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M I N U T E S
GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
613 E. Broadway, 2nd Floor Glendale, CA 91206
MAY 12, 2026
ROLL CALL – All Present
1. DISCUSSION OF COUNCILMEMBER FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS – 4:54 PM
a. Request from Mayor Kassakhian to agendize a discussion about implementing static camera angle in City Council meetings Staff Comments:
Michael Garcia, City Attorney
Roubik Golanian, City Manager
Moved: Kassakhian Seconded: Brotman
Vote as Follows:
Ayes: Asatryan, Brotman, Kassakhian
Noes: Gharpetian, Najarian
Absent: None
Abstain: None
b. Request from Mayor Kassakhian to agendize a discussion about campaign mailers for future elections
Moved: Asatryan Seconded: Najarian
Vote as Follows:
Ayes: Asatryan, Brotman, Najarian, Kassakhian
Noes: Gharpetian
Absent: None
Abstain: None
2. CLOSED SESSION – 5:10 PM
a. Conference with Real Property Negotiators: City-designated negotiators: Roubik Golanian, John Takhtalian, Michael J. Garcia, Gillian van Muyden, Onnig Bulanikian and Domenica Megerdichian.
Property Location: Land located near the front entrance to the Adult Recreation Center at 201 E. Colorado St. Negotiating Parties: Filipino Business Association of Glendale – Greater Los Angeles County and Comfort Women Action for Redress and Education. Instructions to the 2 05 12 26 CC
negotiator(s) will concern the price and terms of lease of City property containing the Filipino American Friendship Monument and the Glendale Peace Monument
b. Conference with Labor Negotiators. The City-designated negotiators attending the closed session are: Roubik Golanian, John Takhtalian, Paula Adams, Michael J. Garcia, Gillian van Muyden, Jeff Brooks, Robert William, Daniel Hernandez and Scott Mellon. The names of the employee organizations are: Glendale City Employees’ Association, Glendale Fire Fighters’ Association, Glendale Police Officers’ Association, and I.B.E.W., Local 18
City Attorney Michael Garcia stated that the Council did not anticipate reporting out on these items. The Council recessed to Closed Session at 5:11 PM.
3. REGULAR BUSINESS AGENDA – 6:05 PM
Roll Call – All Present
a. Flag Salute: Lea
b. Invocation: Rebecca Russell, Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys
c. Report of the City Clerk, re: Posting of Agenda. The Agenda for the May 12, 2026 Regular Meeting of the Glendale City Council was Posted on May 8, 2026, on the Bulletin Board Outside City Hall.
4. PRESENTATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
a. Fremont Park CPRS Award of Excellence Presentation by Janine A.
Andrade
Presented by Janine A. Andrade, Recreation and Community Services Superintendent, City of Pasadena’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department.
Accepted by Onnig Bulanikian, Director, Community Services & Parks Department and department staff.
b. Jewish American Heritage Month Proclamation
Accepted by Rabbi Simcha Backman, Chabad of Glendale and the Foothill Community; Rebecca Russell, Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys; and Rabbi Rick Schechter, Temple Sinai of Glendale At the request of Mayor Kassakhian, the agenda order was adjusted and item 4b was presented first, followed by item 4a.
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5. 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 Meeting of April 28, 2026, and the Special City Council Meeting of April 28, 2026
b. Public Works, re: Adopt the Specification for the Wastewater Shop Space Optimization Project
1. Resolution [26-48] adopting Specification No. 3969 for the Wastewater Shop Space Optimization Project and directing the City Clerk to advertise for bids
c. Public Works, re: Adopt the Plans and Specification for the South Glendale Pavement Management Program (PMP)
Implementation Project
1. Resolution [26-49] adopting the plans and specification for the South Glendale PMP Implementation Project, Specification No. 3964, Plan Nos. 1-3120, 1-3125, 3-1591, 49-264, 49-266, 7026-E1-6; and directing the City Clerk to advertise for bids
d. Fire Department, re: Used Oil Payment Program and Oil Recycling Grant Application
1. Resolution [26-50] Authorizing the Submittal of an Application to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) for the Used Oil Payment Program (OPP)
e. Fire Department, re: Fire Department annual presentation of the status of State mandated fire inspections
1. Resolution [26-51] recognizing the Glendale Fire Department’s compliance with California Senate Bill 1205 and Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 governing state-mandated fire inspections
Moved: Asatryan Seconded: Brotman
Vote as Follows:
Ayes: Asatryan, Brotman, Gharpetian, Najarian, Kassakhian Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
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6. CITY COUNCIL/STAFF COMMENTS (Including reports from
conferences and regional meetings)
Councilmember Gharpetian asked staff to explore what can be done in the short and long term to improve safety at the intersection of Wabasso and Verdugo. He also asked the City Clerk to explain who approves candidate ballot designations and who manages ballot drop boxes. Additionally, he requested that staff conduct a survey of completed street projects, such as San Fernando Road, to evaluate the results of previous street design modifications and help inform future street design decisions.
