Paul Clinton
AIRPORT DISTRICT -- Stung by sharp criticism from the Federal Aviation
Administration about the proposed settlement agreement with the Burbank
Airport, Burbank officials said the agency isn't doing enough help
resolve the expansion dispute.
"It's a little bit frustrating," Councilman Dave Golonski said. "I
think the FAA ought to be more actively involved and provide some more
active guidance about what is going to be more acceptable."
In a Nov. 22 letter to The Los Angeles Times editorial page that was
published by the paper Sunday, FAA chief Jane Garvey criticized the
framework deal. The proposed settlement to the long-standing terminal
dispute was negotiated by Golonski, Mayor Stacey Murphy and Burbank
Airport officials in the summer.
Without citing specific examples, Garvey said several provisions of
the Aug. 4 agreement violate federal law.
The administrator, citing a need to strike "a delicate balance between
local needs and national interests," called on the framework's authors to
remove one of its most controversial provisions -- the airport's promise
to seek a ban on easterly departures.
That provision has drawn fire from Los Angeles officials who say
neighborhoods west of the airport will bear the brunt of the noise from
any new terminal.
Burbank Airport Commissioner Charles Lombardo said Garvey's letter
failed to adequately address the framework.
"Tell us what you can live with and that will be a starting point,"
Lombardo said. "Don't leave us guessing. This isn't airport by
telepathy."
Under the terms of the Framework for Settlement, the
Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority and city negotiators agreed
to a 14-gate, 330,000-square-foot terminal. While it has the same number
of gates as the current facility, it is nearly double the size.
Burbank residents will cast advisory ballots on the document shortly
before the City Council considers a development agreement on the facility
in April.
While Golonski was concerned by the letter, Murphy said Monday she had
not read it.
Peter Kirsch, Burbank's attorney on airport issues, downplayed the
importance of Garvey's comments.
"We certainly remain hopeful that the FAA is continuing meet with us,"
Kirsch said.
On Nov. 1, Murphy and Kirsch met face to face with Garvey at the FAA's
Washington, D.C. headquarters to discuss the framework.
Garvey's Nov. 22 letter followed her meeting Nov. 9 with three Los
Angeles congressmen -- Howard Berman (D-Mission Hills), Brad Sherman
(D-Sherman Oaks) and Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles). With the support of
Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, several Los Angeles city
councilmen and Los Angeles City Atty. James Hahn, the congressmen have
lobbied Garvey not to sign off on a deal that vows to seek a ban on
easterly takeoffs.
Other airport officials were unruffled by Garvey's letter. Dios
Marerro, the authority's acting executive director, said it was a basis
for further discussion between the airport, city, FAA and other affected
parties.
The ongoing criticism of the easterly takeoffs provision has caused
Marerro and others to reconsider its inclusion in the development
agreement.
"We need to take a look at that whole area," Marerro said.
