1 M I N U T E S
GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
613 E. Broadway, 2nd Floor Glendale, CA 91206
FEBRUARY 4, 2025
ROLL CALL – All Present
1. CLOSED SESSION – 3:12 p.m.
a. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation: Najarian v. City of Glendale, L.A.S.C. Case No. 24STCP02101; Claim of Najarian, No. 25-0009 b. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation: Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9:
One potential case
c. Conference with Real Property Negotiators: City-designated negotiators: Roubik Golanian, John Takhtalian, Michael J. Garcia, Gillian van Muyden, Bradley Calvert, Onnig Bulanikian and Mark Berry. Property Location No. 2: 1000 S. Central Avenue.
Negotiating Parties, Aria Investments, LLC. Instructions to the negotiator(s) will concern the price and terms of payment for the acquisition of property d. Conference with Real Property Negotiators. 135-190 West Glenoaks Blvd. (APNs:
5644-013-905, 907, 914, 915, 917, 919, 921, 923, 924, 929, 930, 934, 935, and 936) and the landscaped public right-of-way of approximately 18,878 square feet located between Glenoaks Boulevard and the Verdugo Wash between Brand Boulevard and Central Avenue, all commonly referred to as the “Verdugo Wash/Glenoaks ROW Parcels.” Negotiating parties: Kam Sang Company, Inc.
Agency negotiators attending the closed session are: Roubik Golanian, John Takhtalian, Michael J. Garcia, Gillian van Muyden, Bradley Calvert, and Mark Berry. Instructions to the negotiator(s) will concern the price and terms for the sale of City-owned property
e. Public Employment Performance Evaluation – City Manager and City Attorney f. Conference with Labor Negotiators. The City-designated negotiator attending the closed session is: Mayor Elen Asatryan. The unrepresented employee positions are: City Manager and City Attorney
City Attorney Mike Garcia indicated that action is not anticipated. Council recessed to closed session at 3:14 p.m.
2. REGULAR BUSINESS AGENDA – 6:06 PM
Roll Call – All Present
a. Flag Salute: Mayor Elen Asatryan
b. Invocation: Dr. Suzie Abajian, City Clerk
c. Report of the City Clerk, re: Posting of Agenda. The Agenda for the February 4, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Glendale City Council was Posted on January 30, 2025, on the Bulletin Board Outside City Hall.
3. PRESENTATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
a. Agenda Preview for the Meetings of Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Asst. City Manager John Takhtalian provided the preview. b. Nominations for Appointment
•Annet Arakelian, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission (Seat 2 -Replacing Meek) (Brotman (A), Gharpetian (B), 1/28/2025) 4A
2 Moved: Gharpetian Seconded: Najarian
Vote as Follows
•
•Christopher Satoorian, Audit Committee (Seat 3 – Vacant) (Gharpetian (A)/Najarian (B), 1/28/2025)
Moved: Gharpetian Seconded: Najarian
Vote as Follows
•
•Henrik Nazarian, Planning Commission (Seat 3 – Replacing Shahbazian) (Gharpetian (A)/Najarian (B), 1/28/2025)
Moved: Gharpetian Seconded: Najarian
Vote as Follows
•
•Hrand Avanessian, Glendale Water and Power (Seat 5 – Vacant) (Najarian (A)/Gharpetian (B), 1/28/2025)
Moved: Gharpetian Seconded: Najarian
Vote as Follows
•
•Rafi Halajian, Design Review Board (Seat 3 – Replacing Tchaghayan) (Gharpetian (A)/Najarian (B), 1/28/2025)
Moved: Gharpetian Seconded: Najarian
Vote as Follows
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
Brotman, Gharpetian, Kassakhian, Najarian, Asatryan
None
None
None
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
Brotman, Gharpetian, Kassakhian, Najarian, Asatryan
None
None
None
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
Brotman, Gharpetian, Kassakhian, Najarian, Asatryan
None
None
None
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
Gharpetian, Kassakhian, Najarian
None
None
Brotman, Asatryan
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
Brotman, Gharpetian, Kassakhian, Najarian, Asatryan
None
None
None
3 •Zaven Hanessian, Building and Fire Board of Appeals (Seat 5 – Vacant) (Najarian (A)/Gharpetian (B), 1/28/2025)
Moved: Gharpetian Seconded: Najarian
Vote as Follows
•
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.
a. City Clerk, re: Minutes of the Special City Council Meetings of January 27 and January 28, 2025
Moved: Brotman Seconded: Gharpetian
Vote as Follows
b. City Attorney, re: Cancellation of February 25, 2025 Regular Meeting and Adding February 18, 2025 Regular Meeting to the Council Calendar for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year
1. Motion Modifying City Council Regular Meeting Schedule for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year Moved: Brotman Seconded: Gharpetian
Vote as Follows
c. Community Services and Parks, re: Appropriate California Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services grant funds for Mountain Oaks Open Space Acquisition
1. Resolution 25-14 of Appropriation to appropriate the Legislatively Specified Grant from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) in the amount of $2,500,000 for Mountain Oaks Open Space Acquisition
Moved: Brotman Seconded: Gharpetian
Vote as Follows
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
Brotman, Gharpetian, Kassakhian, Najarian, Asatryan
None
None
None
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
Brotman, Gharpetian, Kassakhian, Najarian, Asatryan
None
None
None
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
Brotman, Gharpetian, Kassakhian, Najarian, Asatryan
None
None
None
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
Brotman, Gharpetian, Kassakhian, Najarian, Asatryan
None
None
None
4 5. CITY COUNCIL/STAFF COMMENTS
Councilmember Gharpetian stated that two weeks ago council decided on extending the decision to hire a consultant for the Verdugo Wash project so that the city has time to send an appeal letter to the FPPC. He stated asked the city attorney to give an overview of the reasons for this appeal letter.
