GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WRAP-UP

The City Council on Tuesday approved a three-year, $180,000 consulting contract to guide Glendale Water & Power’s risk management program.

Utility officials sought to outsource the role of an “energy risk manager” to RMI Consulting Inc. as a cost-saving measure.

At RMI’s $5,000-per-month rate, the total contract amount for three years will be $180,000.

At the current market rate, hiring a full-time manager to ensure energy purchases for the utility carry minimal risk would cost $150,000 annually, according to the proposal.

The utility currently does not have qualified employees for the job.

The Glendale Water & Power Commission voted to support the recommendation earlier this month.

Councilman Dave Weaver was absent.

WHAT IT MEANS

RMI Consulting will begin managing the risk associated with more than $80 million in annual power purchases for the utility.

?

The Glendale Fire Department received a $78,760 outside grant Tuesday to support equipment purchases and employee training costs.

The Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company grant was earmarked for the purchase of four thermal imagers, a high-pressure compressed air system to propel water and fire retardant foam and other supplies for the Emergency Operation Center and Fire Explorer programs.

Some of the grant money will also be used to make repairs to the training center’s “burn building” and to support training exercises.

WHAT IT MEANS

The grant requires no matching funds from the city. The money also ensures that each fire company will be equipped with a thermal imager, which helps firefighters “see” through thick smoke.

?

The City Council on Tuesday introduced an ordinance that would provide cash-strapped developers several project deadline extensions.

The so-called “regulatory relief package” would extend building plan checks to Dec. 31, 2009 — a highly sought-after provision from developers who said the extra time is needed for them to shore up multimillion-dollar financing deals for their planned projects.

Discretionary land use entitlements, such as conditional-use permits, variances, design review approvals and parking reduction permits, would also be extended an additional year.

Affordable in-lieu housing fees, which can run into the millions of dollars for a market-rate project, would also be deferred until the building is completed and ready for occupancy as opposed to when the developer is ready to start construction.

WHAT IT MEANS

The ordinance will be brought back next week for a full council vote.

The City Council placed two historic single-family homes on the city’s Register of Historic Resources.

In doing so, the council also approved the attached Mills Act contracts granting the two properties certain tax benefits for maintenance and upkeep.

One home, built in 1926, is at 721 E. Mountain St. on a steep slope that makes for a “dramatic impact” on the streetscape, according to the application. Neighbors commonly refer to the house as “the castle.”

The other home, built in 1930, is at 1428 Imperial Drive. in the Rossmoyne area. It was owned by Charles A. Wellman, the executive vice-president of Glendale Federal Savings & Loan, between 1957 and 1962.

Both homes carried recommendations from the Historic Preservation Commission.

WHAT IT MEANS

Homes on the registry, in exchange for certain tax benefits, must adhere to strict preservation provisions.

?

The City Council, citing a packed meeting agenda, delayed a review hearing for the proposed Pacific Park pool. The hearing, in which council members will review four new pool concepts, was rescheduled for Tuesday.

The four options range from six to eight lanes, as opposed to the original four-lane option proposed Sept. 16. At that meeting, the council gave instructions to come back with project designs that included at least six lanes, less concrete surfaces, more shade and landscaping, a more minimal pool configuration, solar power options, and additional funding sources. Depending on the concept, the project is estimated to cost between $7.9 million and $10.4 million. Currently, $6.6 million has been designated to the project, with nearly $4 million more identified for earmarks.

WHAT IT MEANS

The new hearing will include the same information. Even after the review, parks officials will likely return for final project approval.