At a glance: Glendale council approves firefighters pay fix, SoCalGas work authorization, CNG fueling agreement, library contract and appointments

The Glendale City Council on April 29, 2025, approved a range of consent and action items spanning labor, utilities, fleet fueling, library services and commission appointments. Key approvals included a side‑letter to correct staff‑captain pay for pension calculations, authorization to proceed with Phase 2 collectible work authorizations (CWA) with Southern California Gas Company for the Grayson Repowering Project, authorization to execute a new agreement with Clean Energy for compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station operations with renewable natural gas (RNG) procurement, and routine purchasing and appointment items.

Summary of approved items (votes taken at the April 29 meeting):

- Firefighters side‑letter (Human Resources): Council approved a side letter agreement with the Glendale Firefighters Association to revise MOU language and authorize additional payments to ensure correct pension treatment for staff‑captain pay. Staff reported a one‑time fully loaded cost of $43,377. The item passed on roll call.

- Grayson Repowering Project (Glendale Water & Power): Council authorized the City Manager to enter into Phase 2 Collectible Work Authorization agreements with Southern California Gas Company for upgrades at the Grayson site in an aggregate amount not to exceed $4,109,042. Staff explained design changes intended to reduce the total cost and said final costs will be reported back; members asked staff to return with final contract costs after final design. The motion passed on roll call; one member recorded an abstention on a related GWP item earlier in the meeting.

- CNG/RNG fueling agreement and appropriation (Public Works): Council dispensed with competitive bidding and authorized execution of an agreement with Clean Energy for operations, maintenance, RNG procurement and credits administration, and approved a resolution of appropriation of $2,540,400 in Measure M local return funds for replacement fueling station equipment. Staff said the city currently uses RNG supplied via the station and that ownership of the station enables the city to capture low‑carbon fuel credits. The motion passed on roll call.

- Libraries integrated library system (Libraries, Arts & Culture): Council dispensed with competitive bidding for integrated library system services, authorizing a single‑year service authorization with Innovative Interfaces Inc. in a not‑to‑exceed amount of $104,675.50 while staff prepares a new RFP. The motion passed on roll call.

- Chess tournament sponsorship (Consent 4F): Council approved a $12,000 sponsorship for the California State Open Chess Tournament and appropriated $12,000 for the sponsorship.

- Appointments to boards and commissions: Council selected Jeffrey Head to fill a seat on the Historic Preservation Commission and appointed Vartan Jihanyan to the Civil Service Commission. The appointments were confirmed by roll call vote.

How council described next steps: For several of the larger infrastructure items staff will report final contract terms and costs after vendor negotiations and design refinements. On the Grayson repowering project, staff said final SoCalGas scope and price remain under negotiation and that a follow‑up note or presentation would be provided once the design is finalized. On the CNG/RNG item, staff said replacing equipment and, if desired, purchasing the station will allow the city to receive low‑carbon fuel credits going forward.

Several public commenters asked for greater transparency on labor costs, pension impacts and the overall budgetary effects of contracts and capital projects; staff and the council directed follow‑up briefings and to include relevant departments (finance, audit, and procurement) in future updates.