Pasadena council preserves broad public-comment rights, approves rules as amended

The Pasadena City Council amended and approved ordinance 202652 on April 7 after a debate about whether public comment should be limited to posted agenda items.

Councilwoman Van Halp proposed an amendment to retain language allowing “any person [to] address the council regarding any city related matter or agenda item” — language she and others said was necessary so citizens could raise off-agenda concerns. Van Halp read the proposed amendment at length and said limiting comments only to agenda items would improperly restrict residents’ ability to raise issues.

Council members discussed enforcement rather than changing the substance of the rules. Councilwoman Valerio said the rules’ effectiveness depends on consistent enforcement. Councilman Fuseler and others also emphasized that the council must apply rules uniformly. After debate, the amendment passed and the ordinance was approved as amended.

Councilmembers did not record a full roll-call vote in the public transcript for the ordinance; the mayor announced the motions carried. The amendment and final passage were framed by proponents as preserving residents’ access to the dais while clarifying conduct standards such as time limits, relevance, and prohibitions on disruptive behavior.

The ordinance text that was read and amended addresses order of business, rules of conduct, time limits (three minutes per speaker), grouping of speakers on common issues, and prohibitions on profane or threatening speech. At the meeting, councilmembers stressed the need for consistent enforcement going forward.