And good afternoon. Welcome to Glendale City Council workshop session of March 24th, 2026. Meeting is called to order. Uh we will call present uh attendance roll call. Please signify by saying present. Council member Baldenegro >> present. >> Council member Conscious. Council member Guzman >> present. >> Council member Tomachop >> here. >> Council member Turner >> present. Vice Mayor >> present. >> And I'm present. Council member Conscious. Okay. With that said, uh, uh, Miss Bar, if you just go ahead and get us going on item number one, >> downtown campus reinvestment project update. >> Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. On behalf of the DCRP team, this is update number 41. Uh, this update is going to primarily go back to talking how our site activities are progressing, primarily a lot of the hardscape work. We'll spend a little bit of time on uh some of the interior of the building again and more so the lower level and then we'll give you some ideas on how we're doing with the council chambers. So quite a bit of activity. We are getting closer to the end. Uh we're within about a little over a month from substantial completion for the building portion of it and then the site work and the uh Murphy Park uh additions and so forth will be later the following month in the middle of May and so forth. So but we're we're keeping on track. We've got lot of activities going on. I'm sure that when everybody drives by weekly, daily, uh, every day there's something new that's being placed. So, it's a good good place to be right now and we're really excited how things are going. So, last month when we first presented, the image that you see in front of you was just the trees and some formwork done for the for the plaza entrance itself. Now, this is a a picture about a week ago now, and the the plaza concrete's now in place. I should also caveat too that the images that you're seeing today um you know pretty much the minute I take these photographs the day later there's something new that's been added to it. So they're just a point in time. So they're about a week uh a week old in terms of when they were they were presented and sent over to the clerk's office. But nevertheless um excited to see how things are forming up. So from a month ago we now have concrete. We're soon to get rails. And as we move forward to right along Glendale Avenue, the sidewalks that are being uh formed up now, that's what you're seeing in the foreground and the reinforcement bars that are placed as well. Uh all this concrete is now uh been placed for the most part. So, we're really really getting close to having the uh the final hardscape work done for the the entrance of the of the new city hall. And in the background you can see the the uh the garage. So trees are going in, planting's going in, all of the irrigation systems are being tied together. If we move further towards the east along Glendale Avenue, this is where that crosswalk occurs between u downtown merchants and the city hall complex. Uh this is an access lane that goes all around the edge of the eastern portion of the site. So this ties together Glendale Avenue and Glenn Drive together. It's also serves both as pedestrian but also our emergency access lane. Just in case we have an event that happens, we can bring emergency vehicles onto the to the pathway there. But this is an example of the pore and the finished work that's going on. The opposite side, same access point, but on Glen Drive, you can see how they start to do the formwork. So in this case, uh you can see all the reinforcing bars that you see there. Um what they do is they sit them on little blocks or chairs as we call them. So it allows the reinforcing to be spaced in the dead center of the slab. So the workers that you see there are placing all all of the uh the reinforcement in place and getting it ready for the pour. This since this picture has been taken, it was poured the next day. So coming along the seating bowl uh more and more progress each time. We're getting very very close to final grade now. So on the right hand side of the picture uh where you see the the truck parked that's pretty much at grade. So uh next time you have an opportunity to go out and see the amphitheater bowl uh it's going to be fantastic seating from that point. They will see the entire stage very clearly. Um the formwork that you see in the foreground is for the remaining sections of the seating and pathways that uh that uh essentially they're switchbacks to take you to the stage and to the seating and then to the lawn area itself. So um at the same time we're getting those ready. We are planting material around the perimeters. The stage itself in our last conversation we had a month ago um we said that we would have the stage port before the end of March. We're on track for that. It's uh scheduled to be poured tomorrow. So in the foreground you can see the stage uh stem wall that you see there on the perimeter that defines the the edge of the stage and then what would be considered as the the dance or mosh pit area and then the actual hard seating itself in the amphitheater. So we are tracking uh where we need to be right now with the site. We know that the amphitheater is going to be a little bit further than the building, but as far as turnover time, it's still on schedule for our equipment to be installed when we need it and be ready for u opening day, which is going to be, I believe, in later mid June. Moving into the garden level now, uh this is uh the clerk's offices. Uh I think last time it was still pretty in in raw form but now we have ceilings, lights, mill works in place, glazing, carpeting and the photograph to the right is the uh their combination corridor print and kitchenet area and then um offices to the the right side of that picture. Also in the lower level now uh all the electrical work is well in advance now. We have lighting throughout. Finish work is just uh really where we are right now. level lower level training room that you see in the foreground. Uh this is the uh the shared space that we'll have for the building. So there's 60 plus seating there. And then what you're seeing in the foreground is all the the flat screen panels that'll be put on the perimeter walls. We're excited to have that. And then if you walk further down the corridor, uh a couple of nice gems. The the picture on the left hand side is what used to be the the old stairwell. So, we finished it all out and you can see at the very top is a skylight or essentially a a monitor, a light monitor that's bringing natural daylight into that space. So, the garden level and the lower level will have natural daylight coming through that space. It's really well done. So, it came out, we weren't sure how the lighting would reflect, but it's doing really well. So, we're excited about that. And then in the right hand side, that is the corridor and kitchenet that supports the wellness center on that side of the building. So, a lot of progress and since this photograph was taken, most of the uh glazing, doors, hardware, all that uh finish work is ongoing and well in place. And then on level one, we thought it was important to show you that uh uh we're getting very very close to finishing out the ceiling and the flooring. So, the flooring in this shot has been ground down. We're getting ready to uh pour the finished topping to the floor. Uh the mill work is in place for the one-stop shop. So this is the view from that side of the of the counter