Burbank considers options in airport dispute.

Closed-door meeting results in dual strategy

A pair of closed-door meetings about the Burbank airport last week led to a situation in which Burbank city leaders tried to hammer out a plan to delay the purchase of land from Lockheed Martin Corp. for airport expansion, but also prepared to sue to block such a sale should expansion-related negotiations with neighboring Glendale and Pasadena fail.

An ongoing dispute between the cities over the scope of a planned expansion reached a crescendo last month when Burbank officials learned that the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority was about to close a deal to buy land at the airport from Lockheed without Burbank's knowledge or approval.

On Dec. 4, the Burbank City Council had a closed-door session to discuss legal options in connection with the sale. It became clear from subsequent discussions that the Burbank council members had agreed to reject a plan authored by Burbank Mayor David Golonski, under which Burbank would have gone along with the land sale if Glendale and Pasadena agreed to amend the authority's joint powers agreement to require that all three cities must approve any expansion plan.

Also, the Burbank council members apparently committed themselves to take whatever legal action becomes necessary against the authority to stop Glendale and Pasadena from proceeding with airport expansion without them.

On Dec. 5, a closed-door meeting was held in Burbank between two representatives each from the Burbank and Glendale councils, the mayor of Pasadena and staff from all three cities.

'Gun to our heads'

According to reports regarding that meeting from Burbank and Glendale representatives, Burbank's council people refused to discuss key issues until something was done to stop the looming land sale, which Golonski described as "a gun to our heads." Golonski and Burbank Vice Mayor Susan Spanos also discussed Burbank's intention to go to court, if necessary, to stop the authority from proceeding with its land-acquisition plans.

A proposal was negotiated under which a "cooling off" period of six months would be established, during which time land acquisition would be put on hold. A joint cities' committee would hire a mediator, who would work over the six-month period to help the cities resolve their dispute.

Neither the Burbank nor Glendale city councils voted at their Dec. 5 meetings on the proposal, and it remained unclear last week whether the idea had enough widespread support to win tri-city approval.

Burbank City Councilman Ted McConkey expressed opposition to the six-month delay, saying that people who live near the airport already are "suffering" because airlines are not complying with the existing curfew. Burbank wants a mandatory, enforced nighttime curfew as part of any expansion plan agreement.

McConkey also said Glendale anti Pasadena officials are "thieves and scoundrels" who can't be trusted to negotiate in good faith, based on their past actions.

Paranoid or naive

"Either I'm incredibly paranoid, or you're incredibly naive. I'm not sure which," McConkey said to his follow council members. "Everyone wants to make up and be friends. ... You're saying that now we can look them in the eye and believe what they say. Like hell we can.

"I'm going to continue to be suspicious, and I'm going to continue to go to the Airport Authority and see our commissioners get kicked around ... and the Burbank City Council won't stand up."

In an interview, McConkey also expressed concerns that the authority will pay "top dollar" for Lockheed's land, since the authority employees negotiating with Lockheed actually work for Airport Group International, the airport's management company, which is half-owned by Lockheed.

Meanwhile, citizens of Burbank who are outraged over the dispute were busy last week organizing a boycott of Glendale and Pasadena stores and restaurants during the holiday shopping season.

"Maybe it won't have an impact. I think it might," said organizer Charlie Lombardo. "Maybe this will help clear up their thought process."