(L-R) PUSD building, Pasadena City Hall (Photo – Graphics Dept.)
A court on Wednesday, August 5, issued an injunction blocking the City of Pasadena from enforcing its tree protection ordinance and stop-work notices against Pasadena Unified School District’s (PUSD) state-overseen soil remediation work at school campuses.
By News Desk
The ruling stems from a dispute over whether the City has authority to halt the cleanup efforts. PUSD said court intervention became necessary after Pasadena changed its position on whether enforcement actions would be pursued.
The District said the court previously declined to grant temporary relief after the City indicated it would not enforce stop-work notices or require permits for the remediation work. PUSD said the City has since signaled that it intends to move forward with those actions.
A District spokesperson said PUSD supports the court’s call for collaboration between the City and the school district, noting that officials from both agencies have communicated throughout the dispute. The spokesperson disputed claims that City officials had not been contacted by PUSD, calling those statements inaccurate.
PUSD said the cleanup work is necessary to remove contaminated soil from school campuses before the start of the new school year. The District said enforcement of the stop-work notices interrupted the remediation process, leaving some areas incomplete and potentially affecting students’ access to outdoor spaces when classes resume.
The District framed the dispute as a student safety issue, arguing that the City’s requested enforcement actions would have delayed work intended to prepare campuses for safe use.
The injunction allows the remediation work to continue. PUSD said the ruling affirms the District’s concerns and supports its position that the cleanup must proceed.
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