Councilmembers Najarian and Kassakian nominated Zareh Amirian to the Transportation and Parking Commission. Najarian nominated Carlo Noravian to the Civil Service Commission.
Councilmembers Brotman and Najarian nominated Zareh David Davidian to the Audit Committee and Jennifer Pinkerton to the Sustainability Commission. Councilmembers Brotman and Gharpetian nominated Carmen Arom to the Commission on the Status of Women and Arlene Vidor to the Arts and Culture Commission. Councilmember Brotman and Mayor Asatryan nominated Natalie Samarjian to the Commission on the Status of Women and Marina Manoukian to the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee.
Mayor Asatryan and Councilmember Najarian nominated Kevork Bartanian to the Historic Preservation Commission, Diane Lambillotte to the Commission on the Status of Women, and Lilya Avagyan to the Transportation and Parking Commission. Mayor Asatryan announced that the California State Chess Tournament will be held in Glendale on August 29 to September 2, 2025. She asked staff to work with the organization to promote small businesses in Glendale at the event. Kassakhian seconded.
Agenda out of order. New business was read next.
6. COMMUNITY EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS (3-Minutes; 5-Speaker Limit) Per Mayor Policy, This Item Also Permits Speakers Wishing to Speak Under General Oral Communications, Subject to the Three Minute Time Limit. Discussion is Limited to Matters Not on the Agenda.
John Arangio
Mike Mohill
Joanna Pringle
Lee Straus
Emily Woods
7. ADOPTION OF ORDINANCES
8. ACTION ITEMS
9. HEARINGS
a. Community Development, re: Appeal of Director of Community Development’s Decision to require an Environmental Impact Report for the proposed demolition of a historic resource, the 37-unit Glendale Garden Homes apartment complex built in 1957 at 1303-1315 North Central Avenue (Environmental Information Form Case No. PEIF-002598-2023)
Brotman recused himself and left the chambers due to a possible conflict of interest.
Hearing opened at 6:42 p.m. and closed at 9:00 p.m.
5 Staff Comments:
Bradley Calvert, Director of Community Development
Mike Garcia, City Attorney
Erik Krause, Deputy Director of Community Development
Presenting:
Cassandra Pruett, Senior Planner
Jay Platt, Principal Planner
Chris Manasserian, Appellant
Carrie Chasteen, Appellant
Michael Gonzales, Appellant
Public Comments:
Mike Mohill
Silvie Dermirjian
Allan Durham
Pam O’Connor
Susan Petoyan
Randy Wong-Westbrooke
Joan Causey Anderson
Nazeli Takworyan
Rebeca Sullivan
Damian Sullivan
Jason Morgado
Kati Prescott
Elizabeth Luce
Lynda Beck
Marshall Granger
Malik Ever
Alana Waksman
Gregory Brody
Shane Lee, Glendale Yimby
Jarred Herman
Beth Brody
David Brody
Theodore Polychronis
Sammy Tabrizi
Noel Rivera
Angelo Pacella
Michele DiNardo
Lee Smith
Melta Gonzalez
Robin Rose
Aron Petrosian
Hasmik Shakaryan
Beth Brooks
Jack Sallakian
Jack Payslyan
Ashton Tatintsyan
Brian Eagen
Lee Straus
6 Andrew Pirijanian
Ali Sapirman
Marta Phillips
Andrew Salemian
Armen Ghazaryan
Josh Jacobs
Janelle Wolter
Gwen Kellman
Josephine Rivera
Samantha George
Angel Felix
Ben Marchman
Alex Khatchaturian
Jose Chavez
Keith Gouvenmour
Rondi Werner
Laura Crook
Razmik Agababian
Lili Nagy
Erin Andreas
Lisa Morris
Eric Stutsman
Allan Dish
Jacob Pierce
Alex Valente
Narek Ghazaryan
1. Motion to sustain the Community Development Director’s decision to require an Environmental Impact Report for the proposed demolition of a historic resource Moved: Kassakhian Seconded: Gharpetian
Vote as Follows
2. Motion to reverse the Community Development Director’s decision to require an Environmental Impact Report and determine that the existing buildings are not historic resources
10. REPORTS – INFORMATION
11. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
12. DISCUSSION OF COUNCILMEMBER FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
Gharpetian, Kassakhian, Najarian, Asatryan
None
None
Brotman (recused)
7 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.
Beth Brooks
Jose Chavez
Robert
Leslie Medrano
14. NEW BUSINESS
Najarian stepped out of the dais due to conflict of interest and returned thereafter. a. Motion to waive its attorney client and confidentiality privileges as to the fact of the aggregate amount of fees and costs spent by the City in the matter of Najarian v. City of Glendale, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 24STCP02101 Moved: Kassakhian Seconded: Brotman
Vote as Follows
15. ADJOURNMENT – 9:48 p.m.
Moved: Gharpetian Seconded: Najarian
Mayor of the City of Glendale
City Clerk of the City of Glendale
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
Brotman, Kassakhian, Asatryan
None
None
Gharpetian, Najarian (recused)