By Julian MITCHELL

The Glendale City Council met Tuesday for its last meeting of 2018 where clean energy solutions proved to be the evening’s most discussed issue.

By a vote of 4-1, the council approved an environmental impact report of the Scholl Canyon Landfill in preparation for a possible power plant in the Scholl Canyon Landfill. Although Glendale is presently working to resolve power issues, many Glenoaks Canyon citizens were concerned with the burning of natural gas at the nearby Scholl Canyon Landfill.

“Biogas is listed as one of five very renewable energy sources,” explained Steve Zurn, general manager of Glendale Water and Power Dept. (GWP).

According to the Glendale biogas website, biogas accumulates as a “natural byproduct of the decomposition of organic material in landfills.” Zurn said that biogas must be removed from the environment as it will contribute to greenhouse gas effects that destory the ozone layer. One of the approved ways for disposing of this gas is to “flare” it into the environment, or burn it off.

“We cannot vent [the gas] into the environment, said Zurn. “That would be the worst option.”

Many concerned citizens spoke to the city council in regard to the safety of air quality in the surrounding areas, such as Glenoaks Canyon.

“We are particularly concerned about the effects of these collective projects on air quality,” said Marie Freeman, a Glenoaks Canyon resident.

Grayson Power Plant was the subject of study in an environmental impact report last year that indicated that the air quality in the surrounding area is at “a higher than acceptable health risk.” Grayson Power Plant has been used to convert the gas from Scholl Canyon Landfill into useable energy for Glendale, but has been under constant repair. Due to those repairs and air quality within and around the Grayson Power Plant, flaring of gas was relegated to Scholl Canyon Landfill. Grayson Power Plant is undergoing the process of being “repowered” and will receive new equipment. The new electrical equipment will not be compatible with the gas from the Scholl Canyon Landfill.

Although the council only approved an EIR, this is part of the larger “Proposed Biogas Renewable Generation Project” that would convert the biogas into useable energy for Glendale at Scholl Canyon. The EIR will be conducted by Stantec, the same company that conducted the EIR for the Grayson Repowering Project. This was a minor point of contention at the meeting, as Councilmember Vrej Agajanian stated.

“I don’t like having to choose between only two companies,” said Agajanian, preferring having multiple options.

Stantec was recommended by GWP and was regarded by Zurn as a very good company, but ended up being the reason why Councilmember Paula Devine was the sole “no” vote during the meeting.

The Council also received a year-end safety report by Glendale Police Chief Carl Povilaitis. Chief Povilaitis had a mixed bag of news for the council.

In the positive, injury collisions as well as pedestrian collisions were both down from where they were last year. On the other hand, narcotics arrests have continued to rise. Chief Povilaitis believes this may be due to Prop. 47, passed in 2014, which changed narcotics possession from a felony to a misdemeanor. Although the numbers are down as of September, they have risen significantly since the passing of Prop. 47.

“The tools we had … are no longer there,” said Chief Povilaitis.

Also of note, the council approved the 2019-20 Glendale Arts and Culture Commission’s work calendar, appropriating $800,000 in funds. The commission hopes to continue public infrastructure works, such as the utility box art pieces.

The Glendale City Council will not meet again until Jan. 14 due to holiday obligations. Additional information on the Biogas Renewable Generation Project and the Grayson Repowering Project is available online at https://www.glendaleca.gov.

  Julian MITCHELL