Welcome to the City Hall Scoop, a blog from South Pasadena City Hall. Our intention is to provide short daily bursts on hyper-local topics of interest to our residents! Please send suggestions for articles to: SocialMedia@southpasadenaca.gov.
3/28/2022
The City of South Pasadena extends an invitation to community members to participate in shaping the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget and the City Council strategic planning. Your valuable input will help us work together to prioritize city goals, fiscal transparency, and maintain services for our community.
We value community engagement throughout this process and encourage all residents to participate. To share your input, please complete the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Community Survey available at https://forms.office.com/g/nSL1jHFT3Q or visit the City of South Pasadena’s website homepage at www.southpasadenaca.gov. The survey is also available through flyers located at all City counters. The deadline for survey submission is Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
The budget serves as a policy document, outlining fiscal priorities and providing a framework for financial decision-making. It ensures the continuation of core services that enhance the quality of life for all residents.
The budget process involves analysis of actual and projected fund balances, revenues, and expenditures. Each City department prepares detailed budgets, including recommended service levels and activity goals for the upcoming fiscal year. The Finance Department collaborates with other departments to project revenues accurately. Subsequently, the City Manager reviews departmental requests, aligns activities with City Council policies, and makes necessary adjustments. The Proposed Budget is then compiled and presented to the public on the website before being submitted to the City Council for final approval.
The City will also be conducting opportunities for further engagement and participation in the process. For any questions on the survey or the budget process, please contact the Finance Department at financedepartment@southpasadenaca.gov or call (626) 403-7250.
🌲South Pasadena residents: Recycle your holiday tree after the New Year!🌲
Athens services will be collecting holiday trees between January 2-16 at no cost to residents. To participate, please place your tree within your trash enclosure during these dates. Trees must have all ornaments are decorations removed.
This service is for real trees only. Artificial trees will not be accepted.
Residents are invited to learn more about the proposed changes to the Westside Reservoir – an essential water facility that stores drinking water and maintains pressure for thousands of South Pasadena homes. Join us to explore the major improvements, project timeline, and potential impacts to traffic and surrounding streets.
Date: Thursday, December 11, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Library Community Room, 1115 El Centro St.
Residents are invited to learn more about the proposed changes to the Westside Reservoir – an essential water facility that stores drinking water and maintains pressure for thousands of South Pasadena homes. Join us to explore the major improvements, project timeline, and potential impacts to traffic and surrounding streets.
Date: Thursday, December 11, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Library Community Room, 1515 El Centro St.
South Pasadena is refreshing the way we recycle, compost, and sort our waste. The City and Athens are here to make sure residents have all the tools to make the transition easier!
Beginning the week of November 10, Athens Services will start delivering brand-new barrels to single-family and multifamily homes with manual barrel service. Deliveries will continue citywide through the end of November.
Once your new set arrives, you can start using them right away:
Black Barrel | Trash
Blue Barrel | Recycling
Green Barrel | Organics
Need help figuring out what goes where? Athens’ interactive tool makes sorting easy! Visit athensservices.com/recycling-guide to search for any item and see exactly which bin it belongs in.
♻️ What to Do with Your Old Barrels
Out with the old, in with the new! The week after your new barrels are delivered, you can recycle your old ones by simply placing them upside down in your trash enclosure on your regular service day. Athens will collect and recycle them through December 12, 2025.
Want to keep your old barrels for gardening or storage? Go for it! Just remember—they can no longer be used for regular waste collection.
🕐 Missed the Deadline? No Problem!
If you didn’t submit your barrel selections by October 10, you can still contact Athens Customer Service to make your selections. A one-time $40 delivery fee may apply.
Need to adjust your previous order? Athens can help with that too. Just give them a call and have your account information ready so they can assist you quickly.
📞 Athens Customer Service: 888.336.6100
🎯 Manual Barrel Households: Last call!
Get your picks in by Friday, Oct 10 so we can lock in delivery for your brand-new barrels arriving early November as part of the City’s 3-stream (trash ♻️ organics) rollout.
📣 What’s happening this week:
How to submit your selections:
• 🌐 Online: bit.ly/SPBarrelForm
• 📞 Call Athens: (888) 336-6100
• ✉️ Return your postcard by mail or drop it at City Hall
Let’s get set for November—pick the barrels that fit your home and help South Pas go greener! 🌿🚛
♻️ Still Confused About What Goes Where? We’ve got you covered!
As South Pasadena transitions to a 3-stream waste collection system, it’s totally normal to have questions about where items belong — trash, recycling, or organics.
✅ Here’s a helpful resource:
Visit athensservices.com/recycling-guide for Athens’ interactive “What Goes Where” tool. It walks you through how to reuse, recycle, and compost everyday materials — making waste sorting easy and stress-free.
Let’s sort smarter, South Pas — together we can make a cleaner, greener community! 🌿🚛
LANDFILL
non-recyclable trash no longer of use
RECYCLABLES
ORGANIC WASTE
Big changes are on the way for single-family and multifamily homes with manual barrel service! 🚛
📬 Postcards were sent the week of September 1 with instructions on how to customize your new set of barrels — black for trash, blue for recycling, and green for organics. Misplaced your postcard? No worries – residents can pick up new postcards at City Hall, Senior Center & Library today!
🗓 Selection window closes October 10— don’t miss your chance to pick the perfect mix for your home.
💡 How to Submit Your Selections:
Your brand-new barrels will be delivered in early November — just in time to kick off South Pasadena’s three-stream waste collection system! ♻️✨
♻️ REMINDER: Athens Office Hours – This Friday!
Join us on Friday, September 26, from 12–2 PM at City Hall to get personalized guidance on South Pasadena’s upcoming three-stream waste collection transition.
Each session kicks off with a hands-on demo about what goes where, followed by one-on-one consultations with Athens representatives. This is a great chance to:
Don’t miss this opportunity to get your questions answered and prepare for the changes ahead! 🌱
🌱 THIS SATURDAY! 🌱
Get ready to dig in, South Pasadena! The City is hosting a FREE Compost & Mulch Giveaway just for our residents.
📍 Where: Arroyo Golf Course Parking Lot – 1055 Lohman Lane
🗓 When: Saturday, September 27, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Bring your own sturdy container, shovel, and proof of residence to scoop up fresh compost and mulch—perfect for your fall planting and garden refresh! Supplies are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, so come early and don’t miss out!
Let’s grow greener together, South Pasadena! 🌼🌳
City Hall Scoop 