Karen S. Kim
A majority of Glendale's City Council answered Burbank's call for
help Tuesday night, pledging to pitch in and join its sister city's
fight for a new terminal at the airport.
The pledge was prompted by the rare appearance of Burbank City
Council members Stacey Murphy and Dave Golonski in Glendale's council
chambers. The two Burbank officials visited Glendale to protest
Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority's decision to back out of
building a new terminal until it receives instructions from the
Federal Aviation Administration.
"I believe this is an irresponsible position," Golonski told the
council. "I don't believe it is appropriate for three municipalities
that are responsible for running a government to say it can't come up
with a local solution so we want the federal govern- ment to impose
one on us."
Murphy agreed.
"This has been a frustrating process," she said. "It's taken a
long time, and we know that. But that's an inappropriate reason to
give up local authority. We are not ready to give up this fight."
Burbank's council has been battling with the airport for more than
10 years over the construction of a new terminal. The Airport
Authority, a nine-member agency composed of an equal number of
representatives from Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena, recently voted 5
to 4 that it would not build a new terminal before seeking guidance
from the Federal Aviation Administration. The announcement was
particularly distressing for Burbank city officials, who have been
told building a new terminal could lead to the institution of a
mandatory curfew on flights imposed by the FAA, Murphy said.
Burbank City Manager Bud Ovrom said Glendale's position on the
issue is crucial.
"It's interesting how the whole balance of power has shifted to
Glendale," he said Tuesday. "If a single Glendale commissioner
changes his vote, it changes the balance of power."
Pasadena City Councilman and Airport Authority President Chris
Holden said the authority had no choice but to pull out of
negotiations for a new terminal.
"I think we've tried to be understanding and responsible to the
issues at hand, and I think that we were very hopeful that a local
solution could be reached," he told the council. "[But] a local
solution at this stage ... cannot be achieved, given the standards
that have been set."
Some of Glendale's City Council members disagreed.
"I think we need a local solution, and I think we need a united
front of at least two cities to the FAA," Council- man Frank Quintero
said.
The city councils of Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena and the airport
are expected to meet Dec. 4 to discuss the issue.
Laura Sturza contributed to this article.
