CITIES OPPOSE COURT CONSOLIDATION.

Byline: Helen Gao Staff Writer

Concerned about potential impacts on their cities, Glendale and Burbank officials are protesting a plan by the Los Angeles Superior Court to consolidate all criminal cases at the Burbank Courthouse and all civil cases in Glendale.

City officials are asking to meet with county Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, whose Fifth District includes Burbank and Glendale, and other officials who have say over the future of their courthouses.

``Both cities want a full-service court. It will just be a real burden on both of us,'' said Burbank City Manager Robert ``Bud'' Ovrom. ``You are going to end up with two cities very unhappy.''

Currently, criminal cases originating in the two cities are handled in their respective courthouses, while civil cases are divided randomly between the two.

But court officials say the Burbank Courthouse - which was renovated and expanded in 1995 - is much better equipped to handle criminal cases. The facility has a jury assembly room, a state-of-the-art lockup, ample parking and a sally port - an enclosed area where inmates can be securely transferred to and from sheriff's buses.

The more than 30-year-old Glendale Courthouse lacks similar features. In fact, after reporting to the jury assembly room in Burbank, jurors assigned to a case in Glendale must park in a remote city parking structure, then take a shuttle to the courthouse.

``Really what we are trying to do is utilize our physical facilities and personnel in the most efficient manner,'' said Carl J. West, supervising judge of the court's North Central District.

West has met with the police chiefs and city attorneys from both cities to listen to their concerns. He said the consolidation plan is not final, pending further evaluation.

If the plan is adopted, Glendale officials say, their police officers would have to travel to Burbank to appear in court and confer with prosecutors. Currently, Glendale officers need only walk across Broadway to get to the courthouse.

Furthermore, Glendale officials complained that local attorneys, witnesses and victims involved in criminal cases would have to make the commute to Burbank.

``People need to take a step back and take a hard look at the impacts this proposed plan might have on the police departments, local attorneys and the community,'' said Glendale City Attorney Scott Howard.

Burbank city officials are worried that the change would result in more criminal activities in their downtown.

``We are perfectly willing to deal with our share of criminals. When you are increasing the volume and taking on criminals from other cities, it does at least provide the possibility of increased criminal activity for us,'' Burbank Police Chief Thomas Hoefel said.

In a recent letter to Antonovich, Ovrom noted that his city expended tremendous effort and money to develop a major mixed-use project across the street from the courthouse at the site of the former police headquarters.

``Imagine the negative impact it would have on this important development if an exclusively criminal court was right next door,'' he said.

Ovrom also reminded Antonovich that the county had signed an agreement to maintain a full-service courthouse in Burbank in exchange for the city spending $5 million in 1995 to build a 480-space parking structure next to the facility.