City Council explores regulations for digital billboards and restaurant proposals in public parks

During a recent Special City Council meeting in Glendale, officials discussed various strategies to enhance city revenue and manage urban development. The meeting, held on June 4, 2025, focused on several key initiatives, including billboard regulations, restaurant proposals in parks, and the potential for ground leasing city properties.

One of the primary topics was the regulation of billboards, particularly along city-owned properties adjacent to freeways. City staff indicated that they would return to the council in early July with proposed regulations. The council is expected to consider not only billboards but also commercial properties along two main corridors, Brandon and Central. This initiative aims to explore revenue opportunities while balancing community interests.

The discussion also touched on the idea of introducing restaurants in city parks. However, staff cautioned that this could compromise green space and require additional parking, suggesting that such a project might not yield significant financial returns. They recommended placing this initiative lower on the priority list due to its complexity and limited revenue potential.

Another proposal involved digital kiosks and signs for advertising and providing Wi-Fi. However, city staff expressed concerns about the feasibility of such installations in residential neighborhoods, suggesting they would be more appropriate for downtown areas. The anticipated lack of saturation in these digital advertisements raised doubts about their viability as a revenue source.

The council also explored the concept of transferring development rights from underutilized city properties to private developers. While this could potentially increase development capacity, staff noted that it might not generate substantial revenue for the city. Additionally, the council discussed renegotiating existing leases on city properties, many of which are currently subsidized, to bring them closer to market rates.

A significant opportunity highlighted was the ground leasing of city properties, which could generate between $3 million and $7 million annually. Staff recommended starting with a smaller site in downtown Glendale, specifically Lot Number 4 behind the Alex Theater. This approach would allow the council to control the type of development and community benefits associated with the lease, such as prioritizing housing or commercial spaces.

In conclusion, the discussions at the Special City Council meeting underscored Glendale's ongoing efforts to navigate urban development and revenue generation. As the council prepares to revisit these topics in upcoming meetings, the decisions made will have lasting implications for the city's economic landscape and community character.