Glendale Coalition Investigating City Policy on Handling Claims of City Insiders.

On September 12, 2016 former Glendale City Manager Jim Starbird filed a claim against the City of Glendale for $1 Million dollar. The claim alleges that a dangerous condition was created by the negligent or wrongful act of employees whose names are unknown. The claim further alleges the the dangerous conditions was a raised sidewalk that created a significant trip hazard .

The GCBG is concerned about any favorable treatment Mr. Starbird’s claim may receive as a result of his extensive personal and professional knowledge of persons in positions to determine his claim. Mr Startbird has been intimately involved in the operation of the city of Glendale from 1997 to 2011 as the City Manager. Mr. Startbird has personal knowledge of the city attorney and city manager. Mr. Startbird has been widely praised by existing council members.

The GCBG is concerned that persons in position of approving and or recommending any settlement may consciously or subconsciously provide favorable treatment to the claim of Mr. Startbird. With that in mind the GCBG requested the following documents.

• Documents from the city of Glendale that charts or tabulates claims made against the city of Glendale as a result of sidewalk defects in the last three years. The documents requested include, but are not limited to, any documents that chart or tabulate, the amount of claim paid, the span of time to resolve a claim, the nature of the injury claimed, the name or ethnicity of the claimants, the location of the claim, the attorney representing the claim.
• If the city does not have charts or tables of the nature requested, we ask that you provide any documents that exist of claims filed in the last 3 years that would contain the information requested above for the GCBG to produce a matrix that would provide a basis for a comparable method of evaluation of claims. A method based on objective data so as to preclude and/or make aware any persons in authority on determining the claims of Mr. Starbird of conscious or subconscious influence.
  • The documents are to cover the 3 year period of either:
    As of date of injury from March 16, 2013, through and including March 16, 2016 or
    Date of claim filed from March 16, 2013 through and including September 16, 2016
    Depending on how the city maintains its records.

The Glendale Coalition for Better Government is an organization dedicated to advocating for sustainable, responsible and transparent government in the City of Glendale CA.