CITY wrap

Two homes returned for
redesign
The city’s design review board #2 sent back two local home projects for redesign last week.
One, 3803 Pennsylvania, is classified as a new home because of the amount of construction, though it is in fact a renovation of an existing home which dates back to 1961. The owner plans to add a bathroom, laundry, dining room, kitchen, playroom and two-car garage.
The property is constrained by a utility right of way and a storm drain which runs to the Verdugo Wash.  Though its address is on Pennsylvania, it has access from a frontage street.
The board members decided the project requires some rethinking and the addition of design elements to what was characterized as a “big box.” They returned it for redesign.
The second project was an addition to a home dating back to 1956.
The applicant is designer Yolanda McCausland. The project is a first time submittal for final review.
The proposal is to add 352 square feet of living space and a new 70 square-foot entry porch to the front of the existing one-story 1,773 square-foot house. The existing two-car attached garage is proposed to remain.
The board ordered an upgrade for the porch and other design enhancements in returning it for work.

Residents may face fee hikes
Glendale residents may face a variety of fees and rate increases to help the city cope with the continued decline in revenues to support municipal services.
Some of the fees will require voter approval, while others can be approved by the council. All are likely draw mixed reaction from residents continuing to face economic hard times.
One fee could see the final departure of one of Glendale’s great bargains, the 25 cent fare for the city’s bus line, the Beeline.
Public Works director Steve Zurn said the bus service, financed through a special sales tax, is at its capacity for existing revenues and would need more money to expand. The Beeline could face serviced cuts, as well.
Fire chief Harold Scoggins said the city may propose a public vote for a $5 per month paramedic fee to help meet a continued gap in the budget. His department may suggest a high-use fee for medical facilities such as board and care homes, which provide a medical component.
Glendale will also be considering a half-cent sewer tax increase, to meet continuing needs. Zurn said the sewer tax is one of the lowest in the region. Glendale will also look at funding for the waste water transmission costs.
Glendale is looking at an $8 to $10 million deficit for the coming year. The city will also likely face a continued hard freeze on hiring and salaries limits, a shortage of funds for street improvements and limited resources for capital improvements.

By Charles Cooper