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CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: Rescission of Award of Contract for Operation of Tennis Courts at Glorietta Park
1. Motion rescinding the City Council’s approval of June 10, 2025, to award a five- year contract for operation of the tennis courts at Glorietta Park, with the option to renew on a year-to-year basis thereafter for up to five additional years, to Vigen Khanlarian, and authorization for the City Manager to execute the contract; and approving the award of a five-year contract for operation of the tennis courts at Glorietta Park, with the option to renew on a year-to-year basis thereafter for up to five additional years, to Hard Eight, Inc., on terms more particularly described in the report of the Director of Community Services & Parks dated June 10, 2025, and authorizing the City Manager to execute the contract.
2. Motion rescinding the City Council’s approval of June 10, 2025, to award a five- year contract for operation of the tennis courts at Glorietta Park, with the option to renew on a year-to-year basis thereafter for up to five additional years, to Vigen Khanlarian, and authorization for the City Manager to execute the contract; and directing staff to revise the Request for Proposal for Operation of Tennis Courts at Glorietta Park (RFP) and, upon City Council approval thereof, reissue the RFP.
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Action Item
Approved for September 30, 2025 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On December 17, 2024, Community Services & Parks (CSP) issued an RFP for operation of the tennis courts at Fremont and Glorietta Parks. The City received eight proposals from seven distinct proposers for operation of the Glorietta Park tennis courts. Three proposers, Hard Eight, Inc., LA Tennis, Inc., and Vigen Khanlarian, met the minimum qualifications and were granted interviews. After two rounds of interviews, CSP recommended that the City Council approve the award of a contract to Hard Eight, Inc., for operation of the Glorietta Park tennis courts.
On June 10, 2025, the Council passed a motion approving the award of a contract for operation of the Glorietta Park tennis courts to Vigen Khanlarian and rejecting all other proposals. The new contract term was anticipated to begin on September 1, 2025. 12 25-88835
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On August 14, 2025, Hard Eight, Inc., filed a Petition for Writ of Mandate in Los Angeles County Superior Court, in sum alleging that the contract award was unlawful and seeking an order compelling the City to invalidate it and either reinstate Hard Eight, Inc., as the highest scoring, recommended awardee, or, in the alternative, to reissue the RFP. On August 20, 2025, the City stipulated that the Council would consider these alternatives on or before September 30, 2025, staying Hard Eight, Inc.’s petition.
If the Council directs staff to revise and reissue the RFP for operation of tennis courts at Glorietta Park, the Council may provide preliminary input as to whether, and in what manner, the Evaluation Criteria should be revised. Once the RFP is revised accordingly, staff will return to the Council for review and approval of the revised RFP.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council pass a motion rescinding its approval to award a five-year contract for operation of the tennis courts at Glorietta Park, with the option to renew on a year-to- year basis thereafter for up to five additional years, to Vigen Khanlarian, and authorization for the City Manager to execute the contract; and either (1) approve the award of a five- year contract for operation of the tennis courts at Glorietta Park, with the option to renew on a year-to-year basis thereafter for up to five additional years, to Hard Eight, Inc., on terms more particularly described in the report of the CSP Director dated June 10, 2025, and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract; or, in the alternative, (2) direct staff to revise the RFP and, upon Council approval thereof, reissue the RFP.
ANALYSIS
On December 17, 2024, CSP issued the RFP for operation of the tennis courts as Fremont and Glorietta Parks as the operative contracts were expiring. The City received a total of eight proposals from seven distinct proposers for operation of the Glorietta Park tennis courts. In the initial review of proposals, four proposers (who collectively submitted five proposals) were disqualified for not meeting the minimum requirements stated in the RFP. The three remaining proposers, Hard Eight, Inc., LA Tennis, Inc, and Vigen Khanlarian, were first interviewed by a panel of three management and executive-level staff members from other cities, then by a panel of three City management and executive- level staff members.
The external and internal panels each scored the three finalists on an 85-points scale comprising a maximum of 20 points for experience and qualifications, 20 points for proposed payment to the City, 15 points for range of services, 15 points for daily operational plan, and 15 points for advertising and marketing. The external panel gave an average score of 77 to Hard Eight, Inc, 71.66 to LA Tennis, Inc., and 61.33 to Vigen Khanlarian. The internal panel gave an average score of 76 to Hard Eight, Inc., 59 to LA Tennis, Inc., and 62.66 to Vigen Khanlarian.