space which you haven't seen before. So it looks at the entire room. The cross bracing in front will be finished. There'll be some glazed panels that uh that work with that. So it's a combination of glazed panels and painted cross bracing. And then just past that will be seating and tables for um for all the visitors that have uh they need to conduct business with the one-stop shop. Moving into council chambers. So the big move since the last time we spoke is that the ceiling is now done. So we went in and refreshed the entire ceiling. There's new lighting systems, HVAC and uh theater lighting that supports the dis. So now we're working on the perimeter walls. We're putting all the acoustical panels in. All the wood ribbing that uh and I'll show you a picture of what it looks like in the rehearsal now, but all the wood ribbing that was there before is being put back. It's been refreshed. So that'll be the part of the original uh concept was to maintain that uh and then what you're seeing in the foreground is combination of new platform and ramp to support the dis. So now we have an accessible dis for not only the u uh for presenters but also for uh accessible seating in the gallery itself. So we're excited about that because this is now we'll be able to to get people to the das really simply now. Uh then downstairs in the garden level of chambers, there's the rehearsal room. This, if you're familiar with this space, this used to be the B3 conference room, and now it's it's going to be uh outfitted with acoustical panels, and it's all carpeted. This the ceiling tile has gone in. And uh so this is right immediately adjacent to this space. There's some dressing rooms, but this is where, you know, imagine a high school concert band or choir or large group could come in here, perform in advance, rehearse in advance before they go on stage. And then the dressing rooms that are side by side this space will have some additional cubicles and storage space, but u essentially all the amenities they need to prepare for their performance. So, um, so in progress right now, there's just a lot of finish work, a lot of concrete work going on daily. Uh, Murphy Park, uh, photos did not make it this time around, but they have actually p poured most of the south, uh, the southeast corner is come in now. So, we have the beginning of the path in the ring that supports that. Uh, the plaques that we saved, um, are getting, uh, prepared to be placed. Uh, so we're going to do that in quadrants. And then um of course the irrigation and planting are are continuing on that side. But the big push right now is just get the concrete done and the finish work that we need to get to the end of next month. So as ne next month's approach, we're looking primarily now moving into the technical part of the building. So all of the network assignments or our T team right now is putting in all the permanent switches, all the pathways, they're mostly there, but they need to connect everything and test it. The same thing with all our audiovisisual equipment. Uh the amphitheater finished work is going to continue to go on. The equipment will be placed sometime in May for that after we receive it and then Murphy Parkscape will continue on till the middle of May. So that's the update for this month and um with that we'll be happy to take any questions. >> I have a question on uh page 11. You said that on the flooring is that front part not getting carpet. You said something about pouring >> that one right there. >> Page 11. >> Yeah. >> Mayor, council, council member Guzman. Uh yes. So there's a combination of of uh both poured finished uh uh concrete flooring material that's going to be polished that goes around the perimeter of the space in the center where you see it's all gray right now and the duck work that's just hanging. It will be it'll be placed up. There'll be a carpet strip that goes right down the center of that. >> Okay. >> So, there'll be hard finish around the perimeter where the major walking surfaces are. And then in the center, we have furniture and desktop and so forth for um meeting with the citizens and so forth and the one-stop shop. That's all carpet. Oh, >> okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh thank you, Mr. Garcia. So, on the um I have two questions. one on slide 14 of the council chambers there's that area off to the right um is that going to be the AV area or what is that that other area off to the right there >> so in this photograph mayor and counsel council member turn Tomchoff the uh that is the ramp system that takes you from the perimeter of the gallery space onto the dis itself so now we have an accessible route to the dis before we there is just steps only. >> ADA compliant. >> ADA compliant is what we're doing. So we can get wheelchair access to the dis. >> But it looks like it's it's going to have it's going to be hidden though. I mean unless that's just temporary where there's basically looks like looks like drywall or walls around it. So >> mayor and council there these are pony walls essentially. They will be framed up with drywall and finished out. And so the ramp is in the interior of that. So you would just see the uh essentially the framed walls on either side of the dis. So they're balanced but the access is behind it. Yes. So there is a wall. >> Okay. And then going forward at least in one of the presentations I'm curious myself about how security is going to be laid out and throughout the building and what the process for all that's going to be. We're getting close to move in. So I you know I'd like to know like if there's people need to check in on uh level one then how that's going to work and how they're going to get throughout the building. So, um I'm curious about how that's going to work. And then my last question is on the last slide 18 for the amphitheater, this the surface that's in front of the stage area, is that going to be granite or what is that going to be? That looks like dirt to me. >> Mayor and council, it's actually decomposed granite. So, it's the very tight uh uh it's I want to call it just like large rocks or anything, but it's just essentially crushed granite. Um, and it's going to be very tightly compacted, so it's g be you can sit on it, you can walk on it, you can dance on it, but it's not pure dirt by any means. >> Okay? And it's not going to be like a turf or something where somebody wants to put, you know, a blanket down or something like that. They >> A blanket can be placed there, but it's essentially it's not lawn at all at all. It's just a compacted uh decomposed rock that's just tight. