Pasadena Public Works Presents Proposal for 4.9% Higher Budget Next Fiscal Year

The Department of Public Works presented its proposed budget of $80.692 million for Fiscal Year 2023 before the Municipal Services Committee on Tuesday.

The proposed budget is 4.9% higher than the current year’s budget of $76.901 million.

According to the report of Public Works Director Tony Olmos, of the total budget, $38.091 million is allotted for personnel costs, $25.849 million is allotted for services and supplies, $9.852 million is allotted for Internal Service Charges, $6.889 million is allotted for capital outlay and 9,504 is allotted for debt service.

According to Olmos, a budget of $250,000 is proposed to fund the department’s tree replacement and planting program.

The department is planning to plant 300 trees next year. It is also planning to hire a consultant that will be tasked to study how the drought is impacting the city’s 60,000 trees and provide the department recommendations on how to water, according to Olmos.

An allocation of $250,000 is proposed for traffic intersection improvements for 2023.

“Were working closely with our partners from the Department of Transportation, next fiscal they would be looking at specific intersections that have been problematic in the past,” Olmos said.

A budget of $1.71 million is proposed for the purchase of four refuse vehicles and $470,000 is proposed for recycling and organic waste processing increase. A total of $75,000 is proposed for grant writing support.

Olmos said the department is expecting to get a revenue of $67.7 million next year.

This year, the public works department provided key staff and resources for the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl game, initiated revisions to the City’s sidewalk fees and the development of new on-street dining fees.

The department also successfully implemented this 2022 the year two of the three-year Fleet Replacement Plan.

The three-year plan prioritizes the city’s vehicle replacement needs to ensure safe modes of transportation and vehicle equipment for city staff to perform their duties and services.

Also among the accomplishments of the department in FY 2022, according to Olmos, is the successful roll out of the city’s organic waste recycling program in compliance to SB 1383, a new organics recycling law that requires jurisdictions to expand organic waste recycling and reduce the amount of organic material going to landfills.

This 2023, the department will prioritize education and outreach related to SB 1383, and continue its three year fleet replacement plan, among other programs, according to Olmos.