[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6480535,"mediaKeyId","5680808-2ae6c526c768abb1c3bb4e699551a68d","parentId",5680808,"title","Glendale approves Kompan playground replacements for Adams Square Mini Park and Mayor’s Bicentennial Park, adds Measure A appropriations","audioSeconds",1953,"startMs",1666000,"endMs",3619000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5680808-2ae6c526c768abb1c3bb4e699551a68d&start=1666&end=3619","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5680808-2ae6c526c768abb1c3bb4e699551a68d/thumbnail_1666000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6480535/Glendale/Los-Angeles-County/California/Glendale-approves-Kompan-playground-replacements-for-Adams-Square-Mini-Park-and-Mayors-Bicentennial-Park-adds-Measure-A-appropriations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480535-06b10e45cfcfe8d7697c77716d57f016/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113227&Signature=K1yG3XVZnQlY3j5Tgly1CcBJZtsw~gQnDH8XGmVr481gsLlgigsFcrlGgHGz~P~lY-sruxyykk~hFR78-3pnHFM3sJuYkltsAk~hcGVKB1Ot0hAj6wq3K4pa8gmmbq3gapPh~XWzoOQ-FzBRVZRCa0zp74VmQr8O9nvgDCP-hHvLJcAC6Zw1XsHZAJ8oM3pJ24kRkjVPsoBkfjS7WNhDAzbO4xuZM1NyLo~uf-30A4e-xkqUzUcf06RiAK~2G-WzFUXoKFIgcNuH3DBNDaNUi92PAXmfdKxPfMhv~nij87XyxdlCisG1Xl4qIWjac0vpSfS2~p-zBtuIkUJ51ftTLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Glendale","date","2025-08-27T10:12:36Z","article","The Glendale City Council on Aug. 26 approved final designs and purchase agreements with KOMPAN for two playground replacement projects — Adams Square Mini Park and Mayor’s Bicentennial Park — and authorized related appropriations from LA County Measure A funds.

Staff said both playgrounds exceeded their recommended lifespans and that the projects are 100% funded through the city’s Measure A allocation from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District. The council authorized dispensing with competitive bidding under a cooperative purchasing contract (Omnia Partners) and approved purchase orders with KOMPAN for the two projects.

The council-approved purchase amounts in the staff report are $487,441.20 for the Adams Square Mini Park playground replacement plus a 5% contingency of $24,372.06 (total not to exceed $511,813.26), and $667,702.15 for the Mayor’s Bicentennial Park project plus a 5% contingency of $33,385.11 (total not to exceed $701,087.26). Staff also requested and council approved appropriations from Measure A funds: $44,536.08 to Adams Square and $227,208.15 to Mayor’s Bicentennial Park to cover additional costs associated with purchase, installation and site improvements.

Parks staff member Mister Bolanikian said the city had previously appropriated $500,000 for Adams Square and $475,000 for Mayor’s Bicentennial and that the totals now requested reflect added costs for shade structures, site furnishings and surfacing. Bolanikian described outreach that produced 186 survey responses for Adams Square and 152 for Mayor’s Park; the Adams design is a custom truck-themed wooden playground built from Robinia (black locust) and includes transfer platforms and ground-level elements for accessibility. The Mayor’s Bicentennial design is an owl-themed, nature-inspired playground KOMPAN staff described as KOMPAN’s first owl-themed installation in Southern California.

Mitchell Fink, a KOMPAN representative, described Robinia wood as a durable, untreated wood used in marine applications and said KOMPAN owns a sustainable supply and that tariffs are not being passed through to the city. Fink said the custom structures typically require about 4 to 4½ months to manufacture and ship once the city places an order. KOMPAN representatives noted a 10-year warranty on the wood product and complementary service in the first two years after installation.

Public commenter Beth Brooks praised the designs but urged prioritizing local sourcing to reduce freight and tax costs; she said she saw freight and tax listed at about $2,200,000 in project documents and urged exploring local alternatives. Council members asked about the premium for custom designs; staff said the custom option added roughly 20% to costs compared with a standard product in the same footprint but that the custom approach creates a signature park and includes additional site furnishings and shade requested by neighborhood groups.

