GARDEN GROVE fire truck (GGFD photo).

A look back and a look up will be on the agenda of the Garden Grove City Council when it meets Tuesday night. The city leaders will receive an independent audit report on the work done by David Barlag, when he served as public safety administrative officer in 2014. They will also consider rules and policies regarding digital billboard signs along the Garden Grove Freeway.

The report, prepared by the firm of Burke, Williams & Sorensen LLP, examines the work done by Barlag during his service in the position created after his resignation as fire chief.

DAVID BARLAG (GGFD photo).

He left the fire chief post under a cloud of controversy, including issues with fire safety inspections not made, and allegations of nepotism in hiring in the fire department. Barlag agreed to step down and was appointed by then-City Manager Matt Fertal to the newly-created “public safety” post, from which he later resigned.

The controversy is believed to have figured in the retirement/resignation of Fertal and the narrow defeat of long-time incumbent mayor Bruce Broadwater by challenger Bao Nguyen in the 2014 election.

Also on the agenda is a discussion of the digital signs now popping up along Garden Grove’s namesake freeway. Existing vinyl billboards can be converted to digital formats with city approval. As many as five potential new sites for the electronic signs have been identified by city staff.

The council meets at 6:30 p.m. in its chambers at 11300 Stanford Ave., east of Euclid Street.