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh, thank you, Mr. Garcia. Um, still on page slide 18. Um, that's the first I realized we're doing decomposed granite there. So, the Let me ask about the green what appears to be grass in that same slide. Is that actual turf or is that artificial turf? >> Mayor and Council, Council Member Turner, it is actual turf. >> Okay. >> It is the real deal. >> All right. Um, I'm willing to certainly start, I guess, give the the decomposed granite a try, but um, I don't see how that'll work. So, we may decide that down the road that we'd like artificial turf or something else in there for, you know, so that if kids want to sit down in there, they're not going to get up and be dirty and that sort of thing. I don't know. We'll just have to see how that goes after opening. Um, uh, key dates for us and the public to look forward to in the future. Do you have those? >> Uh, council member uh uh mayor and council council member Turner, there are a couple of key dates that we're aiming for right now. Um, from move in standpoint, we're shooting for the middle of May, which I believe is May 18th is the targeted date at this moment. Um, and I believe from a opening ceremony, a ribbon cutting ceremony is looking at the middle of June. I think those those specific date and time are still in the works. But those are the two key dates right now. As far as construction go, we mentioned uh in the earlier part of this presentation was by the end of April, middle to end of April, we're trying to get our substantial completion for the buildings themselves. And then the site work is going to be tied more with the Murphy Park component and that is later in the middle of May. >> I had a question. Is that the color that it's going to be the the dirt color there in front of the >> mayor and council? Council member Guzman, I I would say it's in the same family of H. It's the same hue. It's sort of a reddish color, reddish brown color >> because it looks like dirt. >> It's >> like something's missing. It looks like something's missing. Okay. >> Were you done? >> Uh, yes, sir. I was. I just hadn't relinquished the mic yet, but that's all right. Thank you, Mayor. Right. Anyone else? >> Back to that um surface. I mean, is there room in the budget to put artificial turf there just because I mean, even appearance-wise, I think it would just look a lot better to have that be green, a green space, and it pro might be cooler when it's warm. Also, I'm just I thought that I thought that was all going to be either concrete or grass. So, I did not know we were going to have granite there. uh mayor and council council member Tomchoff. Um we can certainly take a look at it as the as we use the amphitheater and learn more about it. Um one reason that was not uh looked for or using artificial turf as an as a material surface is one it does get hot and it does have you know the the it can collect bacteria as well because it's not a natural product. We worked really hard to work at the drainage of this entire site. So part of the the move that we have here technically is helping with the drainage system alto together. And then we talked about being able to either stand and dance on it quite a bit. So that was the idea that that could wear better if it was just a a highly compacted decomposed granite surface to it. >> So that's where we are. >> That makes sense. But okay, what about something that um even like the surface that we're going to be moving towards in parks for the playground areas, something that wears well, that's flat, that doesn't affect people with mobility issues, that's not kind of dirty and dusty that granite can be, but um and you know, something where you could even have it could be green or it could be, I don't know, the Glendel could have some sort of Glendel logo designs or something in it. Um, I'd like to at least if it's if there's room in the budget to investigate some other surface there other than the granite. I don't know where everybody else is at on it, but I I just think I mean this is such a big investment and it's such a focal point of what we're doing here. I'm not super excited about the the granite. Thank you, Mayor. >> Uh, yeah, I'd have to agree. It act to me it looks unfinished like there's something missing there. So maybe, you know, if we could look at something something else I I guess I'll jump in. I don't know until I see it. I mean, I you know, I might love it. I might hate it. I don't know. I I would I would think right now with the current budget that we have and trying to stay to the timeline, we take it the way it is and if we all hate it, then maybe plan later on in the year when we have actual time to do it to come up with something different. But I >> what I don't want to do is postpone any opportunity to celebrate America's 250th birthday. right now and I don't know if you're going to have time to do that or not if we try to change midstream. >> Okay, moving on. Council item of special interest, plane air painting competition. I I guess I should say for everybody uh item number two uh was pulled from the staff by staff not from the staff. Okay. Thank you, mayor, members of the council. For this presentation, it will be Chris from our economic development team, not Trent. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. This is regarding a CIOSI over a concern about the judging element of the annual Plain Air painting competition being held at the Glendale Adult Center Auditorium for years 2025 and 2026. I'd like to bring you up to speed on the specifics that led that decision being made. Approximately two years ago, I was summoned into a meeting with my direct supervisor, the deputy director of economic development, who gave me a specific instruction. And that instruction was to find an indoor climate controlled environment for the judging element and the judging element only of the annual plane air painting competition happening in conjunction with Falcan Heritage Festival. The reasons and explanations that were given to me by my supervisor were concerns that council was expressing that specific day two years ago over the elements that were making it difficult to judge outdoors, the wind, the heat, and the dust. I just want to be perfectly clear. I do not know whether this was a specific instruction from council to the deputy director or whether these were just general statements that were being made due to the conditions two years ago that were either interpreted or misinterpreted as an instruction. I do not have that answer for you. I only know that I was instructed to find an indoor climate controlled environment for the judging element. So the following month I made the decision to move the judging element indoors into the adult center auditorium for years 2025 and 2026. And the reasons were twofold. Number one, the adult center auditorium's close proximity to Saharo. Number two, also two years ago I was working with the arts commission to retrofit the eastern wall of the adult center to honor our planer painter winners. If you ever find yourself at the eastern wall of the adult center, you'll see a centerpiece that honors our current four winners of the annual plane air painting competition. And those winners from years past then are on the outskirts of the wall. So that as any passers by are walking along the wall, you will see not only our current yearly winners, but year winners of five years prior and prior. And I just want to take a moment to thank all the council members who attended the judging element in both in 2025 and approximately one month ago in 2026. Always great to see you there. Thank you. As we move into 2027 and beyond, the Office of Arts and Culture is more than happy to follow any council direction on where you would like the judging element of the plane air painting competition to happen. More than happy to return it outdoors at Soro Ranch Park. We can have tents with sidewalls standing by in case the elements are too extreme. We can move the artwork and the judging right into the tents to combat those elements. I can also work with special events to see if the fruit packing shed itself is available during that specific time of the judging. Also happy to consider moving the plane air painting competition to chocolate affair or the downtown Glendale Arts and Culture Fest. We are more than happy to follow