Eco Items on the Agenda
GEC POSITION on Item 8a:
GEC urges council to vote YES to accept the grant funds and approve the contract with MVVA to prepare the Verdugo Wash Plan so we can fully analyze this potential project. Please email Mayor Asatryan and Councilmembers Brotman and Kassakhian to ask for their YES vote.
- No money will be required from Glendale. The entire contract amount is covered by grant funds acquired from state grants awarded to Glendale.
- Accepting grant funds and awarding consultant contract does NOT mean moving forward with the project or with any segment of the project.No commitments are made as to which segment(s) of the channel will be developed or if any will be developed.
- Consultant and sub-contractor work will take approximately three years and will include extensive technical study and existing conditions evaluation, robust community engagement and outreach, draft plan (including transportation study, construction plan, maintenance plan etc), short and long-term funding opportunities, environmental review as required by CEQA, and a public art master plan.
- MVVA will use local project management, designers and public outreach experts along with partners in other areas of the country. The contractor has experience on other public open spaces, including river adjacent parks. The master plan does not include any physical build-out of the Wash.
- By analyzing at a detailed level these opportunities as well as the safety, design and engineering challenges for each of Glendale’s varied communities through which the Wash runs will help inform future decisions regarding if and how to transform the Verdugo Wash into a valuable ecological and recreational asset for the Glendale community.
Why GEC Supports this Visionary Project:
- Sustainable Transportation and Connectivity: The creation of a linear park with pedestrian and bicycle pathways encourages non-motorized transportation, and provides opportunities for people of all abilities to enjoy green space, including potentially through the downtown portion of Glendale which is in great need of such opportunities.
- Resilience and Flood Planning: Maintaining the wash’s primary function for flood control is essential.
- Habitat Restoration and Biodiversity: The plan focuses on regenerating local ecology and increasing wildlife habitats along the 9.4-mile stretch of the wash. This includes reintroducing native vegetation and creating environments conducive to local wildlife, thereby promoting biodiversity.
- Urban Heat Island Mitigation: By incorporating enhanced vegetation and sustainable design strategies, the project aims to reduce urban heat island effects. This approach not only cools the local microclimate but also improves air quality and overall environmental comfort for residents.
Learn more about the Verdugo Wash Visioning Project here: https://www.verdugowash.com/
ASK Mayor Asatryan and Councilmembers Brotman and Kassakhian to SUPPORT ITEM 8A!
Speak at City Council:
City Hall, Tuesday, September 10. Meeting begins at 6 p.m.
This is item 8e. To speak, please fill out a comment card upon arrival and wait until the item is being discussed. At the top of the card, write: “I support the Verdugo Wash Study” (in case you need to leave, get your message on the card itself.)
Call In when item 8d is up:
(818) 937-8100 – ask to speak on item 8d.
Watch here to follow along (but note, there is a 30 sec. lag, so focus on what you hear in your phone): https://glendaleca.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=37451
Email Council Members in Advance:
Mayor Elen Asatryan: EAsatryan@glendaleca.gov
Dan Brotman: DBrotman@Glendaleca.gov
Ardy Kassakhian: AKassakhian@GlendaleCA.gov
Email all council members at once: Generate Email
MEETING
RECORDING:
Note – Scheduling changes can and do occur. We try to keep this post updated if things change, but please consult the city website for official agendas.
“Imagine a linear park energizing the existing urban framework and fabric of Glendale with seamless connections and visually pleasing experiences. A reimagined Verdugo Wash, transformative in character, creating a 9.4-mile long linear park and nature trail for walking/cycling with access to business and entertainment venues while enjoying nature, people, places, and culture as it interweaves several important city centers, services, and a multitude of neighborhoods that make up a large core of Glendale.”
[www.verdugowash.com]
“The reimagining of the Verdugo Wash will provide Glendale residents with a safe option for moving around the city without having to fight vehicular traffic. This project will bring jobs into the city, create commuter routes for pedestrians and cyclists, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I look forward to this sustainable gem that will be added to our Jewel City.”
— Councilmember Ardy Kassakhian
“A scar that runs through many neighborhoods, it could unlock incredible opportunities for improving the city, creating connections, improving mobility. What is currently a divider could become a uniter, increase the value of adjacent properties, create a large democratic amenity space, and instigate growth in the community,”
— Jerry van Eyck (Consultant on Visioning Study)
“Our vision is to transform the Arroyo Verdugo in to a public space that connects a series of parks with the existing Glendale Narrows Riverwalk. The transformation will include the reintroduction of native plant species, water recapture, pedestrian and bicycle trail development providing benefits such as transit connectivity, economic, health, education and recreation. The Arroyo runs through or is adjacent to five public parks, and is within one mile of nine public schools and at least seven private schools.”
[arroyoverdugogreenway.com]
Supported by
Arroyo Verdugo Trail Committee
Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy
Walk Bike Glendale
North East Trees
LACBC
Congressman Adam Schiff
Assemblymember Laura Friedman, 43rd District
CA State Senator Anthony Portantino, 25th District
Supervisor Kathryn Barger
Oakmont / Deer Canyon HOA
Montrose Verdugo City / Sparr Heights Neighborhood Association
Verdugo Woodlands West HOA
(Supported pursuing additional information, 2014)
V.O.I.C.E
Volunteers Organized in Conserving The Environment
Glendale Community College
North West Glendale Homeowners Association
GCC Associated Student Body
Glendale Beautiful
Glendale Parks and Open Space Foundation
Sierra Club, Crescenta Valley Chapter
Crescenta Valley Town Council
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority
Crescenta Valley Community Association
LA River Revitalization Corporation
Councilmember Mitch O Farrell, 13th District
Friends of the Los Angeles River
The Trust for Public Land
Glendale Environment Coalition
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