Buck Wargo
CITY HALL -- A decision on whether Glendale's homeless will get
shelter this winter is set for Tuesday.
The solution, however, would be costly and could leave the city out in
the cold with a portable building and no guarantee of having a place to
put it in the future.
Glendale's housing department staff is recommending the Glendale
Housing Authority spend $291,341 in federal block grant funds to purchase
a steel-framed building with a canvas cover and install it at the city's
Public Works Department yard, 540 W. Chevy Chase Drive.
That solves the problem of having a homeless shelter for this winter
to replace the National Guard Armory, but the city property is a one-year
option. A recycling center will be built on the site next year.
In a report to the authority, Housing Director Madalyn Blake said her
staff is looking at permanent sites, including partnerships to share the
use with other city departments such as parks, water and power and public
works. Burbank is also considered a potential partner, she said.
Homeless advocates have been been unsuccessful in their yearlong
search for a new shelter. The Glendale City Council has forbidden the
armory be used again because of complaints homeless were bothering
patrons at the Central Library and Adult Recreation Center. Downtown
business owners also complained.
The housing department was unable to find a building that could be
renovated and be leased between November and March when the shelter is
open. Glendale churches and social services organizations were also
considered, but none of those options panned out.
The Glendale City Council budgeted $200,000 in federal block grant
funds for renovating a building. The canvas-covered structure, which can
be installed and removed in a matter of days, will cost $224,972. It will
cost the city another $73,586 a year for its installation, removal and
utility bills.
Blake said an extra $91,341 is available from a senior housing project
under budget. Another $7,217 would come from the Los Angeles Homeless
Services Authority, which also pays for the shelter's operation.
The Glendale City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council
chambers of City Hall, 613 E. Broadway. The Glendale Housing Authority
will meet at 2:30 p.m. and the Glendale Redevelopment Agency at 3:30 p.m.
The meetings will be televised live on Charter Cable Channel 6. In other
action, the council will consider:
* As the Redevelopment Agency, hear a status report about the future
plans for A Noise Within returning to Glendale.
* Approving a design for the San Fernando Road landscape project.
* Adopting a resolution accepting a federal grant of $3 million for
the city to administrator a program for providing high-tech job training
for workers in the movie industry.
* Award a contract to Quality Paper Fibers to operate the Glendale
Recycling Center.
* Hiring a consultant for technical assistance for setting up a
traffic signal system to speed up Beeline buses.
* A report on the construction schedule for the repaving of South
Brand Boulevard.
