So Glendale’s last remaining Welcome To Glendale median barrier on Foothill Boulevard at Pennsylvania Avenue has been demolished in a traffic collision. Three accidents involving the identical Lowell Avenue barrier led to its removal but, for some inexplicable reason, Glendale decided to keep the eastern city boundary installation. That shortsighted decision left a proven road hazard in place that was an accident waiting to happen. It didn’t take long for the inevitable crash to take it out in a rollover accident.

Thankfully it appears there were no injuries, except the bruised egos and egg on the faces of the Glendale officials who left the dangerous barrier in place for months after it should have been removed. Someone has been asleep at the wheel in failing to see such an obvious hazard. Exposing the public to unnecessary peril and leaving the city open to financial liability for these accidents is beyond incompetent. The time is now to say good riddance to the Welcome to Glendale median barrier signs on Foothill.

Greg Wilkinson

La Crescenta

CVWD Water Rate Comparison Data?

While trying to understand the proposed CVWD water and wastewater rate increases, I visited the CVWD website and noticed an interesting chart called “Water Rates Compared to Other Agencies.”

After a closer look I found this chart very confusing. Since the chart does not identify the user type, I am assuming it is for a single-family residential user. The chart calculations are based on 15 hundred cubic feet (HCF) of water monthly. Where did this figure come from?  All the rate increases from the CVWD have historically been based on customers using 17 units (17,000 gallons) bimonthly. Now they are using 15 HCF, which equates to 11,220 gallons. The District should be consistent with how it calculates CVWD comparison data against others.

The data in the chart is also very deceiving and not a real representation of the CVWD bimonthly billing cycle. CVWD figured the rate on a monthly basis to get its proposed $88.68. This would work if customers were billed on a monthly basis; however, CVWD bills on a bimonthly basis. This is where the tiered water rates hurt. If you calculated using 15 HCF per month on a bimonthly basis the real cost to a consumer would be approximately $207 instead of the CVWD $177 ($88.68 x 2) that the chart illustrates. This equates to a customer paying 17% more and certainly changes the standing against peer agencies making CVWD one of the most expensive.

In my opinion if CVWD wants to provide information on proposed rate increases they should base it on bimonthly cost calculations and not confuse or mislead customers by mixing monthly and bimonthly billing and units versus cubic feet of water. There’s a saying you can do anything with numbers, but let’s make sure the figures fairly represent the true cost by calculating the proposed rates under the terms and conditions which CVWD customers are billed.

Reminder that all protest letters to the rate increase must be delivered or mailed no later than June 11, 2019.

Jonas Williams

La Crescenta

Inappropriate Budget?

Have you seen the 2018-2019 Glendale Adopted Budget? It shows total resources of $815,385,381. Under Appropriations, it shows salaries & benefits totaling $278,820,738 and maintenance & operation totaling $484,566,738. Just these two Appropriations total $763,387,047. That leaves $51,998,334, or just 6.38%, remaining from total resources. That 6.38% is left for the “Glendale quality of life and essential services.”

Seeing these figures makes me question the City of Glendale and its lack of performance! 

Ken Grayson

Grayson’s Tune Town