Homeowners Association Challenges Legality of Tonight’s Safe Parking Vote

A homeowners association near City Hall is urging the Pasadena City Council not to vote tonight to reopen a public hearing on a safe parking program at All Saints Church, arguing in a letter that November’s failed vote on the matter constitutes a legal denial that cannot be undone.

The Maryland Homeowners Association letter dated Feb. 1 to the Council argues that municipal code provisions make the November 17, 2025, outcome “final and effective” and that the Council “may not legally authorize the actions contemplated” on tonight’s agenda.

The Council is scheduled to consider a motion to rescind what staff has termed the “deemed denial” of the California Environmental Quality Act determination for Minor Conditional Use Permit No. 7318, which would have allowed All Saints Church to operate a so-called safe parking program for up to 25 vehicles on its parking lot at 202 North Euclid Avenue. The motion would also set a continued public hearing for February 23.

Safe parking programs designate one or more parking lots where vehicle dwellers can park overnight without being cited or towed, typically outside the public right-of-way (not curbside). They are usually operated or overseen by a nonprofit, faith group, or local government social-service provider rather than by law enforcement.

Today’s procedural matter centers on what happened November 17, when the Council voted 4-3 on a motion to approve the required CEQA determination—one vote short of the five required by Pasadena City Charter Section 506. A motion to continue the hearing also failed by the same margin.

Under Pasadena Municipal Code Section 17.72.070(B)(5), “a failure to affirmatively approve or certify any CEQA action shall be deemed a denial thereof,” the homeowner association letter states.

The association argues this language, combined with another provision stating that Council decisions are “final and effective on the date the final decision is made,” means the denial cannot now be rescinded.

“Because the denial became final, no further action can be taken on it,” the letter states, citing dictionary definitions of “final” from Black’s Law Dictionary and Merriam-Webster.

The letter was signed by Silvio Nardoni, board secretary for the Maryland Homeowners Association, which is located at 80 North Euclid Avenue. The group has opposed the safe parking proposal since appealing the initial approval by a city hearing officer in June 2025, and subsequently appealing the Board of Zoning Appeals’ affirmation in September 2025.

The association’s letter characterizes the parking lot at 202 North Euclid as “a non-religious facility” that All Saints “has operated primarily as a commercial lot” since acquiring it in 1992—a characterization city staff has disputed, noting the site provides parking for church activities.

Tonight’s agenda item was placed on the calendar after Councilmember Steve Madison, who was absent from the November 17 meeting, requested it at the January 26 Council meeting.

The association’s letter also objects to what it calls a “belated apparent attempt to add a new and different proposed exemption” under Class 3 of state CEQA guidelines, which the February 2 agenda directs staff to evaluate along with a statutory exemption for contracts serving the homeless.

The letter concludes by noting that All Saints is not barred forever from seeking a safe parking permit, citing Municipal Code Section 17.64.090, which allows resubmission of applications 12 months after disapproval.

The Council meeting is scheduled for tonight at City Hall, 100 North Garfield Avenue. The safe parking item is listed as Item 7 under old business.