By Julie BUTCHER

At a special meeting on Tuesday afternoon, the Glendale City Council overviewed preliminary plans and concepts envisioning the future of the Verdugo Wash, currently a nine-mile concrete flood water channel as potentially a green swath of natural habitat and walking and bike paths running from the north side of the Verdugo Mountains down to Griffith Park.

“A scar that runs through many neighborhoods, it could unlock incredible opportunities for improving the city, creating connections, improving mobility. What is currently a divider could become a uniter, increase the value of adjacent properties, create a large democratic amenity space, and instigate growth in the community,” consultant Jerry van Eyck told the council.

Assistant director of Community Development Bradley Calvert reported that this visioning part of the project is “in the works,” in its earliest stages. There has been some public engagement, he said, but more is needed and planned. To date, input from the city’s initial outreach has identified these priorities: public safety, bicycle and pedestrian routes, natural habitat restoration and the creation of new open spaces.

The Wash would continue to function as a wash, a piece of hydrological infrastructure, with building above the channel, a new linear green corridor traversing the city. In places that have built similar projects, van Eyck explained, the return on investment has been greater than simply economic; this could be a “signature legacy” project for the city.

Pedestrians and cyclists would be prioritized in separate areas; in larger spots along the Wash, quiet, contemplative park space is proposed along with public space programming, shared by adjacent communities.

Calvert emphasized that this is “an iterative process” and that the city plans to develop designs specific to neighborhoods and to continue to engage internal and stakeholder working groups. Some ways to address public safety concerns that have been raised include ensuring access for police motorcycles to respond to emergencies and limited bicycle patrols, allowing access to the area from dawn to dusk only, including call boxes, lighting and visibility from the nearby streets in the ultimate design.

The city says it plans to continue outreach, adding to the nearly 500 survey responses it has received so far and to conduct more outreach in a variety of forms. (Take the survey at https://www.verdugowash.com/.)

Patrick Murphy called in, representing the Verdugo Wash Neighborhood Coalition, to raise concerns about the lack of communications and to urge the city to send direct mail to all of the property owners adjacent to the Wash.

“We are categorically opposed to this project in our areas and insist that all of our issues and concerns are heard,” he said.

La Crescenta resident Paul Rabinov supports the visioning of the Verdugo Wash.

“I’m calling in support of the current stage of the Verdugo Wash visioning project. The concept starts from the fact that the Wash was designed to provide safety from flooding (and absolutely must continue to do so) and ingeniously creates space within the Wash for public use and enjoyment. In doing so, the Wash can be envisioned as a more than nine-mile linear open space with opportunities for parkland, active transportation, habitat restoration and community spaces. The ability to introduce landscape and natural elements to the current concrete area can literally create a nine-mile greenway that connects the entire city. This project will literally transform the city and unite its communities in a way no other project can.”

Representatives of the Whiting Woods and Sycamore Woods neighborhoods called to express their opposition.

Verna works in a bike shop in Burbank, she told the council, and noted how safe people who would not normally cycle feel riding on the Chandler Bike Path in Burbank.

“I’m a cyclist in Glendale and I feel like, when I ride somewhere, when I try to cut down on car rides, thinking of the environment and my community, I feel like I’m taking my life into my hands,” she said. “Looking at the Wash, this open space that connects everything, it’s exciting to think it could be s safe place for cyclists and pedestrians, without inconveniencing cars.”

“We’re not going to propose access points through anyone’s yard,” Calvert responded to some callers.

Councilmember Dan Brotman urged more outreach.

“It’s important to bring everyone along,” he said. “I don’t think ‘no’ is an answer.”

The council approved moving forward with further planning and outreach.

At the beginning of the evening council meeting, Glendale Fire Dept. Chief Silvio Lanzas updated the council on the impacts of Tuesday’s estimated 3.26 inches of rain. Sand and sandbags were available at three locations and all nine of the city’s fire stations, Lanzas reported. The city activated its emergency monitoring protocols and responded to numerous calls during the day – more than usual – including vehicle accidents and a garage fire.

“We were lucky,” Mayor Paula Devine pronounced.

“I’d like to say we were prepared,” the chief replied.

Next, the council received a preliminary report on the 2020 census. A more detailed report will be available in spring 2022. Right now, the population of Glendale is 196,543, up 2.52% since the last census. Councilmembers questioned the number of housing vacancies listed as 3,300.

Then the council approved a professional services agreement for the Glendale-Los Angeles Garden River Bridge project, planned for completion in 2028, connecting Glendale’s reconfigured Riverwalk path with the LA’s River Bike path and the Ferraro soccer fields.

Expected to cost $35.4 million, approximately $22.4 million has been secured from state funds to construct a proposed 320-foot curvilinear bridge that would include box-girder structures, safety railings and safety lights, access gates and trash receptacles, along with a 350-foot curvilinear planter seating area, bike and pedestrian paths denoted by signs and striping.

“I hope I’m still able to get on a bicycle by the time it’s done,” Councilmember Brotman commented.

Late in the council’s last meeting of the year, two historic overlay zones were introduced for approval: South Cumberland Heights and Casa Verdugo. According to Jay Platt, the city’s historic preservation planner, Glendale has recognized seven historic districts, starting with Cottage Grove followed by neighborhoods ringing the foothills of the Verdugo Mountains since beginning the recognition in 2007. A 10th historic district is organizing in the Bellehurst neighborhood. Councilmember Ara Najarian asked if there was a history of red-lining or deed restrictions used historically to exclude people in the zones under consideration.

“It’s kind of like putting up a statue of Robert E. Lee,” he commented.

Platt responded, “We’re not trying to hide our history, the covenants, the racism, but to acknowledge that history. On a historical level, a neighborhood’s history is not disqualifying from being considered historic.”

President of the Glendale Historical Society, Steve Hunt, called to recognize the multi-year effort.

“With the passage of SB 9, it’s more important than ever to preserve our historic neighborhoods,” he said.

Centered around the Casa Verdugo restaurant opened by Piedad Yorba Sowl in 1906, the Casa Verdugo neighborhood includes neo-classical homes and “a bunch of” Craftsman houses, perhaps Glendale’s greatest concentration of Craftsmen, as well as mid-1920s period revivals.

“The neighborhood really came together, with block parties and national nights out,” Platt told the council. “Seventy seven percent of the property owners signed the petition to establish the zone (the ordinance requires 50%).”

Councilmember Ardy Kassakhian added that the neighborhood is the home of the creator of the initial Zorro character, a precursor to Batman.

Finally, the council reviewed the accomplishments of the new sustainability commission and officer, David Jones, who updated the council on efforts to enhance the city’s overall environmental stewardship, one of the core priorities identified by the council.