any staff direction from council on this CIOSI. Thank you. >> Who Whose item was it? >> Mine. >> Yeah. Thank you, mayor. Um, I just want to say I don't I don't I don't hope there's if I feel like it's a defensive tone to this. Um, and that's not the intention. The intention is for the council to get an understanding of why it was essentially separated from the events. So, it was separated from the chocolate affair put at the folk and heritage festival. the names I was given as to the people who objected to it being outside don't recall any conversation along those lines and we don't know why it was moved why it why this was done. So we want to find out why why was it moved because because it's not really part although it says it's part of the Hulk and Heritage Festival it's not at the Vulcan Heritage Festival. You have to get in your car and drive to another location to participate in this. So, um, my personal opinion is it should be part of one of those two events. I really don't particularly care which one of the two events it is. If it's and it doesn't necessarily have to be outside. there's other outdoor opportunities at the bulk the the packing shed and there's other buildings there that could be used that are somewhat enclosed or originally it was part of the uh chocolate affair and I recall um I wasn't able to attend this year but uh in years past it was rather well attended by people who were attending the event. It's kind of a draw, another draw to get people to come out there to see the artist. Um, look at the paintings. Um, the public's not really seeing the art. That's that's another at least one of the things the issues that I have with it is that, oh, I think that who shows up to this are the friends and family of the artists, but not anybody who was attending the Fulcan Heritage Festival because you have to leave the event to to go see this stuff in the adult center. So, I don't particularly care which but what the consensus is where to put it. I think especially now with a with a chocolate affair here, it might fit really nicely to go back with the chocolate affair. The chocolate affair has been moved indoors into the civic center. There's exhibit space um you know out in the hallway. Um if it's nice, it could be out in the courtyard. It could be wherever. But this usually is another reason for people to come to these events. So, um, I'm willing to go with along with what everybody else wants to do, but I just think basically moving it off site from either one of these two events um is is not the intended of what this it's essentially a planer art show and people really aren't seeing the artists work, just the council and then their the artist friends and family. So, like I said, I'm willing to hear the discussion and go along with what the consensus is. I uh I I'll throw my two cents in. I I actually think that if we don't hold this at city hall next year, I think we're really missing an opportunity to to brag on all the stuff that's been going on for the last couple years, close proximity to walking distance. And uh uh one of the things promised to all of us is that the new city hall was going to have a lot more opportunities for the general public. And I think it'd be a good time for us to be able to show showcase what what's been accomplished. I' I'd like the the council to at least entertain that thought. Again, doesn't make much difference to me, but we got a brand new uh downtown city hall amphitheater, that whole area. Sound like a pretty good opportunity to brag on it a little bit. >> Mayor, can I ask a question? Thank you. So, are you suggesting it be part of another event? Because the whole this is the whole concept is that it's it's a piece of an existing event either the Folken Heritage Festival or the uh Chocolate Affair because we'd have to open city hall up on a Saturday to to accommodate this because the artists come in in the morning and then they go paint something in Glendale and then they come back and set up their display. So we'd have to have have city hall this it's always been on a Saturday. Is that correct? >> As far as I remember it's always been on a Saturday. So, I'm just not sure whether you're suggesting that it's, you know, people go over there from the art the the chocolate affair to go over to city hall to see these or >> that that doesn't mean that they have to be at opposite of each other. They could they could be part of the same. If you're doing a plane error, the rules could be downtown Glendale. And so that could be the base for the art festival. Chocolate affair was not exactly where we held the plane error. It was always around the corner, but still in that same general downtown area. Just just saying something the council needs maybe. >> The chocolate fair had a lot of stuff out, you know, the streets were closed and >> and it's a chance maybe we can drive more more people to our brick and mortar businesses downtown. >> I'm willing to listen to anything. I just don't think it should be in the adult center. >> Thank you, mayor. Um, I normally don't like to get this deep in the weeds on things, but it is kind of in my wheelhouse, so I'll dive in. um if we're going to keep it part of the arts and uh uh or the folk and heritage festival out at Swar Ranch. I just it seems to me that as you enter the fruit packing shed, uh to the left is the large what I would call gallery space and that's always set up as an entertainment venue. But to the right is a a sizable room, big enough room um that just for that hour or two late in the afternoon perhaps could be reserved for the judging and showing of this. And it's temperature controlled and out of the wind and and it's on site and it could be included in the program for the day that that's what's going on in that space is the presentation and judging of the plane air contest. And that way everybody with a program would would uh see that at some point hopefully. Um and that's probably, you know, we don't have to have this this plane air event forever tagged to some other event. You know, we can I I love that we hold it, but if we decide that something else is coming up and we want to attach it to that, we could do that. The uh if we do it for the chocolate festival, it'd be nice. Maybe we could just use some of this uh front lobby space here and you know or the hallway here and accomplish the same thing for no longer than that part of the event takes place and that way we'd be indoors and temperature controlled and and all of that. Um so having it here in the civic center might work if if in the future we have a city art gallery then we might want to do it in conjunction with that space. That's kind of why I'm saying let's not get married to the idea of it being some specific event or space. Um the suggestion about having it in conjunction with the arts and culture fest personally I don't care so much for that. They're already doing a plane air aspect of that event and I don't want to usurp that or lay over on it. That's great that we have a second uh event that's also it's city sponsored, but it's not a um a city u uh special events department event as I understand it. So that could conceivably come and go. But uh so those would be my two preferences is either in the room to the right at the fruit packing shed or in the hallway here at the uh chocolate affair. So long as the chocolate affair stays here, who knows? that we may decide to move it some other location and uh to here in the city. So just for the next