Glendale council approves rezonings, easements, committee-term change, fireworks code update and grant acceptance

Glendale — The Glendale City Council on Jan. 28 approved a package of land‑use rezonings and infrastructure easements, authorized a one‑year engineering services contract, accepted a federal grant for the fire department and amended the city’s fireworks code to conform with state law.

Council approved a services agreement with P3 Systems Management LLC to provide interim engineering oversight “in an amount not to exceed $205,200 for the 1 year term of the agreement,” City HR Director Jim Brown told the council. City staff said the contract would provide continuity while the city fills the recently vacated director of engineering position.

Councilmember Lupe Conchas had pulled the P3 item from the consent agenda to note it had not previously been considered at a council workshop. “This has not come to a workshop for council discussion,” Conchas said during the meeting; after that exchange the council approved the consent agenda, which included the P3 agreement.

On land use, the council adopted Ordinance 025‑03 to amend a planned area development (PAD) for a site near Bethany Home Road and the Loop 303 to allow industrial uses and two commercial/industrial buildings. Development services staff described the parcel as approximately 4.94 acres and said the conceptual plan showed two buildings of about 137,000 square feet each. The Planning Commission previously recommended approval with stipulations.

The council also adopted Ordinance 025‑04 to rezone about 72.1 acres at the southwest corner of Sarabelle Avenue and Peoria Avenue to a new PAD called “Peoria and 303 PAD.” The applicant’s conceptual plan presented six flex buildings ranging from about 77,000 to 187,000 square feet, with a total building area the staff report listed as roughly 956,000 square feet. Staff said a neighborhood meeting held July 17, 2024 drew two attendees; the Planning Commission forwarded the item with recommended stipulations.

The council approved two Salt River Project easements tied to local developments. Ordinance 025‑05 grants an irrigation easement for the Legacy Place single‑family subdivision at 75th Avenue and Northern Avenue so SRP can relocate an irrigation pipe beneath the sidewalk as part of a required turn‑lane construction. Ordinance 025‑06 grants SRP a power distribution easement to serve expansion work at Heroes Regional Park.

Council adopted Ordinance 025‑07 to align the audit committee’s term expiration dates with other boards and commissions, changing terms to expire Jan. 31 of the relevant year. Staff said the change follows direction given at a Jan. 14 workshop and will be applied to existing members with adjusted term end dates.

On community safety and code conformity, the council adopted Ordinance 025‑08 to amend the city’s fireworks code. Deputy City Manager Rick St. John told the council the ordinance would “add May 4th, 5th [and] 6th, [and] the first through third days of Diwali” and shift the permissible New Year’s fireworks period to conform with state law. The council discussed constituent concerns about safety, noise and fire risk during the vote; Councilmember Conchas said she would work with the city manager’s office on potential mitigation measures while upholding the legal requirements.

In consent resolutions the council authorized entering an intergovernmental agreement with the Flood Control District of Maricopa County for the Bethany Home Road storm drain project and accepted a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) in the amount of $2,352,477.15 for the Glendale Fire Department.

The council also approved a slate of appointments to boards and commissions and administered oaths to new appointees. The appointments included members and officers for the audit committee, Citizens Transportation Oversight Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, Planning Commission, Aviation Advisory Commission, Municipal Property Corporation and the personnel board; names and term end dates were read into the record and approved as part of the consent agenda.

Votes at a glance (all actions approved unless otherwise noted): • Contract/Services agreement — P3 Systems Management LLC: engineering oversight, not to exceed $205,200 for one year; approved as part of consent (voice vote). • Ordinance 025‑03 — Rezoning (Bethany Home/Loop 303, PAD to PAD; Indicap development): approved (voice vote). • Ordinance 025‑04 — Rezoning (SW corner Sarabelle & Peoria; Peoria and 303 PAD): approved (voice vote). • Ordinance 025‑05 — SRP irrigation easement (75th & Northern, Legacy Place subdivision): approved (roll call; unanimous). • Ordinance 025‑06 — SRP power distribution easement (Heroes Regional Park expansion): approved (roll call; unanimous). • Ordinance 025‑07 — Amend code to align audit committee terms to Jan. 31: approved (roll call; unanimous). • Ordinance 025‑08 — Amend fireworks code (add May dates/Diwali days, adjust New Year’s window to conform to state law): approved (roll call; unanimous). • Resolution R25‑10 — Intergovernmental agreement with Flood Control District for Bethany Home Road storm drain: approved (consent resolution). • Resolution R25‑11 — Accept DHS Assistance to Firefighters Grant, $2,352,477.15: approved (consent resolution). • Appointments to boards/commissions — multiple appointments and oaths administered: approved (consent).

Council members and staff who spoke during the items that generated council action included Mayor Jerry Weiers, Vice Mayor Lauren Tolmachoff, Councilmember Lupe Conchas, Councilmember Bart Turner, Development Services Senior Planner Alex Arma, HR Director Jim Brown, Principal Engineer Jamie Chapin and Deputy City Manager Rick St. John. The meeting materials and staff reports cited Planning Commission recommendations and the city code amendments associated with the audit‑committee change.