City of Glendale
Districting Stakeholder Meeting Results
May 7, 2024
2 Project Timeline (1 of 2)
Event Description
1st Council Hearing
June 13, 2023 Held prior to release of draft maps.
1st Round Public Forums
June 13 – July 27 1 virtual workshop, 6 in-person workshops + pop-up events. 2nd Council Hearing
July 11
Very similar presentation to the first hearing, but with a summary of feedback from the forums.
3rd Council Hearing
August 15
First formal public and Council consideration of initial draft maps.
2nd Round Public Forums
August 17 – September 7 1 virtual workshop, 6 in-person workshops + pop-up events. 4th Council Meeting
October 10 Second formal public and Council consideration of draft maps.
May 7, 2024
3 Project Timeline (2 of 2)
Event Description
Council Study Session
October 24 Council Study Session to review process and maps 6th Council Meeting
November 7 Additional Council Public Hearing to discuss draft maps Stakeholder Meetings
January 11 – April 8, 2024 Nine stakeholder meetings completed.
Public Forums
April 3 and 18
April 3 at Pacific Community Center & Park
April 18 at Civic Center
Council Consideration
First Hearing May 7 Council consideration of draft maps.
Ballot Measure Deadline
August 9
Council must adopt all resolutions and materials relating to putting the measure on the ballot by this date if it is going on the November 5 ballot
Possible Ballot Item
November 5
If the Council decides to put the measure on the ballot, the vote would be on the November general election ballot.
May 7, 2024
4 Stakeholder Meetings
Date Format Group & Number of Attendees
January 11, 10am Virtual Glendale Latino Association
January 22, 12pm In Person
Glendale Teacher’s Association, Bridging the
Borders,
and Verdugo Woodlands HOA
January 25, 6:30
pm In Person Crescenta Highlands Neighborhood Association February 5, 7pm Virtual Glendale Homeowners Coordinating Council February 8, 6 pm In Person Rossmoyne Neighborhood Assoc.
February 15, 12
pm Virtual Glendale Community College
February 15, 3pm Virtual
Filipino-American Business Association of
Glendale, Adams Hill Neighborhood Association,
and Armenian Bar Association
February 26, 6pm In Person Whiting Woods Neighborhood Assoc.
April 8 In Person Northwest Glendale Neighborhood Assoc.
May 7, 2024
5 Stakeholder Participation
A total of 13 community organizations accepted the invitation to participate.
Stakeholder turnout ranged from 1 (GCC zoom) to about 20 (Crescenta Highlands). Most meetings had between 4 to 16 participants.
A total of 72 community participants gave their names at the stakeholder meetings and last two public forums, and another 29 or so participated without signing in.
May 7, 2024
6 Stakeholder Meeting Format
1. Informal format
2. A presentation was made introducing the issue, describing the process, presenting the timing and walking through the focus maps
“The issue” included both (1) should the question of districts and expanding the Council be put on the ballot; and (2) if put on the ballot, which map should be included? Pro’s and Con’s of by-district election were discussed with reference to the page on the project website
3. Questions were taken throughout the presentation
4. Discussion, ask for stakeholder opinions, and additional questions and answers at the end of the presentation
5. Groups were asked to share their opinion either as an organization or as individuals, both at the meeting and in follow up emails or statements at public forums and council hearings.
May 7, 2024
7 Maps Presented
Council’s three designated focus maps
Maps 120b and 124 also shown based on participant requests Extensive use made of the interactive map to review the maps May 7, 2024
8 General Awareness
1. Most participants had heard something about the issue, but were not participating nor following it.
2. Many questions about whether this would create a ‘strong Mayor’ or full -time Council, and whether this would change the Council – Manager form of government (answer: no).
3. Questions about whether the City is legally compelled to move to districts (answer: no).
4. Many questions about who picks a map, why is the map being drawn now, and if/when the map would be changed.
5. A few questions about the impact on current Councilmembers.
6. Some questions about 2015 vote and the College and School District changing to by-area elections and why the City did not change at the same time.
7. Compliments for city staff’s responsiveness and helpfulness (on all issues, not just districting).
8. Multiple groups expressed their appreciation for the outreach and invitation.
May 7, 2024
9 No formal organization position was taken by
any stakeholder group, but some individuals did
offer their preferences.
Specific Feedback
May 7, 2024
10 Individual Feedback on Districting (1)
1. Concern that creating districts creates “fiefdoms” and isolates Councilmembers from citywide concerns.
2. Dividing the city is not the right answer to the City’s growth. Divisions lead to conflict, not agreement.
3. Districts may make sense some day, but now is not the time.
4. Opposition to this process: districts yes/no should be decided before maps are drawn and outreach conducted.
5. Concern about just having one representative (or two with the Mayor) to contact, instead of all five at-large.
6. Some concern about costs of districting and redistricting.
7. Concern about districts electing someone with only a few hundred votes.
May 7, 2024
11 Individual Feedback on Districting (2)
8. Opposes expanding number of Councilmembers.
9. Running every two years for Mayor would be too expensive, but it is also unfair to only have the Mayor seat up on one election cycle every four years.
