By Julie BUTCHER

The City of Glendale is deep into budget season, filling the Glendale City Council agenda with budget study sessions and the detailed review of this year’s proposed budget. The budget documents for the fiscal year, which begins on July 1, are available at https://tinyurl.com/sh4j2cxs.

The study sessions will continue next week, starting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.

On Tuesday evening this week, the Council quickly approved a list of street improvements worth approximately $4.031 million. Councilmember Dan Brotman focused his attention on “opportunities to include ‘complete streets’-type treatments such as enhanced safety for bicyclists” and asked about the breakdown between “traditional” and “complete” streets. City staff answered that 10%-15% of the work is on “non-pavement elements” and that they are developing plans to paint bike lanes green.

A representative of a broad coalition of local social justice organizations in Glendale is planning the first annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Walk celebration, rescheduled from January, for Sunday, May 23 at 2 p.m. at the Glendale YWCA.

“The walk will be a time of inspiration and hope where children, teens and adults, young and old, can speak to the ideals of Dr. King. Bringing positive messages through the clothes you wear or the signs you make will make this a very festive time,” the group representative said. Detailed information, including sponsorship opportunities, can be found at https://glendalepeacewalk.wordpress.com/.

City staff then briefed the Council about upcoming changes in statewide recycling regulations. Starting in January 2022, the new rules cover the collection of residential organics (both food and green waste) and require commercial collection for businesses that generate more that two cu/yard/week. The plan is to standardize color-coding and labeling statewide: black for trash, green for organics, blue for recycling. State law will soon require the phasing in of edible food recovery as well, first for restaurants.

“How are we going to do all this?” Councilmember Brotman asked. “This is monumental. We’re not going to be able to put food waste in our trash. Some place – LA I think – has a plan to give people little metal bins for their kitchens.

“I’m sure the state hasn’t given us any money to do this,” he added.

Councilmember Ardy Kassakhian recalled the beginnings of recycling.

“Let’s reach out to our youngest residents. They’ll figure it out and teach it to the rest of us,” he said. “Remember it was the kids [who] helped make early recycling efforts work.”

The Council voted to vacate an alley behind 6231 – 6325 San Fernando Road to allow for the creation of a general office use campus along the rail line, behind the buildings.

Finally, the Council revisited an agreement with the developers of a hotel proposed to replace the Vagabond Inn at 120 W. Colorado Blvd. and ultimately approved the introduction of the ordinance after extracting an agreement to continue to help house homeless youth until the new hotel construction begins.