It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic The Gamble House gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in South Pasadena, CA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I am a current client of this provider The owner Diane, is on top of things.”
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“Thank you ABC of Pasadena for all of your help. My family is grateful for”
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“I want to personally thank Diane Pierson and Ly French with Always Best Care Senior”
“I am a current client of this provider The owner Diane, is on top of things. They have kind caring and knowledgeable staff and respond in a very timely manner. What a great service they have provided both mentally and physically for our family. Highly recommended.”
“Thank you ABC of Pasadena for all of your help. My family is grateful for your support. The quality of care is exceptional and I feel that I can rely upon ABC of Pasadena to meet all of our needs.”
“Thank you ABC of Pasadena for all of your help. My family is grateful for your support. The quality of care is exceptional and I feel that I can rely upon ABC of Pasadena to meet all of our needs.”
“I was trying to get a lifeline alert system for my mom and was having a difficult time finding a right one until I got connected with Diane. She was so professional and productive!!! Definitely a go to person if you ever need her service. Thank you so much Diane!!”
“I am a current client of this provider Thank you ABC of Pasadena for all of your help. My family is grateful for your support. The quality of care is exceptional and I feel that I can rely upon ABC of Pasadena to meet all of our needs.”
“Diane Pierson was great. She guided us through a very difficult time while searching for an assistive living with memory care facility care for my 90 year old step mother. Diane took her time, spoke with us and provided several options. We are now in the process of relocating my step mother to an excellent facility that she recommended and would not be able to do this relocation without her help.”
“I want to personally thank Diane Pierson and Ly French with Always Best Care Senior Services Pasadena for everything they did to help me find a place for my mother to reside at. They are very dedicated and supportive to all the families they help. My mother could have become homeless without Ly’s expertise, empathy, commitment and clear communication on what to do next. Always Best Care specifically matched my mother's unique circumstances, social needs, desired location and budget. Diane and Ly are very passionate about senior care and will help you and your family with the highest level of service. I will never forget this experience or their kindness. I highly recommend them to everyone! We made the best choice working with Always Best Care Senior Services Pasadena.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Arlington Garden in Pasadena with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Shiro or visit Old Pasadena, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in South Pasadena, CA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in South Pasadena, CA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in South Pasadena, CA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Listen to this articleAssistance Available for Affected Residents from March 18-22The Salvation Army, in collaboration with other relief organizations, will provide direct financial assistance and essential resources to households impacted by the Palisades Wildfire. The Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) will operate by appointment only from Tuesday, March 18, through Saturday, March 22, on the Westside.Residents affected by the fire can schedule an appointment at the following link: ...
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Assistance Available for Affected Residents from March 18-22
The Salvation Army, in collaboration with other relief organizations, will provide direct financial assistance and essential resources to households impacted by the Palisades Wildfire. The Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) will operate by appointment only from Tuesday, March 18, through Saturday, March 22, on the Westside.
Residents affected by the fire can schedule an appointment at the following link: https://www.exploretock.com/2025cawildfiresmarc. Due to restricted access to the Pacific Palisades area, services at this MARC will be available exclusively to local residents and workers.
Support for Eaton Fire Victims
A separate MARC will be established for those affected by the Eaton fires, with dates and location to be announced. This center will also require appointments and will be held on the Eastside.
Available Resources and Assistance
In addition to financial assistance, The Salvation Army will offer the following resources at the MARC:
As part of its national mission, The Salvation Army’s Southern California Division Emergency & Disaster Services team is actively collaborating with local Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). The organization is working alongside Emergency Network Los Angeles (ENLA) to minimize the impact of disasters and provide long-term relief.
How to Help
The public can support disaster survivors through financial contributions. Donations allow The Salvation Army to efficiently purchase necessary supplies for those in need. To contribute, visit socal.salvationarmy.org.
At this time, The Salvation Army is only accepting monetary donations due to logistical challenges with food, clothing, and household item donations. However, gently used goods can still be donated to local Salvation Army thrift stores to support community efforts.
For in-kind and corporate donations or volunteer group inquiries, contact Katherine Fukuda at [email protected].
There are also potential economic and policy impacts for South Pasadena utility customers. The city is served by Southern California Edison’s power grid, meaning any major financial hit to SCE or new safety mandates could eventually be felt on our monthly electric bills.Listen to this articleSouthern California Edison (SCE) and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) are facing a wave of litigation in the aftermath of two catastrophic wildfires that struck Los Angeles County in January 2025.The ...
There are also potential economic and policy impacts for South Pasadena utility customers. The city is served by Southern California Edison’s power grid, meaning any major financial hit to SCE or new safety mandates could eventually be felt on our monthly electric bills.
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Southern California Edison (SCE) and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) are facing a wave of litigation in the aftermath of two catastrophic wildfires that struck Los Angeles County in January 2025.
