The Economic Development and Technology Committee of the Pasadena City Council will hold its first hearing on the proposed imposition of the Los Angeles minimum wage increase in Pasadena on Wednesday, October 21, 2015, at 6pm at the Villa Parke Community Center at 363 East Villa Street.

This meeting is intended to porvide city staff an opportunity to provide backgrond information. This meeting is also a chance for the advocates of bringing the LA minimum wage increase to Pasadena to present information and make their case.

Those with questions and concerns are being encouraged to wait for a second meeting on November 19, 2015. We will  provide more information as that meeting gets closer, but at a previousm meeting the committee agreed to a schedule fo at least three informational meetings by the end of the year with any decisions made after the final informational meeting in December. 

Here is what is being proposed for Pasadena (mirroring the minimum wage increase Los Angeles City and County have imposed there):

Minimum wage increases as follows:

7/1/2016 to $10.50 per hour

7/1/2017 to $12.00 per hour

7/1/2018 to $13.25 per hour

7/1/2019 to $14.25 per hour

7/1/2020 to $15.00 per hour

There are some exemptions and deferrals for non-profits and small businesses with fewer than 25 employees. Those companies may receive and additonal year to comply. Minimum wage for all but a few narrowly selected companies and non-profits would go to $15 per hour not later than July 1, 2021.

You can read the City of Pasadena minimum wage reports here: http://cityofpasadena.net/EkContent.aspx?theme=Navy&id=8589941348&bid=0&style=news

The Pasadena Chamber Board of Directors has asked the City Council to institute a process which would include a workign group made up of advocates, union representatives, businesses and non-profits taht could study the issue, determine impacts and make a recommendation specific to Pasadena. We ahve also suggested that, with the state minimm wage rising to $10 per hour in January, that Pasadena civic leadeership take time to see what impacts minimum wage incraeses in Los Angeles City and County have before making a decision that could be detrimental to Pasadena's economy, our employment base and our business community.

The Chamber Board has taken a very strong position against imposition of the Los Angeles minimum wage model here in Pasadena. you can read about the Chamber Board position here: http://www.pasadena-chamber.org/blog/pasadena-chamber-board-directors-votes-oppose-imposition-la-minimum-wage-pasadena.