Less than two years after the devastating Eaton Fire destroyed large swaths of Altadena and homes in Pasadena, the City Council voted Monday to place a parcel tax on the November ballot that would fund improvements to the city’s Fire Department and lead to improved wildfire preparedness.
The City Council voted 7-1 to place the Pasadena Fire, Wildfire, Emergency Preparedness and Response Parcel Tax on the ballot. It would expire automatically 14 years after it is enacted unless the voters reapprove it. The measure would guarantee two fire stations will be retrofitted.
Councilmember Tyron Hampton abstained from the vote. Hampton supported a 10-year sunset date for the item.
The tax would levy 19 cents per square foot on improved properties to provide a dedicated funding source, $22.1 million a year.
Revenue generated by the tax would be restricted to fire and emergency services, including wildfire prevention and brush clearance programs, upgrading 911 communications systems, replacing aging firefighting equipment, enhancing paramedic response capabilities and constructing or modernizing emergency response facilities identified in the department’s 2026-2036 Strategic Plan.
Other priorities include rebuilding Fire Stations 33 and 37, establishing a dedicated fire headquarters and training center and expanding staffing and emergency preparedness programs.
Councilmember Rick Cole seconded an amended motion by Councilmember Justin Jones that included the sunset clause and called for a guarantee that two fire stations be retrofitted.
“I think that a forever tax is understandably a concern for folks in the community,” said Cole. “This is less than a dollar a day. We found out a year and a half ago what it’s like to not have insurance. This is insurance.”
The sunset would require the item to go back to the voters at a specific time. It could also lead to possible budgetary issues for future City Councils. Councilmember Steve Madison expressed a concern about service reductions if the item sunsets.
Twelve local residents spoke on the matter, which was one of just two matters — and the most important item — on Monday’s agenda.
“If we do not modernize and make our fire department more effective, then fire insurance costs are likely to increase,” said Lee Wallace of the West Pasadena Residents Association (WPRA). The WPRA supported the matter on Monday.
Local residents in Altadena and Pasadena face increases in fire insurance policies in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, which killed 19 people, destroyed more than 9,000 structures and burned 14,000 acres.
Conversations to improve and upgrade the fire department have been ongoing for years prior to the Eaton Fire.
“I am concerned about placing another permanent parcel tax on Pasadena property owners without first demonstrating that existing revenues have been fully evaluated and that all reasonable alternatives have been explored,” said Kay Tolentino, local realtor.
Although some people spoke out against the item, experts say a major earthquake is overdue, and more winds like the hurricane-level Santa Ana winds that drove the Eaton Fire are expected to impact the area in the future.
As wildfire behavior becomes more unpredictable and intense, the city’s emergency response system must be updated with modern communication systems, reliable alerting technology and year-round wildfire mitigation tools and programs.
“Today, rising wildfire risk, increasing climate-driven emergencies, and growing service demands require a strengthened and modernized emergency response system,” according to a city staff report. “The Fire Department must maintain the ability to respond effectively to wildfires, earthquakes, major storms, and other emergency events that threaten life and property.”
Emergency medical service (EMS) calls currently make up the majority of the department’s response.
City officials say the measure is needed as wildfire threats continue to intensify, emergency medical calls account for the majority of Fire Department responses and several fire stations require significant renovation or replacement.
According to a city staff report, Pasadena’s General Fund is no longer sufficient to meet the department’s long-term operational and infrastructure needs. The city has increasingly relied on one-time revenues and reserves while demand for fire and emergency medical services has continued to grow.
The ballot measure also includes accountability provisions requiring annual independent financial audits, public disclosure of expenditures and the creation of a dedicated fund that can be used only for voter-approved purposes. The proposal includes an exemption for qualifying low-income senior property owners.
Because it is a special tax, the measure would require approval from two-thirds of Pasadena voters.
Passing the parcel tax could be an uphill battle. Voters recently passed parcel taxes for the Central Library and a parcel tax for the school district.
“This is a difficult decision that you are being asked to make very quickly,” said Paul Little, who leads the local Chamber of Commerce. “Perhaps more time is needed to adequately consider costs, impacts to all constituent groups and provide more details on the projects being funded.”
Christopher Bowen, director of government and public affairs for the Building Owners and Managers Association, Greater Los Angeles, said Pasadena’s commercial properties are already confronting elevated vacancies, declining property values and rapidly increasing insurance, utility, maintenance and financing costs.
“A parcel tax would impose another fixed expense regardless of a property’s occupancy or financial performance. These costs would ultimately discourage building improvements, delay redevelopment, increase pressure on local businesses, and make Pasadena less competitive with neighboring jurisdictions.”
Get our daily Pasadena newspaper in your email box. Free.
Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.
