A critical communications system that helps keep Pasadena’s lights on and connected to California’s electric grid is poised for its first major overhaul in more than a quarter-century under a $425,000 contract approved by the City Council on Monday.
The project is essential to maintaining reliability, cybersecurity and regulatory compliance.
Under the agreement, City Manager Matt Hawkesworth will enter into a two-year contract with Sacramento-based Artisan Grid Services Inc. to replace Pasadena Water and Power’s Remote Intelligent Gateway (RIG) system and install new California Independent System Operator (CAISO) revenue meters at key electrical facilities.
The city’s utility, Pasadena Water and Power, uses the RIG system to exchange real-time operational data with CAISO, which manages California’s electric grid. The gateway was installed in 1999 and manufactured by a company that is no longer in business, leaving the utility without technical support or replacement parts.
Although that equipment remains compliant with current CAISO standards, officials said it lacks modern cybersecurity protections, faster data transmission capabilities and improved monitoring features required to meet evolving grid requirements.
The project will replace 10 existing meters and add two new revenue meters at the Glenarm Dispatching Station, while replacing three meters and installing three backup meters at the TM Goodrich Receiving Station. The additional backup meters are intended to ensure uninterrupted communication with CAISO if existing equipment fails or must be taken offline for repairs.
The upgrades also will support Pasadena’s new Battery Energy Storage System under construction at the Glenarm Power Plant by integrating the new generation resource into the city’s communications network with CAISO.
The recommended contract includes an $85,000 contingency for potential additional meter replacements or installations identified during the project.
The work will be funded through Pasadena Water and Power’s Power Production Facility Improvements capital project budget, with approximately $300,000 expected to be spent during fiscal year 2027.
According to a city staff report, the project supports Pasadena Water and Power’s goal of sourcing 100% of the city’s electricity from carbon-free resources by 2030 while improving electric grid reliability and ensuring continued compliance with CAISO operational requirements.
Additional State Funding for Urban Search and Rescue Training
The City Council accepted an additional $77,250 in state funding to support regional Urban Search and Rescue training, increasing the value of a California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services reimbursement agreement to $324,450.
The action authorizes Interim City Manager Matthew Hawkesworth to execute an amendment to the city’s agreement with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, extending the contract through June 30, 2028, while increasing its value from $247,200 to $324,450.
The additional funding will be appropriated into the Fire Department’s Fire Grants Fund and will be fully offset by reimbursement revenue from the state, resulting in no impact to the city’s General Fund, according to a staff report prepared by Fire Chief Chad Augustin.
The funding supports Regional Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 4, a 30-member team representing seven fire departments that responds to large-scale or complex emergencies under California’s Master Mutual Aid System.
The Pasadena Fire Department administers reimbursement funding for the regional task force, covering overtime, backfill staffing and travel expenses so participating agencies can maintain local emergency response capabilities while personnel attend required training.
According to the report, the additional funding will pay for specialized training courses including Regional Task Force Leader, Regional Technical Search Specialist, Plans Team Training, Heavy Equipment Rigging Specialist and Safety Officer certification. The courses are provided through the California Specialized Training Institute or other Cal OES-approved programs.
City officials said Pasadena has managed the reimbursement program for participating agencies over the past two years.
Hill Avenue Library Roof Project Contract Recommendation
An $838,116 contract for a long-planned roof replacement and seismic upgrade project at the historic Hill Avenue Branch Library, with construction expected to temporarily close the nearly century-old facility for about four months.
Built in 1925 and designed by the architectural firm Marston, Van Pelt and Maybury, the Hill Avenue Branch Library at 55 S. Hill Ave. is the oldest branch in the Pasadena Public Library system and serves as a neighborhood library, educational center and community gathering place.
The project stems from the city’s 2017-18 Facilities Condition Assessment, which found the building’s aging roof in poor condition and vulnerable to continued water intrusion. In addition to replacing the roof, the project will strengthen the building’s roof diaphragm and reinforce unreinforced masonry walls to improve seismic resilience. Crews will also repair cracked wood beams, restore damaged plaster ceilings, repair historic interior woodwork, install new ceiling insulation and improve accessibility by restriping the parking lot.
