MINUTES
GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
613 E. Broadway, 2nd Floor Glendale, CA 91206
AUGUST 12, 2025
ROLL CALL - All Present
1. CLOSED SESSION - 2:33 PM
a. Conference with Legai Counsel - Anticipated Litigation. Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9:
One Potential Case
b. Public Employment - Attorneys
• Conterence with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation: Hulu, LLC et al. ' ity of Glendale, L.A.S.C. Case No 25NNCP0041
d. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation. Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to subdivisions (d)(2) and (e)(3) of Government Code Section 54956.9: One Potential Case
• Confore with a, LAS. BiNo 001 Central BE LIC
v. City of Glendale et al., L.A.S.C. Case No. 25STCP01144 t. Conference with Labor Negotiators. The City-designated negotiator attending the closed session is: Mayor Ara Najarian. The unrepresented employee positions are:
City Manager and City Attorney
g. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation: Claim of Ter-Mkrtchyan, Claim No. 25-0170
h. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation: Claim of American Family Insurance (Kaloghlian), No. 25-0521
I. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation: Khachikyan v. City of Glendale, L.A.S.C. Case No 23GDCV00479
The Council recessed to Closed Session at 2:36 PM.
Chief Assistant City Attorney, Gillian van Muyden, stated Council anticipates reporting out on items 1b and 1i.
2. REGULAR BUSINESS AGENDA - 6:05 PM
Roll Call - All Present
a. Flag Salute: Mayor Najarian
b. Invocation: will be delivered by Rabbi Rick Schechter, Spiritual Leader of Temple Sinai of Glendale
c. Report of the City Clerk, re: Posting of Agenda. The Agenda for the August 12, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Glendale City Council was Posted on August 8, 2025, on the Bulletin Board Outside City Hall.
PRESENTATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
a. Agenda Preview for the Meetings of Tuesday, August 19, 2025 Assistant City Manager, John Takhtalian, stated that next week there will be a Housing Authority, a Joint City Council and Housing Authority, and a City Council meeting b. Legislative Update by U.S. Representative Laura Friedman Item 3b was moved to the City Council meeting of August 26, 2025.
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 City Council Meetings of June 24, 2025 Moved: Brotman Seconded: Asatryan
Vote as Follows:
Ayes: Asatryan, Brotman, Gharpetian, Kassakhian, Najarian Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain:
b. Community Services and Parks, re: Approval to submit Youth Community Access (YCA) Grant Program application to State of California Natural Resources Agency for the Students Training as Role Models (STAR) Youth Camping, Field Trips and other Nature and Cultural Activities Project
1. Resolution [25-115] approving the submission of a Youth Community Access (YCA) Grant Program application to State of California Natural Resources Agency in the amount of $78,500 for the Students Training as Role Models (STAR) Youth Camping, Field Trips and other Nature and Cultural Activities project (STAR Nature & Culture Project); and authorizing the City Manager, or a designee, to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents including, but not limited to applications, agreements, and payment requests, which may be necessary to complete the project
Moved: Brotman Seconded: Asatryan
Vote as Follows:
Ayes: Asatryan, Brotman, Gharpetian, Kassakhian, Najarian Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
c. Community Services and Parks, re: Approval to Submit Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grant Application for 1000 South Central Avenue Park Project
1. Resolution [25-116] approving the submission of a grant application through California Department of Parks and Recreation for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in the amount of $6 million for the 1000 South Central Avenue Park Project ("Project"); and authorizing the City Manager, or a designee, to conduct all negotiations, sign and submit all documents, including, but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, and payment requests, which may be necessary to complete of the Project Moved: Brotman Seconded: Asatryan
Vote as Follows:
Ayes: Asatryan, Brotman, Gharpetian, Kassakhian, Najarian Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
5. CITY COUNCIL/STAFF COMMENTS (Including reports from conferences and regional meetings)
Councilmember Gharpetian asked that the City Council meeting be adjourned in memory of Garo Nazarian. Councilmembers Gharpetian, Kassakhian, Asatryan, Brotman, and Mayor Najarian shared personal remarks regarding his passing, and the Council expressed their condolences to his family and the Glendale community.
