The Glendale City Council approved changes to its Beeline transit system and a labor agreement affecting Glendale Water & Power employees during its October 20 meeting.
The council also approved appointments to three city commissions. Two scheduled public hearings—one concerning a historic resources survey and another involving a residential development on Foothill Boulevard—were removed from the calendar.
The Beeline proposal was one of the evening’s most consequential decisions, authorizing nearly $2.8 million in additional transit contract spending.
How They Voted
| Agenda Item | Asatryan | Brotman | Gharpetian | Bartrosouf | Kassakhian | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4(e) Joseph Kaskanian — Parks, Recreation & Community Services Commission | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | APPROVED 5–0 |
| 4(e) Stephanie Molen — Transportation & Parking Commission | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | APPROVED 5–0 |
| 4(e) Marcellina DeSouza — Arts & Culture Commission | ABSTAIN | YES | YES | YES | YES | APPROVED 4–0, 1 ABSTENTION |
| 5(a) September 29 Meeting Minutes | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | APPROVED 5–0 |
| 10(a) Beeline Service Changes | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | APPROVED 5–0 |
| 10(b) IBEW Local 18 Agreement | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | APPROVED 5–0 |
| 11(a) Historic Resources Survey | — | — | — | — | — | REMOVED FROM CALENDAR |
| 11(b) Foothill Boulevard Housing Appeal | — | — | — | — | — | REMOVED FROM CALENDAR |
| 15 Outside Legal Counsel | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | APPROVED 5–0 |
Consent Calendar: Item 5(a), approving the September 29 meeting minutes, was the only consent calendar item.
At a Glance
- Beeline Transit: Approved $2,786,259 in additional contract authority for service changes and one-year pilot programs.
- Utility Workers: Approved an IBEW Local 18 agreement affecting Glendale Water & Power employees.
- Commission Appointments: Approved Joseph Kaskanian to the Parks, Recreation & Community Services Commission, Stephanie Molen to the Transportation & Parking Commission, and Marcellina DeSouza to the Arts & Culture Commission.
- Historic Preservation: Removed the East-West Glendale historic resources survey from the calendar for additional staff work.
- Foothill Development: Removed the housing development appeal from the October 20 calendar, with a new hearing scheduled for November 17.
What the Council Decided
Item 4(e) — Appointments to City Commissions
Parks, Recreation & Community Services Commission — APPROVED 5–0
Nominee: Joseph Kaskanian
YES: Asatryan, Brotman, Gharpetian, Bartrosouf, Kassakhian
NO: None
The City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Joseph Kaskanian to the Parks, Recreation & Community Services Commission.
Transportation & Parking Commission — APPROVED 5–0
Nominee: Stephanie Molen
YES: Asatryan, Brotman, Gharpetian, Bartrosouf, Kassakhian
NO: None
The City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Stephanie Molen to the Transportation & Parking Commission.
Arts & Culture Commission — APPROVED 4–0, 1 ABSTENTION
Nominee: Marcellina DeSouza
YES: Brotman, Gharpetian, Bartrosouf, Kassakhian
NO: None
ABSTAIN: Asatryan
The City Council approved the appointment of Marcellina DeSouza to the Arts & Culture Commission, with Councilmember Asatryan abstaining.
Asatryan clarified that her abstention was not related to the qualifications or suitability of the nominee. Rather, she wanted the council to hold a broader discussion about the role, responsibilities and direction of the Arts & Culture Commission before proceeding with appointments.
The remaining councilmembers supported proceeding with the appointment, which was approved.
Item 5(a) — September 29 Meeting Minutes
APPROVED — 5–0
The council approved the minutes of its September 29, 2026 meeting.
This was the only item on the consent calendar.
Item 10(a) — Beeline Bus Service Changes
APPROVED — 5–0
The council approved service changes recommended in the Beeline Comprehensive Operational Analysis and Integration Study.
The action authorized an amendment to the city’s contract with MV Transportation, increasing the contract’s maximum amount by $2,786,259 to implement short-term improvements and one-year pilot services.
City staff said the changes were developed through operational analysis, public outreach and council feedback.
The recommendations focused on improving route alignments, schedules, service frequency and evening service.
According to the staff presentation, Beeline carried approximately 1.2 million passengers during fiscal year 2026. The proposed changes were projected to generate approximately 113,000 additional annual boardings.
Staff explained that the additional spending would come from transit funding rather than the city’s General Fund.
