By Brian CHERNICK

Glendale Mayor Vartan Gharpetian and fellow councilmembers will soon be presenting nominations for 12 separate board and commission appointments and have requested applications from any citizen interested in participating in city decisions.

The boards and commissions with positions potentially available include Arts and Culture, Community Development Block Grant and Historic Preservation among others. Board and commission members are limited to two consecutive terms unless the council finds it necessary to appoint that individual beyond that limit. Councilmembers will present their nominations for consideration during the next Glendale City Council meeting on May 23.

After last week’s hearing regarding the re-zoning of the property on the southeast corner of Colorado and Adams, the City Council passed an ordinance officially transforming the mixed commercial and residential zone into an exclusively commercial area. A parking lot expansion is set to be built on the newly rezoned area after surrounding businesses found more spaces would be needed when World Gym and its accompanying parking lot will be demolished and replaced with a hotel.

City Council also moved to authorize the city manager to enter into a Professional Service Agreement with PlaceWork Inc. to provide an environmental impact report regarding the construction of the multi-purpose field at Cerritos Elementary School. Glendale has worked with PlaceWork Inc. in the past and noted its previous work with school properties.

The project will now enter a 12-month design and planning phase. When Gharpetian asked why the planning and design phase would take twice as long as the estimated six month construction period, City Manager Scott Ochoa stated that the design would have to go through city and state approval because it involves school property.

At Gharpetian’s request, director of Community Services & Parks Onnig Bulanikian said he would look for ways to expedite parts of the three-year construction project.

A request by chief of police Robert Castro for the city to approve a nearly half-million dollar budget to upgrade in-car cameras, mobile computers and other law enforcement equipment was passed by unanimous vote. The upgrades and maintenance are to be made through COBAN Technologies, which has provided equipment for the department previously. The initial request of $94,000 will be allocated for the current fiscal year to purchase a number of mobile computers for police and parking enforcement vehicles and service parts for maintenance on existing devices. The agreement will provide service from COBAN through June 2018.

  Brian CHERNICK