6-Month Truce Called in Airport Dispute : Controversy: Warring factions will bring in a mediator to settle on-going battle over size of a new passenger terminal.

In a special meeting Tuesday, the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority voted to observe a six-month “cooling off period” in its running dispute with the three cities which established the airport.

An independent mediator will be hired to help iron out differences between the airport authority and the three cities over the airport’s future.

Negotiations to buy a 120-acre parcel from Lockheed Martin Corp. for a controversial new airport terminal expansion have been put on hold for the six-month period, and it was agreed the proposed purchase will not be discussed, publicly or privately.

The move follows recent calls by the city councils of Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena for a truce in a conflict that has often polarized Burbank against the other two cities, officials said.

In addition, a special 12-member committee made up of Airport Authority commissioners and council members from the three cities is scheduled to meet tonight to discuss the selection of a meditator to help supporters and critics of the terminal project reach a compromise during the six-month period.

Fearing a dramatic increase in aircraft noise, residents of Burbank and other communities around the airport have waged a vocal campaign against a proposed new terminal that would triple the size of the existing building.

Airport authority President Carl Raggio said he believes the truce will help “each side see where the other is coming from,” and lead to an agreement for a new terminal that meets current federal safety standards.

“Hopefully, the mediation process will identify the real differences between the airport authority and [Burbank], and give us direction on how to resolve those differences,” said Raggio. “Part of the problem is that there is a lack of understanding on the part of Burbank as to what the airport authority is. They don’t recognize us as an independent government agency.”

Each of the three cities, including Burbank, appoints three members to the airport commission, created by the three cities under state law to operate the airport when it was acquired from Lockheed.

The “cooling-off period” was looked upon with guarded optimism even by some of the fiercest critics of the proposed terminal expansion.

“I think the time has come to, if it is humanly possible, get this thing resolved,” said Burbank City Councilman Ted McConkey.

“I am still a little suspicious--we’ve had so many disappointments where they [the airport authority] have said one thing and then done another--but I am going to accept that they are acting in good faith. However, I’m still going to pay close attention; I want to see some results.”

Many details still must be worked out, including who will pay for the mediator, and how much. Burbank officials have asked that the airport authority foot the bill, which could range from as much as $100,000 to $150,000, officials said.

The list of possible candidates for the job includes state Sen. Newton Russell (R-Glendale) and a mediation service of the Southern California Assn. of Governments.