The City of Glendale is ramping up its efforts to gather community sentiment on proposed council districts through two upcoming public forums, as part of its ongoing investigation into whether to shift to district-based elections. The latest move, which comes after an extensive series of workshops and community pop-ups, aims to ensure local voices are heard before any plans are presented to Glendale voters.
With a track record of 14 workshops and six community pop-ups since June of last year, the city has been on a mission to collect insights on everything from district formation to election preferences. January and February saw an added push, with eight stakeholder meetings designed to gain a nuanced understanding from community leaders and groups. For the forums, Glendale's team, including consultants from Tripepi Smith and National Demographics Corporation, will be fielding questions and gathering feedback on the proposed district maps—30 five of which were drawn by the community and three highlighted for further discussion.
Residents interested in influencing the decision-making process can attend the first forum on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at 5:30 pm, at Pacific Park's Sycamore Room located at 501 S. Pacific Ave. The second opportunity takes place on Thursday, April 18, 2024, also at 5:30 pm, but at the Civic Auditorium's Terrace Room on 1401 N. Verdugo Rd. These sessions represent critical junctures for public input ahead of the City Council's deliberation concerning the future of Glendale's electoral system.
Post-forum, the Council will decide whether to move forward with the proposed plan, which, if sanctioned by voters come November, means a transition to six equally populated districts and an at-large elected Mayor in the June 2026 Council elections. For further details on the discussion surrounding Glendale's potential switch to district elections, the city has directed interested parties to the website at MapGlendale.org or to reach out by phone at (818) 548-4844, pressing option 1.
Additional queries can be addressed through the email [email protected]. This step towards greater civic engagement demonstrates the city's commitment to ensuring that the structure of its council elections aligns with the preferences and interests of Glendale residents.
