Pasadena Moves to Extend $10.5 Million Animal Services Contract With Pasadena Humane

The City Council is expected to approve a five-year contract worth up to $10.47 million with Pasadena Humane to continue providing animal care and control services across the city. 

The proposed contract, scheduled for consideration Monday, June 8, would extend the organization’s role as Pasadena’s animal services provider through June 30, 2031. Pasadena Humane has cared for the city’s animals since 1904 and currently serves as Pasadena’s poundmaster under state and local law. 

According to a staff report from the Department of Public Health, the agreement would continue core services including animal control and field response, enforcement of animal-related laws, shelter operations, veterinary care, rabies control and support for administrative hearings involving dangerous or nuisance animals. 

The contract arrives as demand for those services has climbed sharply. The report states that animal intake in Pasadena has risen 47% and field service calls have increased 24%, while Pasadena Humane’s direct costs have grown an average of 14% a year over the past five years. 

The first year of the agreement would cost approximately $1.99 million, a 10% increase over the current fiscal year that city officials attributed to rising operating costs and growing demand. The total five-year value would not exceed $10.47 million, with annual increases of about 2.6% after the first year. 

The proposed contract also includes several operational changes. Pasadena Humane would replace its after-hours answering service with two overnight animal control officers and transition from using humane officers to certified animal control officers — a shift city officials said would lower costs without reducing service levels. 

Response times for one service would change as well. Routine requests to remove deceased animals would move from a two-hour window to within 24 hours, though immediate response would continue when requested by the Pasadena Police Department or designated city officials. 

Pasadena Humane’s reach extends well beyond the city. The organization also serves Arcadia, Glendale, Monrovia, San Marino, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena, along with unincorporated areas including Altadena and La Crescenta. 

The report notes that Pasadena Humane does not carry out coyote abatement under the city’s Urban Wildlife Management Plan. Those actions are handled by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife or a licensed trapping contractor, except when injured or ill wildlife requires care. 

City staff is recommending the council exempt the contract from competitive bidding, citing a City Charter provision covering professional or unique services. The Public Safety Committee reviewed the proposal on May 28. The City Council is scheduled to take up the agreement during its meeting Monday, June 8. 

Here are the remaining items on Monday’s consent calendar. 

• $15.5 Million in Supplemental Sheriff’s Services for Major Events, New Year’s 

The City Council will consider agreements with Los Angeles County worth up to $15.5 million over five years for supplemental law enforcement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department — up to $5 million for major events such as Rose Bowl football games, concerts and international soccer matches, and up to $10.5 million for New Year’s activities tied to the Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl Game. The agreements would run from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, with costs incurred only when services are provided.

• $2.1 Million Contract for School Crossing Guard Services 

A five-year contract worth up to $2.14 million for crossing guard services at Pasadena Unified School District campuses throughout the city. 

The proposed agreement with All City Management Services, Inc. would continue a program the city has funded since 2003 to improve pedestrian safety around elementary and middle schools. 

Under the contract, crossing guards would be stationed at 17 intersections serving 12 PUSD campuses for 180 school days each year. Locations include schools such as Pasadena Unified School District’s Allendale Elementary, Hamilton Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Norma Coombs Elementary and Octavia E. Butler Middle School. 

City officials said crossing guard services are part of a broader effort to improve safety near schools. Additional measures include warning signs, flashing beacons, speed limit signs, parking controls and curb-use zones. Crossing guard locations are selected based on traffic volumes and pedestrian activity during school arrival and dismissal periods. 

According to the staff report, the company has more than 30 years of experience providing crossing guard services and currently serves more than 150 cities, counties and school districts throughout California. 

The company has provided crossing guard services for 23 years under a series of contracts awarded through competitive proposals. 

The agreement would begin July 1 and run through June 30, 2031. The first-year cost is estimated at $388,130, with annual increases built into the contract. City officials said approximately 76% of the crossing guards assigned to Pasadena schools are Pasadena residents, a level the company has pledged to maintain throughout the contract term. 

• $3.1 Million Contract for Police Dispatch, Records Systems 

A five-year contract worth up to $3.12 million to continue operating the Police Department’s computer-aided dispatch and records management systems that support emergency response and daily law enforcement operations. 

The proposed agreement with Versaterm Public Safety US Inc. would renew software licensing, maintenance and support services for the Police Department’s Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), Records Management System (RMS) and related mobile data platforms through 2031.

