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Glendale council approves two Alex Theater City Day bookings and directs staff to revise sponsorship criteria
Summary
The Glendale City Council on April 28 approved two City Day bookings at the Alex Theater for Armenian community organizations and voted to direct staff to draft revised sponsorship criteria to limit recurring bookings and broaden access for new applicants.
Glendale's City Council on April 28 approved two City Day uses of the Alex Theater for community organizations and asked staff to return with revised sponsorship criteria aimed at balancing recurring tenants and new applicants.
The council unanimously approved a request to host an anniversary concert by an Armenian community choir on Oct. 18, 2026, and a storytelling performance by Armenian Fairy Tales Inc. on Dec. 20, 2026. Both uses were read into the record as part of a single management-services item that staff posted with the agenda on April 23, 2026.
"We just wanted to thank you for continued support," Luisa, speaking on behalf of Armenian Fairy Tales Inc., told the council during public comment. "We strive to create a community that promotes imagination, self-esteem, confidence, and helps our children become responsible community members." Christine Hovnanian, representing the 1000000 Youth Association of California, asked the council to approve the choir concert as part of the group's 20th-year celebration, describing plans to include Armenian folk music and dance groups.
After public comment, the council voted on a motion to approve both City Day requests. The motion to approve was moved by Council member Najarian and seconded by Council member Asadrian; roll-call votes were recorded in the affirmative and the motion passed.
Council discussion then turned to the City Day sponsorship program. The presiding chair said the council faces competing demands for Alex Theater dates and expressed concern that recurring bookings by the same organizations could limit opportunities for emerging groups. "I want to make sure that many different organizations that want to use them have an opportunity to," the chair said, urging criteria that consider public benefit, school outreach and ticket access for low-income families.
Several council members proposed establishing application deadlines and bundling decisions (for example, reviewing requests in one or two sittings per year) so the council can evaluate recurring requests and set aside dates for new applicants. Staff said they would explore batching approvals and bring back policy options.
The council then voted to direct staff to prepare a revised City Day sponsorship policy aligned with the slides and the direction given at the meeting, including options on how many recurring events to allow. The motion to direct staff was recorded as moved by Najarian and seconded by Asadrian; roll call recorded affirmative votes and the direction passed.
Following the votes the council recessed the public meeting to convene a closed session on a public-employment attorneys matter; the public meeting adjourned with a stated recess at 5:10 p.m.
