By Julie BUTCHER

Before getting down to business this week, the Glendale City Council heard from now former Councilmember Zareh Sinanyan who announced his resignation from the council effective June 7 to accept a position in the cabinet of the Republic of Armenia. Sinanyan expressed his gratitude for his six-and-a-half years on the council.

“I tried to do the best for my broader family of Glendalians, to ensure that our children grow up in a safe and prosperous city,” said Sinanyan. “But, as an Armenian American, the grandson of displaced people, refugees from the Armenian Genocide, I feel a great duty to return home and serve the seven million Armenians worldwide who have stories that are similar if not identical to mine.”

“With the democratic velvet revolution that took place in April 2018,” Sinanyan went on, “Armenia is calling its sons and daughters to help build a free, egalitarian, democratic state that serves the interests of its people and Armenians throughout the world. I heard it and decided to heed the call. I am forever grateful to the United States of America for taking me and my family in as political refugees from the communist Soviet Union.”

Mayor Ara Najarian acknowledged the reasons for Sinanyan’s departure, though adding, “It hurts me to see you leave, but that’s just being selfish.”

“I know you are strongly committed to making Armenia and the diaspora – which are Armenian communities throughout the world – united and much stronger together,” Najarian said. “We’re losing a councilmember, but it is Armenia’s gain.”

The Council then recognized the winners of the Be Street Smart Glendale poster contest, elementary school students from throughout the school district. A teacher accompanying the group expressed thanks for the commitment that the schools and city have to traffic safety and safe routes to school. She added that being acknowledged by the council means a lot to the students.

The Council approved an expenditure of $50,000 for enhanced pedestrian safety.

Councilmember Paula Devine recognized Pride Month and Mayor Najarian distributed “Ride with Pride” TAP (Transit Access Pass) cards from Metro.

Noting the nearness of the next election, the Council determined that it would be best served appointing a replacement for Councilmember Sinanyan who would serve until March 2020 and then stand for election along with two seats already up for election at that time. The cost for a quicker special election is estimated at $1.2 million.

Anyone interested in being considered for appointment to the Glendale City Council should communicate their interest – along with a statement of their qualifications – by email to City Attorney Michael Garcia at mjgarcia@glendaleca.gov before 5 p.m. on Monday, June 17. The Council is slated to review the applications and make an appointment at a special meeting on Friday, June 21 at 10 a.m.

Finally, the Council heard and ultimately denied a lengthy, detailed appeal to demolish an historic house at 1642 S. Central Ave. in south Glendale’s Tropico neighborhood. While a local realtor deemed the property “hard to look at,” local historian Michael Morgan noted that “it is 106 years old and it exemplifies the early heritage of the City.” Originally constructed in 1913, a later addition made the building into a duplex.

Glendale Historical Society President Steve Hunt argued against the demolition, bringing in some history of the 49-year-old CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act), signed into law in 1970 by then-Governor Ronald Reagan.

“There are experts [on CEQA], and you’ve heard from four of them including from the company you hired. They say it’s a ‘CEQA house.’ Expert Francesca Smith can probably tell you how many nails there are in the house and she says it’s a ‘CEQA house.’ Please do not let them destroy the house,” Hunt requested of the Council.

Councilmember Vartan Gharpetian moved to delay consideration so that he could go and see the property.

“Is it a beat-up house? Yes, it is. But if you squint your eyes at it, can you see a good example of our Craftsmen homes? I can,” said Najarian.

The Council voted to deny the appeal. Councilmember Vrej Agajanian abstained from the vote.

Earlier in the day, the Council approved a pilot program to provide a monthly housing subsidy to Glendale’s lowest income senior and disabled renters. The program, budgeted from Measure S tax funds at $4.2 million annually for the two-year test program, would provide a $300 monthly cash subsidy to as many as one thousand of Glendale’s poorest households, through an application, lottery, and waiting list process, beginning as soon as February 2020.

The City has additionally earmarked $20 million in this year’s budget for affordable housing development.

  Julie BUTCHER