The Glendale City Council convened on September 9, 2025, to address several key agenda items, including discussions on historical house designations and proposed amendments to the California Building and Energy Code.

The meeting began with a public comment period where residents expressed concerns regarding the classification of historical houses. One speaker questioned the criteria for a house to be considered historical, suggesting a timeframe of either 50 or 100 years. The mayor acknowledged the importance of this issue and committed to addressing it.

Following the public comments, the council moved to item eight on the agenda, which involved the adoption of ordinances related to local amendments to the California Building and Energy Code. The proposed amendments would require energy conservation measures for air conditioning systems in single-family homes, duplexes, and townhomes. However, city staff reported that a previous ordinance introduced on August 19 had not passed due to a tie vote, preventing it from being effective by the September 30 deadline mandated by Assembly Bill 130.

City staff recommended that instead of proceeding with the current ordinance, the council should direct staff to draft a new ordinance to be considered alongside the 2025 Building and Safety Code amendments later this year. This approach would allow for a more comprehensive discussion and consideration of public input.

Several speakers from the community voiced their opinions on the proposed amendments. Patrick Murphy highlighted concerns about equity, noting that rebates for homeowners would be funded by all residents, including those in apartments who would not benefit from the rebates. He called for greater public outreach and transparency regarding the implications of the ordinance. Jesus Rojas, representing the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for reliable data on the costs associated with the proposed changes.

Beth Brooks also supported delaying the ordinance, arguing that it was unfair for apartment residents to subsidize homeowners. She urged the council to improve public communication about such ordinances to ensure residents understand their potential financial impacts.

In response to the public comments, council members discussed the importance of effective communication and transparency in conveying the implications of proposed ordinances. The council ultimately voted to direct staff to bring back the new ordinance for discussion in conjunction with the 2025 Building Code amendments.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from the council to ensure that future discussions would include clear and accessible information for the public, allowing residents to engage meaningfully in the decision-making process. The next steps involve drafting the new ordinance and preparing for further discussions in the upcoming months.