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GLENDALE COMMUNITY OPPOSES PROPOSED RATE HIKES AT CITY HALL
http://asbarez.com/112612/glendale-community-opposes-proposed-rate-hikes-at-city-hall/
Thursday, August 8th, 2013
Glendale Water & Power
GLENDALE-On Tuesday, the Glendale City Council held a meeting regarding
a proposed thirty percent electrical rate increase within the next
five years for Glendale Water and Power customers.
The Armenian National Committee of America Glendale Chapter, along with
more than 150 community members, business owners, and representatives
of various community organizations attended in order to demonstrate
their opposition to the recommended plan of an 8% increase in 2013,
a 7% increase in 2014, a 5% increase in 2015, and 2% increases in
both 2016 and 2017. Councilmembers Ara Najarian and Laura Friedman,
along with Mayor Weaver made comments in support of the plan while
Councilmembers Zareh Sinanyan and Frank Quintero were adamantly
against it.
Within mere minutes of the gathering's commencement Mayor Weaver
collected oral communication cards, and stated he would no longer
accept any more speakers. Due to Weaver's unwillingness to accept any
more oral communication cards, only about thirty individuals were
allotted two minutes each in speaking time. After thirty speakers,
the general consensus was the following: the rates are too high and
City Council should consider alternatives.
"Most of the community feels that more moderate rates should be
considered, as suggested by two of the Councilmembers," stated ANCA
Glendale Executive Director Talar Malakian. "After surveying over six
hundred people and collecting over six hundred signatures against the
proposed rates, we have formulated a list of alternatives that may
lessen the increases, such as a cut to the amount of money transferred
from Glendale Water and Power to the City's General Fund. Another
possibility is to lower the reserve requirement for Glendale Water
and Power. A third option is to authorize a 40 million dollar bond,
instead of a 60 million dollar bond. There are options, but it seems
that some on the dais do not want to consider even looking at them."
When oral commentary was finished, City Staff, Mayor Weaver and City
Councilmember Laura Friedman echoed that the rate increases were
necessary to get Glendale Water and Power back on track with regards
to reaching the $114 million in reserves of the $124 million amount
set by Council, meeting state mandates and also completing capital
improvements. Councilmember Quintero suggested an alternative 3 to
4% increase instead and felt that other options should be heavily
considered, while the needs of the utility should be prioritized.
Councilmember Ara Najarian will introduce the proposal to increase
the rates by 8% in 2013, 7%, 5%, 2%, and 2% through 2018, for a
vote during next week's city council meeting, which will take place
Tuesday, August 13, 2013, 6:00pm at Glendale City Hall (613 E Broadway,
Glendale, CA 91206).
ANCA Glendale advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and
political rights of the city's Armenian American community and
promotes increased civic participation at the grassroots and public
policy levels.
http://asbarez.com/112612/glendale-community-opposes-proposed-rate-hikes-at-city-hall/
Thursday, August 8th, 2013
Glendale Water & Power
GLENDALE-On Tuesday, the Glendale City Council held a meeting regarding
a proposed thirty percent electrical rate increase within the next
five years for Glendale Water and Power customers.
The Armenian National Committee of America Glendale Chapter, along with
more than 150 community members, business owners, and representatives
of various community organizations attended in order to demonstrate
their opposition to the recommended plan of an 8% increase in 2013,
a 7% increase in 2014, a 5% increase in 2015, and 2% increases in
both 2016 and 2017. Councilmembers Ara Najarian and Laura Friedman,
along with Mayor Weaver made comments in support of the plan while
Councilmembers Zareh Sinanyan and Frank Quintero were adamantly
against it.
Within mere minutes of the gathering's commencement Mayor Weaver
collected oral communication cards, and stated he would no longer
accept any more speakers. Due to Weaver's unwillingness to accept any
more oral communication cards, only about thirty individuals were
allotted two minutes each in speaking time. After thirty speakers,
the general consensus was the following: the rates are too high and
City Council should consider alternatives.
"Most of the community feels that more moderate rates should be
considered, as suggested by two of the Councilmembers," stated ANCA
Glendale Executive Director Talar Malakian. "After surveying over six
hundred people and collecting over six hundred signatures against the
proposed rates, we have formulated a list of alternatives that may
lessen the increases, such as a cut to the amount of money transferred
from Glendale Water and Power to the City's General Fund. Another
possibility is to lower the reserve requirement for Glendale Water
and Power. A third option is to authorize a 40 million dollar bond,
instead of a 60 million dollar bond. There are options, but it seems
that some on the dais do not want to consider even looking at them."
When oral commentary was finished, City Staff, Mayor Weaver and City
Councilmember Laura Friedman echoed that the rate increases were
necessary to get Glendale Water and Power back on track with regards
to reaching the $114 million in reserves of the $124 million amount
set by Council, meeting state mandates and also completing capital
improvements. Councilmember Quintero suggested an alternative 3 to
4% increase instead and felt that other options should be heavily
considered, while the needs of the utility should be prioritized.
Councilmember Ara Najarian will introduce the proposal to increase
the rates by 8% in 2013, 7%, 5%, 2%, and 2% through 2018, for a
vote during next week's city council meeting, which will take place
Tuesday, August 13, 2013, 6:00pm at Glendale City Hall (613 E Broadway,
Glendale, CA 91206).
ANCA Glendale advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and
political rights of the city's Armenian American community and
promotes increased civic participation at the grassroots and public
policy levels.