The Eaton Fire in the San Gabriel foothills claimed a reported 17 lives and destroyed thousands of structures, marking one of the worst wildfire disasters in recent Southern California history. Local governments and residents have filed lawsuits alleging negligence by the utilities, even as investigations into the fires’ exact causes continue.
The unfolding legal battle highlights growing concerns over wildfire liability and public safety in California, including in communities like South Pasadena that sit on the periphery of these disasters.
Lawsuits Accuse Utilities of Negligence in Deadly Fires
In early March, Los Angeles County and the cities of Pasadena and Sierra Madre joined forces to sue SCE and its parent company, Edison International, over the Eaton Fire. Their complaints seek hundreds of millions of dollars to cover firefighting costs and damage to public infrastructure after the fire ripped through more than 14,000 acres in Altadena and northeast Pasadena, as sited in the PasadenaNow News.
BusinessWire “The lawsuits seek to hold Southern California Edison responsible for this devastating fire and recover the critical infrastructure and taxpayer resources that the fire destroyed,” said in Ed Diab, an attorney representing the public entities. The suits cite eyewitness accounts and photographs showing flames erupting at the base of an SCE transmission tower as ferocious Santa Ana winds drove the blaze’s rapid spread.
These government actions come on top of dozens of private lawsuits by homeowners and wildfire victims – litigation so extensive that a Los Angeles Superior Court judge convened a case management hearing on March 17 to coordinate the claims. Plaintiffs allege SCE’s power lines sparked the inferno, pointing to evidence of an electrical arc on the evening of January 7 that ignited dry brush below.
One class-action complaint even contends that a long-decommissioned transmission tower was mistakenly re-energized during the windstorm, causing a surge and spark that triggered the fire, a moment purportedly captured on a gas station’s security camera.
Meanwhile, across town, LADWP is under legal fire for a different kind of alleged negligence during the Palisades Fire. According to NBC4 LA, In January, a group of Pacific Palisades residents sued the City of Los Angeles and LADWP, accusing them of disastrously mismanaging the municipal water system as the brush fire tore through canyon communities. That initial suit, filed on behalf of 23 homeowners, has grown to include 25 additional plaintiffs as of early March.
The residents’ complaint alleges that LADWP’s infrastructure was woefully unprepared for an urban wildfire: an empty 117-million-gallon reservoir above Pacific Palisades and inadequate water pressure left firefighters without enough water at crucial moments.
As flames encroached on homes, some hydrants ran dry, forcing desperate measures. “The lawsuit alleges LADWP designed a water supply system that would not have enough water pressure to fight an urban wildfire,” NBC Los Angeles reported, noting the Santa Ynez reservoir had been drained for repairs since February 2024. The result, plaintiffs say, was a fast-moving blaze that might have been contained sooner if not for these failures. LADWP has since commissioned an independent engineer to investigate whether the empty reservoir contributed to the firefighting breakdown.
The utility declined to comment on the pending litigation, but the City of Los Angeles faces mounting pressure as residents seek accountability for the disaster that left at least nine people dead and some 5,000 structures in ruins in the Palisades area.
Utility Responses and Ongoing Investigations
SCE has responded to the litigation and allegations with careful public statements while official investigations remain underway. The utility denies that its equipment was definitively at fault for the Eaton Fire at this stage.
In a statement issued just two days after the fire ignited, SCE said a preliminary analysis showed “no interruptions or electrical or operational anomalies in the 12 hours prior to the fire’s reported start time until more than one hour after” the blaze began. In other words, SCE claimed its grid sensors detected nothing unusual on the lines at the time of ignition.
However, as more evidence emerged, the company’s tone shifted. One month later, Edison International’s CEO Pedro Pizarro acknowledged that external video footage had suggested a possible link between SCE’s hardware and the Eaton Fire, and he vowed to “explore every possibility” in determining the cause.
“While we do not yet know what caused the Eaton wildfire, [SCE] is…including the possibility that SCE’s equipment was involved,” Pizarro said in a February 6 report to the California Public Utilities Commission. He added that the company had been “fully engaged since the start of the fires in supporting the broader emergency response, containment, recovery and investigation efforts.”
Echoing that conciliatory tone, an SCE spokesperson emphasized, “Our hearts are with the communities affected by the wildfires in Southern California,” even as the company pledged to address the lawsuits through the legal process. SCE says it is reviewing all claims and, given that investigators have not yet determined an official ignition source, the utility has refrained from admitting liability. No cause has been formally assigned to either the Eaton or Palisades fires to date, and both incidents are still under joint agency investigation.
