By Julie BUTCHER

Glendale City Councilmember Paula Devine listed a number of questions for city staff to open this week’s meeting of the council, first questioning the recyclability of flocked Christmas trees (they are not recyclable – but the city picks them up and processes them along with the recyclable ones), then inquiring about the process of picking up signs remaining from the “slow streets” program started in the spring. Staff reported there is a phone number on the signs or folks can call the public works hotline at (818) 548-9000 to have the signs picked up. Devine ended her comments commending staff for winning a 2020 Golden Bell Award, along the with the Glendale Unified School District, for innovation and collaboration in helping to address the changing needs of students.

Councilmember Dan Brotman urged the council to act to officially recognize Martin Luther King Day in January.

Councilmember Ara Najarian announced his selection as chair of the Metrolink board.

Callers into the council meeting continued to raise concerns – for and against – the city’s current ban on cannabis dispensaries.

The council heard financial reports beginning with an annual update the city submits (formally called a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report [CAFR]) that is required following the close of each fiscal year. The report shows that reserves meet the city’s goals (minimum 20% reserve with a goal of 35%) with a combined reserve just over $81 million, more than 34%, and revenues from Measure S sales taxes up to $14.2 million slated to carry over into 2021.

The council also received a periodic financial update that was met with similar optimism shown for the CAFR.

“Compared with Los Angeles, we’re in pretty good shape,” Najarian noted. “I’m glad we won’t have to be laying off 10% of our police department.”

“I commend staff’s keeping an eye on expenses,” Brotman added. “A lot of this is luck; the CARES Act money helped and, on the expense side, departments found $1.7 million in cuts against a backdrop of a $4 million hit to the ToT (transient occupancy tax, primarily paid on hospitality services).”

Next the council entertained a long discussion about updates to plans for the Grayson Power Plant and newly raised concerns about the historical nature and status of the buildings on the site.

“I think the people of Glendale would rather have clean energy than preserve an old building,” Najarian opined. “I’ve toured the plant – there’s nothing historical about it, nothing that evinces pride as I drive up. This cannot set us back in our commitment to a green future. You know how these things go; remember the old PacBell building? It can add time, dragging everything out. I worry about something down the horizon holding us up.”

Councilmember Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian agreed.

“Why are we talking about preserving a monument to fossil fuels?” he asked.
Glendale Water and Power (GWP) General Manager Steve Zurn updated the council on the utility’s plans to extend its public benefit programs to include struggling small businesses. The plan was adopted by a vote of four to one with Brotman opposing the program.

“It doesn’t say anywhere here that it can be used to help businesses,” he said. “I’d rather find another way to give forbearance, like an eviction moratorium for utilities.”

“They’re all our customers,” Zurn replied, “and we’re extremely limited as to what we can do to help. We would not continue this once the pandemic ends, but they are all our customers.”

Each of the members of council took an opportunity to thank and recognize Zurn as he prepares for retirement following 34 years with the city in public works and then the GWP.

“I have a tie on tonight,” he joked, then thanked “a phenomenal staff and support from the council.”

“There won’t be a day I don’t think about the City of Glendale,” he said. “I’ve spent my entire adult life here. You’re going to see us achieving renewable clean energy on an hourly basis. There is so much of which to be proud.”

Also on a vote of four to one, the council voted to spend up to $50,000 for the purchase, training and maintenance to begin using “unmanned aerial aircraft devices,” or drones. Brotman wanted to review a policy statement before agreeing to the purchase.

The devices would be used for specific, limited law enforcement purposes, GPD Chief Carl Povilaitis explained, such as documenting crime or accident scenes, searching for suspects or missing persons, offering support during the execution of warrants, and in cases of disaster. Police staff indicated it reviewed best practices and experiences of neighboring agencies in determining the department’s needs and interests.

“When I say we’re conducting constitutional policing, I mean it,” Povilaitis said, emphasizing respect for the privacy of Glendale residents.

“Even though you could set one of them on your lap, the FAA [Federal Aviation Authority] requires a certified operator for legitimate law enforcement purposes only,” a police lieutenant said. “Think of it as an asset added to our air support arsenal. These devices run for a maximum of 28 minutes and our use would be line-of-sight exclusively.”

Mayor Vrej Agajanian announced he was pulling from the agenda discussion about a potential independent municipal health department.

Next, the council deliberated over a potential “resolution to cease current and future business activities with firms associated with the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey; and boycott of products produced in Azerbaijan and Turkey.”

Kassakhian recalled similar action in 1986.

“I remember assemblywoman, now congresswoman, Maxine Waters proposing that the state divest from businesses in protest of apartheid in South Africa. Governor George Deukmejian changed his mind, bringing to mind his family history, and said, ‘We must stand for freedom and stand against violations of human rights, wherever they occur.’”

“I hope other cities follow suit,” he concluded.

Brotman proposed the addition of broader investment guidelines, known as ESG, for the integration of environmental, social and corporate governance considerations into the processes of investment management.

Finally, the council voted to reimpose a moratorium on commercial evictions for certain businesses.

The council will meet again on Jan. 12, 2021.