The City Council on Monday approved a $754,258 contract with Pipe Tec, Inc. for extensive sewer line cleaning and closed-circuit television inspections as part of the city’s ongoing effort to assess and upgrade its aging wastewater system.
The agreement includes a base bid of $685,689 and a contingency of $68,569 for potential change orders. According to a staff report, Pasadena maintains roughly 328 miles of sewer pipelines, more than 80 percent of which are over 80 years old. City officials say structural deterioration, root intrusion, groundwater infiltration and capacity limitations make a full condition review necessary.
The project covers about one-third of the city’s sewer collection system. Pasadena had previously set a goal of inspecting one-seventh of the network annually, but funding shortfalls in recent years limited progress.
Public Works now plans to complete a citywide assessment within three years, with a long-term goal of moving to a recurring seven-year inspection cycle.
Before inspection work begins, city crews will clean the sewer lines to remove blockages and debris. Pipe Tec would then conduct remote camera inspections to evaluate structural conditions and operational performance.
The collected data will guide future rehabilitation priorities and inform design and construction of improvement projects.
Pipe Tec has not previously worked for Pasadena, but staff verified its contractor license and Department of Industrial Relations status and reported favorable references from other agencies.
The firm does not expect to hire new workers for the project, but the contract encourages giving preference to Pasadena residents should hiring occur.
Construction is expected to begin in February 2026 and conclude in September 2026. The total fiscal impact is projected at $904,258, which includes construction administration, materials testing and inspections.
All costs will be funded from existing appropriations in the city’s sewer system capital program,
Here are the remaining items that passed on Monday’s consent calendar.
- Five On-Call Engineering Contracts Totaling $5 Million
Five on-call civil engineering contracts worth up to $1 million each to support upcoming capital improvement projects across the city.
Under the proposal, the city manager is now authorized to enter into three-year agreements with Psomas, Parsons Transportation Group, Tetra Tech, Dokken Engineering and KPFF Consulting Engineers.
The contracts provide as-needed support for feasibility studies, design work, cost estimating, project and construction management, surveying and mapping, environmental assessments and other technical services required to advance the city’s Capital Improvement Program. Public Works officials said the work is necessary when in-house staff are unavailable or when projects demand specialized expertise.
The city’s current CIP includes 14 active projects across streets, streetscapes, sewers, storm drains and street lighting, with an estimated cost of $101 million through fiscal year 2029. About $82 million of that work is already funded. Once specific projects are identified, the five firms will be asked to submit job-specific proposals, and task orders will be issued under the master contracts.
- A $1.06 Million Contract for Playground Shade Structures at Two Parks
A $1.06 million contract with Shade Structures, Inc., doing business as USA Shade & Fabric Structures, to install new shade structures at the playgrounds in McDonald Park and Victory Park.
The project is part of the Citywide Parks Playground Shade Structure Installations – Phase I capital program. The city previously completed a similar installation at Washington Park in 2024 and is now moving forward with additional upgrades to improve comfort, protect playground equipment and reduce heat exposure for park users.
The contract includes a base amount of $926,473 and a 15 percent contingency to cover potential change orders, bringing the total not-to-exceed value to $1,065,444.
Shade Structures will provide engineering, design, materials and installation services, eliminating the need to hire outside consultants to prepare construction documents. The company has previously completed shade structure projects for the city, including work at Washington Park, Playhouse Village Park and Robinson Park.
Construction is expected to begin in January and finish by March.
Funding comes from existing appropriations in the city’s shade structure capital project and includes Residential Impact Fees, Los Angeles County Measure A funds and
Measure W Local Return funds. No General Fund money will be used.
- $1 Million Contract for Citywide Sidewalk Repairs
A $1 million contract with CJ Concrete Construction, Inc. to perform the city’s annual ADA sidewalk improvements and miscellaneous sidewalk repairs in 2026.
The project continues a long-running effort to eliminate tripping hazards and meet accessibility standards across Pasadena.
The program was first launched in 2016 after a citywide inventory identified nearly 1.1 million square feet of damaged sidewalks at more than 18,000 locations. Since then, Pasadena has invested $11.5 million to replace roughly 898,000 square feet of deteriorated pavement.
Under the new contract, crews will remove and replace about 55,000 square feet of sidewalk at 461 locations. The work includes curb and gutter repairs and will prioritize areas with high pedestrian traffic, ADA-related complaints, and locations identified by the Accessibility and Disability Commission.