year or two or whatever the short-term planning is, that's what I would suggest. Thank you. >> Thank you, mayor. Um just so I'm curious, has has this uh plane event ever stood alone on its own like not being attached to a another event historically? Has it ever stood alone on its own? >> Was that a question? >> I'm sorry. Was Was that a question? >> Has the planar event ever been stood like set aside on its own, not attached to something else, another event? Has it ever been by itself historically? I I don't I'm asking >> not to the best of my recollection. It was part of it. It was on the same weekend with the chocolate affair, but the actual display and judging of it did occur over in the prominade space uh on Palm Mar and then it was moved out to I perhaps maybe well anyway and then at some point it was moved out to Zoro Ranch with the uh Folk Heritage Festival, but I don't recall it being freestanding. Yeah, I attended for the first time the folk and heritage fest and um it was it was really good, but I think the plane this uh plane air event would go good with that over in the packing shed. Yeah. Um also the chocolate affair is really nice here too. So I mean I I would go either way, whatever the council decides. >> Uh thank you, mayor. Um I really like the idea of it being at the U Falcon Heritage Fest. Um, I think it fits very well with that and I think doing it at the packing shed using those ideas I think would work. Uh, I know I've also judged it uh when it's been at the chocolate affair uh outdoors. Um, and so again, I don't have a preference, but I think uh we'd want to take a look at which has the better uh draw for both the artist and for the public uh to attend. uh which one of those would be best and uh go with that. Thank you. >> Yeah. Uh just out of curiosity, I I don't know who to aim this to. Is the arts council heavily involved in this? >> Mayor Council, the Glendale Arts Commission defers to city council on this specific event so that they can interact with public, judge, and award prizes. But I always keep the arts commission updated on how much money we're allocating and where the event is going to be held and should the arts commission be interested in participating. >> What what I personally would would like to do is is ask them where do they think would be the best place. Uh and again I don't think anybody is really married to it being exactly in one spot all the time. It sounds like kind of the novelty of it is the fact that it can be moved around. Give more people access. I'd like to get an opinion from the arts commission to find out where they're at on it. Thank you, mayor. Hold on. Oh, sorry. >> Thank you, mayor. I'd also like to get an opinion from the artists themselves. I think that's a very good >> They just want the check. >> Not necessarily. Um I I really think that their opinion and and feedback and input is is vital to what to where we put it in in my opinion. I I feel like there was a is a I mean and I'm I think I mean the I'm fine with it being if the idea was for it to be in a climate controlled environment. The suggestion of using the the other side of the packing shed that's not being used for the Folk and Heritage Festival seems like a good solution if the I if there were concerns with may maybe with the artists. I don't like I said I checked with the council members who who I was told I was given name three names of people who complained about it being outside and I I checked with them and they don't recall those conversations. So um I think I think if we want it let's we need to probably figure out where it's going to be next year. I think it should be at the Folken Heritage Festival and maybe we maybe we rotate it as the mayor said maybe the next year if we decide um and that gives time to go through the process of the our I think this is a as he said a council event. I know the uh arts commission I think they have volunteers there I think helping uh because they have to somebody has to number the paintings and and you know do the there's a little bit of administrative work to be done passing out the voting stuff but um and if if we wanted to rotate it back and forth between the uh heritage festival and the chocolate affair I think that would be be fine but I think it seems like there was three other people who thought that it was a good leave it at the fulcan heritage festival and I'm fine with that. So that's would be four of us. >> Council member Turner, Council Member Guzman, and Council and Vice Mayor Melnar and myself. >> And I said I would go along, so I'm saying I will go along with that. >> Yep. There you go. Action. >> Council item of special interest, research, digital signs and directories. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon, Mayor. >> Good afternoon, Mayor Council. There it is. >> Uh, this is a council item of special interest from council member Conscious. He requested that we bring forward a request uh for consensus to do research on digital signage. And he gave some specific examples. These are Ike signs. Uh Ike signs are not only advertisement, but they're also directories. They can also be used as call boxes. You may have seen them in Tempe and Phoenix. Here's examples of both of those. Uh they can be solar. They look appear to be in the rightway. So some of the questions that we would be researching in this would be understanding their business model. How is the cost sharing which is what how we understand their business model is they share profit with the city. Um how the touchscreen directory and callbox systems work? Who controls the messaging and content of the sign? So we had fascinations advertising over Christmas which we've had people complain about before. Um who controls that type of stuff? uh the procurement process, who owns the equipment, who provides the utilities for the equipment. Uh the utilities connections, whether or not they're going to be solar, if they're in the rightway or private property, and the different rules that go with both of those. If the land if they are on city property, if the land will be licensed, leased, or there'll be some easement, and also the liability and other risks associated with putting signs like this adjacent to the rightway. Um, some groups that we'll be meeting with would be zoning, legal, ADA, and transportation. We don't generally have private signs adjacent to the rideway. They're adjacent to businesses on private property other than transportation or transit signs. So, the request is to do uh 40 to 60 hours of staff time researching, meeting with Phoenix, meeting with Tempee, meeting with the Ike Science Group, and uh gathering research online and internal meetings. Uh the groups within the city that would be part of this would be procurement, uh legal, transportation, planning, potentially engineering. Uh so this would take a bit of effort because this is something not generally done, but it's obviously being done in other cities. So we'd be happy to research if that's the consensus of the council. >> All right. I guess I'll start this one off. I I don't know if everybody was here several years ago and we were trying to uh put something together with shaded bus stops with signage on it to help pay for some of it. And the consensus or not the consensus, but uh what you folks came back to us is, yeah, there's no way we're going to make enough money off this to pay for itself. Uh I I'm not in love with taking up sidewalk space for private advertising. I'm just not. But I I think our downtown's got enough going on right now. Limited space along the sidewalks and I see that's where these probably would be more than anything. Uh benches have a hard time being along the buildings and and yet have room for ADA compliance people to get around and then have to compete with this. On top of that, I I'm not in favor of this moving forward at all, especially spending 60 hours of labor to come back and tell us what you guys told us on a similar subject eight years ago. that that's just my opinion. >> Go ahead. