City Council Renews Inmate Medical Services Contract Worth $1.6 Million

The Pasadena City Council on Monday approved a five-year, $1.6 million contract with Vital Medical Services to provide non-emergency medical services to inmates housed in the Pasadena City Jail.

The City Manager is authorized to enter into the agreement—valued at up to $1,607,250 including a 10% contingency and annual cost-of-living adjustments—without competitive bidding.

The new five-year contract replaces a three-year, $832,000 agreement approved in 2022.

Funding for the contract will come from the Police Department’s General Fund operating budget. City staff said the proposal aligns with the council’s goals to maintain fiscal responsibility and ensure public safety through compliance with state detention standards.

Vital Medical Services has provided on-site medical care to Pasadena’s inmate population since 2015.

The company offers examinations and medical clearance required under state regulations for local detention facilities, which mandate treatment for any inmate showing signs of illness or injury.

According to a staff report, between 5,000 and 6,000 inmates annually are booked into the jail, many of whom must be examined to determine if they are medically fit for booking.

Using off-site facilities for such evaluations typically requires officers to be taken out of the field for several hours, increasing costs and reducing patrol coverage.

Exer Urgent Care previously provided the city with similar services but ended its contract, citing a decision not to treat prisoners in its facilities.

Police officials said Vital Medical Services remains the only local provider offering on-site inmate medical care that meets industry standards for smaller jails. Larger facilities, such as the Los Angeles County Jail, maintain their own medical staff.

Post-pandemic health guidelines from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department require inmates to receive medical clearance before being transferred to county facilities if they show COVID-19 symptoms or have been potentially exposed. Those same precautions apply to inmates housed in Pasadena’s jail.

• A resolution to create two new job classifications and update salary ranges for 24 existing city positions represented by the Pasadena Management Association (PMA), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and non-represented management employees. The proposal keeps the city competitive in attracting and retaining skilled employees while maintaining internal pay equity across departments. The action establishes two new entry-level positions — Assistant Human Resources Analyst and Assistant Safety Program Coordinator — with annual control rates of $93,546 and $80,536 respectively. Both positions will be added to the city’s non-represented management group.

The Assistant Human Resources Analyst will perform a range of administrative and analytical duties related to recruitment, compensation, benefits administration, and labor relations. The Assistant Safety Program Coordinator will assist in implementing workplace safety programs and ensuring compliance with environmental health regulations.

In addition to the new classifications, salaries for 24 existing positions will be updated following market reviews and internal alignment analyses conducted by Human Resources. The affected roles span multiple departments, including Information Technology, Planning, Transportation, and Water and Power.

Among the adjustments proposed:

• Work Experience Supervisor I and II salaries will rise to $93,380 and $112,035 respectively.

• Construction Inspector II and Construction Inspection Supervisor will increase slightly to $106,338 and $127,605.

• IT staff — including developers, engineers, project managers, and network specialists — will see control rates increase between $140,471 and $229,902 depending on classification.

• Permit Services Manager will rise to $153,963, and Parking Services Supervisor to $95,492.

• Power Distribution Crew Supervisor-Electrical and High Voltage Maintenance Mechanic will receive hourly rate increases to $85.79 and $72.50, respectively.

Human Resources officials said the changes are designed to align Pasadena’s pay rates with comparable positions in the labor market and ensure fair progression within the job series. The PMA and IBEW unions have expressed support for the adjustments.

According to the staff report, the fiscal impact of the updated salaries is projected at up to $346,549 for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2026 and $500,571 in FY 2027. About 42% of the costs will be absorbed by the city’s Light and Power Fund, with the remainder split among the Computing and Communications Fund, General Fund, and Building Services Fund.

City officials emphasized that the added costs will be covered within current department operating budgets.