According to a staff report, the systems are used throughout the department’s operations, including 9-1-1 communications, crime analysis, jail booking, evidence management, investigative workflows and the creation and storage of official police records. 

The Pasadena Police Department employs approximately 239 sworn officers and 126 civilian employees. Officials said the CAD and RMS platforms are essential for processing emergency calls, coordinating field resources and maintaining accurate records required under state and federal law. 

The contract would include a base amount of $2.84 million and a contingency of $283,651, bringing the total authorization to $3.12 million over five years. Annual costs would increase by approximately 4% each year, beginning with an estimated $523,696 in fiscal year 2027. 

The city first selected Versaterm in 2020 after conducting a competitive procurement process to replace its previous vendor, West Covina Services Group, which announced it would discontinue support for its software. City staff evaluated six proposals before recommending Versaterm. 

Police officials said replacing the current platform would be costly and disruptive. The transition to the existing system took approximately five years from planning through full implementation and stabilization.

The staff report also disclosed that Versaterm maintains contracts with federal agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Secret Service. 

City officials emphasized that those contracts involve separate software products and that the City’s agreement includes provisions prohibiting the sharing of city data with outside entities without written authorization. 

If approved, the contract would take effect July 1 and continue through June 30, 2031. 

• $3.5 Million in Environmental Services Contracts 

Two five-year contracts totaling up to $3.5 million for on-call environmental consulting services to support water infrastructure projects throughout the city. 

The proposed agreements would authorize Pasadena Water and Power to enter into separate contracts worth up to $1.75 million each with Michael Baker International and Woodard & Curran, the two highest-ranked firms in a competitive selection process. 

According to a staff report, the consultants will provide environmental assessments, permitting support, habitat restoration planning, pre-construction surveys, construction monitoring and other services needed for water-related capital improvement projects. 

Pasadena Water and Power officials said the contracts will allow the utility to quickly access specialized environmental expertise without conducting separate procurements for each project. 

The city issued a request for proposals in November 2025 and received six responses. The solicitation was distributed to more than 5,200 vendors, with proposals submitted by six firms, including two Pasadena-based companies. 

An evaluation panel scored the proposals based on qualifications, experience, understanding of the scope of work and cost. Michael Baker International, based in Los Angeles, received the highest score at 87 points, followed by Woodard & Curran at 85.4 points. Pasadena-based firms Dudek and Tetra Tech finished fourth and fifth, respectively. 

Under the proposed arrangement, neither consultant is guaranteed any specific amount of work. Instead, Pasadena Water and Power will issue task orders on a  project-by-project basis as environmental services are needed.

The contracts are expected to support several major water infrastructure projects, including the Don Benito Reservoir Replacement Project, Arroyo Seco Canyon Project, Sunset Reservoir Improvements, Water Reuse Project, Distribution Mains Program and Advanced Metering Infrastructure Program. 

According to the report, approximately $300,000 is expected to be spent during the next fiscal year. Funding will come from existing and future water capital improvement budgets, with no impact on the city’s General Fund. 

• City Seeks $5.5 Million Contract for Workers’ Compensation Claims Administration 

A five-year contract worth up to $5.5 million with a Sacramento-based firm to continue administering the city’s workers’ compensation claims program. 

The proposed agreement would authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Acclamation Insurance Management Services (AIMS) for third-party claims administration services through 2031 at a cost not to exceed $5,507,491. 

According to a staff report, the city’s Risk Management Division relies on a combination of city staff and a third-party administrator to oversee workers’ compensation claims for injured employees. The arrangement is designed to ensure employees receive timely medical treatment, wage replacement and disability benefits while maintaining compliance with state laws and labor agreements. 

AIMS has served as the city’s workers’ compensation administrator since 2021 under a contract valued at up to $4.37 million. City officials said the company has effectively managed claims during that period and was selected again following a competitive request for proposals process. 

The City Manager’s Office issued a solicitation in March seeking a firm capable of managing all current and prior-year workers’ compensation claims. Five firms submitted proposals. 

An evaluation committee composed of representatives from several city departments scored proposals based on system capabilities, product demonstrations, proposed solutions, cost and business qualifications. AIMS received the highest overall score of 77.21 out of 100, ahead of Innovative Claim Solutions, Sedgwick, Athens Administrators and Pacific Secured Equities. 

City officials cited AIMS’ technical proposal, cost structure and experience serving public agencies as factors in its selection.

The first-year cost of the new agreement is projected at $1.04 million, representing a 14.5% increase over the final year of the current contract. Annual increases of 3% are built into the remaining four years of the agreement. 

