Glendora council hears closed‑session briefing on water threats; staff, police and Edison urged better PSPS communications

The Glendora City Council met in closed session on Jan. 14 for an emergency briefing about a potential threat to public services and facilities and received a staff update on the city’s water system, supply and capacity amid recent high winds and nearby wildfires.

City Attorney (name not specified) told the council, “City staff gave a briefing to the council regarding the city's water system, the water supply, water capacity, and the potential, imminent threats posed by fire, fire hazards. There was no other reportable action taken though.” The closed session was added as an emergency item under Government Code section 54957.

After the meeting’s open session, council and staff described steps taken during recent high‑wind events and temporary power outages. City officials said staff prefilled water tanks, mobilized backup pumping equipment, and used mobile assets to keep reservoirs and hydrants ready for fire response. Public Works staff noted one local pumping facility near Lorraine and Sierra Madre shut down during an outage, and the city used mobile generators and tank fills to maintain service.

Council members also recounted a two‑hour conference call with Southern California Edison (SCE) that included about 200 local officials. City staff reported that Edison said its Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) procedures are governed by the California Public Utilities Commission and that circuit maps can be about 85% accurate. City Manager Adam Raymond summarized the call and said Edison told officials the utility may shut power without prior notice in some microclimate incidents: “...if in their incident command, they receive, notification of what they call a microclimate event…they will turn off the power without notification.”

Council members praised city staff, police and public‑works crews for emergency response and cleanup during the storms and wildfire threats. Mayor Fridendahl told residents the city’s water system is operational: “Glendora's water infrastructure is in fact ready to serve. It is in serving condition and operational. Our fire hydrants work.”

Staff said the city will pursue more resident education on brush clearance and emergency preparedness, schedule public outreach and training, and distribute information in the next mailed Glendora report. The police chief and city manager said they will coordinate with Southern California Edison and other agencies and have invited Edison to a future council meeting for public discussion.

Ending: City staff stressed the need for continued resident vigilance, brush clearance and timely reporting of emergencies; no further reportable action was announced from the closed session.