Council deadlocks on Measure R multimodal funding after public pushback on bike lanes

The Glendale City Council on Feb. 11 did not decide on a series of Measure R items that would fund design and outreach for multimodal street improvements along North Verdugo Road and other corridors, after residents and two council members said the public had not been given clear notice that projects could include protected (Class 4) bike lanes and possible traffic‑lane reductions.

The council deadlocked twice on consent‑calendar motions tied to Measure R: a staff report that would appropriate $1,216,440 for local match for a Highway Safety Improvement Program grant and other Measure R programming (item 4C), and a professional services agreement and appropriations to begin design of the North Verdugo Road Multimodal Improvements Project and related San Fernando Road work (items 4GS and the accompanying contract amendment). With a 2–2 tie on those votes, the items will be continued to a later meeting.

Why it matters: The actions would have authorized an engineering contract with Mark Thomas and Company and the appropriation of $9 million in Measure R regional return funds for North Verdugo, plus a $1.57 million design contract and a $2.54 million amendment for San Fernando Road work. Residents said the North Verdugo study could result in protected bike lanes that remove travel or parking lanes; council members said they needed clearer, earlier outreach and assurances about scope before approving funding or design hires.

City staff and the consultant scope

City staff described the items as the start of a design and outreach process, not a final design decision. City staff member Mr. Hernandez said the agreements would “start the process” and that bicycle facilities are “just a component or the bicycle facilities are just a component of the project.” He added that the city will hold community engagement and then return to the council with alternatives for direction.

The technical contract language brought to the dais included: a proposed professional services agreement with Mark Thomas and Company, Inc., for $1,572,625 to provide engineering services; a proposed contract amendment raising a San Fernando Road contract by $2,544,915 for additional traffic study, landscape design and outreach; and a resolution to appropriate $9,000,000 in Measure R funds for North Verdugo.

Public comment and council concern

Members of the public who asked to speak frequently criticized the short notice and asked that the items be pulled from consent and discussed on the regular agenda. Public speakers included Mike Mohill, who urged the council to “agendize, not a consent item,” saying “people do not want bike lanes.” Alan Durham, a volunteer with the Sunshine Preserve, told the council that the proposal “is to include Class 4 protected bike lanes. This usually results in the loss of one or more traffic lanes,” and asked whether studies would include evacuation and emergency access.

Council members raised similar procedural concerns. Councilmember Garpetian said “this item should be on an action item” because of the project scope and cost and because the staff report did not clearly flag potential lane removals or parking impacts. Councilmember Dan Brotman argued the city must improve outreach but said outreach can’t begin until a consultant is hired: “you can't get buy in until you do the outreach, and you can't do the outreach until you hire somebody to do the outreach.” Councilmember Ara Najarian asked staff to clarify which funds the $28 million project cost estimate would draw from and whether the $9 million Measure R appropriation constituted all or a portion of funding for North Verdugo.

Staff said the Measure R appropriation and the consultant agreement would enable design and outreach work. Assistant director of public works and city engineer Mr. Oganesian confirmed that the traffic signal modification line item is “one element of that project” and that many projects have multiple funding sources.

Votes and next steps

When the council called votes, abstentions and “no” votes resulted in two‑to‑two ties that the clerk explained would require those items to be “placed on the agenda next week.” For example, the 4GS package containing the Mark Thomas agreement and $9 million appropriation was moved and seconded but produced a 2–2 deadlock (yes: Brotman and Mayor Asatrian; no or abstain: Garpetian and Najarian), so the item was continued.

Councilmembers said they would welcome a better outreach plan and a scientifically sampled survey of community preferences before final approvals. Councilmember Brotman said staff is preparing a citywide survey and that staff had circulated a draft of survey questions earlier in the day.

The council did not adopt any of the Measure R agreements or appropriations on Feb. 11; councilmembers directed staff to return with more complete outreach plans and, in at least one case, the proposed contract documents so council members could review the consultant scope before another vote.