Second Pasadena Rental Housing Board Member Resigns in Two Months

Barbara Pitts has resigned from the Pasadena Rental Housing Board, citing health issues that affected her attendance, the second departure from the rent control oversight body in two months.

Pitts, who held the District 4 tenant seat since April 2023, submitted her resignation in an email Thursday to Rent Stabilization Department Executive Director Helen Morales and Board Chair Allison Henry. Her departure follows Arnold Siegel’s resignation from an at-large seat in December, a position the city is still seeking to fill.

“As of this date I am announcing my retirement from the Pasadena Rental Housing Board due to health issues which has affected my attendance,” Pitts wrote in the January 22 email.

The 11-member board sets allowable rent increases and enforces tenant protections under Measure H, the rent control charter amendment that Pasadena voters approved with 53.8% support in November 2022. The board oversees rent stabilization matters for an estimated 24,852 rental units in the city.

Councilmember Gene Masuda of District 4 nominated Pitts to the board in 2023. Under the City Charter, tenant member seats are filled through nomination by the district’s councilmember and ratification by the full City Council.

Siegel, a lawyer who had served on Pasadena city boards since 1991, announced his resignation at the board’s December 4 meeting. He said he had given the city 35 years of service and called for younger residents to fill commission seats.

“It is very important that we have younger members on all our city commissions,” Siegel said at the time.

The city opened applications for Siegel’s at-large seat in January. Interested residents must submit applications to the City Clerk’s office by March 5. Applicants must collect at least 25 signatures from residents in their council district and submit a declaration of financial interests.

Board members can receive compensation for up to 20 hours per week at 2.5 times Pasadena’s minimum wage, currently $18.04 per hour.

Pasadena residents interested in serving on the board can contact the City Clerk’s office at (626) 744-4124 or email CityClerk@CityOfPasadena.net. Application forms are available at 100 North Garfield Avenue during business hours.

Henry, who was elected chair in June along with Vice Chair Lourdes Gonzalez, has led the board through the implementation of tenant protections and the establishment of the city’s rental registry. The process for filling Pitts’ District 4 tenant seat will be determined by Councilmember Masuda and the City Council.