City Council Watch – August 26, 2025
Legislative Update by U.S. Representative Laura Friedman; Public Benefits Budget (GWP); AC to Heat Pump Reach Code Ordinance Approval
City Council Recap – August 16, 2022
Clean Energy Resolution Passes; Council Votes 4–1 to Take Next Steps on Grayson Repowering with 3 Engines
City Council pauses gas plant project after public calls for clean energy
The Glendale City Council voted unanimously on March 1, 2022, to revise its prior 3-2 vote from February 15, when it approved a $260 million purchase of gas generation equipment. The new vote defers the decision on purchasing the gas equipment until the end of 2022 so that clean energy and other alternatives can be explored.
Urgent Public Message
Council will consider Councilmember Brotman’s motion at their next meeting, March 1. This is our LAST CHANCE to insist that Glendale commit to a clean energy agenda starting now.
Grayson Repowering EIR Narrowly Approved
By a 3-2 vote, Glendale City Council certified the Grayson Repowering FEIR. With another 3-2 vote, they approved the report’s Alternative 7, which includes five new fossil fuel burning engines at an estimated cost of $260 million, along with a battery energy storage system. Council has agreed to consider amending the project approval in two weeks.
City Council Recap – July 20, 2021
Glendale City Council votes unanimously to move forward with Glendale joining the Race to Zero campaign. Council members raise various subjects including increasing EV charging in Glendale, potential city support for a state-wide ban on gas-powered landscaping equipment, and a potential ordinance to prevent excessive light pollution.
City Council Recap – June 29, 2021
Glendale City Council votes unanimously to move forward with an ordinance change to allowing backyard beekeeping in residential zones, Councilmember Najarian introduces the Metro Micro service and Councilmember Brotman requests an implementation plan for the transition of all of Glendale’s parks and properties from gas to electric landscaping equipment, now that funding has been allocated, as well as a plan to expand this policy city-wide.
City Council Recap – April 27, 2021
Sustainability Director David Jones offered a presentation on the “Race to Zero” campaign.
City Council Recap – March 30, 2021
Ascend Analytics’ 100% Clean Energy by 2030 analysis is well received, follow up action requested; Hazard Pay passes; The ordinance for a ban on polystyrene and single use plastics for city sponsored events and city facilities had its first reading and will come back for a vote; the city plans for 5 electric buses and accepts funding for charging infrastructure.
Glendale City Council Watch ECO-RELATED ITEMS ON THE AGENDA Update - Item Postponed! Sep 14—Item 4A: Clean Energy Programs (GWP Commission Special Meeting, 4pm) Please see details below. Agenda/Watch/Comment Sep 15—Item 8B: Resolution recognizing the City’s history as a former “Sundown Town" (City Council, 6 pm) GEC has signed onto a letter of support. You may sign on here as an individual: Agenda/Watch/Comment Sep 22—(1) Solar on…
ECO-RELATED ITEMS ON THE AGENDA Sep 14—Clean Energy Programs (GWP Commission, Time TBD) Sep 22—Solar on Commercial Buildings; Clean Energy Programs (City Council, 6pm) Sep 29—Prop 15: Schools & Communities First (City Council, 6pm) Please note: Schedules are always subject to change. Sometimes items do get re-scheduled. We will post changes if the agenda is updated.
ECO-RELATED ITEM NOTES—AUGUST 19, 2020 MEETING Glendale Train Station First/Last Mile Regional Improvements Project: Councilmember Najarian, who is vice-chair on the Metro Board (Metro is providing a large portion of the funding for this project), offered some notes on this item. Our Glendale train station will be providing frequent service from Glendale to LA Union Station as well as north…
Establishing the Glendale Sustainability Commission City staff are looking at how to set up a new Sustainability Commission for Glendale, after Councilmember Dan Brotman made the proposal and it was seconded at City Council. The staff report will be presented at the August 25 Council meeting. GEC is concurrently doing its own research so it can make recommendations for robust…
THE ARROYO VERDUGO is the region’s main tributary to the Los Angeles River. It carries water from portions of the San Gabriel Mountains, the Verdugo Mountains, and the San Rafael Hills to join the LA River at Griffith Park. It was channelized as the Verdugo Wash over 50 years ago to protect the area from historic flooding. THE VISION is…
GEC is proud to sign on to a letter to California Secretary for Natural Resources, Wade Crowfoot, requesting that California participate in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity as an official observer and member of the Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments. This letter, sent by over 30 local, regional, national, and international environmental organizations and leaders, supports a request…
On April 19th, 2020 – the Glendale Environmental Coalition held an online PANEL DISCUSSION with focus on: Reducing Plastic Use and Plastic Waste in Glendale plus updates from state and local officials and employees on the current state of environmental legislation in Los Angeles County and CA. Below is the agenda, followed by a meeting summary and links to presentations offered…
Now Hiring! Glendale’s first Sustainability Officer! GEC thanks the Glendale City Council and City Staff for supporting this new position. In order to be effective, it is our hope that all city contracts and agreements go through an environmental review before execution. It is our further hope that the office have the authority to set goals to which the individual city departments will…
GEC congratulates Glendale Water & Power on taking another step forward to meet our city’s clean energy goals. Glendale entered into two new contracts for geothermal energy, Whitegrass (3 megawatts annually beginning April, 2020) and Star Peak (12.5 megawatts annually beginning April, 2021). Both projects are located in Nevada. The 25-year contract with Open Mountain Energy will eventually provide the city…