City staff determined the library is not a practical candidate for rooftop solar because of its clay tile roof and extensive tree canopy. The project was developed in coordination with historic preservation staff to protect the building’s character-defining architectural features.
The total project cost, including construction administration, testing and inspection, is estimated at $963,833. Officials said the work is fully funded through the Building Preventive Maintenance Fund and will not affect the city’s General Fund. Library programs and services will be relocated to other Pasadena library branches during construction.
Five-Year Contract for CNG Fleet Maintenance
A five-year contract worth up to $872,708 to Rush Truck Centers of California Inc. to inspect, maintain and repair the city’s compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks and service vehicles.
The agreement will authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with the Whittier-based company for a base amount of $831,150 plus a $41,558 contingency to cover unforeseen operational needs. The contract will be funded through the city’s Fleet Maintenance Fund and would have no impact on the General Fund.
According to a staff report from the Department of Public Works, the city’s Building Systems and Fleet Management Division is responsible for maintaining CNG-powered refuse trucks and service vehicles used for solid waste collection, street maintenance, sewer operations and other essential public services.
The contract covers periodic inspections and certification of CNG fuel cylinders, post-accident inspections, testing of fuel lines, repairs to fuel system components and replacement of tank covers. City officials said the specialized work is necessary to comply with federal, state and local safety regulations while minimizing vehicle downtime.
The city also anticipates replacing up to five aging CNG fuel tanks during the five-year contract, allowing fleet managers to address equipment lifecycle needs before failures occur.
City officials said Pasadena has conducted business with Rush Truck Centers since fiscal year 2016, paying the company more than $878,000 for previous services. Staff determined the proposed contract complies with the city’s competitive bidding and living wage requirements.
$514,364 Contract to Maintain City’s Fueling Infrastructure
A five-year contract worth up to $514,364 to Western Pump Inc. to maintain and repair the fueling systems that keep the city’s fleet of more than 1,100 vehicles and equipment operating.
The agreement authorizes the City Manager to enter into a contract with the Poway-based company for authorized service and repair of Gasboy fuel dispensers, wireless nozzle readers and original equipment manufacturer parts. The contract includes a base amount of $489,870 and a 5% contingency of $24,494 for unforeseen operational needs.
According to a report from the Department of Public Works, the city’s Building Systems and Fleet Management Division operates four Gasboy fuel islands that provide unleaded gasoline, diesel fuel and compressed natural gas to vehicles used by multiple city departments.
Officials said the specialized fueling equipment requires manufacturer-authorized technicians to perform repairs, software updates, calibrations and warranty work. City staff are not trained or authorized to complete many of those tasks.
Using non-authorized vendors could void manufacturer warranties, eliminate technical support and increase equipment downtime, according to the report. Because the fuel islands serve as the primary fueling source for the city’s fleet, prolonged outages could disrupt public services that rely on city vehicles.
The contract will be funded through the Fleet Maintenance Fund, with future costs incorporated into the department’s annual operating budgets. Officials said the agreement will have no impact on the General Fund.
Contract for Heavy-Duty Truck Suspension Repairs
A five-year contract worth up to $694,313 for specialized spring, suspension and alignment services for the city’s heavy-duty vehicle fleet, a move officials say will help keep emergency response and public works vehicles operating safely and reliably.
According to a report from the Department of Public Works, the city’s Building Systems and Fleet Management Division maintains a fleet of heavy-duty vehicles, including refuse trucks, fire apparatus, emergency response vehicles, vacuum trucks and utility vehicles that support public safety, sanitation and infrastructure services.
City officials said the specialized nature of heavy-duty suspension and alignment work requires equipment and expertise unavailable through the city’s in-house maintenance staff.