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, well, I'm I'm I'm willing to spend 40 to 60 hours worth of staff time to find out more about this. Um, the I think the technology has changed. I think that we certainly our council has changed and new members might have a interest in getting up to speed and then making a decision on it. This is not really a decision point on whether we go through with doing the science. It's just do we want to learn more about it and and uh does it seem like a reasonable amount of effort to put into it? I would imagine that um if it doesn't take all 40 or 60 hours, the employees will find some other way to stay busy on some project worthwhile to the citizens. So, I'm I'm almost always willing to learn more about something that uh could be of value to our community. So, I'm willing to do this. Thank you. Thank you, mayor. Um, when we were at our conference last uh November in in uh Salt Lake there, uh, Council Member Konchas brought this to my attention. He he saw them there at the vendor there. I went and looked at it and um, I had some real blunt questions just gathering information and and the answers I received were like very very positive in in my opinion. um what could be what they can do with these signs, what the investment is by this city, what the return is for everyone that uses it. Um the businesses, the visitors, the uh people that live here to find something. I if we if if we have people consistently saying that they don't even know we have a parking structure and it's been there for so many years, they're going to walk by a bunch of other businesses and and that they don't realize is there as well. Um I like because I asked tough questions you what about like um it gets damaged you or however like all these questions and every answer I g that was given to me was very positive in my opinion um for the city's investment um like they're hand the city is not handling repairs the company is and I ask how how does that's a question how does that happen it's all based on all the other businesses that that that invest I guess for advertising I'm assuming. Um I think it's a really good idea. I really liked it. I it was very um user friendly. Uh it was also to be available. It could be used for different languages for Spanish and English. Um it was just from the onset and I I understand how vendors just you know put the pretty thing out there and it's it's it's an eyecatcher. But when I was asking questions that had nothing to do with what it looked like, but how it worked and what it was going to cost the city and and other things like that, it really caught my attention. I really liked it. Um I understand there's, as Randy just pointed out, there's a lot of um you know, zoning, legal, ADA, transportation, liability, other risks, licensing, leasing, easements. I get all that. That's that's that's the information we need obviously. But when I went and like I said, when I went and saw that, I was really really impressed with it. And I realized really there wasn't at least in the initial conversation and I know they're salesmen. I was asking the blunt questions that no one wants to ask and the the answers I was given was positive in my opinion for the city and for everyone who's going to benefit not just the businesses but the people coming down here to use it. That was it was a it was for me it was like a really really good it was all beneficial. So I would like to see that we invest some time into looking into this. Absolutely. Yes. Thank you. Thank you, mayor. Um, so I I guess I have another Are these waying signs because in the in the presentation they're advertisements. So, do they have serve a dual purpose or uh mayor, council member, the way it was explained to me by council member conscious, but you and just to be clear, he asked us not to do research until we got consensus, but that they if you touch them, they're touchscreen. So then it could be a directory, it could be a map, it could be whatever the is programmed to be there. Otherwise, it would be digital advertising. >> Oh, so when it's essentially static or not being used, then it rotates advertisements like a digital billboard sort of. >> Uh, yes, that's how I explained it. >> Okay. And then I I noticed that in the picture it looks like one is solar and one is not. Is that what it looks like to on I have to put my glasses on to see the number on slide three? I see uh looks like a solar panel on top of it and then the other one is not a solar doesn't I don't see a solar panel anyway on top of the other one. So um and there's there's no cost to the city or we don't even know that. >> Uh we we haven't done any research on it at all. Um, so nobody's even just made a phone call to Phoenix or Tempe, just a preliminary like, hey, you know, does this cost you guys any money or? >> Uh, I just in conversation with someone at Tempe, they mentioned that there's actually a lot more to it than a simple answer. U, that's what that list describes is there's there's a lot of details that had to be worked through before it made sense for either of those cities. >> Yeah. And I mean, I'm I'm I don't know how whether I would even like the way these would even look in downtown, honestly, because of the quaint nature of our downtown. Um I'm not I'm I don't know. I I think that there's probably better things for staff to spend their time on. We if we we can put wayfinding signs downtown that are, you know, that that fit the the aesthetics of our downtown. I don't think this would fit. I mean, I know you could use them in other places, but Westgate has lots of signs. You know, I don't think you really need them. I think you're mostly people are talking about using them in our downtown and I don't know I don't I don't feel like they really fit with our downtown. That's my opinion. So, thank you. >> Uh thank you, mayor. Um I have uh kind of a mixed reaction to this. Um I can see in some areas of our city it might be beneficial. Um uh but I see it also as somewhat of a advertising distraction um that I wouldn't want to see especially in our downtown. And I don't know that I mean it may provide some benefit for wayfinding and that kind of thing but I'm not sure that having that kind of advertising in downtown is conducive to our downtown. Um it might be conducive in other areas of the city. Um uh I'm not sure at this point in time. Um uh I mean since you don't have any information on the cost, I mean that would really be if it's a no cost for the city and we control where they go and that kind of thing. Um I I would perhaps be interested in looking into it. Uh but that's the only answer I'd need to know to to know whether I'd want to move it forward. Uh I don't need a lot of hours spent on determining that. Um, and so that's the extent that I'd be willing to move it forward. Thank you. >> I just thought of something. Um, are these considered a digital billboard? Because I know we have zoning restrictions on