Buena Vista Street

AFFORDABLE HOUSING The City Council approved the acquisition of 34 affordable-housing rental units at 275 W. Verdugo Ave., part of the Burbank Housing Corp.?s ongoing effort to provide inexpensive housing to low-income residents in the city. The total development cost for the affordable housing development is about $9.7 million, which includes an $844,000 developer fee. WHAT IT MEANS There is no fiscal impact on the city?s general fund. The acquisition and property rehabilitations will be funded with housing corporation funds, approved in the 2008-09 financial year budget.

Laura Sturza While drivers might be slowed by new left-turn traffic signals along local roads -- including Buena Vista Street, Victory Boulevard and Olive Avenue -- the problems are expected to be fixed in about 10 weeks. "The primary asset [of the new signals] is safety," Burbank Traffic Engineer Ken Johnson said. "If we don't have these signals, people tend to make the left turn in front of other cars. If someone has been waiting a long time, they will take a little more chance."

The following incidents were taken from police reports. MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH 2100 block of North Lamer Street: A 26-year-old woman was arrested Thursday on suspicion of methamphetamine possession after officers found a small plastic bag of a white, powdery substance in her home while serving a petty theft warrant. MEDIA DISTRICT WEST 300 block of West Alameda Avenue: A 40-year-old Burbank man was arrested on suspicion of spousal abuse Wednesday after spitting at his wife after an argument about the cleanliness of their home.

Police suspect that an incident in which a couple told an elderly woman she caused an accident and then took her money for medical treatment was a scam. The incident occurred Saturday after the 80-year-old Burbank woman drove away from the Ralphs market at 2600 Victory Blvd. As she drove her car near Buena Vista Street and San Fernando Boulevard, a couple in a white van approached her, yelling that she had just struck their daughter. The couple claimed they would need $200 for the girl's medical bills.

The following information was taken from police reports: MAGNOLIA PARK 600 block of Whitnall Highway: A 36-year-old Burbank man reported Sunday that his car was entered and items worth $1,200, including a camera and compact discs, were taken. 600 block of Whitnall Highway: A 26-year-old Burbank man reported to police Monday that his car had been entered and a camera and a cellphone headset, worth a combined $500, were taken. HILLSIDE DISTRICT 2800 block of Buena Vista Street: A 48-year-old Burbank man reported Sunday that his car had been entered and compact discs and an emergency kit were taken.

Intermittent ramp closures will take place beginning Monday and lasting through Friday on the Ventura (134) Freeway for soundwall construction. The Forest Lawn Drive onramp to the westbound Ventura Freeway will be closed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Nighttime closures from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. will take place on one to two lanes of the west- bound Ventura Freeway from Forest Lawn Drive to one-quarter mile east of Buena Vista Street. Signs and detours will be posted to assist motorists.

The Burbank Police were investigating an incident Tuesday in which a car was clipped by a Metrolink train at the Buena Vista Street and San Fernando Boulevard crossing. There were no injuries from the incident that happened just before 5 p.m., Burbank Police spokesman Sgt. Jay Jette said. "There wasn't even any bent metal; it was just a paint transfer," Jette said of the damage. The crossing was the site of a fatal collision Jan. 6 between a car and a Metrolink station in which an 76-year-old Glendale woman was killed.

Gary Moskowitz MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- Summer has passed its midway point, but it's not too late for a picnic. Several veterans groups have organized a picnic for members and their families from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Robert Gross Park in Burbank. The American Legion Burbank Post 150, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 40, Elks Burbank Lodge 1497 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Ship 8310 will all participate in Saturday's event. The suggested donation is $3 per person and includes food, beverages, games and prizes.