Glendale council permits remote participation under AB 2449; recesses to closed session on personnel evaluations

The Glendale City Council on Jan. 27, 2025 approved Councilmember Kasakian's request to participate remotely under AB 2449 after he disclosed an upper sinus infection and confirmed he was alone, then recessed into closed session to conduct public employee performance evaluations of the city manager and the city attorney.

City staff told the council that, under AB 2449's "just cause" remote-participation rules, Kasakian needed to disclose whether he had a contagious illness preventing in-person attendance and whether any adults 18 or older were present with him. Councilmember Kasakian said he was requesting to participate remotely "because of an upper sinus infection" and that "I am alone," and the council moved to include his remote participation. A motion to allow remote participation was made and seconded and accepted without objection.

The meeting agenda was posted on Jan. 23, 2025 on the bulletin board outside City Hall, city staff noted. The council then listed two closed-session items: public employee performance evaluations for the city manager and the city attorney. Staff advised the council that it did not anticipate reporting out from the closed sessions.

Mayor Asadouyan called the roll before the procedural actions. Councilmembers Bateman, Perkian and Ajayian were present in the chamber; Councilmember Kasakian participated remotely and identified the reason for his remote attendance on the record as required by AB 2449. After the disclosures and the motion, the council recessed to closed session to consider the personnel evaluations.

No votes on personnel matters or other substantive actions were recorded in the public portion of the transcript, and staff said no report was expected following the closed sessions.