City Clerk Dr. Abajian stated that the City Clerk’s Office reviews and approves ballot designations, ensures they comply with official guidelines, and consults with county elections officials whenever questions arise. She noted that the County Clerk’s Office selects the locations of ballot drop boxes and collects ballots from them on a daily basis through election day. She added that the City Clerk’s Office identified the need to relocate a ballot drop box at the library due to construction and worked with the County Clerk’s Office and the Glendale Public Works Department to move it to another area of the library grounds away from the construction activity.
Councilmember Najarian called for an election watchdog or referee, noting what he believes to be improper election practices, including a candidate meet-and- greet at Glendale Community College where only some GCC Board candidates were invited. Mayor Kassakhian stated that this claim was false and noted that the event organizers had shown him emails demonstrating that invitations had been sent to all candidates. Councilmember Najarian also celebrated the opening of the Metro D Line segment from Union Station to Beverly Hills over the weekend. He further shared information with the public regarding how the Council conducts Closed Session meetings.
City Attorney Garcia provided additional clarification regarding Closed Session meetings.
Councilmember Asatryan expressed support for candidates engaging with students from colleges and schools, stating that such involvement promotes civic engagement and volunteerism. Councilmember Gharpetian stated that he has never campaigned at a school or college.
Councilmember Brotman requested that the Police Chief provide an update on traffic enforcement at a future meeting. He also requested an update on the speed camera pilot program and asked about his previous request regarding a new law that allows cities to pilot red-light camera programs using a similar approach. In addition, he referenced the City of Los Angeles’ adaptive reuse ordinance and requested either a memorandum or an agendized discussion on 5 05 12 26 CC
the topic.
City Clerk Dr. Abajian reminded the public that campaign signs should be placed on private property and not within the public right-of-way. She asked residents to notify the City Clerk’s Office of improperly placed signs so staff can alert Code Enforcement to remove them. She also reminded the public that the last day to register to vote is May 18, 2026. Residents who miss that deadline may still register at the 11-day and 4-day vote centers and cast a provisional ballot.
Locations of ballot drop boxes and vote centers can be found at glendalevotes.org.
Mayor Kassakhian asked the public to report signs they believe are improperly placed rather than removing them themselves.
Interim Police Chief Robert William shared that May 15, 2026, is Peace Officers Memorial Day and that Police Week serves as a time to honor and remember the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment of law enforcement professionals in Glendale and across the country. He announced that on May 15 at 7:00 a.m., a small private gathering would be held in front of Glendale Police Department headquarters to honor the four Glendale police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Mayor Kassakhian shared that he attended the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) meeting the previous week, where housing affordability, regional emergency preparedness, and planning for large-scale events such as the World Cup and Olympic Games were among the primary topics discussed.
He also noted that he would be attending a conference hosted by Google the following week regarding the company’s artificial intelligence tools. The budget study session scheduled for the following day had been postponed, and the next session would be held on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. He announced that the Children’s Clothing and Book Swap would take place on May 13, 2026, at Glendale Central Library. The 2026 Small Business Summit, “Let’s Go Glendale,” would be held on May 14, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Embassy Suites. He also announced several upcoming Memorial Day events, including the Montrose Memorial Day Ceremony on May 25, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the Vietnam War Memorial at Ocean View Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue, and the City of Glendale’s Memorial Day Ceremony on May 25, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial outside City Hall at 613 E.
Broadway.
7. COMMUNITY EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS (3-minutes per speaker) Members of the public will be permitted to announce upcoming events taking place in the community.
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8. 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 an agenda item during the First Period of Oral Communications, they may not speak again when the agenda item is called. A speaker who addresses the Council on non-agenda items during the First Period of Oral Communications may not speak during the Second Period of Oral Communications.
Tony Passarella
Herbert Molano
Mike Mohill
Jackie Gish
Mike Khodbye
Scott Peer
Staff Comments:
Roubik Golanian, City Manager
Councilmember Brotman stepped away at 7:23 PM and returned at 7:26 PM.
