Glendale keeps Glorietta concession with longtime operator, approves Fremont award amid RFP dispute

The Glendale City Council on June 10 voted to award the Glorietta Park tennis concession to long‑time operator Vigan Khanlarian and to accept staff’s recommendation for the Fremont Park contract, after debate about scoring criteria used in the request for proposals and a large public turnout urging the council to retain the existing Glorietta operator.

The decision matters because the council departed from staff’s recommendation for Glorietta, which had proposed awarding that site to Hard 8 Incorporated following a competitive RFP process. Council members said community testimony and the closeness of interview scores justified selecting the current operator for Glorietta while following staff recommendations for Fremont.

Staff told the council the RFP was released Dec. 17, 2024, and drew 17 submissions (11 unique). Five proposals met minimum qualifications and were interviewed by two panels: an external panel of municipal tennis managers and an internal panel of Glendale staff. Senior staff described the RFP criteria as experience and qualifications; range of services; daily operational plan; proposed payment to the city; and advertising/marketing. Aaron Israel, the senior assistant city attorney, warned the council that competitive‑solicitation law requires the city to follow the selection process described in the RFP and that any different weighting or new criteria would normally require reissuing the RFP. "The law governing competitive solicitation requires that once a public agency establishes a selection process, the agency must adhere to that selection process," Israel said.

Public testimony focused heavily on Vigan Khanlarian, who has operated Glorietta courts for decades. Speakers including coach Artak Hartounian and longtime residents described a multi‑generational program and urged the council to preserve it. "Coach Vigan has created a healthy, welcoming, and safe environment where everyone feels included," Hartounian said. Others noted the court’s role for seniors and youth, and that more than 200 people had signed a petition supporting Khanlarian.

Staff presented comparative figures: proposed hourly rental rates ranged roughly $8–$20 at Glorietta and $10–$20 at Fremont; free open‑play hours proposed varied widely (Glorietta roughly 20–84 hours per week; Fremont proposals ranged about 40–194 hours), and five‑year anticipated revenue estimates ran about $200,000–$265,000 for Glorietta and about $500,000–$1,057,000 for Fremont, depending on proposer and revenue model. Staff recommended awarding Glorietta to Hard 8 Incorporated and Fremont to Glendale Tennis Academy, with five‑year contracts and options to renew year‑to‑year for up to five additional years.

Council members questioned the weighting given to advertising and marketing and whether it fairly reflected the community use and history of Glorietta. Several members said the scoring differences were narrow and that local continuity and demonstrated public access weighed heavily. At the end of deliberations a councilmember moved to enact the alternative described in the staff report’s options: award Glorietta to the current operator, Vigan Khanlarian, approve the Fremont award as recommended, and reject other proposals; the motion passed on roll call (four votes in favor, one abstention). The roll call recorded four votes in favor and Mayor Najarian abstaining.

City staff said contracts will require adherence to the RFP terms including minimum program hours and reporting; staff also said a reservation/registration software module exists and could be added for whichever operator is selected. Hard 8’s representative, Jessica Pratt, told the council her group runs community programs and would use reservation software if selected: "We have to bring the inclusivity back," Pratt said.

Councilmembers and staff emphasized that legal constraints on altering the RFP remain a consideration for future procurement questions. The council directed staff to proceed with contract paperwork consistent with the council motion and to report back as needed on implementation details such as reservation software and enforcement of minimum public hours.