City Council Votes to Support Fire Tax, PCC Bond Measure

The City Council voted Tuesday to endorse a parcel tax for fire department infrastructure and a Pasadena City College bond measure.

Measure PFD is an annual parcel tax of 19 cents per square foot of improved property for 14 years, with exemptions for low-income seniors, according to the report.

The tax would raise an estimated $22.1 million annually.

Revenue would fund 911 emergency response, wildfire preparedness and response, earthquake and medical emergency services, firefighter recruitment and retention, lifesaving equipment and fire alert communications.

Measure UP would authorize $485 million in bonds for Pasadena City College facilities and career training without increasing the current tax rate, according to the report.

The funding would support construction and equipment for classrooms and career-training facilities, along with repairs to deteriorating roofs, plumbing and electrical systems.

The report identifies nursing, health care, firefighting, emergency medical services, construction, hospitality and skilled trades among the career fields the proposed improvements would support.

At the state level, the committee recommends supporting Proposition 1, which the report describes as authorizing general obligation bonds for housing affordability programs.

Those programs would include affordable rental housing, multifamily housing, CalVet home loans, youth housing and permanent supportive housing intended to prevent homelessness. The report does not specify the proposed bond amount.

The committee recommends opposing Proposition 39, which the report describes as requiring voters to present approved government-issued photo identification when voting in person or submitting mail ballots.

It also recommends opposing Proposition 43, described in the report as raising the approval threshold for local voter-initiated special taxes to a two-thirds majority and restricting municipal authority over property transfer taxes.

The recommendations come from the city’s Legislative Policy Committee, which reviews ballot measures against Pasadena’s adopted legislative platform to determine whether the city should take formal positions.

The committee recommends supporting the measure, which will go before voters in the Nov. 3 general election.

No positions are recommended on two Los Angeles County measures or the remaining 11 state propositions listed in the report.

The county measures address binding arbitration and a ban on public safety strikes, and changes involving the county Ethics Commission and community budget investments.

The remaining state measures cover subjects including the state’s rainy day fund, taxes on high incomes, public campaign financing, recall elections, homebuyer loans, medical research bonds, a tax on billionaire wealth and environmental review.

According to the report, the proposed ballot positions support council goals involving fiscal stability, public facilities and infrastructure, sustainability and quality of life.