GLENDALE : City Approves New Department

A city department, which combines myriad business-related services that until now were spread throughout the bureaucracy, is taking shape at Glendale City Hall, albeit in a scaled-down version.

The City Council this week gave final approval to the creation of the new Development Services Division, which will combine all the functions of the Glendale Redevelopment Agency with services, economic development, business retention, promotional events and others.

The council did not, however, approve a proposal to also transfer building inspections, zoning and permits into the new department, as originally planned.

Proponents of the change said the new department is designed to aid the city’s economy by stimulating business growth. The idea stemmed from an organizational audit of city government conducted in early 1993 by an outside consultant. The audit produced recommendations to make the city more efficient.

City officials said a director for the new department will be selected from existing personnel. Recruitment is expected to begin this month and an appointment should be announced in March.

Orientations will be held for affected employees and commission members, and new systems and procedures will be developed so the new department can begin operating within the next few months, officials said.

No budget increases will be needed through the end of the 1994-95 fiscal year for the new department, although officials have indicated that additional personnel may be hired eventually.

As originally planned, the Development Services Division was to include a Building and Land Use section that would oversee zoning, building inspections and related matters. Officials said the city will now investigate creating a similar section that combines those functions and incorporating it into the Public Works Division.