Funding for the contract will come from the city’s Workers’ Compensation Fund and will not affect the General Fund, according to the report. 

• Pasadena Seeks Five-Year Contract for Workers’ Compensation Bill Review Services 

A five-year contract worth up to $1.03 million for medical bill review services that city officials say help control workers’ compensation costs and ensure compliance with state regulations. 

The proposed agreement would authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Lien on Me, Inc. for administration of medical bill reviews for the city’s workers’ compensation program through 2031. 

According to a staff report, the city’s Risk Management Division processes an average of 24,425 workers’ compensation transactions annually. Every medical bill associated with a workers’ compensation claim must be reviewed to ensure charges comply with California’s fee schedules and are related to compensable workplace injuries. 

City officials said the bill review process is required by state law and serves as a critical cost-containment tool by identifying excessive charges and determining the appropriate payment amount for medical services. 

The contract follows a competitive request for proposals process launched in February. Six firms submitted bids for the work. 

An evaluation committee made up of representatives from the Public Works, Parks, Recreation and Community Services, Water and Power, Fire and City Manager’s Office departments reviewed proposals based on system requirements, proposed solutions, experience, cost and business qualifications. 

Lien on Me, based in Glendale, received the highest score, earning 83.86 points out of a possible 100. Allied Managed Care of Sacramento finished second with 76.31 points, followed by EK Health Services of San Jose with 75.25 points. 

According to the report, Lien on Me was selected based on its experience and competitive pricing. The company currently serves as the city’s bill review provider and submitted a proposal that city staff estimate will save approximately $88,265 annually compared with the current rate structure. 

The proposed contract would not exceed $1,031,265 over five years and would be funded through the city’s Workers’ Compensation Fund. Officials said the agreement would have no impact on the General Fund. 

• Pasadena Seeks $425,000 Printing Equipment Contract With Canon 

A five-year contract worth up to $425,000 for new digital printing equipment and maintenance services used by city departments. 

The proposed agreement would authorize the City Manager to enter into a 60-month contract with Canon USA, Inc. for the lease, software, hardware and maintenance of three digital printing systems and a scorer/cutter used by the city’s Printing Services Section. 

According to a staff report, the Department of Finance’s Printing Services Section provides reprographic and printing services for all city departments and has reached the end of its current five-year lease agreement for three Canon printing systems.

City officials said printing demands have shifted significantly in recent years, with a growing emphasis on color printing. As a result, one high-volume black-and-white press has become underutilized while a color press has been used beyond its intended capacity, leading to equipment instability and failures. 

The new contract would replace two existing machines, renew the lease of a black-and-white printing system that continues to meet operational needs and add a finishing device capable of scoring, slitting and cutting printed materials. 

Under the proposed agreement, the city would lease a Canon V1000 color printing system, a Canon V800 color printing system, a Canon VarioPrint DP140 black-and-white printing system, a Duplo DC-618 Slitter/Cutter/Creaser and associated printing software. 

City staff reviewed equipment from both Canon and Xerox before determining that Canon offered the best combination of quality and pricing. The proposed pricing is based on a competitively bid contract awarded through the University of California system and administered by OMNIA Partners, a national cooperative purchasing organization. 

According to the report, Canon agreed to extend the cooperative contract pricing to Pasadena, resulting in less than a 1% increase over the city’s previous agreement.

The annual costs will be funded through the Finance Department’s operating budget. The contract is scheduled for consideration during the City Council’s June 8 meeting. 

• North Lake Avenue Safety Project Design Contract 

A $716,249 contract for engineering and design services for a pedestrian and traffic safety improvement project along North Lake Avenue. 

The proposed agreement would authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Parsons Transportation Group Inc. to complete design work for the North Lake Avenue Pedestrian and Safety Enhancement Project, a state-funded Active Transportation Program Cycle 6 initiative. 

The project focuses on a 0.6-mile stretch of North Lake Avenue between Mountain Street and Maple Street and is intended to improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists. 

According to a staff report, planned improvements include curb extensions, wider sidewalks, upgraded pedestrian lighting, high-visibility crosswalks, accessibility upgrades, lane narrowing to calm traffic and leading pedestrian intervals at intersections. Additional safety improvements are planned near Boylston Street, including new crosswalks designed to shorten crossing distances and improve pedestrian visibility.

