City of Pasadena

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge denied the Pasadena Unified School District's request for an injunction to block enforcement of the City of Pasadena's tree protection ordinance during an ongoing lawsuit. The district argued it has sovereign immunity from local zoning regulations but did not receive a temporary restraining order.

The Department of Public Works in Pasadena will repaint red curbs across eight zones, with each zone taking three months. The city aims to finish Zones 1 through 4 this year and Zones 5 through 8 next year to ensure consistent quality and safety, while improving visibility and traffic management.

The Greenways Project will hold two additional public meetings in July to discuss traffic-calming measures for four north-south residential streets. The in-person meeting is scheduled for July 27 at the Caltech Hameetman Center, and a virtual session will occur on July 29, both organized by the City of Pasadena.

First responders from Pasadena and Los Angeles who worked during the Eaton Fire were honored at Dena Day: Pass It Forward event hosted by the San Gabriel Valley YMCA at Jackie Robinson Memorial Field in Brookside Park. The free event took place on July 18, recognizing their efforts in supporting residents recovering from the disaster.

The first 20 attendees of a backyard composting workshop on July 25 at Lamanda Park Branch Library will receive free compost bins. The session covers setting up a compost bin, identifying suitable materials, and maintaining decomposition balance.

The City of Pasadena will operate the Jackie Robinson Community Center as a cooling center through Sunday due to a National Weather Service heat advisory covering Los Angeles County. The facility offers air-conditioned space to residents, with warnings that the heat poses a high illness risk for older adults, young children, and individuals without air conditioning.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge will resume a case management conference in a lawsuit filed by the City of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Operating Company to retain UCLA football at the city-owned Rose Bowl Stadium. The case involves disclosed text messages, a legal challenge to most of the city’s claims, and recent reports of potential settlement discussions.

Pasadena drivers face traffic slowdowns and detours this week due to simultaneous road repair projects. The most extensive work involves resurfacing around the Rose Bowl and Brookside Park, with seven street segments closed from July 20 to 31.

The City of Pasadena will host two community meetings on July 27 and July 29, 2026, to discuss the Greenways Project, which aims to reduce traffic on four north-south neighborhood corridors. The meetings include an in-person session at the Caltech Hameetman Center Multipurpose Room and a virtual event.

Crews have been pouring concrete footings weekly since June in the basement of Central Library in Pasadena as part of an earthquake retrofit. The City of Pasadena reports that basement demolition is complete, and crews are now trenching for new footings and building rebar cages.

Pasadena Unified School District staff will brief trustees on soil remediation efforts at 11 campuses affected by the Eaton Fire. The presentation excludes the district's ongoing dispute with the City of Pasadena over jurisdiction for tree removals on school grounds. The city disputes the district's claim that state-supervised contamination removal bypasses municipal land-use rules.

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education is set to vote on a resolution declaring the City of Pasadena’s zoning ordinances inapplicable to 10 school properties affected by the Eaton Fire. The resolution invokes Government Code section 53094, allowing a school board to bypass zoning laws for specific uses with a two-thirds vote.

The City of Pasadena admitted to providing conflicting information to the Pasadena Unified School District in June regarding required tree protection permits for hazardous-material and soil-removal work. The school district denied claims of acting without notice or coordination, stating it had months of communication with the city and other agencies.

The City of Pasadena’s Public Works Department is hosting the fourth and final community outreach event for the Jefferson Park Stormwater Capture Project Feasibility Study on July 15 at the Jefferson Branch Library. Residents can provide input on a refined above-ground park design.

Nathan Wolford, who lost both legs below the knee in a 2017 work accident in Michigan, has been named the 2026 recipient of Pasadena's Robert Gorski Access Award. The award honors individuals with disabilities who have contributed to improving accessibility and quality of life for the disability community.

The City of Pasadena is urging residents to prepare for extreme heat by following safety guidelines and staying updated through social media and the city website. City departments and the Pasadena Fire Department are working together to provide resources and prevent fires during the heatwave.

The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center in Pasadena will host Olympic diving during the 2028 Los Angeles Games and plans upgrades like a new diving tower and pools that will remain post-Games. Executive director Melanie Sauer will present the facility's Olympic role and plans to the City of Pasadena.

The City of Pasadena used a court-ordered warrant to inspect trees at John Muir High School after the school district denied access. The inspection followed the district's refusal to allow city officials to assess which trees might be protected under Pasadena's tree-protection ordinance.

