A contentious Pasadena council meeting took a turn when Mayor Thomas Schoenbein directed officers to escort Council Member Bianca Valerio out of the council chambers following an exchange involving public speaker Alisia Cardenas and questions about the ongoing controversy surrounding a proposed 6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
The confrontation unfolded during public comments as Cardenas addressed allegations circulating on social media that she was a Pasadena Police Department supporter speaking against council members who opposed the proposed COLA.
Valerio, who represents District B, repeatedly raised points of order during Cardenas’ remarks before directly questioning whether the speaker had been recruited by the mayor or someone affiliated with his campaign.
Moments later, Schoenbein issued the directive, “officers, please escort Ms. Valerio out.”
The incident added another layer of tension to an increasingly contentious debate over employee compensation, police department support and the city’s approach to funding raises.
The confrontation occurred amid weeks of disagreement over a proposed 6% cost-of-living adjustment for Pasadena city employees.
During the September 15 budget meeting, Schoenbein attempted to amend the city’s fiscal year 2027 budget to include the increase.
“This amendment reallocates existing budgeted funds, does not increase total fiscal year 2027 expenditures and maintains a balanced fiscal year 2027 budget,” Schoenbein said.
Council Member Jonathan Estrada expressed confusion about the motion. However, the amendment failed to advance after other council members declined to second it, preventing it from moving to a vote.
The proposal remained unresolved, with a potential COLA vote anticipated for the end of November.
The issue has since become a source of significant public disagreement, particularly regarding police compensation and whether the proposed increase would apply equally across city departments.
In response to the ongoing debate, the mayor’s office maintains that the proposed 6% COLA was not a last-minute addition to the FY2027 budget, but rather part of the original budget submission provided to City Council weeks before budget workshops and adoption meetings.
According to a statement from the mayor’s office, Schoenbein spent months developing a balanced budget that would accommodate a 6% cost-of-living adjustment for all city employees without reducing city services or increasing property taxes.
The mayor’s office also pointed to a reduction in the city’s property tax rate, stating that the FY2027 rate was lowered to the No New Revenue Tax Rate of $0.451989, compared with the FY2026 rate of $0.465586.
The statement said the proposed COLA was included in the original budget submission made available to council members for review weeks before the budget workshop and the meetings involving the first and second readings of the budget.
The mayor’s office maintains that the proposed increase could have been accommodated without raising property taxes or affecting city services, challenging concerns raised by some council members about the financial sustainability of the adjustment.
Meanwhile, several council members have said their questions centered on how the increase would be distributed, whether all employees would benefit fairly and how recurring compensation costs would affect future budgets.
Council Member Emmanuel Guerrero, for example, estimated that the proposed increase could add more than $3.6 million to the city’s annual expenditures, while Council Member Aaron Styron said his concerns were about funding the increase responsibly and treating employees fairly.
“I firmly stand with every City of Pasadena employee and my original proposal to provide a 6% cost-of-living adjustment this year. From the police officers who patrol our neighborhoods to the crews who maintain our streets, our employees work hard every day to keep Pasadena safe, moving and a great place to live,” said Mayor Thomas Schoenbein. “The budget is balanced, and the funding is available. Supporting our hardworking employees is part of putting Pasadena first and making sure they can continue providing the services our residents depend on.”
During the November meeting, several council members took time to address criticism surrounding the COLA controversy.
Council Member Johnny Fusilier Jr. reaffirmed his support for the Pasadena Police Department while criticizing what he described as personal attacks, misinformation and intimidation directed at elected officials.
He specifically mentioned social media activity, derogatory remarks and threats involving the department’s participation in community events.
“This type of behavior is not the way forward,” Fusilier Jr. said. “This is simply not how we work together.”
Council Member Aaron E. Styron said his questions about the proposed increase had never been about whether employees deserved additional compensation.
“My question was, how do we fund it responsibly and ensure all city employees are treated fairly?” Styron said.
Council Member Carlos Heredia Sr. similarly stated that he had never opposed a 6% increase but wanted to ensure the adjustment addressed employees throughout the city.
Council Member Pat Van Houte of District D also acknowledged that some employees had mistakenly gotten the impression that council did not intend to provide raises.
She said the discussion had centered on developing a more nuanced compensation approach rather than relying exclusively on a percentage increase.
There’s a workshop meeting on Wednesday night starting at 5:30 p.m. to discuss COLA. Council isn’t expecting any action to be taken. The meeting will take place in council chambers.
