By Brian CHERNICK

Glendale City Council members voted to extend the interim ordinance on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) three weeks after initiating it. City Manager Scott Ochoa likened the extension as to making a play decision early in the game rather than in the last quarter.

The vote will now extend the ordinance for an additional 10 months and 15 days, or one year total since the initial action.

The interim ordinance limits ADUs to 500 square feet, which would be equal to the maximum for a guest house. The ordinance also bars any new ADUs from being visible from streets in historic districts such as Adams Hill. In order for an ADU to be available to rent, the owner must be a permanent resident of the primary housing unit. Otherwise the entire property must be available for rent as a single property.

Recent changes in California law mandate that cities include processes for approving and regulating ADUs, negating a 1996 law that forbid ADUs in Glendale.

Council member Ara Najarian also promoted an upcoming Ciclavia-style open street bicycling event on June 4. The event, which will run up and down Brand Boulevard, is framed as a meeting between Atwater Village and Glendale. The event will be funded in part by Metro at $180,000. Najarian said he is currently working to have Metro cover the entire cost.

Glendale’s assistance with immigration enforcement became a central point of discussion during public comment.

Three Glendale residents asked council members to make unambiguous declarations or statements in ensuring the city to do what it can to protect members of their community from potential deportation.

Ochoa responded by reiterating previous statements made by the Police Chief Robert Castro, who has said the “Glendale Police Department does not have the authority nor the responsibility to incarcerate or detain individuals solely based on immigration status,” and that their responsibility “is to protect the lives of the community we are sworn to serve and honor the established principles of democracy upon which this country was founded.”

  Brian CHERNICK