Council hosting forum
Mark R. Madler
With the proposed development agreement between the City Council and
Bob Hope Airport being the most hotly debated issue facing the city,
the council will have a public forum next month to give residents a
chance to address the issue directly outside of a regular meeting.
The forum takes place Jan. 12 at the Buena Vista branch of the
Burbank Public Library, 300 Buena Vista St.
“I hope we can educate the public on what the plan really looks
like, talk about the pros and cons and get some dialogue going,” said
Councilwoman Stacey Murphy, who originally proposed the idea during
the Nov. 16 council meeting.
Councilman Todd Campbell said he wasn’t trying to change minds but
rather present information on the agreement.
“People on all sides are well intentioned,” Campbell said. “The
more we talk about it, the more people understand what are the
issues. The council is interested in what the public has to say.”
The council is scheduled to vote on the agreement at its Jan. 18
meeting.
The proposed development agreement lays out cooperation between
the city and airport on noise mitigation; stops terminal expansion
for 10 years; stops expansion of the general aviation land-use area;
allows the airport to purchase an adjacent parking lot; places on
hold the sale of the B-6 trust property; and permits construction of
a taxiway.
The forum will include a 90-minute open house where the public can
talk with council members and city staff about the agreement. A more
formal session will then follow.
A representative from the Bob Hope Airport is expected to be at
the forum, airport spokesman Victor Gill said.
Carolyn Berlin, a member of an anti-airport expansion group, said
she hopes the forum gets a good turnout.
“It’s really important that the council hear what all the people
have to say,” Berlin said. “It’s just as important that the people
hear what all the council members have to say.”
The anti-expansion group is pressing the council to sell the B-6
trust property and to allow a public vote on the development
agreement.