECT: AMENDED ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO THE MAY 6, 2026, CITY COUNCIL MEETING Executive Summary Attached are additional documents for the City Council meeting agenda. Attachment: General Public Comment_Ed Elsner Public Comment_Item No. 20 Public Comment_Item No. 21 Presentation for Study Session Item No. 1 Presentation for Item No. 19 Presentation for Item No. 20 Memo for Item No. 21 2

From: Ed Elsner To: City Council Public Comment Subject: General Public Comment -- Regular Council Meeting, May 6, 2026 Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 9:30:27 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of South Pasadena. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Mayor Rossi and Council Members Braun, Cacciotti, Ferguson, and Primuth: Here are some thoughts on a potential SB 79 alternative plan and related issues: A rent stabilization ordinance would significantly blunt the impact of SB 79 by exempting apartment parcels from large-scale transit-oriented housing development. The most reasonable interpretation of SB 79 is that rent-controlled apartment parcels would also be excluded from the calculation of net zoning capacity in the 1/4 mile default zone. Net zoning capacity would be the primary driver for decision making about a potential SB 79 “alternative plan," and to mitigate development impacts and the risk of displacement of existing residential tenants, the city should give serious reconsideration to a rent stabilization ordinance. At the same time, the city should look at updating its just cause eviction ordinance. Since the ordinance was adopted, the state Tenant Protection Act was amended to provide new eviction protections for residential tenants. However, the new protections do not apply in the city because the city has its own ordinance. The city's ordinance should be amended to incorporate the new state law protections. An SB 79 alternative plan presents conflict issues for council members and other decision makers who may own real property in the 1/4 mile default zone or in the 1/2 mile alternative plan zone, in particular with respect to decisions about "export sites" and "import sites" and about the zoning changes that would be part of an alternative plan. (This 3

recent FPPC letter addresses the issues in a similar context.) The FPPC conflict rules restrict a variety of decision-related activities, including contacts with city staff, consultants, or other officials, and it would be a good idea to identify the issues and seek guidance from FPPC to help ensure compliance. Thank you for your consideration, Ed Elsner 1708 Milan Ave. 4

From: The Maya Salon To: City Council Public Comment Subject: Item 20 on 5/6/2026 City Council Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 3:01:36 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of South Pasadena. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear City Council Members, I’m writing as a local business owner in South Pasadena to express my strong support for continued funding of community events like the Eclectic and Arts Crawls. As the owner of The Maya Salon, I’ve seen firsthand how impactful these events are—not just for business, but for the overall energy and spirit of our city. These events bring people together in a way that feels authentic to South Pasadena. They create a sense of connection, creativity, and pride that is hard to replicate in any other setting. From a business perspective, the benefits are very real. We experience increased foot traffic, new client exposure, and a noticeable boost in sales during these events. More importantly, it allows businesses like ours to connect with the community beyond our services—building relationships that turn first-time visitors into long-term clients. What makes these events special is the synergy they create. When multiple businesses participate under a shared theme, supported by coordinated marketing and programming, it transforms our streets into a vibrant, welcoming destination. It reminds people why they love South Pasadena. Beyond economics, these events elevate morale. They bring positive energy to our streets, support local artists, and create meaningful experiences for families, residents, and visitors alike. In a time where small businesses face ongoing challenges, this kind of support is not just helpful—it’s essential. I respectfully urge the City to continue prioritizing funding for these events. Investing in them is an investment in the vitality, identity, and sustainability of our local business community. Thank you for your time and consideration. Warmly, Azelle Owner, The Maya Salon 5

From: David Plenn To: City Council Public Comment Cc: Laurie Subject: Item 20 on 5/6/2026 City Council Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 3:32:03 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of South Pasadena. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. To all concerned: My name is David Plenn and I'm the owner of the Dinosaur Farm (in our 32nd year of business). I'm writing to request that the BIT funds be diverted back to the Chamber to allow them to fund activities that stimulate the small businesses in town. Events like the Eclectic Music Festival served as a stimulus for local businesses and also exposed out-of-towners to our wonderful community, serving as an impetus for future visits and maybe a home purchase or rental. Holiday decorations, tree lights, also help to make the city look inviting to visitors. During the recent Arts & Music Crawl, I had a woman in the store who came from Culver City because she'd heard about our store and the music gave her a little more reason to make the drive. She told me how she felt like she discovered a little gem in South Pasadena itself and would now be joining her two friends at work, who make the drive out here to visit our store. These aren't isolated incidents and I think Chamber-sponsored activities are a key to showcasing our city. Thank you, Dave Plenn David Plenn Owner: The Dinosaur Farm Address: 1510 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030 Phone: (626) 441-2767 • Fax: (626) 441-8922 Web: www.dinofarm.com 6

