Some Burbank Offices to Test Evening Hours

Beginning Feb. 6, some Burbank city offices will begin staying open until 7 p.m. every Tuesday as part of a pilot program.

The program, which will be in effect for three months, is designed to make City Hall offices more accessible to the public, Assistant City Manager Chris Foss said. All city offices previously closed at 5 p.m.

Foss said the city offices participating in the extended hours program include: the city clerk’s office; the building and planning division of the Community Development Department; the reservations and registration counter at the Parks and Recreation Department; the permit counter of the Public Works Department and the payment section of the Public Service Department.

Councilman Tim Murphy, who suggested the idea of keeping city offices open later, said, “Hopefully, people will take advantage of it, so we can open up other departments.” Murphy said that with City Hall opened later, residents might be encouraged to attend and participate in City Council meetings, which are held every Tuesday night beginning at 7 p.m.

The pilot program will be in effect until the first week of May, when it will be evaluated by the City Council and staff, Foss said.