Improperly maintained steering and suspension systems can lead to accelerated tire wear, higher maintenance costs, reduced vehicle stability and diminished operational readiness, particularly for emergency response vehicles.
The contract will be funded through the Fleet Maintenance Fund, with first-year costs covered by existing appropriations and future costs incorporated into annual operating budgets. Officials said the agreement will have no impact on the city’s General Fund.
$2.1 Million Hazardous Waste Services Contract for Water and Power Operations
A contract worth up to $2.1 million to Ocean Blue Environmental Services Inc. to provide hazardous waste management and emergency response services for the Pasadena Water and Power Department over the next seven years.
The agreement includes a five-year base term valued at up to $1.5 million with two optional one-year extensions totaling up to $600,000, at the City Manager’s discretion.
According to a staff report, Pasadena Water and Power operates the Glenarm Power Plant, electrical distribution facilities, water treatment systems, storage sites and a warehouse that generate regulated hazardous and non-hazardous waste during routine operations.
State and federal regulations require the materials to be properly labeled, packaged, transported and disposed of, generally within 90 days.
In addition to routine waste disposal, the contractor will provide hazardous materials handling, spill cleanup and 24-hour emergency response services.
The contract would be funded through the Power Operating Fund and Water Operating Fund, with approximately $300,000 budgeted annually. Officials said the agreement would have no impact on the city’s General Fund.
Pasadena Police Union Contract
A new three-year labor agreement with the Pasadena Police Officers Association that includes annual pay raises, new longevity incentives and enhanced specialty assignment pay in an effort to recruit and retain sworn officers in a competitive law enforcement job market.
The proposed memorandum of understanding would cover approximately three years, from July 1 through June 30, 2029, replacing a contract that expired June 30. Negotiations between the city and the union began in December 2025 and resulted in a tentative agreement on June 16.
Under the agreement, police officers, corporals and sergeants would receive a 2.25% salary increase effective July 1, 2026, followed by increases of 3.5% in 2027 and 3.25% in 2028. Employees would also receive a 1% market adjustment beginning this month.
The contract adds new salary steps beginning in 2028 for police officers, corporals and sergeants, creating additional opportunities for salary growth at the top of each classification.
The agreement also expands longevity pay. Officers with 15 years of service would eventually receive a 7% longevity premium by 2028, while those with 20 years would receive 10%. A new 2.5% longevity payment would also be introduced for officers completing 10 years of service.
Special assignment compensation would increase for several specialized duties. SWAT officers would receive an additional $4 per hour while training or deployed, movie detail assignments would pay $115 per hour for non-supervisors and $135 per hour for supervisors, and off-duty animal care pay for K-9 and mounted officers would increase from $15 to $18.57 per hour, with future adjustments tied to the city’s minimum wage.
Other provisions increase the annual vacation cash-out limit from 72 to 80 hours beginning in 2027, establish a 5.5% temporary pay increase for employees serving in higher-level acting assignments and modify promotion rules for employees who have served extended periods in acting positions.
According to the staff report, the agreement carries a fully burdened cost of approximately $17.6 million over its three-year term, with ongoing annual costs estimated at $9.6 million after the contract expires. The fiscal year 2027 cost is projected at approximately $2.7 million, all of which will be paid from the city’s General Fund.
City officials said the agreement supports the council’s goals of maintaining fiscal stability while ensuring public safety by keeping police compensation competitive with surrounding agencies.
Amended Police Lieutenants Contract Tied to Officers’ Labor Agreement
Amendments to the labor agreement covering the city’s police lieutenants Monday, increasing compensation for the department’s management ranks to maintain contractual pay relationships with police sergeants.
The amended memorandum of understanding between the city and the Pasadena Police Lieutenants Association will remain in effect through June 30, 2028, but will incorporate salary and compensation changes triggered by the newly negotiated agreement with the Pasadena Police Officers Association.
