1 M I N U T E S
GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
613 E. Broadway, 2nd Floor Glendale, CA 91206
AUGUST 15, 2023
ROLL CALL- All Present
1. CLOSED SESSION – 3:08 p.m.
a. Public Employee Performance Evaluation – City Manager b. Conference with Labor Negotiators: The City-designated negotiator attending the closed session is: Mayor Dan Brotman. Unrepresented Employee Position: City Manager
c. Public Employee Performance Evaluation – City Attorney d. Conference with Labor Negotiators: The City-designated negotiator attending the closed session is: Mayor Dan Brotman. Unrepresented Employee Position: City Attorney
e. Conference with real property negotiators. City negotiators attending the closed session are: Roubik Golanian, John Takhtalian, Bradley Calvert, Jason Bradford, Michael J. Garcia, Gillian van Muyden, and Onnig Bulanikian. Property location:
115 & 121 West Wilson Avenue. Negotiating Parties: Lillie S Makhanian Trust.
Instructions to the negotiator(s) will concern the price and terms for the acquisition of property
f. Conference with Legal Counsel - Pending Litigation: California Rifle & Pistol Association, Incorporated, et al. v. City of Glendale, et al., U.S.D.C. Case No. 2:22- cv- 07346-SB-JC
g. Conference with Legal Counsel - Pending Litigation: Alchian, et al. v. City of Glendale, et al., LASC Case No. 22STCV08075
h. Conference with Labor Negotiators. The City-designated negotiators attending the closed session are: Roubik Golanian, John Takhtalian, Michael J. Garcia, Gillian van Muyden, Mark Young, Paula Adams, Aymee Martin, Jason Bradford and Peter Brown. The name of the employee organization is: I.B.E.W., Local 18, Unit 40 i. Conference with Legal Counsel - Pending Litigation: Glenoaks Canyon Homeowners Association v. City of Glendale, et al., L.A.S.C. Case No. 22STCP00114
j. Conference with real property negotiators. City negotiators attending the closed session are: Roubik Golanian, John Takhtalian, Bradley Calvert, Jason Bradford, Michael J. Garcia, Gillian van Muyden, Dorine Martirosian, and Allen Castillo.
Property location: 222 N. Orange Street. Negotiating Parties: Verizon.
Instructions to the negotiator(s) will concern the price and terms for the lease of property
k. Conference with Labor Negotiators. The City-designated negotiators attending the closed session are: Roubik Golanian, John Takhtalian, Michael J. Garcia, Gillian van Muyden, Paula Adams, Aymee Martin, and Jason Bradford. The names of the employee organizations are: Glendale City Employees’ Association, Glendale Management Association, Glendale Police Officers’ Association, Glendale Fire Fighters Association and I.B.E.W., Local 18, Unit 40. Unrepresented Employees:
Executives and Confidential Employees
City Attorney Mike Garcia indicated that action is anticipated on item 1i. Council recessed to closed session at 3:08 p.m.
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Public Comment:
Herbert Molano
2. REGULAR BUSINESS AGENDA – 6:06 PM
Roll Call – All Present
a. Flag Salute: Mayor Brotman
b. Invocation: Pastor Kurt Poland, First German United Methodist Church c. Report of City Clerk, re: Posting of Agenda. The Agenda for the August 15, 2023 Regular Meeting of the Glendale City Council was Posted on August 10, 2023 on the Bulletin Board Outside City Hall.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
a. Agenda Preview for the Meetings of Tuesday, August 22, 2023 Assistant City Manager John Takhtalian provided the preview. b. Appointment of Armineh Megrabyan to the Civil Service Commission (Brotman/Asatryan, 08/08/23)
c. Identification of Nominating Panel for Historic Preservation Commission (Devine/Brotman)
4. CONSENT ITEMS (Including Minutes)
The following are Routine and May be Acted Upon by One Motion. Any Member of Council or the Audience Requesting Separate Consideration May do so by Making Such Request Before Motion is Proposed.
Item 4c pulled for separate consideration.
a. City Clerk, re: Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of August 8, 2023 Moved: Devine Seconded: Najarian
b. Libraries, Arts, and Culture, re: Artsakh Ave. Gateway Public Art Piece - "Curtain" by Paul Cocksedge Studio
1. Rescind the May 10, 2022 Special City Council Meeting Motion authorizing the City Manager, or a designee, to enter into and execute an Agreement for Commission of Artwork with Paul Cocksedge Studio in the amount of $550,000 dispersed from the Urban Art Fund, to design, fabricate, and install a public art piece entitled, “Curtain,” for the Artsakh Ave. Gateway Public Art Piece.
