Accord on Terminal Plan Eludes Authority, City

Negotiators from the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority and the city of Burbank failed to reach accord on a new terminal plan during closed-door negotiations early this week, a source close to the talks said Tuesday.

The two parties met for seven hours Monday night, after the Airport Authority refused to approve a $30-million partial payment to Lockheed Martin for the 130-acre, Plant B-6 site planned for the new terminal.

The full Airport Authority is scheduled to take up the matter again today. A Burbank Superior Court judge had set Monday as the deadline for the Airport Authority to make the payment for the property, which the airport seized in 1997 by eminent domain.

Lockheed Martin officials said that under a 10-day grace period, the Airport Authority has until Aug. 6 to pay up or lose the property and pay millions in damages.

Airport officials maintain they want concrete assurances from Burbank’s elected officials before making any payment to Lockheed. Burbank officials said they have gone as far as they can go by saying a 14-gate proposal is consistent with long-standing city policy.

The source said the biggest sticking point between the sides remains whether expansion of the terminal beyond 14 gates will be linked to a mandatory nighttime curfew. Discussions have also centered on funding for infrastructure and future lawsuits related to the project.