Pasadena officials began court-authorized inspections at John Muir High School after the Pasadena Unified School District continued removing trees at multiple campuses despite stop work orders. The city had attempted to resolve the issue cooperatively, but PUSD violated the orders by proceeding with the removals.

The Pasadena Unified School District faces opposition from the city and protesters over plans to remove nearly 200 trees, citing soil contamination from the Eaton Fire. City officials claim the district lacks required permits under the Pasadena Tree Ordinance, while critics argue the decision harms historic canopy and environmental preservation.

The Pasadena Fire Department will offer a free disaster-preparedness training on July 18, covering topics such as personal preparedness, fire-extinguisher use, first aid, and light search and rescue. The session, part of the 'Prepared Pasadena' program, requires registration and is open to City of Pasadena residents.

Pasadena Unified School District needs to remove 8,000 cubic yards of fire-contaminated soil from 11 campuses by mid-August 2026 to reopen them for the 2026-2027 school year, but the City of Pasadena has issued stop notices at seven campuses over soil and tree removal concerns. The district claims these stop notices are delaying cleanup efforts.

Pasadena has extended the public review period for the Draft Environmental Impact Report on the Arroyo Seco Water Reuse Project by 30 days, setting the new comment deadline to August 1. The extension acknowledges public interest in the project, with written comments accepted via email until 11:59 p.m. on the deadline date.

Pasadena City Hall and administrative offices will close on July 3 for Independence Day, while essential emergency services remain operational. Police and fire departments will maintain patrol and emergency services, but their administrative offices will be closed. Public services and transit routes may operate on adjusted schedules.

The City of Pasadena is hosting the final public outreach event for the Burned-Zone Runoff Project on July 15 at Jefferson Branch Library. The project aims to install stormwater-capture infrastructure beneath Jefferson Park and reshape the park above ground. This session is the last opportunity for residents to provide feedback before final decisions are made.

The city is developing its first Environmental Justice Element as part of the General Plan to address environmental and public health disparities in historically underserved neighborhoods, complying with California Senate Bill 1000 (SB-1000). This initiative aims to advance equity, public health, and environmental sustainability.

Authorities in Pasadena seized 10,000 pounds of illegal fireworks and marijuana products, marking one of the city's largest such seizures. The city described the operation as historically significant.

New laws take effect on July 1, with Pasadena leading a local minimum wage increase to $18.57 per hour, driven by the Consumer Price Index. The change is the most immediate impact in the city, affecting all employers.

The City Council will meet in closed session to discuss litigation over its approval of a controversial safe parking program at All Saints Episcopal Church. The lawsuit, Truitt v. City of Pasadena, was filed by Martin Truitt, a Pasadena resident and tax advisor, and involves allegations of conflict of interest and debate over the city’s permit process.

The City of Pasadena warned residents with pre-existing medical conditions to stay indoors due to smoke from a warehouse fire in Boyle Heights, which caused poor air quality across the city and San Gabriel Valley into Sunday. The city stated there is no immediate danger but advised vulnerable individuals to take precautions.

The Pasadena Police Department recruited Marines and Sailors at a hiring fair at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in June to discuss law enforcement careers. The event, held from June 3 to 5, targeted active-duty service members, veterans, and military families.

Congresswoman Judy Chu secured $1 million federal funding for the Jackie Robinson Community Center in Pasadena. The funds will cover facility-wide upgrades including ADA accessibility, energy-efficient lighting, and kitchen renovations. Officials described the funding as long overdue.

A former Pasadena police officer who accused the city’s police chief of sexual harassment and later recanted the claim under oath lost her discrimination lawsuit and was ordered to pay the city $40,000 in legal fees. The case, filed in 2024, was dismissed in February, and the fee award was issued in June.

The City of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Operating Company installed 2,581 linear feet of protective netting at Brookside Golf Course to prevent stray golf balls from reaching the Rose Bowl Loop. The netting covers 25 locations along West Drive and Rosemont Avenue, addressing a long-standing issue for pedestrians and cyclists.

The City of Pasadena won a lawsuit against Taisyn Crutchfield, a former Pasadena Police Department employee, who alleged gender and race-based discrimination and harassment. The trial court dismissed all claims and ordered her to pay $40,000 in attorneys' fees and costs.