GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING PREVIEW

LANDSCAPING CHANGES

An ordinance that would change existing landscaping rules to allow for less greenery in frontyard setbacks comes back to the City Council today for a vote.

The proposed zoning code changes would allow more non-plant ground covers, including wood chips, bark, decorative rock and stone, in frontyards, which, under current laws, must be fully landscaped in residential zones.

Reducing the amount of required greenery should help Glendale cut back on its water consumption through less irrigation, city officials contend.

Cities are under a state mandate to adopt more strict landscape irrigation codes by 2010.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Having already vetted the proposals, the council will likely vote to pass the ordinance.

PLAYGROUND COSTS

The City Council today will consider appropriating an additional $11,000 for one last expense associated with the $352,500 revamp of playgrounds at seven parks.

With nearly all of the work completed at Dunsmore, Glenoaks, Glorietta, Fremont, Carr and Milford parks, city officials will be requesting an additional $11,000 to cover the cost of new wood parts for Wilson Mini-Park.

When the council approved the project in May, it also designated $21,150 for contingencies and project management costs, but due to unforeseen conditions at several park sites, that money has already been exhausted.

If approved, the revised total project cost would be $384,650.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council will likely approve the expenditure, given that parks officials determined the wood fiber at Wilson Mini-Park was unsuitable for reuse.