The Police Lieutenants Association represents 14 full-time sworn management employees who oversee major Police Department divisions, including Patrol, Community Services, Traffic, Professional Standards, Air Operations, Major Crimes and Event Planning.
According to a staff report, the existing agreement, approved in July 2024, requires the city to provide lieutenants with certain compensation increases negotiated for police sergeants, including changes to deferred compensation, retiree health benefits, movie detail pay and bilingual pay.
The agreement also requires the top salary for police lieutenants to remain 22% higher than the combined value of several key compensation components received by police sergeants, helping preserve promotional incentives and internal pay equity within the department.
The amended contract will provide salary increases of 3.19% effective with the pay period including July 1, 2026, followed by a 4.04% increase effective Aug. 10, 2026, and a 5.05% increase beginning with the pay period that includes July 1, 2027.
The amendments will also increase compensation for lieutenants assigned to movie detail to $115 per hour for non-supervisory assignments and $135 per hour for supervisory assignments, matching rates negotiated in the police officers’ agreement.
City officials estimate the amended contract will cost approximately $1.3 million over the remainder of the agreement, with ongoing annual costs of about $809,000 after the contract expires. The fiscal year 2027 cost is projected at approximately $466,000, all of which will be paid from the city’s General Fund.
According to the report, the Police Department’s fiscal year 2027 budget includes funding for anticipated wage increases, although staff said they will monitor personnel costs and request additional appropriations if necessary. The city said the amendments support its goals of maintaining fiscal stability while ensuring public safety and retaining experienced law enforcement managers.
Metro Grant for CicLAvia-Style Open Streets Event This Fall
A $500,000 grant from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to host a CicLAvia-style Open Streets event later this year, with the goal of encouraging walking, bicycling and transit use while showcasing the city’s business districts ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.
The city will accept Metro’s Open and Slow Streets Cycle 6 grant, approve a $330,000 contract with nonprofit CicLAvia Inc. to organize the event, and authorize $240,000 in local matching funds required by the grant.
Metro awarded Pasadena the maximum available Cycle 6 grant after the city successfully applied for funding in both Cycle 6 and Cycle 7 of the countywide program. The city also received a Cycle 7 grant for a separate event planned in 2028, which will return to the council for approval at a later date.
The 2026 event had originally been expected to coincide with the FIFA World Cup, but construction on Metro’s North Hollywood-to-Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit project along Colorado Boulevard made a summer event impractical. Metro approved Pasadena’s request to move the event to November, with an alternative date in December also under consideration. City officials said the event will take place on a Sunday to minimize traffic disruption while boosting business activity.
The proposed route would close Colorado Boulevard between DeLacey Avenue and Bonnie Avenue and Raymond Avenue between Walnut Street and Del Mar Avenue, connecting Old Pasadena, Playhouse Village, South Lake Avenue and the Memorial Park and Del Mar A Line stations. A companion Slow Streets route or guided bicycle and walking tour is also proposed between Memorial Park Station and the Rose Bowl.
Open Streets events temporarily close roads to vehicle traffic, allowing residents to walk, bike, roll and participate in community activities. City officials said the events also increase foot traffic for local businesses and promote alternatives to driving.
The estimated cost of the event is $740,000, with Metro providing $500,000 and the city contributing a $240,000 local match through a combination of Transportation Development Act Article 3 funds and reallocated transportation and General Fund dollars. The grant would fund CicLAvia’s event management costs as well as city staffing, traffic control and public safety expenses.
Transportation officials recommended exempting the CicLAvia contract from competitive bidding, citing the nonprofit’s specialized experience planning large-scale open streets events throughout Los Angeles County and its familiarity with Metro’s grant requirements. The city first partnered with CicLAvia to host Pasadena’s inaugural Open Streets event in 2015.
Officials said the 2026 event will serve as a test run for larger transportation and crowd management efforts leading up to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, when the Rose Bowl is expected to host Olympic events.
