Glendale City Council Meeting Summary
Date: March 10, 2026
Location: Glendale City Council Chambers
Roll Call – Councilmembers Present
| Councilmember | Present |
| Asatryan | Yes |
| Brotman | Yes |
| Gharpetian | Yes |
| Kassakhian | Yes |
| Mayor Ara Najarian | Yes |
Item 5 – Consent Calendar
All routine items were approved in one motion; no items were pulled.
| Item | Description | Action / Vote |
| a. Minutes Approval | Approval of City Council meeting minutes from Feb 3 & Feb 10, 2026 | Approved, 5–0 |
| b. Annual Weed Abatement Program (2026) | Resolution declaring certain properties with noxious weeds a public nuisance, initiating abatement, and setting public hearing for Mar 24, 2026 | Approved, 5–0 |
| c. GWP Contract Award | Contract with General Pump Company, Inc. for recycled water booster pump repair ($89,550 + 10% contingency) | Approved, 5–0 |
Item 10 Action Items
A – Sister Cities Program Annual Report
Overview:
- Rebuilt program structure & governance
- Hired dedicated coordinator
- Formed Sister Cities Committee
- Expanded international partnerships and cultural exchanges
- Hosted “Under One Sky” event and participated in global visits/student exchanges
Public Input Highlights:
- Support for cultural exchange & community engagement
- Proposal for Unity Fest / cultural festival
- Opportunities for business, education, international collaboration
Council Discussion Highlights:
- Strong support for program growth
- Interest in Unity Fest collaboration with existing events
- Emphasis on school & community partnerships, sponsorships, budget considerations
Actions Taken:
| Action | Vote |
| Annual report noted and filed | 5–0 |
| Direction to staff to organize cultural event and return with plan & costs | 5–0 |
Item B – Quarter Financial Status Report
Summary:
- City Council noted and filed Q2 financial report (ending Dec 31)
- Approved appropriation related to donation
Key Points:
- Revenue: Property tax growth slower, sales tax declining, utility users tax higher, licenses/permits strong, hotel tax slightly down
- Expenditures: Below budget overall; major costs: salaries, benefits, public safety
- Trends/Issues: Sales tax decline; overtime costs in police; previous vacancy savings reduced
- Five-Year Forecast: $38M projected shortfall, reserves within policy limits, improvements due to expenditure reductions
Additional Item:
- Los Angeles Dodgers donation: $10,000 for senior programs & community events
Council Discussion:
- Long-term fiscal sustainability, police/fire costs, need for revenue sources, economic uncertainty
- Requests: revenue data by area, audit transparency, pension risk analysis
Item C – GWP Electric Revenue Refunding Bonds Ordinance
Overview:
- Introduced ordinance to authorize issuance of refunding bonds for GWP debt refinancing
- Projected annual and net present value savings
- Public comment: concerns over overall bonded debt & use of utility revenues
- Ordinance introduced for first reading; final vote at future meeting
Item D – GWP Legal & Financial Agreements for Bond Services
| Agreement | Provider | Purpose | Vote |
| Legal Services | Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP | Bond & disclosure counsel | Asatryan: Yes; Brotman: Yes; Gharpetian: Yes; Kassakhian: No; Mayor Najarian: Yes |
| Financial Advisory | Public Financial Management Financial Advisors LLC | Independent advice on bond structuring, timing, pricing | Asatryan: Yes; Brotman: Yes; Gharpetian: Yes; Kassakhian: No; Mayor Najarian: Yes |
Result: Motion passed 4–1
Action Item E – EV Charging Infrastructure RFP
Overview:
- Council directed staff to issue RFP for third-party vendors for curbside EV charging stations
- Recommended Model 1 (third-party vendor, no upfront city cost)
Key Features:
- City oversight of pricing, operations, and data
- Focus on affordability, transparency, equity
- Pre-identified locations with available electrical capacity
- Multiple vendors encouraged for competition
Council Discussion & Public Input:
- Equitable geographic distribution
- Reliability improvements
- Parking/traffic/street space considerations
Outcome:
- RFP approved under recommended deployment model
