Mark R. Madler
Councilwoman Stacey Murphy floated this week having small-scale
public meetings to discuss the proposed airport development agreement
for Bob Hope Airport.
Murphy's idea pitched during Tuesday's council meeting met with
approval from both colleagues on the council and from those in the
audience who oppose airport expansion.
"This is a real terrible way to have a dialogue," Murphy told
audience members. "You get up for your two or four minutes, and we
respond for two or four minutes. But it's not a conversation or
dialogue."
Other council members, as well as commissioners from the
Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority, were welcome to attend
the meeting as well, Murphy said.
"Anytime anyone wants them, I'm ready," she added.
Mayor Marsha Ramos agreed that council meetings were not the best
venue for a discussion on the agreement.
"I'm open to meeting with anyone," Ramos said.
Howard Rothenbach, a member of Burbank Voters & Taxpayers, said
that both sides can benefit from the discussions Murphy proposed.
"I think I understand the issues but there are others who
understand those same issues differently," Rothenbach said. "It
builds trust when you have communication."
Airport expansion opponents are a familiar sight at the council
meetings, focusing primarily on having the 59-acre B-6 trust property
sold to permanently prevent a new, larger terminal; and a public vote
on the proposed development agreement.
Airport Authority President Charlie Lombardo said Murphy's idea
was "great" and he'd be willing to meet with the small groups.
He, City Atty. Dennis Barlow and Community Development Director
Sue Georgino have already met with service clubs, such as Kiwanis and
Rotary, to discuss the agreement.
Those settings are much better for a conversation because they
allow for questions and answers, Lombardo said.
"They hear some stuff on Tuesdays [from the council meetings]
that's wrong and scratch their heads and ask, 'What's the story,' "
Lombardo said. "We come in with the facts."
The Airport Authority approved Oct. 27 an agreement laying out
cooperation between the city and airport on noise mitigation; no new
or expanded terminal for 10 years; no expansion of the general
aviation land-use area; allowing the airport to purchase an adjacent
parking lot; placing on hold the sale of the B-6 trust property; and
construction of a taxiway.
The agreement, however, also includes language for terminating all
or part of its provisions.
The council is not expected to vote on the agreement until
January. There are some provisions of the agreement council members
want to address and perhaps change.
In hearing from residents, Murphy said they know little about the
development agreement or its purpose.
"Hopefully during that time sitting down and talking about the
future of the airport and how we want to get there," she said.
