By Brian CHERNICK

At the Sept. 19 meeting of the Glendale City Council, the council heard several pieces of news ranging from new water supplies to city investments and the city treasurer’s annual review.

Glendale Water and Power recommended the city consider supporting the California WaterFix initiative that aims to modernize California’s water system and improve the city’s water supply reliability and quality. The council voted unanimously – with Councilmember Ara Najarian absent – to move forward with the project.

Glendale is currently part of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) that supplies water to about 19 million people and accounts for 55% of all of Glendale’s water supply. The remaining 45% is sourced locally from the Los Angeles Aqueduct, conservation, groundwater, recycling and desalination.

The project would be a joint effort with MWD to upgrade infrastructure for a large portion of water consumers in California. Glendale would be responsible for funding a portion of the project at about $4.3 billion, or 26%, of the $16.7 billion total estimated cost.

The report estimates a $2 to $3 increase in residents’ water bills to fund the project that could potentially improve levee systems statewide — protecting them from earthquakes and other natural disasters — and improve conditions for fish in affected areas.

Those who were opposed to the project expressed concern that the overall cost would outweigh the benefits to Glendale residents and that Glendale might have to make up the cost should other participants fail to uphold their end of the deal.

“I’m willing to pay higher rates but for the right reasons,” said Glendale resident and Glendale City College economics teacher Daniel Brotman. He spoke representing the Glendale Environmental Coalition. “I don’t understand why we should be here in Glendale subsidizing almond and pistachio growers.”

Brotman also cited potential harm to the Delta Levee ecology, but stated that the cost and benefits was the more immediate issue.

Despite expressing concerns with the complexity and unpredictability of the project, Councilmembers Zareh Sinanyan and Vrej Agajanian voted in favor of the resolution.

“What is at stake, at least in our foreseeable future, is to have a reliable source of water,” Sinynan said. “Our infrastructure needs continuous investment and this is just that type of project.”

The office of the Glendale city treasurer shared its annual report, stating there was a significant increase in strong, healthy investments. The city has increased its overall investment earnings by $2 million to bring the city’s investment portfolio to about $681 million. This has been a continuing trend in Glendale over the past five years of steady rates of return and interest earnings.

The Crescenta Valley Weekly newspaper was also awarded a bid for providing legal advertisements over competing local newspaper the Glendale Independent. The City of Glendale, including the City Clerk’s Office, intends to buy space in the weekly paper to advertise ordinance summaries along with city council hearings. Based on prior years, the report anticipates the costs of advertising will be about $60,000 for the 2017-18 fiscal year.

  Brian CHERNICK