digital billboards, so those are only allowed in certain places in the city. And I don't know, I mean, they're not necessarily a digital billboard, but if we opened the Pandora's box to allowing these in our right of way, do we have to start allowing them everywhere else as well? And so that would be something I would be pretty concerned about doing because we have pretty strict zoning rules about signage. Um we have very strict uh uh areas where we'll allow digital billboards and I mean this is just a small digital billboard. It's got a secondary use but it's a small digital billboard. So I don't know. Do you have any opinion on whether or not this would be in conflict maybe with the zoning regulations we have for digital billboards? Uh, mayor, council member, within the zoning ordinance, there's three locations where digital signage shows up, and billboards is one of them, but the definition of billboards wouldn't exactly align with this. The other ones would be a a monument sign for a business on private property or a wall sign for a business on private property. Uh, this doesn't fit any of those. So, this would be something we'd have to come up with a >> Would this be something, if I could, Mayor, would this be something we would allow a business to put out in front of their business advertising their business with rotating? Um, because I know we we've had other uh I mean, we I know we allow the digital signage at schools or because they don't have to they don't have to follow our zoning. We allow them at churches because they don't have to follow our zoning, but we don't allow them anywhere else. So, um, that would be a question that I would have because we don't allow I don't think we allow this kind of signage other places. >> Uh, mayor, council member, generally this definitely not in the rightway, but on private property, I'm not sure that the size or shape or because the digital signage is allowed, but it's not necessarily advertisement adjacent to rideways >> like reader boards and things like that. I know we don't allow those everywhere. So, >> but but I think I think to your point, >> this is on public right away. >> I understand that. But if we start doing it, are we going to have >> No, I agree. Yeah, >> I agree. So, but I I think we're putting ourselves in in jeopardy there. But anyway, uh No, not you. >> Oh, right. Sorry. >> Um >> well, it just occurs to me that we have a lot of questions here and if we don't give staff the authorization to go out and uh get information, we're not necessarily going to have accurate answers. I for instance don't know if if Ike is an individual company. Are they the only company that does this? Is it a competitive environment? And and that might be something we'd like to know. I don't know if even if I is the only one that does this. I don't know if that's the only design uh that they have available or could they design something that would fit into a historical environment. Um, I don't know what all I just learned now that they're touchscreen operated and you could apparently bring up the user that uh could bring up different things like, you know, where am I or I'm look, you know, if I'm looking for a restaurant, you touch it and it shows you where all the restaurants are within walking distance or where all the gift shops are or where all the whatevers are. I don't I don't know enough to say yes, but I certainly don't know enough to say no either. And I just think that let's get some information and make an informed decision. >> Miss Goodman. >> Yes. Uh I was just going to say that council member. >> Um a lot of good questions, not enough answers. Uh I think that we should let staff uh look into it. I mean, it may turn out that it's not going to work for us, but we're not going to know unless they they go and get the information and bring it back to us. So I I support uh going ahead and having you guys get more information to us. I would like to have more myself. >> Yeah. Randy, to your knowledge, has anybody approached the city that owns one of these companies or works for one of these companies to install these? >> Uh, mayor, not that I know of. >> So, this is a council member bringing an idea that there's a potential for the city. Nobody's actually come here to say we want to put it here. >> That's correct. >> Okay. Yeah. I again, we don't have the amount of traffic downtown that some of the other like Tempee. Uh so we may do the research and find out they don't want to be here anyway. I mean, who knows? Um >> could uh is there a way instead of going to 60 hours? I don't know what you're figuring per hour, are you talking about 200 bucks an hour? What what are you figuring? >> Sorry, mayor. I didn't have a dollar amount associated with that. Well, you said 40 to 60 hours, so I I don't know what that's equivalent to, but uh if you could just preliminary make some phone calls just find out is there anybody even wants to come here. Uh and then maybe check with some of the cities on phone calls and find out how is it working for them. U you know, we we recently talked about skateboards and scooters and things like that. Uh again, if you're putting these on the sidewalks and right away we have other issues that we have to be contending with or we're going to force kids out into the street. I I don't know if that's good. ADA stuff is is concerning to me. I I have a lot of I have a lot of concerns, but if nobody actively wants to come here, then, you know, maybe we're all worried about something we don't need to worry about. Any other comments? >> Uh thank you, mayor. I I respect um some people's comments and concerns about uh that this these kiosks or whatever what anybody wants to call them doesn't fit in downtown Glendo. I'd also like to um make a counterpoint to that that um if you were to walk downtown and look at all the businesses or a majority of the businesses, there are QR codes literally almost everywhere for events, times, their business hours, their this that and the other. And that takes technology. Um there a lot of the businesses are embracing that technology. I believe that it it that that we can still have a downtown the way it is right now, historic, beautiful, old buildings and everything like that, and still have a touch of technology that doesn't scare anybody away. Uh >> minor, >> my opinion, it's not going to take away from from the from the atmosphere or the of what downtown Glendel is. I think it'll enhance it. It'll make it easier um for everyone to navigate and to for everyone that comes and visits. Um there are people that aren't not from Glendel or they're visiting from out of town and they come down here and they they don't know where they're going and they get a piece of paper that may be several years old and those businesses aren't there anymore and they're told to come here and they come down. just to that point of like you know that when people say or anybody says you know this isn't going to fit in downtown what it it I I believe again just my opinion I believe it could I believe it would I believe it be beneficial I would really like to see more information obviously because it it depends on all like I said everything you listed Randy that makes it makes it's important to know all that I would like to see us um put some effort into making sure that the businesses and the merchants and the everyone downtown realizes that you know we're we're doing what we can to help them and if this is something that they would like and that