Laura Sturza
Airport Authority commissioners approved immediate expansion of
the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport for security needs, though city
building permits have not been issued.
Construction preparation is expected to start this week, following
Monday's vote to award the $10.5-million construction phase to
Glendale's George Hopkins Construction Co. Other aspects of the
$25-million project include design and consulting fees, equipment and
surveillance systems.
The six Pasadena and Glendale commissioners approved the project
while Burbank commissioners Charlie Lombardo and Bill Wiggins opposed
it. Burbank Commissioner Don Brown abstained.
"I need to have permits first," Lombardo said.
Lobbying for delay, Wiggins said "we're a week and a half away
from having Measure A be overturned," referring to Friday's scheduled
hearing to decide the legality of a voter-approved measure limiting
airport noise and expansion.
City officials have withheld permits until the court rules on
Measure A.
The Transportation Security Administration has outlined its
recommendations for additions of 25,000 square feet for security
equipment, baggage and passenger screening areas. The airport's
proposal for another 15,000 square feet includes 8,000 square feet to
widen the Terminal A hallway for emergency evacuation. The other
space is for Burbank Airport Police Officers, bomb-sniffing dogs and
additional passenger screening in the boarding area.
Though Airport Authority commissioners wrestled with their
decision -- citing the need to obey federal and local laws -- the
decision was approved, particularly since a Measure A decision is not
guaranteed Friday, Airport Authority President Chris Holden said.
"There is a tremendous responsibility to not wait on the
assumption that something preferable might happen," Holden said.
A federal deadline of Dec. 31 has been set for all airports to
improve security.
But Burbank City Manager Bud Ovrom asked later that day, "Why does
anyone need to force a legal crisis when this is so close to being
resolved?"
The Burbank City Council was scheduled to hear three items about
airport security and permits at Tuesday's council meeting.
"I have never heard of any governmental agency or any responsible
contractor doing work without a permit," Ovrom said.
With Friday's Measure A hearing and a mid-September final
development review of the airport's plans scheduled, Ovrom questioned
the airport's sense of urgency, especially since "a lot of airports
in the nation are not going to meet these deadlines and Congress is
considering extending the deadlines."
"Is the airport and is the contractor going to proceed illegally
when it only takes one to three weeks to clear these matters up?" he
asked.
Glendale City Manager Jim Starbird said Monday that no prior,
formal talks between that city and airport commissioners about it had
occurred.
"Until the action [Monday], I don't think from our perspective
that it was an issue," Starbird said.
The Glendale City Council is likely to review the decision in two
weeks, Starbird said.
