Council should assist residents, not airport parking...
Council should assist residents, not airport parking
The 2% transient-parking tax increase was projected to bring in
more than $300,000 to help offset our budget shortfalls. In rejecting
this tax, the council plans to replace the $300,000 by taking it from
reserves built from the city’s utility-use revenues. So, in effect,
the council has decided to take money from the citizens of Burbank
and give it to all the people who park at the airport, the vast
majority of whom don’t even live in Burbank.
The excuse given for this decision by the council is that the
economic climate due to the price wars at the parking lots around the
airport make this a bad time to increase the tax.
Let’s look at what the proposed 2% tax increase would have cost
the airport user. Twenty four-hour-parking rates range from $5 to
$18. A 2% tax increase would add between 10 and 36 cents to present
rates. Can anyone honestly believe that airport patrons will stop
coming because it is going to cost them an extra 10 cents every 24
hours? I don’t think so.
MOLLY HYMAN
Burbank
Make public-comment period like school boards
I would like to see the City Council public comment period reduced
to one five-minute period like the Burbank Unified School District.
Why three periods? It only gives the “gadflies,” who are not
residents of Burbank for the most part, three opportunities to get up
and insult our hard-working council members. It’s a shame that a few
“rotten apples” spoil the barrel, however, I’m certain that most
speakers can get their points across within the allotted five-minute
period. What a shame that we must be subjected to the diatribe of
these activists week after week.
ELSIE D. JEFFERS
Burbank
Council should limit number of speakers at meetings
The subject of oral discussion by residents before and during
council meetings will be coming up for consideration by the council.
The Brown Act states that residents have the right to speak at
allotted times set by local councils.
It would seem fair to me if two periods of communication were
available for three to five minutes each, but certainly more than one
or two minutes. One period would cover agenda items and one period
would cover general issues related to Burbank. There should be
limitations on the number of speakers who want to express their
views. City business has to be discussed by the council as well as
listening to residents.
However, if an issue like a major development is to be voted on,
then more time for speakers should be allotted.
Some speakers are abusive. This should not be allowed. You can be
passionate and excitable when expressing yourself, but abusiveness of
council or public officials is demeaning and should not be tolerated.
WESLEY GREENE
Burbank
Chamber one of Leadership Burbank founders
The Leadership Burbank program truly appreciates the coverage
recently provided by the Burbank Leader, however, we would like to
make one correction.
The Burbank Chamber, along with the Burbank Unified School
District, the city of Burbank, and Woodbury University, is just one
of the founders of the program.
Leadership Burbank is a broad-based community program designed to
identify, educate, and motivate leaders within the Burbank community.
While it is not a Chamber of Commerce program, we are proud to
support its mission and look forward to our continued participation.
SUSAN BOWERS
Executive director,
Burbank Chamber of Commerce