Pasadena council adopts crime‑control budget and approves multiple police equipment and training purchases

The Pasadena City Council held a public hearing on the proposed Crime Control and Prevention District budget for the 10/01/2025–09/30/2026 fiscal year and approved the district budget and a series of police equipment, training and facility expenditures.

Why it matters: The Crime Control and Prevention District fund pays for police facilities, equipment and programs that the city said will support public safety; council action moves multiple purchases and a police remodel design forward, some funded by a federally supported UASI grant and one item funded from the district fund.

At the start of the hearing a resident identified as Mister Smith urged the council to reconsider capital spending for police facilities and to coordinate more closely with the school district on officer deployment. “I think things like that’s irresponsible spilly spending for the police department here,” Mister Smith said, arguing some funds would be better used for school security measures and alarms.

After public comment the council approved Resolution 20 25 125, adopting the Crime Control and Prevention District budget as presented to the council. Councilman Estrada made the motion to adopt the district budget; Councilman Guerrero seconded the motion, and the council approved it by voice vote.

Separately, the council advanced and voted on multiple ordinances authorizing police-related purchases and a remodel design: Ordinance 20 25 1 47 authorized the purchase of a virtual‑reality training system for the police department using a Sourcewell contract (contract number 011822ADS) in the amount of $304,869.11; Ordinance 20 25 1 45 authorized PGAL, Inc. for design services for a police department remodel (CIP P011) for $117,000 from the Crime Control and Prevention District fund; Ordinance 20 25 1 46 approved a portable radiograph x‑ray system for the bomb squad for $86,621 to be paid from UASI grant funds; Ordinance 20 25 1 44 authorized a 3‑D printing training course and equipment for the bomb squad for $65,384 from UASI funds; Ordinance 20 25 1 38 authorized remote firing devices for the police bomb squad for $60,000 funded by UASI grant funds; and Ordinance 20 25 1 40 appropriated $78,819.48 for annual maintenance of the e‑citation ticketing system.

Those ordinances were moved and seconded on the floor and approved by the council on voice vote; the motions were recorded as moved by Councilman Guerrero and seconded by Councilman Styron for the block of ordinances, with council members voting in favor.

Council discussion on the record focused on funding sources and procurement; the ordinances list the funding accounts and note several purchases will be paid through an Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant award referenced in earlier council actions. No council motion recorded at the meeting directed staff to change the district budget or reallocate funds in response to public comment.

The council also approved the contract for design services and the equipment purchases in the same meeting cycle, allowing project teams and procurement to proceed under the appropriations authorized by the ordinances.

No additional follow‑up action or investigation into police department expenditures was recorded on the meeting minutes beyond approvals of the listed ordinances and the budget resolution.