An additional 175 sites will be repaired at the expense of adjacent property owners, as required when private
construction valued at more than $20,000 triggers sidewalk-replacement obligations.
CJ Concrete submitted the lowest bid at $744,500, substantially below the city engineer’s estimate. Staff is recommending a higher-than-normal contingency of 34 percent to capitalize on unusually low unit pricing and complete as many repairs as possible.
The contractor has performed six similar projects for the city over the past four years.
If approved, construction is scheduled to begin in March 2026. The project will be funded through a combination of General Fund appropriations and private capital, with no impact to the city’s General Fund.
- $500,000 Contract for CDBG-Funded Sidewalk Repairs
A $500,000 contract to Addison-Miller Inc. to complete the city’s Annual ADA Citywide Sidewalk Improvement Program for 2026 in areas eligible for Community Development Block Grant funding.
The project is part of Pasadena’s five-year housing and community development plan, which identified infrastructure repairs — including sidewalks and accessibility improvements — as a top community priority.
Public Works proposes using the full $500,000 CDBG allocation for construction to maximize the scope of work and comply with federal restrictions that limit spending to capital outlays.
The contract covers the removal and replacement of about 25,000 square feet of sidewalk at 206 locations within CDBG service areas, which represent roughly 28 percent of Pasadena. The work includes repairing curb and gutter segments that impede stormwater flow, with priority given to panels with significant vertical displacement.
When combined with the companion citywide sidewalk repair contract, a total of 667 repair sites will be addressed, with half located in CDBG-eligible neighborhoods.
Addison-Miller submitted the lowest bid at $341,750, coming in 24 percent below the city engineer’s estimate. A 46 percent contingency is recommended to fully use available federal funds and take advantage of lower-than-expected unit costs, allowing additional repairs at competitive pricing. Construction is expected to begin in March 2026.
Funding for the project includes existing CDBG and General Fund appropriations, covering both construction and non-reimbursable administrative costs. Total fiscal impact is estimated at $530,000.
- $4.8 Million Design Contract for Pasadena–St. John Roadway Network Project
A $4.8 million contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to develop conceptual designs, preliminary engineering and final construction-ready plans for the Pasadena Avenue and St. John Avenue Roadway Network Project, funded through Measure R Mobility Improvement Project funds.
The 1.8-mile corridor project, stretching between Walnut Street and Columbia Street, is one of the largest Measure R–funded efforts identified after the city shifted away from the California Boulevard grade separation concept.
A total of $75.1 million has been appropriated in Pasadena’s Capital Improvement Program to plan, design and build the project, which aims to improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, upgrade aging sidewalks and infrastructure, and enhance traffic operations without reducing vehicle travel lanes.
Under the proposed contract, Kimley-Horn would complete Phase 1 — concept development and preliminary engineering — for $1.4 million beginning in January 2026. The city may then exercise a contract option for Phase 2, a $2.97 million final design package including plans, specifications and estimates.
A 10 percent contingency brings the not-to-exceed total to $4.85 million.
The design process will include extensive community engagement, revisiting concepts first introduced in 2022 and incorporating public feedback throughout development. The improvements also coordinate with long-term planning underway through the 710 Reconnecting Communities Vision Plan. Funding for the contract is fully available in the current CIP, with no impact to the General Fund.
- $610K in State Safety Grants for Crosswalk Beacons and Union Street Bike Link
Agreements with Caltrans to accept more than $610,000 in Highway Safety Improvement Program Cycle 12 funds for pedestrian and bicycle upgrades across the city.
The grants include $324,630 for new rectangular rapid flashing beacons at three uncontrolled crosswalks — Villa Street at Chester Avenue, Arroyo Boulevard at Seco Street, and Bellefontaine Street at Fairmount Avenue — along with curb ramp upgrades, striping and signage improvements.
The locations were selected using safety-based criteria including crash history, pedestrian volume and adjacent land uses.
Another $285,480 would fund design and construction of a half-mile bicycle facility on Union Street between Arroyo Parkway and St. John Avenue, closing a key network gap between the Union Street cycle track and the north–south bike lanes on Pasadena Avenue and St. John Avenue.
The project was developed with support from the Old Pasadena Management District to ensure roadway capacity, parking and outdoor-dining parklets remain unaffected.