Based on the interviews and each proposal’s satisfaction of the criteria, Hard Eight, Inc., was the highest-ranking proposer for operation of the tennis courts at Glorietta Park; thus, the CSP Director recommended Hard Eight, Inc., for award of a new contract to operate there. The CSP Director’s report dated June 10, 2025, is attached as Exhibit 1. 13 25-88835
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On June 10, 2025, after receiving the Director’s report, hearing public testimony, and deliberating the recommended award, the City Council passed a motion approving the award of a five-year contract for operation of the tennis courts at Glorietta Park, with the option to renew on a year-to-year basis thereafter for up to five additional years, to Vigen Khanlarian; authorizing the City Manager to execute the contract; and rejecting all other proposals submitted in response to the RFP. The new contract term was anticipated to begin on September 1, 2025.
On August 14, 2025, Hard Eight, Inc., filed a Petition for Writ of Mandate in Los Angeles County Superior Court captioned Hard Eight, Inc. v. City of Glendale, Case No. 25NNCP00637, alleging that the contract award was unlawful and seeking an order compelling the City to invalidate it and either reinstate Hard Eight, Inc., as the highest- scoring, recommended awardee, or, in the alternative, reissue the RFP. The Writ Petition is attached as Exhibit 2.
On August 20, 2025, the City and Hard Eight, Inc., entered into a stipulation, approved by the Superior Court, whereby the above-captioned matter would be stayed for 45 days, through September 30, 2025, pending the Council’s consideration whether to award the contract for operation of the Glorietta Park tennis courts to Hard Eight, Inc., or direct the revision and reissuance of the RFP.
If the Council is inclined to pass Motion 2 directing staff to revise and reissue the RFP for operation of tennis courts at Glorietta Park, Council may provide preliminary input as to whether, and in what manner, the Evaluation Criteria set forth in Section V.A of the RFP should be revised. The Tennis Operations at Fremont & Glorietta Parks RFP 2025 is attached to the Director’s report of June 10, 2025. Once the RFP is revised, staff will return to the Council for review and approval of the revised RFP prior to its reissuance.
STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
The CSP Department provides outdoor recreational activities throughout the City to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. By utilizing vendors to oversee the operation of tennis activities at Glorietta Park, staff ensure that quality tennis lessons and programs can be offered, and reservations taken and made by the community, at a price-point like that in other cities in the area, without the need to hire additional City staff to operate the courts internally.
Stakeholders include City employees, residents and visitors to City facilities.
Staff previously advertised the RFP on the City’s website, the CSP monthly newsletter, and social media. Staff also reached out directly to all proposers from the previous RFP in 2014. In addition, staff kept a list of all inquiries made throughout the past 10 years and ensured that inquiring parties were notified directly of the RFP.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no cost to the City for the award of a contract to operate the tennis courts at Glorietta Park. If the Council passes Motion 1, the City will generate concession 14 25-88835
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revenue annually totaling $24,000 in base pay, plus 5% of gross revenue.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
The action being considered is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 in that consists of the operation, repair, or maintenance of existing public facilities involving negligible or no expansion of former use. Moreover, because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, it is exempt from CEQA. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).)
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
In accordance with the City Campaign Finance Ordinance No. 5744, the following are the names and business addresses of the members of the board of directors, the chairperson, CEO, COO, CFO, Subcontractors and any person or entity with more than 10% interest in the company proposed for contract in this Agenda Item Report:
Officers of Hard Eight, Inc.:
Full Name Title Business Address City State Zip
Jessica Pratt CEO 2340 Shields St. La
Crescenta CA 91214
Christopher Pratt Chief Financial Officer 2340 Shields St. La Crescenta CA 91214
Vigen Khanlarian:
Full Name Title Business Address City State Zip
Vigen Khanlarian Sole Proprietor 5049 Carolyn Way Glendale CA 91214
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
1) The Council may consider not rescinding its approval of June 10, 2025, to award a five-year contract for operation of the tennis courts at Glorietta Park, with the option to renew on a year-to-year basis thereafter for up to five additional years, to Vigen Khanlarian, and authorization for the City Manager to execute the contract, which will necessitate further defense of Hard Eight, Inc. v. City of Glendale.
2) The City Council may consider any other alternative not proposed by staff.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Submitted by:
Onnig Bulanikian, Director of Community Services & Parks Prepared by:
Gabrielle Goglia, Community Services Manager
Tereza Aleksanian, Assistant Director of Community Services & Parks 15 25-88835
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Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit 1: Report of the Director of Community Services & Parks dated June 10, 2025 Exhibit 2: Petition for Writ of Mandate in Hard Eight, Inc. v. City of Glendale (Exhibits to Writ Petition Omitted)