Free Parking, Closed Libraries: What Pasadena Residents Need to Know for Memorial Day

Parking meters across Pasadena will be free on Monday, but the library books will have to wait.

The City of Pasadena will close City Hall and most administrative offices on Monday, May 25, for Memorial Day, according to a city press release issued May 4. Police and fire services will remain fully operational, but residents who need permits, utility help, or a trip to the library will find those doors locked until Tuesday.

The closures touch nearly every city department. The City Service Center, Pasadena Water and Power, the Municipal Services Payment Center, the Parking Office, and the Permit Center will all be shut for the day, according to the press release. The City Service Center will reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 26.

For drivers, there is one bright spot: all metered parking not posted as a “No Parking” zone will be free Monday, and time limits will not be enforced. The city will still ticket for overnight parking violations, red curb parking, fire hydrant obstructions, and posted “No Parking” zones. Regular enforcement resumes Tuesday, May 26.

Trash and recycling collection will run on its normal Monday schedule with no delays, according to the press release. Bulky item pickups, however, will not be available.

Pasadena Transit will offer limited service. Route 33 will operate on a Sunday schedule, but all other routes and Dial-A-Ride will not run on the holiday, the press release stated. The City Council will not meet Monday; the next meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 8, according to the city’s website.

All Pasadena Public Library branches will be closed Sunday, May 24, and Monday, May 25, reopening at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Recreation and community centers operated by the city’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department will also close Monday, though all city parks will remain open for picnics and play on a first-come, first-served basis with no site reservations accepted.

Residents with power emergencies can call the Power Emergency Line at (626) 744-4673. Water emergencies should be directed to (626) 744-4138. PWP’s regular Customer Call Center will be closed for the holiday, but customers can still access their accounts and pay bills online at PWPweb.com or by phone at (626) 744-4005. The Permit Center will reopen at 10 a.m. Tuesday, and online permit services — including subtrade permits and plan submissions for new construction, tenant improvements, accessory dwelling units, and additions — remain available through the city’s Permit Center Online portal during the closure.

The City of Pasadena and the Pasadena Veterans Day Committee will hold the annual Memorial Day Commemoration at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Memorial Park, 85 E. Holly St. The ceremony is open to the public. In past years, the commemoration has included the reading of 320 names of Pasadena men and women who lost their lives in battle, from World War I through the Vietnam War and other conflicts, along with a missing man formation flyover by the Condor Squadron, according to prior city press releases.

The event is typically sponsored by the city’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, the Rose Bowl Stadium, the Pasadena Management Association, Vietnam Veterans of America, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the American Legion.

For life-threatening emergencies, dial 911. To report suspicious activity, call the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4241. For general city information, call the City Service Center at (626) 744-7311 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

Three weeks from now, the flags at Memorial Park will be back at full staff. On Monday, they fly at half.