Burbank opts to stagger terms for airport commissioners

The Burbank City Council on Tuesday decided to stagger the terms for the city’s commissioners on the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority in an effort to attract new applicants while still having members with experience serving on the agency that oversees the Hollywood Burbank Airport.

Though council members voted to reappoint the commissioners who are currently serving on the board — Ray Adams, Don Brown and Bill Wiggins — they will have different term lengths.

Brown, a retired Burbank police officer, was randomly chosen to serve a two-year term that will end May 31, 2019. Adams, a former real estate agent, and Wiggins, a former Burbank councilman who is currently the authority president, will both serve four-year terms that will end May 31, 2021.

Should Brown be reappointed again or replaced after the two-year term, the following person appointed to the position will serve four years, thus establishing the staggering of terms.

Councilman Bob Frutos, who initially supported sticking with the status quo, said he was confused as to why they were being asked to change the commissioners’ terms.

Vice Mayor Emily Gabel-Luddy said that having the terms staggered is a good way to create continuity and will help newer members get up to speed with the issues while still having experienced members on the authority.

Mayor Will Rogers added that the City Council and the other city commissions and boards all have staggered terms.

The city clerk’s office received seven applications from residents wanting to serve on the airport authority. In addition to the three existing members who were reappointed, the other candidates were former City Manager Robert “Bud” Ovrom, Burbank Transportation Commissioner Paul Dyson, Christopher Ridenhour and Kevin O’Brien.

anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com

Twitter: @acocarpio