South Pasadena : Taxpayer ID Rule Challenged

A local taxpayers group is challenging a city rule requiring opponents of proposed new fees to show identification when filing a protest.

City Manager Ken Farfsing said he had asked the city attorney to take another look at the law relating to identification requirement, after receiving a complaint from the South Pasadena Taxpayers Assn.

However, Farfsing said, he and City Atty. Edward Lee had drawn up the requirement and believe it is reasonable.

“There is no law against it,” said Farfsing.

The City Council last month approved the establishment of a fire assessment district and a landscape and lighting assessment district. Last week, property owners received notices on what their annual fees for each will be. Homeowners will pay $38 to $77 for fire and $74 to $110 for the other fee.

If by a July 21 public hearing on the fees, those owning 50% of city property file a written protest against the landscape and lighting district, the city must abandon the proposal. A fire district would have to be put on the ballot if those owning 5% of the property protest.

Tom Biesek, a taxpayer association member, said the group will sue the city if it does not change the requirement that property owners must provide a driver’s license or other identification in order to protest the fees. He sees the rule as a ploy to stop door-to-door collection of signatures.

An attorney for the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. and a consultant for state Senate local government committee both say there is no law that requires or allows city officials to request identification.