9. ADOPTION OF ORDINANCES
10. ACTION ITEMS
a. Public Works, re: Purchase Bus Shelters Using the California Association for Coordinated Transportation (CALACT)/Basin Transit Purchasing Cooperative and Purchase Enhanced Bus Stops
Staff Comments:
Roubik Golanian, City Manager
Presentation:
Martha D’Andrea, Deputy Director, Public Works Department Public Speakers:
Mike Borisov
1. Motion authorizing the Deputy Director of Finance/Purchasing, or a designee, to issue a Purchase Order Contract for $686,434 for bus shelters from Tolar Manufacturing Company, Inc., using the CALACT/Basin Transit Purchasing Cooperative
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Moved: Asatryan Seconded: Gharpetian
Vote as Follows:
Ayes: Asatryan, Brotman, Gharpetian, Najarian, Kassakhian Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
2. Resolution [26-52] to dispense with the competitive bidding process and authorize the Deputy Director of Finance/Purchasing, or his designee, to issue a Purchase Order Contract for $363,566 for 34 enhanced bus stops from Tolar Manufacturing Company, Inc. in the same style as the bus shelters
Moved: Asatryan Seconded: Gharpetian
Vote as Follows:
Ayes: Asatryan, Brotman, Gharpetian, Najarian, Kassakhian Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
3. Resolution [26-53] of Appropriation appropriating grant funds and Proposition C Local Return transit grant matching funds for bus stop improvements
Moved: Asatryan Seconded: Gharpetian
Vote as Follows:
Ayes: Asatryan, Brotman, Gharpetian, Najarian, Kassakhian Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Councilmember Asatryan stepped away during the presentation and returned at 7:32 PM.
b. Public Works, re: Purchase 20 Electric Buses Using the California Association for Coordinated Transportation (CALACT)/Basin Transit Purchasing Cooperative
Staff Comments:
Roubik Golanian, City Manager
Daniel Hernandez, Director, Public Works Department
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Presentation:
Martha D’Andrea, Deputy Director, Public Works Department Public Speakers:
Mike Borisov
Beth Brooks
1. Motion authorizing the Deputy Director of Finance/Purchasing, or his designee, to issue a Purchase Order for 20 electric buses from GILLIG, LLC (GILLIG), for $29,331,060, using the federalized CALACT/Basin Transit Purchasing Cooperative
Moved: Asatryan Seconded: Brotman
Vote as Follows:
Ayes: Asatryan, Brotman, Gharpetian, Najarian, Kassakhian Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
2. Motion authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to execute Project Grant Agreements and Project Readiness Certification with Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to receive federal Congestion Management Air Quality (CMAQ) Program funding, Measure M Subregional funds, and Metro Local Transit Systems Subcommittee ZEV funds
Moved: Asatryan Seconded: Brotman
Vote as Follows:
Ayes: Asatryan, Brotman, Gharpetian, Najarian, Kassakhian Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
3. Resolution [26-54] of Appropriation for grant funds and City Measure R and Proposition Local Return transit grant matching funds to purchase electric buses
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Moved: Asatryan Seconded: Brotman
Vote as Follows:
Ayes: Asatryan, Brotman, Gharpetian, Najarian, Kassakhian Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Mayor Kassakhian stepped away at 7:44 PM and returned at 7:53 PM.
Councilmember Asatryan stepped away at 7:55 PM and returned at 8:02 PM.
Councilmember Gharpetian stepped away at 7:59 PM and returned at 8:00 PM.
Councilmember Najarian stepped away at 8:10 PM and returned at 8:12 PM.
11. HEARINGS
a. Community Development, re: Amendments to Title 30 of the Glendale Municipal Code, 1995 (Zoning Code), to update existing development standards and provide new objective design standards for multi- family and residential mixed use development in residential and commercial zones (Zoning Code Amendment Case Nos. PZC-0007- 2023 and PZC-0008-2023)
Mayor Kassakhian opened the public hearing at 8:23 PM and closed it at 9:52 PM.
Staff Comments:
Roubik Golanian, City Manager
Michael Garcia, City Attorney
Presentation:
Vilia Zemaitaitis, Assistant Director – Long Range Planning, Community Development Department
Teresa Santilena, Principal Planner – Long Range Planning, Community Development Department
Public Speakers:
Mike Borisov
Ejmin Hakobian
Beth Brooks
Lisa Moore
Allan Durham
Dorothy
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1. Introduction of Ordinance Amending Title 30 to Update Multi-Family Residential Development Standards and Provide New Objective Design Standards for Multi-family and Residential Mixed-Use Projects in Residential and Commercial Districts
Councilmember Asatryan introduced the Ordinance on May 12, 2026.
Councilmember Najarian stepped away at 8:48 PM and returned at 8:50 PM.
Mayor Kassakhian stepped away at 8:51 PM and returned at 8:52 PM.
Councilmember Brotman stepped away at 8:54 PM and returned at 8:56 PM.
12. REPORTS - INFORMATION
13. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
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 investigation and report.
Ejmin Hakobian
Radon Vachagan
Mike Borisov
Dorothy
Beth Brooks
Staff Comments:
Roubik Golanian, City Manager
Councilmember Gharpetian stepped away at 9:53 PM and returned at 9:55 PM.
15. NEW BUSINESS
16. ADJOURNMENT – 10:28 PM
Moved: Asatryan Seconded: Najarian
Mayor of the City of Glendale
City Clerk of the City of Glendale