OPENING
ROLL CALL:
CITY OF PASADENA
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES
PASADENA CITY HALL
100 NORTH GARFIELD AVENUE
COUNCIL CHAMBER - ROOM S249
MAY 20, 2026 MEETING
Vice Mayor Rivas called the meeting of the Public Safety Committee to order at 5:33 p.m.
Vice Mayor Jess Rivas
Councilmember Tyron Hampton (Arrived at 5:36 p.m.)
Councilmember Justin Jones
Councilmember Steve Madison
Staff:
PUBLIC COMMENT
Councilmember Hampton
arrived at 5:36 p.m.
Nick Rodriguez, Assistant City Manager
Gene Harris, Police Chief
Chad Augustin, Fire Chief
Karin Schnaider, Director of Finance
Manuel Carmona, Director of Public Health
Stephanie Chang, Management Analyst V
Danielle St. Clair, Assistant City Attorney
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary
Jack Leichter and Kyan Chaing-Zanoria, Pasadena residents, advocated for the City Council to adopt an ordinance that requires allergen identification for all baked goods and dessert establishments in the City.
Myles, Pasadena resident, expressed concerns with the actions of the California Highway Patrol officers towards individuals, including children that were being detained at the CVS on Arroyo Parkway.
Yadi, Pasadena resident, advocated for City staff to take additional actions to protect the privacy of its residents, especially when using surveillance technology.
P.A. Brown, Pasadena resident, expressed safety concerns while using the Metro Rail; and advocated for the City to work with METRO to conduct fare checks and install fare gates at Pasadena rail stops.
Sabrina Jimenez, residence not stated, provided information and expressed concerns related to Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) personnel and "Flock" cameras in the City. 01 05/20/2026
n
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
INFORMATION ITEM
It was moved by Councilmember Jones, seconded by
Councilmember Madison, to approve the minutes of March 18, 2026 and April 15, 2026 (cancelled meeting), as submitted. (Motion unanimously approved) (Absent: None)
FLOCK UPDATE
Police Chief Gene Harris provided an update on the Flock Safety Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras as part of his Powerpoint presentation on the item, including providing information on alerts from Flock Safety Software, Flock ALPR data searches conducted by staff, Pasadena Police clearance rates, stolen vehicle recoveries; ALPR program audit findings, and new Flock ALPR camera locations, and responded to questions.
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary, reported that the City Clerk's Office received 365 letters (276 letters from Pasadena residents) providing comments on the item, which were distributed to the Committee, posted online, and made part of the record for this item.
The following individuals expressed concerns with the Pasadena Police Department (PPD) utilizing Flock Safety ALPR cameras, including privacy concerns, and/or provided other related comments on the matter:
Nicholas Rabb, Pasadena resident
Yadi, Pasadena resident
Daniel James, Pasadena resident
Bryan Wisch, Pasadena resident
Larry Gainor, residence not stated
Paloma Brunelle, residence not stated
Bill Kelly, South Pasadena resident
Lee, West Covina resident
Jennifer Collins, residence not stated
Grigory Heaton, Pasadena resident
Samuel Martinez, Pasadena resident
Isla Cummings, Pasadena resident
Millie, Pasadena resident
Tariq, Pasadena resident
Humaira, Pasadena resident
Sarah Nordstrom, Pasadena resident
Spencer Skelly, Pasadena resident
P.A. Brown, Pasadena resident, spoke in support of ALPR cameras, and on the positive values the cameras provide for law and traffic enforcement.
Vice Mayor Rivas summarized the benefits and concerns related to the use of Flock ALPR cameras, and the various options; and expressed concerns with the current federal administration that she 02 05/20/2026
1 NEW BUSINESS
believes does not respect the Constitution of the United States, laws and municipal policies. She voiced support for terminating the current contract with Flock ALPR and not replacing the vendor or making adjustments to the current Flock ALPR contract (i.e. shorten data retention period, limitations on sharing Flock ALPR data, reconsideration of the number of cameras, and/or location of cameras).
Councilmember Hampton spoke on the benefits of the technology associated with ALPR cameras; and the issues (i.e. data breaches) related to the company Flock Safety. He spoke in support of contracting with a new ALPR camera vendor that has a "lock system" that collects data for the City's use only unless a warrant is issued for the data. Councilmember Hampton asked staff to provide information on the funding sources related to the installation and use ofALPR cameras in the City.
Councilmember Madison spoke in support of using ALPR cameras in the City and noted that the Committee discussion is missing information from victims of crime. He spoke in support of the continuous use ofALPR cameras and adjusting the current program of ALPR with the condition that any adjustments made are within the boundaries of the law and sound policing.
