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Agenda Report
I
~ ~" October 6, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Public Safety Committee (September 17,2025)
FROM: Police Department
SUBJECT: MILITARY EQUIPMENT ANNUAL REPORT AND RENEWAL OF
EXISTING MILITARY EQUIPMENT
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find that this action proposed herein is not a "project" subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 21065 and within the meaning of Section 15378(b).
2. Find that each type of military equipment identified in the Pasadena Police Department (PPD) June 2024 through June 2025 Annual Military Equipment Report has complied with the standards for approval set forth in the PPD Military Equipment Policy 711 and Government Code Section 7070 et seq.; and
3. Approve the continued use of the currently authorized military equipment by renewing Ordinance no. 7395 pursuant to Government Code Section 7071 (e)(1).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Pasadena Police Department (PPD) is required to produce an annual military equipment report as described in Pasadena Police Department Military Equipment Policy 711 and Government Code Section 7072. The City Council utilizes the annual report as a mechanism to ensure PPD's compliance with the Pasadena Police Department Military Equipment Policy 711 (Attachment B) and to determine whether to approve the Military Equipment Policy for the subsequent year. PPD has submitted the required annual report (Attachment C) covering the reporting period of June 2024 through June 2025; held a required community engagement presentation; and is seeking the City Council authorize the continued approval for the use of the equipment detailed in the report.
MEETING OF _10/06/2025_AGENDA ITEM NO. _4_.. _
Military Equipment Use Policy
October 6, 2025
BACKGROUND:
Government Code Section 7070 etseq., became effective on January 1, 2022,and required law enforcement agencies that seek to continue the use of military equipment to:
Draft a military equipment policy that describes each piece of military equipment, including quantity, capabilities, purchase cost, purpose, authorized uses, and fiscal impact for each piece of equipment.
Seek approval of the policy from their governing body by ordinance; and, Make publicly available on the agency's website any proposed or final military equipment policy for as long as the military equipment is available for use.
On June 20, 2022, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 7395 which established the Pasadena Police Department Military Equipment Policy 711. The policy and subsequent annual reports have been posted on the City's website as required.
The public may also access the documents at the following website:
https://www.citvofDasadena.net/Dolice/news/ab-481-militarv-eauiDment-Dolicv/.
On an annual basis, the PPD must hold at least one "community engagement" meeting pursuant to Government Code Section 7072(b). Additionally, the City Council must review the military equipment policy; and receive an annual report prepared by the law enforcement agency to include how any equipment was used in the prior year; a summary of any complaints or concerns received; the results of any internal audits, policy violations, total annual cost, quantities, new acquisitions planned in the next year, and the City Council must vote on whether to renew the ordinance at a regular meeting.
The 2024/2025 annual military equipment report was posted to the PPD website for public review on August 21, 2025.
Attachment B to this Agenda Report is PPD's annual report documenting all required information for the reporting period of June 2024 through June 2025. The reporting period this year has been extended one month to 13 months and future reports will align with the city's fiscal year.
PPD held a community engagement meeting on September 4, 2025, with a presentation at the Washington Park Community House in Pasadena. The public asked about the terminology used in the military equipment policy to confirm the police did not possess "weapons of war" used specifically by the military.
PPD presented the report to the Community Police Oversight Commission on September 11, 2025. PPD is seeking City Council approval for the continued use of all authorized military equipment identified in the annual report, noting that specific authorized munitions, such as the triple chaser CS, Han-Ball device CS, 40 mm Skat Military Equipment Use Policy
October 6, 2025
Shell and 40 m stinger rubber ball have been discontinued for operational use and will be used for training only.
The annual report is now identified in PPD Military Equipment Policy 711, and both are included as attachments to this Agenda Report. As shown in the annual report, required by Government Code Section 7072(a), PPD used some but not all the listed equipment. In addition, PPD had no policy violations associated with the deployment or use of military equipment. Complaints were limited to mostly noise concerns regarding the use of the Bell OH-58 helicopters.
Definition of Military Equipment
Military equipment includes unmanned aerial or ground vehicles, armored vehicles, command and control vehicles, tear gas, pepper balls, less-lethal 40mm projectile launchers, specialized firearms and ammunition, and light-sound distraction devices commonly known as "flashbangs." Except for three Bell OH-58 helicopters, which were obtained from the military, all other equipment in PPD's inventory has been sourced through direct purchases from vendors who specifically work with law enforcement agencies nationwide.
Many items described as "military equipment" are less-than-lethal, standard-issue equipment for peace officers and used as a component of overall best practices for law enforcement agencies throughout the country. The equipment is intended for use to save civilian lives, protect law enforcement personnel, reduce risk for the city, and enhance public safety. Doing so allows responding officers to take in and evaluate the totality of the circumstances, resulting in increased safety and reduced risk for everyone involved. The tools included in the inventory have been thoroughly tested and used in the field to enhance public and officer safety.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
The posting of the Military Equipment Policy 711 and the Annual Military Equipment Report ensures transparency so that law enforcement continues to have access to equipment that will provide police officers with as many options as possible to safeguard lives and ensure public safety. It also ensures that there are safeguards, including transparency, oversight, and accountability measures in place, for the equipment used within the city.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
CEQA excludes, from environmental review, actions that are not "projects" as defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 21065 and within the meaning of Section 15378(b).
Sections 21065 and 15378(b) define a project as an action which may cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Section 15378 excludes from the definition of "project" continuing administrative activities that do not result in physical changes to Military Equipment Use Policy
October 6, 2025
the environment. The actions proposed herein, renewing Ordinance no. 7395 to continue the use of military equipment, is an administrative governmental activity that does not result in physical changes to the environment, and therefore is not a "project" as defined by CEQA. Since the action is not a project subject to CEQA, no environmental document is required.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact related to military equipment for this reporting period was approximately $370,835. Projected acquisitions will be presented to City Council in accordance with Assembly Bill 481 and PPD Policy 711. Procurements to replace authorized military equipment will follow the City of Pasadena's purchasing guidelines and will be reported on the next annual military equipment report. No grant funding was utilized for equipment acquisition or maintenance during this reporting period.
Respectfully submitted,
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EUGENE HARRIS
Chief of Police
Prepared by:
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Anthony Rdsso
Police Lieutenant
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^^ MIGUEL MARQUEZ
"" City Manager NICHOLAS GRODRIGUEZ
Assistant City Manager
Attachment A - 2022 Ordinance No.7395
Attachment B - PPD Military Equipment Policy 711
Attachment C - 2024/2025 Annual Military Equipment Use Report