Pasadena Rental Housing Board Tackles Enforcement, Budget, and Leadership Matters

In a wide-ranging meeting on Wednesday, April 10 the Pasadena Rental Housing Board addressed critical issues related to code enforcement, departmental finances, and the ongoing search for a new Executive Director. The Board also approved a structured process for reviewing and recommending amendments to the city’s Fair and Equitable Housing Charter Amendment.

Israel Del Toro, Pasadena’s Deputy Director of Planning and Community Development, delivered a detailed presentation on the city’s multifaceted code compliance operations. He outlined the roles of various departments and divisions, including Public Works, Transportation, Public Health, and the Fire Department, in enforcing codes and addressing violations. 

Del Toro walked the Board through the step-by-step code enforcement process, from complaint intake to potential criminal prosecution, and shared statistics on the types of complaints received. He also introduced a new interactive GPS map that allows the public to track code enforcement cases.

Board members engaged Del Toro with questions about specific enforcement issues, such as sidewalk maintenance, the Quadrennial Inspection Program for rental units, and the criteria for deeming a unit uninhabitable. Del Toro emphasized the importance of due process and the challenges of balancing tenant protection with property owners’ rights.

Rent Stabilization Dept. Acting Director Phillip Leclair provided an update on the Department’s key initiatives, highlighting progress in staff recruitment, planning for the rental registry database, and ongoing outreach efforts. 

Leclair presented a quarterly budget report, showing the department has underspent its allocated budget, primarily due to factors such as delayed hiring and the ongoing search for suitable office space. 

He assured the Board that the department is working diligently to address these issues and move forward with its priorities.

The Board unanimously approved a resolution establishing a clear purpose and procedures for reviewing and recommending amendments to the city’s housing charter amendment. Under this process, the policy ad hoc committee will review all suggested amendments by April 23 and compile a comprehensive report of recommendations for the full Board to consider in May.

The Board will then vote on final recommendations to be presented to the City Council in June.

Updates from the Board’s ad hoc committees included a report from the policy committee on upcoming regulations to be considered, covering topics such as the rental registry, tenant protections, and the annual general adjustment of rent increases. 

The Executive Director search committee is set to meet on April 30 to review a shortlist of candidates. After that, the Board chair will form an interview panel to conduct final interviews on May 9.

Board Member Allison Henry, participating remotely, raised concerns about the Quadrennial Inspection Program, sharing her own experience of living in a unit without central heating for 12 years and not receiving proper notice of inspections. She urged the Board to consider ways to better inform tenants of their rights and ensure more effective enforcement of housing standards.

As the meeting drew to a close, Board Member Brandon Lamar moved to adjourn to commemorate the end of Ramadan, emphasizing the importance of celebrating the diverse beliefs within the community.

The meeting adjourned at 9:21 p.m., with Lamar saying, “I am going to second that, but also would like for us to adjourn the meeting in celebration of the end of Ramadan, making sure that we celebrate everyone in our community and what their beliefs are.”