AIRPORT EXPANSION STILL UP IN THE AIR; STICKING POINT IS PROPOSED NIGHT-FLIGHT BAN.Byline: Lee Condon Staff Writer As pressure mounted Friday for a settlement of the Burbank Airport expansion battle, top city and airport officials debated whether a ban on night flights should be required before a new terminal is built. At a meeting of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association, Burbank Mayor Stacey Murphy held firm in her support for a new 14-gate terminal with expansion to 16 gates prohibited until federal approval is secured for a 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew curfew [O.Fr.,=cover fire], originally a signal, such as the ringing of a bell, to damp the fire, extinguish all lights in the dwelling, and retire for the night. The custom originated as a precaution against fires and was common throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. . ``If they want to grow beyond 14 gates, the process is there to get a curfew,'' Murphy said. ``We're not willing to provide them with unconstrained growth without protection for our public.'' Joyce Streator, the president of the commission that runs the airport, said that before any final deal can be made she wants a concrete commitment from the Burbank City Council that they will approve both the expansion project and the purchase of land to build it on. Streator said she needs that commitment before Monday morning, when the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority faces a deadline for making a $30 million court-ordered payment toward the purchase of 130 acres for the new terminal building or forfeit To lose to another person or to the state some privilege, right, or property due to the commission of an error, an offense, or a crime, a breach of contract, or a neglect of duty; to subject property to confiscation; or to become liable for the payment of a penalty, as the result of a their right to buy the land. Airport officials do not want to lay out any more cash if the city ultimately will turn down their terminal project. ``We need to know, is this terminal something you are willing to approve? I do not want to be personally held responsible for voting for an unknown,'' said Streator, who is also a Pasadena City Council member. City officials have said the only major sticking point sticking point n. A point, issue, or situation that causes or is likely to cause an impasse. Noun 1. sticking point - a point at which an impasse arises in progress toward an agreement or a goal that remains is whether airport commissioners will agree that they cannot increase the terminal size beyond 14 gates until they get a curfew. The Burbank City Council cannot approve the project until public hearings are held and staff has done an extensive review, but city officials have assured airport commissioners that the city is likely to approve the deal. ``We would not be fulfilling our duties if we didn't go through a public hearing process,'' Murphy said. ``It's not five (council members) holding this up. It's a community of 100,000 people.'' State officials at the meeting in Glendale urged the two sides to take advantage of the recent momentum toward settlement. ``It's an opportunity to resolve a controversy that has been tearing these communities apart. Let's stop the bickering bick·er intr.v. bick·ered, bick·er·ing, bick·ers 1. To engage in a petty, bad-tempered quarrel; squabble. See Synonyms at argue. 2. ,'' said Assemblyman as·sem·bly·man n. A man who is a member of a legislative assembly. assemblyman Noun pl -men a member of a legislative assembly Noun 1. Scott Wildman Scott Wildman was a California State Assemblyman from 1996 until 2000. That year, he lost a State Senate primary to Dr. Jack Scott, an Assemblyman from a neighboring district. Wildman received 46.7% of the vote. , D-Glendale. ``I feel more confident than I have been in the last five to six years that the parties are moving closer together,'' Sen. Adam Schiff
Adam B. Schiff (born June 20 1960) is an American politician. He first served in the California State Senate. , D-Pasadena, said. Schiff said he supports the city of Burbank's effort to link noise restrictions to the expansion. ``The city of Burbank does not have confidence that the airport will vigorously pursue a curfew,'' Schiff said. ``Burbank is reluctant to commit to an expanded terminal without a powerful incentive to get a curfew.'' The decision Monday will likely be the climax Climax Following a protracted period of selling or buying, a point wherein market trends are retarded or discontinued. Notes: At a selling climax, the market is characterized by a trend reversal whereby the market begins to buy stocks and prices rise. of a vicious legal and political battle that has consumed Burbank and the airport for four years. Burbank has spent $7 million on lawyers and public relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most specialists to force the airport to deal with noise complaints from Burbank residents before it can start the expansion project. The airport started out pushing for a much larger expansion. Airport officials wanted to demolish de·mol·ish tr.v. de·mol·ished, de·mol·ish·ing, de·mol·ish·es 1. To tear down completely; raze. 2. To do away with completely; put an end to. 3. the current 14-gate terminal and rebuild it at an adjacent site with 19 gates, with an option to build out to 27 gates. Burbank has resisted the idea of additional gates, fearing they would allow the airport to greatly increase the number of flights. The airport wants to move the terminal for safety reasons. Under federal guidelines guidelines, n.pl a set of standards, criteria, or specifications to be used or followed in the performance of certain tasks. , the current building is too close to runways. Last week, the airport submitted a new proposal, suggesting that the new terminal first be built with 14 gates, the same number as the current structure. However, the airport would have the right to expand to 16 gates by 2009, regardless of whether the airport can persuade the Federal Aviation Administration Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), component of the U.S. Department of Transportation that sets standards for the air-worthiness of all civilian aircraft, inspects and licenses them, and regulates civilian and military air traffic through its air traffic control to let it ban night flights. Burbank countered that the airport should only be able to expand to 16 gates if it gets the federally approved curfew. But to the airport, getting a curfew is easier said that done. Airport officials say no airport in the nation has been able to secure FAA approval for such curfews, which are generally opposed by the airlines. ``We are closer to a resolution than we have ever been,'' Murphy said. ``It would be a terrible shame to see safety compromised . . . over two gates.'' |
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