Council to Begin Implementing Voter-Approved Charter Changes on Council Vacancies, Pay Review

The Pasadena City Council on Monday will consider launching the implementation process for two voter-approved City Charter amendments—one establishing a formal process for filling City Council vacancies by appointment, and another requiring the City to convene a compensation committee to review Council salaries and benefits at least once every five years.

Both actions stem from Measure PA, one of five Pasadena Charter amendments approved by voters in the November  election. 

The first action would direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance within 90 days that formally codifies the process for appointing replacements when vacancies occur on the City Council. 

Under the amended Charter, appointments may only be made to fill vacancies with less than two years remaining in the term. 

The process came under scrutiny after the City Council appointed Justin Jones to the District 3 seat after John Kennedy died, although the City had used that process several times in the past. 

The new law also requires that the selection process be set by ordinance to ensure consistency, transparency, and public input.

City staff is recommending referring the matter to the Legislative Policy Committee to assist with drafting the ordinance and developing a public outreach and engagement plan to accompany future appointment processes. 

Although ad hoc Council committees have previously been used to oversee such appointments, the committee has suggested those may no longer be necessary once a permanent process is adopted into the municipal code.

Elements of past appointment processes—such as requiring applications, nomination petitions with voter signatures, public presentations, and interview sessions—will likely inform the new ordinance. 

The Charter also now requires that any applicant must have lived in Pasadena for at least 30 days before a vacancy is declared.

The second item on Monday’s agenda would initiate the process to convene a Council Compensation Committee. 

The committee, composed of one resident appointed by each Councilmember, would review Council pay, allowances, and benefits, and make formal recommendations for potential adjustments.

While Pasadena’s City Council compensation has remained largely unchanged since the last review in 2001, the new Charter language mandates a review at least once every five years moving forward. 

The committee would be charged with examining not only salary levels but also broader compensation policies, such as reimbursements for family care, education support, and the structure of expense allowances.

The Council is expected to begin identifying potential appointees for the eight-member committee this month. 

Once seated, the committee will be supported by staff from the city manager’s Office, city attorney’s office, city clerk, and human resources department. A report with recommendations must be submitted to the Council by October 1, 2025.

The Council may then vote to adopt compensation changes by ordinance, provided those changes do not exceed the committee’s recommendations. 

Any increases above the committee’s suggested levels would require voter approval. Only one ordinance adjusting Council compensation may be adopted within any two-year period.

Staff plan to return to the Council early next month with a detailed outline of the committee’s charge, scope of review, and budget.