The City Council is scheduled to consider authorizing an alternative project delivery method to install solar energy systems at five municipally owned facilities as part of the city’s push to expand locally generated, carbon-free electricity.
The proposal, brought forward by Pasadena Water and Power, would allow the City Manager to use a Progressive Design-Build approach for solar installations at four branch libraries — Lamanda Park, San Rafael, Allendale and Linda Vista — as well as the city maintenance yards’ visitor and utility vehicle parking lots.
City officials say the selected sites were identified through coordination among multiple departments and were chosen based on technical feasibility, high solar potential, alignment with upcoming roof replacement schedules and opportunities to add shaded parking while supporting the city’s clean-energy goals.
Progressive Design-Build allows a single contractor to handle both design and construction, beginning in the early planning stages.
Water and Power officials say the method promotes early collaboration, improves cost certainty and shortens project timelines compared with traditional design-bid-build contracting.
The proposed installations are part of Pasadena’s broader effort to reach 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030, a goal established by the City Council in 2023.
In December, the council approved Pasadena Water and Power’s Optimized Strategic Plan, which outlines a roadmap that includes utility-scale clean-energy procurement, customer programs and expanded use of solar and energy storage on city-owned property.
Officials say locally sited solar projects can lower long-term costs, reduce reliance on external energy markets and improve grid resilience by generating power closer to where it is consumed.
The five projects together would provide about 0.68 megawatts of solar capacity — a small portion of the city’s long-term target of 20 megawatts of municipal solar by 2030 — but staff say the initial phase will help gather market data on costs, timelines and equipment standards before scaling up.
The combined estimated cost for the five sites is approximately $3 million. Existing appropriations from a capital improvement project focused on emerging technology development would be used, with any additional costs covered through timing adjustments to another energy storage project. City staff report that the authorization itself would have no immediate fiscal impact and no effect on the General Fund.
If approved, Pasadena Water and Power would issue a request for proposals to select a single contractor for all five sites. The department would return to the council at a later date to seek approval of a guaranteed maximum price and a construction contract.
Here are the other items on Monday’s consent calendar.
- Five-year contract for electrical equipment testing
A contract with Transfluid Services Inc. for testing and inspection of oil-filled electrical equipment used throughout the city’s power system, a measure city officials say is necessary to ensure reliability and prevent failures.
The proposed agreement would authorize the city manager to enter into a contract with the Houston-based firm for up to five years, with a total amount not to exceed $822,300. The contract would include a base term of up to three years valued at $478,732, with two optional one-year extensions that could be exercised at the city manager’s discretion.
Pasadena Water and Power serves more than 65,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers and operates 14 receiving stations and distribution substations, along with other power supply facilities in Pasadena and a hydroelectric plant in Azusa. Many of those facilities contain oil-filled equipment, including transformers and switches, that require routine inspection and testing to ensure safe operation.
Utility officials say testing of insulating oils provides early warning of internal deterioration, allowing equipment to be repaired or replaced before it fails and causes outages or safety risks.
The contract recommendation follows a competitive bidding process launched in October when the city issued a notice inviting bids through its electronic procurement system. Thirty-six vendors downloaded the specifications, and four bids were received by the Nov. 6 deadline. No bids were submitted by local firms.
Transfluid submitted the lowest bid at an annual cost of $154,884, underbidding competitors from Ohio, California and Illinois. City staff determined the company was the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and recommended awarding the contract. The city has not previously contracted with Transfluid, according to the agenda report.
If approved, the contract would be funded through the Power Operating Fund. The first year of costs would be covered by existing appropriations, with future expenses included in annual operating budgets. City officials say the agreement would have no impact on the General Fund.
- EV charger maintenance contract
A contract for preventive maintenance and repair of the city’s electric vehicle charging network, a move officials say is necessary to ensure reliability as demand for electric vehicles grows.
The proposed action would authorize the city manager to enter into a contract with InCharge Energy for up to six years, with a total amount not to exceed $2.87 million. The agreement includes a three-year base contract valued at about $1.39 million, with options for three additional one-year extensions that could be exercised at the city manager’s discretion.
Pasadena Water and Power owns and operates approximately 295 electric vehicle charging stations citywide, including 246 Level 2 chargers and 49 direct-current fast chargers. The network serves the public, municipal fleets and emergency responders and is expected to continue expanding.
City officials say the contract would provide specialized services needed to maintain the system’s safety and availability. Covered services include scheduled preventive maintenance, inspections, cleaning, diagnostic testing and corrective repairs, as well as routine maintenance of electrical equipment that supports the chargers.
The recommendation follows a competitive bidding process launched in September through the city’s electronic procurement platform. Fifty-one vendors downloaded the specifications, and five bids were submitted by the Oct. 6 deadline. Four bids were deemed responsive, with none submitted by local firms.
InCharge Energy, based in Los Angeles, submitted the lowest bid at $434,330 annually, undercutting competitors from other California cities. City staff said the firm has experience maintaining EV infrastructure for public agencies and will provide on-site service by a certified technician. One prior contract has been awarded to InCharge, according to the agenda report.
If approved, the contract would be funded through the Power Operating Fund and would have no impact on the General Fund.
- Design-build approach for EV charging projects
An alternative project delivery method for two major electric vehicle charging station projects aimed at expanding the city’s clean transportation and energy infrastructure.
Pasadena Water and Power is seeking approval to use the design-build method for the Avon Ramp EV Charging Station and the Arroyo Charging Depot, projects that will combine fast-charging electric vehicle infrastructure with solar power and battery energy storage where feasible. City officials say the approach is well-suited for the technical complexity of the projects and could reduce risk while accelerating delivery.
The Avon Ramp project, located at 2825 E. Walnut St., is planned to include 24 direct-current fast chargers, including Pasadena’s first pull-through charging stations designed for heavy-duty vehicles. The site would also incorporate solar canopies and small-scale battery storage to support sustainability goals and grid resilience.
The Arroyo Charging Depot at 64 E. Glenarm St. would add eight new city-owned fast chargers designed for last-mile delivery vehicles and replace six aging chargers installed during a 2021 phase of the project. City officials say the older units have reached the end of their service life due to recurring maintenance issues.
Where possible, the projects would transform existing parking areas into multi-purpose energy hubs by installing solar canopies above parking stalls. Officials say the canopies can generate renewable energy without requiring additional land, provide shade and weather protection, and store excess solar power in batteries for nighttime charging or limited use during grid outages.
The combined estimated cost of the two projects is about $5 million, to be funded through existing and future appropriations in the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure capital improvement project. City staff report there would be no impact on the General Fund.
If approved, the design-build method would allow a single contractor to handle both design and construction, enabling early coordination and integration of charging equipment, solar panels and battery systems.
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