Council Committees Reset Meeting Days After Council’s Move to Tuesdays

The Pasadena City Council’s six standing committees have new regular meeting days and times following the council’s move of its own regular meetings from Mondays to Tuesdays, according to the City of Pasadena.

The Finance Committee, chaired by Mayor Victor Gordo, now meets the second and fourth Tuesdays at 4 p.m., in keeping with its practice of meeting before the council. Councilmembers Rick Cole, Tyron Hampton and Gene Masuda serve on the committee.

The Legislative Policy Committee, chaired by Councilmember Steve Madison, meets the first Monday at 5 p.m. The Public Safety Committee, chaired by Vice Mayor Jess Rivas, meets the second Monday at 5 p.m., and the Economic Development and Technology Committee, chaired by Hampton, meets the fourth Monday at 5 p.m. The Municipal Services Committee, chaired by Councilmember Justin Jones, meets the first and third Wednesdays at 5 p.m. The Housing, Homelessness, and Planning Committee, chaired by Gordo, meets the second Wednesday at 5 p.m., with the fourth Wednesday at 5 p.m. reserved for special meetings as needed.

The municipal code had required the council to meet on Mondays. The ordinance introduced Aug. 31 set regular meetings each Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Room S249 of City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., canceling a meeting when a Tuesday falls on a legal holiday.

In a staff report for that meeting, the City Manager’s Office wrote that the City Clerk and Interim City Manager agree “Tuesdays appear to be the least disruptive option for normal City business.” Agendas can still post the Thursday before each meeting, giving councilmembers an additional workday to review materials and meet with stakeholders, the report said.

Standing committees of a council are covered by the Ralph M. Brown Act, California’s open-meeting law, “irrespective of their composition” when they have continuing subject matter jurisdiction or a meeting schedule fixed by formal action. Advisory committees made up of less than a quorum of a council are otherwise exempt; the state attorney general has cited a two-member council committee reviewing parks issues on an ongoing basis as a standing committee subject to the act.

Standing committees need not fix their meeting times by ordinance. A committee meeting whose agenda is posted at least 72 hours in advance counts as a regular meeting, and a body generally cannot act on an item not on its agenda. A special meeting requires notice received and posted at least 24 hours ahead, specifying the time, place and business, and no other business may be considered.

In October, the Legislative Policy Committee meets Oct. 5, the Municipal Services Committee Oct. 7 and Oct. 21, the Public Safety Committee Oct. 12, the Finance Committee Oct. 13 and Oct. 27, and the Housing, Homelessness, and Planning Committee Oct. 14, with a special meeting Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. The Economic Development and Technology Committee meets Oct. 26 at 5 p.m., the same day as a special closed session of the council, according to the city.

Commissions and advisory bodies that meet on Tuesdays, among them the Recreation and Parks, Historic Preservation and Design commissions, can keep that day or move, according to the staff report.