From: Burden of Proof To: City Council Public Comment Subject: Item 20 on 5/6/2026 City Council Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026 3:05:34 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of South Pasadena. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Hello, Hope this finds you well! We’re writing as South Pasadena business owners to share our support for continued funding of Chamber-led events like the Arts Crawls and Eclectic. These events have a direct, measurable impact on our business. On Arts Crawl days, we consistently see a meaningful increase in foot traffic compared to a typical Saturday, with many first-time customers discovering our shop for the first time. This most recent Arts Crawl saw sales 2x compared to a regular Saturday. We regularly hear “we’ve walked by before but never came in” or “we didn’t know this was here,” which underscores how effective these events are at driving discovery. That increased traffic translates to stronger sales. Customers tend to stay longer, sample more, and purchase multiple items, which lifts our average transaction value. We also see repeat visits in the days and weeks that follow, which makes these events valuable beyond a single night. Just as important, they create energy in the district that’s hard to replicate otherwise. When multiple businesses are open, activated, and tied together with a shared theme and marketing, the whole area feels like a destination. We’ve seen customers move from one business to the next, turning a quick stop into a full evening in South Pasadena. From an operations standpoint, the Chamber plays a critical role in making these events effective. They understand the needs of local businesses, coordinate across storefronts, and handle the logistics, marketing, and programming that individual businesses simply don’t have the capacity to take on. That coordination is what turns a regular day into a true district-wide event. In a challenging retail environment, these kinds of activations are not a “nice to have.” They are one of the most reliable ways to drive traffic, introduce new customers to our business, and support long-term sustainability. There’s also a clear downstream benefit to the City through increased sales tax revenue. For those reasons, we strongly support maintaining, and ideally restoring, funding for the Chamber and these programs. Thank you for your time and consideration. Best, Obreanna McReynolds & Dean Peterson Co-Owners, Burden of Proof 7

From: Burden of Proof To: City Council Public Comment Subject: Supporting the Chamber of Commerce Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026 4:53:11 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of South Pasadena. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Mayor and City Council, My name is Dean Peterson, my wife Obreanna and I are the co-owners of Burden of Proof, a non-alcoholic bottle shop in South Pasadena. I am writing to express my strong support for continued funding and partnership with the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce through the Business Improvement Tax program. As a small business, we see firsthand how much events like the Arts Crawls and Eclectic contribute to the vibrancy of the Mission Street business community. These events bring new people into town, encourage residents to explore local businesses they may not have visited otherwise, and create the kind of community energy that makes people want to spend time and money in South Pasadena. For our business specifically, Chamber-supported events have directly translated into increased foot traffic, new customers, and long-term community awareness. We regularly meet people during these events who later become repeat customers. For newer independent businesses like ours, that kind of exposure is incredibly valuable and difficult to replicate through traditional advertising. What also stands out to us is how much the Chamber accomplishes with limited resources. The report itself acknowledges that these events cost far more than the current BIT allocation and rely heavily on volunteer labor, sponsorships, and supplemental Chamber funding. From our perspective, that demonstrates commitment and efficiency, not excess. South Pasadena benefits enormously from having an active, engaged Chamber that produces community programming. These events help make the city feel alive. They support restaurants, retailers, and service businesses at a time when small businesses everywhere are facing rising costs and increasing pressure. I encourage the City Council to continue supporting the Chamber and to pursue a structure that preserves the existing community event calendar. Reducing the number of events may reduce short-term costs, but it would also reduce opportunities for economic activity, community engagement, and visibility for local businesses like ours. Thank you for your consideration and for supporting the small business community in South Pasadena. Dean Peterson Co-Owner, Burden of Proof -- 8

