AGENDA
MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE
JUNE 23, 2026
PUBLIC MEETING 5:00 P.M.
MEMBERS
Justin Jones, Chair, District 3
Rick Cole, Councilmember, District 2
Tyron Hampton, Councilmember, District 1
Jason Lyon, Councilmember, District 7
STAFF
David Reyes, General Manager
Lisa Hosey, Assistant City Attorney
Betty Gao, Recording Secretary
MISSION STATEMENT
The City of Pasadena is dedicated to delivering exemplary municipal services, responsive to our entire community and consistent
with our history, culture and unique character.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Assistive Listening Devices are available from the City Clerk’s Office with a 24-hour advance notice.
Please call (626) 744-4124 to request use of a listening device.
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Habrá servicio de interpretación disponible para estas juntas llamando al (626) 744-4124 por lo menos con 24 horas de anticipación.
Items on the agenda may not be called in order listed.
Agendas and supporting documents are available on the Internet at http://ww5.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/city-council-municipal-services-committee/ Materials related to an item on this Agenda submitted to the Municipal Services Committee after distribution of the agenda packet will be posted online and listed as: “Supplemental Agenda Material Received after the Posting of the agenda”.
PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMITTEE SPECIAL MEETING FOR JUNE 23, 2026, AT 5:00 P.M. WILL BE ACCEPTED IN- PERSON AND BY VIDEOCONFERENCE/TELECONFERENCE.
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cityofpasadena.net/CityCouncilMeetingPolicy
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AND
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In order to facilitate public participation at meetings the City will accept public comment in the following manner:
1. Whether participating in-person or virtually at the meeting, members of the public may provide public comment by submitting a speaker card prior to the start of public comment on that item, at the following webpage:
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If a public comment speaker wishes to speak on more than one agenda item, please indicate which items on the online form (multiple item speakers will be handled according to the process posted on the agenda and as specified in the City meeting policy). Public comments are limited to 3 minutes each, and the Chair and Committee may limit this time if reasonable under the circumstances.
2. In-person Meeting Participation: Complete an online speaker card at the following website: www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/public-comment/ After submitting a public speaker card, members of the public may attend the meeting in-person by coming to the Villa Parke Community Center Auditorium, at Villa Parke at the date and start-time of the posted meeting.
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CITY OF PASADENA
SPECIAL MEETING OF
THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
JUNE 23, 2026
PUBLIC MEETING: 5:00 PM
VILLA PARKE COMMUNITY CENTER AUDITORIUM
363 E. VILLA ST., PASADENA CA 91101
N
OTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the special meeting of the Municipal Services Committee will be held on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., to discuss matters on the attached agenda.
Justin Jones, Chair
M
unicipal Services Committee
I HEREBY CERTIFY that this agenda in its entirety, was posted on the Internet at https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/city-council-municipal-services-committee/ and on the Council Chamber Bulletin Board, Room S249, and the Bulletin Board in the rotunda area; City Hall, 100 North Garfield Avenue, this June 18, 2026, by 6:00 p.m. and that copies hereof were faxed, emailed or delivered to each member of the City Council and to each local newspaper of general circulation, radio or television station requesting notice in writing, all of which recipients are identified on the distribution herein below.
Susana Castro
DISTRIBUTION:
MSC Committee Members Central Library General Manager Pasadena Weekly City Council City Clerk Director of Planning and Permitting Pasadena Star-News City Manager Director of Public Works Los Angeles Times Pasadena Now City Attorney Public Information Officer La Opinion Pasadena Journal In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, listening assistive devices are available from the City Clerk's Office with a 24-hour advance notice.
Please call (626) 744-4124 to request use of a listening device. Language translation services may be requested with 24-hour advance notice.
Habrá servicio de interpretación disponible para estas juntas llamando al (626) 744-4124 por lo menos con 24 horas de anticipación.
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
JUNE 23, 2026
Public Meeting: 5:00 P.M.
Villa Parke Community Center Auditorium
363 E. Villa St, Pasadena CA 91101
The Municipal Services Committee may take action within its authority on any item listed on this agenda as it deems appropriate following consideration and discussion of the matter.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
INFORMATIONAL ONLY
Information only items contain no staff recommendations. The committee may, however, take action within its authority relating to informational items on the agenda as it deems appropriate following consideration and discussion of the matter.
