Pasadena City Council Approves Contract Amendments for Homeless Services

The Pasadena City Council on Monday authorized the City Manager to amend two contracts totaling $178,000 with Friends In Deed (FID) to extend their terms and increase funding for homelessness services.

The amendments will expand street outreach and motel-based shelter programs aimed at providing critical support to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the city.

The amendment contracts are expected to increase existing street outreach services and assist an additional 60 to 80 households. Additionally, the amendments will support approximately 650 nights of motel-based shelter for seven-to-10 households on their way to permanent housing.

The terms of the amendments will extend the contracts through June 30, 2026.

In a move to streamline the process, the City Council also authorized no-cost amendments that could further extend the terms of the contracts beyond June 30, 2026.

The funds for the contract amendments are part of the State of California’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant program.

The City was awarded $811,206.81 from HHAP-3 in 2022 and $680,593.05 from HHAP-4 in 2023 to support local homelessness solutions.

Friends In Deed has been providing shelter services in Pasadena for over 30 years, operating the City-funded street outreach program since 2019.

Here are the remaining items that passed on Monday’s consent calendar:

• A vehicle donation for the Fire Department following an offer from US Auto Trust, the parent company of Hyundai Glendale LLC. The donation, valued at approximately $42,945, is for a new 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT. The vehicle, which is ready for immediate delivery, will be used across several divisions within the Fire Department, including the Training Division, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division, and for general operational needs. It will be outfitted with radios and emergency equipment, further enhancing the department’s capabilities. The donation is being made in recognition of the Fire Department’s resources and efforts in response to recent statewide wildfires. The new Hyundai Santa Fe XRT will join the department’s existing fleet of command vehicles, and the Fleet Maintenance Division is equipped to service and maintain the vehicle. According to city policy, donations valued over $10,000 must be accepted by the City Council. If approved, the vehicle donation will be formalized through a written agreement, consistent with the city’s financial policies and reviewed by the City Attorney’s Office.
• The acceptance of a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe, fully outfitted with emergency equipment, as a donation for the Pasadena Police Department’s Canine Unit. The vehicle, donated by Joe Perez, owner of California Metro Patrol, will enhance the department’s ability to serve and protect the community. The donated Tahoe will replace a current canine unit vehicle that has reached its service limit. It will be equipped with essential tools such as a Motorola radio, mobile data terminals, emergency lighting systems, and a temperature monitoring system to ensure the safety of the department’s canine officers during operations. The Canine Unit, established in 1991, currently operates with four dual-purpose (narcotics and explosives detection) patrol dogs and one single-purpose explosives detection dog. Each canine team is assigned a specialized vehicle that meets the unique needs of their canine partners, including an interior kennel, a temperature monitoring system, and equipment to maintain the dogs’ safety and readiness during patrols. If approved, the donated vehicle will be integrated into the Police Department’s fleet, where the Fleet Maintenance Division is equipped to maintain and service it alongside other vehicles in the unit. The donation, which is valued at approximately $42,945, is a significant contribution to the Pasadena Police Department’s efforts to maintain high levels of operational readiness and public safety.
• A resolution that establishes three new job classifications and updates the salary of an existing position within the city’s workforce. The changes are designed to enhance the city’s ability to recruit and retain skilled personnel in a competitive job market. The new classifications include the Deputy Director of Public Works, the 311 Call Center Supervisor, and the Assistant Administrative Analyst (C). Additionally, the salary for the existing position of Payroll Services Manager will be updated. The Public Works Department has requested the creation of two new positions. The Deputy Director of Public Works will oversee the operations and activities of the department, coordinating with other divisions and agencies while providing complex support to the Director of Public Works. The 311 Call Center Supervisor will manage the daily operations of the City Service Center to ensure quality customer service for Pasadena residents. The City Attorney Department has proposed a new classification for an Assistant Administrative Analyst (C), which will serve as the entry-level position in the Administrative Analyst (C) series. This role will provide administrative, financial, and statistical analyses in support of departmental activities. In response to market trends, the Finance Department has requested a compensation review for the Payroll Services Manager position. The new salary control rate for this position will increase to $156,057, up from the previous rate of $148,596. The recommended salary control rates for all new classifications have been set based on an analysis of comparable roles in the local labor market and alignment with existing city positions.
• A $1.1 million four-year contract with Ron’s Maintenance Inc. to provide on-call catch basin cleaning and inspection services for the city’s storm drainage system. The contract ensures compliance with water quality regulations and maintain the city’s stormwater infrastructure. The contract includes both dry-season and wet-season cleaning services for all 1,350 catch basins owned by the city. The dry-season cleaning will take place annually between July 1 and September 30, while up to three wet-season cleanings will be conducted between October 1 and April 30. The cleaning and inspection process will be tracked using a Geographic Information System (GIS) application developed by the city, providing photographic documentation and detailed cleaning logs to monitor trash collection and infrastructure maintenance. The city’s Public Works Department has historically relied on Los Angeles County for these services, but recent cost increases prompted the move to establish an independent contract. The city is required to maintain its catch basins as part of its compliance with the Los Angeles River Trash Total Maximum Daily Load (Trash TMDL), a regulation set by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board to improve water quality in the river. The cleaning and inspection services are part of the city’s broader strategy to manage stormwater runoff, ensure the integrity of its storm drain system, and support its long-term compliance with local water quality standards. Additionally, the city will use funds from the Safe, Clean Water (SCW) program, established by Measure W, to support these efforts, as the program allows for funding of catch basin maintenance and other stormwater management activities.
