By Julie BUTCHER

Beginning an uncharacteristically short meeting of the Glendale City Council on Tuesday night, Mayor Ardy Kassakhian reminded everyone that it was Election Day and that there was still time to vote and urged them to go out and cast their ballot.

Councilmember Paula Devine recognized glendaleOUT! for the picnic event the organization held over the weekend and announced that she has an opening on the city’s Transportation and Parking Commission. Councilmember Ara Najarian announced that he is a new grandfather. His colleagues teased him about it, warmly.

Moving to the business of the meeting, the council approved a five-year extension of the city’s contract with the Pasadena Humane Society to provide animal services to Glendale including field and shelter services.

“The service has been meeting our needs and satisfying our residents,” Glendale Police Captain Robert William explained. The new professional services agreement adds licensing and permitting to the services provided and will cost up to $5,010,464.

Councilmember Vrej Agajanian wondered about Glendalians who are unfamiliar with “using the computer and don’t have a car.”

“How do they reach Pasadena?” he asked. Mayor Kassakhian suggested city staff could be available to help those individuals.

Next, the council adopted a one-year extension to the city’s contract with Professional Account Management LLC, an operating entity of Duncan Solutions, for parking citation processing, collection of delinquent citations and the administration of the preferential parking permit program. The additional year will cost $187,500 and will allow service to continue uninterrupted, according to city staff. Duncan has agreed to honor the original contract prices that will result in cost savings compared to current market rates, staff highlighted.

Finally, the council adjourned in the memory of longtime community activist Lila Ramirez who served as a senior peer counselor at Glendale Memorial Hospital and held numerous positions with the Burbank PTA. She served as a member of the Burbank Coordinating Council, Glendale Charter Review Committee, Downtown Glendale Specific Plan Committee, Glendale Human Relations Coalition, Glendale Historical Society, as a board member for Glendale Healthy Kids and the Glendale Latino Association, co-founded the Rossmoyne-Mountain Homeowners Association, and dedicated her time to census count committees in Burbank and Glendale, as well as the Glendale Community Center Catholic Charities. Councilmember Devine choked up as she described Ramirez’s service to the community.

“I felt very humbled and I accept in honor of all good women doing the good work. Like the many women before me, I know that women will continue to be bold, smart and strong and work together to make our communities thrive – como las mujeres,” Lila Ramirez said when she was honored as “Woman of the Year” by State Senator Anthony Portantino earlier this year.