1. ATHL
ETIC FIELD SURFACE REPLACEMENT AT VILLA PARKE AND
ROBINSON PARK
PUBLIC MEETING - 5:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
PUBLIC COMMENT - LIMITED TO ITEMS ON THIS SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
ADJOURN
NEW BUSINESS/ACTION ITEMS
1 ITEM #1
2 3
2 Natural Grass Fields are not Available for Continuous Intensive Use Due to Maintenance Challenges
Natural grass fields face significant challenges in meeting the City’s year-round demand for athletic fields, particularly for soccer, which is played continuously throughout the year. These challenges are especially pronounced during cooler and wetter months, when grass growth slows and turf recovery is significantly reduced and where damage to fields occurs when used under wet conditions. The high-intensity nature of soccer results in significant wear and tear, soil compaction, and deterioration of field conditions. Rest and recovery needed to repair damage means a down-time during which a grass field cannot be used at all, and recreational activity either ceases or is redirected to an already small inventory of other fields.
Prior to the installation of artificial turf, Villa Parke's natural grass field experienced these challenges firsthand. Historical aerial imagery illustrates the rapid deterioration of the multipurpose field that occurred between August 2005 and March 2006 under heavy athletic use.
These conditions necessitated field closures for renovations for three months annually resulting in reduced playing time.
August 24, 2005 November 16, 2005 March 16, 2006
Maintaining natural grass fields requires extensive daily and seasonal care, including inspections, irrigation repairs, mowing, edging, aeration, fertilization, spot seeding, gopher control, and repairs related to vandalism, such as tire damage from unauthorized vehicle access.
Although periodic renovations are necessary to restore field conditions, the City’s high demand for athletic field space often limits the amount of rest and recovery time available between maintenance activities. This reduces the effectiveness of maintenance efforts and accelerates field deterioration.
November 2023 Victory Park Upper
Multi-Purpose Field after Renovation
November 2024 Victory Park Upper
Multi-Purpose Field after Use
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To increase field availability, reduce downtime associated with natural grass maintenance and renovation, lower ongoing maintenance costs, and expand the number of hours available for permitted use, particularly for youth sports programs, the City installed two artificial turf athletic fields at Robinson Park and Villa Parke between 2009 and 2011. These improvements resulted in increased playable hours, reduced maintenance costs, and a decline in undesirable activity within these parks.
In 2025, the Robinson Park Multi-Purpose Field and Villa Parke Soccer Field collectively served more than 6,700 participants across over 650 teams. Conversion to natural grass will impact these user groups negatively as field closures will reduce playability, reduce length of seasons, and result in the elimination of programs. As an unintended consequence, reduced programming may reintroduce undesirable activity at the park. The tables below list current user groups at both sites that would be impacted by this conversion.
Athletic Field Surface Survey Shows a Preference for Turf Among User Groups PRCS staff conducted an athletic field surface survey to better understand field preferences among the actual users. The survey was conducted from Apil 7 through April 14. To maximize participation, surveys were distributed electronically to sports league administrators. In addition, 2025 User Group Adult / Youth Participants Teams
Villa Parke Youth Soccer League Youth 3,388 344
Citywide Sports Youth 178 14
Providence College Adult 50 4
FC Goldenstate Youth 30 2
William Alvarado Soccer Training Youth 55 4
Adult Sports Management Soccer League Adult 1,000 104
TOTAL 4,701 472
Villa Parke Soccer Field
Robinson Park Multi-Purpose Field
2025 User Group Adult /
Youth Participants Teams
Adult Sports Management Soccer
League Adult 1,000 104
Ultimate Frisbee Adult 80 4
Pasadena Ponies Youth 40 2
LA Sports Net Adult 120 11
Citywide Sports Youth 178 14
Sequoya School Youth 50 5
Mayfield Jr. School Youth 30 2
West Pasadena / Central Altadena Little
League Youth 293 26
Rose Bowl Pony League Youth 210 14
TOTAL 2,001 182
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paper surveys were provided to parents of Villa Parke Youth Soccer League (VPYSL) participants who were playing at the Villa Parke field during the survey period. The survey found that most respondents regularly use both artificial turf and natural grass fields. Among the VPYSL parents, 85% reported playing on both surfaces, while 35% of sports leagues reported the same. Survey results also showed similar injury experiences on both field types: 86% of VPYSL parents reported no injuries on artificial turf fields compared to 82% on natural grass fields. Among general sports leagues, 60% reported no injuries on either surface.
