Glendale bond Question 2 would authorize $35 million for city operations facilities

This November, Glendale residents will vote on two bond questions; Question 2 would make $35,000,000 in bond financing available for improvements to city operations facilities, a City of Glendale staff member said.

City staff said the financing would allow the city to build a new operations building and rehabilitate older buildings used to maintain and repair public safety vehicles, road-preservation equipment, graffiti-removal equipment and building-maintenance equipment. “Many employees are working in outdated inadequate spaces, some using insufficient old swamp coolers instead,” the staff member said.

Explaining the city's plan for paying the bonds, the staff member said the proposal is not expected to raise the secondary property tax rate. “These bonds are not expected to result in a tax rate increase. The city plans to pay off old bonds before issuing new bonds. This, combined with stable property values and continued new growth, will keep the secondary property tax rate from increasing,” the staff member said.

On the potential outcomes of passing Question 2, staff said the funds would let the city “actually build a new building, rehab the old buildings. This will help save water, save energy, and make sure that we can continue to provide those services into the future. Without doing them, it'll be a struggle for us to provide those services to police and fire and also to retain employees,” the staff member said.

The proposal must be approved by voters on the November ballot before the city can sell bonds and begin construction or rehabilitation. The staff member did not provide a construction schedule, a detailed project list, or a breakdown of estimated costs by facility.