Moved: Devine Seconded: Najarian
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2. Redistribute $550,000 dispersed from the Urban Art Fund, to support the design, fabrication, and installation of public art pieces throughout the City Moved: Devine Seconded: Najarian
c. Public Works, re: Dunsmore Park Improvements Project Staff Comments:
Yazdan Emrani, Director of Public Works
Bryan Salazar, Administrative Analyst/ Electrical Engineering, GWP
1. Motion awarding a construction contract to All American Asphalt, in the amount of $741,261, approving a 15 percent contingency in the amount of $111,189, rejecting all other bids, and authorizing the City Manager or a designee to execute the contract
Moved: Devine Seconded: Asatryan
Item 4D is being moved to another date.
d. Public Works, re: Professional Services Agreement for Professional Consultant Services for the Citywide Traffic and Mobility Study
1. Motion authorizing the City Manager or a designee to enter into and execute a Professional Services Agreement with ADVANTEC Consulting Engineers, Inc. to provide Professional Consultant Services for the Citywide Traffic and Mobility Study in the amount of $495,208, plus a 10 percent contingency of $49,521
5. CITY COUNCIL/STAFF COMMENTS
Councilmember Kassakhian wished the students and teachers the best of luck for this upcoming school year. He sent his thoughts and prayers to those who suffered in the wildfire in Maui, Hawaii and to the people of Artsakh who are continuing to suffer from the blockade of the Azerbaijani government that is severely restricting delivery of food, medical supplies, and other essentials. Kassakhian received information there was a power outage in Northwest Glendale. He asked staff to put out information on social media to warn the public about future power outages in the city. Councilmember Kassakhian received an email regarding trees along Beaudry Blvd. not being watered in the medians and asked staff to investigate it. Kassakhian asked staff to find a permanent home for the Pinwheel mobile art installation outside the Glendale Central Library. Kassakhian stated there is sometimes difficulty in seeing who would want to speak first during a council meeting and asked staff to inquire about getting a queuing equipment to be used on the dais.
City Manager Golanian stated that the Communications Division disseminates the power outage information via Facebook, twitter, and Instagram. Unfortunately, staff took a while to determine the cause of the last outage and were not able to send out the information via social media.
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Asst. City Manager Takhtalian explained that the state has a strict restriction on watering artificial turf. He stated that the water has been turned off for the grass on Beaudry Blvd, but the trees and shrubs do continue to be watered.
Councilmember Asatryan visited the senior housing on 333 Monterey Ave. where she heard the complaints of the residents who live there. She asked staff to inspect the senior housing facility. Asatryan stated that the residents lack information on city and LA County services such as transportation programs and citywide events. She stated that college students and seniors frequently use public transportation and they should be the key demographics in outreach efforts. Since a report will be brought back to council regarding the Glendale Beeline, Asatryan asked staff to get more input from students and seniors. She also asked staff to reach out to all of Glendale’s senior housing to provide the residents more information on city and county services. Asatryan is in communication with the people of Artsakh, and they are looking for additional assistance regarding their circumstances. She asked the City Manager’s on how the city can provide assistance to the people of Artsakh.
Asatryan also addressed issues that transpired last week with council during a discussion of an agenda item.
Councilmember Najarian provided his comments regarding last week’s council meeting. He asked for additional time to nominate his commissioners and voiced his concern about his request being denied during a discussion when he wasn’t present. Mayor Brotman explained his perspective of what transpired last week and his reasoning behind his decisions.
City Manager Golanian read a statement from Robert Avetisyan, a permanent representative of the Republic of Artsakh in the US. Golanian asked council to allocate humanitarian aid to the Sister Cities in Artsakh including Martuni.
