The Glendale City Council considered major spending decisions, new revenue proposals, downtown development and possible changes to public participation during its October 27, 2026 meeting.
Among the actions were approval of a South Glendale street reconstruction contract, changes to military leave benefits for city employees, and final design review for a 20-unit mixed-use development at 340 North Central Avenue.
Councilmembers also directed staff to revisit cost-sharing arrangements with Glendale Unified School District and to prepare changes to the city’s public comment procedures.
Mayor Ardy Kassakhian was absent. Mayor Pro Tem Vartan Gharpetian presided.
How They Voted
| Agenda Item | Asatryan | Brotman | Gharpetian | Bartrosouf | Kassakhian | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5(a) California Library Literacy Services Grant | YES | YES | YES | YES* | ABSENT | APPROVED 4–0* |
| 5(b) Pacific Park/Edison Field — Cost-Sharing Direction | YES | YES | YES | YES* | ABSENT | DIRECTION APPROVED 4–0* |
| 5(c) Yunex Traffic Equipment Maintenance Agreement | YES | YES | YES | YES* | ABSENT | APPROVED 4–0* |
| 5(d) Military Duty Salary and Benefits | YES | YES | YES | YES* | ABSENT | APPROVED 4–0* |
| 5(e) South Glendale Pavement Management Project | YES | YES | YES | YES* | ABSENT | APPROVED 4–0* |
| 5(f) Upper Los Angeles River Area Watermaster Agreements | YES | YES | YES | YES* | ABSENT | APPROVED 4–0* |
| 10(a) General Fund Revenue Report and Direction | YES | YES | YES | YES* | ABSENT | APPROVED 4–0* |
| 10(b) Public Comment Procedure Changes — Staff Direction | YES | YES | YES | YES* | ABSENT | APPROVED 4–0* |
| 11(a) 340 North Central Avenue — Stage II Design Review | YES | YES | YES | YES* | ABSENT | APPROVED 4–0* |
The automatic transcript clearly indicates affirmative votes from Asatryan, Brotman and Gharpetian on the recorded roll calls. Bartrosouf’s responses are sometimes garbled, so his individual votes and the resulting four-vote totals should be checked against the official recording before publication.
Important distinction: Item 5(b) did not result in approval of the original Pacific Park/Edison Field construction plans. The council instead supported further review and direction concerning cost sharing.
At a Glance
- South Glendale Streets: Approved a $7,244,907 construction contract with Toro Enterprises, Inc., plus a 10% construction reserve.
- School District Cost Sharing: Held back the Pacific Park/Edison Field project while requesting a broader review of Glendale Unified School District cost-sharing arrangements.
- Military Leave: Approved extended salary and benefit protection for eligible employees called to active duty, with a June 30, 2027 sunset date.
- City Revenue: Reviewed General Fund revenues and possible new revenue initiatives, with further discussion planned for December.
- Downtown Development: Approved Stage II design review for a six-story, 20-unit mixed-use building at 340 North Central Avenue.
- Public Comment: Directed staff to prepare changes consolidating public comment opportunities. No consensus emerged to change the meeting’s camera angles.
What the Council Decided
Item 5(a) — California Library Literacy Services Grant
APPROVED — 4–0
The council accepted $35,985 in California State Library funding to support Glendale’s California Library Literacy Services program.
The action also included a resolution appropriating $13,870 from the California State Library.
The item was approved as part of the consent calendar.
Item 5(b) — Pacific Park/Edison Field Improvements Project, Phase II
ORIGINAL PROJECT APPROVAL HELD BACK — COST-SHARING DIRECTION APPROVED
The council considered adopting plans and specifications for the Pacific Park/Edison Field Improvements Project, Phase II.
Councilmember Dan Brotman raised concerns about the proposed $291,000 project cost, explaining that Glendale traditionally pays approximately 85% of certain jointly used facilities while Glendale Unified School District pays 15%.
Brotman questioned why the city would cover the full cost of this project, particularly while facing budget constraints.
At the customary 15% share, the school district’s contribution would be approximately $43,650.
