Public Works, re: Consideration of Regulations for Personal Delivery Devices (PDDs) Operating Within the Public Right-of-Way 1) Motion providing direction regarding one of the following options: a. Initiate development of a permanent ordinance regulating PDDs b. Direct staff to prepare a limited pilot program prior to adopting permanent regulations; or c. Note and file this report and defer action pending further regional coordination and monitoring

The Glendale City Council is considering how to regulate Personal Delivery Devices (PDDs), such as sidewalk robots, operating in the public right-of-way. Currently, there are no specific regulations in Glendale for these devices, which are increasingly used for last-mile deliveries. Staff has presented three options:

a. Initiate development of a permanent ordinance: This would establish comprehensive rules, permitting, and operating agreements for PDD operators.

b. Prepare a limited pilot program: This would allow for data collection and community feedback before permanent regulations are adopted.

c. Note and file the report: This would defer action, relying on regional coordination and monitoring of other cities' approaches.

Staff recommends options A or B to proactively control sidewalk usage. Outreach to local restaurants indicated positive experiences with current PDD use, citing reliability and efficiency. Business organizations expressed support for proactive regulation and potential revenue generation, but raised concerns about public privacy, liability, and incident response. Future outreach would include disability advocacy groups and additional business representatives. No immediate fiscal impact is expected, but future costs for administration, enforcement, and data monitoring are anticipated, potentially offset by permitting fees or operator agreements. The activity is exempt from CEQA review.