logo Dean Peterson Co-Founder, he/him Website | Instagram | TikTok 9

From: Nick"s Ceramics To: City Council Public Comment Subject: Item 20 on 5/6/2026 City Council Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026 5:34:24 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of South Pasadena. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. To Whom it May Concern, We are local business owners, Vannesa De Anda and Dini Dixon, and we are writing you in support of the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. We would like to express how pivotal the chamber has been to our growth as a new business in the area. Each Arts Crawl has brought a significant number of new people into our doors, many of which who have come back to be regular customers. The exposure has been so helpful to us. The Chamber is one of the most wonderful parts of being part of this community. When we were first considering opening Nick's Ceramics Studio here it was right around the time of the Eclectic Festival is 2025. Upon attending the festival we could see immediately the sense of comradery and community mindedness that is so special to South Pasadena. This really factored into our decision to open our studio here. We have been so pleased to enjoy the benefits of our membership with the Chamber of Commerce since moving in. In addition, we feel truly supported by the commerce. As first time women business owners we truly appreciate all of the support and guidance they offer to the business owners in the area. They have connected us with other business owners and offered many helpful opportunities for us. South Pasadena is so unique. It is so rare that so many small brick and mortar businesses could thrive in one area. We truly feel grateful to be a part of this community and to be a part of the Chamber of Commerce. The direct impact of their work is felt by every business in the area. We hope you will take this into consideration when allocating their budget for events. Thank you for your time! -- Best, Dini Dixon and Vannesa DeAnda Nicksceramicsstudio.com 213-771-4799 @nicksceramicsstudio We respond to emails M-F 10am-6pm. 10

Dear Members of the South Pasadena City Council, Our names are Samara Hodgson and Robert Zapata. We own and operate South Pas Vintage and Hodgson’s Antiques at 1005 Mission Street, Units B and C. We support the statement outlined in this week’s staff report and the Chamber’s proposal for preliminary discussion—specifically, “continuing the existing four‑event partnership model with the Chamber under a revised agreement that improves financial transparency, defines City participation, and establishes clear performance goals.” However, we strongly oppose any reduction in the Business Improvement Tax (BIT) funds allocated to the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce for hosting events and promoting business activity and believe the fund should be increased to host larger, more impactful events. We are writing to address the BIT fund, its intended use, and the following three points: 1. Impact on our business After reviewing the staff report stating that “the current agreement allocates $82,000 in BIT funding toward four quarterly Arts Crawl events, a Business Resource Center, and related marketing and administrative costs..”. We are concerned that the funds are no longer producing events of sufficient scale or impact. The Arts Crawls have noticeably diminished in size and draw over recent years, and other major events—such as the South Pas Flea and the South Pasadena Car Show—have been cancelled altogether. As a result, we have experienced a significant decline in sales during Arts Crawl events despite paying the same BIT each year. Many customers and community members have shared similar concerns over the event's size and effectiveness. In our view, this decline directly correlates with reduced event funding resulting in less effective use of those funds. 2. Why we believe the BIT allocation should be thoughtfully increased, with clarity and transparency We believe there is an opportunity to strengthen the impact of the BIT fund by aligning its allocation more closely with the actual cost of producing effective, well-attended events that benefit local businesses. We appreciate the proposal to eliminate the general administrative category and instead incorporate administrative costs directly into each event’s budget. This approach promotes clarity and helps business owners better understand how funds are being used. If the true cost of hosting meaningful events, managing marketing efforts, and administering them responsibly exceeds the current allocation—even if that amount is greater than $125,000 annually—then adjusting the budget accordingly is essential to successful events. Business owners contribute to the BIT with the expectation that these funds will help attract foot traffic, introduce new 11