The court proceedings are advancing even as fact-finding continues. On March 14, attorneys representing hundreds of Eaton Fire victims from across Los Angeles County formed a 45-firm steering committee to coordinate their cases, which are expected to be consolidated for efficiency.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Laura Seigle approved a protective order to facilitate discovery, allowing plaintiffs’ lawyers to begin evidence gathering in cooperation with SCE’s legal team. The day before this article’s publication, a case management conference was held in downtown Los Angeles to set ground rules and timelines for the complex litigation. Judges have also moved to preserve any forensic evidence related to the fires: on January 21, a judge ordered SCE to safeguard data, damaged equipment, and other materials potentially tied to the Eaton Fire’s origin, after concerns were raised that the company might dispose of critical evidence.
Impacts and Implications for South Pasadena
South Pasadena may lie outside the burn zones of the Eaton and Palisades fires, but the community is not untouched by the consequences. As an incorporated city within Los Angeles County – and a neighbor to the City of Pasadena – South Pasadena shares in both the costs and lessons of these disasters.
Verdugo Group firefighters, which includes South Pasadena, were among the first on the scene in Altadena when the Eaton Fire erupted, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department ultimately devoted nearly all possible resources to battle the blaze and protect surrounding communities.
There are also potential economic and policy impacts for South Pasadena utility customers. The city is served by Southern California Edison’s power grid, meaning any major financial hit to SCE or new safety mandates could eventually be felt on our monthly electric bills.
If SCE is found liable and forced to pay massive damages (beyond what its insurance and the state fund cover), the company may seek rate increases from the California Public Utilities Commission to recover some costs – an outcome that would spread the pain to all SCE ratepayers, including those in South Pasadena.
As the legal battles unfold in the courts, South Pasadena stakeholders will be watching closely. The outcome will help determine who pays for the devastation of January 2025 and how we guard against the next wind-driven blaze that could ignite in our hills.
In the meantime, the tragedies of the Eaton and Palisades fires serve as a sobering reminder that accountability and preparedness go hand in hand in an era when wildfire risk has become a year-round reality.
PasadenaNow.com News Contributed to the content of this report
South Pasadena Monterey Hills Fire, minutes before the Eaton Fire Started
Listen to this articleSouth Pasadena’s City Council has officially selected L. Todd Hileman as the new City Manager, marking what many hope will be a turning point after years of administrative instability. The decision, finalized in the February 19, 2025, City Council meeting, follows a rigorous selection process that began in July 2024.Hileman, an experienced municipal leader with nearly three decades of city management experience, most recently served as City Manager of Palm De...
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South Pasadena’s City Council has officially selected L. Todd Hileman as the new City Manager, marking what many hope will be a turning point after years of administrative instability. The decision, finalized in the February 19, 2025, City Council meeting, follows a rigorous selection process that began in July 2024.
Hileman, an experienced municipal leader with nearly three decades of city management experience, most recently served as City Manager of Palm Desert, CA. His appointment comes at a critical juncture for South Pasadena, where trust in city leadership has been strained by a series of abrupt departures, financial mismanagement issues, mixed messaging on ‘MeasureSP’, and deep concerns over transparency.
South Pasadena’s Troubled City Hall History: 7-Years of City Manager Turmoil
The City Manager position in South Pasadena has been anything but stable over the past several years. The last two full-time City Managers—Stephanie DeWolfe and Armine Chaparyan—both left under controversial circumstances, leaving the city in a near-constant state of leadership and city staff transition.
Among the significant staffing problems is the hiring of a Finance Director—the position remains open at this time, with no interim in place.
The Stephanie DeWolfe Era (2017–2020)
The Armine Chaparyan Era (2021–2024)
A New Era On The Rise: The Appointment of L. Todd Hileman
The search for a new, permanent City Manager began in July 2024, with the City Attorney’s office initially managing the recruitment. Recognizing the need for a broader candidate pool, the city hired Ralph Anderson & Associates, an executive recruitment firm, to lead the search.
Who Is Todd Hileman?
Hileman brings 29 years of municipal management experience, with a track record of success in cities across Wisconsin, Arizona, Illinois, Texas, and California. Most recently, he served as City Manager of Palm Desert, CA, overseeing a $180 million operating budget and a workforce of 140 employees.
According to City Council members, his tenure in other cities reflects key strengths that South Pasadena desperately needs:
Contract & Compensation Details
‘Cautiously Optimistic’: Business Leaders & Residents of South Pasadena Watching Closely
Hileman’s appointment marks a potential reset for South Pasadena’s city administration. His expertise in financial oversight, government efficiency, and strategic planning aligns with the city’s urgent need for stability and improved governance. The expectation is that his leadership can restore public trust in City Hall. Combined with the expert leadership of recently elected council members Sheila Rossi and Omari Ferguson, working with Mayor Jane Braun; Hileman has the horsepower necessary to bring much-needed operational improvements to a city that has experienced prolonged uncertainty and stagnated city improvement projects.
South Pasadena residents and community stakeholders will be watching closely as Hileman officially takes office on March 31, 2025. His ability to navigate the challenges ahead will be critical in shaping the future of the city.
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