Gordo to Recuse Himself at Special City Council Meeting

Mayor Victor Gordo will recuse himself at tonight’s special City Council meeting Pasadena Now has learned.

The recusal means that Gordo will not vote on applicants hoping to sit on the City’s rental board.

“While I believe I am legally able to participate in this evening’s meeting, consistent with my prior recusals on this matter and in order to ensure the integrity of this important process which we all want to be successful and beyond reproach, out of an abundance of caution, I will recuse myself from the appointment process of the rental housing board because I own rental property in the city,” Gordo told Pasadena Now.

The Mayor and City Council members are required to recuse themselves to avoid conflicts of interest.

In the past council members have recused themselves even after being cleared by City Attorney Michele Bagneris to take part in the proceedings to avoid the appearance of a conflict.

Mayor has recused himself during PRHB discussions.

At the meeting, on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Council members will to appoint seven tenant members, one alternate tenant member, four at-large members, and one alternate at-large member to the Pasadena Rental Housing Board (PRHB).

The PRHB is a seven-member board that is responsible for administering and enforcing the city’s rental housing laws. The board is composed of seven tenant members, one alternate tenant member, four at-large members, and one alternate at-large member.

The tenant members are appointed by the City Council from among the residents of Pasadena who are tenants. The at-large members are appointed by the City Council from among the residents of Pasadena who are not tenants. The alternate members are appointed by the City Council to serve in the event that a regular member is unable to serve.

The terms of the members of the PRHB are four years for the tenant members and alternate tenant member, and two years for the at-large members and alternate at-large member.

The public is invited to attend the special meeting and to provide comment on the proposed appointments.

The meeting will be held in the City Council Chambers at Pasadena City Hall, 100 North Garfield Avenue, Room S249. The meeting will also be available via teleconference. The teleconference number is (951) 655-5898. The access code is 123456.