As part of Monday’s consent calendar, the City Council will consider approving the City’s update to its Transit Division Title VI Program, a federally required plan that ensures transit services are provided without discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin.
The update is mandated every three years for the city to remain eligible for federal transit funding through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Pasadena’s Transit Division oversees Pasadena Transit and Pasadena Dial-A-Ride.
Federal law requires the city to prepare a Title VI Program to demonstrate compliance with civil rights protections tied to federal financial assistance.
Pasadena also prohibits discrimination in transit services based on sex, age, disability, religion, marital status, sexual orientation and medical condition.
The report outlines steps the city has taken to expand language access and ensure equitable service. An analysis of American Community Survey data identified five languages in Pasadena with more than 1,000 residents who speak English “less than very well”: Spanish, Chinese, Armenian, Tagalog and Korean. Under federal “Safe Harbor” provisions, the city must provide key information in those languages.
The city has translated its Title VI Notice to Beneficiaries into all five languages, posted it on buses, and included it in brochures and rider materials.
Instructional and passenger notices are already available in English and Spanish, and additional translations are offered upon request.
The updated program also incorporates a Public Participation Plan designed to encourage community input, particularly from low-income residents, minorities and limited-English speakers.
The outreach plan establishes strategies for ensuring broad access to decision-making in transit planning.
Transportation officials pointed out that the update does not involve physical changes to the city’s transit system and is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Failure to comply with Title VI would threaten the city’s eligibility for federal grants that support ongoing transit operations.
Staff said the approval carries no fiscal impact to the city’s general fund.
The last Title VI Program was approved by the council in August and covered the period from 2019 to 2022.
Here are the other items on Monday’s consent calendar…
- A $447,304 contract with Maximum Turbine Support, Inc. to furnish and deliver new sprint nozzles for two gas turbines at the Glenarm Power Plant. The contract includes a base bid of $406,640 and a contingency of $40,664 for potential change orders. City officials said the work is necessary to replace aging turbine parts dating back to 2002 and to maintain reliable electricity generation, particularly during periods of high demand. Sprint nozzles serve as critical cooling mechanisms in General Electric LM6000 gas turbines, boosting performance during hot weather when units are operating near maximum output. The current nozzles on Gas Turbines 3 and 4 have eroded after more than two decades of service. Four companies submitted bids for the project. Maximum Turbine Support, based in Riverside, offered the lowest responsive bid. Other bids ranged from $406,840 to $683,095. The Water and Power Department highlighted that the contract supports the city’s goals of maintaining public facilities and infrastructure while ensuring dependable utility service.
The project will be funded through existing appropriations in the city’s capital improvement program for turbine refurbishments, with all costs expected to be expended in Fiscal Year 2026. City staff said the action will not affect the General Fund. The Glenarm Power Plant contains five natural gas-fueled combustion turbines that help meet Pasadena’s power needs and California Independent System Operator requirements for resource adequacy.
- A $2.9 million contract with GE Vernova Inc. to upgrade control systems on two gas turbines at the city’s Glenarm Power Plant, a move officials say is essential to maintaining reliable local power generation. The $2,916,936 agreement, which includes a $350,876 contingency for potential change orders, will cover hardware and software replacements for Gas Turbines 3 and 4. Both units, installed in 2002, are approaching 25 years of operation and rely on outdated systems that city staff say are increasingly prone to failure and harder to repair. City staff recommended awarding the contract without competitive bidding, citing GE Vernova as the original equipment manufacturer and the only vendor qualified to perform the complex upgrades. The work is scheduled to begin in October to align with a major project replacing a key sub-transmission line known as “Path 2,” which connects the Glenarm and Santa Anita receiving stations. That construction, set to last through May, will reduce Pasadena’s ability to import electricity from the state grid, increasing reliance on local generation.
The Glenarm plant has five quick-start natural gas turbines with a combined capacity of about 200 megawatts. The facility provides backup power during emergencies, supports California’s integration of renewable energy by offering fast-start capacity, and participates in the wholesale energy market under state resource adequacy rules. The upgrades will modernize the turbines’ control system software from version S3 to S7.3.0, improving efficiency, reducing water consumption, eliminating nuisance shutdowns, and preparing the units for possible future use of alternative fuels. Officials said the improvements will extend equipment life and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Funding for the project will come from existing appropriations in the city’s Capital Equipment Refurbishments program. No impact to the General Fund is expected, according to the Water and Power Department. The staff report noted that deferring maintenance would heighten risks of mechanical failure, efficiency losses, and regulatory violations, potentially exposing the city to fines or power shortages. City officials stated the contract supports Pasadena’s broader Power Delivery Master Plan, which seeks to modernize infrastructure and help meet the city’s goal of achieving carbon-free power by 2030.
