By Ted AYALA

Glendale City Council unanimously passed an ordinance definitively banning medical marijuana dispensaries within the city limits at the council meeting on Tuesday. No such businesses operate in Glendale as a two year moratorium banning the dispensaries has been in effect while city officials reviewed the subject. With the moratorium set to lapse in September, officials and local law enforcement have been encouraging the Council to impose a permanent ban.

Intense debate was held over a variety of ordinance modifications. Most contentious of these were proposals reviewing ordinances on massage parlors, hookah lounges and the use of artificial turf.

An ordinance refining rules on the operation of massage parlors was passed. The modified ordinance would ensure that city law is current with state law and mandates that all massage therapists working within the city be licensed by the state.

The fate of the city’s hookah lounges hung in the balance as the council decided whether to ban them outright from the city. Local hookah lounges currently operate between loopholes in city ordinances. Ultimately, council withheld a final decision pending review of the ordinance and whether to leave it as is, or to amend it.

The hall filled with citizens who clashed views on the proposal to expand the use of
artificial turf in the city of Glendale. Artificial turf, while cited as being more economical to upkeep than natural grass, drew fiery criticisms from various concerned citizens.

Victor Hansen of Glendale noted the boon that artificial turf has been for his home.

“I’ve lived in my home in Glendale for over 25 years,” he said. “[My natural lawns] required great use of water, fertilizer, and weed-killer to maximize their appearance and health. In 2004 I replaced my natural grass with artificial turf. Since that day, my consumption of water has significantly reduced. I’ve also been less harmful to the environment as I no longer use weed-killer, pesticides, and fertilizer.”

Carol Bruchet, representing the Northwest Glendale Homeowners’ Association, was against the use of artificial turf.

“If artificial turf is put down, I’m concerned that it will eventually emit foul smells,” she said. Resident Delma Kirsch also weighed in against the ordinance. “Keeping [pets] away from artificial turf is not the solution for its problems,” she said. “There are other effects [of artificial turf] that need to be considered. This includes toxins released into the earth through the manufacture of the product, as well as the chemicals from its cleaning products.”

In the end, the ordinance on artificial turf remained unchanged as the quorum to pass the measure was not met.

  Ted Ayala