Paul Clinton
CIVIC CENTER -- The City Council has approved another $500,000 for
ongoing legal expenses related to the Burbank Airport, bringing the
city's bill for legal costs to $9 million in a little more than three
years.
The council approved the funding on a 4-0 vote without discussion on
March 21. Vice Mayor Bill Wiggins was absent. The money was allocated to
pay for future expenses, Councilman David Laurell said Thursday.
The city has been embroiled in a legal war with the
Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority over the construction of a
replacement airline terminal. The city achieved a significant victory May
5, 1999 when a state appellate court gave Burbank the right to approve
any land-use decision on airport property.
On Aug. 4 last year, the city and airport agreed to the Framework for
Settlement, which paved the way for the resolution of the lawsuits so a
new terminal could move forward. But talks have been halted, with two
pieces of litigation on hold.
The city has contested the airport's noise reduction plan, which must
be approved by an administrative law judge acting on behalf of Caltrans.
Also, Burbank sued to limit jet noise to the 360 acres surrounding the
airport.