Councilmember Elena Asatryan supported reviewing the arrangement, pointing to broader concerns about how costs are shared between the city and school district.
Councilmembers requested a comprehensive report identifying existing agreements with Glendale Unified School District and the financial responsibilities of each organization.
Staff indicated that the project could be delayed for a few weeks while discussions with the school district took place.
The council supported direction to obtain that information before proceeding with the project.
The original plans and specifications were not approved at this meeting.
Item 5(c) — Traffic-Related Electrical Devices Maintenance Agreement
APPROVED — 4–0
The council approved corrections and an extension to the city’s traffic-related electrical equipment maintenance agreement with Yunex LLC.
The action corrected the initial contract amount from $2,975,058 to $3,364,429 and authorized a two-year extension through July 1, 2029.
The previously authorized total contract limit of $5,499,529 remained unchanged.
The item was approved as part of the consent calendar.
Item 5(d) — Salary and Benefits for Employees Called to Active Military Duty
APPROVED — 4–0
The council approved a temporary salary supplement and continuation of certain benefits for eligible city employees called to active military duty.
Under the existing policy described by staff, Glendale provides salary and benefit protection for up to 30 days. The new resolution addresses circumstances in which military service extends beyond that period.
Staff reported that one city employee had been called to active duty for approximately eight months.
Councilmember Brotman questioned whether such benefits should be addressed through regular labor negotiations rather than separate interim agreements.
The council approved the proposal with a significant modification: the resolution will sunset on June 30, 2027, allowing the matter to be considered during subsequent labor negotiations.
Item 5(e) — South Glendale Pavement Management Program
APPROVED — 4–0
The council approved a construction contract with Toro Enterprises, Inc. for $7,244,907 for the South Glendale Pavement Management Program Implementation Project.
The action included a 10% construction reserve of $724,491 and a resolution appropriating $8,331,643.
The project is intended to improve deteriorating streets in South Glendale.
During discussion, councilmembers considered whether the project should also include pedestrian crosswalk improvements at intersections identified as potential safety concerns.
The locations discussed included intersections along Colorado Street, Central Avenue and San Fernando Road.
Staff estimated that more extensive improvements at four intersections could cost as much as $255,000, depending on the scope of work.
Councilmembers expressed concern about increasing the cost of the project without more detailed estimates.
The final approach was to approve the original project and direct staff to investigate whether additional crosswalk improvements could be accommodated within the existing contingency.
If additional funding is needed, staff would return to the council for authorization.
Item 5(f) — Upper Los Angeles River Area Watermaster Agreements
APPROVED — 4–0
The council approved an agreement with Richard C. Slade & Associates, LLC to provide professional services as the court-appointed Upper Los Angeles River Area Watermaster.
The agreement covers an initial three-year term, with a maximum amount of $1,668,150, and options for two additional three-year extensions.
The council also authorized a cost-sharing agreement with the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, Crescenta Valley Water District, and the cities of Burbank and San Fernando.
The agreements concern administration and sharing of costs associated with watermaster services.
Item 10(a) — General Fund Revenues and Future Revenue Initiatives
REPORT NOTED AND FILED; ADDITIONAL DIRECTION PROVIDED
The council reviewed the city’s General Fund revenue outlook and potential revenue-generating initiatives.
Staff presented updated revenue projections and discussed several options for increasing city income.
The discussion included possible approaches involving cannabis businesses, vacation rentals, tourism-related revenue and other tax or fee proposals.
Councilmembers expressed differing levels of interest in the various initiatives.
The council did not adopt new taxes or establish a cannabis business program during the meeting. Instead, members indicated which proposals they wanted staff to continue examining.
Further discussion of the revenue options was planned for December.
The discussion also turned to city services that had been reduced during budget deliberations.
Councilmember Asatryan raised concerns about reduced swimming pool availability, particularly the effect on community groups and youth sports programs.
Councilmembers discussed maintaining weekend pool operations temporarily while longer-term funding options are reviewed.
Staff indicated that the City Manager could address the immediate scheduling issue if sufficient funding and council direction were available.
Asatryan also requested future consideration of an independent review of waste, fraud, overtime and abuse across city departments.