customers to South Pasadena, and support a vibrant local economy. When events are successful, businesses benefit—and in turn, so does the City through increased sales tax revenue. Administrative expenses are a necessary part of delivering any event, but maintaining transparency around how BIT funds are spent is essential to building trust and ensuring the funds are used primarily for their intended purposes: promoting public events, activating public spaces, and supporting retail activity. Clear, accessible reporting would go a long way toward reinforcing confidence among the business community and supporting a strong partnership moving forward. 3. A potential revenue‑generating model for events If funding remains a concern, we offer a potential solution for consideration. Events could adopt a modest vendor participation structure—for example, a small flat fee (such as $25) combined with a percentage‑based commission (e.g., 15% of sales). Transactions could be centralized through a secure event booth using existing payment platforms that automate commission distribution. This model could increase revenue for event administration and the City while reducing overhead risk for small vendors, artisans, and producers. We originally introduced this revenue-generating model in our proposal for the South Pas Flea in 2025. We are deeply invested in generating foot traffic and fostering inclusive, vibrant third spaces in South Pasadena. At a time when small businesses are struggling under economic uncertainty, inflation, and declining consumer affordability, we do not believe reducing BIT funds is in the City’s best interest. We respectfully urge the City to focus on enabling business growth rather than unintentionally hindering it. This leads us to ask the following reasonable questions: Has the Business Improvement Tax charged through business license fees been reduced in proportion to the decreased allocation of funds for its intended use? If not, where is the remaining revenue being directed? Thank you for your time and consideration. Respectfully, Robert Zapata and Samara Hodgson 1005 Mission St, Unit B & C, South Pasadena, CA 12

From: Wylie Rosenthal To: City Council Public Comment Cc: Huntington-Fremont Subject: I want protected bike lanes on Fremont and Huntington Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026 2:52:32 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of South Pasadena. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. To the members of the South Pasadena City Council, I live in Pasadena but I shop and spend time in the South Pasadena community. I am writing to express my strong support for your current plan to slow down speeding traffic on Fremont Avenue and build better sidewalks and a protected bike lane on Fremont and on Huntington Drive. I live in the old town area. If I want to go to and from the shopping district in South Pasadena I have two safe options: Grand and Marengo/ Los Robles. Having a safe place to bike between my home and south Pasadena would be greatly beneficial to me and make me more likely to make these trips. There is overwhelming evidence that when cars go more slowly, everyone is safer. City after city has found that when they build PROTECTED bike lanes (not just paint), all types of people get on their bikes and fewer people drive. Thank you! Wylie Rosenthal 13

From: Sam Sh To: City Council Public Comment Cc: Huntington-Fremont Subject: I want protected bike lanes on Fremont and Huntington Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026 9:57:14 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of South Pasadena. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. To the members of the South Pasadena City Council, As a homeowner and resident of South Pasadena, I am writing to express my family’s strong support for your current plan to slow down speeding traffic on Fremont Avenue and build better sidewalks and a protected bike lane on Fremont and on Huntington Drive. Traffic safety and alternatives to reliance on cars is high on my family’s priority list. As a father of a young daughter, being able to safely travel around the City and to Schools via bicycle or pedestrian access is of paramount importance. There is overwhelming evidence that when cars go more slowly, everyone is safer. City after city has found that when they build PROTECTED bike lanes (not just paint), all types of people get on their bikes and fewer people drive. Several studies have also confirmed bicycle lanes increase property values and result in increased business activity. My family loves South Pasadena and we would really like to be able to visit the restaurants and other destinations in this beautiful city without having to drive and find parking. Slowing down cars and encouraging people to walk and bike saves lives and creates a healthier city. Not to mention, with gas prices on the rise, who wouldn’t want the option to leave their car at home? Thank you! Sam Shammas and family. 14

From: Ryan Jones To: City Council Public Comment Subject: Agenda Item 21 - Support for staff recommendation for safety and access Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 10:04:36 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of South Pasadena. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Mayor Rossi and City Council Members, I am writing in support of the staff recommendation for Agenda Item 21. Specifically, I support Fremont Option 2A and Huntington Option 3, as well as the reallocation of Metro funds to accomplish this. I applaud the city and the council for their efforts thus far and encourage the approval of the selected options to help make South Pasadena a regional leader in safe, active transportation. Thank you, Ryan Jones resident 15

From: Jefferson, John To: City Council Public Comment Subject: Agenda Item - Support for staff recommendation for safety and access Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 10:47:24 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of South Pasadena. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Good morning, I am a South Pasadena resident and bicycle commuter. I live directly south of SPHS near the intersection of Fremont Avenue and Huntington Drive. I commute to and from downtown Los Angeles on bicycle via Huntington Drive and currently use city streets other than Fremont Avenue to ride through and around South Pasadena to schools, friends’ houses, and central business districts on Mission and Fair Oaks. I am emailing in support of staff recommendation on Agenda Item 21: Fremont Option 2A and Huntington Option 3. I’ll leave specific comment to others regarding Fremont; I want to write specifically about Huntington Drive. With respect to