“It would cost Glendale about $1 million to . . . provide their own maintenance. It was more cost-effective than the county or private contractors.”
The existing agreement calls for Burbank to service all of Glendale’s 214 traffic signals, six flashing beacons and 36 in-roadway warning light systems. Traffic crews will also complete routine inspection services for 14 closed-circuit television cameras, staff reports said.
Since the initial contract was signed 14 years ago, Glendale has renewed the agreement four times, each time committing to a smaller contract as they continually search for the most cost-effective option, Johnson said.
The current agreement expires at the end of the month. Glendale called for a nine-month extension as the city searched for a more cost-effective alternative, Johnson said.
“The contract is for $600,000 a year,” he said. “We felt that we need to maintain their signals at a minimum level to protect us from liability, but Glendale felt they didn’t need that minimum level. They think they could save up to $150,000.”
For Glendale, the issue is not about safety, but maintaining a level of budget efficiency, Glendale Traffic and Transportation Administrator Jano Baghdanian said.
“If we believe there is a cost savings to Glendale, then we will go with a private contractor,” he said. “Every five years we evaluate our contract to see if the contract price is competitive.
“We will not sacrifice the safety of Glendale. We have agreed to a standard that Burbank [has set]. We will never have any standards below that.”
But Glendale might not find a better deal elsewhere, Johnson said.