Councilmembers raised questions about the cost of the improvements and requested additional information on projected ridership and operating expenses.
The council also discussed coordination with Metro and enforcement of dedicated bus lanes.
Mayor Kassakhian proposed exploring a subscription-style transit program that could allow Glendale residents to pay a monthly fee for unlimited Beeline rides, potentially combined with discounts at local businesses and city events.
That subscription concept was a suggestion for further exploration, not an approved program.
Item 10(b) — IBEW Local 18 Labor Agreement
APPROVED — 5–0
The council approved a side letter agreement between the city and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 18, modifying the existing memorandum of understanding covering certain Glendale Water & Power employees.
The agreement makes fiber-optic cable splicing part of the required duties for affected employee classifications, subject to training.
Under the arrangement, affected employees receive a 5% salary increase, while a separate 1.75% payment is eliminated.
Staff described the difference as a net 3.25-percentage-point increase in the applicable compensation structure.
The discussion focused on the financial implications of the agreement, the city’s ability to retain skilled utility workers, and whether councilmembers had received sufficient information during negotiations.
Some councilmembers questioned the timing and cost of the agreement. Staff explained that the negotiations had proceeded under previously authorized parameters.
Following the discussion, the council approved the agreement and associated pay schedule.
Item 11(a) — East-West Glendale Historic Resources Survey
REMOVED FROM CALENDAR — NO VOTE ON SURVEY
The scheduled public hearing on the proposed East-West Glendale Historic Context Statement and Historic Resources Survey Report was removed from the October 20 calendar.
City staff requested additional time to resolve outstanding issues before bringing the report back for council consideration.
No new hearing date was established.
The survey identifies properties and areas that may qualify for historic preservation consideration.
During public comments later in the meeting, a resident questioned how the delay could affect property owners and real estate transactions involving properties identified in the survey.
The mayor expressed hope that staff would return the report to the council as soon as the remaining work was completed.
The council did not adopt or reject the historic survey on October 20.
Item 11(b) — 3411–3427 Foothill Boulevard Housing Appeal
REMOVED FROM CALENDAR — NEW HEARING NOVEMBER 17, 2026
The scheduled public hearing on an appeal involving the Planning Commission’s conditional approval of a proposed five-story, 87-unit residential development with 151 parking spaces at 3411–3427 Foothill Boulevard was removed from the October 20 calendar.
Staff explained that questions raised by the Regional Water Quality Control Board required additional review of the project’s environmental clearance.
The delay will allow the applicant to work with the Water Board and give the city additional time to assess the legal implications.
The matter was rescheduled for November 17, 2026.
The council did not decide whether to uphold or reverse the Planning Commission’s decision.
Additional Council Action
Item 15 — Outside Legal Counsel
APPROVED — 5–0
Under New Business, the council authorized outside legal counsel to assist the City Attorney with the Madden litigation matter.
The authorization concerned the use of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani for legal services, subject to an applicable fee cap.
Other Meeting Highlights
United Against Hate Week — Item 4(a)
The city proclaimed October 18–24, 2026, United Against Hate Week, recognizing the importance of rejecting intolerance and supporting inclusive communities.
Sister Cities International Day — Item 4(b)
The council recognized October 14 as Sister Cities International Day and acknowledged Glendale’s international partnerships.
Glendale Cultural Festival — Item 4(c)
The city recognized sponsors of the inaugural Glendale Cultural Festival, including organizations that helped bring the community event to life.
State Legislative Update — Item 4(d)
Representatives of California Public Policy Group presented a review of the 2026 legislative session, covering housing, wildfire liability, environmental regulation, public safety, utility issues and the state budget.
Boards and Commissions — Item 4(f)
The council discussed the status of vacancies and upcoming appointments across city boards and commissions. Members generally supported returning to the remaining nominations at a subsequent meeting.
The Bottom Line
The October 20 City Council meeting produced two significant approvals: nearly $2.8 million in additional Beeline transit contract authority and a revised labor agreement affecting Glendale Water & Power employees.
The council unanimously approved appointments to the Parks, Recreation & Community Services Commission and the Transportation & Parking Commission.
The Arts & Culture Commission appointment was also approved, with Councilmember Asatryan abstaining because she wanted a broader discussion about the commission’s role and responsibilities—not because of an objection to the nominee.
Two public hearings were removed from the calendar without decisions on their underlying proposals: the East-West Glendale historic resources survey and the Foothill Boulevard housing appeal.