The City Council on Monday approved a nearly $2.9 million contract with GE Vernova Inc. to upgrade control systems for two of the city’s natural gas turbines at the Glenarm Power Plant, part of a broader effort to ensure local power reliability during upcoming infrastructure work.
The $2,916,936 agreement covers hardware and software upgrades for Gas Turbines 3 and 4, which have been in operation since 2002. City staff said the units are approaching 25 years of service and rely on outdated systems that are increasingly prone to failure and difficult to maintain.
The contract includes a base bid of $2,566,060 and a contingency of $350,876 for potential change orders. Officials recommended awarding the deal without competitive bidding, citing GE Vernova’s role as the original equipment manufacturer and the only vendor qualified to perform the specialized work.
The upgrades are being prioritized ahead of a major project scheduled to begin in October 2026 that will replace “Path 2,” one of the city’s key sub-transmission lines connecting the Glenarm and Santa Anita receiving stations. That work, expected to last six months, will significantly reduce Pasadena’s ability to import electricity from the state grid.
“Local generation must be at peak reliability to prevent rolling blackouts,” staff wrote in a report to the council.
The Glenarm Power Plant has five quick-start turbines capable of producing about 200 megawatts of electricity. The facility provides backup power during peak demand and emergencies, supports renewable integration by supplying fast-start capacity, and participates in the wholesale energy market through the California Independent System Operator (CAISO).
The upgrades are part of Pasadena Water and Power’s long-term Maintenance Plan, which outlines preventative and predictive maintenance for the city’s generating assets. City officials said deferring the work would increase the risk of unplanned outages, efficiency losses and even regulatory violations if emission controls and monitoring systems were not properly maintained.
The planned improvements include replacing obsolete hardware and updating software from version S3 to S7.3.0. According to staff, the new system will boost efficiency, reduce water use, eliminate nuisance shutdowns, and prepare the turbines for potential future use of alternative fuels.
“These upgrades are essential to improving system reliability and extending equipment life,” the report stated.
Funding for the project will come from existing appropriations in the city’s Capital Equipment Refurbishments program. Officials said no impact to the General Fund is expected, and no ongoing software licensing costs are anticipated once the upgrade is complete.
The work is scheduled to take place in fiscal year 2026.
City staff noted the project supports Pasadena’s Power Delivery Master Plan, adopted in 2022, which guides utility planning for the next two decades and includes steps toward achieving the city’s 2030 carbon-free power goals.
The upgrades will be completed before the Path 2 replacement project begins, ensuring the city can meet electricity demand during the period of reduced import capacity.
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 emphasized 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 2026 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 2027, 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 warned 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 said 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 said 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 said 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 impact the city’s General Fund, according to staff. The Integrated Library System manages nearly every core library function, including a catalog of 300,00 bibliographic records, more than 500,000 items, and patron registration. It also provides access to research databases, eBooks, 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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