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City staff outlines effects of recent federal funding pause and reports ahead on storm cleanup progress
Summary
Finance staff described how a recent federal funding pause could affect CDBG and other passthrough programs while Public Works reported near‑completion of storm cleanup efforts, with nearly 600 service calls handled to date.
City staff briefed the Glendale City Council on Jan. 28 about the impacts of an administration order that temporarily paused some federal funding and on the city’s ongoing storm cleanup.
John Taktalian (Finance), speaking for the administration, said the order was a broad, short‑lived directive that affects many program areas and entities that receive federal pass‑through funds. He told the council that while some large programs were verbally identified as excluded, staff were still clarifying the scope and expected timelines. “Direct assistance programs such as Section 8 are excluded from this particular order, and we will be able to make those payments to landlords at the beginning of next month,” Taktalian said, listing commonly excluded categories (Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Pell grants and certain small‑business assistance) as noted by federal guidance. He said the federal judge’s order is temporary and was expected to be in place for about a week while agencies review programs to determine continued eligibility.
Taktalian said the city’s large federally funded programs that were of immediate concern included Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding of about $4.2 million, the Elderly Nutrition Meals Program, Emergency Solutions Grant funding and Continuum of Care homelessness funding. He said the city had reserves in some accounts and did not expect immediate service disruptions, but that a prolonged pause would require contingency planning and could prompt a special council session. Councilmembers asked staff to assemble contingency options if the pause lengthened.
Public Works reported progress on storm cleanup after recent high‑wind and rain events. Public Works Director Hernandez reported nearly 600 service calls (589) with 302 trees down and 285 large limbs. Hernandez said crews had nearly completed systematic sweeps on seven of 12 maintenance districts, had deployed contractor crews (including West Coast Harbors) for surge work and were tracking ahead of an initial 6–8 week estimate, now projecting 4–5 weeks to complete the main sweep barring further weather. Staff said a Saturday crew deployment and overtime would accelerate the effort and that the department would inform residents when later individual requests remained.
Ending: Council directed staff to return quickly with contingency plans should the federal funding pause extend; public works will continue accelerated cleanup and return with status updates.