The council approved a motion to note and file the revenue report and provide additional direction to staff.
Item 10(b) — Public Comment Procedures and Council Meeting Camera Angles
STAFF DIRECTION APPROVED — 4–0
The council discussed possible changes to public comment procedures at regular City Council meetings.
The item combined two subjects: how and when members of the public may speak, and whether meeting broadcasts should use a wide-angle view of the council throughout the meeting.
Councilmembers considered consolidating public comment into one principal period near the beginning of meetings, rather than allowing separate comment opportunities throughout the agenda.
The discussion also addressed a sliding scale for speaking time based on the number of speakers.
Under the proposal discussed, individual speakers could receive up to three minutes when participation is relatively low, with shorter limits as the number of speakers increases.
Public hearings would remain separate and continue to provide their own public comment opportunities.
Councilmembers also discussed deadlines for submitting speaker cards, rules for displaying videos and photographs, and whether speakers should continue to be permitted to yield time to others.
The council directed staff to return with the necessary procedural changes and additional details.
Camera angles: No consensus emerged to replace the existing broadcast camera practices with a static wide-angle view. The council did not direct staff to make that change.
The discussion therefore resulted in direction on public comment procedures, rather than an immediate change to every aspect of meeting operations.
Item 11(a) — 340 North Central Avenue Mixed-Use Development
STAGE II DESIGN REVIEW APPROVED — 4–0
The council approved Stage II design review for a proposed six-story, 20-unit mixed-use development at 340 North Central Avenue.
The project would replace an existing commercial parking lot with a building containing residential units and ground-floor commercial space.
The proposal includes 21 parking spaces on a site of approximately 9,064 square feet.
The property is located in the Downtown Specific Plan’s Orange Central District, between Lexington Drive and California Avenue.
The site is adjacent to the Consulate General of the Republic of Armenia, a building identified in the city’s historic resources survey as eligible for historic recognition.
Councilmembers discussed the project’s architectural design, its relationship to neighboring properties and the need for communication with the Armenian Consulate during construction.
There was also discussion about providing additional sidewalk shade and considering accessibility in the residential units.
Public speakers generally supported the project’s design, although some raised broader concerns about development procedures and accessibility.
The council approved the Stage II design review application with staff-recommended conditions.
Other Meeting Highlights
National First Responders Day — Item 4(a)
The city proclaimed October 28, 2026, National First Responders Day, recognizing police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, dispatchers, public works employees and utility workers.
Boards and Commissions — Item 4(b)
The council discussed vacancies and possible nominations to several city boards and commissions.
Because Mayor Kassakhian was absent and some nominations involved his participation, councilmembers agreed to hold the matter for a subsequent meeting.
Immigration Enforcement Concerns — Council Comments
Councilmember Asatryan raised concerns about residents’ fears following reports of immigration enforcement activity in Glendale.
She requested additional public information explaining available resources and the Glendale Police Department’s practices concerning federal immigration enforcement.
Regional Housing Needs Assessment
Councilmembers discussed the Southern California Association of Governments’ process for developing future Regional Housing Needs Assessment allocations, which will affect local housing planning requirements.
Water Rate Hearing
Near the end of the meeting, staff discussed the upcoming public hearing on proposed water rate changes. Because the scheduled November 3 hearing would fall on Election Day, staff indicated an intention to seek a continuance to November 10.
No water rate increase was adopted during this October 27 meeting.
The Bottom Line
The October 27 City Council meeting produced several significant actions affecting Glendale’s infrastructure, finances and public participation.
The council approved a major South Glendale street improvement contract while requesting additional consideration of pedestrian safety improvements.
It also postponed action on Pacific Park/Edison Field improvements until city officials could examine cost-sharing arrangements with Glendale Unified School District.
A temporary extension of military leave benefits was approved for eligible city employees, and the council approved final design review for a 20-unit development on North Central Avenue.
The meeting’s longest policy discussions concerned future city revenue and public comment procedures. Councilmembers provided direction for additional work on both subjects, with further consideration expected at later meetings.
Sources: Glendale City Council Agenda — October 27, 2026 and the October 27 meeting transcript.