Safety Element​

​​

Safety Element Public Review Draft (Click Here)

​​

 

The 2025 Safety Element Update was adopted by the City Council on April 1, 2025.

​

The public comment period for the Safety Element Public Draft was open from November 18, 2024 through December 18, 2024. It was also reviewed and approved by the California Board of Forestry and Fire Prevention at their meeting on January 21, 2025. On March 5, 2025, the Planning Commission reviewed the Draft Safety Element and made a recommendation of approval to the City Council. .

​​

For questions, please contact Long Range Planning at GlendalePlan@GlendaleCA.gov or (818) 548-2140.​​

​ ___________________________________________________________________________________​​

​

The Safety Element, a required Element in the General Plan, is being updated per California state laws that have been recently passed requiring that goals and policies to address climate change-related risks in Glendale, as well as updated information and best practices related to flooding and wildfires.​​

Climate Change
New policies and programs will be added to the Safety Element to address climate risks in Glendale. Communities in Glendale are already experiencing the impacts of climate change which are expected to continue and worsen over time. Some of these impacts are shown below.

 

​
 

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

 

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

The Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment describes how climate change may impact communities and physical and natural assets throughout the City of Glendale. The Safety Element will be updated to include climate risk considerations.

​

Wildfires
Wildfires pose a threat to urban-wildland areas in Glendale. The Safety Element update will include updated wildfire hazard maps and new policies and programs to help reduce the risk of property damage, loss of life, and loss of wildlife habitat.

 

Landslides
Heavy rain events in Glendale can lead to slope failures, or landslides, especially after a wildfire event. Additional policies will be added to the Safety Element to bolster existing strategies to minimize impacts from potential landslides, which could increase in frequency and severity from climate change.

 

Flooding
Glendale is at risk for occasional extreme rain events that may overwhelm the stormwater drainage system. While the Verdugo Wash acts as a stream that prevents major flooding in Glendale, the Safety Element offers flood-control measures to prevent possible damage. New strategies will be included that anticipate the increasing frequency of heavy rain events that could impact the stormwater system.

 

Emergency Capacity Analysis

To ensure the safety of all Glendale residents in the case of an emergency, the Safety Element update will include an evaluation of the transportation network’s capacity to handle various emergency evacuation scenarios. New policies and programs will be included to improve evacuation for impacted communities.

 

Other hazards are identified and addressed in the existing Safety Element. These include earthquakes, terrorism, dangerous animals and plants, and hazardous materials.

​

Safety Element Timeline

• Last comprehensively updated in 1998

• Amendments made in 2003

• Project Kick-Off: Winter 2023

• Public outreach and background research: Spring and Summer 2024

• Public draft: Released November 18, 2024 and available for comment until December 18, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

• Final draft for City Council Adoption: Anticipated 2025

​

Information regarding the City's current Safety Element can be found on the City of Glendale's General Plan website.  

​