Glendale council seeks broader board input on proposed bond ballot; agrees to reform bond committee

Glendale staff told the City Council on Jan. 27 that they plan to revoke the current bond committee ordinance and form a new bond committee charged specifically to evaluate whether the city should call a general‑obligation bond election in November and, if so, recommend categories, dollar amounts and sample CIP projects for the publicity pamphlet.

The proposal would direct the reconstituted bond committee to seek input from the Parks & Recreation Commission and the Library Advisory Board as part of its deliberations, use those committees’ existing meetings for outreach and educational presentations, and then make a formal recommendation to council. Staff said the approach is intended to meet election‑related deadlines and increase board and commission engagement without creating new subcommittees.

"We would reestablish the bond committee and then direct the bond committee to go get that sort of input from the library advisory board and the parks and recreation commission," the presenting staff member said, outlining a calendar that would allow recommendations to be returned in time to meet ballot deadlines.

Council members generally supported the approach but asked a drafting change to avoid requiring an absolute recommendation from advisory boards in every circumstance. Council member Turner suggested the bond committee should "seek and consider recommendations" rather than insist it "obtain" them, to allow for tie votes, lack of quorums or differing views.

City legal counsel confirmed the current bond committee ordinance would be revoked and replaced and that appointments could be made in anticipation of the new ordinance taking effect. Council signaled consensus to proceed with revoking and replacing the existing bond committee ordinance and to appoint a new bond committee with the duties described.

Next steps: staff will include the ordinance on the evening voting agenda and, if approved, appoint a new bond committee and coordinate the Parks & Recreation Commission and Library Advisory Board outreach to produce recommendations for council consideration.