The City Council on Monday passed an amendment to a long-running parking agreement to continue providing dedicated parking spaces for city employees near Pasadena Police Department headquarters.
The contract with ABM Industry Groups LLC, will increase by $90,000 bringing the total not-to-exceed amount to $333,000. The amendment would extend the agreement for an additional 12 months, from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31.
The contract provides 100 parking spaces for city employees at the Judicial Council of California parking facility at 245 Ramona St., located near the Pasadena Police Department.
The arrangement dates back to the closure of the Holly Street Garage, which the city had operated under a 51-year agreement with the First Baptist Church. That agreement expired in February 2023, displacing about 422 city employees and 41 city vehicles that had parked at the garage.
While the city has since secured alternative parking for several departments, officials said the Pasadena Police Department has unique needs, including proximity to headquarters and 24-hour access for employees working rotating shifts.
The City Council first approved a short-term agreement with ABM in January 2023 to provide replacement parking spaces. Since then, the city has relied on a series of extensions as longer-term options have not been available. The proposed amendment represents the longest extension ABM has been able to offer to date.
Although individual departments pay for their employees’ parking, the Department of Transportation oversees the agreements and coordinates parking needs across city operations. The ABM contract is used specifically for police employee parking.
Here are the remaining items that passed on Monday’s consent calendar.
• $1.8 Million Contract For Downtown Traffic Signal Upgrades
The contract with Elecnor Belco Electric Inc. will upgrade traffic signals and communication systems at up to 35 intersections in the city’s central business district, a move aimed at improving traffic flow, reducing delays and modernizing the city’s transportation network.
The contract provides Intelligent Transportation System projects and traffic flow improvements within Pasadena’s core commercial area. The contract carries a not-to-exceed amount of $1,825,289, including a base bid of $1,659,354 and a contingency of $165,935.
The work will focus on major downtown corridors south of the 210 Freeway, including Orange Grove Boulevard, Colorado Boulevard, Green Street and Holly Street. Public Works officials say the project will install new traffic signal equipment and upgrade fiber-optic communications, allowing the city to develop more effective signal coordination plans and actively manage traffic speeds.
The upgrades are designed to complement Pasadena’s ongoing deployment of “smart” signal technology that can respond to real-time traffic conditions. Officials say the improvements will strengthen traffic management capabilities in the city’s core while supporting broader goals of a more efficient and reliable transportation system.
Construction is expected to begin in April and be completed by September. Officials said the contract complies with competitive bidding, prevailing wage and living wage requirements. The contractor reported that no new hires are anticipated, though Pasadena residents are encouraged to be given preference if positions are created.
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