- A five-year, $3.1 million contract with AG Coast Corporation, doing business as California Panther Security, to provide patrol and security services at key Water and Power Department facilities. The contract covers the Glenarm Power Plant, the Azusa Hydroelectric Plant, and the Santa Anita Receiving Station/Wadsworth Treatment Facility — all critical infrastructure tied to the city’s ability to deliver electricity and safe drinking water.
Security services will include perimeter and internal patrols, monitoring entry points, and reporting or responding to suspicious activity in coordination with police and department staff. Under the agreement, AG Coast will receive a base contract of $2,694,850, plus a contingency of $404,230 for change orders, bringing the total to $3,099,080. The three-year contract includes two optional one-year extensions, subject to city manager approval. Annual costs are projected at about $619,816. City staff recommended the contract following a competitive selection process.
Pasadena Water and Power issued a request for proposals in April, generating interest from 48 vendors and 19 submitted proposals. An evaluation team scored the proposals on solution design, experience, cost, and local or small-business status.
AG Coast, a Los Angeles-based company with experience providing security for local and federal agencies, received the top score of 84 out of 100. Other high-ranking firms included American Global Security, Inc. at 82 points and Platinum Security Inc. at 81 points. Two Pasadena-based firms — Inter-Con Security Systems and TSI Protective Services — also submitted proposals but scored lower. Officials stated the contract supports the city’s strategic goals of maintaining fiscal responsibility, ensuring public safety, and safeguarding vital infrastructure.
The contract will be funded through Pasadena Water and Power’s operating budget, split between the Power Operating Fund and the Water Operating Fund. No impact to the city’s General Fund is anticipated. If approved, AG Coast would begin security operations in Fiscal Year 2026.
- Extending a contract with Utility Tree Service, LLC for vegetation management and power line clearance, adding $1.8 million to the agreement and pushing the total value to $17.52 million. The extension would carry the contract through Jan. 31, ensuring uninterrupted tree trimming and emergency response services while the city re-bids a new long-term agreement. Utility Tree Service was originally awarded the contract in 2021 following a competitive bidding process. The deal, initially capped at $9.43 million for three years with options for one-year extensions, has already been amended several times to keep services in place.
Earlier this summer, Pasadena Water and Power issued a new solicitation for tree trimming and vegetation management services. However, after receiving bids and hearing public comments, councilmembers rejected all proposals, citing community concerns about trimming practices, bidder protests, and debate over whether services should be brought in-house. With funds from the current contract nearly exhausted, staff recommended the $1.8 million increase to continue work until a new contract can be secured.
Officials pointed out the amendment will maintain system safety, minimize wildfire risks, and keep the city in compliance with state regulations. The Water and Power Department will cover the additional costs from its Power Operating Fund. There is no impact to the city’s General Fund. The council will also consider extending the expiration date from Dec. 12 to Jan. 31 to allow time for a new bidding process and contract award.
- A contract of up to $598,127 with Innovative Interfaces Inc. to provide subscription services for the city’s Integrated Library System, the digital backbone of the Pasadena Public Library. The agreement covers an initial five-year term valued at $393,150, with the option for three additional one-year extensions that could raise the total to nearly $600,000. The contract will be funded through the Libraries and Information Services operating budget and will not affect the city’s General Fund, according to staff.
The Integrated Library System manages nearly every core library function, including a catalog of 300,000 bibliographic records, more than 500,000 items, and patron registration. It also provides access to research databases, e-books, and streaming media. In Fiscal Year 2024, library patrons checked out 705,000 items. City officials began seeking proposals in May to replace the current system ahead of its October expiration. The new system will introduce enhancements in user experience, accessibility, cataloging, financial management, and security, among other areas. If approved, the new system will take effect when the existing contract expires in October.
- A two-year extension of its contract with Data Ticket, Inc. to manage the city’s parking citation and permit system, adding $1.2 million and bringing the contract’s total value to more than $4 million. The deal would extend the agreement through May 2027 and allow Pasadena to continue offering online permit purchases, citation payment services, and enforcement support while staff prepares a new competitive bid.
Data Ticket was first awarded the contract in April 2020 after a competitive process, providing the city with a web-based citation and permit management system, real-time DMV integration, and six electric enforcement vehicles equipped with automated license plate readers. The company also manages collections on delinquent citations.
The contract has been amended twice before. In 2022, the council approved an additional $660,000 to purchase electric vehicles outright and address a backlog of delinquent citations. In 2024, the council added $650,000 to cover higher-than-expected costs tied to increased parking activity and stronger collection rates. Those changes brought the contract total to $2.89 million.
City staff said the new $1.2 million increase is necessary to maintain uninterrupted services during the two-year extension, giving the city time to research options and release a new request for proposals in early 2026. Officials anticipate a new vendor agreement could begin later that year, with time for overlap to ensure a smooth transition.
The Department of Transportation said the extension supports the city’s mobility goals by ensuring parking regulations are enforced, which in turn supports business districts and neighborhood quality of life. The cost will be covered through the General Fund. Parking citation revenues, which averaged nearly $5 million annually over the past three years, are deposited into the same fund.
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