Council Approves Resolution Extending Access To Medical Benefits To Elected Officials

The Pasadena City Council approved a resolution extending medical benefits through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) to elected officials not enrolled in the state retirement system.

The action makes “Non-PERS Elected Officials” — Councilmembers and Mayors who opt out of CalPERS membership — eligible for medical coverage under the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act, aligning with City code provisions granting elected officials the same health benefits as executive management employees.

This standardizes medical benefit access for all Pasadena elected officials regardless of retirement participation, bringing benefit offerings into full compliance with City policy.

While Councilmembers may voluntarily enroll in CalPERS for retirement benefits, the resolution ensures medical benefits extend to all elected officials regardless of CalPERS membership status.

The Council also authorized nearly $1 million in contracts with two local nonprofits to provide emergency housing and homelessness prevention services using federal disaster relief funds awarded after the Eaton Fire.

The agreements allocate $481,000 each to Friends In Deed and Union Station Homeless Services under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing grant program.

Friends In Deed will offer motel-based emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, and rapid rehousing services through January 2028, serving up to 25 at-risk households with rent assistance, housing up to 20 displaced families in temporary motel shelters, and helping 7-10 homeless households transition into permanent housing.

Union Station Homeless Services will provide rapid rehousing for 10-15 households, prioritizing those directly impacted by the fire, with case management, move-in assistance, and rental subsidies.

Additional consent calendar items included a $2.4 million contract with E Source Companies for project management services for the City’s Advanced Meter Infrastructure initiative, modernizing water and power systems with smart metering technology.

The Council approved two contracts totaling more than $6.4 million to overhaul Pasadena Water and Power’s asset management systems, modernizing infrastructure tracking and maintenance operations across the City’s 26-square-mile service area.

A contract with Los Angeles County will bring $867,473 in Measure A Local Solutions Funds to provide rental assistance for extremely low-income households at risk of homelessness, helping prevent an estimated 35 households from falling back into homelessness as Emergency Housing Voucher subsidies expire.

The City Council approved a resolution accepting $225,000 in grant funding from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to strengthen cybersecurity defenses. Pasadena was among 13 cities selected from over 400 applicants for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program.

A final tract map was approved for a mixed-use development at 127-141 N. Madison Ave., creating 49 residential condominium air parcels and one commercial condominium air parcel. The development aligns with City Council housing policies promoting mixed-use developments and affordable housing near commercial centers.

The Council authorized a $728,300 contract with Beador Construction Company for structural improvements to the East Side Storm Drain, a century-old concrete channel spanning nearly three miles. Phase I focuses on the segment between Elmira Street at Wright Avenue and North Mentor Avenue at Emerson Street.

A resolution of intention to renew the Old Pasadena Management District Property-Based Business Improvement District initiates the process to extend operations for another 10 years, with a $3.1 million first-year budget. The renewal maintains current District boundaries while introducing a revised three-tier benefit zone system.

Finally, the Council accepted a $34,390 federal grant to expand the City’s automated license plate reader network. The Pasadena Police Department will lease approximately 10 new cameras at key intersections including San Gabriel Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard, Los Robles Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard, and Altadena Drive and Foothill Boulevard.