Overall, the 123 survey responses received indicate that users are comfortable playing on both artificial turf and natural grass fields, with comparable injury rates reported across both playing surfaces. When asked about their preferred playing surface, 69.8% of VPYSL parents favored artificial turf while 16% favored natural grass, 12.3% no preference and 1.9% provided no answer. Amongst sports organizations 64.7% favored artificial turf, 29.4% natural grass and
5.9% had no preference.
Water Conservation - Villa Parke
On average, artificial turf athletic fields can save 500,000 to 1 million gallons of water annually depending on size of the field. The installation of artificial turf at Villa Parke has resulted in substantial long-term reductions in water consumption. As shown in the table below, water usage decreased from approximately 8.4 million gallons in 2008 to approximately 3.1 million gallons in 2024, representing a reduction of more than 5.3 million gallons annually, or approximately 63% over the period shown. The sustained decline reflects the impact of artificial turf installation along with ongoing water conservation efforts. As reclaimed water is not available for grass field maintenance, potable water is used. In times of drought where water usage is restricted, it is not always possible to maintain grass fields in playable condition.
10-Year Cost Analysis – Villa Parke
The 10-year operational cost analysis shows that while artificial turf has a lower initial capital cost ($970,810 vs. $1,100,000 for natural grass), total lifecycle costs increase due to the need for full turf replacement in Year 10, estimated at $1,266,687 (assuming 3% annual inflation). 0 1,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
5,000,000
6,000,000
7,000,000
8,000,000
9,000,000
2007 2008 2009 2010 2018 2020 2022 2024
8,778,528 8,374,608
6,489,648
3,824,524
5,057,228
4,372,808
3,618,076
3,066,052
6 5
Artificial turf’s base annual maintenance (inspections, litter control, brushing) is estimated at $5,738 and renovation (deep grooming, sanitization, infill top-off, and repairs) at $10,908, compared to $27,937 for maintenance (mowing, edging, filling holes, weeding, irrigation repairs, gopher control) and $9,848 for renovation of natural grass (aerating, grading, seeding, fertilizing, and irrigation adjustments). Over the 10-year period, artificial turf maintenance and renovations total $190,828, lower than the $433,162 required for natural grass. 10-Year Total Cost of (3% Annual Inflation)
Category Artificial Turf Natural Grass*
Base annual maintenance cost (Year 1) $5,738 $27,937
Base annual renovation cost (Year 1) $10,908 $9,848
Annual escalation rate 3.0% 3.0%
10-year cumulative maintenance total $65,780 $320,266
10-year cumulative renovation total $125,048 $112,896
Initial capital / conversion cost $970,810 $1,100,000
Turf replacement — Year 10 (escalated at 3%) $1,266,687 — 10-year total cost $2,428,325 $1,533,162
* Natural grass renovation includes aeration, leveling, seeding, and irrigation audits and repairs, as well as the purchase of seed, fertilizer, and seed cover. It also requires temporary fencing rental and equipment use. If sod is used instead, renovation costs would increase to approximately $100,000.
Replacing the field with artificial turf will require field closure for approximately 2–3 months for construction and 4–6 months for grass conversion and establishment.
Alternative Field Site Analysis
The City continues to experience significant demand for athletic field space to support youth and adult sports programs, recreational leagues, tournaments, and community activities. This demand is further reflected in the broad range of organizations utilizing the City’s athletic fields, including youth leagues, schools, adult sports groups, and community-based programs. The volume and diversity of users demonstrate sustained and growing need for field space across all age groups and levels of play. This rising demand has created ongoing challenges in providing sufficient, safe, and well-maintained facilities. Each year, the City turns away approximately 20– 25 user groups and is often unable to fully meet the scheduling needs of existing organizations.
As demand grows, maintaining an adequate inventory of playable fields is essential to ensuring equitable access to recreation opportunities.