Councilmember Asatryan thanked Police Chief Cid and the Glendale Police Department for organizing National Night Out events and suggested exploring a location change to Orange Street between Broadway and Wilson to encourage participation from downtown residents and business owners instead of Pacific Park. She also reported that the City held its first Sister Cities kickoff meeting last week, thanked Ani Avanesyan, and invited interested individuals to join subcommittees via glendaleca.gov/sistercities. She further announced the 2nd Annual Women's Equality Day event at the Alex Theatre Courtyard on September 10, 2025, at 5:00 PM, with limited space and RSVPs available at glendaleca.gov/womensequality.
Councilmember Brotman requested that staff bring back a report on the proposed California Board of Forestry rules for the "Zone 0" defensible space area, expressing concern over potential negative impacts on the City's urban forests and how insurance companies might respond.
Mayor Najarian shared that he was unable to attend National Night Out as he was at a Metro conference on transportation and the use of Al in transit systems and customer service. He requested staff route this information to the appropriate department. He also announced several community events: the Glendale Latino Association Pizza Night Fundraiser at Shakey's Pizza on August 13, summer concerts at Verdugo Park on August 13 and Brand Park on August 16, and the ReflectSpace Exhibition Opening Reception Reimagining Algorithms: Cultural Heritage in the Age of Al at the Glendale Central Library on August 16. Event details are available on the City's website.
City Manager Roubik Golanian invited Community Development Director Bradley Calvert to provide an update on outreach efforts for the housing element of the general plan as well as the review period. Mr. Calvert expressed condolences to Mr. Nazarian's family on behalf of his department and provided updates on public engagement for the Land Use Element.
City Clerk Dr. Suzie Abajian also expressed her condolences to the Nazarian family. She announced that the City Manager has decided to transfer the Commission on the Status of Women back to his office, noting that the previous evening was her last official meeting staffing the Commission. Dr. Abajian reflected on her three years supporting the Commission, sharing that when the body lost its staff in 2022, her office stepped in-not out of obligation, but out of a deep belief in its mission and its capacity to advocate for women and girls in Glendale. During that time, the Commission developed a new strategic plan, released the historic Status of Women and Girls report with the first-ever disaggregation of Armenian data and an addendum on the Armenian women of Glendale translated into four additional languages-hosted the Glendale Women Today launch event with over 100 attendees, and organized the inaugural International Women's Day program, Women Supporting Women, in partnership with Glendale Arts. The Commission also partnered with the Armenian Bar Association for screenings and panels on domestic violence, participated in the City's inaugural Women's Equality Day celebration, and continued the Purple Tie Awards with the YWCA Glendale. In addition, youth programs like Camp Rosie and Tinker Club were strengthened, policy advocacy was expanded, and Pride Month proclamations were encouraged. Dr. Abajian noted that while the Commission will now be under the City Manager's office, she will remain as a special advisor and looks forward to continuing to support its work. She thanked Chair Lambillotte, past and present commissioners, and student ex-officio commissioners for their dedication and inspiration, expressing confidence in the Commission's continued success.
6. COMMUNITY EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS (3-minutes per speaker) Members of the public will be permitted to announce upcoming events taking place in the community.
Ramella Enaghi
FIRST PERIOD OF ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (Maximum 3 minutes per speaker, 30- minute aggregate speaking time limit)
Members of the public may address the Council on agenda items or non-agenda items within the City Council's subject matter jurisdiction. If a speaker addresses the Council on Ramella Enaghi
Herbert Molano
Tony Passarella
Patrick Murphy
Austin Stewart
Liz Radley
Kate Unger
Mike Mohill
Tavit Ohanian
Tammy Chepecko
Arman Amirkhanyan
8. ADOPTION OF ORDINANCES
9. ACTION ITEMS
a. Management Services, re: Adoption of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Staff Comments:
Roubik Golanian, City Manager
Mchael Garcia, City Attorney
Presentation:
David Jones, Sustainability Officer
Hannah Mize, Rincon Consultants, Inc.
Ryan Gardner, Rincon Consultants, Inc.