Pasadena received notice of the awards in September after submitting applications during the 2024 Cycle 12 call-for-projects. The improvements support long-term mobility goals, including enhanced access to the Rose Bowl, Brookside Park and future 2028 Olympic venues.
The fiscal year 2026 Capital Improvement Program budget will be amended to recognize the HSIP funds and transfer $156,615 from the Department of Transportation’s General Fund to meet required matching obligations.
- $2 Million State Grant to Expand PORT Homeless Outreach Program
A $2 million Proposition 47 grant that will significantly expand the Pasadena Outreach Response Team, a mobile homeless-services program jointly operated by the Public Health and Fire departments.
The proposal will authorize the city manager to enter into an agreement with the California Board of State and Community Corrections to administer the five-year grant, which runs through June 2029.
The funding would support additional field-based outreach, clinical support and program infrastructure aimed at assisting people experiencing homelessness, chronic illness, and behavioral-health challenges, particularly those with involvement in the criminal-justice system.
The Public Health Department recommends recognizing and appropriating $300,000 of the award in fiscal year 2026 to cover start-up costs, including the purchase of a mobile outreach vehicle, expanded nursing and clinical services, and program supplies.
Additional appropriations will be made in future years.
The plan includes a contract of up to $482,000 with Huntington Health for nursing and clinical staffing. The hospital has partnered with the program since 2021 and would continue providing a portion of services as an in-kind match.
The remaining grant funds will be distributed through a competitive process to nonprofit partners offering housing navigation and peer-outreach services, as required under state grant rules.
The PORT program responded to 484 calls in fiscal 2025, easing the reliance on law enforcement for non-criminal issues. The expansion is intended to strengthen coordinated support for individuals at highest risk of homelessness and repeat system involvement.
- Draft Ordinance Updating Police Towing Franchise Rules
Rewriting the city’s police towing franchise rules, directing the City Attorney to return within 60 days with an updated ordinance amending the Pasadena Municipal Code.
The action follows a review of the city’s 1997 towing franchise system, which governs how private companies provide towing, impound, collision cleanup and vehicle-storage services for the Pasadena Police Department.
The City Council previously approved a shift from annual franchise applications to a three-year award cycle in late 2024, but police officials say additional changes are needed to streamline operations and better align the program with current service demands.
The proposed update will clarify the Police Department’s authority to recommend the number of franchise operators needed citywide, rather than defaulting to awarding all qualified applicants.
Police officials say Pasadena has historically functioned effectively with three franchisees, and expanding the pool beyond operational demand could create unnecessary administrative and financial burdens.
The ordinance will also formally recognize the department’s Towing Franchise Operations Manual as a governing document.
The manual, which already guides day-to-day franchise requirements, sets performance standards, compliance rules and operational procedures for participating tow companies. Embedding it in the municipal code would allow police to update and enforce standards administratively without additional council approvals.
City officials say the changes aim to enhance oversight, maintain service quality and ensure the towing system remains financially stable. Pasadena currently receives $67,500 annually from three non-exclusive franchise agreements.
- Quarterly Investment Report for Q3 2025
The City’s investment portfolio closed the third quarter of 2025 with a total of more than $1.13 billion under management, according to the city’s Quarterly Investment Report released this week. The update, delivered to the City
Council for information only, details portfolio performance and economic conditions through Sept. 30.
The city’s pooled investment portfolio ended the quarter at $811.3 million, a decrease of about $4.4 million, reflecting routine operational cash flows including payroll, vendor payments, debt service, and Water and Power transfers. Investment earnings for the quarter totaled $9.2 million, partially offsetting expenditures.
Other major funds also posted quarterly changes: the Capital Endowment increased by $16,986, the Stranded Investment Reserve grew by $632,026, and the PARS Section 115 Trust rose by $597,046 due to market gains. Investments held with fiscal agents decreased by $335,731, largely tied to debt service payments.
The report also notes Pasadena’s strong liquidity, with $171.6 million held in short-term, same-day instruments—well above the city’s target of maintaining at least one-twelfth of the annual operating budget in liquid assets.
The portfolio’s effective duration stood at 1.88 years, in line with the city’s two-year target.
City officials reported that the investment portfolio remains in full compliance with the Fiscal Year 2026 Investment Policy and state government code requirements.
The report also highlights broader economic trends in Q3, including 2.7% projected GDP growth, stabilizing inflation at 3%, and an 8.1% rise in the S&P 500.
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