The City’s current athletic field inventory includes one soccer field, one football field, two T-ball fields, six softball fields, and 12 baseball fields. The City also utilizes all available open-space grass areas suitable for athletic use, including Area H at the Rose Bowl, as well as at Gwinn, Jefferson, McDonald, Victory, and Villa parks. However, overall capacity is limited because several facilities cannot safely accommodate multiple sports at the same time. While fields may be available for up to 5,475 hours annually during park operating hours, most demand is concentrated during peak evening and weekend periods, which account for only 3,250 hours.
Additionally, maintenance needs, weather impacts, vandalism, and renovation projects can 7 6
reduce usable field time by as much as 1,350 hours per year, further constraining access and availability.
To maintain existing service levels and avoid program disruptions, Parks, Recreation, and Community Services (PRCS) staff evaluated additional open-space areas such as Central Park and Memorial Park. Staff determined these sites were not suitable due to size constraints, irregular configurations, and existing infrastructure obstructions.
Staff further assessed Brenner Park and Grant Park. Neither site is a viable substitute for Villa Parke. Both sites lack the acreage needed to support regulation size soccer programming, would require approximately $520,000 for new lighting per field, and cannot accommodate Villa Parke’s 308 × 190 ft footprint without substantial land expansion, estimated at an additional 30,000 to 36,000 square feet. As shown below, the Villa Parke field footprint (shown in red) extends beyond the available athletic field areas at both Brenner Park and Grant Park, highlighting the space limitations at each site.
Staff also evaluated alternative athletic field locations throughout Pasadena, including Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) campuses, private schools (Mayfield, Pasadena Christian, Pasadena Polytechnic), Pasadena City College (PCC), the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and faith-based institutions with available field space. This search did not identify any additional sites capable of accommodating the programs that would be displaced during the Villa Parke field renovations. All potential locations are already in use by their respective agency programming or lack essential infrastructure, such as field lighting, making it difficult to support organized league activities.
Many youth sports participants currently benefit from centrally located athletic facilities that are accessible by walking, biking, or short vehicle trips. Relocating athletic programs to alternative facilities outside the City's park system could increase travel times, create transportation challenges for families, and limit access to practices and games during evenings and weekends.
These barriers could reduce participation, particularly for youth who rely on nearby neighborhood facilities. Thus, agencies and fields outside City boundaries were not considered. Maintaining athletic programming at existing City-owned locations helps ensure equitable access to recreational opportunities for residents throughout the community.
Brenner Park Grant Park
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Next Generation Turf Technology
Since the City’s existing fields were installed, artificial turf technology has advanced in improving player safety, durability, and environmental performance. Modern turf systems incorporate recyclable materials, enhanced drainage and shock absorption, reduced cutting inlays / seams during installation, and natural infill products that more closely replicate the appearance and playability of natural grass. These advancements address many concerns associated with earlier generations of artificial turf while continuing to provide the durability and high-use capacity necessary to meet the City’s year-round athletic field demand, and support thousands of youth and adult participants.
The planned field replacement will incorporate these advancements using an organic infill material composed primarily of sand, coconut fibers, walnut shells, and cork. As a renewable alternative to crumb rubber, organic infill reduces potential health and environmental concerns associated with tire derived materials while helping to lower surface temperatures and improve moisture retention. This modern infill system supports the City’s sustainability goals while maintaining the performance, durability, and playability required for heavily used athletic fields.
Conclusion
Athletic programs provide significant benefits to the community by creating opportunities for youth and adults to stay active and healthy. For many residents, athletic fields serve as essential gathering spaces that support the social, physical, and mental development of young people, strengthen neighborhood connections, and enhance overall quality of life.
The artificial turf fields at Villa Parke and Robinson Park have become a vital part of the City’s athletic infrastructure. They offer year-round access, increased play capacity, and consistent playing conditions. Converting these fields back to natural grass would substantially reduce available play hours, increase maintenance needs, consume substantial amounts of potable water, require longer field closures, and lead to the displacement or reduction of existing youth and adult sports programs. Moreover, it may reintroduce undesired activity at the parks.
Replacing the current fields with upgraded artificial turf is the most effective option for maintaining recreational services, meeting community demand, and ensuring continued access to athletic programming. Modern turf systems now incorporate recyclable components and organic infill materials that reduce environmental impact while preserving the durability and year-round playability required to support the City’s athletic field needs. Notably, turf fields support the City’s important water conservation efforts. 9