they know that it could help then I really believe we should you know spend the spend strategically spend the time to to find out more information. Thank you. >> Uh yes, Mayor. Um, I mean, I would I would uh consider um moving forward uh to find out a little bit more information. Uh but not perhaps as much information as that you would like to do to a full-blown presentation. Uh I I can't support it right now until I know more information. So, you know, some of the basics would be are there, as the mayor has suggested, are there people that uh are interested in coming to Glendale? and what what is their their cost proposal? In other words, do they share cost? Do we have to dedicate some some money to it or not? Uh some of those basic questions and then um what the options would be for example for display, do they typically just have advertisements or can we go more with directional type of things? Um and I think you could probably do that in a lot less hours rather than do a full-blown investigation. and and I'd be willing to support it if it were, you know, like 20 hours or so of staff time uh to to pull to pull that together. >> I I would I would support 20 hours. >> Yeah, mayor. I would support 20our 60 seems too steep for me. >> Uh mayor, same with me. And and maybe just rather than coming back with a presentation, just a scoping memo. Some some council items of special interest come back with a scoping memo basically so we have a better idea of what's involved before we proceed. So maybe that would be something you could do with 20 hours rather than have to get it back in here as a full-blown presentation. >> And then finally, Randy, I' I'd like to know is is is the juice worth the squeeze? You know, if they're going to put it out there, is the city going to get money back on it uh for the amount of of room that we have to get up the rightway? And how much staff time and paperwork that's going to be involved in all that? So I I know that's a lot, but do do as much you can as little time as possible. >> Okay. Uh just to confirm your consensus is to spend 20 hours and then return rather than a presentation a scoping memo. >> Well, whatever whatever you can to make it to where we understand it. How's that? >> Oh, okay. >> That good with everybody. All right. Okay. Thank you, city manager report. Thank you, mayor, members of the council. Three items for you tonight. I want to start with big thank you to our fire and police departments, emergency management team, and transportation team for their outstanding work at the Luke Day's event this past weekend. Despite record heat and crowds exceeding 100,000 people, they managed the event expertly and provided swift medical aid to those in need. Over the two days, they had 200 medical incidents and 42 hospital transports. city commits significant staff to support the insure staff support to ensure a safe and positive experience for everyone. Next, the Glendale Libraries launched the Read 250 challenge in celebration of America's 250th birthday. Library patients are encouraged, patrons are encouraged to read 250 minutes between March and April for a chance to win one of 12 grand prizes. And I'm pleased to announce that the city has selected Dan Henderson to serve as our new director of economic development. Dan brings an extensive history of business development, retention, and tourism experience, all within the valley and most recently with the town of Gilbert. Dan's background aligns well with where Glendale is headed. We look forward to him joining the Glendale team today. That's all I have tonight. Thank you, mayor. >> Thank you, Michael. >> Attorney, nothing. >> Okay, clerk, any did the clerk report? >> No, sir. >> Council item special interest. Mr. Baldenegro, have you any? >> None today, sir. Mr. Con, not here. Council member Guzman, >> not today, sir. >> Okay. Council member Tomach. >> Yes, Mayor. I have um one followup and one new item. I know we have had some discussions about um and we're working with the bond committee on potential bond election in I believe in 2028. And based on the CIP presentation, we saw that we don't have enough funding for all of the uh public safety projects that that are in the CIP even in within the years one through five. So, I'd like to have a discussion about whether we need to loop public safety in to the discussions we're having now and run the public safety bonds when we run the bonds in 2028. But I think we need to at least be considering that as a potential uh three item bond election for 2028. Um, that's my item of special interest. And then my followup is on January 13th, I asked for uh uh staff to come back with a concept for a council ad hoc committee on Glendale glitters and I've heard nothing on that since January 13th. There were several council members that that gave their support for that that that day that asked to volunteer to be on the committee. Um and I have not received a memo or anything with regards to that and that was on January 13th. So, I'd like to know whether anything's happening with that or if anything's going to happen with that. Thank you, Mayor >> Jer. >> Uh, thank you, Mayor. Just one today. Um uh in light of the recent uh news of allegations regarding Cesar Chavez and what other communities are doing in response to that, I think it would be appropriate for us to have staff uh bring forward uh in essence an inventory of of uh any city um streets or properties or books or in our library or things like that that um are would perhaps fall uh into this could be brought into question about um the support of the continued support of Caesar Chavez and uh uh bring that forward to us so then the council can decide what we'd like to do in response to uh any changes we might want to make in those regards. Thank you, >> Vice Mayor. >> Uh thank you, mayor. I do have one item. Um over the past uh year uh uh my council assistant and I have been working on a proposal from the uh Poria Unified School District to do a what they call a government Glendale Youth Government Services Day. Uh they do this in in the city of Peoria uh over the last 20 years and it's been very successful. So uh we have been planning with the PUSD to see what if that's feasible in Glendale. uh we they have an actual uh department in Peoria whereas we do not and so I took it upon myself to look at doing that um for the PUSD and then perhaps scheduling it uh for other school districts within the city uh as we do a a kind of a a planned event. Um, so my council item of special interest uh is to have uh staff look into the uh number of uh hours it would take for uh staff to help us put this uh event on. Uh we've determined it's about a $5,000 in expense to cover the expense uh which we can do with district funds. I believe u maybe move that to a general uh uh general budget item uh at some point in time. and then bring that back uh and let us know what type kind of time frame is required and staff hours are required to put this event on for uh the city of Glendel in a limited scope. Um again only including uh elementary school districts the first time round as a trial uh that are in the PR unified school district and then perhaps expand that to other school districts as we uh see it might work. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Can I get a motion to go into exec motion and second? Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor I. Any oppose? Vote nay. You guys have it. Do you have it? Exact session. It is. Thank you.