Federal Grant to Expand Dial-A-Ride Services, Launch ‘Mystery Rider’ Program
The City Council voted to accept $674,769 in federal grant funding to expand services for older adults and people with disabilities through the city’s Dial-A-Ride program, including the addition of travel training, wildfire recovery assistance and a new “mystery rider” program to evaluate transit service.
The grant, funded through the Federal Transit Administration’s Section 5310 program and administered by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, would support two new initiatives over the next three years at a total program cost of $778,633.
The city would provide a required local match of $103,864 using Proposition A Local Return funds.
Pasadena Dial-A-Ride provides shared curb-to-curb transportation for residents age 60 and older and people with disabilities living in Pasadena, Altadena, San Marino and unincorporated areas east of Pasadena. According to a staff report, the service is expected to face growing demand as communities continue recovering from the January 2025 Eaton Fire and prepare for increased regional activity surrounding the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The city’s Mobility Management and Coordination Project would fund two full-time customer service representatives to help seniors and people with disabilities navigate local transit options.
The program includes travel training for fixed-route transit users and a “Bridges of Hope to Pasadena and Altadena Transit Program” to assist residents returning to fire-impacted neighborhoods. Staff also would provide specialized transit coordination for individuals with limited mobility during the 2028 Olympics.
The second grant-funded initiative would establish a Mystery Rider Program, in which trained evaluators anonymously ride Pasadena Transit and Dial-A-Ride vehicles and monitor the dispatch call center to assess driver performance, vehicle cleanliness, safety, punctuality and customer service. Officials said the program is designed to provide ongoing feedback to improve service quality and ensure the transit system is prepared for future regional events.
City officials said the federally funded programs will improve mobility for vulnerable residents while preserving local transit resources through an 80% to 90% federal reimbursement model. The two customer service positions have already been approved in the fiscal year 2027 operating budget, and the grant would have no impact on the city’s capital program.
Metro Grant to Advance Zero-Emission Bus Fleet
A $2.4 million grant from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to offset the cost of the city’s zero-emission bus fleet while expanding onboard technology and passenger amenities across Pasadena Transit.
The proposed action will authorize the city to accept Metro Zero-Emission Vehicle grant funds, amend an existing contract with Connexionz Ltd. by $1.76 million for fleet technology upgrades and revise the fiscal year 2027 Capital Improvement Program budget.
According to a staff report, Pasadena received the grant in May after applying for funding to help cover increased costs associated with purchasing 17 hydrogen fuel-cell buses approved by the City Council in August 2025. Officials said federal tariffs and the expiration of California’s sales tax exemption for zero-emission transit buses increased procurement costs beyond those anticipated when the project was first budgeted in 2023.
The grant reduces the city’s local contribution for the $32.05 million bus procurement project to approximately $595,000, or about 1.9% of the total cost, freeing local transportation funds for other transit improvements.
The amendment also increases the city’s contract with Connexionz, Pasadena Transit’s central vehicle management system provider, from approximately $1.4 million to nearly $3.16 million. The additional funding will equip 25 new zero-emission vehicles — including 17 Pasadena Transit buses and eight Dial-A-Ride vehicles — with onboard communications, fare collection, dispatch and vehicle monitoring technology.
The contract amendment also includes fleetwide upgrades such as public Wi-Fi, digital route displays, enhanced onboard security camera integration with the city’s Armor Cloud platform, and seven new solar-powered electronic bus stop displays providing real-time arrival information. Existing buses will be retrofitted to provide the same technology available on the new fleet, creating a consistent rider experience systemwide.
Transportation officials said the technology upgrades will improve dispatching, schedule adherence, vehicle health monitoring and communications while giving emergency responders real-time access to onboard camera feeds during critical incidents. The new bus stop displays are intended to improve passenger information at major transfer points throughout the transit network.
The grant also allows the city to redirect Proposition A/C Local Return funds to other transit capital projects while maintaining a reserve of approximately $642,700 for future phases of Pasadena’s transition to a zero-emission fleet. Officials said the proposal would have no impact on the General Fund.
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