Councilmember Jones expressed concerns with Flock Safety sharing data with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the concentration of ALPR cameras installed in Council District 3. He spoke on the positive uses ofALPR cameras to keep the community safe and echoed Councilmember Hamptons comments related to contracting with a new ALPR camera vendor.
He recommended installing ALPR cameras in intersections with freeway entrances in the City, South Lake Avenue, or in districts that border surrounding cities; and voiced support for amending the ALPR data retention.
Following discussion, the Committee agreed to schedule a future meeting to further discuss and consider ALPR cameras in the City.
Following further discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT WITH THE PASADENA HUMANE SOCIETY TO
PROVIDE ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL SERVICES FOR FIVE
YEARS IN AN AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $10, 473,183
Vice Mayor Rivas reported that due to time constraints, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the above referenced item will be continued to a future Committee meeting. 03 05/20/2026
INFORMATION ITEM
(Continued)
NEW BUSINESS
(Continued)
IMMIGRATION RELATED ACTIVITY
Following a brief discussion, on the order of the Chair and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
BUDGET WORKSHOP - FY 2027 RECOMMENDED OPERATING
BUDGET
A. FIRE DEPARTMENT
B. PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Fire Chief Chad Augustin, and Stephanie Chang, Management Analyst, jointly presented a Powerpoint presentation on the Fire Department's Fiscal Year (FY) recommended operating budget, including providing information on the department's background, FY 2026 accomplishments, personnel, expenses, appropriations, 2026 - 2027 FY significant budget changes, revenue, FY 2027 work plan, and budget priorities, with both responding to questions.
Councilmember Jones spoke in support of the Fire Department's budget to include funding for the Pasadena Outreach Response Team (PORT) and asked staff to provide information on exploring additional stable funding sources for the City's PORT teams.
Karin Schnaider, Director of Finance, provided information on the City's PORT program funding which includes grant funds, and responded to questions.
Councilmember Hampton and Vice Mayor Rivas spoke in support of staff identifying funding to continue to support the City's PORT program.
The following individuals provided comments on the Fire Department's operating budget, including advocating for funding for the Fire Department's infrastructure and paramedic training for emergency personnel:
Yadi, Pasadena resident
Raffy Bitchakdjian, representing Pasadena Firefighters
Tamer Sabha, Recording Secretary, reported that the City Clerk's Office received one letter providing comments on the Fire Department's operating budget, which was distributed to the Committee, posted online, and made part of the record for this item.
Manuel Carmona, Director of Public Health, presented a Powerpoint presentation on the Health Department's Fiscal Year (FY) recommended operating budget, including providing information on department's FY 2026 accomplishments, FY 2027 department 04 05/20/2026
INFORMATION ITEM
(Continued)
priorities, FY 2026 revenue and appropriations, status on funding for PORT, proposed expansion of the department's community
engagement services, enhancement requests, and fund overview, and responded to questions.
Councilmember Hampton spoke in support of funding the Health Department's proposed expansion of community engagement services including PORT services.
Councilmember Jones echoed support for funding personnel costs associated with community engagement and PORT services. He also spoke on the need for the Health Department staff to provide information and guidance on the recent Hantavirus outbreak on the City's website and social media platforms. In addition, he recommended amending the current Pasadena Municipal Code related to smoking prohibitions within a defined school area to include locations in the City that are not defined as a school, but essentially operate as a school (i.e. Families Forward).
The Committee thanked both Fire Chief Chad Augustin and Public Health Director Manuel Carmona, and their staff for their hard work and outstanding informational budget presentations.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
The Committee recessed at 7:38 p.m. and reconvened at 7:40 p.m.
IMPACT HOUSE PRESENTATION
Christina Gonzalez, CEO, Jason Payne, Program Manager, David Morgan, Community Engagement Director, Timothy Bonacelli, Reentry Specialist, and Rudy Martinez, Interim Director, all representing Impact Treatment Center, jointly presented a Powerpoint on the item, including providing information on the center's partnership with the community and the center's goals; with all responding to questions.
The Committee thanked the representatives from Impact Treatment Center for their work in the community and spoke on the positive actions the Center has on residents and the community.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed. 05 05/20/2026
ADJOURNMENT On the order of Chair, the meeting of the Public Safety Committee was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
ATTEST:
ftr
Ihdra S. Robles
ing Secretary
Vice Mayor Jess Rivas, Chair
Public Safety Committee
06 05/20/2026