The project stems from a city-sponsored Safety Enhancement Corridor Study conducted between 2020 and 2021. The study included public outreach and stakeholder input and helped Pasadena secure state grant funding in 2023 for the project’s design and construction phases. 

The Department of Public Works issued a request for proposals in February seeking engineering and design services. Three firms submitted proposals. Parsons, a 

Pasadena-based company, received the highest evaluation score of 88 out of 100. Dokken Engineering of Folsom ranked second with 81.5 points, followed by AYCE Consulting Engineers of Santa Ana with 77 points. 

City officials cited Parsons’ extensive experience with multimodal transportation projects throughout California, including work on the Metro A Line Foothill Extension and other Pasadena-area infrastructure projects. 

The proposed contract includes a base amount of $651,135 and a contingency of $65,114. Total project costs, including administration expenses, are estimated at $866,249. 

Design work is expected to begin in August and continue through fiscal year 2028. The project is funded through the state’s Active Transportation Program and local Traffic Reduction Fee revenues, with no impact on the city’s General Fund.

• $3 Million Walnut Street Signal Upgrade Project 

A nearly $3 million construction contract for a traffic signal modernization project along one of the city’s busiest east-west corridors. 

The proposed action would authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Elecnor Belco Electric, Inc. for the Walnut Street Corridor Signal Improvement Project in an amount not to exceed $2.97 million, including a 10% contingency. 

The project will upgrade traffic signal infrastructure along Walnut Street between Fair Oaks Avenue and Greenwood Avenue. The corridor serves as a key connection between several major north-south streets and provides access to Interstate 210 ramps at Lake Avenue, Hill Avenue, Allen Avenue and Sierra Madre Boulevard. It also functions as a major route for traffic traveling to and from the Rose Bowl during large events. 

According to a staff report, the project will modernize existing signal systems by installing next-generation transportation management and communications technology designed to improve traffic flow, reduce delays and enhance safety. 

Improvements include upgraded signal hardware, enhanced communications systems and operational upgrades intended to improve reliability and better manage vehicle progression along the corridor. 

The Department of Public Works solicited bids for the project in March and received six proposals. Elecnor Belco Electric submitted the lowest responsive bid at $2.7 million, approximately 2% above the engineer’s estimate of $2.65 million. 

The company, based in Chino, has completed six signal-related projects for Pasadena during the past five years with a combined value of approximately $4.5 million, according to city staff. 

The proposed contract includes a base bid of $2,696,267 and a contingency allowance of $269,627. Total project costs, including construction administration, testing and inspection, are estimated at $3.1 million. 

Construction is expected to begin in fall 2026 and be completed by spring 2027. 

The project is funded through a Measure R Mobility Improvement Program grant and private capital funds. City officials said the project will have no impact on the General Fund. 

• $8.6 Million Increase to Capital Improvement Budget

Amendments to the city’s Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Improvement Program budget, adding more than $8.5 million to support sidewalk repairs, utility infrastructure upgrades and a major median enhancement project along Sierra Madre Boulevard. 

The proposed amendments would increase the FY 2026 Capital Improvement Program budget by $8,568,409, according to a report from the Department of Public Works. 

The largest adjustment involves the Sierra Madre Boulevard Median Enhancements project, which would receive an $8.5 million appropriation from a Caltrans State Highway Operation and Protection Program financial contribution agreement. City officials said the funding will cover construction, inspection, testing and consultant support services. The appropriation corrects what staff described as an administrative oversight after the funding was referenced in the capital budget but was never formally approved by the City Council. 

The proposed budget amendments also include several transfers within Pasadena Water and Power’s capital program to address rising project costs and accelerate utility upgrades. 

Among the proposed changes is a $500,000 transfer to the Substation Modernization Program to cover higher-than-expected costs associated with transformer upgrades at the Hastings and Chester substations and additional equipment improvements at the Del Mar and Eastern substations. 

Another $1.5 million would be transferred to the T.M. Goodrich Intertie Transformer Upgrades project to fund accelerated cooling system improvements and additional electrical upgrades identified during the current fiscal year. 

The city is also proposing a $585,840 transfer to its Deteriorated Pole Replacement Program to address a funding shortfall and complete work scheduled during the current fiscal year. 

In addition, Public Works is seeking approval for budget adjustments related to the city’s sidewalk repair program, including the appropriation of $68,409 collected from property owners and developers for sidewalk replacement work and a transfer of previously collected funds to close an older capital project. 