• A $1.5 million, 10-year contract with Patagonia Health Inc. to provide an electronic health record (EHR) system for the Pasadena Public Health Department. The contract is designed to enhance the department’s operations and improve data management for patient care. The new system would replace the department’s outdated paper-based record-keeping process, offering a comprehensive solution to better manage clinical data, improve efficiency, and ensure the confidentiality of patient information. The system would also streamline processes such as cross-referrals between public health programs, billing for services, and reporting of health trends. A comprehensive needs assessment was conducted by consultant Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker LLC, which identified several benefits of an EHR system. These include better integration with health insurance billing systems, more accurate reporting, and increased ability to respond to emerging health needs in the community. The EHR system is expected to enhance the department’s ability to track health data, improve public health outcomes, and better serve Pasadena residents. The Public Health Department anticipates that the system will not only improve patient care but also increase revenue from health insurance reimbursements, helping to sustain operations and improve service delivery.
• Amendments to the Fiscal Year 2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), including updates to various city infrastructure projects, funding reallocations, and new initiatives. The changes would address ongoing projects and enhance public safety and infrastructure throughout the city. If amendments are approved, $1,047,460 would be advanced to the Rose Bowl Operating Company (RBOC) for the Brookside Golf Course Cantilevered Netting Project, which will help improve safety along the Rose Bowl recreational loop. The City would share the total $2.6 million cost with RBOC, which previously funded a pilot project at the site in 2023. The City Manager would be authorized to negotiate repayment terms with RBOC for the loan, which will be amortized over ten years. Other amendments to the CIP Budget include several updates to infrastructure projects. The Department of Public Works proposed the allocation of additional funds for sidewalk repairs, ADA improvements, and sewer system upgrades. The Villa Parke Community Center project would receive a $400,000 boost in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, while the Annual ADA Sidewalk Improvement Program would receive an additional $100,000 from CDBG funds for expanded work in Northwest Pasadena. Funding adjustments would also be made for water and power projects, including a $1.3 million increase for the Subtransmission Path 2 Upgrade, a project designed to improve system reliability, and $3.3 million for fire threat mitigation work in high-risk areas. The Fire Threat Mitigation Tier 3. The Council would also approve a new project to enhance the city’s stormwater capture capabilities at Washington Park. The $12.7 million Washington Park Stormwater Capture Project, funded by a Safe, Clean Water Program grant, will improve water quality in the Rio Hondo River watershed and provide community benefits, including urban greening and flood risk reduction.
• A $172,354 amendment to the construction contract for the renovation of the Hon. John J. Kennedy Pool. The amendment will increase the total contract amount to $4.8 million to accommodate unforeseen additional work. The contract amendment with Hamel Contracting, Inc. will cover costs associated with structural changes and other unforeseen conditions encountered during construction. These include damage to the pool’s ceiling and walls from termite activity, the replacement of underground footings to accommodate new plumbing lines, and the demolition of existing concrete floors to align with new grading requirements. Additional work also includes the installation of extra security cameras and poles, as well as electrical upgrades in the Teen Recreation Room. Construction on the project began on June 30, 2022, with the scope of work encompassing the demolition of the existing pool, the construction of a new pool, and extensive renovations to the existing pool building, including electrical, mechanical, and plumbing upgrades.
• A measure to amend the Fire Department’s Fiscal Year 2025 operating budget, allowing the department to purchase 24 new cardiac monitor/defibrillator units and secure a five-year maintenance contract with Stryker Sales LLC for a total not-to-exceed amount of $1,007,678. The item also includes a maintenance agreement for 26 devices in the Fire Department’s inventory. Pasadena’s Fire Department is heavily involved in medical-related emergencies. In 2024, more than 81% of the 20,854 calls the department responded to were related to medical emergencies. Currently, the department uses 28 Lifepak 15 electrocardiogram (EKG) Monitor/Defibrillator devices, with two owned and 26 leased units. These devices are critical for advanced life support (ALS) services, helping paramedics monitor patients’ heart rhythms, deliver defibrillation, and measure vital signs like oxygen saturation and blood pressure. However, 14 of the devices are operating beyond their recommended 7-year lifespan, prompting the need for replacement. The new units, the Lifepak 35, released in August 2024, offer enhanced monitoring capabilities, including continuous EKG monitoring, which allows paramedics to quickly detect and assess heart issues in patients. Under the contract, the Fire Department would purchase 16 new Lifepak 35 devices for frontline ambulances and fire trucks, while eight existing Lifepak 15 units will be bought at their residual value to be used as backup equipment. The department would also continue its service agreement with Stryker’s ProCare program, which provides preventative maintenance, technical support, and parts for all 26 devices. The department has been using Lifepak devices for over a decade and already stocks replacement parts and accessories for these units. Switching to a different manufacturer would require a full replacement of all units, creating operational challenges and additional training needs for approximately 172 fire personnel. If the contract is fully executed, the new Lifepak 35 units will be placed into service by summer 2025, continuing the Fire Department’s mission to provide rapid, effective care during medical emergencies.