Council members also raised equity and pipeline concerns, asking staff to consider Measure A allocations for parks across the city and preserve funding for higher-need neighborhoods. The council approved the design, purchase orders and appropriations in a voice/roll-call sequence with Council member Asadarian, Council member Brotman, Council member Garpetian, Council member Kasakhian and Mayor Ara Najarian voting yes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special City Council - 8/26/25","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved final designs, purchase orders under Omnia Partners and appropriations from LA County Measure A funds to replace two playgrounds with custom Kompan equipment, totaling about $1.25 million in equipment plus contingencies and site work.","taxTitle","Glendale, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",4651,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480540,"Glendale council approves six-month contract for temporary 911 call takers as dispatch center runs 40% vacant",670,993000,1663000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5680808-2ae6c526c768abb1c3bb4e699551a68d&start=993&end=1663","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5680808-2ae6c526c768abb1c3bb4e699551a68d/thumbnail_993000.jpg","/articles/6480540/Glendale/Los-Angeles-County/California/Glendale-council-approves-six-month-contract-for-temporary-911-call-takers-as-dispatch-center-runs-40-vacant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480540-01fffcec8a1492fdb4bf6e998c20cf90/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113227&Signature=IlFfxHkRHir9BxoyqG6phEdhleQbx8dMM3e7bEdaZHc4Hp3mYXDYBepLCfMLDaSiyTDv45tIsFvUb-VvGyOOoVcSMlEomhzIhm1WeOPuUCRHpeJQTN8LWZm3hGIXkrKaZ-jYcCYDl329rzScIww4n87xSiSLfav0WELr~HbTR4~W38YpxOV3b4HoJvW~FkW~3O33XNao0lM0slxyppXx1zmJx7qM~T4zpvlA17BkIBmY4YF3lfh2RSiR~4j2mGY1gbva426C3R50m1zRnqaV1kbikYZSYIBV~BMuVMweV~T3fR7vkuMFgRZooh9JanGS5K2yRZJP28C-XEHq5xalJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Glendale City Council on Aug. 26 voted unanimously to authorize a contract with Motivations Incorporated to supply one 9-1-1 emergency call taker per shift for the Verdugo Fire Communications Center, a temporary staffing measure the city says is needed while it completes hiring and background checks for incoming dispatchers.

City manager Mister Galani read the item into the record, saying the proposal authorizes a contract not to exceed $585,231 plus a contingency of $58,523 — a total not to exceed $643,754 — to provide call-taking personnel and includes a related appropriation resolution. The contract covers a six-month period that staff said would end in March 2026 if the full term is used.

The measure responds to a reported vacancy rate of roughly 40% in the communications center, Galani said. “Our Verdugo fire communication center currently has 15 positions in their operation, of which 6 are currently vacant. That represents a 40% vacancy,” he said. The city said it is interviewing 65 candidates this week but that those hires could not be onboarded until December because of background checks and other personnel processes.

Fire Department staff said the contract will provide one dispatcher per shift for 24-hour coverage through two 12-hour shifts. Fire Chief Brooks told the council the contracting firm employs veteran dispatchers with five to 25 years of experience and that the firm handles logistics, benefits and insurance for the temporary employees. Chief Brooks said the arrangement is aimed at reducing fatigue and workload on remaining staff while new hires complete onboarding.

Council members asked about the hourly and monthly cost. Chief Brooks characterized the hourly cost as about $88 an hour and the contract’s monthly cost as roughly $105,000 for 24-hour coverage. Galani and Chief Brooks said a significant portion of the city’s outlay will be offset by vacancy savings created by the unfilled positions; Galani cited a vacancy-savings figure of $364,573 from the briefing materials.

Public commenter Beth Brooks urged caution about the price, noting travel and lodging costs for temporary staff and asking why the company was not local. She said: “A $107,000 a month ... seems out of this world.” City staff responded that the vendor is one of only two firms offering the all‑inclusive service and that the rate includes overhead, insurance and benefits.

Mayor Ara Najarian moved the resolutions to dispense with competitive bidding and execute the contract and the related appropriation; a second was given and the council approved the items in a roll-call vote with Council member Asadarian, Council member Brotman, Council member Garpetian, Council member Kasakhian and Mayor Najarian voting yes.

Council members said they supported the temporary contract to protect public safety while the city completes hiring, and staff said the arrangement can be scaled back if the city accelerates onboarding of permanent dispatchers.

The contract and appropriation are limited to the terms and amounts the council approved; staff told the council the city’s hiring timeline and vacancy savings will determine the ultimate duration and net cost to the city.","The Glendale City Council on Aug. 26 approved a contract not to exceed $643,754 with Motivations Incorporated to provide one veteran 911 call taker per shift for up to six months to relieve staffing shortages at the Verdugo Fire Communications Center.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Glendale approves Kompan playground replacements for Adams Square Mini Park and Mayor’s Bicentennial Park, adds Measure A appropriations

Glendale council approves six-month contract for temporary 911 call takers as dispatch center runs 40% vacant