According to the report, the proposed amendments would not affect the city’s General Fund. Funding sources include private capital contributions, Caltrans grant funds and Pasadena Water and Power revenues. 

The City Council is scheduled to consider the budget amendments during its June 8 meeting.

• Pasadena Council to Reaffirm Investment Policy, Maintain ESG Restrictions 

Readoption of the city’s investment policy and investment strategy for fiscal year 2026-27, including recently adopted restrictions on investments in fossil fuel, weapons, tobacco and private prison companies. 

The annual action, scheduled for consideration Monday, establishes guidelines governing how the city invests public funds while prioritizing safety, liquidity and compliance with state law. 

According to a report from the Department of Finance, the policy is designed to protect taxpayer funds, ensure sufficient cash is available to meet city obligations and maximize investment earnings within established risk limits. 

Under California law, local governments may annually adopt investment policies that guide the management of public funds. Pasadena’s policy applies to the city, the Successor Agency, the Pasadena Center Operating Company, the Rose Bowl Operating Company and the Pasadena Community Access Corporation. It does not apply to bond proceeds, retirement funds, deferred compensation accounts or certain trust funds governed by separate investment requirements.

The city pools most of its funds into a single investment portfolio managed by the City Treasurer while maintaining separate portfolios for certain special-purpose funds, including bond construction funds, the Power Reserve for Working Capital Fund and the Capital Endowment Fund. 

The proposed readoption follows recent changes made by the City Council to strengthen the city’s Environmental, Social and Governance, or ESG, investment standards. 

According to the report, the Legislative Policy Committee directed staff in December to review the city’s portfolio and investment policy to determine whether Pasadena held direct investments in companies engaged in fossil fuel production, weapons manufacturing, tobacco or private prisons. 

The review found no direct investments in those industries. On May 11, the City Council amended the investment policy to formally prohibit future direct investments in companies engaged in those activities. 

Pasadena does not invest in derivative products such as interest-rate swaps, futures, options or reverse repurchase agreements. 

• Pasadena to Receive $6.6 Million in Federal Homeless Services Funding

Approve agreements totaling more than $6.6 million in federal funding to support permanent housing, rapid rehousing and other services for people experiencing homelessness. 

The proposed action would authorize the City Manager to enter into 15 one-year agreements with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the federal Continuum of Care program. The agreements have a combined value of $6,639,358 and will fund homeless services throughout Pasadena. 

The grants support permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, coordinated entry services, homeless system planning and administration, and operation of the region’s Homeless Management Information System database. 

According to a report from the Department of Housing, Pasadena received the awards through a federal funding process that became the subject of litigation and congressional intervention after HUD proposed major changes to the Continuum of Care program in late 2025. 

In November, HUD issued a funding notice that would have limited communities to spending no more than 30% of renewal funding on permanent housing programs. Housing officials said the proposal marked a significant departure from longstanding federal policy and threatened permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing programs nationwide. 

The policy prompted lawsuits from a coalition of state attorneys general, governors, local governments and nonprofit organizations. In December, HUD rescinded the proposal before a court hearing, and later that month a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction requiring the agency to continue processing grants under the previous funding framework. 

The injunction was upheld in April by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. 

Congress also intervened through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, directing HUD to renew grants that were set to expire while the funding dispute remained unresolved. 

HUD announced Pasadena’s first two grant renewals in March and the remaining 13 awards in May. 

The grants require a 25% local match. City officials said those obligations will be met through a combination of subrecipient contributions, in-kind support, federal Emergency Solutions Grant funding and budgeted General Fund resources. 

The City Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Planning Committee reviewed the item on June 3. If approved, the agreements will extend funding for existing homeless housing and service programs throughout the city. 

• $900,000 Increase for Rental Assistance Serving People With AIDS 

Two amendments that would add $900,000 to a contract with the City of Los Angeles for tenant-based rental assistance under the federal Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program, known as HOPWA, bringing the agreement to a not-to-exceed total of $1,597,660. 

The proposed action would authorize the City Manager to amend Contract No. 24,130 with the City of Los Angeles to continue providing rental assistance funded through the program. 

Under the first amendment, the contract would increase by $400,000, raising its not-to-exceed total to $1,097,660 and extending the term through June 30, 2027. 

A second amendment would add $500,000 and extend the term through June 30, 2028, subject to the availability of fiscal year 2028 program funds, bringing the contract to a total not-to-exceed amount of $1,597,660. 

The item came through the City Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Planning Committee and is scheduled for consideration during the council’s June 8 meeting.