6. COMMUNITY EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS (3-Minutes)
7. ADOPTION OF ORDINANCES
a. Community Development, re: Ordinance 6009 Prohibiting Issuance of Entitlements and/or Permits for Establishment of New or Replacement Retail Uses Selling Firearms or Ammunition and Declaring the Urgency Thereof (Devine, 07/25/23)
Moved: Devine Seconded: Asatryan
Staff Comment:
Roubik Golanian, City Manager
8. ACTION ITEMS
a. Finance, re: Employee Medical Stipend
Staff Comment:
Roubik Golanian, City Manager
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Brotman
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Public Comments:
Ramella Eraghi
Herbert Molano
1. Motion to approve a Medical Stipend for City of Glendale Employees, in the Aggregate Amount of $2,347,295, to Cover Medical Premium Increases from June 2023 through June 2024
Moved: Asatryan Seconded: Devine
2. Resolution 23-116 of appropriation
Moved: Asatryan Seconded: Devine
9. HEARINGS
a. City Attorney, re: Third Public Hearing Regarding the Composition of Council Districts Related to the City's Proposed Transition to District-Based Councilmember Elections
Hearing opened at 7:41 p.m. and closed at 9:03 p.m.
Staff Comment:
Mike Garcia, City Attorney
Presenting:
Doug Johnson, President of National Demographics Corporation Public Comments:
Karen Kwak
Maro Yacoupian
Alek Bartrosouf
Allen Dish
Herbert Molano
Lisa Morris
Allan Durham
Teresa Blackburn
1. Motion Directing Staff Regarding Preparation of Draft District Maps Council went to recess at 9:03 p.m. and returned at 9:10 p.m. 6 Asatryan, Kassakhian, Najarian
Devine, Brotman
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b. Community Development, re: Appeal of Planning Commission’s approval of Density Bonus Review Case Number PDBP2120753, for 246 North Jackson Street (Environmental Determination of Class 32 “In-fill Development Project” Exemption Per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15332) Hearing opened at 9:15 p.m. and closed at 11:17 p.m.
Staff Comments:
Roubik Golanian, City Manager
Mike Garcia, City Attorney
Yvette Neukian, Principal Assistant City Attorney
Presenting:
Cassandra Pruett, Senior Planner • Community Development Catherine Jurca, Appellant
Grant Michaels, Appellant
Richard McDonald, Attorney of Applicant
Art Simonian, Applicant
Public Comments:
Karen Kwak
Rick Stern
Mary Lynn Fisher
Allan Durham
Ramella Eraghi
Palma Vincenti
Herbert Molano
Bruce Merritt
Lee Smith
Damian Sullivan
Ani Hart
Naira Soghbatian
Alexander
Patty Silversher
1. Motion to sustain the Planning Commission’s decision to sustain the Planning Hearing Officer’s granting with conditions of Density Bonus Review Case Number PDBP2120753 for 246 North Jackson Street
Moved: Najarian Seconded: Asatryan
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2. Motion to continue the matter, directing the City Attorney to draft findings reversing the Planning Commission’s decision to sustain the Planning Hearing Officer’s granting with conditions of Density Bonus Review Case Number PDBP2120753 for 246 North Jackson Street
Moved: Devine Seconded: Brotman
Motion 9b2 did not pass.
10. REPORTS - INFORMATION
11. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
12. DISCUSSION OF COUNCILMEMBER FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS
a. Councilmember Najarian’s Request to Agendize a Review of the Noise Standards for the Downtown Specific Plan Area
Moved: Najarian Seconded: Asatryan
b. Mayor Brotman’s Request to Agendize a Discussion of Shared Mobility Pilot Program Focused on Bicycles and E-Bikes
Moved: Brotman Seconded: Kassakhian
13. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Discussion is Limited to Items NOT a Part of this Agenda. Each Speaker is Allowed 5 minutes. Council May Question or Respond to The Speaker But There Will be no Debate or Decision. The City Manager May Refer the Matter to the Appropriate Department for Investigation and Report.
Herbert Molano
Allen Dish
Allen Durham
Emanuel Gulakian
Catherine Jurca
Maria
Mike Borisov
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14. NEW BUSINESS
a. Motion to enter into and execute a Settlement Agreement to resolve and settle all claims in the matter of Glenoaks Canyon Homeowners Association (GOCHA) v.
City of Glendale, et al., Los Angeles County Superior Court Case No. 22STCP00114
Moved: Najarian Seconded: Devine
15. ADJOURNMENT– 12:40 a.m.
Moved: Devine Seconded: Najarian
Mayor of the City of Glendale
City Clerk of the City of Glendale