10. Supports districts due to neighborhood focus and size of the city – there is no race/ethnic basis to draw districts in Glendale.
11. Support for a rotational Mayor – a district with both the Mayor and a Councilmember would have an advantage.
12. Opposition to districts: residents should vote for all members of council, not just one, to have a say in the City.
13. Concern for opportunity for corruption and/or backroom deal-making.
14. Supports putting the question on the ballot (even though individual is undecided on districts).
May 7, 2024
12 Individual Specific Map Comments (1)
1. Downtown business impacts the entire city – should it be isolated in one district?
2. Crescenta Highlands and Whiting Woods should be in the same district.
3. Whiting Woods is good being with either Verdugo Woodlands or with the Canyons.
4. Montecito Park shares more issues and concerns with the Canyons than with Verdugo Woodlands.
5. In Map 106b, districts 2 and 3 work well but district 5 should not divide downtown.
6. Adams Hill is better with neighboring areas than with Glenoaks Canyon.
7. Adams Hill shares more issues and concerns with the Canyons than with the areas to the immediate north and west.
May 7, 2024
13 Individual Specific Map Comments (2)
8. Preference for map 126b as best for the entire city.
9. Important to avoid dividing neighborhood associations.
10. Verdugo Woodlands could be split – it shares issues and concerns with both Rossmoyne and with neighborhoods to its north.
11. Likes how Map 125 keeps downtown unified, as large-building condo/apartment residents have shared issues and neighborhood concerns.
12. Support for San Fernando Road-focused district such as map 125.
13. Opposition to long San Fernando Road-focused district from Forest Lawn to Burbank.
14. Supports how map 126d creates more diverse districts.
May 7, 2024
14 Specific Map Endorsements
Organizations:
120b and 129*
Adams Hill Neighborhood
Association
120b
Crescenta Highlands
Neighborhood Association
Individuals:
120b
125*
126b
126d*
May 7, 2024
* Map needs some small neighborhood cleanup changes prior to adoption. 15 Other Groups Contacted
The following additional groups were contacted about holding meetings, but either declined or did not respond:
May 7, 2024
Armenian Assembly of
America
Armenian Society of Los
Angeles
Fern Lane HOA Glenoaks Canyon HOA Northwest Glendale Lions Club
Armenian American
Chamber of Commerce
Armenian Union GCC Political Science
Department
Homenetmen Glendale
Ararat Chapter
Pelanconi Estates HOA
Armenian Council of
America
Armenian Youth Association
of California
Glendale Association of
Realtors
Hoover High School Rotary Club of Glendale
Armenian Cultural
Foundation
Chevy Chase Estates
Association
Glendale Bar Association Housing Rights Center Royal Canyon Property Owner's Association
Armenian Educational
Foundation
Clark Magnet High School Glendale Chamber of
Commerce
Kenneth Village Merchants
Association
United Young Armenians
Armenian Engineers &
Scientists of America
College Hills Community
Association
Glendale Environmental
Coalition
Korean Glendale Sister City
Association
Verdugo Woodlands West
HOA
Armenian General
Benevolent Union
Committee for Armenian
Students in Public Schools
Glendale High School League of Women Voters of
Burbank/Glendale
Veterans Coalition of
Glendale & the Verdugos
Armenian National
Committee - Glendale
Crescenta Highlands
Neighborhood Association
Glendale Historical Society Montecito Park
Neighborhood Association
Wellness Works
Armenian National
Committee of America -
Western Region
Crescenta Valley Chamber Glendale Kiwanis Club Montrose Shopping Park Association
Women's Civic League of
Glendale
Armenian Professional
Society
Crescenta Valley High
School
Glendale Sunrise Rotary Montrose Verdugo City
Chamber of Commerce
YMCA Glendale
Armenian Relief Society -
Western Region
Deer Canyon/Oakmont
Property Owners Assoc.
Glendale Tenants Union Montrose-Verdugo-Sparr
Heights Neighborhood
Assoc.
YMCA of the Foothills
Armenian Rights Council of
America
Downtown Glendale
Association
Glen Knoll HOA Neighborhood Legal
Services of LA County
YWCA of Glendale
16 Draft Map Discussion
Interactive Web
Viewer
May 7, 2024
Additional maps available on the interactive map viewer.
Council Focus Maps Additionally Discussed Maps
Specifically Endorsed Maps