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Agenda Report
January 26, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Public Safety Committee (January 21,2026)
FROM: Pasadena Police Department
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT THE DONATION OF A
DEDICATED TRACKING/TRAILING CANINE FROM THE PASADENA
POLICE FOUNDATION
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find that the 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); and
2. Authorize the City Manager to accept the donation of a dedicated tracking/trailing canine from the Pasadena Police Foundation.
BACKGROUND:
The Pasadena Police Department Canine Unit was created in 1991. The unit has evolved to augment police services in the community, including but not limited to locating illegal substances, explosives, and evidence along with apprehending criminal offenders.
In 2023, the Pasadena Police Department canine unit became fully staffed with four dual purpose (2 narcotic/2 explosive) patrol dogs and one single purpose explosive detection dog. Currently, our dual-purpose canines are trained for patrol duties and detection (narcotics or explosives), but not for tracking/trailing. As such, tracking tasks, especially those involving non-violent offenders or missing persons, require using outside agencies or vendors, such as Cal Search K9, a contracted bloodhound service with response times averaging over 90 minutes with inconsistent availability.
The Pasadena Police Department's K9 Unit seeks approval to accept the donation of a tracking/trailing canine to enhance the ability to locate missing persons and criminal offenders. This addition will fill a critical operational gap currently not being met with the 1 MEETING OF.1/26/2026AGENDA ITEM NO.4
Authorize the City Manager to accept a donation of a tracking/trailing canine January 26, 2026
existing dual-purpose canine teams and will eliminate the department's reliance on external agencies or vendors for such specialized services. This donated tracking/trailing canine will replace one of the Police Department's currently deployed patrol/dual-purpose canines that is scheduled to retire in or about Spring 2026. This replacement will not increase the Department's canine deployment and will result in no fiscal impact to the City.
The Pasadena Police Department seeks authorization from the City Council to accept the donation of the track and trailing canine. The canine donation is valued at $25,000. The anticipated arrival of the tracking and trailing canine is Spring 2026.
Under the City of Pasadena Manual of Personnel Administrative Rules in Section 10.
Financial Policies 4.c.iii. outlines: Offers of cash or items valued more than $10,000 must be accepted by the City Council. Donations valued at more than $10,000 shall be accepted through a written agreement consistent with these guidelines, reviewed by the City Attorney's Office, and approved by the City Council.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
The proposed action is consistent with the City Council's Strategic Plan Goals to support public safety by ensuring the canine unit has the needed equipment to perform.
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" organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. The actions proposed herein, authorizing the City Manager to accept the donation of a tracking/trailing canine, is an administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in 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.
Authorize the City Manager to accept a donation of a tracking/trailing canine January 26, 2026
FISCAL IMPACT:
The recommended action does not have a fiscal impact as the City is accepting a donated canine from the Pasadena Police Foundation. Ongoing support costs such as veterinary care, kenneling, and training are already budgeted in the General Fund (Fund 101) in the Police Department's annual operating budget.
Respectfully submitted,
EUGENE HARRIS
Chief of Police
Police Department
Prepared by:
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Domino Scott Jaek^on p^ ^T. ^oTf •^ft<^5
Lieutenant, Patrol/K9 Unit
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Approved by:
MIGUEL h^RQUEZ
City Manager
Attachments:
Attachment A - Donation/Gift acceptance form