By Robin GOLDSWORTHY

The Glendale City Council traveled to the Chevy Chase Country Club for its meeting on Aug. 21. The move to the Country Club is part of the City Council in Your Neighborhood program, giving community members and the council members the opportunity to interact in a more personal manner.

The special public meeting was more relaxed and opened with Mayor Zareh Sinanyan welcoming guests then inviting public comment.

James Ward of the Chevy Chase Estates Assn. opened the comment period by detailing concerns about speeders and bike traffic, and the canyon’s outdated water system and its capability of meeting needs of the community, particularly during fires. Similar comments were made during the meeting with some questioning why it seems that cyclists don’t follow the same laws of the road as car drivers do.

Another hot topic was a ballot measure to increase Glendale sales tax to 10.5%. Mike Mohill, a regular attendee of the weekly city council meetings, railed against the proposed hike, expressing concerns of how the nearly $30 million would be spent.

“You are reckless for putting this measure on the ballot,” Mohill admonished the council.

Mayor Sinanyan responded by saying, “We abhor raising taxes” but cited that other legislative entities have the ability to put similar measures on future Glendale ballots. By acting proactively and having voters pass the measure, the City of Glendale would retain that money.

“I call it the Protection Measure,” councilmember Paula Devine said. “The revenue raised from this tax will go toward Glendale.”

The topic of rent control in the City of Glendale was raised by Mike Van Gorder of the Glendale Tenants Union. Citing that rents are being raised by astronomical amounts, causing some in the community to no longer be able to stay in their homes, he urged the council to create a rent review board to tackle the problem. He referenced a recent petition that was circulated to get a rent control measure on Glendale’s ballot. According to the city clerk’s office, which audits such petitions, the rent control petition was lacking in the number of needed signatures.

Councilmember Ara Najarian said he had a meeting earlier that day with the GTU, but feels he cannot assist for or against the rent issue (landlord vs. tenant) due to his involvement in the real estate market.

During the meeting, other comments heard in favor of passing a rent control measure included that such a measure would save senior citizens and some families from homelessness. Others were against rent control, saying that it is an example of “socialism.”

Keeping the lights on in Glendale was another topic touched on. Daniel Brockman of the newly-formed Glendale Environmental Coalition encouraged the city to move toward clean energy sources like solar. The GEC is urging that the Grayson Power Plant not be expanded. Another Glendale resident, Scott Peer, questioned the credentials of some who are presented as scientists. He, too, promotes the use of solar power in the city.

Presentations were made by the Glendale Police Dept. that focused on traffic and crime, specifically in the Chevy Chase Canyon area.

The Pasadena Humane Society gave an overview of its relationship with the City of Glendale and its role with wildlife.

The Glendale Fire Dept. also presented information on the challenges of living in the hillsides of Glendale and the importance of creating defensible space to prevent homes from becoming engulfed in flames.

Steve Zurn, general manager of Glendale Water & Power, introduced information regarding a proposed biogas renewable generation project. According to materials distributed at the meeting, the proposed project will be located at the existing processing/maintenance site at Scholl Canyon. Naturally occurring gas will be extracted, conditioned and combusted in reciprocating engines to produce approximately 12 megawatts of renewable electricity.

Several in the audience voiced their concerns with the project, which ranged from its location near homes to the life expectancy of the project. Other issues raised were the evaluation of alternate energy sources and the possible violation of CEQA – California Environmental Quality Act.

To learn more about the proposed project, visit http://glendalebiogasgeneration.com/.

  robin goldsworthy