Public Comments:
Patrick Murphy
Beth Brooks
Kate Unger
Ben Marshall
Elise Kalfayan
Monica Campagna
Greg Astorian
Allen Dish
Alek Bartrosouf
Cole Bazemore
Vivian Kanchian
1. RD) lurton C-17 adopting the lapa on Pyan CAVe Declaration (IS-
2. Motion adopting the CAAP
Moved: Brotman Seconded: Asatryan
Vote as Follows:
Ayes: Asatryan, Brotman, Kassakhian, Najarian
Noes: Gharpetian
Absent:
Abstain:
Item 9c was read next
b. Public Works, re: Ordinance amending Glendale Municipal Code section
10.24.020 to lower the posted speed limits on 21 roadway segments Staff Comments:
Roubik Golanian, City Manager
Presentation:
Arek Harmandayan, Senior Traffic Engineer, Public Works Public Comments:
Alek Bartrosouf
1. Orainan to amending speed 1:200 20 or teal dry sire Municipal Code Introduced by Councilmember Brotman on 8/12/25.
c. Management Services, re: Residential Air Conditioner to Heat Pump Replacement (AC2HP) Reach Code
Staff Comments:
Roubik Golanian, City Manager
Bradley Calver, Diral or of County evapment Department
Presentation:
David Jones, Sustainability Officer
Ryan Gardner, Rincon Consultants, Inc.
Public Comments:
Patrick Murphy
Kate Unger
Beth Brooks
Greg Astorian
Elise Kalfayan
Monica Campagna
Cole Bazemore
Michael Rochmes
1. Motion directing staff to prepare and return to introduce a reach code for existing single-family buildings that would require installation of a heal ump as the primary heating source, or other energy conservatior improvements, in cases where an existing air conditioning system is altered or replaced, or where an air conditioning system is added Moved: Mote as Followotman Seconded: Kassakhian
Ayes: Asatryan, Brotman, Kassakhian
Noes: Gharpetian, Najarian
Absent: None
Abstain: None
1. City Attorney, re: Ordinance Amending Glendale Municipal Code provision:
regarding meetings, powers and duties of the Commission on the Status oi Item 9d was pushed to the August 19, 2025 City Council agenda.
10. HEARINGS
• Community Development, re: Professional Services Agreement wit irchitectural Resources Group for preparation of a Historic District Surve for the proposed Verdugo Woodlands historic district
Staff Comments:
Vichael Garcia, City Attorney
Jay Platt, Principal Planner, Community Developmen
Public Comments:
Marine Baltayan
Gil Bento
The three applicants have withdrawn their applications. Council did not take any action.
1. Motion authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute a rofessional Services Agreement with Architectural Resources Group for :
istoric district survey for the proposed Verdugo Woodlands historic distrio for a not-to-exceed contract amount of $91,760
2. Resolution of appropriation in the amount of $91,760 for the Verdugo Woodlands historic district survey
3. Motion requiring the applicants to circulate a petition within the proposed Verdugo Woodlands historic district obtaining the support of the owners of more than 25% of the properties in the proposed district
11. REPORTS - INFORMATION
12. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
13. DISCUSSION OF COUNCILMEMBER FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS
a. Request from Councilmember Gharpetian to discuss unfunded state mandates Mayor Najarian made a motion to permit discussion on item 13a Vote as Follows:
Ayes: Asatryan, Brotman, Gharpetian, Kassakhian, Najarian Noes:
Absent:
Abstain: None
Staff Comments:
Mchael Garcia, City Attorney
Motion for staff to produce a report on unfunded state mandates Moved: Gharpetian Seconded: Kassakhian
Vote as Follows:
Ayes: Asatryan, Brotman, Gharpetian, Kassakhian, Najarian Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
14. SECOND PERIOD OF 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 Beth Brooks
Justin St. James
Christina Barcena
Glendale Yimby
Councilmember Gharpetian left the meeting at 11:13 PM.
15. NEW BUSINESS
a. Councilmember Kassakhian moves that the City Attorney be and hereby is authorized to resolve the lawsuit entitled Arsen Khachikyan v. City of Glendale, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 23GDCV00479 in exchange for a full release of all claims in the amount of $29,105. This settlement is not an admission of any liability whatsoever for any wrongdoing with respect to Plaintiff by Defendant or by any person or department, but is the compromise of a disputed claim.
Moved: Kassakhian Seconded: Asatryan
Vote as Follows:
Ayes: Asatryan, Brotman, Kassakhian, Najarian
Noes: None
Absent: Gharpetian
Abstain: None
ADJOURNMENT in the memory of Garo Nazarian - 11:33 PM
Moved: Kassakhian Seconded: Asatryan
u Metenin
Mayor of the Cify
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