City Clerk

Laura Sturza CIVIC CENTER -- After seven years on the City Council, Mayor Bob Kramer resigned Monday to accept a position as the city's community assistance coordinator. When he starts his new job March 16, Kramer will begin receiving the full-time salary and benefits unavailable to him while carrying out what he said were nearly full-time duties as mayor and council member. The community assistance coordinator acts as a liaison between residents and businesses and the city departments that can help solve their problems.

Group is set to work on reviewing, revamping the document controlling city functions, organizations. DOWNTOWN BURBANK -- The city's Charter Review Committee will get to work beginning Monday on a revamp of city functions and organization that could reform city government. Recommendations of the 15-member committee will be put before voters for approval in the 2007 election. "Anything we write, it's not only for us [on the committee]," committee Chairwoman Carolyn Jackson said.

Paul Clinton CIVIC CENTER -- After more than five months of negotiations, hundreds of city employees received a pay hike this week that will raise their salaries incrementally over the next three years. Since early July, members of the Burbank City Employees Association have been working without a labor contract, a situation that was ended at the City Council meeting Tuesday with a 4-0 approval -- with Mayor Stacey Murphy absent -- of a new three-year deal.

SEWER LATERALS The council voted unanimously to keep intact a municipal policy that enables residents to seek reimbursement for damages to their sewer lines as a result of the roots of city trees. The decision came after the council listened to a report on the city's liability policies regarding sewer line damage. When a city-owned tree is to blame for interference with a particular line, the homeowner is eligible for reimbursement for repair of the damages. WHAT IT MEANS Maintaining the existing standards means that residents can qualify for reimbursement if they complete five requirements.

Laura Sturza As a member of the city's Landlord-Tenant Commission, Janis Bunch has mediated disputes between renters and landlords, and assisted with concerns ranging from rent increases to mold problems. "I do it because I do want to help the people of the city of Burbank," said Bunch, who said she is well-versed in relevant laws since she worked in the property- management field for 30 years. Bunch is among nearly 100 unpaid locals appointed by the City Council to serve on the city's boards, commissions and committees.

I was surprised to read a recent letter in the Leader criticizing Councilman David Gordon for his behavior during City Council meetings. While I don't agree with Gordon on everything, from the council meetings I've attended, it's clear that he's the only incumbent who consistently champions the interests of residents, small business owners and traditional Burbank values. And he's been doing that for years now. He certainly seems to be the only one to question what is put before him by Mayor Dave Golonski and city staff.

Los Angeles voters went to the polls Tuesday to decide whether Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley will secede from Los Angeles and form their own separate and independent cities. Since Burbank is already an independent city, we did not have to wade through the complicated fiscal reports or be subjected to the barrage of political mailers and rhetoric. Our independence from Los Angeles was decided 82 years ago by Burbankers when they rejected "consolidation" with the city of Los Angeles.

Laura Sturza Another five residents put themselves in the running for two vacant City Council seats, bringing the number of people seeking voter approval to 11. The last day to file papers with the City Clerk was Monday. Though three hopefuls served on the city's airport review committee earlier this year, they have goals that reach beyond securing noise restrictions at the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport. "We have so many good things here.

Laura Sturza Months of knocking on doors paid off for architect Jef Vander Borght and environmental policy director Todd Campbell, who won seats on the Burbank City Council in Tuesday's election. "I'm extremely humbled," said Campbell, policy director for the Coalition for Clean Air. "I always thought that all of the candidates were very qualified." Incumbent Councilman Vander Borght, 51 made his first run for a council seat, having been appointed to the post by the council after former mayor Bob Kramer resigned in March 2002.